Wisdom in the Middle of Trials

One of the last books in the New Testament is a letter written by Jesus’ brother James. He wrote to a group of Jesus’ followers who were experiencing the spectrum of life’s hardships. The Jesus followers had scattered to the corners of the Roman world because of ongoing conflict in Israel. The second sentence of James’ letter sets the tone for the rest of the letter. “Count it all joy, … when you meet trials of various kinds,” and “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials.” I don’t know about you, but I feel that “counting it all joy,” and “remaining steadfast,” are MUCH easier read about than done! There are a variety of trials addressed in the letter. Some were relationship trials such as partiality and preferential treatment. Some trials were rooted in disobedience to the principles laid out. Some had to do with the interchange between faith and “works.” Misuse of the tongue, fighting, not praying, or praying with wrong motives, jealousy, boasting about plans, and the behavior of the wealthy, round out the roster of trials. How does a Jesus follower “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trials? One word – WISDOM. James encourages those who he commands to “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trial to ask for WISDOM. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV) Every one of us is “UNDER” a litany of trials. “Trial” could be the 2020 word of the year. James encourages and commands those under trial to ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. Start today, start right now, while you are reading this - ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. You might have heard me or someone else say, “Each of us is either just coming out of a trial, in the middle of a trial or headed into a trial.” That is the nature of life! ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.

Love Does

Five years before the Apostle Paul’s execution in Rome, he wrote to the church in Corinth. He provided them with instructions about living a God honoring life. Paul’s expectation was that the believers in Corinth would become imitators of Jesus and follow the ways of Jesus. The central trait that concerned Paul was imitating and following Jesus’ way of love. Love motivated everything Jesus did and said. Love for his Father and/or love for humanity. Love should be the motivating factor of everything that a Jesus follower does and says. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT) If I could correct every lie of fake news, if I could combat the injustices of vote counters, if I could set straight every wrong by BLM protestors or by corrupt police, but didn’t do it from a motivation of love, my actions would not be beneficial for me or society. If I could foresee election results, policy outcomes and legislative shortcomings, but did not act and speak in love, I would be nothing. If I stood between every protestor and police officers on behalf of protestors or on behalf of the police, If I added my voice to the cacophony of sounds against injustice, but if love didn’t my actions and speech, I have gained nothing and others have gained nothing. The actions and speech that Paul described are good things, superb things, but only if the motive is love. Nothing is accomplished from speeches and activity motivated by self-righteousness, hatred, vengeance, jealousy, or revenge. What is said and done without love only adds to the darkness, pain, and suffering. Paul clarified love this way: Love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful or proud. Love does not demand its own way, doesn’t get irritated, and doesn’t keep score. Love does not rejoice at the sight or sounds of injustice, but rejoices when truth is the winner. Love keeps trying, keeps believing, keeps hoping and striving. Actions and words rooted in love will last forever. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Matt's paraphrase)

Living in the Messy Middle

Over the last few months, I have written some thoughts out about an area of thinking I’m concerned about. I have deleted a few rough drafts. I’ve started over and then trashed my work. I will try it again. Contradictory and polarizing ideas and philosophies are unavoidable and are found in areas such as commerce, environmental struggles, race, family structures, conservative and progressive politics. It is difficult to live a healthful life on the excesses of ideas. An honest and healthy thinker can comprehend a variety of levels of thought and ideas in their mind concurrently. Unhealthy thinkers struggle to hold different levels of thought at the same time. They are unsettled by the tension two opposing thoughts create. A popular story line regarding “Black Lives Matters” and “Blue Lives Matter” is that a person can only be for one of the statements and not both. Why? Are people so superficial that someone must be a supporter of one or the other? The two statements are not mutually exclusive and are only contradictory when people are unable to live with the tension. People of color have been discriminated against, legislated against, “red lined” and slain. History is full of injustices against people of color. The truth is unavoidable, it is uncomfortable to admit, and it creates tension. The only way to deny the tension is to deny the truth. “Black/Colored Lives Matter.” Deep down, no one wants to live in a world without law enforcement. A culture without law enforcement erodes towards lawlessness, chaos and anarchy. Without law enforcement innocent people suffer, inequity is carried out on the powerless, and fear becomes the ruling emotion. “Blue Lives Matter.” Colored Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter are not in conflict except when people want to generate conflict. Those two thoughts are not mutually exclusive except when people’s thinking can only hold one thought and therefore choose one or the other. Two opposing thoughts describe the tension of life. The area of tension is sometimes referred to as the messy middle. Jesus described living and thriving in tension when he told the disciples ““Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16 ESV) We are instructed to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Quick To Listen and Slow to Speak

I’ve spent hours listening over the last few weeks. Listening to preachers, politicians, reporters, farmers, athletes, and many others concerning the protests and race issues our country is swimming through. I’ve been looking over my shoulder, both left and right, because I realize I have “blind spots.” I only see what I see, and I only understand what I understand.

By listening, I’ve learned about the “red line,” “Juan Crow Laws,” “In-groups” and “out-groups.” I’ve learned about the difference between bias, racism and discrimination. I am in elementary school about these issues. I’m learning about “espoused theory” and “theory in use.” I’m listening to descriptions of “white girl hair,” and learning that every person is 99.5 percent identical in genetic makeup. I’ve learned that saying “I don’t see color” is divisive, even when said with or from the motive of inclusiveness and love.

Jesus’ brother James wrote: “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19 NLT) Too often when I face trials and struggles, I am quick to speak and too slow to listen. In the struggle our society is facing, I am intentionally closing my mouth, opening my heart and listening intently. I have an incredible amount to learn about the issues we are all facing.

Micah, the prophet who spoke for God 700 years before Jesus said: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

What is good? What does the Lord require? Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

Jesus, teach me. I want to live justly, practice kindness and walk humbly with you.

Confessing The Sins of America

I have been considering an example from the Jewish Scriptures, when one of the leaders of God’s people confessed the sins of the Jewish people. Daniel had not participated in the sin, but he was part of the people group or nation that perpetuated it.

As a POW in Babylon, Daniel was reading the words of the prophet Jeremiah. As he read, understanding of their situation and the seventy years they were to spend in Babylon broke his heart. Daniel recorded his actions: “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.” Daniel 9:3 NLT

Daniel had not been part of the sin, rebellion, and disobedience, but he was Jewish, and these were the sins of the Jewish people. Daniel Chapter 9 is the record of Daniel’s repentance and confession of the sins of Israel. Daniel saw it as his responsibility as a member of the Jewish nation to confess the sins of his nation. “I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! … We have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen … as you see, our faces are covered with shame. … O LORD, we … are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.’”

Daniel 9:4-11 NLT

I am an American and therefore I am responsible for injustice and need to do my part to bring about justice. I have spent time this week confessing the sins of America. As a nation we have oppressed people and continue to oppress people. We are guilty and we are responsible. I’ve been praying that God will have mercy on America and Americans. I have been praying that God would raise up leaders who can show the way through the racial darkness.

God, have mercy on America and move us forward in racial equality. Amen