Today's Scripture Reading (July 10, 2024): 2 & 3 John
In
1925, Adolf Hitler wrote his autobiographical manifesto "Mein Kampf."
The book set out what it was that Hitler believed and became the work from
which the German Nazi party would derive its purpose. In the book, Hitler
expounds his theory that the Jews wanted to take over world leadership. He says
that he didn't always believe that was true but that his experience with the
Jews confirmed the idea. Hitler wrote that "the
nationalization of our masses will succeed only when, aside from all the
positive struggle for the soul of our people, their international poisoners are
exterminated" (Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf). In reading Hitler's
language, we begin to see the reason why Nazi Germany became what it became.
From 1945 to 2016, Mein Kampf was banned in Germany. And since 2016, people
have protested its availability.
Ideas are important. They shape us, even if we reject the
central message. The critical question we struggle with is, "What are the
ideas to which we need to expose ourselves? What are the crucial concepts we
need to know, and which ideas could cause us harm? It is not a question that
has a universal answer, but one around which we need to talk.
Listen
to John's words to describe God: grace, peace, mercy, truth, and love. These
are the ideas that we get from God. He is the author. When we act gracefully or
mercifully, we reflect God to our world.
I
got into a bit of trouble a few years ago when I reposted a message from a "liberal"
pastor on social media. And I have to admit that I think we, in the church,
throw words like liberal around as a swear word. I didn't know anything about
the person. Still, in his diatribe, I heard a message about an American
election that centered around the idea of reacting to the new President of the
country with grace and mercy. It was an idea with which I agreed. However, some
have argued that no grace or mercy should be extended to the President. In some
of my private responses, I have admitted that my distress is that I see the
recent polarization in American politics spread to Canada. Whether or not I
agree with the current Canadian Prime Minister, I must react gracefully and
mercifully. The same holds for the provincial Premieres (and state governors).
These men and women need to be central in our prayers as we connect with the
author of truth and love.
I
want to be shaped by the author of truth and love. I want to react with grace
and mercy. I am not afraid to make peace with those with whom I have
theological and philosophical differences. But that only happens if I am
plugged into the author of truth and love. So, I want to be plugged in there. I
want to be influenced in every area of my life by the grace, peace, and mercy
that describes the author of my faith. I want to be influenced by him.
I
don't want to react to liberals and conservatives through their theological or
political affiliations. The God of grace and mercy wants me to respond to them
as people. And we shouldn't be afraid to agree with people, even when they come
from a different religion, political party, or stream of thought, when they say
something with which we agree.
There
is a political organization in the United States to which I find myself
attracted. It is called "No Labels." I love the idea. As hard
as it would be to create, I would love to live in a world without labels. I
would love to lose the concept of conservative or liberal and just be people
shaped by the author of our faith. And it is a question to which we must keep
returning. I want to be aware of ideas shaping me and give God the chance to be
first on the list by ensuring that I am plugged into him and the ideas and
concepts he teaches.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Revelation
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