Or Am I Just Too Sensitive?

 “Indeed what is commonly called ‘sensitiveness’ is the most powerful engine of domestic tyranny, sometimes lifelong tyranny.”  

                                        C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, page 17

I have been intrigued lately by the use of the word “trespasses” in the Lord’s Prayer.  As in, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

The Greek word here (because the original New Testament language is Common Greek), opheilēma is not the word for sin, but rather an ancient  Greek word that includes sin—but also includes far more.  According to Bill Mounce, opheilēma includes every debt; everything that is due, every delinquency, every offense, every fault in another person, and…every sin.  

1 John 1:7, by contrast, says that “…the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from every [hamartias] (sin).”  A bit more straightforward. At least on its face.  

In and around The Lord’s Prayer we are called to not just forgive the sins perpetrated against us, and not just every debt that remains unpaid, but everything that offends our sensibilities; all that is a slight to our dignity; every prickly occurrence that happens to us which we perceive as undeserved.  

Being passed over for a promotion, for example, may hurt deeply, but isn’t necessarily a sin on the part of the decision-maker.  Not being invited to the game night or the dinner out when a few close friends get together for games or a meal doesn’t mean they sinned in leaving me out this time around, but being left may hurt just the same.  

Being sinned against may be fairly unambiguous.  But being trespassed against?  Less so.  Often being trespassed against depends on what is going on within me.  My vanity.  My level of sensitivity.  My unresolved insecurity.  My loneliness.  My personal, internal sense of what I am owed or what sort of preferential treatment I have coming to me.  In other words, personal, internal issues for which I have not yet taken full ownership.  

Hard to admit, but the offense may be an identity crisis in which I am making someone else responsible for my own internal struggles with who I am.  And who I am in Christ.  Being trespassed against may occur not by the sin of another against me, but by un-Christlikeness lurking within my own heart.  The fallenness in my nature for which I have not yet taken responsibility.  Does the offense stem from my unresolved vanity?  My sense of entitlement?  “Someone such as I ought not to be overlooked; ought not to be treated thus!  And they should have known that! So I will feel justified in nursing this unforgiveness toward them, perhaps punishing them in my signature passive-aggressive way.  That’ll show them!”  And yet another person gets to live in my head rent-free. While they go on about their business, quite possibly entirely unaware.

Once again, Jesus—if we are really listening—leaves no wiggle room.  Forgiving sin may require a conversation.  Forgiving an offense that stems from my “sensitiveness” (as Lewis called it); may be a matter of surrendering yet more to “being transformed by the renewing of my mind” (Romans 12:2) until “Christ is formed in me” (Galatians 4:19) because I have more fully embraced the exhortation to “look not to my own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).  

And just to add insult to injury, here’s a reminder of a word from Jesus that drives the point home with far more precision than we care to receive:  

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

                                                                                                ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Toffee-Nosed Tekoites

Nehemiah chapter 3 is one of those Old Testament lists, this one recounting the rebuilding and repair of the wall of Jerusalem. Verses 3 & 4 are a pretty good example of how most of the chapter reads:

The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.

Then comes this gem in verse 5:

And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. Nehemiah 3:5 ESV

And there it is, in the annals of history. Men serving shoulder-to-shoulder with their servants, old men serving alongside their sons, noblemen serving elbow-to-elbow with their common brothers to restore the once-majestic City of David. But then there’s this one group?  They considered manual labor beneath their dignity; considered leadership a matter of setting oneself above rather than setting the example. 

All this against the backdrop of our King, Jesus:

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:24-27

It's been a few thousand years, but the ancient record stands.  Almost everybody--including Nehemiah himself--literally got their hands dirty (and no doubt blistered) to rebuild those ruined walls.  Except one pretentious group of nobles.  And that is how the Tekoites are remembered.

Though The Sky Should Fall

[Enter Henny Penny, stage right, audience left] 

An unprecedented global panic; the inexplicable hording of…toilet paper.  

Certain unassailable truths remain—at least, if you are a devoted Christ-follower.  So to those of you who are and to those of you who might yet gravitate toward such devotion and followership at such a time as this, allow me to remind you of some impregnables that are…still in the Bible. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

                                                                                                    – Matthew 6:34

Just checked.  Still in the Bible. 

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

                                                                                                 -Philippians 4:4-7

 Also?  Still in the Bible. 

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”     

                                                                                               -John 14:1-4

 Yup.  Still there. 

 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

                                                                                              -Philippians 1:21

 This bold statement of faith?  Still in there, too. 

As you open and read you will find that every word of comfort and promise, every example of faith, every directive that calls for obedience—for those who devotedly follow Jesus—are all still there, still intact, still bidding us to trust and obey; to hope only in God. 

Because no amount of stockpiled toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or over-the-counter flu remedy is worthy of your faith and trust.  But God is.  Because God is. 

Presumption

For I am waiting for you, O lord . You must answer for me, O Lord my God. I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.                              

                                                                                                                    Psalm 38:15-16

OK, so apparently I have never read Psalm 38. Even though I have. The verses above are the high point. The composer has done something truly horrible and the truth has come to light. He is a public figure who is publicly exposed,  frightfully vulnerable, isolated.

And he isn't defending himself.

He knows he's guilty; brought this all on himself; is his own worst enemy.

And he still fully expects Divine intervention--for God to speak for him. 

You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

Even when everybody would agree you haven't got a prayer,  take heart. Apparently, that's the one thing you do have. Apparently, it's all you need.

Our One Hope

But the lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the lord . He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, lord , for our hope is in you alone.

                                                                                                            Psalms 33:18-22 NLT

Do you know people who make a habit, or even a hobby,  of being ready for anything?   You don't have to be a survivalist to once in a while fret just a little that you don't have much stashed away--a few weeks' worth of canned goods; a flat of bottled water at bare minimum. And don't forget those MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in each of your vehicles...a blanket...a few flares....

Preparation makes sense. As long as we don't forget that no amount of preparation can prepare us for what may come;  and come what may,  the Lord alone is our hope.

You, oh Lord, who is capable of feeding in times of famine those who put their trust in you. May we be at peace in you alone. In Jesus. Amen.

Wondering What Happened

Kristen is beside me prepping to teaching tomorrow; Adele on the floor studying; Bradley in the rocking chair playing chess on his ipod.  While I am just trying to get my head around this day. 

It’s been a doozy. 

Not the part that is peculiar to most people—the part where the graveyard sergeant put a screeching halt to my REM cycle at 3:45 AM and I was out the door ten minutes later to be the softer side of law enforcement in the midst of tragic loss or traumatic stress. 

The part, rather, before I left, when the coffee machine—-equipped the night before with water and fresh-ground bean—-lit up, but didn’t heat up when I hit the button and hoped for a quick brew to drink en route.  Had I seen this as an omen, I would have been less surprised hours later, when the old ’99 Lumina was lighting up and heating up as I was pulling in to the station to write the follow up report. 

The doctor’s appointment went well later in the morning, and at my lunch appointment I took the first two pills from the Z-Pack prescribed to put this left-over wheezing and rattling in my chest out of my misery.  After which I replaced the split hose under the Lumina’s hood and headed home at the early end of a nine-hour day.  But…that didn’t fix the car.  It’s still overheating.  And…the rest of the Z-Pack is nowhere to be found.  I’ve looked everywhere, inquired at every business served by every parking lot I pulled into all day.  I’ve checked every pocket of every piece of clothing, returned to the office—twice.  Twice, because I inadvertently took some keys home the first time (that are not meant to leave the office) and had to return them.  Oh.  And I broke a plate my wife bought in Holland.  And the pharmacy gave me the wrong asthma prescription and I had to drive back there.    

If you’re expecting anything profound or insightful, I’ve got nothing.  My one remaining hope is to make it to bed without breaking, losing, or having to return anything.  

One Good Way To Memorize Scripture

This Video illustrates one very effective way of committing Scripture to memory.  As you watch it, recite the verse out loud, over and over again, as the words disappear one by one.