Community of the Risen

Entries from November 2006

God’s Will for Us?

November 15, 2006 · No Comments

It was a blonde girl today. I sat there half listening—the other half studying for a Hebrew exam.

“I came here,” she said. “I was just really scared to come in as a music major. So when I heard about the nursing major, and sometime told me I’d make a good nurse, I thought that it was God’s will for my life.”

Another girl stood outside the school of theology red eyed, choking back tears. One hand brushing back hair, but really only trying to hide the fact that she had been crying, the other hand holding a cell phone.

“Hi,” she says as someone picks up. “Me. Oh, nothing. Just freaking out.”

Those words were all I heard of the conversation.

Sometime I too wonder about the will of God. I look for the leprechaun, who holds the pot of gold. When I pin him—finally thinking that I have found the will of God—I turn for a split second and he is gone. He is an elusive little critter. Can we really say we understand the will of God? Can we really say we understand God?

Perhaps Dr. S.M. Lockridge can give us a picture of who God is:

“My King was born King. The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King. He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King?”

“David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork. My King is the only one with no means of measure which can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. Well, well, He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s august. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent. Well, He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in high criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King.”

He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s strong God and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him?”

“Well, my King is the key of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King.”

“His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.”

“Well…”

“I wish I could describe Him to you.”

“But He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him. Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King. Yeah.”

“He always has been and He always will be. I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. That’s my King! That’s my King! Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.”

Categories: God's Will

Sin and Sin

November 10, 2006 · No Comments

Sometimes God is mean.

Not just like a mad father, or a father who has to discipline us for a good reason.

But really horns-blaring after being cut off mad.

“Now go” the Lord once said, “And strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”[1]

Why the donkey, Lord? What did the stupid animal ever do?


As I sit and ponder these things I wonder about sin.

People are so quick to categorize sin, usually with killing at the top, and genocide at the top of the degrees of killing. And yet, we find the Bible making an endorsement for genocide. When Saul does not kill the stupid donkeys and the cattle, God says through Samuel He is so mad that the kingship will be torn from him. Until the last day, Saul desperately tried to salvage a drowning kingship.

Sometimes, then, I start to wonder. Do I really know God?

Do I really want to know the God who sometimes resorts to genocide? Do I want to know the God of sulfur, who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? Or is the God I serve more a representation of who I am. White. Middle class. Suburban. Do I really fear the God of the universe, or Danny’s made up miniature Buddha? A simple golden figure that I can wrap my intellect around.

You know what I want to do sometimes do?

I want to tell people which sins are worse than other sins. I want to say that lying is no big deal. I want to say that we should worry about the “big” sins. You know, like genocide. Why, then, did the Lord feel the need to kill Ananias and Sapphira for lying about the price of their home? Am I really worrying about the “big” sins, or am I worrying about what I want to worry about? Am I worrying about what my culture says I should worry about or what God wants me to worry about?

So often I hear people say, “God is all about ______.” Fill it in with whatever you want. God is all about giving you the best life now. God is all about salvation. God is all about the poor. God is all about restoration. And we do not let God speak for himself. Maybe we should stop passing judgments on which are “big” sins and which are “small” sins. Maybe we should give God the space to enter into our lives—into our sacred places—and maybe just maybe, all we can do is react.

Naturally we will be scared.

But what else can we do?

Where else can we go, but the spring of living water?




[1]1 Samuel 15:3

Categories: sin