Pastors' Blog

There is an old Swahili proverb:  “Travel with open eyes and you will become a scholar.”  Our recent journey to the Horn of Africa was certainly an eye-opening experience for me.  For two weeks we were able to slip behind the headlines of conflict and violence (of which we encountered none), and quietly observe the fingerprints of God upon two very diverse spiritual movements.

Philip Jenkins, the renowned historian, has observed that the future of Christianity will be written in the south.  For indeed the Southern Hemisphere here in the West, along with Africa, the great continent of the South, have become the fertile fields for the mighty plantings and reapings of the Spirit of God.  And in a matter of years, it seems clear, the most vibrant and active manifestation of Christian faith will radiate from these southern regions of earth.   Today there are movements within the great monotheistic religions of Africa—Christianity and Islam—that are providing new opportunities for third millennial contextualization.  As I wrote in my blog last week, we were able to observe (and participate) in the living out of Paul’s great missionary passion:  “So though I was not a slave to any human being, I put myself in slavery to all people, to win as many as I could.  To the Jews I made myself as a Jew, to win the Jews. . . . To the weak, I made myself weak, to win the weak. I accommodated myself to people in all kinds of different situations, so that by all possible means I might bring some to salvation.  All this I do for the sake of the gospel, that I may share its benefits with others” (I Corinthians 9:19-23 NJB).  Paul is not describing the accommodating or watering down of either his faith or divine truth in order to reach earth’s diverse populace.  But it is clear that he was willing to immerse himself in the faith culture (or lack thereof) of the people group he was seeking to reach on behalf of the gospel.  Acts describes Paul’s adjusting his worship practice, adapting the emphasis of his theology and teaching, shifting both his civil and ecclesiastical identity—all of it dependent on the group he was seeking to penetrate.  He “became” one of them in order to reach some of them.  Could it be that there are people groups on earth today that will only be effectively reached for God by men and women, young adults, who are willing to embrace a new identity or at least a new identification with those groups?  Could it be that changing our living habits, our dress, our language, along with refocusing our faith practice and adapting our theological expression might be prompted by the Spirit of God . . . just as he did with Paul?  Twelve miles up the road from this university is the second most depressed inner city (per capita) in the U.S.  Could it be contextualization doesn’t have to cross the equator or the seas to be strategic for God?  Perhaps he is calling students and families right here in our parish to “move in” to the new culture and context of Benton Harbor for the sake of the everlasting gospel.  This much is clear to me—given that God contextualized himself into our human journey through the incarnation, all for the sake of saving some, he will surely bless both the desire and the efforts of those of us today who are willing to do the same, in grateful obedience to the Christ who has saved us, too.

Ever wonder what God’s “State of the Union” would be?  The President addressed both houses of Congress and the nation Monday evening, delivering his seventh and final State of the Union address.  Fifty-three minutes of speech interrupted seventy times by applause—both partisan and bipartisan.  There were no spectacular pronouncements or announcements, just the last review, pundits suggested, of a presidency and administration laying out its final agenda before becoming eclipsed by the election of a successor.  So what if God took the podium of earth and gave an address?  No doubt there would be plenty of partisan applause- or amen-bursts for him, too.  And no doubt it would garner global attention.  But how would his review of the past read, and how would his agenda for the future play?  And would he need fifty-three minutes?  The Apocalypse, amazingly enough, actually captures God’s final address-appeal to earth.  While it doesn’t describe him at the podium of a government house, it portrays his global address as three angel beings streaking across the earth heavens, each with a passionate pronouncement and appeal.  Combined they are clearly the divine State of the Union for earth’s populace in its final generation. “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6, 7 NKJV).   And behind the first angel appears a second pronouncing the fall of “ Babylon the Great.”  And on his heels flies a third angel with the urgent warning for earth inhabitants to resist the “mark of the beast.”  And the summation of their combined messages is a description of God’s partisan loyalists at the end:  “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 NRSV).   

And did you catch the first angel’s appeal, “Worship the Creator!”  Because wouldn’t you know it, the issue of a divine Creator with his seventh-day Sabbath will take center stage on earth just before his return.  No wonder the Creator’s partisan loyal supporters are described the way they are!  Because as we saw Monday evening, when you’re loyal to your Leader, you’ll stand to your feet even if you’re the only one applauding.

Details, details—they really do make a difference, don’t they? As soon as the polls closed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this Tuesday night, the state Republican party sent a news release to media outlets announcing the winner of the statewide GOP presidential primary: “In a close-fought victory, Senator John McCain succeeded again (in) the Michigan Republican primary, winning over a traditionally unpredictable voter base in Michigan.” The only problem with the release was that it wasn’t true.  Five minutes later the party sent out a second release: “In a close-fought victory, native-son Governor Mitt Romney won an important contest here tonight.”  A GOP spokesman later explained: “Heading into tonight, this race was too close to call, so we prepared a release for either scenario. We simply pushed the wrong button.” (SBTribune 1-16-08) Details, details. Click “send” on the wrong message, and we’re all in trouble. Which may help explain why there is such noisy confusion over the origin of earth these days. According to the ancient Scriptures, this planet was created by God in six days, and “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). But subsequently somebody hit “send” to the wrong message, and a critical detail of the divine creation has been omitted! Namely, that the Creator didn’t conclude with six days, but in fact intentionally included the seventh day upon which he “ended his work” and “rested” (Genesis 2:2).  But unfortunately the message somebody is sending to this generation omits any mention of that divine gift day. Consequently a billion Christian believers are attempting to prove to a skeptical world the existence of a Creator, all the while abandoning the compelling reminder of the Creator, his seventh day gift day called the Sabbath. And that is why this blog and this community of faith are devoted to “resending” the correct message as far and wide as possible. Because the details really do matter. For Christendom to laudably champion the divine Creator but all the while reject (or at best neglect to remember) the divine Sabbath not only compromises its biblical witness, but confuses its message and cripples its effort to win this skeptical generation. Details, details—because they really do make a difference, don’t they? Which is why it’s time for us all to revisit God’s gift day. For in the gift of the seventh day, God has actually given himself. And that’s a message worth hitting “send” for any day! (Please download the entire “The Sabbath” series here and examine the evidence for yourself.)

Sitting in my snowbound study a day before the much ballyhooed Iowa caucuses, I wonder what difference it all makes in the end.  True, the New Year has dawned, fresh and snow-blown with promise.  And the adventure of a journey uncharted looms large and inviting.  But Iowa’s unrelenting stream of political sound bites that has been our daily fare for months now (and we live in Michigan!) will in a few hours crescendo into deafening campaign noise from New Hampshire and South Carolina and the rest of the compacted primary states eagerly awaiting their turn in the national spotlight.  But what difference does it all make in the end?

A week ago Pakistan and Kenya were hardly household names.  But now the fate of two indigent nations half way around the globe has sucked us into the spiraling vortex of their uncertain futures.  What will be the headlines that we awaken to tomorrow?

But then, does it really matter? 

I remember the prayer of the captive prophet—especially in times like these.  So simple and quiet, yet here is a prayer profound in its third millennial implications.  It is the prayer of Daniel:  “Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.  He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:20-22).

Neither global headlines nor political parties set earth’s agenda.  Only One can, and Daniel prays to him.  For “above the distractions of the earth He sits enthroned; all things are open to His divine survey; and from His great and calm eternity He orders that which His providence sees best” (The Faith I Live By 42).

No wonder Daniel can exclaim, “I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors” (v 23)!

Can’t we do the same?  For isn’t Daniel’s God our God, too?  And won’t his will still be done on earth as it is in heaven?  Then what difference does it make—the headlines that we awaken to tomorrow?  Isn’t it enough to know that our uncharted future is already charted and known to Christ?  Then who better to pray to and journey with this new year?