I have been reading
Judges lately. It is in many ways a sad tale of the same cycles of
turning away from God that have marked much of human history. I see so much of
the church in it (in any country). It seems to be human nature - the
people of God turning away to follow the ways of the world and the culture
that surrounds them, forgetting his past miracles and mercies. Eventually
God allows his people to suffer the natural consequences of sin and withdraws
his hand of protection (after all we have told him we don't want him around anymore
anyway). When we are oppressed, crushed, miserable, and find we have no
strength to get out, we finally turn to God.
I think what has struck
me most in Judges is the power of one faithful person to shape a community or
even a nation. In summing up the theme of Judges it says, "Whenever
the Lord raided up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out
of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived...." (2:18) Over
and over throughout the book when God would raise up a judge, Israel would
follow God and that judge until they died, "but when the judge died, the
people returned to ways ever more corrupt....(19).
It is striking to me in
these stories why the people who have turned from God would follow these
judges. Gideon (ch 6-9) was the least of his family, from the smallest
tribe. We know Gideon received the signs of the fleece and other signs to
assure him of victory, but that was for him personally. The only
thing the people knew he had done was simply to break down his fathers idols
(and that in secret at night). Have you ever wondered why people rallied
to him in the first place? They didn't receive the confirmation of
the fleece. Why did people listen to him when he sent tens of thousands
of soldiers home and then divided them again until he only had 300 men to fight
an uncountable hoard?
Why didn't God give a
sign to the whole nation? Well I guess he did. Once Gideon truly
believed God had called him and was with him, he was willing to stake his life
on it. And that changed everything. Sometimes God just needs one
person with unwavering faith to inspire others. Gideon's personal faith
became the sign to the nation. It was the same for many of the other
judges - people followed them before any military victories. Their faith
inspired others to have faith.
So why is the church so
anxious to fit with the world's philosophy, to bend our beliefs to match
secular humanism, consumerism, grace without repentance, a "name it and
claim it" Santa Claus of a god, or any other trend that pops up? Why
do we keep looking so much like the world around us?
I am proud to have seen
over and over in my life how one person can make a difference - in a group of
friends, in a work place, in a community, and even in a nation. I have
seen so many times the effects of one life who affects many - and often they
have not even know it. We have seen a single person stop a tribal fight,
a person who was wronged bring healing to families through forgiveness, a bad
situation turn into a prayer meeting, one faithful person keep a whole group
from doing wrong, the attitude of one person changing the attitude of the
whole....
I am not suggesting we
become fire brand preachers shoving truth down people's throats, but faithful
people of God. People who don't compromise our integrity in words or in
action, people who love God and others, people who defend the defenseless, love
the unlovable, touch the poor and the outcast, are peacemakers, and are
unashamed of the gospel of Christ - even if they stand alone. What is
amazing is that when it looks like we are left alone how God uses it to call
others to stand as well.
That is who I want to
be. That is who I pray you will be. That as long as we are alive we
are drawing people to God.
Scott for the Dooley family.
Please keep praying for the hydro project, for elections, and for Gail's
health. In both the hydro project and the elections just a few Christians
standing up in the community can make a world of difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment