Posted in Different Moments, Spoken Word

a thanksgiving poem.

Posted on by Wick

Political streamers swept up from the floor
The leaves have almost all fallen
Some are preparing a quiet meal in
Others have family calling

Just before lights begin to twinkle
Before the garlands are hung
Before the sleigh bells are heard in the distance
Before any carols are sung

This week we pause, in advance of Advent
Giving thanks to Jesus for it all
The highs and the lows, He is here with us
Available whenever we call

So ask, on behalf of all those who gather
Seek, in the midst of your quiet
Knock, on the door of His Spirit today
You will, by His grace, be blessed by it

Remember there is, just beneath the surface
God’s Kingdom yet to be discovered
Revealed each time His Love is chosen
Especially toward those who are “othered”

So many face sickness, loss, or anxiety
Yet each day still passes to more
Know you are Loved by our Heavenly Father
Each moment with you, He adores

“Lord, we are thankful for all You have given
And all You have promised to do
In a world filled with changes each season
We draw near, abiding in You.”

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

healing our wounds.

Posted on by Wick

Today I’m writing about a topic that many others have written much better on already. Yet, I still find some people have not heard of these things, and so I write in case I can help even one person hear a new perspective. I am husband to a woman responding to God’s call on her life for pastoral ministry, and I’ve benefitted from her ministry for over 20 years already. I am father to 4 daughters whom God has already spoken through, and who are all completely capable in responding to His Spirit as He empowers and calls them. I serve in a denomination that believes in an egalitarian approach to homes, the church, workplaces, and society. We do not believe men and women are the same in all things. Yet we believe our differences have nothing to do with what qualifies an individual for service in the Kingdom of God. In fact, our differences are often why it’s so important to invite both men and women into places that were for a long time (and in many places still) “off limits” to women.

In the book of Genesis, chapter 1:26-31, we see an egalitarian humanity from the beginning. “..in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God blessed them (plural), and said “I have given you (plural)….”. (Yes, chapter 2 offers some distinctions in that creative process, but it reflects the incompleteness of male without female – not a hierarchal structure. Woman was created as a “helper” in 2:18, and that word is the same word used to describe God throughout the Old Testament, which obviously could not mean anything subservient to Man.) But humanity was tempted to turn from fully trusting in God’s provision to discover what they can provide/acquire on their own. This disconnect from trusting in Him as the source of our life and identity naturally brought separation and vulnerability – wounding our relationships with God, one another, and His creation. We see that multi-faceted impact illustrated in Genesis 3:16-19:

  1. Childbirth will be a painful process.
  2. Women will be ruled over by men.
  3. The ground will require intense work to become fruitful.

As these describe the impact of sin on our world, it should be no surprise that followers of Jesus (who came to set us free from sin and it’s impact) are interested in “undoing” these things. We’ve been reconciled to God, and so we join His Kingdom activity in our world today by the healing power of His Holy Spirit.

The first and last of things from this list aren’t usually debated as worth time and effort toward healing. No one declares the goodness of the pain involved in childbirth. Even those who are against medication usually seek practices that mitigate the pain involved. We have people who become doulas, OB’s, or pursue other avenues of serving/improving women’s health because this is an area of woundedness worth seeking to heal. Someone doesn’t even need to believe in God, to recognize childbirth is a painful process, and be motivated to alleviate that pain for themselves or others. Working to support childbirth becomes a process that restores the intended fruitfulness of humanity declared in Genesis 1:28.

We see a similar response to the cursing of the ground. No one declares the goodness of how difficult it can sometimes be to grow a crop fully to harvest. Farming techniques have been implemented for at least 12,000 years that sought to improve the fruitfulness of the soil. At least 4,000 years ago, farmers began rotating crops to improve soil and prevent pests or diseases. Here in Central Illinois, the University of Illinois continues new research in crop science, believing such improvements are good for all humanity. Someone doesn’t even need to believe in God to recognize improving soil and caring for the fruit-bearing nature of our planet is beneficial. Working to support such fruitfulness of the ground becomes a process that restores the intended fruitfulness of humanity declared in Genesis 1:28.

So what has happened in our response to the second impact of this list?

Even in my own life and ministry as someone who believes in an egalitarian approach, I confess my response was largely “I approve of it when it happens, and I’ll support it whenever I’m asked.” But such an approach should also be repented of, as I hope is made clear in the previous paragraphs, as falling short of pursuing healing for our woundedness. When my wife was going to give birth, we investigated methods of pain management and purposefully secured what was needed for her in those moments. As humanity, we aren’t content to plant whatever seeds we find and hope for the best crop. Our farmers work hard and pursue deeper understandings in order to promote a creation that yields more fruit with efficient use of labor.

In the same way then, we followers of Jesus should be those who purposefully seek opportunities to elevate the voices and positions of women. We should actively speak up whenever women are assumed to be inferior simply due to their gender – especially in our marriages, homes, and in places of service to God or His church. I know there are many (myself included) who were raised to believe men are created to inherently be the spiritual “head of the household“. Most who believe this, will still allow for women to serve in that role if the man fails or is idle in his God-given role. I remember hearing a preacher once say God “would even use a woman if He had to, if a man was not fulfilling his calling.” I can’t imagine such a low view of my wife, or my daughters. Paul does use the word “head“, but he also gives descriptions that turn that word upside-down culturally. I believe scripture (and my lived reality in married life) presents a strong case for two adults who constantly strive to serve, submit, and encourage one another to grow in their faith as any two believers would who share life intimately in covenant friendship/love. There is nothing about me biologically that gives me a unique ability to always emerge as “the primary voice” for what God desires or is doing in our home. In the body of Christ, it’s no longer about circumcision or any outwardly visible categories (Galatians 3:27-29). It’s about a heart submitted to Jesus, and living in mutual submission that reveals His Holy Love, and the egalitarian image of “iron sharpening iron”. (Proverbs 27:17)

We see this modeled in the early church, even in a heavily patriarchal culture. As I said, others have written on this far more extensively than I can here. What I wanted to accomplish here was to highlight the “why” behind it’s importance.

Because it’s not simply “a good thing to do”, or “a better perspective” when the choice falls in our lap. It’s worth pursuing and working toward! It’s actually a foundational way that we join the healing work of Jesus Christ in a world impacted by sin. It’s one of the ways we are faithful to the gospel. Someone doesn’t even need to believe in God to recognize improving the equality of women and men together is beneficial. Working to support such mutual submission of both genders to each other and to God becomes a process that restores the intended fruitfulness of humanity declared in Genesis 1:28.

As we do so, together in Jesus, we will continue rediscovering the “very good” of His desires for creation…

Posted in Different Scriptures, Uncategorized

an overview & reminder…

Posted on by Wick

I want to give an overview of what I believe as a Christian. Like flying high over a land I love for a moment, instead of walking through the park. Whether this is your first time hearing, or you’ve known for years, it’s good to hear these reminders. (I’d usually prefer a walk through the park.)

We believe God created all things, and humanity was created to exist fully in a trusting relationship with God, abiding in all God provides as we walk with Him.  Just as when a child forms a healthy attachment to their parents, we were created to trust in God to meet our needs and offer us our place of belonging.  Our identity, even in how we relate vulnerably to one another, was fully resting in Him.

We became deceived, though, choosing not to trust in God as we’d heard whispers that maybe He was withholding something from us.  We ate from the only fruit He had commanded us to avoid, which brought the doubt and distrust of our hearts out to tangibly impact the order and balance of His good physical creation.   Not trusting Him fully, we lost a healthy sense of attachment and began to wander in our identities, inviting insecurity and a death of what God intended wherever we chose something against His ways. Often we use the word “Holy” to describe His ways, which is a very churchy way of saying “otherly” or “set apart”.  His ways were uniquely different from ours, because they were rooted in fully trusting His Lordship and provision.  In the book of Genesis, we see this as Adam and Eve realizing they were naked, and being ashamed.  Our relationship with God, and with one another experienced a disconnection from the source of our life, and we’ve been struggling as humanity ever since.  We believe God intended the fullness of life, and so choosing the death of what He intended often actually means “death” itself.  

But God loves us too much to let us remain separated from Him, separated from the life and flourishing of creation He’d created us to enjoy.  Even though His ways were “otherly” and “set apart” or “Holy”, these were the ways we were originally created for.  Right away, he offered “coverings” to Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis, which foreshadowed the way His New Creation Life would provide an everlasting covering over all that separated us from Him and from one another.  Viewing the Old Testament covenant relationship between God & Israel as “parent/children”, humanity began to understand what it all meant. All the Old Testament points to the coming fulfillment of His redemption for all people/nations, which we see finally arriving in Jesus.  Scripture calls Jesus “Immanuel”, which means “God with us.”  Just like an adopted child building a new healthy attachment with their parents by spending time with them, God was redeeming us from living without a secure divine attachment.  By entering into our lives tangibly, He was offering all of us a healing path of reconciled relationship that would undo all the separation caused by our past.

We believe that Jesus came and lived among us to reveal the Father’s Love, and to show us what it looked like when humanity was fully in relationship with the Triune God. Even though He was without sin (which is living in a way that denies our relationship with God), Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice – being put to death on the cross for being a threat against the Roman Empire (and ultimately against evil forces of empire in all realms).  But His life was not only from this world, He was alive by the Holy Spirit, and so He was resurrected – the first “being” from a future New Creation where/when we believe God will bring complete healing and shalom to all things.  Jesus’ death and resurrection broke the chains of death caused by sin, and invite us right now into an ongoing relationship that transforms everything.  Jesus is a physically resurrected being, but when He went to be where the Father exists fully, He sent us the Holy Spirit to continue the work He had begun.  The Holy Spirit brings the same life seen in Christ, and forms us together globally as a family who enters into New Creation Life together.  Becoming fully attached in His Love, we are literally “born again” into a new identity that is discovered as we live out His redemptive purposes together.  We are fully restored in relationship with God and one another, set free from the unhealthy patterns that came when others or we chose our own way instead of His.  By the power of His Spirit which dwells in us, we literally join His Kingdom arriving/being revealed on earth as it is in heaven.  As this happens, healing salvation arrives.  We are “being saved/healed”, and we “will be saved” as it all comes together fully one day.  

In the book of Revelation, we see mostly the current reality (not future predictions) revealed.  (Apocalypse literally means “a revealing”.)  Jesus (the resurrected crucified lamb) is on the throne already, worthy to unveil the will/purposes of God. Death/sin have been defeated and the forces of dis-ordered (evil, as God created all “order”) empire & death are in the midst of being cast out forever, which is a painful process at times.  Even more painful at others, because there will be those who do not desire His ways of Life. His Love allows us this freedom. Some have built their entire identities as those opposed to the ways of God, so when presented with the full realities of His Lordship, they are “undone”, which can be intense suffering. Yet God’s children are faithful and preserved/encouraged through it all, in order to join His Spirit in bringing healing to the nations until all has been brought to completion.  Toward the end of Revelation, we see a New Heaven and New Earth, which have been united like never before, and the place/point of their uniting has already begun wherever the Lordship of Jesus is revealed.  As we enter further into eternity, we see our physical realm made even more “real/substantial” by the full unveiling of His spiritual realities.  

As Christians, we do not wait to celebrate/live within such realities.  By the Holy Spirit, we are made New Creations even now – living testimonies to the full reality that is to come.  

Amen.  (See Bible for more details.)