“The World Was Not Worthy”
March 31, 2009I just read Hebrews 11 in the New Testament for the umpteenth time. It is all about people who live by faith and talks about the radical, committed lives that many of the great biblical heroes lived. The chapter “Who Really Lives That Way?” in Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love reminds me of Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:37-38 says, “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy…,” speaking of those who live(d) radical lives in God’s honor.
And so here I am in the comfort of Starbucks, drinking a $3 Venti Caffe Americano, wearing a warm wool blazer on a cold, spring day, wondering if I’m trying to be too much like “the world.” Wondering if me and “the world” deserve each other, knowing the destiny of “the world”—and that does not strike me in a positive way.
I want God to look at me and say “The world was not worthy of him,” but I think that will only happen when I stop (really stop) serving myself and start serving God by helping people—especially the spiritually lost and the economically challenged. Ultimately and unfortunately, I don’t know what that should look like but I’m convinced that God will show me (and likely change me).
What do you think?
I know exactly what you are feeling. I often feel guilty for having fun with life’s pleasures. I enjoy a wonderful home, new cars, whatever I want to eat…I could go on and on. Every now and then I find myself at the end of the day feeling guilty, as if I had taken something from somone else. I worry about getting too comfortable with this and then not being willing to take stands for God that would jeopardize the comforts that I have. Perhaps we do need to seperate ourselves from the pleasures of this world more often.
My new book is in the mail.
The Prosperity Gospel is tailor-made for America. It’s teachers LOVE Hebrews chapter 11. After the main body of the “Hall of Fame” we have this commendation:”…who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and attained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again…vv 33ff” They read this and think, “YAY!! I LOVE being a Christian!! I WANT what faith can give me!!” and they like to ignore the next few sentences about torture, public ridicule and imprisonment to the extent that suffering is taught to be a result of faithlessness. But verse 39 says, “These were ALL commended for their faith.”
We do not know where faithfulness will take us. We do know that if we do enough good enough of the time, we will eventually make someone mad at us. Jesus was consistently getting in trouble for doing good. And Peter and John certainly stirred up some trouble by healing the cripple.
Suffering is taught as the rule, not the exception. The American Church has experienced unparalleled peace and freedom in an economically prosperous nation. It has brought great blessing around the world (in terms of missions), but it has made us “soft” at home. Prosperity has twisted our souls and skewed our reality. We may yet live to see a time when we are given (or entrusted with) the opportunity to see what our faith is “made of.” Until then, we can surely start by making sure our brothers’ and sisters’ physical needs are amply met, even if we have to sacrifice a few vanilla caramel machiatto lattes