"If you saw this kind of injustice, what would you do? Would you have stood up against this?" I had asked my 7th graders. We were in the midst of our 1940's unit and, amidst learning about Pearl Harbor, Loose Lips, and Rosie the Riveter, we learned about the Holocaust. My students, of course, were outraged. They didn't understand why someone could kill so many Jews, homosexuals, Gypsys, and disabled people, let alone how people could stand by and watch someone kill these people. I reminded my students that there are many injustices in the United States and around the world that we need to be aware of. We may have a time in our lives when we need to stand up against such evil. "Stand up for what is right, even if you're standing alone." That's the poster I hang on my wall, the poster I would often refer to as we discussed social injustice.
Now is my turn to take my own advice. I didn't used to think I'd ever really stand up against violence. It's the US, for crying out loud! But the time has come, and there are many paralels between the former Holocaust and the present. The media. Call it propaganda or biased news, it connives its way into our culture and makes us believe lies. It's so convincing! And the view of human beings and the right to life. I hear the same excuses for this holocaust--disabilities, weakness, inferior. It's startling how similar our time today is to the time of the Holocaust. But the worst: the deafening silence, particularly of Christians.
How long can we stand by silently, allowing people to convince society that people have rights to kill? How long can we let people take the lives of the innocent? Are we not here for such a time as this? Has God not placed us in Montgomery County for such a time as this?
If you don't want to be percieved as a crazy anti-abortionist, I understand. But pray for the end to abortion, and pray with all of your heart that Summer of Mercy 2.0 would change minds, hearts, and laws. And if you're so bold as to step out and say defiantly "Enough!" then I will see you at the rally, and together we will end this deafening silence.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Trusting, Changing, and Growing: Coping with Constant Inconstants
The other day, my students and I were discussing forms of verbs. In particular, some of my ESL students were asking about the difference between "was playing" and "played" and "are laughing" and "laugh." As we discussed the meaning of the -ing, it occurred to me that the idea of a continual, constant, or in-the-process action is something we see in scripture. Yes, we can look at specific instances in our own lives where we grew, trusted God, and changed (past tense), but in reality, since the Spirit is at work in us, we are growing, changing, and trusting God, or at least, we should be. These are continual actions, and as I think about this more, there are several implications.
One implication is that we should not let the past determine our present; rather, we should let God remind us of our future. I think many Christians, myself included, could look back at areas or times in our lives when we blew it. We weren't Christians then, or maybe we were, and we still ignored the Spirit's promptings. Then Satan whispers in our ears lies. Remember that time you did ___________? God still remembers that. He won't forgive you! Or You already did that once. That is you. That is your label (Adulterer, Glutton, Drunk, etc.). You can never be a REAL child of God because of that. You might as well continue sinning in that way. Abby Johnson mentions in her book, UnPLANNED, how she regretted many of what she did as a director of Planned Parenthood, which included assisting with an abortion. She was tempted to dwell on her guilt. But we not only are we reminded that God's grace is constant in our lives, we are reminded that we must constantlly 1) forget our past sins and 2) focus our eyes on Christ. Philippians 3:13-14 says: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Continual growth means continual forgetting our past and focusing on our future.
Continual growth also means that God is "not finished with you yet" to borrow musician Brandon Heath's lyrics. When I am tempted to live in despair, it's encouraging to remember that I'm not supposed to be perfect and that He who began a good work in me will work it out to completion. Sanctification is constant; God will not let us just stay as we are because he loves us too much. As a father disciplines his sons, so God disciplines us. Trials are a part of this discipline, because "the testing of your faith develops perseverance " (James 1) which develops, in the end, character. God isn't finished with us; He's making us better, as much as we may think we've backslidden. And we can be assured that the difficult times work for the good of those who love Him. God is constantly sanctifying us.
What else should be constant in the life of the Christian? Living by faith. Hebrews 11 describes amazing patriarchs and matriarchs such as Moses, Abraham, and Enoch. "All of these people were still living by faith when they died" (verse 13). They experienced difficulties, left their homeland, moved from royalty to poverty, experienced mocking and beating, and yet they continued to live out their faith. They believed that God created a heavenly home for them, that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, and that He, the unseen, exists and is even more relevant and weightier than the worldly, earthly, tangible pleasures and joys of this world.
It's difficult to wrap my mind around this idea. Oh, quite often, I would so rather watch TV or be on Facebook than pray or read scripture or memorize. What is to keep me focused on the heavenly kingdom when the earthly joys seem so much more tangible? Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Memorizing scripture/meditating on scripture. Remembering God's promises is another way to stay heavenly-focused--Psalm 13 is my favorite, which reminds us to "trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me."
An awesome promise that I read recently says, "Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24). I had to laugh because I've seen this verse come true in my own life! Sometimes I don't even think to pray before God answers my unsaid prayer. God also promises that He will give us peace when we cast our cares on Him (Phillipians 4:7), that He will be with us (Isaiah 43:2), and that He will work everything out for our good (Romans 8:28). Simply amazing promises! If we are focusing on these promises constantly, then we will be remembering these promises constantly. When struggles, temptations, trials, whatever come, we will be able to keep those in perspective with the grand scheme of things, the Eternal Story.
I know this may seem like random, incoherent jabber, but I guess these are thoughts that have been floating around my mind the past few weeks. I find personal hope in the fact that God is constantly sanctifying me and that He himself is constant, because it means that I can look forward to the future and not dwell on my own sin. It means that I can view the storms of life as opportunities to grow. It means that when life just seems to be changing and inconstant, I can look forward to life in heaven. And right now, as I think about making some decisions, I can take hold of His promises that He knows what I need, He directs my path, He will give me wisdom, and this all is for my good. Lord, let us remember your constant promises forever!
P.S. The above might sound familiar to some...These are thoughts coming from recent sermons (SGPCA and Harvest), scripture I've been meditating on recently, conversations I've had, and other various books I've read.
One implication is that we should not let the past determine our present; rather, we should let God remind us of our future. I think many Christians, myself included, could look back at areas or times in our lives when we blew it. We weren't Christians then, or maybe we were, and we still ignored the Spirit's promptings. Then Satan whispers in our ears lies. Remember that time you did ___________? God still remembers that. He won't forgive you! Or You already did that once. That is you. That is your label (Adulterer, Glutton, Drunk, etc.). You can never be a REAL child of God because of that. You might as well continue sinning in that way. Abby Johnson mentions in her book, UnPLANNED, how she regretted many of what she did as a director of Planned Parenthood, which included assisting with an abortion. She was tempted to dwell on her guilt. But we not only are we reminded that God's grace is constant in our lives, we are reminded that we must constantlly 1) forget our past sins and 2) focus our eyes on Christ. Philippians 3:13-14 says: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Continual growth means continual forgetting our past and focusing on our future.
Continual growth also means that God is "not finished with you yet" to borrow musician Brandon Heath's lyrics. When I am tempted to live in despair, it's encouraging to remember that I'm not supposed to be perfect and that He who began a good work in me will work it out to completion. Sanctification is constant; God will not let us just stay as we are because he loves us too much. As a father disciplines his sons, so God disciplines us. Trials are a part of this discipline, because "the testing of your faith develops perseverance " (James 1) which develops, in the end, character. God isn't finished with us; He's making us better, as much as we may think we've backslidden. And we can be assured that the difficult times work for the good of those who love Him. God is constantly sanctifying us.
What else should be constant in the life of the Christian? Living by faith. Hebrews 11 describes amazing patriarchs and matriarchs such as Moses, Abraham, and Enoch. "All of these people were still living by faith when they died" (verse 13). They experienced difficulties, left their homeland, moved from royalty to poverty, experienced mocking and beating, and yet they continued to live out their faith. They believed that God created a heavenly home for them, that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, and that He, the unseen, exists and is even more relevant and weightier than the worldly, earthly, tangible pleasures and joys of this world.
It's difficult to wrap my mind around this idea. Oh, quite often, I would so rather watch TV or be on Facebook than pray or read scripture or memorize. What is to keep me focused on the heavenly kingdom when the earthly joys seem so much more tangible? Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Memorizing scripture/meditating on scripture. Remembering God's promises is another way to stay heavenly-focused--Psalm 13 is my favorite, which reminds us to "trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me."
An awesome promise that I read recently says, "Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24). I had to laugh because I've seen this verse come true in my own life! Sometimes I don't even think to pray before God answers my unsaid prayer. God also promises that He will give us peace when we cast our cares on Him (Phillipians 4:7), that He will be with us (Isaiah 43:2), and that He will work everything out for our good (Romans 8:28). Simply amazing promises! If we are focusing on these promises constantly, then we will be remembering these promises constantly. When struggles, temptations, trials, whatever come, we will be able to keep those in perspective with the grand scheme of things, the Eternal Story.
I know this may seem like random, incoherent jabber, but I guess these are thoughts that have been floating around my mind the past few weeks. I find personal hope in the fact that God is constantly sanctifying me and that He himself is constant, because it means that I can look forward to the future and not dwell on my own sin. It means that I can view the storms of life as opportunities to grow. It means that when life just seems to be changing and inconstant, I can look forward to life in heaven. And right now, as I think about making some decisions, I can take hold of His promises that He knows what I need, He directs my path, He will give me wisdom, and this all is for my good. Lord, let us remember your constant promises forever!
P.S. The above might sound familiar to some...These are thoughts coming from recent sermons (SGPCA and Harvest), scripture I've been meditating on recently, conversations I've had, and other various books I've read.
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