Disillusionment & Divine/Cruciform Accommodation

Divine Accommodation in a nutshell is the concept that refers to the various ways God had to adjust His appearance in order to communicate to us because of our limited mental capacity and sin-filled hearts. This concept was first used by John Calvin but more recently picked up again by Greg Boyd who has expanded on Calvin's original concept and added a "Cruciform" Accommodation component.

"This principle holds that the cross, rather than a presupposed philosophical conception of what a “perfect being” should be like, must serve as the primary criterion by which we access the degree to which any biblical portrait of God is and is not a divine accommodation. Any divine portrait that reflects the character of God revealed on the cross is a direct revelation of God’s true character and will. Any that fall beneath what is revealed on the cross must be considered an accommodation of a stooping God.

The biblical narrative reflects God’s willingness to bend his ideals to accommodate the fallen and culturally conditioned state of his people. God is consistently depicted as a heavenly missionary who must temporarily appear to condone grotesque practices and beliefs that he actually deplores if he intends to gradually influence his people away from these practices and beliefs." (http://reknew.org/2017/07/four-principles-cruciform-thesis/) emphasis mine. 

Where I am going with this is to help explain why Jesus allows abusive leadership to persist within the church. I speak about this not as an outsider looking in but as one who has been disillusioned and has by the grace of God been restored. If there was one thing that I hope you take away from this blog is this: 

"It is not that God ever approves of a leader's controlling, abusive sinful behavior, rather God deplores it but He is divinely accommodating them as He works at helping them be and act more in line with His character."

Understanding this has helped me to come to terms with my own disillusionment. Disillusionment is a very real thing and is impacting Christians all around the world. Now what I believe to be the main catalyst in this is controlling, manipulative and abusive leadership. The reason for this post is to address the growing epidemic of disillusioned Christians who are leaving church and sometimes the faith altogether.

Some of the questions that I needed to grapple with and come to terms with followed along the lines of: 

• "Jesus why are you allowing these controlling and manipulative leaders run your church?" 
• "Jesus why are you allowing leaders who are more interested in getting people to serving their agenda, than actually loving them lead your people?"
• "Jesus why is there so much spiritual abuse happening in your church?"
• "Jesus why are you allowing greedy self-seeking leaders shepherd your flock?"

If you have ever asked these questions than understand that God is accommodating these leaders and is in no way, shape or form actually approving of their behavior. Now I will submit here that sometimes I wonder why is God accommodating them, but then I am reminded of my own failings or when I got it wrong and am grateful for the times that God has accommodate me in my own misguided demands and failings.

I would even go so far as to say that, if God didn't ever accommodate people than we would all be certainly doomed. But, from my own journey with the Lord and understanding of Scripture what I see and have experienced is God as more of a loving Father than a harsh Judge. I believe God is still the Judge of all things, but I don't believe that is His first impulse. What I see throughout Scripture is God being gracious, compassionate and merciful first and foremost. So, for me rather than wondering why God accommodates, I am now just grateful that He does.

An example of this in is 1 Samuel 8 where the people are demanding a human king, in lieu of having God as their King. In this passage of Scripture we see that the time had come for God to form a nation for Himself. But, rather than fully accepting God as their King, the people demand that Samuel appoint for them a human king. 

4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” 10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. (emphasis mine)

Here is one clear example of Divine/Cruciform Accommodation. God's original plan was to form this nation with Him as their Divine King, but the people wanted to be like all the other nations of the world, rather than being an exception and example to the world as God originally planned. So, He accommodates their sinful request and masterfully weaves this into His plan of redemption.

At the heart of Divine/Cruciform Accommodate I believe what we must see and understand is a God who is always stooping down to meet culturally conditioned and sinful people where they are at, and from this place patiently and lovingly helps them slowly come to greater and clearer revelation and understanding of who He is and His plan for them. What we get a glimpse of is a loving, gracious and merciful God who is patient and long-suffering towards His creation/people. And since then God has continued to accommodate His people, even until today.

Another verse that has helped me in my own understanding and restoration is Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (NLT). I believe that there are lots of things happening both within the church and outside of it that is not God's will, but that doesn't mean that God cannot bring some good out of any situation no matter how dark and sinful. 

I mean just look at the good He bought about through the crucifixion of Jesus by the hands of evil principalities and powers and sinful evil people. If He can bring about the salvation of the whole world through the most tragic event of all history than He can also bring good out of any and all other situations. This understanding needs to be firmly rooted in the foundational bedrock of our faith.  

If you are interested in learning more on this, here is a video where a few guys discuss Greg Boyd's take on Divine (Cruciform) Accommodation:

Pennies HEART

The guys at Phos Pictures never fail to move my heart towards hope. This video is especially endearing: who's heart doesn't break when they see kids in distress? I couldn't even begin to imagine what this family went through. The Scripture passage that comes to mind is "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us" (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 NLT). God is the great Comforter, but He also empowers His people to comfort others. I love that a community of people gathered around this family and comforted, prayed and cared for them. For me that's a clear picture of the family of God: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35 NIV).

My Beloved Prodigal Son

The struggle portrayed in this video is all too familiar. Judging and condemning thoughts are ever present in my life and if I'm not careful they will consume me. But, thankfully God has shown me mercy. The devil, the world, even our own thoughts will try to continually condemn us by refusing to let us be free of our past, but Jesus offers us forgiveness and redemption from our past. When we come to Him, He wipes the slate clean and we get a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. chance. He will hit the delete button everyday if need be. His forgiveness is total and complete. There are no conditions to His forgiveness, we just need to recognize that we need it and then ask for it.

The Bible says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Next time, when you are in the thick of battle with raging thoughts filling your mind, pause for a moment and invite God into the foray and let His peace descend upon you like a dove. Remember Jesus has already overcome the devil and the world. He will even overcome us and our judging and condemning thoughts if we let Him!

real Hope vs. wishful thinking

I've recently been listening to a lot of Jonathan David Helser. His music touches the inward parts of my heart, the deep spaces that long for greater intimacy with Jesus. On his album, Walk Through the Walls, there is a song called Amy's Song which after hearing the backstory to the song has made the deep desire in my heart, to see every child dancing free and singing before the Throne of God, burn with even greater passion. These are Jonathan's own words, "This song came in the middle of one of the most intense circumstances we have ever been a part of. Two of our closest friends lost their baby girl, Amy, before she came into this world. Months after she was gone, the Lord allowed me to hear Amy's song from heaven. I wept over the keys of our upright piano as I heard her song of hope coming from the streets of gold" (from album notes).

There is a Scripture verse that comforts me when I hear tragic stories like this one where a child for whatever reason doesn't make it out of the womb. Romans 1:20 (TNIV) says this, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." What screams out of this verse is that those who are able to see and understand creation have no excuse to not believe in God. So, when it comes to babies who have for whatever reason not made it out of the womb and into this world, if we are to cry out to God for mercy on their behalf this would be a good place to start.

John Piper says this, "In other words: if a person did not have access to the revelation of God's glory - did not have the natural capacity to see it and understand it, then Paul implies they would have an excuse at the judgment. The point for us is that even though we human beings are under the penalty of everlasting judgment and death because of the fall of our race into sin and the sinful nature that we all have, nevertheless God only executes this judgment on those who have the natural capacity to see his glory and understand his will, and refuse to embrace it as their treasure. Infants, I believe, do not yet have that capacity; and therefore, in God's inscrutable way, he brings them under the forgiving blood of his Son....It is important to emphasize that, in our view, God is not saving infants because they are innocent. They are not innocent, but guilty. He is saving them because, although they are sinful, in his mercy he desires that compassion be exercised upon those who are sinful and yet lack the capacity to grasp the truth revealed about Him in nature and to the human heart." Read the full article .

I believe God saves all unborn babies, even infants who die.This is not just wishful thinking, but consistent with what the Bible says who God is. He is loving, holy, merciful, just and gracious and whatever He does will always be right and good. The Bible doesn't directly say that God applies Christ's atoning sacrifice to those who didn't have a chance to believe. Even so, God’s applying Christ’s sacrifice to unborn babies who cannot believe would be consistent with His love and mercy while still remaining just and righteous. This is where I find comfort. Our hope must be rooted in God's Word. If not, then our hope becomes hollow wishful thinking. So, when I hear this song and read the backstory vision, I believe Amy is dancing free and singing in heaven around the Throne of God.