Friday, January 5, 2007
Clarification
I should mention that the previous post was based on Mark Buchanan's book "Your God is too Safe".
Is our God too Safe?
There is a place, in Africa, wedged between Kenya and Uganda … a little town called Busia, which forms the quintessential "Borderland". He describes it as a place of "double crossing" – both Kenya and Uganda each have their customs buildings, and it is essential to go through both in order to travel between the two countries. There are two borders, two crossings to make … and between them a small strip of land, perhaps 100 by 300 meters, thronged with people … peddlers, hawkers, beggars … in a place which no-one claims, where law is suspended, no-man's land … Borderland!
But for those who choose to live there, it is safe. It's safe because it's predictable, it's small and limited, the boundaries are clear and in sight, they hold some things in, but a lot more things out, tomorrow will be the same as today, and there are very few decisions (if any) which are required, Living in Borderland is safe!
It’s familiar. It can be traced out. It keeps things in and denies things entry. It is the place of perpetual knowing. We always know what is to come because borderland doesn’t change.
If you think about it, we do the same thing with God. There is a blood feud that divides Christ’s domain with the world’s, and the cross is marks the crossing.
It’s a way of life that is hard to learn. This new land is dangerous, with difficult terrain. It calls us to constant dying. Borderland seems safer so we refine an aptitude for lingering.
Take, for example, Uzzah the priest, whose brief story we heard in the first bible reading earlier. Uzzah and Ahio were escorting the Ark of the Lord to set it up in its new home, in the city of David … Jerusalem, which David had recently conquered, and declared as the capital of the new kingdom. The band was in full swing, the procession was moving slowly and majestically towards its destination, "and the whole house of Israel was celebrating with all their might before the LORD". It was a moment to be captured (if only they could have) on video footage, and replayed over and over, to re-experience the celebration and joy.
Suddenly there was a problem. One of the oxen stumbled, the cart jumped, and the ark began to slip. Quick as a flash, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the ark, to prevent it from slipping right off the cart and onto the road … clearly the right thing to do, to save embarrassment, to protect the moment, to maintain the sense of celebration. And suddenly, without warning, he was dead! Right there and then, at that moment, beside the ark, Uzzah died!
And the text says it was because God was angry …
"The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God." (2 Sam 6:7).
Yet you and I would say that Uzzah had done the right thing! Surely it was better to stop the ark from slipping, than to allow it to drop onto the pathway, risk damage, stop the whole procession, interrupt the worship and the celebration! But there was something deeper at stake here.
Years earlier, God had given very specific instruction as to how the ark was to be carried.
"Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it." (Exodus 25:12-14).
It was the role of the priest to ensure that things were done God's way. It was the Philistines, who had captured the ark during the time of war with Saul, who first thought of the method of transportation by ox cart, so this whole procession, organized, no doubt, by Uzzah and Ahio, was dishonoring to God, rather than being the worship they thought they were engaged in. It was their idea, not God's!
And isn't that what we all do, much of the time? We think we know best. We do things because it suits us that way. We've become comfortable and safe in our religion, keeping the traditions, or even breaking them, and forming new ones, maintaining the safe and predictable cycle of our lives and relationships, and making space for God when and where it suits us … living in Borderland!
And God struck Uzzah dead!
But for those who choose to live there, it is safe. It's safe because it's predictable, it's small and limited, the boundaries are clear and in sight, they hold some things in, but a lot more things out, tomorrow will be the same as today, and there are very few decisions (if any) which are required, Living in Borderland is safe!
It’s familiar. It can be traced out. It keeps things in and denies things entry. It is the place of perpetual knowing. We always know what is to come because borderland doesn’t change.
If you think about it, we do the same thing with God. There is a blood feud that divides Christ’s domain with the world’s, and the cross is marks the crossing.
It’s a way of life that is hard to learn. This new land is dangerous, with difficult terrain. It calls us to constant dying. Borderland seems safer so we refine an aptitude for lingering.
Take, for example, Uzzah the priest, whose brief story we heard in the first bible reading earlier. Uzzah and Ahio were escorting the Ark of the Lord to set it up in its new home, in the city of David … Jerusalem, which David had recently conquered, and declared as the capital of the new kingdom. The band was in full swing, the procession was moving slowly and majestically towards its destination, "and the whole house of Israel was celebrating with all their might before the LORD". It was a moment to be captured (if only they could have) on video footage, and replayed over and over, to re-experience the celebration and joy.
Suddenly there was a problem. One of the oxen stumbled, the cart jumped, and the ark began to slip. Quick as a flash, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the ark, to prevent it from slipping right off the cart and onto the road … clearly the right thing to do, to save embarrassment, to protect the moment, to maintain the sense of celebration. And suddenly, without warning, he was dead! Right there and then, at that moment, beside the ark, Uzzah died!
And the text says it was because God was angry …
"The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God." (2 Sam 6:7).
Yet you and I would say that Uzzah had done the right thing! Surely it was better to stop the ark from slipping, than to allow it to drop onto the pathway, risk damage, stop the whole procession, interrupt the worship and the celebration! But there was something deeper at stake here.
Years earlier, God had given very specific instruction as to how the ark was to be carried.
"Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it." (Exodus 25:12-14).
It was the role of the priest to ensure that things were done God's way. It was the Philistines, who had captured the ark during the time of war with Saul, who first thought of the method of transportation by ox cart, so this whole procession, organized, no doubt, by Uzzah and Ahio, was dishonoring to God, rather than being the worship they thought they were engaged in. It was their idea, not God's!
And isn't that what we all do, much of the time? We think we know best. We do things because it suits us that way. We've become comfortable and safe in our religion, keeping the traditions, or even breaking them, and forming new ones, maintaining the safe and predictable cycle of our lives and relationships, and making space for God when and where it suits us … living in Borderland!
And God struck Uzzah dead!
Am i my Brother's Keeper?
Luke 10:25-37
When we’re growing up with brothers and sisters we may have felt like we were responsible for them if we were older. As we get older we get tired of always being responsible for others and so we become very egocentric (focus on us). We may be like Cain when he asked if he was his brother’s keeper. Scripture refers to neighbor as a brotherly relationship, when asked “who was my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan. The suggestion is that everyone is your neighbor and brother, and you are your brother’s keeper.
When we’re growing up with brothers and sisters we may have felt like we were responsible for them if we were older. As we get older we get tired of always being responsible for others and so we become very egocentric (focus on us). We may be like Cain when he asked if he was his brother’s keeper. Scripture refers to neighbor as a brotherly relationship, when asked “who was my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan. The suggestion is that everyone is your neighbor and brother, and you are your brother’s keeper.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
New Years Thought
As I prepare for New Years Eve I’m excited. I love the planning of parties, the fun in the decorations, the food, the music, the people, and the games and of course the countdown to the New Year.
I mean who wouldn’t be excited about all of these things; it’s such a great time. But I realized that I began to focus on the New Year. I remember growing up and my parents would always make new years resolutions. They would promise themselves that they would exercise more, drink less, be more outgoing, and argue less. I found myself making some of my own. I would be a better brother, do better in school, and do better at work. I remember promising that I would treat girls better; spend more time with my friends. Every New Years Eve became a time when I evaluated my life, my relationships and my time.
I would often get down on myself for screwing up my life, or being a “bad” or “horrible” person. The funny thing is that I’m not like that anymore. I don’t feel like I’m “bad” or “horrible”. I have value and my life isn’t determined by all the wrongs I’ve committed, or the people that approve or disapprove of me.
I’m not held to my mistakes anymore. I’m seen through these new glasses now that make me worth more than I could ever dream of. I am clean, and now as I look into the New Year; I look forward with confidence because no matter what I do Jesus will always be there to meet with me. He’s been misrepresented at times; He’s not angry or hateful. He’s not waiting for you to screw up so that He can lay down the smiting hammer. All He’s waiting for is us to respond to Him and let Him tell us our value and our ability to place confidence in His perfect love.
Think about where your life is at. Are you in a place where you feel like you are one of the “bad” ones? You’re not you know. Your life could be so much more than it is now not necessarily easier, but definitely more. Maybe it’s time to at least find out more about this Jesus guy and what He has to offer?
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
In Christ
Rob Haslam
I mean who wouldn’t be excited about all of these things; it’s such a great time. But I realized that I began to focus on the New Year. I remember growing up and my parents would always make new years resolutions. They would promise themselves that they would exercise more, drink less, be more outgoing, and argue less. I found myself making some of my own. I would be a better brother, do better in school, and do better at work. I remember promising that I would treat girls better; spend more time with my friends. Every New Years Eve became a time when I evaluated my life, my relationships and my time.
I would often get down on myself for screwing up my life, or being a “bad” or “horrible” person. The funny thing is that I’m not like that anymore. I don’t feel like I’m “bad” or “horrible”. I have value and my life isn’t determined by all the wrongs I’ve committed, or the people that approve or disapprove of me.
I’m not held to my mistakes anymore. I’m seen through these new glasses now that make me worth more than I could ever dream of. I am clean, and now as I look into the New Year; I look forward with confidence because no matter what I do Jesus will always be there to meet with me. He’s been misrepresented at times; He’s not angry or hateful. He’s not waiting for you to screw up so that He can lay down the smiting hammer. All He’s waiting for is us to respond to Him and let Him tell us our value and our ability to place confidence in His perfect love.
Think about where your life is at. Are you in a place where you feel like you are one of the “bad” ones? You’re not you know. Your life could be so much more than it is now not necessarily easier, but definitely more. Maybe it’s time to at least find out more about this Jesus guy and what He has to offer?
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
In Christ
Rob Haslam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
