Will The Wolf And The Lamb Ever Lie Together?

This is a long one!  You may want to take it in two parts! 

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.(Luke 3)

Luke is talking about the true “good news!”  The good news as written In Isaiah 11 and 12:

The ax lying at the tree’s root!

The sharing of clothes and food!

Not threatening and bullying others!

When all the meaning-less, and un-use-able, will be burned with unquenchable fire.

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

The Old Testament book of Isaiah tells about God’s great works.  And the future possibility of hope and even joy.  Isaiah issues a call to: “Make known the deeds of the LORD.  Trust in the LORD and do not be afraid.  For the LORD is you salvation (being accepted despite our sins).  The LORD is your very strength.”(Is. 12)

Then he tells of this good news:  “Then joy will spring from God’s favor.” (Is.12) 

Because, “God’s offer of salvation is faithful and true.  As true as an underground spring that calms, refreshes, that satisfies and provide life.”(Is.12)

This promise is too wonderfully extraordinary to be kept to ourselves.  It is meant to be like an infectious joy that needs to be shared.  Caught by others! 

Isaiah’s word is meant to prompt us to “sing and shout for joy.”  So that others will be infected with joy too.  So that others will know the wonderful gifts of hope, peace and acceptance.  Given only By God’s Graciousness!

Now I must confess!  Every-so-often through the years the same little lightbulb goes off in my simple, idealistic mind.  This lightbulb is about how confusing it s to live out the truth of God in our world today.  And the seeming futility to preaching, and teaching, Jesus’ Gospel of love and forgiveness.   A Gospel where everything, necessary for supporting life, flow to us from the undeserved goodness and generosity of God.

In theological circles we use terms like: grace, love, gift salvation, justification etc..  

       In a world steeped with opposite.

              Mis-use of economic power! 

            Steep in the concept of winning and competition.           

                  

In this world, Jesus’ good news makes absolutely no sense at all.

This conflict and confusion begins at birth!  It is escalated in nursery school.  Compounded as we move through grade school and High School.  Then magnified, under life’s giant microscope, as we begin to try to live a good and honorable life as responsible adults.  

What we learned in Sunday School, Bible Studies and Worship fails. Fails in the face of our worldly created ways of living.  The Gospel fails in the public classroom and on the playgrounds of life. Which teaches the value of competition, winning, being the best — number 1!

Luther was on target when he talked about “Two Kingdoms.” 

1. “Those who serve God!  Those who serve the Devil.”

2. “Those who choose a coercive style of government  by the sword, to maintain peace and justice. Or those who follow a government by word and Spirit.”

Now allow me to translate!  We are asked to live in this physical world by loving our neighbor.  Following the way that Jesus modeled and taught.  Period!

Easy for Luther to say!!

Have you ever given any thought to this very real two-sided culture we live in?  I know for sure you have experienced it!  It was made extremely clear to me during my first few years of ministry. 

You see, what they neglected to tell us in seminary was:  That public school, sport, and one’s “normal” life are much more a priority than God.  Much more important than faith formation!

The language of faith; love, grace, forgiveness, service. The pure extravagance of God!  Simply does not make sense in the present day world of political games and economic competition.  Where someone always needs to win.  And the rest have to lose. 

I remember a sermon I gave about this issue.  I talked about how we confuse our children by bring them to Sunday School and worship to learn one thing.  And then send them out into the world to learn another thing.  

The question I asked them, as I began that sermon, was why do you bring your children to Sunday School?  It is truly a good idea?   You should have seen the looks on their faces.  I’m sure they where thinking: “has she lost her mind?”

But when you think about it is not such a bad question.  We learn two completely opposite lessons.   In church we hear about how we are “suppose to live, think and be.”   Outside, of the walls of the church, that way of thinking, and living, and being is disregarded.  In no way, do they measure up to the expectation scale of the “real world.”   The very real world where being a loving servant, where grace, generosity and a forgiving attitude is a strange and antiquated  way of life.

It does not sync with the “real world!”

9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord…(Is. 11)

Here is the weirdness of the huge contradiction we are faced with!  

Even when we fail to return God’s blessings.

     Even when we fail to give God thanks for what he does.

God just keeps giving us love and forgiveness.  Hoping against hope that one day the wolf shall live peacefully with the lamb. And the lion and the fatling “together!” And the little child will lead them!

That is the hope!

That is the peace!

That is the joy! 

       Born in a manger wrapped in swaddling cloth.

And counter to popular opinion, Jesus’ message wins in all the world’s games!  The gold-medal-winner of all gold winners!  I prefer to think about Jesus as the most effective leader in all of history.  I stand with Isaiah!  Jesus’ way of life offers all who will follow him the possibility of making the world better.  More peaceful!

I also agree with Isaiah, that we need to be about trusting and not being afraid.  But instead be proactive followers! By making known God’s wonderful deeds…living out God’s hope in this weary, war-torn, economically crippled world. 

For great in our midst is the The Holy One of the whole entire world!

1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11)