The Invisible Wo/Man

Your giving should be in secret. Then your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, go into a room by yourself. After you have shut the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret. Then your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew6:4-6NLV

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 1Thessalonians5:12ERV

Do you remember watching “The Invisible Man” on TV when you were young? It was compulsive viewing because although you knew the tell tale signs he would leave behind, you were never sure where he was unless he had wound the white roll of bandages around his body, or the vase would make its way through mid air to crash over the unsuspecting villain’s head.

I found myself asking the question recently, “are there any invisible men or women in the church”? In fact, in my church? Apparently there are times our secrecy is needed, but other times when the secrecy of the invisible man or woman is not acceptable to our Saviour. We are usually quite good at praying or giving in secret, and not boasting about it, but what of the other times mentioned in the verse above when we are told to acknowledge those … among you? And what does the Lord tell us to do?

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John13:34NIV

We have a command, straight from Jesus Himself to love each other, just as He loved us! That my friends is real love, and very visibly public. It is how the world knows for certain that we are Jesus’ followers. When we love one another, we cannot hide it so in that context, there should be no invisible men or women in any fellowship. Sadly though, this is not the case, and we do have invisible people in our churches. Yes, even in my church.

That new wee family that have recently started to come, and sit at the back. Who are they? What are their names? The small, frail, elderly lady who sometimes can come when she is strong enough? Where does she live, and how does she get to church? The man who is looking for a church to settle in and sits over at the end of the row, have you talked to him? Would anyone think about phoning any of them, dropping them a card, or even paying them a visit? These folks are examples of the invisible men and women, and they are in our churches. We should have no invisible people especially in church. I wonder how I would know this?

Creation v Evolution?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 ESV

Dictionary definition of evolution is given as: the process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

If you want to see a group of perfectly balanced and quiet Christians turn into a noisy clamouring group, then open up a discussion on evolution and creation. There are as many opinions as there are people, both inside and outside the church. It’s a subject that will be sure to turn the mild mannered ‘Clark Kent’ into a ‘Superman’! But why should this be?

The way you interpret and read the Genesis story of Adam and Eve will automatically put you into a corner which will be at odds at least with some of your friends. In the red corner, we have a real Adam, Eve, a talking snake, literal 24 hour days for God to make the world and the universe. In the blue corner, you have the believers who understand that same story in Genesis as picture language or metaphor to aid understanding of a message which was beyond the thinking and understanding of early mankind. In truth it is still ‘way above some of our advanced scientific thinking today.

To make it worse, one of these groups of Christians will forcefully point the finger at the other group and say something like, “It’s in the Bible, and I believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God. It’s obvious that you don’t and would rather take sides with science.” This can get nasty. Trust me, it really can! So, what’s the answer?

First of all, note that we talk about “The THEORY of evolution” and that’s because it cannot be proven. The process would take millions of years to work through from a single cell to the human beings we are today. This cannot be recreated as science requires, so cannot be more than a theory. However, the other side should not be too hasty to cheer their success. Many well respected theologians from all corners of the church will differ on the Biblical interpretation of the creation story. Yes, they will believe wholeheartedly in creation, but they cannot agree on the full process of how God did what He did. It is above the human mind!

How important are we prepared to make this subject? If neither side can fully prove their point, except through faith in the God of the Bible, why not view creation as a part of the overall purpose of God and the Bible which leads directly to Jesus and our salvation? Is that something we should fight, or disagree about? No, thought not, because it’s not a salvation issue!

The Invisible God

It’s not that you shake your fist at God and yell ‘WHY’? It’s more the silent feeling that God might have left you alone, isolated, and lonely. That’s a dark, silent oppressive place and it takes its toll on heart and mind.

What happened to all those good times? Those fondly remembered happy memories have not gone away, they are still there and always will be. Shared meals. Shared family times. Shared outings as we watched our children grow up into fine young men and women. Shared prayers with thankfulness for good health of body and mind. But not so much anymore because time has passed and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. Happy memories can never be taken away, except when the faculty of memory itself has been removed by illness. Those outside looking in, still have the benefit of these good memories, but the victim (yes that is what they become) has no thoughts of the past to see them through this long, dark tunnel. What’s it like in that tunnel, I oftentimes wonder? Sometimes we lose a loved one to death, and sometimes it can be a living loss. Is there a comparison? They are both horrific and leave their indelible mark on body, soul, and spirit.

Bible verses about God looking after His own, and building a hedge of protection around His people start to have a hollow ring about them. Until now, these verses were taken at face value, and personally. We felt safe and invincible because we had God on our side. Lucky us, right? Bad things only happen to bad people we think, but no. Bad things happen to good people, and I mean really bad things happen to really good people, and it’s not fair. Have you ever had that thought or experience?

There is an old saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and I suppose there is an element of truth there, but just an element. A very small element because what doesn’t kill you can also break you, and I believe that happens more than we know, at least for a while. A loved one’s death, or a living loss, which is worse? There is no answer because you would not want either, and that’s the truth. But let’s go back to where it all started when we were making happy memories. There are two husbands and friends who have suffered one each of these heartaches, and somehow as a result that old friendship takes on a new meaning which cannot be covered by any other friend. There is a deep, underlying, unspoken understanding.

So where is God? He is there, just out of sight, as the old chorus says, “Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus” and for a short time, you may not see Him. It will do us good to remember that Hezekiah was in this lonely place for a reason too as it says in 2 Chronicles 32:31: God left him [Hezekiah] to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. The personal question that remains is, “Am I up to the same heart test?”