Things I Think…
1. I’m reading a book that I think is important.
While I understand that reading a whole book lacks the dopamine rush of a Tic Tok video, I still commend it to you.
“Throughout this book we will repeatedly state that we’re in a place we’ve never been before. It is a place that makes less and less sense to us. We will propose that this place is not amenable to quick fixes or easy solutions. It represents the beginning of a time that will be very different from the times in which all the generations now alive have experienced. We will argue that what lies before us is a dark night. The hope that things will soon be made right is delusional. What is happening to us and our societies is akin to the fear expressed in Lamentations: How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she who was great among the nations! . . . The roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the festival; all her gates are desolate; her priests groan . . .”
The book theorizes that we are in an era that we’ve never been in before and all the ways we’ve learned will be of no avail in this time. What has been is unraveled or unraveling…and we need to accept those realities and adjust accordingly and biblically.
They posit;
- There is no renewal, revival, or reformation just around the corner.
-
The unraveling will go on for a long time.
-
We are entering a new, dark time in which there will be no solutions, answers, or fixes for a long time.
Their suggestions for what to do are centered around how Israel was told to respond to their exile:
1. Embrace the reality of a dark time.
2. Choose to see God as the primary agent.
3. Discern God’s actions, which call for a changed posture toward the enemy.
4. Seek the welfare of the city.
There are insights all through this book that alternately shock and edify…I hear the voice of the Spirit in it.
The four responses they suggest would be right and righteous in any time…now I think they are the only options left…
2. “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” (Matthew 9:11 NLT-SE)
We’ve reached a point where everyone is watching Jesus dine with those that they despise and asking some variant of this question…and we’re all going to answer for how we let things go this far…
3. The debates here go far beyond the political…what is actually at stake for me is defining the heart and character of Jesus. I do not believe that Jesus will overlook or bless cruelty to others as long as it’s part of a political process…
4. I need more time to reflect on what I’m reading in this book…if I embrace what they are saying, what do I have to change?
5. Yes, it has been painful watching and participating in these discussions of late, particularly noting the tension among old friends. For this kind of tension to exist, everyone involved must believe the stakes are high. I do not know how to navigate these waters…I too believe the stakes are high. What I do know is I have to find a way to obey Jesus while trying…and it’s harder than it looks…
Sounds like a barnburner, Michael.
From what you’ve posted I agree with what they’re saying.
What I find hopeful is that there’s plenty of opportunities to love our neighbors. Our task is to be faithful and not give a damn if what we’re doing never shows up in any media or narrative.
bob1,
It’s a fascinating book, especially if, like me. everything seems so disorienting to you…
I just ordered the book. I feel like Alice in Wonderland-strange beasts and adventures ahead! I grew up during the 60s and 70s, making me a product of the assassinations of JFK, MLK and RFK; the Vietnam War, and Watergate. At least in that era sides were fairly easy to sspot. Now, people are all over the place with the strangest reasons for what they do. and very little logic for their actions. What I find even more alarming is the number of people who are shooting at other just because they have a beef about something. I will confess that sometimes it’s easier to sit at home, watch TV, and hope it will all go away. But, I keep engaging at church, with neighbors, and with the children I teach. …Do as Jesus did-He engaged right up to the Cross.
https://youtu.be/wlv7YljaUPE?si=7zdgnV7Qkp2PNP6W
https://youtu.be/ocAtS5z9z3c?si=0A-dNMcRIOHfJRoP
After much prayer i have decided I can no longer be apart of this community, even in thought or prayer, though my love remains. Not than most will care and I am not bothered by that in the least. But I will leave you with this…
Fact- Mr. Charlie Kirk was not racist against anyone. There are many, many videos of black women and men many who were very close friends of Mr. Kirt.
Fact- MAGA is not fascists nor a cult. If that were truly the case any who called MAGA , Nazis , fascists, or even dared to speak negatively would be imprisoned or killed. And yet it is the very ones calling MAGA these horrible slurs that are killing and hurling insults.
Those who live in glass houses should not so readily, ignorantly and viciously spread lies about a good MURDERED man. You did this even after being gently confronted and doubled down. It is not like he stole banking info on anyone or married his mistress. His legacy as a man of God who reached so many souls for Christ’s sake, your brother in CHRIST should not be tarnished by you who claim to be pastors. I am ashamed and disappointed in you all. I looked up to you. I respected you and you betrayed that over this.
I am completely devastated and heartbroken by you.
forever dust
Dusty,
You have to do what your conscience demands.
So do I.
The door will always be open…
Linn,
I think you’re already doing what the book suggests…I still think it’s valuable for those of us who thought that some day things would get back to “normal”…
Michael,
Possibly, but sometimes I wonder if I could do more, or how I would function if I didn’t have a reasonably healthy church to attend. It’s scary…
Dusty,
I truly hope that you will reconsider departing this community …many of the sentiments you’ve voiced resonate within me. I too, have struggled with angst over some polarized sweeping declarations against movements (which I see indistinct, from any political party or its platform).
The alternative to remaining engaged in the conversation …is a very tempting and understandable desire for refuge into one’s familiar clique of homogenous mindset.
Unfortunately, disengagement only perpetuates the expanding social crisis of ‘ideological isolationism/radicalized militant ethic’ …because our culture is losing its collective ability to thoughtfully express and consider alternative viewpoints in the public square.
The US vs THEM mentality exists, only because mutual efforts to sincerely communicate between parties, have been exchanged for a sectarian feedback loop (clothed in alleged ‘virtue’)
Encouraging the development of interpersonal coping skills and upholding the value of respectful dialogue, may help prevent the grooming of the next ‘righteous’ assassin …or hate crime perpetrator.
The wicked irony of most alleged ‘institutions of higher education’ …is that deliberate exposure to lofty classical studies, pursuit of unbiased logic and free thinking contemplation, have often been hijacked by pointedly leftist sentiment …that cannot tolerate, nor effectively counter opposing viewpoints.
Many college campuses have devolved into incubators for intolerant political extremists, whom shut-out, shout-down and rationalize organized violence to extinguish conservative voices. Charlie Kirk’s willingness to offer equal time to thoughtfully debate students steeped in leftist narratives …posed too great of an existential threat to the fringes of indoctrinated militancy.
(How many calling themselves ‘Christian’, secretly rejoiced in his murder?)
Censorship is a two-way street, and both political parties are well versed in navigating and exploiting it. The most egregious efforts to control and distort narratives, are by embedding radicalized feds into TV networks, newspapers & social media platforms (…and inciting/entrapping citizens at political protests. (CIA’s ‘Operation Mockingbird’ and recent revelations RE: J6)
Forces seeking to officially enshrine their ‘version of reality’ while stifling alternative perception, are handed an easy victory when people willingly cancel THEMSELVES …despite awareness of their opinion being no more volatile than that of the opposition.
Christian community can, and should be ‘Exhibit A’ as a model for how to respectfully ‘disagree agreeably’ while charitably sharing differing opinions …with fellow image bearers of God.
If Dusty is ashamed of you, maybe it’s time for some self-reflection.
You can still have a heart for immigrants without belittling and dismissing what other people have to say, which is what’s been going on here for a good long while now.
Xenia,
I’ll let you have the last word…but you have no idea how much reflection goes into what I do and don’t do here.
Contending for immigrants is simply contending for the image of God in all people.
At this time in my life, the only person I’m worried about being ashamed of me is Jesus…my fellow Christians have never been very fond of me.
If anyone is interested in the contents of this article, we can discuss it as my friends take their shots in between…
Hey! I got an idea! Let’s sentence Michael to the stockade for a while. And after that, we’ll make him wear a scarlet “A” on his shirt, you know, for “a**hole.
#letthereaderunderstand
#hawthornegotit
I’m the only one to my memory that mentioned the racial dynamic, and I was careful to say that may of his ideas were based on old racist tropes, rather than calling him a racist. I don’t know if he was a racist. He had some black friends, and is on camera sometimes treating black people well. Those are good things.
However, in his drive to be provocative he often depended on outdated, wrong-headed ideas that have racism at their root. this gets clicks, and made him very popular with certain groups of people, but is ultimately unhelpful. I wish he could have lived long enough to learn better.
Other than that, I disagreed with him on the majority of his political talking points, and the tragedy of his death doesn’t make him right.
I personally know of no one who is celebrating or even slightly happy about his death. You are being manipulated to believe the worst again. More radicalization. Who benefits? Not you or me.
As to the “Things:” for today:
I hope #1 is incorrect. Its been a rough decade and I would like to coast a bit.
Other than that, I’m not too concerned with simple political differences. What does surprise me is that people are unwilling to see the foundational changes that are being made to our country daily. Like, is there a point where you say, woah, this too far? Or as long as they wear your preferred color, are you good with it? I have found that aspect shocking, to be honest.
Josh,
I’m convinced that I’ll never see “normal” again in my lifetime and part of my responsibility to my own is telling them that truth.
The country we knew…and the church we knew…are soon to be gone.
We have to find our place among the exiles…
The current admin is a huge reaction to a previous liberal swing, and I’m afraid there will be an equal and opposite reaction to this swing…etc. The violent cycle will continue and escalate. (To be clear, that is the opposite of my hope.)
So i’m almost giving up on trying to affect the culture in any way, and the question then turns to, how can my family and I live peaceful, joyful lives in an increasingly chaotic world.
What Josh and Michael said!!!
Michael,
I think we can face the chaos by doing the small things. That is, praying the daily office; reaching out to the least of these; helping a new generation find their footing… etc. Large institutions will fail and, in fact, are failing… The most important thing that I will do this week is helping a young priest conduct his first funeral…
Duane,
When a veteran pastor helped me through my first funeral it was a gift both to me and to the survivors.
Our work and calling is and will be right in front of us…which leaves me wondering if there is any real purpose in doing what we do here.
I’m thinking through so many things my head hurts…
Michael,
There are literally thousands who read the columns and never comment. That is a work set out in front of us as well. Don’t be dismayed by the hubris of a few…
Duane @ 1:10 pm:
I agree, a kind word to someone can change the course of history, very literally, very seriously, and with aplomb.
I’ve sat on the sidelines for the most part recently here and have thought much how painful this is: breaking fellowship, the political machinations, and the Church’s witness to name a few aspects of what is going on here and elsewhere. This is all in relation to Michael’s fifth thought above, which is timely in that is what has been on my mind recently. It pains me to know that I am just as filthy and consumed by political division as much as those I look down on for the same thing.
That is just my mileage where I am at right now.
Dan,
I think a lot of us are working through that…we are running out of time to keep it from being permanent.