"It is always easier to go to a consistent extreme then to stand in the midst of biblical tension." This is a great quote from one of my professors. The reason we find it difficult to stand in the midst of biblical tension is that it hurts. I sat in my office with a couple of parents. Another great quote, "A mother is only as happy as her saddest child." I think that is true of dads as well. These parents were hurting because one of their children was choosing an alternative lifestyle. As we talked through the surrounding issues and prayed for wisdom two things struck me. The first thing was that I thought they were doing really well. When I told them that they found it surprising. They did not feel they were doing well. What I meant was they were not allowing the pain to change their theology. I have seen love shape both theology and morality. You probably have too if you think about it. It is what happens when a person believes sex outside of marriage is wrong until they fall in love. Anyway, these parents did not allow their love to change what they believed was right and wrong. And they were still committed to loving their child with all their hearts. They didn't allow their theology to dismiss the child. I have seen that happen as well. Think of Rectevia in Fiddler on the Roof when he refuses to speak to his youngest child again. I said above that there were two things that struck me. The first was they were doing really well and the second thing that struck me was they were in the midst of maximum pain. Moving to either extreme would have been less painful. I realized as I watched them reach for Kleenex after Kleenex that I was in the midst of two people who were reflecting Jesus. Very cool. The message that God wants us to be happy is a weak and flimsy faith. The call of God is deeper and stronger. It is an invitation to really love. A call to love God and love other people. It is what Jesus did and that pushed him right to the cross. Maximum pain. We don't often associate love with pain but if you show me someone who has a great capacity for love I will show you someone with a great capacity for pain. It is the heart that loves and the heart that hurts. I guess I wanted today's blog to encourage those of you who are feeling the pain and the tension. I want to encourage you in the midst of it. Do not allow your love to change your theology or use your theology to dismiss and distance yourself from the pain. Love the God who stretched himself out between two pieces of wood and in doing so showed us the way to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Lord of heaven and earth, increase our capacity for pain that we may reflect your heart and show your glory. Amen
Thursday, September 23, 2010
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11 comments:
Spot on Joe.
Wow, thank you Pastor Joe for the way in which you speak and move. Chris and I feel so priviledged to be a part of HCC.
There is so much power in what Jesus did on the cross, it reaches farther and deeper than I think we will ever know, but I do believe that our pain on this earth can be a way for God to show us just how much he loves us (which seems like it would be the opposite).
There's a song Sweetly Broken that talks of this...
"To the cross I look, to the cross I cling, of it's suffering I do drink, of it's work I do sing. For on it my savior both bruised and crushed showed that God is love and God is Just....At the cross you beckon me, you draw me gently to my knees, and I am lost for words, so lost in love I'm sweetly broken wholely surrendered..."
If I'm gonna be broken, may it be for Jesus...
Many Blessings~
Judy VC
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Partner and share...Act as if their needs are your own it is our command/privilege as the church of Jesus Christ to unite in brotherly love in prayer for this couple and their child and for any in the body that is in need of prayer. Oh the power of prayer! This is Agape love.
How many of us can be called like James "Old Camel Knees."
Check your knees a little self examination and see if they are misshapen from praying without ceasing. Mine look a little to normal to me.
Oh Joe, this hits close to home today. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing this. We have two children that have decided to follow Jesus,one is there but not in the way I would like to see her have her faith.We are so thankful for the solid rock you provide for us. Keeep on,keepin' on. Tim and Claudia Miller
My comment was removed by the administrator because I suggested that "alternate lifestyle" was code for "gay." Which lead me to suggest that the gay son or daughter would have to pray for the strength to unconditionally love his or her parents, despite their bigotry.
I think it's a valid discussion point. Is this just an echo chamber?
I recognize many blogs are forums for discussion and ideas are bantered around with passion even to the point of calling people bigots and such. I didn't start this blog with that in mind. I wanted this to be a blog that encouraged people in their faith. If that is an "echo chamber" than so be it.
Okay, point taken. Your'e right. This isn't the place to be using words like bigotry. I can see it kinda takes away from what's being said. I ended up here on a google search and liked a lot of what's said. Sorry for jumping the gun. Maybe I should just shut up and listen more closely.
thanks for understanding.
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