Just God or A Just God

IF you didn't know, on Thursday January 19^th 2012 I was assaulted outside of the Englewood Library after getting off of the light rail. I was coming from the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention and was exhausted from a long day of continuing education. A man I have never meet before asked if I had any money so he could get something to eat. I have felt called by my mission to be more like Christ to reach in my pocket take whatever I have and give someone in need......sometimes more than I should. So I gave the man a 20 dollar bill and pointed him to the Qudoba/Quiznos across the street. He then started to regale me with his tale of woe, which I listened to intently. After about two minutes of his story/,  a black guy (I say guy cause this jerk was no gentleman) runs at me full speed and socks me in the right ear as hard as he can.  I fall to my knee but quickly get back up because I have taken harder hits in RUGBY then this guy could dole out. I attempt to look at him to get a good face shot but I am a little to rattled. What I do notice is his fist in the air like he is rocky and a "WOOO" shouted back at me. Apparently hitting a white guy is like winning the Special Olympics to this moron. (No offense to those brave guys and girls who strive for excellence in the special Olympics.) He didn't take my wallet, phone, or cash. He just ran off. The young man I was talking to did take my phone, but he didn't run. He Dialed 9-1-1 and put it on speaker mode and set it down in front of me.  He and the nice Mexican fellow I was chatting with on the train stayed with me till the police arrived and then they went on their way. I was bleeding from the ear but no real damage was done physically. Actually I was lucky he didn't punch me in the nose which I recently had surgery on and had two huge splints tucked safely inside.  Emotionally I was a little bit of a wreck but that is why I have this Blog right..

Now to the title, I have been thinking about the balance in the world. Some people call it Karma, balance, the universe’s equilibrium, and other God’s justice.  I found myself hoping that something comes around to kick this guy square in the ass. I want to believe that Karma will get him or that the Universe will do evil to those who do evil to others, but I am a Christian and I believe in a living and active God. So is it wrong for me to hope that God will bring swift JESUS JUSTICE down on a man who emotionally and physically violated me?

Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

SWEET! If this guy believes in God or Christ he will be in HOSED-Ville. God will detest him and make it so that he is never fit for the work of God.

But then I remember  that if a man strikes you in the Right ear turn also to him your Left. (Luke 6:29)WELL CRAP. What am I supposed to do - - -  hear GOD!?! I mean I am violated, wronged, embarrassed. I rock rolled like a kid on a playground. Now you tell me to shake it off and not let it affect my ministry. I can’t even drive up an off ramp, see man or woman with a sign and stop myself from thinking “sorry last time I helped I got a fist in the ear! You better try the next car.” This isn’t the life God called me to.

So is he JUST GOD or is he A JUST GOD. I have been struggling with the idea that God doesn’t call us to vengeance or anger so how can we bring justice to the world in which he doesn’t bring justice to a guy who gets punched in the head. If he is JUST GOD and hangs out and watches what's going on without bringing what I would call balance to the evils of the world, why do I need to bring change when God doesn’t bring change. IF he is A JUST GOD, then what is all the talk about turning the other cheek? All the talk about Eye for an Eye is no longer the law.

So here I am on the wrong side of the Cross , literally asking God for VENGANCE against a man who wronged me. This time I do feel I am wrong though. God has called us to do the impossible from the beginning. Whether it be building a giant boat, leading a people out of Egypt, or leaving our nets and boats to follow him. So I step forward with forgiveness in my heart. I should have looked at the man who struck me and ask what he needed and how could I help. God Calls us to do the impossible. We are called to ship out into stormy seas. The world will always push down those who try to lift the world. The world will persecute those who call the world to stop persecution. The world will fight the Christ I know even while I fight for my Christ! The words that have brought me comfort in these last days I have to thank Dave Jarvis for…

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The world will have tribulation, frustration, and complications. But take heart for Christ have overcome the world and the world will never be the same for it. 

"Evangelicals"

So I was watching Religulous the other day while I was a little restless in bed, and I found myself looking at what my definition of “Evangelical” was, mainly because I belong to the “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America”. So after taking a good look at the Erik schematics this is what I have come up with.

To be Evangelical in America is usually connected to the four guys that stand outside Sports authority field at Mile High shouting through their mega phone the love of Jesus. That he came to save our souls which are in dire need of saving. Or it is tied to a man/woman in a very nice suit on Sunday morning yelling at me through my television in-between sports center and Batman:the brave and the bold. And after watching Religulous I can understand the frustration in this country with “Evangelicals”.

Personally I am not a huge fan of those kind of Evangelicals. I understand that they are doing a very positive ministry. They are sacrificing their self comfort to preach the name of Jesus Christ and I respect them for it, but I have never found that type of ministry to be appealing. This can easily be explained because when people have to shout at me through a mega phone they give the cliff notes bible and I have read the whole book. This might be the only book I haven’t used cliff notes on when I have to study. So this small taste of Christ must be an acquired taste because when you get a cookie it will make you feel good for a moment but I have always been a meat and potatoes Christian. When you get the good news, when you shout “praise God” at a youth gathering, when you feel love and connection in huge moments those are the delicious cookies and treats God gives us. But when all you hear are those little treats, you can become a little sick to your stomach just like if your diet consists of Twinkies, ding dongs, and Girl scout thin mints. That is why people who have a meat and potatoes faith sometimes have a hard time with this “Go Jesus Go” evangelical because of the fact it is fluff and no stuff.

Yet when I was trying to put this thought into perspective, one of my Kids from youth group reminded me of my passion and adoration for one TIM TEBOW. So how on earth do I reconcile my distaste for people who have to shout JESUS at me, but my love of how Tebow can share his faith on such a national stage? After looking through a couple of Tebow’s interviews on the YouTube I have realized what makes him different. When I see someone telling me I need to love Jesus and believe, I feel pressure on myself. That, I need to do something for God to love me and I need to change isn’t anyone else’s responsibility but mine. Tebow is the shining star that is proof that a relationship with God is between a person and their God. Tebow has never told me that I need to believe. Tebow has never told me that I need to be saved. All Tebow ever talks about is his love for Jesus Christ, and his relationship with a loving and companionate God. Yes he wears his faith on his sleeve by praying before and during football games, but he will never tell you what you need to do. He brings light to the phrase “preach the Gospel at all times and use words only when you need to.”

THAT IS A TRUE EVANGELICAL. Not a person who tells YOU what YOU need to do, but a person who actually leads by example and is unashamed by that fact! A person who can be completely open and honest with what they believe without acting like they are ashamed of it.

So here I stand, perhaps, on the wrong side of the Cross looking back at those telling me that an Evangelical is one who tells people THEY NEED TO BE SAVED, and saying that isn’t what Christ calls me to. Christ calls me to be an Evangelical by what I do and what I believe. An evangelical is one who shares their story of the love of Christ without telling others what they HAVE TO DO. Coming to Christ is a choice. A deeply personal and private choice, and to think it is my responsibility to MAKE others come to Christ seems very, well, Unchristian. Christ calls me to a life of humility. (which I know is something ironic to put on a public blog) So through the jokes of “Tim Tebow” is the second coming, and “OMG Tebow is the too much of a Jesus freak”. I look at him as an example. An example of what an evangelical in America should be. He says he love Jesus and you can tell his sincerity in his statement. Hey doesn’t shout at YOU TO LOVE JESUS, he love Christ and that enough for him. He is evangelical in his actions by building a hospital in the Philippines, visiting sick kids in the hospital and praying with them, and being a clean player in the NFL which is more rare than a white guy at the Apollo. So for those people who share the good news I thank you, but we could use some more Tebow and less Scream-o. An evangelical is Christ in the world, not telling others to be more like Christ.