A letter from Charlotte Blackburn in Indonesia
June 2012
I was asked to speak at the English-speaking congregation where I regularly attend worship. I was working on this newsletter at the time, entitled “The Good News.” This is what I shared that Sunday and it is, surprisingly enough, based on the lectionary for that day, John 3:1-17. Let’s remember the Good News, shall we?
Quick! Tell me...what is the good news???
As a mission co-worker with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) assigned to teach English in Indonesia, I recently attended a weeklong training retreat with other co-workers serving in Asia. We learned of three "critical global issues" with which we must seek to engage: (1) alleviation of poverty, especially as related to women and children, (2) sharing the Good News of God’s love in Christ, together with global partners, and (3) working for reconciliation in cultures of violence, including our own.
1 and 3 I understand, but number 2? The Good News? Am I doing that? Can I do that? I'm no theologian, but...
I grew up in the church. I have been a Christian all my life. I once described my faith as a fish swimming in water. Just as a fish may be oblivious to the fact that it lives in a body of water, sometimes I may forget to realize that my life is the same, but I swim in the love of God in faith. I don't know life without it. I (admittedly shamefully) sometimes forget that the GOOD NEWS is that Christ came not to condemn the world, but to save it. For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son. We Christians are blessed and set apart by that fact. We know that God loves us. Every day.
When we grow up knowing that God loves us, we can easily absorb the freedom and grace we receive in God's love without really comprehending that THAT is "the good news." In other words, we live the good news. Christ is the good news, of course, and the message of the gospel, but when we already live it, how to describe it? God has never been an evil, vengeful, punitive God to me, but the epitome of LOVE. Therefore the good news is real and made real, just like the water in which a fish swims...
After the training gathering, three friends from the PC(USA) came to Jogja to experience my life and service here. After lunch we all visited the home and studio of an awesome Indonesian artist, Hendarto, who contextualizes the Christian story in painting. One of his works, Anak Hilang (the Prodigal Son), is especially powerful. A son is wrapped in his father's loving arms and the faces are full of love, forgiveness, repentance and grace. My friend who accompanied us asked what that particular work referenced. When I explained the story of the prodigal son to her, I was covered in goose bumps and thanked God that He reminded me of the good news in that way.
What sets Christians apart is not how many times a day we pray, how good we are, or what we DO, but that we are saved through the grace of God and His everlasting love for us...and we know that through the sacrifice of Jesus who was sent to save us. That is the good news. And it is, indeed, good.
But what to "do" with that? Do we accept it and live life as usual, or are there expectations for us as Christians, even though we are already saved?
Yes, there are expectations. We are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).
The way that we are to love is spelled out in Corinthians 13. When we fail to love others, we drop the ball, so to speak. When we use Scripture to punish people who have strayed from the path, chosen a different life course, or made a mistake, we are not living in the forgiving, grace of God, but in the kind of human law from which we are free by the coming of the Savior (Galatians 3:23-29). Being a good person is very important to me, but I have to say that to me, being kind is the main attribute of goodness. Kindness fortified and influenced by love. They'll know we are Christians by our love, after all. Slow to anger, patient, understanding, humble, conciliatory, forgiving...those are facets of kindness. Kind people do not rejoice in the misfortunes of others, we shouldn't push our own agendas to the detriment of others, and we strive to be joyful, not resentful.
Sometimes our humanity may get in the way. Sometimes we may get a little distracted with rules, regulations and social conventions...and sometimes we seek to justify those very humanistic tendencies with Scripture. That often is in direct conflict with what we know to be our greatest blessing: The good news of God's love in Christ Jesus.
The good news is that God loves us. Christ came to save us, not condemn us, and in this love we are free to share the love of God that we know through Christ.
So today I would just like to share the good news with you. God loves us. We are saved through His grace and love. We know that because Jesus came to tell us and show us, in word and deed. And He took our sin with him to Calvary. God loves us. And that is the Good News. Amen.
And I know now that I am fully capable of engaging in the critical global issue #2. I can share the Good News. I live it every day! Thanks be to God!
Charlotte
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 189
blog: www.charlotteinjogja.blogspot.com
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