Missionaries

I have just finished reading Elizabeth Eliot's book, Shadow of the Almighty. Ms. Eliot compiles the journals of her husband and chronicles his life and death serving the Lord in South America in the midst of the Auca Indians. Jim Eliot's life was short but rich. He had more maturity at 18 than most men do at death. I was riveted by his seriousness about his faith and joy. My friend Eugene Low has just posted on one of Jim Eliot's colleagues, Nate Saint. His son wrote an article on him in Christianity Today. An excerpt is below...

"My father and his four friends were not given the privilege of watching their children and grandchildren grow up. I've often wished I could have known my dad as an adult, for Mom and Aunt Rachel have often said our thought process and mannerisms are much alike. I have trouble distinguishing what I actually "remember" of him and what I have been told. But I do know that he left me a legacy, and the challenge now is for me to pass it on to my children. Dad strove to find out what life really is. He found identity, purpose, and fulfillment in being obedient to God's call. He tried it, tested it, and committed himself to it. I know that the risk he took, which resulted in his death and consequently his separation from his family, he took not to satisfy his own need for adventure or fame, but in obedience to what he believed was God's directive to him. I suppose he is best known because he died for his faith, but the legacy he left his children was his willingness first to live for his faith.
God took five common young men of uncommon commitment and used them for his own glory. They never had the privilege they so enthusiastically pursued to tell the Huaorani of the God they loved and served. But for every Waorani who today follows God's trail through the efforts of others, there are a thousand cowodi (outsiders, foreigners to the tribe) who follow God's trail more resolutely because of their example. This success, withheld from them in life, God multiplied and continues to multiply as a memorial to their obedience and his faithfulness."

The Romney Speech

I have watched the reaction to the Romney speech on his Mormonism with great interest. Will one’s “private beliefs” affect their “public decisions?” Again, I am astonished not only at the answers people give to this question, but also at the stupidity of the question itself. Of course, one’s private beliefs will affect their public decisions. Otherwise they are not beliefs. Let me say from the outset that the major concern I have about Romney becoming President is the legitimacy it will give to the Mormon faith. (I can hear the gasp of shock as I just said one of the most hateful things one can say in American culture.). His beliefs are such that they won't affect the core issues we are together on as Americans such as freedom, religous liberty, economic freedom, etc. Thus, it is important to understand again that it is important for any group (whether a nation or a local church) to understand well what they are together on.

And Once again it becomes clear that the church functions in a different way, for a different purpose than the Kingdom of this world. I was talking with 2 people over the last few days about Mormonism. One said he did not think it was that different, and he knew mormons. They were “nice people who cared for their families.” First, if one thinks that Christianity sets out to create a society merely "of nice people who care for their families," they are compeltely missing the seriousness of the situation with which Christianity sets out to deal. It seems clear that the rich young ruler was a nice man who cared for his family, and, yet, he did not enter the Kingdom of God. Regardless of what one thinks about Romney’s candidacy, he is certainly giving greater credibility to Mormonism in this increasingly pluralistic society. My concern is for weak or nominal Christians who are going to be easily led astray and deceived. They may very well buy into the increasing assault on theology, adherence to sound doctrine, etc.

For the world, a commitment to faith in general will do. For the Kingdom of God, that faith must be specific, and man’s heart is incredible deceitful. The object of one’s faith reveals how one fundamentally understands himself. Christ recognized this and understood He was creating a totally different kind of Kingdom. This kingdom would be entered into and advanced in a wholly different way. Entrance comes from outside on another’s merit. The problem comes from within because of the individual’s own inability. So, it is important for people to understand that what unites us as a nation does not necessarily unite us as believers. What we are together for as a nation does not run parallel to what we are together for as a church.

It seems clear to me that many people who call themselves Christians in this country do NOT have a very good understanding of the distinction between the 2 kingdoms. Supporting the leadership of a person in one kingdom does not always translate to supporting the leadership of the same person in the other. Further, because we agree on issues on the periphery such as the dignity of man, religious liberty, or even an approach to taxes does not mean we agree on issues in the center. And the center is where humanity is found, and life is lived. The center is where worldviews ultimately take shape. The center is what will have driven the life each man has been given. Because at the center, one’s fundamental bent or essence is found. It gives the insight not about the “what” but about the “why.” It does not answer “what did he do?”. It answers, “why did he do it?” A person can do great things for “humanity” or “the good of the world.” A person can pursue a profession that is reputable in the eyes of the world. These are “what’s.” At the same time a person does these things, he could be pursuing it to make a name for himself, enhance his reputation or even pursue his love of money. These are the “why’s.” The why’s are often far more important than the what’s because the why’s reveal truths about us that an entire electorate that votes for us may not ever see.

Guard your heart and your doctrine. Guarding one leads to the guarding of the other.