But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
- From Galatians 3
John Beilein, who in about ten years has become the greatest basketball coach in history, for the University of Michigan (and maybe, for all sports) simplified his approach as follows:
"It's all about the process."
You teach a process, a system . . . a system that can be learned. You develop ways to measure and track performance and improvement. You study deviations from the process, in order to identify areas to change, so that you can get continual improvement.
Like the Total Quality Management movement in manufacturing, which came into vogue in the 1990s (plus a whole plethora of other very good innovations in management), Coach Beilein realizes that a sound process will ensure constant advancements in performance.
I've always felt that God is the ultimate process improvement expert. He is a galactic consultant that helps us find our weak spots, develop our strengths, and therefore strengthen our grip, and perfect our game. But it's His game, His rules . . . His process.
Everything had to be done in its proper order. Humanity was always impatient. We feel like we have more wisdom than our Creator. But, try being a member of Michigan's team, and telling the coach you have a better approach . . .
In telling His story, God likes to start at the beginning. The Old Testament begins with the words "In the beginning." And the Gospel of John also begins with "In the beginning." They are talking about the same events, but from different perspectives. But God begins at the beginning, and slowly reveals a little more of His plan, little by little, all in good time, all in the proper order.
We still think we know it all. We nearly blew the world up, probably many times. We have not solved hunger. We do not fully understand how the ecosystem works. We've probably had countless near-misses on unleashing dangerous pathogens into the human network. All we need is guidance from God . . . but we refuse it, again and again.
John described Jesus - - - he knew Jesus, walked with Him, got to know Him as well as anybody, in three years of daily interaction with Him. He said that Jesus was full of "Grace and Truth."
Grace and Truth. What beautiful words. Grace - - - acceptance, undeserved favor. Jesus us full of Grace, which means He loves being near us. Any of us. All of us. I like to thank Jesus would even walk up to Hitler, melt his heart . . . and change history.
Truth - - - that which is not a lie. He saw Himself, and others clearly. He knows what is wrong, and how to fix it. Jesus has such knowledge, that He can cure any disease with just a touch . . . and while He does amazing things through His understanding of Science and Nature, it is so far above us that we call it a miracle. Whatever He says to you, you can count on it. Take it to the bank.
At the end of the Twenty-first Century's second decade, we are stuck in the same rut we started out in, twenty years ago. Columbine knocked our feet out from under us. 9-11 gave us a taste of Armageddon. Daily images form the war zone, and from the hideaways of terrorists, showed us, first-hand, the very worst that fallen humanity is capable of. Images pelted away at us, day after day - - - X-rated was no longer a rarity. By the age of eleven, the average child has seen anything, and everything, imaginable. Mass shooters proliferated. Our elections have gotten more and more bitter, as the Global economy seems to be overtaken by Global divisions that grow more and more dangerous.
It's as if the Tree of Knowledge has been unleashed to the modern age: infinite knowledge and ideas are within reach of all of us. The "f-word" is commonplace . . . and the most horrible motives are now linked to the most innocent of expressions (Baby It's Cold Outside).
Everybody's a criminal. Everybody's crazy. Everybody's sinister. Everybody's "The Other." Everybody cannot be trusted. Everybody's a narcissist. Everybody's violent. And Everybody's a racist.
We mock Grace and believe there is no such thing as Truth. We crave both and condemn anybody we think may lack either . . . and act as though we are deserving of neither.
Into this setting . . . as He has done over and over again . . . for two Millennia now; The Son of God comes. He re-enters a world, over and over again . . . that has no Grace, and no truth.
And He offers both to us, in abundance.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Friday, December 28, 2018
Loyalty (SA) - THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
If the Lord had not been on our side . . .
- From Psalm 124
When I was a kid, and families were large, there was one leveling factor that worked in the favor of smaller, dumber, nerdier, weaker, and uglier kids:
Almost everybody had an older brother, or cousin, that would stand up for them.
I was not a big kid, and outwardly, not very tough looking. But it didn't matter. I was "Little Darr," and my brother was "Darr." He was the starting quarterback, an athlete, and a kid that would fight. Nobody would mess with me. And he had big friends. A block and a half from our house, was my brother's best friend, Pat Cotturone. If people didn't know my brother, but they knew Pat, then I had it made.
A bunch of bigger kids from another neighborhood came into our block once. They didn't know me, or the two or three little squirts that were with me. We got a head start into our block, and as we turned up into my yard, out came my brother and two or three of his defensive lineman friends. The other kids turned around, ran, and never came back.
There's a downside, of course. My little brother came after me, and everybody always underestimated his athletic abilities.
But in the end, everything evens out. It turns out that that there's nothing so effective at leveling the playing field, as the loyalty of friends and family. And there's nothing so nurturing and caring for all members of a community, than a large family that can see to your needs.
We shouldn't need help from government . . . and probably don't.
Loyalty is a virtue that gets undervalued. We see people all the time, at an alarmingly increasing rate, turning their backs on people that are counting on them.
Young people, today, turn their backs on the family that nurtured and sacrificed for them . . . because of some fringe group on the West Coast that will accept them "as they are." People turn their backs on their aging grandparents, in order to have fun with friends they will never remember in ten years. They unfriend family on Facebook, because of politics, and embrace f-bomb-wielding strangers, on a account of some likes and shares.
We've got to be able to count on people . . . when they let us down, it feeds anger, resentment, bitterness, and in extreme cases: rage. Loyalty is not a premium today. The divorce rate, and frequent moves of families with children, testifies to the problem.
Shooters go into malls and gun down strangers. We all want an answer, but we won't let anyone introduce the problem of disloyalty as a root cause.
And yet, loyalty may be the glue that makes caring, and fairness happen.
God is loyal to us. He is unconditionally loyal to us. He has made a promise He will keep . . . even if we renege on our end of the deal. The Father of Time has our backs, for all time.
And if God so values loyalty . . . shouldn't we?
- From Psalm 124
When I was a kid, and families were large, there was one leveling factor that worked in the favor of smaller, dumber, nerdier, weaker, and uglier kids:
Almost everybody had an older brother, or cousin, that would stand up for them.
I was not a big kid, and outwardly, not very tough looking. But it didn't matter. I was "Little Darr," and my brother was "Darr." He was the starting quarterback, an athlete, and a kid that would fight. Nobody would mess with me. And he had big friends. A block and a half from our house, was my brother's best friend, Pat Cotturone. If people didn't know my brother, but they knew Pat, then I had it made.
A bunch of bigger kids from another neighborhood came into our block once. They didn't know me, or the two or three little squirts that were with me. We got a head start into our block, and as we turned up into my yard, out came my brother and two or three of his defensive lineman friends. The other kids turned around, ran, and never came back.
There's a downside, of course. My little brother came after me, and everybody always underestimated his athletic abilities.
But in the end, everything evens out. It turns out that that there's nothing so effective at leveling the playing field, as the loyalty of friends and family. And there's nothing so nurturing and caring for all members of a community, than a large family that can see to your needs.
We shouldn't need help from government . . . and probably don't.
Loyalty is a virtue that gets undervalued. We see people all the time, at an alarmingly increasing rate, turning their backs on people that are counting on them.
Young people, today, turn their backs on the family that nurtured and sacrificed for them . . . because of some fringe group on the West Coast that will accept them "as they are." People turn their backs on their aging grandparents, in order to have fun with friends they will never remember in ten years. They unfriend family on Facebook, because of politics, and embrace f-bomb-wielding strangers, on a account of some likes and shares.
We've got to be able to count on people . . . when they let us down, it feeds anger, resentment, bitterness, and in extreme cases: rage. Loyalty is not a premium today. The divorce rate, and frequent moves of families with children, testifies to the problem.
Shooters go into malls and gun down strangers. We all want an answer, but we won't let anyone introduce the problem of disloyalty as a root cause.
And yet, loyalty may be the glue that makes caring, and fairness happen.
God is loyal to us. He is unconditionally loyal to us. He has made a promise He will keep . . . even if we renege on our end of the deal. The Father of Time has our backs, for all time.
And if God so values loyalty . . . shouldn't we?
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Fairness X (SA) - THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS
But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.
- From Jeremiah 26
The Christmas story, of course, is not all peace and gentleness. The second day of Christmas is the Feast of Stephen. And Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death simply for expressing a viewpoint. He honestly expressed what was on his mind. And for that, he was put to death at the gory hands of an out-of-control mob.
We want fairness. But one person's fairness is another person's unfairness. I don't see how you ever set it completely right, via human intervention.
Yes, we want a balanced system of criminal justice. We want grades to be assigned fairly. We want the best players to start. We want the most worthy person to get the raise.
But when we adjust our systems so that it is more of a level playing field, someone, inevitably, will feel that the playing field has been fixed to favor others, unfairly.
Fairness works, until a dictator, or a mob (both despotic) gains an upper hand and changes the rules to favor a different group of people.
Jeremiah expressed real fairness. "If I do the right thing, it may stir you up in hate towards me and I may lose my life. Okay then."
Believers cannot afford the luxury of demanding fairness. They can only express it in their own personal lives, and thus influence others to act with integrity. But we all know that the person with integrity ultimately gets handed a growing list of enemies. We all seem to want the option of playing dirty, when it suits us well. We really don't want blind fairness . . . this seems to limit our sense of control over things.
Evil, and control over others. They seem to go hand in hand.
Stephen was treated unfairly. But salvation was bestowed upon him fairly. The eternal life that he wins will be no more nor less than anybody else that gains immortality.
We have now looked at two major criteria that people take with them into the voting booth: They look for candidates that care for the needy, and that want to establish fairness. But we have found that the greatest leverage over both of these virtues are not to be found in politicians, but in our own hearts, and our day-to-day interactions.
And that is a challenging aspiration, indeed!! We have to be godlike, to really care, and really treat others with fairness!
We are better off with Stephen's, and Jeremiah's simple devotion to truth and real love . . . and their acquiescence in the outcome.
- From Jeremiah 26
The Christmas story, of course, is not all peace and gentleness. The second day of Christmas is the Feast of Stephen. And Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death simply for expressing a viewpoint. He honestly expressed what was on his mind. And for that, he was put to death at the gory hands of an out-of-control mob.
We want fairness. But one person's fairness is another person's unfairness. I don't see how you ever set it completely right, via human intervention.
Yes, we want a balanced system of criminal justice. We want grades to be assigned fairly. We want the best players to start. We want the most worthy person to get the raise.
But when we adjust our systems so that it is more of a level playing field, someone, inevitably, will feel that the playing field has been fixed to favor others, unfairly.
Fairness works, until a dictator, or a mob (both despotic) gains an upper hand and changes the rules to favor a different group of people.
Jeremiah expressed real fairness. "If I do the right thing, it may stir you up in hate towards me and I may lose my life. Okay then."
Believers cannot afford the luxury of demanding fairness. They can only express it in their own personal lives, and thus influence others to act with integrity. But we all know that the person with integrity ultimately gets handed a growing list of enemies. We all seem to want the option of playing dirty, when it suits us well. We really don't want blind fairness . . . this seems to limit our sense of control over things.
Evil, and control over others. They seem to go hand in hand.
Stephen was treated unfairly. But salvation was bestowed upon him fairly. The eternal life that he wins will be no more nor less than anybody else that gains immortality.
We have now looked at two major criteria that people take with them into the voting booth: They look for candidates that care for the needy, and that want to establish fairness. But we have found that the greatest leverage over both of these virtues are not to be found in politicians, but in our own hearts, and our day-to-day interactions.
And that is a challenging aspiration, indeed!! We have to be godlike, to really care, and really treat others with fairness!
We are better off with Stephen's, and Jeremiah's simple devotion to truth and real love . . . and their acquiescence in the outcome.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Fairness IX (SA)
... for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
- From Luke 1
God makes everything right, in time. And usually, He makes it right . . . now.
But He takes care of things. We can leave it all in His hands.
The world is not a fair place. But the eternal plane is. And there's a judgment day, where all that is secret is made right, where all debts are paid in full. There's a reason Christ is called our "Redeemer," for He has paid all of our debts, for us.
We try, in vain, to come up with human approaches to making all things fair. Yes, we do want institutions in place to pass judgment on disputing parties. We want criminals out of society. We want the playing field level. We know that if all of us are given a chance to excel, that the overall tide rises for all of us. My success is closely linked to yours, and vice versa. We need fairness for others, for that is how we get fairness for ourselves.
So, we lurch back and forth in making the world fair. But it seems that, in the end, fairness for one person come at the loss of fairness for another. One group gets a break, but the other group loses their break.
We want it fair for all, in principle. But the lesson of the last twenty years seems to be that, you can't make it right for one group, without making it wrong for another.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't try. It does mean we should attempt full fairness with our eyes wide open.
It's good that we can leave the subject of fairness in God's hands.
That's really the big part of Christmas. God's gift, in Christ, is that He really is looking our for the lowliest among us. He listens. He hears. He sees. And He acts.
The political approach just leaves half the population angry. And that just doesn't seem fair at all.
The godly approach meets people where they are, where they live. It accepts them as they are. It inquires into their needs, and addresses them. The godly approach takes chances, opens hearts, is vulnerable. It sacrifices.
And it is the best we can do, to make the world a fair place.
- From Luke 1
God makes everything right, in time. And usually, He makes it right . . . now.
But He takes care of things. We can leave it all in His hands.
The world is not a fair place. But the eternal plane is. And there's a judgment day, where all that is secret is made right, where all debts are paid in full. There's a reason Christ is called our "Redeemer," for He has paid all of our debts, for us.
We try, in vain, to come up with human approaches to making all things fair. Yes, we do want institutions in place to pass judgment on disputing parties. We want criminals out of society. We want the playing field level. We know that if all of us are given a chance to excel, that the overall tide rises for all of us. My success is closely linked to yours, and vice versa. We need fairness for others, for that is how we get fairness for ourselves.
So, we lurch back and forth in making the world fair. But it seems that, in the end, fairness for one person come at the loss of fairness for another. One group gets a break, but the other group loses their break.
We want it fair for all, in principle. But the lesson of the last twenty years seems to be that, you can't make it right for one group, without making it wrong for another.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't try. It does mean we should attempt full fairness with our eyes wide open.
It's good that we can leave the subject of fairness in God's hands.
That's really the big part of Christmas. God's gift, in Christ, is that He really is looking our for the lowliest among us. He listens. He hears. He sees. And He acts.
The political approach just leaves half the population angry. And that just doesn't seem fair at all.
The godly approach meets people where they are, where they live. It accepts them as they are. It inquires into their needs, and addresses them. The godly approach takes chances, opens hearts, is vulnerable. It sacrifices.
And it is the best we can do, to make the world a fair place.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Fairness VIII (SA)
For you need endurance . . .
- From Hebrews 10
In a perfect world, that is totally just and equitable, there is nothing to endure. If our fairness was made into perfection, it would probably mean that we had even invented a cure for death, and that we also discovered the secret to resurrecting all who ever lived.
Imagine all of history's characters being revived into a perfect world that is perfectly fair! Even the most notorious criminals of all time would be given a second chance. But in the perfectly fair arrangement, there would never be any budding resentment that grows into evil.
The World of Fairness Perfection would render selfishness an impossibility. You cannot be fair if you have even a sliver of self-interest. You would ensure that everyone with whom you come into contact ended up with equal chances and opportunities as you yourself have. And your proof would be outcomes for all, that are equal.
Your other proof would be a sense of consensus win-win for everybody. It would be impossible for any one to disagree with our approach. Every viewpoint would be honored. Yes . . . a person desiring fairness must not deny others a viewpoint that is different than their own.
The perfect world is a happy place where no one cries, no one hurts, no one wants, and no one dies.
But . . .
If this were something to be expected in this life . . . why would the writer of Hebrews urge us to "endure" anything?
Scripture (and all great world religions and philosophies) place a premium on such virtues as steadfastness, endurance, patience, forbearance, faith.
God seems way more interested in us dealing with hardship, than He does with us establishing governments that enforce a level playing field.
Now, it is very important that our government be neutral, and that it protect the weak. No question.
But when it comes to our personal approach to things, it would be good if we restored the emphasis on patience, and actually welcoming experiences that shape us and toughen us up.
I believe that our status in the eternal realm is enhanced, if we have had to endure conditions that are not fair. And the perfectly fair world that I described sounds rather boring, to be honest. I am looking forward to it. I welcome it.
But as we go about making the world a better place . . . can we NOT do so, at the expense of widening divisions and rancor between good people? Can we focus on our own personal practice of justice, without casting judgment on people that pursue it differently? Can we agree to work together on this?
- From Hebrews 10
In a perfect world, that is totally just and equitable, there is nothing to endure. If our fairness was made into perfection, it would probably mean that we had even invented a cure for death, and that we also discovered the secret to resurrecting all who ever lived.
Imagine all of history's characters being revived into a perfect world that is perfectly fair! Even the most notorious criminals of all time would be given a second chance. But in the perfectly fair arrangement, there would never be any budding resentment that grows into evil.
The World of Fairness Perfection would render selfishness an impossibility. You cannot be fair if you have even a sliver of self-interest. You would ensure that everyone with whom you come into contact ended up with equal chances and opportunities as you yourself have. And your proof would be outcomes for all, that are equal.
Your other proof would be a sense of consensus win-win for everybody. It would be impossible for any one to disagree with our approach. Every viewpoint would be honored. Yes . . . a person desiring fairness must not deny others a viewpoint that is different than their own.
The perfect world is a happy place where no one cries, no one hurts, no one wants, and no one dies.
But . . .
If this were something to be expected in this life . . . why would the writer of Hebrews urge us to "endure" anything?
Scripture (and all great world religions and philosophies) place a premium on such virtues as steadfastness, endurance, patience, forbearance, faith.
God seems way more interested in us dealing with hardship, than He does with us establishing governments that enforce a level playing field.
Now, it is very important that our government be neutral, and that it protect the weak. No question.
But when it comes to our personal approach to things, it would be good if we restored the emphasis on patience, and actually welcoming experiences that shape us and toughen us up.
I believe that our status in the eternal realm is enhanced, if we have had to endure conditions that are not fair. And the perfectly fair world that I described sounds rather boring, to be honest. I am looking forward to it. I welcome it.
But as we go about making the world a better place . . . can we NOT do so, at the expense of widening divisions and rancor between good people? Can we focus on our own personal practice of justice, without casting judgment on people that pursue it differently? Can we agree to work together on this?
Monday, December 17, 2018
Fairness VII
Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
- From Psalm 126
I'll go a little personally reflective on this one. This is an apologetic, a baring of the soul. I am going vulnerable now, and invite some push-back and maybe some scorn.
God is concerned about fairness. It's why we all suffer the same death. The finality of death is exactly equal. It's equivalent and equitable. It is true that our riches and fame do us no good in the grave. And when we are eternal . . . who cares about possessions? The Vulcan saying is true in the world of non-fiction: the universe is comprised of infinite possibilities, in infinite combinations.
That's what it will be like for all of us.
If, in eternity, we have the chance to go back and live in the earthly finite plane, once again (or even innumerable times) I am certain we would choose to do so. And we would not choose the easy life. The human soul is immersed in dignity, and we would choose the hard life, over and over again, I'm sure of it.
We need that perspective.
European Christians have indeed had a good run now, for centuries. They established a culture that can only be described as blessed by God. Most of them realize it is undeserved. We called ourselves "privileged" decades before anyone knew the meaning of the word "Millennial." We challenged ourselves, and one another, to be charitable, sacrificing, kind, equitable, thrifty, hard-working. These are not new concepts.
But the fact is . . . the long view of history has relegated Christians, and their forbears, as the ultimate marginalized group. Society does not like people with such values as purity, moderation, sacrificial love. Society insists that we take sides, that we join in demonizing others. And Christians, as allies, are the most enviable - - - as if collaboration with Christians gives your cause some legitimacy.
The reason Christians act as they do, is because there is a long memory in our DNA, of horrible persecutions, brutal and gruesome treatment by the virtually eternal forces of anti-Christendom. And there's a sense, derived from that experience and the witness of Scripture itself, that the good times will not last forever.
If Christianity is a marginalized group, then I was brought up in a group that was marginalized within Christianity. We had about 60,000 members nationwide, and only a couple hundred total churches. These churches were so spread out, that my family always had to travel far to get to one. We would be the remote members of the church, whose main body of members were mostly local.
We never had school friends in our churches, and the kids our ages (if there were any) in our churches all socialized together, but not with us.
A margin, of a margin, of a margin. It affected our dating, our career choices. It limited our ability to connect with people on the most fundamental topics and interests. We were always keeping a lot of our views to ourselves . . . because some of it was just not conventional to most people. Some of our beliefs, while benign, seemed odd to others.
And yet . . . our ethic was to be proud to be small and few in number. We were taught that, the closer you get to truth, the fewer people there are around you. And no matter what your specific beliefs, that is, I'm certain, a universal truth. There is strength in numbers, but there are not numbers in truth.
To me, the idea of "fair" just does not register, not much. If I cared about fair, I would have a whole lot to talk about. If I cared about "fair to me," there would be volumes to write.
The discussion of fairness is, in many ways, moot.
No matter how bad things get . . . there is a good ending.
And that runs circles around what you, and I, believe is "not fair."
- From Psalm 126
I'll go a little personally reflective on this one. This is an apologetic, a baring of the soul. I am going vulnerable now, and invite some push-back and maybe some scorn.
God is concerned about fairness. It's why we all suffer the same death. The finality of death is exactly equal. It's equivalent and equitable. It is true that our riches and fame do us no good in the grave. And when we are eternal . . . who cares about possessions? The Vulcan saying is true in the world of non-fiction: the universe is comprised of infinite possibilities, in infinite combinations.
That's what it will be like for all of us.
If, in eternity, we have the chance to go back and live in the earthly finite plane, once again (or even innumerable times) I am certain we would choose to do so. And we would not choose the easy life. The human soul is immersed in dignity, and we would choose the hard life, over and over again, I'm sure of it.
We need that perspective.
European Christians have indeed had a good run now, for centuries. They established a culture that can only be described as blessed by God. Most of them realize it is undeserved. We called ourselves "privileged" decades before anyone knew the meaning of the word "Millennial." We challenged ourselves, and one another, to be charitable, sacrificing, kind, equitable, thrifty, hard-working. These are not new concepts.
But the fact is . . . the long view of history has relegated Christians, and their forbears, as the ultimate marginalized group. Society does not like people with such values as purity, moderation, sacrificial love. Society insists that we take sides, that we join in demonizing others. And Christians, as allies, are the most enviable - - - as if collaboration with Christians gives your cause some legitimacy.
The reason Christians act as they do, is because there is a long memory in our DNA, of horrible persecutions, brutal and gruesome treatment by the virtually eternal forces of anti-Christendom. And there's a sense, derived from that experience and the witness of Scripture itself, that the good times will not last forever.
If Christianity is a marginalized group, then I was brought up in a group that was marginalized within Christianity. We had about 60,000 members nationwide, and only a couple hundred total churches. These churches were so spread out, that my family always had to travel far to get to one. We would be the remote members of the church, whose main body of members were mostly local.
We never had school friends in our churches, and the kids our ages (if there were any) in our churches all socialized together, but not with us.
A margin, of a margin, of a margin. It affected our dating, our career choices. It limited our ability to connect with people on the most fundamental topics and interests. We were always keeping a lot of our views to ourselves . . . because some of it was just not conventional to most people. Some of our beliefs, while benign, seemed odd to others.
And yet . . . our ethic was to be proud to be small and few in number. We were taught that, the closer you get to truth, the fewer people there are around you. And no matter what your specific beliefs, that is, I'm certain, a universal truth. There is strength in numbers, but there are not numbers in truth.
To me, the idea of "fair" just does not register, not much. If I cared about fair, I would have a whole lot to talk about. If I cared about "fair to me," there would be volumes to write.
The discussion of fairness is, in many ways, moot.
No matter how bad things get . . . there is a good ending.
And that runs circles around what you, and I, believe is "not fair."
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Fairness VI
And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
- From Zephaniah 3
As I begin the second half of these reflections on the subject of "fairness," with a nod towards Advent themes, I am struck with how little space is given to the very theme of "fairness."
Yes, justice is promised to the children of God. But justice is given equal treatment to other themes: the requirement for us to be pure, and to practice godly, i.e. unselfish, sacrificial love.
God's people are not expected to point the finder and holler "That's not fair!" There's a fine line: we should pursue justice and an even playing field for all. We want our justice system to be blindly fair. This is good and we should structure our institutions accordingly.
But when our pursuit of justice is based on our own selfish desires "I want what they have," then it is not godly at all. Our response to unfairness in our personal lives is expected to be, to share with others, even if we're poor.
And, if you're convinced of eternal life, and you have the right perspective . . . why be concerned about how fair things are in this life, and in this world? Do you want the world to be a fair place? Then be fair!
Studies show that all people share two priorities when it comes to how they vote. We all want a community that cares, and we want one that is fair. We look for that in our candidates. And it turns out that people have different definitions of what it means to "care," and to be "fair." (And since our perspectives on these concepts are so divergent, maybe politics is not the place to sort it out).
God cares, deeply, about the outcast. But I think it is the outcast that can't help being outcast. When you go and do things that make you an outcast, rather than making your focus the betterment of others (which is as is should be) then I'm not sure that's what God has in mind. And He definitely cares about those that are outcast, because of their practice of godly purity and charity. Now that is an outcast after God's own heart!
God's got your back. He may not fix things right away. But in the end, He's got you covered. And that's pretty fair.
- From Zephaniah 3
As I begin the second half of these reflections on the subject of "fairness," with a nod towards Advent themes, I am struck with how little space is given to the very theme of "fairness."
Yes, justice is promised to the children of God. But justice is given equal treatment to other themes: the requirement for us to be pure, and to practice godly, i.e. unselfish, sacrificial love.
God's people are not expected to point the finder and holler "That's not fair!" There's a fine line: we should pursue justice and an even playing field for all. We want our justice system to be blindly fair. This is good and we should structure our institutions accordingly.
But when our pursuit of justice is based on our own selfish desires "I want what they have," then it is not godly at all. Our response to unfairness in our personal lives is expected to be, to share with others, even if we're poor.
And, if you're convinced of eternal life, and you have the right perspective . . . why be concerned about how fair things are in this life, and in this world? Do you want the world to be a fair place? Then be fair!
Studies show that all people share two priorities when it comes to how they vote. We all want a community that cares, and we want one that is fair. We look for that in our candidates. And it turns out that people have different definitions of what it means to "care," and to be "fair." (And since our perspectives on these concepts are so divergent, maybe politics is not the place to sort it out).
God cares, deeply, about the outcast. But I think it is the outcast that can't help being outcast. When you go and do things that make you an outcast, rather than making your focus the betterment of others (which is as is should be) then I'm not sure that's what God has in mind. And He definitely cares about those that are outcast, because of their practice of godly purity and charity. Now that is an outcast after God's own heart!
God's got your back. He may not fix things right away. But in the end, He's got you covered. And that's pretty fair.
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