This is Thomas hijacking Amy’s blog again! I wanted to post the 3-part Pastoral Letter that we wrote to the community. Amy wrote the first two sections, and I wrote the third. We hope it’s helpful to you in these days of political polarization.
1 - Why?
Dear Friends,
It has now been a year since thirty-five of us publicly committed ourselves to pursue Jesus’s prayer from John 17 - that we might be one as He and the Father are one. I believe the desire expressed in the Statement of Personal Devotion pleases the Trinity. Since we made this commitment, the underlying divisions in society have become more visible and strident. It seems most everyone in our country feels under attack in some way or another. Whether we are Protestant or Catholic, whatever opinions we hold concerning the current pandemic or the best way to pursue racial justice, we find there are many in the media, perhaps some in our own churches and families, who are loudly hostile to our beliefs. How do we live as ministers of reconciliation in such a charged, challenging environment? This is a question I would like to explore in the next two weeks as we consider signing the Statement of Personal Devotion for another year.
I would like to propose that we begin by remembering that we are citizens of a different kingdom. We are strangers and aliens on this earth. All the kingdoms of this world will pass away, and that includes our own nation - whether we are Americans, Germans, or some other nationality. This does not mean that we should take no interest in the world around us. It does not imply that we can be indifferent to the welfare of our native land. May it never be! We are sent to our families and neighbors, to our workplaces and our nation, as ambassadors of the Great King. Our work is to prepare His way. We are sent to spread the good news that He is coming soon. We model the Kingdom of God for all to see by living according to its laws within our spheres of influence. We invite others into the glory of this Kingdom by doing justice and loving mercy. By speaking the truth with grace. By caring for the widows and orphans. By feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. By praying for those in distress. We represent the Kingdom most visibly by loving one another.
“By this shall all men know that you are My disciples,” Jesus said, “if you love one another.” The love that Jesus desires for His friends goes deeper than we dare imagine. It takes us into the very heart of the Trinity – to the unity shared between Father, Son and Spirit. This kind of unity is born of the Spirit of God; thus it exists only within the Kingdom of God. This is why Jesus can pray unity only for His disciples. As citizens of the Kingdom, we should seek this unity as a priceless treasure. Our unity will bear a powerful witness to a hurting world, just as Jesus promised.
In order to serve as ambassadors of this Kingdom, we must be at peace with the King. We must remember that He holds the times in His hand. Both blessing and judgment come from Him, and both are right and good. Peter assures us, “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” The King of the Universe knows our names. He numbers the hairs of our heads. Whether America is strong or weak, whether we know freedom or persecution, whether we live or die, we are held firmly in His hand. He is coming soon to make all things new!
Next week I will explore some practical ways to apply the Statement of Devotion to daily life. This week, let us meditate on the joy of being a citizens and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom!
May the peace of Christ guard our hearts and minds,
Amy
2 - What?
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today I would like to take up a question from my previous letter - What does it look like to practice our Statement of Personal Devotion in these politically charged days?
In other words, how do we manifest our love for one another while disagreeing about important matters? All of us, I think, are grappling with this question. We feel the pain of division within our churches, and perhaps within our families. Even within CTR, we are not immune from strife. The current crises have exposed differences close to our hearts. Sometimes conversations leave us feeling misunderstood, unheard, or discounted - and this is true regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum.
We strive to walk as Jesus did, full of grace and truth, but the path is not always clear to us. Here are a few practical suggestions for navigating these waters.
Be Slow to Anger
The King of the Universe is slow to anger. Hallelujah! In We represent our King well when we are secure in His love, not easily rattled.
Be Humble
Our King is so humble that He submitted Himself to insults, lies, mockery, beatings and even death on behalf of His enemies.
Believe the Best, Protect and Defend
These are qualities of love. (I Cor. 13) We must be careful to honor our fellow humans made in God's image, even when opposing their ideas or actions. Recognize what is good in others. Choose words carefully. Satan is known as the Accuser of the Brethren. We must be careful not to play his game.
Be Humble Again
Paul ends his chapter on love by reminding us that we see through a mirror dimly what shall soon be revealed. None of us fully understands the complex issues of our days. None of us can predict the future, or read the human heart the way Jesus can. Let's be open to hearing the concerns of our brothers and sisters and learning from their experiences.
Remember the Battle Belongs to the Lord
He is in control, no matter what. We are not responsible for outcomes, only for faithfulness.
Be Childlike
Ask the Lord for His comfort. Ask Him what He would do in your situations. Ask yourself, “What would I say if Jesus were in the room?” He is near those who call on Him!
Let me end this meditation by saying how very grateful I am for each person in the CTR community! Each of you receiving this letter has loved me in tangible ways. I am more like Christ because of your witness, your kindness, your wisdom and generosity. The Lord has prepared us for such a time as this, to be His witnesses. Though we come from different church traditions, experiences and viewpoints, we all long for the Coming King. The Holy Spirit will help bind us in love as we cry together, "Come Lord Jesus!"
In the love of Christ,
Amy
PS: Next week look for the final installment of this three-part pastoral letter, which addresses the question, "OK ... so how exactly do I become the kind of person who is slow to anger, humble, ...?"
3 - How?
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we will finish our reflections on the question - What does it look like to practice our Statement of Personal Devotion in these politically charged days?
In Part 2, Amy made several practical suggestions for navigating these difficult waters: Be Slow to Anger, Be Humble, ...
But what if these actions and attitudes don't come naturally? All of us have had the experience of aspiring to a kingdom culture, but falling short. The logical question is then -- how do you become the kind of person who is slow to anger, humble, childlike, and so forth?
The answer is simple ... but difficult. It is through the process of spiritual formation that we become this kind of person.
All of us have been formed by our lives to this point. And all of us have mostly been malformed. Our family dynamics; our neighbors and friends; our educational institutions; our jobs; our media consumption - very few of these intentionally formed us to follow the ways of the King. Most of them formed us in the opposite patterns - to be proud; to assert our rights; to loudly defend our opinions; to "elevate" ourselves by "putting down" others.
Of course, much has been written and said about the process of spiritual formation. What can we add? Perhaps just a few thoughts of how to apply a few of the classic spiritual disciplines to this particular problem of living out John 17 in the midst of politically charged rhetoric.
Solitude
Calm your body down; breathe slowly and pray as you breathe; cut off ungodly / unhelpful inputs into your mind and emotions
Silence
Don't speak; don't react; don't post
Prayer
Pray for your enemies
Almsgiving
Give to the poor, give as the Spirit directs; you can even give money to those your heart is struggling to love! (where your treasure is, there will your heart be)
Study
Read from different perspectives (not just the ones that reinforce your current views); seek to understand the heart, historical strengths, and legitimate concerns of each
Fasting
From food certainly; also possibly from social media and news sources that feed your hostility
Submission
Consider making yourself accountable to someone, asking them to help you guard your words (for example, Amy and I daily submit potentially sensitive communication to each other for review before sending)
Confession
Confess to a priest / pastor / trusted friend, when the Holy Spirit convicts you of crossing the line
Reconciliation
When you've offended someone, or been offended, practice the actions of reconciliation* - especially the actions of grieving, and going to them (privately)
*For more, see Appendix 4 of the Study Guide and listen to teachings #6 & #7
Please don't try doing all of these at once! Consider choosing one or two of these for a "long-term obedience in the same direction." That is the method God has provided to gradually and permanently change you into the kind of person who responds like Jesus to the insanity of our world.
We have a glorious calling! Each of you has worked for reconciliation in significant ways, pleasing the heart of God. Let's press on to walk worthy of our calling, in new ways in these days!
In the love of Christ,
Thomas
(and Amy, who of course I submitted this letter to :-)