May 4th 2007

Divine Impredictability

Read Luke 6:27-36

"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you..." vs. 27

The world we live in is so predictable. There is nothing I hate more than sitting down to watch a movie and figuring out all that is about to happen before even half the movie is over. My wife hates it even more because I will often ruin the plot as I tell her who killed whom, who falls in love with whom, and who gets the treasure in the end. Movies are often predictable because they are a reflection of the collective consciousness of our society. Disturbingly, many of us have lost our capacity to be creative and imaginative in dealing with the various situations that come our way.

In today's passage, I believe Jesus would say that our typical reactions to those who do us wrong lack a certain creative flare. Normally, we respond with anger, bitterness, rage, malice, unforgivness, and revenge. How boring...These ultra-unimaginative actions lead to further predicability as the other party involved in our response re-acts in accordance with the same formula we offered, often to a greater and more violent degree. But what if...what if we refused to play out the predictable plot and instead re-narrated the story? What might happen?

How disarming might it be to stand in the face of an enemy who has brought violence and suffering and instead offer them blessing. What if the theif who wanted your wallet was offered your watch as well? How different might this world be if the church was to manifest the divine impredictability of God. In this passage we see that God is both creative, imaginative and extremely merciful as he gives good things even to those who don't deserve it. When you see the wicked blessed and forgiven, we often stand back and say, "the story I would have written looks a bit different than that." God extends gift, whereas we are consumed with retribution. Our plot line lacks a certain creative flare...but somehow redemption it recognized in God's divine impredictability...just look to the cross and you will see this to be true.