Solidarity in Jesus Christ

In the wake of the tragic events in Paris which unfolded over the weekend, I have heard a word repeated over and over again:  solidarity.  The word is defined in the American Heritage dictionary as, "A union of interest, purposes, or sympathies among members of a group; fellowship of responsibilities and interest."  In a sense, those who stand in solidarity with Parisians share their shock, pain, and desire comfort all affected by the cowardly attack.  On the street one might say, "I'm feeling you.  I've got your back."  On the same street there is no shortage of opinions of what the problems in the world are or the best ways to stop them.  It is good to be united against evil, but often the common responses are anything but righteous.

The world's methods of fighting are incapable of stemming the tide which threatens to wash the globe in blood.  People are divided over how to deal with the complex issues and potential threats nations and individuals face.  "Kill first or be killed," some say.  Others point to ideology, religion, or indoctrination as the problem.  Still others make a case for tighter immigration policies, establishing early detection methods to prevent acts of terrorism, and arming/disarming citizens.  All of these suggestions fall well short of what is required to bring transformation in the hearts of people.  And it is primarily a heart problem.  The Bible says man is not basically good, but according to God's standards the heart of every man is wicked and deceitful beyond comprehension.

The reality is, the world is deluded to think we possess within ourselves the capacity to change people for good.  The actions of the world says we can enact positive change by eliminating real threats by dialogue, military action, air strikes, and covert military operations.  On a federal level we can protect ourselves by closing borders, putting more police on the streets, and raising the level of security.  Some say crimes could be reduced by tight restrictions concerning firearm or weapon ownership or eliminating them altogether.  Through improved legislation we could prevent people from immigrating to a country or prosecute those who plot in secret to harm others.  Now I am not saying these are poor suggestions in the proper context, but I am saying none of these ideas have the capacity to change the hearts of men.  Governments and laws have been established because men are evil, and many choose to willfully transgress even in the face of conviction, imprisonment, and death.

In writing to Christians, James said in James 4:1-3:  "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."  Without being transformed by the love of Jesus Christ, there will always be conflict - even among the people who identify as Christians.  How much more conflict will people create who are deceived and blinded to their own wickedness?  Hardness of heart has led to countless marriages ending in divorce, and lust for power and control has led to war, violence, and immeasurable suffering.  The unregenerate heart cannot be refined with the external shackles of law or government control:  the only way people can be permanently transformed within is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Scoff all you want, but the world's best attempts end with war after war with no end in sight.  Isn't that the history of mankind in a nutshell?

The Bible speaks of a glorious day when the risen Jesus Christ will establish His government over the entire earth.  Even at the end of His thousand year reign, Satan will deceive the world and in solidarity they will come against Jesus Christ in a desire to overthrow His rule (Revelation 20:6-10).  Satan and all who follow him will be completely vanquished by Christ.  Solidarity is good and fine, but it begs the question:  what is the best union of interest for the glory of God?  The church must mobilise in practical help and prayer (nothing is more practical!), united in walking in His love and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Fear of man ought not to govern our motives, but instead fear God.  Christ commands us to compassionately pray even for our enemies.  There is good cause to protect our people or families, but remember vengeance is God's sovereign territory.  He has said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." (Deut. 32:35, Nahum 1:2, Romans 12:19).  Not all can receive this saying, but he who has ears to hear, let him hear.  Do you you fear God more than man?

What this world needs is solidarity in the person of Jesus Christ.  It is high time for the church to awake out of sleep and faithfully follow the example of our Saviour.  Jesus is the only one capable of changing the hearts and minds of men, and our call as His followers is to let His light shine through us in the dark world.  Christians are to have a common interest to live holy and share the Good News of salvation to all.  We must not shirk our responsibilities to live out the exhortation of Titus 2:11-14:  "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."  Only when we invite God to transform us and walk by faith in Christ can we make a difference in this world for God's glory.

Motive to Go

It was president JFK who famously said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."  This self-sacrificial outlook did not originate with Mr. Kennedy, for it was Jesus who said it is more blessed to give than to receive.  In our study of Romans at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I was struck by Paul's desire to visit the Romans and his motivation for doing so.  His reasons were very different than reasons people today might have for choosing to visit or attend one church over another.

In the west we have coddled an outlook fostered by capitalism and consumerism.  For instance, recently I took the boys for ice cream cones on the way home from church:  one week we went to McDonald's, and the following week we tried Hungry Jacks.  The prices for the cones were the same, but the ones at Hungry Jacks were almost twice the size!  "Now that's what I'm talking about," I said as the cones from Hungry Jacks were handed to me by the smiling associate.  "We know where to go for ice cream now, right boys?"  Hungry Jacks clearly provided more "value for money," so if I had my choice that is where we would go based upon experience.  Why not go where I receive double for the same investment of time or money?  Some people approach going to church by similar rationale.

So what is your motive for going to a particular church?  Or not going at all?  You likely have many reasons, even if the main reason is you can't be bothered to look anywhere else!  Paul's reason for wanting to visit the Romans may surprise you:  it wasn't what he could receive but what God would impart through him for their establishment and encouragement.  He openly declared his motive to visit in Romans 1:11-12:  "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- ¹² that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."  Paul was not motivated to visit the Roman believers because he believed he brought valuable experience or unique abilities to the table:  he believed God would benefit the Romans spiritually through him!  I love that Paul did not assume God would impart a particular gift, or that God was limited in His ability to use Paul by how He had gifted him in the past.  Paul was convinced through his visit God would impart "some" spiritual gift.  Though Paul admitted he certainly would receive mutual encouragement from his time with the Roman believers, it was more about what God chose to supply through him than what he hoped to receive.

True fellowship in the Body of Christ (the church) primarily concerns contribution, not what we desire to gain for ourselves.  Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to provide His life as a ransom for many.  Praise the LORD for His example and that God has ordained good works for us to walk in.  We have nothing to offer but ourselves in humility, and my God shall supply all our needs abundantly and faithfully.

Lift Up Your Eyes

It is in our moments of despair and heartbreak God is gracious to draw near to us and speak.  After finding the tomb empty at daybreak, despite receiving a message from an angel, Mary wept.  At that moment the risen Jesus Christ drew near to her and softly spoke her name.  Instantly she recognised Him.  Even in the Old Testament, God drew near to people who were gripped with sorrow.  One instance is when Hagar and her son Ishmael were sent out from Abraham with bread and a skin of water.  They wandered helplessly in the wilderness of Beersheba until the water was spent.  The boy was faint from thirst, and after placing him under a shrub Hagar believed he was going to die.  Her resources were spent, she was without guidance or direction, and all seemed hopeless and lost.  But with God there is always hope.

Genesis 21:16-19 reads, "Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation." ¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink."  When the lad cried out to God, God heard him from heaven.  The angel of God exhorted the sorrowing woman to fear not, to stand up, lift up the lad, and hold him.  God had plans for that boy she never could have dreamed at that desperate moment.

At that moment God opened the eyes of Hagar to see a well of water.  Notice that He did not cause the well to materialise or appear out of thin air:  the well of water was there the entire time!  What a picture!  The poor mother lamented her dying son and thought all was lost.  She had distanced herself from him in an attempt to avoid seeing him suffer and die.  Her weeping drowned out his voice to her ears, but God heard.  She wept bitter tears when a well of clean, good water was within sight from where she sat in despair!  God's provision was there, but she was unable to see it.  God in His grace opened her eyes to see the well of water, guided her to draw from the well, and gave her son a drink which saved his life.

I don't know what your need is, and even if I did I likely do not have the means in myself to meet it.  But I know God is a miraculous provider, the One who opens the eyes which cannot see, and is a Saviour to all who cry out to Him.  Dear friend, do not weep because you lack what God has already provided for you!  He has provided Himself, a Saviour called Jesus Christ who enables us to have new life through faith in Him.  Instead of shutting your eyes to your problems, lift up your eyes to God in faith and He will supply your needs.  Psalm 121:1-8 says, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- from whence comes my help? ² My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. ⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."

Grief and Anger

Grief and anger sometimes go together.  This connection is seen in the life of Jesus.  One of the only recorded times Jesus was angry it stemmed from grief in Mark 3:5:  "And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other."  Jesus was grieved, but continued to love, heal, and do good.  Though Jesus was angry because of grief over the hardness of heart in His critical observers, He remained without sin.  Feelings of anger are not sinful in themselves, but as human beings in a body of flesh nearly every time our anger remains unchecked it leads to sin.

Ephesians 4:26-27 says, "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil."  If we are angry for selfish reasons or if we justify our continued anger, we give opportunity for additional temptations to sin.  Grief can also tempt us to be angry with God, which I examined in greater detail in another post.  We live in a day where anger is expressed continually over all manner of things:  sports teams, red cups, perceived injustice, government legislation, or political candidates.  Anger can be an impetus to action, but without humility and submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit anger always causes infinitely greater harm than good.  During my life I have allowed grief over sin in others to fester into anger, and all it did was embitter and lead me into sin myself.  Had I examined and judged myself as severely as I judged others, my perspective would have been very different.  What used to make me mad and bluntly speak my mind now makes me sad and leads me to seek the LORD.  Knowing God remains in control in this crazy world enables grief over sin (mine and those flaunted by others) to not descend into anger fueled with pride - yes, pride.  Christians need to keep a careful watch for pride which lurks within all of us, for it has the ability to look so holy and justifiable in the heat of the battle - yet is everything but.

I am convinced there is currently no country which identifies as or is genuinely "Christian."  Even among Christians there are goats among the sheep and tares among the wheat!  The form of government in Australia is plainly "secular," though it does provide and protect the freedoms for people and groups of various beliefs.  One thing the left and an increasingly amount of those on the right cannot grasp is though I can accept the fact the world is secular, I must not accept what God calls sin into my life or agree with it as good or right.  I accept the rights of every person to exercise their God-given right to spit in His face and mock Him, but I will not cast my lot among them.  Christians ought not to be shocked or dismayed when we are hated, attacked, castigated, slandered, and marginalised.  Jesus was crucified for only doing what pleased the Father, and therefore we should not expect a world under Satan's sway to applaud our desire for God's glory.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood - governments, corporations, businesses, legislation, or people - but against the spiritual rulers of darkness which blind men to the truth.  Instead of becoming angry or using the world's methods to fight for our rights, how profitable it is to be casting our cares upon God.  No government advocacy group, no public relations team, no media outlet loves you or can help you like God can and will.  Vent on Facebook if you want or start a youtube channel, but those rants stir up wrath whilst the throne room of grace remains empty of those seeking an audience with the King of kings!  The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20).  Can you see it?  While we are busy weighing in with our opinion, the Judge of All the earth is not sought for guidance.  We Christians are up in arms and sharing the latest viral videos, and could it be virtually no one is busy seeking the King of Glory?  Garnering support by men for our opinions is a dodgy foundation to be sure, but those who trust in the LORD Jesus Christ with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding find sure footing and clear direction for their steps.

Don't allow your grief to develop into bitterness and wrath towards others.  Vengeance is the LORD's, and He will repay.  In desiring to stand up for God, ensure you do not resist or oppose Him.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  1 Peter 5:6-10 reads, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."