Advice to Woman With Unresolved Guilt Falls Short, Both Psychologically and Biblically

 © 2014 The Wired Word

www.thewiredword.com

A couple of weeks ago, a woman wrote to advice columnist Emily Yoffe, who writes the "Dear Prudence" column for Slate. The woman, who is a grandmother, explained that one day when she was a young girl, she accidentally bruised herself at school by doing something clumsy. When she came home, her mother noticed and asked what happened. The woman said that her mother "was always making me feel stupid," so instead of telling what really happened, she said that her teacher pinched her.
"I was hoping for a little 'poor baby' from her and then the whole thing would blow over," the woman wrote.
That didn't happen. Her mother became enraged, went to the school and accused the teacher. An investigation ensued, and the girl was too scared to back down. The teacher was either fired or quit to avoid criminal charges.
"I felt terrible, especially when she asked me, in tears, why I was telling that lie," the woman wrote. "It has always bothered me since."
The woman added that the event "is so far in the past that I can't see what I can do to make restitution to the teacher. Surely she is retired by now." Nonetheless, she said, she would like to do "something."
Her letter was signed "Guilty."
In her reply, Yoffe said that the fact that the woman continued to be haunted by this incident showed she was a decent person. Yoffe advised "Guilty" that since there was little likelihood that she could find the teacher, she shouldn't try to do so. Besides, Yoffe said, the teacher was probably able to continue her career elsewhere, and it could be hoped that she had put the incident behind her. Yoffe suggested that "Guilty" donate some money to a group such as the Innocence Project, which works to exonerate the wrongfully convicted. The columnist concluded, "Now it's time to recognize [that] the person who did it was a hurting little girl, and forgive her."
The Wired Word team doesn't think Yoffe's reply went far enough. One team member, Malia Miller, who was a high-school-level guidance counselor for many years and now teaches others who are in school to be counselors, said, "The suggestion from the advice columnist is a great plan B, but to really achieve the closure this woman is longing for, she should make an effort to find the teacher and seek forgiveness. What a gift for the teacher to be exonerated -- even at such a late date -- as well as redemption for the grandmother. Even if she is unsuccessful in finding her former teacher, the effort made can be very therapeutic to her emotional healing. That is the clinical view from my standpoint, but I believe it mimics the Christian journey of repentance and forgiveness taught in the scriptures."
More on this and related stories can be found at these links:
Lies and Consequences. Slate
I'll Tell You No More Lies. Slate
Embezzler Comes Clean 41 Years Later. Spokane Chronicle
The Big Questions
1. The gospel tells us that when we receive Christ, he forgives us our past sin. When we have wronged someone else in our past, is forgiveness from Christ sufficient, or do we also need to seek the forgiveness of that person insofar as possible? Explain your reasoning. What if we fail to, are unable to or do not succeed?
2. When we feel guilt over hurting someone in the past, what factors should be considered in deciding whether to seek that person out to apologize or make amends?
3. When we do seek out and apologize to someone we long ago hurt, and that person forgives us, does that end our responsibility in the matter and are we then absolved of our guilt? Is there anything else we should do?
4. When we do seek out and apologize to someone we long ago hurt, and that person refuses to forgive us, does that end our responsibility in the matter and are we then absolved of our guilt? What about when the person we hurt cannot be found or has died?
5. When both God and the person we've hurt forgive us, sometimes we nonetheless continue to feel guilty. What should we do about those feelings?
6. It's possible to become too accepting of guilt feelings -- perhaps deeming them an inevitable part of the human condition -- and thus allowing such feelings to lose their power to drive us toward redemption. How can we avoid that without wallowing in guilt for things that have been forgiven?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Matthew 5:23-24
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. (No context needed.)
These words from Jesus provide a solid basis for the practice of seeking reconciliation with people we've hurt as part of an ongoing life of worship and faith.
Questions: What would you say to the woman who signed herself "Guilty"? What advice do you think Jesus would give the woman? What does this verse say to you about work you need to be doing?
Is it better to work out our differences before we worship with each other, or is it better to worship together as a prelude to or means of reconciliation? Does it even matter? What do we do if someone refuses to be reconciled?
Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (For context, read 2:1-12.)
Psalm 51:4
Against you, you alone, have I sinned ... (For context, read 51:1-17.)
This line from Mark is Jesus' first comment to the paralyzed man who had been lowered through the roof of a house where Jesus was. Jesus' comment may seem odd, because the man on the mat hadn't said anything about needing forgiveness. Given Jesus' reputation as a healer, it was obvious this man had been brought to Jesus to be healed. And, as far as anything in the text tells us, this man on the mat was a stranger to Jesus, so how did Jesus know he needed to be forgiven?
The answer has to be that Jesus knew that the man had a greater need, which, if not taken care of, would leave him crippled in mind and spirit even after his body was healed. Jesus did heal the man's body, but by also pronouncing him forgiven, Jesus made the man truly whole.
Although a surface reading of the story suggests that Jesus did this with no merit on the part of the man on the mat, Mark tells us that after this man was lowered through the roof, "Jesus saw their faith." At minimum, "their faith" refers to that of the people who were convinced enough that Jesus could help their friend that they tore the roof open. But Mark's comment about faith probably also includes the man on the mat, for he allowed himself to be the centerpiece of this bold move of his friends. And it was only after Jesus saw their faith that he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
The psalmist reminds us that, in a very real sense, all our sins are against God, not against fellow creatures. It is a stark reminder of our relationship as responsible creatures to the Creator.
The point we can take from these Bible passages is this: We don't have to be crippled by the guilty weight of our past sins, misdeeds, mistakes, selfish actions or hurting of someone else. But it is not simply a matter of "forgiving ourselves." We know what's intended by that phrase and it has a worthwhile meaning, but technically, forgiveness is not the possession of the transgressor to give. If I have hurt you, you may choose to forgive me, but I can't just say "I forgive myself" and have fully dealt with my guilt.

More realistically, we should seek forgiveness from the one we have hurt -- when that is possible -- and we should seek forgiveness from God. That's because the opposite of guilt is not innocence, but grace -- the grace of those whose forgiveness we seek and, importantly, the grace of God extended through Jesus Christ.
Questions: What does "forgiving yourself" actually mean? How does what it means fit as a part of seeking forgiveness from those we've hurt? Why should we also seek forgiveness from God, even when our wrongdoing was not intentionally aimed at him?

How would you feel, having a complaint against someone who hurt you deeply, if that person felt off the hook because of receiving Jesus' forgiveness, especially if that person, as part of his or her testimony, told of the past wrongdoing and then bragged that the slate had been wiped clean?
Romans 3:21-24
But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ... (For context, read 3:9-26.)
Martin Luther found great help for his guilt from Romans 3. He was concerned that he might forget a sin and fail to confess it, and, as a result, lose out on salvation. Over time, and especially through his reading of Romans 3, he came to the understanding and reassurance that simply confessing one's sinfulness or one's sins "en masse," even if you can't recall every last one to confess individually (and who can?) is sufficient because our salvation is assured by God's grace, not by any work we do -- not even the "work" of confession!
Questions: In what sense is sin universal? Do you think anyone gets through life without feeling guilty for something he or she has done? What does that tell you about the need for grace?
How might "Guilty's" sin as a child have been caught up with the fear she had for her home situation (which is possibly where the real cause of the sin lies) and the brokenness from past generations that may have led to the difficult situation in which she was raised?
1 John 1:8-9
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, [God] who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (For context, read 1:5-10.)
These two verses are commonly used as the introduction to the ritual confession and absolution in some denominational worship books. The implication is that confession is a necessary step on the way to absolution.
In terms of the woman in the advice column letter, there is good that could come -- both for her and for her teacher, if she is found -- by confessing and apologizing to the one who was hurt. But if that proves impossible, this passage could remind her and others riddled with such guilt that God is faithful and just and forgives us all our sins when we confess to him.
Questions: What do you think led John to make this bold assertion about the pervasiveness of sin? Why do you suppose he said denial of one's sin is self-deception?
Micah 7:19
[God] will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (For context, read 7:18-20.)
When we repent of whatever we have done wrong, others may or may not remember our past, but as far as God is concerned, we have no reputation to live down. We may have work to do with those we've hurt, but as far as God is concerned, our sins of the past are not merely forgiven; they are forgotten.
This verse tells us that God pitches our sins into "the depths of the sea." We suspect he then posts a "no fishing" sign.
Questions: What hope do you take from this verse? How does this help with guilt you feel regarding someone with whom you cannot reconcile because they have died or cannot be located?
For Further Discussion
1. Comment on this, from team member Joanna Loucky-Ramsey: "I agree the advice given by Prudence is not particularly helpful, except for the part that she needs to forgive herself. But that does not erase her haunting guilt any more than waving a magic wand makes someone a princess. Nor does it make things right for the teacher, who very likely did not find another teaching position as the columnist seems to naively believe she could do easily. I do not agree that the woman should make no effort to find the teacher she wronged. And if she cannot find her, she could at least contact the school where the teacher taught, confess to the school board so that the teacher's name could at long last be cleared. That is closer to some kind of justice than sweeping it under the rug and pretending it never happened and that a woman's reputation was not damaged.
     "And beyond that, the question of how one gets forgiveness or makes amends remains. The woman's relationship with the teacher, with the community at large and with God are all involved. If she is ever to really feel whole again, each of these relationships needs to be addressed. And beyond that, her self-image of herself as a liar needs to be transformed, which can only happen when she finds forgiveness and cleansing from her sin through the blood Jesus shed for her. In a way, it doesn't matter why she lied, although we can all empathize with her childhood fear and hunger to be loved that were behind her lie. What matters is that that one deed had haunted her her whole life, and completely changed the teacher's life as well. She caused unimaginable pain to her teacher and needs to find genuine redemption."
2. Discuss this story that was shared with TWW anonymously: "Our family suspects that my grandma slept with my grandpa out of wedlock and then felt obligated to marry him. Divorced when their second baby (my mom) was only six months old, she seemed to carry a heavy burden of guilt her whole life. Though she never talked about the details, her somber personality (some would say 'dour') and what we see in hindsight as depression point to unresolved guilt. Not long before her death at age 85, in private and without offering specifics, she asked my dad, a pastor, what to do about a sin she couldn't forgive herself for. His response went something like this: 'You give it to Jesus, because he has already forgiven you.' Of course we hope she took his counsel to heart, but it's a shame she had to wait so long to experience peace."
3. Comment on this: In their book If Grace Is True, Phillip Gulley and James Mulholland suggest that in heaven, each of us will sit between two people. On one side will be the person we need most to forgive and on the other side will be the person who most needs our forgiveness. Perhaps the authors are saying that part of the work of heaven is the reconciliation of all things. That sounds like a lot of work, but perhaps that's what eternity is for.
4. In his book Amish Grace, Donald Kraybill and coauthors say that according to the Amish, forgiveness is automatic, whether or not the person wishes to forgive, wants to be forgiven or deserves it. Pardon requires victim and victimizer to work together. Reconciliation takes even more work. From this position, what might the Amish advise the woman who wrote to the advice columnist?
Responding to the News
We ought not to assume that because our friends and fellow parishioners are Christians, none experience any guilt over things in the past. It's good to preach and teach occasionally -- even to longtime Christians, including ourselves -- that God forgives sin and that it's important to seek to right old wrongs, when possible.

Closing Prayer

Lord, forgive us our sins, both as we forgive those who have sinned against us and as we seek forgiveness from those against whom we have sinned. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Commencement Speeches Dole Out Wisdom; So Does the Bible

© 2014 The Wired Word

www.thewiredword.com

At colleges and universities across America, graduating students and their families are being addressed these weeks by individuals, usually either famous or high achievers in their field, who have presumably learned some valuable lessons from life and who have been invited to share their wisdom with the graduating class. In so doing, these speakers are continuing a tradition that dates back to at least 1774, when Barnabas Binney addressed the graduating class of Rhode Island College (now Brown University).

During the past week, NPR devoted a couple of program segments to "great" commencement speeches, analyzing not only those of the 2014 graduation season, but also many speeches from previous years. In one segment, Anya Kemenetz reported that the lectures typically contain some or all of the following elements, numbering down to those that occur most often:

12. Be kind.
11. You only live once.
10. Make art.
9. Seek balance between work and the rest of life.
8. Dream.
7. Remember the lessons of history.
6. Embrace failure.
5. Work hard.
4. Don't give up.
3. Listen to your inner voice.
2. General tips, such as "Use money to buy experiences, not things" and "Don't ruminate on bad events."
1. Change the world.

In the other NPR segment, Cory Turner noted that commencement messages in general fall into one of two different kinds. One is the type that tells the graduates, in some form, that they are special. Turner summarized this type as "Follow your heart because life is about you and your specialness."

The other kind, said Turner, is the speech that tells graduates, "You're not special." Turner said, "The goal of the 'You're Not Special' speech is to say to grads: "As hard as you've worked, you also lucked into plenty, including your parents and your country." This kind of speech includes the theme that with luck comes obligation, and thus, graduates should find a way to serve.

Turner said that the two kinds of speeches complement each other, and that taken together, they say, "Congratulations. You are special. Just remember ... so is everybody else."

More on this story can be found at these links:

Anatomy of a Great Commencement Speech. NPR
What We Learned From the Best Commencement Speeches Ever. NPR

Some sample speeches from the 2014 commencement season:

Ret. Gen. Colin Powell Urges HPU Grads to Dream Big, Give Back. News & Record
Jill Abramson's Commencement Speech at Wake Forest [about resilience]. Washington Post
John Kerry to Boston College Graduates: 'Set the World Aflame.' BostInno
Tory Burch to Babson Graduates: 'If It Doesn't Scare You, You're Not Dreaming Big Enough.' BostInno
George Stephanopoulos' Commencement Address to the Class of 2014 [Err in the Direction of Kindness]. Franklin & Marshall College
[William G. Bowen] Blasted [Haverford Students] for Being Arrogant and Immature [Value Openness and Mutual Respect]. Business Insider

About Biblical Wisdom Literature
Since the wisdom strand in the Bible tends to be less well known than the prophetic and salvation strands, you may find it helpful to share the following with your class:

"Wisdom" in ancient Israel was a belief that both the physical and moral realms of the world operated according to orderly principles that people could perceive, and that if one lived in harmony with this order, things would go well for that person. The books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, as well as some of the Psalms and portions of other biblical books (including James in the New Testament), are usually considered wisdom literature. In general, they do not contain references to the temple, priests or covenant, or to heavenly rewards or divine punishment. Rather, the goal was to achieve fullness of life, characterized by well-being and happiness. People who cooperated with this order of life were wise. Those who did not were fools.

This is akin to the concept of "natural law" in philosophy, which states that human reason (rational and reflective thought) can help one discover moral rules of life. Paul refers to this when he states that "what the law requires is written on [the Gentiles'] hearts" (Romans 2:15).

To understand biblical wisdom, it's helpful to consider what was happening in Israel when most of those biblical books were composed. Earlier in the Old Testament, though the Israelites often displeased God, they understood their relationship with God as based on a covenant requiring their obedience and righteousness. The priests held special authority as mediators of that covenant. After Israel became a monarchy, things changed. King Solomon, especially, turned from God. Israel was now involved in international political and economic relationships and absorbed many different peoples. The nation for the first time struggled with cultural and religious pluralism. This period of Israel's history might be called a kind of "renaissance" where the old traditions and old ways began to seem irrelevant. Israel was fast becoming a secular society.

As Solomon and others turned away from the priests, another breed of teacher began to gain respect, known as "the wise." Neither priests nor prophets, these men simply observed life and drew conclusions about how best to live. Theirs was not a godless belief. In fact, in the very first chapter of Proverbs is this verse: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (1:7). But it was a belief system in which God was addressed not by sacrifice in the temple, but by cooperation with the order God had built into life as the common property of all humanity.

While from a Christian standpoint, the wisdom literature may seem like religion-lite, we have to acknowledge that our culture today is more like the secular world of Solomon than the covenant world of Moses. For some, the wisdom motif -- do good because it pays off -- is a more compelling reason to do the right thing than because God commands it. So in a way, the concept behind wisdom teaching can be a connecting point with nonbelievers because that teaching speaks the language of the world. This is not a compromise with the secular; it is a bold statement that God's revelation is applicable not merely to Christians, but is consistent with Reality with a capital "R."

The Big Questions

1. Where can Christians obtain wise counsel that is in line with God's will?

2. What is the criteria we should use to separate bad advice from good? How do we do that?

3. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? What are the dangers of knowledge without wisdom?

4. In what ways might biblical wisdom be an avenue to reach people who are resistant to the gospel?

5. Have you ever heard a commencement speech, either as a graduate or a guest, in which something was said that was so striking that you still remember it? Describe the effect such a speech had on you. Was the speech specifically or implicitly Christian?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Proverbs 8:22-23
The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. (For context, read 8:22-31.)

The speaker in these verses is "Wisdom," personified as a woman. Taken literally, these verses mean that Wisdom was birthed prior to the creation of the world. Bear in mind that Wisdom is not really a separate individual, but a characteristic of God on whom the biblical people put a human face to make it more understandable. Wisdom here says that while God was marking out the foundations of the earth, she was "beside him" (v. 30). In other words, Wisdom was God's companion in the process of creating the world. This is likely a poetic way of saying that God imbued some measure of his divinity in the world he created.

In this section of Proverbs, Wisdom is in effect presenting her credentials. By portraying herself as the first of God's creations and of having been there with God at the birthing of the world, Wisdom is not claiming to be equal to God, but she is telling of her honored place next to God himself. Those credentials are important, for Wisdom wants her audience to heed her instruction, something they will only do if they are convinced that she is right. She wants them to listen, for she knows the value of her teaching. As she states it, "For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD" (v. 35).

Questions: Why would wisdom be necessary before the world itself was brought into being? Do you look on wisdom as something foundational to creation, available to all, or is it something revealed to those who are earnestly seeking for God? Name one phrase, sentence, saying or cliché that embodies wisdom for you.

Proverbs 1:32-33
For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but those who listen to me [Wisdom] will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster. (For context, read 1:20-33.)

Here Wisdom, personified as a woman who "cries out in the street" (v. 20), calls people to love knowledge, fear God and accept her reproof. She criticizes those who ignore her counsel, and predicts that they will experience panic, calamity, distress and anguish.

Questions: Where do you hear the Wisdom of God calling out today? What are the consequences of ignoring God's counsel? Wisdom is portrayed as shouting so loud it is almost embarrassing. Is this the way that conscience works, in your experience? How easy is it to tune it out and ignore it? Are you more or less likely to receive counsel or wisdom when someone speaks to you discreetly? Do you have to be bonked over the head by events, or shouted at in the marketplace in order to get it?

John 8:7
Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. (For context, read 8:1-11.)

Here's a good example of wisdom in action. The words above are Jesus' reply to his opponents who had brought to him a woman caught in the act of adultery and demanded to know whether he would support the Mosaic law that called for stoning adulterers. Note that in his reply, Jesus doesn't appeal to religious law but instead calls the men to view themselves in the same category -- sinner -- in which they've placed the woman. And, as we know, when they did that, they all "went away, one by one, beginning with the elders" (v. 9), leaving the woman with Jesus.

Questions: When have you seen wisdom in action? When has a wise answer headed off violence or anger? Part of the wisdom displayed by Jesus is to not engage in a scriptural argument based on the texts chosen by his opponents, but to take the discussion to another track. Have you ever been able to defuse a seemingly unsolvable conflict by changing the terms of the discussion? Have you ever been involved in or witness to a dispute in which you were unable to help and in which people were unable to receive help? What controversies are you or your church dealing with that you would prefer be ratcheted down in tone and emotion? Does this passage mean that crimes are not ever to be punished (because we all sin), or is there some other meaning? Explain.

Matthew 12:42
The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! (For context, read 12:38-42.)

Jesus is here referring to the queen of Sheba coming to visit King Solomon (see 1 Kings 10:1-13). His point is that though Solomon may have had a reputation for being wise (consider, for example, his "split-the-baby" ploy, 1 Kings 3:16-28), in Jesus himself, someone much wiser had come.

Questions: In what specific ways does biblical wisdom go hand-in-hand with the gospel? In what specific ways is the gospel superior to biblical wisdom? What piece of New Testament wisdom, what words of Jesus, do you quote most often to yourself or others that qualifies as wisdom? How effective is it?

1 Corinthians 1:22-24
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (For context, read 1:18-31.)

Paul is trying to teach and inspire the Christians in Corinth to carry on the work that he has started. He wants to transition the leadership of the church from its founders (Paul and Apollos) to the Corinthians themselves. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were not necessarily wise by human standards, but that they now have "life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God" (v. 30).

Questions: Where is the wisdom of God found in Jesus? How is it different from the wisdom of the world? How can we share this with others, in particular the next generation of church members and leaders?

For Further Discussion

1. Comment on this, from Stan Purdum's account of how a wisdom approach opened the door for a later theological approach: "A coworker of my wife's, knowing I was a minister, asked if I would counsel her daughter and son-in-law, who were having marital problems. They were not churchgoers and neither had much religious background. But the mother felt that a minister might be able to help. They were in my office only a few minutes when a painful tale of marital infidelity on the part of the wife began to unfold. It would have been easy for me to talk about the sinfulness of her behavior, but the fact was, she was not even thinking of it in that context. She felt justified because of some slights on her husband's part. In fact, she was still seeing the other man. In my judgment, simply pointing out that her behavior was wrong would not have achieved any healing of the relationship.
     "Instead, I started from their interest in saving the marriage. I pointed out that the first prudent thing to do if she truly wanted to give the marriage a chance was to stop seeing the other man. She reluctantly agreed, and we set up an appointment to work on the other problems in the marriage. If they had been people who permitted religion to have a role in their lives, I might have offered to pray with them. But this was not part of their lives, so I did not suggest it.
     "In effect, I didn't function much differently from a secular marriage counselor that day, but as I continued meeting with them, I repeatedly raised the 'wisdom' position -- that treating each other with understanding and consideration would have a positive effect on their marriage. And by the third time we met, we were able to begin speaking about some very theological things: the wife's need to repent of her actions and the husband's need to forgive. He also had some things he needed to repent of and she had some things she needed to forgive.
     "But before they could even consider those things -- which they ultimately did, by the way -- they had to be helped to see a higher view of life than they had."

2. In his book Abundant Living, the missionary and evangelist E. Stanley Jones tells of New York City psychologist Dr. Henry Link, who, based on his study of psychology, gave up Christianity as outmoded superstition. As he began treating patients, however, trying to help them untangle their snarled-up lives, he realized that he had to give them something outside of themselves to love. That made sense, but to what should he direct them? As he pondered this problem, he eventually realized that the only permanent thing he could direct them to was God. And after realizing that, he soon found that he had talked himself back into being a Christian. In what ways was Wisdom operating in this case?

3. Discuss this: To be effective, knowledge needs to be aided by wisdom. Rabbi and author Harold Kushner made that point when he addressed the graduating class at Cornell University in 1985. He used the phrase "the best and the brightest," which commentators had earlier coined to describe government officials who had taken the United States into the war in Vietnam and then kept our nation going deeper into the conflict. Because that war had occurred when most of those graduating were children, he had to explain the irony of that phrase. Kushner's point was that as brilliant people graduating from a prestigious school, the grads had a great deal of good information, but that they needed to seek wisdom to go along with it. Without it, he said, "the best and brightest" of their generation would be "smart enough to lead but not wise enough to know where they should be going." Wisdom, Kushner said, is "the instinctive sense of how to apply the information they had." He then added that the essence of wisdom is "a respect for the limits of human intelligence and a sense of reverence for the vast dark reaches of reality where reason cannot penetrate."

4. Have you ever given a commencement speech? Encapsulate what you said. What impact do you think it had? Did anyone ever speak to you afterward about the effect it had on them? How did it reflect your faith?

Responding to the News

Consider how your church might contribute the wisdom of God (as opposed to outright gospel admonitions) to the public discussions of community issues and even national ones.

Closing Prayer

Help us, O Lord, to see how to employ biblical wisdom in the situations of our lives, especially those involving people who may not be open to a more gospel-based approach. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Kidnapping of Nigerian Schoolgirls Highlights Danger of Religious Extremism

 © 2014 The Wired Word

www.thewiredword.com

It has now been more than a month since 276 girls were kidnapped from their secondary school in Nigeria by members of Boko Haram, a violent Islamist terrorist group that has been fighting in that African nation to overthrow its government and establish an Islamist state ruled by sharia (Islamic law). Dozens of the girls escaped during the April 14 abduction, but the group is still holding well over 200 of them, plus another 11 girls it since captured from a Nigerian village.
Many of the girls taken are Christians, and most of those are members of the Ekklesia Yanua a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Others are members of other Christian denominations, and some are Muslims. Boko Haram, whose actual name is "Party of the People of Tradition for Proselytism and Jihad," has since announced that all the girls have converted to Islam. Presumably, their captors gave them no choice.
In a released video, a leader of the terrorist group said the kidnappings were retaliation for Nigerian security forces nabbing the wives and children of group members. He said the captured girls would begin new lives as slaves. There is speculation that some may be farmed out as wives to group members.
Members of Boko Haram, which loosely translates as "Western education is sin" or "Non-Islamic education is sin," view non-Islamic education -- and almost any education of females -- as a threat to the way of life they seek to impose on Nigeria.
In a statement released in February, the leader of Boko Haram said, "We ... are fighting Christians wherever we meet them and those who believe in democracy, those who pursue Western education wherever we meet them. By Allah, we will kill whoever practices Democracy. ... All these infidels we are the ones killing them. We enjoy shedding their blood. The Koran must be supreme, we must establish Islam in this country; ... we will henceforth destroy any schools wherever we see them."
The group is responsible for more than 4,000 deaths so far in 2014, including hundreds of children, according to the Nigeria Security Tracker at the Council on Foreign Relations. While the current attack on a school involved kidnapping girls, in other attacks on schools, Boko Haram members have slaughtered boys. The publicity surrounding the kidnapping of the girls may make it appear that Boko Haram is particularly anti-female, but more broadly, the group is anti-Western education.
After the kidnapping, Boko Haram announced that the young women should not have been in school and should have been getting married instead.
The members of Boko Haram are not mainstream Muslims. In fact, they reportedly do not interact with the local Muslim population and have carried out assassinations in the past of anyone who criticizes their group, including Muslim clerics.
On Monday, the Boko Haram leader said he would release the girls in exchange for Boko Haram prisoners held by the Nigerian government. It's not clear yet whether that will happen.
Several countries, including the United States, have offered Nigeria assistance in locating the captives.
This is a developing story. Check the news for updates.
More on this story can be found at these links:
Timeline: Nigeria Schoolgirls Abduction. CBC News
Boko Haram: Why Terror Group Kidnaps Schoolgirls, and What Happens Next. CNN
What Gives Boko Haram Its Strength. CNN
What Prophet Muhammad Would Say to Boko Haram. Fox News
'We Enjoy Shedding Blood' -- Boko Haram Threatens .... Daily Post (Nigeria)
Michiana Ties to Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls. WNDU
Boko Haram. Wikipedia
The Big Questions
1. Are there any circumstances when your deep religious conviction gives you the right to deprive someone else of their right of self-determination and force them to do your will? If so, when? If not, why not? Has there ever been a time when you felt your beliefs trumped someone else's position? Discuss how your answer applies to current controversies in American society.
2. When have you perceived secular education as a threat to faith? What are the strengths and weaknesses of faith unsupported by education?
3. How do you think about Christians who have concluded that faithfulness to God compels them to kill abortion doctors? When have you felt rage about the beliefs or actions of others, even if you didn't respond violently?
4. Is zeal a necessary component of the Christian life? If so, how should zeal for your Christian faith be demonstrated in your life? If not, why not?
5. How can we discern when our own beliefs and practices represent positive religious zeal and when they have crossed the line and become harmful to others (i.e., fanaticism)? What is the difference between your zeal and someone else's fanaticism?
6. The abduction of the schoolgirls has been well-publicized, with a resulting rise in sympathy and a justified urge to do something to help. Why might the publicity and response be so much greater for the kidnapped girls than it was for the similar number of boy students murdered by Boko Haram?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
John 16:2
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. (For context, read 16:1-4.)
Acts 7:57-58
But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him ... (For context, read 7:51-60.)
Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (For context, read 9:1-20.)
In several places, the Bible talks about or alludes to zealousness or passion in faith, which can be defined as "enthusiastic devotion to God and Christ, and tireless work toward furthering the faith." But the Bible distinguishes between good and evil zeal.
The three passages above are examples of evil zeal. The John 16 verse is part of the warning Jesus gave his disciples of the persecution that was to come. Note that those who would kill them would do so out of religious zeal, thinking "they are offering worship to God."
The Acts 7 verses describe the action of certain Jews who became enraged at the preaching of Stephen, and then stoned him because they heard his words as an attack on their faith.
The Acts 9 verses describe the pre-conversion Saul/Paul, who thought he was doing a good thing for the synagogues by arresting Christians. In Philippians 3:6, Paul even sets his zeal as persecutor of the church and his "righteousness under the law" side by side, as if to say they were one and the same thing.
Questions: What do you think caused these people to conclude that their actions were righteous? Does one have to have a certain personality type to carry one's faith to the point of doing violence toward others? Is there anything that can stop religious extremism? What are the main differences, if any, between "religious" extremism and other forms of extremism (e.g., naziism, Red Brigades)?
Romans 12:11
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. (For context, read 12:9-21.)
In Romans 12, Paul speaks about the kind of zeal that is truly righteous, and in the context verses, he spells out what he means: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ... Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ..."
That kind of zeal is a blessing.
Questions: What is the difference between zealously blessing those who persecute you and doing it halfheartedly? How might a guest perceive your hospitality if you offer it only because "it's the Christian thing to do"?
Hebrews 6:10-12
For God ... will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (For context, read 6:9-12.)
Here the writer of Hebrews urges Christians to retain the right kind of zeal. He doesn't use that word per se, but he warns them not to "become sluggish," which can be an indication of lacking zeal. Still, the writer is not calling for extremism as we define that today.
Questions: When have you experienced a feeling of spiritual sluggishness? What, if anything, have you done to rouse yourself? What message for yourself do you hear in this text?
Genesis 16:3, 6
Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. ... Abram said to Sarai, "Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her. (For context, read 16:1-6.)
Boko Haram at one point stated that the kidnapped girls would be sold in the market, and there has been speculation that they would be sold specifically for the purpose of sex trafficking. With that in mind, the story of Hagar perhaps applies.
When Sarai was unable to bear a child, she offered her Egyptian slave-girl to her husband as a wife in order to have a child by her. (At a later date, the wives of her grandson Jacob, Leah and Rachel, did the same with their slave-women Zilpah and Bilhah.) When Hagar became pregnant, she "looked with contempt on her mistress" (v. 4). Sarai complained to Abram and treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar ran away.
While we sometimes assume that it is usually males who exploit females, this passage demonstrates that enslaving and abusing others occurs in other kinds of relationships, including females against females, although in this case, with the cooperation of a man in a patriarchal society that condoned slavery to begin with.
Questions: Were Hagar, Zilpah and Bilhah in effect victims of sexual exploitation? Why do you think the experiences of these women are included in the Bible? What would you say if you could take a time machine back to Abram's time and address the patriarch about his practices that seem to amount to sexual abuse? Are you willing to confront people about language and attitudes that constitute verbal violence toward women?
Luke 10:38-39
Now as they went on their way, [Jesus] entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. (For context, read 10:38-42.)
By the custom of that society, Mary, as a female, had no business sitting at the feet of a visiting man and listening, yet Jesus approves of her place there. In some societies today, women are likewise excluded from the main action of life.
There are several examples in which Jesus ignores the restrictions imposed by his society that privilege men over women. He treats Mary as a disciple in this text, and converses with a Samaritan woman in the gospel of John, for instance.
Questions: How do you think Jesus would look upon the education of girls around the world today? Why? Ought it to be a goal in our churches to support such efforts?
For Further Discussion
1. Respond to this, from TWW team member Frank Ramirez, who is a Church of the Brethren pastor. He tells us that "the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, whose school was attacked, was originally founded by missionaries but is now an autonomous church. Church leaders have been killed and homes and churches destroyed by groups like Boko Haram. Church leaders (I'm not using any names because of possibility of reprisals) continue to encourage members to respond with love and not violence. One bishop told us last year at the Brethren World Assembly in Ohio that when some young men from his church burned down a mosque, he sent them back to rebuild it. It is also worth noting that Islamic terrorists have killed more Muslims than any other people they've killed."
2. Do you allow yourself to be in situations where the majority of people present have beliefs different from yours? Are you willing to listen to someone else's viewpoint? What are the limits to your tolerance of another's viewpoints?
3. When does one person's faith or beliefs cross a line beyond which what they do is indefensible? Give examples.
4. Read Judges 11:30-40. Is this an example of zeal gone too far? Why or why not?
Responding to the News
Below are the names of the schoolgirls known to be kidnapped in the school raid by Boko Haram. Suggest that your church pick a few girls from this list each day and pray for them until they are returned home.

Deborah Abge Christian Awa Abge Hauwa Yirma Asabe Manu Mwa Malam Pogu Patiant Dzakwa Saraya Mal. Stover Mary Dauda Gloria Mainta Hanatu Ishaku Gloria Dama Tabitha Pogu Maifa Dama Ruth Kollo Esther Usman Awa James Anthonia Yahonna Kume Mutah Aisha Ezekial Nguba Buba Kwanta Simon Kummai Aboku Esther Markus Hana Stephen Rifkatu Amos Rebecca Mallum Blessing Abana Ladi Wadai Tabitha Hyelampa Ruth Ngladar Safiya Abdu Na'omi Yahonna Salomi Titus Rhoda John Rebecca Kabu

Christy Yahi Rebecca Luka Laraba John Saratu Markus Mary Usman Debora Yahonna Naomi Zakaria HanatuMusa Hauwa Tella Juliana Yakubu Suzana Yakubu Saraya Paul Jummai Paul Mary Sule Jummai John Yanke Shittima Muli Waligam Fatima Tabji Eli Joseph Saratu Emmanuel Deborah Peter Rahila Bitrus Luggwa Sanda Kauna Lalai Lydia Emmar Laraba Maman Hauwa Isuwa Confort Habila HauwaAbdu Hauwa Balti Yana Joshua Laraba Paul Saraya Amos Glory Yaga Na'omi Bitrus Godiya Bitrus

Awa Bitrus Na'omi Luka Maryamu Lawan Tabitha Silas Mary Yahona Ladi Joel Rejoice Sanki Luggwa Samuel Comfort Amos Saraya Samuel Sicker Abdul Talata Daniel Rejoice Musa Deborah Abari Salomi Pogu Mary Amor Ruth Joshua Esther John Esther Ayuba Maryamu Yakubu Zara Ishaku Maryamu Wavi Lydia Habila Laraba Yahonna Na'omi Bitrus Rahila Yahanna Ruth Lawan Ladi Paul Mary Paul Esther Joshua Helen Musa Margret Watsai Deborah Jafaru Filo Dauda Febi Haruna Ruth Ishaku

Racheal Nkeki Rifkatu Soloman Mairarna Yahaya Saratu Dauda Jinkai Yama Margret Shettima Yana Yidau Grace Paul AminaAli Palmata Musa Awagana Musa Pindar Nuhu Yana Pogu Saraya Musa Hauwa Joseph Hauwa Kwakwi Hauwa Musa Maryarnu Musa Maimuna Usman Rebeca Joseph Liyatu Habitu Rifkatu Yakubu Naomi Philimon Deborah Abbas Ladi Ibrahim Asabe Ali Maryamu Bularna Ruth Amos Mary Ali Abigail Bukar Deborah Amos Saraya Yanga Kauna Luka Christiana Bitrus Yana Bukar Hauwa Peter

Hadiza Yakubu Lydia Simon Ruth Bitrus Mary Yakubu Lugwa Mutah Muwa Daniel Hanatu Nuhu Monica Enoch Margret Yama Doeas Yakubu Rhoda Peter Rifkatu Galang Saratu Ayuba Naomi Adamu Hauwa lshaya Rahap Ibrahim Deborah Soloman Hauwa Mutah Hauwa Takai Serah Samuel Aishatu Musa Aishatu Grema Hauwa Nkeki Hamsatu Abubakar Mairama Abubakar Hauwa Wule Ihyi Abdu Hasana Adamu Rakiya Kwamtah Halima Gamba Aisha Lawan Kabu Malla Yayi Abana Falta Lawan Kwadugu Manu

Closing Prayer

We pray, O Lord, for the safe return home of each of those held captive by Boko Haram. And we ask that in some way, there might be a maturing of understanding and true righteousness in the captors, so that they might abandon violence as a way of promoting their goals. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Mystery, Majesty of Creation Revealed in Recent Astronomical Discoveries

 © 2013 The Wired Word

 www.thewiredword.com

Recently, several astronomical discoveries have made news. The discoveries include (1) perturbations (disturbances of motion) in the orbit of the dwarf planet Sedna (roughly the size of Pluto, but orbiting much farther out in a highly elliptical orbit), which suggests there may be a giant and as yet undiscovered planet orbiting far beyond Pluto; (2) ravenous black holes which seem not only to suck in all matter in their stellar neighborhoods but to actually stalk and devour matter in an apparent feeding frenzy; and finally, (3) the profound discoveries centered around the Big Bang theory, which have tremendously excited scientists who believe they have been given a glimpse at the moment of the creation of the universe.
Some of these findings involve a measure of speculation, and like all discoveries involving the sciences, new ones can alter or even negate what we thought we previously knew. Yet for many people there is something attractive about the wonder of the universe. One doesn't need a PhD to stand in a field on a clear night and find oneself filled with wonder at the stars in the sky.
There has been a degree of tension over the centuries between some Christians and astronomical discoveries. At one time, Christians accepted the viewpoint of some (not all) ancient Greek astronomers that the earth was at the center of the universe and that the sun, planets and stars orbited the earth. The 16th-century Italian friar and astrologer Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for expressing his belief that the universe was vaster than imagined and that the earth was not the center of creation.
Then there is Galileo, whose complex story is often abbreviated to mere sound bites. (This also is an abbreviation.) Based upon his telescope observations, Galileo promoted the idea of a heliocentric universe. This was in opposition to the "settled" science of his day -- and also opposed by many within the church. While some of his theories were contrary to evidence (e.g., especially regarding tides, but also that planetary orbits were perfect circles), it didn't help that some of his writings were believed to be veiled attacks upon the pope. Although scientists in other parts of Christendom continued to advance heliocentrism, Galileo ran afoul of the Roman Inquisition, and was forced to recant and placed under house arrest (in lieu of imprisonment) for the remainder of his life.
Few Christians today would suggest that the sun orbits the earth, but many believers deny modern scientific assumptions that the universe we observe is nearly 14 billion years old and traces its origins to a phenomenon commonly referred to as the Big Bang. Many believe the creation was accomplished in seven 24-hour days at the foundation of a universe that is only a few thousand years old.
Other Christians have no trouble accepting astronomical developments, recognizing God's hand in these wonders. Yet some worry that these discoveries do not require the presence of a Divine Creator.
In addition, just as interest in matters astronomical peaked a few decades ago with the broadcast of the original version of the television series Cosmos, featuring the late Carl Sagan, so interest has been piqued by the recrafted and remade Cosmos, featuring Neil DeGrasse Tyson, already well-known as the astronomer who "demoted" Pluto. The new Cosmos premiered in March of this year on the Fox network.
More on this story can be found at these links:
Major Discovery: 'Smoking Gun' for Universe's Incredible Big Bang Expansion Found. Space.com
New Dwarf Planet Found at Solar System's Edge, Hints at Possible Faraway 'Planet X.' Space.com
Black Hole Pair Caught in Feeding Frenzy. Yahoo! News
The Big Questions
1. What is the most amazing thing you have learned about God's creation? What did you learn about God in this discovery?
2. What does the Bible tell you about creation?
3. What, in your opinion, is the relationship between the Bible and science? Is there a tension between the discoveries of science and the revelation of scripture? Have your views on this matter changed over the years or stayed the same? If they've changed, describe the changes.
4. What is your understanding of the Big Bang theory? How much confidence do you have in this description of how the universe we observe came to be? How does this explanation fit in with your understanding of God and creation?
5. How do beliefs regarding the age of the universe or the age of the earth rank in relationship with beliefs regarding the bodily resurrection of Jesus or Jesus' nature as both human and divine?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Genesis 1:1-2 CEB
When God began to create the heavens and the earth -- the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God's wind swept over the waters ... (For context, read 1:1-5.)
One of the central tensions between scripture and science for some Christians is the apparent contradiction between a seven-day creation and a universe that seems to have been unfolding for billions of years. However, many believe that the Hebrew original of Genesis can legitimately be translated to demonstrate that when God began to direct the current era in which we live, earth and sea were already in existence. There is no question that scripture reveals God as sole creator of the universe, but the first verse of Genesis may acknowledge the passage of untold eons before the beginning of the human story.
Some would say that the purpose of the Genesis account of creation is not to establish a timeline but to distinguish God's divine story from other ancient stories in which the gods had little control over the process of creation. In contrast to myths that suggested that the universe might at any time dissolve back into chaos, God's creation is secure. (Check your favorite translation; those that echo the more traditional translation -- "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" -- often list the alternate translation in a footnote.)
Questions: What is the meaning of the first verse of Genesis in the translation above? How important is maintaining a strict seven-day creation interpretation of scripture to your understanding of the Bible?
Genesis 1:16
God made the two great lights -- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night -- and the stars. (For context, read 1:14-19.)
The description in Genesis of the major objects in the sky visible to the naked eye was far more significant to those who first heard this verse read aloud (in Old Testament times, Bible reading was largely Bible listening) than it might be to us today. In the ancient world, there was the belief that the stars, also personified as the Fates, controlled the destinies not only of humans but of the gods. The Genesis account establishes that God created and controlled the objects visible in the sky, not the other way around. God creates and controls. God is not controlled.
While most Christians accept as a matter of course God's control over history, there are still some who read their horoscopes to determine how to conduct their lives, or seem to suggest some idea of destiny or fate that trumps free will or even God's will. In addition, during some periods of history, Christians who didn't believe in astrology were considered to be closet atheists, because they denied that God had put the stars in the skies "for signs and for seasons."
Questions: Do you ever check your horoscope? Does it feel to you sometimes as if you have no control over your life and actions? How much do you pay attention to the moon and stars? Could you name off the top of your head the current phase of the moon? Does your view of God's control over history leave room for free will? Do you believe that there are some things that are meant to happen regardless of your choice?
Psalm 19:1, 4-5
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. ... In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. (For context, read 19:1-6.)
Ecclesiastes 1:5-8
The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. ... All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eyes is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. (For context, read 1:5-11.)
In these contrasting scriptures the movement of the sun across the sky (bear in mind, of course, that it is the earth that rotates as it orbits the sun, though it appears to us that the sun is the body in motion) human emotions are assigned to the sun. In the text from Psalm 19, the sun eagerly races across the sky like a bridegroom on his wedding day or a runner who exults in the exertion, while in Ecclesiastes, the author projects his own weariness on the celestial body.
In the story of the ravenous black holes, human malevolence seems to be assigned to these awe-inspiring phenomena. The action of projecting human emotions on non-human creatures and objects is called anthropomorphism.
Questions: How much do we project human emotions on the universe? If we and the universe reflect God's mind, does this make such anthropomorphism acceptable? What human characteristics, rightly or wrongly, do you attribute to God?
Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (For context, read 12:1-4.)
This passage, written in the face of intense persecution, encourages the faithful to endure, because reward will follow for those who hold on. However, our point here is that though this verse is poetically true, it is not strictly scientifically true. Stars die. They go nova, or supernova, or get sucked into black holes, or simply burn out. From our perspective, however, they seem eternal. The seemingly unchanging nature of the heavens made a great impression on the ancients, and no doubt that is reflected in this biblical verse.
Questions: Does the fact that this Bible verse is not strictly true negate its truthfulness? Do biblical passages have to be literally true to be spiritually true? When Jesus tells a fictional story, as he does with the parables, does their lack of historical truth negate their truthfulness?
1 Corinthians 15:40-42
There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. (For context, read 1 Corinthians 15:39-44.)
While writing about the glory of the resurrection, both of Christ and for us, the apostle Paul likens the glories of the various celestial bodies to our own state, which changes from this life to the next. However, one is also reminded that just as there are different qualities of glory associated with the sun, moon and stars, so our own apprehension and appreciation for the heavenly in this life -- and even for heaven itself -- might vary as well.
Questions: In more than one place, the apostle makes the point that believers receive different gifts. What is more fair: that everyone experience everything in exactly the same way, or that believers receive from God what suits them best? Are we perfected so we will all be the same, or do we become perfectly what we were created to be? Explain your answer.
Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (For context, read 8:31-39.)
The rulers (sometimes translated "principalities") and powers are considered by some to be angelic figures, and are connected to astronomical or heavenly bodies. Christ is proclaimed the victor over all the ancient gods. There's a mosaic in Mausoleum M under St. Peter's Basilica in Rome sometimes referred to as "Christ Helios." In the Roman Empire the god Apollo was sometimes depicted riding his chariot of the sun. Many believe the artist was depicting Jesus riding the sun chariot, representing the triumph of Christ.
Questions: What does it mean for Christ to be victor over powers and principalities? Do you see Christ in non-Christian settings? There is a constellation in the Southern Hemisphere referred to as "The Southern Cross." Discuss or invent a Christian constellation in the night sky you observe.
For Further Discussion
1. Respond to this, from a TWW team member who shared the memory of his first apprehension of the weight of infinity and eternity: "One of my strongest memories from childhood goes back half a century. I am a boy. I am lying on my back on the front lawn. There is a tree nearby, and occasionally one of its branches, tossed about by a spring breeze, intrudes into the picture, but otherwise all I see is blue, blue sky. Reflecting on infinity and eternity and aware of the very tenuous layer of atmosphere between me and infinite space, I realize it is altogether possible for the earth to let go, natural laws suspended, and for me to rise into emptiness forever and ever. It is a startling thought. My fingers grip the lawn tightly, something I will only be aware of later when I feel the gritty dirt underneath my fingernails. The thought is no longer startling. It is now suddenly possible. And staring intently up into the blue, I become aware of an endless stairwell in the sky, with the saints ascending and descending. Up and down, rising and falling, forever and ever, singing, praying, praising. I am a child, so the saints are wearing robes, of course. I believe the stairs I saw were intertwined, or maybe twined and vined, around itself, supporting its own insupportable weight. This is eternity, I thought to myself. Though it has been going on forever, it hasn't really started and is no closer to ending."
     Was there ever a moment when you were overwhelmed with the glory of God's universe? When have you really felt the weight of glory in the cosmos?
2. An ancient Anglo-Saxon chronicle mentioned the appearance of a red crucifix visible after sunset in the year A.D. 774. Jonathon Allen, a student at the University of California at Santa Cruz, connected that memory with a strange concentration of carbon-14 in Japanese cedar tree rings around that year. Carbon-14 is associated with cataclysmic cosmic events. What if the two events were connected? What if an interstellar cloud partially blocked the light from a supernova? It might result in red light, shaped like a cross. While the phenomenon itself might not be divinely inspired, it still demonstrates that we who are disciples of Jesus see the cross everywhere. Do you see the cross in the skies, in other people, in our shared suffering and in our triumph? A cross-shaped patch of dust in the sky is a cross in our eyes, when we see Jesus in everything.
Responding to the News
Some would say astronomical discoveries give us an awe-inspiring view of our own place in the universe. In January of this year, the Mars Rover Curiosity took a photograph of the Earth and moon from the surface of the Red Planet. See a video of this photograph of our planet here. Several years ago the astronomer Carl Sagan, host and one of the writers of the original PBS series Cosmos, shared a meditation often called "The Pale Blue Dot," regarding a photograph of Earth taken by one of the Voyager spacecraft. Arrange for your group to listen to and watch that Pale Blue Dot video during your session. Then read Psalm 8 together.
Closing Prayer

Eternal Creator, infinitely creative, we praise you for your inexhaustible glory, revealed only in part by the staggering, awe-inspiring universe we inhabit. As we grow in knowledge, may we grow also in wisdom, praising you in all things, cherishing each other and everyone who shares this fragile and blessed planet. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Doctors Care for Man Who Allegedly Slew Their Colleagues

 © 2013 The Wired Word

www.thewiredword.com

On the morning of April 24, witnesses say an Afghan police officer named Ainuddin, assigned to provide security at the CURE International Hospital in Kabul, opened fire at the entrance of the building, killing three American doctors: Jon Gabel, administrator of a low-cost health clinic at Kabul University; his visiting father, Gary; and Chicago pediatrician Jerry Umanos, who worked at the CURE Hospital. Jon Gabel's wife Teresa, also a health care worker, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
An investigation is ongoing to determine whether a gunshot wound the alleged gunman received to the stomach was self-inflicted or the result of shots fired by other officers responding to the emergency. CURE Hospital doctors, friends of the slain, operated on him before he was transferred to a government hospital. Diana Davidson, a nurse anesthetist who has participated in medical missions in some of the poorest nations around the globe for 15 years described the actions of the hospital staff as "the ultimate turning of the other cheek."
As the U.S.-led coalition continues to draw down troops from the country, attacks on foreigners have increased, causing the deaths of at least 21 civilians and 18 NATO troops since January of this year. "Afghanistan is definitely in the top five of dangerous countries for aid workers," said Larissa Fast of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.
Umanos' wife, Jan Schuitema, a teacher in Afghanistan, said that they did not live in fear, though violence in the country was "a reality." They felt the dangers even more acutely after a dozen aid workers, including his close friend Tom Little, were slaughtered by the Taliban while on a medical mission Jerry helped coordinate in 2010. But risk assessment did not stop him from committing himself to the Afghan people. Instead, he assessed the risks they face every day, and decided to work in Afghanistan because it was '"the most dangerous place to be born," according to journalist Mindy Belz.
So Umanos commuted 7,000 miles for over seven years, juggling responsibilities at Lawndale Christian Health Center in a troubled Chicago neighborhood with his work in Kabul.
"Jerry clearly wanted to use his medical training where he could have the most impact," Arthur Jones, Lawndale's founding physician, said. "He could have worked as a pediatrician anyplace and drawn a much bigger salary." Instead, he trained Afghan doctors and nurses in best medical practices and "didn't just take care of the least of these, he took care of the smallest of these," CURE International President and CEO Dale Brantner said, referring to Umanos' special work with high-risk premature infants.
Speaking softly and haltingly after learning of the deadly attack, Jan Schuitema said of her husband Jerry, "He always had a desire to be the hands and feet of Christ. He was always a light for Christ and he had a love and commitment that he expressed for the Afghan people because of that love for Christ."
"Our family has suffered a great loss," she added. "We don't hold any ill will toward Afghanistan in general or even the gunman who did this."
Afghans who knew Umanos said, "He was just like our brother" and called him "our best friend." David Smith remembers taking his sick triplets to see Dr. Umanos in Kabul, after which the doctor made a house call just to check on them. "My prayer," he wrote, "is that God would send a thousand Dr. Jerrys in his place."
More on this story can be found at these links:
CEO Statement Regarding Shooting at CURE International Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. CURE International
Widow of Doctor Slain in Kabul Forgives Attacker. CBN
Americans Die in Grim Trend in Afghanistan. New York Times
Christian Doctor Killed in Afghan Attack. World
Cure International Hospital Shooting Victim Remembered: 'He Really Did Love Afghanistan.' PennLive.com
The Big Questions
1. Who might your enemies be? Kids at school who have bullied your child? People with whom you disagree vehemently on a political or church issue? A family member who has hurt you emotionally or in other ways? A boss who fired you? A co-worker who lied about you and dragged your name through the mud? How does your faith help you learn how to relate to such people?
2. How hard is it to show mercy, the way the medical staff at CURE Hospital did to the alleged murderer, toward someone who has hurt you? Give an example of a time you had the opportunity to choose not to hold ill will toward such a person. Did you harbor resentment, develop a root of bitterness, or lash out at your enemy, or did you treat them the way Umanos' widow treated her husband's killer? Why did you react the way you did?
3. What scriptures come to your mind in the wake of tragedies such as these?
4. Janelle Gustafson said of Dr. Umanos on the CURE International website: "He was a true follower of Christ, not just a fan." What is the difference between "a true follower" and "just a fan" of Christ? Which are you?
5. If you were the gunman who attacked and killed the doctors, how would it affect you if you knew the doctors' families and friends were praying for you? What do you think is his greatest need? Could you bring yourself to pray for him? If so, what would your prayer be?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Matthew 5:7, 44-45, 48
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ... Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. ... Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (For context, read 5:7, 10-12, 43-48.)
Jesus teaches his disciples that they are to behave differently from those around them who only love those who can reciprocate; instead, they are to pattern their response to their enemies after God's behavior.
Questions: What effect might treating enemies with mercy and love have on them? On you? On others who are watching how you treat those who mistreat you? How does loving and praying for your enemies make you a child of your Father in heaven? When have you ever had to actually live out the Beatitudes? What was the hardest thing you ever did when attempting to apply the gospel in your own life?
Luke 9:51-55
[Jesus] set his face to go to Jerusalem. ... On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. (For context, read 9:51-56.)
As Jesus set out toward the cross, a village of Samaritans refused to show him even the customary hospitality that one might normally expect to receive in that culture, because he was headed toward Jerusalem. Luke doesn't suggest that the Samaritans had any personal animosity toward Jesus, but rather a beef with Jerusalem. We know from his encounter with the woman at the well in John 4:20 that the Samaritans worshiped on a mountain in Samaria, while the Jews viewed Jerusalem as the place of worship. James and John took offense at the way the Samaritans treated Jesus and were ready to call down fire from heaven to consume their enemies. Jesus didn't take kindly to that suggestion.
Questions: When is the last time you felt the way James and John did toward a person or group? Why does it feel "right" to "defend Jesus' honor"? When might it be right to do so? (In other words, how does one discern when one should and when one should not?) Why did Jesus rebuke the disciples in this case? Why does Jesus rebuke us when we act that way?
Has there been a time when you stood up for the "Samaritans" when a fellow believer criticized someone simply for being part of a group classified as the enemy? Was there a time you felt you ought to have done so and did not? Has someone chastised you for comments about "Samaritans"?
Luke 22:47-51
While [Jesus] was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. (For context, read 22:45-53.)
Into the Garden of Gethsemane, normally noted for peace and beauty, treachery and betrayal entered, just as violence entered the hospital in Kabul in recent days. Instead of healing, joy and life came pain, sorrow and death. One of those close to Jesus, watching the crowd coming to arrest him, instinctively struck out with the sword. But again Jesus calls a halt to the violence and returns good for evil, healing for the suffering he would endure.
Questions: Why do you think Jesus had his disciples bring swords to Gethsemane? How do you think the slave of the high priest would have felt about Jesus if Jesus had not touched his ear and healed him? How do you think he felt about Jesus after he healed him, knowing that he was part of the crowd who had come to arrest him? What impact do you think the actions of the colleagues of Dr. Umanos may have on the murderer? On those who witnessed their response?
Mark 8:34-35
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." (For context, read 8:34-37.)
Jesus forewarned his disciples to be prepared for his suffering, murder and resurrection, but they didn't want to hear about the cost of discipleship any more than we do today. When Bruce Steffes, MD, learned about the killing of the doctors in Kabul, he wrote: "Those of us who work in the developing world realize the price that sometimes must be paid to follow Christ's call on our lives." And Ashe Michael commented on the CURE International website, "When CURE accepts the challenges of going into places like Afghanistan, it is with the knowledge and acceptance that we might have to pay the highest sacrifice we can give, our life, so that others might live. Dr. Jerry paid the price with his life so that hundreds of children could live because of his care."
Questions: If you had been in the crowd listening to Jesus when he made this statement, and you had seen people crucified on crosses before, how would you have reacted? Would you have reconsidered the whole idea of following Jesus? How are you denying yourself and taking up your cross and following Jesus to Calvary today? Are you really willing to lose your life for his sake and for the sake of the gospel?
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (No context needed.)
CURE International President and CEO Dale Brantner requested: "Please pray with the 1,600 CURE employees worldwide that God would comfort the families of these victims as well as all those affected by this tragedy and give them a peace that truly defies human understanding."
Questions: In circumstances such as the murder of one's loved one, how can one have "a peace that truly defies human understanding," "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding"? Is it really possible? From whence does such peace come? How does praying for your enemy help bring you the peace of God that guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus?
On the face of things these sayings sound obvious, as if they should be the default settings of our lives. On the other hand, our lives often make it seemingly impossible to rejoice in the Lord always. How grating do you find words like these from well wishers when you are suffering, such as, for instance, when you are grieving over a loved one and someone tells you we should rejoice because the loved one is in heaven? What rewards have you found when seeking the peace of Christ in unpeaceful situations?
For Further Discussion
1. Respond to this comment from an online poster identified as Rick Manning: "Jerry had the gift of hospitality. He never ate for the sake of eating. Rather, he ate for the sake of getting to know and love people. And in this, Jerry reminds me very much of our Lord. For our Lord, sharing meals is always a cause for celebration. The Lord started revealing this to me today at Mass and especially during the Lord's Prayer. How many times had Jerry and I said that prayer together? I am not sure, but I know we did so together again today. As we said the prayer, I closed my eyes and instead of folding my hands in front of me, held them out to my sides. On my right, I was holding the hand of Dan Terry who was holding the hand of Tom Little who was holding the hand of other Christians who have spilled their blood in Afghanistan. Standing on my left was Jerry." (See this link: Men Who Made a Difference.)
2. Here are some online prayers offered in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy:

• Ben Hoogendoorn: "I pray for protection and courage for all serving in CURE hospitals and that this senseless act will not deter anyone from answering the call to serve in His Kingdom work."
• Brian Bowman: "We pray that the Lord will be glorified through this situation."
• Arthur Aseka: "Through this tragedy, may the Lord embolden the commitment of CURE leadership and staff in continuous service."
• Sharon Gibbons: "Lord Jesus bring Your presence into this situation." 
• Mary Ann Miller Rodrigues: "My prayers are with Jerry's family, the CURE staff, and the patients in Afghanistan. As you continue [to] minister to the physical needs of God's children, may His word go forth and take root in their hearts."

Are these prayers similar to or different from prayers you might offer for those suffering in trials such as these? If you were a relative or friend of one of the slain, what do you think would be your greatest need right now? If you were one of the health care workers at the hospital or university clinic, or an aid worker, how would you want people to pray for you? If you were a sick person or relative of a patient, what would you want prayer for? How do you pray in the wake of events such as these?
Take time now or during the week to offer prayer for those touched by this tragedy.
Responding to the News
This might be a good time to plan how you can turn the tables on your enemies by not returning evil for evil, but instead by returning good for evil. How can you be "the hands and feet of Christ" in your community, even to your enemies?
Closing Prayer

Spirit of God, make us willing to give what we cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose, for Jesus' sake and for the sake of the gospel. Amen.