Is it OK to be "An Agent of God?"

Photo: Greg K. Dueker

I was recently having a conversation with a young person over coffee and a breakfast sandwich (you know who you are) about the missional life of Christians. As I have written in previous posts, as followers of Christ, we are commissioned as ministers of reconciliation. This is the term used in 2 Corinthians 5, but it seems a little tricky to explain to someone outside informed theological circles. So I tried to say it differently. I made the comment that, as a Christian and a pastor, “I am an agent of God.” Their reaction was surprisingly swift and negative. “That’s a scary thought! That people think they can get away with doing whatever they want because they claim to be ‘agents of God’!” I agreed with him, laughing, “That is a scary thought! But that is not what being an agent of God is about. If we are agents for God, we aren’t free to do whatever we want, nor are we above accountability, but are to represent God well. So the question we need to be asking is not "what can I get away with" but "what is it that God wants to do on earth?” Being an agent of God, or a minister of reconciliation is not a carte blanche but a higher calling to represent a loving and holy God well amid an imperfect world. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21) And we know that Jesus didn’t come to serve himself...but to do the will of the Father.

It isn’t like the Blues Brothers, who thought they couldn’t be caught or stopped because they were “on a mission from God.” Even if our goal is altruistic and just, the end doesn’t justify the means. It is time for God’s judgment to begin in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17). It is a biblical pattern. We should let God’s work of reconciliation begin in our own hearts and then overflow in love, forgiveness, and relational justice to all we encounter instead of tainting them through unregenerate hearts. Jesus said that we can be defiled by what comes out of us. Why would we want to splash any of this on those we meet?

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:20-23).

We are not Agent Smith

It should be clear that we can’t do the work of God using the pride-based, bandwidth-consuming, coercive operating systems of the world. We are all fallible and dependent upon God’s grace daily. The closer we get to God the more we realize our own need to repent, which is one reason that some people try to keep God at a distance. Sadly there are too many pretenders—people who do not truly love and serve Jesus but try to objectify others to satisfy their own desires. They pretend to have drawn near to God, but their pride and sense of entitlement have not been killed. It seems that there are too few authentic agents of God, who by responding to the humble glory of Christ, having been reconciled to God, choose to die to any self-seeking agenda. Instead, they seek to lead others to the place of healing, wholeness, and peace in Christ that God provides. They serve others often without recognition…which is probably why there seem to be so few.

When the opportunity for worldly power comes into play, it will corrupt almost anyone and our ideas and ideals can become twisted. Such selfish thinking leads to abuse, oppression, fights, and even wars. If it is about getting what we want, we will fight against anyone who hinders our desires (James 4:1-3). In God’s plan, we are given a different kind of power, “power from on high” through the coming of the Holy Spirit. Our demonstration of such power will be for the cause of drawing people to the exalted Jesus Christ not to ourselves, our own pet causes, or our own desires. Such works if done in the power of the Holy Spirit will be characterized by what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

What is it that God wants to do in the world? He wants to reconcile the world to himself in Christ, forgiving sin, adopting all who will believe into his family, and giving them eternal life. He desires to bring healing, wholeness, peace, justice, and hope to all mankind. Agents of God are committed to this mission…bringing about heaven on earth—by humble faith, not by force. There should be nothing scary about true agents of God working in the world. I say, “The more the better” for everyone except those who make a living oppressing the weak.

Yet the warning for all who have been commissioned and sent into the world is that we are not immune from personal blind spots and failures only made worse by earthly power and control. Jesus’ brother James wrote to the early Christians,

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18)

They followed his instructions so well that they had turned the world upside-down within a couple of centuries. I long to engage my culture with such wisdom from above because the wisdom from below just doesn’t work! 

His Light at Christmas (Part 3: Being Plugged In To His Power!)

In the first two posts of this mini-series, His Light at Christmas, we have looked at different aspects of how Christmas lights may stand as a metaphor for our life and work as the church, a community of ambassadors for Christ.

Part 1: Being Lights For His Glory—In response to his light…

·         We Should Be Visible Lights

·         We Should Be Unblinking Lights

Part 2: Being Conformed to His Image—In response to his likeness…

·         We Should Shine as Attractive Lights, Not as an Obnoxious Glare

·         We Should Shine Together as Different Colored Lights in Harmony

This week we will finish our series, in response to his commission, by considering the source of our light, the power we need to be effective witnesses in a dark world.

We are His Line—Being Plugged Into His Power!

God not only created us, and currently sustains us as part of his creation, but he has made us his children through Christ (John 1). We who were once not his people (1 Peter 2:10) have been made family and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Christmas Lights Need To Be Plugged Into A Power Source

Scripture says that Jesus is "upholding all things by the word of His power." Further, Isaiah 8:20 says that if we are not plugged into the Word of God, there is no light in us. We don't have the power to shine as lights unless we are plugged in. Our power is found in His Word, as made alive in our hearts by His Spirit.

In Part 2 of The Hobbit trilogy of movies, The Desolation of Smaug, the evil one (Sauron) says to Gandalf the wizard, “There is no light that can defeat the dark!” Just as that line is actually not in Tolkien’s book, it is not in the Bible either. The darkness has not overcome the light of Christ (John 1:5) which enlightens everyone (John 1:9). While it is true that some will choose the darkness over the revealing character of Jesus’ light (John 3:20), all who believe in Christ are no longer bound by darkness (John 12:46)!

The light of God’s glory will uphold us if we hold onto it. It will not only brighten the room, and lift our mood, but it changes the world—one act of justice at a time. Isaiah 58:8-12 proclaims,

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun‑scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well‑watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age‑old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

Christmas Lights Come In Strings

Not only do we need to acknowledge our power source, but also the fact that we are not solitary lights. We have not been redeemed to work alone; rather, we are put into a wonderful string of lights called the Church. 1 John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin."

If we are walking in the light, we have fellowship with one another. That means "a sharing in common." But what do we all have in common? What binds a diverse and dissimilar group of people together? The message (light) and the Master (power source) are not the only common elements. Our mission is one of restoring community! We are blood-bought, and adopted sons who call God our Father (Romans 8:15). We are part of one family!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path… The entrance of Thy word gives light . . ." (Psalm 119:105)

Christmas Lights Are Meant To Be Strung

Strings of lights were not made to be plugged in and left in one big clump, they look much better when they are strung on the tree or the house.

Remember how Jesus told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received power from on high (Acts 1:8)? They obeyed this "plugged-in" part of the command well but failed the "being strung" part of the mission where they were supposed to leave Jerusalem to take the message to Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth until Saul’s persecution was unleashed in Acts 7 and they were forced "out of the package". Is it possible that we too have dwelt too long in sight of Jerusalem, and are too comfortable in our warm close-knit little bundle of Christmas lights? It is time for us to venture out into the dark cold winter and do what we have been empowered to do…shine the love of God in the community of the saints while engaging our cultures for Christ!

We share Christ, and we share the product of Christ working in and through us—light to a darkened world! It is the spiritual light that brings forth spiritual fruit just as the sun brings forth natural fruit. Let's shine forth His light as a glorious, unblinking, multi-colored, plugged-in string of holy Christmas lights on a mission this year. The eyewitnesses' account in Scripture is clear. May our witness be clear as well, so that we might bear fruit unto God's glory. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing... If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5,7,8)

            Merry Christmas! From one part of his string to another!

Christmas Carol: “I Cannot Tell”

I cannot tell why He whom angels worship,

Should set His love upon the sons of men,

Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,

To bring them back, they know not how or when.

But this I know, that He was born of Mary

When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,

And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,

And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,

As with His peace He graced this place of tears,

Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,

The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know, He heals the brokenhearted,

And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,

For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,

How He will claim His earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations

Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,

And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,

And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor

When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all the hearts of men with love are filled.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,

And myriad, myriad human voices sing,

And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:

At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King!

By William Young Fullerton (1857-1932) set to the Irish folk tune Londonderry Air.

His Light at Christmas (Part 2: Being Conformed To His Image!)

In our last post, we talked about how we, in response to Christ's Light-- are to be visible and unblinking lights for his glory. In this, we will continue to consider how we may do this.

In Response to His Likeness— We Are Being Conformed To His Image!

As we continue to consider Hebrews 1:3, building on the outshining of the glory of God in Jesus, and our Being Lights For His Glory we focus on the phrase, that Jesus is “the exact imprint of his nature” (ESV). Leon Morris commented,

"The exact representation of his being" is the fourth of the statements about the Son. "Exact representation" translates charakter, a very unusual word (here only in the NT). Originally it denoted an instrument for engraving and then a mark stamped on that instrument. Hence it came to be used generally of a mark stamped on a thing, the impress of a die. It might be used figuratively, for example, of God as making man in his own image (1 Clement 33:4). In its literal sense it was used of the impression on coins; RSV's "bears the very stamp of his nature" brings out something of this meaning. Here the writer is saying that the Son is an exact representation of God.[1]

Since Jesus is the express image of God’s person that means that when we wonder what God is like we can look at Jesus who accurately reveals the nature of God. Similarly, Colossians 1:15, 19 says that “He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…”

He was made like us in every way so that he could take our sin upon himself (Hebrews 2:14-18) and we could receive his righteousness, becoming like him. As a result, we should be continually more conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) and to His way of shining light to the lost and to each other.

As a small child, putting up the Christmas decorations was really quite easy. I simply watched my Dad do everything and tried to stay out of his way. I have since learned that, as an adult, putting up the lights is not necessarily easy. I remember one sad year which came after my Dad had left our family, and I had to put up our Christmas lights by myself. I remember going out in the December rain, lying down on our cold wet roof, and hanging out over the edge to put up our outdoor lights. I confess to muttering. Then the Christmas tree that was dropped off had a trunk that was too big to fit into our stand and I didn't have any adequate tools to cut and mount it. I confess to growling a bit. Finally, after getting the Christmas tree in the stand and into the house, I found that the tree lights were severely tangled. After hearing a neighbor’s politically incorrect comment about my Christmas decorating skills... I confess to steaming. No wonder I stayed out of the way in previous years while my Dad was putting the lights up! I eventually had to kneel down behind an old wingback chair, right there in our living room, and seek a spiritual "attitude adjustment." For Scripture says,

"Do all thi­ngs without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of Life . . ." (Philippians 2:14-16)

Because we are to shine in his likeness, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how we are to shine.

We Should Shine as Attractive Lights, Not an Obnoxious Glare

The light we shine needs to be tasteful and courteous, rather than rude and overbearing. I think of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas special where both kinds of lights are seen. Snoopy's obnoxiously decorated doghouse contrasts sharply with the humble little tree that the whole Peanuts gang helped to decorate (after hearing Linus quote the Christmas story as found in Luke 2). The world is dying and needs us to shine as Jesus did, not in a loud, tacky, rude, uncaring manner, but in a simple, sincere, spiritual way. We can read in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 about how we should shine to the world.

"And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Our light should gently, consistently, beckon people home, as warm and invitational as the light to which we once responded. The Lord is kind in all his ways. People shouldn’t have to rent a family for the holidays when there is one really big one ready for them through the work of Christ.

The saying that “the Holy Spirit is a gentleman," falls so far short that it makes me cringe. However, we do well to recognize that though often perceptive and bold, truly Spirit-filled witnessing (light-shining) is never rude or pushy, but courteous and gently persistent, centered around a sincere and reconciling relationship. 

We Should Shine Together as Different Colored Lights in Harmony
 

His likeness, as expressed in the Church, is not limited homogenously to a specific ethnicity or culture, nor style or method, as many different parts make up the body of Christ. We are all different and the "colors" of our lights vary (yet all the colors are still light), and we all look good together. Opinion alert: I am not a fan of plain white Christmas lights. While the icicle lights can look good on a house, or a star, if the whole neighborhood is white it tends to make it look cold and sterile. At the same time, the newer LED lights—while beautifully colored—often seem so dark and missing the warmer tones that really brighten the yard and neighborhood. (I still rock the traditional multi-color C-9 bulbs on the house. I am dogmatic about my lights, stressing that those mono-chromatic or even two-color strings of lights are boring and less than beautiful.)

Thankfully, the idea is spreading that the local church should look like their community—reflecting the multi-ethnic and multi-economic make-up of their area—in both their members and leadership. To the extent that we do this, we not only more completely reflect the image of God, but the character of his [one] heavenly kingdom,

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
 and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
 from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
 and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-19)

Not only are we to embrace the various ethnic and cultural colors of our origins as expressing a facet of his likeness, but we also need to be enthusiastic in our varieties of operation as well. If we understand the nature of the Church, we realize we don't have to require others to shine exactly as we do. As long as we give off His light in His likeness as He chooses to use us, together we are on the right path. In Romans 12:4-8, Paul talks about the different “colors” that we as individual members of the body of Christ shine forth. It is written,

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Similarly, we can read in 1 Corinthians 12:4-21, that the body consists of all the parts together. The church is not the church if it is missing someone.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another, the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Let’s shine this Christmas, and in the New Year to come, with his likeness bringing a glow to our life, a smile to our eyes, and a song to our lips!

Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field, abiding,

Watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing;

Yonder shines the infant light:

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar;

Seek the great Desire of nations;

Ye have seen His natal star.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the altar bending,

Watching long in hope and fear;

Suddenly the Lord, descending,

In His temple shall appear.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sinners wrung with true repentance,

Doomed for guilt to endless pains,

Justice now revokes the sentence,

Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Though an Infant now we view Him,

He shall fill His Father’s throne,

Gather all the nations to Him;

Every knee shall then bow down:

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

All creation, join in praising

God, the Father, Spirit, Son,

Evermore your voices raising

To th’ eternal Three in One.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

                    Hymn Angels From the Realm of Glory, by James Montgomery (1816)

 

It is a wonderful truth that God uses us in personal and individually appropriate ways. As we allow the gospel light to shine through us in evangelism and service, we wisely acknowledge our inability to shine with our own power. We need a power source. We testify to the fact that we are plugged into the power source.

Next Post: His Light at Christmas (Part 3: Being Plugged Into His Power)

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[1] (Frank E. Gaebelein, Edt., Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 12, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981], 14)

His Light at Christmas (Part 1: Being Lights For His Glory)

I would like to share my “famous” Christmas light sermon with you all in three short installments. The first one is free. The next two installments will be provided when you comment. OK, you probably know I will post them anyway...

I will be using the metaphor of "Christmas Lights" to call us to a more joyous, welcoming, and authentic witness this season. In the process, I will also indulge some of my own Christmas lighting biases—strictly for educational purposes! 

I pray that this Christmas season is one in which we experience the remarkable freshness of Jesus' joy and peace as perhaps we never have before, for His greater glory and name's sake as we shine forth the light of the gospel. 

During this season, as I think of "the light of the gospel" and as I see the many houses and trees that are decorated with beautiful lights, I am reminded that when Jesus came, he was really the first "Christmas light" to the world. 

And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

 the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:13-16)

Of course, Christ's coming as the light of the world and now our calling, as his followers, to become lights (witnesses) in the world is probably not a new topic to you. 

Yet, I would like to share three characteristics of Christ's exemplary light, hopefully in a fresh way, using the metaphor of Christmas lights.  It is written, in Hebrews 1:3, that God now speaks to us through His Son Jesus, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Let's examine this passage for what it teaches us about Jesus, the Light of the world, our example, and power as we now are called to participate in being light to the world.

I have wonderful childhood memories of each Christmas season when my Dad would put up our old C9 Christmas lights, both outside the house and on the tree.  When he was done, we would go outside in stocking caps and mittens to drink hot chocolate, look at the lights, and "ooh" and "aah". It was a good feeling. But Christ's light is more than a good feeling, though it brings great joy. It is a matter of life and death. 

If we are going to bring the healing, warming touch of God's love to others effectively, we do well to focus on the following three things not just at Christmas but all year round... his Light, Likeness, and Line.

Being Lights For His Glory!

In response to Christ's light, we are now lights for his glory. How can we do this? There are two things I would suggest for starters: we should be visible; and, we should be unblinking. Let’s consider these two lessons drawn from the Christmas lights I grew up with.

We Should Be Visible Lights

As Jesus was the radiant light of God's glory, so, too, we should shine as lights of Jesus' glory. When should we be a light for God's glory? All the time!  Jesus said to his followers,

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

This verse makes me stop and consider what kind of works might cause those outside the church to glorify God in heaven. I would think that it would be something selfless and sacrificially loving.  Letting our light shine doesn’t mean we are putting on a show, or doing good things so that people can see us. I think that generally defeats the point. The Christian’s works of love are not done for personal glory but for the glory of God. They are often done in profound anonymity yet cannot be hidden forever.

So I wonder, what kinds of things can we do that allow people to see past us to the glorious love of the Father? One thing that is always trotted out as an objection to God is the hypocrisy of those who claim to be Christians, so I would think that authentic, consistent, humbly Christ-like living would be key. Another key to our being visible lights for Christ is joy. Are we chronic complainers, faultfinders, and whiners or do we overflow with the joy of our salvation even during difficult, even painful circumstances?

Because we are called to be consistent, continuous witnesses, we should not only be visible, but steadfast. The Jude warns us about “wandering stars” that do not give an accurate witness. Which brings me to my second point…

We Should Be Unblinking Lights

I know that blinking LED lights are trendy these days, but to me, they don’t seem very authentic, restful, or welcoming. I call them “Vegas lights” because they seem to somehow advertise themselves. The first blinking Christmas lights I can remember were the ones on Snoopy’s over-decorated dog house in the classic Merry Christmas Charlie Brown television special.

Even then Charlie Brown thought that even his dog had sold out to the commercialism of the season. My incarnational metaphor reminds me that since Jesus was not a blinking “Vegas-light”, neither should our witness be an "on-again, off-again" kind of light. Our light must be a reflection of his light.  It comes neither from our self-will nor our hard work. It is sourced in the love of God poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It is also written in James 1:17, that, "Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with who there is no variation or shadow of turning."

People living in the dark are drawn to the light. But it's not enough just to light. There is actually a proper way in which to be a light. Thus, simply shining is not enough. We must shine in the way that Jesus would shine.  We are not free to denigrate or coerce others as we see fit. Jesus values people rather than objectifying them. He identifies with them rather than despising them. We are his ambassadors. We represent him. Our light should be unblinking in the sense of consistency, but also in the sense of courage. We don’t close our eyes and turn away from difficult issues and problem people. The thought that we are to face what comes with the eyes of Christ always seems to drive me to my knees in dependence. I can’t give what I don’t have. I don’t have a visible, unblinking light in me without the Christmas gift of God’s love in Christ through the Spirit.

I am reminded of the enlightened words of Isaac Watts’ great Christmas hymn, written about 350 years ago, that we can still sing and live with vigor!

 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.

Next Post: His Lights at Christmas: In Response to His Likeness

Thanksgiving...Gratitude for a Great God

"But thanks be to God,

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Corinthians 15:57)

What does thanksgiving mean to you? Is it a turkey dinner and a football game? Is it a long anticipated family gathering? Is it all of the above wrapped up in a time of celebratory gratitude to God for his blessings?

For what were the Pilgrims thankful to God?

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States that looks back to the when the Pilgrims first came to this continent seeking religious liberty.  Despite a very difficult first year at Plymouth at harvest time the Pilgrims gave thanks abundantly in and for all things. That first thanksgiving was after a year in which 47 out of 102 Pilgrims died (3 months at sea + a cold winter with poor shelters). As their ranks thinned, they drew closer together and prayed even harder—never giving in to despair. In October 1621, 90 Native Americans showed up and brought additional food with them to add to the celebration. However, in November 1621 another ship arrived and dropped off 35 more people with no supplies of any kind. This severely taxed their food supply until the next harvest. That second winter the daily ration was ultimately reduced to 5 kernels of dried corn, yet no one died of starvation. They never despaired but always gave thanks and during really bad times they gave thanks even more. So when the time came for the second thanksgiving celebration the first course was five kernels of corn lest anyone should forget. --

In comparison, Jamestown settlement did not give thanks and as things grew worse they suffered almost an almost 90% death rate including acts of murder and cannibalism.

In 2001, after going through the national turmoil of 9/11, I wrote a poem where I attempted to capture the emotion involved in that Thanksgiving, and perhaps by extension that of Christians around the world throughout the ages.

Thanksgiving at Plymouth

Survived

We’ve made it through

Anno Domini past.

Too many of our company did not.

Persecution and promise driven

Through water (stormy Atlantic),

And fire (raging fevers).

Amalgamated by the fellowship

Suffering . . .

Disease, exposure, exhaustion,

Seeking . . .

Thy face in desperate prayer,

Singing . . .

Praises for Thy tender mercies,

Sowing . . .

In hope we planted what remained!

Surrendered

Our ways, wills, wisdom

At the end of ourselves

Thy Word hast not returned void.

Strengthened

Providential purposes accomplished,

Righteousness’ fruit!

Thy harvest now we thankfully receive.

© Greg K. Dueker

 

In addition to this poem, and the Thanksgiving Day history, here is a pastoral potpourri on thankfulness.

When and how should we give thanks to God?

·         In everything… for it is God's will. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

·         Always... for everything (Ephesians 5:17-20)

·         Abounding in it as our regular habit (Colossians 2:6-7; 3:17)

·         By faith as part of our prayers. (Philippians 4:6-7)

·         Great or Abundant thanks (Psalm 109:30)

Three Characteristics of Biblical Thanksgiving

·       It is not based on Possessions but on Praise. (1 Chronicles 29:13,16) The Hebrew word indicates “to use or hold out the open hand,” which means that we acknowledge that which we have received from God is still God's. We offer it back with the open hand of gratitude. It also has the aspect of “making confession,” for in thanksgiving we confess our dependence on the Lord and praise him for his goodness.

·       It is not based on the Product but the Person. In the Bible there is one reference to being thankful for the Word of God (Psalm 119:62), two references to thanksgiving for salvation, and more than 30 examples of gratitude for God's person and character, his goodness, his loving-kindness, and his Holy Name. They thanked God for Who and What he was, as seen in the things He did.

·       It is Agreeing with the Process & Plan not just the "Pay." The terms used for thankfulness in the New Testament signify “to acknowledge or agree fully” in essence to confess not only thanks for God doing something but for the way God did it. Our gratitude to the Lord ought to be not so much for the end result as it is an agreement with God and His process and plan for getting there.

Outside of the Box...Behind the Curtain

Two of the things that I am thankful for this year are the interactions that I have had with the men and women in my doctoral cohort and the assigned reading I have been laboring to complete. I haven’t always agreed with them, but I have grown either by enlarging my understanding to include new ways of thinking about culture, ethnicity, and ambassadorship or by understanding my position more clearly.

But this process got me thinking about how often we read books and articles that are written from outside our own cultural/religious/political comfort zone. We generally don’t like to read or listen to those that disagree with us or can see through our façade.

Behind the Curtain

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"

Recently I was reading a book by Vinoth Ramachandra a nuclear scientist and Christian theologian from Sri Lanka, Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping Our World. His book reminded me of Dorothy’s little dog Toto in the Wizard of Oz when he pulls back the curtain to reveal the “Wizard” pulling levers in a frantic effort to intimidate Dorothy her and friends. I loved looking at what Ramachandra calls the “Global Myths” (i.e., Terrorism, Religious Violence, Human Rights, Multiculturalism, Science, and Post-colonialism) from an articulate voice outside Western culture. Despite the difficult language used, the point was powerfully delivered. As we say in my family, “That will leave a bruise!” 

While I don’t agree with some of the theological and political positions taken in this book, I have enjoyed the wake-up call. Books like this one have gone a long way toward pulling back the curtain of my own cultural blindness. Christianity is not equivalent to Western/American evangelical culture and our faith can only be strengthened and purified as we read the works of Christians from around the world. So what do I do when I find that the man behind the curtain is me (the dominant culture I am a part of)?

Outside the Box

Creative Commons, Public Domain

Another way of making sure our contemporary faith is balanced is by studying historical theology. It sounds silly, but I was pleasantly surprised by the writings of church fathers like Irenaeus (d. 202), Athanasius (d. 373), and Latin fathers like Augustine (d. 430), as well as believers from the Medieval and Reformation periods. 

There is something confirming in the realization that our faith is not new but has its roots stretching back to the early church. Their words, written in a different era can be very beneficial to us today. Some time ago, I stumbled across these insightful words, written by C.S. Lewis, in an introduction to an English translation of St. Athanasius’ book, On the Incarnation (available for free on Kindle), urging us to read books from outside our contemporary context.

“A new book is still on its trial and the amateur is not in a position to judge it. It has to be tested against the great body of Christian thought down the ages, and all its hidden implications (often unsuspected by the author himself) have to be brought to light…

Every age has its own outlook. It is especially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. All contemporary writers share to some extent the contemporary outlook—even those, like myself, who seem most opposed to it…

Where [modern books] are true they will give us truths which we half knew already. Where they are false they will aggravate the error with which we are already dangerously ill. The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us…

     To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately, we cannot get at them…”[1]

While reading voices that speak from outside my own chrono-cultural context is not a new idea to me, this program has made it a new practice. They have both worked to help me see behind the curtain of my Western dominant culture biases, and get me out of my contemporary box. For that I am thankful. Though honestly, I am even more thankful that I am almost done with this year’s assigned reading!

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[1] Athanasius, St. (2010-03-01). On The Incarnation (Kindle Location 56-80).  . Kindle Edition.