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Be Still

Be still . . . for in the midst of the storm God is our refuge (Ps. 46:1). So the Psalmist speaks of sink holes and earthquakes, foamy and turbulent waters, and trouble with danger. But he also speaks of God’s actions, how God makes war and destroys the bow, shatters the spear, and burns the shields of his enemies.

Be still . . . in a world filled with white noise. From screaming kids to the TV blaring to the cars honking to the neighbors shouting, we long for quiet. I believe my father’s joy of working in his garage, whether it was on the car or wood working projects, was probably and partly motivated as a means to seek out quiet solitude from a household of five children.

Be still . . . so that when the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, gale force winds unexpectedly emerged. Sudden storms were common on the sea because the mountains surrounding the lake acted as a funnel for the wind. Even experienced sailors, with no life jackets, feared such storms. So while the disciples were facing the raging storms, Jesus was sleeping on the job. In their fear and panic, they woke their master who faced the storm, saying, “Peace! Be still!” (Mk. 4:35-41).

Be still . . . and in the early morning hours a young mother nurses her baby. While they rock together, comforting the little one in her arms, she whispers her love in the night while praying over her child.

Be still . . . for as Elijah was told to stand in the opening of the cave, God was going to pass him by. When the wind tore through the mountains, God was not in the wind. And when the earth shook beneath his feet as rocks and boulders produced landslides, God was not in the earthquake. And when the fire raged through the valley destroying everything in its path, God was not in the fire. But when a soft gentle whisper was heard, Elijah pulled his cloak over his face (1 King. 19:11-13a).

Be still . . . for when chaos runs wild, a calm presence is needed to ascertain what is happening. The easy response is always a knee-jerk reaction to match the intensity of the event. A vase breaks and it’s matched by a scream from the other room, “What is it?” Or a child falls and the adult gasps, running and screaming to pick up the child, making one wonder if the child needs comforting or the adult?

Be still . . . as Jesus arose early in the morning, while it was still dark, he found a place where he was by himself so he could pray. No interruptions. No responsibilities. No distractions. Just time with him and God.

Be still . . . the messages that bombard us daily are trying to shape our thinking and world view. They incite fear and sometimes lay the groundwork for others to create conspiracy theories. We’re stressed, worried, and believe the worst case scenario will unfold before us. We struggle to find a solace anywhere.

Be still . . . and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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A God, A Towel & A Parable

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:3-5). 

The Kingdom of God is like a college student whose frustration with the dorm’s housekeeping was reaching an apex; the dorm was quickly becoming an eyesore. The carpets were not being vacuumed. The stairwell had not been mopped since the infamous Coke spill; the area was still grabbing your shoes as you walked by. The blinds and curtains hanging in the lobby were torn and tattered from the roughhousing. The bathrooms and community showers were marked by so much mold and mildew that the biology majors were excited about the possibility of gathering daily active, cultures. 

The student had hopelessly complained to his Resident Assistant. Either the R.A. was not doing his job or the filed complaint got lost in the bureaucratic red tape of the university. With no relief in sight, he took matters into his own hands by setting a meeting with the university president. With respect in his demeanor and passion in his presentation, he filed the complaint: carpets, stairwell, curtains, bathrooms, etc. The president listened like the student was a wealthy donor, and having clearly understood the deteriorating conditions, promised that he would ensure the student’s living conditions would measure up to the university’s standard.

Sure enough, the president was good to his word, as a beautication project wasa underway with the dorm. No one actually saw the changes being made, but they saw the difference. The blinds and curtains were cleaned, repaired, and some were even replaced. The stairwell was mopped and the Coke spill vanished. The carpets were regularly vacuumed. And since the bathrooms were cleaned, residences no longer saw the wide-eyed biology students.

Yes, for the rest of the semester, the dorm was clean. The student was satisfied and the former dilemma was distant dream, until one early morning. With finals behind him, he woke long before dawn for his drive home. As he walked into the bathroom, he saw a mop, bucket, and cleaning supplies. More so, he saw the university president wearing jeans and rubber gloves, bending over the commode to clean it.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(only God is glorified!)

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If I Were A Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion

If I were a Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion I would see . . .
Crowds of anxious people gathering at Golgotha to witness the crucifixion;
The face of an innocent man – no – the face of God suffering for his people;
Charges nailed above the criminal’s head pronouncing, “King of the Jews;”
The sun blackening the daylight into nighttime. 

 If I were a Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion I would smell . . .
Rawness of flesh from the accused’s back where he was flogged at his trial;
The stench of death as life drains out of the condemned;
An overwhelming odor of salty sweat secreting from the crowds in the heat of the day;
The metallic mixture of blood and water as the sword pierces the dead man’s side.

If I were a Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion I would feel . . .
The crowds pressing forward to get as close as earshot to the criminals;
The grip of the hammer’s handle as I nailed the hands and feet of the victim to the
 cross;
A sliver from the cross painfully piercing my finger while assembling the cross;
Uneasiness as somehow the wrong man was executed today. 

If I were a Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion I would hear . . .
In loud tones, “Father! Forgive them” from the middle victim;
Crowds hurling and heaping insults while shouting their approval;
The wounded weeping of women, collapsing at the foot of the cross;
My Centurion saying, “Surely, he was the Son of God.”

If I were a Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion I would taste . . .
The bitter wine-vinegar drink offered to the one suffering;
Drops of sweat dripping down my face from the heat of the day;
The gathering of saliva in my mouth to spit on the condemned;
The injustice of watching this particular man die.

If I were a Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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FNN: Fake News Network

Separating the truth from the lie has always been a difficult process. Parents, school officials, law enforcement, and church leaders, who try to navigate the conflict waters, often struggle to move beyond a “he said – she said” scenario. Sure, the truth is out there, but the truth is often elusive to find. And since we struggle to find the truth, the lies feed our frenzy.

The biblical narrative speaks about the need for truth. The ninth commandment prohibits false testimony in a legal proceeding (Ex. 20:16), so King Ahab is called out by Elijah for breaking this very commandment when he had Naboth falsely accused (1 King. 17:11-19). When Paul describes the immature Christian, he talks about someone lacking the ability to discern truth from deceitful lies, particularly when it comes to doctrine (Eph. 4:14-15). Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus claims to not only speak truth, but to be truth (e.g. Jn. 14:6).

The culture we live in is struggling to decipher the truth from the lie. Our Christian faith swims in a culture of perpetuating lies, and it’s not too hard for us to struggle to distinguish between what is fact from what is fiction. The problem is multifaceted, and the solution is far from simple. Some of our struggle with the lies stem from the very sources that are supposed to provide truth, the news media itself. The result is the amount of unrest we experience from within and from without.

● The twenty-four hour news cycle naturally carries with it sensationalism. Whether we’re watching CNN or FOX News, by being on air all day long means they must have news in order to justify their presence. When something appears newsworthy, every program in the news media must report and hash out every detail all day long. Never mind that the particular news organization we watch has its own agenda to shape the news we watch. Since its cycling every twenty-four hours, we no longer have the down to time to reflect or digest the information being given us.

● Since the 2016 election, the mainstream news media has lost its credibility. During the election, the media miscalculated the presidential winner. The debates were viewed as fraudulent and bent. The tipping scale, beyond the presidential election, was the outlets trying to keep up with “Breaking News,” by reporting misinformed and inaccurate information. Instead of getting the facts straight first, go on air, then mop up the misinformation later.

● With the tarnished news media and the ease of access of the internet, we have run straight into the rise of true fake media outlets. According to multiple sources, Russia (and probably others) have been tampering with the news, not to promote a certain candidate but to sow seeds of discord. One of the means was to post “fake” stories on social media that appealed to the user’s political position. The stories were often irrational and stoked the fires of mistrust in order for people to turn on each other. The result is the rise of civil unrest in our society.

● Calling something “Fake News” does not mean it’s actually fake news, any more than calling something “true” makes it true. The biggest problem I see in the “Fake News” environment is people only reading or believing news that fits their political agenda, thus setting up the made up news stories on social media (Paul talks about being toned deaf to truth in 2 Timothy 4:4 with his image of “itching ears”). Instead of engaging with the news-story, and even rationally debating or discussing the issue at hand, the story is often devalued as nothing more than “fake news.”

While the whirlwind and onslaught of news media continues to swirl, a place of peace, reflection and truth does exist. That place is God. When we pull ourselves away from the distractions of the news media, and spend more time with God in a reflective mode, then and only then can we experience the calming truth of Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”  

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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GOD: When All the World Is a Stage

I once had a friend who was a nationally elite wrestler and with Olympic caliber talent. His junior year, he was ranked number one in the nation and was picked to win the national title for his weight division. He lost. Over the summer he found Jesus, was baptized, and began going public with his faith. He talked about renewed strength and sharing his faith with anyone who might listen, including the news media. When he entered his final season as a senior, he was again ranked number one in the nation, and with his renewed faith, he believed his future was secure. Once again, he lost, dragging him into a crisis of faith. He had a stage to bring glory to God, and the stage was taken from him. Why wouldn’t God endorse his win in order to receive the glory for it?

A couple of weeks ago the Philadelphia Eagles won their first Superbowl. Heading into the big game, reports surfaced that Nick Foles was a man of faith, that the Eagles conducted regular Bible studies, and videos surfaced of members of the team participating in baptisms. They had a stage to bring glory to God, and the stage was elevated during and following their championship win.

Tim Tebow was the evangelical/Christian hero. Born to missionary parents, he was given a gift for football and a powerfully vocal faith in Jesus. Written on his Eye Black was his favorite verse for the day, and often it was John 3:16. Every touchdown he made was immediately followed by a prayer on his knee. What is amazing is that the quality of Tim Tebow’s character should have made him the perfect candidate for God to place him on the largest stage. Yet many wonder why God allowed that stage to allude him?

Wednesday an American Icon passed away. He was given the largest stage when he preached to thousands upon thousands (if not to millions) of people. He sat with every sitting president since Truman. He was never caught up in a moral or ethical scandal, though he did compromise himself with President Nixon (he did beg the Jewish community forgiveness). He was born for the big stage and he lived his life to glory God on that stage.

We’ve convinced ourselves that the successful athlete, business man, politician, or performer, author – who is also a Christian – is the one God uses to make the biggest impact for the kingdom. We believe that the best advertisement for God is to market the Christian who is defined by success based on our terms: status, wealth, appearance, charisma, etc.

Somehow, God sees things a little differently. On the worlds’ biggest staged he placed a cross.

In the process of calling Saul (Acts 9), God had a conversation with Ananias. God wanted Ananias to meet with Saul to restore his sight. Ananias was a little fearful since Saul had been persecuting the church. But God reassured Ananias, and among the information given to Ananias comes this little line, “I will show him (i.e. Saul/Paul) how much he must suffer for my name.” God was going to put Saul on the biggest stage and show the world how much he had to suffer for Jesus.

Second Corinthians is essentially Paul’s argument that the greatest stage God can give someone is the stage where their weakness is exposed and they suffer the most. So Paul records his “Affliction Lists” (4:8-10; 6:3-10; 11:23-29), saying that God does his greatest work through our suffering. The strength that Paul experiences is not the ability to avoid walking outside the realm of suffering, but the strength to endure the very heart of suffering because God empowers him (4:7). For it is through our weaknesses, not our strengths, that Christ’s power is made perfect in us (12:8-10).

So maybe we’ve got the stage thing all wrong. Maybe those on the big stage can’t always be trusted with the spotlight; how many people, we’ve propped up, have “fallen” off the big stage? Maybe the suffering stage keeps us closer to the cross. Maybe the suffering stage gives God greater glory, for the power to endure hardships clearly comes from God not from within. Maybe the church should start questioning who we’ve decided to prop up onto the stage, and why we’ve chosen them. Instead, maybe we should look for the ones who’ve modeled faithful endurance in the face of suffering, because they are more likely the ones God wants on stage.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is Glorified!)

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Sometimes It Just Takes a Miracle

1980 was a milestone in the Cold War era. With the Summer and Winter Olympics played in the same year, the Winter Games were hosted by the United States and the Summer Games were held in Moscow, capital city of the USSR. If the standoff between the two greatest world powers wasn’t enough, in December of 1979 the USSR had invaded Afghanistan. The aggressive military move sent shockwaves throughout the world. When Russian refused to back down and pull out of Afghanistan, politics merged with athletics; the US boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games.

Such a move seemed to up the stakes for the Winter Games. Without a presence in Moscow, the US had to make their presence known at Lake Placid, NY. Enter the US Hockey Team.

The remarkable story of this team, and what became known as The Miracle on Ice, is well-told in the 2004 movie, Miracle. Where many nations, particularly the USSR, had national teams who played together under one coach for years, the US assembled a team of college’s best players months prior to the Olympics. But 1979 saw a shift in how to assemble and prepare the US Hockey team Olympic competition.

Herb Brooks was hired to coach the team. When choosing players for his team, he looked for qualities other than talent; he administered psychological exams. Some of the best player in college hockey were on the sidelines. Nine of the players played for him at Minnesota, while six came from rival Boston College. He employed an authoritarian approach to unify the team, believing that the team could unite if they all agreed to hate the coach.

In the movie, Miracle, Herb Brooks, played by Kurt Russel, addressed the teams division and effort after tying a game they should have won. He assembled the players and made them skate the lines (we might call them “wind sprints” or “suicides”). At each break he passionately preached effort, the passion lacking in their play until he yells, “Again,” and they skate again. On and on he goes through the drill until the players, exhausted, barely able to stand much less skate, but who’s stubborn will is broken. The assistant coach and team doctor questioned Brooks’ wisdom. Finally, one players, dejectedly looks up and says, “Mike Eruzione from Massachusetts.” Throughout the movie, Brooks had asked a simple question, but it was a question as he asked time and time again, the team failed to answer correctly, “Who do you play for?” Eruzione continued, “I play for the United States of America!” With his point made, Brooks walks off the ice and simply tells his players, “That is all, gentlemen.”

The miracle was Team USA defeating the USSR, then going on to winning gold. However, the miracle wasn’t just the David conquering Goliath moment, but conquering the battle within. The real miracle might have been the coming together as a team who was willing to suspend personal loyalties for the greater cause.

The greater loyalty, only the Bible might call it “the only loyalty,” comes in our relationship with God. Everything else must take a back seat: money, job, family, recreational activities, religious heritage, politics, etc. The reason is two-fold. First, God is a jealous god who does not like to share loyalties with anything or anyone. He does not want to be cheated on, which is why we must choose between him and everything else (Josh. 24:15; 1 King. 18:21; Mt. 6:24, 33). Secondly, anything other than unity in Jesus is just another reason to divide. In order to ensure the unity God established (Eph. 4:12-13) peripheral issues in the Kingdom of God, like “pet” doctrinal preferences or political positions, must stay on the peripheral. Personal agendas must give way to maintain church unity (Phil. 2:4).

Sometimes, when God is actually placed first in our lives and unity becomes more important than personal agenda, it just takes a miracle.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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You Might Be a Pharisee If . . .

In Sunday morning’s sermon, Jamie Riley (my fellow minister at Sunshine Church) listed a number of warning signs for Pharisaic attitudes that permeate throughout churches. As he was speaking, my ADHD mind began chasing thoughts, such as, “how did/does the Pharisaic mind rise to prominence?” An over simplified answer might be that anytime a high view of Scripture is embraced, a Pharisaic expression of legalism soon follows. People who are passionate about following God’s Word will eventually create their own rules to protect God’s Word from being broken. When they find themselves in positions of power and authority, they’ll impose their interpretation and rules on the people, believing they’re holding true to God’s Word. Ultimately, what started as good intentions ends with protecting the status quo, their authority and position. 

The second thing that went through my mind was the connection to all the redneck jokes, and how easy it could be to connect Jamie’s list to Jeff Foxworthy’s one-liners. So with apologies to Mr. Foxworthy, here is an expanded list of Pharisee tendencies provided by Jamie from Sunday morning. 

You Just Might Be A PHARISEE If . . .

you experience years of spiritual unrest, because you’re never quite secure in Jesus’ promise of forgiveness . . .

you’re a surveillance expert, looking and monitoring people to see if (or hope?) they fall in their walk with God . . .

you feel like you can thank God that you are not like (insert label here [see Luke 18:9-14]) . . .

you hold an unhealthy relationship with authority, i.e. taking great pride in holding a place of authority and abusing that authority to gain control over people . . .

you practice un-merciful exactness so that God’s mercy is limited to only people who follow every minute command in Scripture . . .

you believe that simply showing up for worship every Sunday makes you right with God . . .

you spend more time talking about what you are “against,” and not what you are “for;” certainly, you rarely ever act on what you are “for” because the position on the topic is more important than actually ministering to the people impacted by the position . . . 

you believe God actually needs you, and that the church cannot survive without
you . . .

your salvation is based on works, not on Jesus; you actually think that your good works will get you into heaven . . .

you make every issue either “black and white” or that every issue holds “heaven and hell” ramifications . . .

you read the Bible to substantiate your convictions, not to be shaped into God’s image . . .

someone tries to confront you, and you get angry or offended . . .

a creative and charismatic leader is a threat to your place and position in the church . . . and

you pick and choose which parts of Scripture you’re going to follow and obey.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

(Clarification: Jamie did not invent his list but gleaned them from numerous sources. I have expanded and fleshed out his list with more examples for the purposes of the article).                                 

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Reclaiming the Voice in the Wilderness

John’s ministry was located in the wilderness of Judea, near the Jordan River. His message called people to repentance, and no matter who stood before him, his message never wavered. To those who believed their religious/political heritage was going to save them, he called for them to produce good works of generosity (Lk. 3:9). To the tax collectors, he told them to curb their greed (Lk. 3:13). To the soldiers, he told them not to falsely accuse people, and to be content with their pay (Lk. 3:14).

But some believed John overstepped his boundaries; he switched from “preaching” to “meddling.” In his passion for righteousness, he rebuked Herod for the evil he had done, including, but not limited to, stealing his brother’s wife, Herodias (Lk. 3:19). Such an indictment stirred the waters of political unrest, giving Herod’s enemies a means to stand against the king (according to Mark 3:6 he had his supporters). At best, a seed of discontent was planted, fueling responses to the “Complaint Department.” At worst, John was stirring political unrest which could fuel civil unrest, riots and embolden a foreign power into an aggressive position.  Beyond right or wrong, John’s voice needed to be silenced. For that, he found himself locked up in Herod’s prison (Lk. 3:20).

We applaud John because he was willing to stand against the tide of political pressure for what was right. And while he was removed from his wilderness “pulpit,” and eventually executed by Herod, he never lost his Wilderness Voice. Other prophets failed where John succeeded. 

In 2002 Billy Graham’s voice was heard on a 1972 recorded tape in tandem with President Richard Nixon as the President made disparaging remarks concerning the Jewish people of America. How could a man of God, who preached repentance to thousands of people all over the world, who also embraced desegregation and refused to hold segregated revivals during the 1950’s, be complicit to such racist comments? I’m not sure of the answer, except that when God’s man gets joined to the hip of political aspirations, the result is often a selling out of integrity (followed by a diluted prophetic message). The arena Billy Graham operated in is power addictive, so that the position he holds becomes more important than the message he preaches.  Where Billy Graham should have questioned the President, he found himself complicit in racism. 

When the church snuggles too closely up to the political world, we risk losing our Wilderness Voice. I’m very comfortable linking arms with George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, as they seemed like godly men whose spiritual conscience helped guide their presidency. But what does the church do when the presidents (or any of our government officials) get their hands dirty? What does the church do when we’ve rallied people for a candidate who eventually acts on immoral or unethical principles? The same can be asked when the party we support acts unchristianly or supports an action which stands in violation with God’s Word.

During the 1930’s too many of Germany’s churches lost their Wilderness Voice by endorsing the Nazi movement. Sympathizing with their government, Adolf Hitler had their support, as he led the nation out of the brink of economic devastation to prosperity. National pride replaced shame. Hope emerged once again. And the church, caught up in the national movement, turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the travesty of racial hatred at the core of the very nation they loved and supported (in part because the preachers and Christians who Reclaimed the Wilderness Voice were quickly silenced). In the end, to say the least, the churches in Germany were complicit in the deaths of six million Jews.

When the church endorses the political movement or climate, they risk losing their Wilderness Voice. When the relationship between the church and the government is too friendly, a conflict of interest arises for who then will stand for God’s Message? For them the political clout is more important than the Word, and the Wilderness Voice is finally silenced. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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CHURCH: Surviving the Dream Land

In the past Sioto County’s Portsmouth, Ohio gained a reputation for successful shoes companies, as well as the shoestring company that employed many of its residences. Portsmouth was part of the “Rust Belt” in America as a big manufacturer of steel. Portsmouth produced some household names who played in the Major Leagues like Al Oliver and Gene Tenace, while across the river came Don Gullett.  Who could talk baseball without mentioning the influence of local hero, Branch Rickey, the Dodger’s General Manager who signed Jackie Robinson? From an iconic marker who couldn’t think of Portsmouth without the pool, Dream Land, where friends and family gathered at the park to swim, eat and dream away the summer days. 

But those days are past. The shoe companies abandoned the region. The steel factories shut down. Portsmouth’s presence in the Major Leagues has been quiet. And the Dream Land pool has been filled in and paved for a strip mall.

In the void, Portsmouth became Ground Zero for the opioid crisis. According to Sam Quinones’ book, Dream Land, a perfect storm converged that hit in Portsmouth. First came the pharmaceutical companies who perpetuated a misinformed and fallible research belief that opioids were virtually non-addictive. The pharmaceutical industry believed they found the solution to controlling pain without fear of addiction; they were wrong. The second gathering storm was the “Pill Mill” factories, where doctors, focused on pain management, set up practice for the purpose of dispensing the opioids. What emerged was an industry without regulation being run by many doctors who had lost their license to practice. Patients paid in cash and were given, what turned out to be, an open ended prescription to opioids like OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin (honest doctors were caught in the middle of either prescribing for pain or being seen as insensitive to patients pain). Finally, smuggled in from a small state in Mexico came the Black Tar Heroin. In a “pizza delivery” format, the Mexicans sold heroin, to white middle-class people in bigger cities like Columbus, Ohio and to smaller towns like Portsmouth. Instead of you going to a crack house or allies, they delivered to you in a public area. The price was cheap, accessible, and the product was potent. Many who were addicted to opioids eventually became hooked on this form of heroin. 

Living in the wake of this perfect storm is certainly better than the storm itself. Federal regulators finally stopped the Pill Mill industry and held the pharmaceutical industry accountable for the damage done. Law enforcement agencies figured out how the Black Tar Heroin ring was operating and started convicting dealers to long-term prison sentences.  Most importantly, family members of drug addict victims started speaking out to remove the stigma and shame of their loved one being an addict.  What happened to them could have easily happened to anyone, anywhere. 

As Quinones drew conclusions to his opioid story, he noted the important role community plays in heading off addiction and gaining support while recovering from addiction. For thirty years our society has barricaded itself within its homes believing that it’s safer than engaging the world. The opioid crisis struck at this belief as the ones hit hardest by the crisis were the white middle-class who believed their home was a sanctuary. It’s time to engage our neighborhood community.  Also, our prison system needs to look at the role they play in helping recovering addicts.  Simply locking up addicts without long term drug intervention will not curb the epidemic nor the addiction. Finally, churches must rethink their role in staying off the drug epidemic. One church in Portland, Oregon started with the intent of sharing the gospel with addicts. Their teachings focusing on Jesus: love, forgiveness and transformation. They’re known as “The Rehab Church.” 

Church is the first and last line of defense in surviving the Dream Land. Church provides a built-in community needed for an alternative to a destructive lifestyle and a protection against drugs and the drug world. Church provides a venue for confession to transpire, confessing either an addiction or the battle a family member is fighting. Church provides the grace to struggle along with the cushion to fail and to fall without fear. Church provides the hope for a recovering community to succeed. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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Behind the Masks

For the past couple of months, the news media has reported a number of disturbing episodes arising out of our society. None of these stories are related. All these stories seem to be tied together by a common social (or possibly spiritual) problem behind the joyous mask of our culture. 

Episode #1 . . . Media mogul Harvey Weinstein has been ousted by his production company because of ongoing sexual harassment charges brought against him. Women have been coming forward in droves to report the abuse they’ve faced by this powerful man in an industry known for making women nothing more than sex objects for men. The indignation has set off a firestorm across Hollywood; they’re scrambling to figure out how an industry known for exploiting women could have an executive treating women as an object of his own lust. Others have been coming forward to make their voices heard. Ayssa Milano took to social media and began the #Me Too campaign raising awareness for women who have been sexually abused; her tweets have given women the courage to come forward to share their own story.  

Episode #2 . . . University of Louisville officially fired head basketball coach Rick Pitino, who is embroiled in a scandal where the FBI has conducted a “sting” operation over the past two years. Simply, at least five NCAA basketball coaches, including an assistant coach at Louisville, have been indicted for bribery, wire fraud and mass corruption.  These coaches, assisted by Adidas, operated a “pay for play” scheme where six digit figures were funneled to top recruits’ families promising to sign with Adidas once the player reached the NBA. The fear is this problem is systemic to the NCAA. For Pitino, innocent or not, his firing emerged because of a lack of “institutional control” as this corruption was operating under his watch.  It’s not the worst scandal he’s found himself tied to, but it’s the latest in a string of scandals.

Episode #3 . . . Members of a now defunct Penn State fraternity are facing misdemeanor charges in a hazing incident where a 19 year old pledge, Tim Piazza, died (felony charges have been dismissed). The under-aged victim was forced to drink vodka, beer, and wine on an empty stomach. Intoxicated, he passed out and fell down the stairs of the fraternity house. He was carried to a couch where he was slammed and punched in the stomach. The fraternity men poured beer on him while he groaned and held his stomach. In the wee hours of the morning a decision was made to call 9-11. He was rushed to emergency surgery, but died of a ruptured spleen, brain injuries and internal bleeding. 

The three episodes have very little to do with each other, except that the public outrage has been loud and clear. Stop men like Harvey Weinstein from making women objects of man’s desires! Stop the greed-driven organization that makes millions off of poor and vulnerable athletes. Stop turning our higher education system into one party after another!

The outrage is loud and clear, and people want justice (i.e. where individuals are treated fairly and with respect). But the outrage is a mask, for behind it lies an ugly, decaying truth. We’re outraged over the treatment of women, but we’ve supported the dehumanizing of women as sex objects. We’re outraged over the flow of money to our universities sports programs, but we want our teams to win (at all costs). We’re outraged over the death of an under-aged fraternity wanna-be, but we dismiss the parties as a normal part of the college experience. Yes, the outrage continues, if only as a way to mask our true selves. 

On the Greek stage the actors wore masks to cover their faces as they pretended to be people other than themselves. The Greek word for actor is hypocrite. Jesus applied this word to those whose piety to God was motivated by applause of men (Mt. 6:1-18). The word may be used to describe America, outrage by the injustice, without admitting we’re the ones causing the injustice. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. Only God is Glorified!)