I read a line in a book recently that went something like this, "Just because you're going through tough times doesn't necessarily mean you're outside of God's will." I had to let that sink in for a moment. It's so true. It's so profound.
There is kind of an underlying sentiment that almost all of us share that if we're going through something bad, we must've done something wrong. God is judging us, angry at us, and out to get us. God is the big bully in the sky, and we just need to get back aligned with him and our lives will be smooth sailing.
This thinking comes from the myth that if we will follow Jesus that our lives will be rainbows, unicorns and lollipops. Everything will be okay with God in our lives. He will protect us and lead us into greener pastures. I'm just not sure that's accurate.
So, the only natural response to tough times is thinking we've done something wrong. We're not doing what God wants us to do. There's no Biblical merit to that thinking. You might be going through tough times precisely BECAUSE you're smack dab in the center of God's Will. The world might be opposed to God's will, so if you're in it, the world might be opposed to you. There's just no correlation. Life is up and down, and there's little we can do about it.
The task is to remain faithful. Now, to be sure -- sometimes our sin and stupid decisions put us in a tough spot. We usually know when we've done that. But sometimes the test results just come back positive. Sometimes we just get caught in the massive layoff. Sometimes people betray us. Sometimes someone rear-ends us. Sometimes the water line leaks. Sometimes life happens. And it's not because you're against God's will.
So trust Him. Don't wait for things to turn around to trust Him. Don't wait till he 'comes through' to prove himself to you. That's not faith. Trust Him in the valley. They say tough times don't last, but tough people do. Maybe that's true, but I've faced times in which I didn't feel as tough as what was going on around me. But God is tougher. Trust him in the season of mess. It's not because He's turned His back on you. He's there. He'll outlast it.
First United Methodist Church of Griffin
Showing posts with label tragedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tragedy. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Why?
With Hurricane Matthew quickly approaching the East Coast, I'm reminded of the tension we all live with: Why do bad things happen?
Though it's no easier to stomach, we at least 'get it' when someone does something evil and the innocent are injured or killed. We can explain it so much more easily. Someone made an ugly decision. Evil actions by one can affect many. We get that.
But hurricanes? Floods? Tornadoes? Typhoons? Earthquakes? Why? Why, God, why?
Perhaps this is the point at which many who don't consider themselves people of faith shun God. "If God were real or loving," one might say, "how could God let such a terrible thing happen?" Even people of faith struggle through this. Doesn't God control the weather? Why wouldn't God stop a storm from killing hundreds, sometimes thousands? Is God judging us, and does that fit with the character of God that that I thought I knew?
See...lots of questions.
There aren't many easy answers in the face of disaster and tragedy. Nothing really soothes us and makes us feel 'okay' about the hurt and heartache we are witnessing. But there is an explanation. In a sense, we are under judgment, but not the way you think.
I don't believe that natural disasters occur because God is judging a particular region or people. That's not the message of the Bible. The story of the Scriptures is that we are all under judgment because of sin. Sin messed all this up.
Shortly after the original sin of Adam and Eve, in Genesis 3:17 God says to Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you." The earth is cursed because of sin. Because of sin, everything is not as it should be. The cosmos was knocked off its axis. Creation is out of sync with the Creator.
Storms, floods, earthquakes...these were not part of the original plan. This was all supposed to be perfect. We were supposed to be in perfect relationship with God. Sin messed it up. Sin messed it ALL up.
What we are seeing is the result of a broken world, but this is not the end of the story. In fact, people of faith are environmentalists of the highest order. For while Jesus came to save humanity, we believe God is at work to redeem all of Creation. Creation longs for this. Romans 8:22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." And when Christ comes in final victory, we believe that not only are we made new, but there is a new heaven and new earth. Everything will be restored. No more storms, no more tragedy.
In the meantime, our hope is in prayer. And our task is in being the people of God in the midst of tragedy, whether that means donating money, flood buckets or supplies. Until there is a new earth and all of Creation has been redeemed, let us be the glimmer of redemption when brokenness rears it's ugly head.
Though it's no easier to stomach, we at least 'get it' when someone does something evil and the innocent are injured or killed. We can explain it so much more easily. Someone made an ugly decision. Evil actions by one can affect many. We get that.
But hurricanes? Floods? Tornadoes? Typhoons? Earthquakes? Why? Why, God, why?
Perhaps this is the point at which many who don't consider themselves people of faith shun God. "If God were real or loving," one might say, "how could God let such a terrible thing happen?" Even people of faith struggle through this. Doesn't God control the weather? Why wouldn't God stop a storm from killing hundreds, sometimes thousands? Is God judging us, and does that fit with the character of God that that I thought I knew?
See...lots of questions.
There aren't many easy answers in the face of disaster and tragedy. Nothing really soothes us and makes us feel 'okay' about the hurt and heartache we are witnessing. But there is an explanation. In a sense, we are under judgment, but not the way you think.
I don't believe that natural disasters occur because God is judging a particular region or people. That's not the message of the Bible. The story of the Scriptures is that we are all under judgment because of sin. Sin messed all this up.
Shortly after the original sin of Adam and Eve, in Genesis 3:17 God says to Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you." The earth is cursed because of sin. Because of sin, everything is not as it should be. The cosmos was knocked off its axis. Creation is out of sync with the Creator.
Storms, floods, earthquakes...these were not part of the original plan. This was all supposed to be perfect. We were supposed to be in perfect relationship with God. Sin messed it up. Sin messed it ALL up.
What we are seeing is the result of a broken world, but this is not the end of the story. In fact, people of faith are environmentalists of the highest order. For while Jesus came to save humanity, we believe God is at work to redeem all of Creation. Creation longs for this. Romans 8:22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." And when Christ comes in final victory, we believe that not only are we made new, but there is a new heaven and new earth. Everything will be restored. No more storms, no more tragedy.
In the meantime, our hope is in prayer. And our task is in being the people of God in the midst of tragedy, whether that means donating money, flood buckets or supplies. Until there is a new earth and all of Creation has been redeemed, let us be the glimmer of redemption when brokenness rears it's ugly head.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
What now?
News of two more tragic shootings have come across the wires, and we're all left wondering what now? We often guard our thoughts very closely. If we say what we think, what will our African-American friends think? What will our white friends think? What will our cop friends think? Have we even considered what our Latino and Hispanic friends think?
We are outraged, incensed and left with many questions. We are scared because we are a cop or have relatives who are cops. Will they be wrongly lumped in with cops who made mistakes and targeted? We are scared because we are black or have dear friends or relatives that are black. Will they be wrongly lumped in with blacks who made mistakes and targeted? We are scared that their are problems in our system.
Should I protest? Should I speak out? Should I buy a #blacklivesmatter T-shirt or "Blue Lives Matter" flag? Should I post #alllivesmatter? Does that make me insensitive? Should I be worried for me, my family and my friends? How did we get here?
The questions are paralyzing. Personally, as a pastor and spiritual leader, it's a challenge. I'm a very opinionated person, and I have strong feelings about numerous issues, but a lesson I've learned and am learning is to not get worked up about something about which I am unclear of the details and information. So, the angle I come at this is different, as there is one thing about all that our nation is struggling about that deeply bothers me.
I was a Broadcast News major at UGA's Grady College of Journalism. I'm proud to have attended one of the finest journalism schools in the country. I received a call to ministry while in journalism school, but remained in the program. The deeper I got into it, something began to disturb me about the news. News isn't really about news. News is about ratings, because ratings are about advertisers, and advertisers mean money. Below is an article Newsweek did about people killed by cops each year, and, as you can see, it's very complicated.
http://www.newsweek.com/how-many-americans-do-cops-kill-each-year-480712
Statistics also show that more white people have been killed by police in the last year than African-Americans. Did you know that? However, based on population, a much higher percentage of African-Americans are killed by police. Did you know that? It's complex.
Let me ask you a question: how many of those killings did you read about or see on TV. Six? Eight? Maybe a dozen? There are hundreds each year. Here's the other problem. How many did you see in person? I saw zero, so every detail about anything I'm hearing is all 2nd hand, and with 2nd hand details sometimes (not all of the time) come with biases or agendas, depending on who is sharing the story. News agencies are not interested in sharing details about all of those killings because not all of them would drive ratings. I know, I know. I don't want this to be true. It's true.
I don't mean this as a slight to news agencies or executives. This is the business. It's not to get all the news out, it's to get all the news out that we believe people need to see, want to see or would be interested in. And there's only so much time in the show or space on the page or room on the website. The problem is that leaves out a great deal of the story. And, frankly, we're all a little to gullible to believe everything we read and hear is accurate.
The other problem, here, is that even if it is newsworthy, none or few of us now the details. We weren't there. Even videos don't always tell the whole story. They come from one angle with a few minutes of the action. Sometimes they are incriminating. Sometimes they only give us another view into a very complex situation. In college, I was once accused incorrectly of a crime that I was nowhere near because I looked like the suspect. Civilians are wrongly accused of carrying weapons and killed. Cops are wrongly accused of racism and ostracized. Both happen. Cops (otherwise known as humans) are also sometimes prone to sin (because humans are) and fall prey to racism or vengeance and kill innocent people. African-Americans (also known as humans) are also sometimes sin (because humans do) and provoke violence on themselves through the threat of violence toward law enforcement. White people do the same thing. And black cops do the same thing.
What I also don't know is how many dangerous people were killed by cops that saved the lives of many other innocent people, maybe even my family. What I also don't know is how I would react if I were bullied by belligerent police officers. What I also don't know is how I would feel if I were African-American? And what I also don't know is how I would feel if I were a cop?
So what now? I would encourage you to think very broadly about these issues. There is a problem because it is clear our sensitivity level goes through the roof on these topics. But we must be diligent to listen to all the voices and hear the pain of our brothers and sisters from all races and walks of life. Most importantly, fix what you can fix. The issues are so large in scope, they seem impossible to tackle. But I can teach my children to see the world the way Christs sees the world. I can teach my children to respect law enforcement and do that myself. I can teach my children to be mindful of the horrible history of racism even in our own country and teach them to love all while I practice that myself. I get to control me. And I don't have think any way about any race or any profession or any person other than the way I choose to think. God gave me that freedom. Skin tones and badges will never affect the way I see a person because I choose to see God's children as God's children. I'm all for policies, investigations when wrong-doing is suspected, and addressing hurtful and sinful corporate mindsets. Policies are sometimes needed, but this world will be changed only by people doing right, living right and standing for right in their families and circles of friends. Maybe it will take a generation. Maybe it won't if we decided that's the 'what' we should do now.
We are outraged, incensed and left with many questions. We are scared because we are a cop or have relatives who are cops. Will they be wrongly lumped in with cops who made mistakes and targeted? We are scared because we are black or have dear friends or relatives that are black. Will they be wrongly lumped in with blacks who made mistakes and targeted? We are scared that their are problems in our system.
Should I protest? Should I speak out? Should I buy a #blacklivesmatter T-shirt or "Blue Lives Matter" flag? Should I post #alllivesmatter? Does that make me insensitive? Should I be worried for me, my family and my friends? How did we get here?
The questions are paralyzing. Personally, as a pastor and spiritual leader, it's a challenge. I'm a very opinionated person, and I have strong feelings about numerous issues, but a lesson I've learned and am learning is to not get worked up about something about which I am unclear of the details and information. So, the angle I come at this is different, as there is one thing about all that our nation is struggling about that deeply bothers me.
I was a Broadcast News major at UGA's Grady College of Journalism. I'm proud to have attended one of the finest journalism schools in the country. I received a call to ministry while in journalism school, but remained in the program. The deeper I got into it, something began to disturb me about the news. News isn't really about news. News is about ratings, because ratings are about advertisers, and advertisers mean money. Below is an article Newsweek did about people killed by cops each year, and, as you can see, it's very complicated.
http://www.newsweek.com/how-many-americans-do-cops-kill-each-year-480712
Statistics also show that more white people have been killed by police in the last year than African-Americans. Did you know that? However, based on population, a much higher percentage of African-Americans are killed by police. Did you know that? It's complex.
Let me ask you a question: how many of those killings did you read about or see on TV. Six? Eight? Maybe a dozen? There are hundreds each year. Here's the other problem. How many did you see in person? I saw zero, so every detail about anything I'm hearing is all 2nd hand, and with 2nd hand details sometimes (not all of the time) come with biases or agendas, depending on who is sharing the story. News agencies are not interested in sharing details about all of those killings because not all of them would drive ratings. I know, I know. I don't want this to be true. It's true.
I don't mean this as a slight to news agencies or executives. This is the business. It's not to get all the news out, it's to get all the news out that we believe people need to see, want to see or would be interested in. And there's only so much time in the show or space on the page or room on the website. The problem is that leaves out a great deal of the story. And, frankly, we're all a little to gullible to believe everything we read and hear is accurate.
The other problem, here, is that even if it is newsworthy, none or few of us now the details. We weren't there. Even videos don't always tell the whole story. They come from one angle with a few minutes of the action. Sometimes they are incriminating. Sometimes they only give us another view into a very complex situation. In college, I was once accused incorrectly of a crime that I was nowhere near because I looked like the suspect. Civilians are wrongly accused of carrying weapons and killed. Cops are wrongly accused of racism and ostracized. Both happen. Cops (otherwise known as humans) are also sometimes prone to sin (because humans are) and fall prey to racism or vengeance and kill innocent people. African-Americans (also known as humans) are also sometimes sin (because humans do) and provoke violence on themselves through the threat of violence toward law enforcement. White people do the same thing. And black cops do the same thing.
What I also don't know is how many dangerous people were killed by cops that saved the lives of many other innocent people, maybe even my family. What I also don't know is how I would react if I were bullied by belligerent police officers. What I also don't know is how I would feel if I were African-American? And what I also don't know is how I would feel if I were a cop?
So what now? I would encourage you to think very broadly about these issues. There is a problem because it is clear our sensitivity level goes through the roof on these topics. But we must be diligent to listen to all the voices and hear the pain of our brothers and sisters from all races and walks of life. Most importantly, fix what you can fix. The issues are so large in scope, they seem impossible to tackle. But I can teach my children to see the world the way Christs sees the world. I can teach my children to respect law enforcement and do that myself. I can teach my children to be mindful of the horrible history of racism even in our own country and teach them to love all while I practice that myself. I get to control me. And I don't have think any way about any race or any profession or any person other than the way I choose to think. God gave me that freedom. Skin tones and badges will never affect the way I see a person because I choose to see God's children as God's children. I'm all for policies, investigations when wrong-doing is suspected, and addressing hurtful and sinful corporate mindsets. Policies are sometimes needed, but this world will be changed only by people doing right, living right and standing for right in their families and circles of friends. Maybe it will take a generation. Maybe it won't if we decided that's the 'what' we should do now.
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Positive Thoughts & Good Vibes
I'm seeing it more and more. "Granddaddy has surgery, so please send your prayers, positive thoughts and good vibes his way." "I've got a big job interview today, so prayers and positive thoughts are much appreciated." "My daughter is taking a huge exam this afternoon, so any good vibes and prayers for her are welcome."
What does that even mean? Do people really think positive thoughts and good vibes make a difference? Do people think that I can somehow affect the cosmos across time and space if I just believe they'll do good on their exam and send my positive thoughts their way? I know we're really trying to include all our diverse friends when we make those comments, but I'm not sure it's helpful.
I recently heard a quote from Perry Noble that I liked. It went something like this: "In a crisis, you find out if you're an atheist or a Christian." When people send out such request, it is because they are facing a crisis moment. There is a big test, doctor's appointment or family crisis -- and they realize they need all the help they can get. But Christians believe there is only one thing that can help. We believe that we serve the God of all creation who was, is, and is to come. And we believe that He moves and works in history. And we believe that prayer works because He turns His ear to the prayers of His children.
There was a powerful movie out several years ago called Bless the Child. It was kind of a modern day savior story. Satan was actually a popular motivational speaker who's motto was that we had the power within us. All you had to do was believe in yourself. You know...positive thoughts. Good vibes. You see, this is the opposite of the Gospel message. The Gospel of Jesus is that we are a broken mess, and our positive thoughts can't fix anything. They only hide the brokenness within. We don't need more of us. We need more of God.
The first commandment God gave to Moses was that we should not have any other gods before (or besides) Him. It was that 'besides' God that was the problem for Israelites. Pray to God but sacrifice to the agricultural deity just in case. Pray to God but make and offering to the fertility goddess just in case. Pray to God but get some good vibes coming your way, too. What can it hurt?
If you are a Christ Follower -- stop it. Call on your friends to pray and pray like they've never prayed before. But calling on people to send positive thoughts sends a wrong message -- because we don't believe those positive thoughts make a lick of impact. In fact, we are sending a message that there are other alternatives to the work of God in our lives. It's as if we're saying, "God might be an answer for you, but you might just need a good self help book and some positive thoughts." If I am in a crisis, I don't want your good vibes. I want you to pray to the King of Kings to act on my behalf and do what you nor I can do. To move in ways we don't understand and can't comprehend. Isn't that what we all want?
If you are not a Christ Follower - I'm so appreciative of you reading. I understand that you have a much more pluralistic understanding of the universe than I do. I'm grateful we can share ideas across understandings. I'll bet you've had one of those crisis or perhaps there will be one in the years ahead. Do you think that positive thoughts will help? Maybe you do. That's cool. I'm not convinced. Or, are you hoping that maybe there is Something...Someone...out there that will move on your behalf in some kind of supernatural way. I believe there is. And I believe that Someone loves you. And I'd love to pray for you for that Someone to move in your life situation or crisis. I promise you don't want my good vibes or positive thoughts. I'm a mess. I don't know what I'm doing or what's best for you. That Someone does. He wouldn't even mind if you prayed to Him. Why not give it a try the next time you need a little help?
What does that even mean? Do people really think positive thoughts and good vibes make a difference? Do people think that I can somehow affect the cosmos across time and space if I just believe they'll do good on their exam and send my positive thoughts their way? I know we're really trying to include all our diverse friends when we make those comments, but I'm not sure it's helpful.
I recently heard a quote from Perry Noble that I liked. It went something like this: "In a crisis, you find out if you're an atheist or a Christian." When people send out such request, it is because they are facing a crisis moment. There is a big test, doctor's appointment or family crisis -- and they realize they need all the help they can get. But Christians believe there is only one thing that can help. We believe that we serve the God of all creation who was, is, and is to come. And we believe that He moves and works in history. And we believe that prayer works because He turns His ear to the prayers of His children.
There was a powerful movie out several years ago called Bless the Child. It was kind of a modern day savior story. Satan was actually a popular motivational speaker who's motto was that we had the power within us. All you had to do was believe in yourself. You know...positive thoughts. Good vibes. You see, this is the opposite of the Gospel message. The Gospel of Jesus is that we are a broken mess, and our positive thoughts can't fix anything. They only hide the brokenness within. We don't need more of us. We need more of God.
The first commandment God gave to Moses was that we should not have any other gods before (or besides) Him. It was that 'besides' God that was the problem for Israelites. Pray to God but sacrifice to the agricultural deity just in case. Pray to God but make and offering to the fertility goddess just in case. Pray to God but get some good vibes coming your way, too. What can it hurt?
If you are a Christ Follower -- stop it. Call on your friends to pray and pray like they've never prayed before. But calling on people to send positive thoughts sends a wrong message -- because we don't believe those positive thoughts make a lick of impact. In fact, we are sending a message that there are other alternatives to the work of God in our lives. It's as if we're saying, "God might be an answer for you, but you might just need a good self help book and some positive thoughts." If I am in a crisis, I don't want your good vibes. I want you to pray to the King of Kings to act on my behalf and do what you nor I can do. To move in ways we don't understand and can't comprehend. Isn't that what we all want?
If you are not a Christ Follower - I'm so appreciative of you reading. I understand that you have a much more pluralistic understanding of the universe than I do. I'm grateful we can share ideas across understandings. I'll bet you've had one of those crisis or perhaps there will be one in the years ahead. Do you think that positive thoughts will help? Maybe you do. That's cool. I'm not convinced. Or, are you hoping that maybe there is Something...Someone...out there that will move on your behalf in some kind of supernatural way. I believe there is. And I believe that Someone loves you. And I'd love to pray for you for that Someone to move in your life situation or crisis. I promise you don't want my good vibes or positive thoughts. I'm a mess. I don't know what I'm doing or what's best for you. That Someone does. He wouldn't even mind if you prayed to Him. Why not give it a try the next time you need a little help?
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Count Your Blessings
In the last couple of weeks, my wife and I have gone to see The Revenant, with Leonardo DiCaprio, and rented The Martian, with Matt Damon. DiCaprio's character is trying to survive in the pioneer days of America after a vicious bear attack. Damon's character (much less realistically) is stranded on Mars after his crew mistakes him for being dead and has to evacuate the planet they are researching in an emergency. After watching those movies I came to a stark realization: I have never had a bad day in my life.
No, really. I have truly only dealt with emotional pain. Now, that kind of pain hurts. Losing a loved one, getting a broken heart, having your spirit crushed, getting stabbed in the back, becoming 'a number' in a big system, or dealing with a disappointment or disagreement. Those are real pain. But, Good Lord, I went to sleep in my bed and got up the next day and had a bowl of cereal and life went on.
I have never woken up and thought, "My only job today is to survive." I have never had to sleep outside or on another planet. I don't anticipate either of those happening, and the latter seems very unlikely, as I don't think any human has done that yet.
The reality was clear: I have many blessings to count. Yes, there have been hard days (and there will be more to come). Some have endured battles with disease and tragic loss. Those days it feels like all you're trying to do is survive.
But for most of us, we have never or rarely experienced a hard day. So, we find other things to complain about:
No, really. I have truly only dealt with emotional pain. Now, that kind of pain hurts. Losing a loved one, getting a broken heart, having your spirit crushed, getting stabbed in the back, becoming 'a number' in a big system, or dealing with a disappointment or disagreement. Those are real pain. But, Good Lord, I went to sleep in my bed and got up the next day and had a bowl of cereal and life went on.
I have never woken up and thought, "My only job today is to survive." I have never had to sleep outside or on another planet. I don't anticipate either of those happening, and the latter seems very unlikely, as I don't think any human has done that yet.
The reality was clear: I have many blessings to count. Yes, there have been hard days (and there will be more to come). Some have endured battles with disease and tragic loss. Those days it feels like all you're trying to do is survive.
But for most of us, we have never or rarely experienced a hard day. So, we find other things to complain about:
- The weather
- Slow internet
- The A/C going out for a day
- Traffic
- Long meetings
- Paperwork
- Politics
- Food
- There's nothing on TV
- Car not starting
- Someone else's Facebook post
These are truly first world problems, and when we focus on them, we lose sight of the blessing we should be counting. It'll do you a world of good if you'll heed the words of the old hymn: "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done." He has done so much for me, and for that I am thankful. Forgive me, Lord, when I complain and lose sight of gratitude.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Ashley Madison, the Virginia shooting, and our mirror
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." -Hebrews 4:13
I thought all the Ashley Madison clients whose names and emails were laid bare when I saw this passage. I thought about all the men who thought they could 'get by' in secret with their lusts and betrayal. I thought of the secrets that are now no longer secrets that are wrecking marriages as we speak. And I thought about how we all have secrets that could destroy us.
Then, in broad daylight in Virginia, a disgruntled former employee went up and shot two innocent people, a reporter and a camera man, right on live television. Sometimes our sins aren't even secret. The tragedy in Virginia and the tragedy of the Ashley Madison scandal is a reminder of how broken our world is. We are a sinful bunch, killing each other, physically and emotionally. We are selfish and vindictive. We are lustful and quick to react. We are a mess. We need Jesus. We need His forgiveness, and we need him to shape us.
It's so easy to point fingers in these situations. Men seeking sex outside the covenant of marriage is wrong. A man walking up and killing two people is wrong. But we don't really need to be reminded of that, though it does make us feel good sometimes to point a finger. What I am reminded of in these situations is how much we have these things within us, and when we see ugliness on full display, it's a good time to look in the mirror. You might not seek out a secret online affair, but what secret sin are you holding onto? In what ways are we looking outside our closest relationships for affirmation and intimacy? What do we have the capacity to do if we thought we could do it in secret? And how have we let rage boil up in us so hot that we could just kill someone? Maybe we wanted to hit them. Maybe we did. Maybe we just cursed them, to their face or behind their back. Maybe we gave them the ol' 'unfriend' on social media. Maybe we wished they were dead.
This is uncomfortable, but it reminds me that not only does our world need saving, not only do people whose sins have been in the limelight need Jesus. I need saving. I need Jesus. If my life were laid bare, I'd be ashamed of the mean-spirited and hateful thoughts. I'd be ashamed of my anger. I'd be ashamed of my pride. I'd be ashamed of my selfishness. I'd be ashamed. You would be, too. I am convinced that the ONLY way this world will find peace and rest is if we each, individually, allow Jesus to change our hearts. I believe that kind of change has the capacity to rub off on people.
I thought all the Ashley Madison clients whose names and emails were laid bare when I saw this passage. I thought about all the men who thought they could 'get by' in secret with their lusts and betrayal. I thought of the secrets that are now no longer secrets that are wrecking marriages as we speak. And I thought about how we all have secrets that could destroy us.
Then, in broad daylight in Virginia, a disgruntled former employee went up and shot two innocent people, a reporter and a camera man, right on live television. Sometimes our sins aren't even secret. The tragedy in Virginia and the tragedy of the Ashley Madison scandal is a reminder of how broken our world is. We are a sinful bunch, killing each other, physically and emotionally. We are selfish and vindictive. We are lustful and quick to react. We are a mess. We need Jesus. We need His forgiveness, and we need him to shape us.
It's so easy to point fingers in these situations. Men seeking sex outside the covenant of marriage is wrong. A man walking up and killing two people is wrong. But we don't really need to be reminded of that, though it does make us feel good sometimes to point a finger. What I am reminded of in these situations is how much we have these things within us, and when we see ugliness on full display, it's a good time to look in the mirror. You might not seek out a secret online affair, but what secret sin are you holding onto? In what ways are we looking outside our closest relationships for affirmation and intimacy? What do we have the capacity to do if we thought we could do it in secret? And how have we let rage boil up in us so hot that we could just kill someone? Maybe we wanted to hit them. Maybe we did. Maybe we just cursed them, to their face or behind their back. Maybe we gave them the ol' 'unfriend' on social media. Maybe we wished they were dead.
This is uncomfortable, but it reminds me that not only does our world need saving, not only do people whose sins have been in the limelight need Jesus. I need saving. I need Jesus. If my life were laid bare, I'd be ashamed of the mean-spirited and hateful thoughts. I'd be ashamed of my anger. I'd be ashamed of my pride. I'd be ashamed of my selfishness. I'd be ashamed. You would be, too. I am convinced that the ONLY way this world will find peace and rest is if we each, individually, allow Jesus to change our hearts. I believe that kind of change has the capacity to rub off on people.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Too Close to Home
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| The Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney |
The voice was simply unmistakable. It had become a staple of my trips to D.C. At my first orientation at Wesley Theological Seminary, I remember hearing his voice. Clementa Pinckney had a voice you simply couldn't forget. It must have been what James Earl Jones sounded like 30-40 years ago. Clementa and I were working on our Doctorate of Ministry in Church Leadership at Wesley. After seeing all my Georgia Bulldog apparel, he struck up our first conversation because his cousin, Sanders Commings, played for the Dawgs from '09-'12. We were suite mates during one of my stays there. I looked forward to seeing him, sharing a few conversations with him and hearing his wonderful voice when I'd go up for classes. Clementa was just a beautiful man.
That's why Charleston just hits too close to home. Clementa was the Senior Pastor at Mother Emanuel AME Church, and he was a friend. A shooter marched into a prayer meeting killing nine people. it was close to home. The shooter once attended the high school where my brother teaches and where my nephew is a rising senior. It's just too close to home. South Carolina is my home state. It's just too close to home. I'm a United Methodist Pastor and Mother Emanuel was a sister Methodist Church from the African Methodist Episcopal tradition. It's too close to home. My church gathers for prayer meetings. It's too close to home.
Except for one thing. I'm white. The last few months have seen our country struggle with violence, anger and racially charged tension. This is the second of those that has hit close to home. My time at Wesley also allowed me the privilege of gaining a Baltimore City Councilwoman as a friend. I am strangely more connected to these issues than ever before. It's close to home. But I'm white.
What being white, and particularly a white Christian, means for me now is naming the reality that I don't fully understand the hurt, anger, fear and frustration of our African-American brothers and sisters. To say that I understand how ALL OF THIS feels is disingenuous and false. To say that race isn't an issue in all of this is insensitive and wrong.
But I do ache for our land, and I hope you do, too. So what I want to say is that I weep for our broken world. I mourn for those who were lost and their families that remain. I stand with my African-American brothers and sisters. I work for justice. I pray for those who think hate and violence are the answer. I long for healing in our hearts. I hope for grace and forgiveness to become a reality in this world.
Let those of us who are white not pretend that there aren't real issues involving race. Let those of us that are Christian not offer trite answers to this ugliness. Let those of us who are African-American believe that there are many of us from all races that stand with you and want to see justice in our world. Let the people of God BE THE CHURCH in and for this broken world. And most of all, let the Lord of love heal our land.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Tragedy
Yesterday, the state of Georgia was rocked with the news of five young Georgia Southern students who were killed in a multi-car wreck on I-16. The five young women were nursing students on the way to a clinical in Savannah. From the pictures I've seen of them on social media, they were full of life and enthusiasm. Sometimes you can see it in a smile. I thought of a few of my dearest friends who have daughters at GSU. It could have been them. They're about the same age. It hits close to home.
Simply, there is not real answer for tragedy. Shame us when we try to find one. God did NOT need five more angels. God's got plenty of angels, and we humans don't become angels anyway. It wasn't 'their time to go.' No one has a time. It wasn't God's will. My God is not in the business of killing young, vibrant college students. Everything does NOT happen for a reason. Sometimes there are no reasons. Sometimes there is simply tragedy that interrupts life.
We live in a broken world where sin, death, and tragedy are a reality. There was a plan in which it was not like this. It was called Eden. But the brokenness of humanity knocked this world off it's axis, and we've seen heartache and tragedy ever since. It was not God's original design that we would ever see death.
To believe that God wills our deaths and controls events is a tragic and unfortunate kind of thinking. It doesn't reveal the true heart of God and the greatest promises of Scripture. Tragedy simply happens. Our broken world rears its ugly head sometimes. Life derails just because it does. There are no reasons, no greater plan, and no answers.
But there are promises. God's promise is that He is with us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He comforts us. He does not and will not abandon us, no matter how bleak it seems. My hope and prayer for those families of those precious girls is that they would know the abiding presence of God in these days and the days to come.
And there is another promise. We weren't supposed to taste death, but we did. The fall of humanity in Genesis carved a path that each of us have followed. Since the beginning, we have had a death problem. God fixed that. That's why Easter matters to us. Those of us who follow Christ are still in the 'Easter Season' in which we are celebrating Christ's resurrection from the grave. We believe Jesus defeated death. And the hope of the Christian is that, in Christ, we will, too. Not only in eternal life, but in the resurrection to come. We really believe that. We believe that God is with us in the valley, and that one day we will rise again, stare death in the face and say, "Where, o death, is your victory; where is your sting?"
In the face of tragedy, let us not say the trite things that end up being hurtful more than helpful. There is no reason for these things. God is as heartbroken as us. He weeps at our broken world. He weeps at our death. But He is with us, and he has been devising a plan to win back His people over death since the beginning. May those who face tragedy rests in His presence, and may we all hope in His promises.
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