Jonathan Michael Jones Blog

Sunday, April 5, 2020

PRACTICAL ATHEISM IN HOLY WEEK

Audio for the following may be found here. You may also listen to podcast episodes here.

PRACTICAL ATHEISM IN HOLY WEEK

We begin Holy Week in a different way than we have ever experienced and (most of us) will experience Resurrection Sunday to begin the Easter season in the same manner: socially distanced from others. Still, Jesus reigns supreme and sits on his throne at the right hand of the Father. Holy Week is a vital time in the gospel narratives because the events of that week comprise nearly a third of the material in the Four Gospels. Much went into Jesus’ ministry on earth; yet, Holy Week proves to be crucial to the Christian understanding of who he is. Both the humility and lordship of Jesus is reflected in the events that occurred Holy Week. Matthew’s Gospel, however, grants a glimpse of not only Jesus but his followers as well including us by telling a narrative of practical atheism. What is meant by the term, practical atheism, is the practice of claiming who Jesus is, namely God, and yet living in a disparate manner. Certainly, all believers have done this to some extent at some point; yet, Jesus continues to love and nurture his people, as he did with those who cried, “Hosanna!” that first Palm Sunday and then denied him later. Upon the reading of Matthew 21:6-11 and understanding the context of what would happen later, three vivid elements of practical atheism in Holy Week stand out.

Matthew 21:6-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. ⁸Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ¹⁰And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

We Profess Who Jesus Is but Do Not Live the Same Way

As the crowds confessed Jesus as the “Son of David,” (v. 9) with their lips, they praised him as Lord only to deny him later in the same week. The crowd accurately shouted, with joy, who Jesus is: blessed, the Son of David, he that comes in the name of the Lord, the prophet Jesus of Nazareth; nonetheless, we know now that the people, likely many of the same crown, would have him crucified later. Such an act might certainly be reflective of our own lives. While we might criticize these people, if we place ourselves in their situation, it should not take long for us to realize that we would likely do the same, for we too have failed Jesus, denied him, and even proclaimed who he is only to live in a drastically different way later. I refer to such an act as practical atheism because, although Christians claim to believe in Jesus and in who he is, it is easy and often that believers do not allow that proclamation to be realized in action, i.e. a radically changed life. All believers are likely guilty of this contradictory way of living to some degree; as Christ changes us, however, the hope and prayer should be that those contradictions diminish and that hypocrisy vanishes.

C.S. Lewis famously uses his trilemma in Mere Christianity by asking if Jesus is a liar or a lunatic, for if he is neither, then he is precisely who he says he is: Lord, i.e. what humans do with Jesus is of utmost importance. To accurately proclaim who Jesus is then is to concurrently claim that one’s life will reflect such truth. While human nature is to do as the crowd did that first day of Holy Week and proclaim who Jesus is but live differently, Jesus’ radical transformation in the lives of his people should bring gospel clarity from not only what the church preaches but also how the church lives.

We Minimize Jesus

The crowd also minimized Jesus, as believers do now; they minimized him to an earthly warrior who would save with violence and as a mere prophet. While Jesus certainly was a prophet, he is more; yet, the crowd failed to realize this truth. While Jesus surely could destroy humanity with a mere word, this is not the type of Messiah he is. Proclaiming him as such was a minimization. Christians often treat Jesus in a similar manner by proclaiming him as a genie and wish-granter. To believe him as this is to effectively neglect who he truly is: God and worthy of total devotion. Jesus proclaimed himself as God; millions of believers throughout history have given their lives on his behalf; and Jesus lives today with supreme authority; thus, how dare we minimize him to someone who exists to serve our petty wants and desires? As the crowd was looking for a military hero and missed the point of who Jesus is, we too employ practical atheism by neglecting to reveal to the world the awe and might of Jesus. Jesus does not exist to accept you as you are; nor will he, for his glory is too valuable to himself to do so. He will surely meet anyone where they are and nurture them in conforming them to his own image; to think that Jesus exists for people, however, is to minimize him. Believers should realize that Jesus is God and co-equal with the Father and Spirit and, therefore, as worthy of total devotion.

We Claim Jesus’ Salvation for Anyone with Our Lips but Deny It with Our Lives

Part of the problem with the crowd that first Palm Sunday was a misunderstanding of Jesus. As they wanted a military leader to rescue them from earthly dictators, Christians now often seek Jesus out of selfish motivations. When the crowd cried, “Hosanna,” they were literally asking Jesus to save them. Psalm 118 was evidently used in the crowd’s praise that day; some also infer that it will be used at his Second Coming (Matt 23:39).[1] The cry for salvation was a genuine plea from an oppressed people; yet, Jesus’ aim was larger than mere earthly victories, for his purpose is eternal. When Christians face trials, it should be remembered that God’s eternal purpose is bigger than mere momentary pleasures and even than the limited time on this planet. When Christians neglect to realize the eternal kingdom purpose of God, Jesus is minimized.

People might wonder how the crowd could hail Jesus and then crucify him a few days later; yet, such is still done in action for many Christians. This often plays out in discounting certain people in God’s salvation. Perhaps, someone has committed a heinous act or has wronged someone so extremely that the general population feels indignation toward that individual. A common attitude seems to be, even after professing that Jesus can save anyone, that such a person is beyond hope. Nonetheless, not only should believers proclaim that Jesus can save such a person but also treat that individual with the love of Christ as commanded. Failing to do so minimizes Jesus to someone who saves only those humanly worthy of his salvation when, ironically, no such person exists, for all are equally flawed. To cry out, “Hosanna,” then is to believe Jesus can save anyone and to love everyone as Jesus does.

Realizing God’s Eternal Glory Eliminates Minimization

Christians may lose sight of who Jesus is; yet, this happens when the focus on God’s eternal glory is lost. God’s purposes are larger than anything done in this life and on this earth; life on earth, in fact, serves as a mere part of his eternal glory. When believers view Jesus as someone who exists primarily to serve people, he is minimized to less than God. He is, however, God himself and exists to serve his own purposes. Even in his mediation and intercession on behalf of his bequeathed people, Jesus should not be minimized to a human-serving wish-granter. The crowd that first Palm Sunday rightly proclaimed Jesus as who he is but ceased short of realizing his eternal purpose; therefore, their praise did not extend beyond that day, for, although surely a part of God’s plan, they would have him crucified later that week. This Palm Sunday, while the circumstances are vastly different, let us not only proclaim Jesus as Lord but refuse practical atheism by living what we claim to believe: namely that Jesus is God and worthy of total devotion.

[1] ESV Study Bible, 166384, Kindle.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

PERSONAL RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS

Audio for the following may be found here. You may also listen to podcast episodes here.

PERSONAL RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS

COVID-19 has certainly swept the world by storm and, for many, by surprise. To hold the perspective from a biblical worldview, believers have a responsibility in every situation. That does not mean that there is only one correct opinion or even that everyone should have the same response. It does, however, mean that the church should think about cultural issues in the framework of the gospel. The purpose of my message today is to present a both personal and (what I believe to be) gospel-centered response to the COVID-19 situation.

How are we to react to the situation? What are we to do? Should we worry or fear? These are questions I hope to answer in this message; furthermore, I also hope to be a conduit of peace rather than worry. As a disclaimer, what I will present here is a matter of opinion so do not judge it as fact; it is not. Heed the warnings here; listen carefully; and use wisdom in your own response.

Do Not Worry

First, my advice is not to worry. Astonishing to me is Christians who worry and do not see a problem with it. Numerous times in the Bible, believers are told not to worry. It is a command and, therefore, a sin to worry. Even that statement shocks some people because to many, it is not thought of as sin; yet, when Jesus himself commands his people not to fear, it should be assumed that to do the opposite is disobedience and, therefore, sin. Fear is wrong because the only one Christians are told to fear in the Bible is God himself; that is because God is the only being worthy of fear. To fear anything else is to falsely place that person or object higher than God in both worth and power. Therefore, even during COVID-19, Christians should not fear either the virus or the results. God’s people persevere and win the battle ultimately; the church is assured of this.

Stories of stores running out of supplies have circulated the web consistently over the past couple of weeks; that will likely continue because people tend to act irrationally during a crisis. Remaining calm, however, is seemingly contagious. Imagine if the church was seen to be the calmest group of people on the planet during a time like this. Perhaps, a dying world would look to the people of God and, thus, to God himself for answers instead of humanmade devices. First then, the church’s response to COVID-19 should be calm rather than worry. Believers should take that to heart and allow it to impact the way they live their lives, which means not only claiming a lack of worry but truly revealing it in action. Many Christians claim not to worry (because deep down they know it is wrong) but show the opposite in action. During this time, do not worry because it is sin; do not worry because the church of God is a light in a dark world.

Do Not Trust the Government or So-Called Expert Opinions: They Are Equally as Flawed as Anyone Else’s

Second, my advice is to not trust the government or so-called experts because they are equally as flawed as anyone else’s. Personally, I have heard numerous doctors’ opinions on the matter over the past couple of weeks and many of them contrasting one another. The government offers the same kind of discrepancies. Moreover, on a personal note, I believe firmly that governments do not look out for the good of their people, as much as they may claim to do so. Many have called me a conspiracy theorist. That is fine; I am and for good reason. I do not profess the COVID-19 situation to be a conspiracy; nonetheless, it should not surprise anyone if much of what is being portrayed is false. Media outlets, likewise, are linked strongly to government corruption. Thus, it is nearly impossible to rely on truthful information from the government or media outlets; yet, this is commonly the most visible information given to society.

Consider the conflicting reports that have surfaced since the outbreak of COVID-19. It is not serious; it is serious; it is not serious again; oh, now it is incredibly serious. I believe there is a middle ground that is rarely mentioned. COVID-19 is serious in that it is highly contagious. Numerical reports on cases and deaths, however, are vastly disparate from what is being shown so the virus’ mortality rate is likely not as high as being portrayed.

Consider the issue of climate change (or what used to be called global warming). What most governments around the world want people to believe is its serious impact and that it is caused by humans. Legitimate scientists are often referenced in this argument; yet, there are many legitimate scientists and climatologists who boldly confess that climate change is not real and certainly not caused by humans; these scientists, however, are rarely mentioned by governments or media outlets. In fact, the message often seems to be that climate change is 100% proven as fact when such a statement is a complete lie. Why would a similar lie not occur with COVID-19? One may ask why the government or media outlets would lie about COVID-19. There could be many reasons such as government control, financial collapse, elections, etc.; we may only speculate at best so I will not do so here. All of this is to say that trusting the government would be a large mistake right now, as it usually is. Human nature is to seek power by any means necessary; that is exactly what governments around the globe throughout history have done and will continue to do.

Exercise Common Sense

My third piece of advice is to use common sense. It is often said that common sense is not so common anymore, although I would argue that it truly never has been common. Common sense infers a logical progression to making decisions, i.e. the decisions made are sensible and do not harm oneself or others. Certainly, I would argue that, with the high rate of contagion given to COVID-19, self-quarantine is a good and sensible decision. I do not believe (yet) that it should be government mandated. In fact, I would say that such an action is blatantly unconstitutional. Many would argue that it is for society’s best interest so it is okay to be unconstitutional in a time like this, as happened so often after 9/11; nevertheless, a free people should not abandon God-given rights for any reason no matter how extreme the situation because once those rights are taken, it is incredibly difficult to recover them.

Common sense right now would be to self-quarantine and heed the prevailing warnings, especially if it does not hurt you personally. I work a job that is slammed with work right now and is necessary for society to continue so my common sense is to continue meeting the needs of people in a time like this. Many others, however, can work from home. Even if it is highly unlikely that anything significant will happen to someone should they contract the virus, there is no shame in being on the safe side and distancing oneself socially.

How is this reconciled with a lack of trust in the government and media outlets? The message presented right now by both is the necessity of social distancing. The answer is simple: if we are going to err, it is better to err on the side of caution if it does not impact your rights and well-being. I certainly believe we will look back on this and realize how ridiculously overboard we went in completely wrecking society and the economy. My opinion could change; I do not, however, think it will. Still, we should be as cautious as possible to say that we did everything we could do. Common sense says this so we should do it.

Use This Time to Glorify God and Show a Hopeless World that Purpose above All Else

Finally, I would advise Christians to use this time to glorify God and show a hopeless world that governing purpose (namely God’s glory) above all else. Many churches are canceling face to face corporate worship gatherings, which is understandable. I am mixed on those decisions but lean toward it being correct right now, although I would certainly not fault a church that decided to continue meeting. Many Christians criticize those that continue meeting, as those that continue meeting criticize those who do not. Let us not get caught in the trap of blaming each other and being unnecessarily critical during this time. If God’s people want to meet, let them meet. It would not be the first time in history that churches met during a pandemic, most of them far worse than this. In fact, what continuing to meet reveals to the world is that a local church places the highest priority on worshiping God together. Weekly corporate worship gatherings have been the norm since the early church. While God is not constrained to buildings, worship is the single most important task given to the church and worship gatherings the most important act Christians do each week.

I have personally seen non-believing and atheist friends claim that this time is proving that the church is not necessary. I see their perspective when many believers willingly choose to forsake being together for worship. What is not realized in these statements, however, is the capacity for good employed by technology. Many churches are being creative and utilizing other resources to worship. It is virtually impossible to gain the same experience in a digital worship gathering; yet, it is an option right now and one that could help society. Perhaps, it is better than nothing; perhaps, it is not. It is an exercise of common sense and grace and yet one that also shows a hopeless world that God is still the most important aspect of the Christian life and the only hope for a hopeless world.

Display the Peace of Christ

This is a time not to despair but to hope. I have personally observed Christians in hysteria during this time when truly the church should be the calmest people in the world. Christians literally have nothing about which to worry. Let us then be a people who reveal the peace of Christ rather than the lies of the enemy. Err on the side of caution; most of all, however, err on the side of gospel hope, which lies only in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. This is not a time to worry. This is a time to trust the God who is still in control in a world that thinks it has lost control when it truly never had it. What seems to be illogical to the world then is the most logical action to employ: trust God without fear but fear only him.