The words play over and over in my mind, "We are called to
share His light, to a world where wrong seems right. What could be so great a cost
as sharing life with one who’re lost?"
This week I was in our corporate office in Albuquerque training
for a pilot program that, prayerfully, will assist the cause. During that time
I visited with old friends, some whom I have never met face to face over all
these years – voices and smiles over miles. Others I met for the first
time, and it is always wonderful to meet new friends. The office environment
was seemingly calm and peaceful, without obvious tension in our overwhelming
day to day practices. I could feel God’s peace in so many people, even as we
shared mutual concerns and memories of former days. The general consensus was
one of gratitude to God for giving each of us a job where we could give Him
praise for being employed and with a business that pays very well, especially
in these days of economic crisis not to mention our extreme poverty level in
the State of New Mexico. Certainly we
work hard, but it is our call to work for our employers as unto the Lord. This means having a good work ethic and
treating our fellow team players with respite, compassion, and understanding.
Recognizing that we each are unique and as such, have different ways of
learning and assimilating that knowledge. Having forgiveness towards each other
who wrongfully treat us, intentionally or not. We are so blessed to have so many followers of Christ in the
workplace which is probably why it was so quiet and peaceful, regardless of the
demands being made on overworked and overburdened employees already.
As followers of Christ we are called to share His light with
the world around us, beginning with our own little territories at home, in the
community, and at the workplace. We are human and we slip and fall, but let us
honestly realize our failures, and if necessary apologize for our attitudes, especially when
those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior are watching. Actions always speak louder than words, and, quite honestly, to coin a phrase, "words are cheap!"
In my Friday Bible studies we have been studying The
Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, as you already know, as I quote Brennan
often and with admiration. We are studying a chapter this week called Pasted
Jewelry and Sawdust Hotdogs. Catchy name, can you guess what the subject matter
concerns? False imitations.
Counterfeits. Daring to be bold and admitting when we need help as opposed to
having false peace and counterfeit self-assurance.
In order to be free we have to first be willing to be
truthful and honest which requires humility. Brennan cites a case that illustrates
the counterfeit to truth which leads to self-destruction. The story is of a man
named Max who is part of an AA group. When confronted with his lies of sobriety,
as he was only a social drinker, never prone to going past his limit, the
leader, using several instances of where what he was professing to be true was not true,
decided to employ the practice of “tough love.” He decided to call Max's bluff by contacting the very people
Max stated could verify his “truth.” The leader did in fact call each one, and
of course Max was found to less than truthful. The last call went to his wife,
and what she shared with the group by phone was so incriminating that
ultimately it led to Max becoming a rejected, broken man who finally realized how lost he really was. Subsequently, he was labeled harshly, yet honestly as the liar he was and kicked out of the group. Max ends up facing himself, realizing his need, humbly asking to be allowed back in to AA where he admitted that
he had never prayed or accepted the gift of grace from God until he came face to face with himself. Before this, however, he had to be broken so
he could see his immense need of God's grace. He needed to be free, but before
he could even begin this new journey of healing he had to name his enemy, name
what was holding him captive.
And so it is with each of us. Brennan explains that there is
what he calls an “intimate connection” between the quest for honesty and
having a transparent personality. As ragamuffins by the very definition of the
word we are poor in spirit, hungry for love and acceptance. We come boldly
asking for grace, mercy and help in time of need.
So I ask you, what is the name of what holds you captive?
For Max it was denial; for me trusting God when that is all He is asking of me.
When we try to build ourselves up trying to impress people and God that we are
more than we are it shows a lack of faith. No one wants to admit they struggle,
but we all do, as I mentioned with my trust issues. I tell God I trust Him, but when something
happens to upset me my words and actions speak differently. Yes, God
understands we are “human,” but we are called to be salt and light for the
world, so we need to walk in His character and that requires being willing to
admit we do not have it altogether. We are sorely lacking.
Brennan writes, “The spiritual future of ragamuffins
consists not in disavowing that we are sinners but in accepting that truth with
growing clarity, rejoicing in God’s incredible longing to rescue us in spite of
everything. C.S. Lewis wrote: ‘”It may be that salvation consists not in the
canceling of these eternal moments but in the perfected humility that bears the
shame forever, rejoicing in the occasion which is furnished to God’s compassion
and glad that it should be common knowledge to the universe. Perhaps in that
eternal moment St Peter – he will forgive me if I am wrong – forever denies his
Master. If so, it would indeed be true that the joys of heaven are for most of
us, in our present condition, an acquired taste – and certain ways of life may
render the taste impossible of acquisition. Perhaps the lost are those who dare
not go to such a public place.”’ Brennan goes on in the chapter to speak of
“self-righteous disciples” who are “swollen with conceit” so much so that to be
in their mere presence is unbearable. Hmmm. From that point he dares to expose,
as he always does, his own acts of self-righteousness. Trust me on this one…God
is not impressed with our haughtiness and vain self-aggrandizement. He is impressed with our recognition of the
fact that by grace we are saved by faith, not by works. This is called
authentic faith.
He goes on to write: “The way we are with each other is the
truest test of our faith. How I treat a brother or sister from day to day, how
I react to the sin-scarred wino on the street, how I deal with normal people in
their normal confusion on a normal day may be a better indication of my
reverence for life than the anti-abortion sticker on the bumper on my car.”
Using the abortion issue as an example, as he is an adherent, as am I of the sanctity of human life, he goes on to
explain actions speaking louder than words: "We weep at the unjustified destruction of the unborn. Did we also weep when the evening news reported from Arkansas that a black family had been shot-gunned out of a white neighborhood?" And what about the Jewish survivors from Auschwitz and Dachau? Or those from the ghetto, or other places other those what we deem to be socially acceptable in our narrow minds, even as Christians? It is the sanctity of ALL human life we should be concerned. We often miss the mark by so much!
"Relief comes from rigorous honesty with ourselves. It is interesting that whenever the evangelists Mark, Luke, or John mention the apostles, they call the author of the first gospel either Levi or Matthew. But in his own Gospel, he always refers to himself as "Matthew the publican," never wanting to forget who he was and always wanting to remember how low Jesus stooped to pick him up." So we would be better to remember our standing as ragamuffins, misfits in need of a Savior. We, like Matthew, are publicans. "Honesty simply asks if we are open, willing, and able to acknowledge this truth. Honesty brings an end to pretense through a candid acknowledgment of our fragile humanity."
Honesty is refreshing. Honesty brings freedom. Are you free? If not, what holds you back?
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