What About Power
Isaiah 11:6 (ESV) 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
We
adore displays of raw naked power in all aspects of our lives. Every day I
drive in Lubbock, someone blasts by me with a “low-restriction” muffler
designed to show off the power of a truck, especially diesel-powered ones. Many
of my students follow Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) bouts with near-religious
fervor. Of course, I watch the NFL which thrives on very large men moving at
very high speeds running into each other. Many of our leaders have discarded
decorum to “own” their opponents in an attempt to flex their political muscles,
regardless of the corrosive effect on civil discourse and problem-solving. Our
nation continues to increase our defense spending despite serious questions
concerning the level of threat we face. In most municipalities, police cruise
around in large SUVs kitted up as if they were getting ready to patrol the
streets of Baghdad. We revel in blatant displays of power and force. Advent
urges me to consider other options.
When
God chose to deal with the mess we made, He employed a different strategy. He
came as a helpless infant. Through Advent, God reminds me that brute force does
not solve my problem, in fact, it solves relatively few problems. In Advent, Jesus
divested Himself of the incomprehensible power that conceived of and spoke out
the universe. He restrained Himself, becoming a child in order to call and lead
His people home. The babe in the manger reminds me that gentleness, meekness,
and kindness exert more authority than all the brute force I can muster. The Prince
of Peace came in weakness, depending upon the tender ministrations of a
teenager for succor and protection.
No comments:
Post a Comment