Even secular postmodernists commonly refer to it as karma. It is a concept comfortably accepted and generally applied to any situation in which something bad happens to someone who has made really bad choices. I can see how the theory of Karma could bring about a sense of security and order to suffering people desperately seeking consolation and hope for a more favorable "second round" in a next life.
The obvious drawbacks of this theory are 1) one is always striving without really knowing whether or not they have attained good enough karma to obtain a favorable after life and 2) it instills in the suffering a false guilt that they have brought the suffering on themselves from being horrible people in a past life. This doesn't seem to be comforting at all.
The Bible teaches us a familiar (yet totally different) creed for living in which every action naturally leads to another action (sounds a bit like Newton's law!). In other words, every action, behavior and decision leads to consequences, good or bad. This is not karma, which is a theory intertwined with a belief in reincarnation, but with reaping what you sow. Sow seeds of kindness, and watch the effects of your love bloom in the lives of those you have blessed. But what about those who are choked by weeds that have been planted in their garden of righteousness?
How do we respond when bad things happen to good people? Wasn't it King Solomon, the wisest person ever to live on earth, who reminded us the rain falls equally on the just and the unjust? Reaping what you sow is real, but so is Adam's curse. It is fair to say that Solomon was right when he simplified for us the reality that trouble and suffering don't discriminate. Trouble could care less whether you have a PhD or an 8th grade graduation. Cancer, for example, will attack whether you spent your life helping old ladies walk across the street or were mugging them mercilessly at night.
Suffering wasn't in God's original plan. When we look at sickness and suffering through the eyes of the fall, we still hate suffering but can tolerate it slightly more when we realize it won't stick around forever. Unlike bad karma.
God's word is filled with promises to lean on. When bad things happen even when we have sown righteousness, we have the reminder from Romans 8:28 that nothing can separate us from the eternal love of Christ. If you are currently suffering you might say, "So what? I am still stuck here in this misery. Who cares if God cares"? Ok. You shouldn't totally deny your emotions or you will never grieve properly. But you should show caution so you don't let your mind dwell forever in that dark place, either. The journey should only entail pit stops and not settling in permanently. If you settle in the desert you will only ever be surrounded by sand. Continue on the journey and the desert will one day be in your rear view as you drink from the well of an oasis. Emotions are fickle and they betray us. But God's love lasts forever.
Beloved, the curse seems an unjust punishment, until compared in view of God's overwhelming mercy. Unlike the curse, his love will endure forever--and that's a long time!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Prayer that gets stuff done
What kind of prayers get stuff done? What kind of prayers does God answer? Or, maybe the question should be, "What kind of person does God hear"? I have been reflecting a lot on this lately, in my desire to be more effective when I pray. This is what I have found, according to God's Word.
The truth about prayer is, as long as we are living in Christ (see John 15) , we will know what to ask for and God will gladly answer. God answers the prayers of those who seek God’s way above their own, have confessed all their sins and received forgiveness, have forgiven those who have offended them, and as a result, create unity through their relationships with their brothers and sisters in Christ (and all other relationships). Obviously, this is far from an exhaustive list, but I have found several passages about prayer that reiterate these truths. It is also evident He doesn't always answer the way we want Him to, or even at the time we expect Him to, but sees above our realities and into our despair and joy. One of my favorite passages about prayer is this one, from Psalm 66:16-20-
Wow. That is powerful stuff. I meditated the longest on verse 18. The author is so honest. He admits that sin can be so much fun (temporarily) that we can be tempted to cherish it. I have met so many people who have so much fun bragging about their sins that I know they are far from really wanting to change their lifestyle. They are cherishing what has deceived them and unfortunately won't receive answers to their prayers until their hearts become contrite and humbled. Until then, their prayers will only reflect their selfishness. This reminds me of James 5:4, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”.
One other attitude resulting in God hearing and answering our prayers really stands out to me. It wasn't until I was recently reading a book on prayer that I realized that most passages about prayer are connected to how we treat other people (Romans 12:12-13;James 5:13-20; Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 4:5-9). Even when we pray in solitude, it inevitably affects others. The more we pray, the more concerned we become about others. Hospitality is born as a result of abiding in Christ.
The truth about prayer is, as long as we are living in Christ (see John 15) , we will know what to ask for and God will gladly answer. God answers the prayers of those who seek God’s way above their own, have confessed all their sins and received forgiveness, have forgiven those who have offended them, and as a result, create unity through their relationships with their brothers and sisters in Christ (and all other relationships). Obviously, this is far from an exhaustive list, but I have found several passages about prayer that reiterate these truths. It is also evident He doesn't always answer the way we want Him to, or even at the time we expect Him to, but sees above our realities and into our despair and joy. One of my favorite passages about prayer is this one, from Psalm 66:16-20-
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
Wow. That is powerful stuff. I meditated the longest on verse 18. The author is so honest. He admits that sin can be so much fun (temporarily) that we can be tempted to cherish it. I have met so many people who have so much fun bragging about their sins that I know they are far from really wanting to change their lifestyle. They are cherishing what has deceived them and unfortunately won't receive answers to their prayers until their hearts become contrite and humbled. Until then, their prayers will only reflect their selfishness. This reminds me of James 5:4, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”.
One other attitude resulting in God hearing and answering our prayers really stands out to me. It wasn't until I was recently reading a book on prayer that I realized that most passages about prayer are connected to how we treat other people (Romans 12:12-13;James 5:13-20; Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 4:5-9). Even when we pray in solitude, it inevitably affects others. The more we pray, the more concerned we become about others. Hospitality is born as a result of abiding in Christ.
Jesus must have been frustrated with the disciple's question: "How many times should I forgive", because the question in and of itself demonstrated they were still focused on themselves and not the other person. As a result, Jesus taught them using a parable about an unforgiving servant who so easily forgot how his enormous debt had just been forgiven and yet demanded what was owed him.
As I was writing this, I felt the Holy Spirit compelling me to pray: O God, forgive me and hear my prayers. I want what You want-prayers that get stuff done and glorify you as a result!
As I was writing this, I felt the Holy Spirit compelling me to pray: O God, forgive me and hear my prayers. I want what You want-prayers that get stuff done and glorify you as a result!
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