Work FOR God, or the work OF God

Thanks to Oswald Chambers for bringing this Bible verse to my attention today:

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10 (NIV)

I love the feeling of paradox here, and the truth of actual Christ operating through His followers. Rather than adherence to a religious, Christian code, or a human movement with Jesus as the founding member, the disciple of Christ is a conduit through which Christ is alive and operating on earth here and now. The follower of Christ does not do work FOR God. Instead, he gets out of the way and allows God to do His work through him.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of the Christian Church today is that many strive to do work FOR Christ rather than surrendering TO Christ so that the work OF Christ becomes a reality through them.

http://utmost.org/the-habit-of-rising-to-the-occasion/

What Is “The Gospel”?

What Christians commonly call “the gospel” is usually thought of as being the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Christians even say that there are four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – being four books providing four versions of the story of Jesus, written by four different authors and found at the start of the New Testament in The Bible. But the Gospel is not the story about Jesus. And there is only one Gospel. The information about Jesus cannot and never will be able to save a person’s soul. The Gospel is the reality of redemption found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself redeems, not the historical account of what he did to bring about redemption. The living Christ – not the information – saves! All followers of Christ are called to proclaim the Gospel. That is, our lives must declare the redemption of Jesus the Christ. This can happen whether we are retelling the story about Jesus or not.

The Rights And Wrongs of Rights

Against the advice of several US-resident-but-foreign-born friends of mine, I recently ventured to post a few thoughts about the gun debate in the USA. I did not expect what came back at me. I’ve learned a lot.

Now, I’m usually up for a good discussion. Even impassioned debate. I usually welcome people having a different opinion than mine, but sadly some of the responses have been brutish. Sometimes personal and combative. From Christians especially. I have been quite shocked and taken aback by the level of fiery emotion and willingness to lash out. I think the response indicates something far more concerning than whether or not people can legally own certain types of guns.

Two quick preliminary points:
1) This blogpost is not supposed to be a continuation of the gun debate. I’m trying to make a bigger comment.
2) This blogpost is written with followers of Jesus as the intended audience. If that’s not you, please feel free to read on, but expect some terms of expression that might seem strange to you.

I am not against the second amendment – American citizens’ constitutional right to bear arms – per se. But I struggle to see “Jesus” when Christians are far more upset when their second amendment rights are scrutinized than they are about anything else. It’s my experience that many Christians seem more passionate about defending their own “rights” than defending the “rights” of others. In particular, I am thinking of the “rights” of the defenseless children and the materially poor in this world.

Honestly, I’m not sure if I am trying to make a contradictory statement to American Christian pro-gun folk or not. Maybe the position of Christian gun-rights activist and what I am about to say can be integrated somehow. But at the moment, I just can’t see it. I guess I’m a fundamentalist and an idealist. But to say, “I follow Jesus, and I will fight to defend my personal rights,” is contradictory to me. Those two sentence halves do not belong together. To fight for my individual rights (the “right” to bear arms being one), or to claim any personal privilege as a “God-given right” (as has been stated to me about gun ownership) shows a fundamental misplacement of the grace of God. To take that position while remaining largely inactive in caring for the defenseless – even more so.

The overwhelming, core message of Christ Jesus – it seems to me – is that I must surrender my “rights” in an earthly sense. I must be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), carry my own Cross (Matthew 16:24), be crucified with Christ and no longer alive to this world (Galatians 2:20), placing my faith for my protection and provision in Christ alone (Matthew 6:25-27). Instead, the focus of my earthly existence – the earthly purpose of the follower of Jesus – is to care for the orphans, widows (James 1:27) and other “least of these” (Matthew 25:31-46). To bring justice for the oppressed (Isaiah 58: 6-7) while disregarding my own earthly desires for personal safety and comfort – my “self”. Jesus tells me that, if I expend my energy holding onto my own “rights” in this life, I will lose my “right” to life (Matthew 16:25). Eternal life – true life – is a free gift of God’s grace, “achieved” or, more accurately, evidenced when I give away my “right” to an earthly life of my choosing. I must surrender my “rights” by submitting to the only truly righteous life – Christ Jesus in and through me.

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3

Can you imagine a lamb on an Old Testament sacrificial altar bleating about its rights and how this isn’t fair? It’s a ridiculous picture of course. It’s not fair to the lamb, but it is right. The lamb dies anyway. It’s from this thought that we get the, “like a lamb to the slaughter,” phrase. The lamb does not complain. Does not fight back.

That’s how Jesus went to the Cross – the unjustly accused lamb to the slaughter. Humanity – you and I – had no right to crucify Jesus as we did. He did not deserve a brutal, agonizing death on the Cross. You and I can rejoice that He did not stand up for His rights, but instead was led – not just like a lamb – but as THE Lamb to the slaughter. His rights as the Son of God were denied to Him at the Cross so they could be applied to you and me! By grace we can inherit His rights. His righteousness.

Here’s the kicker: If I am going to allow my life to resonate with Jesus as Lord – if I have received His righteousness – I must love as He loves, follow where He goes and surrender my earthly “rights” like he did. The Cross is not just what Christ did for me, it is also what is required of me! My “self”, my selfishness, my “rights” are the required sacrifice.

Not that I am a model for selfless living at all. No, not yet. I guess I defend my rights in less obvious ways, even though I don’t believe I should. I am a work in progress, but I have had a glimpse of the final, perfect design and that leads me onto the narrow road I am determined to follow. Less of me and more of Jesus! (John 3:30)

So, knowing Jesus – even a little – why would I fight for my “rights”? In the end, earthly “rights” are just some humans’ version of justice. But I am a sinner. The end result of justice for me is damnation! I don’t want justice! By “rights” I am a goner! Why settle for justice when grace is offered? Grace is better than justice. Apart from God’s grace, I deserve hell. That would be justice. I try to remind myself of that fact every time I think I have been treated unfairly or that my “rights” have been disregarded. I’ll fight for justice – for the “rights” of those who are “poor in the eyes of the world” (James 2:5) – but I ought not fight for my own.

Yes, the American government may – some time in the distant future – become oppressive and tyrannical. You may, one day, feel the need to reach for the gun in your closet. If you do, I hope it’s God’s gracious Holy Spirit leading you and not you leading you. You see, there is a greater and current threat than the US government, or even an intruder in your home. A tyranny that is closer, more dangerous and largely undetected. The most dangerous and most present tyranny is in our own hearts! Tyranny lives in me and in you. Having an assault rifle in your closet arms the present tyranny! The same tyranny of “self” that works to oppress the defenseless people we are called to defend. The same defenseless people who, it seems, many are loathed to defend because doing so intrudes upon their own “rights”, privileges and comforts.

It seems to me that the same Christians who are most passionate about defending their second amendment “rights” are also fearful of the government restricting their freedom to worship as they choose. To that I say, yes, my “right” to free religious expression could, one day, be restricted or taken away by a government actively oppressing the Christian religion. Some (usually people who have never lived outside their home country) would argue that this is already happening in the USA. But that will have no bearing on true faith in Christ. We should not think that “defending the faith” and “defending my right to outwardly express my faith the way I want” are the same thing. The truth of Jesus the Christ is not compromised by earthly laws. Laws may restrict how I can freely demonstrate that I follow Jesus, but will never change that I follow Jesus.

I hope it does not come to this, but perhaps legal restrictions would sort the wheat from the chaff. Perhaps, like the apostle Paul and some of my missionary friend in Turkey, I’d have to go to jail for proclaiming Christ crucified. Perhaps oppressed people of faith would be more faithful. Only God knows, but it is conceivable to me that the blending of personal “rights” with (only the compatible) aspects of Jesus’s teachings has allowed a comfortable, luke-warmness to permeate – maybe even dominate – the Christian Church in America.

Guns are a difficult issue for sure – especially in the US. I do my best to understand the issue of constitutional “rights” for my American brothers and sisters. As an Australian, it’s tough though. I don’t really have a good frame of reference (but I did write a blogpost about trying to wear those shoes if you’re interested: http://grantnorsworthy.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/swimming-in-the-ocean-outlawed-in-australia/#comments). I’m unable to fully empathize with the contrary position to my own on this issue, but I stand by what I have said here. I sincerely hope I have not caused offense, unless it is God’s Spirit that is causing the offense.

Grace (that’s better than justice) and peace (that’s better than safety or comfort) to you and your family.

Directionally Challenged

Perhaps there’s a particular audio frequency – probably within the spectrum of the snare drum (that constant, repetitive “crack” of the snare drum) – that kills the specific brain cells essential for having great memory of details and a strong sense of direction. In all likelihood, its effects are most profoundly felt by bassists, who are invariably standing next to drummers and listening to them intently.

I am a bassist. And, despite rumors to the contrary, I have found that drummers are usually very intelligent people, with a natural affinity for technical equipment, smart enough to wear ear protection and – while not always great at taking musical direction – are very good at navigational directions.

Ah, directions! Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I suffer from several deficiencies. And one glaring deficit of mine is that I am directionally challenged. The stereotypical “guy” joke, of course, is that men won’t ask for directions, because they are supremely confident of their navigational skills, even when they should not be.

Another humorous, stereotypical situation is that guys will always leave the toilet seat up and their wives/girlfriends/mothers/sister/cohabiting females always want the seat left down. Gender wars ensue! But, in our household, I really want the seat AND the lid down. Quite early in my marriage I had to (carefully and lovingly … mainly) work to convince my wife of the merits of the lid-down toilet. Doesn’t it look better? If it’s seat down or seat up only, what’s the lid for? I don’t want to see toilet water unless I have to use it. I guess I’m a bit weird.

There was a time when – like most guys – I thought I was good at directions. But I am not. It was tough to own up to it, but it’s true. Years ago, I realized that I should not ask for directions because, not only will I get them confused and become lost, I am most likely lost now. Instead I’ll need a navigator and I will ask them to listen to the directions. Or I’ll make sure I’ve got a good GPS or a smartphone with maps.

In case you’re reading this in an age where GPS technology is redundant – which might be in fifteen minutes or so as far as I know – GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a satellite-based navigation system using a personal or vehicular monitor to find position and directions. A lot of people use their smartphones for directions now. A smartphone is a devise that can also be used to call people back, but it is rarely used for that purpose.

Thankfully, my wife Brooke understands that I am bad at directions, loves me still and affords me enormous grace. She’s a far better navigator than I am anyway.

I don’t think I’m just making excuses. I am good at other stuff. Just not directions. It’s been a freeing thing to let go and own my weakness in this area. It’s also helped make it easier to own up to other areas of my life where I need Grace.

“It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! … How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage? We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God.”  Oswald Chambers,“My Utmost For His Highest”, January 12th.

Swimming In The Ocean Outlawed In Australia!

Even though I have lived in the USA for nearly 11 years, there is still a great deal that I do not understand about the American psyche. I love this country and its wonderful people. They have welcomed me here warmly. I want to understand better.

So, I’ve tried to dream up an imaginary parallel experience to help me feel how many of my American friends might be feeling right now. This is it:

Australians are a beach loving people. All the major cities of Australia are on the coast. 85% of Australia’s population live within one hour’s drive of a great beach. And our beaches are amazing! Some of the worlds best. Most Australians love going to the beach and swimming in the surf as often as possible. It’s a great place to be and it’s great fun. Although the right to swim in the ocean is not (to my knowledge) written into the Australian Constitution, it might as well be. We consider it a pastime that’s more Aussie than just about anything else.

So, I’ve imagined that there has been a terrible tragedy. Twenty-seven people died – including twenty young children – in a freak surf accident. This sort of thing has happened before, but never this bad. Between the shark attacks, the unpredictable tides, sudden storms and the like, the Australian population is sick and tired of these tragedies. Something must be done!

Supported by a swell of strong emotion amongst the general public, the government has decided to take affirmative action so that this never happens again. There will now be a ban on entering the ocean past the depth of your knees.  The government has outlawed the ownership of surf board, wind surfers, boogie boards, and several other ocean-going devises now deemed too dangerous for members of the general public to own. Funded by a tax hike, the government is buying all these items from the public at market value and having them destroyed.

How do I feel? I think I feel a little bit more like some of my American friends who have enjoyed – as a constitutional right since very near the birth of their great nation – the right to bear arms. I feel violated! I can think of plenty of other steps that could be taken to stop these deaths, but it must not take away my right to swim in the ocean! It is not the fact that we love to swim in the sea that’s the problem here!

Okay, I think I understand a little more. To my US friends, sorry for not understanding better before now. I can still only imagine how this is for you. The analogy does not bear close scrutiny, but it has helped me. Sorry, also, if this analogy is too trite.

I now think I have felt a little of what you must be feeling and thinking.

I don’t imagine that the opinion of one foreigner is really going to matter much, but here it is anyway. Even after considering my analogy – and trying to feel what opponents of gun law reform in the US feel as best I can – I still think the assault rifles have got to go. Not all the guns. Just the really big, fast shooting, big-number-of-bullets ones that are needed for mass slaughter. I cannot see how Americans need all these military-styled assault rifles in their homes ready and available for the next person who snaps.

Dear American friends – before nailing your flag too firmly to the mast of either side of the gun issue, please do your best to empathize with those on the other side of the hill. I hope we can all try to feel how the families of the people who died at Sandy Hook School on December 15th must be feeling as a Christmas passes without their loved ones.

Just my opinion. You’re welcome to disagree. But if you want to express your disagreement in writing here, please keep it impersonal, respectful and discerning. Thanks.

Faith, Fact and Opinion

Everyone believes that their opinion is the correct one. If they didn’t, they’d change their opinion! We have problems when individuals think of their opinion as not an opinion, but a hard, solid, immovable fact. It seems to me that Christian people do this more than anyone else. They stop being people of faith and, instead, become people of a long list of facts.

“What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” Mark Twain

But their facts are actually their faith as they currently understand it. Their facts are what they believe intellectually about God (and many other things) but they are not prepared to truly examine their, so called, facts for fear it would show a weakness of faith.

“Trusting in my own mental understanding becomes a hindrance to complete trust in God.” Oswald Chambers

I believe that people of faith should be the least rigid when it comes to our opinions – our intellectual list of beliefs – no matter how strongly we feel, or how convinced we are of their truth. As we experience the overwhelming grace and mystery of God we realize that the basis of our faith is not having the facts right in our heads, but a surrender of our will to the Spirit of God.

We should be the most accepting of other people with their different opinions. The most ready to openly discuss and empathize. The least defensive and bound to our opinions. The least likely to attack others when they present different, even contrary, opinions. What we believe and how sure we are about our beliefs should never be the foundation for our identity. Our identity is found in Christ Crucified and ONLY there.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

If we’re ever going to get along, we must learn to see that much of what we think we know as fact, is actually opinion. And we must have the humility to carry ourselves with our opinions as opinions; ready to discuss the differences between opinions with generosity and willingness to be challenged and learn. People of faith must rest in the assurance that our faith in Christ is not dependent on human opinion, nor agreements on any list of earthbound facts. There will never be unity if the prerequisite is that everyone must agree with me.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Guns and Politics

Under the shadow of last Friday’s Sandy Hook School tragedy where twenty-seven people died – twenty of them children aged 6 or 7 – I thought I’d write a few lines. As parents, Brooke and I made the decision to tell our five year old son Max about what had happened. We’d been able to keep him from any news over the weekend and while he was home with an ear infection on Monday. With him heading back to school today (four days after the event) we thought it was a talk we needed to have.

Last night, snuggled up in his bunk (after the first book reading but before the second and lights out) I told Max the sanitized version of what had happened at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. “Something very sad happened last Friday. A very lonely, upset and sick man got some guns and took them to a school…”. I explained that Max did not need to be worried or afraid, but he might hear teachers or other kids talking about this and I wanted him to hear about it first from us. He might also see flags at half mast and I explained what that meant.

The talk went well I think. Max seemed to understand the seriousness and some of the sadness, but was not distressed. I also told him that he could be sure that everything that could be done to stop this happening again would be done. I hope that’s the truth. I let Max ask questions. Thankfully, he didn’t ask for gory details. Instead he wanted to know how many guns and what type of guns the sick man used. I told him what I knew. Then, very matter-of-fact-ly, Max said, “They should take away the guns!”

I agree with him.

As a rule, I try to avoid making any comment that can be construed as commentary on the US political landscape. I am an Australian living in the US and grateful to be here. I don’t want to appear overly critical or ungrateful. I don’t have the opportunity to vote in the USA, but – with my outsider’s perspective – a lot of what I see politically in my adopted country of residence seems very strange to me. So, let me just share a little of my other home country Australia’s history with murder and guns.

In the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Australia had more than it’s fair share of multiple shooting massacres: Milperra in ‘84 (7 dead, 28 wounded), Hoddle Street in ’87 (7 dead, 19 wounded), Queen Street also in ’87 (9 dead, 5 wounded) and Strathfield in ’91 (8 dead and 6 wounded). From a population of less than 20 million, that list shows an unreasonable and troubling high level of violence.

But the event that pushed public and political opinion over the edge occurred on the island state of Tasmania in 1996. The Port Arthur massacre transformed gun control legislation in Australia forever. Thirty-five people were killed and twenty-one wounded by a lone shooter armed with two semi-automatic, military-style assault rifles. This is the same type of weapon that wrought the carnage at Sandy Hook and, indeed, in all high-fatality shootings.

Within the year, there was a powerful political plan implemented that clearly showed that Australians had had enough – the gun buy-back scheme. Supported by a surge in public opinion, the federal and state governments in Australia worked together to buy around 631,000 guns from members of the public and had them destroyed. Most of the destroyed firearms were much less deadly semi-auto .22’s, semi-automatic shotguns and pump-action shotguns. Only about 3% were military-style assault rifles. Private ownership of  these weapons was outlawed. It was a costly exercise, but we were ready to pay the price in dollars rather than in innocent blood.

There have been no mass shootings in Australia since 1996.