Blessed Assurances and other Iron Clad Gurantees
Matthew 6:34 - “Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.”
Life is complex. Who would of thought! The more we come to know, the less we seem to know. Just a few years ago “Junk DNA” was considered to be the leftover debris of life’s long march towards its present state. Scientists used it as a perfect example of evolution's disjointed creative process of trial and error—lots of error. They turned out to be wrong. Not only is “Junk DNA” not junk, it's one more nail in the coffin of hypothetical scenarios posited as fact. From God just did it! To “Over a very long time stuff just happened.” What kinds of stuff? You know...evolution kind-a stuff! Which tends to be an answer in lieu of an actual answer. God and Darwin, apparently, cover a lot of territory.
Let me be clear, I'm not saying that evolution or religion are untrue, only that they can't be used as the final answer for all of life's unanswered questions. When inferring from scant evidence about what might be possible, almost anything can be true.
Sometimes I watch science shows on television and the internet and I'm always in awe of how much “Science” claims to have figured out. Occasionally, they'll insert the word theory, but rush past it like a card-sharp using sleight of hand to deflect your attention. They allegedly can pin point, with tremendous accuracy, the daily practices of animals dead for fifty million years with no more than a tooth or a toenail. When, in fact, they frequently can't determine whether an ancient skull and partial skeleton is ape or human, maybe a distant human ancestor, maybe not. Were dinosaurs reptilian? Or, were they descended from birds, possibly some combination. Were they fantastically stupid? Or, were their brains small, but efficient for the demands of some T Rex-chicken hybrid? Some of these questions have at least been partially answered. For the most part , however, what we actually know, is dwarfed by what we don't.
Switch the channels to religious programming and you find pretty much the same thing. Occasionally humility wins out, but not often. It doesn't pay for some television preacher to say “The bible is God's word, but I'm not really sure what that means.” People searching for the truth don't want indecision, it's answers they're after. They want, no, they demand assurances, security, conviction.
This is simply human nature. Do you want some stock analyst telling you “This stock is real winner! On the other hand, I’ve been wrong before, so who knows!” If you don't invest with them, watch their TV show, buy their book or go to their church (Wall Street or the closest cathedral will do) they might be forced to get a different job, and who wants to do that.
Life is complex. Who would of thought! The more we come to know, the less we seem to know. Just a few years ago “Junk DNA” was considered to be the leftover debris of life’s long march towards its present state. Scientists used it as a perfect example of evolution's disjointed creative process of trial and error—lots of error. They turned out to be wrong. Not only is “Junk DNA” not junk, it's one more nail in the coffin of hypothetical scenarios posited as fact. From God just did it! To “Over a very long time stuff just happened.” What kinds of stuff? You know...evolution kind-a stuff! Which tends to be an answer in lieu of an actual answer. God and Darwin, apparently, cover a lot of territory.
Let me be clear, I'm not saying that evolution or religion are untrue, only that they can't be used as the final answer for all of life's unanswered questions. When inferring from scant evidence about what might be possible, almost anything can be true.
Sometimes I watch science shows on television and the internet and I'm always in awe of how much “Science” claims to have figured out. Occasionally, they'll insert the word theory, but rush past it like a card-sharp using sleight of hand to deflect your attention. They allegedly can pin point, with tremendous accuracy, the daily practices of animals dead for fifty million years with no more than a tooth or a toenail. When, in fact, they frequently can't determine whether an ancient skull and partial skeleton is ape or human, maybe a distant human ancestor, maybe not. Were dinosaurs reptilian? Or, were they descended from birds, possibly some combination. Were they fantastically stupid? Or, were their brains small, but efficient for the demands of some T Rex-chicken hybrid? Some of these questions have at least been partially answered. For the most part , however, what we actually know, is dwarfed by what we don't.
Switch the channels to religious programming and you find pretty much the same thing. Occasionally humility wins out, but not often. It doesn't pay for some television preacher to say “The bible is God's word, but I'm not really sure what that means.” People searching for the truth don't want indecision, it's answers they're after. They want, no, they demand assurances, security, conviction.
This is simply human nature. Do you want some stock analyst telling you “This stock is real winner! On the other hand, I’ve been wrong before, so who knows!” If you don't invest with them, watch their TV show, buy their book or go to their church (Wall Street or the closest cathedral will do) they might be forced to get a different job, and who wants to do that.
Politicians will, likewise, tell you they have a program that will solve all of Americas problems. Everyone will have a good paying job and our enemies will cower in fear. Or, except our humble apologies, depending on the particulars. No politician will say “How should I know! This is complex stuff!” Thereby invoking “The Stuff” once again as the all-encompassing answer.
The one constant in all such equations is the need for assurances spoken with conviction. It's what people demand. Anything less than that will not be tolerated. So, we learn very quickly to assure our loved ones, our bosses, our parents and even our children that we are not only sure, but we are deeply convicted about our assurances.
In our private moments, though, we quake with fear about life's uncertainties, admitting that we are deeply unsure of just about everything. If we're fortunate, those who claim to love us, will continue to do so in spite of our fears and insecurities.
If we happen to be very unlucky they won't care that we are unsure, they'll simply want us to take care of it. Whatever “It” is! Which only compels the cycle to start all all over again. Meaning; that if we wish to be accepted for our weakness and loved by those who claim to love us, it becomes necessary to admit our lack of surety and move forward—together.
Maybe that's what Jesus intended when he said “Love one another as I have loved you. Love your enemies. And, remember, treat others they way you wish to treated. Believe on me when I tell you this. If you do these things you will have eternal life!” He also said something about loving God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul as a necessary component, let's not forget that part of it.
By carefully tethering the love of God to the love of your fellow man, including the unlovable (our enemies) Jesus seemed to be saying that you can't really do the one, without also doing the other. If you don't love your fellow man, in all their disgusting glory, all the religious rituals in the world are worthless. That is how you can be sure of eternal life.
Jesus offers few easy answers. In fact, he only deepens the conundrum by linking the two together, knowing full and well that few will do what he's asking, indicating just how narrow the road less traveled can be.
This is where cheap grace becomes a common solution, say a few words, acknowledge a couple of ideas, go to church, pay your tithes and all will be well. Jesus paid the price, so the rest of us can get about the business of living our best lives now, in Christ's name, of course. And, when all is said and done we will fly away to glory and receive our just reward.
All those passages about the Kingdom of God that have been interpreted as a reference to Heaven, unfortunately, aren't really about heaven at all. Jesus, like every Jew before him, understood the Kingdom of God as God's rule and reign in the hearts of men. It wasn't a statement about the after-life. It was the place where God's will was being done on earth as he directed it from Heaven. It was about pounding swords into plowshares that could be used to produce enough to sustain everyone, not just your fellow tribe members. Then the Lion (the great superpowers of the age) would lay down with the lamb (the humble, small nations that were their victims) and they would rest together, in peace—and they would study war no more.
I'm inclined to believe that if we read Jesus properly, what he was proposing was intended to be trans-formative of both the individual and the world. Either he was suggesting divine Grace as a way out (throwing ourselves on the mercy of God's court and asking for leniency) Or, when he spoke of eternal life, he was saying that this present life has trouble enough, so why are you asking about the next one? What will you do to alleviate the suffering that you encounter today? That is what matters! Tomorrow will bring it's own difficulty. And then, we will do the same thing, all over again. Do this and you will have eternal life, real life that will not rust or decay. Be filled with grace as God is filled with grace. Show mercy because you were shown mercy, suffering with those who suffer, loving the unlovable, live by faith, offer hope to the hopeless, these are eternal things, God things, life everlasting.
Do I know this for sure—most assuredly—I do not. But the questions are well worth asking.
Mark Magula
The one constant in all such equations is the need for assurances spoken with conviction. It's what people demand. Anything less than that will not be tolerated. So, we learn very quickly to assure our loved ones, our bosses, our parents and even our children that we are not only sure, but we are deeply convicted about our assurances.
In our private moments, though, we quake with fear about life's uncertainties, admitting that we are deeply unsure of just about everything. If we're fortunate, those who claim to love us, will continue to do so in spite of our fears and insecurities.
If we happen to be very unlucky they won't care that we are unsure, they'll simply want us to take care of it. Whatever “It” is! Which only compels the cycle to start all all over again. Meaning; that if we wish to be accepted for our weakness and loved by those who claim to love us, it becomes necessary to admit our lack of surety and move forward—together.
Maybe that's what Jesus intended when he said “Love one another as I have loved you. Love your enemies. And, remember, treat others they way you wish to treated. Believe on me when I tell you this. If you do these things you will have eternal life!” He also said something about loving God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul as a necessary component, let's not forget that part of it.
By carefully tethering the love of God to the love of your fellow man, including the unlovable (our enemies) Jesus seemed to be saying that you can't really do the one, without also doing the other. If you don't love your fellow man, in all their disgusting glory, all the religious rituals in the world are worthless. That is how you can be sure of eternal life.
Jesus offers few easy answers. In fact, he only deepens the conundrum by linking the two together, knowing full and well that few will do what he's asking, indicating just how narrow the road less traveled can be.
This is where cheap grace becomes a common solution, say a few words, acknowledge a couple of ideas, go to church, pay your tithes and all will be well. Jesus paid the price, so the rest of us can get about the business of living our best lives now, in Christ's name, of course. And, when all is said and done we will fly away to glory and receive our just reward.
All those passages about the Kingdom of God that have been interpreted as a reference to Heaven, unfortunately, aren't really about heaven at all. Jesus, like every Jew before him, understood the Kingdom of God as God's rule and reign in the hearts of men. It wasn't a statement about the after-life. It was the place where God's will was being done on earth as he directed it from Heaven. It was about pounding swords into plowshares that could be used to produce enough to sustain everyone, not just your fellow tribe members. Then the Lion (the great superpowers of the age) would lay down with the lamb (the humble, small nations that were their victims) and they would rest together, in peace—and they would study war no more.
I'm inclined to believe that if we read Jesus properly, what he was proposing was intended to be trans-formative of both the individual and the world. Either he was suggesting divine Grace as a way out (throwing ourselves on the mercy of God's court and asking for leniency) Or, when he spoke of eternal life, he was saying that this present life has trouble enough, so why are you asking about the next one? What will you do to alleviate the suffering that you encounter today? That is what matters! Tomorrow will bring it's own difficulty. And then, we will do the same thing, all over again. Do this and you will have eternal life, real life that will not rust or decay. Be filled with grace as God is filled with grace. Show mercy because you were shown mercy, suffering with those who suffer, loving the unlovable, live by faith, offer hope to the hopeless, these are eternal things, God things, life everlasting.
Do I know this for sure—most assuredly—I do not. But the questions are well worth asking.
Mark Magula