a holy discontentment

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11

Dear friends,

This morning, one of my pastors gave a message about holy discontentment from Philippians 3:10-11. This idea of a holy discontentment in our relationship with Jesus really resonated with me. It resonated with me because of how closely it parallels the theme of sojourning that I have been meditating on just recently.

Are we striving forward in our faith, eager to know Christ better and the power of His resurrection? Are we hungry for a deeper relationship with our saviour? Do we have a burning desire within our souls to become like Jesus in His death? And are we prepared to share in Christ's sufferings?

Those are challenging questions. For me, the thought of becoming satisfied with my relationship with Jesus should be a warning sign that something is wrong. It could be one of the first indications our faith is growing lukewarm (Rev 3:16). And being satisfied with our relationship with Jesus could also reflect another closely related danger of loving this world more than God (1 John 2:15).

If we are spiritual pilgrims sojourning in this world, then we will be more likely to feel that sensation of holy discontentment in our relationship with Jesus. This theme of holy discontentment is profound. Are we content to know we are saved or do we live to make our election sure? (1 Peter 1:10) Are we satisfied with our spiritual walk or are we pressing on towards the goal? (Phil 3:14) Are we content to attend church and call ourselves Christians or are we running the race, throwing off all sin that entangles us? (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Paul speaks in Philippians 3:10 of knowing Jesus and the power of His resurrection. The power of the resurrection! As Christians we all have access to and can live in the power of the resurrection (Rom 8:10-11). And we await our resurrection on the last day. If we as Christians will one day be given resurrection bodies and be transformed putting off the mortal for the immortal and the perishable for the imperishable (1 Cor 15:53), then shouldn't we seek to live not just in the light of, but in the actual power of the resurrection of Christ now?

Paul also speaks of sharing in Christ's sufferings in order to become like Jesus in His death (Phil 3:10). Do we have a holy discontentment to become more like Jesus, even if this means sharing in His suffering? If we are not sojourning in this world, then we are less likely to desire to become more like Jesus, especially in sharing in His sufferings. Is it little wonder Paul wanted to know the power of the resurrection as otherwise, even as an apostle, Paul probably would not have had the ability to share in Christ's sufferings.

The more I live the Christian life and meditate upon what it means to call oneself a Christian, act like a Christian and develop a truly biblical and Christian worldview, the more I am convicted that we must love Jesus above everything else and live for Him before all else.

Jesus said whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than Him is not worthy of Him (Matt 10:37). Jesus also said if we wish to be His follower we must die to ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Do we have a holy discontentment to love Jesus more than anything or anyone else in this world? Are we taking up our cross daily and following Jesus in our sojourn through this life? Whatever our priorities are, if we do not have a holy discontentment then we probably do not have our priorities right.

sojourning in the midst of uncertainty

To my brothers and sisters in Christ in the UK,

This blog is not about telling you how you should feel politically about the decision to leave the E.U. I am sure there were many of you who voted on both sides. Voting on a matter as weighty as leaving the E.U. is a matter of conscience and we will all have different positions that we sincerely hold.

The decision to leave will have further political ramifications, that much has already been confirmed with the resignation of our Prime Minister David Cameron. Scotland too will almost certainly seek a second referendum for independence. And of course, we now have our relationship with the E.U. to negotiate and clarify.

However, I want to come back to the theme of sojourning: spiritual sojourning.

Paul speaks of spiritual contentment (Phil 4:11) as well as the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7). It is in uncertain times such as these that we must look to Christ for our stability and assurance.

Our country has a long history of political change: the waves of Roman, Saxon, Viking and then Norman conquests. The Civil War that resulted in us becoming a republic under Oliver Cromwell and the beheading of King Charles I. The Acts of unions with Scotland (1707) and Ireland (1800). The decline of the British Empire. Times change. Politics changes. And if our contentment is placed in governments, or institutions or political treaties then our worlds will inevitably fall into confusion and we shall have no peace.

Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's vision of a great statue made of gold and silver, bronze, iron and clay (Daniel 2). The statue represented the various kingdoms of the ancient world, each one succeeding the last. And a stone cut from a mountain was hurled at the statue smashing it to pieces. This stone represented the kingdom of God. It is an everlasting kingdom.

As Christians, we are sojourners in this world precisely because we belong to this everlasting and enduring kingdom. Despite the tremendous change that has taken place in the world over the past two thousand years, God has faithfully preserved for Himself a remnant: His Church. We are members of God's Church - the bride of Christ - and as such we are part of something bigger and greater than any one country or even group of countries. We are part of a history and tradition and kingdom that goes all the way back to Christ. Take heart in this fact. Draw strength from this continuity. And ultimately find rest in the cornerstone of the Church, Christ Jesus Himself (Matt 11:28).

Paul suffered tremendous hardships in his ministry to the gentiles and still found contentment in plenty or in want (Phil 4:11). Let us look to the example of the apostle Paul. The referendum result has been described as a seismic shift in the political life of the UK. The result tells of a nation divided (52% to 48%). Our country is in need of healing. How though will we be able to provide the hope, counsel and reassurance people will be looking for if we ourselves are so caught up in our political affiliations and directing our energy in a political cause?

Please don't misunderstand me; I am not disparaging politics or the importance of our civic duty. There is nothing wrong with supporting a political party. However, my point is that there is something profoundly liberating about being first and foremost a child of God, rather than a British citizen; about finding our identity in Christ (Gal 2:20) rather than in our country. The Church is the pillar and foundation/buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Therefore, let us be the pillar we are called to be. Let us provide our country with the hope, light and truth of the Gospel that it so desperately needs at this time.

Remember, Jesus said foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head (Matt 8:20). As Christians this is fundamentally our reality in this world. We are not of the world (John 15:19).

We are sojourners.

But our sojourning does not mean we are impoverished or to be pitied. We have something the world can never take away from us. Something the world looks for in vain. Let us treasure the kingdom of God as we should (Matt 13:44) and remain joyful amidst all the disappointment and uncertainty this world brings.

the sojourner

Sometimes, I get the distinct impression that the world doesn't want Christians to be part of it, nor cares about what happens to Christians as a result of this rejection.

As a Christian this shouldn't come as a surprise to me, for Jesus says the world will hate us (Luke 21:17, John 15:19). In one respect, the world's indifference to the suffering of Christians, its positive discrimination against Christians (be it refugees or natives), and it's vitriolic disdain for Christian ethics & morality in the aftermath of the "culture war" is a fulfillment of Jesus' own words and therefore circumstantial evidence of the truth of the Bible. It also means that as a Christian I am given opportunities to love my enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). Indeed, a correct biblical response to society's actions will lead to a greater Christ-like character in the believer as we look to Jesus' example of loving His enemies in the face of false accusations and crucifixion.

So, in one sense I should be grateful to be living in our modern, contemporary world. And yet, observing society's drifting from biblical norms and its recoil at God's sovereign authority over every sphere of human life leads me to wrestle with my place within it. Should I passively embrace the anti-Christian sentiment I see so prevalently nowadays (for reasons stated above) or should I seek to speak the truth - gently and in love - but no less courageously?

I deliberately remained silent on the Orlando shootings as I honestly didn't know what to say that would adequately convey my sincere sympathy for the victims and yet indignation at the media for deliberately putting LGBT lives above those of Christians and others who do not enjoy the privilege of the media's support. I think of the genocide of Christians and other religious minorities in ISIS held territory. I think of the Yazidis who have been taken as sex slaves by ISIS; or the victims of Muslim honour killings across the Islamic world, and the resurgent anti-Semitism in Europe and the West.

Western leaders have no problem declaring themselves to be "Je suis Charlie" in an act of solidarity with freedom of speech, or walks of solidarity with the LGBT community, yet there was never a "Je suis Christian" in support of freedom of religion and the Christians who died as a result of retaliation in the Islamic world for their act of defiance.

As one article I read put it, progressives believe in diversity as long as that diversity doesn't extend to conservatives. And both Britain and America seem to be prejudiced against Christian refugees who are fleeing religious persecution from within the Islamic world as evidenced by a recent BBC article as well as statistics released about the number of Christian to Muslim refugees who are accepted into America.

What does all this amount to? As far as I can see, a sustained anti-Christian inclination and bias within government institutions and the media. The recent exposure of Facebook whose trending feed censored conservative topics in favour of liberal ones is a good example of how intolerance towards anything resembling moral conservatism or evangelical Christianity is slowly influencing the way society thinks of and about religion and Christianity in particular. In the realm of social media this is being compounded by the filter bubble.

Does this mean I want Christians to be given priority in society? No. That is not what I am saying. I am not arguing for greater Christian "rights". This is not a "civil rights" issue. This is not about having a "martyr complex" either. As Christians we are sojourners in this world (1 Peter 2:11, Philippians 3:20). As such we should not love or hold onto the things of this world (1 John 2:15). I understand this intellectually and theologically. Understanding this emotionally is more difficult.

At this juncture I just want to take a few moments to express my feelings about the Orlando massacre. I grieve for the victims of the shootings as everybody, whether LGBT or not, is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God says explicitly that murder is wrong because mankind is made in the image of God (Genesis 9:6). The murder of homosexuals and others in the "LGBT community" is wrong. I am saddened that there are people living in free countries such as the USA who feel that those freedoms should not be extended to certain groups within it.

I know Christians will continue to be at odds with society. We are walking along two parallel tracks, one heading to eternal life, the other destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). There is not a lot we share in common, except our humanity. And yet, our common humanity will not be enough to protect us from further progressive measures and societal prejudices against traditional Christian values.

So what I really want to say is that I see how the world is changing. I acknowledge the transformation taking place culturally. And while I continue to be a member of this world by virtue of my physical locale, I am living in another kingdom...a heavenly one. You may never agree with my worldview or beliefs, but I will still love you. You may oppose everything I believe in and stand for, but I will still speak the truth in love and so I want you to know it is not personal. If you are a fellow Christian reading this, then perhaps you can relate to what I am saying and in someway this blog has resonated with you? Let us take this sojourn together.

signed,

the sojourner.