Consoler-in-chief...

This is not a partisan statement. U.S. presidents do this, regardless of party affiliation.

This is not a statement intended to question the appropriateness of a U.S. president addressing a painful national tragedy.

This is not a statement about being patriotic or unpatriotic. It is about registering a concern for the proper exegesis and application of the Word of God.

Three days after the Marathon Bombings on April 15, 2013, President  Obama spoke from inside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston's South End during an interfaith service called "Healing Our City." It is the "mother church" of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Watching the video is a moving experience. Even re-reading the transcript of his speech posted on the White House's website impresses. President Obama is an accomplished orator, capable of conveying empathy through his lucid thought and natural delivery.

He was dubbed "consoler-in-chief" in a subsequent news article about the awful tragedy in West, TX. I could wish that Mr. Obama's gifts were less scarce than they are among important leaders around the world.

Nevertheless, when functioning as President of the United States, no one need attempt to be a Bible exegete. It is not part of the job description.

As an example, here are two excerpts from the transcript of Mr. Obama's Boston Cathedral speech: 

But more than that; our fidelity to our way of life -- to our free and open society -- will only grow stronger.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but one of power and love and self-discipline...

Scripture tells us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” As we do, may God hold close those who’ve been taken from us too soon. May He comfort their families. And may He continue to watch over these United States of America.

And that final allusion to running the race set before us is sealed in song as the church choir closes out the service singing, "America: the Beautiful".

Quoting the Bible to allude to a national identity or mission (with the possible exception of promises to the nation of Israel) is an erroneous application of the Scriptures. How much has our world suffered... have believers in Christ suffered... when we have been constrained to accept that God's kingdom is somehow attached to a particular realm, leader, or visible "church" organization? Inquisitions have been fueled by similar misinterpretation.

Who has favored-nation status in heaven? Who does God love more? It seems tantamount to watching athletes for opposing teams make the sign of the cross or do a "Tebow". Who is God rooting for today?

Human beings are born to die. So are nation-states. The kingdom of God has survived and prospered for centuries in diverse and contrasting sociopolitical settings without being tied to any physical kingdom's particular vision or agenda." (for more about this, feel free to check out this essay: Assertively Apolitical)

No, this is not a recent nor an uncommon sophism. The attempt to attach the Christian GOD to a national agenda occurs early and frequently in Church History.

"As early as the year 250 Origen was already hinting, broadly enough, that 'If now the entire Roman Empire should unite in the adoration of the true God, then the Lord would fight for her, she being still [the reference is to Exodus 14:14]; then she would slay more enemies than Moses did in his day.'..." “The Reformers and Their Stepchildren" by Leonard Verduin (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,1964), p. 30.

The Apostle Paul's words in 2 Timothy 1:7-8 "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" have nothing to do with the citizens of a particular city defending family and neighbors and preserving a way of life; but they have everything to do with unashamedly putting forth the testimony of Jesus Christ, regardless of circumstances.

The exhortation of Hebrews 12:1 to "run with patience the race that is set before us", calls children of God to manifest the same kind of faith as did many saints of old: bearing witness to the truthfulness of God's Word by obedience to it, dying in hope of a reward not yet seen.... a far cry from an exhortation to the citizenry of a city and nation to "hang tough".

I need a Commander-in-Chief; I do not need a Consoler-in-Chief. The line of separation between church and state is blurry enough. I have godly, faithful colleagues in the ministry who have the calling and the gift and the love and the discipline to rightly divide the word of truth. From that Word, I receive consolation when needed in the face of everything imaginable and unimaginable.

There is an upside to this that I wish I could better convey. 

Jesus said: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Joh 8:32 AV) 

Part of that freedom means that I enjoy my walk with Christ without expending energy and emotion bemoaning what is inevitable. A nation is in decline. Should that surprise me? Is my spiritual well-being tied to a sinking ship?  On the contrary, God's kingdom survives...more than survives...prospers and increases... like the little mustard seed that, when sown, grows so big and strong that it attracts many to find refuge and build a new home in it. In Jesus Christ, everything is yes and amen!

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Da 2:44 AV)

Where do I look to for consolation?

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” (Ps 121:1 AV)

The lovebird incident...

 Linda has a pair of lovebirds.

Their cage hangs outside on the balcony during the day. We keep a closer eye on them than we used to.

I recently happened upon a snake inside the cage. It was about 3' long, coiled and working its way up. The birds were silently glowering at it from the highest corner they could squeeze into. I wisely froze and screamed "no! no!" Jeremy (our son) came to the rescue (paramedics are good at this). He shook the cage and the snake flew out. It was beaten to death posthaste with a broom. 

But that's not what I want to write about.

Machpelah's cave...

(This entry ties in with an earlier one, which has also been the one most viewed on my blog:
The Beloved Country).

“That he may give me the cave of Machpelah...for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.” (Ge 23:9)

I solemnly dedicate this to all of God's emissaries who have died or will die in a land far away from their birthplace because they were convinced that HE had led them there to proclaim the Gospel of HIS SON as foot soldiers in an army of saints who happened to take God's command literally and personally:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mr 16:15)

Abraham needed a burial place. He owned nothing else, mind you, in the promised land. But he needed a final resting place that he could call his own; a place where Sarah could be laid to rest; a place where there might be some assurance that, when his time came, his remains would end up beside hers.

Figs and dates...

It is not always easy to see the line in the sand between genuine zeal and fanaticism.

Wishful thinking does not a prophecy make... nor does the false fervor of prophecy mongers needing visible validations to keep the offerings rolling in.

Back in the day, we attended one of those crusades. Yes, God's simple plan of salvation through what Jesus did for us on the cross was wonderfully proclaimed. But, parallel to that was this also: based on the evangelist's calculations, within 90 days of his crusade (circa 1973) the invasion of Israel from the north, Gog and Magog (i.e. the Soviet Union) would materialize. That meant that the Rapture was imminent. I wrote letters to family and friends warning them that if they were considering being saved, they needed to do it soon because there was little time left to make that decision.

Imagine my chagrin forty years later.

And the LORD shall...

 (One reason that reading other pastors' sermons is encouraging to me is that they often reflect back what their respective flocks needed to hear on that particular Sunday. It is a refreshing reminder that people everywhere are... people. Thank God for those who faithfully exhort the flocks that they so dearly love. They know the way out of the doublemindedness and carnality to a richer life and peace for all. They only want the best for all of us.)

“And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isa 58:11)

In Spanish, the verbs here appear individually in future tense: shall pastor, shall satisfy, shall make, shall be. The message conveyed is not that some day you will be able to count on things that you do not have today. God is giving you words of consolation and encouragement by assuring you of His unconditional presence, whatever happens later.

Neither "for" nor "to"...

(back from Spanish again, a topic that reflects the confusion that compounds our grief just when a clear word of hope is most needed.)

To lose a child or grandchild is unspeakable grief. It does not seem natural or fair to us that they should go before we do.

In the abyss of anguish into which we have descended, the Word of God offers us hope and consolation.

In the Old Testament, at the end of the famous narration about David and Bathsheba, we read, “...the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.” (2Sa 12:15)

What did David do? He "besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.” (2Sa 12:16) And that is the way he stayed until the seventh day when the child died.

Why have you forsaken us?

(CLARIFICATION:Translating back from Spanish, and it sounds like it... sorry.
       This was not intended to be a "one-size-fits-all" answer for every situation. Where there is a bona fide, spiritual leadership, then, yes, this addresses an underlying rebellion that every believer should be mindful of. However, my hackles raise when I hear a similar tone used by self-protecting authoritarians who only intend to continue with their manipulative agenda. Some folks are trapped in a place where they need encouraged to walk away. The following does not apply to them. Thanks for reading!)

Someone might think that I am about to rant against God because of something that has happened to me or because He has not delivered yet on the thing I keep asking Him for. Look at us! My, how ready we are to believe that something has happened that God promised would never happen:

“For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.” (1Sa 12:22 AV)

Even with lexicons and dictionaries at hand, much care is needed in the way we exposit the Scriptures. That said, I think I see a lesson based on the specific use of one certain word that, taken in context, warrants its exposition and meditation.

The passage in question:

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:25 AV)

And the word in question: "forsaking"