0 - 2020 - Jeremiah's Vow

The Power of Wise Counsel

What do you do when you rant? Most people just let it rip. But, that is not my style…usually.

Well yesterday, I wrote something that was pretty “rant-y”. I wrote it, and was about to hit “publish.” But something said I should check with a few people first.

Well, I did and as a result I put the rant in the trash.

One of the lessons of living in this period in history is the reality that once we put something out there, it is impossible to take it back. That is true of inter-personal relationships and it is true of social media.

We are all learning. We are all capable of saying encouraging and beautiful things. But, there is a “bonehead” living in each of us. And, from time to time they want to get out. We just can’t let them.

When I heard back from the people I sought counsel from, I was disappointed. I wanted them to tell me to let it rip. But they didn’t. They told me what they believed was right and wrong with my rant. And the wrong outweighed the right. It would not have produced the effect I wanted.

To be honest, I wanted to say it. But, in the end, wise counsel won out. Wanting to do something is not justification enough to do something foolish.

Now, my “rant” was pretty mild as far as rants go. But it would not have been helpful or kind. It would have felt good, but it would not have advanced the conversation. So, rather than put something out there that I would second guess, I hit delete.

The lesson for me was twofold. First, if you have access to wise counselors, use them. When you do you everyone benefits from it, not just you.

Second, don’t take it personally when what you hear back is not what you wanted. If you trust your counselors, trust their counsel. Pride is a dangerous friend and an even worse counselor.

I am still growing. Still learning. Still in need of reminders that just because it popped in my head does not mean that it needs to escape my lips.

On the Death of Kobe Bryant

The loss of any person to tragic circumstances is hard. Even when they are not well know. But there is something about the death of a person whose name many recognize that makes it more shocking. There is the feeling that there was something of us in them.

As the news of Kobe Bryant’s death spread yesterday, the reaction from social media to my family’s living room was actually quite similar. Shock. Surprise. Sadness. The loss of any person to tragic circumstances is hard. Even when they are not well know. But there is something about the death of a person whose name many recognize that makes it more shocking. There is the feeling that there was something of us in them. That is why there is something else we mourn when a hero dies.

I am not a basketball fan. So, I don’t have much to say about the accolades that Kobe Bryant earned during his career in the National Basketball Association. He has been lauded as one of the greatest of his generation to play the game. Maybe one of the best ever. I will leave that determination to those who know better.

In total, there were nine individuals who perished in the crash. While accidents happen all of the time, when a famous person dies, something happens to the collective consciousness of those who recognize the name. The more recognizable the name, the greater the shock. There is something within us that struggles to let go of the ideas and images of the famous. Their legend possesses an immortality that far exceeds the truth: Famous people die too.

All who bear the mark of the human image must live under the weight of our finitude. We all have an expiration date. We just don’t know when that will be. I think this is what shocks us most.

As a pastor, there were two aspects of these events that cause my heart to grieve. Both of which have to do with the fact I am a father.

Reports indicate that the helicopter was heading to a basketball game for one of his daughters. I can only imagine the joy he had in being able to participate in this moment. To have a child who enjoyed the very game you gave so much of your life to. And to be able to share in it with them. It is a beautiful testament to the great responsibility we who are parents feel for our children. I grieve for his other children who will grow up without the love of their father. I grieve for all the other children who lost parents in the crash as well.

Second, I grieve for the loss of the children in the crash. No parent should bury their child. That is not the way it should happen. But, we live in a world where it does. I don’t know how I would feel if that were my story. I’m not sure anyone really does. I know I looked at my children and was thankful for one more day with them. And that is something we all should do when things like this happen.

Every loss is an opportunity to remember what we still have. The greater the loss, the greater the opportunity. It may not happen in the moment, but I hope and pray that eventually, we can look and see that we are more blessed than we ever thought in spite of the loss or the pain.

I will pray for the families of all who lost a loved one in the crash yesterday. I pray that the love of God find them and comfort them in this time of mourning.

Just Thinking | Quote of the Day

We have to remember that what we are called to do is to serve. In serving we create the environment for change. #justthinking_qotd

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Review of Netflix’s “Messiah”

It is easy to forget that regardless of where you are born there is a common thread within the human experience. A thread I believe exists because we are image-bearers of God.

Introduction

I am always intrigued by the secular world’s attempts at representing religious figures and ideas. The recent release of “Messiah” by Netflix is no different. I watched the first season last week and I will say that, overall, I was impressed by the show.

Let me put my comments about the show by stating upfront some of the pros and cons I had with the show. First, the show was obviously (at least to me) not written by someone who was trying to put one particular religion in a prominent place. The show casts the religious context of the show with the notion that all religions are essentially the same. This is a form of syncretism. It is a significant theological issue (one I disagree with), but I was not surprised by this perspective. Just because most of the world’s largest religions contain the idea of a Messiah does not mean that they are all looking for the same figure.

Second, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that none of the religions represented was maligned or caricatured in too heavy-handed a way. Some of the many tropes used in describing members of the various religions did find their way into the show. But, it was not gross. What I mean is this. The good and bad examples of members of the various religions did not leave me feeling like this was a hatchet job. I am thankful for this.

Third, I could have done with less political posturing. But hey, this is coming from a secular and a generally more liberal-leaning political culture. I’m just glad I was not left wanting to punch my computer and was not yelling at the screen. So there is that.

Let me turn now to my reflections on the show.

There is a Real Yearning Common to the Human Experience

One of the most compelling aspects of the show was illustrating the universal yearning that exists in the human heart for justice, joy, peace, and hope.

It is easy to forget that regardless of where you are born there is a common thread within the human experience. A thread I believe exists because we are image-bearers of God. We all desire to love and be loved. We all want to live with purpose. The show does a good job capturing that money does not solve the problems created by a broken heart.

Some in the show turn toward hope and others turned toward hopelessness. Many in the show were the victims of the circumstances they were found in. Others were the perpetrators. It really was a stark reminder that good and evil can be found anywhere. From across the street to around the world.

The Secular World Inadequately Answers Theological Questions

My second take away from the show was that a secular world-view cannot adequately answer theological questions.

The secular is inherently atheistic. Therefore, it rejects out of hand the possibility of divine intervention and interaction. Without God, some questions have no context. And some problems have no remedy.

As a Christian, I am shocked at how often the Church (and her representatives) surrender the theological/biblical argument to secular thinking. These two systems are not the same. And they are not compatible. We have to recapture a theological worldview that speaks to the real issues of the human experience. The Church has to point to God’s answers for what is troubling the world.

The Political is an Impotent Substitute for Genuine Faith

The final take away was quite simple. I don’t make a habit of talking politics, and I won’t start now. But, I will dip my toe in for a second as a pastor and say this: The political process (at least in the USA), is an inadequate substitute for genuine faith in Christ.

I don’t care who a person votes for. I care about what a person believes. The ballot box is not the sum total of a person’s life or identity. At least it should not be. Some do try to make this the case. And if it is, there will be some serious problems in that person’s relationships with others.

Genuine faith should not be political. It should be prophetic. It should be powerful. It should even be practical. But when it becomes political it shifts from being about serving to getting power.

My Recommendation

If you are interested, watch it. There are some powerful moments throughout. I will be writing about one in the coming week.

If not, don’t.

If you have watched the first season let me know what you think in the comments.

The Beauty of a Singing God

God not only is the reason for our worship, but he rejoices in and with our worship by adding his own glory to the moment.

The following words of the prophet Zephaniah came to me the other morning as I watched a clip of music fans singing the songs of their favorite artists. First the words of the prophet and then the clip.

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:14-17 ESV

Now the clip.

Now, you may be wondering what these two things have in common. It took me a little while to get it as well. So, let me share with you what came to mind.

In this world, we all desire to be acknowledged by those we deem our mentors or admire. The reality is that not everyone get the opportunity shown in this clip. Not everyone get a chance to stand before they one they esteem and show them what they are made of. This is not normal.

However, and this is what I want to illustrate, if we are truly children of God. If we have truly entered into that blessed relationship with God, when we gather for worship we are able to sing before God. We are able to offer to him something he genuinely wants to see and hear.

What makes this interaction even more beautiful is that God joins in the chorus with us. God not only is the reason for our worship, but he rejoices in and with our worship by adding his own glory to the moment.

This may be why some never really enjoy the worship time in their fellowships, they are waiting to be entertained, rather than entering into that time with longing to sing with God the wonderful things he has done.

We have to learn and grow to enjoy the admiration of God more than these fans enjoyed the recognition of their idols.

God is not careless with his stuff

Most people who desire financial blessings have neither the discipline nor the wisdom to receive it. They should not then get mad at God for not blessing them, when God over and over again reveals that he is not a foolish steward of his own creation.

We need to grow up, before we can expect to be trusted with God’s property and resources.

No Resolutions this Year

If you like making resolutions, and it works for you, then go for it. I’ve just realized that it’s not for me.

Last night a few members of my church family gathered together to ring in the New Year. As several shared testimonies of God’s grace and goodness, I made up my mind about one thing I was NOT going to be doing this year. I am not going to be making any resolutions. Instead of resolutions, I want to make commitments.

I know that this may not seem like a big difference. But I think there are three reasons that there is, and I hope to at least argue for them even if you may not agree.

First, making a commitment does not put me on an artificial timetable. This has always been one of the reasons I hated making resolutions. I always felt so much pressure it left me feeling uninspired. However, for me, a commitment is more about pattern change. I want to change the way I do certain things. There are goals and tasks that need doing, but I need to find ways of doing them that don’t leave me frustrated. Frustration is the first step toward abandoning anything we want to do in our lives.

Second, making commitments forces me to evaluate what is truly important to me. There are a few things I have been thinking about for this year. Some of them are personal that I want to do. Others are related to my family and how I lead them. I will be sharing more over the course of the year as I work on these commitments.

Third, as a Christian, the language of commitment is more consistent with what I believe it means to express my faith in the world. The language of covenant and of faithfulness in our labors is closer to making commitments than resolutions. With this as a guiding principle, I felt that continuing to make resolutions was no longer how I wanted approach the start of this year.

If you like making resolutions, and it works for you, then go for it. I’ve just realized that it’s not for me. So, I’m not going to do it. And I already feel better about the start of the year!