A PRAYER TO START
As those who know the person and work of Jesus every new endeavor, every new day for that matter, grants us the opportunity to assess where we are with honesty and hope. With honesty because we are unafraid of what we might find lurking around and within us, for we know that the grace that covers us. With hope because we know wherever it is that we are going, the path that gets us there is not of our own making. Pray this prayer adapted from Psalm 25 today…
Father, you will not forget your mercy, nor you never-changing, never-ending, always-and-forever love! They have been pouring out from you long before I breathed my first breathe and long after I will do so at your side. Father, with the same certainty, you will not remember my sins and my transgressions but rather, will remember me for the sake of your Son!
Father, you are the best, and what you desire is the best. For that reason, you have instructed sinners like me in your way! You lead the humble in what is right and teach the humble your way. All your paths, gracious Father, are steadfast love and faithfulness!
Let me today walk with eyes wide open down the path you have for me. In Jesus name. Amen.
GETTING THOUGHTFUL
This week begins a season of digging deep into the metaphor of church that the apostle Paul works out in greatest detail in Romans chapter 12: a body. It is the image of a human body with its various parts, unique abilities, mutual responsibilities and unified identity; that Paul uses to describe how we are to function as a family of God. Yet, before we begin to plow into the rich and practical abundance of Romans 12, we need to assess the environment in which we will be working: the context of our time and place, and our own hearts. After all, Paul begins his modeled metaphor off with the exhortation, “Do not be conformed to this age”, or as one translation puts it, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.” (12:2)
What is the pattern of this age that we might be prone to conform to? Division. More specifically, “affective polarization”. The word may seem too fancy or formal for a faith study, but it captures the crisis of our current times quite astutely. Affective polarization refers to how we interact with differences. Different opinions, different ideas, different convictions, different backgrounds, different aspirations, different expectations, different beliefs, etc.
Differences, by the way, are normal. Paul will even make the argument that there are differences between toes and noses, hearts and hairs; yet, such differences do not divide the body, but allow it to flourish when each part functions well as part of a whole. More on that in the weeks to come. For now, we need to note that the same is true of our societies. We are not designed to all think the same or share all the same values and dreams, much less abilities and expectations. In fact, differences, and disagreements that naturally stem from those differences, are the hallmark of a civil, fee and democratic society. Remove differences and you have a society that is totally segregated (think Hunger Games) or hiding / punishing those who are deviant (think Orwell’s 1984 or, less profoundly(!), The Divergent series).
Unfortunately, in an affective polarized society, differences devolve almost instantly into division. That is to say, that when disagreements occur (whether read on social media, spoken in Gospel Community, or heard via news media streams), “people who identify with either [side of the disagreement] increasingly hate and fear the other [side] and people…” who hold to it or even fail to affirm their side or any (Lukianoff & Haidt, 141). Our normative response as a culture is not civil discourse, but rather disproportionate overreaction. When we encounter differences (and the people who exposit those differences), we treat them as hostile to our wellbeing; either responding with hostility or recoiling in fear. And thus, we entrench ourselves into groups of likeminded thinkers and believers, not because our values demand our distinction, but because we need one another to combat a common foe: anyone else with a different thought.
But are differences, specifically, different people (which everyone is different than you by the way), really our enemy? Are we really in combat against one another?
The apostle Paul would argue that we indeed find ourselves in the midst of clashing forces; a reality that we need to acknowledge if we are be fruitful and effective in our ordinary faith. At the conclusion of his letter to the faith family of Ephesus, after expounding for five-and-a-half chapters on the beautiful gift of life together in Christ and the practical necessities to ensure we enjoy the gift to its fullest, Paul says this,
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
(Ephesians 6:10-18, ESV)
It’s imperative that as we dig into the depths of being a faith family, fully aware of Jesus, who are cultivating a good world; that we do so with sober-mindedness. The context in which we are growing up into the body of Christ together is one in which there are schemes set out to divide us and the world we are a called to bless. Eugene Peterson offers his translation of Paul’s exhortation, a rendition that you might find helpful in grasping the spirit of our assessment,
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
(Ephesians 6:10-18, The Message)
REFLECTION
The truth is that we are all prone to being conformed to this age, to becoming so well adjusted to our culture that we go about our daily actions, interactions, and decisions thinking very little. Yet our charge as combatants in a cosmic battle already won (notice that we “stand” in the conflict instead of advancing, it’s as if someone else is doing the battling in front of us) is to help one another discern just where we tend to contribute to the pangs of the society that we too often condemn.
Use these questions to help you prayerfully reflect individually and/or discuss as a DNA group.
Where do you recognize differences / disagreements, devolving into division in…
Our society as a whole
In our city
In your work place
In your neighborhood
In your Gospel Community
In your home / familial relationships
In what ways are you becoming “well-adjusted” to this culture and contributing to the divide?
REVERBERATIONS
Let the truth from Peter reflect off the walls of your mind, the chamber of your heart, and the lips of your mouth this week.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:21-25)