Radical Christianity
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Last week was another week of bad news. It was also another week where news and social media arm-chair quarterbacks were certain that they knew what the leaders in our country did or did not do as well as what they now should or should not do. Those seeking the nominations for President are using the current tragedy in San Bernardino, California, where fourteen people were killed at a Christmas party as the spring board for their own campaigns. Everyone seems to have the answer, but no one is quoting the only book with the wisdom to deal with this tragedy. That book is the Bible.
Bad Thinking
It appears that the shooters were Muslims. Apparently some think all Muslims in this country are to be looked at as our enemies. However, many of the Muslims in this country are here because they fled persecution in their own countries, many times at the hands of other Muslims. Nearly all who are here want the freedoms that we say we have when it comes to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to vote and the other freedoms our constitution allows. I just don’t think all Muslims are the problem.
It appears that the shooters went berserk at a Christmas party so I suppose it is fair to say that Christmas parties should be banned. I have been waiting for some absurd political commentary along this line to be suggested. The shooters used assault rifles and had pipe bombs. Obviously outlawing pipe bombs and assault rifles would help control these situations, right? But I think they are outlawed. Pipe bombs are certainly outlawed in the US and assault rifles are at least heavily regulated in California. I am not in favor of the anarchist movement that wants every citizen in this country to be armed, but it seems obvious that outlawing these weapons would not have changed what happened in San Bernardino.
I am suggesting that no one has the final answer as to how to handle mass shootings and terrorism. But these events have put fear in the heart of everyone; and when people are making decisions in that state of mind, sometimes those decisions cause more harm than good. But I do have two very radical suggestions.
The Two Radical Suggestions
First, as Christians we need to quit speaking evil of dignitaries. Those of us who claim to be Christians should act like it. We say we believe the Bible but many who call themselves Christians apparently don’t believe Peter when he said in 2 Peter 2:9-10, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” Christians should certainly not act like the rebellious angels and the rebellious societies described in the passage.
Second, instead of spending our time criticizing, I would like to suggest that we pray for those who are in authority. Right now! And it would be nice if we meant it. We don’t need to call prayer meetings although that would be good as well since the Bible says that the faithful fervent prayer of a (one) righteous man (or woman) accomplishes much. I realize the verse I am quoting has to do with sickness that is associated with specific sin or sinful lifestyles, but the principle cannot be ignored. The example of Elijah’s praying in the passage does not have anything to do with the healing of diseases.
Radical Christians
I know it would be radical for many who claim to be Christians to pray for our President and those in authority instead of attributing evil motives to them. But the whole idea of true Christianity is radical. It doesn’t make sense to die to selfish ambition in order to live. It doesn’t make sense to esteem others better than ourselves. It doesn’t make sense to be swift to hear and slow to speak. It doesn’t make sense to have a Savior who dies on a cross rather than raising a fighting army. No, these things don’t make sense. These principles are radical and that is the kind of radical the Lord wants us to be.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of December 6, 2015