Firsts

The last couple of weeks have had a couple of firsts with my son.  While visiting my family last week he got to go fishing for the first time.  As you can see that one was somewhat successful.  Those who have fished with me know it has nothing to do with my insight on what attracts fish.  That part goes to my father and uncle.  I mention this because we ate the fish tonight.  

The other first this week was Isaac's first soccer game.  That one became a sermon illustration this morning.  I have the kid picking flowers and wandering around the field holding hands with a little girl.  

Palm Sunday

Waiting for my second worship service to start this morning (The first was Airborne Chapel on Ft Benning), I thought for a while about Palm Sunday.  There is a darkness to the day that I don’t think we discuss.  We arm our children with bright green branches and parade them through the aisles.  We present out choral “hallelujahs” with neatly pressed robes or by jumping up and down and swinging our arms around.  We present a contrast to the angry mobs shouting for blood on Thursday night and Friday morning.

           

The shouting crowds in Jerusalem (and the doxology we sing on Sunday) are not in contrast of the crucifixion of Friday.  It is a few yards down the same fiver.  We cheer God when God fits what we want.  We turn to a murderous mob when God’s will no longer fits what we find comfortable. 

Luke explicitly tells us that the multitude of his disciples cheered the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  At best, these people abandoned Christ.  No doubt many also called for his death before a Roman governor. 

There is a darkness to Palm Sunday, but it is not just the darkness of a crowd that turned on Jesus.  It is the darkness of our own hearts.

This morning, when Emily sat beside me in church she told me Isaac was with the kids for the palm procession.  Please do not misunderstand my reflection.  The procession and focus Dr. Elder took was a spiritually deep, biblically focused, thought-proving sermon.  Basically, it was the type of sermon we’ve come to expect at FBC Columbus.  His was a far more profound reflection than what has preceded my “disclaimer.”

Ethics & the End of the Cold War

Disclaimer:  All of this is purely my opinion.  I am aware that I am oversimplifying some of the moral positions of the Cold War and War on Terror.  Let’s be honest, most people function from oversimplifications and generalities.  Because that’s how people function, I think my questions are legitimate.

"We have men of science, too few men of God. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner." – Omar Bradley

I have recently spent a great deal of time with the newest lieutenants in the Army.  They are in their final training before beginning their military careers.  Most are in their early twenties.  The Soviet Union broke apart the year many of our current students were born.  I can’t help but wonder what this might mean for how they understand ethics and geopolitics.  I was a child at the end of the cold war, and missed most of the bomb drills in schools and the fear of nuclear holocaust that those who grew up in the 50s & 60s might have seen.  I saw fallout shelter signs on the YMCA building.  When my friends and I played army, we were always fighting WWIII against the Soviet Union.  I saw all of the 80s movies where good defeated evil embodied by the US and USSR. As a child we knew that that both nations had the capacity to destroy life as the world knew it.  I was too young to find it frightening, but there always felt like the conflict was one with a clear, moral right and wrong.

I point this out because General Bradley’s comment called for people to step back and ask ethical questions.  He saw a society losing contact with his moral foundations with possibly disastrous consequences for all of mankind.  The new officers entering today’s military have no memory of this period in history.  They don’t remember having a clearly defined enemy that is “evil.”  What they are intimately acquainted with is the war on “terror.”  Terror is not a clearly defined enemy.  It’s fighting a concept.  It requires adaptability and flexibility by our armed forces, which they excel in performing. 

My question is what impact does this have on the ethical development of our future leaders?  We fight an enemy that requires different tactics in different settings.  My fear is that because the enemy is a broader concept instead of a specific nation-state our moral engagement becomes clouded.  We view our ethical foundations as situational instead of how we carry out the mission.  It makes instilling a professional ethic in 18-22 year olds entering the military very different.

This week's thought

This week, I’ve been reading in the gospel of Matthew.  Again and again through the gospel we see people challenge Jesus with religious questions.  In chapters 21-22, Matthew presents a series of questions specifically from religious leaders seeking to trip Jesus up and discredit him.  Theoretical questions seeking to create nuanced theological argument that had little to do with daily life were pitched(16.1ff; 22.15ff; 21.23ff)  He was baited with questions on morality (19.3ff; 22.34).

Then comes Matthew 22.46.  “And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.”  Jesus’ critics were silenced because he spoke with authority, which is another theme in Matthew.  The point I think is important for modern Christians is that Jesus provided reasoned discussion on the true issue behind the questions.  He didn’t get caught up quibbling about money, marriage, or ritual.  He focused on divided loyalties.  He pushed the Pharisees to examine the purpose of ritual and the impact of sin on humanity.  Instead of dismissing the questions, he pushed them past the surface level discussion.

This skill is one I fear we are not developing in evangelical Christianity.  I frequently get to listen to how people respond when their beliefs are challenged.  What I hear Christians do is take a hard stand and simply defend it by proclaiming, “This is what God says.  You’re wrong.”  OK, they may not be quite that blunt, but it’s what is communicated clearly to whoever they’re addressing.  The conversation quickly slides into two people talking past one another without truly addressing the underlying beliefs.  I’ve watched this on any number of the popular culture wars (which I’ll spare everyone from rehashing).  I see this in discussions about the exclusivity of the gospel.  Christians are getting the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion, but we get sidetracked by the desire to be right.

               

This is the point where I’d normally begin inserting my list of steps to take.  I have neither the time nor space to flesh out the implications, and such is not my goal.  I think the Church needs something more foundational than a list of skills or tasks.  We need to change how we think in order to change how we interact with our society.  Having said this, I offer the list of changes with very little explanation or support.

1.        Learn to think deeply.  People are tired of the church presenting answers that seem inconsistent or shallow.  While “The Bible says so” might be an answer that is perfectly true and legitimate answer in a discussion, but people want to understand why the Bible says so, and we should strive to understand the why, not just the what.

2.       Be humble.  This one is biblical, but many outside of the Church have legitimate criticism of Christians for sounding (and often being) arrogant and dismissive of others.  This is truly a spiritual crisis that is important not only for how we relate to others but how we relate to God.

3.       Learn to listen.  This one is actually associated with thinking deeply.  Listen to what people say.  Look for the motives, fears, or desires that are motivating them.  Doing so helps us understand the person and their beliefs.

4.       Learn to communicate.  You won’t be a perfect communicator.  You simply have to know how to communicate genuine concern and compassion.

Not even trying to catch up

After the Labor Day Dove Shoot
at the Farm.

OK, so I've now gone five months without updating this thing.  I'll try to begin being a little more consistent, but no real promises.  We've gotten settled into a routine at Ft Benning.  Em is working.  I've enjoyed the ministry opportunities with my battalion.  I currently am working with the Infantry Basic Officers Leadership Course.  It's actually a great opportunity.  Since getting back to the States, we've visited family, visited the beach, and gotten kids enrolled in daycare.

I'll probably start posting more about the ministry because the travel stories obviously won't be as frequent.