2022-10-28 A Meditation on Leaps and Bounds
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Php 3:12–16 ESV)
Mankind leaps and bounds beyond any number of pitfalls and traps, causes for war, sluggishness, convenient thinking; yet our pride and boast is no flattery of worldly authority: it is furtive and mysterious, strange to those in authority perhaps, or perhaps by some Divine anointing, our message is not lost, is not alienating to the governor and the king, is no threat to our nation’s security.
The bishop and governor, said authority, notwithstanding, is agent and collector, preserver, of little outlays that make no worldly sense: our message is not little, but has divine power to move strongholds (2 Co 10:4); it has divine power to reform the heart that, in moments of clarity, is seen to be rebellious beyond measure. Yet this power is insult and affront to any number of self-congratulatory and measured, determined, causes and consequences.
It is strange to say that change and amendment of life is the result not of determined efforts on our part, but rather that it is a kind of blossoming of life as a result of acknowledgment of total defeat. It is strange to say that we are fighting for a humbling spirit, not a proud boast, that we are fighting for a spirit “out there”, “up there”, that does things in patient and loving guise, no self-righteous ascent unto holier digs, but a certain and reliable desire for all things in His time, and with care for the marginalized and decrepit.
Leaps and bounds take us to that perennial question wherein our very newfound boldness in faith brings out inimical spirits. We are those called to protect our skin in the game, knowing the erratic nature of a heart unconverted, yet too we are to enter the fray innocently, trustingly, servant-wise, and magnanimously. Such is sad but riveting, pleasing, to the cognisant heart that observes or hears told of heroism.
It is easier to cease judging others when we have ourselves taken a moment of thanksgiving for what beauteous things are ours in Scripture and in the congregation’s research into spiritual answers, the pleasant or academic or reasonable talk. We pity without condescending, the spiritual age of our peer and neighbor. We do not patronize nor mock, but rather go for the gold and for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, loving as we are loved and knowing there is wide berth for reform in any church setting, wide room and aspect for simple, overcoming, acts of compassion. So we are not self-righteous, yet by the same token are strong to say our advantages are opposed and hated, at times. So the battle lines invent themselves, as it truly is the case that some see things “our way”, whilst others—walking the same streets—represent a more status quo take on things. All this, in our own experience, trying us, but not beyond our strength: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Co 10:13). We are discouraged, half-crazed, by the people we are called to fellowship with, at times, because it is no easy matter to join one mindset to another, ostensibly saying the same creed and party to the same catholicity of faith, yet fumbling and accused by way perhaps of avoiding a difficult point of departure from one another.
