Conflict Between The Secular And Sacred

"Today's Devotion" For August 18, 2005

Read: Matthew 16:21-23; Psalm 40

CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SECULAR AND SACRED

"I desire to do Your Will, O my God; Your law is within my heart."(Ps.40:8)

Have you ever experienced confusion in your life? Have you ever been at odds with yourself, much less others, about how you should think, feel, speak, or behave? Most of us would answer in the affirmative to these questions. It seems that being human puts us in a quandary. Human existence is often a living conundrum of conflicting emotions and choices. Human beings, by their very nature, are torn between the material and the spiritual, the secular and the sacred. As God's creation, we are both spiritual and physical creatures. As such we find ourselves torn between thinking in human terms or God's terms. By nature, because of the ravages of Sin on Man's relationship with God, conflict between the secular and sacred, thinking Man's thoughts or God's thoughts, is a daily occurrence and deeply troubling. Thus, when Jesus told His disciples that He would have to suffer for the sins of the world, die a criminal's death by crucifixion, and then rise again the conflict between the secular and the sacred became quite chilling. Peter's infamous response, "...this shall not happen to You!" shows the intensity of the dilemma, the conflict between the secular and the sacred. Jesus' revelation flew in the face of every popular notion about the Christ and what kind of Savior of the people He was to be.

Lest we get too "cocky" with our "Monday Morning Quarterback" position in history, it's important to realize that Peter doesn't stand alone in his confusion. The conflict between the secular and sacred is alive and well in our own lives as well. In Peter's day, the people were looking for a Christ, the Messiah, who would overthrow the evil Romans, sit on David's throne, and restore Israel to prominence in the world community. The lessons of history, both secular and sacred don't seem to have changed such thinking, even among Christians today. Without getting into the arguments concerning the place of the State of Israel is the "grand scheme of the cosmos" too many Christians are promoting successful living as having money, prestige, and the ability to "name it and claim it" because they are "Christians." It's almost as if Christians are, in many cases, looking for confirmation of Jesus' promises of forgiveness and heaven by how much they receive on earth. The War on Terrorism and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are seen by so many as a battle that will destroy the enemies of Christians, rather than a battle against those who seek to do evil.

Jesus' own life and ministry belie these ideas. Jesus' own words and ministry clearly proclaim salvation to be a spiritual event - the final destruction of the power of Sin, Death, and Satan to keep humanity from the loving arms of the Father. It's the Father's Will to bring people into a forgiven and righteous relationship with Him through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It's the Father's Will that we live in His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness, filled with the hope of heaven by faith in Christ. It's the Father's Will that, as His dearly beloved children, we live each day with the conviction that we are here on earth to share His love in Christ with others, knowing that we are but strangers and pilgrims awaiting His call for us to come home to heaven. The conflict between the secular and sacred touches us each day. Ultimately, we take our cues from Jesus, Whose suffering, death, and resurrection fly in the face of human thinking, but, as God's foolishness, is wiser than Man's wisdom (cf. I Cor. 1). The Suffering Christ is both inevitable and necessary - it's at the very foundation of the conflict between the secular and sacred.

Prayer: Father, the world is a conflicting place for Your people. On one hand the allure of the world seems so inviting; on the other hand it's a scary place. Too often, however, being a spiritual person, having a relationship with You, is not only unpopular, but is seen as foolish, especially when it's on Your terms. Father, give me the strength of faith and the courage to face the conflicts between the secular and sacred I face each day, so that I might be a faithful witness to the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for all humanity. By the power of Your Word and Spirit give me a confident trust in Your forgiveness and love so that I might live it faithfully and proclaim it to the world. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and remember that my reward is in heaven so that I might never be led away from You. I pray this, gracious Father, for the sake and in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.