ChosenRebel's Blog

Sunday Afternoon Musings

As every news cycle demonstrates, we are living in an increasingly violent and merciless culture. This morning on the drive to church, we heard the news report of a local 15 year-old, arrested for murder. It wasn’t the first time that the news reported an under-aged murder. In fact, remembering some other recent “young and violent” stories, I turned to my bride and said, “We are living in an increasingly violent and mean spirited time.” The Apostle Paul has perennial counsel for living in a corrupt culture saturated with violence and very little mercy.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

           “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
             In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

“A Christian must be a sign of contradiction in the world . . . A Christian is one who all his life chooses between good and evil, lies and truth, love and hatred, God and Satan . . . Today, more than ever, there is a need for our light to shine, so that through us, through our deeds, through our choices, people can see the Father who is in Heaven.”

Jerzy Popieluszko, 1947-1984
Assassinated by Pro-communist Forces

A friend once took a picture of singer, Rich Mullins standing high above him on a rock outcropping. He caught Rich with his arms half raised at his side. The photographer shouted up to Mullins, “You look like an arrow pointing to heaven.” That became the title of Rich Mullins biography a couple years later after Rich died in a car crash. The picture adorns the cover.

It seems to me, that is what all of us ought to be–arrows pointing toward heaven. It is what our culture needs. The only real question is whether or not we will be a the sign they need.