I LOVE watching those forensic shows on TV.
All of them seem to have one common
element—they are not allowed to make assumptions that are not based on evidence
presented.
Therefore, as Grissom would
say, they only interpret evidence to find the truth.
In theological talk that strategy is called
“evidentialism” and it is a branch of apologetics that, in recent years, has
fallen out of favor.
However, I don’t
think that we should be too quick to dismiss this particular methodology
because it can be helpful in finding a logical sequence to a line of thought.
Now that Halloween is over (even before that) we are once
again inundated with the commercialism of Christmas—FAR before we have taken
the opportunity to be thankful to God for His provision (which is what
“Thanksgiving is REALLY about!). I used
to preach, write, and rail about this injustice but I woke up one day and
decided it like throwing gravel in the Grand Canyon…Americans no longer care if
they are gracious or grateful and therefore feel that they really have nothing
to give thanks for since the “grass is always greener”…but I digress…
I think, following evidential methodology, that I can
logically lead us to put three pieces of evidence together to show that we have
MUCH to be thankful for and that until we learn to do so we will continue to be
spoiled ingrates who continue to think that the entirety of the world revolves
around us.
I am always amazed at those people who are interviewed by
news personnel after some tragedy and they say something “pat” like… “it could
have been worse” or “at least there was no loss of life” or “we just praise God
everyone is safe.” Yeah, I guess in the face of tragedy we are quick to think
in those terms, but I often wonder if those same people “practice what they
preach” every other day of their lives?
I hope they do, I hope they value relationships, and family over all
other “things” but I fear too often that is the case ONLY when they are faced
with the possibility of losing EVERYTHING.
The apostle Paul reminds us to “give thanks in ALL circumstances”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18—bold, italics, and underline mine). Sure, it is easy for him to say…after all he
is an apostle, perhaps one of the greatest apostles…it must come quite natural
for him? Not so, we are reminded in
Romans chapter seven of the struggles that Paul continued to have with the
flesh, and how the things he “did not want to do, that is what I do.” So when
that was going on…was he giving thanks?
I think so…when Paul is sharing a bit of his testimony he
states:
10 I
rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I
have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I
can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:10-13)
Look at verse 12…this explains WHY Paul urges Christians to
“give thanks in ALL circumstances” because Paul himself knew what it was to be
in need and to have plenty…and he CHOSE to be content…how and why?…because of
what Christ has done to strengthen him (which is another entire lesson in and of
itself).
So, in light of what Christ has done in every circumstance,
whether it is the mountaintop or valley, we are to give thanks because Christ
will give us strength to face the situation.
If you tend to be like me your cynical side is kicking in about now and
you are unpacking your existentialist philosophy…”but he is not in my
situation!” While it may be true that no two situations or people are identical
let me introduce you to some situations that Paul found himself in: beaten and
left for dead (on more than one occasion), bit by a poisonous snake,
shipwrecked, imprisoned, given 40 lashes, chained as a prisoner…and let’s not
forget that he was given a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:9).
It is THIS very point that differentiates most of us from
Paul…read carefully:
7 To
keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded
with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But
he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will
boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest
on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s
sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:7-10)
Paul realizes that God has “given” (suffering the gift that
no one wants!) him this “gift” so that he does not become conceited…he pleads
with God to take it away but hears the still small voice of God whisper, “grace
is sufficient”—so he “delights” in all circumstances rejoicing in “weakness.”
Here in the US we detest “weakness.” We always have. As rugged individualist we crossed the ocean,
established the colonies, opened the way to the west, and settled the vast
frontier to become the great nation that we are. At the first sign of weakness we react with
swift and often, angry, solutions—culling that notion, and those, who are
“unfit” because of their weakness. This
is often manifested in the “macho” movies of the 60’s-80’s—as much as I love
John Wayne I cringe when he says lines like “never apologize…” or “never let them
know you are afraid…” or “never let them see you cry...it is a sign of
weakness.” And so we raised up three generations of men who instead of
following Paul, followed Hollywood and actually believed that these things were
signs of weakness and that weakness had no place in American society.
So let me take three pieces of evidence and put them
together:
- Give thanks in ALL circumstance.
- Why…because Christ gives us strength in EVERY circumstance
- HOW…because grace is sufficient
Grace is often an anomaly or a “church” word that is
attached to that one old song that everyone seems to love. Though it seems obtuse and hard to grasp, it
really isn’t. Grace is simple to
understand but hard to live. Grace is simply defined as a free gift from God
(in His case of His Son on our behalf)—Paul says it like this “…God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans
5:8). That is grace…we ARE sinners (law breakers) and even though we are…God
sends His Son as a sacrifice so that we do not receive the punishment that we
deserve for being law breakers. Forrest
Gump is an example of grace when after he becomes a “gozillionaire” in the
“shrimpin business” he tells the town fathers of Greenbo, AL that he will “cut
the grass for free.” In response to his
unexpectedly becoming a “gozillionaire” he no longer accepts payment for
cutting the grass…instead he willing does the job for free---that is GRACE…and
it is sufficient in every circumstance because through it we receive
strength—so GIVE THANKS!
Given this evidence I don’t think that it is difficult for
ANYONE to see why we have MUCH to be thankful for. We have been given SO MUCH
but we are often so confused about what to do with it…we possess so much but
have so little understanding…I believe help my unbelief. HAPPY THANKS-GIVING!!
Unfortunately, some find this challenge to be too much, and they often "give in" to contrived consumer driven themes and messages or they simply whittle Christmas into a single message on the Sunday closest to Christmas. I DO NOT believe that the message of Christmas can be contained in a single message--the scope of the narrative is far too broad and diverse to deliver in a single dose...it is a little more like an antibiotic that you need to take for awhile and let it run through your system! To that end four "fresh" Christmas ideas each year can be taxing (the longer you are in the preaching ministry the more difficult it becomes!) Resources abound, and often there are creative people all around you that can help if you would only seek them out and allow them to help.
