Mirror, Mirror On the Wall

Recently I watched a TED Talk by Dr. Abigail Marsh who explored "Why some people are more altruistic than others." As a clinical psychologist, she studied extremely altruistic people, or very compassionate people. Among other things, she discovered that very compassionate people simply don't see themselves at the center of any situation. They don't view themselves as being any different than anyone else. Their common understanding is, "It's not about me." 

It reminded me of the ancient Greek myth about Narcissus. As the story goes, Narcissus was so proud he rejected those who loved him. Instead, he saw his reflection in a pool and fell in love, not realizing that it was just a self-reflection. In fact, he became so enamored with the reflection, he lost his will to live and stared at the reflection until he died.

There is an obvious difference between someone who sees themselves at the center in every situation and someone who rarely if ever see themselves at the center. The later we would call "humble." You see, humility is not thinking ill about yourself. Humility is rarely thinking about yourself at all. 

In the Christian tradition, this is not really self-sacrifice so much as it is self-forgetfulness. 

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel pronounced an oracle of judgement against the king of Tyre. Some say this is a description of the fall of Satan, but there is no question that in the context, the power behind the throne in Tyre was the kingdom of darkness. And so there are references to the king of Tyre being in Eden, etc. After all, the self-centered human way of thinking was first introduced in the Garden by the Serpent. So, the fall of Satan is the archetypal story behind Ezekiel's prophecy (and so many of our stories).   

In Ezekiel's prophecy, the king of Tyre is enamored with the extent of his wisdom and beauty. And that was his ultimate downfall. "Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and your corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth...you have come to a horrible end" (28:17, 19). When he began to spend too much time noticing his wisdom and beauty, those very qualities were corrupted, leading to his doom.

It seems like the formation of all the other character qualities of Christ assume true humility. When I notice I am patient, at that moment I cease being patient. When I notice I am compassionate, I cease being compassionate. If I take time to see how wise I am, what a servant I am, those things dissipate in my view in the mirror.

What is called for is self-forgetfulness. (Is this kind of self-forgetfulness more difficult for introverts?) When I stop seeing myself at the center, I gain a better, more helpful view of others. When "It's not about me" is more than a slogan, my life takes on a whole new level of meaning and potential fruitfulness.

As a disciple of Jesus, trying real hard to see others at the center is probably not going to work very well. What is needed is learning, by grace, to see Jesus at the center. To the extent that I see Jesus at the center, I will gain his perspective on life and my immediate circumstance, and that will include his perspective on the lives of those around me. The truth of self-forgetfulness as worship has the power to set us free!

Waiting for the Right Clothes

Those Spring days in Jerusalem must have been glorious - and disorienting. The Rabbi from Nazareth had died a criminal's death, resulting in the scattering of his followers, some of them returning to fishing. And then the strange news that he had risen from the dead. At first it seemed like a tale told by hysterical women. Then more and more said they had actually encountered their risen Lord.

I don't know about you, but encountering a person who had publicly died but was now living, breathing and walking among us would have been a life-changing experience! And Jesus didn't just show up from time to time. He offered his followers a variety of convincing proofs over a period of 40 days. 

He met two men on the road to Emmaus, and after breaking bread, giving thanks and giving them bread, he revealed himself to them and then simply vanished (Luke 24:13-35).

Jesus then appeared to his followers, showing them his scars and eating some food to demonstrate that he was not a ghost or an hallucination but the real flesh-and-blood risen Lord (Luke 24:36-44; John 20:19-22).

When Thomas needed more proof, Jesus visited his followers again, this time with Thomas among them, offering an even more intimate examination of his resurrected body (John 20:24-28).

When seven of the disciples went fishing, Jesus met them on the shore, prepared and served them breakfast (John 21:1-14).

Before he returned to the right hand of the Father, he met with 500 followers at one time, providing proofs of his resurrection and giving them final instructions (Acts 1:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

You would think that would have been enough. Surely the disciples are now ready to begin extending the mission of Christ to the whole world, announcing the Good News that the King and his Kingdom had come. They would even be ready to give their lives in the service of their true King. 

But that doesn't seem to be the case. In fact, Jesus had to visit them many times and offer many proofs of his resurrection. Even then, seven of them were so discouraged they decided to return to fishing. They were not only unready to share in the mission, they really didn't understand the nature of the mission. They still thought it was all about restoring the ancient glories of Israel (Acts 1:6). They couldn't see past a nationalistic version of God's kingdom. 

Even after Jesus returned to the Father, the 120 had to resort to drawing lots in order to replace Judas. At least they were obedient enough to obey the instruction of Jesus to remain in Jerusalem, until...

Fortunately, Jesus knew what was going to be needed to activate his Kingdom community. Jesus clearly understood the nature of the Kingdom and the nature of his mission. For that reason, he had given them a promise. 

"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21-22). 

"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5).

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

It didn't really matter whether or not they understood the nature of God's Kingdom or the mission Jesus was on. It didn't matter that they were still afraid and confused. All they needed to do was wait. After all, these men and women were not going to carry on the mission of God by committee or because they were expert strategic planners.  

In the end, everything depended on the coming of God's Spirit. The Spirit of Christ was to be the ongoing presence and power of Christ working in and with them, as individuals and as a community. The person of the Holy Spirit was going to be their Advocate. He would come as the spirit of truth. He would teach them and remind them of everything Jesus had taught (John 14:15-18, 26). The Holy Spirit would inform, empower and lead the ongoing mission of Christ, enabling the Christ-followers to testify about him. The Holy Spirit would lead the way in convincing the world concerning God's Rule. (John 15:26,27; 16:7-11). The Spirit would work through the community to glorify Jesus and speak on his behalf (John 16:12-15).

It should be no surprise that the 120 members of the community would be unable to do anything but wait. They would not be God's Kingdom Community without the presence, power and leadership of God's Kingdom. The church was to be, and is, a Holy Spirit community.

The disciples of Jesus would be proclaiming the Good News "by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:8). Church leaders were to be appointed who were "full of the Spirit" (Acts 6:5). They were to be given ministry assignments by the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 16:6-8; 20:22). The church would need to be "encouraged by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:31). The proof that the Gospel was prevailing among new people groups was the obvious initiation by the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-16; 15:8).

So while the 120 waited in the upper room, spending 10 days praying and worshipping, in the end, they could not go forward as God's new covenant kingdom community without the Holy Spirit. That's why we say that the church was born on the Day of Pentecost.

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4).