We are not alone.

“We are not alone.”

That phrase is commonly used in reference to the belief that there is other intelligent life “out there” amongst the stars.  It is also used in the title of songs, movies, and books.  In 1968, the United Church of Canada introduced its “New Creed” with the words, “We are not alone, we live in God’s world.”

This is the concept of human solidarity.  To expand on the idea presented in the “New Creed,” all people share a common condition and a common need for which there is a common resolution.  At its most basic level, human solidarity means we are all equally sinners before God and any of us may be reconciled to God in exactly the same way:  by grace through faith.

It also means we share in the human dilemma of suffering, shame, and frustration.  We share a common human nature.  All people of all times have two basic emotional needs (in differing proportions):  a sense of security and of significance.  When either of those is threatened, we share a desire for something else:  hope.

It is not just within our region, but around the world the sense of security and significance feels threatened.  We share solidarity with others in Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia as many nations and cultures feel threatened.  In this, we are not alone.

I *hope* I’m not flogging the same old horse here (I’ve written about hope a lot in recent days since it is one of our ministry themes this year).  Hope is an important part of our cognitive and emotional well-being.  Last week, a mission colleague of mine asked me to put together a few thoughts on nurturing hope that would help them help the people they serve as they face significant political and social change.  Here are some truths out of which the seeds of hope can flourish:

1.  While we may say “God is in control,” that phrase tends to conjure up issues of a God who is reactive to life’s issues.  It begs the question, “How could God allow this?”  Let’s rethink this and state the same truth as, “God holds all authority and is engaged.”  God has never lost His authority over all things.  No being has ever wrestled it out of His hands nor has God ever seceded His authority.  The chaos and confusion in which we live does not mean God is disengaged.  We may know God but we do not necessarily understand Him.

2.  God exerts His authority by determining who will have influence in our society.  Consequently, our response to those in authority is to pray for them and respect them (Rom. 13:1-2; 1 Tim. 2:1-2).  It sounds crazy, but such is the nature of God’s authority over all things.  Think Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, and the Roman governors who were ultimately pawns for God’s greater purposes.  From Jesus’ birth to the Apostle Paul’s martyrdom, those who thought they had autonomous authority were really just accomplishing the purposes of God (as overwhelming as it was for those who, in human solidarity, experienced the very really pain and suffering associated with those events).

3.  Righteous justice will prevail . . . but perhaps not in our lifetime.  The Kingdom of God is characterized by a “now but not yet” dynamic.  In fact, there will be a lot of unjust suffering because sin has rendered God’s created order dysfunctional.  However, it still holds value and purpose and someday there will be accountability and restoration.

For any of this to be the nutritious soil in which hope may grow, there must be an intentional choice to renew our minds to the reality and truths of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus said to “seek first His Kingdom” (Matt. 6:33) and “not lay up our treasures on earth” (Matt. 6:19).  Paul said “set your minds on things above” (Col. 3:1-2)  Peter said, “live in such a way that those who observe your life ask for the reason of the hope that is within you” (1 Pet. 3:15).  

Let’s go back even further to a guy named Jeremiah whose entire life and identity came crashing down around him.  To those with whom, in solidarity, he shared his dilemma (and for those of us who do so a few thousand years later), he wrote:
 

This is not self-help re-branded with spiritual piety.  This is a foundational truth of God’s created order:  God’s love for us trumps the chaos and confusion we may be experience.  He is faithful to those who embrace His grace and live with Kingdom passions and perspective.

We are not alone.