A Better Offer . . .

This morning I sat in on a chapel at Dordt College where Dr. Tom Wolthuis shared a message on the theme of Immanuel--God with us. The issues he brought up and the way in which he addressed the subject has been replaying itself over and over in my mind ever since I left the auditorium this morning. In particular, Dr. Wolthuis addressed the issue of fear that is so prevalent in our American culture today. Fear dominates the news headlines, the political campaigns, and the underlying voices of culture that bombard us day in and day out. He pointed out that the typical responses we are offered as choices in the wake of fear is either to fight or to flee. Then he proceeded to point out that a Biblical picture of God and his presence among us offers a third alternative: God in the midst of everything, even war, terror, and a culture of fear. An alternative that eliminates the fearful knee-jerk reactions of either/or mentality (in this case, fight or flee).

In this suggestion I am beautifully reminded once again that the gospel of Jesus Christ presents us with so many possbilities in life that extend far beyond conventional human wisdom. When everything went wrong in Creation and when makind turned his face against God in a brutal act of defiance, God's reaction involved neither fighting, nor fleeing. God's reaction, his infinite wisdom included a third alternative, the Incarnation. From the dawn of time, God's response to the perils of evil include neither running in fear nor angry vengeance. Our God entered into our pain, made our struggle his own, cast his lot deep within us, and began a program of healing and reconciliation.

Perhaps, with all the talk today of fear, of uncertainty for a safe future, and even with nuclear proliferation under the authority of rogue nations, once again it is not the conventional wisdom of man that is to be sought. It's limited solutions offer far too little: only fighting or fleeing (neither of which has the ability to actually stave off fear). Perhaps Jesus' ministry of peace and God's desire for complete restoration once again serves as our guidepost. Just as Dr. Wolthuis suggested, there is a third alternative. Our message, our God, our story was and still is, completely countercultural. May we model the ministry of the God we calim to serve. May we be akin to his presence. May we too offer more than just the short-sighted wisdom of man. May we be the presence of God amidst fear, a presence rooted deeply in love . . .

"There is no fear in love.

But perfect love drives out fear,

because fear has to do with punishment.

The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

- John 4:18 -