Grinchin Again…

"Just like the Grinch, some part of everyone hates Christmas." Chuck Jones - director of the original cartoon rendition of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - uttered these words as he spoke of the appeal of the Grinch in the children's classic. I have to admit, for an instant I shuttered at the statement.

I mean think about all the stuff that happens this time of year. Temperatures drop and snow falls. Holiday lights go up and Christmas music is on every radio station 24/7. Every two-year-olds favorite refrain is "that's mine!!!" People get trampled to death in Walmart or shot in Toys R Us. It's the most wonderful time of the year… OK, maybe I can't fault Jones for holding that perspective.

The fact is the older I have gotten the more I do see parts of Christmas I hate. Some people are enthralled with the gift giving thing, or may be more so the gift getting thing. Others love the symbols and the traditions. Even others love the time off with (or in some cases not with) family. All these are good, but the fact remains that with each and every Christmas that passes I’ve become more disenchanted with the way we celebrate this season.

So many things have tainted my perspective about this holiday. I feel more pressured during this time of year than any other. You know what I am talking about. It’s the pressure to buy presents for people because I don’t want to be rude, rather than because I want to. It’s the pressure to somehow fit all these guilt induced presents into my ever reduced budget. It’s the pressure to somehow have my house look as obnoxious as the other houses on the block because Christmas lights are the measure of a man. If I don’t stop listing things now I think I might crawl up into fetal position and suck my thumb.

Anyway, as I look at all the stuff that pressures me to hate the season and give up on it completely, something in my soul cries out. As a man who follows after Christ, I am humbled. In this moment I realize that this moment is the very reason that this pressure induced season disturbs the masses – myself included. So much of what Christians celebrate is that God the Son became a man to save humanity from the eternal consequence of our sin. And while it is true He came to save us from hell, He came for another reason all together.

If I am saved from something it means I have been saved for something. You see, the fact that I am saved from hell is a bonus; it’s not the greatest reward. I have been saved for Christ. He has saved me, but that isn’t even the most scandalous reality. He didn’t just save me this one time for keeps throughout eternity; He is progressively saving more of my soul each day to live His life to fulfill His purposes for His glory.

So in this moment I can’t help but whisper to the God who took on flesh, “Lord, in the midst of all my ‘grinchin’ I pray save me once again. Save me from myself and the darkness of hell - which I find by the way I do not choose You my every moment. Save me to Yourself by Your workings, past and present, for Your glory. In Your name...”

Just a Thought: An Election Reflection

I know it has been a while since the presidential election has taken place, but the fact is for many it is still a topic of discussion. (Actually, I think I have thought about it more now than I did prior, which I didn’t think was possible.) Talk-show pundits project/predict the ramifications the new regime will have on the economy. The public bickers and/or banters about how momentous a moment this is in our history because for the first time a non-white (ok, at least half non-white) male has been elected to be the leader of this country. I have even heard pastors/preachers proclaim from the pulpit that even though Obama is the “appointed” leader for the next season of our country’s history, he is not necessarily the “anointed” leader.

These are all interesting realities, but it is this last one that has caused me to reflect on this election. Because of this and similar perspectives I have noticed a chasm growing between people who call themselves followers of Christ. It seems that there has been a line drawn in the sand. I have seen notes posted on sites like Facebook entitled “to my Evangelical friends” or “to Christians”. Some of these writers seemed hurt and astonished by the attitudes displayed by those who follow Christ. Whereas others give off the vibe as though they were better than their readers; because they were too holy to vote for Obama or just “edgy” enough to vote for him. No matter which side of the line you choose to stand the fact is the line is still there.

I think this division haunts me and causes me to ask the question “where is a Christ follower supposed to stand?”

The more I look at the way I look at leaders I confess I am not sure I have the best perspective. I have enough baggage with past leaders to realize that my view has been tainted, sullied, and skewed. I do what is necessary to protect myself, and my interests, so that the least amount of damage is done to my situation as possible. But the fact is I don’t necessarily think that is the perspective I am supposed to have.

When I was trying to figure out what God expected of the kings of Israel in the Old Testament I was surprised to see how simple He made it. (I know that comparing the kings of Israel – including Judah – to the presidency doesn’t correlate perfectly, but the fact is this was the most suitable Biblical comparison I see. So, please keep this caveat in mind as I move forward.) Scholars much smarter than I have concluded that when God judged these kings He graded them based on two main criteria – the justice with which he ruled the people of the land and the righteousness with which he walked before God. (This “righteousness” included restoring the proper worship of Yahweh to the temple and destroying the “high places”). Even though this may seem like obvious criteria – this is very reminiscent of the love God/love people motif Jesus modeled - it seems the kings of Israel had issues making the grade. Only 8 kings after Solomon were deemed “good” in Judah and Israel when their lives were over. That’s 8 of 39 kings, and not all 8 of those were “fully” good kings. I’m not a math guy but I know enough to say that ratio doesn’t inspire any delusions of grandeur let alone much real hope.

With these basic criteria of justice for the people and righteousness with God established as the basis of my refined perspective, I have to say that I don’t know where Obama will rank in either. I know what he has said about a lot of things and how he has voted in the past. Actually, I dig some of his positions on social/economic issues; while some his of other positions I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. This is where conviction falls upon my head.

You see if this criteria is what matters, then it honestly doesn’t matter anymore whether I agree with him. It doesn’t matter whether I did or didn’t vote for him. It doesn’t matter that some may or may not like him solely because he’s not fully white. It doesn’t matter that you like or do not like him because you think he’s a closet socialist. It doesn’t matter whether we like or do not like him because of his stance on abortion. From this point on - for the sake of his own soul, the good of this nation, and the glory of God - what matters is that he leads in justice and with righteousness.

Don’t get me wrong, it mattered what we thought and felt about his leadership and track record during the season of voting. It mattered that we sought out and stood in accordance with God’s heart on the issues. But for us who are the Church to now stand on either side of this growing divide and ridicule each other and/or denigrate the president-elect is not an option that is beneficial.

So, in this moment my understanding of what matters deepens a bit more. The way God judged leadership is different than the way I have judged it in the past. The more I begin to see the weight of life, love, and leadership from the lens of justice for people and righteousness with God I stand undone. Who could stand?

In light of this I am seeing a response that I need to embrace for the sake of my soul, the good of this nation, and the glory of God. The only worthy response I see is prayer. I confess, I have not been one to pray for the president on a consistent basis. It was just never my bag. But now that I am accountable to what I see, I am compelled to commit to this response.

As I said the question before me is “where is a follower of Christ to stand?” Now the answer is clichéd but appropriate. I am to “stand on my knees.” So, this is my simple prayer for the president elect as he endeavors to lead this nation. “Lord have mercy on this man. Tutor his heart to walk in righteousness with You that Your justice may be known in our day. In our time make this known, in Jesus name…”

Gethsemane (poem)

There in that place His humanness

claimed its right to be known.
There in that place the darkness
pressed in as He stood alone.
There in that place the silence
decried, denounced,and disowned His belief.
There in that place the tears
brought little to no real relief.

Here in this place my humanness
exposes the truth - I’m not what I thought.
Here in this place the darkness
hides the reality of the fight being fought.
Here in this place the silence
speaks clearly, loudly, and all too much.
Here in this place the tears
fall as I reach for the solace of Your touch.

There He was reminded of the strength He had;
So there He proclaimed “not Mine, but Thine.”
Here I’m reminded You’ve been where I am;
So here with You I say “not mine, but Thine.”

(inspired by a sermon by my pastor 10/2008 - picture from http://impressionsofjesus.com)

borrowing words...

Exodus 33:15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Have you ever had a moment in your life where you realize you are not as strong, as smart, as charming, or as “(you fill in the blank)” as you thought you were? They tend to leave us - leave me - feeling vulnerable, helpless, and even small. Then we get so overwhelmed that instead of moving forward we freeze and are paralyzed in the midst of our insecurity. It doesn’t matter what “moving forward” means, because when you have this kind of experience it affects every step ahead of you – relationships, job, education, etc.

In these moments of smallness we are in touch with and touched by our need, our lack, and our frailty. I think in some ways this is why this passage seems to resonate within my soul. Moses speaks what I often feel. Do you hear the desperation I hear in his plea? "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” The way I say it sounds more like, “God, I ain’t moving, I got nothing! Where You at!?!”

However, as I have let this dialogue between God and Moses stew in my mind I have come to a harsh realization. Even though I may say something similar, the fact is there is a glaring difference between Moses’ prayer and mine. All too often, the reason that I come to the place of this prayer is that I am concerned more with how I feel about myself or how others perceive me than anything else. I want God on my side because I don’t want to feel like an idiot or because I don’t want to fail miserably. As I think through the reality of how petty and self-consumed I can be I search for ways to justify myself.

So, I shift the mantle of responsibility – actually culpability would be the proper word. I will do whatever it takes in my mind to say that someone or something else should shoulder the blame for my seasons of spiritual malaise. “I don’t have the energy to read the Bible because I have two kids under two and I need sleep.” “I haven’t been the most consistent in my prayer life, because I am juggling two jobs at 60 hours a week.” It seems like the more I think about it the more I just want find my “happy place” (there’s my Happy Gilmore reference for the day).

Since shifting the blame doesn’t really work I speculate and surmise that Moses was most likely just as much of an insecure schmuck as I am. I understand there were times his faith seemed trivial, but the fact is this particular passage doesn’t lend itself to that. This moment wasn’t one I could manipulate. You see even though Moses and I pray similar prayers, the difference is clear. Unlike him I forget the next step. Verse 18 is telling of the condition of his heart. “Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’” The man’s yearning comes into focus in this moment. He wants to see God as He is; not as he conceives, wants, or wishes God would be. I have prayed that prayer in verse 18 before, but I confess I don’t pray it enough or like I once did. As I dwell in this passage, again I realize I do not pray this expectantly anymore. My hearts deepest longing strays so far from, “show me Your glory!” The concern of Moses is not for his own good but for glory of Yahweh to be known.

All this leads me to the reality of this moment. The smallness of my soul stands very large before my eyes. However, I sense in me a heart that is tired of being captive to this callousness to which I have grown accustomed. Now I understand that I need to echo this prayer once more. So, I borrow the words of a man God spoke to as a friend and I pray, “Lord, show me your glory!”

Remembering Exodus 33...

Exodus 33
12 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Have you ever had a passage of Scripture get stuck in your mind for what seems like months on end? Did it ever get to the point where no matter how hard you tried to read/study other things you were forced to admit that all you could think about was "that passage"? Well that's where I am and the above passage is what has been haunting the hollows of my mind. The funny thing is that this isn’t the first time this passage has done this to me.

If it’s ok with you, I want take the next couple of days and see what God does with this passage and this man a “second time around.” So, just know that this Scripture will be the basic plot of my next blog. Feel free to comment on what this passage does in you as you see it, I would enjoy the dialogue. However, right now it’s late and I need sleep, thus I must bid you good night… good night!