broken eikon

So I was reading the Presbyterian book of confessions today. I came across the confession of 1967, and I have to say… I was blown away. In 1967, the Presbos adopted this confession of faith as a response to “racial discrimination, nationalistic arrogance, and family and class conflict”.  It was very responsive to biblical scholarship and  asks the church to read scripture with literary and historical context in mind. There are many really really cool parts, but this really stuck out to me is line 9.45, containing the following words…, “this search (for reconciliation and peace) requires that the nations pursue fresh and responsible relations across every line of conflict, even at risk to national security, to reduce areas of strife and to broaden international understanding… Although nations may serve God’s purposes in history, the church which identifies the sovereignty of any one nation or any one way of life with the cause of God denies the lordship of Christ and betrays his calling”.

“Even at risk to national security”?

Can anyone find me another statement of faith that states that nations should pursue reconciliation even at their own risk? That sounds too much like Christ for me…

And that last part about identifying any one nation or way of life with God’s will means denying the Lordship of Christ. Dang.

love it…

Please read this story, and then everyone who wants to road trip here, please indicate so below. This is my favorite quote from the article: “because any time you change things for the better, you’ve got to come from God.”

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus informs us that Kingdom living involves letting go of our anger and contempt for others. I realized while I was preparing to preach about that, I had someone who was angry with me, and part of the problem was my anger and contemptible attitude. Therefore I

was convicted to “leave my gift at the altar” and reconcile with this person. I tried to call him, but I had the wrong number, so I emailed him. Here is the conversation:

On Apr 27, 2009, at 4:08 PM, you wrote:

Mr. X,
My name is Chad from Lone Star Comics in Fort Worth. I was told from
Cass, our manager, that you came in and let him know of your
displeasure with my service. A week or so afterward, I saw you
outside the store, and you called “F-You!” and gave me the finger. I
could not figure out why you had such a hostile attitude towards me
or what I had done to offend you. A few times you mentioned my
poilitics, but I didn’t remember having a conversation about that.
It took me a little bit, but I believe I do remember having a
conversation with you sometime. At any rate, I wanted to apologize
to you for any rudeness I may have given you or any way in which I
was disrespectful. I hope you can forgive me for my poor choice of
words and poor attitude towards you. This is coming from me, not
Lone Star. Thanks.
Chad
from Lone Star

His response was a follows:

Hi Chad,

I was the one that was too harsh the other day. I was not in a very
good mood and even if I have issues with you on the political side I
should not have yelled out.

I think we do not mix well but I have found that people can often find
common ground after events like this.

Yes I do accept your apology and I offer you mine as well. We should
just take a step back.

Thanks for taking the time,

X X

I wrote back that I look forward to seeing him again and that there is a firm handshake waiting… Apparently Jesus knows what he is talking about.

“Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah”

I have been listening to Cohen’s Hallelujah for a few months now, and always this line gives me pause. Is this what love is? Its funny because on the face of it, I want to disagree. Isn’t love our victory march after all? Then I think otherwise. Love would never declare victory. In the context of the song, to be so hurt and sad, yet to praise God, even through cold and broken prisms, is very much how I feel much of the time. Perhaps love will win. But it wont be like winning a war. It will be like people putting down thier weapons, realizing how many of thier own family they have killed with them. The way of God can and will bring about peace, but in our world now, there is so much brokenness and loss, I can barely squeek out my praise sometimes. But squeek it out I do. Hallelujah.