I have always been attracted to reformations and revolutions — so long as they are not all-or-nothing reformations or all-or-nothing revolutions. And yet in my reading of history I think most revolutions and reformations have not got this. New insights are good insights, for the most part, but this doesn’t mean that we should dismiss the previous era or previous century or previous church practice as totally wrong. In fact I think we can say that this is never true! We cannot jump on board reformations or new insights of any kind that totally dismiss the past.
As I get closer to the day when my life will end here on earth I am more conscious of changes in our culture and our churches that would do well to hang onto some of our good traditions, healthy laws and boundaries, and earlier practices. I especially see this when trying to make progress and with being a blessing for the common good. All-or-nothing thinking, or my-way-or-the-highway approaches to issues and changes end up being rebellions and reformations and revolutions that backfire and fail because they are non-transformational. We hurt one another when this occurs. Civilizations and cultures and churches can even cease to exist when this occurs. If you are standing in the middle of an iced-in pond and all you do it pound away at the ice around you with a pick and shovel, sooner than later you will fall in!
So I have come to learn that it is a waste of time to hate Mom or Dad, a waste of time to hate the church, a waste of time to hate America or Washington politics. It is a waste of time to hate what has disappointed or hurt me. In fact, I try not to hate anything or anyone. For we can become so upset with the shadow side of things that we never discover how to put the shadow and light together, we never grow from what went wrong, and we never see the light and feel the warmth. Is this not the heart of God’s wisdom and love? Is this not the heart of Jesus Christ? Is this not the heart of forgiveness? And is this not the trademark of living many years?
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity” Proverbs 24:16.
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.
“If we confess our sins, God who is faithful will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” James 1: 2-4.
“Give instruction to the wise, and they will be still wiser; teach the righteous, and they will increase in learning” Proverbs 9:9.
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” Philippians 4:9.
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