Few things amaze me more than the grace of God.
“As desirable in itself that God’s glory should be known, so when known it seems equally reasonable it should be esteemed and delighted in, answerably to its dignity. There is no more reason to esteem it a suitable thing, that there should be an idea in the understanding corresponding unto the glorious object, than that there should be a corresponding affection in the will. If the perfection itself be excellent, the knowledge of it is excellent, and so is the esteem and love of it excellent. And as it is fit that God should love and esteem his own excellence, it is also fit that he should value and esteem the love of his excellency. And if it becomes a being highly to value himself, it is fit that he should love to have himself valued and esteemed. If the idea of God’s perfection in the understanding be valuable, then the love of the heart seems to be more especially valuable, as moral beauty especially consists in the disposition and affection of the heart.” -Jonathan Edwards, The End for Which God Created the World [Part Two, Supposition Three]
How often do I consider that God creates reason for us to desire him because he knows that it will bring him glory, and that he delights not just in me delighting in him, but in the sheer reality that he is being glorified. The infinite glory of God brings the finite understanding of man into an infinitely intimate relationship of excellencies, by which the created, along with the Creator, come to glorify the Creator from the innermost depths of one’s heart. THAT is amazing.
I don’t like the English language, just for the record. One, it’s confusing, and two, it’s dumb. Take the title of this blog, for example. What is “the thing”? I know exactly what I’m talking about (and hopefully others will as well by the end of this), but the title gives absolutely no specifics. The “thing” could be really any number of things, but, well…. this is a pointless rambling, so I will cease. My soapbox remains, but I remove myself from it.
This past weekend I had the privilege of traveling to Indiana, and on my way back had a most eventful series of flights. Compliments to the pilot, who delivered nicely on both ends. On the way to Pheonix, I sat next to a young woman named Juna who politely introduced herself, and we began talking. She was a research microbiologist at a hospital in Portland who was flying back from her brother’s wedding in Indy, which, in and of itself, was most interesting, but the more interesting part of the conversation was her talking about home. Juna grew up in an openly a-religious communal living situation in Southern Indiana that had been founded by her grandfather and 150 other people in the late 60’s. Still more interesting is the reality that her grandfather had previously been a Baptist Pastor. Juna was interested when I told her that had been looking into a church in Indiana to be their minister of Music, and that I was a Christian, and to my surprise (after hearing that she was a-religious) was not repulsed by my faith. She told me that I was “normal” (ha), and not a freaked-out Christian like some others that she had met. Her family began living in this communal society when they found themselves frustrated by the Church which claimed to be true in their community, and yet also was the most hypocritical anti-communal institution that they had seen or experienced, and so her grandfather came to the notion that he could do better on their own.
Juna described the life she grew up in, and interestingly enough, the community that I heard her describing was the community that should be seen among believers today, and yet, more often than not does not exist. She described growing up with people that shared everything, from material goods to emotional burdens, and also looked after the needs of those who were, well, needy. She described the deep sense of connection that she shared with friends in life experience and hardships that now have connected them after moving away, and the way that they were forced to work through problems and arguments because they lived with one another in community, and had no way out of it, so to ignore the problem would just make life miserable. She told me how much she would love to go back someday and raise a family in such an environment because of the great experience that it had been, and then asked me the question that I wasn’t really expecting to answer: “Is that the kind of thing that you are supposed to be doing as a pastor? I mean, if you’re looking after people, and you care about them, do you find that people want to be involved and let you help them be in that kind of community, because, isn’t that what the Church is supposed to be?” I was amazed at her perceptivity. Yes, Juna was absolutely right. That kind of community is what should be lived out in the church among believers, and yet, somehow, the only answer that I could offer to her was “yes, that’s what it should be looking like”, but couldn’t quite put my finger on how I had seen that even in the local church in the past 2 months. I got to share with her what makes Biblical Community look different than just community, and how I am trying to live that out, and she was interested, but obviously skeptical as well. She said that she would probably reconsider Christianity when she saw “believers” (her words) actually living out what they said to be true. She told me that she imagined that I was probably doing what I said, but that she needed to see it “work” for herself, and there was no reason for her to do something hypocritically when she could actually do it for real.
It grieved my heart to know that Juna had been disillusioned by the lack of community in the Church and found what in her mind was a better way, but at the same time saw what is unfortunately a fairly accurate picture of the Church today. Why then do we, having a great hope and reason to demonstrate such community in Christ, allow the world to live out that which they do not understand, and fail to minister the Gospel through our actions? May we be found to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel, and may we be found to be intentional with our fellow believers in our words and actions… may we give a definition to community which is fresh in its reality, but ancient in its call and model. May we be people who are passionate about being the Bride of Christ.
This is an excellent, and helpful article by Bob Kauflin: “Is Repetition a Help or a Hindrance?“
Read it…. but don’t weep.
It’s been insanely hot outside. Yes, that adjective was chosen with care. The kind of heat that makes you think funny things, say funny things and act in odd ways. The kind of heat that makes candles melt in the back of one’s car, and causes other drivers to act like idiots because they’re afraid that their tires are going to melt to the asphalt should they drive any slower than 120 mph. Good grief. It is curious how heat affects us. Today, the air conditioning at church was rather broken, and it was slightly short of comfortable. Sweat and body odor proved to be distractions, and for some, distraction enough to leave the service early. It has been over 105 degrees for the past two weeks, and it’s getting uncomfortable. I’m ready for something different.
I wonder how often in life we do the same with the Lord. We are placed in situations which are rather warm, hot, even, and at the first sign of something uncomfortable we find a good excuse to leave, or at least, to try to. The situation, more likely and often than not, is far from negative, but would place some pressure on us as believers (even sometimes from other believers), and often has significant purpose in the shaping of our eternal perspective. We squirm, find that we would rather be somewhere else to avoid piercing questions (or passages), and do just about anything within our power to “lose the heat” of the moment. Interestingly enough, one of the greatest metaphors in Scripture used for purification and refinement of the saints is that of fire. Should we desire to be refined and shaped more into the image of Christ, it will be a hot process. Isaiah 48 gives a beautiful picture of the Lord’s love for his people in this regard:
“10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another.”
May we be willing to be put through the heat of refinement and endure it, by the grace of God, that we may be found to be creatures who glory in giving the Lord more glory. May we be willing to be uncomfortable and shaped by the power of his Word and the fellowship of His saints according to his perfect design…
Is it hot? Consider that this is intentional….
