Scripture Focus: Revelation 7.15-17
Therefore, “they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

From John: What passes for “joy” in our culture is so far short of true joy. This lightly rewritten post from 2019 contrasts cultural definitions of joy with the true joy in Christ that we celebrate in Advent.

Reflection: Saccharine Joy — Joy of Advent
By John Tillman

Our culture uses the word “joy,” but we do not know what it means.

Ecstasy is our culture’s go-to joy substitute. We pursue sexual ecstasy as if it was the most valuable thing in the world. Drug companies and entertainment companies are monetizing sex while younger generations are having less and less of it. Entire industries are built around sex, including entertainment, fashion, and abortion. Everything from children’s clothing to cars, to mobile devices are sexualized in their marketing and in their design. Those who are not pursuing and experiencing extravagant sex lives are portrayed consistently with pity as if they have nothing to live for.

Luxury is another shallow joy substitute to which our culture is addicted. Whether luxury foods, such as the gold-infused world’s most expensive tacos, or more attainable luxuries such as exclusive restaurants, wines, or luxury cars, we consistently conflate the finer things of life with being joy-filled. We continue to do this despite messages in popular culture, including perennial favorites, A Christmas Carol and It’s A Wonderful Life, which tell us that money can’t buy happiness. The Bible goes further. It tells us that riches are not only meaningless but a spiritual danger, making it more difficult to enter the kingdom of God.

Saccharine substitutes for the true sweetness of joy are worse than artificial sweeteners in our food. Artificial sweeteners don’t destroy our ability to taste sugar or honey, but our addiction to ecstasy and luxury makes us insensitive to and unsatisfied by true joy.

If modern joy substitute addicts followed the shepherds to Christ’s manger they would likely be unimpressed and confused. Joy in poverty? Joy in virginity? Joy in anonymity? Yes.

On the other hand, John’s throne room vision of the future is appealingly luxurious. But the joys of the saints in eternity come not from the throne room, but from the manger—and the cross.

To see the joy the shepherds saw and celebrated, we need to lose the lenses of luxury and ecstasy and look on the manger with new eyes. 

In the darkness of Advent, we await the joy of good news. May we recognize and proclaim it. The gospel is good news that, to the world, seems as foolish as proclaiming a penniless child king. That is exactly what the shepherds did. It is what we must do as well.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 18 (Listen – 5:51)
Revelation 7 (Listen – 2:56)

Read more about Supporting our Work
We need and pray for donors of all amounts, and for those who can donate every month as well as those who donate once-a-year or at other intervals.

Read more about Good Christian Men, Rejoice — Carols of Advent Joy
We need to choose to embrace true joy, even in the midst of difficulty.

#Joy #CarolsOfAdvent #GoodChristianMenRejoice #Rejoice

From John:
Last week we explored meditation and its ability to help us navigate our anxiety-causing world. One of the chief drivers of anxiety today is the increasing divisiveness and volatility of political life. Politicians profit from anxiety. It is why we need more than ever before to be people who abide in God’s peace and rest in him, not in political prize-fighters, promises, or parties. They are selfish and unworthy shepherds, and God will deal with them.

From today’s reading: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? — Ezekiel 34.2

Suggested by reader, Heidi, from Virginia
When I read this post, I knew that I needed to forward it to someone I know who has grown disillusioned with the American church because of its prioritization of politics over biblical truth. I appreciate that The Park Forum consistently speaks truth to current events/these times. May we all be convicted of any and all things/people/ideas that have taken precedence in our lives over Christ.

Originally posted June 5, 2018 with readings from Isaiah 37 and Revelation 7.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” — Revelation 7.9-10

Reflection: The Seductive Idolatry of Politics :: Readers’ Choice
By John Tillman

Politics is the idol we bring with us to church just as the Israelites worshiped Baal alongside Jehovah. Israel continued this practice until eventually, altars to Baal were set up in God’s temple supplanting true worship.

Politics is the most powerful new religion of this millennium. It continually plays on the kind of imagery we see in Revelation. But outside of Christ there will never be a day when every nation, tribe, people, and language are united. Politics promises this unity and diversity but instead gains its power from fear and division.

This religion of politics poses a greater threat to the gospel than any other religion. Politics provides everything that the darkest parts of humanity’s sinful nature want from a religion.

The State is a flawed deity that is unpredictably beneficent or wrathful. Pagan societies prefer their gods to be flawed.

Politicians and the media (which serves them) provide an ecclesiastically complex structure of priests and prophets. Schisms, conspiracies, and scandals aren’t bugs in the system; they are features.

Worshipers make ordinances of their favorite political shows, podcasts, and news sites. They attend these programs with far more regularity and commitment than they do church worship services.

They make sacrifices of time and money and perform public shows of support. They promulgate their ideology and police their relationships, disassociating with any who would blaspheme their viewpoints.

Unfriending the blasphemers is viewed as a holy, cleansing action that makes the worshiper a more pure follower and condemns the one unfriended.

The deification of country and the sanctification of political parties as a nation’s priesthood, is perhaps the most dangerous idolatry the church has ever faced. It is a serious error to conflate the identity of God’s heavenly kingdom with any earthly government. It is so easy for earnest believers to fall into this trap.

This doesn’t mean it’s un-Christian to be “political.” Quite the opposite. But we must make sure we are pursuing actions that please Christ rather than pleasing human political kingdoms.

We serve the same kingdom Christ testified to before Pilate put him to death and the kingdom Stephen saw before being stoned by the Sanhedrin.

The Lamb on the Throne is unconcerned with political expediency. When forced to choose between country, or party, and Christ, we must choose Christ.

Prayer: The Request for Presence
Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; O Lord, judge the nations. — Psalm 7.8

– Prayer from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Prayers from The Divine Hours available online and in print.

Today’s Readings
Ezekiel 34 (Listen – 5:11)
Psalm 83-84 (Listen – 3:10)

Additional Reading
Read More about God’s Kingdom Versus God’s Reign
As Christians today, we are often tempted, as the Israelites were, to put faith in shaping society through the exertion of governmental power.

Read More about Politically Ambiguous Religion
Faith devoted to the way of Christ is rarely politically expedient.

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