If I Were You
(Lyrics and Music by
Wayne Watson, 1999, “Field of Souls”)
If I were You, if I ran this place
There wouldn’t be no mercy, no
There wouldn’t be no grace
And people that wander off and go astray
I’d make real sure that they would pay
Yeah, that’s what I’d do if I were YouAnd if I were You, if I ran this town
The righteous would be sitting pretty
And the rotten would come tumbling down
Oh, they’d beg and they’d wrangle for a second chance
I’d say, “sorry, boys, but I just can’t”
Yeah, that’s what I’d do if I were YouBut You know me, I’m just a man
Of unclean lips and unclean hands
Some of the thoughts I have
Make me want to run and hide, yeah
Well, I don’t know much, but I observe
You’ve never treated me like I deserve
Your loving arms are always open wide, yeah, yeahOh, well, You know me, I’m just a man
Of unclean lips and unclean hands
Some of the thoughts I have
Make me want to run and hide, run and hide
Well, I don’t know much, but I’ve observed
You’ve never treated me like I’ve deserved
Your loving arms are always open wide, open wideIf I were You, oh, catastrophe, ooh…
I wonder what in the world
Kind of world would this world be
I guess I’ll take my place
Wrapped in amazing grace
Let You be You
Uh-huh, that’s what I’ll do
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do, ooh…
A few days ago, I ate
lunch with some new friends and our conversation ranged in many directions and
then settled in on philosophies about God and man. We come from very different
perspectives on such subjects, but all agreed that the troubles of this world
ultimately come down to humans being cruel to other humans. My friends complemented
me on being a kind, forward-thinking, religious, person. If I had thought
quicker on my feet, I would have quoted Solzhenitsyn’s words to them:
lunch with some new friends and our conversation ranged in many directions and
then settled in on philosophies about God and man. We come from very different
perspectives on such subjects, but all agreed that the troubles of this world
ultimately come down to humans being cruel to other humans. My friends complemented
me on being a kind, forward-thinking, religious, person. If I had thought
quicker on my feet, I would have quoted Solzhenitsyn’s words to them:
“Gradually
it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not
through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either —
but right through every human heart — and through all human hearts. This line
shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed
by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all
hearts, there remains … an unuprooted small corner of evil.
it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not
through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either —
but right through every human heart — and through all human hearts. This line
shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed
by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all
hearts, there remains … an unuprooted small corner of evil.
Since then I have come to understand the truth of all the religions of the
world: They struggle with the evil inside a human being (inside
every human being). It is impossible to expel evil from the world in its
entirety, but it is possible to constrict it within each person.”
The song lyrics quoted
above and Solzhenitsyn’s words tell us what we already know. We are usually
people who strive to be good and do right. We think of ourselves and our
friends as the better part of humanity. Yet, inside all of us lurks evil that
has never been uprooted, a small weed in the corner of our hearts. If God
allowed any of us to “run the world” it would be a catastrophe. That is why God
asks and we do well to acquiesce to letting God be God while we humans take our place “wrapped in amazing grace.” “Uh-huh, that’s what I’ll do.”
above and Solzhenitsyn’s words tell us what we already know. We are usually
people who strive to be good and do right. We think of ourselves and our
friends as the better part of humanity. Yet, inside all of us lurks evil that
has never been uprooted, a small weed in the corner of our hearts. If God
allowed any of us to “run the world” it would be a catastrophe. That is why God
asks and we do well to acquiesce to letting God be God while we humans take our place “wrapped in amazing grace.” “Uh-huh, that’s what I’ll do.”
It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming
It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter is sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’
Jesus is praying
Peter is sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t knowThat Sunday’s a comin’
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t knowThat Sunday’s a comin’
It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinningAnd evil’s grinning
The world’s winning
People are sinningAnd evil’s grinning
It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals
It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit
It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’
It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
But it’s
Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!
Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!
This poem/sermon was
originally delivered by S.
M. Lockridge (Shadrach Meshach Lockridge) (March 7, 1913 – April 4, 2000).
He was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego, California, from
1953 to 1993. He was known as one of the great preachers of his time. He
preached this sermon sometime in the 1950s.
originally delivered by S.
M. Lockridge (Shadrach Meshach Lockridge) (March 7, 1913 – April 4, 2000).
He was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego, California, from
1953 to 1993. He was known as one of the great preachers of his time. He
preached this sermon sometime in the 1950s.
(Click on thumbnails for larger image)
A recent pedestrian fatality
involving an autonomous car is simply the first such tragedy. Science News
reported that a woman died crossing the street when a
self-driving car, deployed by Uber, hit her.[1]
Writers, engineers, and computer science experts had predicted this for some
time. What will this mean specifically for the autonomous car industry and
artificial intelligence in general? What algorithms, if any, need to be
rewritten? What logic did the self-driving car’s onboard computers use in
choosing to enter the area when a human being was also in the street?
involving an autonomous car is simply the first such tragedy. Science News
reported that a woman died crossing the street when a
self-driving car, deployed by Uber, hit her.[1]
Writers, engineers, and computer science experts had predicted this for some
time. What will this mean specifically for the autonomous car industry and
artificial intelligence in general? What algorithms, if any, need to be
rewritten? What logic did the self-driving car’s onboard computers use in
choosing to enter the area when a human being was also in the street?
I have previously discussed this possibility and its implications in other posts.[2] A number of questions now come to mind. Did the car make a
decisive choice to hit the pedestrian to avoid harm to those in the car? Could
the onboard AI have made a different choice? How could the outcome have been changed?
Investigators will need to ask these and several more questions to get to a place of
assigning responsibility for this accident. What will the law have to say? Who
could be fined? What sort of lawsuit could be filed? We await the outcome to
see how manufacturers of autonomous cars might learn from this incident and the
ramifications for all car makers.
decisive choice to hit the pedestrian to avoid harm to those in the car? Could
the onboard AI have made a different choice? How could the outcome have been changed?
Investigators will need to ask these and several more questions to get to a place of
assigning responsibility for this accident. What will the law have to say? Who
could be fined? What sort of lawsuit could be filed? We await the outcome to
see how manufacturers of autonomous cars might learn from this incident and the
ramifications for all car makers.
An ancient Prayer of the Church
(sometimes attributed
to Saint Patrick)
to Saint Patrick)
May the Strength of
God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
– Against the snares of the evil one.
God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
– Against the snares of the evil one.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!
May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.
Juno is a spacecraft that was launched by NASA on August 5, 2011. After
a journey of approximately 3 billion kilometers, Juno was inserted into an elliptical
orbit around Jupiter on July 4, 2016 where it has been orbiting and carrying
out its mission ever since. Its primary mission will last until July of 2018
and the spacecraft will eventually be intentionally crushed and burned up in
the atmosphere of Jupiter. With its on-board instruments and cameras, Juno has
been mapping the structure of the planet surface as well as making observations
of the Jovian atmosphere,[1] at
some points passing as close as about 4,000 kilometers above the atmosphere.
Juno’s cameras have given us the best resolution ever seen of Jupiter’s
polar clouds. It has long been known that the atmosphere of Jupiter is
constantly churned by massive cyclones. One fascinating observation made by
Juno is that the polar storms order themselves in geometric shapes. The south
pole of Jupiter has a storm that is encircled by 5 other cyclones creating a
pentagon-like structure, while Juno has shown that the north polar region has
eight cyclones situated in an octagon-like structure, surrounding a central
polar storm.[2]
polar clouds. It has long been known that the atmosphere of Jupiter is
constantly churned by massive cyclones. One fascinating observation made by
Juno is that the polar storms order themselves in geometric shapes. The south
pole of Jupiter has a storm that is encircled by 5 other cyclones creating a
pentagon-like structure, while Juno has shown that the north polar region has
eight cyclones situated in an octagon-like structure, surrounding a central
polar storm.[2]
Many who have analyzed the data from Juno have been surprised to find geometrically
regular shapes, but such shapes are not without precedence. The Cassini spacecraft
confirmed the presence of a hexagon-shaped storm on Saturn’s north pole, which
was first observed by the Voyager Mission flyby in 1981. We are more familiar
with curves on earth, but the extreme nature of storms on other
worlds can result in structures containing 5, 6, and 8 points. This will be of
great interest to fluid dynamic engineers, and I am quite certain that such
findings on Jupiter and Saturn will lead to scientific experiments that
investigate the mechanisms involved in these regular geometric structures and
the implications for planetary landings and other equally interesting
consequences of atmospheric fluid motion.
regular shapes, but such shapes are not without precedence. The Cassini spacecraft
confirmed the presence of a hexagon-shaped storm on Saturn’s north pole, which
was first observed by the Voyager Mission flyby in 1981. We are more familiar
with curves on earth, but the extreme nature of storms on other
worlds can result in structures containing 5, 6, and 8 points. This will be of
great interest to fluid dynamic engineers, and I am quite certain that such
findings on Jupiter and Saturn will lead to scientific experiments that
investigate the mechanisms involved in these regular geometric structures and
the implications for planetary landings and other equally interesting
consequences of atmospheric fluid motion.
Beyond our scientific fascination with such storms, the raw power and
distinctive structures of these other-wordly storms may also inspire the poets,
writers, and theologians to see and dream about what has been created.
distinctive structures of these other-wordly storms may also inspire the poets,
writers, and theologians to see and dream about what has been created.
Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.[3]
plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.[3]
[1] Wikipedia,
The Free Encyclopedia, s.v. “Juno (Spacecraft),” (accessed
2018-03-13), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)
The Free Encyclopedia, s.v. “Juno (Spacecraft),” (accessed
2018-03-13), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)
[2] Nature volume555, pages216–219 (08
March 2018); doi:10.1038/nature25491
March 2018); doi:10.1038/nature25491
[3] Psalm 107:23-29 New
Living Translation
Living Translation
He may have a “Skyscraper Soul” but his
music continues to reach new heights. Jim Cuddy came to Calgary on March 1 and
brought with him, in his own words, a “cavalcade of stars.” Cuddy
gave plenty of space to his two sons who featured in two or more songs each.
They are up-and-coming musicians who will blaze their own trail, but the proud
father has given them a platform to allow the Canadian public to get to know
them. They show great promise. Barney Bentall was also brought on stage to join
the Jim Cuddy Band for a few songs and added much to the show.
music continues to reach new heights. Jim Cuddy came to Calgary on March 1 and
brought with him, in his own words, a “cavalcade of stars.” Cuddy
gave plenty of space to his two sons who featured in two or more songs each.
They are up-and-coming musicians who will blaze their own trail, but the proud
father has given them a platform to allow the Canadian public to get to know
them. They show great promise. Barney Bentall was also brought on stage to join
the Jim Cuddy Band for a few songs and added much to the show.
Cuddy did a great job of featuring his new
album as well as playing old standards from his Blue Rodeo music. The new music
was sufficiently familiar to the audience as each concert ticket sold included
a digital download of the album “Constellation.” I might have liked to
see a few more songs from Light That
Guides You Home and Skyscraper Soul,
but the Calgary audience was pleased with his Blue Rodeo selections. I was
continually impressed by the level of professionalism of The Jim Cuddy Band.
They are an outstanding collection of musicians who bring their best to the
game at every concert and they were a pleasure to watch. Anne Lindsay, the only
female member of the band, is a virtuoso violinist, and Colin Cripps and Bazil
Donovan (both members of Blue Rodeo) are musicians with many years of studio
and road experience.
album as well as playing old standards from his Blue Rodeo music. The new music
was sufficiently familiar to the audience as each concert ticket sold included
a digital download of the album “Constellation.” I might have liked to
see a few more songs from Light That
Guides You Home and Skyscraper Soul,
but the Calgary audience was pleased with his Blue Rodeo selections. I was
continually impressed by the level of professionalism of The Jim Cuddy Band.
They are an outstanding collection of musicians who bring their best to the
game at every concert and they were a pleasure to watch. Anne Lindsay, the only
female member of the band, is a virtuoso violinist, and Colin Cripps and Bazil
Donovan (both members of Blue Rodeo) are musicians with many years of studio
and road experience.
Jim Cuddy is a Canadian treasure whose
music stands the test of time. The concert was one of the best I have ever
seen.
music stands the test of time. The concert was one of the best I have ever
seen.
Favourite Moment:
Anne Lindsay featured in the song
“Five Days in May.” Lindsay (violin), Steve O’Conner (keyboard), and Colin
Cripps (guitar) filled in the parts that one would have thought might be
missing without Greg Keelor on this amazing Blue Rodeo song.
Anne Lindsay featured in the song
“Five Days in May.” Lindsay (violin), Steve O’Conner (keyboard), and Colin
Cripps (guitar) filled in the parts that one would have thought might be
missing without Greg Keelor on this amazing Blue Rodeo song.
In light of the recent passing of Billy Graham, a reprint of a previous blog is in order.
The Crown, Season 2, Episode 6: Vergangenheit
Written by Peter Morgan
Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
This post contains numerous spoilers and explanations of a current episode of The Crown. You may want to watch the episode before reading this article.
The German word, vergangenheit, has many uses [1] in the German language. Its simplest meaning is “the past.” In some contexts, this can be a “time that has elapsed,” a “forgotten past,” a “past with which some have not yet come to terms,” or a “past that needs to be forgiven.” This is the word the producers and writers chose for Season 2, Episode 6 of the Netflix series, The Crown.
The episode opens with the uncovering of secret Nazi documents which reveal the plans and thought processes of the senior Nazi leadership and their collusion with European leaders prior to and during World War II. Most of the documents are translated and published, while the Marburg papers are labelled confidential and stored away in secret so that the embarrassing contents might never be revealed.
The scene quickly shifts to King George, who, on discovering the contents of the Marburg papers, says that the people of the world must never discover the contents. He says, “Our people would rightfully never forgive us.”
Although most will see the story as a depiction of what to do with a former King (Edward VIII) who wants to rehabilitate his image, the interesting part of this British drama is the question of “forgiveness.” If one notices how many times the word is used in this script, they will get the sense that the discussions between the Head of the Church of England (Queen Elizabeth II) and the unofficial Head of Evangelical Christianity in America (Reverend Billy Graham) are much more than peripheral to the overall development of the episode.
Certainly, we cannot get away from the fact that Her Majesty is wrestling with how to, and whether or not to, forgive her uncle, the former King Edward VIII (and subsequently the Duke of Windsor), for associating and conspiring with Nazi Germany in a failed attempt to recover the throne for himself and his wife who wished to be Queen. In this version of historical-fiction, the Duke of Windsor is seen as one who wanted the throne but could not have it because of the divorced woman he chose to marry. Yet, the question of forgiveness is bigger than one act of pardon or denunciation. Forgiveness here, in the context of this well-written and well-directed program, is about forgiveness in all its forms.
It is about God forgiving individuals.
Billy Graham: “The Bible teaches that all have sinned. … God offers hope for the individual, hope for society, hope for the world.”
It is about forgiving Kings.
Duke of Windsor: “Can a former King be forgiven?”
It is about forgiving a German political movement which brought about the Nazi Party and the horrors of World War II. At one point, we hear the Duke of Windsor suggest that, “It could be argued that we were the ones that made him [Hitler] a monster.”
It is about forgiving oneself.
Billy Graham: “The solution for being unable to forgive: one asks for forgiveness for oneself … and prays for those whom one cannot forgive.”
The drama is played out with commentary provided by the private words spoken between The Reverend Billy Graham and Her Majesty, The Queen. Graham preaches a question and then answers it for the small audience in Windsor Chapel.
Billy Graham: “What is a Christian? … A person in whom Christ dwells. … it means, that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” (Here he references Colossians 1:27.)
The Queen praises Billy Graham, the evangelist, and says, “You speak with such clarity and certainty.… It is lovely to disappear and become just a simple Christian.” By that, she means that it felt good to be in chapel and not feel that she had to be the Head of the Church.
The scenes shift back and forth but we are soon taken to a scene featuring the Duke of Windsor as he writes to his wife in America. He complains that the evangelist, Billy Graham, has disturbed him and says that “all taste for prayer has evaded me.” We begin to see the Duke transformed from a bored socialite to a demon in disguise. One scene ends with a fade to black in which a menacing glint in his eyes is the last thing to fade. When the publication of the Marburg papers becomes inevitable, the Queen Mother remarks that “this was always going to come back to haunt us.”
Yet, The Queen and The Evangelist are eager to want to forgive The Duke and the sins of others, even as they admit to the difficulty of forgiving those who betray and murder their countrymen. At one point the Queen says, “It is time to discuss forgiveness for Uncle David. … Forgiveness is very important to me.” However, when she is confronted with the magnitude of David’s sins, perhaps there is even an allusion here to King David of the Bible, she speaks these harsher words to her uncle,
“We all closed our eyes and ears to what was being said about you. … But when the truth finally came out, it makes a mockery of even the central tenants of Christianity. There is no possibility of my forgiving you; the question is, how on earth can you forgive yourself?”
It is at this point that the key conversation between Billy Graham and The Queen occurs.
The Queen: “I would like to hear your views on forgiveness. Are there circumstances in which one can be a good Christian and not forgive?”
Billy Graham: “The solution for being unable to forgive [is that] one asks for forgiveness for oneself … and prays for those whom one cannot forgive.”
It is refreshing to see a historical-fiction from the UK tell a redeeming story of the power of forgiveness. The writers have truly challenged us to wrestle with the question of forgiveness for war-mongers, Nazis, attention-grasping former Kings, fair-minded Queens, and a good many other sinners. (Perhaps we might even wrestle with the contemporary issue of forgiveness for men who sexually assault or harass women.) In his time as an evangelist, Billy Graham made it clear that the Bible teaches that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Vergangenheit, the episode, asks us significant questions about how far the forgiveness of God could extend and leaves us wondering how we might “forgive others as God has forgiven us” (Matthew 6:14, 15 and Matthew 18:21-35). Oh Lord, “forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12, New Living Translation).
Those of us who follow
Jesus know that we live by grace. The reality is that all of us, Christian,
agnostic, and atheist, are people who do wrong. No matter how hard we try, we
regularly miscommunicate, hurt other people, are prejudiced toward certain
people, are driven by sexual motives, selfish motives, and greedy motives. Such
is the message of Romans 3:23 and 24 (For everyone has sinned; we all fall
short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace,
freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he
freed us from the penalty for our sins). Most of us do not need the Bible to
tell us that we are people who do wrong, and we certainly see bad behaviour in
others. So, those of us who follow Jesus are thankful that we can live by faith
and that God looks graciously upon us through what Jesus has accomplished on
the cross and forgives us for the ways in which we regularly do wrong.
Jesus know that we live by grace. The reality is that all of us, Christian,
agnostic, and atheist, are people who do wrong. No matter how hard we try, we
regularly miscommunicate, hurt other people, are prejudiced toward certain
people, are driven by sexual motives, selfish motives, and greedy motives. Such
is the message of Romans 3:23 and 24 (For everyone has sinned; we all fall
short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace,
freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he
freed us from the penalty for our sins). Most of us do not need the Bible to
tell us that we are people who do wrong, and we certainly see bad behaviour in
others. So, those of us who follow Jesus are thankful that we can live by faith
and that God looks graciously upon us through what Jesus has accomplished on
the cross and forgives us for the ways in which we regularly do wrong.
Sometimes we are
tempted to take this loving, gracious, forgiveness too freely and we Christians
have been known to be some of the most hurtful and unkind people on the planet.
We might recognize our wrong and ask for God’s grace in the quietness of our
homes or church buildings, but the ramifications of our hurtfulness extend out
from us like the aftershock of a major earthquake. Tucked into one of the
lesser-known books of the New Testament of the Bible are these words.
tempted to take this loving, gracious, forgiveness too freely and we Christians
have been known to be some of the most hurtful and unkind people on the planet.
We might recognize our wrong and ask for God’s grace in the quietness of our
homes or church buildings, but the ramifications of our hurtfulness extend out
from us like the aftershock of a major earthquake. Tucked into one of the
lesser-known books of the New Testament of the Bible are these words.
Brothers
and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are
timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are
timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
See
that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other
and to all people.
that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other
and to all people.
Always
be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians
5:14-18
5:14-18
They are a fitting reminder to us that God
calls us to continue to be good and winsome people. We are to be industrious,
appropriately bold, those who stand up for the weak, patient with others,
paying back good for evil done to us, paying forward goodness to all people,
joyful, spiritual, and thankful. In these words, there is no call to angry
protest when our rights are repressed; but there is a call to stand up for the
rights of others who are poor and repressed. None of this is easy! We have just
said that we are “people who do wrong.” It is not easy for us to put aside our
own feelings of hurt to correct the hurt that has been done to others. In this
world where individual rights trump community rights and everyone wants their
voice to be heard, living a life that honours the poor, the oppressed, and the
weak will change the world. Jesus has asked us if we will join him in doing our
best to live this way. He offers us grace when we fail.
calls us to continue to be good and winsome people. We are to be industrious,
appropriately bold, those who stand up for the weak, patient with others,
paying back good for evil done to us, paying forward goodness to all people,
joyful, spiritual, and thankful. In these words, there is no call to angry
protest when our rights are repressed; but there is a call to stand up for the
rights of others who are poor and repressed. None of this is easy! We have just
said that we are “people who do wrong.” It is not easy for us to put aside our
own feelings of hurt to correct the hurt that has been done to others. In this
world where individual rights trump community rights and everyone wants their
voice to be heard, living a life that honours the poor, the oppressed, and the
weak will change the world. Jesus has asked us if we will join him in doing our
best to live this way. He offers us grace when we fail.
“This message from the book of Job remains important today.
since it is so tempting to believe that there is a natural and immediate
connection between our action and rewards and punishments. In the NT, the
disciples, who likely knew the story of Job, are quick to revert to retribution
theology when they encounter a blind man: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
parents, that he should be born blind?’ (John 9:2 NRSV). Jesus immediately
corrects them (‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so
that God’s works might be revealed in him,’ 9:3 NRSV), but even today people
encountering a tragedy find themselves asking, What did I do to deserve this?
Proponents of the prosperity gospel take advantage of this attitude in their
argument that bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good
people. To depart from this way of thinking is frightening to many, because to
do so means abandoning a sense of control.”[1]
since it is so tempting to believe that there is a natural and immediate
connection between our action and rewards and punishments. In the NT, the
disciples, who likely knew the story of Job, are quick to revert to retribution
theology when they encounter a blind man: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
parents, that he should be born blind?’ (John 9:2 NRSV). Jesus immediately
corrects them (‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so
that God’s works might be revealed in him,’ 9:3 NRSV), but even today people
encountering a tragedy find themselves asking, What did I do to deserve this?
Proponents of the prosperity gospel take advantage of this attitude in their
argument that bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good
people. To depart from this way of thinking is frightening to many, because to
do so means abandoning a sense of control.”[1]
[1] Job (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament
Wisdom and Psalms), Baker Academic, 2012
Wisdom and Psalms), Baker Academic, 2012
Commentary by Tremper Longman III; Essay, “The
Theological Message of the Book of Job.”; p. 66, 67.
Theological Message of the Book of Job.”; p. 66, 67.
“Yahweh’s speeches are intended not to give Job an answer to
the question of why he suffers but to re-establish the proper relationship
between God and his human creature. Job has sought God to accuse him of
injustice (40:8), but God, through a display of his power and wisdom, brings
Job to the point where he “repents” (42:1-6). He no longer seeks an answer to
the question of his suffering: he simply bends the knee to God in submission.”[1]
the question of why he suffers but to re-establish the proper relationship
between God and his human creature. Job has sought God to accuse him of
injustice (40:8), but God, through a display of his power and wisdom, brings
Job to the point where he “repents” (42:1-6). He no longer seeks an answer to
the question of his suffering: he simply bends the knee to God in submission.”[1]
[1] Job (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament
Wisdom and Psalms), Baker Academic, 2012
Wisdom and Psalms), Baker Academic, 2012
Commentary by Tremper Longman III; Essay, “The
Theological Message of the Book of Job.”, p. 65.
Theological Message of the Book of Job.”, p. 65.