What Breaks God's Heart?

One of the most quoted phrases from contemporary worship in recent times would have to be "Break my heart for what breaks Yours" from Brooke Fraser's well loved song 'Hosanna'.  Every time I sing these words I immediately think of all that is broken in our world through a lens of social justice - war, poverty, slavery, human trafficking, drug and alcohol abuse, family violence...and sadly, this barely scratches the surface! Interpreting these words in this way is consistent with the message of the prophets - "And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) - and is in alignment with the mission of Jesus Christ - "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners  and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour" (Luke 4:18-9).  God is clearly concerned about human suffering and flourishing and is grieved by anything that diminishes His image in humankind.  But could there be more than a social justice lens to understand the meaning of these provocative words?  What else breaks God's heart?

Again, I look to God's message and mission as revealed in Scripture and discover that He is as concerned about holiness as He is about justice...

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.  I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:22-23)

So when I sing, "Break my heart for what breaks Yours," my thinking needs to extend beyond that which offends my humanity to that which offends God's divinity.  While the two are not mutually exclusive, as God's holiness and justice are inseparable; it seems the former has a declining impact on the hearts of many Christ followers than the latter. In fact, when Christians raise their voices against a violation of justice it evokes a somewhat different response from others than when Christians raise their voices against a violation of holiness. This is an interesting paradox when you consider that the first and greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).  The depth of this love calls for complete devotion that synchronises two hearts as one, so that the pursuit of holiness reframes what breaks the hearts of those who say they love God. 

Consider these expressions of such love towards a holy God by key leaders in Scripture...

King David, who was described as being "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), offered a prayer of repentance for his sin against a holy God, whom he loved:  "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge." (Psalm 51:3-4)

The prophet Isaiah saw his sinfulness in the presence of the holiness of God and cried, "Woe to me!  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." (Isaiah 6:5)

The disciple Simon Peter, humbled by the authority of Jesus, "fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"" (Luke 5:8)

The apostle Paul, fully aware of his own wretchedness and the power of the Spirit, chose not to "live according to the flesh" nor to have his "mind set on what the flesh desires; [but to] live in accordance with the Spirit [with his] mind set on what the Spirit desires." (Rom 8:5)

 
In each case their brokenness led to repentance and their repentance led to holiness and their holiness positioned them for mission.  God says, "Be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).  Why?  Only when our hearts are fully aligned with God's heart can our hearts be truly broken by what breaks His.  Only from this posture can we truly identify what is broken in this world.  Only then can we bring a message of hope and engage in a ministry of healing.  Only then will God's kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

God's mission demands a posture of humility before a holy God, otherwise...

How can we preach a mandate of HOLINESS when we continue to justify what is right in our own eyes?

How can we participate in a ministry of HEALING when we cannot recognise the brokenness of our fallen humanity?

How can we promote a message of HOPE when we are seduced by the values of this world?

What breaks God's heart is when the church misinterprets the full counsel of Scripture and misrepresents the character of God by setting holiness and justice against each other, thereby robbing people from experiencing the fullness of life that Jesus came to give all humankind!

HOLY! A review...

Yesterday, I partnered with a number of Salvation Army Corps around Melbourne to help launch a new book during our church service that was co-written by two of my Salvation Army Officer colleagues and friends, Major Stephen Court and Captain Peter Brookshaw. The book is titled "HOLY! - Nine lies, half-truths and outrageous misconceptions about the most radical experience you've never lived."

Having read a number of books along my spiritual journey about holiness, from past and present authors, I was keen to discover what this new publication would add to an already well covered subject. While it doesn't add anything new, it does invite us to take a fresh look at an experience that has become misunderstood, misrepresented or misplaced in the church today despite the unchanging biblical call to be holy.  That's the beauty of this book.  It puts holiness back on the agenda for the 21st century church by challenging the "lies, half-truths and outrageous misconceptions" that have robbed many Christians from this life transforming experience.

Right from the outset Major Danielle Strickland sets the tone for the book in her foreword by removing holiness off the shelf of spiritual idealism or theoretical rhetoric and grounds it by declaring that "The blessing of holiness is not in the idea but in the experience of it."  

From that platform, Brookshaw and Court deliver a clear and concise overview of an experience that is intended for every Christ follower, not just the "super saints."  They are unapologetic about taking holiness out of the realms of pop-theology and reframing it through a lens of Scripture to provide us with a biblical image of a holy life as personified by Jesus Christ.  They are unforgiving of the untruths that distort this experience, yet gracious in re-establishing a biblical framework of truth around holy living.  And they are uncompromising about calling the reader to a renewed desire to "be holy, because [God is] holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

HOLY! doesn't attempt to provide an in-depth theological commentary about holiness but does provide an accessible response to FAQ about holiness that could unleash a renewed passion to pursue a Christ-like, Spirit-filled experience of a holy life that will radically transform this generation of Christ followers!

If ever there was a time when a renewed focus on holiness is needed in the church, it is NOW!!  HOLY! can be purchase from http://commerce.salvationarmy.org.au/default.asp 

I Can See Clearly Now - I See MYSELF

One of the activities I used to enjoy doing to relax was drawing.  When my children were around two years old I attempted to draw my daughter sitting on a large log at a country market. 

 

While incomplete, I was particularly proud of my drawing [left] until I see it compared alongside the drawing of a 'real' artist [right]!  My perspective of my ability changes when compared alongside the ability of someone else. 

An under or over inflated view of ourselves is often right-sized when our self-image is compared with something or someone that redefines our perspective. Unfortunately, we live in a society where self-image takes a battering, but equally we live in a society that also has an over active ego!

Whatever our self-image looks like, a right image of God helps us to correct our image of ourselves.  It is only when we see ourselves for who we really are that we are able to reposition ourselves to become whom God intended us to be!

Just as a wrong perception of God will lead to a wrong perception of our selves, a right perception of God will enable us to see ourselves in perspective of His holiness.

As the prophet Isaiah's divine vision progresses from seeing "the Lord...high and exalted" (Isaiah 6:1), he moves from really seeing God, to really seeing himself: 

“Woe to me!” I cried, “I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” – Isaiah 6:5 

A vision of a Holy God exposes anything that is unholy!

From my experience and observation as a Corps Officer (Pastor), I have seen three primary responses that are in complete contrast to Isaiah’s response from people who have been exposed in some way by a vision of themselves:  Denial, Blame or Retreat… 

Denial is the unwillingness or inability to recognise anything that will challenge a person’s image of themselves.

Blame is the deflection onto someone or something else that we do not want to take ownership of ourselves.

Retreat is to remove ourselves from an environment where something about us is exposed that makes us feel uncomfortable or insecure.

In contrast to these three responses is that ‘aha’ moment that opens our eyes to new revelation that has potential life changing consequences if we have the humility to really see ourselves.

Isaiah had that ‘aha’ moment in the presence of a holy God!  When he really saw himself against the image of a holy God and humbled himself to confess that which was unholy, he experienced a cleansing that imparted God’s righteousness into this man, making him acceptable in the presence of a holy God.

King David sought this same cleansing after he had monumentally sinned against God in Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” 

This same cleansing is also available for you and I today as declared in 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 

A clear vision of a holy God will enable you to see clearly who and where you are in your spiritual journey and if you humble yourself and embrace this vision, then you will reposition yourself for a divine encounter with a holy God who will make you righteous in His sight.

We can confidently and securely approach this holy God, because what He reveals to us is not to condemn us but to liberate us to become the people he has created us to be! 

“God is more just than any of us will ever be. He will not pretend or close a blind eye to our sinfulness. His holiness requires more than our brokenness can provide, yet He generously offers us life. When we turn to Him regardless of our condition, His gift to us is the same. In this regard He does not treat us differently. He loves us all with an everlasting love. You can choose to hold God’s generosity against Him, or you can receive the abundance of the life He offers.” - Erwin Raphael McManus “Uprising” p. 163

I Can See Clearly Now - I See The LORD

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.”  (Isaiah 6:1)

The context of Isaiah’s vision of the Lord with the death of King Uzziah, contrasts the end of the 50 year reign of an earthly king with the eternal reign of the Creator of the universe!  

Isaiah saw the LORD! He saw God in all His majesty and glory! 

Isaiah’s vision of God teaches us that the way we see the LORD will determine how we interact with Him.  A diminished view of God will result in a distant relationship with Him, which will impact the way we worship, the way we pray and the way speak about Him. However, an exalted view of God will result in a divine encounter that draws us into an intimate relationship with Him, which will be evident in our worship, prayer and witness. 

When is the last time you really saw the LORD?  What did you see?  What lenses do you wear when you look at God?  How is your vision of God distorted by the vision of others?  Have you ever really seen the LORD?  

While few are graced with a physical vision of God, most see God through the revelation of His Word and in the life of Jesus Christ (Special Revelation) or through a revelation seen through the created order (Natural Revelation).  

Romans 1:20 – “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.”  

Colossians 2:9 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form”  

Hebrews 1:1-2 – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”  

When Isaiah saw the LORD, he saw His transcendence (otherness) and His immanence (presence)  

“I saw the LORD, high and exalted” = transcendence (otherness)  

Our response to the LORD's transcendence in worship is one of reverence and honour!

“I saw the LORD…the train of His robe filled the temple” = immanence (presence)

Our response to the LORD's immanence in prayer is one of relationship and intimacy! 

A clear vision of God enables us to hold in tension both ‘fear and favour’ as we honour His greatness singing with the angels, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD almighty" and hold His hand at the same time crying, "Abba, Father."  

When we really see the LORD, we cannot help but to witness about a God who is high and exalted, yet fills our lives by His presence.