My New Experiance of Independence Day

I suppose if I were to ask most of the folks I will talk to today about  the most historically significant event of 1776, I think they would possibly share their knowledge about the signing of the declaration, independence from Great Britain, and the birthday of America.  But I learned last week, from a talk radio host, that 1776 also significantly marks the publication of Adam Smith's influential Wealth of Nations, widely considered the first modern work in the field of economics and a work that remains widely influential today.  I downloaded the work and find it to be an amazing work.  Both Wealth of Nations and The Declaration of Independence are publications that have inarguably shaped the world in ways beyond even what the original authors might have imagined.

On the other hand, this morning, as part of my devotional time I learned that a Christian historian, Mark Noll, suggests there is a third publication of 1776 that may have been even more historically influential than both of these momentous options. In the book, Where Shall My Wond'ring Soul Begin?: It was in a lecture at Harvard Divinity School, he argued: "I say with calculated awareness of what else was going on in Philadelphia [the signing of the Declaration of Independence], and in Scotland, where Adam Smith published his Wealth of Nations, that of all world-historical occurrences in that year, the publication of August Montagu Toplady's hymn [Rock of Ages] may have been the most consequential."

To me this is a surprising choice—particularly because I have always been one to associate 1776 with fireworks and parades and its critical role in forming our national identity. But Noll's suggestion asks me look beyond national citizenship, perhaps even beyond my identity as a citizen of the world. Toplady's hymn is one of the two most reprinted hymns in Christian history, but its words remind me of a history far beyond even this:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Not the labours of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone: Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

Beyond religious denomination, beyond nation, I am a creature in need of God's redemptive plan, in need of freedom from sin, in need of the liberating sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Like many confessions throughout the history of the church, Toplady's hymn calls this hearer to identify with a greater citizenship, the cloud of witnesses described by the writer of Hebrews, the one holy catholic and apostolic church I confess in my creed.

History is filled with the ebb and flow of influences and events, but of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there is no greater, unswerving influence. As James writes, "[God] does not change like the shifting shadows" (1:17). As David praised, and Hannah prayed, and saints will continue to discover, God is the Rock of Ages. Hidden in the Trinity, clinging to the Cross, cleansed by the Son whose blood removes both the guilt and power of sin, I am free indeed.

Lesson from My Unbeatable Finitude

One of the most humbling moments in the last few years of my life happened a few days ago during a volley ball “digging exercise” with me 14 year old granddaughter. Instead of just tossing the ball into the air allowing her to hit it back to me in repeat the process I decided to demonstrate my digging skill. In a split second, at 69 years of age, wearing glogs, backed up, put my hands and arms together, swung upward and sideways missing the ball, lost my balance, ended up face down on the ground, groaning, and desperately struggling to catch my breath. It was all I an attempt to demonstrate to my granddaughter that he Papa still possessed the capabilities of a well-oiled athlete. .  Sadly, the split seconds available for the decision were enough for my ego to override my better judgment.  Unwilling to pass the ball and let her practice “digging” capabilities, I made the wrong decision and lost skin from my leg, my pride and to this day soar over most of my body.

Ironically, I am inclined to believe that the consequences for me would have been much worse if I had managed to dig that ball. Though quite humiliating, that terrible mistake gave me a glimpse into my own soul in a way that might have been impossible if I had actually hit it.  While it is hard to assert my ego in the midst of failure and hardship, the ugliness of my self-centeredness can be easily camouflaged in the motives and methods of my success, leaving me blind to my unbeatable finitude. When my pursuit for success is severed from a healthy sense of chronic obligation, achieving success instills in me a measure of entitlement foreign to my true identity.  In this case a 69 year old man, who is a appreciated for being available to toss the ball in the air for my granddaughter. Such a pitfall is even more consequential in my spiritual life since it is harder to distinguish between self-serving motives and genuine zeal for God.  Unlike the gaping sins of the prodigal son, the dutiful son's alienation from the father comes neatly packaged in obedience and commitment, the very treasures I of us hope to lay before my heavenly Father in the not so far away future.

In spite of the fact that Jesus prayed fervently for unity among his followers, the visible church is often a conglomeration of competing factions, each equally convinced of its solitary possession of divine favor. Those who seek signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit are usually suspicious of those who emphasize exegetical approaches to the Scriptures.  Christian scholars are sometimes content just to talk to each other, and the uncanny tendency of apologists to sniff out what they deem rotten doctrine is not always appreciated.

As a result, as a chaplain for all faiths, I find the squandering of valuable benefits of dedicated teamwork within the household of faith, also the loose of our edge in a broken world.  Despite the monumental gains made in biblical research and translation, biblical illiteracy is still a high-ranking concern, and the frequent outbursts of oft-unfounded accusations from our detractors succeed in rattling the cage for not a few followers of Christ.  While outcasts and sinners braved insults to seek refuge in Jesus, they bolt from the divided efforts of Christians and reject God because they mistake us for Him.

I find when being right becomes an end in itself, I lose sight of my own need for God’s grace—a need that would be there even if I were faultless.  Instead of recognizing that orthodoxy, though indispensable, is only the
map of a journey which I must travel towards God, confidence in my knowledge of the truth becomes the missing link in my quest for self-sufficiency.  I have been guilty of partitioning God’s comprehensive program for his people into various segments and guarding my turf with Herculean zeal.  At times, it has taken little practice, for me to become adept at applying my preferred standards that I can accomplish the feat with our eyes closed.  Having zeroed in on what I am certain to be God's most vexing pet peeves, I stand poised not only to pronounce the verdict on those who offend Him but also to pound the gavel on his behalf.  Before long, I, like Elijah, become convinced that I am the only one who is faithful to God while all of his other children have lost their way.

Probably the best antidote to such spiritual calluses has been a healthy appreciation of the all-sufficiency of the Father and my exalted status as his humble child—a theological gem that is beautifully captured by C.S. Lewis in his book, Prince Caspian.  When the children are reunited with Aslan after many years, Lucy expresses surprise that Aslan looks bigger.  Aslan responds, “I am not.  But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” What a relief to remember that no amount of expertise on my part can ever diminish the glory of God or cause me to outlive his fatherly indulgence!

Pure, unadulterated motives may lie beyond my reach, but I’m more convinced than ever, the intentional recognition of my humble place in deference to the majesty of my Maker is an indispensable ingredient in service to Him and others.  It was neither out of false piety nor enslavement to sin that both Daniel and Nehemiah included themselves in their profound prayers of forgiveness on behalf of their sinful people (Daniel 9 and Nehemiah 1:6). While I do not subscribe to the relativistic “never judge anyone” maxim that greases the engine of the spirit of the age, I am also convinced that what Oswald Chambers once said, “The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him.”