And the soul felt its worth
I'm no longer surprised by people who assume God is mad at them.
A lot of people will say that it "feels like" God is mad at them.
Maybe their life circumstances make it feel like they aren't being blessed and they assume the lack of blessings and the normal struggles of life are sign that God is withholding good from them.
Or maybe it's what they're actually told when they "go to church" or when they went to gatherings of believers in the past.
Well intended believers sometimes feel it's their job to keep others in line so they pass on the message that God is just barely tolerating you.
Usually it's to warn you away from things they assume you struggle with or are tempted by because they struggle with those things or are tempted by them or some scenario like that.
The only time you get the sense in the New Testament story that God is or was "mad" is when Jesus took the Pharisees and teachers of the law to task for making it hard for people to "access God". See Matthew 23 for some of that.
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I grew up with the strong sense of God's love being available for those who worked hard at pleasing him and who got good grades on all the right beliefs and practices.
And even then God's love was a very harsh love. Very harsh.
Kind of a "this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you" kind of God - a God who regularly passed out spankings/beatings and was sorry he had to do that, but that it had to be done kind of God.
Even today when I talk with people and they know I'm a believer, many assume I'm a "church guy" and that they need to be "church people" to be right with God and to access his love, etc. And in many ways, nothing is further from the truth.
The barriers today between "church people" and those "outside" is not completely different than it was back in the days of the Pharisees.
Church rules and culture is similar to the Pharisaical beliefs and practices that existed when Jesus was walking around.
If that's new to you, here's the short story - the Pharisees were group of people who believed that the reason the Jewish people were sent into exile (more than once) was because they didn't keep the law of Moses well enough.
In order to make sure they didn't break the law of Moses, the established a LOT of extra rules around the outside of the law of Moses to make sure they didn't come close to breaking one. A lot of extra rules.
They were mad at Jesus, not for breaking the law of Moses, but for breaking their extra rules.
It's kind of the same way with religion today at times - extra rules, extra layers of things you need to do or not do to make God happy so he's not mad at you and to increase the possibility that you might be blessed with some extra good things.
For a lot of church people and situations, it's the things you need to avoid - in addition to the "big sins", you need to avoid anything **they say** makes you look suspicious to them. It might be music, locations, certain people, certain activities, etc - and they'll make it clear to you that you are in danger if you don't avoid what they think you should avoid.
It's also things you need to learn to like - you need to learn to like "going to church" and certain styles of music or popular culture that's cool or interesting to them - preachers, musicians, the personality of the group, insider language, church activities, etc.
And don't get me wrong - I've enjoyed many of those things over time and see their value and worth in a lot of ways.
But those things aren't God or the good news from God. They are unique expressions from people - some of which believe it's all God's plan, some of which just enjoy the community and a safe place to be, and some of which are just doing their best to get by.
And that rub exists very painfully for a lot of people.
I know a lot of people who love the grace of God, but feel so estranged from "church".
And it's not like they're wanting to "stay in sin" or something like that. It's that the message of "the church" they are around or experience is "the church".
The message is that you need to be a part of the church, as they are living it, and learn to love the church in order to "get God".
Most "church people" wish it were otherwise and want to be more able to share God with "outsiders" and don't understand what the problem is.
Not unlike people who have differences over politics or Ford versus Chevy or rock versus country versus R&B -- some of it is a difference of assumptions, a difference of starting points, or just what they grew up with and assume is right.
Yes, I'm oversimplifying it, but it's a basic reality.
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Years ago, I was sitting in a very large venue listening to a very well-produced "secular" Christmas program that was put on local celebrities, musicians, etc.
It was one of those “everyone get out your keys and let’s sing Jingle Bells” kind of events. Fun for the kids, families, and everyone there.
At some point in the show, the announced it was the last one they’d be doing. It was an event that was popular in our area and had been done for years, but for a variety of reasons, this is the last one.
The person making the announcement then proceeded to sing “O Holy Night” one last time before it was all over.
I don’t know if it was the impact of the announcement, the shared sorrow of the crew putting on the show, or what exactly, but the song seemed to take on special meaning.
I don’t think I’d ever actually listened to the words of “O Holy Night” very closely before that night.
When the singer got to this line…
"Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth"
…I struggled. One of those fighting back tears moments.
That line “Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth” struck me in the heart in a way like I’d never heard or felt before.
It was a “God moment” when I realized that I was (and you are) of so much incredible worth to God.
I knew about grace and forgiveness and all, but the idea that we are of worth to God was astounding and powerful.
And it’s true.
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I wonder how many people seek validation and to hear from someone or something that they are valuable or worthy.
It’s a lot of people. It’s most of the people in our culture. Even a lot of people “inside” of churches.
You are important and of great worth to God. More than you know or can imagine.
Whether you are a church insider or are "outside", God values you more than you ever hoped. And it has nothing to do with whether you "go to church" or "are good enough".
Just stew on that thought. Savor it. Flip it over. Challenge it. Critique it. But hold on to it.
It’s true.
Let it begin to work in you and through you.
Ask God if it’s true or not.
Let me know what you find out.
Grace and peace.
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