Encouragement for people tempted to quit

sonnyholmes

Oct 5, 20203 min read

My neighbor? Everyone...no one?

In his prophetic book The Secular City (Macmillan Company; New York: 1965) liberal Harvard Divinity School professor and theologian Harvey Cox predicted that the city of the future would be characterized by anonymity and mobility. As a seminary student years ago my strongly conservative worldview and high view of Scripture found little resonance with Cox's radical agenda, theological or social. His depiction of the world we're living in right now, however, was accurate. Look around. Take note. It's a world of strangers on the move. Being a biblical neighbor in a mobile, anonymous world could be one of our greatest challenges.

There's irony in these contrasts. Technology and the advent of social media has created a nearness never before imagined by the human species. At the same time these innovations have taught us the new skills of ignoring, unfollowing, unfriending, exiting conversations, hitting the mute button, or hiding friends or comments. Apps like Cloak and Hell is Other People are downloads in the new and growing anti-social movement. The truth is we're closer than ever before. No, we're more distant than ever before. So, who is my neighbor?

It's an appropriate question. Remember the time a first century lawyer asked Jesus "who is my neighbor?" (see Luke 10:25-27, The Parable of the Good Samaritan). Several in my pastor cohort batted this thing around for a while because being a neighbor in this anonymous, mobile world is a challenge. We decided, based on our assessment of Scripture, everyone is my neighbor. At the same time, with contemporary culture as our point of reference, no one is my neighbor. We're closer than ever before. But, also farther apart. It's a strange admixture of human innovation.

The New Testament provides a unique angle on our treatment of others. More than fifty specific passages provide details about our relationships with one another, that is, the people within the community of faith; fellow Christians. Then, there are references about how we interact with everyone; those outside that more intimate circle. We're most often not up close and personal with them. But, Scripture gives instruction about how we relate to them. Take note of these examples---

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

Philippians 4: 5, ESV

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another

and to everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5: 15, ESV

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach,

patiently enduring evil.

2 Timothy 2: 24, ESV

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.

1 Peter 2: 17, ESV

Strive for peace with everyone.

Hebrews 12: 14, ESV

The truth is, everyone is my neighbor. You know, the maniac in the next lane on the commute every morning; the person writing a check in the long line at the discount store; the felon who lives down the street; the guy with the noisy motorcycle who leaves for work at 5:00 a.m. every morning; the Muslim immigrants who moved into the complex around the corner; and all the other people who occupy so many anonymous slots in this odd world.

Hey, it's Manic Heights. Welcome to the Neighborhood.

Author's note: The title Manic Heights, Welcome to the Neighborhood was borrowed from the blog site originated and authored by our son, Brian Eliot Holmes before his death July 18, 2011. He later changed the name of the blog to Inner Turmoil.

sonnyholmes

Oct 5, 20202 min read

Express bus to the funny farm?

Manic Heights isn't such a bizarre neighborhood. As a descriptive of American life it isn't meant to be negative or pessimistic, or used in some dooms-day woe-is-me scenario. To live in Manic Heights doesn't mean that we're one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest wacky or on a express bus to the funny farm. In fact, if the people who study and research such things are right, Manic Heights is just another new normal community. I mean, get real for a minute---

a majority of Americans are frantically busy
anxiety marks the personal boundaries of most American citizens
we keep the doors to our houses locked most of the time
a majority of us are on-again, off again spiritually
one in eleven families rents storage space for their accumulation of stuff
stress relief is a major medical and pharmaceutical industry
50,000,000 Americans eat one meal at a fast-food restaurant every day
we have a corporate level of attention deficit and lack focus, and lack focus
one third of us are sleep deprived, running on empty most of the time

Just to mention a few. They're just snap-shots of a population living on the edge. Manic Heights is where most of us live.

Jesus, the Apostles, his followers, and early church believers lived in Manic Heights too.

They ministered and served in a time when humans---

chased after material things (Matthew 6:32)
became entangled in human pursuits (2 Timothy 2:4)
sought the approval of men rather than God (John 12:43; Galatians 1:10)
practiced the acts of the flesh with relish (Galatians 5:19).

First century people were anxious (Matthew 6:25); hurried (Mark 6:31); aimless and frantic (Matthew 9:36); confused (Acts 19:32); uncertain about the future (Philippians 1:6); contentious (Luke 11:17); envious, boastful, and proud (1 Corinthians 13:4); and 66 books of depraved human nature. Jesus went into that world with a redemptive mission that he finished (John 19:30). He introduced truth, grace, faith, hope, peace, and joy to the people in Manic Heights.

What is more, he sent his disciples into Manic Heights with the same message and promises. He said---

Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.

John 20:21, ESV

And, here's a significant truth. We're not supposed to simply reside in the Manic Heights neighborhood. Jesus sends us into Manic Heights to let our lights shine there---

In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they kay see your god works

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16, ESV

Hey kids! The people in Manic Heights are our neighbors. Yes, we're to be in that manic world, but not of it (John 17:14-15). And, that may be the sad reality about life in Manic Heights today. In so many cases you can't distinguish the believers from the unbelievers.

Sometimes, sadly, that light just doesn't shine.

It's Manic Heights. Welcome to the neighborhood. No, it's not an express bus to the funny farm. It's our mission field, where we must shine.

sonnyholmes

Oct 2, 20202 min read

The thing about darkness.

The thing about darkness is that it is basically temporary. In the creation epic recorded in Genesis 1 night and day are intricately laced to separate them. Till God brings earthly things to an end we know that daylight will eventually cancel even the darkest night. It's true in the metaphorical application to life as well. Yes, surely, there have been periods of human history when spiritual, ethical, moral, or political darkness seemed to be the prevailing worldview. In the long scope of human history, however, they have been mere moments, menaces rather than cultures. Nazism, communism, socialism, and many other dark grievances exerted pause over the light. But, kids, darkness has limits.

There's a good bit of moaning and groaning among people of light these days because darkness is suddenly trendy, again. It's popular to be pretty much anti- everything of value---democracy, capitalism, constitutionalism, truth, morality, ethical standards, the multiplication tables, family values, and yes, Christianity. In many venues the darkness, at least metaphorically, seems to be the breakfast of champions, the winning ticket, the path forward. As a result, many believers are in the dugout, defeated and discouraged because darkness is seemingly occupying the winner's circle.

A passage in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John shook me this week. Under guidance from above John wrote---

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1: 5, ESV

Of course, John later explained that Jesus is the light. Still, throughout his Gospel the imagery of light and darkness portrays the metaphorical warfare of evil and righteousness, the kingdoms of darkness and light in the scope of redemptive history. Up front, in the very first chapter of this amazing Gospel, John noted that the darkness has not overcome the light. In history, it cannot. You see, darkness is always temporary.

It can be heavy and foreboding in those dark periods. But, here's the deal. Jesus said you and I are light that should shine brilliantly in our world today. That light dispels the darkness. We should therefore be courageous and bold, letting that little light shine. Take heart Christian friends. Don't be fainthearted or fearful. Let your light shine.