In the Face of Change:
Joshua

Session one for the series of services focusing on prayer is entitled “In the Face of Change”. My presentation will not be about prayer but an offering of some ideas, for your consideration, that may inform our prayer. I will comment on the four suggested prerequisites given in the focus statement.

Focus statement: if we as Christians are  - rooted in our story
                                                                  - remain God-centered
                                                                  - sort out our loyalties
                                                                  - and live as a covenant people
                              then we can confidently face changing times.

I dare to stand before you today but not as a preacher or even a teacher, but as a seeker. ( I would have hoped that by age 68 I would have found my way but in some ways I feel more lost than ever.(Some eloquent author has said: “God is not the answer. God is the question. Perhaps!) So I come, not with confidence and competence but as one more familiar with confusion and frustration.
Further to that claim I will, for the sake of expediency, refer to God by the male pronoun and trust that you will not take offence. It does not represent, on my part, any kind of specific view of God’s gender; just to make things simpler.

To face change confidently we are advised to be
Rooted in our story

Change has been happening throughout history but it seems that the rate of change increases exponentially as history roles along. That is to say change happens at a faster and faster pace. Ian Morris of ‘New Scientist’ has observed: The next 100 years are likely to bring more change than the previous 100,000. Will our choices in life grow roots strong enough to keep the next generation grounded?

Joshua, a decisive man of wisdom, vision and courage, a leader of his time,  called forth a commitment from the people. Joshua recalled their story, placed God in the center of it, challenged them to choose their loyalties and then to make and live out the resulting covenant.

Our (the Mennonite as well as Christian) story, like theirs, is one of God’s faithfulness. Our story, as theirs, is replete with wilderness and mountaintop experiences. In the end there is a remnant, at least, that remains to hoist and carry the torch forward. The miracles of being brought through are enough to warrant our ongoing commitment to such a God.

What I want to add to the idea of “our Story” and how it can carry us forward through dire circumstances and keep us on track in times of convenient affluence is this: I was told of a man who wanted to leave behind a good legacy. It was a focal point of his life’s purpose. As I considered that perspective it gave me pause to think. When my children and others think of me after my death: would I like their memory of me to evoke pleasant feelings, to represent to them responsible living, to inspire courage (courage, being not so much a daring to engage in dangerous and risky behaviour, as to make good choices in the presence of difficult and overwhelming circumstances), or do I want their memory of me to leave a bitter taste of pain and regret? Dietrich Bonhoeffer has said: “The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children”

 We are now writing, making the story, developing the roots that shall serve to ground the next generation, in order to fortify their resolve to retain and live out their covenant with God.

To face change confidently we are advised to be
Centered in God

Joshua, it seems and similarly we, base our covenant with God on God’s faithfulness. How do we judge God’s faithfulness? In the account of Joshua it seems like it was all the ways in which God had rescued them and answered their need.  Is that who God is – a rescuer and a meeter of needs and as long as we remain faithful in our worship of him his favours will continue? Who is God anyway?

I was impressed recently upon considering the account of Moses wanting to see God as recorded in  Ex:33. After contending with God about his leadership assignment following the golden calf incident Moses says to God:

Now show me your glory,
And the Lord said: "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. But you cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live. There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

First of all can we contend with God like Moses did, like Abraham, Job and others did? Can we hold God accountable for his promises?  Can we ask God: ”How come you say this and do that”?
 Who is this God whose glory is beyond human endurance but who seems to tolerate our arguments, and then after all is said and done carries out his plan according to his way anyway? Is this our God who hands out mercy and compassion as he wills as though it is none of our business, who lets the rain fall and the sun shine on the evil and the good, from whose hand time and chance happen to us all?

Perhaps we need to take another look at our concept of God. Yes it seems like we can contend with God, ask our questions, express our anger, argue and struggle against God. But it seems we cannot contain God. We cannot make God in our image. He must be more than a rescuer and a meeter of needs; someone ready at our every beck and call.

But do we perhaps worship a customized God or Christ, one that we have shaped and formed just for our need and situation? Will Braun, in a Geez magazine article called The Case of the Customized Christ, quotes Voltaire, who says:

"If God created us in his image, we have more than reciprocated”.

That’s what Voltaire said of the human tendency to mould God into our likeness. Will continues:

"Similarly, God’s son has been adapted to a great variety of human-created roles. To capitalist Christians, Jesus was a model entrepreneur. To socialist Christians, he was a hardcore socialist. To eco-Christians, he was a lily-loving environmentalist. To self-help Christians, he was a motivational guru. And to Christian activists, he was a revolutionary."

Instead of customizing Jesus, or God I’m suggesting we need to globalize him; that is to recognize God as more than our Western Jesus, but the God who resides over all of the world and creation. If, as we claim, that God is the creator of all that exists, that he is the Lord of all, and that he is just and good, there can be no favourites. We cannot lay claim to any kind of exclusive ownership. We can certainly share God and our experience of him but can we prescribe that experience as a prerequisite for all others in order for them to know God? Will God not revel himself in his own way and time to all?

So I suggest we broaden our concept of God in our everyday thinking and acting, the God whom we choose to serve and to be the center of our lives.

When I find myself overwhelmed from over stimulation: too many people, too many things to attend to at once I find myself unable to make simple decisions. Then I need to go back to a familiar place and activity like washing dishes at home. That’s something I’ve got down pat. No big decisions to make there. It centers me, restores an order to me so I can carry on again. Similarly we may need to return to our spiritual Center, especially at times when we are “successful” or when we face decisions, when we find ourselves justifying and rationalizing our choices; then it may be good to return to the God of Moses, whose thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways, indeed are beyond comprehension, the God who is the I AM, whose face cannot be seen, who is more than a rescuer and meeter of needs but who encompasses all people, creatures and things.

Paul writes about this God in Ephesians, referring to God’s

"Incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead."

Also:

"God’s power at work within us that can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."

Could this be our God, our center, on whom to base our life choices – a God who can do more than we can ask or imagine – which can then inspire us to consider choices beyond the range of human imaginings?

You will find printed in the bulletin/insert a prayer I am offering as a suggested way to turn to the Center. It goes like this:

This morning, O God, I commit myself to seek peace and truth; to uphold righteousness and love; and to resist despair. I covet your presence to infuse my efforts with humility, sincerity, a sense of humour and generosity. May I be granted the awareness of opportunities that present themselves to me today, strength to bear whatever pain or loss I will be required to suffer and the capacity to laugh and rejoice. All this I will strive to do for the sake of my own wellbeing for the sake of other people and the environment and for the sake of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus to procure the redemption for the world. Amen

To face change confidently we are advised to
Sorting out loyalties

Joshua presented the people with a choice: the foreign gods of your ancestors beyond the river, the gods of the Ammorites or the Lord God who delivered you.

I John 2; 15 &16 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in that person. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but it is of the world."

Rather – Romans 12:1&2......"offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I, as many of you, remember the days of no electricity and telephone. It is not so long ago. In those days it was kerosene lamps for light, wood burning cook stoves, and coal burning heaters. Wedding invitations and funeral announcements were carried from house to house along the village street. Change is running away with us. It is happening so quickly and drastically that there is hardly an opportunity to process and evaluate it.

We need only to consider the rapid changes:

• In the field of Christian thinking. – In my growing up years smokers and drinkers were not Christians, Catholics could not be Christian and sometimes we wondered about the MBs. Well those things have certainly changed. But much more drastic and far reaching changes are evident in Christian thought and practise,
  
  
• In the field of Technology – almost instant communication around the world (unless of course you reside in Nepal)
  
  
• In the field of Climate change – rain in Churchill, Nunavut in January
  
  
• In the field of Globalization – a weather event, an election, a recession almost anywhere in the world, the constant, increasing movement of people around the world – immigrants and refugees, affects most of the rest of the world immediately and potentially drastically. With ongoing climate change we can expect more of that.
  
  
• In our ever increasing need for Energy – great enough for us to allow an oil
   pipeline to be placed in the vicinity of our local aquifer.                                                         

Most of these factors are driven, or at least highly characterized, by competition, greed, and a seeking of power and control. This is the pattern of the world: we must be better, stronger, more powerful than anyone else or at least than our closest competitors. Economic growth trumps all other goals. Whatever methods are most expedient to achieve that goal are used without due consideration of the long term effects or the overall effect.

 This principle is evident in competitive sports, in some instances in the extreme; we see it in politics, which seems to be rampant with corruption, we see it in business, how many Tim Hortons and Walmarts are there?  Might it even show its face in congregations?

Technology and globalization accentuate the temptation for greed and power. We in the 1st world find ourselves particularly vulnerable to participate in the worldly systems, indeed we need to, to some extent, if we are going to function in them, but we are particularly vulnerable because we have wealth, opportunity and the availability of much stuff and many things.

However we do have choices even within the system. We are called today to sort out our loyalties.
Keeping in mind that;

• our choices write the story, form the roots for following generations;
• that the God we are proclaiming loyalty to is a global God (not just our personal God), but a God of mystery who will not be contained or coerced, who is at the same time just, merciful, gracious and powerful. 

With those things in mind we can renew our minds, our way of thinking and making decisions; call forth our sanctified imaginations, our god given creativity and choose God’s way rather than the pattern of the world.

I want to present two suggestions to apply to such a process.

1. The 2010 winter issue of Geez magazine features an article entitled: “Seven criteria for the adoption of new technology” by Will Braun.  Part of the article outlines the logic of the Amish in their decision making.. Will quotes Donald Krahbill, a sociologist and studier of the Amish people, and David Kline, an Amish bishop. It is not that the Amish people reject all technology and progress but as Donald Kraybill writes of them: “They are selectively making decisions and adapting. They intuitively grasp (technology’s) long term social affect.’ David Kline says: “If it’s bad for the family you don’t have it”. For example telephones can be found on the premises but in a phone shanty not in the home. Telephones in the home Kline says:” would interrupt and deteriorate family life.” Will add:” I can’t argue – when the phone rings while I’m reading to my 3 year old son, he intuitively grasps the social impact of technology.”  The preference of horses over cars and tractors explains Kline is that “they limit the size of the farms, in contrast to the unlimited expansion of the agribusiness model. They limit the distance that people can travel, thus contributing to cohesion of family and community”
   We see here decisions based on deliberate evaluation.
   
   
2. Another way of evaluating and finding a good basis for our choices can be found in this book, Sleeping with Bread. The title itself makes a good story but I won’t take the time to relate it now. The book however directs us as individuals or families, or groups or congregations to ask the question. This process is called The Examen Process. It can also be used as a way of returning to the Center.  It goes like this. ( I cannot print it because of copyright laws. The book is entitled: Sleeping with Bread, Holding what Gives You Life by Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn and Matthew Linn -Paulist Press.)

And the question can vary like: What was most and least life-giving, what was most or least helpful and so on. One could do this daily, weekly yearly (as for congregations) for special occasions  such as Thanksgiving for families etc. Although this is a very personal evaluation it could similarly be applied to a wider spectrum: How are my choices promoting life or causing damage.

To face change with confidence we are advised to
Live as covenant people

Joshua warned the people in essence to ‘count the cost’. Your God is a holy God - a jealous God...if you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. In other words are you sure you want to covenant with this God?

Are we prepared to covenant with this God and live as covenant people? In practise we do covenant together every year – coming up in a few weeks.
Could or should this covenant also include an ongoing evaluation together regarding the changes happening around us and determine what is ‘good for the family’? Perhaps that would require a conscious effort to recognize and affirm each other in choices we make that reflect the upside down kingdom. Perhaps it also means that you could comment on my choices without me becoming defensive and I could comment on your choices without being judgemental.

I think to covenant with a ‘global’ God, one who is more than a personal rescuer and meeter of needs, one whose parameters....well who doesn’t have parameters, who has no beginning and no end or perhaps who is the beginning and the end; one incomprehensible but still personal, merciful generous and gracious, and powerful requires a simple, not simplistic, but simple and also a fantastic faith.

In conclusion our choices in life will determine the legacy, the story, the roots we leave for coming generations. Our ongoing awareness of the all encompassing, awesome yet loving nature of God can help to keep us on track, both in times of wellbeing and in time of trouble. A willingness to evaluate individually and together the long term effects of the changes and pressures in society can help to call forth creative alternative ways of doing things. To live out such a covenant together will make us strong.

Towards that end we could pray for leaders, perhaps something like Joshua:
(Now you may have an argument in holding up Joshua as a good example for leadership. Horrific things happened under his leadership, slaughter and bloodshed; and you might add their God was anything but global. Well you may be right but for today’s purposes I offer this account as metaphor. In other words the nations and people, that were destroyed, the foreign gods that were warned against symbolize the ways and patterns of the world, the perspectives, models of living that do not promote life , goodness and truth.) With that caveat we could  pray for leaders like Joshua, decisive, visionary, wise and courageous – leaders of governments, communities and congregations;

• we could pray for parents, teachers and social workers – that children will be loved and taught and can grow up to be people of vision, wisdom and courage;
• we could pray to become such people ourselves.

Would you pray with me;

We would be true for there are those who trust us;
We would be pure for there are those who care;
We would be strong for there is much to suffer;
We would be brave for there is much to dare.

We would be friend of all - the foe, the friendless;
We would be giving and forget the gift;
We would be humble for we know our weakness;
We would look up and laugh and love and lift.

We would be prayerful through each busy moment;
We would be constantly in touch with God;
We would be tuned to hear the slightest whisper;
We would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.
Amen

 

Back to Top