Standing For

“Why do we have to voice opinions on the hot-button issues of the day?  Instead of ‘Where do you stand?’ why aren’t we talking about ‘with whom are you standing?’  Isn’t it the nature of disciples of Jesus, less to be known for a certain opinion about an issue than to be known for whom we are in relationships with.  Show disciples of Jesus a lost cause or an underdog, the sidelined or the undermined, and they become suckers . . . If Jesus fanatics push a hot button, it’s not an issues button so much as it is a relations button.  There is no ducking the ugly duckling for Jesus followers.” (Len Sweet, So Beautiful, p. 118)

One of the more troubling aspects of our current cultural climate is the rampant polarization of nearly everything.  The question has really become, Where do you stand?  And unfortunately there are usually only two positions, diametrically opposed to one another.  The end results of this binary worldview are easy to discern:  lines drawn in the sand, alliances forged, and wars are waged.  Personally, I’m growing a little tired of it all.  It’s difficult to even have a meaningful discussion without getting into spitting matches.

So maybe Len Sweet is on to something here.  Perhaps our focus has been on principles and not people, rules not relationships, standing against and not standing for.  This particular failure is a very subtle trap, especially for Christians who believe in the importance of holiness.

Of course, the issue is not with holiness per se but our definitions of holiness.  Too often, holiness is reduced to personal purity at the expense of neighborly care and justice.  This type of holiness misses the mark.  It leads to pride, which forms Christians into people who are as pure as angels and as mean as demons.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, we must keep three virtues in front us—love, truth and humility.  No three words characterize the spirit of Jesus better than these.

He was love through and through. He was also truth; and he loved with truth to liberate us from sin.  Last but not least, he was humble, pouring out his life even for his enemies.

So if we are growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, our lives should begin to take on the form of a humble, loving and truthful disposition.  This is our call.

Peace.