Hey! No Fair!

Who invented the "line"? Who decided there should be an ordered manner of approach applied to a mob of people all seeking the same thing? Whoever it was, they are both a boon and a burden to us all. So, what do you do when someone "cuts" in line in front of you? How do you feel about the person who gets in line and then "holds the place" so that their friend, or friends, can then come get in line alongside them? Feel a little cheated? Slighted? Of course you do.

Humans have an innate sense of what is "fair." What mechanism of our creation prompts us to know what is fair and what isn't is beyond me. I'm certain that there are psychological reasons and theories positing why we know what is fair and what isn't...I just don't know them, and what's more, with or without social norms and a cultural bias, I still think a human being would know what was fair and what wasn't. We often measure what is fair by what we ourselves have endured to attain the same thing another person is seeking. If we've waited for hours to get in to purchase a new computer, then other people who got there before us, and have therefore waited longer, deserve to have access before us while those who arrived later than us and have therefore waited less time deserve to have access after us.

Here's the hard part: as Christians, we are asked to enforce not what is "fair" but what is merciful and charitable and generous of spirit. Ouch, that hurts, huh? But God is a just God you say, surely He understands the tenet of fairness and would not hold it against us for wanting only what is fair and what is due us on account of our efforts. Well, you should really hope you're wrong and that, in addition to being a just God, He is also, and more often, a merciful and generous God.

You know that guy that you're pissed off at for getting to merge ahead of you in traffic because he rode up the right turn lane and then cut over? You're usually hoping that he gets a ticket or gets stuck behind a slow-driving semi or something, right? Well, think back to when you ran a stop sign or a red light because you were distracted and thinking about something else. What about the time you didn't see that other driver and you changed lanes cutting them off? How about the time you inched up close to the car in front of you so that you wouldn't have to let in the guy trying to "cut in line" in front of you...but then when the guy behind you lets them in, you realize they weren't trying to cut in line at all and really only wanted to get into the turn lane; sort of feel like a jerk now, huh?

Here's the thing: if you were  held accountable for all the jerk moves you've made, intentionally or unintentionally, you'd be just as screwed as the guy you think deserves to be "punished." When you realize that you are just as much in need of mercy as the other guy, it becomes easier for you to let things go, show forgiveness and generosity, and feel like you're actually making a positive impact on your world...which is really what you should be striving to achieve as a Christian, not making a "fair" world.

The Mind of God (Warning: REALLY long one)

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[or: and so] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[or: will be] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”[Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jeremiah 31:33,34]

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[some manuscripts do not have now] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

 Romans - Chapter 11:Verses 25-32

First let me say that Romans is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Second, let me emphasize my love of this book by qualifying it with the statement that I struggle very much with Paul's contributions to the new testament and still I love this book...but that is a blog for another day.

So, on my own advice from the previous blog, I decided to select a passage about acceptance and then try to understand God's intent as set forth by that passage.

In my younger years, I struggled greatly with the idea that a person's blood could make God "love them more" as the "chosen" people. While you could convert to the religion, you couldn't become one of the chosen blood...but, if you were lucky, your children might be able to. Let's also state, for the record, that such a perspective was NOT set forth by God, but rather by the patriarchs of the Israelites; for God, all mortal blood is equal, but the intentions of the heart through which such blood flows, those could set you apart in the eyes of God (another topic for another blog).

According to this passage, God allowed, even "bound [us] over to," become disobedient, "so that He may have mercy on [us] all." So wait, let me get this straight: God allowed, even caused, mankind to become disobedient to His will in order that it should be made apparent to all mankind that we need God's mercy. Well, yeah, actually, that's about it - at least according to Paul. Did I mention that God's nature can become complex the more you try to examine and explain it?

Paul's passage here assumes a few things that, as readers, if you do not also assume, or do not qualify under, then this passage won't apply to you or won't seem logical.
1) The reader understands that there is one true God and that to refuse/disobey His will is to sin
2) We as humans, creations of God, require His mercy and forgiveness of our disobedience in order to be able to draw near to Him
3) Drawing near to God is the purpose of our existence

If you can accept the above premises, then Paul's explanation seems logical. In order to realize how much God loves us, He had to allow us to arrive at a place where we could not fulfill our purpose for existing without the aid of His love. It's sort of like the dating catch 22: you wouldn't know a good guy when you meet him unless you've known a few really awful guys first.

More than explaining those premises and Paul's logic though, if we are to believe Paul's explanation to come even remotely close to the truth, what I would like to focus on is the possibility that the rebellion of mortals is actually a part of the master plan. For whatever reason, humans learn best through misery, tragedy, and suffering. (You think I'm wrong? Look at history or any other socio-religious philosophy. There's a reason initiation into schools of knowledge was/is often accompanied by physical rigors - again, another topic for another blog)

So, did God risk the souls of the rebellious to save the souls of the more timidly doubtful? I don't know. I have no idea why God set up our world and our faith the way He did, or why they have both arrived at their somewhat lamentable states. As a Christian, the single most difficult tenant of my faith is the idea that those who refuse the mercy offered by God through Jesus Christ will perish eternally and never fulfill their purpose for existing: to draw near to God. In the same book that holds this agonizing tenant, I find some semblance of relief:

1) I am not seated at the right hand of God in pure, irreproachable victory...I am therefore (thank God above) never going to be called to judge the soul of another creature. For some who call themselves Christians, the idea that they have been given permission, or have even been tasked, to proclaim the judgment of God against the actions of others, is as natural as breathing; completely obvious. I don't know, maybe I am supposed to warn people against acting on sinful motivations or turning away from God...maybe I'm failing as a Christian because I don't share that most important warning with others...but, I just, I can't believe that I truly know the will of God for another person (geez, isn't it difficult enough to figure out what the will of God is for just me?)

2) God obviously loves all humans, Israelite or not. Our faith posits the stories and trials and triumphs that depict all the ways God has tried to show His love for us. And the above passage does state "so that he may have mercy on them all." But you know, love, in order to be true love, must be returned, and returned freely and happily.

3) Those who find themselves rebelling against God, whether by their own choice or because God "prompted" them to rebel and they failed to recognize their rebellion and seek a way out of it, don't actually care whether they draw closer to God as we know Him as Christians (we will discuss those who never have the opportunity to know about God and Christ in yet another blog post - this is a VERY misunderstood aspect of Christianity). Most non-Christians I have discussed the idea of redemption and damnation with simply don't care whether they are "damned" or if they ever draw closer to the Christian God. They are aware of the Christian faith, they are aware of the God who is at the heart of that faith, they have, in most cases, been asked at some point to embrace our faith and our God...but they made a conscious decision to reject both. While the consequences of that decision may be known or unknown, they were weighed in that person's consideration before choosing to ignore them. And I have to respect that choice. Whether it causes me anguish as a Christian or not, it simply is not my place to dissuade them through cajoling or fear-mongering or empty promises. I can, however, express my contentment with my life, my faith, and my God and offer the opportunity to find out more about any of those to someone who may, one day, wake up in their rebellion and turn to seek God.

One final note about judgment and understanding what is sin: accepting and loving the PERSON, doesn't mean I ignore or accept their ACTIONS; I can love another and still not approve of their choices - in so far as that person doesn't define themselves by their actions, this is a working theory for both parties. But I wasn't told to judge the actions of an unbeliever, I was told to love all men and to chastise my brothers and sisters in the faith when necessary...if they aren't within the faith, I may make them aware of how my faith views their actions, but I cannot, in good conscience, chastise someone who didn't consent to the Christian family values.

Do you think I'm pretty? (fair warning, it's a long one!)

Let's talk appeal.  As a Christian who can count the number of fellow Christians in her circle of acquaintances and friends on just one hand, but who couldn't even hazard a guess as to the number of pagans (neo-, wiccan, or other) that comprise that same circle of acquaintances and friends, I will hazard to say I have a vague understanding of what makes the pagan faiths so appealing to some Christians. I've heard many Christians voice their support of a great portion of the tenants that are woven through the majority of pagan faiths (and really, there isn't a true cohesive "faith" to be had; for many, that's equally appealing)...but those same Christians know that, practitioners of christopaganism aside, for them, it is impossible to marry a faith that calls you to make disciples of all men with a faith that inherently shuns proselytizing. But I don't think it's the lack of a call for evangelism that many find appealing about pagan faiths; I think it is the mystery, the mysticism, the ritual, the balance of a feminine-divine. For some, it is even the practicing of magic, in whatever form, that is most appealing. What it doesn't tend to be, is the lack of ultimate justice (for many pagans, there is no great judgment, no heaven, no hell) or the glorification of the human divine (as Christians, we are exceedingly aware of the wounded nature of mortal man).

So, let's BRIEFLY talk about mysticism, ritual, and the feminine-divine.

The idea that Jesus is someone you can neatly describe in one page or less and who will fit perfectly in your pocket as you go about the mundane affairs of your every day is an approach that began with the very best intent but has lead to one of the greater shames of our faith. Should you build a relationship, a friendship, a romance with your God? YES! By all means, pray to God about all things, from the leaf that fell gracefully across your path as you walked the dog this morning, to the presentation that you have to give at work on Friday, to your friend's sister's mother-in-law who is terminally ill. Draw Him close and know that He cares about every detail of your life, passionately. But having the omniscient Creator of the universe on stand-by all the time doesn't mean He, or any of the gospel about Him, should be taken for granted as something akin to a first-grade textbook. You didn't, by any means, read and assimilate the entirety of God's message or your faith by the time you made it out of youth group or your college bible study. The mysticism was there, IS there, page after page and day after day...but you have to see it. Truly, if you seek mysticism, begin to try and unravel the nature of God. It seems painfully obvious, and simple; He is Love. But then ask yourself Why about any number of things and  you begin to make His nature more complex in an effort to arrive at an explanation. You could read for a lifetime and not find all the answers and all the different facets we as His children have tried to explore and explain. Try reading the Nag Hamadi...or re-reading your Bible with a fresh perspective.

Ritual is a double-edged sword. On one had, it can serve to focus you and sharpen your attention to your faith. On the other, when the ritual becomes empty motions and faded traditions without any real, living meaning and intent behind them; or worse, a means of inspiring fear and uncertainty to make the followers of them afraid and easy to control - then ritual, as a barrier that numbs you to the anguish and ecstasy of true grace, or as the whip wielded by an echelon of some men above others, becomes the very thing that Christ railed against so vehemently. Meditation, candle lighting, the creation and use of an alter, mantras, all these things, are ritual elements that can be used to enrich your pursuit of the Lord. But you must be mindful of how you use them, of the intent behind your use of them. Take, for instance, the rituals that accompany many pagan practices involving magic. In my experience, there are two things that many practitioners of magic seek: power to harness, and control over seemingly uncontrollable aspects of the mortal life. For me, Christians have a source of power and influence over their lives that can be equivalent to magic. If, in order to tap into the "magic" or your Christian faith, you need a simple ritual to invite God into your heart and life, then I say go ahead. But be mindful. The least appealing thing about practicing pagan magic for me has been the idea of inviting an influence to affect my life that I neither know, nor can trust; having nothing occur as a result may be the best outcome you could hope for.

The feminine-divine. I cannot speak for any of you, but for me, I firmly believe that Christ had a balancing female counterpoint. But even if you do not subscribe to the idea of Christ having a help-meet in life, you must surely confirm that the Lord our God has no shape, no gender, no color, no age. He is nothing and He is everything. So why then, should your faith conform to the mortal artifice that there is no Mother in the Father? I personally prefer to approach my God as my Father. But He is not singly Male. He is just as surely She if that is what you need to find a connection. And if you begin to seek out the feminine aspects of our Christian history, I think you may well find plenty of that mysticism we were talking about as well.

The Superman Paradox

 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with Superman? Think about it. You'd never have to wonder who was at the door. You would always have warm coffee. If you burned dinner and smoked up the house, he could clear it right out for you. If your AC broke, he'd have you covered. Not enough time to make a trip to the store AND get to soccer practice? He could make a run to the store and be back before you buckled yourself in. And the phrase "he hung the moon" wouldn't be too far off the mark.

But if you lived with Superman, and every day the incredible and extraordinary were common-place events, wouldn't the novelty wear off? Maybe; but not necessarily.


We are often told that as Christians, we should do two diametrically opposed things: Expect the miraculous to happen every day because God is so amazing and so powerful, and then be awed and amazed and hold such miraculous events in reverence.  Well, it's sort of hard to hold your morning toast in reverence, even if it magically appeared on your plate out of nothing.

This blog is part of managing those two things. Here's how I try to fulfill both expectations:

1) Recognize that miracles take many forms. Is the sudden healing of a sick child a miracle? You betcha. Is the sole survivor of a statistically terminal accident the recipient of miraculous protection and grace? Yep. Is catching every green light on your way to work an act of God? Actually, yes, yes it is (more so if you happen to live in the D.C. metropolitan area like I do). God gives you what you need, and sometimes, many times, what you receive are miracles. Especially designed to fit into your life on that day...even being 20 minutes late for work is a miracle - you may have been late for work, but you were also late for that 3-care pile-up.

2) Invite a friend to have dinner with you and Superman. By this I mean, share your little (and medium, and big, and ridiculously huge) miracles with someone who isn't exposed to them every day. It's like taking a kid to see the ocean for the first time. What you have already accepted, they are still awed and amazed by.

Christians are commanded to share Jesus with all those they meet. Most of us are a little uncomfortable doing that. But are you uncomfortable telling someone you found a $20 in your jeans when you washed them? Are you uncomfortable telling someone you saw a rainbow on the drive home from work? Are you uncomfortable telling someone you got rock-star parking?  No? Good. Next time you tell someone you found a $20 in your jeans, follow up your happy dance with a short, but clear "Thank You Jesus!" to let your audience know who you credit for your blessings.

Discovering Your Blessings, even small ones

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek,[dispute] because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.[opposition] 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth,[room] saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Genesis 26:19-22

In this passage, Isaac's servants discover a well of fresh water. In the middle of a harsh land, a source of fresh water would have been something to consider a great blessing, and having found it a miracle (however mundane) of God's grace. The passage goes on to describe how twice, this blessing was given to Isaac and his camp and twice the blessing was disputed by others. Isaac does something remarkable when the herders of Gerar quarrel with Isaac's servants: Isaac leaves the disputed wells and his servants seek out a different well. This displays two thought processes of Isaac's which we can apply to our own lives:

1) Isaac's actions, leaving the quarreled-over wells (blessings) to others and sending his servants to find a new well, indicate that Isaac had every faith that God would again provide him with the blessing of a well; one that was intended for Isaac.

2) Isaac sent his servants to move on from the disputed wells and find a new well for their camp. It may seem that the blessing God has brought into your life is exactly what you have been waiting for, but, it may be that you are only an avenue through which others will receive the blessing. You should not mourn the loss of "your" blessing, because as Isaac's story shows us, God will provide you with the blessing you need and when he does, there will be no doubts or quarrels accompanying it.

What seemingly "mundane" blessing have you encountered this week? Did someone let you in while commuting to work in the morning? Did you find that parking space you needed? Was the water pitcher filled when you came in from the heat of the day and needed a glass of water?