Convergence
I have been thinking about coincidence and significance. Scientists are trained and expected to be able to tell the difference. Also I have been reading Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones and at the same time, Jesus of Nazareth by Joseph Ratzinger. If that name is familiar it is because he is Pope Benedict XVI who resigned from his office a few years ago. Today, both converged as Ratzinger began to consider the Sermon on the Mount. Truths converge, even if they derive from Roman Catholic or Protestant Church traditions.
Hallgrímskirkja
To determine if two events (in an experiment) appear together coincidentally, scientists will do the same experiment over and over again many times, thousands, millions, even billions of times. Then they will simply count how many times the two occur simultaneously. If this happens in at least 95% of the experiments, we consider the two events correlated, but there is always a small chance, 5% in this case, the two appear together coincidentally, by accident. The smaller this chance of accident, the higher the degree of significance. At 5% significance, I am encouraged by the results; at 1%, fantastic if it’s a biology experiment; at 0.0001% (1 in a million) we think the results are almost certain. Almost. But not certain.
Statistical lesson is over!
Measuring coincidence and significance with life experiences is much harder. This is especially true with spiritual experience. How do we know what is significant and not merely coincidental? If I think coincidences are significant, I am guilty of magical thinking. If I think highly significant events are merely coincidental, I am guilty of foolish skepticism. How to tell the difference? Only by testing. Think Gideon; he did his experiment twice and that was enough for him.
Previously, I have quoted Jesus’ words in John 14:11, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” In this single verse, the Lord Jesus recognizes faith and reason, faith and testing if you will. He addresses our doubts and invites us, along with Thomas, to probe his wounds. This is not a distant king, a far off god, a formless mystery. This is El Shaddi, Jehova Jireh, the God of Abraham and David, inviting us to prove Him, to be in relationship to Him, to submit.
We deal with uncertainty, in science and religion, in remarkably similar ways. In science we use theories. In religion we use doctrines. Even though there is only a one in a million chance of being wrong, if we are honest, this is how we cover our ignorance. Following Jesus is not a mathematical formula, a recipe requiring undeviating adherence, a one size fits all prescription. Through His Holy Spirit, He guides, He convicts, He teaches—He allows different flavors. Aye, but therein lies the rub.
What defines the Christian? What defines those who are called by His name? What is the only thing we have in common, despite our different flavors, our denominations? Only Jesus. Let me say it again: ONLY JESUS! And at least one other thing…
A hint: Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:15-20, John 13.
The Passover, in which the blood of a flawless lamb on the door posts told the Lord to pass by and spare those first born within; this was the night before Israel was rescued from Egypt, the Exodus. All gospels reference the last Passover supper Jesus shares with his disciples. And after taking the bread and the wine, he tells his disciples, and us, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Some call it Communion, some call it the Eucharist; whatever our tradition, it is The Lord’s Supper. In addition to baptism*, the wine and the bread comprise the only sacraments I know of that bind us together as, “Those who are called by His name.”
So, I had an interesting experience a couple weeks ago. I had been praying in the early morning hours for the Church in Ukraine—and Russia. The evil of this war is unprecedented since Hitler, at least in my experience. YMMV. I had a very strong conviction that I wanted to pray with other believers and I saw there was to be a Mass at 0830 Tuesday in a local parish. So off I went, not understanding fully, but certain it was what I needed to do. This Mass was given in the chapel instead of the main sanctuary and I’d guess there were about thirty souls, thirty vessels of The Holy Spirit, present and I felt a wonderful sense of community in their midst. At the end of the homily, the Eucharist is served at every Mass, one of the great things I love about the Roman Catholic liturgy. Aware of and in awe of the very presence of God in the wine and the bread, in those present, I reverently took the host and returned to my seat.
At the end of the Mass a woman sat down next to me; I’d been in no hurry to leave. She asked me if I was a catholic and of course I said yes (catholic means universal). She then asked if I was a member of her parish or another and I replied that I was not. She exclaimed “Then you cannot partake of the Eucharist!” Still cool, I gently apologized for offending her. Not done with me, she said with sincerity, “You’ve not offended me, you’ve offended God!” She took me in to be reprimanded by the priest; I felt like a school boy being dragged to the Principal’s office! The priest had nothing to say, however, and did not rebuke me, but I left shaking, fighting anger, praying God would strike me dead if I had indeed offended Him! I was in shock for the rest of the day, literally shaking and wondering what sort of powerful entity I had encountered. It took me a few days to forgive the woman and ask that God would teach her, and teach me.
So, what have I learned? I have concluded, at least for now, that it is our doctrines which divide us. Doctrines are theories, man made interpretations of what we think God desires. Useful to be sure, but like scientific theories, always subject to scrutiny. And this is the tragedy: The very sacrament which should draw us together around the table is used to keep us apart. I ask you, should anything made by man divide the Church of Jesus Christ? Should we not revere, converge upon, the Lord Jesus Christ around His table?
I am not picking on Roman Catholics or the importance of doctrine. Certainly Protestants are guilty of their own contributions to schism. Doctrine and theory are all we have to guide us at times, but they are not worth killing each other, taking our eyes off Jesus. In this context, I believe Paul meant for us to examine ourselves when we approach The Table, and to consider what Jesus meant when he broke the bread, and took the wine, and commanded us to do the same until His return. One God, one Christ, one Spirit, and ONE CHURCH! Doctrines mean nothing if they do not consider, incorporate, converge upon, this scriptural reality. Now that I have offended everybody I can, God help me, here I stand!
Why is this important? Divide and conquer. Satan, evil incarnate, not only wants to destroy each of us that are called by God’s name, he would destroy all Creation. What a great way to discredit God! Divide the Church. Destroy the Creation with radioactivity, poisons, and plagues. Annihilate the seed of men! Why? Because Satan is jealous of us. Lucifer led rebellion in Heaven! He is jealous of God! He wants to destroy the Church of Jesus Christ, the Bride of Christ. But he shall not stand. No! We know how this story ends. We will, however, need convergence, Unity in the bonds of Peace to stand with our Lord and Savior against the Evil One. Amen? Amen!
The Apostle Paul gave us a battle plan in Ephesians 6:12. It is not a battle against other “flavors” or each other. It is not a battle against incorrect doctrine as if we had certainty. It is not even a battle for correct doctrine. It is a battle against evil, against spiritual corruption in high places, yes, even in the church. The high places are mentioned throughout the OT as those places in Israel where idol worship occurred; places mistakenly thought to be hidden away from God. Our God is a jealous god. God blessed the kings that tore down the high places. Where is my idolatry? How do I tear down the high places that come between me and The Lord? May our prayers converge to do battle with the real enemy!
If my teaching here is true, Lord let us recognize this strategy of the enemy. Let us rise up to wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of evil in high places. Let us tear down our places of idol worship so that we may stand with you, our Savior on the coming day of judgment. Through Jesus our Lord, let us put on the full armor of God. The helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of Peace, armed with the shield of faith and the sword of God’s Holy Spirit, and with our prayers wade into the battle for the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Come Lord Jesus. Come Lord Jesus. O come Lord Jesus! Amen. Amen. Amen.
*Baptism is somewhat different in that it is divided into sprinklers and dunkers; I don’t know why. There is probably someone somewhere who has a doctrinal theory 😉 I say this with reverence and humility. Always open to learning.