REFLECTIONS
I am trying to learn through the grace of God to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). I have been reflecting over the realities of this week, and shared some of my thoughts with Life Center this past Sunday (you can access the YouTube message below).
In addition to Sunday, I find it important for us to consider some critical implications of the moment in which we not only live, but the moment that Jesus expects us to steward — specifically in light of Charlie Kirk’s highly public assassination. You might not have agreed with everything Charlie said, his approach, or his political perspective. One important thing that is hard to deny: his faith in Jesus was not a hidden or vague reality. He went into places where many wouldn’t dare to go to engage in debate and dialogue.
And he was publicly murdered for the world to watch.
This should grieve all of us.
A few reflections:
OUR TRUE NORTH
We are seeing one of the downstream impacts of post-modernism at work in a divided and divisive culture. At a high level, post-modern thinkers decades ago injected the thought that truth is relative and personal, not absolute. Because truth is treated as personal and relative, disagreements are seen not as intellectual debates, but as personal attacks. That has brought us to a place in our culture today where if people question my truth, it is no longer just met with debate, but violence. This subjectivity that permeates our world is seen when a clear act of evil is celebrated.
Jesus invites His people to another way.
Here is reality: there is truth.
For the follower of Jesus, we have a true north that God has provided to lead and guide how we navigate a world that we are in, yet not of (John 17:14-16). As a Jesus follower, there is a true north that is unchanging: the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. Jesus reminded His followers that the Holy Spirit’s role would be to lead us to truth (John 16:13), and that the Scriptures point to Jesus Himself (John 5:39).
Ideologies and insights will continue to shift in this world. We are all being shaped by carefully curated algorithms. We can’t be blinded by that, minimize their impact, or ignore it. And since that is true, we need a true north that doesn’t shift.
PRAYER IS A WEAPON
I mentioned on Sunday that “some people might not like that I am calling us to pray.” I am not apologetic; I am resolute that as the Body of Christ, we are called to be a people of prayer. And contrary to a false theology that believes that prayer isn’t doing much, I believe that Scripture is emphatically clear that prayer is a weapon. Don’t forget:
There is real evil.
There are real spiritual forces at work.
There is deception and destruction that the enemy of our souls seeks to inflict.
We should not and cannot take this lightly. We are in a time of not only increasing division but also increasing confusion. And Scripture is clear: God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Through prayer, we place ourselves in a position, not just to say words to God, but we position our hearts to hear from God. He is the source of life and truth.
THIS MOMENT IS A SYMPTOM
At some point, we have to pause and realize that what we are doing is not working. The violence and wickedness that we see are symptoms of a larger sickness. Our world is broken.
Richard Foster wrote: “Conformity to a sick society is to be sick.“
Here is the good news: Jesus came as a physician to heal the sickness that we can’t cure (Matthew 9:12).
I have zero interest in conforming to the world when Scripture calls me to be conformed to Christ (Romans 12:2). When the truth of Jesus and His way to which He calls us to live as citizens in His Kingdom is overlooked, undervalued, or outright opposed, we should not be surprised at the sickness in our world.
“Conformity to a sick society is to be sick.”
Last week, the sickness in our society was once again highlighted.
My heart grieves.
My heart is heavy.
My heart longs for the Church — the Body and Bride of Christ — to both walk in maturity (Ephesians 4) and to walk in unity (John 17).
But here is what this moment is teaching us:
Unity that is not centered on truth will eventually come undone.
Our true north is the Word of God and His Spirit leading us. Our truth north is not our thoughts or ideas about Jesus, but what the Scriptures tell us about Jesus. And the work of the Spirit is to continue to bring us back to this truth. This is what has kept the church not only together but effective throughout the centuries. As I grieve the sickness and brokenness in our world, I will not stop praying. I am persuaded that something is happening, even when I don’t yet see it or sense it. God is at work. The wreckage of our world is a symptom of something larger and bigger (and far more dangerous) than what we might realize: Satan continues to stay steadfast and focused on deception and destruction.
With all of this said, we are never without hope as the people of God, because He is the God of Hope.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Lord, heal our land.