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TO FORGET NO MORE

What is it we are to remember in this season of celebration and pageant? Annually, amidst all the hype of commercialism, the apparent Christian world presents the image of a helpless child, couched in all the stories of human heroism and selflessness, hoping to bring out the best in us amidst rejoicing and peace. This, of course, always leads up to the image of a celebration around an over-decorated evergreen with happy people drinking nog and grog, watching children tear into a pile of brightly wrapped indulgences, followed a week later by a night of sparkly over-indulgence. Does anyone find it sad that as soon as Christmas day is done almost everyone forgets it and moves forward toward the next celebration?

Though not too troubling, I’ve always found it somewhat a reversal of priorities that we of the faith revere this day, Christmas, or the coming of the anointed child, above the day, Easter, or the sacrifice of the anointed one to atone for the sins of the world. Yet it is that way, and despite all of the criticism of the secular world, and the constant lobbying to remove Christian imagery, the focus persists, and the world takes notice, both critically and curiously. But what of us? Throughout the Old Testament God allowed for special days, and occasionally years, of jubilation and celebration for the purpose of remembering critical changes and events in the history of His chosen people. Some of these occasions were for the express purpose of setting right old grievances and wrongs, and to recall the relationship between God and His people.

So, in this age wherein the faithful are spread all over the world, what are we to recall and what are we set right? After all, what is God to us, and what are we to God? Right now, a great deal of the world’s population is in the midst of Advent, or Christmas, celebration and preparation for the upcoming New Year celebration. At the same time another large part of the world’s population is conducting business as usual, whether in sweaty labor or an air-conditioned office. And, there is a small but growing number that is greatly irritated that any of these things is taking place, offended that there is joy or satisfaction anywhere in the world. They would, by either legal or illegal means, political power or terrorism, be satisfied only when anarchy and desperation rule the world. If God walked in our midst today, how would he react? If Jesus dropped in for a visit would we be too blind to see him?

I recall a vivid dream I had several years ago. The next morning I wrote down my recollection, and although I’ve misplaced my notes the memory of this dream has always persisted.

I somehow found myself at a hospital, visiting, which was not a peculiar event for me considering my years as a Chaplain. I found myself in a gray corridor with weak lighting, and needing to wait I sat down on an old wooden bench. While waiting, a very old man approached to also sit down. I noticed that he looked weary and walked with a cane, his overcoat was once luxurious but over the years had become worn and rumpled. As he turned to sit it appeared that the bench, straight-backed and hard, caused nearly as much pain as standing seemed to. He sat silently for a moment as I uncomfortably gazed up and down the corridor, which now seemed to stretch on and on, into the darkness, with door upon door and room upon room.

When he finally turned to speak, he removed his hat and apologized for not greeting me when he approached. He said he had been to visit his children, all apparently in the hospital. Yet, he said with a great sigh, they had all forgotten him, their lives had moved them away from home many years ago and the memories of their childhood had faded away. At that point I turned to him, sensing his grief and weariness, momentarily putting aside my own preoccupation with my duties, and as he noticed my interest in his story, he continued.

He related the memories of his past, of raising his large family, and of how they all finally left home with promises of bright futures and personal successes. But through the years these turned into blind ambition, wealth seeking, and empire building. Their individual quests for power and recognition finally took their toll, and they all found themselves in this hospital, sick and dying. He had all their names and still brightly remembered all of their faces. He had come with great anticipation, hoping for a joyous reunion, and to invite them all to his waiting home, to live and recover in the hospitality of his love for them, and to share once again in his wealth. But as he entered room after room he was rejected as a stranger, each of his children refusing to admit to his own frailty and sickness, each still pursuing the goal of personal achievement. They did not remember, nor did they wish to remember, the father who had nurtured and provided for them as children. They were blinded, and would ultimately be betrayed, by their own ambition.

And so he sat, this sad old man, now facing the grief of his own abandoned life and the isolation that each of his children has chosen for himself. He became silent again, yet I continued to study him. I noticed his face lined with the scars of character, and his hands worn from years of personal labor. He turned his hat in his hands and grasped his cane to rise, and I put my hand on his shoulder to ask him to stay for a few moments more. I thought to myself what grace this old man has to share his story in such openness with a stranger like me. And as my hand rested on his shoulder I realized that I had come to visit my own brothers and sisters, and that I too had forgotten my childhood and my own father. As his face slowly turned back toward me and I once again saw his eyes, I felt the rush of memory come upon me. In weakness I fell to my knees as I realized that it was my own father sitting in front of me, that I too was one of the children on his list. Through my tears I asked if, after all these years, he might consider taking me home with him, to once again enjoy the comfort of his care.

Now this was only a dream of mine, and as such only has the value of a dream. But it has stuck with me and remained clear, unlike most dreams, which fade. Therefore it is important to me, and I take some risk in sharing it with others. But I shall. For me, I see the immense sadness and grief which God has borne over the centuries for all those who are now lost forever, for those who have forgotten Him. I also imagine the great joy at the returning of even one of His lost children. Perhaps it is arrogant of me to relate such a dream, or even to have such a dream. After all, how could God, in all his greatness and glory, consider stooping to one such as I, and moreso, to ever present Himself in such a feeble and broken state? And yet Jesus, the Anointed One, whom we claim to worship, was burdened with the weight of the whole world’s sin, and filled with grief over those who were lost: he was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. . .He was despised and we did not esteem him. (Is. 53:3)

This Jesus, who is portrayed at this season as an innocent, helpless child, upon whom gifts were bestowed, is the same one who was later rejected by his own, tortured by strangers, and died in shame for the sake of his children. In death he opened the doors of his house and willed his wealth to all those who then, and still today, turned their backs on him. All we need to do is remember him for who he is. And as for me, I will forget no more. May his face be ever present in my memory and in yours.

Peace.

Bill Z

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By Bill Zinn • August 9, 2024

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"Peace." -Bill Zinn

ONLY-NESS

August 5, 2024

Sometimes one man, and one man alone, sees a thing as it truly is, and sometimes no one else in the world cares or attempts to comprehend the vision of this solitary individual. The above phrase from Wordsworth’s poem speaks to this individuality of experience. It was named for a small flower, the Celandine, which normally goes unnoticed by most people, but when observed closely reveals an intricate pattern of color and complexity. It was interesting enough to draw him into a poetic essay regarding the beautiful and brilliant things that ordinarily go unappreciated by humanity. Wordsworth notes the possibility that he might be alone in what he calls a moment of “pleasure,” of more than just appreciation, using the recollection of a memorable book as an example of this revelation. Have you ever had one of those moments, moments when you were startled by the fact that you were the “only one?” Any one of us, no matter how dull, can hopefully recall at least one thing we have seen that would fall into this category, things that we considered beautiful or illuminating but perhaps no one else has appreciated. Sometimes they might be witnessed in nature, initiated by God, and sometimes they might occur synthetically, at the hands of man. Yet when you observe them it crosses your mind that you may be the only one who will ever appreciate them. Even sitting in a crowded theater, the entire audience paying rapt attention, there can be moments that you consider brilliant, humorous, or beautiful but go unnoticed by everyone else. ARE WE EVER THE “ONLY ONE"? In case you’re wondering where I’m going with this, we’re talking about that aspect of the human experience identified as “character,” either good or bad. Character is that elusive quality which is often defined in us in our worst moments, when crisis or external pressures are their greatest, and when we may be challenged to stand alone in our convictions. It is also observed in us in our best moments, when we are inclined to go along with the flow, enjoy the buzz of an exceptionally good moment, yet are strangely called to step out of this moment and follow a solitary cause. From childhood we are taught the importance of community through organized team sports, councils, committees, the voting process, and religion (Sociology 101.) We are taught that “no man is an island,” that one cannot stand alone, and that strength comes in numbers. It is important to feel supported in our endeavors by those we know, love, and trust. Without these we might never succeed or overcome the obstacles encountered in the course of our lives. Our community, family, friends, and colleagues are essential to our well being. Also, by and large these groups teach us the specifics of beauty, goodness, and desirability within their broader function as circles of influence. Consequently we also attempt to acquire or possess “things” with those acceptable qualities in order to secure the approval of these circles. If you doubt the validity of this last statement, consider the pursuit of “style” and fashion, particularly among today’s youth. Now comes the odd part. It is true that we live in a world of cooperation, consensus, teamwork, and “majority rule” in a democratic society. Yet, in our individual studies of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, does anyone recall a single occasion when the will of the majority was the right one? Were Joseph’s brothers right in throwing him in a pit and leaving him for dead because he was a self-righteous bore in their opinion? Were the Israelites correct in casting an idol of gold in order to party in front of it while Moses was gone a little too long on the mountain? Were the Israelite kings justified in threatening and killing the prophets in defiance of the edicts of God because the nation wanted to worship other gods and idols without being judged? Were the Saducees and Pharisees doing the “right” thing in conspiring to get rid of Jesus when He refused to be a team player? Obviously not. Even in those cases when the Israelites appeared to come together in acceptance and support of the sovereignty of God, these decisions were forced, as a result of impending destruction or oppressive captivity. In fact, you will only find one instance in scripture that really qualifies, that being the national repentance of Nineveh in Jonah’s time. Yet even this repentance came from the very real threat of destruction issued by the prophet. Except for those rare and notable examples of national or community bravery in the face of grave challenges, majority opinion has ordinarily been opposed to what we now see in retrospect was the appropriate and morally correct choice. Odd isn’t it, that though we live in a world of “consensus” and “majority rule”, there is little historical validation for the integrity of those concepts? They inevitably result in the deterioration or, at best, the mediocrity, of an organization, endeavor, or community. This concept is foreign, though. After all, we have been taught, as already mentioned, that our strength is in our community, and this is not a false teaching. Yet inevitably, that strength is misapplied, as the “will” of the community is corrupted. The real “Aha!” here is the realization that “groups” of people, regardless of number, are not responsible for the initiation of the great notions of history. Individuals are. All the great endeavors of history started with one person. What does the “Source” say? Inevitably I have to come back to the scriptures in order to get a handle on what I believe is the ultimate truth. And, I would like to gain some personal insight also. If there is truth to be searched for and found, is there also any corresponding response or action required on my part? So then, what does the grand “Opiner,” God, have to say about all this? In the 2 nd Psalm we hear the following warning to the councils and governing bodies of the world: 1. Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2. The kings of the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed: 3. “Let us tear their fetters apart, And cast away their cords from us!” 4. He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5. Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury: 6. “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” . . . 10. Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11. Worship the Lord with reverence, And rejoice with trembling. 12. Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry And you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:1-6, 10-12,NASV) This poem, though several thousand years old, speaks to a constant condition, seen Biblically from the time of Nimrod and the tower of Babel to the Roman Empire of Paul’s time. Kingdoms have and will continue to conspire in retaliation to the sovereignty, and even to the idea, of God. When Jesus sent His disciples out into the “world” He issued the following warning: Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in the synagogues; and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. (Matt. 10:16-18, NASV) When Jesus said, “beware of men”, he was speaking primarily of the councils of men, although individuals, particularly the leaders, also pose a threat as they are threatened by any doctrine of true righteousness. So, now that we find ourselves in the midst of this world of power-brokering, ambition, and saber-rattling, what can we possibly hope to accomplish? Remember Jesus said “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” Oh, that sounds encouraging, particularly when He also said that we would be delivered into the hands of these wicked councils in order to be a witness for Him. And here is where “character” comes in. Dallas Willard, in his book Renovation of the Heart, identifies the faithful as “Children of Light” in an otherwise dark world. He says that we “are beyond the point where mere talk-no matter how sound- can make an impression. Demonstration is required. We must live what we talk, even in places where we cannot talk what we live.” (P.231) I recall that someone once said, “character is measured by that which we do when no one else is looking.” I would like to go a little further with that and add that character is also measured by our actions in the face of overwhelming pressure. In other words, when we are challenged or even threatened to go along with the majority opinion, despite our personal convictions, our resolve to take a stand for these convictions will be counted as character. We might find ourselves challenged in the work place, at home or with our extended family, in social settings, and even at church. Yet if we stand firm on the real issues of righteousness and faith in our transcendent God, this will be counted as character, and it is ultimately this trait which will measure our faith. As we hear and observe in our own community of faith, whether a church or home group, we then are responsible for actions in concert with these observations. Now here’s the deal We cannot gain that dimension of character that I have been alluding to without the intervention, and even the filling, of the Holy Spirit. We cannot get there on our own. Borrowing again from Dallas Willard, he indicates that “the mistake most commonly made by believers and others today,” is that they have no understanding “of the presupposition of inner transformation into Christlikeness.” (P.223) As humans, our conscience alone will not suffice to make us “good” people. He adds that this dimension of “Christlikeness” occurs as a result of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, called “sanctification.” Over the last several hundred years theologians have worked so hard to detail their individual concepts of the doctrine of sanctification that it has become completely convoluted, and I won’t begin to trouble you with the arguments. As a general definition, though, sanctification is the maturing and transforming work of the Holy Spirit accomplished in the believer. But this is the dimension that makes it difficult: God wants all believers to be transformed, or sanctified, but most believers want to keep some part of the world they find attractive, and consequently never fully submit themselves to this work. In other words, you gotta want it with all your heart and yet your heart won’t want it until you get it. Confused? How’d I guess? There will always be an element of doubt when we step into the unknown, just ask C.S. Lewis, but it is this very area of doubt that God loves to work with. Faith, by its very nature, involves doubt. Some may ultimately get to that place where there is no doubt, but, if so, it comes by the testing of their faith through great trials of doubt. Now we get back to character. When we, as individual believers in Jesus Christ, find ourselves tested regarding truth, morality, love, and forgiveness, and we feel the pressure to “cave in” to the seeming will of the community, our personal faith and character come into play. Obviously not all of the solitary visions of humans are correct, so you yourself must learn to test your own spirit to insure the integrity of your motives. Purely selfish concerns and personal ambition drive many. The devoted Christian walk is not just the product of making one simple decision followed by a lifelong game of miniature golf, with short, easy trails and windmills. Seek the solitary vision which God has for you, test yourself regarding your motives, and remember that you may experience it alone, as Wordsworth expressed.

OUR GOD, THE GOD OF EXILES

August 4, 2024

My current study has been in the book of Ezekiel, which has been a slow process, attempting to interpret its primarily metaphorical nature in terms which apply today. One particular theme has been coming to my attention: That both the world at large and the microcosm of Israel would know by observing the work of God in rescuing and restoring Israel that He in fact is the Lord their God. The phrase “they will know that I am the Lord, their God” appears throughout the book, and always applies to an event which can only be ascribed to God. Lets see if I can bring this even closer to home. Throughout the course of revelation God has manifested Himself in several manners, from direct revelation of His presence as in the case of Moses, through the prophets of power such as Elijah and Elisha, down to the poetic prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. This variation of God’s presence in the world continued through the person of Jesus and the apostles. Yet one theme has existed throughout these revelations, that our God is a God who reveals Himself most poignantly to exiles and outcasts, not only of the twelve tribes of Israel, but of the whole world.