A Modest Hero
Originally scheduled for April 15
The woman is one of my heroes. It happened this
way.
Our new manager, an ardent feminist and
liberal, was interviewing each of the employees. She came to a lady
named Laurian. The
discussion went pleasantly until she asked how many children Laurian
had. The answer was
four; this produced an explosion. Our new manager was outraged that
anyone would have for children and thus waste the resources of the
planet. With the rest of us in shock she proceeded to lecture the
entire group on what a horror this was, and then stalked off in
righteous indignation. If a Christian had done something like this,
it would have been called Judgmentalism.
She stalked off without learning a crucial and
important fact. There were four children; two of them were adopted
from Laurian’s sister — who was serving a very long prison sentence
for drug dealing. Laurian rescued them from the foster
care system, at considerable effort and expense.
Perhaps it is a coincidence that Laurian is a
Christian. Perhaps. The truth is that the world judges the Christian
constantly. The judgment is made on the world's terms, not those of
Christ. And as in this instance, it is often done without complete
knowledge of the facts. It is also often accompanied by a burning
hatred. If you have not experienced that hatred, you are among the
rarely fortunate.
It is tempting to think that the world's
judgment, fallible as it is, is but a pale reflection of what God
will do to us for our sins. But that is not the method the Almighty
has selected. What he has done is similar to what Laurian did: he
has adopted us. The Scripture tells us that we are joint heirs with
Jesus, we are the adopted
children of God the Father. He has chosen — at great cost — to give
us grace, not judgment. As a father has mercy on his children, so
the Lord has mercy on those who fear him.
In granting us that mercy he has asked us to
remember the price: the Cross. Communion is the act of remembering
the Cross. In this memorial he asks us to examine ourselves. In so
doing we make his judgment unnecessary by accepting his loving
discipline. So I encourage you: examine yourselves. Take stock of
who you are and what you have done. If you find something there
which is not pleasing to your Lord, ask forgiveness — and seek his
aid in repentance.
