If you’ve been reading the lectionary passages this past week, you’ve been reading a lot of Job. It’s an apropos reminder, as we finally begin to hear from Elihu, of the cacophony of voices shouting over one another in our political spheres. Each voice attempting to present their own wise perspective, or slam the faulty perspectives of their opponent. When the friends of Job finally seem to have exhausted their words, young Elihu steps forward in Job 32:1-22. Here is a poem I wrote in response, found in my books of poetry in response to the lectionary readings…
How many more Elihu Have building pressure within? Waiting, in this noisy world For silence to begin
As the loudest voices argue Or share their pompous views While the powerless remain so And the injured are abused
While the indebted remain bound by debt Or hunger in their pangs While so many search for wisdom Only the noise remains
Yet Lord, may pressure build even now May Elihu not keep quiet On behalf of those in power And those in suffering by it
May those with your heart burst to speak No longer keeping silent May healing come to those injured And peace where some are violent
May I release the Word You give The Love that flesh becomes May Your Reign revealed through such Words Cast out all false kingdoms
Recently I was preaching and I asked the question; “How often do we respond from a place of defending and protecting Jesus anxiously as if His future depended on us?” A friend on the way out of church that morning asked me “But what does that look like?” His question is one that I think we’re often seeking together as the body of Christ. If we’re honest, I think it would sometimes be easier if we just had a clear word “do this” or “avoid doing this”.
I keep trying to put the answer into one specific measurable response, but it keeps crawling away from me.
I think it’s because of this: Two people may be involved in precisely the same activity. Perhaps it’s feeding the hungry, ministering to a person in prison, or even something like being politically engaged. One person has gotten involved out of a grateful response to, and desire to join the Love of Jesus in action. They are confident in the Lordship of Jesus, and the peace of His Lordship permeates their words and actions. Gladly enjoying His new reality, they want to help others know the Loving Truth they’ve discovered as His child. They’re taken up the “armor of God” (Ephesians 6) to stand firmly in Jesus’ Lordship, even when the schemes of Satan (the deceiver) come. They are firm in His Truth, living in His righteousness, ready in His peace, and shielded by faith. They have His salvation firmly protecting/healing their heart/mind, and allow the Holy Spirit/Jesus to be their only weapon, knowing the battle is not against flesh and blood. Our calling is to stand as victors already, confident in the New Reality our Lord has begun.
The other person has become involved out of an anxious response to feeling as if their world is threatened and they need to do something to regain or protect control of things. They’re defensive, poised for battle, and looking for ways to defeat any opponent who seems to rise. On the surface, some of their moments may look very similar. The hungry are fed. The prisoner is ministered to. But because they have different sources of motivation – they will naturally exist and respond differently in such moments…reflecting their perceived purpose there. They know Ephesians 6 talks about being strong and putting on armor, but they see a world that needs to be conquered “in the name of Jesus”. They will wield what they consider to be their “sword”, pieces of scripture, as if the Word of God must be weaponized to be effective. Without peace in their hearts, they will be drawn into every argument and potential argument, feeling as if Jesus and His ways/word need to be defended or used “effectively” – otherwise evil might still somehow “win”.
But our “struggle” from Ephesians 6:12 is not against an enemy in a battle still raging between two armies. Our struggle is against the last remaining fighters of an already defeated army, still hiding in places of darkness. We stand confidently in the peace of Jesus’ Lordship (Ephesians 1:20-23), as we watch His Spirit complete the victory declared long ago at His resurrection. That doesn’t mean things will always go well for us – in fact, there have been many martyrs who stood in His Lordship. Yet even in such moments, a reality beyond the temporal one that claims power over us is revealed, and by His Spirit we are enabled to rest in the Truth of His eternal Lordship more than our comfort/power in this life. Such a death testifies to a reality worth dying for…which is the reality we believe is worth living for as well.
May our lives reveal the reality of God’s Love revealed in Jesus and the Lordship of the Lamb even now…
Last week I was able to spend a good portion of a work day in quiet prayer and contemplation. I spoke with God, and He shared from His heart for me. It was a refreshing time in His creation, and my thoughts were slowed/simplified in His presence.
I remember learning about the “sacred pathways” highlighted by Gary Thomas many years ago. (Pause to take the survey now if you’ve never done so – it’s worth it!) It was a freeing experience to recognize that not every person or even season of an individuals’ life invites them to connect with God in the exact same way. It’s true that “Prayer” is something that should be continually present in everyone’s life, but prayer itself may look completely different depending on the family, cultural elements, and personal abilities/interests of an individual. I’ve worked with pastors who could enter a small office for a time of prayer, and emerge 5 hours later feeling refreshed. While I might be able to stretch myself in that direction, I’m much more naturally inclined to spend that time slowly walking with God on a quiet wooded path, offering those hours to both speaking and listening to His heart.
I also understand that a religion based solely on personal preferences invites us to shape God in our image, which is something we should be careful to avoid. It’s important to submit our personal preferences regularly in spiritual practices, in order to learn and grow from spiritual formation in contexts of diverse community but also in order to test and remain curious about the infinite ways God desires to meet with us in our finite experiences. I recognize among my readers, I may have those who need to hear both sides of the coin.
Take a moment to examine: Where in your past week have you experienced a spiritual practice that felt safe, but unnatural? Maybe it was more formal, where you prefer informal. Perhaps it was with others, when you might prefer solitude. In the other direction, where in the past week have you pursued a time with or responding to God that felt easily connected to your heart? Can you name at least one in both categories? Is it difficult to even recall moments you purposefully sought significant time in connection with God? Take a moment right now – allowing God to speak to your heart, and inviting you to consider how you might make a deliberate choice with your schedule or resources this next week.
In Matthew 7, Jesus shares words that have become famous, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” These words can often be misunderstood as asking for anything, leading us to disappointment, disillusionment, or questioning if our faith is “strong enough” if we don’t see God immediately responding. But the context of Matthew 7 is within the “Sermon on the Mount” where Jesus is describing the ways of His Kingdom which is now arriving. He had already told them to store up “treasures” in the things/ways of God, instead of treasuring things that are temporary and unsatisfying – for where our treasure is, our heart is also.
With this understanding, what are the greatest things we could ever desire/seek? Answer: The eternal things of God and His presence.
Knowing this, Jesus shares the good news: whoever asks for these things – receives them. Whoever seeks His ways, finds them. Whoever knocks on His door, wondering if He has time/love for them – discovers the door of abiding in His presence is always opened to them. We know this, but so often we fill our silent moments with noise and distraction. We fill our slow pace with hurry to accomplish what feels important.
Kinda makes you want to take a walk with God, eh? He’s ready when we are…
words from wick 