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In case the above link to Henri Nouwen’s Meditation doesn’t work:
Thursday September 12, 2013
Holding Our Ground
In a world so full of social and political turmoil and immense human suffering, people of faith will often be ridiculed because of their so-called ineffectiveness. Many will say: "If you believe that there is a loving God, let your God do something about this mess!" Some will simply declare religion irrelevant, while others will consider it an obstacle to the creation of a new and better world.
Jesus often tells his followers that, as he was, they will be persecuted, arrested, tortured, and killed. But he also tells us not to worry but to trust in him at all times. "Make up your minds not to prepare your defense, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict" (Luke 21:14-15). Let's not be afraid of skepticism and cynicism coming our way, but trust that God will give us the strength to hold our ground.
My Commentary:
Holding our ground as Christians needs to be centered in Christ. This sounds obvious but, more often than not I have seen many Christians fall prey to becoming polarized, categorized by politics and agenda. In many cases the seemingly most liberal Christians become so immersed in politics and agenda that it has become a new form of works righteousness that eventually makes the Gospel Story of Christ Jesus and his impact of Grace upon the world, irrelevant. The world, we must not forget, as Luther says is ruled by the evil one in most aspects. The evil one has placated our efforts with idolatry and indifference. We idolatrize ourselves and the power of the intellect over the beauty and wisdom Christ taught us to discipline our lives to live altruistically for the sake of the Gospel—Kingdom of God—here and now. Most people wonder about orthodoxy, are we just a bunch of conservatives who condemn others? No, that is the furthest thing from the truth! The authority of God’s Word needs to maintain its weight upon our lives above and beyond historical, anthropological context. We need to hold firmly to the truth behind all the layers needed to comprehending the Holy Scriptures. This is being challenged by the efforts of idolatry to herald the self above God. Indifference is the dead fruit born from the world’s idolatry; for how can we harbor compassion and mercy to our neighbor and love God with a humble heart, if our will, our world of the self is more important? These evils need to be reigned in, not by self-righteousness but by a reconciling, confessing heart turned and focused upon Christ Alone. In seeking Christ Alone, we find and understand Grace Alone as well as the remaining solas of Scripture Alone and Faith Alone. God will and always gives us strength for the journey!
May God Bless Your Thursdays!
Nicole Collins
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