In this crisis, I've been constantly reminded of the status of the Christian and of grace.
Christians are Christians not by merit or through being good, but because of the cross, by the act of Jesus taking on our sins and paying the punishment of death for them, that we may live without our debt of sin. So, this gift of grace, of second chances, of a new life walking with God, starts with a gift Given to us by God.
It is a gift that came from a great battle and victory won by God against sin and death. Humanity as the spectators get the chance to wear his name, and receive this gift of grace and favour, as if it were spoils of war, akin to looting the dead of their possessions. What God has given us is unmerited, we did not deserve to have it, nor were we entitled to it, in the same way that a rioter has no rightful entitlement to someone else's possessions without paying. It was an act of God's mercy that we should ever be called Christians, and as Christ followers we live in the blessing and the spoil of a great war won on our behalf. We couldn't win any battle against sin without God.
Because of this identity, I can look at the people rioting in England in a different light. Not one of hatred, although no one can like what is going on, but also look upon the rioters with a sense of sadness and loss, that they aren't won for God - yet. They chose their plunder to be earthly possessions and, unless God moves, it will be their own undoing. They look to gain what the world offers, at the expense of their soul. They too were looking for the things that they don't deserve. As they chose to base it on perishable things, then "even what they have will be taken away from them". After all, who can keep their possessions after death? Can we pray for a reversal, that they would seek after the things of the Lord, "that moth and rust will not destroy, that theives will not break in and steal?" Christians receive mercy and grace on a daily basis. Christians don't deserve it, rioters and looters dont deserve it, but the offer is open to all, that it may change all of our hearts.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
the riots
It difficult not to have some kind of response to what has been going on in London and elsewhere in the past couple of days. It brings out so many emotions - anger, annoyance, regret, shame, despair, that it took a good sleep or ten to figure out just what I think about the whole situation, and what I feel, eventually.
So in the news, I've seen the family members of Mark Duggan calling for calm, and indeed stressed in their night vigil with regards to their dead family member, that things should not go to violence. It was never their intent.
However, I know from myself, and from the bible, that sin doesnt need an excuse to manifest itself.
"There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes - 7:20
Sin starts at home, because its the starting nature of mankind. I can see the riots as hideous, an abomination, and abject lawlessness, but that doesn't stop the idea that, it could have been me.
"For one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ" - Robert Murray M'Cheyne
I could've had their background, their social pressures, the isolation and alienation from the rest of society, that would trigger this expression of human depravity. Surely as much as these rioters are morally deprived, so am I. Blessed and cursed am I that this human nature is more subtle in me, and doesn't resort to smashing windows for my next purchase. But I cannot deny the sinful nature's power, on the whole of mankind, and when I yield, in me too, though Christ works with blood sweat and tears to reverse the process in me. The only one who, hand on heart, could truly say they wouldn't have rioted in their situation, is Jesus Christ.
Also, such an explicit demonstration of violence and wrongdoing is a stark reminder of that there must be something wrong. A symptom never appears from being well. Our society is not at its best. We could have pride in our hearts for seeing the recent events of the violence in the arab spring and say "that would never happen in my country" and let it serve whatever racist aims there is in such thinking, but here it is, looting and violence on our doorstep. Its not a revolution, as much as the free love movement of the 60's wasn't a revolution, it was just sin with a new name, just as this "free stuff movement" is. People don't like diagnoses when they describe something bad, but what will it take for people to see that theres something not right with humanity in the way it seeks things for their own ends and not others, seeks not God, but seeks to be Gods themselves?
My response however, cannot be despair. Never despair. God grants second chances to all who would take them. Yes rioters. Rioters and me in equal measure. In the bible, Simon Peter had a bit of the rioter spirit in him, and look what God did in him.
Jesus said of Peter, "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Jesus' mission was for the destitute and those who were deprived.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:17-19
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
God has the potential in him to swing this around, turn chaos into calm, turn a heart bent on destruction to one that looks on the Lord. It is still his world, and he is still on his throne. He never relinquished control. He allows through the free will built into humanity the ability for people to carry out their choices, for good or ill, but he does not stand by uncaring. He weeps when a country reels.
My response has to be prayer. To seek what God already seeks, restoration, and a chance to show his mercy. He suffers just as much as we do. A god on the cross knows suffering on behalf of all the sins of the world. He personally knows the weight of the lawlessness of his creation, and willingly took it. So he can willingly intervene and play a part in this situation London and elsewhere finds itself in.
So in the news, I've seen the family members of Mark Duggan calling for calm, and indeed stressed in their night vigil with regards to their dead family member, that things should not go to violence. It was never their intent.
However, I know from myself, and from the bible, that sin doesnt need an excuse to manifest itself.
"There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes - 7:20
Sin starts at home, because its the starting nature of mankind. I can see the riots as hideous, an abomination, and abject lawlessness, but that doesn't stop the idea that, it could have been me.
"For one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ" - Robert Murray M'Cheyne
I could've had their background, their social pressures, the isolation and alienation from the rest of society, that would trigger this expression of human depravity. Surely as much as these rioters are morally deprived, so am I. Blessed and cursed am I that this human nature is more subtle in me, and doesn't resort to smashing windows for my next purchase. But I cannot deny the sinful nature's power, on the whole of mankind, and when I yield, in me too, though Christ works with blood sweat and tears to reverse the process in me. The only one who, hand on heart, could truly say they wouldn't have rioted in their situation, is Jesus Christ.
Also, such an explicit demonstration of violence and wrongdoing is a stark reminder of that there must be something wrong. A symptom never appears from being well. Our society is not at its best. We could have pride in our hearts for seeing the recent events of the violence in the arab spring and say "that would never happen in my country" and let it serve whatever racist aims there is in such thinking, but here it is, looting and violence on our doorstep. Its not a revolution, as much as the free love movement of the 60's wasn't a revolution, it was just sin with a new name, just as this "free stuff movement" is. People don't like diagnoses when they describe something bad, but what will it take for people to see that theres something not right with humanity in the way it seeks things for their own ends and not others, seeks not God, but seeks to be Gods themselves?
My response however, cannot be despair. Never despair. God grants second chances to all who would take them. Yes rioters. Rioters and me in equal measure. In the bible, Simon Peter had a bit of the rioter spirit in him, and look what God did in him.
Jesus said of Peter, "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Jesus' mission was for the destitute and those who were deprived.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:17-19
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
God has the potential in him to swing this around, turn chaos into calm, turn a heart bent on destruction to one that looks on the Lord. It is still his world, and he is still on his throne. He never relinquished control. He allows through the free will built into humanity the ability for people to carry out their choices, for good or ill, but he does not stand by uncaring. He weeps when a country reels.
My response has to be prayer. To seek what God already seeks, restoration, and a chance to show his mercy. He suffers just as much as we do. A god on the cross knows suffering on behalf of all the sins of the world. He personally knows the weight of the lawlessness of his creation, and willingly took it. So he can willingly intervene and play a part in this situation London and elsewhere finds itself in.
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