When I was young and traveling long distance by car with my parents, long before the advent of iPhones, I was consigned to passing the time away by doing crossword puzzles or what then was called, “connect the dots”. A connect the dot sheet was simple. A page of seemingly random and haphazardly numbered dots was supplied. You would draw a straight line from a numbered dot to another dot in numerical order and once completed you would have created the full picture. There was a certain mystery to what you were drawing until the final dots were connected in the order prescribed. If you skipped numbers or tried to detour the numerical sequence the final picture would of course be marred and confused. It was crucial that you connected the dots in order to get the appropriate final picture.
If you had been a parishioner in my church, you would have often heard the phrase, “connect the dots folks”. I would often make points concerning repercussions of personal behavior to life outcomes and conclude by placing the tips of my index fingers together in front of my face before the congregation and say, “connect the dots folks”.
Good decisions equals good life…
Bad decisions equals bad life…
Connect the dots folks…
This doesn’t mean that unfairness and injustice may not capriciously touch your life and seemingly jump the dots. That has certainly been true for nearly every person who has ever lived through human history, albeit at different measures and levels. The same could be said for people groups and nations. Bad things happen to undeserving and unsuspecting individuals and groups for no apparent reason. That is a sad and tragic reality. It is equally true that pain and collapse can be linked to bad decisions. These are the dots that need to be connected.
Let me be clear, the murder of George Floyd was unjust, horrific, and deserving of the full weight of justice upon the perpetrators. It has also become the tipping point for the simmering anger of African-Americans concerning race and equality in our culture. I cannot fully understand, nor will I minimize the pain this community has faced. I am angry too. What we saw in that video should have never happened; yet it does. If there were ever a time when some dots needed connecting, it is 2020 America. As a society (at least to me) we feel out of control, confused, and fragile. It feels like we are on the brink of collapse. It also feels like the current rage, no matter how justified, is chaotic, like a man swinging at shadows. It’s a new and strange feeling for the normally controlled and phlegmatic America. We are hemorrhaging our civility and nobility, and no one seems to have an answer to address it. What we have done on Twitter and social media platforms for a decade is now flowing freely in the streets. There is no veneer of restraint anymore. Everyone is feeling quite raw.
Government is ostensibly paralyzed over the protests and/or riots. All government can do is use the “sword” (Romans 12:4) to try and make a difference. Unfortunately, the “sword” appears to exacerbate the feelings rather than bring any peace. This fact alone demonstrates why the Church is essential. We have been given “weapons” which are not carnal to address such moments (2 Cor. 10:4). The Church has been given a message and a voice which God has empowered to speak to such moments. Sadly, I hear precious little with regards to its leadership in these days.
In order to understand the way forward, it might behoove us to connect (some of) the dots as to how the Church and culture got here. Spiritually speaking, one cannot receive new life from Christ unless there is some acknowledgment of why one needs Him (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:12). We cannot move forward unless we identify (“connect the dots”) the places we have stumbled and sinned. King David said as much in Psalm 51 when he writes, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (v.3). The nation of Israel, in like manner, was commanded by God to do much the same and connect the dots of their behavior (Zechariah 1:1-6).
The Scripture tells us that “judgment begins at the house of God” (I Peter 4:17).
What are some of those dots that we, as the Church, need to connect?
As I process these days, I would suggest a few…
Our pulpits and leaders have ignored the sins of the culture calling it “politics” and thereby providing a false disconnect from their ministry and calling.
We have compartmentalized our faith to address only our personal redemption and eternal destination rather than applying its precepts to every issue and arena of life.
We have defined success by attendance metrics and social media “views” rather than by the righteous fruit our lives should demonstrate.
We have ignored the door to lasting transformation which is repentance.
In the name of relevance, we have focused on identifying with the culture rather than aspiring to Kingdom realities.
We have shown partiality to the celebrity, the famous, and the wealthy, rather than focus on the poor, the commoner, and the unknown.
We have promoted our kingdoms rather than participate in and promote His Kingdom.
We have abdicated our authority to civic government and become passive followers rather than passionate leaders.
Our sermons echo the sounds of the world and each other rather than provide the prophetic path and insight that is desperately needed.
We have embraced the pragmatism of the world rather than the paradoxes of His Kingdom.
I am sure there are more…
But these are just a few of the “dots” we need to identify and connect to move forward…
I believe it was Rahm Emanuel who made famous the phrase, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. I understand the crass, political opportunism that birthed that phrase; however, the phrase has a redeemable angle to it as well. The current upheaval can either cause us to bury our heads in the sand and wait until the storm passes by -or- connect the dots we need to connect and make the lasting biblical changes that must be made.
Yes, these are painful difficult days for many people…
It could be our shining hour if we truly awaken…
God help us…
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