“I found it!” Like the shepherd who found the lost sheep, or the widow who found the lost coin, I had found it.
I had been visiting my parents in their new home, shortly after they moved in, and was going through boxes and boxes of “treasures” when I found two precious items. The first was my dad’s antique Lionel Train set he had as a little boy. Dad thought the movers had “sticky” fingers and knew the set was gone forever. He was relieved to know I had “found it.”
However, the big find wasn’t the antique train set, but my childhood stuffed Snoopy plush doll. True, Linus had his famous security blanket to comfort him when he felt lonely, anxious, fearful, or vulnerable. I had Snoopy. Linus’ blanket was versatile. He had 101 things he could do with it: it was a Shepherd’s scarf, an ascot, a sport coat, felt for his new pool table, a kite, and to protect himself, a whip. I had a Snoopy doll I got for Christmas when I was 3, and I slept with him every night. He brought enough comfort to me that when I entered the hospital for an ulcer (I was 10 years old) I wanted him with me. (He was so worn and dirty with love, that mom was ashamed to bring him to the hospital, so she bought me a new “knock-off” Snoopy instead).
Except for Franklin, Linus may have been the most adjusted child among the Peanuts Gang, despite his constant need for his security blanket. He always went into withdrawals when it was wash day, or when grandma threatened to take the blanket away from him. When Charlie Brown chastised Linus about his need for the blanket, Linus quickly responded, pointing out, that while he needed a blanket, Charlie Brown needed a “psychiatrist” for his insecurities.
The older I get, the more brilliant I find Schulz. His assessment of humanity, combined with his own projected feelings, were spot on. In a world filled with danger and uncertainty, both from within and from without, we long for comfort and security. We fear ourselves and our own inadequacies. We fear that our nation is tearing itself apart. We fear that since our world is smaller, the terrorist attacks feel like they’re now in our own neighborhoods.
Certainly, the anxieties and insecurities of life carry over into our relationship with God. Our view of God, and our understanding of doctrine, either heightens our anxiety or calms it. If we believe that God is looking to condemn us, we probably need a blanket, or at least a stuff plush doll. If we believe that God is gracious and compassionate and forgiving, then we simply rest in his assurance of his love for us.
The Fellowship of believers I’m associated with has struggled in the security section of Scripture. Since we believe that salvation can be lost (an Armenian view of 1 Cor. 10:18-22; Heb. 2:1-4), we tend to believe that salvation cannot be assured either. We cannot find the middle road between the extremes. Since we’ve focused so much on establishing the “right doctrine,” many feel they cannot trust their baptism was done correctly; hindsight tells them they didn’t get it right the first time.
I once re-baptized a friend who was in her late thirties. We met and talk at length about baptism and God’s grace. She was smart, capable and insightful. She told me about how much more she understood Scripture and God’s will today versus when she was a teenager, and this time she was getting baptized for the “right reason.” I tried convincing her she didn’t need baptism, for she was growing in the grace of God (2 Pet. 3:18). However, when push came to shove, I relented and I baptized her. It was her third baptism. I wondered, at the time and even today, how many more baptisms will she need before she will finally get it right, and that God will forgive her?
Thus, enough of us doubt we’re saved, and have convinced ourselves that God’s looking for any reason to condemn us. Where can we find security without running for a blue blanket, or a stuff plush doll?
John 3:16-17 has God looking for every reason to save us, not to condemn us. Jesus’ cry is for “All to come to him who are heavy burdened and he will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). John reassured his readers when he wrote, “I write this things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:13); he didn’t write, “. . . you might have eternal life.” And if our weekly partaking of the Lord’s Supper says anything, it should answer the question, “how much does God love us;” this much, as Jesus stretches out his hands.
I may not need my Snoopy doll today as a point of security, and you may not need a blue blanket either. I do find that the above Scriptures help in my security, and it doesn’t hurt to sing songs like Blessed Assurance either.
By the way, the original Snoopy doll I found in a box, covered with thirty years of age and love, was used by my mom and her sister as a pattern to clone an identical Snoopy. In fact, they made one for me and for each of my three children. I’m glad I found it. More importantly, I’m just glad Jesus found me.
bonum dolar!
(e.g., Good Grief!)