Conflict

Which is more important: maintaining peace or maintaining truth? In conflict it may be hard to reconcile these two important Kingdom values. If you want to keep the peace or harmony then truth may be sacrificed. If you keep truth then people may become upset thus disturbing the peace. Which is better? Is there a way to keep both?

God is truth. But from an experiential perspective it seems he doesn’t reveal every truth about us immediately. When we receive the Holy Spirit it’s not like we also receive a scroll full with the “truth” about ourselves, though the truth is now in us. We know generally who we are as sinners but not specifics. He doesn’t even convict us every time we make a mistake. We may go on sinning for decades only for that sin to be revealed later…maybe not at all (generational sin). This can be due to culture, ignorance, bad teaching, but despite the reason it seems that God, though aware of it, does not force truth upon us other than the necessary truth of our sinfulness. He also delays in handing us the truth of himself, though it is fully revealed in Jesus, it is not fully revealed to his body, yet. We know generals, like creator, savior, his love kinda of truth but the specifics are often vague for many years. We may even die not knowing the fullness of who God is. (Is that even possible to know the fullness of the truth of God?)
We do come to know general truths: we are desperate sinners, God is awesome and saves us, etc… maybe I’m thinking too specific. And these truths are necessary for “peace and goodwill toward man”. Without these general truths peace would elude us, so they must be revealed no matter if they disturb a harmony or peace.

God is seeking peace. But is seems he does not always keep the “peace” either. The prophets brought truth in times of sin and rebellion causing major uproars, division among people and even resentment towards God. The purpose was always to give peace, to restore peace between God and man. “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Truth escorted in this peaceful relationship. But the truth of Jesus brings a sword that divides people, family and breaks harmony with others. This truth surely can not be compromised!

I guess I’m leaning toward truth being a conduit for peace. It seems to me love covers a multitude of sin (maintaining peace), but for the thematic ones prophets are sent for correction (restoring peace).
I see this in a Meta sense but how does it work every day? Pointing out every sin, offense, mistake seems to not build peace, but without a prophet to point out themes or sins that are detrimental there will be no true peace. Did Jesus constantly correct the disciples every time their motives were off (he must have known the truth every time) or they made a mistake? Did he ever just keep the peace though a disciple’s joke was not appropriate? He did correct and speak truth into their lives that disturbed the disciples “harmony” but how often, what was it like?

Can you forgive (bringing peace) without confrontation (bringing truth)?

These are some basic thoughts, not well written with many assumptions, but I’m reflecting. What do you think?

Finding Obscurity

“Working with the poor is the path to obscurity. Working with the poor is the path to becoming no one.” - Attorney Chu
Some thoughts...The path of obscurity is the path of the cross. The poor live on the edge of society’s fabric, frayed, unstable, strong in so many ways but in need. To work there on the edge is to work in obscurity, without praise, no one knows, few care. This is like Jesus. Jesus came to a people who where his own, but they did not recognize him. He lived in poverty himself, a king with no crown…or toilet or health care. A king of mud. When he finally became “famous” he was misunderstood as a demon, the antithesis of his being. Misunderstood and driven to the margins Jesus was crucified, a torture designed with a social stigma that erases a person from record. They were rarely recorded. Legally you ceased to be someone and became no one. So that the One by whom all things have their being became “no one” in obscurity, with few even coming to say goodbye.
The path to obscurity is the path of the cross. The cross is the way of Jesus. It takes us to the place where we die to ourselves where we might cease if not for the strength of Jesus in his resurrection. What might our ministries and lives look like if we embraced the cross?

It's Different

Differences make art memorable, people heroes and cultures our teachers. CS Lewis was different because he was brilliantly special. Lord of the Rings is timeless because nothing is like it. Battlestar Galactica is without argument a phenomenon in TV Sci-Fi drama. Unique, special, phenomenon, holy are all words to express “different”. Differences also grate against our senses and make us furrow our brows or cry like Isaiah. So let me take a moment to describe a few differences in the Philippines.
Already we’ve seen the unique nature of the ministers here. In the Philippines, though I’m sure there are some who are shadey, every minister we’ve seen is solid to the core. Already in one week we’ve seen TV preachers, youth pastors, missionaries, slum pastors, theology professors and spiritual directors. Their lives are full of integrity, they are orthodox, preach with passion, love God’s Word, listen to the Spirit and don’t see a contradiction with loving God and serving the “least of these”. Needless to say, it has been inspiring so far.
Friendship means more here and is more special than in the US…it’s for life and the currency of freindship is giving your life to the other. A man named Boyette wants to show friendship to us and has bent over backwards for us stangers.
Selfishness is shuned here. Taking the lower seat as described by Jesus is a trait that extends beyond his followers in this culture…in a way it is a phenomonom to us.
There are some other “special” differences that take some adjustment here in the Philippines: like a lack of cheese, crowded streets choking with the fumes of countless cars, constant noise. But these things are merely diffenent and have intrinsic petagogical value for us Americans.
Some other differneces that are noteworthy: the water turns off at 9am and turns back on by 4pm every day. Rice is at every meal…even if it’s spaggetti. Fish eyes are a delacacy to many. Pizza has no sauce, even if it’s Pizza Hut. Basketball is the national sport played by everyone (not soccer). Standing like Superman, with hands on hips, means you want to fight. Kids are celebrated and not seen as an annoyance.
It’s different here but I believe we are finding our feet. We have much to learn from all the differences and I look forward to seeing how God will shape us.
Let me know what you think. It would be nice to hear from you.