Humility Leads to Thanksgiving and Worship
"Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position" James 1:9.
In a paradoxical kind of way, or perhaps ironical, the failures of my
Christian predecessors have given me cause for much hope. Scripture has
provided an opportunity to observe God's reaction to the failings of His
people, even some who had committed great unrighteousness. Through their
weakness I have discovered the lovingkindness of God, and through my own
weaknesses I have been prompted to ask the question, am I better than Peter who
denied Christ or the man who cried out help my unbelief? No certainly not, but
sometimes we as Christians can seem to have an attitude like we are better than
those who don't believe. Sometimes it seems we are uncomfortable around
"sinners, and according to my observations most people of non-faith feel
that way about us. Rick Warren makes an observation that I think deserves
consideration, he notes that in Jesus day people flocked to him, they crossed
lakes to get to Him, they walked for miles just to see Him, while today many
wouldn't dawn the door. They do not feel comfortable in church. Some say church
is the last place they would want to go. Why? Isn't the love of God there?
How often have you come across someone who has felt this way, or felt
afraid they would be judged? It would be all to flippant and irresponsible of us to
respond back with, 'well it's because they are sinners ... they feel guilty but
do not want to change'. Really? Sinners didn't seem to have any trouble eating
and drinking with Jesus. They weren't trying to get away from Him, and He
wasn't trying to get away from them. In fact if I recall correctly that's what
got Jesus in trouble with the religious Pharisees, etc.
Am I sending a message to those around me that I am somehow better than
them because I have chosen not to act in certain ways? Does that make me a good
person? It is interesting that Jesus qualified that term in Luke 18:19,
"No one is good except God alone". But if no better than what? Well
maybe I should start with forgiven!
Subsequently the many accounts of failure by God's people in the bible
have assured me of God's desire to show mercy (Mt. 9:13), and so I am
encouraged to come boldly, albeit humbly, before the Lord of promise in my time
of weakness and failure. I get it that most of us are not comfortable of talking
about this. We aren't comfortable talking about personal sin, failure and
weakness. In fact we go way out of our way to deny it. We talk about the
victorious life, overcoming, and a life of blessing, and while these truths are
ours in Christ, they are not ours by virtue of, or conditional upon, our own
'goodness' or socially acceptable behaviour. The core of the salvation message
isn't God saved you because in you He saw something inherently good, it's
because He is good and so God made a way of salvation to the incapable and
undeserving. While thinking too high of ourselves isn't appropriate, neither is
not seeing any value in humanity. God created us on the sixth day and said it
was very good (Genesis 1:26-31).
Nevertheless, to continue down this line of thinking, though I am then
not better than Thomas who doubted or David who lustfully looked upon
Bathsheba. And I'm not better than Paul who rejected Mark or John who ran away
the night the soldiers came, I have access to the same mercy and grace they
experienced. And while all these scriptural accounts then provide me insight
into who is man and who is God ... mostly who God is ... through them I
discover that I have value to Him ... and that is meaningful.
So I am very thankful for my God who didn't condemn Thomas for his
adamant unbelief, for Thomas said unless I place my hand in His wounds I will
not believe, but instead Jesus met Thomas at his point of need and said 'if
this is what it takes, here thrust in your hand'. I am thankful for the God who
met Peter by the shore of his failure and restored him from his great denial. I
am thankful for the God Who works reconciliation despite Paul's rejection of
Mark. Furthermore, I am thankful for the God who despite David's folly didn't
disown him but confronted David in his sin and led him to repentance and
restoration. I am thankful for the God who despite John abandoning Jesus in His
time of trial, bestowed upon him such a great revelation and testimony of
Christ that continues to fill Christians with awe and wonder today. I suppose
one of the points I am trying to make is that their weaknesses did not seem to
dissuade the Lord of Hosts. Yes there were likely tears, and yes there was
repentant confession, but one can't help but consider that God used these as an
opportunity to reveal Who He is, and not as an opportunity to disqualify the
offender. So then through these I discover the God of reconciliation, 2nd
chances and 3rds, the God of 70 x 7, and a God, according to N.T. Wright, Who
is missioned to reclaim, recover and restore, a fallen creation, and prefers
reconciliation over condemnation - mercy over judgment. Scripture has become my
window into this reality.
It often seems that many in Christendom reject any idea of weakness or
defeat, excessively embracing triumphalism, and conveniently blaming everything
on the devil. And I've noticed a trend where a great emphasis is placed on
'elite' leaders who are the so called 'spiritually giants', apparently
designated by God as ‘spiritual captains and commanders’ of the church, a
heavenly appointed militia on earth raised up to slay devils and topple
unearthly kingdoms. While many look to these to appease their own sense of
weakness and brokenness, I will celebrate the God of mercy and lovingkindness, the
God of the imperfect and poor in spirit, the God Who eats and drinks with
'sinners' like me. I will look to Him.
These might tell you victory is something you have to claim if you want
to experience it. While it is true we have a part to play in responding to the
gospel message, it is often packaged in a teaching that emphasizes faith as a
'force' that you move God through to get the desired outcome. This brings me to
a point of contention, or I should say controversy. While there are those who
weigh in heavily on the scripture that says 'without faith it is impossible to
please God', they forget that it is not referring to a ‘faith in faith’
dynamic. Our faith is in a Person, and what they proclaim. However scripture
must never be treated like a book of magic recitals. Some say that speaking the
word out loud has more power (What did it have before??) than meditating on it
and using the word as a basis for our prayers and personal consolation.
Moreover, those who propose such things, wrongfully assume they can command
God, making a way for God to move through positive confession and an absence of
doubt. Such are the erring assertions of the prosperity gospel preachers. They
suggest that God is somehow controlled by His word when recited by the believer,
especially in the absence of doubt. To them I would propose they have the cart
before the horse here. God isn't controlled by His word, He is His Word. We
must be careful not to turn the scriptures into a magic book.
Frankly, I am concerned about and suspicious of the teaching
presumptuously designated as the "laws of the kingdom”, i.e. those
teachings that proposes that the words we speak and the attitudes of our heart
indirectly or directly tie God's hands or obligate Him - as if God were limited
by anything other than His own nature and purpose. Here God’s actions are
relegated to Newtonian concepts of cause and effect based on what we confess.
Moreover, this teaching asserts that should we think or speak improperly we can
invite cursing on ourselves where God is rendered powerless to do anything
about it. If this were true the actions and words of our predecessors, A.K.A.
the apostles, would have prevented them from accomplishing their mission ...
from pleasing God. Some of them were doubters, some betrayed, and if you want
to talk about negative confession just read David in the Psalms, or Job who
covered his mouth in guilt after God revealed Himself. To me those high energy
hyped up popular kind of teaching does more to demonstrate man’s attempt to control
the outcomes. It appears to be another attempt to control his life instead of
surrendering it. What was once called hyper faith may turn out to be really no
faith at all.
So I am thankful for scripture that focuses on God's character and
intention in the light of man's weakness and brokenness, on events that show
off God's goodness rather than false teaching that emphasizes only those with
perfect faith and words can accomplish the will of God. No, give me teaching
that shows me Who God is, over ‘pop psychology’ and the ‘how I can make God to
do stuff’ or how I can 'command' the universe to cough up the world's best for
me. Thank you for the discovery that it is God's character that drives His
promises and not the other way around. That His promises were meant more as a
signpost to reveal God’s nature and intention than a formula for success. It is
the revelation of God's character that gives me comfort when storms rage within
and without. It is His promises in light of that character that gives me hope
and assurance when I discover I am in need of further transformation.
Everything is about serving His pleasure and not primarily my own, and
subsequently through this I am blessed.
Yes, I am thankful for the testimony and gospel of Christ Jesus Who came
to show us the Father. I am thankful God's love is not bound and conditional
upon my performance, status, vocation, bank account, or education. I am
thankful for the God Who despite my weakness, He is strong. Yes Lord, when I
consider all Your goodness, words fail me and all I can do is bow and worship.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
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