I have two sons and they are very different from each other. Connor is the oldest and he is an engineer who recently graduated from college with good leadership skills. He was born into our family with three older sisters.
My other son is Morris and he was born into abject poverty in Liberia, Africa. He came to our house when he was six. He has outstanding coordination, Is an excellent athlete, and is very musically inclined.
Connor and Morris have very different strengths as well as different weaknesses. One of my jobs as a dad is to allow them to be unique and to adjust my expectations accordingly. Ideally I could maximize their strengths while teaching them to mitigate their weaknesses.
I believe God in this respect is similar to a good dad. He doesn’t expect the same from everyone. He actively works with our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aptitudes and abilities. That is one reason not to compare oneself to others as He has specific hopes and desires for each of us.
Likewise reading the bible like every verse currently applies to everyone is foolish. No one could possibly meet that standard. Scripture is best personally handled by asking Him what He wants you to see-to focus on-for yourself.
Jesus knows what He created. He knows your frame as David said. Rest in that knowledge and ask Him to speak individually to you about your walk with Him. He is among many other things very personal.
“Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.”
Prov. 20:28
“Through these fields of destruction, baptism of fire
I’ve watched all your suffering, as the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad, in the fear and alarm
You did not desert me, my brothers in arms”
Dire Straits, ’84
Loyalty, and our deep committment to our “brothers” and our “sisters” should be growing in your life right now. It should be “escorting” you to a deeper sense of intimacy with each other. About 20 years ago, I visited a Lutheran church on a Sunday service. There was a point in the liturgy when you were to greet the people around you. I remember grabbing a guy in the pew in front of me. I gave him a massive bear hug, squeezing the air from him. He was my brother, even though he was a stranger! I hung on tight to him. He was my brother.
In Bible times David and Jonathan had a friendship that defied political reasoning. Jonathan was supposed to be the next king of Judah, everything had been arranged by his father, Saul. But when David came into Jonathan’s life, everything was changed. An instant friendship changed everything. They would remain loyal to each other for the rest of their lives. I believe they are a model of what we are to each other, in the church.
I will confess to you, I have neglected so much in my spiritual walk. There is a lot I am ashamed of. I have sinned more as a Christian, than I ever did before I came to Christ. As a Christian, I have sinned quite vigorously. But one thing, I have held to beyond all else. I loved my brothers. They all know who they are! I can list them if you want. But in the final analysis, I have been faithful to them. I’m pretty stupid, in so many ways. But it seems that at this particular level, things are simplified. “Do you love, Allen? Of course I do, Father: even if he is in a strange and difficult place, I love my brother; always, and forever.”
Loyalty to those who have been brought into our lives, should not ever be diminished or explained away for what we call “logical reasons.” There should be a connection that should never, ever be terminated. Some of the brothers who I connected to in the ’80s, are no longer serving the Lord. But as I think of them, there is a relationship that can’t be broken, even by their disobedience. I still love them deeply.
Being loyal to someone, does not mean you honor their choices, or their sin. It seems that the issues they grapple with, can’t ever really erode or diminish your love for them. When I was a boy, on occasion we declared a “blood” oath with each other. It was almost “ceremonial,” we would cut our thumbs and meld with each other, mixing blood with blood. If only commitment and loyalty were that easy. But this is the definition of an “agape love.”
I believe the Holy Spirit sees, and honors loyalty. But I admit, I’m not doing this things for His blessing. Rather it is a compulsion, something I know is right; something I will do until they bury me. And I honestly can’t explain it. But they will always be my “brothers in arms.”
What if I told you that the universe was built for romance. To be sure both scientists and psychiatrists might see that idea both simplistic and perhaps even dangerous. And while we may not understand life as clearly as we could, it surely isn’t a passionate romance– or is it? Please consider: Why couldn’t the universe be the arena of a furious courtship between Jesus Christ and His followers? I’m one of millions who believe this is precisely the case.
I’ve been reading the Old Testament book of Song of Solomon the last few weeks and have thinking a lot about this very intense allegory between a shepherdess and her lover.
It is full of passion and of public declarations of love and desire. Kisses are exchanged. A dialogue is developed, and truths are volleyed back and forth from character to character. Sometimes it’s hard to follow, but the book is an exquisite work of God’s love, and grace, and passion for your soul.
We can, and should cry out for a revelation of Jesus’ presence. He really is there and He is waiting for your response.
“Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth, because your love is better than wine. 3 The smell of your perfume is pleasant, and your name is pleasant like expensive perfume. That’s why the young women love you. 4 Take me with you; let’s run together. The king takes me into his rooms.
Songs 1:2-4
Scripture as a whole leads us to believe that romance is much more substantial then we dreamed it could be. But if we can, we should visualize Jesus’ love for us as being his motivation for doing what he has done, and is doing. Love is what keeps him from letting us go!
My illness can be heartrending; it drives me straight to Him, and I cry out for Jesus’ hand. I may sink, but He’s right there to pull me out. My depression is His invitation to intimacy. Things can get pretty ugly, pretty quick, if I decide not to reach out for His outstretched hand. Trust me on this. (Matthew 14:29-30). I swim like a stone.
There are piles of scripture that declare His heated love for you. I believe there exists a holy romance that Jesus has for your soul. Love continues to motivate him to reach out repeatedly for you. Your devotional life (as Christians like to call it) is nothing more than your dialogue with Him as He saves you from a certain destruction.
The ancient Jews regarded the book of Song of Solomon to be the ‘holiest of holies’ of scripture and set apart to be read during Passover.
“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.”
Songs 4:9, ESV
Captivated over me. Hmmm. Quite often I wonder what He sees in me. Why should I be honored like this?
I think that our pastors and teachers need a “theology of romance” to clarify the place of discipleship in our hearts. Good theology is always warm-blooded. Instead of cold doctrine we need a fervent passion to work it through our lives. We are a bride after all– the bride of Christ, and we must be reminded of that by good pastors who understand. “I am my beloved and he is mine.”
“Who is this sweeping in from the desert, leaning on her lover?”
“Religious people love to hide behind religion. They love the rules of religion more than they love Jesus. With practice, theCondemners let rules become more important than the spiritual life. “
— Michael Yaconelli
Mentally ill people are rarely seen in our Churches. Often we are pushed into hiding our true identity; we can come out into the open, but only if we agree to play according to the rules–their rules. We are expected to censor ourselves and say proper things at the right time. Pharisees [who are alive and well] insist on a level of purity that all must maintain. [Hey, I am not picking on anyone, it’s just a generality.]
If I say that I am depressed, paranoid, manic or anxious, I will really upset the apple cart and muddle up everything. You may see me become as confused or uncertain. I may be.
“Truth? You can’t handle the truth?” [from the movie, “A Few Good Men”.]
But– if we use our shortcomings as credentials– we have the ability to speak about grace, love and of self-acceptance, with real authority. It won’t become a show.
Christians with mental illnesses have been given a gift that we are to share with the Church. The Holy Spirit has sprinkled us into each fellowship of believers. He places us who are presently afflicted and suffering into strategic places.
We are “sprinkled” throughout the Body. Our “gifts” are to speak to the Body, spiritually about a lot of things, but especially grace. We are bearers of grace. We’re Call us the “audio/visual” department of the church.
If our fellowships become religious, it might be because we in our weaknesses have allowed ourselves to be silenced into submission by the “interpreters” of scripture. If we don’t like the rules, we are told to go elsewhere. We are not welcome, they say with a thin smile.
But don’t you see, that is our moment to shine! Our “unsightly” presence shouts out to the “wonderful” people, proclaiming grace in weakness. Those who receive us, in a way, receive Him. Those who turn from us, muffling us, are doing that to Jesus. Frightening, isn’t it?
I would strongly suggest that we take our illnesses into the open.
That we become transparent before others. As we do this, we can ‘oh-so-gently’ guide our fellowships into true grace and love. If they look at me and I just want them to see Jesus. And that is our ministry as mentally ill people in the Church.
Our weaknesses are really our strengths.
9″ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”
10 “So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NLT
[This is a re-blog of one of our core teachings, originally posted 11/20/2009. I felt it was time to bring out of our musty old closet and set it before you again. I hope that it resounds deep within and that it encourages those who must mix their discipleship with disability.]
