Assumptions Can Be Fatal!
I appreciate everyone’s comments on yesterday’s post about the Coffee House raising money for Darfur. I am very proud of the young people who put it on and the people who gave towards this important issue. I always try to be cautious though about using language such as, “Now you guys have got it right! You are on the right track! This is what it is all about! Now you are truly living meaningfully!” It is so tempting to think that this is the church at its best. And I am tempted to say such things. But in fact it can possibly be the church at its worst!
Always in the back of my mind is the story of those who found themselves before the Lord on the last day. They’d done it all right: used the Lord’s name to cast out demons, prophesied, and did all kinds of amazing things. But the Lord never knew them. Those who only gave water to the thirsty and fed the hungry and clothed the naked and visited prisoners were welcomed. Both parties were shocked. The former were surprised because they were so intentional and missional about their faith. The later were surprised because they weren’t at all intentional with faith. The former did religious things but were disconnected from the Lord. The later were connected and didn’t know it while doing non-religious acts. Go figure! In fact, the root is assumption: if you assume you’re in, you’re out. If you assume your out, you’re in. Perhaps it goes something like that. So, ya, the coffee house was a success. But I dare not say that what we did pleased the Lord. We can’t know. We must do what we know must be done. We must do the right thing at the time. When presented with injustice, we do the just thing. But it can be a giant and fatal leap to assume that this makes us right with God.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Mark Hemmings. It is a shot of a Ballet theater he saw in Hungary. Something devilish about that character? Watch out! That’s what I’m trying to tell ya!
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Actually, yes you can know that what was done there pleased the Lord because he tells us that the religion that He finds to be pleasing is to take care of widows and orphans. As you said - doing things like that don’t make you right with the Lord, but when we do those things we please Him.
very thought-provoking post.
I agree with WebMonk. And my comment yesterday had nothing to do with the arrogant assumption of who’s “in” and who’s “not.”
Love the thinking and agree 100%.
Got a post about it at:
http://myfaithdefined.blogspot.com/2007/01/works-because-of-faith.html
I’m thick…
while i agree that assumptions can be deadly, i’d suggest that it’s all about faith, and having love and compassion for your fellow humans - regardless of age, race, gender, or creed. which, it sounds like these kids did.
and really, what are the majority doing at their age? if nothing else, i think they deserve credit for acting on their convictions, for lending a hand where they thought it was needed. that said, they also seem like the sort of crew that do things like this for the joy it gives them, not for the recognition they get for doing it.
it’s a multi-level success. and you’re allowed to pat yourself on the back, just don’t rest on your laurels.
You touch on a ‘major’ here, David.
Isn’t it interesting how those who are close to God are also those who are closest to people?
The display of power, even of ‘ministry’, can be done on stage, theatrics to dazzle and allure, but real care costs - not just what’s in our pockets, but genuinely giving to another in need from ourselves. We hate the pain and anguish of this present world, but so often, when we are the very midst of such mire, God allows the glint of our true value to Him and each other to catch our souls, and we may begin to understand a little of His purpose.
I was careful to include myself in these assumptions. I’m not pointing the finger at anyone. I hope no one felt attacked by this post. This is something I wrestle with all the time as a pastor… that when we are doing something I think is good, that we’ve arrived. I think humility gets pushed to the side in these cases. I’ve done it and seen it too many times.
the same goes for talking a good game but only being a spectator, not a player. Guilty as charged.
What a great photo, David.. reminds me of my days working backstage in live Opera - everyone in costume, in character, tremendous buzz of energy everywhere. Perhaps there’s an analogy here with your post - sometimes we try so hard to -be- religious, to stage an event, to live as though we’re following a script. In the end, Jesus wants our unrehearsed, unscripted love (for God, for others). All the rest of it… not important.
“It is so tempting to think that this is the church at its best. And I am tempted to say such things. But in fact it can possibly be the church at its worst!” (NP)
So actively getting involved in a tragedy none of us truly know the depths of and raising money for their well being can be church at it’s worst? You need to better define ‘best’ and ‘worst’ practices - cause if that’s the church at it’s worst then you must be living on another planet. I have seen churches persecute it’s own, kick out it’s leaders, threaten their youth, and curse people - now that’s crappy. But if raising cash for Darfur is a thorn in the side - then what is good?
“Always in the back of my mind is the story of those who found themselves before the Lord on the last day. They’d done it all right: used the Lord’s name to cast out demons, prophesied, and did all kinds of amazing things. But the Lord never knew them” (NP)
Re-read that passage again from Matthew 7 and see the one key word mentioned in their (practice lawlessness) - also used in a parable about the talents in Matt 25 (in the same exact way). You see the problem there isn’t doing good for someone else - but living a life that is ‘lawless’ (ex: does not love people, steals from them, hurts others, etc). The fact you got involved with the Darfur thing isn’t bad - it’s what happens next for all involved that will define what that means to each person involved. That event may launch some to further acts of charity and kindness while for others it launches them into exposing and using human weaknesses.
“When presented with injustice, we do the just thing. But it can be a giant and fatal leap to assume that this makes us right with God.” (NP)
I somewhat agree here but then I have to say the obvious - why do it at all? Couldn’t we also say the opposite (being apathetic) also does nothing to make us nearer or farther from God? Basically, all things being equal, doing good and doing nothing can find themselves at the same picnic.
For me, the key is our motivation in what we do. You can have some people present at an activity like this who are there to “score points” with God, and you can have others there who are doing it because they want to. The physical results are the same, but the motivation so very different.
General observation: many pastors have trouble taking compliments.