By Laurie Haas
The first stumbling block for Americans is self-denial. The American dream is built on achieving success and prosperity by one’s own efforts of hard work, initiative and achievement. People flooded to America to improve on their individual life. It’s no surprise that today’s culture of entitlement and “self-made” people dominate the headlines. Juxtapose this against the church’s call to self-denial. “‘A world of vices is hidden in the soul of man.’ And you can find no other remedy than in denying yourself and giving up concern for yourself, and in turning your mind wholly to seek after those things which the Lord requires of you, and to seek them only because they are pleasing to him.” (Institutes, p. 692)
Not only are we to deny ourselves, but also in humility consider others better than we are. From this place of humility, we are to give God credit for all of our gifts and then give our gifts away to those in need. This is to be done from a place of love. Calvin writes in 3.7.5 “we are taught that all the gifts we posses have been bestowed by God and entrusted to us on condition that they be distributed for our neighbors’ benefit [cf. I Peter 4:10].” (p. 695) The blow is softened if we can indeed see the face of God in the neighbor we are trying to generously love.
The second part of self-denial includes an aspect of bearing our cross. Calvin would not be my first choice of a marketing manager when he writes, “For whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of his fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil.” (Institutes, p. 702) Yikes…I may want to start looking for some organization that believes in reincarnation for a happier life! The truth is, whether the Lord calls you or not, life gets hard for every single person. The longer one lives, the more heartache and suffering she encounters. In the midst of this pain, God’s presence is real. Christians have a distinct advantage of dealing with tribulations, because Jesus knows suffering first hand. Like Jesus, we know that we are not of this world. We also know that God uses all things for good, as He is working for our salvation. Because of this, we can bear the burden of our cross with a deeper spiritual joy.
Finally, in 3.10 Calvin encourages us to enjoy the good things in life that God has created for us, albeit with moderation. Drink good wine, but don’t get drunk. Eat good food, but don’t be gluttonous. Enjoy things of this world without being showy or enslaved to them. Be generous, kind and humble to one another, always giving the glory and honor to God and God alone. This reminded me of that great passage in Micah: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) This message may be a bit more palatable for an 21st century American.
Imagine that you are replacing John Calvin as your church’s marketing manager. What slogan would your write to attract people to your church?
I guess my initial thought of a slogan is we've got that thing you are looking for but never knew you wanted. Come on in!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! Most people don't know what they are missing, although they do a lot of searching in wrong places. We are made with this longing that can only be filled with God. So having an open arms, "you are welcome just as you are" attitude may help in getting someone to come in and experience the thing they've been missing.
DeleteThe slogan that came to my mind has a Disney quote, but I think Calvin would agree. “When it comes to the ups and downs in life. We are all in this together.” Life does drain us from time to time and it also provides us with great joys as well. Living life with a community of believers and with people whom you can draw strength from is one of the greatest attributes about the Church. We need to be a people who lift each other up again, a people who love when it’s hard and gives of themselves when nothing is returned. We are truly all in this crazy, frustrating life together. At any moment life can turn on a dime. It’s the Church members, attenders alike who need to be first responders not just the paid staff.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I so agree with you. I think the "community" aspect of being the church is one of the most important aspects. Perhaps one of our jobs as paid staff is to help create environments where people can take off their masks and truly get to know one another. When we are known and loved for who we are, we are safe to share the heartaches and pains in life. I believe that God shows up in the middle of our shared suffering.
DeleteLaurie, great question. My first thought is, "Come, because God is drawing you in." I was touched by Calvin's initial discussion of sanctification in 3.6.2. We are not holy because WE are drawing closer to God, but because God is drawing us closer to HIM. It is God's holiness, not ours, that is the key.
ReplyDeleteA Slogan, I read and loved your post, but I have had to come back to this a number of times. A Marketing Slogan... My daughter and I worship with Second Presbyterian here in Kansas City... and many years ago I worked with someone I met and used a helpful website... And so, I admit I am using other peoples slogans, but I like them very much!
ReplyDelete"I am Second" and "We are Second"
How about "Gifts Received, Gifts Given." Laurie, along with you, I am struck by the theme throughout Calvin that we are given gifts by God for sharing with others. This is one of the overriding themes of his theology. (3.7.5)
ReplyDeleteLaurie, so perfectly said this Idea of being self made, if you just try hard enough you will get ahead. My father was from German ancestry and one of his favorite sayings was a good German could go into the woods with a Swiss army knife and come out with a cuckoo clock. I was taught nothing but self reliance as a child and if I did not succeed it was totally my fault. No regard as to God's providence was ever even a consideration. Their is much to be learned from failure and not all things dependent from ones own effort. God teaches us much from His perspective and not our human desirers. I think this is very true also in the reverse. some are very successful not of their own doing but from God's perspective and His will for our life. we must always do our best in every endeavor but God's sovereign will as to the out come will be done. This is why we should always pray father your will be done not mine. see Rm. 11-33
ReplyDelete