Category: Our Creed

"Happy holidays!" I said with a smile, ringing my bell in front of our local Kroger store for the Salvation Army donation bucket drive.

"Happy holidays? Don't you mean, 'Merry Christmas'?" The elderly lady stepped a little closer, not smiling, obviously agitated by my greeting. "No one is going to stop me from celebrating the birth of Jesus this season."

I continued smiling, "I join you in that celebration. I hope you have a great day, ma'am."

She turned on her heels and pushed her cart to her car.

Just a few years ago, Fox News host, Bill O'Reilly made hay during the season surrounding Christmas Day that there was a persecution afoot, even a conspiracy, one that was injurious to Christians around the world. That "persecution": that some wished us not to say "Merry Christmas!" He called it the "War on Christmas," and his faithful viewers were encouraged to battle against the forces of evil that were trying to push back against such an important element of our celebration. Needless to say, I had become an unlikely participant in this "war," when I smiled and wished that Kroger shopper a happy holiday.

Without doubt, there is suffering and persecution happening, today, among Christians. Equally important, however, is the fact that there is suffering and persecution happening among Jews, Muslims, Hindus...the labels, religious or not, matter little. The fact is that human beings are suffering for some stated belief or an identifier that has been deemed worthy of physical aggression and harm. As followers of Jesus, we should care about that and defend those who are weak and vulnerable against such injustice. We'll discuss that more in the future.

Today, our task is to unpack suffering and persecution (synonym for suffering?) as it relates to our creed.

Our Creed

Suffering is common to humanity. Philosophers and theologians have been exploring the problem of pain for centuries. Physical and emotional suffering as it relates to God and faith are addressed continuously within the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. Within the New Testament, written during a time when most of the "known" world was dominated by the rule of the Roman Empire, we see a consistent theme of suffering and persecution among the Jewish and Christian populations, with the latter suffering at the hands of Jewish authorities and Romans. (For a general contemporary discussion of the root and application of Jewish/Christian persecution, read this article from History Today: "Why Early Christians Were Persecuted by the Romans" by Bruce Eastwood [1966])

Our Creed is more general in its application concerning suffering. Contextually, the passage first reflects on another reason for rejoicing. We have been declared righteous by faith. We have peace with God through Jesus. We stand in His grace before God. We REJOICE in the hope of God's glory. Only then does our writer turn to suffering, saying that we REJOICE in sufferings also.

Literally translated, the Greek says: "not only but, indeed we glory in these afflictions." The image is one of a high pressure situation resulting in glory. That brings to mind another passage found in 1 Peter, where Peter addresses a great persecution that is occurring among the Christians.

One does not have to read far into the Acts of the Apostles to find Peter and John being threatened and punished for their declaration of the "gospel of God."

So, beyond the common suffering of humanity, we find in this passage the idea of "sharing in the sufferings of Christ." This is to cause us to "rejoice and rejoice exceedingly," literally in the Greek. Bearing an insult in the name of Christ identifies us blessed and comforted by the fact the the Spirit of God rests upon us (a quote of Isaiah 11:2). If we suffer as a Christian, how should we respond? Not with shame, but glory, blessing, and rejoicing that we bear such a name and share in the glory of Christ. Ultimately, because we are not suffering as a result of sin (murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker) but "according to the will of God," in other words because we are living according to His will, we entrust ourselves to Him and His purposes, believing that He rewards those who seek Him.

None of us like to suffer. In fact, voluntary suffering goes against the very fiber of our being. We should rather avoid suffering. In the natural course of life, suffering will come. We live in a fallen world, after all. In the natural course of living the Christian life, we will face common suffering and have been told by Jesus, Himself, to expect suffering and persecution (Matthew 5:10-11). I leave us with this.

Yes, and amen.

Remain undeterred.

I have lived through multiple movements of mission and purpose statements over the years. I have both been an observer and a participant in groups and committees that toiled to fashion a foundational statement that would guide an organization or business toward meeting its stated goals. In some cases, the toil was fruitful. In others, well...not so much.

As a Christian, pastor, father...so many labels...I most often turn to the Christian scriptures to find guidance in such things. The same is true, today, as I begin this blog-journal. It just so happens, this particular passage was the "verse of the day" that is delivered to my inbox every morning from YouVersion.

So, here we go. Our CREED.

In a recent e-mail update, Sharon McMahon, political commentator and educator, seeks to give some light and hope to those who are frustrated by the current state of discourse within our society and culture. She makes a few observations that apply here:

"We all have important work."

From the halls of power, to the halls of schools, to the halls of our faith communities, to the halls of our homes...every one of us have important work to do. There are so many shapes to this work, we will not take the time to enumerate them, here. Suffice it to say, when we awaken each morning we have purpose and must conduct ourselves with an initiative and passion that carries us forward into the "important" work to be done.

"There are people and forces that will try to distract you...and if that is not successful, they will try to empty your work of its joy." (That's actually a paraphrase, rather than a direct quote)

There are "trolls" who enter our world from behind a keyboard who will attempt to eviscerate (is that overly dramatic?) us with their constant criticism and hateful speech. Every medium created by humanity seems to be dominated by those who make it their business to steal the joy, kill the messenger, and destroy the reputation of the one they have labeled their "enemy."

Sharon's encouraged response: "I refuse to let you steal my joy."

She observes that those who oppose will not be pleased or give up, because they long for you to be "demoralized, downtrodden, anxious, and depressed."

Now consider our creed.

In the face of suffering, joy.

The productive journey of longsuffering joy, endurance and character.

The ultimate result, not disappointment that leaves us demoralized, downtrodden, and depressed, but hope that is rooted in love, poured into us through the present Holy Spirit who was gifted to us by God the Father.

I encourage you to post this creed on your mirror...on your fridge...on your computer monitor...as a wallpaper on your cell phone...wherever you will see it and be reminded daily of the enduring power of the presence of an almighty God who loves you, saying, "You matter to me. Your work matters to me. Keep it up."

...and when the "trolls" appear to be winning the day and your getting weary, stand on the creed. Take a nap. Have a snack. Take a walk. BUT DO NOT QUIT. Remain undeterred.

Yes, and amen.