The Morning After Dying

“Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.”  These words accompanied the imposition of ashes on my forehead last night as I attended our church’s Ash Wednesday service.  I sat with a sixth-grader to whom I am a mentor as he prepares for confirmation and I wondered what he, at his young age, thought about this reminder of human mortality.  Indeed, if he is like most people at any age, we would prefer to avoid talk of death.  So why does the church engage in this morbid ritual?  Hold that question a moment.

We are also in a season of political campaigning, with each candidate trying to prove her, or his, worth.  I can imagine how grueling a campaign can be for each candidate - never a moment’s rest.  I made the observation some years ago that all of us are engaged in a campaign of sorts.  Early on, as children, we seek our parent’s approval, wanting to please them.  Then we go to school, another arena in which we must prove ourselves worthy both to peers and teachers.  There follows a whole lifetime of proving ourselves to employers, customers, colleagues, etc.  The campaign to put our best foot forward is relentless, as if we are continually appealing to those around us, “Vote for me!  Vote for me!”  Isn’t it exhausting?  It seems as if the only relief we’ll get from this endless campaign is when we die . . .

And so, here is the blessing of Ash Wednesday and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  To be reminded of our mortality is to be set free from the campaign to prove ourselves.  The Christian message is that not only are we all mortal, but we have already died.  In baptism we have been buried, we have died to the old self, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”  In other words, since we are “already dead,” we no longer have to engage in the unending campaign to prove ourselves to anyone.  We now live by the breath of God and the mercy of Jesus Christ.  Stripped of our illusions we are made starkly aware that there is no campaigning necessary to be accepted into God’s good graces, and we no longer need to justify ourselves to anyone else.  “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”  If we look at Ash Wednesday rightly we then see that the reality of our mortality actually sets us free.  How liberating it is to be released from the endless campaign of self-justification!

For me, I admit putting this freedom into practice has been a life-long effort.  Even Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Movement is said to have frequently reminded himself while patting his head, “Remember that you are baptized!”  Again, a reminder that our old self is dead, and we now live in Christ, free of ego needs and restrictions - liberated to be our true selves, made in God’s image, unencumbered by our need to prove ourselves to anyone.  In Christ Jesus we are already justified.  We have already been “elected,” as it were.  This is freedom, indeed!

This is all a bit heady for my young mentee to grasp, but someday I hope he can live into the freedom of dying, to be raised with Christ into a new life, a new creation, released from the need to be anyone other than who God has made him to be.  May it be so for you. 

Movies and the Thought Police

Lots of movies coming out these days.  Many of them on Christian themes – God is Not Dead, Son of God, Heaven Is for Real.  There is also, Noah, a retelling of the Biblical story of the flood.

I don’t go see many movies, so this is no review of any particular film.  Most films I have seen have been rather disappointing of late.  So, if you want to drop $10 or more to go watch a mediocre story, be my guest.  Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised by a rare gem of a film every now and then.

My comments are aimed more squarely at the self-appointed guardians at the gate, or ticket booths, of America.  We have many voices, unfortunately of so-called Christian leaders, telling their flocks what they should or should not see, to save them from having to think for themselves, I suppose.  Particularly, there have been pious public outcries against Noah, many of them from people who have not seen the movie themselves.  Again, I haven’t seen it, but because of the hateful nature of these critiques I am tempted as, ironically, I suspect their congregations are tempted, to go see for myself.  Well, very good.  That’s what should happen.  Let’s all go see for ourselves and draw our own conclusions, then come back and talk with our friends, pastors, Sunday School classes; weighing the good against the bad, the edifying versus the outrageous, and then, maybe, we will have learned something worthwhile.

Surely people of faith won’t be threatened by a Hollywood movie, eh?  And if they are, what kind of faith do they have in the first place?  We may be zealous for the faith without trying to control what other people see, or think.  If people are getting the gospel they can discern for themselves what’s worthwhile and what’s not. 

I don’t understand what people see in horror films.  Don’t we have enough horror going on in the world?  I don’t understand why people allow their children to watch so much of what’s on TV, or to play the gory video games that seem so popular.  But crying out, “Don’t watch this!” just makes people want to watch it all the more.  I think you have to stick to the basics of what is good and true and beautiful, and allow people to make their own decisions.  It’s a risk, but that’s part of the cost of freedom.  And freedom is not only a value of democracy, it is also a basic gospel value as well (Galatians 5:1).

I think I will go see Noah, but I’ll wait for it to come to our local second-run theater where it’ll only cost me $3.  I can wait.  Besides, I’m not that crazy about Russell Crowe. 

Anything Is Possible

It was a presentation by Richard Dawkins that caused the phrase, “anything is possible,” to stick in my head.  Dawkins is a world-renowned scientist and militant atheist who has opened many eyes to the wonders of the cosmos, while also decrying the negative influences of religion throughout the history of humankind.

I am enthralled with Dawkins’ explanations of how the physical world works, but find him surprisingly unsophisticated in his understanding of metaphysics – he sees the dark underbelly of religion but fails to see its beauty, goodness, or truth – which seems very “unscientific” a position to take.

In any case, as Dawkins once described the subatomic world with the phrase, “anything is possible,” my eyes were re-opened to the wonders of the universe that God has made.  Contrary to Dawkins intention, “anything is possible,” opens the door to all sorts of miracles.  By faith I had always assumed that God could do anything, but when a celebrated scientist confirmed the endless possibilities that exist in creation, I had to pause in awe of a God who indeed made a world in which “anything is possible.”  The blind may see, the lame walk, stormy seas grow calm, and stony hearts become tender.  Miracles happen. 

More recently, I was attending a retreat in which the leader, Nicole Greer, asked us to draw a line representing the continuum of our lives, and then to mark an “X” where we thought we were in our lives.  The participants were of different ages, so our “X’s” were in different places, but I was estimating that I had another 35 years or so left in my life.  And then Nicole said, “What can you do in 35 years?”  And I couldn’t help responding, “Almost anything.”  Anything is possible.  I have worked as a pastor for almost 29 years.  So, what could I do with another 35 years?  Well, almost anything is possible. 

I was amazed at how that simple exercise opened my eyes to how many open doors I might still go through.  In 35 years I could even go back to school and learn something completely new.  In 35 years I could learn how to build cedar strip canoes and kayaks (a secret yearning).  In 35 years I could mentor or tutor several children who are struggling in school.  In 35 years, wow!  Anything is possible.

I suspect most of us live with the sense that each passing year closes more doors and limits our options more and more, so that we begin to feel hemmed in by our limitations (speaking metaphysically – our mortality).  But Nicole Greer and Richard Dawkins helped me see that there is no need to feel such constraints.  We are free to choose a new path.  The door is open.  Anything is possible.

Why Jesus?

Why Jesus? 

Because he came that we might have “life to the full” (John 10:10).

Because he took time to honor children, “unless you become as a child you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Because he refused to condemn those we think are dishonorable, “let the one who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7).

Because he had compassion for people, “when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

Because he could see the greatness that lived in small things, “it is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32).

Because he proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovering of sight for the blind, and liberty for the oppressed (Luke 4:18).

Because he ushered in a kingdom of justice and equity, “he hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:52).

Because he offered forgiveness infinitely, “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).

Because he demanded everything, “take up your cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Because he gave everything he demanded, “’it is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).

I could go on, but I encourage you to make your own list.  I mean no disrespect to other religious traditions.  Nor do I deny the grievous errors and flaws of the historic church and so-called Christian voices out there today who make me weep with their distortions of Jesus’ message.  But still, I believe that Jesus remains the last, best hope for humankind.  If we’ll just listen, take up our cross daily, and follow him.