Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Benjamin Richard Cooper's avatar

Hey Daniel, I think you paint a truly beautiful picture of the true character of God in this teaching! And technically, I affirm your conclusions here. ;) Certainly if we think we are better off or closer to God than someone else who is doing things that to us would be sinful we are fooling ourselves. And we know that such pride is among the most distasteful things to God.

The thing I would push back on, after having ministered to many seemingly less fortunate and ignorant people around me in my life is the idea that such are inherently less sinful. What I have actually discovered is that most who are buried in various forms of depravity, whether it be drug addiction or sexual perversion, or even just an agnostic outlook on life, when you really get to know them you discover that there hunger for fleshly indulgence really is greater than their spiritual appetite. I could tell you story after story of people who God has brought across my path with less than fortunate circumstances, from broken families, and homeless, and addicted to various vises whom I have brought into my home, and treated like family, and taken repeatedly to an assortment of treatment programs, and then financially supported with work and other means to get ahead, only to see them throw it all away for the depraved path that they are more attracted to.

Now I am not saying that I regret having extended mercy and grace to these folks and I will never stop doing so! For no doubt, in God's mind it is the acts of compassion and sacrifice and affection, even for the seemingly less deserving, that best reflect His Character. But I do think we make a mistake if we conclude that such people are closer to the heart of God, or less displeasing to Him than those of us who are genuinely doing our best to serve God. Even though we all have a Pharisee in each of us I really don't think it's so black and white as to conclude that those on the margins of life are always the most favored of God, and those who enjoy a more seemingly blessed life are inherently distant from the heart of God.

The reason why I bring this up, brother, is because we live in a world that is really pushing hard on this oppressor/oppressed world view, where the assumption is that all inequalities in life are man made and inherently bad and even the source of all evil. And so the extension of that theologically would be that God, who is the most benevolent and fair being would also prefer the "less privileged" over "more privileged". The thing is, this is such a grossly over simplistic world view. It accounts neither for the huge influence of already benevolent people and ministries and enterprise in the world (who provide for everything from food pantries, to free addiction treatment programs and other health care services) nor for the consumers of such institutions, who then still throw away their lives.

The truth is, there are many examples in Scripture of people who are actually good stewards of the resources and positions they have been granted and God is actually most pleased with them. From Job, to Joseph, and from John the baptist to the church of Philadelphia, it is clear that the people who are most pleasing to God are not merely those who are "meek", but those who are actually good stewards of what they have been given. The "Parable of the Talents", in Matthew 25, really brings this point home. "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place will there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (verse 29).

Particularly in this age of of hyper virtue signalling I think we need to be especially vigilant to be about the business of tangible service, that actually provokes repentance and a change of direction, rather than giving sinners a false sense of security with a "kum ba yah song" and a hug. Not that I think you are doing that here! But, no doubt, that is a real temptation, because it is easier than taking people into our lives and having real long suffering fellowship with them.

Perhaps as indicated in the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the prodigal son, the the lesser class of people is closer to the heart of God. But I don't think it's merely because of their current status, but because God is about the business of redemption, and it is with those who are broken and contrite that He has the most potential for a reciprocal love. He desires for us all to be be good stewards, not simply because He wants us to serve Him, but because he wants us to co-labor with Him in a grand and glorious drama that promises life from death and a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father than we ever dreamed was possible. The meek who are "inheriting the earth" are not those who are merely admittedly blind and weak, but those who are submitted to the orderly process God has for their lives,... not compromising or grasping at it for themselves, but truly trusting Him for it all.

Just some food for thought, brother! :)

Expand full comment
2 more comments...

No posts