A powerful story was told in the 4th century by Athanasius, one of the most important theologians in Eastern Orthodoxy of his time, that I would like to share with you.
Once upon a time there was a good and kind king who had a great kingdom with many cities. In one distant city, some people took advantage of the freedom the king gave them and started doing evil. They profited by their evil and began to fear that the king would interfere and throw them in jail. Eventually these rebels seethed with hatred for the king. They convinced the city that everyone would be better off without the king, and the city declared its independence from the kingdom.
But soon, with everyone doing whatever they wanted, disorder reigned in the city. There was violence, hatred, lying, oppression, murder, rape, slavery, and fear. The king thought: What should I do? If I take my army and conquer the city by force, the people will fight against me, and I'll have to kill so many of them, and the rest will only submit through fear and intimidation, which will make them hate me and all I stand for even more. How does that help them - to be either dead or imprisoned or secretly seething with rage? But if I leave them alone, they'll destroy each other, and it breaks my heart to think of the pain they're causing and experiencing.
So the king did something very surprising. He took off his robes and dressed in the rags of a homeless wanderer. Incognito, he entered the city and began living in a vacant lot near a garbage dump. He took up a trade - fixing broken pottery and furniture. Whenever people came to him, his kindness and goodness and fairness and respect were so striking that they would linger just to be in his presence. They would tell him their fears and questions, and ask his advice. He told them that the rebels had fooled them, and that the true king had a better way to live, which he exemplified and taught. One by one, then two by two, and then by the hundreds, people began to have confidence in him and live in his way.
Their influence spread to others, and the movement grew and grew until the whole city regretted its rebellion and wanted to return to the kingdom again. But, ashamed of their horrible mistake, they were afraid to approach the king, believing he would certainly destroy them for their rebellion. But the king-in-disguise told them the good news: he was himself the king, and he loved them. He held nothing against them, and he welcomed them back into his kingdom, having accomplished by a gentle, subtle presence what never could have been accomplished through brute force.
God came into this world through Jesus Christ to show that there is a better way, to share with us the heart of God, to empower us to be the embodiment of Christ's love and grace in this world. Through Jesus, we discover not only personal salvation, but the salvation of the world of which we are a part. The more we learn from Jesus "the ways of the king", the more we can influence others in His ways, too.
Teach me Your ways, O God, and forgive me of my rebellious spirit. Forgive me for the times I have decided to live my life independent of You. Forgive my waywardness and take away the things, thoughts, and lifestyles that distract me from walking with You. Thank You for Your grace. Help me to commit my time to listening to You and hearing Your voice as you speak to my spirit, "This is the way...walk in it." In Jesus' holy name. Amen.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Radical Christianity
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ!
In world news over the past two weeks, the world has watched as the protesters in Egypt have taken to the streets to demand a change in their government and to take a stand for the country they desire to see in the future. What that is going to look like and how everything will unfold is unknown to any of us. I will not get political about this issue in this setting, partly because even the brightest of politicians on all sides really have no idea how the situation in Egypt will all play out. At this point, everything is conjecture.
In the midst of all of the turmoil, there are some that are afraid that the uprisings will be a window of opportunity for radical religious groups to take over the government. While all of that remains to be seen, last week the world got a peek at the good that a radical religious group could do in such challenging situations.
A picture was taken by a photojournalist that depicted a radical group of Christians forming a human wall to protect Muslims as they prayed. Here is that picture:
In world news over the past two weeks, the world has watched as the protesters in Egypt have taken to the streets to demand a change in their government and to take a stand for the country they desire to see in the future. What that is going to look like and how everything will unfold is unknown to any of us. I will not get political about this issue in this setting, partly because even the brightest of politicians on all sides really have no idea how the situation in Egypt will all play out. At this point, everything is conjecture.
In the midst of all of the turmoil, there are some that are afraid that the uprisings will be a window of opportunity for radical religious groups to take over the government. While all of that remains to be seen, last week the world got a peek at the good that a radical religious group could do in such challenging situations.
A picture was taken by a photojournalist that depicted a radical group of Christians forming a human wall to protect Muslims as they prayed. Here is that picture:
I got this picture from:
http://www.myweku.com/2011/02/photo-of-the-week-christians-protecting-muslims-during-their-prayers-in-egypt/
Without getting into all of the theological differences between Christians and Muslims, I believe that this picture depicts the kind of Christianity we are called to live by Jesus. Our opinions of other faiths or other people should not keep us from extending the love and grace that Jesus Christ has extended to us.
Our current culture has a negative stereotype of radicalism. Don't get me wrong, some of the negativism is warranted as radicals have a way of creating havoc, fear, and disharmony in a multitude of different ways. The radical lives we are called to live have an opposite affect on the world around us.
The word radical is defined in three ways.
1. Departing markedly from the usual or customary; extreme
2. Favoring or effecting fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions
3. Arising from or going to a root or source; basic
The first two definitions are the ones we normally think of when we hear the word "radical". We think of extremists and those who seek to change the world in which we live. But, how often do we define "radical" with the third definition?
When we think of what it means to be radical Christians, it is important that we understand that in which our faith is rooted...Christ. We remember the basics of the faith we possess. We remember that our faith grows from a relationship with our Creator.
"Jesus preached love amidst hatred; unity amidst divisiveness; faith amidst the legalistic religious leaders of His day...wholeness amidst the brokenhearted; freedom amidst those held in yokes of bondage...Jesus spoke truth to power, and we, as Christians, are to do no less!" (Rev. Jerry Maneker)
I pray for the kind of faith found in those Egyptian Christians. A faith that reflects the radical nature of the One I serve. A faith that is willing to sacrifice for those who disagree with me. A faith that honors the dignity of each human being. A faith that is willing to step out in radical love because Jesus did the same for me.
This kind of radical Christianity is extreme and life changing. It's the only way this world can be radically changed and transformed for the better.
Radical God, Your love is extreme and Your grace is revolutionary. Forgive me when I have made my faith about me and what I believe, instead of about You and what You want to do in me. Give me strength to radically live my life for You...to stay rooted in Your Son, Jesus, and to stand for the Truth for which He died for me. I want to be a radical Christian that makes an eternal difference in this world for You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Theology of Bad Weather
Hello!
What a wacky week of weather we have had this week! A good amount of snow and more than enough teeth-chattering COLD! As many of you know, I love this stuff. I even love the bitter cold. I love driving in it too!
As I was driving around town this week, I had a revelation I'd like to share. It happened as I drove behind a line of cars going about 25 mph and keeping the appropriate distance so as not to slide into one another. Personally, I have the tendency to drive faster than normal when the weather is good. But, when the weather turns nasty, I do a complete turn-around and I become the safe driver I was trained to be.
I realized as I was driving that one of the reasons I love this weather is because it forces me to slow down. It reminds me of how to safely navigate the streets of the city. I remember my training and the fundamentals that lead to safe driving because I have to fall back on that knowledge to safely go from one place to another.
I began to wonder if the "cold fronts" and "bad weather" I experience in my emotional and spiritual life cause me to slow down and safely navigate the potentially treacherous turns that confront me?
Sometimes I react to the bad weather moments I face. Rushing to find a solution, slipping and sliding around on the icy landscape of diffcult decisions and sometimes carelessly running into obstacles in front of me. Sometimes I forget that to safely navigate these difficult conditions all I have to do is slow down, give myself some space, and stay focused on my next step.
The times that I have most successfully navigated the stormy conditions I've faced, have been those times when I have not feared the bad weather and I have gone back to how I was trained up in the Christian faith. We will all face cold fronts and bad weather in our lives. The question is, will we fear those extreme conditions and carelessly navigate the dangerous roads, or will we slow down, make space, and stay focused on the One who will get us through the storm?
The bad weather can be good when we allow it to strengthen our faith and remind us how to safely navigate the streets and alleys of life (James 1:2-4).
Almighty God, thank you for the bad weather of life. Allow it to remind me to slow down, make space for You, and stay focused on Your purpose for my life. Protect me in my journey through the treacherous conditions and safely navigate every turn of my life. May these conditions strengthen my faith in You and my love for You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
What a wacky week of weather we have had this week! A good amount of snow and more than enough teeth-chattering COLD! As many of you know, I love this stuff. I even love the bitter cold. I love driving in it too!
As I was driving around town this week, I had a revelation I'd like to share. It happened as I drove behind a line of cars going about 25 mph and keeping the appropriate distance so as not to slide into one another. Personally, I have the tendency to drive faster than normal when the weather is good. But, when the weather turns nasty, I do a complete turn-around and I become the safe driver I was trained to be.
I realized as I was driving that one of the reasons I love this weather is because it forces me to slow down. It reminds me of how to safely navigate the streets of the city. I remember my training and the fundamentals that lead to safe driving because I have to fall back on that knowledge to safely go from one place to another.
I began to wonder if the "cold fronts" and "bad weather" I experience in my emotional and spiritual life cause me to slow down and safely navigate the potentially treacherous turns that confront me?
Sometimes I react to the bad weather moments I face. Rushing to find a solution, slipping and sliding around on the icy landscape of diffcult decisions and sometimes carelessly running into obstacles in front of me. Sometimes I forget that to safely navigate these difficult conditions all I have to do is slow down, give myself some space, and stay focused on my next step.
The times that I have most successfully navigated the stormy conditions I've faced, have been those times when I have not feared the bad weather and I have gone back to how I was trained up in the Christian faith. We will all face cold fronts and bad weather in our lives. The question is, will we fear those extreme conditions and carelessly navigate the dangerous roads, or will we slow down, make space, and stay focused on the One who will get us through the storm?
The bad weather can be good when we allow it to strengthen our faith and remind us how to safely navigate the streets and alleys of life (James 1:2-4).
Almighty God, thank you for the bad weather of life. Allow it to remind me to slow down, make space for You, and stay focused on Your purpose for my life. Protect me in my journey through the treacherous conditions and safely navigate every turn of my life. May these conditions strengthen my faith in You and my love for You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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