Identity politics and God's word.

One of the subtle issues of ¹Dispensational Eschatology is "identity politics." 

It's not obvious on the surface, but when you look closely, this teaching places a certain nation/race on a pedestal above all others. The Jewish race. The nation of Israel is viewed by many - mainly within, but also outside the church - as the "apple of God's eye." To even question this superior status is considered antisemitic by some - i.e. racist. 

The irony is if this high view were held toward any other race - such as Hitler's so-called Ayran race -  It would be racist and people would rightly be up in arms protesting. 

I am not suggesting at all that Israel was unimportant or insignificant. They certainly were and played a unique and vital role in God's plan of redemption, as well as on the stage of human history. Nor am I suggesting we should not ²support national Israel today. Any nation that promotes freedom, especially if surrounded by a region of hostility toward that freedom, deserves our ²support. But to accurately assess national Israel's true significance in God's eyes, we must explore God's words in the bible. God must be true even if every man is a liar. 

³If you wish to explore this more click here.

If someone does not view Israel as superior to other nations some will object and ask "Isn't the nation of Israel God's chosen people; special above all others?" The short answer is yes, but to answer that question properly and completely we must ask the bigger underlying questions. e.g. to what end was Israel chosen for and was that purpose ever carried out? If so, how and when? 

The longer answer is they were chosen to be the nation through which the promised Messiah came, and he did (though orthodox Jews believe the Messiah's coming is still in the future). And He came not just as the Deliverer of the Jews only, but the Savior of the entire world. For a more thorough discussion on this click here.

The general issue with identity politics.

What does any of this have to do with identity politics? In essence, identity politics says one's individual value or worth is determined by one's group, race, nationality, etc. However, when you follow this through logically, isn't this in fact at the heart of racism - i.e. one group or race being superior (or inferior) to others. This is saying I am better (or worse) than you simply because I belong to a particular race or group. Or, I can do no wrong because I belong to a certain group e.g. a person of color - any color or lack of it - can't be racist because they are the victim of racism. A certain group could get away with many things others would never be able to do if they were considered superior to others. 

But this is not true, no matter who asserts it. This is a form of group or ethnic supremacy if you will. Not unlike the "white supremacy" label we hear thrown around today. A kind of ⁴ethnic-based identity -- exactly the opposite of the message of grace. 

In God's economy, identity is based on something much greater and far more significant. God calls us to ground our identity in who we are as His image-bearers first as well as ⁵who he has made us to be in Christ, not in our ethnicity, group, gender, culture, worldview, etc. The teaching of the Bible shatters all boundaries of race, gender, or any other difference.

Gal 3:25  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
Gal 3:26  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to ⁴promise.

This above "group" - God's group if you will - is the only group we can ultimately and legitimately base our identity on. Being part of this group has nothing to do with race and everything to do with grace.

This is not a point of pride but of humility, since it's based on grace and not our ethnicity, culture, efforts, some assumed "birthright" or anything that has to do with humanity seeking to bolster their identity apart from and outside of God, their Creator. 

This is also unifying because being an image-bearer of God includes everybody, so in this sense -- the way most define a group -- it is not a group at all because we all belong to it. 

Also, being remade in Christ's image is available to anybody and will be denied to no one who desires to enter onto this path i.e. it excludes no one and is freely offered to anyone. 

These aspects of our identity are determined by no less than God Himself -- the Creator of us all -- making them the only legitimate grounds for our identity and of far greater significance than anything offered or asserted by men.

Ironically those who scream ⁶loudest about racism are usually those who look at the world exclusively through an "identity politics" - i.e. racial - filter. The problem is this creates an "us-them" mindset and division instead of unity. 

A lot of accusations about who is being more divisive are thrown around these days. However, if we stop and think about it, we will find identity politics at the heart of this divisiveness, not racism in the classical sense e.g. whites vs blacks, Aryans vs Jews, etc. Those who are least racist are the least likely to think in racial terms - e.g. I am not a brown, white, or black woman or man I am simply a fellow human being created in the image of God, just like you are, regardless of race, gender, age etc.

The truth is we are all created in God's image and our value is not rooted in our group, race, nationality, or gender...at least not in God's eyes (this of course includes Jews). So in the most basic and vital sense, as bearers of God's image, we are all the same in the eyes of God; we are all ⁷equally created to know and experience God in all his beauty, majesty, love, and goodness. We are all members of the human race who have equal access to God in and through Christ and are equally valued by God regardless of group, race, gender, etc.

We see this in the Gospel of John by Christ himself when he said the following to the Samaritan women at the well, 

20  (the women said) 0ur fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:20-26

Note Christ said he's seeking people whose heart (i.e. "... in spirit and truth...") is after him, not those who come from any particular group, race, or area i.e. not the heart of a Jew, white, black, yellow, brown or any other specific race but all hearts. When you understand that Samaritans were considered "half-breeds" by the Jews - not unlike the Muggle-born "mudblood", Hermione Granger, in the Harry Potter series - this conversation with a Samaritan woman becomes even more significant. 

In addition, he was having a conversation with a woman. Women were considered second-class citizens by that culture and time (but obviously not by Christ). And you certainly didn't hang out with a woman alone, one on one, even in public. This was considered taboo. When you look at the context of this conversation, his disciples' response subtly hints at this taboo.

Am I saying it is wrong to love our heritage? Not at all. To the degree it honors and displays the beauty and diversity of God, it is a good thing. However, it is not the ground on which we base our identity and worth. 

There is nothing wrong with cultural diversity. It can be a good thing to display the vast creativity of God. It is just not the ultimate thing we base our identity on.

For a discussion on why and how we must distinguish culture from race click here. 

For a discussion on the image of God click here

For a discussion on Dispensationalism click here.

For a discussion on the promises made to Abraham click here. 

___________________________________

Footnotes:

¹I am not looking to single out Dispensationalism for its own sake but because of its widespread support in the evangelical Christian community, the subtle effect of this view is significant and worth mentioning.

²I'm not saying financial support necessarily but verbal or moral support assuming they (or anyone else we support for that matter) are acting morally and legitimately in self-defense. 

³For more on that promise click here

⁴One group is more valuable than another because of their ethnicity, thereby deserving greater respect.

⁵However this does not make Christians superior to none non-Christians because it is a status given to us as a gift and available to anybody who will receive it.

⁶I'm not saying there is no racism or that racism shouldn't be addressed I'm saying those who see everything through a racial filter (identity politics) are likely the most racist. Those who don't are the most "colorblind." 

To say it another way, the most racist among those who read this will probably scream loudest that this article is racist and antisemitic. To assert a person of color can be a racist is taboo or that all "whites" are not automatically racist by being white, will upset some. 

⁷This also happens to be the world view of the founders of this nation - that all men are created equal - even though not fully put into practice initially. However, this view eventually became the impetus and basis for the abolition of slavery. The foundation of truth laid in the founding documents of the "great American experiment" ultimately won out, even though a significant compromise over the equal value of the black man was initially made in order to form a union of the 13 original colonies that later became the United States of America i.e. our nation. Contrary to much of the present-day narrative, most of the founders were opposed to slavery and this compromise. An accurate and revealing depiction of this battle and compromise is shown in the second episode -- titled "Independence"-- in the HBO miniseries "John Adams." 

discrimination?

Have you ever felt discriminated against? How did it feel? I experienced what some would consider discrimination only twice in my life. Once, years ago, when I transferred from one college to another. The second time was more recently when I moved from one state to another.

Was I being discriminated against? By today's definition, some would argue yes. At a minimum, I at least felt I was being avoided, but not for the reasons I thought.

Even though my experiences were not on par with a lifetime of discrimination, the solution is the same whether you experience a lifetime of "discrimination" or only once or twice, like I did. It's not how long or often I experienced it, but that I did. As a result, I now understand, to a limited degree, what it feels like.

Indulge me as I share some background to help flesh out what I experienced and learned. 

The first instance was when I transferred from one Christian college to another. I was 21 and had known the Lord for only 4 years. I already attended one college for two years but as the summer after my Sophomore year progressed, it became increasingly clear I would not earn enough to go back. I was discouraged and disappointed. 

A family heard about my situation and anonymously offered to pay for me to go to a different Bible College. I found this out towards the end of the summer, right around the application cut off time. I recall even missing the deadline. Miraculously, I was accepted. Though a little apprehensive about changing schools, I was excited and took this as God's confirmation I was on the right track and in for a treat.

Because I could not transfer all my credits, I was classified as a sophomore again. Bummer! Instead of being halfway through college, I was only 1/4 through - my first obstacle. In addition, I was two years older than the typical sophomore because of working a year after high school and having to redo my sophomore year. When I transferred I was a 21-year-old sophomore when most of my classmates were 19. Two years' difference isn't usually a big deal but after being a year in the workforce and no longer fresh out of high school I discovered two years, in this circumstance, were light-years apart.

My new classmates had also already spent a full year together establishing friendships. Unexpectedly, I walked into a situation where it seemed impossible to connect with anyone. I made friends with a few juniors and seniors closer to my age but they had even longer-standing friendships and what seemed a full plate of friends already, so I didn't make a strong connection their either. I felt surprisingly isolated, in a Christian college no less. It seemed no matter what I did or how hard I tried, people avoided me. Being an army brat, moving around a lot, I had always been able to make new friends fairly easily -- not this time. I was lonely and miserable. So much so I remember telling God it would be ok if he took me home -- not to live with my parents but to be with Him in eternity -- and hoping he would.

The second event... 

was just 4 years ago. This was surprising since I thought I had already sorted this through with the above instance several years before. My daughter and her husband were considering starting a family and asked if I would come out and be a granddad, to which I gladly agreed. So I pulled up roots - I am now single, so not a big deal to move - and moved from San Diego to Austin, Texas.  

I had been in my former church in San Diego for close to 12 years. It was a typical church spanning the full generational spectrum with babies, teens, young adults to a few in their 80's and everything in between. Probably the average age was in the 40's to early '50s. I was 49 when I first started attending, right in the thick of things chronologically. Age-wise I was also right in the middle of the two brothers who co-pastored the church; one a year older than me and one a year younger. I even went surfing with the younger brother a few times. While there, I taught a class for 11 years, lead a home group, a men's group and was co-director of a men's discipleship program. I had established some strong connections. 

A new church and whole new ball game. 

At my new church in Austin, the senior pastor was 40 at the time and my local lead pastor was in his early 30's, along with our two elders and the other lead pastors and elders at the other local congregations -- we are a multi-congregational church at 5 different locations. The original downtown congregation was near a major University with the average attendee's age in their mid-'20s with many under 20. A much younger church than I had ever attended. Plus I wasn't a kid anymore being 61 at the time I moved.

After a few months I began leading a home group where the age ran from late 20’s to mid 30’s. My daughter and her husband were in the group. Right away I "felt" the age difference. I was the "old guy" for sure. During our social time, any conversation involving pop culture went totally over my head. If you talked about music from the 60s and 70s or movies and sports up through the 90s I was right with you, after that, I was not -- not owning a TV for the last 6 years didn’t help. I was from "another era" but it felt more like from another planet. 

On Sundays, I also felt isolated and found it hard to connect -- being one of only a handful of "whiteheads" probably didn't help. My external difference stood out like a sore thumb. In our congregation, there was only a small group of folks close to my age and maybe only one or two at my age or older - this has since changed with several older folks now attending. After church, folks were happy to see each other, touching base and catching up on the past week while I was off to the side looking in. I am also single now. Even those I knew close to my age were married; another area I was "different" from the handful of my peers. Again I found myself in a unique set of circumstances that made me feel even more isolated.  

Why all the background? To illustrate and help explain a very important lesson I learned in both cases, but on a fuller level the second time. 

Where did the learning start? Regarding the first event, while in college I took a class on the Prophets. The book of Habakkuk floored me. Things were really bad in the nation of Israel, yet God was doing something vital and very significant no matter how it appeared otherwise. As a result, Habakkuk gained a new perspective that enabled him to overcome the greatest obstacles. That message landed for me, and my whole outlook shifted. I'll address the result shortly since it is the same for both events. 

Regarding the second event, after being in Texas for 3 years and digging into God's word I was increasingly reminded that His love and presence had nothing to do with my circumstances or feelings. This experience actually forced me to grow deeper roots into the gospel of God's grace. As I let this sink in again, it began to free me up to focus more on the needs of others i.e. I gradually stopped having a pity party - though once in a while I still need to "check" myself. 

In both cases, I was reminded that God is with me and for me, not against me. And guess what happened? People started becoming more friendly as my attitude shifted. Looking back, I think they always were friendly but I was giving off such a negative vibe of desperation; I was repelling people. I felt discriminated against, or so I thought. And maybe, in a way, I was. More on this in a minute.

Regarding the more recent second event, I also learned there is actually a label for people "discriminated" against because of age. It's called ageism. Who would have thought!? It is something I hadn't even considered before then. I'm not saying this doesn't happen, but I came to see that ultimately it doesn't matter. I chuckle a little thinking about it now.

Regarding the first event, once I realized God was working even when it didn't appear or feel like it, my outlook shifted and folks seemed to suddenly "come out of the woodwork" and became much friendlier. Seeing this truth freed me from being the victim. Plus, I gained a whole new group of friends since I was no longer so desperate to find them.

What I learned about others and myself. 

It was good going through these situations to get a sense of what many feel when they are not being treated "fairly" or at least not being treated the way they feel they **should be. But the bigger lesson for me was no one enjoys hanging out with someone who has a chip on their shoulder or constantly "playing the victim card" and feeling sorry for themselves. 

Unless we are tuned in to God and are exceptionally gracious, none of us like being around someone negative, resentful, or having a pity party. If someone is always whining and playing the victim, people avoid *them. It is too emotionally draining and time-consuming for others when they already have a full plate - I'm sure, with little effort, you can think of someone who fits the bill. The irony is the more we complain about being avoided - or "discriminated" against, the more we are avoided. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We are a major part of the problem. Instead of looking at ourselves and how we contribute to the problem we demand being treated more fairly - often demanding an apology as well, even trying to "guilt" others into treating us as we demand - which pushes people even further away and creates resentment for having a guilt trip put on them.

Actually, we all, in varying degrees, are inclined to avoid others like this. Is this being discriminatory in a negative sense? Maybe, but on a certain level, I think this is normal and even valid. Everyone has their rough periods and we should be there for them during those times. But also we need to be wise in how we handle others who have no genuine interest in becoming better but simply seek to use and take advantage of others. Christ cautioned not to "cast our pearls before swine." He wasn't calling people pigs but using an analogy to illustrate why we shouldn't give something valuable to someone who would not truly appreciate it. There may be times it is appropriate or necessary to reach out to someone who takes advantage of others but we must be sure God is calling us to such a situation. If not, you will not be making wise use of your time and resources and could get burnt out as a result. Christ sought out those who genuinely and humbly appreciated what he offered. He told his disciples to brush the dust off their feet when they leave the town of those who don't. 

The important lesson is how we are treated sometimes has little or nothing, to do with who we are externally - our gender, **** "race" or age - but with who we are internally. It is more about our attitude toward ourselves and others, not our outward appearance or identity. The good news is we may not always be able to change our external characteristics or attributes, but we can always change our attitude. 

We all can probably think of someone who doesn't have a lot going for them as far as the world or a certain group is concerned -- they are the "wrong" height, age, gender, look, color (hair or otherwise), accent, tell the wrong jokes etc.etc. -- but because they have such a great outlook on life, we love being around them. I can think of a few in high school and college like this. One was a small, slightly pudgy wheelchair-bound girl named Debbie with muscular dystrophy, with no hope for a cure. I heard she went to be with the Lord only a few years later. She was probably in her twenties when I met her.  She loved Jesus, and it showed. Even though you could hardly understand her, everyone loved Debbie. She wasn't self-absorbed or self-conscious but friendly, thoughtful, always smiling, and focused on others. As the saying goes, no one likes a whiner and everyone loves a "winner" -- not necessarily on the outside but on the inside. There were lots of reasons people might want to avoid Debbie, but there was one big reason they didn't. She loved others. 

When we recognize God sees us *# as valuable and is working in and through us for our good, regardless of circumstances, condition, status, etc., our attitude and outlook changes. We become more attractive internally and it comes out in how we treat and approach others and how they respond and treat us back. We are no longer victims but overcomers through the love of Christ. Who we are in Christ is far more important than how we are treated or perceived. This doesn't make mistreatment right but it makes it less significant, maybe even insignificant.

As odd as it sounds to me today, I felt at least a little mistreated during these two events. The former because I was the outsider and the later because I was an "old man." As I was freed from negative and destructive thinking, others' treatment of me changed. I was the same guy on the outside; my hair was still white - the 2nd event anyway - but now I was giving off a very different "vibe." As a result, folks began to treat me differently. Instead of avoiding me, they were friendly. Imagine that! 

During the first event, people seemed to avoid me - and probably did to some extent. Even if they didn't, I couldn't see it. I was too busy feeling sorry for myself. If they didn't go out of their way to make me feel welcomed, I felt mistreated.

When I stopped thinking of myself

I am not at all suggesting some groups or individuals are not mistreated more than others, nor whether this is right. It is not. Could the folks have treated me better in these different situations? Possibly, but if not handled properly it would only have reinforced my unhealthy attitude. That wouldn't have been in my best interest or theirs. When I was feeling "discriminated against," my concern was all about me, *****not others. This was definitely not loving my neighbor as myself.

The ultimate example of the opposite of a pity party is Christ when he hung the cross and said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

It also helps to stop and consider how things operate in God's economy. Being mistreated isn't ******unusual in a fallen and broken world but neither is it without benefit. If we are his children, God is always working, always with us and always using all things for our good. To focus on being mistreated now or in the past loses sight of this very basic truth and does no one any good. We are even cautioned to not let a root of bitterness grown within us. It, in fact, negatively affects everyone around us. If there is injustice, though it is wrong, it is not for us to demand it for ***ourselves. We can hope for it and seek it for others, but beyond that, we must leave it in God's hands and trust he alone knows how best to address this and will do what needs to be done as we seek to honor him. We are to look to God to fight our battles, not ourselves, assuming one even needs to be fought.

Paul talked about his inward man being renewed as his outer man died. And he spoke of this as gaining for him an eternal benefit far greater than any temporary loss. As his children and disciples, this is the outlook we are also called to have regardless of who we are or how we are treated. 

So there is a tension. It is wrong to mistreat and oppress others, but our life is of far greater significance than what we experience in this present and temporary existence. And as we seek to honor God, we will be mistreated regardless, if just for this reason alone. Christ said if they persecuted Me they will persecute you if you seek to honor me. This is the outlook we are called to have. Demanding justice for ourselves and feeling we are a victim does not bring about God's honor. 

The old saying is appropriate when it comes to "discrimination"... You can please all the people some of the time. Some of the people all the time but you will never please all the people all the time. 

Another way of saying this is some are not going to like us no matter what we do, what color we are, what our nationality or age is, and so on. This happens to everyone regardless of who they are. Yes, we are to be at peace with all men, but it also says as far as it is up to us. You can't win every one, so stop trying. Also, don't make everything about discrimination and assume you are being treated wrongly because of who you are. It may be for that reason but it's not automatic. And frankly, for people who don't treat us well, it's not worth our time and energy to focus on. We are called to be content no matter what our station in life and to love our enemies. As followers of Christ, we are to be about God's mission, not ours. His is about advancing his glory and kingdom throughout the world to all people of every nation and color. When we are wronged - and if you haven't been yet, wait... you will be at some point, regardless of race - remember that Vengeance is mine says, God. I will repay, not us. 

For a further discussion of being a victim click here.

For a further discussion of being a victim vs an offender click here. 

For a further discussion on racism and forgiveness click here. ___________________________________________________________

* or they will find other victims and have a pity party together. Their common bond is an example of classic co-dependence. 

*# as well as created us exactly the way we are and put us where we are. If we take issue with our lot in life we must address that with God first, not our fellow man.

** "should" is the fruit of demanding and is rooted in pride

***Though I think it is right to plead for justice on the behalf of others -- particularly those who are genuinely defenseless and unable to defend themselves, such as the unborn -- it is not for us to do it on our own behalf and certainly not to demand it for ourselves. But that is the key; doing it for ourselves. We must plead our case before God not man and entrust ourselves into His care.

****I put this in quotes because our race is not the primary thing that defines us. In the most important and ultimate sense, it's insignificant. What defines us is who God says we are, not others.

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Rom 10:12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

And what else does God say about us? We are all in His image i.e. we are like God. It is in this sense the founders meant that all men are created equal -- they understood that to include both genders. -- We are not necessarily equal in our skills or circumstances but in our value and significance to God. 

***** In fairness it should be pointed out people rightfully get upset when those they love get mistreated. However, the question then becomes what should we do about it. How do we handle it? Certainly, it's worth raising awareness of injustice. But if injustice is not addressed - or while we are seeing to raise awareness - it can become a real opportunity to point those we love to Jesus and to look to him for love, not feeble humanity. This world is broken and Christ told us in this world we will have tribulation, not might have it. But he also said, I have overcome the world. In Him, we and those we love can also overcome it. 

******We all offend and are offended.  For a discussion of the solution click here.
 

 #racism, racial, race

loved because of Christ or the imago de

Does God love us because we are in his image or because we are in Christ? Yes i.e. both.

Outside of Christ, God infinitely values us because we are in His image, like Him.

In Christ God loves us both *freely and infinitely.

What is the difference?

Paul said we are all the offspring of God.

Act 17:28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

We all come from God and we are all **like God. Because of this, we are able to enter into and participate in the community of God as Father, Son, and Spirit with the capacity to respond in love and uniquely reflect him out to others. This is why Paul could invite his hearers to return to God. Nothing else in all of creation is offered or called to willfully enter a relationship with Him.

However, until our rebellion is addressed we are alienated from God and are His enemies. Even though God has not abandoned us or ever stopped pursuing us, we have gone astray, everyone to his or her own way. No one seeks after God, not one. God is not in a relationship with us because He refused to be, but the other way around; we refused to be in a relationship with Him and still do.

To remedy this, He had to make a way to restore us back to himself.  Left to our own devices, it would never have occurred. He had to remove the consequences of destruction and harm caused by our not acknowledging him for who he truly is. As well as not acknowledging our fellow image-bearers for who they are, i.e. not treating our fellow image-bearers as we would have them treat us. He had to provide for us the goodness we were designed for but missing. He had to turn our hearts of stone, cold and dead to Him, into hearts of flesh, alive and responsive to him. We could not do any of these things by ourselves.

Once he made a way to restore us and we accepted his offer, he treats us as if we never rebelled; as his perfectly loved and cherished offspring that bear the family resemblance. 

Act 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

Act 17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Act 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

Act 17:27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Act 17:28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Act 17:29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

Act 17:30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Act 17:31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 

For a further discussion of how we operate contrary to our design click here

                                                                                                                                            


* In Christ there are no more obstacles or barriers blocking his love.

**Gen 9:5  And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6  “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. 

Because we are like God, to harm and disregard an image bearer is to disregard God. 

God's first partnership with man

Gen 2:19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

This was the first collaborative effort between God and man. God partnered with man and invited him into the creative process. God created and then gave Adam the privilege of naming what He had just made. Though nothing on the scale, *or in the absolute sense of what God had done, it was nevertheless no small act. To name something or someone is to assign *identity/uniqueness and particular significance to that which is named. This was left solely up to Adam.

Though naming the animals seems small in comparison 
to creating physical/material **out of nonmaterial, man too was creating something out of nothing merely by speaking -- speaking something (a name) into existence that didn't exist beforehand. This was not only like what God had done but was in response to it. By this simple act God identified himself with man, illustrating how man was in His image. God was tying man's identity to Himself and His to man's. God partnered with man in creation by doing what He does, create; and man doing what he could do, naming the creatures. 

This is an indication of the sameness as well as the difference between God and man. Man could do this because he was in Gods image but also because of what God had  already done first, create. Naming the creatures was a kind of creative effort/process and not an insignificant one. Whatever Adam called them was how they be would be identifed from then on. Man was behaving like God, only on a finite level. 

So we see in this one act the contrast between the infinite God and finite man and at the same time the sameness of man and God; man being in his image. 
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* Just as God out of His heart and mind spoke everything into existence, so man, out of his heart and mind, spoke the identity of all creation into existence. Both spoke into existence something that was not previously there, so in this way it was the similar process with a different result i.e. creation is tangible, a name is not, though it has a material effect on the tangible. 


** ex nihilo



 

strength for self denial

To do things well for (1)others require we (2)deny ourselves.

Why? Our focus is not on our own needs and indulging in (3)self-affirming and self-comforting activities but on the (4)needs of another for their comfort and affirmation. Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and treating others as we would have them treat us requires self-denial.

But self-denial isn't natural or even possible on our own. How do we do this?

The strength or ability to deny (5)ourselves doesn't come from us -   (8)our willpower - but can only occur when we look to and draw strength from God through increasing trust and dependence on Him. He, by his commitment of infinite love to us, is the source of our affirmation and comfort, not our efforts to self-affirm and self-comfort. 

What is it exactly we are asked to believe/trust in and how does this give us strength?

We are to recognize/believe we are of value, worth, significance, and importance objectively and personally to God i.e., we know/believe this is true because God says he feels this way about us and backed it up by His actions. 

Do we believe this? Is God ever wrong? We must have the right answer if we are to ever participate in his love and benefit from how he sees us.

Regardless of what we are feeling or experiencing, God's infinite regard/love for us has already been demonstrated and proven by sending Christ for us. His love is forever ours because of Christ. Nothing can or will ever separate us from it. 

It is through God's disposition of relentless, perfect, and infinite love we find strength. Therefore, it is God himself, who He is for us and toward us, that is the source of that strength. Because he - the sovereign creator of all things - is for us, nothing can be against us.

When we really and truly (6)“buy-in” to this, we no longer need to prove our worth - “self affirm”- by doing things to gain affirmation. We know we are already affirmed and it has nothing to do with what we do or don't do. Now we do things out of the strength we derive from that affirmation...God's affirmation. And not just a limited and temporary affirmation but an affirmation that is infinite (and will be eternal) because the source is the almighty infinite, eternal God. He is the "I AM" the only self-existing, infinite, eternal, most valuable, and glorious -- highly affirmed -- being in the universe.

What exactly is the nature of the strength we derive from God? In a word, it is simply knowing I am valuable to this God. When we fully grasp and believe this, nothing else matters. Or as Paul says it, "...if God is for us, who can be against us."

We are called to abide -- firmly remain standing -- in the belief and awareness of God's love/value for us. We are told by Christ himself to never lose sight of our being cherished and precious to him and to hold fast to this.

"As -- in the same way -- the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide -- continually remain and stand -- in my love." John 15:9. The very same love the Father has for a Son, the Son has for us.  What greater love is there in the universe than the Father's love of his Son. It is this same love he has for us. Selah -- Pause, reflect, and let that sink in.

How can we be certain God feels this way about us? He not only tells us this -- and because he is trustworthy, this alone is enough -- but He demonstrated it by His actions. 

Not just any actions but actions of infinite proportions. Looking intently into and constantly reflecting on what He and His Son denied themself of and put themself through is our proof. The closer and harder we look the more of his love we discover. 

This is why we do communion regularly, to remember and reflect on the actions Christ took to restore us back to them in all their infinite love. We are encouraged to remind ourselves (7)repeatedly of this amazing gesture of love. 

To continually reflect on these realities is to be strengthened by them. That strength empowers us to focus on others and not ourselves. "As -- in the same way -- the Father has sent me (Jesus) so I send you" i.e. in the power of knowing God's infinite love is ours and with us no matter what do, where we go, or how challenging it is. 

For a discussion on why faith is hard work click here.

For a further discussion on how the most valuable values us click here. 

For a discussion on the difference between loving vs, valuing click here.
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(1)God, our neighbor, and other brothers and sisters in Christ.

(2)Denying our self and death to self are tied together. There is no death to self without denying our self and to deny our self results in the death of self.

Death to self is not literal or absolute however i.e. we – our self – don't die but we die to self-loving, self-comforting, and self-sustaining behavior/actions as the source of our affirmation.

Death to self doesn't occur by devaluing ourselves, it is knowing our true value in Christ and loving others out of the infinite fountain of God and overflow of His love.

(3)Self-affirming activities are endless. It’s simply any activity we engage in solely to make us feel good about ourselves. This can be done through drugs, sex, food, achievement, money, entertainment, recreation, being better or different than others to make ourselves stand out in order to gain praise and on we can go. Fill in the blank.

It’s important to understand none of these things in themselves are necessarily wrong or bad. All things are created by God for His glory and our joy when understood and used properly. It’s why we seek them that becomes the problem i.e. do we see them as our gods from which we derive value, worth, significance, importance or as gifts from God because He considers us valuable, significant, important.

(4)This does not mean we find no joy in helping others, but that joy is in the other persons joy, not in the joy itself. It is an inclusive, not an exclusive joy.

(5)we - self, still need to be nourished if you will, emotionally and spiritually. This is not through self-effort but in and through God.

(6)This is a lifelong process and the essence of our spiritual development and maturity, i.e. our day-to-day sanctification. 

(7) Have you ever wondered why there is no prescribed schedule for communion. I suspect the reason God does not want us to do it as a ritual but as "oft" as we remember his love i.e. it's not an activity to impress God but one that springs forth from the worship of God. If it does not, it becomes a hoop to jump through. The exact opposite of what it's intended to do for us.  

(8) It does involve choice, but our choice is to believe God is honored in our loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and He will reward us for our faithful obedience and sacrificial love. This differs from willing ourselves to act solely to prove we can or impress others. The former is looking to and depending on God for grace to love others, and the latter is looking to ourselves with no regard for God and His will. This is subtle and not outwardly obvious because it's a matter of the heart, not our actions.