Chaotic or Providential?

When I woke up to the news that bombs were falling once again in the Middle East, I groaned, nearly weeping for millions who were now suffering under the pain of yet another war. “Lord, how can this be? Why do humans haul out weapons to settle disputes so readily? Have You taken leave of us, abandoning us to our own folly and self-will?”

My comments are not meant to be read either in support or condemnation of US policies. I’ll leave that to better minds who are, hopefully, more informed that I am. My musings focus on the question of God’s providence. What is His will? Can I be secure in my faith that His hand ultimately guides the affairs of this world and that He will keep me in His grace for this life and into the next?

Christians believe in the providential care of their Heavenly Father. The Bible teaches us that God is at work, often in ways that are unseen, that He is actively guiding and working in and through circumstances and history to fulfill His purposeful, loving, and sovereign will. Providence comes from a Latin word,  providentia, which means foresight. We believe that God is "seeing to" the universe, that He is directing natural events to accomplish supernatural goals often through ordinary means not miracles to fulfill His promises.

When we look at life only in a moment it often does appear to be a chaotic mess, events that toss us about in random ways, without meaning or purpose. We all ask ourselves, ‘why is this happening?’ from time to time. Even the most faith filled Christian will find himself at least occasionally wondering if God truly reigns! BUT, when we step back and take in the sweep of history, when we are willing to wait patiently and prayerfully in turbulent times we will see God at work.

The story of Joseph illustrates providential care. The young teen is tragically sold by jealous brothers into Egyptian slavery. During the next two decades he seems to go from one awful injustice to another. But the path leads him to the fulfillment of God’s providence and amazingly his faithfulness results in his becoming Prime Minister of Egypt. In that place he is positioned to be the savior of his family, a key figure in Israel’s history. When his treacherous brothers finally stood before him, he tells them – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50)

We are inspired by the promise of Romans 8 where we read – “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Providence is very different from fate. Providence is guided, the work of God. Fate (you could say ‘luck’) is blind trust in the unseen, a wish that ‘everything will eventually work out.’  I secure my heart and mind in the loving care of a purposeful Father!

Christians understand God’s providence as being both general and specific. In the former we understand that the Creator formed the natural order and the universe to provide such things that we need for life – sunshine, rain, growing plants for food, etc. The latter invites us to live with faith in His promise to provide for us as we pray and live in obedience where the Spirit is able to guide, protect, and deliver us. We see this in the ways that we avoid tragedy or find just what we need in the moment that all may seem lost.

Living in the providential care of our God does not mean that we are without responsibility for our choices. There is a tension found in the Bible holding seemingly irreconcilable facts as being true. One is that we are free to choose our way, even to the point of rejecting God. The another teaches us that God knows our days before even one comes into existence and that His will is greater than our choices.

Proverbs 16:9 says “In their hearts human beings plan their lives. But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.”   The intersection of Divine will and Human freedom is found in this description of Jesus’ path to the Cross. “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”  (Acts 2.23) The plan for the salvation of humanity was God’s own, yet it resulted from the schemes of jealous and evil men!

What I conclude, dear friends, is that life may appear to be chaotic at this moment. It may seem that evil triumphs as terrible things occur as a result of the choices of people who ignore or reject God’s ways. BUT faith invites me to trust Him to work through it all; the good, the bad, the ugly – to bring about His purposes.

Let us humble ourselves before Him.
Let us quiet our minds in meditation.
Let us admit to our finite abilities.
Let us secure ourselves in hope!

Here is a word from the Word. May it bring peace to our minds and purpose to our choices.

“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
 but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.”
(Psalm 37)

Lord, increase my faith! Amen.

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Minimal Participation, Maximum Loss

Ever look for a ‘loophole’ to avoid a rule? Loopholes allow people to circumvent the intent of the law. American tax codes are full of loopholes that allow some to avoid paying their full tax. Kids are famous for their ability to interpret Mom’s words with narrow application, keeping the letter of the law while missing the intent of it. They can then claim, “But I did what you said, Mom!”

Religious observance is sometimes practiced with this same kind of minimal participation that misses the point of full devotion. Jesus once said of some very religious people that they were scrupulous to give the required 10% of their income but missed the very point of generosity.  

So, where did this strange word come from?

The term "loophole" originated in the mid-15th century from medieval forts and castles. A loophole was a narrow, vertical slits in the wall through which archers could shoot at attackers and yet remain safe from returned arrows. The word came from Middle English loupe, a slit.

One day Jesus disciples were challenged by religious leaders for failure to practice the required ritual handwashing before eating. These men were ignoring their own glaring hypocrisies. Jesus answered them with a stinging critique- “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”  (Matthew 15)

Have you ever done that with the Words of God? I am sure I have. Thinking I have found a loophole, I ignore the plain teaching of the Scripture, twisting the words of the text in a way that allows me to conveniently set aside my obedience. In the process, I rob myself of God’s best and fail to honor Him with my whole heart.

Jesus reserved His most harsh words for those who professed a love for God, using all the right words but who worked hard to find loopholes that allowed them to claim to be holy all the while doing exactly what they wanted to do. God wasn't buying the Pharisees' professions of devotions as authentic. In another text from the Gospel, we read this story.

"A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. "Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." (Matthew 21:28-31, NLT)

Cheap religion is all about making a good impression by singing the 'right' kind of songs, being in the church at the 'right' times or saying the 'right' kind of prayers -all unmatched by the right kind of heart!

No matter how we dress it up, God isn't impressed by our ‘lawyering’ of the Scripture. He desires true devotion that encompasses the totality of our lives, meeting not just the ‘letter of the Law’ but finding the spirit of His commandments.

When we honestly admit to our desire to do our own thing than to say we love Him while continuing to live for ourselves we become open to the work of the Holy Spirit Who begins to change us inside out.

Adopting a superficial holiness is a kind of vaccine that prevents us from feeling the effects of sin's sickness that drives us to desperately seek Him! Listen to the passion in the words of the Lord when He challenges a heart-less religion. "Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it." (Matthew 15:7-8, The Message)

Here at the beginning of Lent, I appeal to us all to be authentic. IF there are thoughts, desires, words, actions that are ‘less than’ the wholeness of God’s desire, confess it. If there are gaps between the claim to love God and reality, admit it – to yourself first, then to Him.

Let’s pray to know and walk in the full intent of God’s Word, not seeking loopholes, but pursuing wholehearted devotion. In this, we will find true JOY in the journey.

Here's a word from the Word on which to meditate today.

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
(James 2:14-18 New Living Translation)

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Goodbye, carrot cake!

Your life, like mine, tends to fill up with ‘stuff.’  Some of what we do is important; going to work, maintaining our home, caring for our health, serving others in Christ’s Name … and some is not; like scrolling through social media, for example. IF we hope to find the life for which we are created, we will need times of refocus, liking hitting the reset button!

Regular commitment to a day of worship and being ‘in church’ each week is one way that happens. Another is observing Church’s calendar. Tomorrow, we enter the 40-day season called Lent. It is a time of renewal that is intended to prepare us to celebrate the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, our Savior.

The neglected spiritual discipline of fasting is encouraged during this time of year.
Fasting is about abstaining from food, pleasure, comfort, entertainment.
We can fast by setting aside some pleasurable pursuit, time on social media, or some special food.
We can fast by generously giving away our time in selfless service.
It is a positive way to practice obedience subjecting our body to the Spirit in a way that allows us a renewed experience of His Presence!

God made us with a spirit-body connection!
What we do in our physical body influences our spiritual state- both positively and negatively. The Holy Word says "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:26-27, NLT) A literal translation of the NT Greek would read “I pound my body into submission!” 

Careful here! God is not demanding ascetic self-denial that comes to self-abuse. There is a real spiritual maturity to be found in the reminder that life is more than food, clothes, or comfort.

Whatever our choice, fasting is not about proving anything to God.

Jesus taught us to practice spiritual disciplines like fasting, giving, and prayer without telling anyone. He said, "when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18 NLT) If we 'show off' with our ‘discipline’ it becomes nothing more than a means of making ourselves feel better, self-focused, the very thing of which we desire to be free.

Will you fast in some way this season of Lent? Perhaps you’ll give up your sugary desserts or your latte addiction. Goodbye, carrot cake!

Whatever your choice, keep the focus on humble worship. Personally, I think we might be better served by giving up some TV time for prayer, meditation or reading Scripture than giving up some incidental food item.

Are you serious about spiritual growth? Then, ask the Lord if you need to discipline your body to provide freedom for the Spirit, to allow for a reset.

Here’s a word from the Word about living in the Spirit. Think deeply and prayerfully on the promise of this passage. “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. … But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”  (Galatians 5)

Lent! May it be a season of renewal of joy and growth in the Spirit, for the glory of God.

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