Removing the Ancient Landmarks - Stephen

Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.

[Joshua 7:26]

 

Successes are not the only things that can teach. If this is true, memorials of past failures serve a purpose too—just like this opening verse speaking of the memorial of Achan. It’s a memorial worth remembering because it reminded those who saw it of the severity of sin and the reality of God’s holiness. These are two things definitely worth remembering and one of them is most certainly a failure. 

 

Could this be the very reason the old saying is still known today, “A wise man learns from his own mistakes, but a wiser from those of others?” Take note of who is absent from this well-known quip—those who remove the mistakes of others because they think themselves wise. 

 

Memorials, despite their original purpose of construction, do not always promote a belief in a positive way, but they always have the potential to teach a lesson. A lesson that can only be taught when its reason is clear for all to see. 

 

Well-known movie director Steven Spielberg recently remarked when asked about his updated edits of his 1982 hit film, E.T.: "That was a mistake. I never should have done that. ‘E.T.’ is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.”[1] When posed a following question regarding the recent edits to Roald Dahl’s novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Spielberg joked, “Nobody should ever attempt to take the chocolate out of Willy Wonka! Ever!” On a more serious note, Spielberg concluded, “For me, it is sacrosanct. It’s our history, it’s our cultural heritage. I do not believe in censorship in that way.”

 

To impulsively demolish the memorials of the past, from the written word to films to sculptures in a park, that no longer fit with modern thought is nothing but short-sighted. For though they may stand against the lessons already known today, they are being removed before they can teach those same lessons to those who will need them tomorrow. Unless we truly believe we have learned these lessons apart from the failures and mistakes of those who have come before us, we should be careful when choosing to overturn one stone laid upon another. 

 

Sure, there is a chance that someone sees the memorial and misconstrues its present reasoning. They might seek to emulate the “product of its era” because they falsely believe that is what it takes to be memorialized in society even today. But this fault does not lie solely in the memorial teaching the lesson but more so in the misunderstanding of the one learning from it. 

 

A lesson can never be deemed “unhelpful” or “untrue” simply because one of its professed pupils abuses and misuses it.   If this were the case, everything that is true today will be labeled as false tomorrow because who among us can control how 8 billion people interpret something?

 

In a world of cancel culture, may we seek to change the narrative. We do this, not by canceling everything that pains us and stains our history, but through a willingness to teach the lessons that those negatives in our past—from Achan’s sin to the Civil War— stand to remind us of. For it is then, and only then, that we acknowledge both the failures of those who came before us, the potential for failure in those who come behind us, and, in doing these things, we even expose that same possibility in our own hearts as well. 

 

This is a reminder that we all stand in need of whether we care to admit it or not. 

It is a reminder that stands as a memorial for us all—not in the shape of a specific person or group but formed in the shape of humility. 

 

May that be a memorial we never seek to remove.

Or a lesson we never seek to cancel. 

 

When I consider the scars in my own life—both figurative and literal—I see memorials of failure. I see a scar on my left knee where I failed to land properly after jumping off a hill at a summer camp in North Carolina. This failure resulted in a torn ACL and reconstructive surgery in 9^th grade. I find it interesting how many times I recount this story to my own children when the weather warms up and I can wear shorts again revealing the obvious scar. What if I had a chance to remove it, would I? 

 

As many times as I have told my children this story, they have yet to jump off a hill and land improperly. This could simply be a coincidence, but it could also be a lesson learned from someone else’s mistake—mine. Which of these it is, I’m not sure, but would I rather them learn this lesson from me or from a similar mistake of their own? As any parent would, I say, “Let the memorial remain if I can keep it from being the latter.”

 

It has famously been said, “Those who do not know the past are condemned to repeat it.” I wonder what one will say a hundred years from now about those who did not know the past because one generation decided to remove it.

 

11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

[1Corinthians 10:11-12]

 

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[1] https://variety.com/2023/film/news/steven-spielberg-regrets-editing-guns-et-censorship-1235594163/

 

Unity - Ron

On July 1st, 1776, men gathered together in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. Over the next three days, these men voted for and penned our Declaration of Independence. Officially, it was adopted on July 4th, 1776. It has been said that in response to a statement about needing a unanimous signing, Benjamin Franklin remarked, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” With the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War in 1783, there was much in between these dates to tear these founding fathers apart. Truly, weak things united become strong, and united they had to be. This idea of unity is brought home whenever we think of our great nation: one group of United States. 

And yet, long before the birth of our oldest England-born forefather, or any of the other estimated 2.5 million people living in the colonies in 1776, the Bible had much to say about unity. King David penned these words in Psalms 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Having many sons by different wives, imagine how much turmoil in his family could have been prevented if his sons had practiced this verse. In Solomon’s writing, we see that one of David’s sons may have gotten the point: Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” There is strength in unity. The old Yiddish proverb is true, then: If a link is broken, the whole chain breaks.

When I first moved to Mississippi, I worked for an excavation company out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They were putting in sewer and water lines in Gulfport, near the coast. The crew that I was on was in charge of getting the finished product ready for asphalt. One crew would tear up the road in trenches, or sometimes entire sections, a second crew would follow behind, lay the pipe and back fill, and we could come along to tidy up. This involved cutting asphalt away that had broken, and to do this, we had a big walk-behind saw. To move it distances, we would chain the saw to the bucket of a bobcat. One day, I was walking alongside of the saw, holding it from swaying, while another guy drove the bobcat down the street. All at once, the chain broke, sending the saw crashing to ground, and nearly yanking my arm off in the process.

You see, when one link of a chain breaks, the entire chain fails. There is no merit or benefit to say, “Yes, but look at all of the links that are still intact!” The simple rebuff is, “Intact or no, they cease to function.” As much as it was necessary for our forefathers to be united, it is as important now. As important as it is for a country to be united, it is even more important for a body of believers. The church must be unified.

In Philippians chapter 2, Paul appeals to the Christians in the Roman colony of Philippi to hold together. Paul does this by exhorting them to embrace the attitude of humility. He presents to them the greatest example of all to follow in Christ Jesus leading us to one main idea: The people of Christ must have the mind of Christ.

Paul begins in earnest by creating a question in the mind of the reader. We are all familiar with if/then statements. Paul is here laying the foundation upon which we will either stand upon, or stumble over. Simply, it is this: If these next few things are true, then there ought to be a specific result. So what are the ingredients of Paul’s if?

First, Paul says, IF there is any consolation in Christ. Immediately, our minds, maybe without consciously knowing what consolation means, cry out, “Of course there is consolation in Christ!” We think of hurting parents who watch their children suffer from cancer, or the widow burying her lifetime love, and we say, “Yes…truly we have our consolation in Christ.” We don’t have to know or look up the Greek word and usage. Each and every Christian can point to a time when their only consolation was in Christ Jesus. And yet, if we were to look into the Greek, we would find that this word translated consolation is the Greek word paraklesis. It is translated elsewhere as comfort or exhortation. In Luke 6:24, Jesus even used this word to speak of how people who find their solace (paraklesis) in riches, do so at the expense of true joy.  We see, then, that the first IF has been met in resounding fashion. Of course there is consolation in Christ. Of course there is solace in Christ. In fact, there is no more sure consolation in all the world.

Second, Paul says, IF any comfort of love. This word love has a deep meaning, like a love feast. Imagine this with me: A hungry traveler arrives at a large house. He has been wandering for days, and is cold, tired, and starving. The host, filled with compassion, invites him in, saying, “Rest by the fire and warm yourself while I fix you something to eat.” The man has no difficulty in getting warm, but he cannot rest due to the pangs of hunger. After what seems like forever, the host returns, inviting the stranger to join him in the other room. Spread out before the two men is more food than the two of them could possibly need in this moment. No matter how famished the traveler is, he could not consume even a fraction of what is offered. He could fill himself to satisfaction, rest, and fill himself again. And this is the idea that Paul has in mind. For the brokenhearted, downtrodden, unloved, and lonely soul, is there any comfort in a banquet hall with table after table full of love enough to have their fill and more than enough? Can you think of a time in your own life when someone has been that banquet of love to you? Of course, we would say to Paul, of course there is comfort in this godly love.

Thirdly, Paul says, IF there is any fellowship of the Spirit. Do you have the Holy Spirit living within you? This is a redundant question for the Philippian Christians. Of course they have. But Paul adds this because there are, naturally, some difficulties and conflicts that cannot be solved, appeased, or conquered by natural means. However, if we truly do have the Holy Spirit, Paul reminds us that fellowship is possible and expected.

Fourthly, Paul says. IF any bowels and mercies. This is, simply stated, if there is any heart and compassion. In this last IF statement, Paul appeals to the natural sympathy and tenderness found in humanity. He says, “Do you have a heart? Do you care at all?

And so, with four resounding affirmations in the IF category, Paul lays down the THEN:

Fulfil ye my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Paul reminds the Christians that part of his joy is found in their living for Christ. Let us never forget that those in spiritual leadership over us yearn zealously for our success. They pray for our Christlikeness. On more than one occasion, and especially with the Galatians, Paul wondered if he had labored in vain. I had a professor in college who would shake his head and say, “I’m wasting my life.” Paul is saying what any leader in the faith would say: It adds to my joy, or it completes my joy, to see you doing what you ought to be doing! If you are a parent, you can absolutely relate to this. It brings you joy to see your children succeed.

Paul says, where unity in Christ is concerned, success looks like us all striving for the same thing. Paul encourages them to be likeminded in what they thought. He encouraged them to have a “meeting of the minds” if you will. Certainly, logic and sense can more easily rule the day when men sit down together. In fact, the Bible even says, “Come, let us reason together”

Paul also encourages them to be likeminded in what they wrought. The love that had been worked out in Paul’s life so effectively, is the same love that he wanted to, and should see in their life. Agreement with another person does not last long if love is not involved in the binding. Think of a marriage. If you were to ask the couple: are you married? The mind says yes, obviously. They would agree on that. But when even one heart begins to say no, eventually divorce separates them – outside of godly intervention. Agreement factually may not stand long without the backing and persuasion of love.

He then encourages them to be likeminded in what they sought. Handley Moule suggests a proper rendering of the phrase “of one accord, of one mind,” to be: “possessed with the idea of sentiment of unity.” It speaks of purpose. Agreeing together mentally and factually and lovingly pressing forward in that toward one purpose.

Paul says, hey, IF the aforementioned things are true (and we discovered that they are) THEN unity ought to be the result. A unified church may be one of the most counter-cultural witnesses that we can conjure in a country that seems to be tearing at the seams. Be encouraged by the rhetorical questions Paul asks. From the comfort of the obvious answers, press forward together in unity.

The Paradox of Sacrifice – Ben

I like a good paradox. 

For instance, is this sentence true or false: “This sentence is false.” Similarly, if Pinocchio were to say, "My nose is growing larger," will it, in fact, grow larger?  If not, he's a liar, and his nose must grow.  But then that would mean he was telling the truth, so his nose shouldn't grow.  Or lastly, my favorite is the so-called ‘Ship of Theseus Paradox.' In this scenario, a beloved ship is slowly repaired bit by bit until every piece of the vessel is replaced.  But, by this point, is it still the 'Ship of Theseus'?  Or would it be more accurate to say it was a replica?  But, if the latter is true, at what point did it stop being the original ship? 

Interestingly, the Scriptures are full of paradoxes. But unlike those listed above, these have actual answers that can revolutionize your life (cf. Matt. 5:6; 11:29-30; Rom. 3:38/Jam. 2:24; Ecc. 1:2/1 Cor. 10:31; Matt. 7:1/Jhn. 7:24; Prov. 26:4-5).  Far from being a fun brainteaser, the paradoxes in the Bible have a way of rewiring our brains altogether.  And one of my favorites comes in the Gospel of John:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." – John 12:24-25 (ESV)

Contextually, Jesus is speaking about his death.  And he frames that death in a metaphorical paradox involving, of all things, farming.  He explains that it does little good if a “grain of wheat” is left unused. Because, as Jesus says, it remains "alone;" meaning, it doesn't multiply itself.  However, should it be planted ("falls into the earth"), it will transform into a stalk of wheat that produces multiple kernels of wheat—i.e., "much fruit." Yes, the grain of wheat will "die" (which is to say, it will be destroyed, or it will cease being what it was originally), but through its death, more wheat will be produced.  Meaning, at its core, the process of farming is dependent on a paradox; as, from the death of countless seeds comes abundant life and harvest.

In fact, by today’s standards, along with corn, soybean, rice, potato, and cotton, wheat is classified as an HYV (high-yielding variety).  And according to the Kansas Farm Bureau, there are around "50 kernels" in a single stalk of wheat and around 17,000 kernels in a pound.[1]  This means that, considering its tiny stature, a single grain of wheat produces quite a bit.  So, even though the kernel of wheat is destroyed, when it is sown, it becomes the catalyst for abundant life as it reproduces itself fifty times over.  In fact, a person only needs ten-square feet to produce enough grain for a single loaf of bread.[2]  That’s roughly the square footage of a midsize SUV. 

In light of that, we can better understand what Jesus meant in John 12:24.  The Lord may be talking about his death, but he's framing it in terms of a high-yield grain that produces yet more high-yield grain.  His death leads to abundant life in the same way that a bit of wheat makes a lot of grain.

After the tragedy on the cross came the entombment in the garden leading to the triumph of the resurrection and culminating in the enthronement in the heavens.  And through Jesus' death, burial, revival, and reign, life is secured for all those who believe in him (cf. Jn. 3:15).  Thus, paradoxically, from Jesus’ death came life for many.  How many people have been given new life through Jesus' one-time sacrificial planting?  And should the Lord tarry, how many more will be saved in the coming years? 

But Jesus does not stop there.  He then applies this paradox to the believer, saying, "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  Loving one’s life (paradoxically) leads to losing it, but hating one’s life (paradoxically) leads to having it.  And in this, Jesus is not telling us to hate our life whereby we bemoan our existence, throw it away without a thought, or regard it as meaningless. Life has immeasurable value.  Jesus is using hyperbole.  And his point is that we ought to have such an affection for the things of God that, by comparison, it appears as though we hate the things of this world.  It is not that we actually hate the things of this world. Rather, it is that we prefer the things to come (cf. Matt. 10:37-39; Lu. 15:12-21, 17:33). 

In essence, the Lord is contrasting self-aggrandizement—i.e., hubris—that leads to selfishness and self-preservation with a self-debasement—i.e., humility—that leads to selflessness and self-sacrifice.  The prideful person loves themselves so much that they "serve" only their own interests and "follow" only their own intellect.  And they will, above all, seek to save themselves from all harm.  Whereas the lowly servant will "follow" the one whom they know is worthy even if they're led straight into harm's way.  

To borrow Jesus’ farming metaphor, a kernel of wheat that does not give itself away will not experience the new kind of life that awaits it in the soil.  And, in doing so, it will have failed to understand its true nature and purpose.  But a kernel of wheat that does understand its true nature and purpose will experience the new kind of life that awaits it in the soil because it will willingly give itself away.  The seed, who knows it’s a seed, has but one goal in life: to die so that others may live.

Should a believer live a self-sacrificial life like this, Jesus goes on to promises that "…where I am, there will my servant be also.  If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (cf. Jhn. 12:26). Working for the Son of God secures recognition from God (cf. 1 Sam. 2:30), especially when Christians give up their very lives in service to the gospel.  In fact, it could be argued that one of the goals in living one's life for Christ is so that we might die well.  How tragic would it be to spend our life on frivolous pursuits and not have anything to show for it in the life to come.  Or, as D.L. Moody put it, "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn't really matter.”  All who go to their graves loving the Son will be honored by the Father.

As Jesus died for us, we are called to sacrifice and even die for others.  And throughout the church age, Christians have done just that.  For example, William Tyndale was burned at the stake on October 6, 1536.  And he wasn't executed because he murdered someone.  He was martyred because he put the Bible in the language of the common man. 

At the time, the Bible was regulated by Catholicism.  In fact, though much of the church spoke English, sadly, its Scriptures were mainly in Latin, making them readable to only a highly educated few.  Admittedly, much of the population was illiterate.  However, the few who could read couldn't read the Bible for themselves.  Tyndale saw this as a great evil and so sought to fix this problem. Unsurprisingly, the Catholic Church didn't look too kindly on him.  And he would often get into confrontations with anyone who stood in his way.  In fact, he once told a priest, "If God spares my life, ere many years pass, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow shall know more of the Scriptures than thou dost.”

Sadly, the Catholics eventually silenced Tyndale.  Through various means—i.e., the edict of a corrupt King, the hand of a false friend, etc.—William was captured, strangled, and then burned at the stake.  His last words before dying were, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes.” However, his death was not in vain.  Three years after his martyrdom, the same King who helped kill William required an English copy of the Bible to be available in every church.  Tyndale's prayer was answered. 

But how does this story relate to the paradox of sacrifice? William Tyndale was like the kernel of wheat that fell into the soil.  And though, yes, he died; his sacrifice laid the groundwork for many Bible translations, such as the KJV, ESV, CSB, etc.  Like Christ, his sacrifice provided abundant life for countless Christians in the centuries to come.  Anyone who reads an English Bible today has Tyndale (among many others) to thank. 

Okay, how does all this relate to us, today?  No sacrifice is too little when it is for the cause of Christ.  This is the beauty of the sacrifice paradox. When you give it all to God, he returns your investment a hundred times over. Who knows? You may be a modern Tyndale. You may be the Christian who helps bring life to untold masses. But you'll never know what part you play unless you're willing to give yourself away for Jesus' sake. 

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[1] General Editors, “Wheat Fun Fact Sheet,” Kansas Farm Bureau, https://www.kfb.org/WebsitePageFile/File/A4999F31-C619-4FB6-BF22-074DA6143FC1/WheatFunFactGuide.pdf, [accessed, March 8, 2023].
[2] Bonsall, Will, “Is There A Place For Wheat In Your Garden?  Part 1,” Spring 2010, Main Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association,https://www.mofga.org/resources/gardening/wheat/, [accessed March 8, 2023].