This morning, it was with a certain sense of foreboding that I drove to the ballot drop box before heading to the office. For the first time, ever, all four members of our household were casting our votes. And yet, in spite of this awesome privilege of participating in the democratic process, instead of a great sense of anticipation, I headed to the ballot box with a great sense of dread.
However, for a moment, I was distracted from my apprehensiveness by the need to figure out exactly where this ballot drop box was…since it was a location I had never been to before. And so, it wasn’t until I was actually at the drop box that I realized what song had come on the radio. I was just in time for the chorus. “Dust in the wind. All we are is dust in the wind.” I could not imagine a more appropriate song by which to deposit our votes this election! I suppose part of what we appreciate about voting is the sense that we have some say in the process—it gives us a semblance of control. But what control can a person have when the two choices for the top post in the land are considered repugnant by a majority of voters? It tends to diminish one’s joy in participating in democracy. And yet, in some ways, this situation produces a healthier sense of perspective than being able to vote for the ideal candidate…for it reminds us that there is no candidate who can save our nation. Is our country in need of salvation? Without a doubt! But will that salvation come from Hillary or Trump or even our dream candidate? Absolutely not. It makes me think of a recent “Pearls Before Swine” comic that begins with the people chanting “Rat” for president. (Rat is one of the usual characters on this strip.) But then Rat offers this campaign promise, “I promise that most all of the real change in your life will not come from any politician, but only from your own discipline, hard work and determination.” In the very next frame, the chanting has stopped and a dumbfounded look is upon the faces of Rat’s supporters. Sensing the tension, Rat follows up, “And I promise to give you a whole bunch of free stuff.” Once again, the people cheer. What a great picture of politics in the USA. We do not vote for candidates based upon integrity, fitness for the job, or wisdom. We vote for those who we believe will do the most for us. It isn’t about my country, it’s about my comfort. But the reality is, real change in our lives is never the product of politics, it is the product of the choices we make each and every day. Do politicians have an impact? Certainly. But the impact they have is nothing compared to the impact of our own thoughts, words and deeds. I find great encouragement in these truths, especially in view of the fact that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I will have a president not of my choosing. No matter which party wins, the result will be a disappointment to most. Having said this, I also recognize that no matter who wins, it is incumbent upon me as a follower of Jesus to show them proper respect. I must say…God’s timing is impeccable. For those who are doing the 1st Peter challenge in our church, this week’s reading was 1 Peter 2:13-17, which begins with the words, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king [or president?!?], as the supreme authority, or to governors….” And the concluding verse reads, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King [or president?!?].” If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called upon to honor the president—whoever he or she may be. This does not mean that you necessarily support the person’s politics. But it does mean that when you do disagree, you do so respectfully. Hey, I didn’t write this stuff! But I do believe it is best. But beyond all of these things, our greatest encouragement comes from remembering that far more important than the latest election cycle is the fact that God’s plan is still being carried out, God’s purposes continue to prevail, and God is still on the throne. Do you want to have a REAL part to play in what’s going in our world? Do you want to have a REAL say? Then be about the work that Jesus began 2,000 years ago. In submission to Christ as our true King, advance His eternal Kingdom. For in Him is the salvation our country really needs. As we read in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Amen and Amen!
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There are few stories in Greek mythology more profound in their commentary on modern life than the story of Narcissus. Narcissus is the infamous boy so handsome, so attractive, that he sang to himself, “You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you.” (Or was that Franki Valli?) As a result, catching a glimpse of himself in a pool, he was unable to tear himself away and eventually withered away for lack of food and drink.
The idea of being so taken with our own images that we neglect life’s basic necessities seems outlandish…until we spend five minutes surfing social media. Talk about narcissism. And nothing bespeaks the narcissism of our age like the ubiquity of the selfie—this addictive habit of taking pictures of ourselves and posting them over and over and over again…as if we are afraid our friends might forget what we look like. Don’t get me wrong, I am very appreciative of the benefits of social media—especially in the way it helps to connect us with people. But as with most things, it has its positives and it has its negatives. And one of the greatest negatives is that it only encourages our natural predisposition to focus on the self. Jesus is the ultimate antidote to this predisposition toward self-absorption. Certainly, we see this in the cross—in His example of selflessness and self-sacrifice. We see it in His railing against those who were so hyper-focused on self-image that they were blind to the Word of God, even when the Word of God was standing right in front of them. We see it in His relentless rebuke of those so consumed with self-love that they choked on notions of loving neighbor as self and an all-consuming love of God. Of course, it’s easy for me to read Christ’s rebukes and say, “preach it Jesus, let ‘em have it, sock it to ‘em.” But what I must not overlook, what I must not fail to see, is that Jesus’ message is as much for me. Selflessness and self-sacrifice seem awfully admirable, until they are required of me. Hyper-focus on self-image is easy to see (and condemn) in others, but difficult to diagnose in me. And I am all too happy to rebuke self-love in my neighbor, all-the-while refusing to address the self-love in me. It seems strange that we who are followers of Jesus should so easily succumb to the very things he spoke most powerfully against. But in some ways, modern notions of spirituality not only allow for such narcissistic tendencies, but encourage them. As Eugene Peterson so insightfully states in his book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places (pg. 243-4): It is an odd phenomenon to observe followers of Jesus, suddenly obsessed with their wonderfully saved souls, setting about busily cultivating their own spiritualities. Self-spirituality has become the hallmark of our age. The spirituality of Me. A Spirituality of self-centering, self-sufficiency and self-development…. But holy living, resurrection living, is not a self-project. We are a people of God and cannot live holy lives, resurrection lives, as individuals. We are not a self-defined community; we are a God-defined community. The love that God pours out for and in us creates a community in which that love is reproduced in our love for one another. True love, God’s love, longs to reproduce itself in love for others. We were designed for community…self-sacrificial, committed community. Growing spiritually was never meant to be an individualistic, isolationist pursuit—we are designed for growing together. What does the pursuit of growing together look like? It looks like overlooking an offense, like setting aside my preferences for the unity of the whole, like willingly leaving my comfort zone to share Christ’s love with others, like humbly setting aside my agenda for kingdom agenda, like giving of my time, money and love for the upbuilding of Christ’s people. So, go ahead, take those selfies. I’m probably only bitter because of my lack of skill at it, anyway. But more and more, make the difficult, selfless choices that serve the community, the Kingdom, and the Savior! After all, it is our Savior who creates this community, who calls us to community, and who sustains us in community until His return! In Christ’s Love, Pastor Dan |
Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
June 2022
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