I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?
--Spoke by the character "Tevye" in Fiddler on the Roof, written by Joseph Stein
The above quote is without a doubt my favorite line in the Fiddler on the Roof. The silent, yet ever present, character in the play and film is God, and Tevye's constant interaction with Him is humorous yet profoundly insightful. Tevye understands a biblical truth that many modern evangelicals refuse to accept. One might intuitively think that being among the chosen people of God, namely the church, from a New Testament perspective, would bring about health, wealth, and happiness. In fact, some preach this as if it were the Gospel. Yet, alas, more often, it brings about pain, ridicule, suffering, persecution, even martyrdom. We American evangelicals easily understand and apply the idea of victory in Christ. We have no problem fully accepting triumphalism in all its glory. However, we tend to ignore those passages which speak of serving the saints, even as Christ did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. We tend to forget that it is written that those who confess Christ should expect to suffer as He did. We tend to forget that the world will hate us even as they hated and despised our blessed Lord. Yes, when the suffering and persecutions come, we are often tempted to wonder why God just couldn't choose someone else and leave us alone. But, then, we are reminded that all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ our Lord. We are reminded that the sufferings of this world do not begin to compare with the glory that awaits us. We are reminded that the health, wealth, and happiness of this world are but a vapor, like the grass of the field, it flourishes today, but tomorrow it is blown away as chaff. We are reminded that our heavenly Father could no more turn his attentive hand of discipline from His beloved elect than a loving, earthly father could neglect his children. Indeed, being the covenant people of God is not always easy. Sometimes, from a temporal, human, and selfish perspective, it seems like a raw deal. But I, for one, will take it.
Honor, Liberty, Truth!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
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3 comments:
Very timely post Mr. McIntyre. It is hard to remember that through all stages of our life, We were chosen. You know what's a worse feeling, that you do not deserve it. I never feel like I am quite good enough for such an awesome gift as that. I am always screwing up one way or another.
I am far from worthy of the gift of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of a scripture in which I will paraphrase:
"Though the righteous may fall, they will not fall utterly, for I have them in the palm of my hand".
I thank God for that. I thank God for his son, Jesus. Even though I don't feel I am even worthy of saying "Thank You" for such a love.
i love that movie the singing was phenomenal, you made the point i've been trying to get across the girls at my school, who are all atheists-or as they have begun to to call themselves "re constructionists" and believe if God really cared he'd be doing the same miracles he was doing in the Bible, but then i try to explain to them that he is through missionaries and youth groups and good hearted people. they used the always effective method of shunning me until i shut-up so they could go on talking about music and other pointless topics, after a while it just becomes a game for them, and if life isn't fully satisfying then they go to the ice-cream, thinking there is nothing else i really want them to start coming to my church and small group, but i'm Christian, one of them is a Jew who has decided her life is her life and if she starts to live for God she'll lose her identity, then there is a catholic who thinks that the Bible is just one big joke- a fable to be used as a guide line but not to be taken seriously. everyones entitled to there opinion, i just wish they'd listen to someone else's once in a while.
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