Change Starts in the Heart

“I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed.” (Ezekiel 36:26 MSG)

Most of us want a better world. We aspire to be agents of change. How we incorporate new information, how we reevaluate previously held beliefs, how we reconstruct old attitudes--all determine our moral landscape. 

Like a stone dropped in water creates a ripple effect in concentric circles, all transformation starts in our spirit. First, we have to change our own hearts. This means doing an honest assessment of our fundamental biases.  Expect to find some preexisting malignancies that will need to be identified and treated. Our stone hearts have to be replaced with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed.

Once we address our internal misconceptions, we are ready to share our thoughts with our friends, neighbors, coworkers, faith networks, social media associates, etc. Consistently living the truth we profess leads to being a positive influence on those around us. Then we use the power of social dissemination for more expansive territories--educational systems, justice systems, health care, social services, county, state, national legislators, judges, and leaders. Finally--if enough of us use every tool that God gives us, perhaps we can bring about global changes.

Be A Good Example

“Those who keep their heads on straight will teach the crowds right from wrong by their example. They’ll be put to severe testing for a season: some killed, some burned, some exiled, some robbed. When the testing is intense, they’ll get some help, but not much. Many of the helpers will be halfhearted at best. The testing will refine, cleanse, and purify those who keep their heads on straight and stay true, for there is still more to come.” (Daniel 11:33-25 MSG)

Chapter 11 of the Book of Daniel deals with the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes over Jerusalem. Antiochus was known for his persecution of the Jewish people. Many in Judea who passively resisted their oppressors were martyred.  A group of Jews organized an armed opposition to the regime. The result was the Maccabean Revolt. Although the above passage refers to events from the past, some of the lessons are applicable to current events. 

Resistance to oppression is troublesome. It challenges previous belief structures. It disrupts the order of things. Like skeletons in our cultural closet, unpleasant truths that were previously concealed become evident. The resulting chaos adds confusion and shame to the mix. 

What we as individuals do in the midst of a crisis reveals our character. In order to be a good example to others, we must keep our heads on straight even during times of crisis. We have to submit to intense testing and allow our minds to be refined and purified. We have to seek truth even if it is uncomfortable.

The Path of Self-Discipline

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” (Daniel 9:3 NIV)

 Asceticism is recognized as a path to wisdom in many spiritual traditions. In the third century AD, Christian hermits were drawn to the Egyptian deserts where they lived in solitude and austerity. These monks and nuns were known for their self-discipline and wisdom. 

These days, we live in a society that admires decadence. We strive for affluence as a means of escape. Self-discipline--unless it is a stepping-stone to worldly success--is seen as pointless. Yet, discipleship requires discipline. We cannot be followers of Christ while disseminating our energy with indulgent pursuits. 

Sacrificial living is not a means to earn grace or go to heaven. Self-denial in the name of religious rule-keeping leads to misery. Practicing discipline allows us to develop muscular souls. It leads to stronger moral character, deeper wisdom, and purposeful living. Even while our external lives look austere, our inner lives continue to flourish. We vigilantly remove distractions from our path as we focus on living fully, mindfully, and purposefully. 

“Ask me not where I live and what I like to eat. Ask me what I am living for and what I think is keeping me from living fully for that.” —Thomas Merton

Privileged

“Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others.” (Philippians 2:3 VOICE)

Since ‘privilege’ is such a hot-button issue these days, I decided to unpack it a bit. I am below average in height. When I go to the supermarket, I cannot reach the top shelves. This means I have to either forego what I want to buy, or I have to ask a taller person for help. I do not want to inconvenience others, so I settle for whatever is available on the bottom shelves. A tall person can always bend down and access the bottom shelves, but a short person has limited options.  If you are above average height, you probably have never even thought about this issue. No one is blaming you for being tall. However, you cannot deny that you have some advantages that others may not have. Now, I am NOT comparing being slightly shorter than average to being underprivileged. The analogy is just meant as a noninflammatory way to discuss differences among people groups. 

According to the National Conference for Community and Justice, privilege is defined as: “Unearned access to resources (social power) that are only readily available to some people because of their social group membership; an advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by one societal group above and beyond the common advantage of all other groups. Privilege is often invisible to those who have it.”(https://www.nccj.org/what-privilege)

In a world where ambition and independence are prized, most of us are trained to protect and serve ourselves and our own tribes. If this involves ignoring unfairness or injustice, we accept this as par for the course. Admitting that we have certain privileges that others may not have brings up issues we would rather not think about. It is uncomfortable and inconvenient. It shatters our belief system that we are part of a fair society with liberty and justice for all. 

Be A Blessing

“I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.” (Genesis 12:2 VOICE)

 I routinely take stock of my blessings: I have food, shelter, and stability--I do not have to struggle for survival on a daily basis. I have the ability to read, speak, and write. I have discretionary time. I am relatively healthy. I have the opportunity to make good choices. I have more resources than the majority of the world population. 

Blessings are gifts from God; they are not earned for good behavior or hard work. Blessings are not meant to be hoarded. They are meant to be used as tools to build up others and honor God. If you see your neighbor struggling to fix his home with no tools, would you not go over with your toolbox in hand? 

Most of us admit that we are blessed, but what do we do with these gifts? Do we imagine we deserve them?  Do we merely display them? Or do we share? How can we be a blessing to others? Do an inventory of your blessings. Find one new way to apply each gift to help someone else today. 

Desecration of the Holy

“Belshazzar, heady with the wine, ordered that the gold and silver chalices his father Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from God’s Temple of Jerusalem be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines, could drink from them...At that very moment, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the lamp-illumined, whitewashed wall of the palace. When the king saw the disembodied hand writing away, he went white as a ghost, scared out of his wits. (Daniel 5:2, 7 MSG)

In the above passage, the Babylonian king Balshazzar decides it would be entertaining for his party guests to drink from some chalices that were stolen from the Temple of Jerusalem. These utensils were considered holy by the Jewish people who were being held captive by the Babylonians. Soon after this act of desecration, the king sees the handwriting on the wall that predicts his demise. 

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 KJV)

Unless we learn to recognize what is sacred, we are doomed to repeatedly desecrate what is holy. God created everything for HIS pleasure. However, many of us are under the impression that the world is at OUR disposal. Thus, we unthinkingly treat with sacrilege what is meant to be holy. We use God and faith as a prop, abuse other humans, exploit nature, and misuse resources. We consume with abandon from sacred chalices, reckless about the consequences. Can we not read the handwriting on the wall?

Speak Up

“He promoted or humiliated people capriciously. He developed a big head and a hard spirit.” (Daniel 5:19-20 MSG)

Nebuchadnezzar was a famous Babylonian king. He decided he had the authority to do whatever he wanted without suffering any consequences. He promoted or humiliated people capriciously. He was arrogant and hardened with pride. His son, Belshazzar, took after his father--doing as he pleased. Daniel lived through the reigns of both of these kings. He spoke truth to those in power at great personal risk. 

Standing up and speaking out against authority figures can be dangerous. Traditionally, those who have power and privilege have been defensive when challenged. Bold speech can be disruptive to things as is, and  hierarchical order is often aggrandized over justice. Moreover, there is no guarantee that anything will change. Truth can fall on deaf ears--indifferent to the plight of the powerless.  Yet, like Daniel, our role is to be bold--despite our fears, despite our despair. We are called to stand up, step up, and speak up--to do the right thing, and then...leave the outcome to God.