storiesofvalue

Those Dangerous Underdogs

There’s a reason they call it “March Madness.” The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament has not gone exactly as predicted.  It rarely does.

Enter underdogs!

The notion of an underdog emerged from an unfortunate period in the 19^th Century when staged dog fights were commonplace.  The underdog was the loser.

Modern day underdogs don’t have to lose, but they must be statistically weaker than their opponents. We cheer for underdogs because they symbolize our desire to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in our own lives.  We live vicariously through their improbable victories.

The most famous biblical underdog is David, a young man who challenged a pagan giant named Goliath with a sling and five smooth stones. Goliath, sneered and jeered but in the end he was killed and decapitated by David.

Goliath was the top dog.

Doggone him.

David was the underdog.

Then Goliath took a shot to the head in the first round.

And the top dog was truly “gone.”

The David story and the NCAA Tournament both raise an interesting question. Why do underdogs win?

In sports, sometimes a unique match-up gives an underdog an unexpected advantage. So does a top dog injury, foul trouble and a three-point shooter with a hot hand.

For David, it was God who gave him the edge. He challenged Goliath with these words: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied”. (1 Samuel 17:45 NIV).

Does this mean the secrets to an underdog’s victory are chance, and on some occasions, the mighty hand of God? If chance is defined by statistical probabilities for events in which God chooses not to intervene, then perhaps that, and certainly the latter.  But there is a third component.

A distinguishing characteristic of a victorious underdog is his unwavering confidence in his ability to win. In spiritual terms, it is his faith in things that may not be clearly visible to everyone.

This is why David was able to defeat Goliath. He had faith in the unseen God.

Does this mean top dogs who lose ball games lacked faith?

No.

On the contrary, some of the teams that have been knocked out of the NCAA Tournament are stacked with incredible testimonies of faith.

But the underdogs who defeated them were convinced they could win. And perhaps, together with other factors, this was the edge they needed.

I will let you decide the role faith plays in a basketball tournament.  I believe God helps players play up to their potential, but I don’t think He plays the brackets.  Besides, that would be a conflict of interest since He can influence the outcome.

But I am certain our faith is what helps us defeat our giants.  And if any victory in our lives  serves God’s purposes, and we are willing to seek and pursue His will, we are a force to be reckoned with.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

You might say God is the ultimate “bracket buster.”

Better get ready for your post game interview.

If you are open with a second on the clock, take the shot.

You can’t win if you just stand there.

Heaven’s Bracketology

Do you suppose Jesus loves basketball?

Perhaps.

Did you know He once filled 12 baskets with five loaves of bread? And this after feeding thousands of people with just five loaves?  Can you imagine what the score would be if Jesus played college ball?

Jesus once said the kingdom of heaven is like a “net” (Matthew 13:47). Ok. So He went on to say it was like a net full of all kinds of fish.  But it is still a net.

Most importantly, Jesus was a number one “seed.” The Bible says He was the “Seed” of the promise of Abraham (Galatians 3:19).  He wasn’t just one of four number one seeds.  He was “the” number one Seed (with a capital “S”).

And if all of this isn’t enough evidence of Jesus’ possible connection to basketball, turn to Revelation 5:8. Do you understand what you are reading?  The four creatures in God’s “final” revelation are with twenty-four elders, worshipping Jesus, the Lamb of God! That’s right.  They are Jesus’ “’final four.”

I know this is speculation. I just feel sure Jesus enjoys March Madness.  If nothing else, perhaps He cheers with the angels every time a player or coach praises Him for the abilities they have been given.

But I will put these important matters aside for a moment to address something that involves each and every one of us. How would you like to come in “first” in heaven?

I know. I know.  It’s a little presumptuous.  Just getting to heaven is enough.  Why would anyone entertain the possibility of being “first?”

Jesus did.

Yup. It seems His disciples were always positioning themselves to be first.  One day Peter, in his boldness, went for the gusto.  He said, “We have left everything to follow you.  What then, will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27)  In other words, “We are going to be first.  Right Jesus?”

Interestingly, Jesus didn’t say, “No, you can’t be first.” Instead, He told Peter how to be first.  He said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Mat 19:29-30)

How do you land a number one seed in Jesus’ kingdom bracket?

You don’t.

Instead, you submit your life to Jesus and become first (co-heirs) with Him in His kingdom. He is the coach, the number one scorer and the MVP all wrapped up in the “One.”  He invites us to be on His team, but not if we want His position.

“So the first will be last and the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16).

Don’t worry about making it to the big dance, or perhaps I should say “the big feast.” You are already in by faith, through grace.  You don’t have to spend the rest of your life fighting and clawing to be recognized, or to prove to anyone you deserve salvation.

Certainly not to God.

He already knows you don’t.

Deserve salvation, that is.

But He makes you first through His Son, who is His “First” born.”

This must all be “maddening” to Satan. He led us into sin to put us on permanent suspension and we ended up playing on the winning team with the number one Seed.

And you’re mad because the bracket doesn’t look the way you thought it should…

When “Instant Gratification” and “Convenience” Met                              

I realize they have met before, but recently I arranged their first formal interaction in my life. It happened on a cold, windy Saturday in Virginia.

At the risk of dating myself, I must tell you I was around when big box stores started their feeding frenzy on smaller businesses, and S.S. Kresge slapped its first “K” on the front of a K-Mart. Large malls replaced shopping centers (sometimes literally) and home improvement chains lured customers away from corner hardware stores.

The bottom line was the bottom line. If we lived near a city we could find more stuff and buy it for less money.

Then the Internet changed our habits once more. It was no longer necessary to go to a big box store to find a large selection.  We could browse the world!  Last fall I purchased a car space heater from China.  It took three weeks to arrive, but it was three dollars cheaper than the one I found in America (which was also from China).

This brings me to last Saturday when I was looking out the window at an area of my yard I wanted to seed. A Nor’easter was blowing over our peninsula with gusts of around 45 mph, so it was not the best day to plant anything.  But I decided to purchase some grass seed so I would be ready for better weather.  I grabbed my keys and was heading out the door when a thought hit me: “I wonder if I can order grass seed online and have it delivered to my house?”

In case you are wondering, the answer is “yes.” You can order almost anything online.  But I had a dilemma.  I could drive to the box store and have the grass seed in my arms that day, or order it online, and have it delivered to my door in two or three days.  “Instant gratification” or “convenience”: which was it going to be?  Of course, I could wait for a better day to buy the grass and stop by the store on my way home.

I know that.

But stick with me.

I ultimately decided to drive to the store, mostly because it is easier for me to visualize how much seed I need when I see the actual bag. I was “instantly gratified”, even if it wasn’t a good time to plant the seed.

Which would you have chosen?

And does it matter?

Maybe.

I wonder if we are in a transitional time in society’s spiritual preferences where what “feels good” is being replaced with “what’s easy.” Of course, both of these have always been a part of our observable faith.  That’s why we want the temperature to be right when we worship God and why we might feel more inspired if we are able to find a parking space close to the building.

Still, consider the implications if I am right, or even partly right. Worshipping God could become less about what moves me and more about how much effort it takes to apply His truth to my life.  We will always desire both because of our basic human nature.  But perhaps, a cultural shift will change the order of our questions.  Our first question might become, “How much effort is that going to take” instead of “How good is that going to make me feel?”

Let’s say, hypothetically, there is something to my pondering. What does it mean?  Should we focus more on how to make the Christian life more convenient?

No. Besides, we have already tried this with disastrous results.

Instead, as those charged with reaching our world for Christ, we should ask, “How can we remove the obstacles we have created that make it hard for people to find Jesus?” We start by making sure we don’t create expectations of others that cannot be found in the Bible.  Then we take a hard, honest look at ourselves and ask ourselves if we are as clear as we think we are in communicating the good news of Jesus.  Maybe, what we think is clear, sounds something like the funny noise coming from a teacher on an old Charlie Brown cartoon (“Wah wa wah wa”).

One thing is for sure. One or two new generations of people are contemplating their next spiritual move at this very moment.  I want them to move toward Jesus.

It is highly possible the next move isn’t theirs.

It could be ours.

An Open Letter to our Children

Dear Children,

As we grown-ups talk about guns and school safety, I wonder what you are thinking. Are you afraid?  Are you confused?  Do you wish people would stop talking about scary things?

I want you to know, even though some of us are busy talking to each other about many things, we love you. We want a better world for you and the terrible thing that happened at the school in Florida makes us very sad.  We don’t want anyone to worry about being hurt at school, and we are working hard to come up with a plan that will make things safer for everyone.

I am writing to tell you two very important things.  You may know these things, but sometimes we forget what we know when we are scared or worried.  So I am writing to remind you.

The first thing I want you to know is that you are a precious child of God. It doesn’t matter where you are from, who takes care of you, how much money you have, what kind of clothes you wear or even how many mistakes you have made.  You are made in the image of God.  He created you and He loves you more than anyone in this world could possibly love you.

Did you know you are always popular in God’s eyes? There are a lot of things that make people popular in our world.  Sometimes people are popular because of the way they look or the things they have.  Neither of these things explain why you are popular with God.  God loves you just because you are you!

God knows, sometimes people in this world laugh at us and act like bullies to get their way. This makes God very sad because He knows how special we are, and He knows the things other people do to us can hurt us deep down inside.  But remember, God made you, inside and out, and He will always love you.

The second thing I want you to know is you have no reason to worry about tomorrow.  I know some bad things have happened, and the news on TV is scary.  But God has put many strong people in our lives to protect us.

The Bible tells us people have been doing bad things for thousands of years.  But when these bad things have happened, God has used good people to make the world better.  Because of the good people God has sent into the world, children have been able to grow up strong and happy.  Grown-ups have learned to get along with each other and help their neighbors.  Every time someone has done something very bad, God has sent someone to do something very good.  I believe God is doing the same thing today.  Right now, He is working through good people to help others who have had bad things happen in their lives.  He can even use you to do something good for others.

Maybe you have heard the best news of all! God loved us so much He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross so every bad thing any of us have ever done could be taken away.  This is one of the ways God makes our world better.  He takes away the bad things in people who believe in His Son Jesus and helps them learn how to do good things.  God is so good to us!  If you want to know more about how God’s Son Jesus takes away the bad things in our lives, ask grown-ups who know Him.  They can tell you all about this good news!

Before I finish my letter, I want to tell you about a young man who did a very brave thing when other people who loved God were scared. His name was David.  One day David heard a giant named Goliath say some terrible things about God and the people who loved God.  Sadly, the people who loved God were so frightened they couldn’t find the courage to stop the giant.  But David asked the king of God’s people, whose name was Saul, to let him fight the giant.  At first, Saul discouraged David.  Then he tried to put his armor for grown-ups on him, but it was too heavy.  Finally, David went out to meet the giant with nothing but a sling and five smooth stones he took out of a creek.  The people of God who were afraid of Goliath must have thought David was crazy!  Do you know what happened next?  God took care of David and one of the stones from his sling struck the giant in the forehead.  The mighty giant fell down with a big “crash” and David killed him.  Then the people of God celebrated because of David’s courage and his victory over the giant.

Here is the lesson we learn from David: We should never be afraid of big people, or big things.  No matter what they do, we will always be precious children of God and God will always send good people to make tomorrow better.  He will even do good things through us if we are courageous like David.

It’s ok to be scared when bad things happen. It’s also good to run away from bad people or to stop them if you can.  Just remember: no one can stop God!  And the good news is, He is on our side!

I love you and I dream about the wonderful things you are going to do in your life. God already knows what those things are because He put them in you.  I will have to wait and see.  Then I will praise God when I see what He does through you!

Be brave like David,

Mr. Larry

“What Good is an Adult if it Doesn’t Do Anything?”

A new voice has awakened the conscience of our country, and it isn’t that of a street preacher, a celebrity or a high flying politician.

It’s a child.

A teenager to be more accurate.

We have heard their voices before, but perhaps not in this way. The children are calling us out.  If I might use a familiar scene as a metaphor:  They are tired of standing on the ball field while grown-ups slug it out over a call at home.

There are certainly many unresolved issues relating to the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida. How can we stop it from happening again?

More gun-control?

More guns?

A better approach to mental health?

My goal here is not to find a sly way to lead you to the answer I support, although I think it is safe to say there is some consensus that improving our approach to mental health would help.

Rather, I wish to focus on the kids who called us out, and the quote from the one who said, “We’re children. You guys are the adults.”

I realize this statement is not intended to be absolute. After all, it was a teenager who caused the carnage at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and there were adults there who died protecting students.

Allow me to rephrase this student’s statement so we adults don’t miss the point: “We aren’t in a position to solve this problem. As adults, you are the ones who have the power to make decisions that can help.  We’re tired of hearing your arguments for and against.  Do something!  Don’t you see what we’re up against here?”

I will make one personal statement for all of us “adults”, regardless of our views on this subject. If we think the pain of this tragedy will pass and, if we get lucky, it might not happen again we are living in a fool’s world.  It will happen again.  More people will be killed.  The pain of this moment will become the scars in our future.  These kinds of scars, literal and figurative, don’t go away.

“You guys are the adults.”

I can’t get these words out of my head. Might I suggest they speak to more than school shootings?

Kids carry all kinds of wounds. They suffer the fallout from adults in their lives who are addicts, alcoholics, adulterers, abusers and thieves.  They experience abandonment, neglect and disillusionment.

Some have even been murdered by the adults they trusted!

I used to read stories of ancient cultures where children were depersonalized and wonder how adults could be so cruel to their offspring (2 Kings 21:6).  Now, I understand.

Please spend some time considering what it means to be the adults.

For our children’s sakes.

For all of our sakes.

One thing is for sure. If we can’t do adult things, all of our rationales for our positions on social issues will be rendered irrelevant by the generations behind us.

We will become like broken toys our children no longer care about.  After all…

…What good is an adult if it doesn’t do anything?

Don’t Say “It Doesn’t Matter”!

We live in a dangerous world.

We live in a polluted world.

Can things get better? Does it matter?

Not long ago I was in a lively conversation about global warming with a brother in Christ. We disagreed on a number of things, which is fine.  We are still brothers.  And I am glad he didn’t repeat a phrase I have heard from other Christians make:  “It doesn’t matter.  Everything is going to be burned up soon when Jesus comes.”

My thoughts here are not about global warming, so I will leave the subject to move on to the point I wish to make: Christians need to stop saying, “It doesn’t matter.”

Hear me out, please! I wholeheartedly believe Jesus is coming again, and we must be ready when He does.  The end will come like a “thief in the night”, and it will not go well for those who have chosen to reject the Lord’s grace.  Jesus said, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes” (Luke 12:37).

We must be ready to meet Jesus! That matters!

Did I say being ready for Jesus matters?

Yes.

But so does the earth. So do a lot of things.

I have also heard believers in Jesus lament world politics, speculate about the possibility of nuclear war, then say,  “Oh well.  It doesn’t matter.  Jesus is coming soon anyway.”

What? How do they know when Jesus is coming?  By the way, He might not just come “soon.”  He might come before I finish writing this blog.  However, this doesn’t mean world politics and nuclear war don’t matter.

I am concerned that people who don’t know Jesus, or even young people who are still trying to establish their faith, will distance themselves from believers who don’t think worldly concerns matter. Chances are, I will see Jesus long before people in their 20s. But just because I am leaving before they do doesn’t mean I should flippantly disregard the world I leave behind.

And if we care more for the earth and work for a more peaceful world in the meantime, what’s wrong with that? Would it be so bad if the earth was clean when Jesus came?  If He didn’t have to worry about burning His feet on toxic waste when He walked on water, or circumventing mushroom clouds on His way down?

He will have to dodge bullets as it is (I know they won’t hurt Him).

I’m just saying “our home here matters because it is the only home humans have until Jesus comes”.  Shouldn’t we be the ones who pick up trash, clean up the bay, pray for peace everywhere and work to reduce the suffering of marginalized people in our society?

I am aware the world is an hypocritical place and the ones who criticize others for neglecting the environment and world politics are not always what they claim to be. If you don’t believe me, ask me about a car full of out-of-town concert goers, with clean earth and world peace stickers on their car, who dumped all of their fast food garbage in our church parking lot.  I talked with them about their stickers, and they picked up the trash.  They didn’t argue.  They just did the right thing.  Everyone makes mistakes.

Which is all the more reason why followers of Jesus who understand the meaning of stewardship should care about what happens here as they wait for Jesus.

Stop saying, “It doesn’t matter.”

It does.

It matters what we do. It matters how others perceive Christians.

Most of all, people who don’t know Jesus matter.

If sharpening my focus on things that matter can make Jesus more attractive, then I am willing to give it the thought it deserves.

Otherwise, nothing else I say will matter to the people who matter to God.

Forgive Doesn’t Mean “Forget It”

Lutheran minister and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for contrasting “cheap grace” with “costly grace.” In reference to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross he writes, “The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing.”

Real grace demands an awareness of the harm we have inflicted on others as a result of our sin, and a willingness to come clean before God.  Cheap grace is “the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance…” (Bonhoeffer).

As a multitude of sexual abuse victims shared their testimonies in the presence of  Olympic physician Dr. Larry Nassar, their painful scars of betrayal and brokenness were exposed for all the world to see. Dr. Nassar will spend the rest of his life in prison and his victims will spend the rest of their lives in therapy.

While the abuse cases that led to Dr. Nassar’s conviction were horrible, the cases that never made it to the courtroom were just as horrible, as were the events that occurred years ago that were never addressed. You may be aware other investigations are now under way to determine “who knew what when”, since it appears many crimes could have been prevented if people in positions of authority had acted.

This raises an important issue that is often misunderstood in the church. The church is a place of grace where we teach forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. None of us want to be like the self-righteous teachers who were prepared to stone a woman caught in adultery  (John 8:1-11).  We want to celebrate at the party of the prodigal instead of sulking outside with the elder son (Luke 15:11-32).

But forgiveness has never meant “forget it”.  Sin mattes, and the people who are hurt by the evil intentions of others have a right to establish boundaries in their lives for their own protection. They also deserve leaders who stop predatory behavior in its tracks.

Does this mean it is permissible for Christians to refuse to forgive if they have been wounded deeply? No. We should always strive to forgive. However, we should also have the wisdom to recognize patterns of sin and not be so naïve to believe these patterns will be broken overnight.  This is why the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians to remove a man from their fellowship in response to his deviant behavior with his step-mother (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). The ultimate goal in this wasn’t to destroy the man, but rather to bring him to deep repentance so he could return with a spirit of brokenness and humility.

I believe two things leave the world perplexed: when Christians hide behind the word “grace” and allow people to continue to destroy others, and when we preach against sin in the “world” and tolerate it inside the church.

Realize, I believe the church should be known for grace. I want people in our world to know, no matter who they are or what they have done, they can find forgiveness in the Lord Jesus. However, the church is not intended to be a place where people have the freedom to do anything they want while we look the other way and let God work things out.  According to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 5), the solution involves action on our part.

If you listen to the testimonies of the gymnasts whose world was destroyed by Dr. Nassar you will hear this cry for accountability.

Why didn’t somebody stop him?

Because forgiveness was mistaken for “forget it”. Because grace was cheap.  Because it was easier to believe God would take care of things and the people He had put in places of authority were not responsible.

I have listened to some of the testimonies of Nassar’s victims and I have heard some incredible perspectives on faith, forgiveness and accountability.

They get it.

It is unfortunate others did not.

Undressing the Grammy Awards

Even if you didn’t watch the recent Grammy Awards, you may have heard about the contradictory message of the evening. On a night when artists used their global platform to speak out against sexual harassment, they allowed female performers to be objectified on stage.

How can this be?

One answer should be obvious: Scantily dressed dancers and vulgar language sell. The most plausible reason an industry would promote the very things it claims to oppose is its refusal to hurt its bottom line.

“But you don’t understand!  Art imitates life!  It would be wrong to censor people who are merely looking for an outlet for free expression.”

Perhaps…

But there is a difference between allowing free expression and encouraging a message that runs counter to what we say we believe. If the objectification and sexual harassment of other human beings is destructive, then why would we give airtime to those who make their living promoting these behaviors?

As bothersome as this inconsistency might be, I wish to use it to make another broader point.  That’s right.  I’m going to meddle.  The belief we can play the part of the hypocrite, as long as we use the right words to explain our actions, is nothing new.

We can speak against sexual harassment and still objectify women as long as we call it an “artistic expression.”

One can sexually molest underage girls hundreds of times as long as he calls it “medicine.”

But it’s not all about sex.

We can destroy other people’s reputations with gossip and call it “concern”… judge the hearts of others and call it “discernment.”

And lest you think I believe preachers are immune…

My kind has been known to run over our brothers in ministry and call it “kingdom-mindedness.”

Or claim to have the corner on truth and declare an “anointing.”

I am reminded of a saying I learned when I was a young man: “Just because you say it don’t make it so.” Give me a break on the grammar.  I learned it from some tobacco farmers in Kentucky.

It’s ok to say something shamefully hypocritical isn’t true, no matter how hard someone tries to explain it away. I must warn you though.  The desire people have to maintain the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed makes them highly resistant to the truth.

Please don’t misunderstand. We must demonstrate great compassion for misguided souls and pray for God to change the hearts of those who exploit others for personal gain.  It is important to speak the truth in love and if possible, look for creative ways to confront destructive behavior.

Yet, the example of the Grammy Awards stands as a lesson to us all. We can’t participate in the activities we condemn and pretend it is something else.

It is sin.

“By any other name…would still smell so foul” (My apologies to Shakespeare).

Do I Have to Be “This” or “That”?

First, a confession…

My family roots go back to the coal mines of Eastern Kentucky and a sharecropper’s farm in Athens, Kentucky. That’s Athens with a long “A”, and it happens to be the place where Daniel Boone moved his family when he parted ways with Boonesboro.  The road my grandparents lived on is called the  “Athens-Boonesboro Road.”

I was never a coal miner or a sharecropper, but I carry much of the culture associated with these livelihoods inside me. I was taught to work hard every day, save everything possible and watch out for the “Fat Cats” who were looking for ways to take away what little you had.  My family members went on to hold some of the highest offices in the state (including Governor, State Treasurer, U.S. Representative and Mayor, Sheriff and County Clerk of Lexington).  My summers were spent attending local political rallies, shaking hands with candidates and helping a few of them hammer their signs on the courthouse lawn.

When I became an adult I developed my own political views.  As major political parties re-crafted their platforms (though their fundamental differences remained the same), it became harder for me to associate my identity with a single political perspective.   Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love politics!  I also understand people who labor for a cause within a particular party have to be somewhat “sold out” to certain ideals.

What does all of this have to do with the point I wish to make?

It’s just background information to hopefully help you understand where I am coming from.  As a preacher I am careful not to bring my personal political views into the “pulpit” because I don’t want people thinking they must have an allegiance to a political party to go to heaven (I have talked with those who think this is the case and I don’t buy it).   Yet, I am not one to dismiss politics and disengage from social rhetoric.  God needs us to dialogue with others on important topics affecting our culture.  If we don’t, we are guilty of marginalizing the wisdom we find in His Word.

What bothers me most is that we seem to be increasingly unable to talk about our personal perspectives and observations free of labels.  The thinking goes like this: “If you believe that, then you must also believe this.”  Such is the stuff of stereotypes that often mischaracterize others.

Perhaps it is only human that we attempt to systematize people’s ideas.  This is how we come to believe most rich people are greedy, most poor people are incapable, most religious people are intolerant and most irreligious people are un-spiritual.  I have found all of these labels to be false.

Maybe you have already plotted me somewhere on a chart.

“Oh, he’s one of those…”

In truth, most social movements, whatever their nature, are really alliances. People are willing to align themselves with others with whom they sometimes disagree, as long as there is agreement on the big things.

So is there anywhere we can align ourselves with others who sometimes see things differently for the purpose of accomplishing something that has the potential of transforming our world?

Yes!

Let me introduce you to the church.  Or rather allow me to share the Apostle Paul’s introduction: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Does being one in Christ mean we will one day come to agreement on every issue in our culture?

I don’t think so.

Actually, I would hope not since that would mean our brains had died.

This also doesn’t mean political and social views don’t matter since they often shape policies that touch on important biblical principles. But it does allow me to be in favor of something like women’s rights (Because we are one in Christ) and still speak against abortion (Because it is a sin to take the life of an unborn child).

“Wait a minute!!!  You said you don’t get political!  Besides, you can’t believe this if you don’t believe that!”

Yes I can, because I am free in Christ.  I am not bound by a party.

I am bound by the blood of Jesus that poured out on a cross.

Jesus is my “this” and “that.”

More accurately, He is my “all” (Colossians 3:11).

No Shame in a “S***hole”

It’s not like we’ve never heard the word. And although it has been called “vulgar” by some, it is still a part of life for many.  I’m not talking about the President’s reference to other countries.  I’m referring to that building out back where some people still go to…well, to “go.”

Here’s how it works. You dig a hole, put the outhouse on top of it, use the hole until it is full of…you know, move the outhouse aside, dig a new hole and fill up the old hole with the dirt from the new hole, move the outhouse over the new hole and repeat.

I realize an outhouse is inferior in many ways to an indoor bathroom. If you have ever used an outhouse in the middle of a cold winter’s night and opened the door to find a critter inside, you know what I mean.  But there are some advantages.  You don’t have to worry about backups.   You don’t have to clean the toilet.  And if you like privacy when you are going to the bathroom, you will have it.

Unless your grandchildren pull the door open and start to yell and wave their hands as cars pass by.

I’m not saying anyone would do such a thing. Just a possibility.

The practical reality of “S***holes” is what makes using it as a slur against underdeveloped, corrupt or war-torn countries so wrong. My grandparents, who had one of those famous outhouses behind their house, were merely doing their best to make a living with the circumstances they had been given.  They also had a coal stove and a galvanized washtub where we all took baths on Saturday night.

However, while my grandparents had an outhouse, their lives were anything but inferior. They worked hard, fed their children, served in the Lord’s church, and loved their neighbors.  In time, my grandfather took a second job as a Deputy Sheriff in town, which led to a long political career.  Both of my grandparents’ children (one of which was my mother) went to college and when my grandparents passed away they left an incredible legacy of faith and faithfulness.

Obviously, I am proud of my family. But I am also proud of the fact they did all of this even though they lived with a “S***hole.”

I will not get into the politics of the slur that will certainly go down in presidential history. It is true, immigration to our country needs to be managed in an orderly fashion.  It is also possible governments might intentionally send their “problems” to our country so they don’t have to deal with them.  I get it, and I realize we should be careful we don’t let our emotions blind us to the games people play.

Still, it is wrong to suggest people have no potential (or the implied possibility they have no “worth”), just because they come from an undesirable country. It is also foolish to think the community experienced in such places is somehow less meaningful than our own or that someone from a more advanced culture will be a better citizen.

And perhaps we should remember, one of the reasons some parts of the world can be characterized as “S***holes” is because more advanced cultures have repeatedly used them as their outhouses.

Please understand. I am not arguing the case of immigration.  Rather, I am pushing back against the highly disturbing notion that we are capable of discerning which human beings will make us better and which ones will make us worse.  We must also remember the stern words of Jesus regarding our responsibility to those who find themselves in a “S***hole” (Matthew 25:31-46).  I know, Jesus didn’t use the word!  Or did He? (Luke 14:34-35).

Before we start ruling out what people can contribute because of their circumstances, maybe we should remember the contents of such a “hole” can be found everywhere. Just because we have processing plants to keep things sanitary doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

What can I say?

It happens.