Stooping to Greatness

No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

                        John 13.16

A Motley Crew

Sometimes when reading the Gospels and straining for a realistic picture of their scenes and players, I have to chuckle, if only because the disciples were a genuinely motley crew—a mismatched assortment of rejects and rebels pretty much up for anything. They’re made up of a couple fishermen, a few with unrecorded occupations, a tax collector, and two activists. Although their backgrounds vary, they don’t seem too worried with where they sleep, what they eat, where they’ve been, or where they’re going. We know cash is a rare commodity, because at one point they’re too broke to pay the temple tax. (Matthew 17.24-27) One assumes their wardrobes are limited to what’s on their backs and take quite a beating from non-stop travel. They’re also not the most mannerly of men. Peter is hot-tempered and impulsive. James and John are so rowdy Jesus nicknames them “Sons of Thunder.” (Mark 3.17) And in Matthew 15, the scribes and Pharisees are appalled they don’t clean up before dinner, a breach of religious custom no doubt made twice as alarming by their bathing only when facilities became available. It’s fair to think the haloed, holy apostles of Christian iconography bear little resemblance the grungy guys in Jesus’s “posse.” Beautiful and brilliant though Leonardo's Last Supper is, the diners at his table look a lot cleaner and better dressed than the unkempt, shaggy crowd that very likely assembled for Jesus's final Passover celebration.

A Lowly Task

As the Passover meal is served, Jesus does something rather surprising. He strips down and washes each disciple’s feet. Foot washing is a common practice on entering a home, a basic essential to keeping out the dust and grime off the streets. But it’s also a lowly task left to servants or hostesses. Men don’t wash other men’s feet. Yet here’s Christ, on His knees, tending to His disciples’ filthy, calloused, sweaty feet. When Jesus gets to Peter, he balks. “Are you going to wash my feet?” he asks. The idea of his Master lowering Himself to that level shocks and disturbs Peter. Jesus tells him he doesn’t understand it now, but he’ll get it later. That’s not good enough for Peter. He absolutely refuses. “You’ll never wash my feet!” He tries Jesus’s patience. “Unless I wash you,” He answers, “you’ll have no part of me.” (John 13.18) That makes all the difference. Peter replies, “Don’t stop with my feet, then. Wash my hands and my head, too—clean me up top to bottom!”

Setting an Example

Jesus finishes with everyone, including Judas, a fact we shouldn’t overlook. He redresses and asks if they understand what He’s just done. Allowing how utterly unusual it is—bizarre, really, since His washing their feet shatters several deeply ingrained taboos—it’s a good guess the disciples are too aghast to think about what it means. “You call me your Teacher and Lord, and I’ve humbled Myself to wash your feet. Now that I’ve done it, you should do wash each other’s feet. I’m setting an example.” The motley crew glances down the line, probably thinking, “Him, yes; him, maybe; him, not a chance. And that one? Are you kidding?” The very idea must freak them out. Men don’t wash other men’s feet! Like many times before, Jesus’s example falls so far beyond the pale He’s obliged to connect the dots. “A servant is no greater than his master,” He explains, “and a messenger no higher than who sent him.” In essence, He says, “I’ve lowered myself as low as any man can for another as a precedent. From here on, no act of service or kindness is beneath you.” He ends the lesson with this: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13.17)

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” There’s wisdom in that. Submitting to degradation of any sort for any reason not only dishonors us; it dishonors our Creator. Numerous times, Jesus instructs not to give credence to insults or hostility. Paul writes in Romans 14.16: “Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.” The example Christ sets here doesn’t suggest we grovel at our critics’ feet. It’s about acting, not reacting. And, like every other principle Jesus taught, it’s a classic reversal—the inversion of natural logic to obey unnatural ideals. We don’t seek occasions for rising to prominence. We search out opportunities for stooping to greatness.

Nothing and no one is beneath us. We attend to the person others write off as a waste of time. We wrap our arms around those no one else will touch. We ignore social etiquette, cultural taboos, and other “boundaries” intended to isolate undesirables and unfit members from the community. Our Master did it; doing less exposes a dangerously over-inflated opinion of ourselves. As His messengers, we’re no better than He Who sends us. In His after-dinner conversation with the disciples, Jesus says, “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things.” (John 14.12) If we intend to do greater things, we must stoop lower. Stooping is how we rise.

By lowering Himself to wash His disciples feet, Jesus set a precedent for humility. Nothing and no one is beneath us.

(Tomorrow: Broken)

Postscript: A Blessing in Disguise

I'm grateful to all who left comments and sent emails responding to yesterday’s post about Lee Davenport’s passing. His departure left us who knew him in an unanticipated state of despair. Yet very quickly after posting my reflections on his life and troubles, a blessing in disguise arrived in a comment and email from Lisa Fox of My Manner of Life. Though it’s hard to believe, our paths never crossed before now. But in this very—very—short time, we’ve become friends and fellow travelers on Christ’s path. Lisa describes herself thusly:

I'm a progressive Episcopalian raised in the South and now (thanks to a job change) living in the conservative Midwest. I worship at Grace Episcopal Church in Jefferson City. I love the Episcopal Church, which rescued me from a life of wandering meaningless and gave me a way to explore my faith and belief in God.

Lisa’s passion for her church is only equaled by her devotion to her Savior. Even for those of us outside the Anglican tradition, her posts concerning Episcopalians ring true with the love and knowledge of Christ. The humanity and conviction in her general posts likewise attest to her witness. I enthusiastically recommend My Manner of Life to anyone not familiar with it. It’s another place, and a vital one, where God’s Spirit is gathering so many who once felt unloved and unwelcome.

Lifted to Draw

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.

                        John 12.32 

Look and Live

A terrific old gospel song goes, “Look and live, my brother, live! Look to Jesus now and live. It’s recorded in His Word, hallelujah, that you only have to look and live.” The cited Bible record comes from Numbers 21. It starts with another of the Israelites’ faith lapses. They’ve been in the wilderness a while, ricocheting from crisis to victory, victory to crisis, with a lot of hiking in between. They’ve found a road to travel—a luxury indeed—except it crosses enemy territory of the Canaanites, who attack Israel and capture some of its people. The Israelites beseech God to allow them to overpower their adversaries, He does, and after they level the Canaanites’ towns, they quit the road for a desert detour. That’s when the complaints begin. If a movie were made of Israel’s wanderings, here's where filmgoers would whine, “Not again!” and head for the lobby.

It’s just like the bitter water, just like the manna and quail. God intervenes for His people, they rejoice, and then, when it’s time to walk by faith, they strike up the same old song: “Better a Slave in Egypt (Than Living Free Out Here)”. Since solving their problems doesn’t change their tune, God changes His. He shows them as bad as things are they can get worse. He sends venomous snakes their way and Israelites start dropping dead. They beg Moses to apologize to God for their thankless behavior, pleading with Him to remove the snakes. He instructs Moses to hoist a bronze serpent atop a pole. Snakebite victims who look at it will live. As always, God doesn’t fix the problem. He fixes His people. Numbers doesn’t say the snakes retreated. Had they, Israel might have stayed too long in one place. By enabling them to overcome the problem, they’re able to get their act together and move on.

Lowered for Lifting

Jesus refers to the bronze serpent in His discourse with Nicodemus. Methodically mounting His mission statement (John 3.16), He tells the Pharisee three things. 1) He came down from Heaven for a purpose. (v13) 2) He will fulfill it by being lifted “as Moses lifted up the snake.” (v14) 3) “Everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (v15) That sets the stage for the most glorious sentence Jesus ever spoke: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus’s outline is so succinctly clear it reads like four perfectly crafted PowerPoint bullets. It once again reveals God opting not to solve the problem—sin-stung death—to save His people instead. Jesus was lowered for lifting that we might look and live.

Mentioning Moses’s snake adds an oft-ignored elegance—a flawless rhyme—that brings humanity’s story full circle. Our struggles with sin began when a snake slithered into Eden and we lowered our sights to gaze at its deceitful promise. While the serpent didn’t lie, it didn’t tell the whole truth. As it predicted, the Knowledge Tree’s fruit opened our eyes to distinguish good from evil. But the serpent failed to explain we’re unequipped to process such complex knowledge. It didn’t warn us knowing what God knows isn’t thinking like God thinks. It didn’t alert us to the disobedience, legalism, strife, hatred, and violence stemming from knowledge God never meant us to have. Nor did it inform us we’d pay for knowledge we can’t use with what we could least afford to lose—our lives.

Flash forward to Christ’s reference to Moses. Like the Tempter, He too will assume a serpentine identity. Yet we find Him by raising our sights to see Him lifted. He doesn’t entice us with knowledge; He encourages us to stop knowing, start believing, and leave the thinking to God. That gets us back to the Garden, reconciling us to our Creator, restoring our innocence, and reviving the eternal life we were created to live. The symmetrical beauty of this plan deserves our highest praise and humblest gratitude.

Everyone

The subject of Jesus’s lifting resurfaces in John 12, although He departs from the serpent analogy here, as what precedes it is so uniquely incontrovertible it’s unnecessary. A group of Greeks ask the disciples if they can see Jesus. Hearing this, Jesus declares, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (v23) He presages His burial and resurrection with a parable, saying an unplanted wheat kernel has no value until it’s buried. But once it’s planted, it springs to life and produces many new seeds. Anyone who follows Him will also surrender his/her life to be buried, reborn, and generate new seeds. Jesus candidly confesses the prospect of dying troubles Him, yet He acknowledges “for this very reason I came to this hour.” (v27) He calls on God to ratify this by glorifying His name. Immediately, a voice thunders, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (v28) The crowd knows what it heard but can’t ascertain how. Jesus explains, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” (v30) And then He adds, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.”

The astute observer puts this together and comes away with the crux of Christ’s mission. Emphasis shifts from lifting to drawing, moving the focus of John 3.16 from the plan (God loved and gave) to its purpose (the world, whosever believes, and eternal life). What prompts this? Greeks—non-Jews presumably ineligible for redemption—want to see Jesus. Unlike Nicodemus, who approaches Jesus privately under cover of night, the Greeks seek Him openly in broad daylight. Who they are, how and when they find Christ, tells Him the time has come for His burial and resurrection to scatter seeds of grace and mercy indiscriminately, ignoring religious or cultural taboos. And, before any disgruntled follower contradicts this, God confirms it. Jesus leaves Moses out because His scope has expanded beyond Israel. He will be lifted to draw everyone.

Questioning redemption is for all amounts to folly of the worst kind. Jesus declared it and God audibly voiced His approval. Thus, we’ve every reason to consider doctrines and traditions of exclusion blatant blasphemy. It’s not about changing who we are so we can see Jesus. It’s about seeing Jesus so He can change us. He doesn’t fix our problems so we can stay put. He fixes us to stop knowing and start believing we’ll get back to the Garden. It’s recorded in His Word—hallelujah!—that we only have to look and live.

Look and live.

(Tomorrow: Bewitched)

Postscript: Blogging Biz

First, an apology. I’m presently in my busiest season professionally, which soaks up time I’d rather spend on blogs written by and email exchanges with many of you who come here. Please—please—don’t mistake my infrequent drop-bys as anything more than what it is, a time crunch. I miss keeping up with what you’re doing and thinking more than you know. While I’m grateful God has blessed me with lots of work, I’m eager for the time when I can hang more closely with you. Meanwhile, I ask your patience and understanding. Given the current economy, it seems prudent to heed my dad’s advice “to make hay while the sun shines.”

Having said that, however, I want to encourage those with time to invest it visiting two very fine blogs by fellow readers here.

At The Three Legged Stool, James covers a wide range of topics devoted to his faith as a gay Episcopal believer. His posts are erudite, compassionate, relevant, and compelling. Impressive as all that is, what stands out most is the strong sense of community he’s established there. He lifts Christ and Christ draws. It’s a marvelous thing to see and experience.

To my mind, nobody blogging does a better job of debunking homophobic abuse of Scripture than Göran Koch-Schwane. This is Biblical scholarship at its very best. Göran, who lives in Sweden but writes in English, digs deep, tunneling through church history to uncover sources behind religion’s exclusion of gay Christians. He never crosses the line between authenticating our inclusion and politicizing it. His posts always provoke insight rather than incite provocation. Göran blesses us to see reasons why many traditions and fellow believers reject us are rooted in fear and intolerance best answered by love and forgiveness.

Counting on Kindness

[Add] to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1.7,8

Work Boots
About a week ago, my partner came in and announced he’d rented a movie called The House Bunny. “You’re gonna hate it,” he said, “but it’s got that Anna Faris actress—the one who reminds us of Goldie Hawn—so I thought we’d give it a shot.” Final verdict: Faris, yes; Bunny, no. However, the screenwriters (two women, proving sexual objectification and condescension are not gender-based) did leave me with an unforgettable line. At one point, someone compliments Ms. Faris’s ditsy blonde for being so kind, and she says, “Oh, honey, kindness is just love in work boots.” I’ve not been able to shake that image: love in work boots.

In our survey of Paul’s list of the fruits of Spirit (Galatians 5.22), kindness falls between patience and goodness as a “winter fruit”—a less visually striking attribute that nonetheless is essential in its ability to sustain us through harsher times. From this perspective, kindness is like a sturdy pair of work boots. It allows us to wade through drifts of unpleasant conversation, slog through puddles of prejudice, and kick aside obstacles that adversaries raise to hinder our ability to express God’s love, joy, and peace.

The Linchpin
Just as Paul does in Galatians, Peter opens his second epistle with a list of qualities each believer should strive to embody. Many of them are the same, but the order is slightly different. Peter lists them as additive traits, one enabling another. He rounds things up with godliness—behavior and attitudes that reflect the nature of God—and ends with love. But he inserts kindness as the linchpin connecting godliness and love. “The more of these qualities you possess,” Peter writes, “the more effective and productive you’ll be in your knowledge of Christ.”

Kindness clears away clutter. It raises our minds and focus above pettiness and small-minded criticism. It deflects darts aimed at us by putting us on the offensive. Being kind to others outranks the importance of how kind others are to us. Counting on kindness inverts the equation. It’s not about us; it’s all about them and how we treat them.

Winter Warmth
That reversed flow of kindness for cruelty is easy in the summer, when love and joy and peace are ripe in our lives. It’s a little tougher in winter, when we may not have optimal conditions to grow love for those who falsely accuse us. But in these cold times, kindness can work wonders—for them and us. Kindness provides winter warmth. It knocks the chill out of situations. It brings light to quick-falling shadows and early dusks. It preserves us from injuries—frostbite and exposure to harmful elements. Kindness shouldn’t be underestimated or, worse yet, undervalued as less than love. It keeps us alive to love. It does the work of love before love reaches its fullness to work on its own.



Kindness: love in work boots.

Postscript: Kindness Rising

I’m thrilled to share a recent email I received from www.gaychurch.org, that proves kindness to GLBT believers and other ostracized Christians continues to rise. Thank God for His Spirit—and the willingness of more and more congregations to answer His call to love unconditionally and wholeheartedly!

Dear Fellow Members in Christ:

It is my pleasure to announce that the 2008 Welcoming Christian Church Survey Report is out! Comparing the numbers to the previous year it is clear that churches continue to open their doors to the gay and lesbian (GLBT) community at a rapid clip. Like the gay community itself, this is a movement crosses virtually all denominational and geographically based lines. At the close of 2008 the directory contained 5,301 Christian churches from thirty different countries, representing sixty-five different denominations. The United Church of Christ leads the way with over 865 churches followed by the Episcopalian churches, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches respectively.

To find out more including details as to where this growth is taking place by denomination and geographical location, along with a brief analysis as to where this movement may be headed next the report is a must read. The 2008 Welcoming Christian Church Survey Report along with the other yearly reports can be found in the section of the www.gaychurch.org titled “Welcoming Church Report”.

The Year of the Lord's Favor

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

                        Matthew 4.18-19

A Changed Man

After Jesus’s decisive triumph over the Tempter, He wends His way home to from the desert, stopping off in various places to astound people with His teaching. News of His impromptu sermons precedes Him. Lifelong friends and neighbors pack Nazareth’s synagogue, expecting to be dazzled by their new local hero. As Jesus stands up, someone hands Him the scroll of Isaiah. He opens it to chapter 61, reads the first two verses, and sits down. All eyes fasten on Him and no one moves. Jesus breaks the silence: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He continues, and the eloquence of His message enthralls the people, who ask one another, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

By every indication, in word and demeanor, Jesus returns to Nazareth a changed man. His wilderness experience and time abroad have given Him authority and assurance. The boldness of His text and audacity of His announcement surprise everyone—as does His comfort to speak such things without fear of reprisal or criticism. Indeed, He’s so confident of His words He breaks the silence in His listeners’ hearts. “I know what you’re thinking,” He says. “’Do some of the cool stuff we’ve heard about.’ But what if I did? You wouldn’t respect me any more than your ancestors did Elijah. Their disbelief tied his hands and though Israel was starving from famine, he could only help outsiders.” The congregation turned into a lynch mob. They herded Jesus out of town to throw Him off a cliff. “But,” Matthew writes, “he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” (v30)

No Time for Foolishness

Did they not hear what Jesus said? Did they not believe He meant it? He had just proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor, saying God had anointed Him for this time, to reach the poor, free those found guilty and unacceptable, enlighten those unable to see, and liberate those oppressed by social and legal taboos. There was a lot to do in this first year of ministry. He needed to act swiftly, taking full advantage of these early moments before fame and recognition triggered interference from critics and leaders. Jesus had no time for foolishness. That’s why He called His own people on their nonsensical desire to see a show rather than their willingness to support Him. (Note: other than His brothers Andrew and James, none of Jesus’s disciples hailed from Nazareth.) In their frenzy of indignation and confusion, they lost complete sight of Jesus. When they got their act together to dispense with Him once and for all, He was long gone.

Greater Things

“Yes,” we say to ourselves when reading this, “that’s so like Jesus to speak authoritatively and elude time-consuming, self-defeating controversy.” What we implicitly mean is, “He’s a special case. We can’t be expected to do everything He did like He did it.” We’re right in a sense, but our thinking is gravely wrong. We’re expected to do more. “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father,” Jesus tells us in John 14.12. Falling short of Christ’s example is inexcusable and merely replicating His accomplishments falls short. When we act on His promise, He guarantees our success. We will do more because He sees we can do more.

The authority and assurance He displayed in Nazareth is ours for the taking. We, too, can boldly declare the year of the Lord’s favor. And it seems there’s no better year for it than 2009. Poor people must be reached. Outcasts must be freed. Restored sight must come to blind victims of bigotry and fear. Oppression must end. God anoints each of us for these tasks. The home crowd will demand a show of some kind before believing the legitimacy of our call. We don’t have time for foolishness. Being under the radar gives us a prime opportunity to get things done now. We can’t get bogged down trying to justify our calling. Let those who doubt waste their time on controversy and backlashes. If they won’t hear us, many beyond their circle will. We need to find them and leave the others to look for us long after we’ve moved on. “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it,” 1 Thessalonians 5.24 reads. That’s how great things get greater.

 

May God bless us to make 2009 the Year of His Favor.

(Tomorrow: Find Something to Do) 

Postscript: New Inroads for the New Year

Two days ago, I got an email from James Hipps, the project manager for two prominent gay sites, www.GayAgenda.com and www.BestGayBlogs.com, asking permission to feature Straight-Friendly as a blog of note. Both sites are comprehensive, meaning they cover the entire spectrum of online gay culture, from sociopolitical topics to “mature content.” I couldn’t have been more pleased or honored by the invitation, and immediately accepted. The recognition is terrific. But more than that, the offer puts Straight-Friendly right where it needs to be—a place providing new inroads to a wider audience of GLBT people struggling with religious rejection. God be praised for this blessing (as well as earlier inclusion on a similar, Chicago-based site, lifelube.org, which already has generated considerable traffic here). And a hat-tip of gratitude goes out to James Hipps and lifelube’s editors for supporting gay spiritual health along with other concerns and interests.

Ironically, James’s note came on the heels of another I didn’t intend to share. But I must, simply as a testimony to God’s grace and His marvelous sense of timing. Last week, I submitted Straight-Friendly for link consideration at another Christian blog hub. I received a gracious note declining the application. “It’s what I think of as an issues blog,” the editor wrote. “Nothing wrong with that”—“Seinfeld” fans, you know what that means—“but it’s not something we normally work with.” I took it on the chin; in fact, after spending more time with some of the bloggers gathered there, I’d already decided to withdraw my application. But it stung, nonetheless. And then, the very next day, here comes God, opening a new door to a place far better suited to our focus and efforts. He truly is a Wonder!

When you pray, remember Straight-Friendly and ask our Father to guide those who open Best Gay Blogs, Gay Agenda, and lifelube in search of spiritual comfort and community our way. And join me in thanking Him for these outstanding resources and opportunities.

Bread Alone

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

                        Matthew 4.4

First Things First

After Luke’s report of Jesus astounding the temple priests at 12, the Gospels fall silent concerning His youth and its influence on His ministry. We pick up His story when He leaves home at 30. It’s instructive to attend closely to Jesus’s priorities as His mission commences. He doesn’t come out and announce He’s ready to save the world. He puts first things first: discipleship and sacrifice.

He starts with baptism, which ends in dazzling fashion as God audibly confirms Jesus is His Son. But we can’t forget Jesus goes to the Jordan to become a disciple of John the Baptist. His initial instinct is to establish Himself as a follower. Only at John’s urging and God’s ratification does He skip this step. Another minister, then or now, would use such incomparable endorsements to draw a large following right away. Yet look at what Jesus does. He vanishes into the wilderness for 40 days, opting for solitude over social acclaim, prayer over preaching to thousands, fasting over feasts in His honor.

The Way to Prepare

John’s message was, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Jesus’s example teaches us the way to prepare. His wilderness experience opens with this: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4.1) Again, He’s following, electing to endure temptation to test His discipline and faith. He goes into the desert only knowing it leads to a face-off with the Tempter. The confrontation’s time and nature aren’t defined. Provisions for comfort aren’t included. Instead of doing what we’d most likely do—wait until trouble comes to ask God’s help, or give up before the test arrives—Jesus prepares Himself from Day One. He fasts and prays, sacrificing natural drives to strengthen spiritual impulses. For seven weeks, His sole sustenance comes from conversation with God. Although He surely struggles with loneliness, hunger, and confusion, each day bolsters His confidence He’s not alone, He will rise to the challenge, and His responses to temptation will be sound and clear.

Right Where It Hurts

The Tempter first goes for the gut. “If You’re God’s Son, turn these stones into bread.” And, actually, Jesus could have done so, much like He later turns a boy’s lunch into food for 5,000. But there’s a bigger point here: physical cravings are secondary to spiritual hunger. We can survive without satisfying mortal urges because our bodies aren’t made to last. Without God, however, our spirits fail. “Man doesn’t live on bread,” Jesus answers, “but on God’s word.” The Tempter parries two more strikes, trying to deceive Christ with Scripture and offering Him then entire world. Still, he never recovers from losing that first, decisive round.

When battling temptation, remember this. The Tempter is a fast talker but a slow learner. He still uses the same, tired approach. He first hits us right where it hurts, taunting us with cravings we can satisfy—creature comforts, sexual urges, personal ambitions, and so on. But if we’ve stayed in contact with God, we’ll be unflinching about our spiritual hunger’s priority over material desire. “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Romans 14.17 says. We can’t live on bread alone. Once we’re convinced of that, material temptations lose their luster.

Though He had power to turn stones into bread, Jesus resisted temptation to do so because material sustenance is secondary to spiritual survival.

(Tomorrow: Awaken the Dawn)

Postscript: Meet Les

Child of the Wind is by Les Chatwin, a regular reader here. Last October, Les introduced himself via email this way: “I am a 40-year-old Baptist pastor in Newcastle, Australia. I drive a taxi 4 nights a week and talk to people about God. On Tuesday, November 11, I begin ‘church' in a gay bar in the city.” His home church and family’s opposition to gay people leaves Les with very little moral or spiritual support. Furthermore, as a straight minister ordained in a Fundamentalist denomination, his inroads to the local gay community are limited. While he pursues his call to minister to GLBT people, he continues to support his wife and three children as a taxi driver.

Pause for a moment so all of this sinks in, then visit his blog to get to know Les, understand his challenges, and encourage him with supportive prayer and comments. Love and faith know no distance.

Child of the Wind

Regretting and Rejoicing

A time to mourn and a time to dance…

                        Ecclesiastes 3.4

Lost Love

Separation and sadness are traveling companions. When people we love leave us, the void left by their absence fills with melancholy and regret. The joy, peace, and contentment they provided are replaced by sorrow, anxiety, and insecurity. The best memories—the moments we cherish—give rise to remorse for not making more of them or fully appreciating those we had. The starkest example, obviously, is the death of a beloved partner, relative, or friend. But separations come in all shapes and sizes—break-ups, relocations, temporary leaves, and even goodbyes after an hour spent with someone we love. “Parting is such sweet sorrow,” Juliet told Romeo. It’s the most compactly comprehensive description we have of what grieving lost love feels like.

Preventable Sorrow

The only feeling worse than mourning is sensing we could have prevented it. John 11 finds Jesus in this situation. Mary and Martha, sisters of His friend, Lazarus, send word he’s dying. Instead of rushing to Lazarus’s bedside, Jesus stays put for two days. He tells the disciples that Lazarus is dead, but He plans to restore His life. When He finally arrives, Mary says, “Lord, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Her grief, and that of Lazarus’s friends, troubles Him. Verse 35 simply states, “Jesus wept.”

It’s a poignant, emotionally raw moment for Jesus, yet its personal intensity doesn’t spare Him scrutiny. Some are impressed by the love His tears convey. But others criticize Him, saying, “If He can heal the blind, why couldn’t He prevent Lazarus’s death?” It’s an unfortunate situation, making us wonder why Jesus weeps. It isn’t for Lazarus, because He knows His friend will live again. The best reason seems to be regret over not having come sooner, for not having prevented the sorrow of Lazarus’s loss.

Dancing Fools

Most everyone knows the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the psychiatrist who defined the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Solomon goes beyond “acceptance” to remind us mourning gives way to dancing. Or, as his father, David (who was quite a dancer; see below) wrote: “Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30.5) Regretting lost loves and preventable sorrow has its time and purpose. But as we experience grief, we remember it’s a process not meant to become a preoccupation. We’re created for rejoicing, to celebrate God’s love and acceptance. On the dance floor, we may epitomize left-footed oxen. But in our hearts, we’re dancing fools born to show the world we’re light on our feet, eager to move past times of sorrow and experience times of joy.

The Bible says while leading a procession of the Ark of the Covenant, “David danced before the LORD with all his might.” (2 Samuel 6.14) He was one dancing fool. (And I can’t resist mentioning this drawing looks a whole lot to me like a Pentecostal service in full swing!)

(Tomorrow: Sitting Around, Going Nowhere)

Postscript: The Epistle

A big thank-you goes out to Glenn, a Straight-Friendly reader who directed us to The Epistle, “a Web magazine of encouragement & inspiration Christian gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender people.” Its editor and primary contributor, Edrick, has created a handsomely designed site crammed with articles, links, and other material that live up to its mission statement. I highly recommend it for everyone, gay or straight, as a worthy addition to your bookmarks. In style and spirit, it’s completely simpatico with what we do here. I have every confidence you’ll enjoy it immensely and be all the richer, stronger, and more inspired for having opened The Epistle.

The Epistle 

Your Will Be Done

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

                        Matthew 6.10 

What to Do?

This business of God’s will is challenging. Driven to please Him, we strive to do whatever He asks. But are we ever 100% sure what that is? Knowing God’s will requires knowing His mind. That’s not feasible. Over and over, His Word insists we can’t penetrate His thoughts. A personal favorite is Romans 11.33: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” If we don’t know all of how and what God thinks, we can’t fully ascertain His will. Not knowing the whole of His plan, how can we effectively follow it? What to do? What to do?

Purposefully Vague

We don’t get much help from Scripture. It seems purposefully vague about God’s will. Most often, it’s invoked vis-à-vis something else—submission or faith, e.g.—or explained with hazy clues that provide little clarity. When Ephesians 1.9 says God “made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure,” we hold our breath. Finally, an answer! No such luck. It reverts to the big picture: God’s will is “to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” That’s His general plan. But what’s His specific plan for each of us?

Perhaps it’s better to ponder why there’s no airtight solution. Here’s a strong candidate: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2.13) Might God tailor His will for each of us with such precise purpose a one-size-fits-all explanation would be impractical, misleading? That appears to be the case, yet it still puts no end to our quandary.

Tense Issues

Though Jesus said, “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6.38), He wasn’t always clear about God’s plan either. In Gethsemane, He sought confirmation of God’s intentions. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22.42) This directly echoes what He taught us to pray: “Your will be done.”

Listen closely. “Your will be done”—not, “I’ll do your will.” Worries about God’s plan boil down to tense issues. Our role is passive (grammatically); His is active. An apt comparison casts Him as the Master Chef and us as wait staff. He writes the menu, combines the ingredients, and says when everything’s ready. If He needs help, He shows us what to do. Otherwise, hovering around, asking, “Should I do this? Should I do that?” gets in His way. God performs His will. We let it be done. That’s how it works in Heaven; it’s no different here. When our anxiety and curiosity interfere with what He’s doing, it’s time we got out of His kitchen.

Like too many chefs in the kitchen, we complicate God's will when we get overly anxious about what we should do, rather letting it be done.

(Tomorrow: Our Daily Bread)

Postscript: Shower the People

I hoped to start this with a Scriptural wallop leading to how Christ would have us respond to the story I’m about to introduce. Yet while there was no shortage of verses I could use, my mind kept returning to James Taylor’s “Shower the People."

Shower the people you love with love/Show them way that you feel/Things will be much better if you only will.

Fran, of FranIAm, left a comment yesterday regarding Father Geoff Farrow, a California priest who courageously defied his Bishop's instruction to preach against Proposition 8, California's initiative to ban same-sex marriages. He has launched a blog to publicly document intensely personal moments in his battle with religiously sanctioned homophobia. It's remarkable in many ways, most of all for its transparency and sincere desire that others learn to draw inspiration from his experience.

I resist saying any more to give you the privilege of discovering his heroism and compassion for yourself. He epitomizes every meaning in Taylor’s song. But I can’t resist pointing out our opportunity to shower him with love. He needs to be surrounded with love, prayer, and solidarity right now. Please invest time and effort to go to him. Offer any comments of support you may have. Invite anyone you know who's willing and able to do the same.

As a rule, I add a postscript to each Sunday’s devotion about seeing the church in a new light. Today is different. Today’s PS is about being the church. 

Here's his link:

http://fathergeofffarrow.blogspot.com/

God's Approval Rating

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

                        2 Timothy 2.15

Irresponsible Rhetoric

Occasionally, I swing by gay discussion boards to check out new topics in their “Religion and Spirituality” sections. The subjects are fairly consistent: Is homosexuality a sin? Will I go to Hell? How can Christians discriminate against gays? (These same questions rest beneath the purpose and much of the content here.) Each board has a few stalwart contributors who reassure deeply wounded, impressionable readers that God loves and accepts us all. I’m always gratified by their caring responses. But I’m also appalled at the irresponsible rhetoric from obviously smart people who exploit anguish and confusion to push their own bitter agendas. Forget Christianity, they argue. The Bible’s a fairy tale (no pun intended). Don’t worry with Jesus—just be a nice person. Shame on them!

Do Your Best

Paul told Timothy, “Do your best to win God’s approval; work hard to correctly handle the truth.” As another Timothy with similar responsibilities, his advice rings in my ears. I’m forever aware how we handle God’s Word is just as important as what we present. That’s why closely studying the Scripture, rather than plucking out the odd verse here and there to support our views, cannot be overestimated.

“The word of God is living and active,” Hebrews 4.12 says. “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” By reducing Scripture to case law we cite in self-defense, we lose its real purpose. It’s not there to help us change someone else’s mind. It’s there to change us, to help us earn God’s approval. Any time we use the Bible as a weapon on our adversaries, regardless how skillfully we wield it, its double edge swings back on us. It splays us open, exposing our ugly intentions, leaving us to our shame.

On the Job

As true followers of Christ, we must be on the job, primed and prepared to share His good news. At the same time, we always remember His truth has no effect if it’s incorrectly handled. In our sports-crazed culture, many Christians imagine God stays glued to our games, cheering “our side,” and keeping score on His celestial JumboTron. Only God and they know how they concocted such an idea. They of all people should remember He’s the victor in our story.

When Pharaoh pinned Israel against the sea, Moses told them, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14.4) And, oh boy, didn’t He do it! Winning Scriptural debates is a silly, inexcusable waste of the Word. Winning God’s approval, however, is serious business.

A lovely postcard found online...

...with an unfortunate story to tell.

(Tomorrow: Give What You’ve Got) 

Who Do You Love?

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 

                                   Matthew 5.44, 46

Hypocrites vs. Heretics

The more we’re convinced God accepts us, the more we tend to judge those just as equally convinced He doesn’t. We see Christians who malign same-sex orientation as hypocrites. From their angle, our conviction that God created us to be who we are makes us heretics. With both sides so deeply entrenched, many of us resign ourselves to the mean idea that nothing can be done to reconcile the situation. This isn’t true and both sides know it. 

Breaking Through

There’s only one way to break through this impasse. Winning debates and condemning one another won’t do it.  Only love—true, compassionate, empathetic, and selfless love—will end this foolishness.  Until that occurs, neither side has any business claiming to follow Jesus and please God.

How often have we said we want nothing to do with Christians who aren’t “gay-friendly”? It’s an easy out for us, though.  It shoves the responsibility on our adversaries and engulfs us in a halo of victimization.  But it costs nothing to love people like us or, for that matter, people who like people like us. As Jesus told His followers, it’s so easy that everybody does it. He called us to do more than that. He told us to love our enemies.

Straight-Friendly

Absolutely, we must reject rejection from any sect, leader, or believer. Nonetheless Jesus commands us to accept those who reject us.  “Love them,” He says. “Pray for them.” And we love them exactly as He instructed—as we love ourselves.  We need to see and understand them as we wish to be seen and understood: as beings created in God’s image, earnestly seeking to please their Maker. 

It’s in our power and our duty to become straight-friendly. What’s more, it makes sense. Loving our enemies may not change them. But it will change us by shifting the focus from us to them.  

It’s not about who doesn’t love you.  Who do you love?   

Web Sighting: Gay Christian Forums

GLBT Christians, other alienated believers, and their supportive brothers and sisters in Christ are everywhere. Indeed, because so many of us tend to hold our faith privately, it's probable we know others like us--without knowing we share a common faith and desire to follow Christ. The Web is steadily changing that, however. Almost daily, sites are popping up to provide common ground where we can discuss our belief, encourage each other, disclose our struggles, and ask questions.

Over the weekend, I discovered http://www.gaychristianforums.com/, a relatively new site that describes itself as "a safe place for gay Christians (and others) to discuss relevant issues."  It's superbly organized to cover a broad range of categories that include daily Christian life (e.g., Prayer Requests and Praise Reports), welcoming churches, pop culture, theology, sexuality, and social/emotional issues (family, substance abuse, etc.).

The administrator, "Pastor X," is a gay minister who has not yet come out to his congregation (hence the "X"). He's praying and waiting on direction regarding when that will happen, after which he'll oversee the forum with his real name.  We should uphold him in prayer about this, too, asking God to guide him safely and successfully. 

In the mean time, we can benefit from his care and compassion for the gay Christian community at large. If you're looking for an "online fellowship" to interact with, GCF very well might be what you need. It's very small right now and in its infancy (not even three months old), but I have every reason to believe that over time it will grow into a sizable community of faith. 

Take a moment to visit Gay Christian Forums and if it appeals to you--or offers what you need--by all means participate. 

In his epistle, Jude wrote: "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." (Jude 20-21) GCF and similar sites--which I plan to highlight from time to time--provide an excellent place to build each other up.