Aliens Afoot

It's quite a job to run the universe--I'm thankful every day that I have no part in it save my own backyard. This past week's uprising over an elderly gentleman's well-intentioned albeit mislead attempts at taking on the job fell short and created quite a bit of havoc in the meantime. If only he and his followers had remembered the words in Isiah 40:25-31. "The Lord is ever-lasting--the creator of the ends of the earth."(28) The creator and the one in control. Thank God.
The world as we know it these days isn't exactly an easy place in which to live. Sometimes we Christians feel kind of like aliens. That's not exactly a crazy idea. I Peter 11 states that we "Live as aliens and strangers in the world." Witnessing all the hatred and defensiveness that came from this past weekend's events further strengthens my belief that we are indeed aliens. We're just passing through on the journey. We don't need to get overly caught up in every mundane disagreement and opinion since we won't be sticking around forever. Again, thank God. 
We do remember that if we live as "aliens" on Earth, it's more than likely that we'll be treated as such from time to time. The laws of the land tend to get us in hot water on occasion. Oh, sure, it's easy to see that blatant law-breaking of man-made laws will bring retribution. That's why it's just not a great idea to incite a riot, yell "fire" in a group of people, or bring unfavorable attention to yourself in general.
But sometimes the lines blur...
...and this aggravates non aliens.
In I Peter "breaking the law" takes on a higher standard of moral law. And it gets tricky for folks who like things in nice, neat columns of "okay to do" and "not okay to do."
When it comes to making clear and concise delineations between concrete and moral law, we once again assuredly look to the example of Christ. Being the greatest moral and ethical teacher that ever walked on Earth, his actions were, nonetheless, interpreted by many a rabbi and church elder as breaking Jewish law left and right. He healed folks on the Sabbath; he and his disciples ate grain from the fields on the Sabbath. He questioned the unquestionable. He challenged authority. All moral and ethical laws were up for debate. 
He did, however, make it clear that there were great distinctions between moral law and mortal law. At one time he was asked about something he had said earlier about God's law being above all of man's laws. He replied with an answer that we aliens can easily remember: We give to the state that which is owed to the state; all else is God's. No brainer--done deal.
However...
When we put our contemplation to the higher moral and ethical issues of life, then it gets more interesting. The lines start to divide, and the followers Christ's teachings begin to look and sound a little more alien. We might feel that in a higher sense that a seemingly mundane rule, law, or practice is not acceptable based merely on popular opinion. We go by our rule book; not everyone agrees with it and we get roughed up a little from time to time. 
Sometimes it can get difficult to be the odd folks out; it can get pretty lonely. In John 16, the disciples felt that sense of loneliness when, in the midst of their joy in being in the daily presence of Christ, he told them he would be leaving them. He explained that he would not be visible to them for a time which caused them to grieve the loss. After all that had happened in their time together--the miracles, the lessons, the life-altering events--and now he was leaving them. I'm guessing, in their most mortal moments they had fleeting thoughts of "why?" and "what just happened?" What good has all this chaos and suffering done only to end with Christ disappearing from them and everyone else? Once again, they just didn't yet understand. But Christ did assure them that the grief would be real--but temporary. The joy that would follow would be eternal. Their happiest moments spent on Earth would pale in comparison. And, of course, they believed. He'd never told them anything other than the truth--ever. And they knew it--as we do yet today.
And they did suffer for their relationship with Christ; not all the folks amongst them felt a spirit of love and acceptance of these aliens. And so it is today. It came out in many and various ways during the week and weekend past. We are assuredly aliens. 
But it's okay...as with the disciples, Christ reminds us that any of the grief we feel from being an alien is temporary. 
And, of course, since he is Christ, he never tells anything but the truth.
And we know it. 


Peace be with you.

Others ARE Jumping Off the Cliff...Are You?

Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16; I Peter 2:21b-25; John 10:11-16


We've all been privy to (or maybe been an active participant) in a scenario that pits a tween or teen against a parent over something that is, in the mind of the kiddo, the most important purchase, event, or opportunity known to man. This purchase, event, or opportunity is, in the mind of the parent, out of the question. Predictably, next  comes the retort from the kiddo stating that "everyone else" is buying/doing/going. Then...here it comes...that great timeless parental zinger, "If everyone else jumped off a cliff, you would too?" 


In I Peter, the folks Peter encountered pretty much acted the same way and thought the same thoughts. As a result, things were not going well from a Christian point of view. He urged  them to "keep away from the evil pleasures of the world". Don't follow the others off that proverbial cliff. The words remind us also that we are truly just passing through this life on the eternal journey; this isn't it. Not even close. Keep on the straight and narrow--obey all the laws of the land--be good examples at all times. That's enough to drive even the most self-disciplined person over that edge.  Kind of like a rubber ball being squeezed on all sides until it pops out of the compressed space--Pop! We're out; we're over the edge of the cliff happily following all those other oblivious lemmings as they go.


Fortunately for us, we have a shepherd that is always there to watch over our more lemming-like moments. And not just any shepherd...the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd that will not only watch over us, but actually lay down his life for us. That's how important it is that we have our Shepherd guiding us and protecting us. A regular shepherd, a "hired man" as stated in John, will "run when he sees a wolf coming and will leave the sheep" because there's no bond--they're not his, after all. So, the wolf has free reign, attacks, and the flock is scattered to and fro. That analogy gives a perfect view of how Satan is always there, lying in wait, ready to attack. Thankfully, we sheep have a shepherd who is so caring of us that, even though he has sheep scattered here, there, and everywhere, He is constantly calling to us and bringing us back to His close protection. 


God reiterates this message to us in Ezekiel. "I will search and find my sheep. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places they were scattered in that dark and cloudy day." We are not only promised being rescued from dangers that surround us, but also being brought to lush pastures, and, if needed, having our wounds mended as well. We are indeed in good hands.


So, the message is clear, just as it is from a caring parent when we're acting our worst in wanting, needing, and grousing. Would we bail off the cliff lemming-like? From time to time--probably. Are we a being watched over, cared for, and sheltered even though we don't really deserve it?  Always.


Peace be with you.