Aliens in America: Day 33

Make Your World Holy 

‘As aliens, live in reverent fear’ (1 Pet. 1:17). 

Holiness cannot be legislated; it can only be advanced through hearts ordered and set ablaze by the living God. Chastity burns beyond itself: uncreated Spirit dwelling with the grounded creature. Fire in the fireplace. 

Merciful Jesus exposes and vanquishes our childish things, sexy idols that smoke and singe. He helps us (and we must seek this help) to own, restrain, and express real desire for others. That grants the Christian an expansive generosity: ‘I see more of what you can be and want to help you know the One who can help you realize that truth!’  

Holiness invites us to chastity. Chaste love for Creator and His creatures results in generosity. Who wants to muck around in secrets and lies?  

C.S. Lewis writes: ‘It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased’ (The Weight of Glory).  

I experienced this with my friend Rick, a young man on the brink of ‘transitioning.’ Though his masculinity is almost obscured, I’ve authority to see his true self and to love him into it. I pray for him a lot and launch into holy love every time I see him. That’s what Christian life is all about: advancing holiness by loving truth in those who don’t yet see it.     

We are now strangers in a strange land: ‘conservative’ America, Trump-style. He has courted Christians for appointments and votes. While promising restraint (Trump is ‘pro-life-ish’), his own faith and virtue remain a mystery. What we do know: Trump and friends have some seriously unchaste resumes.  

Guess what? I don’t take my cues from them. I am a Christian who answers to Jesus, an all-consuming fire who entrusts His Church to advance holiness through loving people into Jesus, one person at a time. Pray for serious conversions in the swamp. Divided politicians who legislate ‘life’ but live corruption need to surrender to that Life, not unlike pedophile priests who still claim ‘orthodoxy.’  

May Jesus expose and burn off the dross until all that remains are the undivided, a weak remnant united and set ablaze with holy love.  

‘The future…of the Church will be reshaped by saints whose minds probe deeper than the slogan of the day, who see more than others see, because their lives embrace a wider, deeper reality’ (Dr. Larry Chapp).     

That invites me to take seriously my own chastity and to get on with the business of building this Church. For me, that means creating safe and dynamic spaces for anyone—priest and politician alike—to surrender their divides and become whole.   

I heed Peter’s words to ‘abstain from evil desires…by doing good, you might silent ignorant talk…’(1 Pet. 2:11, 15)…’Give a reason for the hope you have…do so with gentleness and respect, so that those who speak against you may be ashamed of their slander. Better to suffer for good than for evil…’ (1 Pet. 3:15-18). 

‘Holiness is no idle pastime of devotion but a serious entry into the world’s decline into illusion. Only the truth of God will do. The task of the Christian is to so conform ourselves to that truth so we might become transparent vessels for the life of the world’ (Dr. Larry Chapp). 

‘Jesus, invite us deeper into Your holy love; expose and burn off unreality. Thank You for the real self You see and love. Unite us in Your love—take us deeper in our own chastity. May we shine bright for others to find You in a confusing, bruising time.’ 

‘Jesus, You are the King, and we are first citizens of Your Kingdom. Would you free us for You in this election season, not to hide but to shine? You’ve always asked nothing less from Your elect whom You have made ‘strangers in a strange land’ (Ex. 2:22). Here we are, a people who don’t know what to do but who look and listen to our King.  

“Father of all holiness, 

guide our hearts to You. 

Keep in the light of Your Truth 

all those You have freed from the darkness of unbelief. 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.”’ 

Amen 

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