Monthly Archives: October 2018
“IN TOUCH WITH MY OWN IGNORANCE”
Sometimes, small interactions expose big problems. For example . . .
My wife and I were talking yesterday about the horrible shooting in the “Jewish synagogue” in Pittsburgh. When Sharon used the expression “Jewish synagogue,” I cocked my head in the shape of a question mark. She caught the body language and asked a simple question. “Oh, I guess there’s no other kind of synagogue, is there?”
“I don’t think so,” I replied. “It’s a bit like speaking of a ‘Jewish rabbi.’”
But then, she asked me a question that brought my train of thought to a screeching halt. “Do any other religions call their place of worship a ‘synagogue’?”
And then, my ignorance tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned around my ignorance sucker-punched me. “I don’t think so, but now that I think about it, I’m not sure.”
So, I went to the modern equivalent of the ancient Delphic oracle. I googled it.
And wouldn’t you know it, there is another group that calls their place of worship a synagogue! The Samaritans, who live within the modern state of Israel, worship in a synagogue.
Sometimes I can’t help feeling awestruck by my own ignorance. This was one of those occasions. And here is why I felt such a sense of awe at my own ignorance: The Bible and everything related to it is my baby. And the Samaritans, in addition to still being in existence (a small community, but still present), are mentioned in the Bible. And I didn’t even know what their place of worship was called.
I don’t much mind being ignorant about cars, and electrical stuff, and plumbing, and what color of shirt goes with what color of pants. But to be ignorant of something related to the Bible? Now that is disturbing!
And yet, in my old age, I am becoming much more content with my ignorance. After all, there is a lot to not know.
It is very important to be in touch with my own ignorance, but there is a stage beyond even that. It is the stage of accepting my own ignorance. Acceptance doesn’t mean that I can’t learn more, or that I don’t need to learn more. Quite the contrary! Acceptance is a prelude to acquiring more knowledge. I can only move beyond ignorance after I’ve accepted it.
And now, back to the tragic events that led to this little reflection on the precise meaning of the word “synagogue,” I must ask myself—and you, dear reader—a profoundly simple question: What caused this man to think that he knew enough to mow down a bunch of people at a Jewish synagogue? The reason I ask this is because I have a suspicion that it is not ignorant people who do this sort of thing. No, it is the ones who are sure that they know. Be very cautious about knowing too much. You don’t. Neither do I. Neither does anyone else.
And never follow anyone who knows too much. The difference between a demagogue and a leader is this: The demagogue knows everything, whereas a leader knows slightly more than the one’s he/she is leading. Good leaders know that there is a lot they don’t know, and they don’t pretend that they do.
“THE POWER OF MY WORDS”
“From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
(Proverbs 18:20-21, English Standard Version)
According to Proverbs 18:21, words matter—a lot! In fact, words are a matter of life and death.
Of course, in this verse death comes first. That may be significant. The usual word order when the Hebrew words for “life and death” is with “life” first. The fact that, in Proverbs 18:21, death comes first may suggest that the Proverb writer is emphasizing the power of the tongue to destroy.
The Hebrew is very striking for the phrase “the power of the tongue.” Literally, the first part of 18:21 would be translated, “Death in life are in the hand of the tongue”!
Now, lest we accuse the biblical writer of not knowing human anatomy, let me point out the obvious. If you are anything like me, it may be precisely the obvious that you overlook.
We all use parts of the body to describe functions that are not, strictly speaking, bodily functions. “Don’t try to strong-arm me into this!” we say, when we think somebody if being manipulative and pushy. “I love her with all of my heart,” we say, even though we realize that the primary function of the heart is to pump blood. “Oh, he always has his nose in the air,” we say, concerning someone who thinks he’s better than anyone else.
We have all experienced the power of words for harm us. I wonder, sometimes, if we are always aware of the power of our own word to harm others.
We certainly need to cool a lot of the political rhetoric right now. To pretend that the harsh, accusatory tone that is being used on all sides is simply “free speech” won’t cut it. The president’s words have power, whether he knows it or not. The president’s critics’ words also have power.
But perhaps we could begin with our own selves. There is little point trying to get the president or his critics to tone down their rhetoric, if we are not willing to do so ourselves.
Perhaps we could begin with how we speak to the harried checkout clerk when we are waiting to pay for our coffee. Perhaps we could work on speaking more gently and kindly to our wives and husbands, even our dogs. We need to stop waiting for the Republicans and Democrats, Fox and CNN to use words more kindly and accurately. We need to begin with ourselves.
“SECRETLY INCREDIBLE”
Here was my report and affirmation to my 12-step sponsor the other day:
Dear _____,
Today, my report and affirmation to my 12-step sponsor read as follows: “No violations, other than some passing fantasies. I didn’t let them pass as quickly as I would have liked, but they did pass.
Today, by God’s grace, I will not complain about anything or anyone. This includes myself. Instead, I will be grateful, and will do whatever I can to serve God and others, in order to make this a slightly better world than it is right now.”
My sponsor’s reply was at once an encouragement and a rebuke. “So, I see a contradiction in your report and your affirmation. You said you did not let them pass as quickly as you would have liked and then you state that you won’t complain about anything. Relish your success.
Be secretly incredible today to tie in to your affirmation.”
I wrote, “Thanks so much for the correction! You are right.
Thanks also for giving me a wonderful idea for a blog: “Secretly Incredible.’”
So, let me make a list of things about me that stand a chance of being “secretly incredible.” Of course, since I am posting this, it will be an open secret. So, here is a not-so-secret list of my current secret incredibles:
- I am honest about my weaknesses, at least some of the time.
- I am admitting to others some of my weaknesses, in order that they both hold me accountable and encourage me.
- I am making positive affirmations, and trying to live by them.
- I am aware of the danger and yukkiness of complaining, and am seeking to avoid it.
- I am capable of having my contradictions pointed out without coming unglued.
What are your secret incredibles? Most of us are aware of our faults and failings. Are you also aware of what’s right about you? Sometimes I think we hide all our secrets deep inside, unaware that some of those secrets might be just fine.
“THE NAME OF JESUS AND A SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE”
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17, New English Translation)
Reading other people’s mail is fun. Sometimes, however, we find out that the letter is to us and about us after all. In Colossians 3-4, the Apostle Paul is giving some helpful advice about how to live to an ancient church. Strangely enough, it might also speak to decisions we all need to make on a daily basis.
Take Colossians 3:17 for example. N.T. Wright comments,
“Paul now closes the circle which began at 2:6. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acting ‘in someone’s name’ means both representing him and being empowered to do so. Paul’s exhortation is therefore a salutary check on behaviour (‘can I really do this, if I am representing the Lord Jesus?’) and an encouragement to persevere with difficult tasks undertaken for him, knowing that necessary strength will be provided. And again Paul adds the characteristic emphasis: giving thanks to God the Father through him. The centre of Christian living is grateful worship, which is to affect ‘whatever we do’: since ‘all things’ have been created through Christ and also, in principle, redeemed through him, Christians can do all that they do, whether it be manual work, political activity, raising a family, writing a book, playing tennis, or whatever, in his name and with gratitude. Jesus, the true divine and human image of God, the one whose cross secured our reconciliation, is the reason for our gratitude, and the one ‘through whom’ we can now offer that gratitude to the Father himself.” (N.T. Wright, The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and Philemon : An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, pp 150-151. )
While this is true, it is also true that, if I cannot do something “in the name of Jesus,” I had better leave it alone. And I can think of lots of things that I can’t do in the name of Jesus, or with gratitude.
One of the less serious examples is playing word games on my computer. Now, I hear someone saying, “Good grief! What on earth is wrong with that?!”
And the answer is, absolutely nothing—for some people. However, I am not some people. I’m just me. And the person that is just me doesn’t have any business playing word games on my computer. The reason is simple: I will tell myself that I’ll just play one game. However, I know I’m lying to myself even when I say this.
Two hours later, I’m still playing, my hands are hurting, I’ve neglected to write my daily blog, I haven’t been preparing for classes I’m teaching, I haven’t done some tasks around the house that need to be done, and I’m feeling horrible about myself. So, I play some more word games on my computer.
If I can’t play word games in the name of Jesus, or if I can’t be thankful for doing so, then I had better leave it alone. While it is very important to say and do things in the name of Jesus and with a spirit of gratitude, it is also very important to refuse to say or do things when I can’t, with a good conscience, do them in the name of Jesus with gratitude. Stationed beside the doors of all choices are two armed guards: The Name and Gratitude. I need to let these guards do their job.
“WHY NO TOTAL HEALING?”
I am getting to teach an online class for the university where I am an adjunct. The first assignment is simply to introduce yourself. I figure that this is one small way of personalizing a format that can be very impersonal.
One of the things that I mentioned about myself is that I am an addict, and while I have many years of sobriety, I still go to meetings, have a sponsor, and sponsor others. I am this frank when I am teaching a class in the flesh, so why not online?
A student of mine responded to this aspect of my introduction by telling me that he appreciated my honesty. He had a struggle with alcohol addiction some twenty years ago, but Christ had taken away even the desire to drink. Did I still struggle with desires?
Here is how I responded.
“I am glad for those whom Christ has set free even from the desires to do things that harm and enslave them, and cause them to hurt others. I think that such things do indeed occur, and I am always delighted to hear of them.
However, that is not my story. I still have desires that, if left unchecked, would destroy me. And, of course, I would hurt others in the process of going down.
I don’t know why I am not one of the “delivered from evil desires” crowd. I wish that I were. Maybe I don’t have enough faith in God. That’s certainly possible.
On the other hand, I sometimes wonder if Christ has left me with some left-over desires in order to keep me from becoming puffed up with pride, or unsympathetic to other sinners. I simply do not know. However, what I do know is that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and I am trying to live under his Lordship every day.
We should always be glad for those who don’t even desire evil. We should pray that we too will be delivered from such desires. However, even if we are not delivered from them until we see Jesus face-to-face, we are still responsible for not yielding to those desires. And we are responsible for doing whatever works to assist us in obedience. For me, that means still attending 12-step meetings, checking in with my sponsor, and actually practicing the 12 steps.”
So, dear reader, if you have been delivered from even the desire to do evil, rejoice and be glad for such deliverance!
But if you’re still in the daily process of allowing God to help you to deny your evil desires, rejoice and be glad for such deliverance! Slow-motion miracles are just as miraculous as immediate miracles. They’re just slower.
“GOD IN EXILE”
“The maggid [preacher] of Mezritch said: ‘Now, in exile, the holy spirit comes upon us more easily than at the time the Temple was still standing.
‘A king was driven from his realm and forced to become a wayfarer. When, in the course of his wanderings, he came to the house of poor people, where he was given modest food and shelter, but received as a king, his heart grew light and he chatted with his host as intimately as he had done at court with those who were closest to him.
‘Now, that He is in exile, God does the same’” (Tales of the Hasidim, vol. 1, p. 103).
I often feel like an exile. I have since I was a little kid. I’ve never felt that I fit in anywhere. Maybe that’s because I don’t.
I suspect that we all feel that way some of the time, and that some of us feel that way all of the time. I have no empirical evidence for that, just a hunch.
The hasid, Dov Baer, says that God is also in exile in this world. God as a wandering king—now that’s an interesting way of thinking about God!
The Bible often refers to God as King. This is true whether you look in the Old Testament or the New. While I’m not sure that it ever speaks of God as an exiled king, it frequently comes close.
For example, in the initial visions of Ezekiel (chapters 1-3), who is in exile in Babylon, the prophet sees God’s throne—on wheels no less! Even though the Temple in Jerusalem was in ruins, God was still king, even in exile. Ezekiel saw a very portable, dynamic God.
In the New Testament, Jesus is often portrayed in ways that kings were depicted in the Old Testament. And yet, he was a very strange king, who once said, “The foxes have dens, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).
I think that, deep in the human heart, is a desire for a God who is in control, at least in control of other people and of situations that threaten us. The problem is that when God wants to change us, we get very balky. Deeper still, however, is the longing for a God who understands and shares our feeling of exile.
Perhaps God as an exiled king is not so strange after all. Perhaps God has been an exiled king in our world since the Garden of Eden. Perhaps God is always the one who shares our individual and collective exile.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
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- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
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- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
“First things First: the Priority of Doing”
“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (John 7:17, English Standard Version)
Jesus was in the midst of controversy when he spoke these words. Some people were saying that Jesus was a good man. Others thought him a deceiver. Shortly after Jesus spoke these words, the crowd accused him of having a demon.
In other words, it was a fairly typical time in Jesus’ life. He seemed (and still seems) to generate controversy, wherever he went.
Here, Jesus says something very simple: You only know the truth when you act.
Too often, we sit around waiting. We are waiting for Truth, for Love, for Something. And all too often, no mighty wave of Truth crashes over us. No Love taps us on the shoulder, spins us around, and gives us a kiss. Something does happen, but it isn’t the something we had hoped for.
Perhaps we should do something. Doing often comes first. Knowing is often the caboose of the train, not its engine.
By the by, this is not just true in spiritual matters. If you want to learn anything from cooking to plumbing, from learning to sew to figuring out how to rewire a light switch, you have to do something.
Don’t get me wrong! Knowing is important. But far too often, we think we have to know everything before we do anything. Also, we have a tendency to think that knowing always precedes doing. Sometimes, yes, but not always.
A commentator on John 7:17 says it pretty well:
“If they choose to do God’s will, Jesus said, they will find out his teaching comes from God. This enunciates a very important fact: recognizing the truth of Jesus’ teaching is not dependent upon intellectual ability or formal learning, nor is it a reward for the noble search for truth. It depends, rather, upon a person’s willingness to do the will of God. The impediments to knowing the truth about God are more likely to be moral (lack of readiness to do God’s will) than anything else.” (Colin G. Kruse, The Gospel according to John: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, p. 184)
Usually, we already know something we need to do. We would probably become a lot smarter if we would just do that.
Excuse me, but I need to finish this post. I’ve got some things that I know I need to do to prepare for the class I’m teaching this afternoon!