Posts Tagged ‘restoration’
Right in the Middle
Posted on: October 5, 2009
If you are reading a blog from a conflict resolution site (and, you are), you are probably expecting to read about resolving conflicts. Fair enough — but the resolution of the conflict is only the last of three parts of a conflict and there is a whole lot of “in the middle of conflict” before that occurs. So a very important question is: What should you be doing while you are in the middle of conflict or trials?
My pastor (Bob Coy) answered that beautifully this past Sunday morning when he taught us how to be “right in the middle when you are right in the middle.” (I’ll try to remember to post a link here to the sermon when it’s posted on the Calvary Fort Lauderdale site. You’ll be blessed need to hear it for yourself.) Here is my personal take-away (the good parts are Bob’s):
Thesis: When you are “right in the middle” of your trial, be sure you are “right” in the middle of your trial. In other words, don’t be “wrong” when you are right in the middle of your trial.
Genesis 40:1 and verses following tell us of the time when Joseph was in the middle of his own trial. He had been unfairly sold into slavery, and then unfairly imprisoned when his master’s lying wife unfairly accused him of something he didn’t do. He was, at this time, in the middle of his unjust imprisonment.
Note: The middle is the toughest part of a conflict or trial. In the beginning (e.g., you just got diagnosed with something rotten) you don’t fully understand what is about to happen and you are holding out hope of somehow missing the trial altogether. Your friends and family are there to support you and you’re feeling cared for and loved. The end of the trial is not so bad either: In fact, it can be great because even though there is still pain, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and you know you’ll be out soon. The middle of the trial, however, is not like either of those. The friends and family are not there as much (or at all), God seems to be preoccupied with something else on the other side of the world, and Satan seems to be there to accuse and condemn. The middle is also the longest chapter of the three.
Pastor Bob explains that from looking at this section of Scripture and how Joseph conducted himself, we can see three ways to know if we are being “right” in the middle of our own conflicts and trials.
First, are you sympathetic towards others?
Second, are you optimistic about the outcome?
Third, are you being kind to the unkind people?
Notice in Genesis 40:6-8 how Joseph, though unjustly imprisoned, still shows sympathy toward the cupbearer and the baker: (paraphrased) “Why are you guys so sad today? Oh, you had some confusing dreams and don’t know what to do? Please, tell your dreams to me because God has given me some gifts in this area!” If you know Joseph’s history, you might think that he might rather avoid anything having to do with dreams!
In verses 8-14 we see how Joseph remains optimistic about his future even while in the middle of a lengthy prison sentence. Now we must remember that we’ve read ahead so we know that Joseph gets out . . . but that’s not how it would look to Joseph at that time. At that stage in the story, there is nothing that indicates Joseph will be released at any time in the future. Nonetheless, Joseph goes ahead and helps these inmates out by interpreting their dreams. God reveals to Joseph through the dreams that one of the inmates, the cupbearer, is going to be released in three days. Joseph, knowing this inmate will be in Pharaoh’s presence within the next 72 hours, asks his fellow prisoner to remember him to Pharaoh and get him out of prison.
In verses 16-19 it is revealed to Joseph that the baker is a bad man. (It would appear that the baker and cupbearer might both have been imprisoned at the same time for some undisclosed wrongful act because Pharaoh was unable to determine at the time which of them was the guilty party. Seeing as these two were the “food and beverage” police for Pharaoh, perhaps Pharaoh was poisoned?) Nevertheless, Joseph treats the baker kindly and tells him what his dream meant. (At first, I thought that didn’t actually sound that kind, but let me keep speculating a bit: This could have been an extreme kindness, because it gave the baker an opportunity he didn’t have before. He now had the opportunity to confess and seek forgiveness before it was too late. The Bible recounts for us many times where God told certain people that He was about to punish them and they repented and He relented. Perhaps this is an illustration of God’s mercy through Joseph?)
There are more points from his sermon to consider (see below), but let me close with a thought from someone who has been through his own trials and who works every day with people going through trials: If you are a Christian going through a trial right now, know that it will not last forever and you will get through this. I don’t know when – it may be tomorrow, and it may be a while yet. Everything is working together for your ultimate good if you are called according to God’s purpose. So when (not if) you get out of this, don’t you want to look back and see that you were sympathetic to others during your own difficulties, that you never lost faith that God would see you through it, and that you were kind even to those who were unkind toward you? Don’t you want to have been “right” in the middle of it?
I do.
— M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
P.S. This blog was already too long for a blog, but if you’re interested, here are some more points from the Bob Coy’s sermon for your further consideration and study (still, you ought to listen to it for yourself):
Look at 2 Cor. 8:1-5 at how the Macedonians who, though they were “in a great ordeal of affliction” and “deep poverty,” still gave to a sister church with “liberality.”
Remember that sometimes in God’s economy, He will use those to whom you have ministered, to later minister to you! (If you don’t know the story of how Joseph went from inmate to Prime Minister of Egypt, read what happens with the cupbearer in Gen. 41:9-41.)
When you are in a trial and someone hurts you, just remember that hurt people hurt people. Stop the cycle. Return kindness instead. Being hurt is not a license to hurt back.
Hurt can turn to anger, and anger can turn to bitterness. (Bitterness is a root that goes deep into the dirt and keeps you from moving on.) Heb 12:14-15: “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”
Check out how Jesus reacts in his own trials: For one instance, see John 18:19-23. Read as well 1 Peter 4:12-16 to see that we should “glorify God” in our suffering.
What’s the Difference?
Posted on: September 30, 2009
The vote is over, so now I’ll write.
Much has already been written of course regarding Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and it’s new pastor, Tullian Tchividjian. Some of it was fair, some of it not. Much of it was gossip and much of it was very shallow. Some of it was written by people who failed to do any first-hand research and some of it was utter foolishness. Still, some of it was well-written and some of it inspired.
I will tell you up front that I have some very strong opinions about a lot of what happened — opinions to which I believe I am entitled because I am no outsider. Shortly after my conversion to Christ (in 1977), I joined CRPC and I worshiped there until shortly before Jim Kennedy’s passing — nearly thirty years. I was baptised there, married there, taught there, served in various positions, and was ordained there as a Ruling Elder, later to be chosen as the Clerk of Session. Suffice it to say that I had, and still have, strong ties to many there at many levels. I have very close friends who support the direction of the present CRPC leadership and very close friends amongst what the local paper is calling the “dissidents.” I have lost sleep on several occasions over this and the effect it has had on my friendships.
I have come to several conclusions. Want me to tell you who was “in the right” in all of this?
Sorry, wrong blog. Not my job.
If not to cast my “vote” for one side or the other, then what is my reason for writing?
Some have chastised others for airing “the Church’s” dirty laundry outside of the Church. That criticism, it seems to me, has some scriptural justification, but it might be missing the mark. You cannot read the Bible without noticing that God has recorded for all to see (that is, not just the Church) the mistakes, failings, and corruption that have taken place within the ranks of His followers. (I have sometimes wondered how much of the Bible would have made it past the Public Relations Department if it were being edited and published today. Imagine the editing necessary for just Abraham’s life!). God has made it very clear in His Word that we are all sinners — and then provided us with examples!
Why does God publish our shortcomings to the world?
1. Because there are “unchurched” who are very self-aware of their own sinful states and they will not come to Christ because they think they’re not good enough. God screams out: “If you know you’re not good enough, you just passed the entrance exam! Come on in! I’ll introduce you to some of the biggest goof-ups and sinners you’ve ever met! We meet in church buildings on Sundays all around the world! There’s room for one more, I promise.” (I love Bob Coy‘s illustration of God visiting the dog pound and choosing the mangiest of mutts for adoption. Like Pastor Bob says: “I’m just a pound dog, man!“)
2. To give the Church the opportunity to show the world the difference between Christians and non-Christians. I’ve heard Steve Brown say many times that whenever God allows cancer in a non-Christian he allows it in a Christian as well so the world can see the difference. Becoming a Christian did not signal the end of conflict for you on earth. You don’t get all green lights, you don’t always get the fastest line in the store, your appliances still break, and you still have struggles . . . even with your friends. Despite that, we’re supposed to be different.
So why am I writing?
Jim Kennedy was fond of saying, especially to new members: “You’re in the army now!” He often and properly admonished us to put on the full armor of God — but never to fight against each other. (As an aside, the Church can and should have passionate debate within its walls — I have been involved in that myself. Passionate debate is an indication that you really care about something. It is fitting, for instance, to care passionately about the purity of the Church.)
So to my brothers and sisters involved with the CRPC situation, I admonish and encourage you: Think about what you are doing (preferably before you do/say/write it) and how you are doing it (and practice “prospective retrospect“). Show the watching world that Christ in you really makes a difference. Memorize Matthew 18:15ff. This situation is a mess, but it is also an opportunity. Disagree . . . like Christians. It might not make CNN, but it will count . . . forever.
I’ll pray that for you. Pray that for me too.
–M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
Global Forgiveness Day
Posted on: August 27, 2009
I read this morning that today was “Global Forgiveness Day.” It was being promoted as a day that everyone, all around the world, should practice forgiveness. What a tremendous idea!
So I wanted to learn more about this Global Forgiveness Day and after some Google and Yahoo! searches learned that there really isn’t “one” such day. There is “Global Forgiveness Day” and “International Forgiveness Day” and “World Forgiveness Day” and several others. These different days have different dates and they are “sponsored” by different groups. You could spend a fair amount of time just looking at the different days and groups on the Internet . . . I did. My initial thought was that it was too bad everyone couldn’t get together and have one single day all around the world; less confusion, more unity, etc. As I considered it further, however, I wondered if it would be better to have 365 groups sponsoring 365 “world forgiveness days” – because every day is the day to forgive!
I have another (longer) article started on forgiveness that I will publish later, but for today, just consider this (and think specifically of that person you haven’t forgiven): Have you ever prayed the Lord’s Prayer? Remember this part: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”? Is that really how you want God to forgive you? . . . “as you forgive” . . . in other words in the same way that you forgive?
Shall I be more blunt? Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (emphasis mine)
Think about that today, on Global Forgiveness Day.
Relying upon forgiveness,
–M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
P.S. If you want to meditate on forgiveness today, you might check out this collection of Scripture verses on the topic presented in random order (click on the link, then advance to different verses by pressing <F5>): http://controlaltdispute.com/randomVerse/forgiveness.html
Able to Resolve
Posted on: August 24, 2009
“I’m not sure it’s even possible to resolve this one!”
Very often the reason someone seeks a Christian mediator is that they are seeking not just resolution, but reconciliation. It could be that there was a business venture or a marriage that has taken a bad turn and people who were once friends are now . . . not. Both sides want healing (whether they express that or not); but frankly, they’re not even sure if it is possible. It often seems like “too much” has happened for anything to be “fixed.”
In Mark 9:14ff, we read the well-known account of the incident where a man in a large crowd approached Jesus to tell him that he had a son who since childhood had been possessed by a spirit who caused the boy to do terrible things. The father explained that he had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they were not able to do anything. Then he said to Jesus: “If you can do anything, please help us.”
Stop right there. What is your first thought about that question or the man asking it? My first thought (unfortunately) was: “What an idiot. ‘Son of God,’ remember? Water into wine, blind seeing, lame jumping, dove descending . . . Hello?”
Upon further reflection, however, that criticism is too harsh to impose on a contemporary of Jesus. When we look at the scenario now, we bring with us our entire knowledge of the New Testament. We know all the players, the plot, and even the surprise ending. This man did not. We have almost no idea what this man had heard about Jesus, except that somewhere he had been told that Jesus and His disciples could perform some types of miracles which included dealing with demon possession. He probably was skeptical when he first heard this, but for some reason he made the trip to find out for himself. We deduce from this that he necessarily had some measure of “faith” no matter how small.
What happens when he finally gets there? The disciples strike out. Nada. Nothing. They can’t help his son. For some reason, though, the father doesn’t turn around and go home (wonder why . . . ?). Instead he invests more time and energy in getting directly to Jesus. (We aren’t told how much more time or energy, but it might have been considerable.)
When he gets to where he’s told Jesus is, he makes his way past the large crowd — I think it fair to assume that means he purposed to and did something more than everyone else in the crowd just to be able to get within speaking distance of Jesus. Again, I think this is painting a picture of a man possessed of some amount of faith. In my mind, I see a man who is tired after expending all this effort and when he finally gets to Jesus, what does he see? Nothing special. Just a man. His followers are failures and their leader is . . . plain. Can we, then, blame him very much for wondering aloud “Are you able?” I mean, Jesus probably doesn’t appear any more able than His disciples.
What, however, about us? We know who Jesus is so is there any post-resurrection application of this story for us? You see, the question of Christ’s ability has been answered once and for all. No thinking person can ask that question ever again. It is now perfectly clear who Jesus was and that He was and is today able.
If anyone asks today whether Jesus is able, they are asking the wrong question. If one must ask whether Jesus is able, then one should instead be asking “Who is Jesus?” The answer to the “who” question – which is much more important anyhow – moots the “able” question. I think this is Jesus’ point, by the way, in His response in verse 23 (paraphrasing): “What do you mean ‘if’ I can? If you believe I am the Son of God, then you know that all things are possible for me!” Jesus is very clearly saying “Who do you think I am? If you think I am the Son of God, then you have your answer to the ability question, don’t you?”
[Side road: I know that some read verse 23 differently. Some interpret it as saying that “all things are possible” for someone who has enough faith. So we try to work up more and bigger faith so we can “do” more and bigger things. I do not think that is what is going on here at all. The context of this verse is on Jesus’ ability, not on the boy’s father’s ability. The boy’s father did not enquire how he could gain the ability to heal his son: If the boy’s father had asked that question, then I would agree that Jesus might have been telling him that all things would be possible for him if he had more faith (although that would give me a problem with Jesus’ other teachings that the size of the faith is not the issue (e.g., Luke 17:5, 6)).
‘Nother Side road: Also, I wonder if Jesus, when he spoke of the need for “belief,” was looking out of the corner of his eye at the very disciples who had failed to cure the boy.]
Though the ability issue is settled, there is still an application today for this story. The big question for today is no longer: “Jesus, are you able?” It is, instead: “Jesus, are you willing?” Personally, I do not remember at any point in my Christian life asking if Jesus were “able” to do something: It never even crossed my mind that there might be a limit on what He could do. I have often, however, in my own life wondered if He were willing to do something. This is the much harder question.
“Lord, this one is sick” or “Father, this situation is unjust” or “God, it would really be great if” – all these describe situations in which God is eminently able to act. The question for today concerns His desire or His will for the particular situation. This, I believe, is where the issue of our “belief” comes in today. Perhaps it could be viewed this way:
Pre-Resurrection: Do you believe Jesus has the ability to ________?
Post-Resurrection: Do you believe Jesus is perfectly working out His plan regarding ____________?
The perspective we need to develop today is that the-God-who-is-able is carefully implementing His plan – a plan that no man and no spirit can thwart.
Do you believe that? (If you are theologically liberal in your thinking, you might not! You might hold to the idea that God has given man such “free will” that God has no control in certain areas: God “hopes” certain things will happen, but He really doesn’t know if they will or not, and He can’t do anything to frustrate man’s “free will.” Liberal theology is very scary.)
Conservative, evangelical, fundamentalist: Do you believe that God is carefully executing His perfect plan in all its particulars? Seriously?
So this is a blog site about conflict and situations gone awry. You’re thinking right now of a situation that is way messed up. Do you really believe God is implementing His plan in that situation? If you are like me – no insult intended – then you have the head knowledge to get this question right on a written multiple choice exam, but maybe your actions and fears don’t match up quite so well. Do you ever say (with me): “God, I know you are in charge in a ‘big picture’ kind of way, but this particular situation right here really looks like a mess to me! Here’s what I’m thinking needs to happen . . . .”
This is where the next verse (24) comes into play for us today. Note how the boy’s father says: “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Belief in what? In Jesus’ day, the belief might well have been in Jesus’ ability to do something. Today, however, the object of belief must no longer be on God’s ability, but instead on His having a perfect plan – a plan that is better than the one you’re currently devising.
Do you believe the-God-who-is-able has a perfect plan? Even for that situation? Did you act like you believe that? Do you, like me, have trouble with that last question? Then pray with me:
“God, Your ability is not the question anymore. I know You can do it all. I also know You have a plan – and I know it’s a far better plan than the one I have. I do believe that; help my unbelief. Help me to believe it so perfectly, that I act that way.”
[I believe in gravity. So much so that I base all my actions on that belief, unhesitatingly, and without question or even a thought that it might not be true. Why then is it so hard to believe that the God who created (and sustains) gravity has a plan and to base all my actions on that belief?]
. . . and always remember how loving Jesus was to the man who lacked belief and admitted it. He cast out the demon, the boy looked as though he were dead, and then Jesus extended His hand, raised the boy up, and restored him to his father. He won’t be any less loving towards you now. (Did I mention His plan is better than yours?)
So, take your situation “to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [and] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21)
— M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
Mediation Versus Arbitration
Posted on: August 16, 2009
Instead of bieng philosophical or controversial today, we’re going fundamental. I want to address briefly an area where I get a lot of questions from clients and friends. Since this is a mixed (some would say mixed up) blog, I want to divide this discussion into “civil” and “Scriptural” parts.
Civil Mediation and Arbitration. It is very common to be confused about the terms “mediation” and “arbitration” as they are used in a civil or litigation context. The terms are regularly misunderstood and misused – and despite what you may have thought, they are not interchangeable.
A mediation, as the term is used today, is a very different thing than an arbitration. A mediation is most often illustrated by two parties who present their different positions to a neutral third party who, working with them both (often in separate rooms), tries to facilitate a settlement between the parties. In a mediation, it is always the parties themselves who are in control of the outcome and the mediator’s role is to try to help them devise their own solution.
In an arbitration, on the other hand, the same two parties present their positions to a neutral third party (in the same room) and then the parties hand over control to the arbitrator who judges between them and enters a “ruling” which may be entirely different than what either one of them wanted (or would have settled for).
A quick way to remember the difference between the two is to associate the terms with trigger words.
I say “mediator,” you say “facilitator.” (he facilitates the parties reaching a settlement)
I say “arbitrator,” and you say “judge.” (he judges between the parties with a ruling)
For a fuller explanation, and side-by-side comparison table, please check out this section from the FAQ page at www.ControlAltDispute.com: http://controlaltdispute.com/faqs.html#differencebetweenMedArb
This distinction should take you a long way down the road in understanding the terms as they are used in civil litigation.
Scriptural Mediation and Arbitration. The terms themselves are both found in the Scriptures, but one must be careful not to take the 21stcentury American legal usage/definition and apply it rigidly to these ancient writings or contexts. In the Scriptures, the term “mediator” is primarily used to describe someone who stands between two parties so as to reconcile them to each other (grk: mesitēs, from mesos meaning “middle”). In this sense, it is consistent with the role of “mediator” as we use it in the American court system. The “manner” or “procedure” however, is entirely different from what is found in the Bible. (Hint: Do not expect your court-appointed mediator to act as a ransom for either side!) Also, the same Greek root translated as “mediator” is sometimes, in some translations, rendered “arbitrator” so, again, a direct and rigid application of the modern legal terms to the older writings would only serve to confuse.
If you wanted to study the Scriptural usages of the terms more closely, you might want to start with these verses concerning mediators and arbitrators:*
Gal. 3:19-20: “Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
1 Tim. 2:5-6: “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
Job 33:23-24: “If there is an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To remind a man what is right for him, Then let him be gracious to him, and say, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom’;”
Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24: “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises . . . . For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance . . . . Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
1 Sam. 2:25: “If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?”
Ezekiel 16:52: “Also bear your disgrace in that you have [mediated for] made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear righteous.”
Ex. 21:22: “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay [lit. by arbitration] as the judges decide.
Lk 12:13-14: “Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
If you wanted to start a Sunday school discussion, you might ask: In what ways is Christ’s role as mediator the same as, or different from, a court-appointed mediator? (Speaking just for myself, I have yet to mediate a dispute between a perfectly holy party and a party dead in sin and trespasses . . . .)
For homework, read Chapter VIII of the Westminster Confession of Faith (“Of Christ the Mediator”) which begins with: “It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King the Head and Saviour of His Church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom He did from all eternity give a people, to be His seed, and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.” (citations omitted)
So now you know.
Blessings,
— M. Glenn Curran, III, Esq.
*(All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.)
Prospective Retrospect
Posted on: August 9, 2009
One of the biggest challenges I have as a Christian mediator is to get people to put things in perspective. Oftentimes, by the time the parties have come to me, their controversy has seemingly eclipsed everything else in their lives. I have a lot to say about perspective (and at least two more blogs on that in progress already), but today I want to focus on a single phrase you’ve probably never heard before: Prospective Retrospect.
History and Definition. I first used the phrase “Prospective Retrospect” in my law practice in the late 1980’s. I was in the middle of counseling a client in my office about a decision presently before him and I was trying to make the point that he needed to look forward into the future and consider how he would one day look back on this decision that he was considering today. When I heard myself say the phrase, I thought it was rather (accidentally) poetic and I made a “note to self” to consider the phrase further after the meeting. I have since that time used it many times with others – and with myself as well.[1]
Thoughts. With that history in mind, I give you six thoughts on the usefulness in your own life of “Prospective Retrospect.”
1. When. My first thought is that we should almost[2] always consciously live our lives in Prospective Retrospect. In other words, let me suggest that you should almost always make your decisions by looking forward into the future and considering how you will one day look back on the decisions that you are considering today.
2. Is it Biblical? Over the years, I have decided that the concept is very Biblical, though the exact phrase is not literally present in the Scriptures. It is implicitly present, however, in several Biblical principles (such as stewardship). In the end – that is to say at my end – I want God to look back at my life and say “Well Done!” I am even now looking forward to the future when I want to hear Him say “You were faithful in the past with a little, and now I am presently putting you in charge of even more.” (cf. Matt. 25:21)
3. Denying Oneself. I suspect the most common (and least appealing?) manifestation of using this concept will be in the denying of immediate gratification. The Prospective Retrospect is, after all, a “long term” or “long range” perspective. It requires that we forgo things we want now because of the desired benefit later. It may sometimes sound like: “I’m gonna wish I wouldn’t have spent that, bought that, said that, ate that, fell for that, watched that, listened to that, clicked on that, dated that, tattooed that, etc.”
4. In the light of eternity. To encourage someone to live with Prospective Retrospect is very similar to saying one needs to live his life understanding that his present decisions may well have consequences that are literally eternal. I remember listening to a professor (R.C. Sproul[3]) in seminary explain the importance of living our lives sub specie aeternitatis – “under the aspect of eternity.” This thought has many Biblical facets (e.g., it carries with it the idea that our lives are very brief, a “vapor” Phil. 4:14) which are parallel to my thoughts on Prospective Retrospect.
5. NOT! What Prospective Retrospect is not is seen in the bumper sticker I like: “Someday we’ll look back on this, laugh nervously, and change the subject!” The whole point is to be able to look back – even way back – and rejoice!
6. Application to Christian Mediation. This concept drives a lot of what I do at ControlAltDispute.com. In the “business” of reconciling and restoring, it is very powerful to be able to have the parties each see their own situations from an eternal perspective. The wrongs that we perceive and the rights that we demand take on a different quality when we consider how we will look back on them from a mansion in eternity. Will we not blush at some of what we thought was SO important at the moment? Do you want to sit there with your friends in Heaven watching an episode on the History Channel (on Bob Barnes’ posited heavenly IMAX screen) about the time when you demanded your rights regarding . . . (you-know-what)? [Insert emoticon for “cringing” here.]
So what do you think about Prospective Retrospect? (Or, more importantly, someday in the future, how will you look back on what you think about it today?)
- What is it today that you are considering that will have long-term (even eternal) consequences?
- With a Prospective Retrospect, how will you now choose to act?
- Are you storing up for yourself where moth and rust will not destroy? (Matt. 6:19)
Live it.
— M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
____________________________________________
Footnotes.
[1]Many years ago, as Internet search engines such as Yahoo! (and later Google) were coming on the scene, I used these search engines to determine if this phrase had ever been “coined” before. Initially, I could not find the phrase anywhere (which made me quite pleased with myself, truth be known). Later, however, it would show up from time to time in an obscure context. (Even so, by January of 2009, there were only about ten references, most all of them referring to the same four books listed on Amazon.com.)
[2] I have to say “almost” because (1) “always” by itself just seems too much for a mere man to insist upon and (2) it presently strikes me as neurotic to be so obsessed with any single perspective every waking moment so I must leave room for another . . . at least sometimes.
[3]Of course, in my further research on this topic, I find that Sproul at one point seems to gut my admonition to try to see things from an eternal perspective by noting that we are finite and do not even have the ability to see things from an eternal perspective!
“An important slogan in theology is finitum non capax infiniti. This means that “the finite cannot grasp the infinite.” The limit of our comprehension is the earthly perspective. We do not have the ability to see things sub specie aeternitatis – ‘from the eternal perspective.’”
Stubbornly perhaps, I am going to resolve the tension between his quotation and my admonition by noting that it is still laudable to try to see things from this perspective, even if it cannot be done perfectly. (There are certainly parallels to attempting things which cannot be completed perfectly such as the command to be holy as God is holy.) I am confident that he would approve of my resolution (noting that Sproul often uses the phrase “right now counts forever!”).
Heavenly Resolution: A Daydream
Posted on: August 2, 2009
In the end, there will be resolution for everything. It is comforting for the Christian to know that when Jesus comes back, He will bring with Him resolution. (The book of Revelation, if you think about it, could almost have been called Resolution instead.) Given the vast amount of controversy in life, this is really a shocking statement. Can you even imagine total resolution?
I had a funny picture in my mind when I was thinking about this recently. I was thinking about how diverse my Christian friends are on so many “intramural” (i.e., non-fundamental) Christian issues. I personally tend towards a very “reformed” theological perspective, but I have some close friends who are doctrinally just this side of “Whoopee!”
For some reason, I began to think about baptism and how when we all get to heaven, God might say to the crowd during orientation (Hey, don’t be critical, it’s my daydream and I say there’s going to be orientation . . . .):
God [to crowd]: “Okay, what I’ve decided to do is not just to bestow a ton of perfect knowledge on you all at once, but to let you all learn things gradually. So, for starters, just to sort of break the ice, I want everyone to line up on this long line here according to your views on what you think I meant about baptism. Let’s do it by “quantity of water,” so all you full-immersers over here to my left and you sprinklers to my right. Pourers and semi-dunkers can find your appropriate place in the middle as you best determine.”
Representatives of the major denominations would all be there, toes at the perfect place on the line, just waiting for God to pick their group and their place on the line, thereby declaring them the winners and justifying their earthly positions. “Yes!” they muse to themselves, “Vindication at last!” Similarly some non-denominationals and independents would be scattered at various points along the line waiting for God to justify their views and their places on the line. Then God would say: “OK, ready?”
So what do you think happened next? Do you think God picked your viewpoint?
Well, here’s what really happened (remember, it is my daydream): The Father looked at us all with big eyes (the kind a story-teller uses when he is about to announce the hero’s entrance), then He glanced at the Son (with the “should I tell ‘em?” look), and then, from behind them both, I heard the Holy Spirit . . . snicker. It was muffled at first, but it quickly spread throughout the Trinity to full-blown laughter!
After a while, but not a long while, all of us on the line looked to our lefts and rights, and somehow we all instantly felt ridiculous with our toes so “perfectly” placed on a line and we began to laugh too. Now you know how contagious laughter can be here on earth? Well in heaven, that is multiplied sevenfold! We laughed so hard we cried. Baptists were slapping Methodists on the back; Presbyterians were hugging non-denoms. We kept on this way for a quite some time and then just naturally found ourselves – still laughing – gathered around the Throne. (I looked back at one point to see if anyone was still on the line, but no one was; or more accurately I think, there was no more line.)
Somehow our laughter morphed into worship at the Throne. It was hard to say when one ended and the other started . . . or maybe they didn’t. Choirs and praise bands from various (and I do mean various) earthly congregations were leading the service and it was a wonderful time: The best, actually. Next thing I know, the Father stopped us and said: “Who wants to see something really cool I created that none of you have seen yet?!” He (nearly) leapt off the Throne and we, of course, all followed right behind Him trying to match His pace . . . .
That was pretty much the end of my daydream. Now some of you are wondering “Yeah, but who did God say was right about baptism?” Well, all I can say is that you wouldn’t have asked that question if you had been there.
There’s going to be resolution someday . . . on all issues. Why not avoid the rush? Seek resolution now and start with something important. (C’mon, you know the particular situation in your life that I’m talking about . . . .) “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). “Insofar as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18).
You can do it!
–M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
Welcome to ControlAltDispute’s Blog! For those of you who don’t know, ControlAltDispute is a Christian alternative dispute service. We seek to serve as facilitators of resolution and restoration, as well as to serve as judges of controversies between confessing Christians, primarily through legally binding mediation and arbitration. (Visit us at www.ControlAltDispute.com to learn more about us.)
In this blog, we will be writing on and discussing various topics relating to controversies, resolution, restoration, and reconciliation – mostly from a Christian perspective. We will be focusing on areas where we think there is insufficient information – or even misinformation – available on the Internet. (Searches for “Christian Mediation Blog” and “Christian Alternative Dispute Blog” came back with no substantive hits.)
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Blessings!
-M. Glenn Curran, III, Esquire
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