If I were Ray Rice

I've been thinking about the latest turn of events in the ongoing Ray Rice situation and how things could unfold.

If you're unfamiliar with the situation, here is a thumbnail sketch: Ray Rice is a professional football player who was caught in video hitting his then fiancé (now wife) in an elevator. He was suspended for a few games and then later given an indefinite suspension which was overturned this week.

There are several principles at play in this situation. First of all, it is never acceptable to strike a woman. Ray Rice must be held accountable for his actions. We cannot be a society that allows violence, especially toward women, as a normal part of human interaction. If Ray Rice doesn't face any significant consequences, then we are signaling that entertainment value trumps human decency.

At the same time, we live in a culture that values second chances. As a follower of Christ, I belong to a kingdom built on grace and mercy, forgiveness and second chances.

So how do we balance the two?

Yes, Ray Rice should face appropriate consequences for his actions, and the opinions about those consequences are endless. However, should those consequences be permanent, without an opportunity for redemption and renewal?

At the end of day, I believe the best resolution to this issue cannot come from Roger Goodell, the NFL owners, other players, or even the fans. It must come from Ray Rice.

Ray, the ball is in your court. To use a football analogy, you have been handed the ball; where are you going to run?

Ray could run the victim direction, pleading to be signed to a team because he was unfairly punished. But I believe that sends the message that what he did wasn't that bad and everyone just needs to move on.

He could also go the entitlement route, reinforcing the idea that athletes and entertainers live by a different standard; as long as they win, off-the-field behavior is simply a distraction from what really matters.

There is a third option that could end in both redemption and renewal. Ray could admit he was wrong, apologize for his behavior, and commit to taking the rest of this season off to focus on his family and personal struggles.

This doesn't sweep it under the rug while also providing an opportunity for a second chance. It acknowledges that wrong that has been done, but gives the wrongdoer a chance to change, a healthy balance of justice and mercy, consequences and grace.

Ray could have a fresh start next season while making a statement about what really matters. With one simple but difficult decision, he could display humility and repentance, something that is sorely lacking in our society, especially amongst those who entertain us and often influence our children.

For those crying for justice, this may not be enough punishment. But Ray Rice isn't the first person whose violation of a societal standard brought forth condemnation and cries for punishment. Before you condemn Ray forever, remember the words of Jesus as he spoke to a crowd ready to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” (John 8:7 NIV)

But as Jesus stands in the midst of public opinion, he would not just speak to those holding a stone in their hand, ready to bring forth retribution. He would look squarely into the eyes of the man who was caught abusing his future wife and say, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11 NIV)

What's your move, Ray?

shine!

Jason

Pride and imperfection

This week at Men's Fraternity, we were asked to share and discuss our Life Verse. Mine is found in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:16... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

One of the major reasons this verse speaks into my life is because I have always struggled with pride. I often think more of myself than I should. I'll dig into that a little more in a few minutes, but one of the biggest side effects of pride is disappointment. When we place our trust in ourselves, we look at our shortcomings as failures and follow that to the end result of considering ourselves failures.

But this is not about me. It's not about us. We are not the beginning or the end of what we do and who we are. We are recipients and conduits of all we have and are. Here is what the apostle Paul says about that...

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart....

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 5-7 NIV)

We are not living for ourselves or from ourselves. We are reflectors of the light that comes from God, the goodness that brings light into the darkness. Our lives are a living sermon designed to speak forth the wonderful gifts that God has lavished upon us.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and in the midst of the Creation story we encounter the pinnacle of God's creation, mankind, embodied in Adam and Eve. But it doesn't take long for pride to creep into the picture. Adam and Eve are deceived to believe that they can be like God. Instead of relishing the role they were given in God's world, they wanted to be "more." And in the process, they gave up the wonderful blessings God had given them.

Since then, God has been in the business of restoring the world. Through prophets, priests, and other people, God worked to make his creation the way he intended. This plan culminated in the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate, perfect human who showed the world what it means to fully live into our purpose and mission, making all things new.

While Christ's life, death, burial, and resurrection brought forth something new, our work is not yet done. Until Christ returns again, we are God's partners in making all things new. Paul describes it this way...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)

When we are in Christ, we are conduits of the new life. We are made to offer glimpses into how things will be on that great and wonderful day. Renewal and restoration is not only something that will come when Christ returns; it is our daily mission now. We are Christ's representatives in this world, engaging in the work of reconciliation. Reconciliation in our homes, our families, our workplaces, our communities, and ultimately, the world.

But if we depend on ourselves to accomplish this, we will fall right back into that trap of pride. Yes, we are all blessed with various gifts and abilities, but they are not from us, but for us to use to bless others. Pride tells us that we are self-made. But in the kingdom, we learn that we are formed by God and given these gifts to care for, develop, and use for the betterment of the world and the expansion of God's kingdom.

As Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Corinthian church, he talks about his own weaknesses and shares these words...

But he (Christ) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

As I said earlier, I have struggled with pride most of my life. I often think more of myself and my gifts and abilities than I should. But Matthew 5:16 reminds me that I am a reflector, not a source of light. The goodness I display is not my own and the good works I perform are not out of my strength. God has been so good to me and blessed me so richly, but I continue to struggle with giving him the glory and the honor. I still find myself wanting to take credit at times.

God, thank you for your grace and mercy that I so often take for granted. Thank you that even in the midst of pride, you take the broken jar of clay that is my life, pour in your power, and make it possible for me to partner with you in the ongoing mission of making all things new, shining your light into this world that is filled with darkness.

shine!

Jason

One binge away

Over the last several months, my wife has dedicated herself to a weight loss plan and has lost nearly 30 pounds in the process. She still has a ways to go on her journey, but she has already accomplished a lot.

Several years ago, I made a similar journey where I lost over 50 pounds over the course of a year. Since then, it has been an ongoing battle to keep the weight off and stay in shape.

As I reflected on these two journeys, I was drawn to a scripture and as I read, I reconsidered how I have always understood, and even taught, this passage from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I have usually thought of this throwing off as a singular action. Today, I will throw off my sin and follow Jesus. But as I reflect on this passage, I am more and more conviced that this throwing off is a lifetime event.

The author of Hebrews continues this passage with words that seem to support this idea...

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (Hebrews 12:1-13 NIV)

When we decide to follow Jesus, our struggles don't instantly go away. Yes, I have heard of individuals who have experienced a supernatural removal of addictions and other sinful habits. But those are the exception rather than the rule.

For most of us, and even those rare exceptions, this battle against sin will never end this side of the grave. It will require that discipline described above.

Even though I lost over 50 pounds, every day I face decisions and temptations that could result in gaining back that weight. And in the four years since my weight loss, there have been a few times when I have gained back 5, 10, and even 20 pounds.

Whether we're talking about weight loss or a variety of other addictions and struggles, most people are one binge away from falling back into their old habits. Yes, it usually gets easier as time goes on and new habits become more deeply entrenched, but the danger is always present.

Our walk with Christ is much the same. While we make an initial decision to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, we will spend the rest of our lives continuing to throw off those things.

Following Jesus doesn't remove temptation and struggle, it provides a new direction, a new path to follow. But even along that new path, voices will call us to wander and speedbumps may trip us up. But when we focus on Christ and follow the way that he has placed before us, and when we are open to accepting the discipline that God provides, we will find healing that can only be found in the victor's circle surrounding the throne of God.

shine!

Jason

Transcending time and space

Last night, Michelle and I want to see the movie Interstellar. (There are no spoilers in this post, so read on.) At an emotional, pivotal point in the movie, two of the characters are having a intense conversation and one of them speaks these words that have stuck with me since I heard them: "Love is the one thing that transcends time and space."

Can love really transcend time and space?

If so, that leads to an even more challenging question: What is love?

To many in the world, love is an amorphous concept that involves emotions and relationship. Here are the first three definitions I found for love in the dictionary:

1) Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

2) Attraction based on sexual desire; affection and tenderness felt by lovers

3) Affection based on admiration, or common interests

But love is much more than an emotion; it is a person. Consider these words penned by John...

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:7-21 NIV)

Twice in this passage we read the words "God is love." While there are many places in Scripture where we read that God loves, these three words - God is love - are a game-changer. No longer is God just one who loves, God is the embodiment of love itself.

Love is much more than an emotion, it is a person. At it's core, love is someone rather than something.

So when the character in Interstellar says, "Love is the one thing that transcends time and space," she is absolutely right.

But God's eternal nature alone doesn't make love eternal. Love can't be love unless there is someone to share it with. Love cannot exist without more than one being present. This is where God becomes the embodiment of love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit living together in perfect community. God is community, the soil in which love grows.

As beings created in the image of God, we are invited by God into community with God and each other. Through those relationships we are called to embody love. Love God. Love others. If God is love, then as image-bearers we must strive to be ambassadors and agents of love.

Yes, love does transcend time and space, but it also descended into time and space through the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ, we see what it means to be love from the one who is love. As members of Christ's body, we are partner's with God in bringing love into our relationships and communities.

shine!

Jason