Isaiah 58 ...could this be the desire of God’s heart?
Jesus is neither a conservative nor a liberal, God is seldom an either/or, but graciously and wisely a both/and
Jesus was careful to not be pegged politically…
Jesus, anytime given the opportunity, refused to declare allegiance to any earthly kingdom, but would only refer to His kingdom - which was “not of this world”.
And that is ours. Now, we are to live in the nation God has placed us, among the people of that nation, and live in such a way as to be a blessing, a testimony, a living expression of God’s grace, a community of believers who miraculously love and serve one another as a fellowship.
Jeremiah 27
Yes, where we live is different from the rest of the world…
In our context, we have the privilege to be part of God’s sovereign choosing, to prayerfully consider and cast a vote according to our conscience, to express to God what we believe is right, to grant to another permission to represent us, to govern us.
But that privilege and responsibility, fits into a larger story, a more profound purpose, a divinely appointed ambassadorship.
Our greater responsibility, is to realize - truly - that although we reside here, this is not our home, and therefore, we are live as aliens in this place, as examples of God’s grace - regardless of what is going on around us - to entrust ourselves to God’s sovereignty and trust His rule… (1Peter 2) and live out our responsibilities as God, our Sovereign, commands…
We are to pray for our country and community, the authorities instituted and placed to govern, and live peaceable lives among the people. (1Tim 2)
We are to live in such a way as to bring the kingdom of God to bear… (1Pet 1-3)
We are to be yeast in the dough of our communities, slowly, imperceptibly, infecting our surroundings with the kingdom of God as it infects us - me, and we, together. (Matt 13:33)
And even more so, it is how we live that will make the greatest impact…
What Jesus did was set a standard of love, expressed through mercy and grace. This loving announced the coming of God’s kingdom among us, and perhaps most astonishing, was His declaration was that that coming kingdom was for
all people,
every person who would believe,
that each one who believes would be saved…
...but not merely saved, but, justified, declared acceptable to God, accepted by God in Jesus, regardless of any human distinction; accepted into the kingdom of God, the arms of the Father, opened wide, and invited into the inheritance of our Brother, and Savior, to enjoy fellowship with God’s Spirit now available, open, there for the taking
Jesus swung the doors of the Kingdom wide open…
So much so that the kingdom of heaven is being taken violently - it is there for the taking, and those who have wanted to be wanted, now having been wanted, are clamoring to get in and will not be stopped - all, every, each
And in that kingdom, not everyone is going to look, think, feel, and act the same way - like me…
Jesus’ life and love, His teaching and exhortations, demonstrate that the kingdom is for all, and every, and each and is in so proclaiming that… that the beauty of the kingdom in its diversity - therefore...
All life matters
Every life matters
Each life matters
And if this is true for Him, it must be true for us: recipients of His grace and esteem...
In as much, God having made us all, every, and each, as He intended - He graces us each according to the person we each have been made to be, the person He intends us to be - and this is true of every and all.
God, in His grace, graces us each with attributes of Himself, so that as we each enter, we bring forward what we have been given, and this with others, who each bring their own given attributes of God.
Then, God brings us together and assembles us to be one, to act with one spirit, mind, and purpose - we together: all, every, each are brought together to create the mosaic, the body, that God so gloriously designs and makes. (Matt 25; Rom 12; Eph 4; 1Cor 12; Phil 2)
...so, as recipients of His grace and esteem, we should be glad dispensers of His grace and esteem…
We, as believers, are not all the same and so we ought not expect that we all would be the same (as me) - and this is by God’s design
1Corinthians 12 - lived out as a body, each part having its own purpose and function
1Cor 13:1-2 - what it is when that part acts on its own for its own behalf as to exercise their own attributes, as its own entity - treating the each, as an every, for the sake of all
1Cor 13- - how to live in such a way as to love all, everyone, according to the needs of each…
There is equality in our standing before God - value, worth, purpose, significance - in regard to mercy, grace, and love
God in not prejudicial in regard to love and loving with mercy and grace
He does not play favorites - all have value
That’s why Jesus said the “least in the kingdom will be greater than John” (Matt 11:11)
That’s why James could say “did God not grant the poor the gift of faith” (Ja 2:6)
That’s why Paul could say that every part - all, every, and each - is indispensable
Not to be looked down upon and told they are not needed or welcome
Not to be too highly esteemed (the debate about being disciples of a leader) (1Cor 3; 12-14)
That Paul himself, was the “worst of all sinners and the least of all men” and yet chosen - loved by and used of, God (1Tim 1:15-16)
That’s ultimately why the thief on the cross had immediate forgiveness, redemption, restoration, reconciliation, eternal life with Christ in Paradise - without having DONE anything, at all, but, believe and respond with a contrite and repentant heart, ascending to the truth that this was the Savior of the world. (Luke 23:43)
There is an equity in the manner by which God gives, grants, and bestows graces - as to the role and responsibility of each, He has made them as He desires and wills (Rom 9; 1Cor 12)
God is fair in that He loves each as they need according to the plan that He set forth… According to...
His wisdom
His equitable and loving economy that loves all equally by loving them equitably
And all though in our human minds this seems unfair, just a slight step back and a little consideration, will show us the contrary
That God loves us all equally and without prejudice
That God loves us fairly in that everyone of us is loved without exception
That God loves us lovingly in that everyone of us experiences that love
That God loves us graciously, mercifully, in that He loves us each as He has made us, is creating us (in Christ Jesus), according to how we - by that making and creating - needs to be loved as to be able to see, feel, receive, realize, and be dignified by (as persons) that love
This is why that highly difficult passage “jacob I loved, Esau I hated” can be rightly and justly said - and it is not that God did love the person of Esau, but would hate what Esau would become and do and the legacy he would leave
God granted Esau mercy and grace and by doing so, offered him life, Esau would refuse that love and harbor his own purpose and personal sovereignty
This is God’s work, established according to His wisdom to accomplish His will. It is ours to entrust ourselves to Him and His working (Rom 13; 1Peter 2)
We, as a people are not sovereign - but are subjects
God is sovereign
Our authorities are established to be representative of that sovereign (Rom 13; 1Peter 2)
In the US, our part in the process of God’s placing His sovereign choice in authority is to vote - to transfer our representation to them giving them the right to govern on our behalf, trusting that what they do, they do, with the welfare of the governed in mind, as a representative for the welfare of the governed - and it may not be what we would expect, want, or even what think we need, but we have given someone the right to represent us because we believed that they had the character and competence to do for “me”, us, what needs to be done. By voting for that person, we affirm that
They are capable and able to gather on my behalf all essential information, ascertain, interpret, and apply insight and discernment to understanding the needs of their constituents and make laws, judgments, and policies that apply wisely solutions to the need.
And, because we live in a democratic republic where the majority has dominance, it is up to the minority to respect the decision of the people and trust God’s using those results to establish His governing authority through whom He will accomplish His will
And if we disagree, we wait our turn to vote again
It is ours, as God’s children - to be well informed, to pray, and to vote our conscience, and to entrust ourselves to God’s sovereign will and way
What of unjust laws, immoral and unethical laws, policies, and practices?
Certainly stand in the gap - we each have a sphere in which we are responsible to bring justice to light
But… we must understand that…
They would not be the first, nor with they be the last
This is not God’s first political rodeo...
What is the responsibility of a Christian?
To be salt and light (Matt 5)
To pray for, honor, and respect those placed by God (1Tim 2)
To live a life of impact within the sphere that God has placed us - face to face, heart to heart, life to life
To minister to one another as a body (Rom 12; 1Cor 12)
To share the hope of Chriist with the lost - ministering to their need where able (1Peter 3)
Who is it that we should lend our support? Making a wise choice that represents God’s values…
Ethically:
Who respects the Law and represents it as written?
Who acts according to the law even when it would stand opposed to their opinion or feelings?
Ensuring equal opportunity for the success of all, every, and each
Establishing policies that aid those who have suffered from the inequities of this world
Morally:
Who respects life and honors as sacred? How is that reflected in their policy decisions?
Who advocates for the widow, the orphan, the poor, the alien granting them amnesty, developing policies to assist them and grants them aid?
Who recognizes that wealth distribution is not, nor should not be, a matter of equality, but must be a matter of equitability?
Yes, there is equal opportunity afforded to all (see the laws of the land)
No, there might not be equitability, available to all through no fault of their own (see disasters)
Do we as believers realize that within God’s economy there are directives toward
Work and responsibility?
Taking care of the unfortunate?
Righting wrongs cultural and social wrongs?
Who desires to bring peace - true and actual peace - not by placating every side, but by bringing forward truth and holding people responsible in regard to that truth as they work together to bring points of conflict and disagreement, based on bent, to complement?
I do not believe that any one person can deliver on all of this - well, there is one, but we’ll be waiting a little longer fo Jesus to come back and rule, so, until then - we must choose the many persons we believe will, together, promote all, every, and each of these protections
Be careful what you expect, these are mere human beings...
Be careful not to put your trust in man, for you will only get what a man can give… and a governing body is just a mass of humanity…
Its hard enough with God and the Holy Spirit…
And, if we as a body cannot, will not, bring in our God-given purposeful differences, and allow others to respectfully govern our particular passions to bring about unity among us, how can we possibly expect this to be true among those who do not have or ascribe to the scriptures, for the most part are not endowed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, do not necessarily have the same values as God
This is God’s deal, do not let your heart be troubled, for I have overcome the world…
Throughout history, God has used violent, immoral, and unethical people to accomplish His will for His people, in His people, and through His people. What makes us think that this is going to be any different? That God somehow is, or will be surprised by the outcome of this election and is not prepared for what is next. (1&2Kings; 1&2 Chronicles)
In conclusion…
I have said from the beginning that I believe that much of what has transpired over the course of the last 8-10 months has been to prune and winnow His church, us, you and me - to test of allegiances, our affections, our values, our principles, our character, and our care - but mostly our allegiances and the our affections of our hearts, our citizenship and the responsibility we have to represent our King and share the goodness of His Kingdom
Jesus’ life spoke to and for...
The nationalist Zealot (Simon and Judas) and one’s viewed as national traders (Matthew, Zaccheus)
Elderly (Zacheriah) and the unborn (Jesus and John)
The mother, the father, and the baby equally honored, graciously blessed
Righteous (Nichodemis) and the sinner (Mary, woman caught in adultery)
Dying and the deceased (Luke: the rich man and Lazarus)
The infirmed (woman with bleeding) and the marginalized (lepers and demoniacs)
Men (disciples) and women (supporters)
He uses the characterless letch (Samson, 1&2 Kings) and the religious bigot (Jonah, Peter and the apostles)
The murderer (Saul/Paul) and the kindhearted (Cornelius, the centurion, the jailer)
The fearful (troubled hearts) and the strong (should we call lightning down on them!?)
The list goes on and on
Some things to take into consideration…
From the beginning we were made to work and rest… (Gen 2)
God’s word calls to work for our wages or not eat, praises us for ingenuity, hard work, good planning, faithful keeping, storing appropriately - proverbs, Thes, James plans to make money, Matthew 25 (talents)
But to remember, it is not just for us…
Those with wealth are not to hoard, but to share with others who are less fortunate, underprivileged, marginalized; to look not only to their own interests, but the interests of others (Phil 2); to take care of the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the alien (gleaning; James 1)
From the beginning, God established safeguards and commanded His people to establish them…
The principles of the jubilee was to recognize the inequity of life and life’s circumstances, and that people and families should not be punished for generations by things not having gone their way - so, if they had to sell land, resources, selves into slavery to live or pay off debt due to life’s inequitable circumstance, they were, in time, to be given back their lands
Equity - fair, just, honest, integrous, right, good, honorable, conscientious, reasonable, sensible, objective, neutral, balance. Value, worth, rights
Equitable - balance of power - fair, just, impartial, even-handed, fair-minded, non-discriminatory - fair and square, upfront, on the level, on the up and up
How are these different then these?
Equal - being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value - identical, uniform, comparable, similar, proportionate
A person or thing considered to be the same as another in status or quality
Coequal, like, mage, twin
Be the same as in nimber or amount
Equality - equal, especially in status, rights, opportunities; fairness, justness
Loving someone equally by loving them equitably - the same by loving not the same…
That’s how God does it
That’s how we should do it
To someone who holds to a strict sense of “equal opportunity” and to the victor goes the spoils…
They cannot, nor would they see, the “fairness” or equity involved in giving back to someone something that they themselves had earned, purchased, obtained - and give to someone who lost it and has not necessarily earned it back, by being anything more than the person who once had it - and therefore is treated with mercy and kindness just for being
This is not much different from the principle of “kinsman redeemer” as one who takes responsibility for an underprivileged or “downtrodden” kin with their own resources
We are called to give generously to those who lack - the poor, the widow, the alien - gleaning, Acts 2; James 1
Not to judge the rich (Deut) or the poor (James)
Even the widow - is only eligible to be taken care of if they were old enough to need it, but if they were not, they were not to be put on the widow’s roll…
Of age to work and support self
Has family who can and should care for her
Yes, we are to take care of one another, but we cannot take away the incentive to work, the need for responsibility, and the reality that it takes those who work and succeed to have something to give to those who have need…
And Jesus’ economy is even more radically demanding(?? stringent??)
What are we to do? Examine our lives and attitudes regarding these principles
Some of us are led, quite naturally and by God’s specific design, by the heart
Grace - i want to do right in the right way with the right manner
Others of us are led, in the same way, by our heads
Truth - i want to do the right thing it should be done
What are we to do? See and treat others as God has made, expressed in and by His word, and treated us - mercifully - in Christ Jesus
Where is Jesus in all of this? Why? What is it about Jesus that makes Him see, meet, and treat people the way He does?
He loves His people - they are not only His creation, but the very expression of Himself (Gen 1;2; John 1)
We underestimate God’s love for those who represent Him and His grace to creation, who contain His life and light (Eph 1:9-11; 2:1-7; 1Tim 1:16)
Who are truly the object of His love and esteem, yes, esteem, He dignifies us by His mere attention - let alone:
Mercy (Ps 52; Rom 12:1)
Grace (John 1:16; Rom 4:16; 1Cor 15:10; Eph 2:5,8; Heb 4:16)
Love (John 3:16; 1John 4:10; Rom 5:8)
Indwelling (John 14:26; Eph 1:14; 2Cor 1:22)
Partnership in ministry and mission (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2Cor 5:20; Phil 2:1-11)
Eternal life with HIm and the joy of that union (John 15:11;16:24;17; Heb 12:1-2; 1Jo 1:4)
Bride and groom (John 3:29; Mat 9:15; Rev 19:7)
Brothers and sisters (Mk 3:34; Heb 2:10-12)
Co-heirs (Rom 8:17; Gal 4:7)
Redeemed, reconciled, restored us to
Himself
To ourselves - as the expression of God
All and every
Each
Are meant to be - that we were intended to be...
Made in the image of God (Gen 1; 2)
Born again through Jesus (John 3; 1Peter 1:23)
Indwelled by the very Person of the Spirit of God
Created in Christ Jesus - (Eph 2:8-10; 4:24)
New creations (2Cor 5:17; Col 3:10-12; Gal 6:15; Rev 21:4)
To do good works He has prepared in advance for us to do
Before creation this was in the mind of God (Eph 1:4; 1Pet 1:20)
Unless we take the time to know this - by God’s word, His revelation to us of Himself, and His great love that made us and is for us - we will miss out on seeing that His rest, the Sabbath - (to be our rest in Jesus (Col 3:3)), was made for man, for us, for all of us, for each of us, and we are invited into that rest by faith in Jesus - in Him presence with God, enveloped by God Himself, who has made Himself our Father, our Abba-daddy (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6), that we might find our home, our heart’s soul’s spirit’s home in Him (Gen 1; Mark 2:27; Heb 4:6-7)
You know, that coming home to know the heart of the Father - the heart that has been so patient and tolerant of us and our rebellion (Luke 15:11-24; Rom 2:4; 5). The Heart’s heart that has pursued mankind as he dwelled in God’s glorious creation - all that He has made in the finest expression of His grandeur and glory, His goodness - and then that goodness expressed by what is made, to who is made, for the sake of who is made - His children (Ps 19; Rom 1)
In order for us to know any of this, to truly know, we must know the heart of Jesus expressed in His word, and to know and trust that His word in Truth, His words, are what is true. (John 8:30-32; 2Jo 1:9)
Jesus’ person and life perfectly embodied Truth… and grace, and love…
His heart, governed perfectly by truth… what is right - or just
His mind, truth, beautifully governed mercy and grace… what is good - or beautiful
(John 1:14,17; Col 1:6; 2Jo 1:3; Ps 84:11)
Our hearts and minds are governed by Jesus and one another - mercy, grace, love, and truth…
In as much, we are to be governed by the same - that each of us has a tendency toward one side or the other, as a partial representation of Jesus and His character. As Jesus is governed perfectly and beautifully by the perfect balance of head and heart, truth and grace, truth and mercy, truth and love, so we, as we bring the pieces and parts of Jesus that have been graced to us, graciously govern and wisely hone one another, dragging each of us from where we are, closer to the center where Jesus stands…
This is why churches must create safe spaces for both the exist, honesty and transparency must be promoted through mutual respect, honor, and edification - working from awareness through celebration of one another and even more so, more miraculously, the victory of the “we”, “us”, the oneness of Christ in and among us (Phil 2)
Truth is perfect in its objectivity, because its source is a God who is true and loves truly - as He loves equally - without bias, all and every; He loves equitably - fairly, according to the bent and need of each
For us, as persons, who have been loved perfectly this way, it is ours to strive to do the same… so we must understand that our objectivity depends on one recognizing our bents and laying aside our biases - otherwise we risk judging according to our perspective, not God’s truth and loving as we see fit, not according to their need - or - truth
To not do this for the sake of God’s purposely diverse body we risk…
Skewing our interpretation of truth according to our bent and bias - and seeing it through our personal lens, we are thus not being able to apply it objectively
Gathering confirmation biased based people and resources that affirm our personal bent and bias - and therefore remain the same when God intends for us to be molded and shaped (by His truth and the one another)
Becoming tribalized - divided by dissensions and factions - gathering in our pods of bents and biases - only affirming and confirming ourselves and permitting one another to remain the same.
Seeing God’s diverse attributes in one another is essential for growing into Christ-likeness…
This must be particularly true for followers of Jesus who so strongly stand for and depend on objective truth claims and so want to be able to present objective truth and have it respected, heard and understood as good - for that to be so, we must ourselves practice and express the truth objectively to one another in such a way that we are ourselves are transformed - each, every, and all - together.
John 13:34-35 “...by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”
And again…
John 8:31 “...if you hold to my word (truth, teaching) you are really my disciples”
Our credibility depends our objectivity and our handling of (objective) truth in just that way - objectively, lovingly, more so
To grow, to mature, to become like Jesus, we must be changed… and His truth, changes us…
Admitting to and taking responsibility for our biases, owning up to them, doing our best to lay them aside to see the truth for what it is - God’s truth - and allowing that truth to affect us, is to be governed and transformed by Truth - Jesus - the Word and the Way; the Life and the Truth: who loves us truly, by His truth, without prejudice, without bias, with patience and tolerance - working in, and waiting for our full redemption.
If we are unable to do this, we cannot expect anyone to respect our position or our truth (claims)
And please, do not forget faith - the need for faith and the Spirit to render us able to ascertain truth (objectfully) at all.
Until we as Christ followers admit to and take responsibility for our collective sin and our sometimes sinful attitude and behaviors, own up to them, and make amends, we will continue to:
Lose young believers to progressive ideologies and movements
Lose credibility with unbelievers
Persist in ineffectiveness in the changing of lives and communities through the living gospel our lives are be
We cannot let a national debate cause us to generalize our beliefs and lives to the point where all we can do is see all the people and in doing so miss the each
