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Friday, October 30, 2009
Entry # 187
"God Doesn’t Always
Cheer for Alabama"
I know, that title sounds strange… unless
you grew up in Alabama. If you are familiar with how devoutly loyal Bama fans
can be, perhaps this title is more of a surprising revelation than a needless reminder.
Truly, I chose this way of expressing a deeper truth
because of a friend’s comment that I read recently. This particular sincere individual
harmlessly mentioned that they were praying through the end of the Crimson Tide’s most recent struggle with the Tennessee
Volunteers on the college football gridiron. Admittedly, I am not faulting this
devotee… in fact, I felt like praying about it too. With four seconds left, it
seemed like prayer was about all we had left. But, from a more reasonable perspective,
did the game really matter? Does God care who wins the national championship
(or, more importantly, the SEC championship)?
Let’s expand our horizons along these lines. True: if we were to meet God in person today, would He be wearing a good ‘ol Bama
baseball cap? Consider these questions too: Does He speak English? Does He cry hot tears out of a sense of patriotism when the Star Spangled Banner is played? Is He a Baptist? Is He Caucasian? Does He have a necktie on? Does He prefer Southern Gospel music
over other styles of worship?
Hmmm…
Obviously what I have done is this: I have taken
the norms that I am most comfortable with and projected them hypothetically upon an imagined view of God. And, just as obviously… it is inappropriate. While these common
passions are fine, they are not transcendent. These are human, cultural, geographical
values which are basically meaningless from any eternal perspective. I’m not
ashamed to be a white, English speaking, tie wearing Baptist American from Tide country.
In all likelihood those traits and my affinity for them will remain valuable to me until my dying day, but they don’t
even register on any scale of relevance when compared to the things that God values.
Q: Who does God always cheer?
A: His Son!
Q; What language does He speak?
A: All of them; (& He is the living WORD)!
Q: What nation does He love?
A: Any nation that promotes righteousness, right?
Q: What denominational gatherings does He
attend?
A: Any gathering that is truly called in the name
of His Son!
Q: What race of people does He prefer?
A: The human race… that’s the only one there is
anyway. (Of course, He actually became a Jew… but did it to redeem the WHOLE
WORLD).
Q: What does He wear?
A: He’s a spirit, so this one is strange, but if
it must be answered: He is robed in righteousness… and, for what it’s worth He said that our apparel isn’t significant (other
than the fact that He admonishes us to keep it simple).
Q: What music does He love?
A: He must surely appreciate music that honors Him,
not music that honors the artist. No doubt that He relishes music that glorifies
righteousness, not music that glorifies unrighteousness… regardless of the genre.
Now, does these admissions mean that I need to shed
my most familiar passions? No. In
fact, He can easily use these values and traits (if sanctified) for His own glory. He
is the great condescender. What these admissions do for me then is this: they
remind me to examine my priorities and to focus my deepest feelings and highest energies directly at His great passions.
So, what are His passions; His values; His priorities?
God loves justice, mercy, truth & holiness. The Father loves His Son. The Son loves
the souls of men. The Spirit exalts His Word!
He is deeply interested in the perfecting of His children. He is bent
on establishing His kingdom. He hates sin of every stripe: pride, selfishness,
deceit, debauchery, indulgence, covetousness… the list goes on and on. Anything,
ANYTHING that separates us from Him is to be set aside. He treasures fellowship
with His creatures. (More things could be named).
Rather than substituting our own list for
His, perhaps we should simply place His lists over ours and respect most highly those sacred things which He respects.
Hear me loudly… inasmuch as our values promote His
– Hallelujah! For example, I’m personally rather confident that the Biblical
doctrines that spiritual Baptists have stood for historically very nearly reflect some of the most precious principles that
God has set forth as preeminent. Again, The Judeo-Christian values of our American
heritage are also so dear that I would merit their preservation worth the blood of many patriots… so; I’m not trying to belittle
important matters here. I just want all of us to filter our thoughts through
the mind of Christ.
Emphasize what God emphasizes. He is not our puppet. It is not OK to attribute to Him values
that are only our own. Let’s live with eternity’s values in view.
Criticism welcome J
...I think.
And remember, God Doesn’t Always Cheer for Alabama... but I do :-)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Entry # 186
God’s
Provision for the Simple Minded
God is just.
In His own words, His ways are perfectly equal. Everything He does is
justifiable. It is reasonable. It
is moral. It is defensible. His
ways are so absolutely impeccable that not one iota of His actions could ever be improved upon. I’m saying, by implication, that He is always (at the very least) a fair Deity… or better than fair (as
I have found Him). In other words, He is, in fact, also very generous.
This is where we begin. We begin with these two realities: God is a just God; but He is also incredibly merciful and compassionate. From our finite viewpoint, His goodness and kindness counterbalance His righteousness
without opposing or canceling it. We should always remember that God is naturally
flawless and holy. At the same time He is naturally loving and gracious. Yet, His volition never requires Him to pick the expression of one of His divine characteristics
to the detriment of another characteristic of His being. In other words, for
example, He never has to set aside His holiness in order to show some measure of patience toward us. He does, however, constantly satisfy both of these natural demands through a highly creative means. In
redemption we see that “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have
kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10). We may not always see directly how the
work of Christ supplies a route for God’s mercy, but the route is there nonetheless.
Now, in what way is this important to us?
Again this week, I have encountered in my personal
reading a noteworthy gem in the Scripture. Here it is:
Ezekiel 45:18-20, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; ‘In the first month, in the first day of the month, you shall take a young bullock without
blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary: and the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts
of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court. And so you shall do the seventh day of the month for every one that errs, and for him that is simple: so shall you reconcile the house.’”
Now, whatever the word “simple” means (and whoever
it applies to), one thing is for sure: God was watching out for some folk who were somehow disadvantaged. There are several kinds of people who might fit into such a category.
Simplicity might be a result of age. A youth might be simple because he
is too young to be otherwise. Simplicity might be a result of a birth defect. Mental retardation could place a person in this category. Even a lack of exposure to basic education could in some cases render a person simple (at least for a while
or to a degree). However broad this was to be applied, the comforting truth is
still apparent. God cares for the ignorant.
I have pointed out before in a former blog entry
that there is no value in ignorance. God places no premium on “not knowing” the
things that need to be known. Yet, some people are truly limited… and I believe
that we see here that God is predisposed to extend mercy in such cases.
Consider two references to this in the record of
the acts of the apostles:
Acts 3:17, “Brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers.”
Acts 17:30, “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent…”
I think I will try to claim this
verse for myself in hopes of receiving mercy. “Lord, I’m dumb. Gimmie’ a break!” I can easily qualify as simple, right? J
Footnote: No blog next Friday, October 16th. Also, beginning January 1st, 2010 (Lord willing) this blog will be transformed
into a brief (yes, I said BRIEF) daily blog based on one chapter of the Bible a day (in order) from Genesis to Revelation
over the next three years (by God’s Grace). I will do what I can to try to promote
this so that we can get as many people on board as possible. Pray for me as I
move toward this endeavor.
Have a great week!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Entry # 185
A Graphic Illustration & A Painful Example
Here we go again! Whoa!
Yesterday I read Ezekiel 23 & 24 as part of my personal “devotion” time. I was sufficiently shocked as
I read God’s metaphorical illustration of His perspective on the apostasy of the two kingdoms of Israel. When reading a passage
as disturbing as this one, it is good to frequently remind ourselves that God chooses His own lesson plans. Perhaps His artistic
tastes are a little strong for us, but what He was trying to communicate couldn’t be expressed any more clearly.
Read chapter 23 for yourself (especially if you don’t believe these explicit details are in there). Here is
the gist of the very graphic illustration that He gave to Ezekiel (not written for the weak).
Once there were these two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah. These girls were engaged to a loving and generous Prince. Sadly
though, while they were still very young they both went out into the world and willingly became prostitutes. In God’s words,
“...there [in the world] their breasts were pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.” God
adds that these girls didn’t choose harlotry for the profitability of it, but for pleasure of it. In some twisted way, He
says (in Ezekiel chapter 23) that they doted over their many lovers. In other words, there was an inordinate affection that
these girls had for their abusive paramours. They relished their perverted lifestyle. They prized these men who were using
them. And, they didn’t feel guilt, shame or remorse. In fact, as they grew into women (rather than wearying of their sensuous
addiction) they continued in their constant and intense self-degradation. Not only that, as the younger sister Aholibah saw
her older sister’s “adventure,” she purposefully became even more debauched than her elder sibling was. It was as if she was
competing with her; somehow striving to outpace Aholah in some kind of sickening rivalry.
Well, things went from bad to worse. See, these sisters were impregnated time after time and had many children through
the years. But, they didn’t rear these children themselves. They didn’t get a chance to rear them. The whoremongerers who
slept with these two sisters kidnapped their kids.
When, through years of self-indulgence, the wicked men had drained the beauty from the two harlots, they went about to
torture them and to try to kill these repulsive females. In fact, through their sadistic abuse, these evil men drove Aholah
and Aholibah into fits of insanity; hysterics of hateful rage. They stripped them naked and stole their jewelry. They cut
off their noses and their ears. They burned them with fire. They forced them to drink themselves into a drunken state of deep
depression. Then when the women were complete sots, these cruel men mocked them and laughed at them and paraded them before
others. In the end the sisters were driven out of their minds to such an extent that they began to drink willingly, even feverishly…
as if they were trying to drown their own sorrows; as if they were trying to forget reality. But, instead of forgetting their
pains, they became so viciously delirious that they broke the drinking vessels from which they had been forced to drink and
out of loathing and bitterness they used the broken shards to cut off their own breasts from their own bodies. Then they joined
in the sadism of their captors and begin to catch and kill their own children by throwing them into a burning furnace.
At this juncture in God’s illustrative story, the evil philanderers take off, having nothing left to abuse. Their twisted
fun became boring to them since the victims were as equally cruel to themselves as the men had been formerly.
So what would you think these women would do after all of that? One might suppose that that they would sober up and spend
their remaining days of their old age regretting their past or even trying to make amends. But no, instead, they found willing
messengers whom they sent out far from their homes to find different men; men who would not know the stories of Aholah and
Aholibah’s putrid and appalling lives; men who these old hags thought they could fool and deceive and arouse and entrap as
their new lovers. According to Ezekiel’s account of God’s story, these women (at this point very old) washed themselves and
painted themselves until they had sufficiently disguised their ugliness. They applied eye-shadow until their wrinkles were
hidden. Somehow they evidently hid the malformations of their tortured bodies. They decked fancy beds beautifully for their
anticipated escapades. They prepared sumptuous meals for these worthless men whom they had invited. And they waited for these
fresh lovers. And, their lovers came. They came with bracelets and tiaras as gifts. The men came and blindly went to bed with
the ancient whores. Amazing! Despicable! Horrifying! Sickening! Sad!
But, in the end, these two prostitutes were exterminated at the command of their original Prince. See, throughout their
many years of lewdness, they had repeatedly returned to the Prince for sustenance. In so doing they had ruined His name in
the community. They had used His possessions. They called themselves by His name. They even brought their many filthy lovers
right into the Prince’s house and committed their adulterous acts in His house. So, in order to bring SOME good from all of
their evil, He made them an example to other women in the community. He called for executioners who came and stoned Aholah
and Aholibah to death and burned their houses with fire. Surely their demise would frighten other ladies from choosing a path
that would bring about a similar fate.
Whoa!!! No “living happily ever after” in that narrative, eh?
Now, let me quickly say. Literally, the story was not true. God wasn’t telling the story of two actual sisters.
God was using symbolic comparisons with these imaginative characters in order to illustrate the spiritual condition of His
people, the Jews. Without explaining every detail, look simply at the salient issue God was concerned about here. The nation
(divided as it was into Northern and Southern kingdoms) should have had it made in the shade (since they were the chosen bride
of Jehovah). All He asked of them (really) was fidelity; loyalty; faithfulness. Yet, from the very beginning, the nations
were guilty of spiritual whoredom; idolatry. These two Jewish nations went after every god imaginable… except their own. They
exchanged the real God of heaven for a polytheistic and masochistic religiosity that drained them of their strength and beauty.
They prostituted their souls until there was nothing valuable remaining in them. They declined until they were worthy of nothing
but destruction. So, in the end, God sent word by Ezekiel to the Jewish people that such destruction was exactly what the
nations of Israel were going to get. God’s chosen peoples were going to become God’s enemies. Continual wrath was on the way.
Now, if that graphic illustration of God’s perspective concerning their backsliding ways wasn’t enough for you, consider
the example that He then used as a follow up to drive the message home. Read on…
In Ezekiel 24:15-18 we read, “Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, behold, I take away from
you the desire of your eyes with a stroke: yet neither shall you mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down. Forbear
to cry, make no mourning for the dead…’ So I spoke unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in
the morning as I was commanded.”
God wasn’t through making His point to the Jews. He wanted them to see unequivocally just how far gone they were. But,
in order to teach this, He chose a strange and (for Ezekiel) a very painful example. He killed Ezekiel’s wife (or, if you
prefer, allowed her to die) and commanded him not to weep nor mourn for her. So, the faithful prophet obeyed. He went to mingle
with his neighbors the morning after his wife’s death. He went among them with stoic disregard for his loss. He acted as if
it didn’t matter at all to him. This is what God had told him to do; to show no emotion about it. This was a very painful
example that God was making out of Ezekiel. Now the lesson in the example was explained thereafter. The lesson went like this:
“The people said to Ezekiel, ‘Will you not tell us what these things are to us, that you do so?’ Then he answered them,
‘The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Speak unto the house
of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your
eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left shall fall by the sword. And you shall do as I have done… you shall not mourn nor weep; but you shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn
one toward another. Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according
to all that he has done shall you do: and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD’”
(Ezekiel 24:19-27).
When I first read this passage, I thought the example was meant to teach the Jews that God wouldn’t cry when He executed
judgment against His own people for their continual sin. And, while I still think that this teaching can be found elsewhere
in this section of the Scripture (in Ezekiel 23:18 to be exact), it doesn’t appear to me that that particular doctrine is
what this painful example was intended to communicate. No, God used Ezekiel’s loss (and specifically Ezekiel’s disregard of
that loss) to show how far gone the nations had drifted from Him. Their spiritual temperature was so low and their sensitivity
so degraded that there was no natural affection remaining. God said through Ezekiel’s response (or lack thereof) to his wife’s
death that though He was going to take that which was most precious to the Jewish people, they were so hardened by sin that
the punishment would essentially have no effect on them. They wouldn’t care. God intended to deprive them of their most prized
possessions in retribution for their idolatry, but He told them here that even His punishment would do them no good. They
were too far gone. The only thing that had their attention; the only thing that could muster their appetite any more was their
own lecherous sins. He said, “You shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another” - Ezekiel 24:23.
They wouldn’t morn the loss of significant and beneficial aspects of their lives; but they would weep and wail if their vices
were not available.
Is there a lesson in here for us? Better… are there lessons in here for us? Here are a few that occurred to me:
1. There is no author as well equipped to cut to the heart of the matter as our God is.
2. There is no orator who can demonstrate his theme more powerfully than our God can.
3. There is no part of creation that God can’t use in teaching us to focus upon Him.
4. There is no substance to our artificial morality. Our self constructed morality justifies things based upon their sanitary
and comfortable nature, rather than by the measure of the glory and pleasure that those things bring to God. (i.e., “How dare
you be so crass in sharing an illustration?” – or maybe – “How dare you cause pain to teach a lesson?”)
5. Spiritual adultery (including covetousness, which is idolatry) is as offensive to God as sexual adultery is to us; and
actually more so. The higher the position of the person cheated; the more dire the infraction. What’s worse? Defrauding one’s
spouse or defrauding one’s Creator? Both are evil, but they certainly aren’t equal.
6. Sin dulls our senses until things that are of real value become insignificant in our minds. Conversely, sin twists our
values until worthless things and parasitic vices captivate our emotions and take over our hearts, filling space where legitimate
passions belong.
7. I am expendable. You are expendable. Although I imagine that there is another whole story unique in significance to
the life-story of Mrs. Ezekiel, in the narrative that we have considered, she was expendable for the purpose of point # 2
in God’s lesson outline. You know, we have such inflated senses of self-worth. Our imaginations vastly over-rate our own importance.
From this story we learn this: not only can God carry out His plans without me… He can carry them out better by doing away
with me… if He so chooses to work that way!
8. I am of infinite worth. You are of infinite worth. I know, it sounds like I’m unraveling what I just stated in point
# 7, but the paradox is a true one. While you and I are indeed expendable, notice that (to our amazement) God is paying such
intense attention to every detail of human existence. He cares! He actually cares. He is interested in you! The fact that
my life matters to God and that He superintends in every fiber of minutia in my life proves this: because someone as important
as God is concerned about me, my importance is thereby elevated beyond measure. In an equation, it might look like this: God’s
importance + God’s interest = our significance.
9. Ezekiel was a stellar model of humble submission. Could you or I have carried out God’s command to restrain our
tears in the face of such personal tragedy? I say, “Spare me, Dear Lord!”
10. The Bible is the most awesomely interesting and personally applicable piece of literature anyone of us could ever read!
And, no wonder, after all – it’s alive!
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