You don't have to look any further than social media or the news to see examples of "black and white" thinking. If you don't support Candidate A for president, it must be because you support Candidate B and agree with everything they say! If you aren't for a political cause, it must be because you hate everything about that cause and harbor hate in your heart for the people who disagree with you! As a society it seems we've all become so radicalized that the general population is incapable of seeing things as nuanced or multi-faceted. The reality is that life is complicated and that very few things we experience while on this earth can be viewed with only a single lens.
This probably the most true when it comes to emotions. Emotions are fickle. When I was 2 weeks away from meeting baby Phoebe for the first time, I had these mixed feelings of excitement, fear, and anxiety all at the same time. Does that mean I wasn't "happy" about the idea of the birth of my first-born? Of course not, but often we feel many things at once.
As I continue my study of Ezra, I hit a great example of this when the Israelites rebuild the Temple's foundation in Jerusalem. First we read this...
When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord's temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: "For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever." Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord's house had been laid. (Ezra 3:10-11)
This makes perfect sense, right? After all, "God's Temple = Good", right? Well, maybe things aren't quite that simple. Maybe it is normal and understandable for multiple people to look at something and feel different types of emotions. Let's read the very next verse.
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully. (Ezra 3:12)
So who was "right"? Were the younger individuals correct for celebrating the building of the foundation for the Lord's house or were the older individuals correct for weeping due to seeing the tragedy that had befallen the once great monument to God? I'll say it again, emotions are complicated.
During this time of church planting, I've felt many different emotions, as I know many of you have. I'm saddened by the roots and investments of time, energy, and resources we are leaving behind. I am angered by actions we see that threaten to lead others down a dark and difficult path. I am relieved and comforted by dear brothers and sisters (all of you) who offer the sweet water of encouragement when it is needed the most. I am excited to think at what God can do with hearts and minds unified in purpose and conviction to serve others. I am humbled at how great and powerful a God we serve.
Which emotion is correct? It's obviously a hypothetical question because it's reasonable to feel all of these things and so much more. The undertaking we are beginning is one that may lead us to more questions than answers. It may lead to periods of isolation or even ridicule either inside the walls of a church or out in the community. None of us should undertake such a calling with the idea that we will be heralded as heroes or leaders. We have counted up the cost and we know that Jesus is truly worth it.
A good song to check out when you get a moment is "The Cost" by Rend Collective Experiment. It sums it up perfectly... "I don't need safety as long as I have you. You're dangerous but Lord you're beautiful." Click Here for YouTube Video
Father, sometimes the future just seems so full of questions that it makes us wonder exactly what to think. I know life doesn't always give us clear-cut, black and white situations. When those situations come knocking on our door, give us your clarity and wisdom to know what to do. Help us see the world through your eyes and not our own. Afford us the grace to understand the emotions and actions of others when life gets complicated so that we can respond to them with love and grace. We praise you for all you do for us and through and eagerly await what comes next.
In your son's name, Amen.
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