| Seven Stanzas at Easter |
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Make no mistake: if He rose at all It was not as the flowers, The same hinged thumbs and toes, Let us not mock God with metaphor, The stone is rolled back, not papier-mache, And if we will have an angel at the tomb, Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, Telephone Poles and Other Poems © 1961 by John Updike |
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Passing of a Poet
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
An Important Week
This week is an important one.
First of all, it began with Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the most important day of any week. This is the day on which the people of God gather to worship their Maker and Redeemer. God has graciously made a way for sinners such as you and I to be in communion with him. This he has done by giving the gift of his Son to do what we could not do – fulfill all righteousness and bear the penalty of our not having fulfilled God’s righteous demands. We gather together each Lord’s Day as those who are aware of this kindness and we pause to intentionally thank God and learn of him.
On Monday, we had a national holiday commemorating the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. He would have been 80 this past Thursday. It is fitting that the nation pause and honor this courageous soul. He was used by God to awaken this nation to its own values and hold it accountable regarding its fundamental commitment that “all men are created equal.”
Then, on Tuesday, we had the inauguration of a new president. This is a remarkable event for several reasons. First of all, we are truly blessed to live in a country that witnesses a peaceful transition of power every four years. One does not have to strain very hard to find numerous examples in history of when such change in leadership was anything but peaceful. Zimbabwe is a contemporary example. And, of course, the inauguration of our new president is remarkable because the one who took the oath is identified as a black man. God has graciously allowed our country to evolve so that we might be a nation of opportunity and equality both in theory and in practice.
On Thursday, however, we have a much more important event taking place in Washington, DC, than the inauguration: the 36th March for Life, which observes the Supreme Court’s fateful Roe v Wade decision of January 22, 1973. This was the decree that unleashed the holocaust of abortion upon this land. Since that time, some 45-50 million children have been aborted in this country and, in this environment, we have witnessed an increasing tolerance for the destruction of human life for “therapeutic” reasons: assisted suicide, euthanasia, and, lately, embryonic stem cell research.
Unfortunately, the newly sworn president doesn’t get it. He is without a doubt the most pro-abortion president we have ever had. He received a 100% rating from NARAL and is on record (and this is thoroughly documented) as persistently voting against and standing in opposition to a bill in the Illinois legislature that would have protected the life of children who survived an abortion procedure. This is particularly unfortunate as it is the African-American community that has suffered the most in the wake of Roe. A disproportionate number of black babies are destroyed by the abortion industry in this country. For every two African-American women that get pregnant, one will choose to abort. In truth, a black baby is five times more likely to be killed in the womb than a white baby (statistics from The Alan Guttmaucher Institute support these observations). This has led a colleague of mine in the pro-life community (a black man, by the way) to remark, “The most dangerous place for an African American to be is in the womb of their African American mother” (Rev. Clenard H Childress, Jr. of blackgenocide.org).
We must pray that President Obama will come to realize that his desire for all of the human family to be respected and valued must extend to the most vulnerable among us. May he become a champion of life in all its stages.
First of all, it began with Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the most important day of any week. This is the day on which the people of God gather to worship their Maker and Redeemer. God has graciously made a way for sinners such as you and I to be in communion with him. This he has done by giving the gift of his Son to do what we could not do – fulfill all righteousness and bear the penalty of our not having fulfilled God’s righteous demands. We gather together each Lord’s Day as those who are aware of this kindness and we pause to intentionally thank God and learn of him.
On Monday, we had a national holiday commemorating the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. He would have been 80 this past Thursday. It is fitting that the nation pause and honor this courageous soul. He was used by God to awaken this nation to its own values and hold it accountable regarding its fundamental commitment that “all men are created equal.”
Then, on Tuesday, we had the inauguration of a new president. This is a remarkable event for several reasons. First of all, we are truly blessed to live in a country that witnesses a peaceful transition of power every four years. One does not have to strain very hard to find numerous examples in history of when such change in leadership was anything but peaceful. Zimbabwe is a contemporary example. And, of course, the inauguration of our new president is remarkable because the one who took the oath is identified as a black man. God has graciously allowed our country to evolve so that we might be a nation of opportunity and equality both in theory and in practice.
On Thursday, however, we have a much more important event taking place in Washington, DC, than the inauguration: the 36th March for Life, which observes the Supreme Court’s fateful Roe v Wade decision of January 22, 1973. This was the decree that unleashed the holocaust of abortion upon this land. Since that time, some 45-50 million children have been aborted in this country and, in this environment, we have witnessed an increasing tolerance for the destruction of human life for “therapeutic” reasons: assisted suicide, euthanasia, and, lately, embryonic stem cell research.
Unfortunately, the newly sworn president doesn’t get it. He is without a doubt the most pro-abortion president we have ever had. He received a 100% rating from NARAL and is on record (and this is thoroughly documented) as persistently voting against and standing in opposition to a bill in the Illinois legislature that would have protected the life of children who survived an abortion procedure. This is particularly unfortunate as it is the African-American community that has suffered the most in the wake of Roe. A disproportionate number of black babies are destroyed by the abortion industry in this country. For every two African-American women that get pregnant, one will choose to abort. In truth, a black baby is five times more likely to be killed in the womb than a white baby (statistics from The Alan Guttmaucher Institute support these observations). This has led a colleague of mine in the pro-life community (a black man, by the way) to remark, “The most dangerous place for an African American to be is in the womb of their African American mother” (Rev. Clenard H Childress, Jr. of blackgenocide.org).
We must pray that President Obama will come to realize that his desire for all of the human family to be respected and valued must extend to the most vulnerable among us. May he become a champion of life in all its stages.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Human Beings -- God's Tapestries
"My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth." Psalms 139:15
Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and otherness of God. His divine attributes are on display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12), loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20), righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence. Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what example did the psalmist use – God’s creation of mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used none of these. To express the wonder of God’s unparalleled creative power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human in the womb (14-16).
The Hebrew word used to express God’s forming of us in the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God’s artistic mastery. And, like the artist who knows his creation down to the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (v. 14).
What is true for this psalmist is true for every human being. Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can proclaim on behalf of each, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth." Psalms 139:15
Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and otherness of God. His divine attributes are on display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12), loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20), righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence. Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what example did the psalmist use – God’s creation of mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used none of these. To express the wonder of God’s unparalleled creative power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human in the womb (14-16).
The Hebrew word used to express God’s forming of us in the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God’s artistic mastery. And, like the artist who knows his creation down to the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (v. 14).
What is true for this psalmist is true for every human being. Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can proclaim on behalf of each, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Embracing Common Grace
There is a teaching found in the Scriptures to which the Church has given the name “common grace.” What this refers to is the biblical evidence that God expects us to love our enemies and “do good” to those who might even hate us because this is how God acts toward those who hate him. Jesus teaches that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” As Jesus says, if we love only those who would love us back then we are not acting any differently than the wicked. Even they do this. But we are held to a higher standard: the actions of our heavenly Father. As his servants, we are to be God’s agents of grace on the earth even if the recipient does not respond with thanksgiving or praise to God.
Such grace (unmerited favor or undeserved kindness), since it is expressed to saint and sinner alike, is called “common.” Not because it is of little value but because it is common to everyone. This is to be distinguished from the biblical doctrine of “special” or “saving” grace which is the grace extended to the elect that results in eternal life (Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 11:5-6). While the two are not unrelated they are not to be confused. The one is for everyone, the other for the elect.
Common grace in action is the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37). The one whom the Samaritan is helping is to be understood as being a Jew. That is to say, that had the one who had been hurt been conscious he would most certainly would have refused the help of the Samaritan and probably offered a few expletives to go along with it. For “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). But the Samaritan, who knows the Jew hates him, nonetheless offers help and as such, Jesus declares, fulfills the command to “love our neighbor as ourselves.”
The parable teaches that such acts of kindness done on behalf of even an unrepentant sinner are sufficient in and of themselves. They may lead to an opportunity to “witness” but they do not need the “witness” to justify our having done them. There is no verbal exchange in the parable. There is only a soul acting as God does in heaven, and he receives the highest approval rating of Jesus: he is the model to be followed.
Common grace should spur us on and broaden our understanding of what it means to minister to the world around us. It is a good thing to do things that are good for others. It pleases God and brings him glory.
Such grace (unmerited favor or undeserved kindness), since it is expressed to saint and sinner alike, is called “common.” Not because it is of little value but because it is common to everyone. This is to be distinguished from the biblical doctrine of “special” or “saving” grace which is the grace extended to the elect that results in eternal life (Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 11:5-6). While the two are not unrelated they are not to be confused. The one is for everyone, the other for the elect.
Common grace in action is the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37). The one whom the Samaritan is helping is to be understood as being a Jew. That is to say, that had the one who had been hurt been conscious he would most certainly would have refused the help of the Samaritan and probably offered a few expletives to go along with it. For “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). But the Samaritan, who knows the Jew hates him, nonetheless offers help and as such, Jesus declares, fulfills the command to “love our neighbor as ourselves.”
The parable teaches that such acts of kindness done on behalf of even an unrepentant sinner are sufficient in and of themselves. They may lead to an opportunity to “witness” but they do not need the “witness” to justify our having done them. There is no verbal exchange in the parable. There is only a soul acting as God does in heaven, and he receives the highest approval rating of Jesus: he is the model to be followed.
Common grace should spur us on and broaden our understanding of what it means to minister to the world around us. It is a good thing to do things that are good for others. It pleases God and brings him glory.
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