It’s All About People!
Through the years and all the changes, one thing remains true about the heart of God. First Words: The life of Jesus revolved around people. He always made time for people, even when he was so tired that he desperately needed to get away to a quiet place for rest. When the human inclination was to send them away, “he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:30-44). He saw people at the center of every problem and opportunity. Sick people needed to be healed. Hungry people needed to be fed. Lost people needed to be found. People in distress needed to be comforted. Maybe the issues of our time are so overwhelming because we have forgotten that people are at the center of every problem. What’s more, people are at the center of every solution. We may never call a group of 56 people to meet and draft the founding documents of a new nation, or answer the deep life and death questions, even to our own satisfaction. But Good Samaritan opportunities are everywhere. No training required, no vetting necessary, no permission needed. People are in need, we help them, end of story. Created Equal: The hot and sultry Philadelphia summer was even more uncomfortable when windows were closed and drapes were drawn to keep the deliberations of the Second Continental Congress secret. King George might well consider a declaration of colonial independence a treasonous document; so it would be debated and drafted away from prying eyes. The Revolutionary War had been going for a year when the Congress convened on May 10, 1775, with representatives from twelve of the thirteen colonies, and Georgia to send representatives later. The most vigorous debate was about independence and how to achieve it. Thomas Jefferson’s original draft was altered at least 86 times before an acceptable version could be approved on July 2, 1776, and signed on July 4, 240 years ago. The second sentence of the Declaration is the one Americans know best: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Critics noted that there were almost 700,000 slaves living in the colonies, maybe created equal, but not treated as equals. And others were quick to point out that women, often considered chattel in those days, were hardly treated as equals. Proclaiming equality was easier than practicing it. Saving All: Go back 2,000 or so years to another declaration, this one in the form of a sermon. Urging repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter then declared, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…” (Acts 2:38-39). Just eight chapters later, that same apostle resisted God’s command to preach the gospel to Gentiles. He preached that the gospel is for all, perhaps not realizing that all included Gentiles. Preaching equality was easier than practicing it. Pausing in the Present: With the benefit of hindsight, we wonder how congressional delegates and apostles could have been so unaware of the inconsistencies we see so clearly. Or, do we? We may not handle our issues any better than people in the past handled theirs. I often think that all the easy questions were resolved before I got here, for all the questions now are hard. Life is complex, from beginning to end. I believe that human life begins at conception, but that is my religious conviction rather than a scientific or medical conclusion. Living tissue is not always a human life. Unfertilized eggs and unattached sperm are living, but they are not a human life. Even if we agree that human life begins at conception, we may still have to make painful choices about what to do with that life. If for example, fertilization occurs in the woman’s Fallopian tubes rather than her uterus, that embryo — baby, in my view — cannot survive and the danger to the mother is life-threatening. Rather than labeling and categorizing people who have to make painful choices, maybe we should just love and accept them as PEOPLE. End of life decisions are no less vexing. As a chaplain volunteer in hospital and hospice environments, I have spent a lot of time helping people think through the ethical and moral questions they have about allowing their loved ones to die. Technology enables doctors to keep people “alive” artificially long after meaningful life has ended. Letting go is an awful, yet merciful choice. Seventeen years ago, I had to make that choice when there was nothing else to be done for my father. He had made a Living Will, had DNR orders, end-of-life directives, and a Power of Attorney document giving me a responsibility I would have gladly relinquished. I’m still haunted by my mother’s plaintive question, “Isn’t there just one more thing the doctors can try?” The pain of losing my father was no greater than the pain of having to answer my mother as gently as I possibly could, “No, Mother, there’s nothing more to be done.” Final Thoughts: It’s a long way from Pentecost, to Philadelphia, to beginning of life and end-of-life decisions, yet they are all alike in that they center on people — people who sought forgiveness, people who sought freedom from tyranny, people who would bring new people into our world, and people who help people leave this world peacefully. Don’t turn away from people of a different color; they’re people. People of a different nationality are people. People with different religious beliefs are people. No matter how they may be labeled, people are people. God loved the people of his creation so much that “he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). About the author: These Encouraging
Daily Prayer for July 6
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Romans 8:14–15a, NIV Dear Father in heaven, open our hearts to the wonder of being able to call you Father, the wonder of being united with you. You are the source of all life and strength. In you is redemption, and we need to be redeemed before we can live rightly. Take from us the pressures forced on us by the flood of events. Make us completely free as people led by your hand, people who may be joyful because everything will be overcome through the power you grant us in Jesus Christ. Protect us from fear and from all evil. Show more and more clearly your good and wonderful goal for all people on earth, so that in expectation they may find happiness even in all the stress of today. Amen. Recent articles on Plough How to Not Live a Boring Life Henri J. M. Nouwen Without the story that guides all other stories, the many events of each day remain a series of random incidents and accidents. Read now Poem: “A Lindisfarne Cross” Michael Manning It begins with what is broken, cast off, abandoned… Read now Disciplines for Freedom Bill Gardner A doctor learning how to die of cancer finds guides in Simone Weil, Iris Murdoch, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Pedro Arrupe. Read now The Lion Tamer’s Son Eloise Jarvis McGraw Joe Lang finds himself an orphan in the opening chapter of the classic children’s novel Sawdust in His Shoes. Read now Simple Steps to Combat Smartphone Addiction Tara Isabella Burton Finding technology and habits that make life better, not worse. Read now
Daily Prayer for July 4
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31–32, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven and on earth, we ask you to bless us, your children, for we want to be your children and nothing else. We want to have our joy and delight in knowing that we belong to you, the almighty God, who began and who will complete redemption on earth through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Bless your Word in us. Give us courage in suffering and distress, for we are allowed to serve you in all circumstances, even when we find it bitterly hard. Your name shall be honored in us, your kingdom shall come. As surely as the earth endures, everything shall happen in accordance with your will, on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Disciplines for Freedom Bill Gardner A doctor learning how to die of cancer finds guides in Simone Weil, Iris Murdoch, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Pedro Arrupe. Read now The Lion Tamer’s Son Eloise Jarvis McGraw Joe Lang finds himself an orphan in the opening chapter of the classic children’s novel Sawdust in His Shoes. Read now Simple Steps to Combat Smartphone Addiction Tara Isabella Burton Finding technology and habits that make life better, not worse. Read now Taking a Tech Sabbath Elizabeth Oldfield Weekend digital detoxes, even half-arsed ones like mine, are a modern iteration of one of the oldest ideas in civilization – and an act of resistance. Read now Is Your Life Worth More than a Pig’s? Joshua L. Sohn Supporting animal welfare is one of the best ways to demonstrate human exceptionalism. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 27
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15–16, NIV Lord God, help us to be holy as you are holy, and free us from all the earthly things that try to torment us. Grant us your Spirit so that we do what is right. May we always hold your hand confidently. Protect your children everywhere on earth, and help them do what is right even if the whole world does what is wrong. Help us, so that all we do becomes holy and pleasing in your sight. Let your grace grow among us and among the nations, and let your hand be strong to bring in your day, your day when everything is made new. May your name be kept holy, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Will There Be an AI Apocalypse? Peter Berkman Marshall McLuhan and Romano Guardini say it’s already here. Read now Charles Dickens Writes to His Son Charles Dickens Dust off some 150-year-old advice for teens leaving home from the author of Great Expectations. Read now Taming Tech in Community Andrew Zimmerman How the Bruderhof community tries to be intentional about personal technology. Read now The Kids Aren’t Alright Abraham M. Nussbaum A psychiatrist reviews Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier and The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Read now It’s Getting Harder to Die Lydia S. Dugdale When medical tech can keep us alive, families face tough choices. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 26
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3, NIV O Lord our God, grant that we may have fellowship with you every day. May our hearts be ready to fulfill your commandments and to do what you want in all things. Hear our prayer. Hear and answer when we pray for the nations, for the whole world, and let your holy will be done. Remember all who are in distress, and lead them on the right way. May we go with joyful hearts wherever you lead us. Your name will be our help, your glory will come, and the world will be full of your love, your power, and your splendor. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Charles Dickens Writes to His Son Charles Dickens Dust off some 150-year-old advice for teens leaving home from the author of Great Expectations. Read now Taming Tech in Community Andrew Zimmerman How the Bruderhof community tries to be intentional about personal technology. Read now The Kids Aren’t Alright Abraham M. Nussbaum A psychiatrist reviews Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier and The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Read now It’s Getting Harder to Die Lydia S. Dugdale When medical tech can keep us alive, families face tough choices. Read now The Body of Believers Ulrich Stadler An early Anabaptist reflects on Paul’s metaphor of the church as the body of Christ. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 18
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:8–9, NIV Lord our God, radiant, light giving, and almighty God through all the ages, be with us in our time too. Strengthen the grace we have received from Jesus Christ, and let it be known over all the world so that your name may be honored everywhere. Bless us, we pray, and let your blessing spread from us to others, to the glory of your name. Grant that the good may be strengthened in us, the good you have let us hear about for so many years. May everything that belongs to your Word come alive in us and in the world. May your blessing be on our actions, for we want to remain under your blessing, to the glory of your righteousness and truth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Send Us Your Surplus Matthew Loftus South Sudan’s kids thank you for that shipment of hip-joint ball bearings. Read now Practicing Christianity Andrew Prevot In Christianity as a Way of Life, Kevin W. Hector says faith is about what we do, not just what we believe. Read now The Case for Not Sanitizing Fairy Tales Haley Stewart Fairy tales are the best way for children to learn that the world contains evil, violence, and danger. Read now A Father’s Final Gift Klaus Bonhoeffer Days before his execution by the Nazis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s brother sent his children this letter. Read now The Mysterious Barricades between Fathers and Sons Joel Clarkson Filmmaker Terrence Malick finds a musical expression of the father-son dynamic in François Couperin’s rondeau “Les Barricades Mystérieuses.” Read now
Daily Prayer for June 10
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us – so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1–2, NIV Lord, Almighty God, you are our Father and we are your children, who want to live for you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Strengthen and renew our hearts. When discouragement and fear try to mislead us, may your Holy Spirit help us again and again to hold fast, for no matter what difficulties arise, your will is being done and your will is good. Your name will be honored. Your kingdom will come for all nations. Your reign will come over all peoples, for they are all yours and must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to your honor, O Father. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Medievalist Looks for the Image of Christ Marianne Wright In Jesus through Medieval Eyes, Grace Hamman finds the Lord portrayed as a knight, a mother, a judge, and a lover. Read now Who Needs a Car? Addison Del Mastro When luxuries become necessities, it’s too late to turn back. Read now Masters of Our Tools E. F. Schumacher, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jean-Pierre Dupuy and Hannah Arendt Four writers reflect on the purpose and power of technology. Read now A Church in Ukraine Spreads Hope in Wartime Sasha Riabyi and Danny Burrows A Christian community cares for its children and neighbors. Read now Tech Cities of the Bible Alastair Roberts Our struggle with technology starts in Genesis. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 1
For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:33, NIV Dear Father in heaven, in your Word we trust, in your Word of eternal life, given us in Jesus Christ our Savior. We build on this Word of life in these days when it seems that everything is losing strength and value, and yet there is so much longing in people’s hearts. You will not let our hope be disappointed. What you have spoken must be fulfilled. What is promised in Jesus Christ must come into being, not only for a few but for the whole world, for which he died and was raised from the dead. Be with us. Keep us so fully alive that our lives reflect all the goodness we are allowed to experience and we overcome all the evil which tries to attack us. We thank you for calling us to life and for renewing us again and again. May your name be praised among us forever. Amen. Recent articles on Plough How God Sees Us Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt We must learn to see the divine worth in everyone regardless of how they treat us. Read now Covering the Cover: The Good of Tech Rosalind Stevenson This issue’s cover shows humans who are interacting with technology, rather than being enslaved by it. Read now Humans Are Magnificent Johannes Hartl A philosopher defends humanity against its detractors. Read now Blessed Are the Meek John Chrysostom, Elisabeth Elliot, Richard Rohr, and Teresa of Ávila The world cannot fathom strength proceeding from weakness or power from meekness. Read now In Pursuit of Pure Northernness Daniel Whyte IV Iceland’s vastness, perilousness, and barrenness haunt me. I wasn’t searching for God on that poetic island, but I found him. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 28
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:5–6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we may be your children. We thank you that through your Spirit our hearts may know that we are your children. Even when everything around us becomes difficult and we are hemmed in by darkness, we remain your children. Even when we often do not see how we are to go on and everything seems to be taken from us, we remain your children. Even when sin and death surround us and accuse us of being in the wrong, we still remain your children. As your children we entrust ourselves to your hands. In our whole life, in all our work and activity, we dwell in what has come from you, and we rejoice in Christ our Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough In Pursuit of Pure Northernness Daniel Whyte IV Iceland’s vastness, perilousness, and barrenness haunt me. I wasn’t searching for God on that poetic island, but I found him. Read now Salvaging Beauty from the Ruins Elizabeth Genovise Danielle Chapman’s Holler tells a story that in a way belongs to all of us. Read now A World Full of Signs Susannah Black Roberts Maximus the Confessor saw the natural world as charged with symbolic meaning. Read now Pray for Those Annoying People William Law It’s hard to despise someone after interceding for them in prayer. Read now Pray Like a Cicada Matthew J. Milliner This summer trillions of cicadas are serenading parts of the American Midwest. What can we learn from them? Read now
Daily Prayer for May 27
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14, RSV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, we thank you for letting us receive so much that is good in all circumstances on earth. We thank you that we can have joy in life in spite of our shortcomings, mistakes, and worries. You bless us with heavenly gifts, so that rejoicing, we can walk on earth as if in heaven. Keep the gifts of your Spirit alive in us. Keep alive in us everything that Jesus Christ was, everything he is, and everything he will be on earth for all people. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Salvaging Beauty from the Ruins Elizabeth Genovise Danielle Chapman’s Holler tells a story that in a way belongs to all of us. Read now A World Full of Signs Susannah Black Roberts Maximus the Confessor saw the natural world as charged with symbolic meaning. Read now Pray for Those Annoying People William Law It’s hard to despise someone after interceding for them in prayer. Read now Pray Like a Cicada Matthew J. Milliner This summer trillions of cicadas are serenading parts of the American Midwest. What can we learn from them? Read now Conservation Is for Conservatives John Murdock Francis Schaeffer wouldn’t recognize the religious right he helped create, not least when it comes to environmentalism. Read now