Whether it’s the tragic turmoil in the Middle East, the stalemate politics in the House of Representatives, the warriors of Climate Change, or a thousand other important situations around the world, there’s always a line in the sand. Who is right and who is wrong? What is the moral truth here? And the real hot potato, who is on God’s side?
Everyone in all these issues seeks endorsements from famous and powerful people and countries. It’s the endorsement from God that is the trickiest to discern and the one that requires the most caution before claiming it as our own.
To cut to the chase today; is God on Israel’s side, always, every day, in every situation? Does he look down with pride? “Those are my kids. my chosen ones, don’t mess with them, I have their back.”
There are many Christians around the world who agree. “Yes, that’s who God supports. If you want to know what is going on in God’s heart, keep your eyes on Israel. Read the bible, study the prophetic words, memorize the Book of Revelation. We support Israel.”
You could make the same assertions around abortion, feeding the poor, migration, climate change, women’s rights, gender identity issues. Whose side is God on? The answer will find root among advocates for every cause under the sun, “He’s with us, the minority, those discriminated against, the weak, the outcast, us with no home.”
It is scandalously tempting to unwittingly inflate my image and understanding of God to look like a larger than life version of me, my thoughts, my perceptions, and my desires. A Maxi-me of sorts. “Of course God would want this, or not do that, or believes in what I believe. What kind of God would allow that, or sanction such injustice?” Up and down, and round and round we go, dancing with our God, or not, waving placards, and shooting across the bows of those with whom we disagree with hostile emails, or even blogs.
There is wise advice given when it comes to reading the bible. “Allow the bible to interpret itself.” Meaning, be careful of surgically removing this portion, that verse, those promises, out of the pages, out of the context, and out of the entire book/word of God. For instance, there are a significant number of references in the bible to the fact that God is not like those whom he has created – when it comes to the way we think, and the manner in which we conduct ourselves. They are inserted in the pages of scripture to remind, to act as ballast, to remind, remind, remind.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” (2 Chronicles 19:7)
We could list many verses that muddy the water and challenge simplistic and convenient quoting in support of whatever we’re seeking to endorse ‘in God’s name’. Consider this lengthy quote revealing God’s grief over his own people:
“Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh that I had in the desert a travelers’ lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them! For they are all adulterers, a company of treacherous men. They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord. Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity…” (Jeremiah 9:1-26)
Or Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem:
And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19: 41-44)
That’s why it seems to me we should proceed with caution when snatching God’s endorsement out of the heavens or the scriptures. Rattling it in our hands like a sabre, self-righteously declaring that we speak for God on this or that matter. It’s not that difficult to burst those bubbles or for such flimsy houses to sink in the quicksand of time.
The point is this. God never takes sides, his love is for all of humanity and his entire creation. He declares every human being to have fallen from his intended perfection. All need grace, forgiveness, his Son to hang on a Cross in their place, and to be filled with his Spirit to empower what no one can do in their own strength. There are no exceptions; none who do not require such a radical restoration. God doesn’t seem to respond to special status, pulling rank, or turning a blind eye.
This is where God gets really objectionable and causes us to shake our fist. Because he loves all he never gives up on even the most cruel and deviant human being coming to his or her senses, and changing. Which is why his offer of love to all is never withdrawn. But it is conditional in the sense that unless someone turns towards him voluntarily, that love can never be known. God respects free will, always.
Meaning again, God holds Hamas, Israel, Republicans, Democrats, straight people and transgender, all to the same account. He loves the man and woman not necessarily their issue. Of course Israel is special, but so is everyone else. His tough love is manifest in the fact that he forces his will on no one. So if we insist on doing our own thing, even in his name, he will not intervene. We will have to find out the error of our ways the hard way. Read the quotes above – again.
So, after reading all this, we give up because it’s too complicated? I hope not. This is a cry for humility, and an easing of rhetoric or chest thumping that often has little substance and too much assumption, preconception, and prejudice. It’s written all over the scriptures, if we look. Even a glance will bring it to light. God’s focus, priority, and litmus test for every human being, and every issue, is the human heart and the presence of his love beating strong. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Conclusion. It is possible to be God’s chosen, much loved, and even favorite son or daughter and yet be far from his will or purpose. Whether it’s Israel, or any other country; love, humility, servanthood, mercy, righteousness, generosity, goodness, and many other qualities reveal our relationship with the God we profess to believe in, and stand for. Because he is not like us in our fallen and rebellious state on earth. When his Spirit is present in us it should cause heads to turn and hearts to burn because what we manifest is so rare and yet so yearned after.
While we advocate quite rightly for saving the planet, recycling, or reversing pollution, we fail to recognize how polluted, disfigured, and rebellious the human heart and spirit has become since the beginning of creation. We need saving and redeeming ourselves, as well as the planet. Which is why the stark contrast between God’s ways and our priorities is so jarring when our ego’s are confronted with him. Consider this, when we consider bombing the enemy to smithereens. Jesus could have summoned legions of angels to annihilate Rome when faced with his crucifixion. Instead, he laid down his life for his enemy. It’s a head scratcher for sure, this sacrificial love and suffering. Rome was not built, or destroyed in a day. If I was God I would…
When a relationship is dying, love is the first thing to go. The same is true, and easily visible, when we drift away from God’s love and heart. The clanging gong takes over.
It’s never to late to turn, or to learn, or to become a new person; a new creation, salt and light in a dark and tasteless world. My hope is in a God who fortunately is way better, smarter, kinder, and more gracious than I am. And to think that he is for me, not against me, and for you, and you, and you….
Note: To be crystal clear. Nothing that I have ever written supports or justifies the actions of Hamas or any other group using violence and the massacre of civilians. We do live in a very fractured world and hence the need to protect and sometimes come against those who are intent on forcing their agenda no matter what. My point is that it is still never a delight to God.
How Great is Our God
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the Earth rejoice
All the Earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Name above all names (how great is our God, sing with me)
Worthy of our praise (how great is our God, and all will see)
My heart will sing
How great is our God
You’re the name above all names (how great is our God, sing with me)
You are worthy of our praise (how great is our God, and all will see)
And my heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Chris Tomlin / Ed Cash / Jesse Reeves
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