The Unseen – Mark Unseen, originally uploaded by wrachele.
Not since the Ramones has there been such serendipity. Imagine being born with a name like Mark Unseen and becoming the lead singer of a band called…the Unseen! Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Funniest thing I’ve seen today since the skinny dog picked up the bird and thought she would take it back home from our walk this morning. Thanks to http://benedictseraphim.wordpress.com/.
I don’t make any secret of the fact that some of my favorite music is Punk rock. Not the MTV, stuff but the old-school, hardcore, Mohawked, three-chord PUNK RAWK that is guaranteed to get a circle going if more than two people are listening. Some look at the music and musicians from a distance and pass judgment saying that no Christian should be anywhere near this kind of music. In general, I have to say they’re wrong. There might be some overly nihilistic bands that feed the undercurrent of despair among their fans but by and large, the Punk genre has an ethos that fits well with the Lord’s message.
This past week I have been witness to an unprecedented amount of finger pointing that screamed ‘Why don’t you care about this or that situation’. The trouble is, it stops right there. You rarely see people act on the injustices that they criticize you for crossing to the other side of the street to avoid. The punk ethos is different. While it criticizes the social wrongs of this world, the folks of this tribe are also know for acting on the problems as well. Rather than pointing my finger at you and whining because you don’t care about poverty or the homeless or the elderly I going to do something about it and then encourage you to join me.
Jesus could have sat off at a distance pointing to the myriad of brokenness that he surveyed and then implored his disciples to do something about it but that wasn’t His style. He got down in the dirt with the woman about to be stoned, He crossed the racial and gender dividing lines at the well, He touched the lepers and so many other act of mercy and grace. His style is my style and we hope it will be yours as well.
But I’m not going to pull my ‘Hawk out and wonder why you don’t devote yourself to the same concerns as I do. The Spirit works His ministry differently in all of us.
There is immense privilege inherited by members of a majority group that is often not available to others. The majority identification may come from racial differences or something as minor as the demarcation between member and visitor in a church but regardless, it is there to be mitigated or removed by the Gracist. David Anderson continues his examination of 1 Corinthians 12 as it applies to the Gracist, “our presentable parts need no special treatment.” The Gracist put this into practice by saying ‘I refuse to accept any favors or perks that may hurt you.’
This is an especially grace-filled notion because the perks, in and of themselves, pose no threat to others who do not receive them. Accepting them however, puts a gap between me and the person who has no access to them. Anderson gives an example that is immediately recognizable. In gatherings at the church or in member home, some are always invited to be the first to partake of the buffet. If I, as the pastor, were to jump to the front of the line and enjoy this little perk it means that the food may in shorter supply or a bit messy by the time the last person takes a plate. Something as simple as putting that person first spreads grace that can then extend to other areas of life.
This applies in countless areas where gaps based on race or gender or socio-economic status exist. I can not only refuse to partake of a perk but I can find a way for someone who has no access to that benefit or privilege to gain access. Being a Gracist is not hard and on this fine weekend morning, it is a good time to find a way to bring life to Paul’s teaching.
This tale of a life lived rightly was just the reminder I needed to carry on toward the prize. The theological debates, the bigotry on parade, the sacrificial struggles; they all mean nothing if we are not letting the glory of Jesus shine through our lives. In the end, Jesus will ask, “Did you give me a drink, did you visit me in prison, did you patch my wounds when I was ill,” and so on.
Hip hop raconteur Jimmy Mar brings the word to his adoring crowd
Modesty is not a term often associated with discussions of race but David Anderson makes an intriguing point in the next chapter of Gracism. The discussion of modesty derives from the next verse in 1 Corinthians to be applied:
…the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.
Modesty, in context, is more than just a reference to one’s manner of dress or personal actions. It is a reference to the covering of one’s vulnerable areas. David gives the example of clothing and how it can be alluring and expose parts of our bodies better left covered or it can be a shield of sorts, offering cover for those areas of our bodies that we don’t want seen or that need a bit of protection. As he brings the metaphor to bear on the body, we read the passage as saying that before we express judgement or decide to expose areas of the body of humanity that are unsightly or need covering, we consider the gospel impact of offering a covering first. In others words, there are some issues within the the Body of Christ such as race or culture that are best dealt with behind closed doors, behind a drape of modesty. David is quick to point out that this modesty is not the same as sweeping sin or abuse under the rug.
Special modesty clothes the manner in which we speak about other cultural or racial groups because we place the unity of the Body as our highest priority. Division within the Church, whether it be racial or theological, does nothing to forward the gospel and everything to diminish our Lord and the love he offers. The Gracist is committed to giving our all to contribute to the dignity of others regardless of our differences. We focus our energies on making each other look good rather than exposing our vulnerabilities. Christ is glorified.
Two tragedies have intertwined themselves in my mind as I worked today. One is a current news story not unlike the heart breaking incident with Addie Kubisiak that broke our hearts last winter. It appears that a women has kept the bodies of infants who she possibly miscarried wrapped in plastic in various parts of her home. Little else is known at this point. The other story was a reminder of the destruction of a young family on a downtown Denver street at the hands of a drunk driver who plowed through a red light running over the entire family as they crossed the street to get hot chocolate last November. This picture can still bring me to tears:
Becca Bingham still keeping her children close as she escorts them into the arms of their savior.
While the professional theologians can spend their time immersed in the Word in an effort to bolster certain theological positions or to identify certain Greek or Hebrew structures, the Pastors of this world must search the Scriptures to help provide answers to a world that asks of our God, why, why why? Why does He allow these things to happen? How does one answer the problem of Evil in a world that has little concept of what total depravity means. What can the pastor offer to the father who must now face life alone and broken?
How do you tell this father (sitting leftmost in the picture in the front pew) to go on despite this tragedy. Theologian Steve Camp insists that we give it to him straight: there is no way to know whether or not his children are in heaven being comforted by the Lord Jesus or condemned to an eternity in Hell. Camp looks sideways and says, c’mon, we all know that you Pastors just say that the children received a special mercy just to comfort the father, knowing all the while that it isn’t true. Here is his post on this subject: Weekly Dose of the Gospel.
While Camp correctly asserts that even babies are inflicted with a sinful nature from before their birth, the theological positions on infant condemnation are not as clear cut as he likes to proclaim as he posts on a variety of subjects. It does not appear that the Lord viewed those unable to make a conscious decision to accept Him as under condemnation:
Matthew 18:3 – And he said: “I tellyou the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 – Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
These are the condemned? There are indications throughout Scripture that persons are held to a different moral standard of responsibility and we must consider them carefully before exclaiming that the Scriptures are silent. Deuteronomy 1:39 for example:
And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad –they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.
All is not as cut and dried as some would like to make it. It may be nice to be insulated from tragedy and be able to speculate and make proclamations about the destinies of the men, women, and children who we all come into contact with on a daily basis, but it comes with a responsibility. As for me, I would rather walk among the wounded and help them to trust the same sovereign, merciful God that I trust. Lord Jesus, bring us peace.
Changing the world doesn’t always have to come in monumental undertakings. Sometimes, it’s the little things that you and I can do to change things for the better. Good Magazine has a story about the renewal of small strips of urban blight. Read on…and then go do something about something.
The opening day of Broncos camp is front page news and the top of the hour story each year at this time but something has interfered, taking the edge off of the near religious event; it is the end of July and the Colorado Rockies are relevant in the National League West pennant race. After thumping the Dodgers on Faith day at the ball park (and nearly blowing it in the top of the ninth), the Rox are showing signs of making it a battle all the way to end this year. Dare we dream?
LOVE | ACCEPT | FORGIVE 