Which Way?

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14


A recent Internet discussion on theology reminded me of a couple of things. First I was reminded that no matter how anyone tries to tell us that we are somehow better connected because of the Internet, we are in my opinion somewhat less connected than before because we can typically hide behind the Internet when we want to play dirty or call names while remaining safely anonymous; a personal, human element is missing. Secondly, I was reminded that no matter how much we may consider ourselves “united” or “of one mind”, we are nevertheless a pack of individuals each with a capacity to understand according to our own individual experiences, intellect, and interpretations as well as by where we each happen to be on our own faith journey. Whether any one of us can ultimately claim to be “right”, especially as theology goes, is, in my own opinion, somewhat arrogant; hence the divisiveness of the Church itself.

The Internet challenge was a question pertaining to some of the rather graphic moments as recorded in Joshua, Numbers, and in other OT books as to whether the Lord Himself actually ordained the slaughter of innocent women and children as Israel was preparing to occupy The Promised Land. These are very good books, but they do not paint a very pretty picture of “the people of the Lord” and it makes reconciliation between OT and NT difficult if not impossible for some because this “loving” NT God somehow seems to have a less-than-loving OT past. Especially for those who read and interpret the Bible literally, it can be difficult to reconcile these two images. So if Jesus has presented Himself as the personification of the Lord God and we accept it as written, how do we get comfortable with the OT image of “the mighty smiter”?

Throughout His recorded ministry, Jesus displays the full range of emotions but anger only seems to show itself at the Temple as in Luke 19:45 when He “drives out” the money changers and those who were buying and selling commercially thus making worship in the Temple difficult if not impossible for those with limited means. Yet those who put their hands on Jesus to arrest Him, torture Him, humiliate Him, and ultimately kill Him seemed to walk away scot-free. The OT God was ready to do away with the entire nation of Israel and start over with Moses and his family after the Golden Calf made its appearance due to the fear, impatience, and lack of faith of the “people of God” who had, incidentally, only recently been released from 400 years of harsh slavery. It seemed only to be by the prayerful intervention of Moses that stayed this harsh judgment.

We cannot deny that Israel had it coming, yet the Lord relented by the word of a mere mortal man. Did He relent only because they were Hebrews or only because it was Moses asking? Either way, there seems to be some heavy favoritism considering that those who were slaughtered in Israel’s path prior to their occupation were not Hebrew.

One might suggest that the slaughter was the result of man having gone mad or beyond what was necessary due to the heat and passion of battle and that such atrocities were merely recorded by man but not necessarily divinely ordained. Was this how it was really ordained to have been, or are we looking at the writings of someone attempting to justify the brutality that was committed in the name of their God? Lest we forget, we face an enemy today that makes the same claim against so-called “infidels”.

I sometimes wonder what we really expect from our faith journey or whether we even have expectations except to “go to heaven”. Peter encourages us to “grow in salvation” (1 Peter 2:2) which would imply a continuing dynamic and not necessarily nor exclusively a destination, but he doesn’t really spell out for us what this salvation may look like and what may come of it except that we become “God’s own people” (1 Peter 2:10).

Is this what we should desire? We might think so except for those who have a difficult time with the OT image of the Lord and what He seemed to have expected from His people. For those trying to reconcile the OT God with the NT God, however, this might be a tall order because “God’s own people” slaughtered those who stood between them and the Promised Land, seemingly by divine order. Is this what “salvation” looks like, to acquire what we ultimately desire even at someone else’s expense? After all, they were seeking to capture the Land the Lord promised to them. Should this be our desire; is this “the Way”, the “Truth”? What about the “Life” Jesus claims to be? We may have that life as long as someone else pays the price?

So when Jesus makes His divine claim of being “the way, the truth, and the life”, what sort of claim is being made? In the first place, this is not a stand-alone statement. There is a whole discourse that is transpiring, and the disciples don’t seem to be fully plugged in to what Jesus is trying to tell them. In fact, if there has been any divine image problem in the past (and I think by the confrontations Jesus had with the spiritual leaders throughout the Gospels, there must have been), Jesus is trying now to dispel the notions of a harsh, mean, vindictive God who is nothing more than an Enforcer. This is not to say that there are not lines we must not cross, but there is much more to the Holy Father and a good, sound image of Him than the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees allowed.

The “way” that Jesus is referring to is the lead into the Ultimate Truth about the Lord God, and this “way” is the path to Eternal Life that is offered to us only through a merciful God who came to us IN PERSON because man had nearly completely fouled up His Divine Image. He is a God of judgment and justice and those who turn their backs on Him will eventually answer to Him whether they like it or not. Refusing to believe in a spiritual truth does not make it any less true.

The Truth, however, is not revealed to us so that we may win an argument with a non-Christian. Rather, the Truth is revealed to us so that we may faithfully represent that Truth. The Truth, dear friends, is the accurate portrayal of the Lord our God, and He is depending on us to be faithful to this Image so that the True Covenant of Life may continue to be offered to all … as it was always meant to be and will be forevermore.