A Seattle indie rock band, Postal Service, (2001–2005, 2013), wrote: “I want so badly to believe/ That there is truth, that love is real/ And I want life in every word/ To the extent that it’s absurd.” We can long for the re-enchantment of God’s presence.
However, our fallen world is a shadow of what it once was. Imagine what it was! Now, as broken sinners, though bearing God’s image, we see with dimmed eyes.
Parables of Our Loss of God
El Greco (“The Greek,” 1541 – 1614) signed his paintings with his given name, “Doménikos” (title of Roman emperors), “Theotokópoulos” (“bearing God’s Son”). Given what follows, it is ironic we know him by his truncated name.
He painted “The Opening of the Fifth Seal” near the end of his life. He depicts Revelation 6:9-11. In that passage, those slain because of the word of God and their testimony were given white robes.
In 1880, 266 years later, Antonio Canovas del Castillo, Spain’s Prime Minister, dissatisfied with the poor condition of the painting, had it “restored.” Restorers “trimmed” 68.9 inches (almost 6 feet!). God is gone. “Restored” John emphatically points nowhere – and martyrs receive robes from no one.
Likewise, Julian Barnes’ wistfully expressed: “I don’t believe in God, but I miss him” (10/3/08 – NY Times).
Julian’s mother had instructed him that “she didn’t want ‘any of that mumbo-jumbo’ at her funeral.” Barnes: “When the undertaker asked if I wanted ‘religious symbols’ removed from the crematorium wall, I told him this is what she would have wanted.”
And more: his Grandmother replaced her faith with communism. His Grandpa reduced his religious observance to watching “Songs of Praise” on television.
Getting Beyond Our Loss of God
However, others long to escape their God-absent, ultimately lonely world. They intuit there is more. To those haunted by God’s Holy Ghost, Paul writes: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which (God) has called you…” (Eph 1:18). Heart enlightenment has a full range – from unutterability to attempting full expression.
Unutterability
Consider Paul’s incomparable adulation: “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Cor 9:15). Even hyper-articulate Paul found God’s generosity in Christ was beyond him – “inexpressible!”
Our “inexpressible” translates a Greek word used only there in the New Testament (NT). The Greek word is likewise five syllables: “anekdiégétos”: “a” = “not” + “ek” = “out from” + “di(a)” = “thoroughly” + “(l)ege” = “message” + “tos” = a suffix used to make a noun a verb. God’s gift rendered Paul an “infant” – “in” (“not”) “fant” (“capable of speech”).
At times, we are inarticulate in God’s presence. We bow in silence. We exult with a shout. We make music or whistle in joy.
Attempting “Full Expression” – Used Twice in the NT – Leads to Joy
Other times, we are moved to communicate much of God’s story. If we remove the “a” from “anekdiégétos,” we get the opposite, “ekdiēgéomai” – “to fully recount by giving the richest and clearest declaration” – my column’s attempt?!Reader, please ponder these Scriptures.
Acts 13:41ff
“‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells (‘ekdiēgéomai’) it to you’” (Paul quoting Habakkuk 1:5). This is no ordinary “telling” – it is “telling in detail.” For some, even after a thorough recounting, God’s work is unbelievable.
Still, Paul’s intriguingly quoting Habakkuk provoked curiosity. Many invited Paul to speak further.
By the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. Some Jews, seeing the crowd, were filled with jealousy and verbally abused Paul. He replied: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles…When the Gentiles heard this (God’s love for Gentiles), they were glad (“charo”) and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed…The disciples were filled with joy (‘charas’) and with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 15:3
Later, to resolve a dispute, Paul and others went to Jerusalem seeking the elders’ direction. “The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia, and Samaria, they told (‘ekdiēgéomai’) how the Gentiles had been ‘converted’’’ (‘epistrepho’ – a heightened sense of changing direction). After this full account, Jesus’ followers were “very glad” (‘mega charan’).
This “mega charan” is the “exceeding joy” the Christmas angel announced to the shepherds; the “great joy” of the magi; the “deep joy” declared by John the Baptist when he, referring to himself as the bridegroom’s friend, heard the bridegroom’s (Jesus’) voice. This “lofty joy” was felt by those who saw Jesus ascend.
Our Full Range ‘with’ Him
Friends, let’s connect the dots. Life with Jesus embraces our full range. Our “full telling” of God’s work brings joy. On the other hand, even when profound worship renders us inarticulate, God accepts our speechless gratitude.
If your life has been flattened; what has cut you off from connecting with God? Ask him to show himself to you.
Full range followers of Jesus, now and future, hear him promise you born-again joy. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy (‘charan’). When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy (‘charan’) that a human being has been born into the world. So also, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice (‘charesetai’), and no one will take your joy (‘charan’) from you (Jn 16:20-22).
Note: Thank you, my friend, Elton Lee, for pointing me to James K A Smith who linked “Clark Gable,” El Greco’s painting, and Julian Barnes’ quote.
