Wonder of the Wise Men

You might think from the title of this post that it’s going to be about the awe the wise men felt as they came face to face with the Christ child. But, while I’m sure wonder was among the emotions they experienced, the wonder I’m writing of today is that which is there for us to feel as we dig deeper into the account of the wise men and understand the significance of their history and their gifts. If you’ve never read Matthew 2, which gives the account of the wise men’s journey, there’s no time better than the present to discover it, and if you have, it’s always good to read it again. In fact, I’ll give you a few moments to go do so now. . .

. . . Okay, you back? Let’s dive in.

We’ve taken a lot of artistic license with the wise men over the years. You might’ve noticed that the Bible never states that there were three of them; we likely arrived at this number from the three items listed as gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Nor was there a scene such as that depicted in countless nativity sets with the shepherds and the wise men bowing before Jesus together.** But all that aside, there are other facets of the wise men’s story that reflect the beauty and wisdom of God.

First, the gifts. It’s easy to skim over the specifics of what gifts the wise men presented to Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—but they are far more than answers in a Christmas trivia game.

You might be familiar with the Christmas carol “We Three Kings” by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., but do you know all the verses? While the aforementioned artistic license is taken in the title and first verse, verses two through four shed light on the significance of the gifts brought:

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain:

Gold I bring to crown Him again,

King forever, ceasing never,

Over us all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I,

Incense owns a Deity nigh;

Prayer and praising, all men raising,

Worship Him, God on high.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume

Breathes a life of gathering gloom—

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,

Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

A more recent carol, “Joy Has Dawned” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, reveals the same meaning in the middle of verse 3:

Gifts of men from distant lands prophesy the story.

Gold—a King is born today, Incense—God is with us,

Myrrh—His death will make a way, and by His blood He’ll win us.

So the gifts weren’t just expensive products lavished upon a worthy recipient. They were emblematic of the very significance of Jesus’s identity and purpose. Gold was a gift for a king—and Jesus is the King of all. Incense was a substance offered to God—and Jesus is God, come to live among us, experiencing life and temptation as we do yet never sinning. Myrrh was used to prepare a body for burial—and Jesus would die as an innocent God-man in the place of us, His fallen creations, and be buried in a tomb before being raised from the dead.

Thus, the wise men’s visit did so much more than pay homage to Jesus. It declared to those living then and declares to us now that this Jesus isn’t just a man—He’s the King of kings, God with us, and Savior of the world, or as the final verse of “We Three Kings” says, “King and God and Sacrifice.”

But there’s another element of the wise men’s account to consider—one that isn’t so readily apparent. In fact, we have to go hundreds of years back in time to realize its significance. The clue is found in Matthew 2:1, which tells us that the wise men came from the east. Okay…so what’s the big deal, you might be thinking. They could just as easily have come from the south or the west.  . . . But could they have?

Here is where I must thank my college New Testament professor for opening my eyes to what I’m about to share. Ever since he put the pieces together in the second week of class that spring semester of my freshman year, I can’t help but get excited when I think about the wise men.

Curious now? Well, here we go. Hold on to your seats for a blitz through history . . .

After the Jewish nation was split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, each kingdom was exiled and came under the influence of a different world power. For Israel, it was the Assyrian Empire in the 700s B.C., while Judah was conquered in the 600s and 500s B.C. by the Babylonians, who rose to power after the Assyrians. The next empire to rise was that of the Medo-Persians, who were the power at large when the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland and begin rebuilding the temple. Following the Medo-Persians were the Greeks, and the Greek decline was succeeded by the rise of the Romans, who ruled when Jesus was born.

Perhaps you’ve heard someone explain before how Jesus’s birth came at a time when conditions were precisely favorable for it. The Pax Romana (or peace of Rome) was in effect, and the western world was united by Roman roads and the Greek legacy of a common language and culture. In other words, the practices of the world powers created an environment conducive for God’s plan to be put into action. But it wasn’t only the Greek and Roman practices that influenced the Jewish people and laid the foundation for the coming of Christ. Each of the other empires had their own way of dealing with captives, too.

The Assyrians’ modus operandi was to disperse captive people, mixing one group of captives with another to demoralize the people and prevent uprisings. Incidentally, this is how the Samaritans came to be—a mixed race of Jews and other peoples that was to play a prominent role in Jesus’ ministry (think the woman at the well, the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the command in Acts 1:8).

The Babylonians took a different tactic, however. Instead of mixing up their captives wholesale, they left the poorest of the people to tend their homeland and took the richest, most intelligent, and most influential back to Babylon where they could indoctrinate this cream-of-the-crop in Babylonian ways and profit from their services. Daniel was one of these elite, and he went on to become an incredibly prominent person in the Babylonian empire and even into the reign of the Medo-Persians. But, as the book of Daniel shows us, Daniel wasn’t indoctrinated but rather was a bold spokesman for the Lord, even prophesying about a coming Messiah. 

Are you starting to connect the dots? Daniel lived among the wisest of the land and introduced the promises of God to those in his circles of influence. And where was this place of influence? Babylon—which is in the east.

Word of a coming king found its way to the east through the captivity of God’s people, and once planted  this news would continue to be passed down in the eastern culture for hundreds of years until a star shone one night and drew some wise men to Bethlehem. Through a painful season of judgment, God was still merciful and still in control, leading His people to a new land where they could spread His message to those who had yet to hear.

Immediately after the Babylonians, the Medo-Persians’ policy was to send captive people back to their lands, hence God’s using King Cyrus to send His chosen people back to the promised land—where they would later come under Greek and Roman rule, where Jesus would be born, and where one night a star would guide a group of eastern men to find Him.

To some, all this might just seem coincidental, but to those of us who know our God is sovereign and who see the times in Scripture when He explains His use of nations for His purposes, we see a greater Hand at work. For in addition to the wise men’s gifts revealing truths about Jesus’s identity and life, their journey reminds us of the beauty of God’s sovereign rule, for in their story, we see how He used the practices of multiple world powers over hundreds of years to orchestrate the circumstances which would bring about the birth of His Son and the message brought by men from the east, the message that Jesus is the promised one, who is the Hope of the world.

To read the Arabic translation of this post, click here.

لقراءة الترجمة العربية لهذا المنشور إضغط هنا.

** The shepherds, we know from Luke 2, came soon after Jesus was born and visited Him while He was still in the manger. The first clue that the wise men came later is found in Matthew 2:11. Mary and Jesus, who is referred to as “the child” instead of “the baby” as in Luke 2, are in a house now. But Matthew 2 also tells us that Herod’s decree to kill all the boys two years old and younger was based on the information he had obtained from the wise men about when the star appeared to them. Thus, Jesus would have been somewhere close to two years old rather than a newborn when the wise men arrived. 

A Painful Joy: The Process of Sanctification

Have you ever had something occur only to realize that it was an answer to a prayer you had prayed some time past and had since forgotten? That experience was mine last week, and it wasn’t the first time such a realization had swept over me.

What was different this time was that I had been feeling somewhat discouraged in my walk with Christ, and the prayer I had prayed weeks earlier was less-than-heartfelt. So when God clearly answered it and graciously caused me to remember my request, it was a beautiful encouragement reminding me that He knows all, that my prayers are always before Him, and that He is very present in my life.

As I was marveling in the immanence of God, I thought over what had been discouraging me of late. My own sin and weakness had been becoming more and more glaringly obvious to me. While I knew that many theologians explain that this is the mark of a true believer—an increasing awareness of one’s need for grace—and thus should be an encouragement to me, oftentimes all it seemed like was that the process of sanctification (i.e. of being made more like Christ) was in full-on one-step-forward-two-steps-back mode. How on earth could God be so patient with me?

On top of that, I’d been wrestling with the things we are called to do as followers of Christ—not with the things themselves but rather with how we are to do them. For instance, take sharing the Gospel. Speaking about the Gospel is something that requires a crazy amount of effort on my part. I can write about it all day long, but opening my mouth is an entirely different story.  

If I don’t make a concerted effort to verbally share the Gospel, I don’t do it. Yet as I have become more intentional about openly speaking of Christ, sometimes the effort it requires produces in me the feeling that I’m trying to do it on my own and because it’s what I’m supposed to do rather than in the Spirit’s power and out of the overflow of a changed and enthusiastic heart.

As Christians, we know that being a “good person” doesn’t save us, but after we are saved we are to become good (i.e. holy) people. And while this holiness does not consist of what we do but of who we are (of the transformation of our heart by God), we are still very clearly commanded to do things as Christians—things that require effort on our part.

So where is the line between exerting the effort we need to (a good thing) and trying to live a holy life in our own strength (a not-so-good thing)? I’m still seeking the answer to this question, but what has encouraged me as I wrestle through constantly having to ask myself, “Why and how are you doing such-and-such?” is this: sanctification is a process, and God is patient.

One day several months ago, I overheard a video of a speaker talking about sanctification (if I knew who it was, I’d definitely give him credit). He was addressing the reality I alluded to earlier, that God helps us overcome one sin pattern in our lives and then turns around and reveals another one to us. He acknowledged that this can be frustrating and discouraging as we are constantly confronted with more and more areas of our lives that are not in line with God’s will.

But then he went on to explain that the very nature of sanctification’s being gradual is evidence of the mercy of God. If we were exposed to the entire reality of our depravity at once, he said, we would be crushed—even to the point of death. We wouldn’t be able to handle it.  God knows this, and He has mercifully chosen in His kindness and gentleness to reveal only gradually the countless ways we don’t measure up. (Lightbulb!)

So instead of getting bogged down with an overwhelming sense of failure each time we encounter the realization of yet another unholy facet of our lives, we can be deeply encouraged that God Himself is working in us according to His perfect timing to gradually, patiently, steadily grow and shape us to be less like our former master and more like Him. And in realizing this, we can endure the painful pruning and chiseling of sanctification and know through it all a deep, enduring joy.

To read the Arabic translation of this post, click here.

لقراءة الترجمة العربية لهذا المنشور إضغط هنا.

Keeping an Attitude of Gratitude Alive Year-Round

“Attitude of Gratitude” has become somewhat cliché, but there’s much truth to it, especially for followers of Christ. As Christians, we are called to be thankful in all things, which involves more than just saying “thank you.” We are to be characterized by a mindset of gratitude, not just during one week of the year, but day in and day out.

So here are a few ideas for how to keep an attitude of gratitude alive year-round:

1) Preach the Gospel to yourself every day.

If you’ve sat under my dad’s teaching for any length of time, you’ve heard him say this and explain why it’s important. The Gospel—the good news of Jesus’s perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness—is our very life. It is not just the basis of our faith; it is the substance of it, reminding us of who God is, who we are, and what God has done, is doing, and will do for us. When we let these truths sink deeply into our hearts and minds, it is impossible not to be thankful.

2) Memorize verses about thankfulness.

One thing that helps us preach the Gospel to ourselves every day is implanting God’s Word in our minds (something you’ve probably heard my mom talk about if you know her). All of Scripture gives us cause to be thankful, but there are many verses that specifically mention thanksgiving. And the Holy Spirit, in His perfect way, takes the seeds of Scripture we have sown and brings them to bear by recalling them when we need them most. Memorizing verses about thanksgiving will lead to a broader and deeper mindset of thankfulness as we meditate on the Truth of God’s Word.

Here are some verses to get you started (all ESV):

Psalm 9:1 – “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”

Psalm 28:7 – “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

Psalm 57:9 – “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.”

Psalm 75:1 – “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.”

Psalm 79:13 – “But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.”

Psalm 97:12 – “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!”

Psalm 106:1 – “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Psalm 111:1 – “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

Ephesians 5:4 – “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Ephesians 5:18-21 – “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Philippians 4:5b-6 – “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God.”

Colossians 1:11-12 – “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Revelation 7:11-12 – “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’”

3) Give “Thankful Throwback Thursdays” a try.

This is something I did during 2015, putting a spin on the TBT (Throw Back Thursday) trend. Each Thursday on social media, I posted a picture from days or years past that represented something or someone I was thankful for, along with a short explanatory paragraph. Not only did this give me opportunity to outwardly express gratitude, but it also made gratitude a conscious act each week and helped thankfulness to be more characteristic of my thinking as I considered throughout each week what to post about.

You can put your own spin on this idea, too. It doesn’t have to be posting a picture—or posting at all, for that matter. You can journal instead, or simply make it part of your routine on Thursdays to think back on your recent and distant past and acknowledge thanks to God for the gifts, both physical and spiritual, He has given you.

4) Express gratitude for others.

Ultimately, we know that “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV). That is, God is the ultimate object of our gratitude. But it is good for us to express gratitude to others in our lives as well, even as we acknowledge that it is by God’s allowance that their paths intersect with ours.  

Whether it’s writing a note, making a phone call, or doing something tangible as a way to say “thank you; I appreciate you,” there are many ways to express gratitude. Be creative, and look for opportunities to give the gift of thankfulness.

Woven through all of these is the theme of the Gospel. I mentioned earlier that with an understanding of the Gospel it is impossible not to be thankful, but it should also be noted that without the Gospel, it is difficult to be thankful. Even as a believer, my flesh still rages against the Spirit, pulling me into the tunnel vision of self-centeredness. It is only when the Spirit takes over that I am better able to grasp the goodness of God and to turn my thoughts from the worries of this world to the many blessings I have in Christ.

I hope and pray that the Spirit will cultivate in you an attitude of gratitude as you meditate inwardly on the Gospel and God’s Word and as you express outwardly your thankfulness for others and for God Himself.

Empathy and Love in the Face of Fear and Hatred: The Aftermath of Election 2016

I tread carefully as I write this post, because no matter what I say or how I say it, there will be those who likely will take offense. But I am saddened to the core over the reactions I have seen in the past week to the outcome of our presidential election, so this is my feeble, imperfect attempt to demonstrate compassion and encouragement while issuing a challenge to everyone. Please know that I write out of genuine concern for each person who will read this, and please gird up your minds and join me in some tough self-examination.

First, to Christians who voted for Trump—instead of scoffing at people who are expressing fear of a Trump presidency, now is a time for empathy. I’ve already seen the posts in all caps from liberals yelling at those who would dare question someone else’s feelings, and while that method of expression is certainly not the most persuasive, the message has some merit: we must try to put ourselves in others’ shoes.

For some of us, it is helpful to remember how we felt eight (and perhaps four) years ago.  When I see people crying about Trump’s victory, I remember the tears I shed as a teenager when I realized Obama was our next President-elect. I was genuinely fearful for the future of our nation, having read between the lines and understood the underlying worldview behind his goal to “fundamentally transform” America.

I went to bed that night with a sinking, gut-wrenching sense that our country would become an increasingly hostile place for me to live as a Christian, and I tried to comfort myself with the knowledge that no matter what happened, it would be okay because I belonged to God. But it was hard to rest in that knowledge and to overcome my fear.

And as the days passed, my fear began to verge on anger towards anyone who was “ignorant” enough to vote for such a man. (See, I told you I wasn’t perfect! God is still breaking me of such unholy attitudes.)

I can hear the objections now…How could you think that about President Obama? Such a fear was completely irrational; there was no basis for it! And how dare you insult my intelligence!

Is anyone else seeing the irony here? The exact same thing is happening now, except the tables are turned. Replace “live as a Christian” with “live as an [LGBT/non-white/Muslim, etc.] individual” and replace “Obama” with “Trump” and we have the discussions, to use a mild word, that have been saturating social media over the last week.

In the face of all these emotion-laden expressions, it can be difficult to respond graciously. So just as I remember my tears, I also try to imagine what I would have felt like if people who had voted for Obama accosted me with their perspective of why my fear was silly or not real. I wouldn’t have liked it. Now eight years later, it’s imperative for me to remember that, because otherwise I too easily fail to treat others as I’ve wanted to be treated for the past eight years.

Moment of confession here: when I hear people expressing the kind of fear that they have been this past week, my logic-oriented brain is quick to point out all the reasons that their fear is unfounded. In fact, I was planning on doing some of that in this very post. And even though I want to point out all these reasons because I want to show people whom I care about that they don’t have to suffer through a life of fear, I have to step back and recognize that even though my motives are to help, my methods may not be helpful.

See, the thing about fear is that whether it is based in reality or not, it in and of itself is still real. This post by Anthony Bushnell helped remind me of that fact. So let us try to exhibit empathy that we might best demonstrate that we are there for our neighbor no matter what. As Bushnell so poignantly expresses, “We don’t have to agree with the intensity of their fear in order to empathize with them. Compassion doesn’t require us to be convinced another person is entirely correct. It requires us to care about how he is feeling. Even if you think the danger won’t come to pass, the fear is certainly real.”

What kind of followers of Jesus are we if we fail to care for those who are hurting? Do we recognize that we are accountable to God for how we treat others? May He help us to show His compassion to everyone—especially to those with whom we disagree.

Now, for those who did not vote for Trump [remember, I gave fair warning at the beginning of this post that I’m an equal-opportunity challenger]—it is incumbent upon you to show empathy as well. Can you expect people to treat you with respect if you spew vitriolic tirades accusing them of being insensitive, stupid, or racist? Doing so only perpetuates a vicious cycle. If you really believe that “love trumps hate,” then start demonstrating love—even to those who voted for Trump. Christians, you are called to do this by the one whose Name you claim.

But perhaps you’re not a Christian, and you don’t care what God demands of us. Then let me appeal to this perspective instead: if you find that you can’t bring yourself to love those who voted differently than you, then you have no reasonable grounds to expect that they love you. You can’t demand something you are not willing to give. If it’s impossible for you to love those you disagree with, how do you think it is possible for others to love those that they disagree with?

I’ll admit, without Christ, loving those who disagree with you is incredibly difficult. Personally, I honestly don’t know that I could do it. We are far too concerned with our own egos, our own opinions, and what we think is best for our own lives.

That’s what makes God’s love for us so mind-blowingly beautiful. See, from the time of our birth, we don’t just disagree with God, we hate Him. We live our lives as His mortal enemies, insisting, in our pride, that we know best, and persisting to live for our own pleasure and comfort instead of for His glory. Can you imagine what an affront that is to the Creator for us His creation to so spit in His face?

And yet He loved us. I’m talking about real, genuine, I’ll-die-for-you kind of love—love that doesn’t wait for us to come to Him but that runs after us—love that planned from the beginning of time to pay the ultimate sacrifice of taking our own punishment on Himself—love that revealed to us what His standards are, showed us how we fall short, and provided a substitute who could give us His righteousness—love that desires for enemies to be made sons and daughters, beneficiaries of the eternal kingdom of God.

Whether you voted for Trump or not, if you struggle with loving those you view as your enemies, take a moment to quiet your spirit and ask yourself—have you experienced the life-transforming love of God? Have you ever come to grip with the fact that God created you to be good and holy as He is good and holy but that you are by your very nature evil and unholy—and there is no amount of good deeds that can ever make you good enough?

Have you ever been grieved over the way you grieve the heart of God?

Have you ever admitted the many ways you have fallen short and turned away from them to Jesus who lived the perfect life you never could? Have you ever accepted and placed complete trust in the fact that His death and resurrection made it possible for you not to have to receive the just punishment for your life of rebellion against God and that His perfect life made it possible for you to be presented before God as one who is blameless—good and holy as you were created to be?

If the answer to these questions for you is “No,” then I pray you will come to understand these truths about who God is, who you are, what God has done on your behalf, and how you can be restored into a beautiful relationship with Him and receive the gift of His Holy Spirit who will bring His fruit to bear in your everyday life—fruit that is encompassed by the greatest element of all: Love.

Creatively Designed

Not long ago, I was sitting at my job where I work as an archives assistant and was compiling information from various, sometimes conflicting, sources into a spreadsheet. The task was a needed step in a long process but was mentally arduous, and were I to explain in detail what I was doing, most people would likely shudder at the seeming drudgery of it.

Press pause on that scene and jump to a few weeks later when I was getting to know some international students most of whom are in the United States studying some form of engineering or computer science. They are passionate about what they are studying—and good at it too—but no matter how much enthusiasm they have, I find I can’t muster up any great manner of excitement for fields of study such as these that are completely over my head.

Then this past week, I was running to catch the elevator at work (if you’ve ever used, i.e. waited for, the elevators in said building, you’ll understand), and a student kindly held the elevator for me. During our brief encounter, we began a conversation that included his mentioning he was studying all day. I inquired the topic of his studies, and he answered, “Calculus,” to which I wrinkled my nose and expressed my condolences. “Eh, it’s not too bad,” he replied. “I like it pretty well.”

Now let's go back to my office . . . The student's response in the elevator is similar to what mine would have been had someone asked me what I was doing at work every day. “Bleh. That sounds so boring,” they might say. But it wasn’t boring to me. Okay, yes, sometimes it made my brain hurt and seemed like it would never end, but I knew the purpose behind what I was doing. And I could see as I was working how my organizational skills, attention to detail, and general appreciation for making order out of chaos were making it possible for me not only to perform the task but to enjoy it.

And as I sat at my desk that day those weeks ago, my mind and heart erupted in worship of the Creator God who gave me particular interests and the bent to be able to perform the duties necessary in the work field of my interests.

You see, that’s the common thread through each of the vignettes that opened this post—people who are specifically interested and gifted in vastly different areas. I’m sure there are some jobs that nobody feels particularly drawn to or talented in, but in my experience so far I never cease to be amazed at the wide variety of occupations that exist and the way that there are individuals who are so perfectly suited to them.

What a comfort it is to know that there are engineers and mathematicians out there; economists and artists and medical professionals of all specialties; musicians and scientists; film-makers and attorneys; farmers and authors and mechanics; ministers and teachers; accountants and architects; librarians, soldiers, and carpenters—the list goes on and on.

Have you ever stopped to consider the immense creativity God has displayed in the way He has designed each of us, how He has instilled in different people different talents for different purposes? We often think of Psalm 139:13-14 as verses that speak to the value of life in the womb, and rightly so, but do we recognize that we are just as wonderfully made as adults?

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV).

Our infinitely wise Creator did not just design our bodies; He crafted our personalities and granted us talents for His glory and our good—whether we recognize it or not. But oh how sweet it is when we do.

In one sense, we can look at our own individual lives and praise God for the fearful and wonderful way in which He has made us, but we can also lift our gaze to the sea of humanity present and past and marvel at the beautiful creativity of our God. We are each wonderfully designed, and look how many designs there are!

Sit and soak a moment in the knowledge that each and every design originated from the mind of God—then like a saturated sponge, let that knowledge be squeezed out into praise for the One that is infinite in His creativity and has displayed His designs for all to see. What a beautiful God we serve!

Christians and the Vote

The contents of this post have been rumbling around in my head and heart for a while now, and I figure with less than a month before the election it’s about time that I write them out. I do so confidently yet with some trepidation, not being a super huge fan of conflict and realizing that the following perspective might ruffle some feathers and that there will likely be those who strongly disagree.

And that’s fine. There’s plenty of space for differences of opinion here. However, in an attempt to avoid perceived disagreements where none actually exist, let me state at the outset that this post is not an endorsement of any candidate, nor does it pertain merely to the current election cycle.

So now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s jump in. You ready? *Deep breath* Here we go…

Especially in this election season, there seem to be two poles of perspective among those who claim the name of Christ: one that emphasizes our American citizenship and one that emphasizes our citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Yet focusing on only one of these aspects of our identity fails to address the complexity of our reality.

We are Christians, yes. And as Christians, our primary allegiance is to Christ and to His Kingdom. There’s an interesting complexity to His Kingdom, though, in that it is in an “already/not yet” state of being. In other words, His Kingdom has arrived, and we believers are currently part of it, but it has not yet reached its completeness. Because of the “not yet” aspect of His Kingdom, earthly “kingdoms” still exist, and every human is a part of one—even Christians.  

As Christians who believe in the sovereignty of God, we believe that God ordained when and where we would live, what family we would be born into, and what earthly “kingdom” we would be a part of. So for those of us who are citizens of the United States, we are that (and are not citizens of another country) because God has placed us in this particular context at this particular time in history. The same can be said for all people no matter what country they are a part of. So we are Christians who happen (by God’s plan) also to be Americans during our time on this earth. That is who we are.

Here’s where I can see the first wave of objections rising: “If our allegiance is to Christ, then what should it matter what country we are a part of? Shouldn’t we only be concerned about matters of His Kingdom? Our identity is rooted in Christ; should we even recognize “American” as part of our identity?"  

Remember that Christ did not save us in a vacuum. And He did not whisk us straight to heaven when He saved us. He left us here in our specific context to live out our salvation (not to earn it, but to demonstrate it). God does not negate our earthly life when He brings us into His kingdom; He redeems it.

Let me ask—what if we framed the above objections in reference to our families? After all, as Christians we are children of God, right? Right. “So if He is our Father, what should it matter what earthly family we are a part of? Shouldn’t we only be concerned about matters of His Family?” [The answer to that rhetorical question is no.]

I hope this makes it a little clearer to see that God does not absolve us of our earthly responsibilities when he brings us into His kingdom. We are still the children of our parents and the parents of our children; we are still to honor and take care of our earthly family. Similarly, being a Christian informs our citizenship, but it does not absolve us of our civic duty. We are still citizens of the United States; we are still to honor those in authority over us, to pay our taxes, and—to vote.

And here we reach the controversial topic: voting as a Christian. I’ve attempted to establish thus far why I believe Christians should vote. The question then follows—yes, but how are we to vote?

I think it is helpful to look to Jeremiah’s letter to the Jewish exiles in Babylon for an applicable principle. The Jews are living in an earthly kingdom that is not the nation God established for His own chosen people; they are living in the pagan Babylon that does not recognize God’s authority. The prophet Jeremiah, still in Jerusalem, writes to the exiles and relates to them God’s command to settle in to their current location and to invest in their current community (Jeremiah 29:4-6).

Then God tells the Jews, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV). Note that He didn’t tell them to try to get other Jews in leadership positions in the royal government. Nor, did He call them to isolate themselves from the community or to bemoan the fact that their Babylonian political leaders were not honoring God. He simply called them to seek the welfare of their city and to pray for it.

Today, as Christians who are Americans, we are God’s chosen people who are living in an earthly country that is not the kingdom God established for His Church. (For more on the “Christian nation” mentality, see my previous post on providentialism.) Because America is not equivalent to the Church, there are different standards the leaders of each must meet. For leaders of the Church (e.g. pastors and deacons), we look to Scripture to see the necessary qualifications.

But America is not the Church. Just as we would not expect or require unbelievers to live according to the standards of God’s Word to which we hold believers, so we should not expect or require the leaders of the United States to meet the qualifications of leaders of the Church. This means, among other things, that a person does not have to be a Christian to be worthy of our vote.

Some might argue that this is compartmentalizing our faith from the rest of our life, and I agree that compartmentalizing our faith is wrong. But there is a difference between compartmentalizing and making a distinction. I am not suggesting we wall off our duties as a citizen from our Christian convictions. Our Christianity should inform our decision-making in every aspect of life. But what I am suggesting is that we can and should make a distinction between the requirements we hold for leaders and members of the Church and those we hold for leaders in the earthly country called the United States.

Yes, it would be awesome if we had leaders who had been saved by Jesus Christ and who actively sought to honor Him in all that they do. But there is such a thing as common grace, i.e. God has graciously equipped people who are not His children with talents and success and some degree of wisdom. Because of this grace, it is possible for an unregenerate person to make good decisions and to lead well.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes there may not be any Christian candidates. Now, here, I know some would argue that we should write-in someone who is a believer or who at least is “morally upright,” but I would reiterate that being a Christian is not a qualification for holding elected office in the United States—and would add that neither is being “morally upright.”

“Man, she’s really going off the deep end now. How can you honor Christ and vote for someone who isn’t morally upright?” It’s a valid question. But I would answer it with another one: who is morally upright? Every single one of us, Christian or not, has deep moral flaws—including every single candidate that is on the ballot or that could be written in. Some flaws manifest themselves differently than others, and some are more public than others, but they are all flaws, nonetheless.

The only difference Christians can boast is the indwelling Holy Spirit Who can help us overcome our flaws. But again, the “not yet” aspect of God’s kingdom means that even Christians will still fail to live perfectly holy, upright lives. Just because someone is a Christian does not mean they will always make wise decisions. “Yes, but at least they are governed by Christ.” Okay, so if that is what we most care about, then we're back to saying we should vote for Christians.

For the sake of discussion, let’s say, yes, sure, we should vote for a Christian. But what if a Christian isn’t on the ballot? “Then write one in.” But what if your state’s laws prevent you from writing in? Do you just not vote? I hope I’ve shown with the first half of this post that the answer to that is “no—you should vote.”  So what then?

If we should vote and voting for a Christian is not an option, then how do we decide whom to vote for? I would suggest looking two places—1) to the place that outlines the qualifications for elected officials and 2) to the passage in Jeremiah. For President, for instance, the requirements are that a person be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for at least fourteen years (see Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution). Once those requirements have been met, then I believe we should choose the candidate whom we believe will best foster our country’s welfare (see Jeremiah 29:7 above).

This means looking at the candidates’ policies—their stances on the issues and their plans for decision-making and action/inaction. The reality is that we are choosing people who will be leading (and hopefully serving) our country by making decisions that will affect the well-being of our people. Hypothetically, let’s say that there are two candidates whom we equally consider to be people of character but who have very different views on a particular issue. I believe we should choose the one whose policies most align with what we believe will lead to the welfare of our nation.

And it is here that being a Christian helps inform our decision. What does Scripture have to say about the issues facing our nation? And for the ones Scripture does not specifically address, what are the biblical principles that help us shape our understanding of them? Once we have educated ourselves on the issues (see P.S. below) and given prayerful consideration to a biblical stance on them, we should look at where each of the candidates stand and choose the one who most matches up with our beliefs.

In this way, I believe we can be honoring to God by fulfilling the responsibilities of the earthly citizenship He has granted us. Voting for the people we believe to best represent biblical positions on the issues and praying for our elected officials are two ways we can seek the welfare of the country/state/city God has ordained as our earthly home. May He grant us wisdom and a gracious spirit in interacting with our fellow believers and citizens in the weeks and months ahead.

P.S. I have found the following link to be helpful. Even if you don’t actually answer the questions, it will at least provide you with a good idea of what the issues currently facing our country are.  http://www.isidewith.com  (Click on "Take the Quiz" to see the questions then click on “Answer more               questions” under each section to see the full range of issues.)

The Mixed Blessing of Nostalgia

Nostalgia. Move around enough, or perhaps I should say return to former habitats enough, and it will become a near-constant companion. Especially if you have a sentimental bent like I do, it attaches itself with a relentless grip.

That sensation of remembrance combined with the surreal realization that things are different yet the same; walking familiar paths and feeling right at home yet simultaneously out of place; knowing that this place is connected to you because it is where a part of your story unfolded, but a part that is in the past—these are all factors that come into play when nostalgia comes calling.

The very definition of the word conveys the mixed nature of the condition. American Heritage Dictionary defines it as “A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past,” and Merriam-Webster as “pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again.”

As Christians, what role should nostalgia play in our lives? Is it healthy for us to long for what is past? As with many things, I think the answer is both yes and no.

Certainly we are to be a present- and future-minded people—present in the sense that we are called to live today for the glory of God and future in that we live each day with “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, NIV). But there is a sense in which we are to be a people of the past as well.

Often in Christian circles, the “past” is thought of in terms of an individual’s pre-Christ lifestyle that God redeems through the blood of Christ. It is something we are delivered out of and are not to return to. And certainly that is true, but there is another way to view the past: as the account of God’s overarching story wherein his faithfulness, mercy, and grace are displayed.

Numerous times in Scripture God’s people are encouraged—even commanded—to remember the past (e.g. Deut 5:15, 7:18, 32:7, 1 Chron. 16:12, Psalm 105:5, Eph. 2:11-12, etc.), and many of these passages, like Psalm 77:11, speak to recalling the works of God:  “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11, ESV). In some sense, this could be referring to things that the Lord has done before our time, but I believe there is also something to be said for remembering ways the Lord has worked in our own lives.

And it is here that nostalgia can come into play.

I began writing this post while I was spending the weekend in my four-year home-away-from-home—the town where I went to college. The weekend was filled with catching up with dear friends and traipsing around old haunts, as all the while nostalgia swirled, flooding me with memories of pure joy and deep pain, of refreshing excitement and crushing loss, of quiet peace and turbulent trials.

But what accompanied the mixed emotions was an overwhelming sense of the steady, faithful hand of God through it all. As I found myself longing to return to the happy scenes, some of which are decidedly irretrievable even in a new form, I was gently reminded that those times are gifts that were given me for that particular chapter of my life (and not for this one). They are experiences the Lord gave me to help mold and shape me, to help me learn more about myself and more about Him.

Without remembering those times, I would lose the opportunity to marvel in the work of God in my life, to thank Him for the people and places He allowed me to know, and to praise Him for His graciousness to me. In this way, nostalgia can definitely be a blessing, for the aching longing for former things can lead us to a joyful awe of our sovereign God.

But the longing doesn’t always lead to such a positive result.

We can look to the Israelites for an example of how nostalgia can get us into trouble. In Numbers 11:5, the people are tiring of their God-provided manna and are looking back with longing on the more varied diet they enjoyed in Egypt. “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic,” they cry (ESV).

Their remembrance of the past led to their complaining about the present, and God became angry with them, for they neglected to acknowledge His continuous provision and instead essentially declared that His gifts weren’t good enough.  The Numbers account is a cautionary tale for us, because we can easily fall into the same trap. If we’re not careful, we can let nostalgia breed discontentment in our lives.

So, as with many things, nostalgia is neither good nor bad in and of itself. Like a road that splits into two forks, it can lead us either to humble praise or prideful demanding, to contentment or complaining. But being mindful of the mixed potential nostalgia brings with it is the first step in training our minds to take the positive fork rather than the negative, in disciplining ourselves, through the help and power of the Holy Spirit, to be ever mindful of the goodness of God as we remember the past.

Sources:

https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=nostalgia&submit.x=38&submit.y=28. Accessed 16 September 2016.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nostalgia. Accessed 16 September 2016.

A Year in Review

This week marks one year since the debut of “An Iris Awaits.” Over the course of that time under the general headings of Church, Culture, and Catch-all, we have looked at everything from prayer to politics, with some history and literature thrown in along the way. Having reached this milestone, I’d like to take a respite this week from the typical type of posts and instead glance back and glance ahead at the journey we’re on together.

Looking Back

I didn’t know when I began this journey where the path would lead (or even if I would be able to come up with something to write about every other week), but I have so enjoyed this past year of sharing what I have been learning with you.

My hope and prayer in starting this blog was not to exhibit my own writing skills or make a name for myself but rather was to be a faithful steward of what God has given me and somehow to minister to others, edify the Church, and point those outside the Church to Christ.

God has been answering those prayers and recently has graciously allowed me to be made aware of some of the ways He is answering them. So as I look back over the past year on “An Iris Awaits,” I am reminded of the faithfulness and graciousness of God, not only to be patient with me as I learn the lessons He has to teach, but also to use the feeble offerings of a clay vessel like me to bring words of challenge and encouragement to others.

Looking Ahead

As I look ahead to another year, I am reminded that He has already gone before me into it and will be with me each step of the way through it (Deut. 31:10).  He already knows what will be written here in the year to come, and He will provide the grace to meet each need along the way.

Feedback

So in reviewing the past year and looking toward what lies ahead, I’d love to be able to hear from you:

~ Have there been any posts that you have found particularly challenging or encouraging?

~ Have there been any that have prompted you to think about something you hadn’t thought about before? Or maybe caused you to think about something in a different light than you were used to?

~ Have there been any posts that you disagreed with?

~ Is there anything you’d like me to write about in a future post?

Thank you all for joining me along this journey. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead.