At first sight, the term aethnic cleansinga appears to be wholesome and welcome. Why not engage in acleansinga in order to get rid of dirt and garbage, and recover that which is beautiful and pure? But ethnic cleansing is not what it purports to be; it is not at all wholesome and welcome. Ethnic cleansing presupposes that it is the people of a particular ethnicity who are the dirt and garbage, and the cleansing called for is to get rid of those people.
The former Peopleas Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is a case in point. Created in 1945, it consisted of Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Macedonia, plus the regions of Vojvodina and Kosovo. But in 1992, after the collapse of Communism, all the const.i.tuent republics declared independence and turned on each other. A vicious, b.l.o.o.d.y, murderous season of rape, pillage, and ma.s.s slaughter erupted. They called it aethnic cleansing.a It was actually an attempt at ethnic extermination, and there was nothing clean about it.
At the time the New Testament was written, there had been ethnic tensions between Jews and Gentiles for centuries. The Jews accurately believed that they were a special peoplea"G.o.d had told them so. But he had not told them that they were superior to all the other peoples. In fact, they were called to be servants, not superiors, as they carried G.o.das good news to the world. But they became supercilious. So the Gentiles became enraged and, over the years, ethnic tensions flared into outrageous acts of cruelty between the two groups.
Then came Jesus, a Jew, followed by Paul, another Jew. Paul wrote this about Jesus: aChrist himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. . . . Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to G.o.d by means of his death, and our hostility toward each other was put to deatha (Eph. 2:14, 16).
People involved in ethnic cleansing will angrily explain that they are avenging historic atrocities. But both the atrocities and the anger, both the brutality and the revenge, have another namea"sin. And the only way to deal with sin is by the death of Christ and the willingness of the sinners to humbly come to him for forgiveness in order to know his transforming power. That cleanses their souls and begins to clean up their relationships. That is real ethnic cleansing.
We all have ethnic prejudices and tensions that could use some cleansing. And thereas only one place to find ita"the cross of Christ.
February 16
TO READ: Ephesians 3:1-13
Point of View
I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ Jesus because of my preaching to you Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:1
When three ships docked in Boston harbor on December 16th, 1773, with a valuable cargo of tea, the Bostonians were furious, and the tea finished up in the harbor. The Americans were exhilarated by this act of defiance, the British outraged. Samuel Johnson, the British man of letters, said, aPatriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.a A few months later, Patrick Henry, the Virginian legislator, dramatically encouraged patriotic fervor. As he knelt before the Continental Congress he said, aIs life so dear, our peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty G.o.d!a Then leaping to his feet he threw wide his arms, shouting, aGive me liberty,a and then, holding an imaginary dagger to his chest, he added, aor give me death!a Johnson and Henry held two entirely different views of the American Revolution!
When the apostle Paul arrived in Rome, it appeared to all who knew him that he was a prisoner of Caesar, bound for death. But Paul thought otherwise. He said, aI, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ Jesus because of my preaching to you Gentilesa (Eph. 3:1). Paul was not foolish enough to ignore the fact that he was being held at the mercy of a tyrannical Caesar. But in his mind he was the prisoner of Jesus. If Jesus wanted him free, even Caesar could not hold him; and if he was not freed, then Jesus wanted him in captivity. Paulas point of view and that of others were clearly at odds!
Paul added that he was also a prisoner because of his apreaching to you Gentilesa (3:1). In actual fact, Paul was in Rome because, as a Roman citizen, he had the right to appeal to Caesar and he had exercised this right. But that was not important to Paul. What mattered was that he had been the given the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. This had upset the Jews who had stirred up trouble for him, which led to his near lynching, his rescue by the Roman garrison, and his eventual trip to Rome (see Acts 21a"28). In Paulas view, he was in Rome simply because Christ wanted him to preach to the Gentiles there.
In Rome, Paul was in deep troublea"but it did not bother him at all. Not only was he confident in the lordship of Christa"even over Caesara"he also was convinced that his ministry of the gospel was more important than life itself.
So who was right? Was he an unfortunate wretch under a death sentence or Jesusa triumphant servant, bound for glory? You decide!
February 17
TO READ: Ephesians 3:14-21
The Plan
When I think of the wisdom and scope of G.o.das plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father.
Ephesians 3:14
When General George Marshall, Secretary of State in the Truman Administration, gave the commencement address at Harvard University on June 5, 1947, he said, aIt is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to a.s.sist in the return of economic health in the world, without which there can be no political stability and no a.s.sured peace.a Europe at that time was, in Winston Churchillas words, aA rubble heap, a charnel house, a breeding ground for pestilence and hate.a It was clear to Truman, Churchill, and Marshall that unless America became involved in the restoration of Europe, World War III was not far distant. So the Marshall Plan, to invest twelve and a half billion dollars in the shattered states of Europe, of both friend and foe, was born. There had never been a plan like the Marshall Plan.
With one exception! Paul talked about athe wisdom and scope of G.o.das plana (Eph. 3:14). This aunchanging plana was born along ago, even before he made the world.a This plan was all about G.o.d establishing ahis own family,a which agave him great pleasurea (1:4-5). aIt is a plan centered on Christ. . . . And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christa"everything in heaven and on eartha (1:9-10). So before the creation of the world G.o.d was busy planning that the world, which would eventually turn against him, should be brought back under his gracious, sovereign control through the activity of Christ in time and s.p.a.ce.
But there is more. The church would play a significant role in the plan, too. For it is ahis bodya (1:23), through which (as is the case in all bodies) the wishes and promptings of athe heada will come to pa.s.s. This church, an integral part of G.o.das plan, would be made up of the most unlikely materiala"those who awere dead, . . . full of sin, obeying Satan, . . . following the pa.s.sions and desires of our evil nature,a and aunder G.o.das angera (2:1-3). Not only that, Christ also would reconcile traditional enemies to G.o.d and each other aby means of his deatha (2:16), and they would become the church!
So G.o.d has a plan, an eternal plan, born before the world began, centered in Christ and his church, which is made up of redeemed sinners! No wonder Paul marveled at athe wisdom and scopea of it all! G.o.d has a plana"and weare part of it!
February 18
TO READ: Ephesians 4:1-16
A Healthy Body
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:16
What do Florence Nightingale, Richard Simmons, and Hillary Clinton have in common? In the nineteenth century, long before soldiers wounded in battle received anything but minimal medical care, Florence Nightingale and a group of agentlewomena traveled out to the Crimean battlefield to care for the wounded. As a result of her heroism and compa.s.sion, the first school for training nurses was established in her name. Richard Simmons is the television celebrity who specializes in getting sedentary people out of their armchairs and into a regimen of vigorous aerobic exercise. And Hillary Clinton is well-known for her advocacy of government-sponsored health care. So what do they have in common? A concern for healthy bodies, which is highly popular in the Western world. This is not surprising, in light of the fact that this world is teeming with things that are hazardous to our health!
Paul was concerned about health issues, too. He not only said, athe church is [Christas] bodya (Eph. 1:23), but he also worked hard to see that athe whole body is healthy and growing and full of lovea (4:16). Careful attention to the well-being of the churcha"the abody of Christaa"is necessary if it is to be vigorous and healthy. Paul explained how this will be achieved.
First we must recognize that awe are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious futurea (4:4). There is no place in Paulas gospel for rugged individualism. Believers must take their place in the community of believers, those with whom they hold the most precious truths in common.
Second, we recognize that in the church there will inevitably be major and minor differences, but the way we handle them is crucial. So we are called to abe humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each otheras faultsa (4:2).
Third, we must recognize that the Lord has given gifted leaders to the church and that those leaders are responsible to aequip G.o.das people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christa (4:12). This means that each of us should acknowledge the leadersa role and identify and fulfill our own. This is the way to develop a healthy body.
The man who is aware that he is part of the body of believers, whose att.i.tudes contribute to a loving, caring atmosphere, and who actively exercises his gifts in the ministry contributes to the churchas health. And heall be healthy, too!
February 19
TO READ: Psalm 118
Victory Celebrations
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. . . . Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:24, 29
When the Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in New Orleans, the streets of the French Quarter were soon filled with joyous fans celebrating the victory. It was striking, therefore, at the end of the game to see Reggie White, the All-Pro defensive end of the Packers, and a number of other players kneeling in the stadium and giving thanks to the Lord. Not everybody appreciated this show of devotion; some people wondered aloud if G.o.d would have been thanked if the Packers had lost. But there is a marked contrast between those who celebrate victory with partying and those who celebrate with thanksgiving.
Psalm 118 records the celebration of a military victory. The triumphant leader has brought his troops to the Temple, and the priest calls the people of Israel to give thanks to the Lord (Ps. 118:1-3). Then the leader addresses the people: aIn my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued mea (118:5). As a result of this experience, he exclaims, aIt is better to trust the Lord than put confidence in people . . . [or] princesa (118:8-9). The astrong right arm of the Lord,a says the leader of the triumphant army, ahas done glorious things . . . [and] is raised in triumpha (118:15-16).
The leader asks permission to enter the Temple (118:19), and as the gates are opened, he says, athose gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the G.o.dly enter therea (118:20). Upon this, the choirs burst into song, praising the Lord for the wonders he has done in s.n.a.t.c.hing the leader from the jaws of defeat and giving him the victory. aThis is the Lordas doing, and it is marvelous to see,a they sing (118:23). This day of celebration ais the day the Lord has made.a So they proclaim, awe will rejoice and be glad in ita (118:24). The victorious leader asks for a blessing from the priests, who respond, aWe bless you from the house of the Lorda (118:26). The psalm ends with the leader honoring the Lord by encouraging the people to agive thanks to the Lorda (118:29).
Most men will never win a battle or even play in a Super Bowl, but all men can win smaller victories in life. What they do then speaks volumes about the kind of men they are. If they go out to get drunk, they lack perspectivea"as well as balance! If they take a knee and thank the Lord, they stand tall.
February 20
TO READ: Proverbs 4:1-22
Paying Attention
Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Donat lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning.
Proverbs 4:20-22
In his utopian novel aIsland,a Aldous Huxley wrote, aYou forget to pay attention to whatas happening. And thatas the same as not being here and now.a To pay attention, we need to be aware of and concentrating upon the data that are being supplied to us by our senses at any given moment. But it is possible for us to be in a situation which is so familiar that we can aswitch offa the data and concentrate on something that is neither here nor now. For instance, driving a car is so familiar and so repet.i.tive that it is possible for the driver on the way home to have no conscious recollection of the journey but to be deeply aware of the discussion with his pa.s.senger.
Our attention can also be distracted from the ahere and nowa experience because our pre-attentive processes have already determined that the data are weird, boring, or too familiar. Any insignificant event can appear more significant because it is unfamiliar or unusual. So when listening to a profound sermon on eternal issues, an inattentive listener will be easily distracted by a child cryinga"or a cell phone ringing! With all the possibilities for attention wandering, the need to give awake upa signals is profoundly important. So imperatives such as aLook out!a or aListen!a and instructions to pay attention need to be utilized regularly.
The writer of Proverbs certainly thought so. He wrote, aPay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Donat lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaninga (Prov. 4:20-22).
Like the writer of Proverbs, G.o.d is a father who calls his people amy childrena (4:1). G.o.d our father, in his gracious will, has brought us into existence and is deeply concerned about our well-being. We, being human, are p.r.o.ne, like children, to allow our attention to wander. We find matters of prime importance too familiar to warrant our concentrated awareness and issues of little import so fascinating that they dominate our thinking and captivate our desires.
It takes a disciplined mind to concentrate on what G.o.d is saying in his Word, and to allow the truth of the Word to find a deep resting place in the affections, desires, and aspirations of the human spirit. Failure to pay attention may mean you miss the point. That could mean you miss your way. Listening is of prime importance.
February 21
TO READ: Proverbs 6:1-23
The Troublemaker
There are six things the LORD hatesa"no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 6:16-19
Some people seem to have a nose for trouble. Their lives lurch from one crisis to the next. Those who live within the sphere of their influence find their own lives being drawn into the vortex of stress and strife. They are often gifted people who have all the tools to contribute greatly to society, but their penchant for trouble undoes all they could productively do.
There once was a star on the Chicago Bullsa National Basketball a.s.sociation championship team. Year after year he led the league in rebounding, and he played a key role on one of the greatest basketball teams in the history of the game. His bizarre appearance and his unorthodox lifestyle, at first, made him a darling of the media, and his on-court and off-court antics propelled his name into the headlines and spectators into the seats. But as time wore on his welcome wore out. Teams that desperately needed a player with his rebounding abilities pa.s.sed up the opportunity to sign him and eventually he could not find a place to play. He caused too much trouble. A promising career crashed.
There are troublemakers in all walks of lifea"in the office, at the church, in the Congress, and on professional sports teams. And Scripture has some trenchant things to say about them, particularly with regard to the Lordas evaluation of them.
The troublemakeras root problem is att.i.tudea"ahaughty eyesa that reveal a personas thoughts, and aa heart that plots evil,a which shows up in words. The underlying att.i.tude shows itself in actionsa"aa lying tonguea; aliesa; ahands that kill the innocenta; and afeet that race to do wronga (Prov. 6:17-19). All of this eventually and inevitably led to discord among brothers.
Where will it all end? One day the troublemaker will have to meet with his boss, his coach, or his const.i.tuents and face the music. But a far more somber fate awaits him. For the Lord ahatesa what he does and detests what he stands for. At the final judgment, the troublemaker will be in deep trouble when he discovers that his overriding achievement in life was to make deep trouble for himself.
But the Lord specializes in turning troublemakers around. They just need to admit that the envy, the jealousy, the insecurity, the angera"or whatever other deep-rooted dynamic led to their behaviora"is sinful, and turn to him for forgiveness and strength to live in newness of life. Thereas nothing quite so refreshing as seeing a troublemaker converted into a peacemaker!
February 22
TO READ: Proverbs 8:1-11