Hope in dark times

Recent tragedies have cast a pall over the celebration of Christmas for many.  Instead of cheerful smiles and hopeful dreams, across our nation hearts are breaking.

Hope in dark times

Many of us use the word hope to mean wish or dream.  We think of hope as something unreal and unlikely to occur.  We may hope to win the lottery or to see our historically loosing team take the national championship.  When the Bible speaks of hope, however, it rings a more confident note. In the Bible, hope is confidence, it is trusting that in time we will see what we have longed for. Hope in God is fully secure.

We rarely feel that we need hope when life is peaceful.  Only in times of crisis or despair do we realize our need for hope.  Even though our national conversations in America rarely recognize the spiritual side of our nature, when disaster strikes we quickly call for prayer.  Even agnostic people may comment, “our prayers are with you.”  We do have a spiritual side, whether we recognize it or not.

At the time of Jesus’ arrival, hope was in short supply.  Rome occupied Israel and had installed their puppet-king, Herod the Great.  Herod’s murder in Bethlehem of every male infant under two years of age[1] accurately reflects the brutality of his iron rule.  Backed by the only world-power of the day, the people of Israel had lost hope under Herod.  The no longer dreamed of freedom and had no recourse against oppression.

 

Then hope pierced the darkness.  Shattering the night outside the village of Bethlehem, angels announced the birth of Jesus to stunned shepherds. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” they declared. ^[2]  Their words announced the fulfillment of over 450 prophecies in the Hebrew Bible (also called The Old Testament), of Messiah’s arrival and identity.

When Jesus began his ministry he brought the light of hope to those long locked in darkness, “the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.  And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”[3]  We need that same hope this Christmas.  Grief and pain have touched our hearts, and only real hope could pierce this darkness.

The hope we need cannot be wishful thinking.  When evil steals the lives of children, wishing that such things would not happen will not satisfy.  While there is good in our world, our world is unquestionably broken. We are broken.  We do not create our own hope in this world by making ourselves better.  We do not create security by desperately trying to prevent the next tragedy.  Instead we receive hope as a gift by recognizing that we are spiritual and that our Creator God has come to earth as Jesus.  He came to offer undying hope through all this life and beyond the grave.  He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” ^[4]  This Christmas, hold onto the Hope that Jesus alone can offer, a hope undimmed by death itself.

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[1] Matthew 2:16-18 in the Holy Bible

[2] Luke 2:10-11

[3] Matthew 4:16

^[4] John 10:10

The Faith of Skeptics

Many people hold false impressions of faith and skepticism.  Those with faith are often seen as naïve, while those who reject faith claim the mantle of skeptic or free-thinker.  In reality the deepest faith is held by those who are honest skeptics.  Those who reject faith in God have merely backed into a blind faith that denies His existence.

Many, who falsely assume that first-century Christians were quick to believe that Jesus raised from the dead, simply haven’t read the history.  Not only did Jesus’ disciples not understand his predictions of resurrection, they did not believe until they saw Him alive again.

The historian-physician Luke[1] recounts Jesus’ appearance to two of his followers as they traveled west through the Judean mountains.  On the day of Jesus’ resurrection he appears, but they don’t recognize him.  When he asks what they are discussing, one follower exclaims, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”^[2]  These two disciples had followed Jesus for some time believing him to be the Messiah, but can no longer believe it to be true.  Cleopas explains that Jesus had been dead three days, and that earlier in the morning his tomb had been confirmed to be empty.  Despite Jesus’ repeated predictions[3] that he would die and return to life on the third day, these disciples simply cannot believe.

One might assume that Jesus would be frustrated with their lack of faith.  Instead of pique, Jesus patiently explains from the Hebrew Scriptures all that had been predicted about Messiah.[4]  He explains that it was necessary for him to suffer and die in order to take the consequences of our rebellion against God.  He also showed that Scripture predicted Messiah’s resurrection.  We don’t know the content of Jesus’ explanation, although Isaiah 53 certainly would have been part of his teaching.

In the face of Jesus explanation, these two disciples remained skeptical.  It is just too much miracle for them to believe, that on the third day the crucified Jesus rose from the dead.  Hospitably the disciples invited Jesus to stay the night with them.  Only when Jesus broke the loaf of bread for their meal did they finally recognize him.  He immediately disappeared, and the disciples rushed back to Jerusalem in the dark.

These men, along with Thomas who is famous for doubting the words of others and demanding to see Jesus in person, represent the kind of honest skepticism that produces deep faith.  This is in stark contrast to the atheist who confidently pronounces that he or she “knows there is no god” in this universe of 500 billion galaxies.  This is a level of knowledge that would seem to require evidence beyond the grasp of a mere human.

The agnostic who is unsure if there is a god only seems to edge away from atheistic arrogance.  If one is unsure of the existence of God, why not hope that He exists rather than risking everything on His nonexistence.  Rejecting God because one is uncertain seems a bit like pulling into the oncoming lane in dense fog because one is unsure if that lane is occupied.  If God does not exist and you build your life on the belief that He exists, when life is over you will have neither gained nor lost.  In contrast, if you wrongly presume that He does not exist, when life is over you will have missed everything good that God offers. 

The honest skeptic, like Jesus’ first disciples, will examine the evidence and believe the conclusions to which it leads.  That evidence includes the fact that Jesus’ tomb was empty on the third morning after his crucifixion, a truth even his enemies acknowledge.[5]  It includes the dramatic change of Jesus’ disciples from hiding in fear to suffering and dying for the truth that Jesus was alive from the dead.[6]  All but one of Jesus’ closest disciples went to their death declaring his divinity and resurrection when a simple denial would have spared their lives. 

Instead of a blind leap of faith into atheism, or the blind bet of agnosticism, may I challenge you to be an honest skeptic?  Consider what could have changed the hearts and minds of these first-century skeptics.  What could possibly transform them from cowards to confident market-place preachers?  Reflect on Jesus’ willingness to re-explain himself to disciples who should have trusted him.  Remember that Jesus sought them out for the purpose of encouraging them and strengthening their faith.  He does the same today.  Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.[7] Are you sincerely seeking or just blindly refusing to examine the evidence?

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[1] See Luke 24:13-35 for the full account.

[2] Luke 24:18, New Living Translation.

[3] See Luke 9:22 and Luke 18:31-33 for examples.

[4] See Isaiah 53 for clear statements about Messiah suffering for the rebellion of others, dying and returning to life.

[5] Matthew 28:11-15.

[6] Acts 4:19-20 and Acts 6:8-60.

[7] Hebrews 11:6b New Living Translation

Should Christians be political?

Every four years in American politics, issues are raised and statements are made that require our response.  We could listen to the rhetoric and vote for the candidate that most sways our emotions.  We could pick a party and follow its dictates.  We could identify a single issue as the rule that guides all our voting decisions.  Although many choose one of those options, perhaps a wise alternative exists.

God speaks directly to the issue of politics and our relationship to government.  A comprehensive statement is found in 1 Peter 2.

For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.  It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. ^[1]

Remember that at the time this was written, Rome ruled the Mediterranean world.  Roman citizens had some rights and some influence, but non-citizens had no influence at all.  The Caesars began a campaign to eliminate Christianity in the Empire at about this time, but God’s commands to His people still stand.

We are commanded to give highest allegiance to God and obey His commands, even if that obedience puts us at odds with the civil government.   He commands love in action for other Christians, and a life that demonstrates whole-hearted obedience to the laws of the land, as obedience to God.

Today we have the opportunity to influence both the elected officials and the laws of our government; therefore we have an obligation to do so.  We have a moral obligation to vote intelligently based on our convictions.  Failing to do so is failing to “respect the king” and failing to seek the good of those around us.

I am thankful for those men and women who willing and able to serve in political office, and lead with conviction and character.  God makes it clear in 1 Peter 2 and Romans 13 that serving in civil government is serving God.  This is especially true for those who are intentionally seeking to work for justice and make wise decisions for the good of those they represent.

I do see a danger in political involvement by treating it as too important.  The solution to this worlds problems is not purely political.  Humanity’s core problem is in the human heart where laws and statutes cannot reach.  We put our ultimate hope in Jesus, but seek to make a difference for good in this world because we trust in Him, never as a replacement for loving Him. 

On many occasions I have heard people equate being Christian with one political party or the other.  This is both wrongheaded and dangerous.  Neither Republicans nor Democrats, liberals nor conservatives, agree with the biblical instructions on every issue.  Instead of being party loyalists, I believe God would have us think and vote biblically.  We must learn what God has to say, and then compare political positions with His Word. Where a conservative position most closely aligns with God’s instruction, we should be conservative.  Where the liberal position most closely aligns with Scripture, we should be liberal.

Whatever political stance we take, we must never lose sight of the larger picture, that every human will step into eternity one day.  Whatever our level of political involvement and whatever positions we take, we are not truly serving others if our actions in this life drive them away from Jesus.

So, read your Bible, pray, study the various candidates and their positions.  Vote as intelligently as possible.  If God calls you to run for an office, do so with wisdom and grace.  Serve with conviction and character, but always remember you owe your highest allegiance to God, not to your colleagues, not your constituents and most definitely not to your own advancement. 

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^[1] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible : New Living Translation., 3rd ed., 1 Peter 2:13–17 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007).