Compline…

“Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ out Lord. Amen”

from The Book of Common Prayer

Jonah and the Gospel of Enemy Love

And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"
- Jonah 4:10-11

We all know the story of Jonah and the Big Fish, but as I have been meditating on the book recently it seems that this narrative is incredibly rich and relevant. We begin with God calling Jonah to deliver his message to the evil city of Nineveh, in present times this is a bit like asking an American to go preach to Al Qaeda. Nineveh, being a city of the Assyrian empire, represented the downfall of Israel and so it should come as no surprise to us that Jonah does not want to accept this calling.

As we know, God is relentless in his pursuit of Jonah, and after a great squall and some time spent in the belly of a fish, Jonah arrives in Nineveh to preach repentance to his enemies. Whenever I discuss biblical ideas of peace and nonviolence with people, many are quick to point to books such as Joshua where we see violence done under the direction of God on a large scale (which I will admit is troubling and difficult to understand). Here though in Jonah, God extends his call for repentance to an enemy land.

Jonah is understandably perturbed by God's acceptance of the city, these people who conquered God's people deserve the Lord's vengeance, right? After the city repents in sackcloth and ashes, Jonah is greatly distressed and we begin to see his true motives. Jonah did not run from God to avoid a difficult task, he ran because he was afraid God would spare the city. If he ran away from his calling, he could thwart God's plan to send a messenger and disaster would come upon Nineveh.

Jonah goes out from the city to a place where he can wait and watch to see if God will destroy the city. While there God has a plant grow up over Jonah to give him some shade, but then the next morning sends a worm to kill the plant. Jonah becomes angry over the loss of comfort, and God uses this moment to show him how crazy he is being.

God cares greatly for the city of Nineveh (and apparently for the animals there too). The story is not centered on God trying to convert the Ninevites, but on God attempting to convert Jonah to the Gospel of Enemy Love. The scene reminds me of Genesis 18 where Abraham is interceding for Sodom. Abraham manages to haggle with God down to 10 righteous people (and some commentators have questioned whether Abraham could have asked God to spare the city even if none righteous were found). In Jonah however, God is trying to convince Jonah to spare the city of Nineveh in his heart.

God states that the people of Nineveh "do not know their right hand from their left" in a way that makes it rather unclear how accountable God is holding the city for its excessive evil. What does seem to be assured is that God cares for the city desires it would be saved. While this is not explicitly declare it seems that Jonah is the one who actually needs to repent and so do we.

Holy God who desires that none would perish, teach us how to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Raise up your prophets to preach the Gospel that your enemies would repent and your children would seek peace. Amen.

Responding to the Death of Osama bin Laden

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
(Matthew 5:43-45)

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(Matthew 6:14-15)

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:14-21)

Enemy love is at the center of the Gospel.  Anyone who says otherwise is making excuses to defend their own non-biblical perspective.

Jesus’ Passion and Power

But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
(Matthew 26:63-64)

Every time I read the accounts of Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, I always seem to make new connections. Christians have always, and should always, emphasize the point that Christ did not fight back with violence against his oppressors, but I think we do him an injustice if we forget his striking statements during his trial. At his baptism, God’s voice declares “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Immediately after Satan tempts him saying, “If you are the Son of God.” And now Caiaphas invokes God’s name asking Jesus if he the Son of God. I think we often confuse these accusations as statements of status, either Jesus is God’s son or he is not. However, the way Caiaphas and Satan are wording their questions shows that they are doubting Jesus’ job description not his pedigree.

The Son of Man from Daniel 7 is imbued with dominion and glory and a kingdom. If Jesus is God’s son, where is the might that makes right? Kings do not enter into cities on a donkey, they come in on war horses and chariots. We want Jesus to call down legions of angels and start defeating Roman centurions, but as we shall see on Good Friday, it will be a Roman Centurion – a man who knows both power and violence – who will identify God’s Son.

How frustrated must Caiaphas have been? Jesus who is captured and on his way to his death has the gall to say “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” At Gethsemane, Jesus was most certainly anxious, but now it seems like he has a vision of “the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is unwilling to accept the power of the world because he knows the true power he is to take up. This stands in stark contrast to the chief priests who will later bow before Rome saying, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15).

Lord, help us to worship only true power. Help us take up our cross that we may follow it.

Oscar Romero to his enemies…

And so, brothers and sisters,

I repeat again what I have said here so often,

addressing by radio those who perhaps have caused

so many injustices and acts of violence,

those who have brought tears to so many homes,

those who have stained themselves

with the blood of so many murders,

those who have hands soiled with tortures,

who are unmoved

to see under their boots a person abased,

suffering,

perhaps ready to die.

To all of them I say:

No matter your crimes.

They are ugly and horrible,

and you have abased the highest dignity

of a human person,

but God calls you

and forgives you.

And here perhaps arises the aversion of those

who feel they are laborers from the first hour.

How can I be in heaven with those criminals?

Brothers and sisters, in heaven

there are no criminals.

The greatest criminal, once repented of his sins,

is now a child of God.

- Oscar Romero. September 24, 1978 from The Violence of Love.

States of Confusion: Or Why I Am an Anglican Anabaptist Reformed Liberation Mystic

I would say that over the past few years I’ve dealt with some serious things in my life.  However, be them spiritual, psychological, emotional and or physical issues I would never say that I have experienced a “crisis of faith.”  Recently during my exodus from Arizona to my home state of Virginia, I’ve had many people inquire as to whether I still believe the same things I once professed.  For lack of a better explanation, I have always answered yes because I still believe the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed (although I will admit it doesn’t matter all that much to me whether the Spirit proceeds from the Father or the Son).  At the same time though, I find myself bouncing off the walls of theological and spiritual inquiry. 

For at least the last four years, I have heavily identified with Reformed (read Calvinist) theology.  I’ve taught classes at churches on theology, church history, comparative religion, and Postmodernism largely without encountering any cognitive dissonance in regards to what I believe.  I’ve always been open minded when it comes to theology because I usually just gravitate towards what seems to make the most sense.  That said, most of the people around me have not afforded themselves such luxury.  My uber-Reformed friends make a point to Tweet about every little thing they hear that bolsters neo-Calvinism and puts down “weak” theology (weak=feminine, abstract, or liberal).  Meanwhile I’m reading anything I can get my hands on and trying my best to take it all in.  My recent reading list has included, but is not limited too:

• The New Testament and the People of God by N.T. Wright
• The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder
• A Theology of Liberation by Gustavo Gutiérrez
• Anarchy and Christianity by Jacques Ellul
• The Peaceable Kingdom by Stanley Hauerwas
• Strength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Various books by Henri Nouwen
• The Violence of Love by Oscar Romero
• Ethics by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy

I will fully admit that this list is probably not as diverse as it could be, but it does not comprise every book on theology I have ever read, just those I’ve read recently.

So what am I to do with what I’ve learned?  My first thought was to use my learning to educate those around me and strive for unity and discussion among believers (and I haven’t necessarily abandoned this initial thought completely).  But recently everywhere I turn I find people striving for exactly the opposite.  Don’t believe me?  Go on Twitter and search for Rob Bell.  Just the release of the title of his new book has made some people lose their minds!  Now I’ve been a rather outspoken critic of Mr. Bell in the past, but really people? At least I waited until I had a chance to read his book before I disagreed with him.  The Bell controversy is an obvious one.   Next, Google “N.T. Wright and John Piper.”  Read a few blogs and you will see that Piper seems to be pitting himself against Wright over what some would argue is a semantic argument.  Some crazies have almost asserted some sort of Matthew 16:19 argument insisting that Wright’s different view of justification threatens to release all Christians from assurance of salvation. 

I do not write this post to contribute anything to the discussion other than this.  The more I know, the more I know how much I do not know.  I plan on expounding upon this further, but I’d love some initial feedback.

Behind the Christian Cliché: "In the world, but not of it."

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
(John 17:14-21)

In the Christian circles I run in, the buzz words I hear all the time are missional, evangelical, and relevant. While I do not think that these terms are harmful, I am unsure of their effectiveness in relaying the message of the Christian lifestyle to the pew sitter. I think 21st century Christianity (at least in the United States) works like this:

1. The Pastor decides what he wants to talk about.
2. The Pastor then waters down his topic enough to make himself comfortable with it.
3. The Pastor additionally waters down his topic enough to not offend his Congregation (maintain job security).
4. The Pastor preaches to the Congregation
5. The Congregation hears and understands about 50% of the sermon, mostly the funny parts.
6. The Congregation then waters down the message so they don't have to change their lifestyle.
7. Christianity continues to look more and more like the surrounding secular culture.

While this is a sweeping generalization of Christian churches, I am afraid it is not too far off. Christians do however, maintain some clichés that help us to feel like we are really God's people living in a fallen world. One of these clichés is the idea that Christians should be "in the world, but not of it." When people say this, what they mean is that Christians are supposed to live in the midst of the world, but not live in the same way as the world. You can be a Christian and a businessman, because you can be in the business world, but not of it.

I worry that the we have watered down this concept so far as to make it unrecognizable. We have turned "in the world, but not of it" into a dualism between Christianity and so-called "everyday life." Here's an example: We think to ourselves, I can be rich, live in a big house, drive expensive cars, buy my wife expensive jewelry, and give my kids expensive playthings as long as I have the right set of beliefs (a la the Trinity and salvation by grace through faith). Here's another example: I can promote patriotism and nationalism, as long as I remember that we are "One nation under God." My last example: It's okay that I only associate with people exactly like me, as long as I remember that everyone is made in the image of God. These examples make me sick to my stomach, mostly because I can see myself in each of them.

Christians must stop ascribing to what the world considers normal. I have been challenged by people who say, "Why resist the way things are going? If we live differently it won't change anything." I think this is exactly the wrong attitude and such a perspective comes from Satan. We do not follow Jesus because it is a means to an end (i.e. the Christianization of the United States). We are to follow Christ because he offers the only true way. In Luke 12, Jesus is telling his followers to not worry about food, clothing or storing up goods and then he says:

For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
(Luke 12:30-33)

I believe that Christians don't live the way Jesus called us to live because they have a nagging doubt in the back of their mind that the Kingdom Jesus speaks of isn't real. It is much easier to ascribe to the ongoing systems in this world that we can see operating everyday. I believe this is the major calling of the Gospel that we have forgotten: Follow Jesus and believe that what he said is true, even if it seems contrary to the way things appear. It is easy to put our hope in Capitalism, political parties, or lifestyles of the rich and famous because we can see them happening everyday. As followers of Jesus we have a higher calling to be members of a better Kingdom. We do not have to be afraid to sell our possessions and give to the needy, or to turn the other cheek and pray for those who persecute us. Jesus says that is our Father's good pleasure to give us that Kingdom, because that is taking "hold of that which is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:19).

In C.S. Lewis' masterful work The Silver Chair, the story climaxes with the characters being trapped in the underworld of an evil witch. Her plan is to trap them in the underworld by convincing them that their world is not real. One of the characters answers her with this statement:

One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a playworld which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia.

This is what it means to be in the world, but not of it. Satan is trying to deceive us into believing that this world, this kingdom is all there is. We are to trust Jesus' call to live in the Kingdom of God. We do not need to hold onto the worldly status quo (politics, economics, materialism, greed, apathy, violence, etc..), we need simply to live as though the Gospel is True.