Arthur in the Bible??
I’m at work…and due to the nature of my job, there are times where I’m really busy and time where I’m not so busy. This is one of those not so busy times…so I thought I’d write a sermon of sorts….more just my own musing, so take it for what it’s worth, its long, so settle in….
God works in mysterious ways…they’re mostly a mystery because I can’t understand his unsurpassing grace. What amazes me most is that when we step out there with nothing else to catch us and no other options…he’s there. This begs the question as to why we aren’t out there more often. Why is our memory so short and our trust so limited as to define God and limit his power by placing on him the constraints of not our past encounters with him, but rather our own shortcomings of a self-developed faith that is built in the filthiness of our own pride?
What would we do without Thomas and Peter, and the stories divinely not omitted from scripture? I feel sure that if it were up to them, they would have pleaded not to have history remember them at their weakest moments – Peter denying Christ after three years and countless miracles (arguably the most poignant in Peter’s life, and in his example for us, being walking on water) only to return and become one of (if not the first) leader of the early church…and Thomas, the doubting disciple. How many of us can relate to these two men? How many of us are comforted by the knowledge that even these men, who lived and breathed with Jesus, could deny his power and authority, only to turn again to him and be welcomed with open arms.
This vein doesn’t stop here either…the Bible is riddled with people struggling with their faith…and also with stories of overcomers. David, the divinely anointed “man after God’s own heart,” turned a deaf ear to God when he chased after Bathsheba – when he chases after what he wanted and not what God wanted.
To borrow an analogy, the bible is filled with many Arthurs and only a few Galahads; meaning that there are many examples of great men, who are just that…men (and women for any ladies reading this…I don’t want to not be “PC”) who are true to their God and their people, but who also struggle with not just outside forces, i.e. enemies and hardships, but also internal struggles. There are few cases where someone is a Galahad, a pure heart. For most of us, Galahad is something to be sought after, to work towards; however, one must also acknowledge the beauty in being an Arthur…one must be ok, and even admit their need of being cleaned up and not knowing how to do it themselves. We cannot, under our own power go from being an Arthur to being a Galahad. Only through Christ can this be done.
The job, however, is not finished once we accept this realization of our need for Christ. The awakening to our dependence on Jesus serves only to usher in new challenges and thoughts that must be battled. We begin to question why. Why would Jesus die for us, why does God love us so, what use are we if we can’t even save ourselves, even in some small way? No, our salvation is entirely hinged upon the cross and it is up to us only to turn and praise God. What we must do is accept…simply accept our salvation…our fate. As a side note, the use of the word “fate” here is meant with only the best connotations and I realize that “destiny” could have been used, but to me, “fate” implies a more real-world, and less romanticized, emotion than would “destiny” – this is purposeful to inspire this salvation as a reality and not a dream – although it is a dream that I greatly anticipate waking to.
Read Ephesians 2.8-10 and I Peter 1.3-7 … I choose not to quote either here so that you’ll actually read them for yourself ;-). The passage in Ephesians speaks of God’s love for us – love so amazing that he chose us not just while we were still sinners, but before “the foundation of the world” (this part is actually back in ch1.vs 4) and of how (vs. 8) he saved us by his grace through faith. Now, if he’s saved us by his grace…then who’s faith are talking about here? I would argue that it may be our faith, but that if we have any faith at all it is because God gave it to us. I believe that it is God’s faith in us (and within us – the two not being mutually exclusive) that can (and does) save us – but can (and does) only do so because of God’s infinite grace. And how can we even be subject to this grace? Christ’s sacrifice alone makes it possible for us to even be brought into the presence of God and his grace.
The passage from I Peter says (vs. 9) that the outcome of our faith is our salvation…now if it is God (through Christ) that saves us, that is the manner and means of our salvation, and if we stand on the basis that God’s word is true and complete, then “our faith” must, inevitably, be a product of and gift of God in us. Furthermore, Peter says (vs.6 and 7) that “our” faith may (speaking from experience, moreover will) be tested as gold refined in the fire… (I wonder if, in light of today’s culture, platinum would be a better analogy than gold, eheh)... and that this testing by fire would produce praise and glory and honor (to God) at the revelation of Jesus (and what he’s done for us). So, it seems that tested-faith, not simply faith alone, produces praise to God.
There is a story in Luke (Lk 17.11-19) about Jesus cleansing 10 lepers. They see Jesus and beg for him to have mercy (or grace, if you will). Jesus does so, heals them, and then says to them to go and show themselves to the priests. The leapers are then cleansed as they go along. Then one of them, upon seeing that he’s been healed, turns and praises Jesus. His faith, upon being tested, produces praise when he is refined by the power of Christ. Now, there is much more to this verse, but for now, we’ll concentrate on this – that the man saw he was healed, and praised God…to which Jesus responded “rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” “Made well”…I think there is a fine distinction here between “healed” and “made well”…all ten were healed, but only one was made well…made whole (again this says nothing of the fact that the only man to turn was a Samaritan…I’ll let you hash that one out with God). What an experience…to be so visibly cleansed of something; and furthermore to be made well – the Bible doesn’t mention this man elsewhere, but I often wonder what struggles in faith he may have faced in the future despite such a life changing event.
Even so, I’m comforted by the stories of Peter, and David, and Moses, and so many others…that “the steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way, though he fall, he shall not fall headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand” (Ps. 37.23, 24). God knows us (Ps. 139) and he loves us (Jn. 3.16), and just as Jesus prayed for Peter that though he was temped, that his faith would not fail (Luke 22.31), so he (Jesus) prays for us. This is an interesting passage, because Jesus tells Peter that Satan has demanded to sift him (Peter), but that Jesus has prayed for Peter that his (Peter’s) faith would not fail, and that when he turned again (turned from what?), that he would strengthen his brothers. Wait just a minute…Jesus says here that Peter’s faith will not fail, but Peter denied Jesus anyway…Peter’s faith (as in anything that was in Peter that was solely of himself – his own human trust and faith) did fail, but the faith that God had placed in Peter did not fail, because God is in it for the long haul, and Peter did, eventually, return to strengthen his brothers. I think that God sees our human frailties and that though we are faithless, he is faithful, and that though we may fall, as long as we return to God, we will not fall away.
In the end, faith is a gift of God to us – to let us see, and experience him. Faith is a medium in which we come to know God. Faith is evidence of a concrete gift from God…one that we always assume is our own concoction…but I would argue that it is not ours, but rather it is from God. So, what of the questions people have about their own shortcomings and lackings of faith…I don’t think we, necessarily lack faith, as it were…not so much as it is more often that we are frustrated – frustration being the product of unmet expectations. This frustration produces doubt…which, when the doubt is our own human doubt, opposes, not replaces or diminishes, the faith God has placed in us. If we confine God to our plan, our expectations, or even our past experiences (past experiences should serve only to confirm God’s working in our lives) we will be disappointed. We must stand on God’s faith, the faith that when tested produces praise, and not on anything that is a product of ourselves. Faith is evidence of God’s choice of us from before the beginning of time…and faith in its purest form is hope, it is trust…it is, in a word, love.
I John 4.8 – God is love.
And, God loves us (Isaiah 43.4)
And all we can do and all that God requires of us is to love him (Mt. 22.37-40) and in doing so that we would do “justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6.8).
God works in mysterious ways…they’re mostly a mystery because I can’t understand his unsurpassing grace. What amazes me most is that when we step out there with nothing else to catch us and no other options…he’s there. This begs the question as to why we aren’t out there more often. Why is our memory so short and our trust so limited as to define God and limit his power by placing on him the constraints of not our past encounters with him, but rather our own shortcomings of a self-developed faith that is built in the filthiness of our own pride?
What would we do without Thomas and Peter, and the stories divinely not omitted from scripture? I feel sure that if it were up to them, they would have pleaded not to have history remember them at their weakest moments – Peter denying Christ after three years and countless miracles (arguably the most poignant in Peter’s life, and in his example for us, being walking on water) only to return and become one of (if not the first) leader of the early church…and Thomas, the doubting disciple. How many of us can relate to these two men? How many of us are comforted by the knowledge that even these men, who lived and breathed with Jesus, could deny his power and authority, only to turn again to him and be welcomed with open arms.
This vein doesn’t stop here either…the Bible is riddled with people struggling with their faith…and also with stories of overcomers. David, the divinely anointed “man after God’s own heart,” turned a deaf ear to God when he chased after Bathsheba – when he chases after what he wanted and not what God wanted.
To borrow an analogy, the bible is filled with many Arthurs and only a few Galahads; meaning that there are many examples of great men, who are just that…men (and women for any ladies reading this…I don’t want to not be “PC”) who are true to their God and their people, but who also struggle with not just outside forces, i.e. enemies and hardships, but also internal struggles. There are few cases where someone is a Galahad, a pure heart. For most of us, Galahad is something to be sought after, to work towards; however, one must also acknowledge the beauty in being an Arthur…one must be ok, and even admit their need of being cleaned up and not knowing how to do it themselves. We cannot, under our own power go from being an Arthur to being a Galahad. Only through Christ can this be done.
The job, however, is not finished once we accept this realization of our need for Christ. The awakening to our dependence on Jesus serves only to usher in new challenges and thoughts that must be battled. We begin to question why. Why would Jesus die for us, why does God love us so, what use are we if we can’t even save ourselves, even in some small way? No, our salvation is entirely hinged upon the cross and it is up to us only to turn and praise God. What we must do is accept…simply accept our salvation…our fate. As a side note, the use of the word “fate” here is meant with only the best connotations and I realize that “destiny” could have been used, but to me, “fate” implies a more real-world, and less romanticized, emotion than would “destiny” – this is purposeful to inspire this salvation as a reality and not a dream – although it is a dream that I greatly anticipate waking to.
Read Ephesians 2.8-10 and I Peter 1.3-7 … I choose not to quote either here so that you’ll actually read them for yourself ;-). The passage in Ephesians speaks of God’s love for us – love so amazing that he chose us not just while we were still sinners, but before “the foundation of the world” (this part is actually back in ch1.vs 4) and of how (vs. 8) he saved us by his grace through faith. Now, if he’s saved us by his grace…then who’s faith are talking about here? I would argue that it may be our faith, but that if we have any faith at all it is because God gave it to us. I believe that it is God’s faith in us (and within us – the two not being mutually exclusive) that can (and does) save us – but can (and does) only do so because of God’s infinite grace. And how can we even be subject to this grace? Christ’s sacrifice alone makes it possible for us to even be brought into the presence of God and his grace.
The passage from I Peter says (vs. 9) that the outcome of our faith is our salvation…now if it is God (through Christ) that saves us, that is the manner and means of our salvation, and if we stand on the basis that God’s word is true and complete, then “our faith” must, inevitably, be a product of and gift of God in us. Furthermore, Peter says (vs.6 and 7) that “our” faith may (speaking from experience, moreover will) be tested as gold refined in the fire… (I wonder if, in light of today’s culture, platinum would be a better analogy than gold, eheh)... and that this testing by fire would produce praise and glory and honor (to God) at the revelation of Jesus (and what he’s done for us). So, it seems that tested-faith, not simply faith alone, produces praise to God.
There is a story in Luke (Lk 17.11-19) about Jesus cleansing 10 lepers. They see Jesus and beg for him to have mercy (or grace, if you will). Jesus does so, heals them, and then says to them to go and show themselves to the priests. The leapers are then cleansed as they go along. Then one of them, upon seeing that he’s been healed, turns and praises Jesus. His faith, upon being tested, produces praise when he is refined by the power of Christ. Now, there is much more to this verse, but for now, we’ll concentrate on this – that the man saw he was healed, and praised God…to which Jesus responded “rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” “Made well”…I think there is a fine distinction here between “healed” and “made well”…all ten were healed, but only one was made well…made whole (again this says nothing of the fact that the only man to turn was a Samaritan…I’ll let you hash that one out with God). What an experience…to be so visibly cleansed of something; and furthermore to be made well – the Bible doesn’t mention this man elsewhere, but I often wonder what struggles in faith he may have faced in the future despite such a life changing event.
Even so, I’m comforted by the stories of Peter, and David, and Moses, and so many others…that “the steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way, though he fall, he shall not fall headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand” (Ps. 37.23, 24). God knows us (Ps. 139) and he loves us (Jn. 3.16), and just as Jesus prayed for Peter that though he was temped, that his faith would not fail (Luke 22.31), so he (Jesus) prays for us. This is an interesting passage, because Jesus tells Peter that Satan has demanded to sift him (Peter), but that Jesus has prayed for Peter that his (Peter’s) faith would not fail, and that when he turned again (turned from what?), that he would strengthen his brothers. Wait just a minute…Jesus says here that Peter’s faith will not fail, but Peter denied Jesus anyway…Peter’s faith (as in anything that was in Peter that was solely of himself – his own human trust and faith) did fail, but the faith that God had placed in Peter did not fail, because God is in it for the long haul, and Peter did, eventually, return to strengthen his brothers. I think that God sees our human frailties and that though we are faithless, he is faithful, and that though we may fall, as long as we return to God, we will not fall away.
In the end, faith is a gift of God to us – to let us see, and experience him. Faith is a medium in which we come to know God. Faith is evidence of a concrete gift from God…one that we always assume is our own concoction…but I would argue that it is not ours, but rather it is from God. So, what of the questions people have about their own shortcomings and lackings of faith…I don’t think we, necessarily lack faith, as it were…not so much as it is more often that we are frustrated – frustration being the product of unmet expectations. This frustration produces doubt…which, when the doubt is our own human doubt, opposes, not replaces or diminishes, the faith God has placed in us. If we confine God to our plan, our expectations, or even our past experiences (past experiences should serve only to confirm God’s working in our lives) we will be disappointed. We must stand on God’s faith, the faith that when tested produces praise, and not on anything that is a product of ourselves. Faith is evidence of God’s choice of us from before the beginning of time…and faith in its purest form is hope, it is trust…it is, in a word, love.
I John 4.8 – God is love.
And, God loves us (Isaiah 43.4)
And all we can do and all that God requires of us is to love him (Mt. 22.37-40) and in doing so that we would do “justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6.8).
posted by ramblinwreck at 11:59 AM
2 Comments:
Let me just take this opportunity to tell you how much respect and admiration I have for you, the Christ in you, and the way you allow Him to work through you. I am reminded to never settle for anything less than a passionate relationship with Him. The end. Thank you.
Elizabeth
Marc, my friend. You are a magnificent writer and thinker and god-lover. well done. that was super-great for me to read. i think i'm going to go talk with god. thanks.
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