CONTENTS May/June 2003
Features
War, Peace, and United Methodism Good News responds to the situation in Iraq
Why Have You Forsaken Me? At the cross, disappointed hearts can find renewal, according to Steve Seamands
Why I Am (Even Yet!) a United Methodist It is grace and grateful loyalty that keep Will Willimon in the denomination
Renewing the Church Diane Knippers combats post-modern "cafeteria religion"
John Wesley & Just WarPeter R. McGuire addresses the ongoing disconnect between modern United Methodism and its founder
First to Pray! Chaplains Lead the Way They are representives of the holy, Kathy L. Gilbert affirms, often in the most unholy of places
God and Man in the Oval Office Fred Barnes appreciates the delicate balance of personal faith in public leadership
COLUMNS Editorial The Ties that Bind
The Next Generation Pluralism: Growing Up in a World Where There is No Wrong
Renew Women's Network A Tribute to My Mom
The Great Commission Citizens of Heaven with American Passports
From the Heart Tevia's Question
DEPARTMENTSStraight Talk
NewsComplaints dismissed against Bishop Sprague
Lambrecht responds to dismissal of Sprague complaint
Dunnam speaks out on Asbury Seminary flag flap
"I was wrong about the war in Iraq," says pastor
I’ve known Jesus for three decades but have only come alive to his liberating love in the last five of those years. The best way to describe the before and after difference is with a song from one of my favorite Broadway musicals.
In Fiddler On The Roof, the Jewish papa, Tevia, is confounded by his daughters’ relationships with the men they want to marry. It seems love is their motivator. This is foreign to the papa because his was an arranged marriage. The situation causes Tevia to wonder, “Does my wife love me?” The lyrics penned by Sheldon Harnick explain Tevia’s curious pursuit for the answer to the question burning in his heart.
Tevia: “Do you love me?”
Golde: “Do I what?”
Tevia: “Do you love me?”
Golde: “For twenty-five years I’ve washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you children, milked the cow. After twenty-five years why talk about love right now?”
Tevia: “But do you love me?”
Golde: “For twenty-five years I’ve lived with him, fought with him, starved with him. For twenty-five years my bed is his; if that’s not love, what is?”
For one quarter of a century Golde did what was expected. She did the work of a housewife and a mama. Her responses to her husband’s queries ranged from “You’re a fool!” to “I’m your wife!” to even wondering if his question was born of indigestion. But, still Tevia persisted. I think God was asking me the same thing.
God: “Marilyn, do you love me?”
Marilyn: “Do I what?”
God: “Do you love me?”
Marilyn: “I’m your child!”
God: “I know, but do you love me?”
Marilyn: “For twenty-five years I’ve led your Bible studies, cleaned your house and looked after your family. Why talk about love right now?”
But God still pressed. “Do you love me?”
Did I, indeed? I had taught about his love but did I really know his love? Would I dare to believe that he is passionate about me? What’s more, could I be passionate about him, those he loves and the things that make his heart pound?
The Bible is full of people who came alive to God’s love. The prodigal of Luke 15 figured it out after going his own way and ending up in a pig sty. Could it be? “Is it possible that this father who I thought would sit me down, wag his finger and demand a pledge to do better—this father—would run to me and hug me into his party room?”
And, the woman who anointed Jesus in Luke 7, the prostitute, came alive to this same love when desperation over the transgressions in her life found arms in a Savior who is the friend of sinners. She exchanged her lavish love on the illegitimate for an extravagant love of the divine and what happened was a holy intimacy.
Intimacy means “nothing held back.” And, as she gave Jesus her all—all her perfume, all her resources, all her tears, all her kisses—she began to really know him.
She pressed on for the prize, much like the apostle Paul. And, what she discovered was a rich God. Ephesians 2:6-7 says it boldly: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 declares that this lavish richness came at great expense to God. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Mary, the anointer, found her God rich indeed. He
is rich in mercy. “The Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never
cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great
is Thy faithfulness” (Lam.
He is rich in forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
His is extravagant joy. “You have made known
to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with
eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm
He is rich in freedom. “So if the Son sets you
free, you will be free indeed” (John
He is rich in peace. “Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John
And, his love is amazing. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Coming alive to God’s love brought intimacy with God for Mary and for me and intimacy is revealing who he is. Tevia’s question is God’s question. “Do you love me?”
What is your response?
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