“It Is Either Valjean or Javert”

Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables is a powerful juxtaposition of Grace and Law represented in the lives of two men.

Valjean represents a life lived by Grace: an ex-convict and parole breaker longing to be innocent, angry at a world where he can never get a fair shake.  He is shown kindness and mercy by a stranger who has “bought his soul for God”.  The circumstances in which this happens confront Valjean with his sin, and he chooses to die to his old self and begin a new life of faith.  From that point on he spends his life and fortune in helping the injured, the poor, the orphaned, the downtrodden of the world.

Javert represents a life lived by the Law: he is an officer of the law, and when Valjean breaks parole Javert makes it his life’s work to hunt down and capture a man he sees as a law-breaker and a thief.  He takes no notice of Valjean’s change of heart or his mercy and generosity to others.  Javert is right, but his righteousness is cold and hard and could never redeem anyone; in fact he’s not interested in redemption, he’s interested only in justice.  In their final confrontation Valjean says to him: “there’s nothing that I blame you for; you’ve done your duty, nothing more.”

In the musical version of Les Miserables, each man sings a song at THE pivotal point in his life.  Valjean’s song starts with the words “What have I done?” after which he begins a new life; Javert’s starts with  “Who is this man?” and ends in his suicide.

The fresh insight is this:  both songs are sung to the same music.  They are two verses of the same song… or more accurately, the two possible responses to Grace upon being confronted with one’s own sin.  Valjean responds with confession and faith; Javert also confesses but cannot bring himself to bend the Law and chooses suicide rather than a life in which there is something greater than the Law.

It’s the choice all of us need to make, sooner or later.  As Javert sings, “It’s either Valjean or Javert“.  It’s either Grace or Law.  The Law kills, but Grace redeems.  It’s either life or death.  God says: “come, let us reason together“.  Which would a reasonable person choose?

Here are the two songs side by side (WordPress permitting!).  Note the richness of the parallels and how often the two men sing the same or similar words, yet end in totally opposite places.

Valjean What have I done? Sweet Jesus, what have I done? Become a thief in the night, Become a dog on the run And have I fallen so far, And is the hour so late That nothing remains but the cry of my hate, The cries in the dark that nobody hears, Here where I stand at the turning of the years? ————————————- If there’s another way to go I missed it twenty long years ago My life was a war that could never be won They gave me a number and murdered Valjean When they chained me and left me for dead Just for stealing a mouthful of bread ——————————- Yet why did I allow that man To touch my soul and teach me love? He treated me like any other He gave me his trust He called me brother My life he claims for God above Can such things be? For I had come to hate the world This world that always hated me ——————————- Take an eye for an eye! Turn your heart into stone! This is all I have lived for! This is all I have known! ——————————– One word from him and I’d be back Beneath the lash, upon the rack Instead he offers me my freedom I feel my shame inside me like a knife He told me that I have a soul, How does he know? What spirit comes to move my life? Is there another way to go? ———————————- I am reaching, but I fall And the night is closing in And I stare into the void To the whirlpool of my sin I’ll escape now from the world From the world of Jean Valjean Jean Valjean is nothing now Another story must begin!

Javert 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….

What Is a “Christian Nation”?

Literally speaking a nation is defined by its government, its laws, and its geographical borders.  How can a nation be said to possess faith?  Unless the nation is a theocracy how can it be said to belong to any one religion?

I suspect too often talk about a  “Christian nation” actually means “if you’re really a Christian you’ll agree with my politics”.  It makes a travesty of the faith and an idol of America.

Here’s my reply to folks who go around trying to remake the American government into something they can worship.  If you like it, feel free to share it.

(click to download and play)

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“Quitting Church”: Author Julia Duin Speaks

Author Julia Duin gave a presentation at Trinity a few months ago (I didn’t jot the date down – it must have been during finals!) and I wanted to share some of the things I came away with.

Julia began by highlighting some of the main points of her book… for example, that church attendance is not the 44% that Gallup reports but is actually closer to 20-30%.  The only churches that are growing are Catholic (which is now roughly 1/3 Hispanic), Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons (both of which use highly aggressive door-to-door recruiting techniques), and the Assemblies of God/Church of God in Christ, which are open to the Charismatic movement.  All other churches and denominations are either static or losing members.

What reasons have interviewees given for the mass exodus?  Here’s a short list:

• Church is a waste of time
  • I’m bored
  • I can accomplish more just staying home and praying for three hours
• Church is irrelevant
  • Pastors live in a bubble.  They don’t commute, get caught in traffic jams.
  • Sermons don’t reflect ‘my world’
• The person had a bad experience with a pastor or other church member(s)
  • Flip side: church members forming “wolf packs” against the pastor
• A feeling of “I’m not needed here”
  • Particularly among singles and women
• Too much “seeker-friendliness”
  • Everything is designed for beginners, little for long-term believers
• God somehow isn’t coming through
• Church makes you feel like a crappy Christian
  • Not enough of seeing God’s promises coming true
• No transparency, leads people to suspect the worst

Some of the interesting Q&As:

Q. What are the three fastest-growing demographic groups?
A.  This will vary by geographic area.  Where the author lives (the suburbs of DC),  the elderly, singles, and foreigners.  How is the church reaching out to these groups?

Q. What advice do you offer?
A. We need to take on some of the groups that are being ignored.  Don’t lose your best and most experienced people – ramp up the teaching and make it more sophisticated.  The church should be geographically close – part of the community, in the sense that if you’re not there people notice.  Find ways to draw people out of isolation, and don’t just target married people with children.  Face-to-face meeting is important.

The “corporate model” of having professionals running each demographic department doesn’t work.  It creates pastoral control freaks.  For this reason the mega-churches won’t last.  Intentional communities are a part of the picture for the future.

Q. What techniques are the successful groups using that work?
A. The Mormons teach their kids what to believe, the families are tight and stand by each other, and they go on missions.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses reach out to people no one else wants.  Both are not afraid of foreigners.  The Assemblies of God/COGIC churches do evangelism and do the basics right; the Holy Spirit is permitted in worship; and there is a high percentage of daily Bible reading.

As an interesting side note, Julia mentioned that Alcoholics Anonymous is growing.  They have a come-as-you-are approach, and you’re missed if you’re not there — a couple other suggestions for attracting people back to church.

Why My Catnip Seedlings Aren’t Growing

I should have known…

Quitting Church: Have You? Will You? Post Here

This is not a book review, even though the book Quitting Church was published last year and is generating some discussion and interest.  I haven’t read the book, but I heard its author speak recently and that’s what prompted this post.

I’d like to hear from you on this subject.  Have you quit church?  If so, what caused you to leave?  Are you still hanging in there but thinking about quitting?  What are some of the issues?

I quit church myself once, in my mid-teens, and stayed out for nearly ten years, because I felt church was too bland.  I figured if the church really knew about a real God there would be more awe in worship… more grandeur… more something that reflected both God’s greatness and God’s compassion.  Yes, I’m back now, but I haven’t forgotten those years; they were formative.

I have a feeling I’m not alone, and neither is the author of Quitting Church, who has quit and decided to stay out.  More about the talk she gave shortly.  For now… what do you think?

Meaningful Worship Leading

This list of worship leading concepts was offered by Dr. Edith Humphrey of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary at the Ancient Wisdom – Anglican Futures Conference, Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge PA today (June 5, 2009).  One of the panelists commented “this alone was worth coming for”.

• Don’t call attention to the fact that you’re worshipping during the worship service (it’s like the characters in Spaceballs watching the Star Wars movie to figure out what to do next)
• Don’t meddle with the historical order of worship. (this is in regard to traditional liturgy – there are reasons things are in the order they are and have been for hundreds of years: it works)
  • Avoid novelty for novelty’s sake.
• Don’t interrupt the flow of the service.  (She offered an example she witnessed of a communion service being interrupted with a skit encouraging the kids to attend Sunday School.)
• Allow for quiet prior to the service.
• Prepare children (and teachers) to receive. (whether it be the sermon, sacraments, or children’s church)
• Allow calm for reflection after reading the Word, and during and after Communion.
• No imposing joy on others. (don’t try to whip up peoples’ emotions; allow room for God to touch them)

She adds: “Watch!  This too is the work of God – we need to get our agendas and presuppositions out of the way.”

To read more about AWAF and the speakers at the conference, check out the blog Ancient Wisdom – Anglican Futures: An Emerging Conversation.

Anglican Futures, Day 2

Today’s lineup at the Ancient Wisdom – Anglican Futures Conference includes:

• Edith Humphrey, Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh PA
• Simon Chan, Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Theological College, Singapore
• D. Stephen Long, Professor of Systematic Theology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
• George Sumner, Professor of World Mission, Wycliffe College, Toronto, Canada
• Dominic Erdozain, Lecturer in the History of Christianity, King’s College, London, England
• Samuel Wells, Professor of Christian Ethics, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC

Plus lots of great panel discussion!  More to come…

Anglican Futures Conference (part 2)

This afternoon’s schedule:

• D.H. Williams, Professor of Religion in Patristics & Historical Theology, Baylor University, Waco, TX
• paper by Tony Clark, Assoc Professor of Ethics, Friends University, Wichita, KS. Presented by Phil Harrold of Trinity School for Ministry.

Quotation from this morning’s session:  “‘Evangelical rationalism’ is a place to defend, a security system, not an experience of God. Rather, faith is a matter of surrender.”

The Anglican Church Meets the Emerging Church

Currently attending, and writing to you from, the Ancient Wisdom – Anglican Futures Conference at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA.  The conference continues all day today, tomorrow, and Saturday morning June 4-6.

If you’d like to follow along, join the Twitter Group at

http://twittgroups.com/group/awaf

This morning’s presenters:

• Jason Clark, Emergent-U.K. and Vineyard Church pastor, Sutton, England
• Holly Rankin Zaher, Director of Student Discipleship, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, TN
• David Neff, Editor-in-Chief and VP, Christianity Today Media Group, Carol Stream, IL

Liberty University Bans Democrats

Following on my post of May 15 – here’s another excellent example of how the “religious right” has lost its way.  Today Liberty University, the school founded by Jerry Falwell, revoked recognition of the College Democrats on campus.  Full story from CNN can be found here.

Quoting from CNN’s story:  “According to the Lynchburg News & Advance, the school decided a week ago the organization “stood against the moral principles” held by the school and therefore could no longer be sanctioned. Maria Childress, the staff adviser to the club, told the paper the school… had issues with the Democratic Party platform.”

The story goes on to say the university feels it is impossible for someone to be a Christian, a Democrat, and a representative of the university.

I wonder where that leaves (lifelong Democrat) Billy Graham?

Additions to the Great Cloud of Witnesses

A moment of silence to remember two amazing women I have been fortunate to call “friend”, both of whom passed away this week.  The first is Barb Jagielski, member of Carnegie Presbyterian Church, a fiesty, fierly lady full of laughter and faith, at much at home in a biker bar as in a church.   The second is longtime friend Helen Jean Elliott, former Admin Asst to John Guest at St. Stephen’s church, more recently retired and attending Christ Church Grove Farm, who gave me my first computer lessons.  Details are on the “Great Cloud of Witnesses” page.

Pie Jesu, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem

H. Res. 397: Yet Another Opportunity To Work Yourself Into a Tizzy

“The Religious Right” vs “The Screaming Secularists”, episode #289 (the saga continues…)

What is it this time? A new House Resolution, H. Res. 397,  introduced by Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia, which would designate the first week of May as America’s Spiritual Heritage Week.  The full text of the bill can be found here.

What is the “Religious Right” take on it? Tom Minnery, Senior Vice President for Government and Public Policy at Focus on the Family Action, calls the bill “one of the more amazing bills ever to have been introduced in Congress” and an “incredible piece of legislation”.  He continues:

“If you take the time to read the bill I guarantee you that you’ll have a new appreciation for the role played by the Christian faith in the founding of our country, and you will be much better equipped to sort through the noise as the debate over the Supreme Court vacancy reaches high decibel levels in the coming weeks.”

The bill is also supported by the Family Research Council and the usual list of conservative religious bloggers.

What is the “Screaming Secularist” take on it? Generally a “kill it quick before it grows” response.  Writers of sympathetic blogs report having received email from the Secular Coalition for America alerting them to the resolution and urging them to go to the SCA site, provide name and address, and the site will create a letter that readers can send to Congress as-is or edited.  And Do It NOW.   Why?

Most of the blogs I read quoted the following  (with or without attribution) from The Huffington Post:

“[Forbes'] list of historical distortions, misrepresentations, and lies has not changed. Therefore, my debunking of his historical hogwash, used last year to stop H. Res. 888, isn’t changing either. Because of the number of lies in Forbes’s resolution… (etc)  The resolution, which purports to promote “education on America’s history of religious faith,” is packed with the same American history lies found on the Christian nationalist websites, and in the books of pseudo-historians like David Barton.”

The real fear, as a couple of blogs put it, is:

There is a larger agenda behind this house resolution that has more to it than simply instituting a national day of prayer and keeping “one nation under God” in the pledge of allegiance. It is an overt attempt at theocracy.

Unfortunately in some cases the previous quote is not far from the mark.  There is a small but very vocal minority of radical-right Christians who believe it is both possible and a religious duty to make America a nation ruled by laws taken verbatim from the Bible.  (I have often debunked such thinking on this blog and will continue to do so.)  However the vast majority of Christians don’t go along with this kind of nonsense; as we study Scripture we quickly come to understand that, as Jesus said, “my kingdom is not of this world“.

Are there other factors involved? Always!  On the “Screaming Secularist” side, one need only look at the accusations they’re making to determine the flaw in their arguments.  In this case, selective use of primary sources is both their beef and their Achilles heel; and their fear of theocracy is only the flip side of the fact that they really would like to see “freedom of religion” become “freedom from religion”.

On the “Religious Right” side, we are witnessing some majorly bruised egos.  Unlike previous presidents, President Obama did not host a formal event for the National Day of Prayer on May 7, nor did he attend any of the related events organized by Beth Moore and Shirley Dobson (wife of James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family).  What’s worse, this comes fast on the heels of Obama’s words during a recent visit to Turkey that “we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation….” And of course FOF is looking to use the political momentum from this bill to influence the next selection of Supreme Court judge.

In short, the “Religious Right” is losing power.  And they don’t like it.  And they’re not sitting still for it.

Where can a thinking Christian stand? Here are some suggestions.   First off, this Focus on the Family vs Obama thing is getting downright personal, and Obama is wearing far better quality teflon than FOF is.  So if you’re an Obama supporter you’re in great shape, and honestly this H. Res. isn’t going to make it any further than the last one did, so I wouldn’t bother getting your knickers in a twist about it.   It’s just a tempest in a shrinking teapot, and Obama is bright enough to know it.

For the rest of us, here are a few things to consider.

• The argument about revisionist history cuts both ways.  Proper and unbiased use of original sources — when the original sources can actually be found — is an extremely rare thing.  The bottom line is, to the victor goes the spoils… and that includes the ability to write history from one’s own point of view.
• If this bill passes, it will most likely backfire on Christians.  It’s highly likely that within the next generation or two the majority religion in America will be Muslim — and then what will America’s Spiritual Heritage Week be celebrating in our schools?  Islam’s victory over three hundred years of spiritual darkness in America?  Does this sound far-fetched?  Have a look at this.
• As Transplanted Lawyer points out in a clever secularist alternate resolution,

“we affirm our belief that the religious convictions and institutions of theistic Americans are surely strong and worthwhile enough to survive on their own merits…” He’s quite right.  At least about the convictions part.

• What the “Religious Right” doesn’t grasp, and will always close its ears to, is that true Christianity is, was, and always will be in the minority.  “The way is narrow and few find it.”  To be a Christian is to put following Jesus Christ and His teaching above all else, including putting Him above love of  self, love of country and love of family… and very few people are willing to do that.  And it means giving up the desire to be right in one’s own eyes in order to follow God’s command to love above all else.
• What the “Screaming Secularists” don’t grasp and don’t want to hear is that real love — real concern for fellow human beings — isn’t about feelings, it’s about aligning oneself in obedience to the God who exists and whose primary property, elementally speaking, is love.  (Not that Christians have always been the best illustrations of this…)

A few words from the ancient prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem to close:

“The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people.  He said:

‘Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,
and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare
Many of them will stumble;
they will fall and be broken,
they will be snared and captured.’

Bind up the testimony
and seal up the law among my disciples.
I will wait for the Lord,
who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.”

- Isaiah 8:11-17

Bank Failures and Debt: What They Don’t Want You to Know

Personal indebtedness, defaulted loans, the economy in a downward spiral.  Do consumers borrow too much?  Undoubtedly.  Do banks lend too much?  Equally sure.  What is Congress doing? Funding recovery programs by borrowing too much from banks who lend too much.

This is the kind of madness that comes from denying the truth.  Alcoholics Anonymous has it right: the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results.

Here’s what they don’t want you to know: A society built on debt cannot stand.

The prophet Moses (of Ten Commandments fame) warns of this:

“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.” (Ex. 22:25)

“Do not take a pair of millstones — not even the upper one — as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man’s livelihood as security.” (Deut 24:6)

“Do not charge your [countryman] interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.  You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother [countryman], so that the LORD your God may bless you…”  (Deut 23:19-20)

What I find interesting is nowhere is the debtor blamed for his or her indebtedness.  Scripture says there will be times when people need to borrow.  It’s embarrassing and humbling to have to ask for a loan.  God sympathizes with the poor, and He knows the hearts of those who take advantage.  So in God’s name the prophet addresses the one making the loan and says: don’t charge interest or take unreasonable securities.

If our nation’s economy depends on charging interest of people who can’t afford to pay it (whether individuals or companies or government agencies) — if our economy is built on exploiting the misfortunes of others — we are breaking the laws of God and of human decency, as well as the laws of economics.

Such a nation will fall, most likely (judging by the lessons of history) into tyranny.

It’s time for debt forgiveness, and it’s time for our corporations and our government to get out of the business of exploiting people’s misfortunes.

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(Side note: On the global level, keep a weather eye on mega-lender World Bank/International Monetary Fund, the dictionary definition of exploitation.  They’re not just worrying the wild-eyed fanatics any more.)

Quote of the Week: “Coming Around”

Found in our Old Testament textbook (LaSor 389) the week before finals, had to share…

Coming Around

And Jonah sulked
to his shaded seat
and waited for God
to come around
to his way of thinking

And God is still waiting
for a host of Jonahs
to come around
to his way of loving.

Happy Easter! With a Rockin’ Hallelujah Chorus

George Handel would have loved it.  Listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah.

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