In my psychology classes I often talk about how one of the ways I like to define psychology is through three different levels of interactions.
1. Interactions with your self
2. Interactions with your peers, friends, and family – people close to you
3. Interactions with your culture, community or nation as a whole.
John talked this morning about how we are at war, and that we are living in occupied territory. He spoke in depth about the lives being lived in France during WW2 when they were occupied for years waiting for the allies to come. During this time people chose one of three paths (A) Collaborators – they blended in with the Nazi regime, maybe even supporting them, marrying into it, etc… (B) Neutrals – they really did not support the Nazis but they didn’t do anything to fight against it either – just tried to be quiet, and not cause any trouble. . . (C) The Resistance – they did anything and everything they could to stand up to the Nazis – from little boys learning german so they could be spies as they shined the shoes of German soldiers, to old ladies who turned street signs different directions so that the Nazis would waste gas and time, to men popping up from man-hole covers as snipers. . . little things. . . big things. . .
You see, the first group, collaborators didn’t believe liberation was coming. . . the neutrals hoped it would, but didn’t think it was that big a deal, certainly not big enough to risk your life for. . . but that last group KNEW that it was coming, and wanted to do everything they could to bring it quickly – so the oppression would stop. . . . . . . . . . . sound familiar?? Read Revelation 12, it talks about a celestial war that began long before we arrived here on Earth. . . this war goes on – Chapter 12 continues by describing the Christmas story as the ultimate story of being born into occupied territory. . . and as the war ends in Chapter 19 – there is a white rider on a white horse with the name of KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS that finally, strikes down the injustices and liberates the oppressed. . .
Where am I?. . . . Where are you?. . . Where is the war that is raging within myself, my friends/peers/family, and with my culture/nation?? . . . . more importantly. . . each of those levels. . . am I a collaborator – where no difference can be seen between me and the enemy, . . . or am I a neutral, where it is just not a priority – not worth the risk. . . . or am I part of the resistance – passionately loving others, showing grace, and doing everything I can to bring liberation (God’s Kingdom) to the hurt and broken in this world??
One last thought from John’s message this morning. . . he said - don’t give God your leftovers. . . . . He is not your dog – - -
- – OUCH, . . . yeah that one slapped me a little bit - - the resistence is worth it my friends. . .
