Christians often describe Jesus as sinless, which tells you what he was not. He was not selfish, not cruel, not abusive, not twisted, not proud, not petty, etc. Given the revelations about others that greet us daily, saying he is sinless is important.
But we can do better. Sinless is flat and sterile. Jesus was neither. People who strive to be sinless are generally unattractive and pinched. They are smug, religious and joyless. Jesus is beautiful. Not just sinless. And not simply good and useful, but beautiful. People came from everywhere to get near to him. Wherever he went, good things multiplied – things like health, healing, loaves and fish.
In his meditation on Christ, Michael Reeves writes, “Jesus is kinder than summer, he befriended the rejects and gave hope to the hopeless. The dirty and despised found that they mattered to him.” Jesus was described like a bridegroom at a wedding.
Sinless is an accurate word, but hardly adequate. If it is one of the first ways you think about Jesus, you need to look again.
Economics and Faith:
- A recent study by Georgetown University found that the faith sector contributes $1.2 trillion to the US economy. That’s more than the combined revenue of the top ten technology companies in the country, including Apple, Amazon, and Google.
- For years I’ve thought that Churchill’s comments about democracy should be said about capitalism– i.e., “that it is the worst system possible… except for all of the other systems.” Of course, criticizing capitalism gets you branded a Marxist, so every time I’m about to suggest that capitalism devoid of Christian compassion is trouble, I celebrate the market. I note that it has created lots of wealth and lifted hundreds of millions out of abject poverty. My days of trying to navigate discussions about capitalism are over. Now all I have to do is say, read “Redeeming Capitalism” by Ken Barnes. Dr. Barnes, who chairs the Mockler Center for Faith & Ethics in the Workplace at Gordon Conwell, has written a helpful, thoughtful and readable book about the value – and challenges – of capitalism. It’s worth picking up.
Faith and the News: Over the last month: 1) The Wall Street Journal quoted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying, “Moses brought water from Iraq,” when what he said was “Moses drew water from a rock,” alluding to Exodus 17; 2) NPR described Easter as the day “celebrating the idea that Jesus did not die and go to hell or purgatory at all, but rather rose to heaven”; and 3) NBC’s Chuck Todd celebrated Good Friday as the day to remind folks that “any day can become ‘good’, all it takes is a little selflessness on our own part.” In commenting on the gaffs, Washington Post reporter Christine Emba admits that many Americans – “particularly those in the news media” – are more likely to recognize a Harry Potter reference than a biblical one. She then went on to note that this is a problem because, “as a reference point, the Bible is a skeleton key that unlocks hundreds of years of culture, from Shakespeare to Kehinde Wiley.” I am inclined to laugh not cry when I hear these, and to remind myself that there are many things worse than not knowing the Book – e.g., not knowing the One who inspired it. But it is worth noting how comically uniformed our elite are on all things biblical.
Quotes Worth ReQuoting:
- Only those who have faced their own dark side can be trusted to lead others towards the light. Ruth Haley Barton
- I wouldn’t quite say that ‘religious practices help the search for truth’ for that might imply that they have no further use when the Truth has been found. I think about practices in terms of what a wise old priest said to me about a ‘rule of life’—‘It is not a stair but a bannister’ i.e., it is not the thing you ascend by, but it is a protective against falling off and a help-up. The stair is God’s grace. One’s climb from step to step is obedience. Many different kinds of bannisters exist, all legitimate. It is possible to get up without any bannisters, if need be: but no one would willingly build a staircase without them because it would be less safe, more laborious, and a little lacking in beauty. C.S. Lewis
- At a dinner last week, Dr. David Dockery passed along one of the local golf rules he picked up when playing in Uganda, where monkeys are common. “Play the ball where the monkey throws it.” One wonders – is that a rule for golf in Uganda, or the job description for anyone in leadership?
What is Being Talked About: Two weeks ago I noted a spate of articles about loneliness. Last week it was liberals critiquing liberalism. This week, everywhere I look people are writing about small talk. Eugene Peterson – who I expected to be against it, spoke of its value, as did Bret McKay (who hosts a podcast on manliness). Small talk? The value of small talk? Is everyone suddenly covering this topic because it is trendy, or are a number of people so frustrated by the nature of today’s public discourse that they are providing tutorials on simple decency?
Being Poor: Last week’s citation of John Scalzi’s article, Being Poor, generated several heartfelt responses. If you did not read it, you have another chance, if you did and were moved, do something. If you are local and looking for ideas: here is a link to give to St. James, a benevolence fund that helps those in crisis (choose St. James Benevolence under giving reference); here is a link to the Cars Ministry that is doing wonderful work; and here is a link to North Chicago Community Partners – a group we have been working with for ten years.
Good News to Celebrate: I am thankful to report that: 1) ReNew Communities (RC) secured a lot to pilot its first new construction project (RC has been purchasing and then remodeling abandoned homes. This will be their first new construction project); and 2) Christ Church has green-lighted REACH funds to help plant three overseas churches. We will be helping a team in Istanbul working with Muslim refugees; we will be helping a group outside of Accra, Ghana plant a church targeting the young moving into the capital; and we will be helping HBI plant a church among IT professionals in Chennai, India. Please pray that we are good stewards with all of the opportunities in front of us.
A Nighttime Idea for Parents: A Nighttime Blessing of Gospel Love is too good not to pass along. The one who shared it with me suggested the parent place their hand on their child’s face when they say it.
Parent: Do you see my eyes? Child: Yes.
Parent: Can you see that I see your eyes? Child: Yes.
Parent: Do you know that I love you? Child: Yes.
Parent: Do you know that I love you no matter what good things you do? Child: Yes.
Parent: Do you know that I love you no matter what bad things you do? Child: Yes.
Parent: Who else loves you like that? Child: God does.
Parent: Even more than me? Child: Yes.
Parent: Rest in that love.
Closing Prayer: O God, let something essential happen to me, something more than interesting or entertaining or thoughtful. O God, let something essential happen to me, something awesome, something real. Speak to my condition, Lord, and change me somewhere inside where it matters. Let something happen in me which is my real self. Ted Loder