America, the Church, and Me

Jeremiah was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. He prophesied to the people of Israel in a time in which they had severely lost their way. And I know what you’re thinking, was there ever a time when Israel hadn’t lost their way, and my answer to you is very rarely.

It seems like nearly every book of the Old Testament deals with the problem child Israel. They never seem to be able to get on the right track. They are always falling in and out of relationship with God.

So what’s the problem!? Why do they keep falling into this vicious cycle? I think that Jeremiah hits the nail on the head in chapter 8.

From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.

The reason that Israel can never seem to get it right, the reason that God is angry with them, the reason that they fall into a vicious cycle of disobedience with God, is because they have forgotten how to blush!

What’s Jeremiah trying to say here.

He’s saying that Israel has forgotten what it was like to feel sorry for their actions. When they reflect on what they are doing and what they have done, they see nothing wrong. They have been blinded by the social injustices and the hurting and broken around them.

But more than that, they make attempts to justify it! Jeremiah, there is nothing wrong in Israel. We are following God. They cover up their crimes and attempt to wash the blood from their hands. Jeremiah tells Israel that they have forgotten how to blush.

One of the great things about Jeremiah is not just his uncanny ability to cut to the thick of the issues of Israel, but also the way that God is able to use Jeremiah’s voice to speak to us and convict us in the modern-day.

Let me ask you this: Have we forgotten how to blush?

Let me zoom out a bit. Has America forgotten how to blush? Have we come to the point in which we attempt to justify each and every wrong action and injustice that is laid before us? Do we try to hold up a mask, a mask that presents an America that is perfect and flawless in which everyone has equal opportunity to live free and safe, even though we see something totally different? Is America truly great? Or have we forgotten to blush about the things that deny the dignity of humans, the things that show prejudice against people of different races and ethnicities, the praising of violence, the rapid pursuit of sex, the consumeristic greed, are we attempting to forget about these things? Sweep them under the rug? Denying them. Have we Americans forgotten how to blush over the things we should be ashamed of?

Zooming in. What about the Church? Have we forgotten how to blush? Do we analyze what our church looks like to a newcomer? What do they see? What do they hear? How are we treated? Are we truly representive of what Christ looks like? Are we a redemptive body of believers who are showing the world what the baptism of the Spirit looks like, what the Kingdom of God looks like. Or, are we a country club? Have Sunday mornings just become a social gathering for our pleasure and entertainment. Have conversations in the church building strayed from building eachother up, to gossip and slander–to breaking others down. When we look at ourselves and we see what we’ve done wrong, how we’ve strayed off the path, do we as the church try to justify it! Try to paint over it! Have we forgotten how to blush? And what about you? What about me? Have you forgotten how to blush? Have I? Maybe I’ve not taken the time necessary to truly reflect on who I’ve become, what I’ve said, what I’ve done. Maybe I attempt to justify my actions because of pride, because my identity would be shaken. Have I been closed minded and judgmental? Am I a part of the problem?

I think what Jeramiah was attempting to tell Israel, and what he is continuing to speak to us today is that we as Americans, as the church, as individuals are quick to forget how to blush. We would much rather justify our actions then repent of them.

But maybe it’s time to invite the Holy Spirit, into our country, into our church, into our hearts to begin to cause us to reflect? God what am I not blushing over that I should be ashamed of? What am I justifying that I should be repenting of? God what is America hiding behind slogans and headlines that breaks your heart, that we all should be blushing about? What is at fault in the church–what do we do that has become normal, that is actually against who we are called to be! And God will your Holy Spirit fill our individual hearts, convict us Lord, help us to blush, so that we may repent and be filled with more of you.

The Good News is, when we as individuals, open our hearts and minds to God, and are ready to learn to blush once more, then maybe our church has a chance, because we will be a church of people, who don’t justify wrongdoing, but who blush over it. And maybe America has a chance, because we are a people who don’t sweep injustice and loss of dignity and safety under the rug, but instead we point it out and call others to blush over it as well.

May God begin with us and teach us how to blush once more.