DAY 236

INWARD or OUTWARD

Psalm 113, 114 & 115 and 1 Corinthians 6

There are some days the text seems to speak loudly to me, and some days the text is filled with so many topics that I don’t know where to begin. Today is one of those days when both are taking place.

The Psalms juxtapose three aspects or character traits of God:

1.      Psalm 113 proclaims God’s concern and even deliverance of the poor: “Praise the Lord…he raised the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes.”

2.      Psalm 114 proclaims the power of God, so much so that we should: “Tremble at the Presence of the Lord.”

3.      Psalm 115 proclaims the surpassing glory of God.

My thought was to engage in a discussion about whether we can hold those three images together, and I was going to ask the question of you (and me) “What do we think about God when we do not see the poor delivered?”

But before I could probe those thoughts of 1^st Corinthians 6 is jumping off the page. It is chock full of issues from law suits to sex to something about how we, the saints, will be judging angels (huh?).

There is however a thread which runs through these readings, and I would label it “orientation.” I am not talking about sexual orientation, but rather the orientations of each and every one of us…are we pointing inward or outward?

Think about it. In Psalm 113, 114 and 115 they are pointing outward, to God. In Psalm 115 people are even encouraged to “trust in the Lord” and to “be in awe of” or “fear” the Lord. Those admonitions are encouraging us to look outside ourselves.

Contrast that now with 1^st Corinthians 6 – everything is inward. They are suing each other. Not a very good witness for how members of a church should treat each other. When people “on the outside” look at the church do they see the “love of God,” or rather the “anger of men?” People are drawn to love not anger. Paul suggests that to save the witness of the church to the world, that they should consider taking a loss rather than sue one another. Then of course there is the sex and the description is that of all sorts of lust…inward.

Whether it is lawsuits or sex, the admonition is clear…get yourselves turned around the right way. Live as the people you are called to be…saints and people whose body is the Temple of God. Consider for a moment how we get upset when a person in leadership falls morally. Why? The answer is because we expect a lot from those entrusted with authority. While it is never a popular political agenda…character matters.

We do not talk about character for our elected officials because to tell people you have “good character” is anything but humble, and to tell people your opponent “does not have good character” is judgmental and mean…it tends to be a “lose-lose” political communications strategy. Regardless of the communication strategy…character matters.

Character matters for the church. The church…not the building, but you and me…the church must rise to the level God has called it to…and that level is Sainthood. As if that is not enough, Paul points out that we must rise to the level of those in whose hearts the Spirit of the One True Living God dwells*. And finally, as if that is not enough, all of this identity of who you are, it was given to you after Jesus paid the ultimate price for you (vv 20-21). The bit about judging angels is, I think, to get our attention. Do you and do I understand exactly who we are? We are representatives of the Most High God. Should God’s representatives be suing each other and running around full of lust?

We too often shy away from commenting about “sin.” It seems all too judgmental. We are told, “It just makes people feel bad.” To which I say, “Fine, let’s not talk about sin, let’s talk about being representatives of the Most High God!” The point is the same. Whether we like it or not, God loves us and we have received that love…and now He needs us to show His love to the world. Too many people are suing and being sued. Too many people are governed by all sorts of lusts. Too many people are dying, yesterday in Egypt the number was over 1,500…gassed by their government.

That last comment was not meant to be political and is not a statement about U.S. involvement. It is just a fact that the world apart from the love of God is a mess…and we bear a responsibility to witness God’s love…how will we ever do that if we are turned inward? May God give us the grace and strength to turn towards Him in His Service.

*If you are having a moment of low self-esteem then just hold onto this idea.