Center for Creative Ministry A research organization and research center for Seventh-day Adventist pastors and their congregations
Controversies
Just one week ago Finnish lawmakers approved a controversial year-long law to close down the Finland-Russia border to undocumented migrants funneling through Russia and toward Finland.
ABC News cites that 1,300 undocumented aliens – predominantly from Africa and the Middle East – crossed into the nation during a three-month span, in what the Nordic country deems “hybrid warfare” by Russia.
167 members of Finland’s parliament believe this mass influx is a result of their nation freshly joining NATO – thereby further backing Ukraine against its big brother to the east.
Although the bill was approved and enacted to protect Finnish citizens and their interests, Jari Tanner of the Associated Press notes that legal experts and human rights groups argue that the temporary bill “clashes with the Constitution of Finland, international rights commitments set by the United Nations and pledges by the EU and international treaties signed by Finland.”
One worry of the bill’s opponents is that it follows the precedent set by Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, which nations previously introduced similar laws. The growing trend encourages the other members of the United Nations and European Union to enact similar policies and measures.
Meanwhile, true asylum-seekers find their options dwindling.
In the midst of this sticky situation, to whom do the leaders of these nations owe their allegiance?
Jesus never turned His allegiance from God and He also never shied away from controversy, often getting mistaken by many as a troublemaker!
Mark 2:1-3:6 outlines five stories in which Jesus contradicted the common teachings and beliefs of the religious leaders. Although they accused Jesus of breaking the rules, Jesus was actually following and fulfilling God’s commandments.
Jesus’ actions proved that it was actually the religious leaders who had lost sight of true religion when they stopped caring for those in distress (James 1:27).
Furthermore, Christ revealed that the ones who are His family (the ones to whom He chooses to give allegiance) are those who do God’s will!
For Reflection
Connecting: Have you ever felt conflicted about doing something you knew was right but which also hurt someone else in the process?
Sharing: Jesus was often accused of breaking laws when He was, in fact, fulfilling the law. When/how does that knowledge provide comfort (or inspiration) to you in your life?
- Standing up for social justice that the government violates
- Standing up for Biblical truth that the government violates
- Being falsely accused of doing something I didn’t do
- Doing the “wrong thing” for the right reasons
- Avoiding peer pressure
- Other:
Applying: How can we stand with asylum-seekers from nations with which we are at war? How can we adjust our thinking regarding them?
Valuing: When have you needed to do something for someone on the Sabbath but you felt uncomfortable doing it, and why? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to draw the line?
~ Stefani Leeper
Lately, I’ve been enjoying poorly-crafted stories, stories in which the authors decide the plot by the seat of their pants, events happen haphazardly and may have no bearing on the outcome, and the characters present themselves flatter than pancakes.
What makes these stories enjoyable? The humor aside, the lack of details leaves a lot up to the imagination. The backstories of the characters can be pretty much whatever I desire them to be. I’m basically left in control.
Good storytelling, on the other hand, is clear-cut … isn’t it?
Jesus, the master storyteller, shared the simplest, clearest parables and yet many who heard were unable to interpret the meaning. Even the disciples asked for clarification!
Jesus explained, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'” (Mark 4:11-12 NIV)
It wasn’t Jesus’ desire that the listeners wouldn’t understand – otherwise He wouldn’t say that some seed would produce a crop greater than what was sown (Mark 4:20) – but rather a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 6:9-10) that those who hardened their hearts against God would know the Truth and yet reject it.
When you read the Bible, why do you read? Do you pray for the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to the divine messages?
Stefani Leeper | Content Coordinator
The Center for Creative Ministry is fully recognized by the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; it is also a 501c3 nonprofit organization which makes donations tax deductible in the U.S.
