Individuality

Individuality

People are individuals.  Regrettably, many people yield to the prejudicial tendency of lumping people into groups.  Labels describing race, religion, sex, creed, politics and other affiliations suffice in telling us who people are.  Moreover, we prefer people fit comfortably into the boxes we assign them.  However, if we take time to talk with people and hear their stories, we realize no one ever fits our prevalent stereotypes.  Life’s choices, challenges and circumstances of life are far too complex to characterize any unique person with fallacious generalities.  As people are individuals, they deserve the time it requires to get to know them.

Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of a day when people would be judged by the content of their characters rather than the color of their skin.  We cannot make assumptions about someone based upon external indicators.  Because we share a racial heritage, religious beliefs, similar profession or other qualities with another person does not mean we know him or her.  Actually, we know very little about the rudiments of his or her life.  We know people as we observe their characters and principles in a moral crisis or ethically quandary.  We learn who they are as they demonstrate their values through their choices.  The color of a person’s skin reveals very little about whether that individual possesses genuine consideration for poor people, racial minorities and other vulnerable citizens who have been historically oppressed by the dominant culture.

The Lord Jesus Christ says a tree is known by the fruit that it bears.  Someone calling with juicy, backbiting and scurrilous news about another person automatically tells you more about the caller than the object of his or her scorn.  As it relates to knowing people, actions do indeed speak louder than words.  People tell you who they are through their deeds more so than their words.  Additionally, trustworthy and faithful people demonstrate their potential to be friends.  They bear the fruit of confidentiality, kindness and love.

Carl G. Jung defined the process of individuation as acceptance of one’s unique personality.  It entails maturity of character as your words and deeds cohere.  More significantly, it involves discovery of the divine spark God graciously gives each person.  Self-acceptance empowers us to be true to ourselves.  It also enables us to live consistently with our values; essentially, individuation results in integrity and wholeness.

Remaining within the squalor of prejudices shortchanges our ability to cultivate genuine and lifelong friends.  Because people are individuals, we must get to know them as unique persons with distinct personalities.  Interestingly, the people who share our outward similarities are often least like us as it relates to values, worldview and priorities.  All Black people do not engage the struggle for justice and equality.  All White people are not racist.  No one race has a monopoly on greed.  Yet, if we persist in defining people in these superficial ways, then we will miss the blessing of many unique individuals who will bring extraordinary richness to our lives.

Forfeiting genuine and trustworthy love is the greatest loss for those persons who insist upon labeling people.  Love does not always fit into neat categories of race, class, education, religion and ethnicity.  Some of the most passionate and enduring marriages include men and women whom the “standards” of society would never have chosen for each other.  These socio-economic and socio-religious hybrids create very loving families.  As two loving individuals covenant to grow together, they build a healthy, reliable and enduring relationship regardless of their external qualities.

Essentially, people are individuals and deserve grace and consideration for their particular personalities.  If we must judge others, then let us heed the recommendation of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Examine the content of character instead of the color of skin.  Look to the fruit of a person’s actions rather than the poetry of his or her words.  As we listen to a person’s story and perhaps walk a mile in his shoes, then we really come to know him.  In most instances, we realize we have a new friend. 

The Power of Prayer – Part One

Unfortunately, many persons in the Church seemingly underestimate the power of prayer.  Our rational, scientific and technologically advancing age discourages prayer’s worth and necessity.  Pejoratively, some equate prayer with religious superstition.  Others do so out of tradition and ritualism.  They don not approach this ever-important spiritual discipline with genuine faith; thus, they fail to access the power of prayer.

The book of Acts depicts prayer as the foundation of great miracles, monumental preaching and tremendous evangelistic campaigns in the early Church.  Consider how diligently the saints in the New Testament Church pray.  Essentially, prayer is the source of their power.  In Acts 12, Peter is on death row awaiting execution just after the religious holidays.  The Church gathers and prays for his release.  An angel of the Lord frees Peter in the middle of the night.  The apostle Paul and his missionary companion are praying and singing hymns at midnight when an earthquake occurs in Acts 16.  There are many other examples throughout the book in which prayers are the foundation of the apostles’ accomplishments in the name of the Lord.

In the gospels, the Lord Jesus faithfully devotes Himself to prayer.  He rises early in the morning and retreats to a quiet place to pray (Mark 1:36).  Before He raises Lazarus from the dead, the Lord Jesus pauses and prays.  He thanks God the Father for always hearing Him.  He asks that the forthcoming miracle will aid the observers in believing God the Father sent God the Son (John 11:41-42).  On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus goes to His favorite prayer spot, the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prays for the final time to receive divine strength to meet the challenge of Calvary (Matthew 26:36-46).  In fact, He is arrested shortly after praying for fulfillment of the will of Almighty God.  Consequently, if the Lord, Himself, has to pray, how much more do current disciples have to do so?

The Bible is replete with wonderful prayers.  I highly recommend a study of prayers in the Bible.  In Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham intercedes for Sodom.  He appeals to the righteousness of Almighty God to spare the “righteous” within the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  In Daniel 9, the prophet implores the Name of God to graciously yield God’s mercy to Israel.  Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:9-18 fervently prays for a son.  After Samuel, the first prophet in Israel, is born to her, Hannah returns to the Temple and offers a prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2:1-11.  The prophet, Elisha, prays that God opens the eyes of his attendant and remove his fear of destruction (2 Kings 6:8-23).  To a great extent, the entire book of Psalms is an immortal collection of prayers.  Evidently, David taught Solomon the importance of prayer.  As Solomon ascends the throne of Israel, he prays for wisdom to lead the people of God correctly.  Then, Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple remains one of the most outstanding prayers ever offered to Almighty God (1 Kings 8:22-53).  In John 17, the Lord Jesus offers the “High Priestly Prayer” in which He prays for the Church of today. 

Furthermore, prayer is a major motif in many memorable biblical accounts.  Samson asks the Lord for one last bit of strength to defeat the enemies of Israel.  Hagar appeals to the Lord in the midst of the wilderness for her son’s survival.  Mary, the mother of our Lord, treasures the blessings of the Lord in her heart and prays the “Magnificant” jubilantly.  Paul and Silas’ midnight prayers and hymn singing become the catalyst for the salvation and baptism of the household of the Philippian jailer.  Cornelius’ daily discipline of prayer causes the Lord to send the apostle Peter to Cornelius.  Thus, the Gentiles receive the gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In essence, prayer undergirds divine actions.

Prayer is not magic!  It is the act of lifting one’s heart’s desire to the light of Almighty God’s face.  It is done with the “full assurance of faith and a sincere heart;” according to Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”  Moreover, prayer is a period of personal empowerment.  As we ask God to resolve our daily challenges, He gives us wisdom, knowledge, courage and persistence to overcome all adversities.  He directs us to the appropriate persons whose hearts are favorable toward us.  These people are God’s vessels of love and encouragement as we triumph within our circumstances. 

The Power of Prayer – Part Two

If prayer does not change our situations, it most certainly changes us.  Prayer affords an opportunity to examine selfish ambition and self-centered fear.  A lot of what we want, we simply do not need.  Many of our conflicts with others largely result from selfish motives.  We fail to accept the roles we play in strained relationships.  Prayer assists in stripping away the blinders.  As we lift our requests to the light of God’s holiness, its brilliance burns away the dross of personal preferences. 

Do you pray for the people who ask?  Do you pray for the people whom you tell, “I’ll be prayerful.”  Prayer is one of the most important things we can do for others.  I suggest we take very seriously our Christian responsibility to intercede for others.  I pray the Holy Spirit constantly reminds us to establish a sacred time for prayer and meditation.  Thereby, we boldly approach God’s throne requesting fulfillment of His will for our loved ones, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

When we pray for others, what should we ask?  Is it not presumptuous to pray about another person’s problems?  We have limited knowledge of the facts.  There are times when people state very specific prayer requests.  Certainly, those particular desires guide our prayers.  However, the apostle Paul describes the will of God as “good, pleasing and perfect.”  Accordingly, I submit we can always pray for the will of God in any situation.  Although we do not often know the details, we realize God’s will is best in every scenario.  It is helpful to ask for revelation of His will as assuredly resolves any challenges of the people for whom we pray.

The apostle, James, emphasizes the necessity of prayer.  He asks, “Are any among you suffering?  They should keep on praying about it.”  (James 5:13)  Prayer yields solutions to the suffering.  Actually, it reveals ideas and approaches for transforming suffering into redemptive purposes.  Further, James asks, “Are there among you sick?  They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.”  Evidently, the early church practiced taking all illnesses to the fellowship of believers.  If the individual lacked the requisite faith to pray diligently for healing, the members of the Church would support him in his earnest quest for healing and wholeness.  Conceivably, they did not have access to physicians and healthcare that we do.  They, however, had unlimited access to Almighty God and His healing power. 

Though we enjoy the rich blessing of state-of-the-art medicine, we still pray for healing.  We pray physicians, nurses, attendants and others on the medical staff are as professional and lucid as possible.  We ask God for special revelation of knowledge and wisdom in their practice of medicine and care for patients.  As sickness comes in many forms, physical disease is but one type of illness.  Many people suffer from emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual sicknesses that inhibit their ability to actualize their God given talents.  For that reason, the Church encourages them to come to the “house of prayer” and seek inner healing and wholeness.  We request God’s especial revelation of grace, love and peace to empower them in eliminating barriers to their success and wholeness.

Interestingly, illness provides a perfect passageway into a greater revelation of Almighty God’s unfailing love and faithful provision.  Whereas no one seeks this predicament, should it befall him, he realizes rewards of God’s indescribable grace and enduring mercy.  God concretizes these divine attributes in the personalities and good deeds of His faithful disciples.  Our visits, prayers, phone calls, meals, cards, letters, and other acts of kindnesses demonstrate the love of Almighty God.

Presumably, the early Christians sought the prayers of the “elders of the Church” because they were seasoned “prayer warriors.”  It stands to reason that these believers were mature in the faith, having witnessed the power and benefits of prayer.  In the parlance of my upbringing in South Carolina, they knew “how to get a prayer through.”  As a consequence, the sick and afflicted called upon them to utilize the lessons of their spiritual journeys and the privileges of their relationships with the Lord to effect the healing of the sick.

In addition, young believers resolved the elders had the requisite faith to deliver fervent prayers that yielded healing and forgiveness.  James says in the fifteenth verse of the fifth chapter, “And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well.  And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.”  Sin is the sickness of the soul.  It is a spiritual disease, which separates the sinner from the source of life and being.  A genuine confession and humble prayer for reconciliation are cures to sin.  The elders of the Church have a unique privilege and prerogative to ask God to give wisdom, to any sinner who sincerely asks thereby enabling his restoration to the Lord and Church. 

The Power of Prayer – The Conclusion

Confession of sin within the context of loving relationships amongst disciples inevitably leads to collective healing from the sin which is a pattern of choices and behavior that undermine one’s relationship with a holy and loving God.  Practically speaking, this pattern eventually and considerably harms a person; it may result in disease, debt, depression, divorce and even death.  Therefore, it is imperative the Church offers a refuge.  There, he finds “righteous people” who pray earnestly for him.  James declares these prayers will obtain “powerful and wonderful results.” 

Who are the “righteous?”  They are persons who live in right relationship with Almighty God.  All of the previously mentioned biblical characters boldly and fervently ask for their heart’s desires because of their close relationships with God.  One of prayer’s primary purposes is the maintenance of our constant contact with our heavenly Father.  In its simplest form, prayer is relational, practical and experiential.  It furthers the development of a vibrant relationship with the Maker of heaven and earth.  Prayer provides practical and spiritual tools to resolve any situation.  Keeping a prayer journal enables us to record personal experiences of the grace and love of God. 

The “righteous” understand their distinct privilege to pray about anything and everything.  From a hurtful hangnail to death, prayer is the response of the righteous.  Seldom does the social, economic and political turmoil of the world greatly disturb the righteous.  In response, they pray and ask God to empower His chosen people to be His vessels in settling these conflicts of culture, religion, money and power.  Whether dealing with micro or macro issues, personal or societal, the righteous never forsake the spiritual arsenal of prayer.  Indeed, prayer changes things; if not things, then people.

Norman Vincent Peale offers some rather helpful insights on prayer in his book, The Tough Minded Optimist.  He tells the story of a television personality who bemoans his difficulty in selling a house.  This guy’s house had been on the market for a while.  He expresses his frustration about not being able to sell it at the price he wants.  Peale suggests this television show hosts pray and ask God to orchestrate circumstances for a family that really needs the house to discover it.  Also, Peale recommends this fellow prays the needs of this family are met in the deal as he sells them the house at a fair price.  This advice focuses upon what is best for all parties.

Peale’s recommendations encourage us to forsake the normal tendency of merely asking God for what we want.  Instead, we willingly open our hearts and minds to becoming God’s vessels of love and instruments of His grace.  Simply put, we ask God to use us in every situation to manifest His “good, pleasing and perfect” will.  As we pray about our daily challenges or enduring obstacles, we take Peale’s advice to heart.  In so doing, we ask God to resolve these dilemmas in ways that please Him and serve His children rather than satisfy our self-centered motives.

This final story about the power of prayer paints a very vivid picture of its necessity.  A missionary tells the story of being imprisoned in a Russian gulag.  His attempts to spread the gospel behind the Iron Curtain of the former U. S. S. R. lands him there.  As his sentence progresses and his isolation increases, he despairs about his abandonment by the Church throughout the world.  He even considers suicide.  Eventually, a Christian reporter reaches him and asks what his fellow believers can do to help.  He says, “Simply pray.”  All over the world, Christians began to pray.  In time, these spiritually vital prayers penetrate the depths of the Iron Curtain.  On several occasions, this missionary felt on the brink of physical death due to malnourishment and oppressive treatment.  But, he contends the fervent prayers of the righteous people of God brought him back to life!

I conclude with reference to a few enduring and great prayers.  First, the prayer the Lord teaches His disciples, “The Lord’s Prayer,” contains bedrock petitions for all believers.  Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is a prayer to which all disciples aspire, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done.”  Our Episcopalian brothers and sisters use The Book of Common Prayer, which contains many verbally illustrious and spiritually moving petitions.  Then, The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi remains a spiritual classic in defining daily spiritual objectives.  Finally, The Serenity Prayer offers immediate strength and wisdom in any perplexity.

The Power of the Word of God – Part One

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”  The author of Genesis uses those two verses to begin the creation story.  Life starts in utter darkness, implied chaos and with nothing except Almighty God.  Amazingly, He speaks into the void!  “Then God said, let there be light; and there was light.”  How marvelous, awesome and powerful is the Word of God!

In the midnight of oblivion, God’s word bursts onto the horizon and become the dawn of creation.  God speaks into nothing and makes a whole new universe.  Similarly, in the abyss of our lives, the Word of God can create a whole new life for us.  Yet, the Word of God is under assault.  The fiery challenges of a religiously, theologically, ideologically, ethnically, racially, socially, culturally, economically and politically pluralistic society coerces many believers to question the power of the Word of God.

Many churches no longer operate according to their covenants and biblical principles.  The affairs of the house of God rely upon secular, humanistic and corporate models, in which many believers work and earn their living.  Unfortunately, biblical illiteracy appears to have reached an all-time high.  It is simply amazing the number of lay leaders in the Church who do not know the Bible.  Therefore, they cannot appeal to it for decision-making.  Perhaps, they do not find the Bible relevant for the operation of the household of faith and in their personal affairs.  The scientifically advancing, technologically progressing, consumerist and materially oriented world lead them to depend upon a different paradigm for defining values.  Instead of the biblical principles, they refer to the law and the verities of the scientific method.

A recent anecdote that a parishioner shared with me vividly depicts the moral, ethical and spiritual bankruptcy pervading today’s Church.  She works in the service industry.  As she serves her clients, they share their personal, spiritual, professional, financial, marital and familial problems with her.  In response, she suggests that they stop and pray.  Surprisingly, they answer, “Look, this is serious.  I really need help here.”  More amazing, some of these persons are leaders within their churches!

Consider the possibility that the Bible actually possesses eternal wisdom for each of those foregoing challenges.  Why did not these lay leaders simply search the scriptures for a resolution to the obstacles in their lives?  What leads them to ignore the Bible?  What alternative sources of “spirituality” do they find more beneficial and worthwhile?   I posit the previously mentioned social forces undermine believers’ confidence in the Word of God.  In addition, the refusal of many disciples to prioritize spiritual disciplines in learning and appropriating the Bible in daily living furthers this crisis.

Rather than being indifferent to the Word of God, believers should reaffirm its invaluable position in the Church.  The Bible is a “lamp to [our] feet and a light to [our] pathway.”  It is life’s textbook.  It addresses all facets of human experience.  Its drama put the television and movie industry to shame.  Palace intrigue, adultery, murder, betrayal, fratricide, incest, burning romance, embezzlement, poisonous family secrets, etc., all of these human situations and countless others adorn the leaves of holy writ.  These ageless stories illustrate enduring lessons from which we can extrapolate God’s eternal wisdom and guidance.  Rediscover the power of the Word of God!

The grand one hundred and nineteenth psalm is an ode to the beauty of the laws of God.  In its one hundred and seventy-six verses, David utilizes this most lengthy of the psalms to testify passionately to his genuine reliance upon the Word of God.  Whether traveling the wide highway of personal willfulness, David unquestionably trusts the Words of God.  In Psalm 119:65, David commends Almighty God for His faithful provision and unfailing love.  “You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.”  David does separate God’s character and lovingkindness from His word.  Further, David insists that the Word of God provides the only reliable foundation for life.

The Power of the Word of God - Conclusion

A more practically applicable verse which describes the incalculable worth of the Bible is Hebrews 4:12.  “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  This verse details the personal relevance and spiritual applicability of the Bible.

It is “living and powerful.”  The Bible travels through human history and provides answers for each generation.  Historians record the fundamental role of the Bible in the English Revolution of 1646, the American Revolution of 1776, the slave uprisings and resistance in the antebellum South, the American Civil War and in the apartheid resistance movement in South Africa.  For the individual, the Bible supplies answers to daily emotional, psychological, physical, relational, vocational and spiritual circumstances.  Its power emerges from the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  The “living and powerful” Word of God remains the surest and safest haven for the believer.

The image of a double-edged sword brilliantly illustrates the potential of the Word of God to demolish our enemies, internal and external.  Elsewhere, the apostle Paul describes the Word of God as “the sword of the Spirit.”  It is an offensive weapon, which empowers the believer to triumph over the adversities of life.  Moreover, it “pierces the division of soul and spirit.”  In other words, it bridges the chasm between Creator and creature.  Should we find ourselves confused, we find clarity within the Word of God.  More significantly, the Bible assists us in achieving inner healing and wholeness.  The Word of God enables the individual believer to obtain the highest level of existence.

The Bible’s ability to reach to the depths of “joints and marrow” speaks of its usefulness in helping believers determine their motives.  A clear knowledge of one’s motives is necessary to spiritual, moral and ethical integrity.  The commandment to love one’s neighbor as one’s self and the dictate to abide by the Golden Rule requires a lucid appreciation of one’s motives. 

The Bible is replete with verses, which characterize the human heart as the essence of a person’s being.  Accordingly, the Lord Jesus Christ teaches, “Out of the heart flows the issues of life.”  In addition, He says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Nonetheless, the Word of God discerns the “thoughts and intents of the heart.”  It aids us in determining whether we have intention and willingness to follow the will of Almighty God.  The human heart either seeks the “good, pleasing and perfect” will of the Lord or it desires self-seeking motives which develop from fear.  To actualize our spiritual dimensions, we need the Word of God to sift through the layers of self-centeredness.

Whereas the Bible is an offensive spiritual weapon for an individual believer, it works just as effectively for a collective body of disciples.  A church must be people of the Book.  The Bible must play a predominant role in a church’s decision-making.  It cannot be subordinated to personal preference regardless of the number of people who may agree.  Instead, the Word of God must be the rule for formulating principles and setting policy.  Combined with the Church Covenant, the Book of Church Order, the By-laws and reason, the Bible holds the most reliable source of wisdom for any community of faith.

Furthermore, the Bible contains a number of varied self-descriptions about itself.  James’ image of mirror particularly stands out in my thinking; he says anyone who hears the Word of God and does not follow it is like a person who looks in the mirror and immediately forgets what he looks like.  Yet, if the man looks purposefully into the “perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”  Essentially, the mirror of the Word of God reflects the image of God which only the disciple can see if he looks intently into the Bible; and endeavors to walk in the path of God’s ways.

Contemporary believers have the best chance of reaping the promises and blessings of the Bible through a daily and vibrant relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the personified Word of God, the Logos of John 1:1 who was present at Genesis 1:1.  Following the example of His sinless life most clearly helps us to be doers of the Word of God.  As we rightly relate to Him, we realize the power of the Word of God.

The Prayer of the Righteous - Matthew 27:45-46

The Prayer of the Righteous - Matthew 27:45-46

In this passage, the Lord Jesus Christ offers an immortal prayer, as He is dying on the cross.  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”  Actually, Matthew’s quotation is an abbreviation of Psalm 22, which some biblical scholars believe Jesus recites in its entirety.  Nevertheless, He prays as a righteous man submitting to death unjustly; having been betrayed by a close associate and denied by many others.

This prayer ideally captures the sentiment of our hearts when we juxtapose extensive evil in the world although we believe in an all-powerful, all-kind, ever-present and all-knowing God.  Why does He allow evil to flourish and the righteous to experience pain and suffering?  If God is just, then He will intervene and reverse this trend.  With the great Russian author, Dostoevsky, we cannot comprehend the misery to which children are subjected.  I recall one winter in New York City in which every weekend a baby was abandoned by someone.  In fact, some of these babies were left in garbage dumps in sub-zero temperatures.  Others were left in gym bags in parks.  Countless children in the foster care system are often abused, neglected and mistreated by people whom the State entrust with their care.  Innocent children do not deserve any oppression and cruelty that befalls them.  In response to such tragedy, one asks, “Where is God?” 

The words of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross, “My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me,” are “The Prayer of the Righteous.”  We utter this prayer in our own words when we stumble in darkness.  We cannot make sense out of our predicament.  We endeavor to rightly relate ourselves to God; yet, as victims of very difficult circumstances, we fall prey to the temptation of believing the bleakness of our situation eclipses God’s righteousness.

This text is puzzling!  Here we have a man who studied the great teachings and teachers of his religion, who gives common persons a new appreciation for Almighty God whom the Law reveals.  This carpenter from Nazareth possesses a unique ability to love everyone, particularly the downtrodden.  With the power of the Spirit of God, he preaches about the coming kingdom of God in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.  He teaches crowds of people about God’s limitless love that undergirds the Law.  In fact, he summarizes the entire law with two commands: first, love God with one’s entire being and second, love one’s neighbor as one’s self.  He heals innumerable people of myriad diseases and afflictions.  Zeal for the house of God consumes Him.  During the Passover festival, He enters the Temple courts and drives out the moneychangers who made the house of God equivalent of the New York Stock Exchange.  Nonetheless, this righteous man’s final hours find him bleeding to death on a cross.  As a consequence, He prays the words of the opening verses of the twenty-second psalm.

As it relates to the setting of the cross, the evangelist tells us “From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over all the land.”  In these three hours of darkness, it appears God turns His back on this righteous man.  There are times in our lives when it seems God turns His back on us.  Martin Buber, in his commanding book, I and Thou, posits God recedes within the shadows of our challenges.  Nevertheless, in these trying times of adversity, the righteous simply pray.

The Prayer of the Righteous - Conclusion

The Prayer of the Righteous - Conclusion

In times of adversity and depression, the righteous simply pray to Almighty God for guidance and reassurance of His unfailing love.  Some biblical scholars suggest the Lord Jesus Christ prays the entire twenty-second psalm as He dies slowly on the cross. Consider this lifelong prayer of the righteous, at your leisure.

The Bible is replete with examples of persons whose lives demonstrate God hears the prayers of the righteous.  They are disciples who rightly relate themselves to His holy character and sovereign nature.  God never leaves nor forsakes anyone.  After many years of separation, Ishmael reunites with Isaac to bury their father, Abraham.  (Genesis 25:9)  After his murderous rage subsides over the course of twenty years, Esau genuinely forgives Jacob.  In fact, God blesses Esau as abundantly as He blesses Jacob.  Ruth, the Moabitess widow who shows kindness to Naomi, is in the genealogy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Rahab, a prostitute who demonstrates generosity to the Israelite spies, eventually earns admission into the “Hall of Fame of Faith” in Hebrews 11.  The Samaritan woman at the well, who had had five husbands, becomes an evangelist to her people.  The disciples, although they walked and talked with our Lord for three and a half years, betray, deny and desert Him in the gospels.  Yet, in the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit enters them, they become the living foundation of the Church.  In total, these biblical narratives remind us of Almighty God’s enduring and unfailing love toward the righteous.

The cross of our Lord teaches the redemptive nature of pain and suffering.  As the righteous cry out to God, He answers their prayers by utilizing their struggles to transform them into the character of Jesus Christ.  He uses darkness surrounding the righteous to lead them to His presence and wisdom.  Accordingly, we cease and desist with any notion that God only works in the light of our lives.  Interestingly, He uses darkness to our advantage, spiritually and personally.  Harry Emerson Fosdick, the founding Pastor of Riverside Church in New York City, once suffered a nervous breakdown.  In retrospect, he acknowledged that dreadful experience as one of the most beneficial occurrences in his life.  In the midst of that agony, the dross of personal preference and ambition were burned away and the gold crystallization of his pastoral ministry solidified.  Abandoned by her mother at an early age, the great Ertha Kitt learned to rely genuinely upon Almighty God early in life.  Ironically, in the darkness, God actually changes our character and desires. 

Out of the horror and bleakness of crucifixion, God brings new life.  He does not forsake His righteous Son as He dies on the cross.  The three hours of darkness that surround this inimitable act of injustice do not signal a failure of the ministry of Christ.  They are hardly a symbol of defeat.  Rather, they are an intermission in the grand cosmological drama of salvation.  Behind the scenes, Almighty God is changing the setting, costumes and characters.  When the curtain opens again on the first Easter morning, an empty tomb has been transformed into the scene of the resurrection.  Death gives way to new life.  Darkness yields to the marvelous light of new creation.  The sound of weeping becomes totally silent, creating the pregnant pause before rejoicing over the victory of Christ.  He triumphs over the final enemy, death!  Thereby, in the words of the great apostle, He makes us “more than conquerors” as it relates to life’s daily challenges.

It is extremely sad to observe how many believers appear indifferent to the power prayer.  This spiritual discipline remains one of the most powerful sources available to us.  A close reading of the gospels demonstrates how often Jesus himself prays.  The book of Acts posits prayer as the vehicle of life, sustenance and progress for the early Church.  Practically, every episode of the first churches and three missionary journeys detail how diligently they prayed.  We, therefore, should follow their example.  As the people of God who endeavor to rightly relate to Him, we must pray to Him. Notwithstanding myriad daily tests, the righteous should not forsake their most enduring and reliable weapon, the power of prayer.  James 5:13-16 promises us that the prayers of the righteous are effective and powerful. 

Indeed, God hears the righteous when they pray!

The Bible

A decade ago, during his pastoral installation service, I presented my colleague and one of my best friends with a Bible for his ministry.  Below, I share my remarks which describe the majesty of the Word of God.

The Bible is the written revelation of the Word of God.  It holds the keys to abundant and eternal life.  It contains the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who is “the way, the truth and the life.”  The Holy Spirit constantly reminds us of Jesus’ teachings so that we may know “how” to live in this present world and inherit everlasting life in the age to come. 

In Matthew 19:29 and Luke 18:29, Jesus offers one of His most compelling promises.  “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”  The Bible reveals Almighty God’s assurances to those persons who genuinely trust Him and follow His guidance.

The Bible is a towel with which we who pastor wash the feet of those persons whom we serve.  John 13:1-17 records the irony of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.  In this dramatic reversal of social order, the teacher and leader becomes the servant of all. Jesus utilizes an act of humility to demonstrate to the disciples how they are to treat each other and future disciples.  Service equals leadership in the body of Christ.  Repeatedly, the New Testament churches receive further instructions on the differences between leadership selection criteria in the church and secular world.  As servant leaders, pastors use the Bible, each Sunday during the sermon, as a towel to wash the feet of the membership.  The Word of God brings comfort, insight and support to weary travelers on the dusty roads of life.

The Scriptures are a chalice filled with wine.  God’s loving-kindness is better than wine.  Moreover, the wine of the gospel supercedes the water of the law.  The new covenant of Christ’s blood is an enduring bond that cannot be nullified by human intention or action.  At the wedding of Cana in Galilee, in John 2:1-11, Jesus turns water into wine.  Surprisingly, for the guests, this wine tastes better than anything they drank previously.  Customarily, the host saves the worst wine for the end of the celebration and serves the best wine at the beginning.  This miracle demonstrates that the teachings of Christ greatly surpass ancient philosophy, science, logic, rhetoric and reason.  The truth and applicability of His wisdom endure throughout all generations.

On a daily basis, the Bible is a cup of living water as we travel through life’s deserts.  Thirst arises often from fallacious attempts at self-sufficiency.  We call upon God when we need Him.  The hymn writer pleads “I Need Thee Every Hour.”  There are innumerable verses, which provide practical and helpful wisdom as we face daily challenges. 

Should fear invade our minds and infiltrate our hearts, reciting the following verses annihilates anxiety: Psalm 23, 27:1-2, 34:4; Isaiah 41:10, 41:13; 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 John 4:18.  Additionally, Jesus declares anyone who hungers and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied.  Whatever our thirst, the Word of God quenches it.  The Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 remains as the most enduring witness to this spiritual reality.  She fulfills her thirst for love when she encounters the Word of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

In the longest psalm, 119, David describes the Word of God as a “lamp unto his feet and light unto his pathway.”  Simply speaking, the Bible is a divine flashlight to help find your way in the world’s darkness.  The bleakness of heinous crimes, economic injustice, terrorism, protracted conflicts in the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Africa permeate life.  In addition, we struggle with formidable tests within marriage, families, jobs, and communities.  God’s word equips us to triumph over all adversities.  It also empowers us to pursue successfully our dreams and goals.  The light of God’s Word determines the legitimacy of our motives.  When they cohere with God’s desires, He illuminates His “good, pleasing and perfect will” before us. 

Finally, the Bible is a mirror.  It reflects Almighty God’s holiness and perfection.  The scriptures reveal the clearest image of the immortal, invisible and infinite Creator of the universe.  As we grow in grace, we seek to emulate God’s character.   The prophets speak of a refiner’s fire.  As the refiner burns the dross from the gold to increase its value, he looks into a blazing furnace.  He knows that the dross has been sufficiently burned away when he can see a clear image of himself in the reflection of the gold.  Similarly, God’s word is a mirror into our lives and souls. 

“Dad, I Hope You’re Pleased” – The Conclusion

I imagine Solomon, at some point in these dedication ceremonies, steps aside, looks toward heaven and say, “Dad, I hope you’re pleased.”  Possibly, he also whispers, “See Daddy, I took in everything you taught me.  I did it!  I built the Temple to the specifications you gave me.  Please know all of the time and energy you put into me as a young lad was worth it.  Yes, we dedicate this Temple to the Lord God Almighty but I think of you today.  I truly hope you are pleased as much I hope God is pleased.”

I recall bursting into tears in the academic procession when I received my Masters of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary.  The commencement exercises were held outside.  They began at 4:00 pm on a beautiful spring afternoon.  As the procession turned toward the reserved seating, I looked to the skies and thought of my grandfather, the late Sammie Singletary, Sr.  Instantly, I recalled a conversation we had a couple of years previous to this ceremony.  He had asked, “What degree are you working on?  Where?  What will you do with it?”  I answered all his questions.  Then, he said, “Well, son I won’t be here when you get that one but please know I pray the Lord’s blessings on you.”  As I proceeded to my seat, I thought of my grandfather and that conversation.  In my own way, I said, “Granddaddy, I hope you are pleased.”  Again, on 18 February 2001, when I officially assumed the eighteenth pastorate of First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, I thought of my grandfather and a conversation that we had about life’s vocation.  Needless to say, he eventually won that argument because he knew me.  Once more, I thought, “Granddaddy, I hope that you are pleased.”

We could recite the names of many faithful dads who took time to instill their heartfelt dreams and goals within the minds and hearts of their sons.  These men bore their burdens in the heat of the day to provide for their families.  But, an eternal dream burned brilliantly and ferociously in their hearts.  The challenging yet affirming words of the historian, H. G. Wells, can be said of all of them.  “The historian’s test of an individual’s greatness is ‘What did he leave to grow?  Did he start men to thinking along fresh lines with a vigor that persisted after him?” 

At a weekly Bible study and prayer meeting, we went around the room and listed the persons whom we resolved definitely knew the Lord.  In that powerful sharing, I learned and even felt that I met several past deacons and fathers of the church of whom we can say, “They left a lot that has grown.”  Allow me to share a little with you of what was shared in that session.

I learned of a deacon who was principal of the Black high school during segregation and fought and became the principal of the integrated one as well.  This deacon has left the legacy of an educator.  His son followed his footsteps in serving the church.  His grandchildren have expanded upon the family’s educational achievements.

Another deacon, though of very limited formal education, possessed the character and wisdom to coerce the local and state governments to provide amenities of utilities and other basic standards of living for his area.

A third father’s love of the Word of God and insistence his children learn and internalize it produced a biblically literate and spiritually committed president of a graduate school.

Another deacon’s passion for learning has been memorialized in a scholarship at the local church of his children.

Yet another deacon’s Christian example melts the heart of his daughter as she recalls the name of her father.

I learned of a late pastor whose untimely death at age 49 hardly captures the qualitative vision he imparted to his children among whom are two deacons, a trustee, a minister and a nurse.

I met another late pastor whose example has produced several deacons amongst his children.  Two of them serve faithfully within their churches.

To all of these fathers whom we commemorate today, we could say, “Dad, I hope you’re pleased.”

Conclusion

Finally, there is one other Son who said to His Father, “Dad, I hope You are pleased.”  In 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, the apostle Paul records the episode of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, “putting everything under His feet” as the Sovereign of the universe.  However, the apostle explicitly states “everything” does not include the Father. 

Rather, I surmise the Lord Jesus Christ says to the Father, “Dad, I hope that You are pleased.  I, through my obedience to death and crucifixion, eliminated the chasm between You and humankind whom we made in our image.  I have defeated the final enemy, death itself.  All powers and principalities are subject to You.  Dad, I hope You are pleased.”

Like the Lord Jesus Christ and many who have gone before us, each of us will eventually stand before our Heavenly Father.  Like Paul says in Galatians, we should know Him well enough to call Him, Abba – literally “Daddy.”  We should be able to say, “Daddy, I hope You are pleased with what I have done with the vision and resources that You gave me.”

“Dad, I Hope You’re Pleased” – Part Three

This divine recognition fails to satisfy David given the sincerity with which he holds this dream.  Nevertheless, circumstances of time, resources, occupation force David to accept he will not accomplish his dream of building the Temple.

Can we not relate?  What happens when we must face the hard reality we will not complete everything on our “To Do” list?  I recall an author who recently succumbed to an early death due to an incurable disease.  In an interview shortly before his death, he lamented the fact that his life would soon be finished without being complete.  Similarly, David grapples with the fact that his life will end without his seeing the Temple of the Lord.  Likewise, Moses who leads the Israelites during forty years of wilderness wandering must resign himself to God’s decision that he, Moses, would not physically see nor live in the Promised Land.  We, like David and Moses, have magnanimous dreams we may not achieve due to any number of unforeseen situations.

Then, the question becomes “What do we do to compensate for this possibility?”

We Share David’s Frustration of an Unfulfilled Heartfelt Dream

Certainly, each father can empathize with David’s lamentable predicament.  The patriarch in The Godfather, Vito Corleone, bemoans to his youngest son, Michael, that he, the father, was running out of time in his pursuit of elevating the family’s status in the world.  You recall he says, “I want to see Governor Corleone, Senator Corleone, Congressman Corleone, and one day even President Corleone.  But, Michael, there is not enough time.” Then the son, Michael, played by Al Pacino, says, “Dad, don’t worry, we’ll get it done.  Don’t worry Pop.”

It appears that all fathers want to exit the stage of life knowing their families will be more secure – financially, spiritually and socially.  They want to know their children and grandchildren will enjoy a higher standard of living.  Further, fathers want this privilege, in turn, to empower future generations to change the world.  Fathers want to know their posterity will make the world a more just and equitable place for all God’s children to live.

What does a father do with the ashes of his dreams?  He could cynically fill an urn with his resentment, bitterness, anger and pity.  Like David, a father has a chance to take the nuggets of his eternal and heartfelt dreams and deposit them in the minds and hearts of his son.

David Fulfills His Dream Through Solomon

In a most gracious way as the Lord denies David’s request to build the Temple, He immediately tells David that David’s dream will be realized through Solomon.  That divine counsel reorients David’s priorities for the balance of his earthly life.  The Lord says to David, “I have chosen Solomon to be my son, and I will be his father.”  Accordingly, Solomon shall build the Temple of the Lord.

In direct response to the Lord’s instructions, David imparts the vision of the Temple to Solomon.  He explains its critical importance and prepares the way for Solomon.  Like a pioneer clearing out a plot of wilderness, David develops blue prints; gathers the supplies; organizes a labor pool; and negotiates trade alliances.  Then, he metaphorically lays the foundation of the Temple by teaching all of this information to Solomon.  Ironically, David fulfills his dream through his son.

Solomon Builds and Dedicates The Temple

In 2 Chronicles 6:7-9, Solomon relates to the people of Israel his father’s, David, dream for building the Temple.  Solomon tells them that the Lord complimented David for having had the dream.  “Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart.  Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood - he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.”  Standing at the dedication of the Temple, Solomon relates his version of his father’s lifelong and heartfelt dream that he, Solomon, inherited.

The remainder of 2 Chronicles 6 records Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple.  He offers one of the most interesting and inspiring prayers in the Bible.  In his petitions, Solomon characterizes the Temple as a “house of prayer for all people.”  He pleads with Almighty God to turn His eyes upon the Temple at all hours of the day and night and hear the prayers of His servants.  More specifically, Solomon intercedes for all people and asks God to “forgive and deal with each man according to all he does since you know his heart (for your alone know the hearts of men.”  Furthermore, Solomon, in verses 32 and 33, asks God to hear the prayers of all “foreigners” and even those “who do not know You.” 

“Dad, I Hope You’re Pleased” – Part Two

I imagine David and Solomon become very best friends as they spend countless hours discussing the necessity of building the Temple.  I envision endless conversations in which David shares his testimony with Solomon.  Beginning with the Genesis accounts of God’s love for humankind, generally, and Israel, specifically, David empowers Solomon with historical, theological, cultural, and ideological underpinnings for the Temple construction project.  More personally, David probably explains the difficult circumstances of his marriage to Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba.  David doubtless shares the horrid details of 2 Samuel 11 and 12.  Rather than dwelling on his sin and punishment, David almost certainly tells Solomon about the unfailing love, incalculable forgiveness and incredible provision of Almighty God.  In sharing his personal journey and testifying to the goodness of the Lord, David reveals to his son, Solomon, the depth of his desire to build the Temple.  David’s tutorial for Solomon affords David the opportunity and blessing of depositing the dream of the Temple in Solomon’s heart.

Parenthetically, David’s and Solomon’s stories instruct us on the importance of teaching.  Had David refused to take the time and teach the importance of the Temple to Solomon, it may not have been built.  Most assuredly, it would not have been built with the grandeur and speed with which it was built.  Teachers daily contribute to the expansion of the kingdom of God and the progress of humankind as they assist students in actualizing their God-given talents and potential.  Teachers take time and care to ensure a student gets the lesson.  When a student internalizes the lesson, it can have eternal consequences.

Nonetheless, David lays the groundwork for the Temple on Solomon’s heart.  In addition, David reserves a significant portion of his estate for the Temple.  He gathers needed raw materials for construction and priceless decorative items for furnishings.    Succeeding in both dimensions, David gives the baton to Solomon who builds the Temple in seven and one half years.  What an incredible accomplishment considering the expense and elaborate nature of the Temple!  David’s dying words, I envisage, was “Solomon, remember the Temple.  Whatever you do as king, build the Temple.”  In reply, Solomon, I surmise, said, “Don’t worry Daddy.  I’ll get it done with the help of the Lord.”

There are two historical and contemporary examples in which fathers laid the groundwork for future success within the minds and hearts of their sons.  The late Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, boldly believed an Irish Catholic could become President.  He like countless other Irish Americans were grossly disappointed by the loss of Alfred Smith in 1928.  Kennedy, himself, actually aspired to the presidency.  Yet, a personality clash with FDR and the confluence of other circumstances would eliminate Kennedy’s personal ambition.  In immediate response, Kennedy began to groom his sons.  The “old man” deserves the most credit for orchestrating the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960.  Second, the late civil rights lawyer, Charles Hamilton Houston, laid the groundwork for many of the successful legal battles that dismantled segregation in the United States.  Through his student and “son,” the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, Houston annihilated the second-class citizenship of African-Americans.

Contemporarily speaking, former President George Herbert Walker Bush articulated a vision of a “New World Order” in his one term as President.  His failure to won re-election nearly ended his heartfelt dream of reshaping the world toward the strategic advantage of the United States and other Western countries.  Nonetheless, he continued his pursuit of that paradigm shift through his eldest son,

George W. Bush, the forty-third President. 

David’s Desire to Build the Temple

Each of us possesses a dream within our “heart of hearts.”  If we are honest with our “innermost self,” we greatly fear failing to accomplish this particular dream.  An inability to achieve this dream will plagues us with the “coulda, woulda and shoulda” syndrome.  Constructing a Temple to the honor and glory of Almighty God is David’s heartfelt dream; desiring to demonstrate his love of God and gratitude for the Lord’s lovingkindness and enduring provision.  David wants the whole world to know there is no other god besides the God of his fathers.  To serve any other god is simply worthless.  Unfortunately, in His mysterious ways and sovereign providence, Yahweh decides to deny David his heartfelt dream.

David shares this divine consideration in 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.  He says, “I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and I made plans to build it.  But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.”  In 2 Chronicles 6:8, the Lord tells David that it suffices that he held such an admirable dream in his heart.  “Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart.”

“Dad, I Hope You’re Pleased.” – Part One

A few summers ago while on vacation, I traveled through Atlanta, GA.  While in a mall, I stopped to get my shoes shined.  Curtis, my beloved and on son, was with me.  As I sat in the chair and the shoe shine man did his deed, Curtis, true to the nature of an energetic and young child, bounced all over the place.  Repeatedly, I implored him to stop and sit still.  Yet, Curtis continued to frolic and play, ignoring my commands.  Then, the shoeshine guy said to Curtis, “You stop and be quiet like your father told you.”  He went on to say to me, “Whether he knows it or not, you are the only real friend that he has in the world.  Any Black man in America whose father is present in his life has only one friend, his father.”  That comment blew me away!  I had never thought about it.  Yet, I wholeheartedly agree with the gentleman.  In many ways, a father is indeed a son’s very best friend. 

That incident reveals the special love that fathers have for their sons.  Admittedly, the love between a father and daughter is very special.  I am told, “Every family needs a daughter.”  Most assuredly, I do not disagree because I deeply value the love that I share with my daughter, Sariel.  However, I equally but rather distinctly share a powerful love with my son, Curtis.  For my Fathers’ Day 2004 sermon, I explored the intricate and unique love a father has for his son by examining the relationship of David and Solomon.

Fathers and son participate in an enduring generational relay of a family.  The father passes the baton to his son, should a father fail to fulfill his goals and dreams.  Every good father wants a greater standard of living for his children and grandchildren than he has, hoping they exceed his accomplishments.  He wants the net worth, reputation, professionalism, contribution to society, and spirituality of future generations to greatly surpass his.  Try as hard as he may, a father may not achieve these commendable aims.  Myriad extenuating circumstances in life often prevent a father’s success.  Sometimes, his shortcomings inhibit his achievement.  Yet, fathers should not despair.  He has a chance to fulfill his dreams and goals through a son; imparting his future vision to his son.  In receiving the plan, the son accepts his generational baton and runs with it. 

David greatly desires in his heart to build the Temple.  One day, as he prays and meditates, David asks himself, “How can I sit here in my luxurious residence when the Ark of the Covenant has not a permanent resting place?”  At that moment, David seals his lifelong dream of building a house to the honor and glory of Almighty God.  He desires to house permanently the Ark of the Covenant as a lasting tribute to the Lord’s faithfulness to Israel.  Additionally, the Temple shall remind Israel of the Lord’s enduing love and faithful provision in fulfilling His covenant with their forebears.  Other nations would look upon the magnificence of the Temple and declare freely the God of Israel is the Lord of the universe.  However, David will not be able to achieve this most heartfelt dream.  Accordingly, David passes the baton of building the Temple to Solomon, his heir to the throne of Israel.

The Lord tells David that he would not be the one to build the Temple.  The extensive amount of bloodshed denies David of this possibility.  Immediately, the image of blood-soaked hands chiseling stone and cutting wood emerges.  It is a rather distasteful sight.  Had David built the Temple, then the rest of the world would have assigned cynical motives to it.  Furthermore, the thought of a conquering general erecting a house of worship would have led many people to question the character of the Lord in whose Name the edifice would stand.  More practically speaking, the bulk of David’s career had been spent completing the settlement of the Israelites into the cities of the Promised Land.  There simply was not enough time and energy left to fulfill his heart’s desire. 

Like any good father in his dilemma, David turns to his son, Solomon, to finish the work that David begins.  First, David makes elaborate preparations for building the Temple.  He gathers materials and furnishings with meticulous detail.  But, David’s most effective and productive preparation is his tutorial of Solomon.  David, in essence, builds the Temple through Solomon.  David makes an eternal investment in Solomon; passing the baton to Solomon as he, David, exits the race of life.