Following the Evidence

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:

1. Give thanks in ALL circumstance.
2. Why…because Christ gives us strength in EVERY circumstance
3. 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!!