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THOUGHTFULLY DRIVING THE PORCELAIN BUS

A Column by John S Schroeder

March 1, 2003

Two very interesting observations juxtaposed themselves this week. The first is that most of the peace protesters are selfish. The second is that we have an all-volunteer military. Let me develop each of them and then look at the ramifications.

Think about the names of the peace movements - "Not in MY Name." Think about the sentiments – "No blood for oil," or "Would you want your son to die in this war?" Now, think about the words of Christ, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13--KJV) Can you see the difference in perspective? For the peace protestors, despite the fact that many of them claim the name of Christ, there is no cause larger than their own neighborhood. Their stance on the war is based almost solely on a local point of view. They are concerned not about the good of mankind, but only about the good of their immediate vicinity. They do not want their friends and relatives to die. Most of all, as long as the evil has not affected them directly; they are content to tolerate it existence.

Contrast this with our military. These are men and women that have CHOSEN to stand in harms way for the greater good. Does this not beg the question, "Who is acting in God’s image?" There was an article in the Washington Post this week about how soldiers are preparing for war not only militarily, but also spiritually. I wonder if these are what are derisively called "battlefield conversions" or if they are not really something deeper. The term "battlefield conversion" was coined to indicate someone who comes to Christ only in time of stress, to then forget Him when things settle down. Maybe instead, by modeling Christ’s behavior in their willingness to die for the greater good, they are compelled to seal that behavior with an articulated religious conversion.

In the preceding three paragraphs we have managed to develop some of the deepest themes of the Christian life. One is the relationship of conversion and behavior, and then how the behavioral aspects affect a Christian’s perspective on self-interest and the greater good. The relationship between conversion and behavior is something that I have talked about here over and over. Being a Christian is about more than simply, "Saying ‘YES’ to Jesus," – It is about having your life changed, being "born again," being a "new creation."

One of the greater aspects of that re-creation that occurs with genuine conversion is that one begins to move beyond one’s own self-interest and into the interest of the greater good. We have Christ’s words above, but consider also the words of the Apostle Paul, "³Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; ⁴do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus," (Phil 2:3-5 -- NAS)

In this observation I think we move to the very heart of what bothers me about a lot of what is happening in the church today. I hear the church asking what it will take to survive instead of what is right way to reach people. I see people coming to the church and asking, "What’s in it for me?" and the church now endeavoring to supply it. The fact of the matter is that EVERYTHING is in the church for you, but the only way you will ever get it is to stop asking the question ad to start asking "What is best for them."

My critics might respond that I have written time and again how the church should be taking care of it’s own and isn’t that a violation of the principle I have just illuminated so clearly. My response is "no" -- Not if one views the church in a pyramidal fashion. The pastor should be asking what is best for the Session. The Session should be asking what is best for the members, and the members should be asking what is best for the outsiders. Instead, the pastor is asking what is best for the outsiders and the Session and members can come along for the ride, or not. But I don’t really want to beat this drum anymore right now.

Here’s my question to you – Are you ready to lay your life down for the other? -- It may be in the context of this war, but there is a context for you. It may not be a literal death; it may be a "little" death. Are you willing to eat less to give the money to those that need it more? Are you willing to suffer persecution from inside and outside the church for standing up for Christ? Are you willing to lose your job to maintain your ethics?

If you are not, then I strongly suggest you reexamine your relationship with Christ. It is quite possible that all this "battlefield conversion" that is happening in Kuwait is far more genuine than what you have experienced.

With Love,