Happy Friday.
We’re told God loves a cheerful giver. Televangelists spin this to imply their followers should help them buy a second jet. In response, thoughtful people wince. As we should. God is not a slot machine, nor is He running a Ponzi scheme. But we are wrong to dismiss the circle of generosity. God may not promise prosperity to those who sacrificially give, but He does promise a blessing. In His economy, having more isn’t winning.
The COVID Chronicles: Views about COVID are fluid, both because scientists keep learning more about it and because reporters keep editing their reports based on their politics. As someone who has had it – and as someone who has friends on the front lines of the science and politics – I have some thoughts: 1) It’s real. I didn’t vote for it, but both Sheri and I had it; 2) it can be nasty, but mostly it isn’t; according to the latest CDC reports, COVID-19 SURVIVAL RATES are as follows: Ages 0-19: 99.997%, 20-49: 99.98%, 50-69: 99.5% and 70+: 94.6%. 3) Part of the reason the death rate is dropping (even as the numbers infected remains high), is because medical professionals are rock stars; 4) the vaccine will not be the silver bullet some hope. Along with masks, hand-washing and social distancing most think a vaccine (if / when it arrives) will help, but not eliminate our challenges. They suggest we will be riding the present sine wave for another year.
Without Comment:
- More than 16,000 books have been written about Abraham Lincoln. The only person with more than 16,000? You guessed it, Jesus.
- There are five million new US gun owners since the start of 2020.
- Since 2008’s global financial crisis, while many forms of consumer debt have declined, student loan debt has tripled. Currently around 44.2M Americans owe a total of more than 1.5T in student debt.
The Debates: Much has been written about the first DJT vs JRB debate. All I will add is that more than seeming apropos for 2020, it seemed a reasonable summary of the current “rockem sockem” philosophy of national discourse.
Curated: Have you noticed that everything is curated these days. The word has enjoyed a renaissance matched by few things other than brussel sprouts and Purell hand-sanitizer. My sense that this was happening was confirmed this week when I saw a commercial for shaving in which the razor company promised it had curated the best products for my face. By the way, I worked hard to curate that story on curating.
Cut Flower Culture: In 1951, Will Herberg – an American Jewish philosopher and sociologist of religion – coined the phrase “cut flower culture” to describe the growing spiritual rootlessness of modern European and American societies. His argument was, just as cut flowers may look nice for a few days but will not last, so a society without faith in God may maintain virtue for a season, but it will not last. I suspect Herberg would not be surprised by our current societal angst and political vitriol. Those who have read Nietzsche know he would not. The question is whether or not the church will emerge as the kind of thoughtful, engaged, Christocentric and grace-filled community that He will use to turn things around.
Easter at Passion City Church: Those who have read the Update since it started know I have liked David Crowder since before he started growing facial hair. I stumbled upon his participation in this classic – Because He Lives.
Closing Prayer: I kiss your feet, dear Jesus; I press my lips to them, because despite my many sins, despite the burden of guilt upon me, despite my lack of discernment, I know that I have nothing to fear from you. I embrace your feet, Lord Jesus; I anoint them with the oil of my repentance. And as I crouch at your feet, I know that I am safe, because you despise no one, reject no one, repel no one, welcome everyone, admit everyone. Amen. Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)