The True

Down

“The great paradox which Scripture reveals to us is that real and total freedom is only found through downward mobility. The Word of God came down to us and lived among us as a slave. The divine way is indeed the downward way.” — Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ

My friend Scott Sauls reminded me of this profound truth this week, and I believe it carries the promise of tremendous liberation for Jesus followers.

There is a relentless drive in our society to make progress. You know it well.

There is pressure to get good grades and graduate at the top of your class.

There is pressure to land the high-paying job and then to get the next promotion—and the next one too.

There is pressure to earn more this year than you did last, and to acquire the bigger house or fancier car.

There is even the seemingly-positive pressure to do more today than you did yesterday, and to leave a mark on society that renders humanity better off than you found it.

In a sense, these are all pressures to be constantly pressing upward, and it is my natural inclination to believe that passages like Hebrews 1 (which we discussed recently and includes the very forward-leaning phrase, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”) call us to be constantly striving and running hard. My instinct is one informed by the culture around me. It is one of pressing, striving, and upward mobility.

That instinct is counter to the one modeled by Jesus and described by both Nouwen and the author of Hebrews. Consider the next few breaths of Hebrews 12, in which we are encouraged to “run” by “fixing our eyes on Jesus,” who “endured the cross” on His path to “the right hand of the throne of God.”

The One we are to emulate—Jesus—was the rightful heir to the throne of heaven and had the ultimate right to press upward and claim what was already His. But Jesus chose the path of downward mobility, and He did it to provide a pathway for you and me to join in His inheritance. It was and is a remarkable counter-cultural and instinct-defying choice.

It is also a transcendent choice offered to you and me today. Your instinct tells you the path to a bright tomorrow lies is a dogged pressing upward and onward. I know it does because I feel the same inward pull in every moment of every day. But that is not the way.

The way modeled by Jesus derives its transcendent power from a path that mobilizes downward. The salvation provided by Jesus on the cross was not for those who conquer, but those who surrender.

As you walk in that promise provided by the downward mobility of salvation, your instinct may be one informed by culture’s obsession with moving up, but your power is drawn from your emulation of Jesus’ affection for and devotion to the weak. Your life becomes transcendent when it is spent for those who are down and out, and it is through that downward mobility that both you and I share in the inheritance that is a seat at the right hand of the Almighty God!

World

Free and Fair

Vladimir Putin was announced as the winner of the Russian presidential election, adding an additional six years to his reign that began in December 1999. Observers from around the world expressed intense doubt about the validity of the elections, in which the war-riddled population reportedly cast 87% of the vote for Putin. U.S. officials said there was “nothing free or fair” about the election, and there were widespread arrests of demonstrators against Putin, most of whom were rallying on behalf of Alexei Navalny, who was Putin’s chief political opponent before recently dying in an artic Russian prison.

Putin’s new term runs through 2030 and, if he serves the duration, Putin will surpass even Josef Stalin’s mark of 29 years leading Russia.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Proximity to a situation can dramatically alter our perspective of it. When we are intimately involved in a series of events, it can skew our objectivity toward it. In the case of the just concluded Russian elections, it was apparent to nearly all involved or observing—both up close and from afar—that the fix was in. Putin has a stranglehold on power in Russia, and the “elections” were but a fig leaf providing the scantest of electoral process cover.

This sober reflection affords us the ability to see several things more clearly.

First, the Creator-given design to live freely is worth defending (Gal 5:1). This is true in both a physical and spiritual sense.

Next, it is highly valuable to seek perspective from trusted Jesus followers who are not intimately involved in the situations with which we wrestle. This implements the “iron sharpening iron” principle of Proverbs 27:17 and affords us a perspective our proximity to the issue prohibits.

Finally, while we as Jesus followers should model an example of civil public engagement—especially during a tumultuous election season—this story should serve as a reminder that freedom to debate and dissent is an essential component of a free society. While we should endeavor to disagree in ways that promote merited ideas and a common flourishing, the absence of dissent is one of the surest signs that freedom has been lost. This story provides a stark reminder of this truth, as Putin’s three living political rivals declined to criticize him during the campaign and stood unified behind him as he declared victory.

True freedom is found only in Jesus, and fully realized only in eternity. But in a governing sense, freedom requires both peaceful transfers of power and the constant tension and public airing of competing ideas. This knowledge should free us from anxiety as we navigate election season.

U.S.

Chill in the Air

In a move that surprised many, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor and criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his handling of the war with Hamas and the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Schumer called for new elections in Israel and described the Prime Minister as an “obstacle to peace.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu said Schumer’s remarks were “totally inappropriate” and the creation of a Palestinian state would be “the greatest reward for terrorism in history.”

Analysis and eternal perspective: Israel has long been one of the strongest allies of the United States. For the most part, U.S. support for Israel has transcended party lines in a way that have few other issues. Leader Schumer’s remarks represent perhaps the most significant fissure in this alliance in recent memory.

As The Equipped community, we have regularly returned to a guiding set of principles as we endeavor to faithfully interact with the news surrounding the war between Israel and Gaza. As we remind ourselves of these guiding principles below, it is worth noting the tension that exists within them, and acknowledging they are rooted in a devotion to scripture over a devotion to any particular political narrative.

1) The Jewish people are God’s chosen people (Deut. 7:6-9), have faced hatred and persecution for thousands of years (the book of Esther is one early account of an effort to exterminate the Jewish people, and Hitler’s Nazi regime is a modern example of the same), and followers of Jesus have a charge to recognize the special covenant God has made with them (Gen. 12:3).

2) Every person has eternal value, is made by the very hands of God, and is in fact a reflection of God’s very image (Gen. 1:26). This remains true across every nationality and ideology.

3) Authorities (be they over families, communities, or nations) have a sacred duty to protect those within their charge (Rom. 13:4).

4) The actions of other world powers, including the United States, have an impact on militant and terrorist organizations inclined to use violence to achieve political goals.

U.S.

A Change in Homebuying

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has agreed to pay $418 million in damages, as well as dramatically alter its commission structure, in order to settle a series of lawsuits. The agreement has the potential to dramatically alter the homebuying process in America, as the standard 6% commission rate for real estate agents may go by the wayside.

Analysis and eternal perspective: If you have either sold or purchased a home, you are very likely familiar with the industry standard 6% commission that is usually split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. In the wake of this settlement, the homebuying market will likely experience a period of readjustment as sellers, buyers, and agents all try to find a new equilibrium.

As Jesus followers, this story is a reminder that God alone is unchanging (Mal. 3:6), and we should trust in Him over our own understanding (Pr. 3:5-6). This is a significant disruption for those who earn a living in real estate, so we should be mindful of opportunities to lend relational support to them in the coming days.

The Beautiful

Strength and Beauty in Weakness

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

The true beauty and strength in your life comes not from all that you can do, but from all that has already been done for you! Walk in the confidence of your inheritance this week, and allow evidence of your weakness to reaffirm your confidence!