My Water Fountain: A Word Concerning Segregation

How does a people group get over this? Do laws wipe away the pain, degradation and imposed inferiority away? Does time heal the wounds? Are parents and grandparents who had to drink from different fountains, who had to use different bathrooms, who were pointed to the back of the bus, and who were, in every sphere of social culture, reminded of their inferiority, able to suppress the natural reflexes of oppression so that their children don't see - so that their children aren't affected?

There are people we see every day who were taught from an early age that they are less than human. The above is just one example of a globe filled, from all ages, with image bearers who live and have lived to suppress that image in others. This type of degradation is not typical for must of us. Therefore, we are very sensitive to any hint of it in our own lives. But imagine if it was the norm - the acceptable way of life.

This post is an encouragement and admonition for us to recognize that people are more than mere actions. Our good works and our bad ones are so much more than superficial movements of the body. If we look at others with this mindset we reduce them to matter in time and space. And when we allow what people do to eclipse who people are we neglect their significance, dignity and intrinsic worth as brothers and sisters created in the image of God.

When I drive through the neighborhood I love so much and see a young man who is unemployed, with a criminal record, and who apparently has no belt, I must resist with all of my might the desire to make him less-than-me. I must resist my deep desire to see only his apparent irresponsibility. I must fight to see his history, family, culture and his heart. He was created like me. He was born into this world a sinner like me. He may do really stupid things...like me. And he really needs a Savior, like me.

I must damn segregation to hell where it belongs. And, I must die to myself and invite him to the Water Fountain who has so graciously quenched my thirst (John 4).

Why We Won't Love

In our efforts to become more practical, we tend to neglect the most profound. In thinking through who and how to love, we tend to neglect the profound (and simple) commandment to love in the first place. One of our greatest mistakes is making our love dependent upon the actions of the object of our love. Before taking that first step in their direction, certain stipulations have to be met. We must run their countenance, culture, behavior and character through our filtered "biblical" filter. If they pass, we love. If they don't, we keep our safe distance - and justifiably so!

But Jesus makes his commandment inconveniently simple - not dependent upon the object of love, but upon the God who is love itself. Jesus frees us from the slavery and complexity of other people by making us his slaves. We may not use another person's actions as an excuse as to why we should not follow his command to love them. He gives it independently of them. This is what makes love so glorious. It is also what makes love so impossible.

Too often our filters are based not on what the other needs, but on what we refuse to give. We don't like the surrender involved. We don't like not knowing what may be required. We don't like pouring our lives out for someone who could care less about us. And we are seemingly allergic to placing our schedules in the hands of irresponsible people. This is precisely the rub. Those Christ calls us to love - orphans, widows, foreigners, and the poor - are not particularly as "tidy" as we are. That's our definition of irresponsible right? - not as "tidy" as we are.

The poor don't base their life around iCal. Orphans don't typically have a gym membership, Netflix, or plans to go on vacation. And widows are typically too broken to be addicted to Starbucks. These people have probably never even thought of the top ten things we place on our most important list. Therefore, to love them would mean to forfeit those things. And this is why we won't love.

Paul Miller said it so well in his book Love Walked Among Us. "It is one thing to notice a blind man; it is quite another to stop and talk with him - that gets scary. He might ask for money or interrupt our schedule. It's as if we are afraid that his blindness might affect us. This fear is not irrational - when we pause to have compassion, something of the other person's problems comes on us. Some of his pain touches us. At the very least, slowing down and noticing someone takes time...Compassion affects us. Maybe that's why we judge so quickly - it keeps us from being infected by other people's problems. Passing judgment is just so efficient."

Love has become far too simple for me. Simplicity, however, should not be considered synonymous with easy. It is the simplicity of Christ's command that makes love so impossible. When we try to love, we are immediately confronted with our inability to do so. Temptations flood our minds to cover love up with practicality - with strategies on how to "help" others without surrendering ourselves. We want to cure without taking up a cross. We want to show mercy without becoming messy. This is my life anyway. And Jesus is jacking me up.

Our union with Christ is the only rescue. The gospel is our only hope. In order to love we must know what love is. To know what love is, we must look nowhere but Christ - the love who walked among us. And as we cling to him in faith, we are empowered by his Spirit to feel, surrender, repent and love. In union with him we trust that surrender is eternally safe, and that because of Christ, our enemy is not excluded from the category of those we are called to love.

Love is far from convenient. It is not, however, more inconvenient than that filter that we have been carrying around to see if others are convenient enough to love or not. Christ's words are true - he who loses his life will save it.

Love Shouldn't Make Sense

The simplicity of the Christian life is too often the very reason why we just don't live it.  We want more complex strategies, morals, and plans of action.  The more complex, the more difficult.  And difficulty makes our excuses more plausible.  We can't be held accountable for such tasks.

But Christ and his commands are overwhelmingly simple.  His preaching is immensely practical and extraordinary humble.  He wanted children to understand.  This simplicity is indicative of the very love that he showed the world - a love that doesn't make any sense at all.  Luke 6 is a perfect example and its contents should strike us as inexcusably simple and inescapably direct.  They bring us immediately to the point of decision.

Do we trust his words?  Do we hope in the future that he speaks of? Will we love like he shows us?

Jesus says very clearly that our love should not make sense to those who do not love him - who do not trust or follow him.  His love and the love that he calls us to is no less than scandalous.  It makes everyone uncomfortable - those who do it, those who watch it, and those who experience it.  It is crazy and other-worldly.

The words of Christ:

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from the one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And of you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:27-36).

I am going to withhold any comments for the reasons stated above.  They are simple enough.  At some point running to a commentary is like running to another teacher.

I will only say this.  Loving in a way that doesn't make sense may just get us killed (v.22), it may present us with a very uncomfortable life (vv.20-23), and it may mean that we forfeit all that we have always wanted.  But the promise that underlies this entire passage is also very clear.  Loving this way is worth it.  We'd be fools not to risk it all (vv.23b, 35b).

Who's Voice Are You Listening To?

There is no such thing as existing in a silent, "obedient-less", "rewardless" vacuum.  We all listen to someone.  We all obey some command.  And we all experience the repercussions (good or bad) of our obedience to those commands.  This is the human way.  As image bearers of God we will always listen, obey and reap.

The mass media understands this.  The fact that some believe in a neutral existence is evidence that they have been following a voice so long that they don't even hear it anymore.  Magazine covers know all about justification.  Talk shows know all about sanctification.  And ESPN knows all about glorification.  These institutions have made billions off of the innate desire in every person to be acceptable, to remain acceptable and to be happily satisfied.

We have been listening and believing their voices for a while now.  And as a culture, we are reaping the rewards.  Contrary to popular belief, righteousness doesn't come from looking like Kim Kardashian, or making People's list of best looking guys.  Oprah knows nothing about becoming a better individual - that is, becoming more Christ-like.  And athletic championships continue to become more and more anti-climactic; while societal celebrations like Mardi Gras continue to miss the mark on what a true celebration really is.

Those striving for the promises of society listed above, are, and will continue to do just that - strive.  Kim will get wrinkles.  Oprah has retired.  Super Bowls will be forgotten.  And people will always be puking at Mardi Gras.  The voices are nothing but empty lies.  The hot sign outside of Krispy Kreme promises a delicious snack, while delivering one big bellyache.

But there is a voice that is always good.  The Word of God gives the authoritative command that is always loving, safe, and true.  Righteousness can be found only in Christ.  Pure instruction comes only from his Word, as we are empowered by his Spirit to hear, understand and obey.

And as we follow, we become more like him; knowing with certainty that our obedience to his voice will be rewarded in heaven.  The inheritance is ours in Christ - and the celebration upon receiving it fully will be one like this world has never seen or experienced.

How do we attain all of these things?  Rebels don't deserve a safe command.  Enemies of God don't deserve to freely obey God.  And people who should be punished are not supposed to be rewarded with a heavenly estate.

We attain these things, not by striving, but by trusting Christ alone by faith.  By repenting of our wayward obedience, we may have eternal life by faith in this wonderful Savior.  In so doing, we are free from the endless hustle of trying to be like whoever, to attain whatever our culture says is glorious. Instead of reaching heaven, heaven has come and rescued us.  All striving has ceased.  Christ and his glorious benefits are ours!  It is because of Christ that I can be like Christ.  It is because of Christ that I can act like Christ.  And it is because of Christ that I can enjoy Christ's Kingdom forever, and ever.

Listening to someone else simply doesn't make sense.  Who's voice are you listening to?

It is Not Reasonable to Live by Man's Reason Alone

While following the Lord, people often come to the end of their logical rope: Moses finds himself on the shore of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army pursuing; the people of Israel are led into the wilderness with no food or water; and even the multitudes along with the disciples find themselves following Christ to a remote area with only a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread to sustain them.    

If we take our Bible seriously, these are not uncommon situations.  More times than not Christ leads us to places where we are forced to ask: How do we survive now that we are here?  We then logically search all options and are left with the helpless answer: I have no idea.  When we come to the end of our logical rope, we have no other option but to look to Christ and simply trust what He says.

This is why the Word of God is so important.  In it Christ informs and instructs us through seemingly impossible situations.  He shows off that way.  We are too often confined by the limits of our own logic and reason.  Consequently, obedience becomes more difficult, and, in some cases not a "reasonable" option.

But when we listen to, and trust, the Word of the omniscient and omnipotent Lord, we finally find a Refuge where logic and reason are freed from the confines we place upon them. Christ alone has all the facts.  Therefore, our faith in Him compels and frees us to leave the limits of our own inductive processes. And when we trust Him in doing so we finally receive logical reasons to trust, love, hope, and obey.

Christianity is not about leaving reason for blind faith.  Quite the contrary, it is about being united, by faith, to the One who frees reason from the limits of the fallen human mind.  In Christ, we do not know everything; but, we boast only in the fact that we know the One who knows everything.  Faith in Christ therefore, is the only rational approach to life.  Having said all of this, we can conclude (and even quote:) that man cannot live on his logic alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4).

It's No Sacrifice at All

I have a growing appreciation for those who can express thoughts, using clear words and simple sentences.  Dorothy Sayers, in her book Letters to a Diminished Church, has made a wonderful observation; and she has communicated it well.  Its about love and sacrifice.  She writes:

Sacrifice is what it looks like to other people, but to that-which-loves I think it does not appear so.  When one really cares, the self is forgotten, and the sacrifice becomes only a part of the activity.  Ask yourself: if there is something you supremely want to do, do you count as self-sacrifice the difficulties encountered or the other possible activities cast aside?  You do not.  The time when you deliberately say, "I must sacrifice this, that, or the other" is when you do not supremely desire the end in view.  At such times you are doing your duty, and that is admirable, but it is not love.  But as soon as your duty becomes your love the self-sacrifice is taken for granted, and, whatever the world calls it, you call it so no longer.


This has been a good and easy read so far.  Though I do not completely agree with all of her theology, I have found myself challenged, convicted and encouraged by much of what she has to say.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking to grow in their Christian life.

So What If He Loves Me

Imagine Jimmy.  He's the good lookin cool kid in school.  When he walks by all the girls get a bit weak in the knees.  On the first day of fifth grade Jimmy gets a few notes passed his way, most of which have the same message..."Sue loves you!  Do you love her?"  or "Jane loves you...do you love her?" 

Jimmy, after a little bit of thought, takes his pick.  It's Jane.  Sue's friend asks him, "Why didn't you love Sue?  She loves you!"  Jimmy, with a cool smirk says, "So what if Sue loves me?"  Well, Jimmy and Jane "loved" each other for about two weeks.  Relationship over. 

These days it seems as if the only evangelistic message is, "God loves you."  The unbeliever, still thinking like a fifth grader named Jimmy, says in return, "So what if He loves me?  Sue loved me too.  Big deal."  So what is the Christian to do?  Can he/she therefore not say the wonderful slogan again?  Well, I wouldn't say that.  But I would say that we have to understand what it means for God to love someone. 

As a culture we have lost the meaning love; and we certainly have lost what it means for God to love.  As Christians we must know what love means.  We must know the kind of love God gives.  John 15:9 gives us a clue.  Jesus says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love."  Books have been written on love, but this verse gives us more than we can chew in one sitting.  Here are a few thoughts.

First, this is a Trinitarian love.  In the way that God the Father has loved God the Son, so God the Son loves us.  Amazing.  Let that sink in a bit.

Second, this love is eternal.  It never ends.  Jimmy stopped loving, and so do many people.  But Christ never stops loving.  As Christians, we are not loved with a fifth grader puppy love.  We are loved with a divine, supreme and sovereign love. 

Third, this love is enduring.  It is bearing.  For many, love begins to dim as the other continues to show their imperfections.  When people sin against us, we tend to run from them.  Christ's love is different.  When we were His enemies, He came to us.  He did not run from our iniquities, He bore them (Isa 53:11).  His love draws sinners to Himself.  When our desire was to make Him bleed, He bled for us.

Fourth, this love is effective.  We've all been in Sue's position (see first paragraph).  The one we thought we loved didn't love us back.  This hurts.  Many have placed Christ in Sue's position.  Christ loved us but we, like Jimmy, gave Him a smirk and went on our way.  Christ is left sulking.  This is not Christ's love.  When Christ loves someone, He changes them.  Remember, "We love because He first loved us" (1Jn 4:19).  When Christ sheds love, He sheds blood.  And that blood changes our smirk into sobbing; our running into embracing; our arrogant pride into an inflamed passion for Him.

Fifth, this love is "in Christ."  In other words, we are loved by God because we are united to Christ.  His perfect righteousness given to us makes us perfectly, justly, and eternally lovable.  Christ's perfect power keeps us at the right hand of God, safely, where His love can be constantly and faithfully bestowed upon us.  Christ's perfect death removed all possibility of His love fading.  Sin gets in the way of love, but Christ paid for all of our sin.  He cleansed us.  His love will never end. 

Last, God the Spirit, the wonderful Comforter, works in us to reciprocate that love.  Because the Persons of the Trinity will always love one another, we can rest assured that we will always love God.  The Father has commanded this.  The Son has accomplished and purchased this.  And the Spirit powerfully and efficaciously brings this about, in us.  Both Christ's love for us and our love for Him are rooted in the eternal councils of the Holy Trinity.  They go deeper than us.  This love runs through our fickle will into the heart of God who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable.

I used to fear that I would one day not love Christ.  But the Gospel of God's love for me changes me and assures me that, by grace, I will never finally say, "So what if He loves me."