The world wasn't perfect to begin with.
When God created the world, He saw that everything He had created - everything He had breathed and spoken into existence - was good. And yet, something was amiss in this new, unblemished universe. There was only one thing that gave Him displeasure: the human He had formed with His own hands was alone.
The very first problem.
We all know this story. Next, God brought before Adam all the creatures that had been made. Adam was given the task of naming them all, but none were found to be a suitable partner for him. I don't believe that this was ignorance or innocence on God's part. He knew that He alone could create a match for Adam. I believe that Adam needed to realize this.
At this point in many translations, God says something about creating a helper for Adam. I love Dr. Friedman's translation: "And YHWH God said, 'It's not good for the human to be by himself. I'll make for him a strength corresponding to him'" (emphasis mine).
This completely changes the way we look at the first woman. She wasn't created just to be a servant to the man. She was created to be a strength to him. Please understand what I'm saying: I am not forgetting that we are called to serve each other in Christ. I am simply trying to combat those who have downplayed woman's role. A woman is not a maid, meant to be at the beck and call of her husband. She has a unique role to play that cannot and should not be disdained.
Adam had to realize that there was nothing else on earth that could fill that longing for companionship. No matter how much apes may resemble us, Adam knew that he could not lend his strength to (i.e. perform husbandly duties) and, in turn, be strengthened by such a creature. (For the record, I don't have anything against apes.)
Eve was God's final handiwork in the formation process. She was the grand finale and the culmination of creation. John MacArthur says this: "Adam was refined dirt; Eve was a glorious refinement of humanity itself." God had made for Adam exactly what he needed and wanted.
I want to point out that God did not just create Eve for Adam. God knew that Adam alone could not represent God's image. God is not a man, so how could one man do justice to God's image? Our heavenly Father knew that femininity was also needed to complete the picture. I would suggest that God knew all along that He needed two humans to embody His image on earth, so He created Adam for Eve and Eve for Adam.
It is important to note that men and women are created differently but not unequally. From the beginning, our roles have been designed to complement each other. This has been an issue of contention since the dawn of humanity. God recognized the need for both masculinity and femininity. Neither was meant to dominate the other. I'm sure you've all heard the old saying - God took woman from man's side, not to rule over him or to be under his rule, but to walk beside him and be his partner. Our differences should emphasize the fact that we need to work together.
Men were created as physically stronger beings. Some women take great offense to this, but it is true in most of the world. I would ask this question: Do you think Adam was longing for someone exactly like himself? Or do you think he was pleased by her feminine curves, the hair cascading down her back, and those softly batting eyelashes? (This is not intended to be a discussion on homosexuality, so please don't take it as such - that's a different issue altogether.) Men and women each represent a part of God's image. Women may not have the same form as men, but we have different strengths.
I love what John MacArthur says on this subject: "Feminism has devalued and defamed femininity. Natural gender distinctions are usually downplayed, dismissed, despised, or denied. As a result, women are now being sent into combat situations, subjected to grueling physical labor once reserved for men, exposed to all kinds of indignities in the workplace, and otherwise encouraged to act and talk like men. Meanwhile, modern feminists heap scorn on women who want family and household to be their first priorities - disparaging the role of motherhood, the one calling that is most uniquely and exclusively feminine. The whole message of feminist egalitarianism is that there is really nothing extraordinary about women."
This attitude that women must act like men in order to be "equal" downplays the very creation of women in the first place. Our differences are okay. Women should celebrate the fact that we are different from men rather than despising it. When a woman chooses to stay at home, why do we call her just a housewife? I'm not saying that women shouldn't work or that women who choose to work are unfit mothers. I just want to put things in perspective. We are not men. We are women. Let's revel in our femininity, ladies!
There are several books I would love to recommend if you are curious about this subject. Lisa Bevere has wonderful books about the roles of women and femininity. Fight Like a Girl, Nurture, and Lioness Arising are all worthy reads, and Lisa speaks much more eloquently on the subject than I ever could. I also love John MacArthur's book, Twelve Extraordinary Women, which tells the stories of some of the exceptional women of God featured in His word.
Works used:
Friedman, Richard E. (2001). Commentary on the Torah with a New English Translation and the Hebrew Text. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
MacArthur, John. (2005). Twelve Extraordinary Women. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
God's Daughters: The First Commandment
There is a popular television show that follows a polygamist family. There is one husband with four wives and many children. They are completely unapologetic and find it disturbing that a federal court case may be brought against them (a little naive, I feel). As much as I hate to admit it, I find the show terribly fascinating. It's an interesting look into the ways different people think, act, and practice religion. However, I can never agree with their lifestyle.
But why not?
There are plenty of examples of polygamist marriages in the Bible. What is it about them that makes us squeamish? In a culture where marriage is no longer sacred (the divorce rate is truly astonishing), does it really matter?
Yes, it does.
In my last post, I mentioned that I had found a version of the Torah, translated and commentated upon by a Jewish scholar. I particularly like his translation of Genesis 1:26, 27. In the NIV, these verses are translated as, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (emphasis mine). The changing pronouns make these verses a little confusing, don't they?
Friedman's translation makes these verses a great deal clearer: "And God said, 'Let us make a human, in our image, according to our likeness, and let them dominate the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies and the domestic animals and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep on the earth.' And God created the human in His image. He created it in the image of God; He created them male and female" (emphasis mine).
According to Dr. Friedman, it is not until the formation of woman in Genesis 2:23 that the actual word for "man" is used. Until that point, they are simply "humans". This gives us a vastly different perspective on the creation of human existence. First of all, God never intended to simply create "man". He created humans in His image - both male and female. Together, both sexes represent God as neither one could do on its own.
This tells me that neither one should dominate over the other. In a polygamist marriage, everything is focused around the man. He is the center of everything. All the women subject themselves to him and crave his affection and attention. This was never as God intended. Neither part of God's image should vie for control and domination over the other.
In verse 28, God gives the first recorded commandment: "And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and dominate the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies and every animal that creeps on the earth.'" The part I want to concentrate on is "Be fruitful and multiply."
If God thought that polygamist marriages were the best way to fulfill the first commandment, then why didn't He set up that example to begin with? Couldn't he have created one more woman? (I don't think I need to explain biologically why a husband with two wives would be able to fill the earth much more quickly than a woman with two husbands. If you don't understand that part, perhaps you should complain to your high school biology teacher.)
The only possible answer is that polygamy was never God's best for His creation. He intended marriage to stay between one man and one woman. How then were polygamist marriages allowed and even blessed? Jacob is named in the Bible as one of the fathers of the Jewish faith, but he had two wives. David had more than one wife, and he was called a man after God's own heart.
I don't believe God ever condoned this, but I don't believe He could fault them for it. His very first recorded commandment was to fill the earth. If these people were fulfilling this commandment, how could they be punished for it? I believe that God didn't like it, but He put up with it. It was never His best plan for his sons and daughters. This is my personal opinion, however, and you must search it out for yourselves in the Scriptures.
A polygamist marriage is damaging to everyone involved. First of all, it diminishes the importance of the woman in the relationship. She is also a part of God's image and should be treated as such. Her role cannot be duplicated. We see this in the contention between Rachel and Leah. Rachel was loved, and Leah was not, and it created jealousy between the sisters. Second of all, the man's interests are divided. When he must partition his love and time between different families (not to mention his business pursuits), how can he truly be a good, present, and focused father and husband? Third of all, it is hard on any children that are produced from these unions. Where does their loyalty lie? Their father has sex with someone besides their mother (to be perfectly blunt), and they must accept this other woman into their lives without question. Do they submit to her as to their mother? Do they disregard her completely?
In the Scriptures, we see God caring for those daughters who were caught in polygamist marriages. When Sarah demanded that Abraham put out Hagar and her son, God heard Hagar's cry for help and made her prosperous. God opened Leah's womb so that she could experience love in her life. In fact, it is from Leah's line that we receive our salvation.
These are such great examples of how God demonstrated His love for daughters living in a male-centric society, but what about today? Why doesn't He still accept polygamy?
Well, to begin with, we have fulfilled the first commandment. The earth is filled and subdued. There is no doubt that humans are at the top of the food chain. It's also important to note that in many countries like the United States, polygamist marriages are illegal. In Romans 13, Paul exhorts Christians to follow the laws of the land: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (NIV).
Whether you agree with me or not, I hope that you research these things for yourself. Issues like this have created tension in the Body of Christ for years. Women have suffered under men who believe that they are the rulers of the home. I am simply trying to put these misused and abused Scriptures in a new light.
Works used:
Friedman, Richard E. (2001). Commentary on the Torah with a New English Translation and the Hebrew Text. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
But why not?
There are plenty of examples of polygamist marriages in the Bible. What is it about them that makes us squeamish? In a culture where marriage is no longer sacred (the divorce rate is truly astonishing), does it really matter?
Yes, it does.
In my last post, I mentioned that I had found a version of the Torah, translated and commentated upon by a Jewish scholar. I particularly like his translation of Genesis 1:26, 27. In the NIV, these verses are translated as, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (emphasis mine). The changing pronouns make these verses a little confusing, don't they?
Friedman's translation makes these verses a great deal clearer: "And God said, 'Let us make a human, in our image, according to our likeness, and let them dominate the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies and the domestic animals and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep on the earth.' And God created the human in His image. He created it in the image of God; He created them male and female" (emphasis mine).
According to Dr. Friedman, it is not until the formation of woman in Genesis 2:23 that the actual word for "man" is used. Until that point, they are simply "humans". This gives us a vastly different perspective on the creation of human existence. First of all, God never intended to simply create "man". He created humans in His image - both male and female. Together, both sexes represent God as neither one could do on its own.
This tells me that neither one should dominate over the other. In a polygamist marriage, everything is focused around the man. He is the center of everything. All the women subject themselves to him and crave his affection and attention. This was never as God intended. Neither part of God's image should vie for control and domination over the other.
In verse 28, God gives the first recorded commandment: "And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and dominate the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies and every animal that creeps on the earth.'" The part I want to concentrate on is "Be fruitful and multiply."
If God thought that polygamist marriages were the best way to fulfill the first commandment, then why didn't He set up that example to begin with? Couldn't he have created one more woman? (I don't think I need to explain biologically why a husband with two wives would be able to fill the earth much more quickly than a woman with two husbands. If you don't understand that part, perhaps you should complain to your high school biology teacher.)
The only possible answer is that polygamy was never God's best for His creation. He intended marriage to stay between one man and one woman. How then were polygamist marriages allowed and even blessed? Jacob is named in the Bible as one of the fathers of the Jewish faith, but he had two wives. David had more than one wife, and he was called a man after God's own heart.
I don't believe God ever condoned this, but I don't believe He could fault them for it. His very first recorded commandment was to fill the earth. If these people were fulfilling this commandment, how could they be punished for it? I believe that God didn't like it, but He put up with it. It was never His best plan for his sons and daughters. This is my personal opinion, however, and you must search it out for yourselves in the Scriptures.
A polygamist marriage is damaging to everyone involved. First of all, it diminishes the importance of the woman in the relationship. She is also a part of God's image and should be treated as such. Her role cannot be duplicated. We see this in the contention between Rachel and Leah. Rachel was loved, and Leah was not, and it created jealousy between the sisters. Second of all, the man's interests are divided. When he must partition his love and time between different families (not to mention his business pursuits), how can he truly be a good, present, and focused father and husband? Third of all, it is hard on any children that are produced from these unions. Where does their loyalty lie? Their father has sex with someone besides their mother (to be perfectly blunt), and they must accept this other woman into their lives without question. Do they submit to her as to their mother? Do they disregard her completely?
In the Scriptures, we see God caring for those daughters who were caught in polygamist marriages. When Sarah demanded that Abraham put out Hagar and her son, God heard Hagar's cry for help and made her prosperous. God opened Leah's womb so that she could experience love in her life. In fact, it is from Leah's line that we receive our salvation.
These are such great examples of how God demonstrated His love for daughters living in a male-centric society, but what about today? Why doesn't He still accept polygamy?
Well, to begin with, we have fulfilled the first commandment. The earth is filled and subdued. There is no doubt that humans are at the top of the food chain. It's also important to note that in many countries like the United States, polygamist marriages are illegal. In Romans 13, Paul exhorts Christians to follow the laws of the land: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (NIV).
Whether you agree with me or not, I hope that you research these things for yourself. Issues like this have created tension in the Body of Christ for years. Women have suffered under men who believe that they are the rulers of the home. I am simply trying to put these misused and abused Scriptures in a new light.
Works used:
Friedman, Richard E. (2001). Commentary on the Torah with a New English Translation and the Hebrew Text. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
God's Daughters: The Beginning
Many people in history have twisted Scripture to fit their own ideas - perverse or otherwise. Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 is a prime illustration of this fact. Twenty people were killed because of a feared association with witchcraft. We've recently seen an example of this in the news with the supposed "Rapture" on May 21, 2011. There is nothing that people are more willing to believe than the Bible, even if it's merely someone's interpretation. And Scripture has been used, time and time again, to abuse and mistreat women.
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest injustices blamed on God's Word, but I can see how it can be confusing. There are many instances in the Bible in which women seem to matter less and be valued less than men. Those who tyrannize women use verses like I Peter 3:7 (wherein women are described as the weaker vessels) to justify their mistreatment of the women in their lives.
I have always felt that this is a gross misinterpretation of God's love, but I never knew how I could prove it. I was in a bookstore a year ago when I came across a version of the Torah that included commentary by a Jewish scholar. It suddenly dawned on me: how could I possibly comprehend a book that wasn't written for me!
Now, before everyone complains that the Bible is for all believers at all times (which I know!), let me clarify. The Old Testament was penned by Jewish men for the people of Israel. Although God knew that it would one day become the definitive book for Jesus-followers, those men didn't. It is full of the history, culture, and traditions of the Jewish people. How can I understand that with my thoroughly modern, Western mindset? This scholar would have much more insight into the Jewish culture than I ever could.
That day, I began a journey of discovery that still continues. I don't know how many people read this blog, but I'd like to share my findings with you. I can't promise you that I'll understand everything in the Bible. I can't promise that everything I say will be correct. And I can't promise that everything I say is from the Lord. I can only give you my opinions, thoughts, and views.
This is the beginning of a series I'd like to call "God's Daughters."
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest injustices blamed on God's Word, but I can see how it can be confusing. There are many instances in the Bible in which women seem to matter less and be valued less than men. Those who tyrannize women use verses like I Peter 3:7 (wherein women are described as the weaker vessels) to justify their mistreatment of the women in their lives.
I have always felt that this is a gross misinterpretation of God's love, but I never knew how I could prove it. I was in a bookstore a year ago when I came across a version of the Torah that included commentary by a Jewish scholar. It suddenly dawned on me: how could I possibly comprehend a book that wasn't written for me!
Now, before everyone complains that the Bible is for all believers at all times (which I know!), let me clarify. The Old Testament was penned by Jewish men for the people of Israel. Although God knew that it would one day become the definitive book for Jesus-followers, those men didn't. It is full of the history, culture, and traditions of the Jewish people. How can I understand that with my thoroughly modern, Western mindset? This scholar would have much more insight into the Jewish culture than I ever could.
That day, I began a journey of discovery that still continues. I don't know how many people read this blog, but I'd like to share my findings with you. I can't promise you that I'll understand everything in the Bible. I can't promise that everything I say will be correct. And I can't promise that everything I say is from the Lord. I can only give you my opinions, thoughts, and views.
This is the beginning of a series I'd like to call "God's Daughters."
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Waiting Room
Have you ever seen West Side Story? There's a great scene in which Tony is sure that something good and exciting is just around the corner. He sings about it in a tune entitled, "Something's Coming". Maybe it's down the block or on a beach. Maybe he can reach it by holding still. Tony doesn't know what it is, but he knows it will change his life.
And it does.
This feeling started coming upon me about a year ago. There was a change in the wind, a shift in the current. Suddenly I knew that my life was going to change. If you had asked me what was coming, I couldn't have told you - I still can't tell you, but I know it's there, just out of reach.
When I first had this feeling of expectation, I assumed it would come immediately. I kept waiting for something extraordinary to happen. I waited... and waited... and waited... and waited some more.
Zilch.
Nada.
Nothing.
I began to think that maybe I had been wrong about the impending transition, but now I don't think I was.
God never wastes a single moment we give Him. He is always at work in our lives, even when we can't sense it. I am convinced that this anticipation of change is simply God preparing me for the next step. I'm in the "waiting room".
Waiting rooms are always the most boring places on earth. You fill out the same papers every single visit (shouldn't they have some of those still on file?), you thumb through month-old magazines, and you try to keep away from the person with the racking cough in the chair next to you. No one ever does anything actually productive. They are waiting. And they are stagnant.
There's a wonderful song by John Waller called "While I'm Waiting". This song is so relevant to where I am right now in my life because waiting periods should not be stagnant periods. This waiting period is a time for me to serve, worship, love, and trust Him. Every second of this time is precious. It is time to commune with my Savior and learn more and more about Him and what He wants for my life.
The waiting times can seem like the toughest times. As the feeling of preparation builds within me, I think that it should be visible in the world around me. Sometimes I feel as though I'm walking through hip-high snow drifts, and I would much rather give up and build snowmen than trample out a path. I don't even know how close I am to the end of the waiting! And then there are those who give the cliched response, "God's timing is perfect." I just want to punch them. I KNOW!
However, I don't know when I've been more dependent on Him. I choose to trust and to be patient because I desire His will above anything else. My mantra has become, "I choose to trust You. I choose to serve You. I choose to love You." I mutter this every day, several times a day. Some days I say it more often than others.
When I adopted this attitude, my eyes were opened to how God is using me in the waiting room. I have established relationships with people from different backgrounds, different faiths, and different lifestyles, and I cherish these friendships. In this waiting period, I have had the opportunity to sing for the President of the United States. That's kind of a big deal!
I have no idea what God has next for me. It could be teaching, or grad school, or (dare I say it?) marriage. Whatever may come, I choose to make this time one of absolute dependency upon the Lord. I choose to use this time to strengthen my relationship with Him. I choose not to be stagnant. I choose to trust Him. I choose to serve Him. I choose to love Him.
I may need to say it again in a few minutes.
And it does.
This feeling started coming upon me about a year ago. There was a change in the wind, a shift in the current. Suddenly I knew that my life was going to change. If you had asked me what was coming, I couldn't have told you - I still can't tell you, but I know it's there, just out of reach.
When I first had this feeling of expectation, I assumed it would come immediately. I kept waiting for something extraordinary to happen. I waited... and waited... and waited... and waited some more.
Zilch.
Nada.
Nothing.
I began to think that maybe I had been wrong about the impending transition, but now I don't think I was.
God never wastes a single moment we give Him. He is always at work in our lives, even when we can't sense it. I am convinced that this anticipation of change is simply God preparing me for the next step. I'm in the "waiting room".
Waiting rooms are always the most boring places on earth. You fill out the same papers every single visit (shouldn't they have some of those still on file?), you thumb through month-old magazines, and you try to keep away from the person with the racking cough in the chair next to you. No one ever does anything actually productive. They are waiting. And they are stagnant.
There's a wonderful song by John Waller called "While I'm Waiting". This song is so relevant to where I am right now in my life because waiting periods should not be stagnant periods. This waiting period is a time for me to serve, worship, love, and trust Him. Every second of this time is precious. It is time to commune with my Savior and learn more and more about Him and what He wants for my life.
The waiting times can seem like the toughest times. As the feeling of preparation builds within me, I think that it should be visible in the world around me. Sometimes I feel as though I'm walking through hip-high snow drifts, and I would much rather give up and build snowmen than trample out a path. I don't even know how close I am to the end of the waiting! And then there are those who give the cliched response, "God's timing is perfect." I just want to punch them. I KNOW!
However, I don't know when I've been more dependent on Him. I choose to trust and to be patient because I desire His will above anything else. My mantra has become, "I choose to trust You. I choose to serve You. I choose to love You." I mutter this every day, several times a day. Some days I say it more often than others.
When I adopted this attitude, my eyes were opened to how God is using me in the waiting room. I have established relationships with people from different backgrounds, different faiths, and different lifestyles, and I cherish these friendships. In this waiting period, I have had the opportunity to sing for the President of the United States. That's kind of a big deal!
I have no idea what God has next for me. It could be teaching, or grad school, or (dare I say it?) marriage. Whatever may come, I choose to make this time one of absolute dependency upon the Lord. I choose to use this time to strengthen my relationship with Him. I choose not to be stagnant. I choose to trust Him. I choose to serve Him. I choose to love Him.
I may need to say it again in a few minutes.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Growing
Growth is an interesting concept. Tiny seeds grow to become mighty trees. Young children grow to become adults with goals, dreams, and ideals. My journey of growth hasn't been very different from others' paths.
I was a child once. I began to form innocent fancies and thoughts about my future. Of course, when you're young, everything is a fairy tale. I just knew that someday I would be a famous singer and that I would be swept off my feet by a handsome prince. These were certainties.
As I grew, my visions for the future changed; my desires changed. I no longer desired to be a famous singer. Instead, I wanted to use my talents for the Lord. I wanted to attend a Christian university and major in Music Ministry. I still knew that Prince Charming was just around the corner. These were certainties.
As I went through various levels of school and life, my dreams and goals kept evolving. With each step I took, the rest of my future shifted. And I began to realize something: there are no certainties in life. I am almost twenty-six years old. I'm still working on my undergraduate degree, I'm single, and my life doesn't look like I thought it would.
When I was young, I could have sworn that my life would follow the plan I had prescribed. It's twenty years later, and I still have no clue where my life is headed. The one thing that has remained constant in my life is my desire to serve God with everything I have.
I may not have a clear picture of what the next step is, but He does. He always has. When I have strayed from His plan, He has never once thrown up His hands in despair. God doesn't get frustrated with my inept wanderings. As much as I have changed, He never has.
My relationship with God has never been stagnant. Even when I have been sullen and unrepentant, it has been a part of the growing process. It is always changing, always growing, and always important. This is a certainty.
I was a child once. I began to form innocent fancies and thoughts about my future. Of course, when you're young, everything is a fairy tale. I just knew that someday I would be a famous singer and that I would be swept off my feet by a handsome prince. These were certainties.
As I grew, my visions for the future changed; my desires changed. I no longer desired to be a famous singer. Instead, I wanted to use my talents for the Lord. I wanted to attend a Christian university and major in Music Ministry. I still knew that Prince Charming was just around the corner. These were certainties.
As I went through various levels of school and life, my dreams and goals kept evolving. With each step I took, the rest of my future shifted. And I began to realize something: there are no certainties in life. I am almost twenty-six years old. I'm still working on my undergraduate degree, I'm single, and my life doesn't look like I thought it would.
When I was young, I could have sworn that my life would follow the plan I had prescribed. It's twenty years later, and I still have no clue where my life is headed. The one thing that has remained constant in my life is my desire to serve God with everything I have.
I may not have a clear picture of what the next step is, but He does. He always has. When I have strayed from His plan, He has never once thrown up His hands in despair. God doesn't get frustrated with my inept wanderings. As much as I have changed, He never has.
My relationship with God has never been stagnant. Even when I have been sullen and unrepentant, it has been a part of the growing process. It is always changing, always growing, and always important. This is a certainty.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Les Miserables
Tonight, I watched "Les Miserables in Concert" for the umpteenth time, and, once again, I was overwhelmed by the story and the music. If you have never seen it, I encourage you to do so. It features an outstanding cast of singers/performers, and the music is beyond expressing. It is the story, though, that touches my heart again and again. It is an incredible tale of redemption, but there are two characters who steal the show: Jean Valjean and Javert. These men truly illustrate the differences between relationship and religion.
Jean Valjean grows up poor and ends up going to jail for stealing food for his starving family. Javert (born in prison to a jailed prostitute) is the self-righteous constable who imprisons Valjean. When Valjean is released from prison and put on parole, he finds himself at the house of a priest who feeds, clothes, and shelters him. During the night, Valjean steals the priest's silver and flees. He is brought back by two officers of the law, but the priest insists he gave Valjean the silver and sends the officers on their way. The priest informs Valjean that he has bought his soul for God.
This moment of mercy changes Valjean's life forever. The priest had the power to send him back to prison. He had every right to send him back to prison. And yet, he let Valjean go. It is in this moment that Valjean sees the darkness of his heart, but he also sees the depths of God's forgiveness. He breaks his parole and goes on the run. He eventually adopts a false identity, becomes mayor of a small town, and owns a factory that employs hundreds of workers. Javert spends all his years chasing Valjean.
There are many similarities between the two men: both are born into extreme poverty, both rise to greatness and wealth, and both develop a deep faith in God. That is where the similarities stop.
Jean Valjean's life became a blessing to others. He was concerned about his employees in a time when the poor were not valued. He showed kindness to a sick prostitute by housing her, caring for her, and adopting her child. He refused to let an innocent man go to prison in his stead, although it would have been the easier route. He knew that his life was not his own, and he gave all glory to God.
Javert, who had lived a "righteous" life before God, used his religion as a weapon. He bullied those he saw as sinful, and he refused to believe that a man like Valjean could change. He had all the benefits of living a good life without enjoying any of the richness.
The ending of their lives is very interesting. Jean Valjean holds Javert's life in his hands, but he lets him go. Here was the man who had made his life hell - he had chased him for years without end, but, instead, he offers him forgiveness and lets him go. Javert is in shock. These are the words he sings in his disbelief*:
Who is this man?
What sort of devil is he
To have me caught in a trap
And choose to let me go free?
It was his hour at last
To put a seal on my fate
Wipe out the past
And wash me clean off the slate!
All it would take
Was a flick of his knife
Vengeance was his
And he gave me back my life!
Damned if I'll live in the debt of a thief!
Damned if I'll yield at the end of the chase.
I am the Law, and the Law is not mocked
I'll spit his pity right back in his face
There is nothing on earth that we share
It is either Valjean or Javert!
How can I now allow this man
To hold dominion over me?
This desperate man whom I have hunted
He gave me my life. He gave me freedom.
I should have perished by his hand
It was his right.
It was my right to die as well
Instead I live... but live in hell.
And my thoughts fly apart
Can this man be believed?
Shall his sins be forgiven?
Shall his crimes be reprieved?
And must I now begin to doubt,
Who never doubted all these years?
My heart is stone and still it trembles
The world I have known is lost in shadow.
Is he from heaven or from hell?
And does he know
That granting me my life today
This man has killed me even so?
I am reaching, but I fall
And the stars are black and cold
As I stare into the void
Of a world that cannot hold
I'll escape now from the world
From the world of Jean Valjean
There is nowhere I can turn
There is no way to go on...
Javert had lived so long dependent upon his own righteousness. He may have acknowledged God, but he never accepted the all-encompassing love of God. He couldn't live in a world where sinful people could be forgiven. Javert committed suicide. It is the story of the Pharisees told a little differently. Valjean recognized the wretchedness of his life, and the redemptive power of Jesus came alive to him all the more. Javert, who saw himself as righteous, was judgmental and rigid.
At the end of his long life, with his daughter and her husband beside him, Jean Valjean sings*:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.
Javert, who had lived a life of boasting and judgment, left this world in anguish. Jean Valjean, who had lived a life devoted to serving God and loving his fellow man, left this world in peace, walking hand in hand with his Savior.
*The lyrics and music from "Les Miserables" are not mine. They belong to Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg respectively.
Jean Valjean grows up poor and ends up going to jail for stealing food for his starving family. Javert (born in prison to a jailed prostitute) is the self-righteous constable who imprisons Valjean. When Valjean is released from prison and put on parole, he finds himself at the house of a priest who feeds, clothes, and shelters him. During the night, Valjean steals the priest's silver and flees. He is brought back by two officers of the law, but the priest insists he gave Valjean the silver and sends the officers on their way. The priest informs Valjean that he has bought his soul for God.
This moment of mercy changes Valjean's life forever. The priest had the power to send him back to prison. He had every right to send him back to prison. And yet, he let Valjean go. It is in this moment that Valjean sees the darkness of his heart, but he also sees the depths of God's forgiveness. He breaks his parole and goes on the run. He eventually adopts a false identity, becomes mayor of a small town, and owns a factory that employs hundreds of workers. Javert spends all his years chasing Valjean.
There are many similarities between the two men: both are born into extreme poverty, both rise to greatness and wealth, and both develop a deep faith in God. That is where the similarities stop.
Jean Valjean's life became a blessing to others. He was concerned about his employees in a time when the poor were not valued. He showed kindness to a sick prostitute by housing her, caring for her, and adopting her child. He refused to let an innocent man go to prison in his stead, although it would have been the easier route. He knew that his life was not his own, and he gave all glory to God.
Javert, who had lived a "righteous" life before God, used his religion as a weapon. He bullied those he saw as sinful, and he refused to believe that a man like Valjean could change. He had all the benefits of living a good life without enjoying any of the richness.
The ending of their lives is very interesting. Jean Valjean holds Javert's life in his hands, but he lets him go. Here was the man who had made his life hell - he had chased him for years without end, but, instead, he offers him forgiveness and lets him go. Javert is in shock. These are the words he sings in his disbelief*:
Who is this man?
What sort of devil is he
To have me caught in a trap
And choose to let me go free?
It was his hour at last
To put a seal on my fate
Wipe out the past
And wash me clean off the slate!
All it would take
Was a flick of his knife
Vengeance was his
And he gave me back my life!
Damned if I'll live in the debt of a thief!
Damned if I'll yield at the end of the chase.
I am the Law, and the Law is not mocked
I'll spit his pity right back in his face
There is nothing on earth that we share
It is either Valjean or Javert!
How can I now allow this man
To hold dominion over me?
This desperate man whom I have hunted
He gave me my life. He gave me freedom.
I should have perished by his hand
It was his right.
It was my right to die as well
Instead I live... but live in hell.
And my thoughts fly apart
Can this man be believed?
Shall his sins be forgiven?
Shall his crimes be reprieved?
And must I now begin to doubt,
Who never doubted all these years?
My heart is stone and still it trembles
The world I have known is lost in shadow.
Is he from heaven or from hell?
And does he know
That granting me my life today
This man has killed me even so?
I am reaching, but I fall
And the stars are black and cold
As I stare into the void
Of a world that cannot hold
I'll escape now from the world
From the world of Jean Valjean
There is nowhere I can turn
There is no way to go on...
Javert had lived so long dependent upon his own righteousness. He may have acknowledged God, but he never accepted the all-encompassing love of God. He couldn't live in a world where sinful people could be forgiven. Javert committed suicide. It is the story of the Pharisees told a little differently. Valjean recognized the wretchedness of his life, and the redemptive power of Jesus came alive to him all the more. Javert, who saw himself as righteous, was judgmental and rigid.
At the end of his long life, with his daughter and her husband beside him, Jean Valjean sings*:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.
Javert, who had lived a life of boasting and judgment, left this world in anguish. Jean Valjean, who had lived a life devoted to serving God and loving his fellow man, left this world in peace, walking hand in hand with his Savior.
*The lyrics and music from "Les Miserables" are not mine. They belong to Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg respectively.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Power of Nurture
Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I adore Lisa Bevere and constantly draw inspiration from her books. I was astonished by Fight Like A Girl and touched by Nurture. I remember attending the Desperation conference at New Life Church one year and hearing her speak for the first time. I was so enriched, encouraged, and refreshed by the message she related. I knew she lived in Colorado Springs and occasionally shopped at the Whole Foods where I was employed. In one of my prayer times, I asked God for the opportunity to meet her and thank her for speaking into my life. Two days later, my prayer was answered.
She approached the meat counter (yes, I worked in the meat department), and my heart leapt within me. I timidly asked, "Excuse me, but are you Lisa Bevere?" She smiled at me warmly, and I was able to tell her how she had changed my perspective and my faith walk. I'm not sure if I was entirely articulate and coherent, but she was friendly and kind, and I appreciated her patience.
Fight Like A Girl awakened in me a desire to embrace my femininity in a way I had never considered. I learned that God created men and women to be different, and those differences should be celebrated rather than despised. Society tells us that we have to act like men in order to be successful, but the whole world is groaning in anticipation for the day when we become what God created us to be. It is a lesson I have never forgotten.
Nurture, Lisa's most recent book, caused me to long for motherhood almost painfully. Thankfully, God revealed to me that I don't have to bear children biologically in order to be a nurturer. I can choose to create an environment of nurture around me now while I am single and in the future when I have a family of my own.
While reading this incredible book, I was able to see a new movie called "Letters to Juliet". As you know, I am a sucker for chick flicks, so I was very excited to see it. I went to see it three times while it was still in theaters... maybe I was a tad bit obsessive, but it was one scene in the movie that kept me coming back.
The movie is about a girl vacationing in Verona, Italy with her fiance. As her fiance abandons her over and over, choosing to engage in business rather than their relationship, she explores the rich city in which she finds herself. She visits the famed house of Juliet, the heroine of Shakespeare's tragedy, where lovers from all around the world leave messages for Juliet. At the end of the day, the messages are taken down and read by a group called Juliet's Secretaries. This extraordinary collection of women read and answer the messages; giving comfort to the heartbroken, encouragement to the hopeful, and advice to the seekers.
While becoming acquainted with Juliet's Secretaries, the main character Sophie finds a fifty-year-old letter from a woman who did not have the courage to disobey her parents and elope with the love of her life. Sophie writes to the woman, Claire, and becomes entrenched in a beautiful love story. They travel about the countryside together, searching for the man Claire lost so long ago.
After one disappointing day, Claire's grandson berates Sophie, telling her that she doesn't know anything about real loss. Sophie doesn't respond to him, but the audience knows that Sophie's mother left her when she was very young. Claire knows it too, and she goes to comfort Sophie later that evening.
Claire enters Sophie's hotel room and doesn't say much. She comes behind Sophie and takes a hairbrush into her wrinkled hands. "One of the great joys in life is having one's hair brushed," she tells Sophie. No more words are exchanged during the scene. It is quiet and gentle... and I sat there watching it with tears streaming down my cheeks.
It was a sweet and simple moment in the movie and probably not very consequential to most of the movie-goers, but it was the scene that kept me coming back for more. It so clearly demonstrated the concept of nurturing: Claire was a nurturer to that motherless girl, and it was intensely beautiful.
I love how God puts things together. I read a book about the power of being a nurturer, and a clear example is put in front of me - by Hollywood no less! Although I don't have children or a husband, I can be a nurturer to the people God has placed in my path.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)