Thoughts provoked from reading about a whacked-out country

If you've been tracking along here, I share my musings from time to time on my quiet time and what is coming off the page to me... and I've of course been tracking through 1 Kings for the last few weeks (forgive me if my thoughts jump around here a bit)

Before I say anything, it seems that I have had multiple conversations now or have seen/read in a bunch of places about how people think America is (insert your negative adjective) -or- on the backside of it's prime as a moral force for good.  It seems that we can't say much good about our culture, and while I'm not defending our shortcomings I do believe that a lot of this negativity is unwarranted.  What's gotten to me is how a lot of these comments about "sin" or "wickedness" in our culture seems to be very hostile, especially toward the groups that are being talked about.  

Now... I haven't written much about 1 Kings lately because to be honest there hasn't been much in my micro-Bible study lately that jumped out as blog-worthy... in the macro it makes more sense.  In-between Solomon and Ahab, it appears that all you see is a list of kings, the assessment of their relationship with God, and how many years they reigned.  After Solomon, most of Israel sided with a guy named Jeroboam instead of Solomon's son, while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin seceded to remain loyal to David's dynasty.  

While Judah (the name for the kingdom that split) was hit and miss on their national relationship with God, Israel decided to slowly invite other gods into their culture and losing with it the ethics that came with being right with God.  For a while, I don't think it impacted much... except you could definitely notice (looking at what I was reading at a 10,000 foot view) that there was some major instability in the government - the stuff of coups and conspiracies.  On the contrast, Judah's government was much more stable under King Asa, who followed the God of Israel and ruled for 41 years (5 kings ruled in Israel's revolving door during that time).  And of course, each of Israel's kings followed Jeroboam's mantra... it's okay to let the idols come in and let's keep God manageable.  That is, until Ahab takes reign.  

When Ahab comes into power, all bets are now off... a nation previously appearing to be drifting from God is now on a crash course with a dude named Baal.  It appeared that Ahab did keep God at a distance, but definitely flipped him the bird when he thought God wasn't looking.  His wife Jezebel, however, seemed to do the "bird flipping" even when she knew God was looking.  Baal worship was not a tame thing either... it included orgies and prostitution in order to promote fertility (they believed Baal controlled the rain and the crops).  

I suppose that even in our politically correct culture, we could at least give some acknowledgement of this being "evil."  Now it's time for the Jerry Falwell's and the guys on the street corners shouting at people to turn or burn!  Well, not exactly.  

What I've noticed is, God is somehow able to address evil surgically... while we don't seem to be very good at it at all.  He truly does love the people and address the sin.  In that we in the church seem to really stink at that, it makes political correctness look more loving than our attempts to fight evil... and I may argue that it is.  

God does send a messenger to Ahab... you've probably heard of this guy named Elijah.  But he doesn't give the king a lengthy speech about how bad Baal worship is and how Ahab is going straight to Hell with that (very nice woman) he's married to.  He just comes by and says... "no rain for 3 years" and leaves.  Of course, this would strike at the heart of the Baal worship... almost as if God is saying, let's see if Baal can trump me in delivering the rain since you love him so much.  I'm not sure if he came in with a lot of fanfare, but when the drought really gets bad, BOY is Ahab mad!

Elijah is led to the house of a widow whose house has been hit hard by the famine and stays with her.  I imagine that she too has been in the Baal scene (who hasn't... it has been en-vogue in the culture), but you don't really see Elijah talking about it much.  In fact, for three years he's on the sidelines waiting... with this widow who from all indication is not fully on board with God but willing to give him a shot given that she may have exhausted all other options.  And Elijah doesn't Faldwell her... he just simply lives and models what it's like to walk with God.  I'm sure she's noticing... 

In fact, the moment where she "gets it" isn't through a sermon or a lecture or a tract.... it is when Elijah pleads with God to restore the life of her son when he dies and God brings the widow's son back to life.  He is kind to the widow, loves her, and meets her need... and she gets it.  

In other words, to quote Paul later:  "God's kindness leads us to repentance."  

Whatever you think about our culture, or the situation we face with our economy, it is clear that we need God and while many aren't looking for Him there are many "widows" out there waiting for God to show up.  

But you know, God didn't show up to the widow as a judge but through a guy that provided for her at her time of need.  In fact, if that's the way that God himself would act toward hurting people seeking him, perhaps it's time to stop talking so much about the evils of abortion and start providing a hug and an encouraging word for scared teenage girls suddenly finding themselves pregnant.  Perhaps it's time to stop bashing gays and homosexuality and start giving hope to those suffering with AIDS and helping to look for a cure.  Perhaps it's time to stop shouting on the streets and start having coffee (or a drink, or lunch) and building friendships with people that wouldn't step foot in a church.  

Besides, God is the one that calls... He is the one in control.  As an old pastor (Dr. Young) said once (paraphrasing):  Share your faith as if you believe in free will, worship and trust the results to God as if you believe in predestination.  

You know, he loves everyone, regardless of what WE may think or believe.  

As for Ahab... he seemed to be patient... and dealt with him (as the king) in his own way and own timing.