I've Been Thinking About Good And Evil

(My column for the In Port News, to be published this week.)

"On May 6 our lives changed forever. What happened to him was not God's doing. I know that if it wasn't Tim it could have been another man and another man's family. What if they didn't have the support that we have. I couldn't be here without all of you. Evil came to pass. We have seen there is far more good on this earth. I believe, especially in this case, good will overcome the evil." Those words were spoken by Sharlene Bosma, the widow of Tim Bosma, who was apparently kidnapped and murdered on May 6, at his memorial service. As I heard the words on video, and then read them again later in print, they literally sent shivers up and down my spine.

Tim Bosma, according to everyone I've heard who knew him, was a genuinely good man. A loving husband, a devoted father of a 2 year old girl, a man of faith active in his church and community. The police have confirmed that he was exactly that; exactly what he appeared to be. And then his life was brutally ended for no rational reason anyone can understand. It was an act of evil. And evil can so easily overwhelm us. But I found myself awestruck at Sharlene Bosma's words - words that showed such faith in both God and goodness even in the midst of evil. Her words got me thinking about the concepts of good and evil, and the reality of sin.

Many people use the very existence of evil as a reason to not believe in God. A good God wouldn't allow evil, is the argument. I've always believed that the only way for God not to allow evil to happen would be to coerce us to be good - but coerced goodness wouldn't really be good, would it? And if there were no evil, then how could goodness shine? And a life lived under coercion wouldn't really be life, would it? I celebrate the freedom God gives us to choose, even while I realize that some will make the wrong choice, and some will even choose evil. But I do agree with Sharlene Bosma that, ultimately, good does overcome evil.

It's my opinion that too many Christians give evil far too much power. I reflect, for example, on the doctrine of "original sin." I understand it, of course. It states that human beings are born with a sinful nature. It's not that we're born as sinners - because sin is an action that has to be chosen, and a person has to have the capacity to make the choice (to understand right from wrong and good from bad and to choose between them) in order to sin. The doctrine basically says that once we reach the point at which we can make that choice, we will inevitably choose to do wrong at least some of the time, because we can't help ourselves. It's our nature. I readily confess that in my own life I'm well aware of my own shortcomings, failures and sins. That awareness also makes me grateful for the grace, mercy, compassion and love of God. But "original sin" puts too much emphasis on sin, and can too easily be turned into an excuse to surrender before evil. And so I choose to balance it with what I call "original goodness."

Genesis 1:31 tells us that as God finished the work of creation, "God saw all that he had made" - including us - "and it was very good." As people we are made in God's image, and we are declared "good" by God. That tells me that while we may have a sinful nature, and while we may choose to do wrong and even to do evil, there is a reservoir of goodness within us that will ultimately triumph. I think deep down we all know that. Although we're sometimes inundated with signs of evil - scandals and violence and wars and hatred - we all know as we look around our own neighbourhoods that there's far more goodness in the world. It's that hope (a hope that I believe comes from living with the image of God shining from us) that helps us through the horrible things that sometimes happen in our own lives.

It's that hope in goodness that Sharlene Bosma was talking about. May God bless her and her family. May they find the strength to somehow move forward with their lives, and may they find joy.

A Thought For The Week Of May 27

"But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace." (Acts 20:24) Based on almost 20 years as a pastor, and on the many chances I've had to talk with people about their lives, I think that one of the main fears many people have is that they wonder if their lives have actually meant anything. Have their lives been valuable? Have they made a difference? Most people think of the question in very material and concrete terms. They see the mountain of problems in the world around them, and they look at themselves, and they despair of being able to do anything meaningful. And, I suppose, to an extent that's true. I can't eliminate poverty, for example. On Sunday I was in downtown Toronto trying to explain to my 9 year old daughter why homeless people sit on the sidewalk and ask for money, and as I contemplated the numbers that I saw on virtually every street corner we passed, I realized that it's questionable whether I can even make much more than a momentary difference in the life of a single poor person in a material sense. After thinking about it, though, I realize that I can make a difference. I may not be able to solve all the problems of the world, but if I "testify to the good news of God's grace" that can and does make a difference. That's not about evangelism, or handing out tracts, our spouting gospel verses at people. It's about treating the outcast and downtrodden as real people - with respect, dignity and compassion, and sharing with them the news that as I am trying to do so, God does so perfectly.  I'm not good enough at it. Probably none of us are. But it's the effort to do so that truly makes our lives valuable - because my life is really only valuable if it's valuable to others, and if it's valuable to God. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of May 20

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:2) With Pentecost having been marked this past Sunday, I find myself reflecting on the work of the Holy Spirit. So much of our thinking about God's Spirit is tied up with the "charismatic experience." While not dismissing that experience, I wonder if it hasn't taken such a place of priority in our thinking that we miss the actual work of God's Spirit? When I think about the second verse of the Bible (and the first time the Spirit of God is mentioned in the Bible) I think about the fact that it was the presence of God's Spirit that suddenly started turning chaos into order. The work of creation - the work of taking this formless, empty and dark thing called earth and making it a home for God's people - could now begin. Doesn't God's Spirit still bring chaos from order? I know that many times I'm most aware of the presence of the Spirit of God when things aren't going very well; when everything does seem to be in chaos. Then, somehow, the Spirit of God brings peace. Or perhaps it's when I don't know what to do or where to turn or where I'm being called to. Then, suddenly, the Spirit of God gently guides me into God's will. I'm not perfect in following it by any means, but to know that God's Spirit is with me is a true blessing. I hope all of you feel the same blessing. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of May 13

"As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." (Isaiah 66:13) Yesterday was Mother's Day, and that got me thinking about some of the feminine images for God that we find in the Bible. Some people get very uncomfortable with feminine imagery for God. I'm not sure why. Even Jesus used feminine imagery for the one He called His "Father." In the parables, for example, the woman who found the lost coin was a symbolic representation for God. And such feminine imagery goes back long before Jesus. This verse from Isaiah 66, for example, compares God to a mother. The verse is a bit stereotypical perhaps, but it seems to resonate with most people's experience of their mothers. When we think back to childhood, usually it was our mothers who comforted us, who told us not to be afraid, and who took care of our boo-boos!  It doesn't have to be. Fathers can do that too - but I think most people perceive it (fairly or not) as a maternal quality. And it's what God does. And there's something beautiful about that. God may be (and I would say that God is) all-powerful; a ruler; a King. And yet at the same time, God is a comforter, one who holds us close and takes away our fears and tries to make it all better for us. That - to me - is a beautiful combination of qualities. And the fact that God combines both stereotypical male and stereotypical female qualities perhaps reminds us that God is the example for both good fatherhood and good motherhood. Just like a mother, God will comfort us in "Jerusalem" - not the city of today, but wherever we meet God, which can be anywhere, as long as we're open to God's presence. Have a great week!

May 12 sermon - Resurrection As Completion

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:1-11)

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     So - am I contradicting myself with today’s sermon title? The question would be a fair one - at least at first glance. Last Sunday, I spoke about “Resurrection As Journey” - about the resurrection of Jesus putting us on a faith journey that’s ongoing; that leads in a definite direction, but that leads toward a destination that we actually never fully get to, at least not in this life. In fact, throughout my ministry, one thing that I’ve tried to stress is that as Christians we are never in this life and in this world a finished product. We are a work in progress. It disappoints me and it disturbs me to see a Christian who chooses to rest on his or her laurels, so to speak, assuming that because they’ve come to faith in Jesus, they’ve got it - and they have the right to tell others that they’ve got it, and they claim the right to tell others what others have to do to get it, or what others are doing wrong that’s preventing them from getting there. Oh - I’ve run into such Christians, believe me. They have a tendency to assume the right to tell others (including other Christians) how to live. In a recent post from a blog I was reading, I came across these words: “Jesus is scary when he’s riled. And the only people who rile him are those who, in his own name (what with him being God and all), set themselves up as sanctimonious judges of others.” That’s the danger, though, when you think of yourself as a finished work rather than a work in progress - you tend to become a sanctimonious judge of others! And it’s at least possible that Jesus gets just a little bit riled! So, I ask again - am I contradicting myself with today’s sermon title?

     The answer is “no.” I’m not contradicting myself because when I speak of the resurrection as “completion” I’m not talking about us - I’m talking about God. I’m not suggesting that God isn’t still here; that God isn’t still being revealed; that God doesn’t still speak to us and give us guidance. I believe all those things. But I also believe that God’s essential work is complete - and that it was basically completed with the resurrection. Through the resurrection, God gives life. That is God’s work. Through the resurrection, God shows love. That is God’s work. Through the resurrection, God demonstrates mercy. That is God’s work. And all that is complete. God is life; God is love; God is mercy. That’s been shown by the resurrection. There is certainly mystery about God; but God is not complete mystery. God is life, love and mercy. And, ultimately, through all the steps of this journey we’re on, this is what God is seeking to bring to completion in us. Paul wrote that

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

     God has begun a good work in us. It’s the good work of new life in Christ. It’s the work of the God of life, love and mercy granting us life, love and mercy in as much abundance as we choose to show to the world. If our journey never ends, God’s work is complete. Thanks to the resurrection of Jesus, who is forever alive and who is always with us, we have been given everything we need. It’s simply a matter of us completing the journey, growing more and more each day, coming always closer to what God wants from us and with the assurance that eventually we will be all that God wants us to be. As Paul wrote,

this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.

     It’s a good prayer. It’s one that we should be continually praying for each other - so that our “love may abound more and more” (because love is truly what changes the world for the better); so that we might gain more “knowledge and depth of insight” (because it’s in understanding God and God’s desire for our lives that we’re encouraged to continually grow); so that we might “discern what is best” (and not just settle for what’s easy or comfortable or OK); so that, when our journeys do finally end as they surely do for us all, we “may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (which can only happen if we’re humble enough to let the grace of God that is Christ work within us), and so that we might be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (because righteousness doesn’t refer to how good we are, but to how well we’ve lived in to our relationship with God, and to how well we’ve completed a journey of faith that starts with the resurrection of Jesus; the triumph of life.

     So, may Paul’s prayer be our prayer indeed.

A Thought For The Week of May 6

"God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." (Romans 8:16, The Message) God is spirit. That's testified to in Scripture. But what are we? Are we physical creatures with a spiritual component, or are we spiritual creatures with a physical component? Interesting question. While our bodies tend to dominate our thinking - keeping ourselves healthy, having food and drink, not wanting to die - it seems to me that essentially we also are spiritual beings. With the promise of eternal life we have to exist somehow and in some way outside of the bodies we have at present. And it's this "spiritual" essence that we have at the root of who we are that is our real connection to God. As spiritual beings, we can be touched by the God who is "spirit." We are, in essence, of one stuff with God. This establishes the nature of our relationship with God. The God who is spirit, creates us who are essentially spiritual. God is more than just a Creator. That sounds too mechanical. God is, in fact, a loving parent who essentially "births" children who are loved - and that's us! Have a great week!

May 5 sermon - Resurrection As Journey

But how can people call on him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no one tells the Good News? How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News." (Romans 10:14-15)

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     Often when I’m asked to do an interment service for a family at one of the local cemeteries, I share this reading as a part of our time together because I think it helps to put both life and death into perspective. It seemed relevant to what I wanted to discuss today:

Birth is a beginning And death a destination But life is a journey A going -- a growing From stage to stage From childhood to maturity And youth to age. From innocence to awareness And ignorance to knowing; From foolishness to discretion And then perhaps, to wisdom. From Weakness to strength Or strength to weakness And, often, back again. From health to sickness And back we pray, to health again. From offense to forgiveness, From loneliness to love, From joy to gratitude, From pain to compassion, And grief to understanding -- From fear to faith. From defeat to defeat to defeat -- Until, looking backward or ahead, We see that victory lies Not as some high place along the way, But in having made the journey, stage by stage. A sacred pilgrimage. Birth is a beginning And death a destination. But life is a journey, A sacred pilgrimage -- Made stage by stage -- To life everlasting.

     When I say that this helps me to put life and death into perspective, what I mean is that it makes the point that life is a an ongoing journey - from beginning to end, but even more than that. We think of time as linear - a straight line moving from one end to the other. I think probably (and there’s increasing scientific theory to back me up) that time is more of a circle than a line. It starts and it ends and it starts again. Eternity doesn’t have a beginning or an end. Eternity just is. What happens within eternity is the journey. The Bible is a story of journey. Abraham journeying to a strange and foreign land; Moses leading the Israelites on a journey through the wilderness of Sinai; Israel travelling from the holy land to exile in Babylon and back again; Jesus the journeying, itinerant preacher; Paul journeying on the road to Damascus, and then journeying throughout the Roman Empire to share the Gospel. The Bible itself is a destination - from the Garden of Eden of the Book of Genesis to the New Jerusalem of the Book of Revelation. Or science would speak of the journey of the universe from the Big Bang to what some believe will be the Big Crunch. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that what’s important in the journey is the destination. So Christian faith is sometimes guilty of pointing people ahead to the destination - heaven, eternity, however you want to describe it - and forgetting about the importance of what happens along the way on the journey to get there. Perhaps we overemphasize what’s to come at the expense of becoming complacent about what’s actually going on around us. To put it another way, sometimes Christians are in fact guilty of becoming - as an old saying says - so heavenly minded that we’re of no earthly use! That happens because we forget the importance of the journey. We start to see the journey as an obstacle to get through rather than as an opportunity.

     I want to encourage us all to celebrate the journey. It’s a God-given journey we’re on, just as it’s a God-given faith we believe in and just as much as it’s a God-given life we enjoy. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was an invitation for us all to share in the journey, by offering us a powerful reminder of the exciting newness that God wants to offer us; of the bold “what next?” that we should be asking and then acting on. Last week I was speaking about the asking of the “what next?” question. This week I’m encouraging you to act on the “what next?” question. We have to act, because a journey can’t be static. A journey that doesn’t take you anywhere isn’t a journey. But the journey of faith isn't just about the destination. Sometimes on any journey the things you find along the way are more interesting and exciting and satisfying than the destination you finally arrive at. The journey that the resurrection invites us into is just such a journey of exciting discovery and sharing. I’m not talking about a “unitarian” type of journey where the journey leads nowhere, anywhere and everywhere all at the same time. I’m talking about a journey that leads us deeper - constantly deeper - into the reality of the living Christ in our midst. I’m talking about a journey so wondrous that it inevitably leads us to want to invite others to travel with us.

     Paul wrote, “‘As Scripture says, ‘How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News.’” It was Isaiah who first spoke those words: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” We walk. We journey. We travel. And as we do we bring good news. I don’t know about you, but I know lots of people who need good news. Too often the church brings them bad news: news of judgment, or news about an angry God, or news about how hopelessly sinful we all are. And in the midst of doing that, too often we forget the good news. We have the gospel bound up so tightly that we never seem to let it go. But we have to unbind the gospel and let it loose, travelling ourselves to discover new and joyous points of interest, and guiding others to discover the good news: the gifts of peace, good tidings and salvation.

     The journey never ends. I’ve noticed that there are Christians who seem to think it does - at least for them. Some who believe that they’ve “got it” or they’ve “made it.” The “truth” is theirs. But honestly? No. If we become, as Jesus suggests we do, “like little children,” and we find ourselves asking “Are we there yet?” we’ll discover that the answer is “no.” The journey (at least as far as this life is concerned) is never ending, because we never know it all. Paul once wrote that “now we see dimly as in a mirror.” That's a call to humility. We don't know everything there is to know. As we travel this path, we see the Kingdom of God reflected, and we see a reflection of the relationship we should have with God, but the journey continues - a journey from here to eternity, a journey from now to then. “Now we see dimly as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” The resurrection of Jesus places us on the journey, and constantly pushes us ahead on roads perhaps untraveled, but roads that contain wonders we may never have dreamed of.