There are no problems, only opportunities”
I’ve a favorite phrase that often brings a “roll of the eyes” from friends and family members, “There are no problems, only opportunities.” Convinced as I am of the absolute truth and difficulty of that statement, when faced with a “problem” I try to think “opportunity.” It is my desire that it would drive my approach to all things. Whenever I ignore or not fully embraced it, I have found that it will usually be to my own detriment. Oh, that I would learn to be more consistent.
We face opportunities every day. Ephesians 5:19 implores us to Redeem the time, because the days are evil. In these evil days we face many opportunities that we may well loose, and if so -regret! Let it not be so.
That said, I want to comment on a recent posting at The Gospel Coalition regarding COVID-19, and our desire to return to normal. I appreciate this article because it did change much of my thinking and opinion on the matter. There are key phrases and words in this piece that caught my attention: “It won’t be easy” – “our flesh resists” – “opportunity” – “counterculture” – “self-idolatry” – to name a few. First, let me draw your attention to one of the keys word in particular – “counterculture.”
We are the “new-counterculture.” But that may not be a bad thing.
Do you recall the infamous 60’s cultural revolution? I do. The ideas of that movement were at the time countercultural. And if you haven’t noticed, those ideas have continued unabated to the point of becoming the entrenched culture of our day. Observing current thought trends, it recently occurred to me that the we – followers of Christ – have become, and are in fact now, the counterculture of our time. Living in this post-Christian era, those desiring to be faithful to Christ hold beliefs that not only run against the grain of post-modern thought, they are in fact anathema in today’s public square. We are the “new-counterculture.” But that may not be a bad thing.
I have a favorite saying derived from Genesis 50:20, “The Way Up Is Down.” History and scripture alike (i.e. Psalm 30) bear witness that the light shines brightest in our darkest hours. Yes, we are the counterculture of the moment. In the current secular and political environment, we’ve been relegated to the back-of-the-bus (if not off the bus), which begs the question: How and where can we declare “our hope” if no-one is asking or cares to ask the reason for the hope we embrace (1Pet 3:15)? What opportunities can we find, make, or might be created for us to give voice to our system of thought against the enveloping evil? And if an opportunity were found or given, what ought we to do? Lord, forgive us if we fail to seize the moment, the opportunity.
January 1st this year, one of my past students – knowing me so well – sent me a New Year’s text message/cartoon: “What will the new year bring?”
Answer, “365 opportunities.” — I laughed out load when I opened that text. But in retrospect, it now seems quite prophetic!
Thus, I come to the article in question. The following are excerpts taken from the article with my comments. It is my hope that you will go to the The Gospel Coalition page and read it in its entirety. In summary, four “countercultural” points – opportunities – are being made in reference to the imperative need for counterculture:
Sacrifice
Humility
Patience
and
Nuance (Pay particular attention to this point, it is key)
The author, Brett McCracken, started by directing his comments (in blue below) to church leadership saying that,
“…the last few months have presented a near-constant array of complex challenges related to shepherding a church during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
However, let me say that this is not a challenge just for the leadership, but a stress point for every follower in Christ.
“In such a precarious and polarizing environment, how can churches (and believers) move forward in beautiful unity (Ps. 133) rather than ugly division that surrounds us? It won’t be easy. But by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit working to unify us in ways our flesh resists, the opportunity is there for us to be a countercultural model for the rest of the world.” – italics and emphasis mine
Note how he states the challenge:
- To be a countercultural model for the rest of the world.
- It won’t be easy to unify us in ways our flesh resists.
- But, the opportunity is there for us.
This is a STAR moment.
Yes, the opportunity is there, if we don’t let it slip through our collective fingers. As I tell the students of Covenant Christian Academy repeatedly, “This is a STAR moment; Stop…, Think…, Assess…, and Respond in godly wisdom.
What the world needs to see now in this critical moment is:
Countercultural Sacrifice
At a time when self-idolatry is being exposed in ugly ways, the church has an opportunity to model love that places the interests of others above the self. [We have an opportunity to model] Paul’s wisdom in Romans 14: “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother?” Or 1Corinthians 8:9: “Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
Even if you think [the precautions of others] are a needless overreaction, can you not sacrifice your ideal for a season, out of love for others who believe the precautions are necessary?
Countercultural Humility
Have you noticed how remarkably confident so many of us are in our views right now? …We could all use a bit more humility, and the church should lead the way.
As much as ever before, Christians should follow the advice of James to be ‘quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger’ (1:19). …No one of us should assume we’ve arrived at the definitive answer on how to [handle the current crisis]. Let’s model humility by acknowledging that everything is not obvious, and we are all just trying to do the best we can in this ‘build the plane in midair’ moment.
Countercultural Patience
Patience is one of the rarest virtues in today’s insta-everything world. And yet patience has rarely been more needed, as many of us are antsy to break free of “stay home” isolation and get back to normalcy as soon as possible. …As hard as it will be to practice patience, remember that in the scheme of eternity this season—whether it’s months long or years—will be but a blip.
Actually, it may seem impossible to “practice patience” in such a time as this. But patience/long-suffering, is this not one of the empowering fruit of Spirit gifts? How does James put it?
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trial; knowing this, that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)
This counterintuitive worldview of James is in stark opposition to this “let’s choose up sides” and “me-centered” cultural we currently live in. Finally, then:
Countercultural Nuance
We live in an un–nuanced age. The economic model of the media (built on clicks and views) works against nuance. Advertisers know nuance doesn’t sell. Politicians know it too. We shouldn’t be surprised by how rare it is for someone to hold humble, complicated, “both/and” views in today’s hyper-partisan, media-catechized world. But if churches are going to emerge from this crisis with unity and fellowship intact, we must embrace the countercultural path of nuance. It’s the path that avoids ALL CAPS hysteria of every extreme sort, recognizing that truth is rarely as simple and shrill as Twitter would have us think. …Countercultural nuance avoids thinking the worst of people and concedes that the other side of a debate is sometimes right, just as we are sometimes wrong. Nuance often results when humility and patience combine.
So, it would appear that we have a “faith-based” opportunity at the door; an opportunity the current problem(s) offers to the body of Christ.
The author closes with this final comment,
There are some things Christians should not be nuanced about, of course, and one of those is our rugged commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and all that Scripture commands. What Paul urges the Ephesian church, therefore, should be equally urgent for us today: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3).
One final thought. This is written as an encouragement to church leaders and congregations desiring to see things return to normal. But, there is application here beyond the confines of corporate worship. As the body of Christ, living out our faith in the family (close and extended), in our neighborhoods, communities, schools, social institutions and authorities, the opportunities are there in abundance to be counterculture in this divisive environment of disunity that the Lord finds so offensive. (Prov. 6:16-19)
_______________
What has the year brought? 365 days of opportunity!
Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:20)
Again, I urge you to go to The Gospel Coalition and read the article in its entirety. For “who knows whether [we] have not come to the kingdom for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
