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An Exposed Weakness: When Our Heroes Are Vulnerble

We love our heroes. We place them on victory stands and adorn them with honor. We build larger-than-life statutes because their feats were larger-than-life. They often defied the odds and overcame obstacles where others folded under the pressure. We cheer on their success and then quickly turn on them when they fail. For in their failures they remind us that they are human too.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe Thor was part of the key inner circle members of the Avengers. Confident, if not arrogant. Courageous and self-sacrificing. Rugged good looks but filled with compassion. He was born to be king and people were willing to follow him. But following his failed attempt to stop Thanos, Thor’s story took a dark turn. He devolved into a coward, hiding from everyone and everything. His only solace was the hard liquor he was consuming. When we find him he’s overweight and just under drunk.

The move may have been a brilliant stroke of genius from the writers with Chris Hemsworth selling his Endgame role. Yes, I hated seeing Thor suffer from PTSD. He was still mourning the loss of his mother and pining away the breakup from Jane Foster. His sister, cut off from the family, released Ragnarok upon Asgaard destroying his home city and planet. His father’s death came with his sister’s return. While a remnant of Asgardians were fleeing as refugees, Thanos appeared. The Mad Titan murdered Thor’s step-brother, Loki, along with his closest friends. Faced with his own defeat against Thanos, Thor showed us that the “God of Thunder” was just as human as the rest of us.

Humanity may prop people up as gods, but even the best of us have vulnerable spots. When those areas are exposed and exploited we feel the pangs of death. Most people downplay and hide those areas of weakness. They try to put on a strong face to mask the pain. For the apostle Paul, he chose another approach. He marketed those very areas as the best he has to offer God.

One of the most powerful images Paul paints is the treasure and clay pot in 2 Corinthians 4:7. Center stage to his entire epistle to the Corinthians is a church that props up leaders who show no fear and display great powerful strength. Paul won’t compete on that stage. Paul can’t compete on that stage. He is frail and weak. He is like a clay jar that is fragile, breakable, and expendable. Fear and suffering mark his faith. He hardly goes through life unscathed. And yet, God has chosen to place the priceless and powerful gospel in someone so frail, broken, and expendable.

What holds Paul together, like duct tape, is God. For the gospel of Christ is lived out in frail humanity. The strength displayed in Paul is God working through him. The power for Paul to preach, teach, and endure is fueled by God. The courage to face the future is energized by God working through Paul. Paul refused to take credit for God’s work, as he says,

. . . to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We also carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our body (2 Cor. 4:7b-10).

To say it another way, Paul looked more like the broken Thor from Endgame than he did the mighty Thor of the previous movies. And if the Corinthians, who knew Paul face-to-face, rejected Paul because of his weaknesses, why do we think we, who only know him from history, would embrace him so readily?

Some of this “strength and weakness” theological inner conflict has come to the forefront of my thinking as I’ve been following the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Simone Biles, reigning Olympic Gold Medalist gymnast, sent shockwaves through the world by backing out of Olympic competition. Making sense of her decision may be an effort in futility, but adding perspective to her situation is possible. While I have no idea of her faith, and based on the treasure in clay jar analogy, Biles is a physically powerful athlete who experienced a crack in her mental and emotional well-being. With that in mind, here are my thoughts to consider.

First, I have only dreamed of competing on such a stage, she has struck gold 23 times (Olympic and World Championship count). She has 31 total medals. Until we have walked in her competitive shoes, we should be slow to criticize.

Secondly, the news cycle, whether it is political or athletic in nature, is a constant barrage of attention. In the age of incessant instant information the news media and social media outlets are constantly looking for a new and breaking story. Constantly. And our athletes are compelled to entertain the reporters. Such attention is unhealthy. I read that Michael Jordan believes even he could not imagine playing under today’s scrutiny.  

Thirdly, never underestimate the effect COVID-19 has had on the athletes. The isolation and lockdown has had negative repercussions on everyone, and the reaction has varied from person to person. Remember, the Games were delayed a year. Had they played last year without COVID protocols, we probably would not have this conversation today.

Fourthly, Biles’ success came in spite of being sexually abused by Dr. Nassar. Never underestimate the emotional and psychological damage trauma Biles has had to work through. Can we even fathom what she (and 250 other girls) have had to endure with the spotlight on them for so long? I don’t think so. By the way, a big reason for her to continue competing was to protect the new gymnasts in the US Gymnastic system.

Finally, she has demonstrated tremendous courage and grace in the midst of her trials and through these Games. She could have run and hid or go home. Instead she cheered her teammates on and reentered competition to earn a Bronze Medal in the Balance Beam.

Come to think about it, she appears quite human after all. And we ought to applaud her for that, too.

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

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Homeless And Hungry: A Compassionate Response

In Matthew’s final judgment scene (25:31-46) Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep/righteous responded to the plight of Jesus, while the goats/ all others ignored the pain Jesus suffered. Neither group actually saw Jesus, so they sought clarification (25:37,44). “Whatever you did (or didn’t do) for the least of these, you did (or didn’t do) for me” (25:40,45). Jesus identifies with the poor and the suffering. So when we see someone hungry, we feed them because we see Jesus as the one hungry. When we realize someone is thirsty, we offer a drink of water because we see Jesus as thirsty. When we practice hospitality for a stranger, we open our hearts and home because we see Jesus as needing shelter. When we see someone “naked,” we dress them because we see Jesus as the one needing clothes. When the sick need care we provide assistance because we see Jesus battling an illness. When we know someone is behind bars, we visit as if Jesus is the one in jail.

The seriousness of caring for those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, and in prison seem to be a heaven/hell issue. If we choose to ignore the plight of the “poor” (as defined by those who are hungry, thirsty, etc.), then when we face Jesus upon his return the outcome is far from promising. While culture does influence the passage, especially with hospitality and imprisonment, the truth of this passage speaks to Christians caring for people pushed to the margins of society. Jesus expects his people to show compassion and empathy by demonstrating concern for the poor.

Talking about helping the poor is always easier – even though it’s politically charged – than stepping up to demonstrate compassionate and empathic concern. While opening our hearts to the biblical story is the first step, the second is to open our hearts to the people in our community. Once that happens, the possibilities are endless.

● Reading a book about American poverty or addiction helps opens our eyes to see the biblical story clearer. Reading articles from the perspective of the marginalized helps understand their world better. Such information removes the caricature and paints an accurate picture of poverty. ● Each month Sunshine collects canned food and supplies to send to the Midwestern Children’s Home. ● At the beginning of every school supplies are collected and given to children who cannot afford to purchase themselves. By late fall Sunshine begins collecting monies to supply winter coats to children who do not have a coat. ● When COVID closed our schools we helped supply snacks and food for the Minford schools who delivered them to students at risk. ● Sharon Hallam has assembled “survival” kits for the homeless filled with snacks and personal hygiene supplies. ● A local organization, Hoodies for the Homeless, collects sweatshirts and fleece blankets to distribute to the homeless of Portsmouth. It’s a simple way of helping others while purging your own closet at the same time. ● At the Portsmouth Burger King one or two homeless people are usually at the corner seeking help. When going through the drive through, it’s not difficult to order a couple of extra burgers to give to them. ● A couple of years ago a Canadian high school chorus who presented a concert to Sunshine and needed homes for the student. Sunshine stepped up to the need. ● As you’re enjoying your meal at your favorite restaurant, someone is bound to walk in that you know needs you to (secretly) buy their meal for them (see also Dairy Bar hungry promise).  ● Before COVID shut down our facilities a small group of members met once a month to feed the Narcotics Anonymous members a spaghetti dinner, fully funded from their own pockets. Even in COVID the Directly Affected has asked for help to fund dinners for their meetings. Directly Affected comprise of teens whose parents are addicts. ● Remember outreach ministries like Hope for Haiti, Breaking Chains in Honduras or the many crisis pregnancy organizations like Elizabeth’s Hope in Chillicothe or CRADLE in Portsmouth.

As we are offering a compassionate response to the poor and to the marginalized, remember something bigger is at stake. Something bigger is always at stake.

If you feed anyone who is hungry,

                You are feeding Jesus.

If you give water to anyone who is thirsty,

                You are quenching the thirst of Jesus.

If you invite anyone into your home – even a stranger,  

                You are giving room and board to Jesus.

If you give garment to anyone needing clothing,

                You are dressing Jesus.

If you provide comfort and healing to the sick,

                You are looking after Jesus.

If you visited anyone in prison,

                You are visiting an imprisoned Jesus.

Because when we see the hungry, the thirsty, a stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned,

                We actually don’t see them,
We see Jesus’

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

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Awakened to a New Perspective

John Keating, the literature teacher at the fictional Welton Academy in the movie Dead Poets Society, always saw the world through unconventional means. He had his students rip the entire first chapter of their textbooks out for disposal because poetry cannot be measured by mathematical probabilities. To demonstrate the danger of conformity, he took his students outside to march around the courtyard. But the scene that grabbed me was when he had his students stand on top of their desk to view the room. All the desks were still in place. The chalkboard continued to be mounted on the wall. The mini library was still intact. What changed was the students’ perspective. Standing on the desk gave them a different way of seeing the same situation. Perspective is everything.

Sometimes we find ourselves boxed in and trapped because the only view we have limits our perception. Sometimes simply stepping outside the box – outside our surroundings – gives us the new vantage point needed to see something new or different in a way we’ve never noticed. Other times it’s removing the blinders that hinder us from seeing the peripheral.

When Thomas Edison interviewed potential scientist to work for him, he took them to lunch. He ordered soup for the scientist. When order came, he sat back and watched what happened next. If the potential scientist reached for the salt before tasting the soup, the interview ended. If the potential scientist tasted his or her soup before reaching for the salt, the interview continued. He did not want his scientist to have their minds made up beforehand. Sadly, Edison failed his own criteria. In the war of currents, he boxed himself in with direct current (DC), making his mind up beforehand that DC was the only viable current, when others found success in experimenting with alternating current (AC). Perspective is everything.

When Peter saw the vision of Jesus in Acts 10, he was awakening to a new perspective on the Gentile mission. While Peter had preached that everyone who called on the name of the Lord will be saved (Act. 2:21), he hadn’t realized that such promise was offered to the Gentiles. When he saw that God had given Cornelius the Holy Spirit just like he had, he realized God’s plan. When Paul saw the light (Act. 9), he shifted from persecuting the church to becoming its biggest advocate. Readily admitting his own sinfulness (1 Tim. 1:15), he discovered that if God’s grace and mercy was more than willing to reach him then that same grace and mercy will reach the Gentiles (Rom. 1:15). Perspective is everything.

In any case changing the angle by which we view something alters our perspective, and that’s a good thing. When our perspective shifts, so does the way we see the world. We see people and situations differently. We tend to see them clearly. They say never criticize someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, so we understand their journey. We become sympathetic and empathetic to their plight. Will we change our opinion? Maybe not. But our inflexible views might soften. And if they soften we might step into compassion. For if we can view each other through the lenses of friendship, maybe we’ll stop viewing each other distrustfully as enemies.

What the writers, director and producers around Dead Poets Society were trying to grasp was that options were available if we’re willing to see them. How we navigate through life largely depends on the perspective we bring to living. Is there one path or two? Can we step out of the box? Are we working with blinders? What if we stood on top of our desk to view the situation? Suddenly, the world looks differently, and options begin to materialize. Perspective is everything.

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

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Countering the Cancel Culture

Someone said it was a good year for cancelling. They may be right in that the number of moments in the Cancel Culture war seemed to have escalated in 2020; it feels like everyone jumped on the bandwagon. No doubt the movement has been fueled by three unique factors merging into a perfect storm. First, the toxic behavior of social media where people feel free to post their unhinged thoughts without fear of backlash. Secondly, cultural norms have and are shifting faster than our comfort zones can process. And thirdly, a pandemic that has forever changed our world. Whether you believe the pandemic is a real threat or hyped up fake news, the result is the same: we are in a very different place coming out of pandemic than we were two years ago going into the pandemic.

Cancel Culture is a form of group shaming, usually issued to a public person or company for decisions or actions that are deemed offensive (yea, I Googled it). One might say that the shaming is an attempt to reform behavior through pressure, while others admit it’s simply a political power-grab. While the term, “cancel culture,” has only recently been coined, the idea has been around for many years and both sides of the spectrum has participated in its game.

The summer I graduated from college, a movie about the life of Christ was generating a lot of buzz. Long before social media, televangelists and local preachers were urging viewers and churches to boycott The Last Temptation of Christ. I was trying to complete course work to graduate and get married so I wasn’t tuned into the debate. Later in the summer a preacher I knew was given an opportunity for a private screening with other community leaders to view the movie for themselves. Yes, the movie was controversial and undermined the gospel account of Jesus. However, he added his perspective, while the movie wasn’t good, its bad publicity will draw people out to see it for curiosity’s sake. Had Christians not drummed up such noise, it would have gone under the radar and bombed in the theater.

About a year later the Exxon oil tanker, Valdez, struck the Prince William Sound Bligh Reef, spilling ten million gallons of crude oil. The spill was the worst on record, ever. While multiple factors were in play to cause to spill, the captain and Exxon Company were deemed guilty of negligence. Cile and I decided to forgo purchasing gas from Exxon to protest the spill. Our weekly tank of gas did nothing to curtail the some 400 billion dollar enterprise.

When Disney decided to offer health insurance to LBGTQ partners, as if they were recognizing a benefit only for married couples and families, the Southern Baptist Convention pushed to boycott the company. That was in 1997 and today, after buying the rights to Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, the threatened boycott was like flies being swatted by an elephant.

Yes, these are my experiences, but I’ve found both sides of the ideological isle use “cancel culture” in their arsenal. When deployed the tactic doesn’t work and often backfires in the process. On one side, those cancelled are viewed with sympathy or curiosity which draws more attention to them or their cause, while on the other side their personal lives are ruined: the punishment of public shaming is far greater than the original offence that ignited the shaming.

While the catchphrase, “cancel culture,” is not in the Bible, the theme is a reoccurring motif. And it doesn’t always unfold like we think it should. Cain kills his brother, but God chooses not to cancel him (Gen. 4:11-12). In fact, he protects him from being canceled (Gen. 4:13-16). Saul sins and God cancels his dynasty, handing the kingdom over to David (1 Sam. 16:1). Then David sins – arguably sinning greater than Saul – and God forgives David (2 Sam. 12:13). Paul tells the Corinthian church to expel than man sleeping with his father’s wife (1 Cor. 5:9-13). But when Paul wants to cancel John Mark, Barnabas will have nothing to do with it (Act. 15:36-40). It seems the Bible sends some mixed messages regarding Christians living with a “cancel culture.”

From a wider lens, the biblical narrative not only draws us away from the “cancel culture,” but gives us the means to counter it. First, embrace the imagery of pilgrims (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:1) by avoiding political baggage. Not only do we not belong or feel at home in this world, but every cultural battle has a political bent to it. Instead of the Gospel bending culture, the political culture bends the gospel to something palatable for us to taste. We can feel more comfortable with our surroundings. Secondly, make room for righteous reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:16-21). Because, at its core, the “cancel culture” polarizes people, pitting us against them or you against me. Thus, the Gospel becomes ineffective at either bringing righteousness or reconciliation.

Someone said it’s a good year for cancelling. I’m pretty sure sarcasm was dripping from their pen while they wrote it. In truth it’s never a good year for cancelling. But it is a good year when pilgrims promote righteous reconciliation.

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