Caught in the Grey

     So given the tone that's been set for this election season it's easy to point out that people love to polarize things. We don't like topics to be ...fuzzy. Everything makes so much more sense and becomes so much simpler when we lay it all out in obvious black and white terms. Unfortunately life simply isn't that cut and dry and more often than we'd like we find ourselves dealing with topics that seem devoid of clear absolutes. Luckily we have a tried and true tactic for dealing with these situations, pretend!

     Yes, when things get difficult or complicated many of us find that the best thing to do is just take the fuzzy edges and curved lines and force them into straight, organized, neat little categories. Instead of acknowledging the complex nature of the issue we simply cover our ears and sing la la la until the problem goes away. Of course the problems never really go away but if we keep singing that tune long enough and loud enough we'll gather a whole choir together and we can all sing together making it that much harder to hear anyone else.

     Unfortunately we Christians are just as guilty of this as anyone. Frankly it's easy to understand why, complex topics are difficult to deal with. There are many things that God has laid out neatly and obviously in the Bible. Murder, theft, lying, disobedience, selfishness, homosexuality, etc. The list goes on and on. However, there are a great many things that are either not as clear cut or simply not covered at all.

     So instead of taking the time to know and understand what the Bible actually says on these topics and stopping there, we take our own opinions and cultural norms and enforce them as law. We allow for no wiggle room, no fuzzy edges, and no grace. We can see this clearly by looking back at past standard of appearance. I'm sure you've all heard stories from back in the day when men were constantly checked for hair length and women who wore anything but dresses and skirts were covered in disapproving stares.

     The problem with that kind of thing is of course, who gets to set the standard? The law to ancient Israel does say a thing or two about women not wearing men's clothing and vice versa (Deuteronomy 22:5) but this was in a culture where everyone wore what we might consider a dress by modern reckoning. The point isn't that a girl can't wear pants or that kilts are an abomination, ultimately pants are not considered men's only anymore so a woman wearing them is just wearing women's pants.

     Now I'm not going to run down a list of fuzzy topics but I'm sure you can think of a few. What we need to remember is that truth -real truth- begins and ends with the Word of God. If the Bible doesn't clearly lay it out in no uncertain terms than be willing to give a little. If it isn't illegal, immoral, indecent, or clearly sinful, then give people the benefit of the doubt and maybe talk to them about before running them down.

     The Black and the White are comfortable categories because we don't have to think. We are not called to mindlessness though, we are called to be wise and loving. We are called to be child like not child-ish. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8) and humility kills a million arguments. We are none of us perfect so give the people around you a little latitude and get comfortable with the fuzzy, with the unclear, and with the imprecise. There are many things to stand firmly on to be sure, but lets be sure we're defending God's standard and not our own.

That One Where He Got Political

     Now before all your collective heads explode, keep in mind this blog will not be endorsing a particular candidate. I honestly don't know enough at this point to point anyone in the “right” direction if such a thing even exists. What this post is primarily about is perspective.

     The founding fathers weren't saints and at least one of them wasn't even “Christian” by any means we can judge this long after his death, that being said the concept of this country is decidedly Biblical. The very idea of inalienable rights is one that assumes a higher authority, justice and the rule of law assume objective right and wrong that is the same for citizen and ruler, the breakdown of our government is there to help guard against the inherent sinfulness of humanity, etc., etc.

     Our basis and starting point however do not make this a “Christian Nation.” We must remember that there will be no Christian nation until the return of Christ Himself. Until that day we are just doing the best we can with what and with whom we have.

     We must pray and we must act of course but we are not fighting against those who would destroy a heavenly prescribed theocracy, we are simply supporting what God's Word says is truth. We can and should be outspoken members of our society. By God's grace and providence we have been placed in a country that enjoys great freedoms and where the populace can be deeply involved in their country. That is a great responsibility. Yet we must not let ourselves get lost in the politics and caught up in the perceived drama of the situation. Many of the issues of the day don't even have a black and white Biblical answer, so people are going to disagree and that's okay. It may be hard to fathom but you may just be wrong!

     Regardless of who wins the upcoming election God remains in control. If the candidate you cannot stand wins the seat, God put them there. If the candidate your neighbor loathes but you love wins the seat, God put them there. Either for good or for ill God will give the presidency to whomever He wishes. So be involved and do your part for we are blessed with the responsibility of being a part of how this process and His plan work out but remember that God is ultimately running the show.

     Finally, don't forget that the atheist on the other side of the aisle who's voting for everything you want to see thrown down, needs Jesus. The politician you can't stand? They need the Savior. The whole left/right red/blue machine that seemingly wishes to destroy all you hold dear? It's made up of sinners just like you who need to meet God. Our job in this world is not to make sure that Christian ideals win the day, our job is reflect the light of God into a world that we know is dark and broken.

     We can't keep wasting time running around trying to keep candles from going out. They aren't real to begin with, the only light we have is the flame given to us by God. We aren't stronger together when we're both apart from God and we can't make America Great until it lifts up the name of Jesus in praise. Vote, be involved, be aware; but love and remember where your citizenship truly lies.

“I charge (you) before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords..”

(1 Timothy 6:13-15)

A Broken Flask

“...And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. "And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. "You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

(Luke 7:36-50)

“...as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."

(Mark 14:3-9)

     I remember listening to a sermon given by Paul Washer (if you don't know the name I suggest you look him up but be prepared to be convicted). It was a good sermon but what I really remember is the prayer afterword. I couldn't tell you what he said or what it was about but I remember the passion with which he prayed. Even more than that I remember my reaction and the thoughts that came from that experience. My initial reaction to this man whose voice was cracking as he began to weep and cry out to God was to pull away, to distance myself as from an embarrassing friend while in public. Why was he crying?

     Why wasn't I?

     That second thought came almost immediately. Why wasn't I crying and why did I find it so immediately distasteful? Here was a man not afraid to look the fool and there was I, a man apparently unwilling to do the same. Here was a man cracked and shattered under the weight of the knowledge of God and his position to Him. Here was honesty.

     Looking back I've realized that we are often so unwilling to look foolish or weak, even to ourselves. We hold back tears and we pretend that everything is okay just so we can maintain some pride or self-respect. When Mary came to the feet of Jesus she didn't wait until He was alone. She didn't tip-toe to His side and whisper her need for Him in His ear. She didn't even carefully pour the oil, she broke the flask! That broken bottle meant she could no longer hold any of it for herself. There was no way for Mary to hold on to what was so valuable, she poured it all out for Christ. There was no taking it back.

     We can't hold back, there's no room for pride and no room for self-respect. We know what lurks inside of us and how desperately we need the Savior. We need to be like Mary. We need to be willing to pay the heavy cost. Cry when it's time to cry and weep when it's time to weep, scuff the knees of your pants and look foolish in front of the crowd. I don't want to pull away from the truth, I am someone who needs salvation and so are you.

     This doesn't come easily, or perhaps not readily. I think Mary was able to do what she did because she knew who she was. We can't be willing to pay the price unless we know the cost. Too often we minimize sin and we play down evil but I guarantee you that you are worse than you think. Sin isn't just the odd mistake or poor choice it is the opposite of all that should exist in reality. Think about it, sin and evil were such heavy issues that it took the death of God Himself in human flesh to pay for it! Do you really think there's any way you can cover that cost yourself?

     We need to be more than truth-seekers and students, we need to do more than agree with the general state of mankind, we need to be broken. Take the time to look inward at the dark corners of your soul until you realize that apart from God the darkness doesn't hide in the corners only. Be like a man who cries and prays, be like the woman who falls and weeps; let go of your pride. Break the bottle.