Reduced to Faith

Last night I had a discussion with my aunt, uncle, and wife about suffering and the challenges we face in life. It was an encouraging time, filled with accounts of victory, humility, and transformation.

Speaking with many believers across the country, including last night, one recurring theme is that suffering plays a crucial role in our becoming like Christ. At the dinner table, my aunt spoke of her bout with cancer, possible cystic fibrosis, and other constant reminders of her limitations. But as she worked through the list of offenders, spoke of the internal struggles, recounted the numerous intimate encouraging relationships, and testified to her heart and mind transfromation, her face lightened and her inner beauty shined brightly. How is it that one who has suffered so much can emit such a powerful light? And those of us who have suffered little can darken even the gayest of situations?

I don't have many illnesses. In fact, until my struggle with e-coli and kidney stones in March of 2007, I have never been abnormally sick. Yet, the ordained steps toward my humility are no less severe. My personalized kiln has more to do with me making an ass of myself. A mouthful of foolishness, one word too many, impatient inquiry, or a forgotten appointment. My battle with self-image and identity usually resides in my lack of demonstrative wisdom.

What I've realized is that we all have a tailored struggle. We each must overcome our arrogance and wrongful self-importance. And God has designed into our fabric a gnawing flaw that requires either a recognition of our frailty or a vain attempt at self-delusion. Whereas my aunt has questions of why and when and for how long, Lord; I have questions of when will I learn and where did that come from. We must come to terms with the fact that even on our best day we are not intended to be God in perfection, wisdom, power, or knowledge. We are intended, however, to rely upon the God of those things. We are meant to be humble and intentional in living lives of worship. Otherwise, who would receive the glory?

Surely I will prove myself once again as an idiot. And, surely, once again, grace will be shown to me. And in my pride I could be angry about this predictament. But isn't it better to rejoice in the grace, recognize the flaw, and pray for transformation of both heart and mind. After all, isn't that the greater treasure to pursue?

Observations from Williamsburg, VA

We're staying for a few days of alone time at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The town is about one-half mile north to south and 1 mile east to west. They have 3 hotels on the campus and a regular shuttle to carry to the far sides of the park.

Yesterday we went to a program where George Washington took the stage in an outdoor amphitheater. He gave a reasonable yet impassioned speech about the necessity in 1774 to boycott all British imports, but to not yet ban all exports to them.

After his speech, he took questions from the audience. Most of which were well informed, and his responses were entirely in character and knowledgeable. He spoke of the reality that the taking up of arms against unreasonable oppressors was to be an absolute last resort, and that men of character and reason would exhaust every means necessary to foster dialogue and charity before acting aggressively. He renounced the actions during the Boston Tea Party and honored John Adams as a man of character for defending the British Regulars after the Boston Massacre.

After spending 2 in-depth days in the colonial town, having read, discussed, and witnessed recreations of many of the actions taken here in Virginia, I feel solidly that revolution could have been avoided altogether under the following circumstances: 1) that the British Parliament had been filled with honest and humble men, 2) that American businessmen and women had a greater sense of community and responsibility to withstand the pulls of greed during trying times, and 3) that the Crown's representatives, like Gov. John Dunmore of Virginia, had been men of humility to see the pains of unjustice that these colonial Americans were suffering, rather than usurping their rights by use of the threat of military force and the disbanding of their legislatures prior to their seasonal work having been finished.

All in all, revolution stems from unjustices being met by the forces of impatience, a lack of faith in God's providence, and an insatiatible greed on the part of the oppressed; and continual arrogance and presumptuous power and control on the part of the oppressors. Add to this a growing relational distance between the governed and the governing, and you have the makings for a bloody and irrational war.

Violence only begets more violence. Retribution and revenge are the work of the devil.