The Unworthy Saint

I was laying today, awake from an afternoon nap (I feel a bit like Pooh Bear) and I decided to spend some time with the Lord. It was really sweet. I feel that I’ve neglected my faith in favor of school, work, dreams and ambitions, and the like. Here are a few verses from 2 Timothy that struck me, and some thoughts about each one.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
2 Timothy 2:3-7 (ESV)

I’ve heard these verses preached so many times, but I’m not sure I understand what they mean to their full extent. The neat part is that Paul, in writing to Timothy, is saying “I know this will be hard to understand – I’m using metaphor – but the Lord will help you understand.” I pray, like Timothy, that I will know the fullness of Pauls meaning in time. I pray for discipline and stamina to run the race, to keep focus.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:20-26

There’s a list of things here that Paul is telling Timothy to do and not do – which I think I should heed myself.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:1-7

Again, Paul is listing how not to be human – but the verse at the end really caught my eye. I am an information addict. I love researching and learning. Part of it is my job, part of it is what I’m good at and how I’m wired. But I do not want to be the one who is “always learning but never able to arrive at the knowledge of the (T)ruth.” Lord. may it never be! Teach me!

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

And finally, I love that we will be equipped for every good work with the Scripture of the Lord. We joked the other day in the Institutional Effectiveness meeting about the word “competent” and how we cringe at that word when it is used in education. But it is not a bad word and it means that we’ll be ready. Lord may I be ready! Wash me in your word!

I’ve been reading the book of Mark lately.  I read through it last month, now I’m reading through it again.  I don’t read every day – though I feel that I should.  But I do enjoy reading the bible – specifically Mark.  I like Mark particularly because of Frederick Buechner’s notes on the man and the book in his own book Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who’s Who.  Buechner specifically writes about Mark’s hurried nature – he’s always starting sentences with “And”, one of his favorite words is “Immediately”.  Buechner also points out the fact that Mark leaves many things out of his gospel, but also includes many small details.  So I enjoy reading through Mark and noticing these things.  I think they make the pages “come alive” a bit.  Besides that, it’s always good to read about the person and work of Jesus Christ – there’s something transformative about the scriptures.

I changed the name of my blog.  It was “Only a Boy.”  I liked the name for a time, but the new one came to me yesterday and I like it more at this stage of my life.  Only a Boy came about with the view of my need to always learn and grow – never really moving past that boyish fascination with the world around me.  I still value that perspective, but I think the Unworthy Saint expresses my view better at this point in my life.  It is a step toward humility – it is a declaration of perspective.  It’s not to say I view myself as an unworthy saint, but I certainly should view myself that way.  So that’s the new title of my blog.  I’m hoping that it sinks in sooner or later and I really understand God’s grace.

I had some thoughts, that I hope will be encouraging, a few months ago that I decided to record:

Sometimes when we sing new songs in the Village service I find myself rather irritated.  Inside I say “Why can we not stick to the same songs we know?  Then I can better focus on Christ and worship.”  When I have thoughts like these I am reminded of Lewis’ Screwtape Letters – such a book has pressed me to deal with things I find irritable as though it is probably sin in me.  Because it is sin that I would be irritated at a simple worship song choice, I thought it best to search my heart.

Why am I annoyed with new songs?  Mostly because they take effort to learn.  I must read the words and try to learn the melody.  I cannot simply sing and pray, or sing and meditate on the meaning of the words, rather I must read the words and apply them in song.  What good is that?  It’s not very good.  I don’t feel that it’s as directly worshipful in the moment. Then why do it?

Well, the thought occurred to me – what if the corporate worship we engage in on Sunday morning was not itself fully centered on that particular time.  As in, what if the Sunday worship time had two main points – to glorify God now (in that time) and then (after that time).  It occurs to me that worship songs, the creation and craft of Christ-exalting musicians, are meant to inspire worship.  That is, worship at any moment.  They are to give God’s people a vocabulary with which to praise the Savior.  With every new song, the church’s vocabulary of worship is expanded.

“It Is Well with My Soul” is a wonderful song that leads me to worship.  But that song is not appropriate in every situation.  Rather, other songs are appropriate.  “Jesus Loves Me” might be an appropriate worship song in certain situations, namely those with children or on a particularly depressing day.

All of that to say, my perspective on new worship songs has changed.  I am thankful that our leadership at the Village sees fit to equip the saints with words of worship for every situation.  The service is not merely about worshiping God then, though that part is important, rather the service is also about expanding the church’s vocabulary of worship so that we might praise God in any situation.  And that’s a new idea to me.

I spent 45 minutes this morning reading George Verwer’s Drops From a Leaking Tap. Verwer is someone who stirs my affection for Christ.  He is radical and has been transformed by Christ.  He is passionate about sharing the gospel.  I am passionate, but fearful of sharing the gospel.  I am a weak man.  I am fearful of man, of offending other men, of making other people uncomfortable.  Perhaps that is why Verwer writes books – perhaps it is for fearful, compromised Christians like me who are scared of sharing their faith.  I saw of Brad Payne’s bookshelf the book “Just Walk Across the Room.”  That phrase convicts me, as does Verwer.  I read the first three chapters today.  I look forward to reading more.  God’s grace to George Verwer is his grace to me.  Thank God.

After 600+ posts, I’ve neglected this blog for some time.  It sorta makes me sad.  I’ve been busy and distracted.  Though as I sit here now, I have a little time.  I’m listening to the Lost Dogs.  Working a bit in Flash.  Wondering what to do next.  I feel a little sick.  Hoping to kick that soon.  Need to work on the house.  But not before lunch.  It’s good to see you old friend.  Perhaps we’ll spend more time together soon.

I found something I want to do before I die – learn to pick a lock.  Ligitimately, I want to be able to pick a lock with a paper clip or something similar.  Half inspired by the article in wired, half because my mom could do it and showed me how a long time ago.  My mom used to keep pennies, nickels and dimes in a small metal “bank” that she could pick the lock on with a hair pin.  I was in elementary school, so I’m sure I couldn’t remember how to do it now, but I’d like to learn again.  Add it to my bucket list – though I cringe at the name “bucket list”.

I’ve said before that I see metaphor, to some degree, as a sign of intelligence.  The ability to see one thing and relate it to another, the ability to make connections, not everyone is good at doing it.  However, I think metaphor, or simile, is really important.  The ability to relate two things, to show how they’re alike is all through Jesus’ teaching.  What is the kingdom of God?  It’s like a mustard seed in a garden or like yeast worked into dough. (Luke 13.18-21)  The same method is apparent in marriage as a metaphor for Christ and His church.

If Christ thought it was important to compare things for the sake of teaching, and if much of the world is wired to reflect God’s glory through our comparison of creation to who God says He is, why do we not place more importance on pointing out each metaphor we see?  Why do we keep these glimpses to ourselves?  Would it not be life-giving to be able to look anywhere and see some truth about who God is, through His creation?  Would it not inspire?  Would it not be helpful in evangelism to be able to point out one thing or another and say “God is like this and He is like that?”  Maybe it’s that we aren’t good at seeing the metaphors in the first place, perhaps that’s the reason we don’t share them – we never see them in the first place.

I see that the work of metaphor, the work of comparing, while all will ultimately fall short, is extremely necessary and important – so important that we need people doing it more. Metaphor is inspiring.  We need the people who see metaphor everywhere, to inform the rest of us.  We need teachers who are like Jesus in the way they teach – perhaps as much as we need teachers who are of Jesus in the way they walk.  We need to have the eyes of God…

Note: This was for a class project, in response to certain articles, and limited to 3 pages.  Hopefully that explains how incomplete this paper is.  I also ran into the deadline, ran our of time.  With those disclaimers, enjoy…

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Generally I agree with the sentiments expressed by the various writers of the articles we read.  I agree things should change but I have questions regarding feasibility.  In particular, some of the food articles – On Trial: Industrial Agriculture and Mean or Green are two examples – proved to be rather adept at pointing out the flaws, without suggesting much in the way of feasible solutions. I think it’s generally very important to not only point out the problems but to cast vision for the future, in both steps toward the solution and examples of current, working solutions – much as McDonough (Cradle to Cradle) and Brukardt (The natural Step to Sustainability) have done.

Feasibility aside, my other main question is that of motivation.  In other words, why?  Specifically, why should I do something?  Why should I go to the trouble?  To build new systems, to retrofit the old, to change whole industries, to do away with other industries is a huge undertaking.  Even to simply rework one American life to be truly sustainable is a vast undertaking. Again, I credit environmentalism with being very adept at pointing out the flaws in our systems, but apart from the writings and reasonings of a select few, I have yet to see much in the way of motivations that are not rooted in guilt, shame, selfishness, or fear.

So what’s wrong with guilt and shame as a motivator?  What’s wrong with selfish motivations?  Ironically none of those motivations are sustainable. Take the speed limit laws for instance. These laws are fear-based.  The average American’s motivation for keeping the speed limit is rooted in the shame of getting a ticket or the fear of losing money – which, is really a self-centered motivation at it’s core.   As a result, most people push the speed limits to what they think they can get away with.  They don’t truly believe in the spirit behind the law, they only obey when it is convenient or when they feel threatened.  If, however, someone understands and believes it is good to have those limits, they will adhere joyfully, and even when it is not convenient.  It is my belief that only obedience or expression rooted in joy is truly sustainable over a long period of time.

I am particularly concerned with the motivation of the individual.  Both McDonough and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI’s Core Principles) have both done an admirable job showing that sustainability can actually offer companies a competitive advantage, but a competitive advantage does not work for the individual. It is possible to be sustained out of personal gain, but when personal gain, or self-centeredness, is pitted against the good of others or the good of the environment, what will happen?  Because after all is said and done, for the self-centered, justice issues have no real ROI save perhaps pride.  The self-centered person should have no care for the world around them, so long as they are receiving what they wish without much hassle.

I see Christianity as being uniquely gifted to address the motivation behind “doing good.” The Christian Bible has much to say about God, man, creation, poverty, redemption and Christ. The bible lays out God’s plan for the world from beginning to end.  This metanarrative can be summed up in four words – creation, rebellion, redemption, restoration.   Each of these four stages hold implications for not only man and creation in relation to God, but also man in relation to man, and man in relation to creation.

The Bible opens with the words “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.“ (New American Standard Bible, Gen. 1.1)  The Bible goes on to say, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” (Gen. 1.26-28)  These two passages give us two ideas.  One, God created everything, the heavens and the earth, which means that all creation is in some way “good” because it was created by, and is from God.  And two, God created man in his image to fill, subdue and rule over the whole earth.  Psalm 8.3-9 puts it like this: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

As creator, God deserves full obedience, respect and honor from His creation – which is exemplified in Psalm 8 above.  Genesis 3 tells of the original rebellion against God, but every day every man continues to rebel.  Every time I feel as though my job or my spouse, what I will eat or what I will wear, is more important than the Creator of the Universe, I evidence this rebellion inside me.  But because God cannot be just and allow rebellion without punishment, he subjected the earth to futility.  In Romans 8.19-23 Paul writes “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body…“  So God subjected the earth and all of creation to futility, but He did so in hope.  The subjection to futility is the punishment for man’s rebellion and is evident in the pain and suffering of the world.  The hope spoken of is both Christ’s redeeming work and the eventual restoration of man and all creation.

Christ, in Heaven with God, was and is in perfect relationship with the Father.  God sent his Son to earth as a sacrifice for the rebellion of man, in hope and from love. (John 3.16, Rom. 5.8) The bible puts it like this, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9) In other words, we were poor because of our debt to God in that we had rebelled against the Creator and had not given him what He was due. Jesus Christ was rich in the fact that His relationship with God was perfect, there was no brokenness between them – there was no rebellion. But Christ made Himself poor, He took the justice of God which demanded payment for man’s rebellion, and in doing so reconciled man to God. (Romans 4:8)  Christ was the sacrifice that has made man rich, and will in the end save the world itself.  With Christ’s death and subsequent resurrection, He redeemed creation in the sight of God and saved those who will believe.

The last step in God’s plan is restoration.  In the end God will form a new heavens and new earth, not unlike the earth now, but the world will no longer be subject to the fall.  “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Pet. 3:13)  We also see that as Christ walked the earth, the miracles he did were, for the most part, restorative.  He healed men and women. (Matt. 12:22, Matt. 15:30, John 9:1-7) He fed the hungry. (Matt. 14:13-21)  He spent much of his time with the socially outcast and those in poverty.  While Christ walked as a man He restored the broken.  In Christ’s death He restored the broken.  And in the end, when the time is right, God will restore all things that are broken.

So what does all of this, this metanarrative, this talk of Christ, what does all of this have to do with sustainability, with motivation, with caring for the poor, with tending to the environment? God made creation and because God charged man with the stewardship of creation, Christians have a unique reason to care for the environment – to honor and glorify God by doing His work.  Because of their understanding of the fall, Christians have a unique understanding of the poverty and brokenness evidenced in the world.  Because Christ made Himself poor and gave of Himself unselfishly, and because Christians know that they were all poor at one time, Christians have a unique motivation and model of radical sacrifice for, and service to the poor.  And because God is moving all of history toward restoration, Christians have a unique reason to pursue justice and restoration for all in all aspects of earthly life.  The truth of the matter is, Christians should care for the world much better than anyone else because their motivation should is born from a joy-filled, radical, grace-given worldview. If they truly understand the life and work of Christ, there is no way to ignore the suffering of those in poverty and the degradation of creation.  In Christ, I see a unique hope of sustainable care for the environment and the poor that I do not see elsewhere.

Works Cited

Brukardt, Mary Jane. “The Natural Step to Sustainability”. Wingspread Journal. Spring 1997.

Featherstone, Lisa. “Mean or Green”. The Nation. September 11, 2006.

Holy Bible, New American Standard Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002.

Horne, James E. and Maura McDermott. “On Trial: Industrial Agriculture”. The Next Green Revolution. 2001.

Keller, Timothy J. “Being the Church in Our Culture” Reform & Resurge Conference 2006. 23 Oct. 2008. <http://www.journeyon.net/media/being-the-church-in-our-culture.pdf>.

Keller, Timothy J. “Doing Justice” Reform & Resurge Conference 2006. MP3. Resurgence. 23 Oct. 2008. <http://theresurgence.com/r_r_2006_session_eight_audio_keller>.

McDonough, William and Michael Braungart. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. New York: North Point Press, 2002.

“RMI’s Core Principles.” rmi.org. 2008. Rocky Mountain Institute. 30 Oct 2008. <http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid66.php>.