Bishop David Kendall's Blog

Late yesterday I learned that our good friend and partner in ministry Ryan Bartlett was killed in an auto accident while delivering maize to pastors in need.  Ryan leaves behind a wife, Katie, and three beautiful young daughters–Anna, Lydia, and Ella.  For the past two years a summer highlight for Lavone and me has been the two to three weeks we spent in Malawi in August with theBartletts.  Here is my lament for our friend and colleague.

In the abstract I hardly ever ask those why-questions. I often rather easily draw fine distinctions: when bad things happen to good people my world can be rocked but not my world-view.  But when it's someone you know well, it's different.  When it's someone you know well, it feels right to ask, "Why?" And besides, you can't help yourself.

Ryan, missionary extraordinaire–gifted, fruitful, committed, passionate about Christ-following, insightful into the new culture he was learning, effective in sorting out the difference between Malawian and Kingdom, gaining the confidence of the indigenous church–all of this and so much more bode so well, so great for the future.  But now, Lord, why?

Ryan–devoted husband, clearly in love with Katie, devoted father, each of his little girls the apple of the eye to him, so much promise for the future cut short, cut off.  Why?

Missionary extraordinaire, I say.  Not only had he said "yes" to God's call, left home, established a new life in a place strange to him and his family, but in the wake of that "Yes," he was saying "yes" in other ways: Yes, we can help our pastors who will not have food because of drought and killer market prices.  Yes, we can buy some ahead of the need, and get it to our brothers and sisters when the need becomes urgent.  Yes, we can do it!  And in the midst of saying "Yes!"–in the midst of doing it, suddenly there was the "No" of an accident and the end of a life.  Why?

So, Lord, I am asking, "Why?"  Just as I know many are asking.  I know how to answer in the abstract.  But in the middle of this painful tragedy,  no answer really answers.  So, why?

I'm asking why because your people have a long history with this question: "Why, Lord?"  I'm asking because it raises the question of meaning.  The very asking of the question bears witness to meaning–that some how, some way, purpose penetrates everything.  I don't mean that you did this for a purpose (as some might say).  I do mean that your purposes remain and will prevail and that even this outrageous accident will somehow count.  I don't know how, so I'm asking the question, but still I believe.

I'm asking "why?" not so much in anger–though I am angry–but in pain.  And, in hope that the pain will find relief eventually, and until then will serve some other good purposes.

I'm asking "why?" but not because I want an answer–what information or explanation could take away the pain?  What answer could change what has happened?  I'm asking "why?" because I want these kinds of things to stop.  I want a day to come when no one will ask this question again!  Why, Lord?

Asking this why-question now, in view of what happened to Ryan, which was so shocking, so unthinkable, brings a reality check nearly as jolting as the accident that took Ryan's life.  This obedience to Christ's call is as serious as it gets.  It could cost you your life.  That doesn't scare me, it sobers me.  I don't want to squander opportunities or fritter away time–both of which could be in shorter supply than I know.  I want to redeem the time.  I want to love well.  I want to cherish the family and the FAMILY.  I want "to go" in "the act," like Ryan did–in the act of obedience, of faith working itself out in love toward others.  If my family and friends ever have to grieve my untimely loss I would want the last images I leave them to reflect the life of the age to come, when no one will be asking the question I am asking–Why, Lord?

So, Lord, a lot of us are asking it.  "Why?' 

Hear our question.  Please hear us.  And, then, please become the answer we need.  And, then Lord, please say, "No more!"

Our nation has spoken and created an historic moment with the election of the first African American to the Presidency.  Perhaps it will be a hinge moment finally ending a sad chapter dark with racism and beginning a new chapter that reflects more consistently some of the nation's most treasured ideals.  Historic moments present earnest Christ-followers with strategic kingdom opportunities.  Surely we must discern and make the most of the opportunities.  Such discernment will take time, but here are some apostolic counsels that seem timely and helpful.

The first Christ followers heard the Spirit's directive in Paul's exhortation:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Savior,  for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.   For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.   He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time (1 Timothy 2:1-6, NLT).

Free Methodists must become intercessors for President Obama, his Cabinet, and the Congress he leads.  Remember who was in power when Paul called the church to pray.  Remember the contagious and nearly irresistible kingdom movement that swept across the then known world, in part through the governments of those ruling authorities.  More hopeful still, our President Elect professes to know and follow Christ.  While that offers no certain guarantees, we should surely pray that the Word and Spirit of Christ at work in his heart guides his work as President.

Another counsel from the Apostle Paul also seems appropriate.  To the Philippian Church he wrote: Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8, NLT).  Paul assumes that God is always at work, and that it is possible to identify at least some of the good God is working.  Then, if identified, we can cheer the good on and collaborate with the good against the Evil One.

Last night we heard two excellent addresses.  One spoke out of defeat and the other out of victory.  Both, however, sounded similar themes.  Both expressed humility and extended grace.  Both acknowledged the collaborative efforts that led to that moment.  Both recognized that the challenges we face call for commitment to what transcends individual or party concerns.  Both at least hinted that the way forward will call for the sacrifice of self.  Both spoke words of hope and confidence.  And both recognize that we have opportunities to bless the world more by our values and ideals than by the politics of power.

Consider the good–humility, grace, collaboration or unity, self-sacrifice, hope, blessing for the world.  Surely we who follow the One who embodies such good have strong encouragement to pray confidently, and to collaborate courageously with the good we see around us–all for, and in service to, the One whose steadfast love remains the bottom line. 

 

 

      In just a few short days we will exercise a precious privilege and an awesome responsibility.  We will cast our ballots, participating in national, state, and local elections.  What a privilege we enjoy–ask people in other parts of the world.  What a responsibility we have–to vote according to conscience and conviction.  Please don't deny yourself the privilege or avoid the responsibility!

      Unfortunately, come Tuesday evening many people will be disappointed, even within the larger Christian community of faith.  Though we claim the same Lord Jesus, we are certainly not of the same mind on many things, not least on politics.  With a view to the inevitable disappointment and, perhaps, disillusionment some of us may feel, I've been recalling some important principles from our Scriptures.  For example the prophet reminds us "'for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.  'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isa. 55: 8-9).  Indeed, as the apostle Paul observes, "where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God make foolish the wisdom of the world? . . .  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strengths" (1 Cor. 1:20,25).

      These Scriptures, among many others, caution us against arrogance in the wake of electoral "victory" and dispair in the wake of "defeat."  We must be very careful in claiming victory for God or in concluding "God has lost."  Divine ways and human ways (even when Christian) often move in different directions!  While we must vote according to the best "light" we have, we remain humbled by the limitations of human perception and hopeful that God does not share our limitations even when it seems things have not turned out well.

      These Scriptures warn all God's people–on the right, the left, or in the middle–not to marry God's Kingdom-agenda to any political process. We are agents of his kingdom, ultimately representing a way of being and doing that does not reduce to slogans and sound bytes.  Whatever party or candidate wins, we have a King to serve and a Kingdom to model.  To the Romans, embroiled in various squabbles, Paul said "for the Kingdom of God

is not a matter of . . ., but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). 

      What a thought! Perhaps our whole-hearted attention to these primary matters of the Kingdom may accomplish more in the long run than the politics of our day.  Wouldn't that be a strange way for God to work?

As you know, earlier this week the two major presidential candidates vying for our votes participated in a town-hall style debate.  As a context for debate, the US economy stood under threat in the wake of profound loss of confidence in the governments and financial structures undergirding global economies.  People tuned in burdened with stress, fear, anger, anxiety, and uncertainty.  Questions put to the candidates bore eloquent witness to their feelings.  Granted, these woes had only recently formed like some kind of perfect storm and slammed us all.  And so, granted, one could hardly expect a detailed plan for addressing the aftermath of the storm’s visitation.

Remarkably, however, it was as if the candidates emerged from some protective political bubble, armed with their best stump speeches capable of multiple but superficial variations, which they then put to use to respond (but not to answer) questions from the moderator, the studio audience, and via the Internet.  The questions came from the midst and from the edges of the storm and the candidates responded from the bubble, as though the storm weren’t ravaging or we were over-reacting.  On these matters no true debate happened that mattered, just a lot of disappointment.

Not to belabor the point, but …

• No clear, impassioned acknowledgment of the reality
• No promises to learn from the mistakes and not to repeat them
• No vow to deal with the crooks and reckless who are most responsible
• No acknowledgment that all (or at least most) of us are complicit through relentless pursuit of things and through seeking quick and easy returns on investments (perhaps "gambles")
• No first steps identified that show signs of serious reflection and suggest specific targeted action
• No sober assessment that the typical partisan approaches to government, business, and market contributed something to the development of this perfect storm. leaving obviously partisan responses to it equally obviously inadequate
• No convincing sign (despite repeated assertions) that the candidates can rise above partisan ways of seeing and responding
• No credible assurances that we will find a way, when we put aside our special interests in a concerted pursuit of the common good AND
• No good answer to the question of sacrifice–what sacrifices will you call the people to make, as well as no answer to a question as good if not better: what sacrifices are you willing to make in the course of leading us through the storm, should you have the chance!

Friends, I would humbly assert that what is missing is precisely a transcendent Kingdom (or any) perspective.  Jesus is Lord, our foundational and core confession insists.  Well, Lords get their way.  Lords lead.  Jesus the Lord, who announced a Kingdom come, knows the way and leads us in that way.  And, astonishingly his way offers a way forward with respect to many of these questions.  His way suggests that the perfect storm leaves the landscape littered with opportunity for those who will truly follow his lead.

Just to begin thinking about how: Jesus the Lord said if you want to live you must die, if you want it all, you must give it all up, if you humble yourself you will be lifted up when the time is right.  Think about it and then think again about the question of sacrifice.  As you think, remember something else he taught, one’s life does not consist in the abundance of things possessed.  Amazingly, those who lose it for his cause somehow gain much more.  He promises we would never have to do life alone, but would send his Spirit.  His Spirit is not the Spirit of bondage or fear, but the Spirit of family love, so that when one receives his Spirit one cries Abba–dear Dad!  Dad who knows and who cares, even when we don’t know, even when we think we know but in fact don’t, even before we can ask when we really do know.  Dad who really desires what is best for us.  Dad who gives himself for us, like every dad worth his salt as dad does for his children.  Dad who is so trustworthy we don’t need to worry.  Dad whose gifts are such that he even somehow makes it possible in the light of his love for us to come clean, to admit we need help, and then somehow provides us what we need to say, "OK, I will trust you."  Dad, who when trusted, makes the rest history–that is, his story.  A good, good story with the best ending, which is not really an ending at all, but a new beginning, minus all the perfect storms.

Yes, lots of opportunities for those who know, and trust and share their DAD’s bounty. 

Yes, lots of opportunities for those of us who know that Jesus is Lord and who follow that way, come what may, no matter the party lines.