Readings for today: Daniel 9-10, 2 John 1
The 16th century poet and priest, John Donne, once wrote these famous words…
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never sent to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
It’s a powerful reminder that we are intricately connected. We are part of a larger whole. What I do or do not do impacts those around me. I create ripple effects that I am largely oblivious to but are nonetheless very real. Daniel understood this, of course. And his prayer in chapter nine of our reading today reflects the Biblical truth that we are both individually as well as corporately responsible for sin. He uses the first person plural pronoun throughout. He says things like, “We have sinned and done wrong”, “We have not listened to your servants”, “All Israel has transgressed your law”, and “We have not obeyed your voice.” Daniel clearly understands he is part of a larger whole. Part of a larger community of people who are being held accountable for generational sin. He is being punished for things his forefathers did and it is righteous. It is just. It is good. He also doesn’t pretend like he’s perfect or somehow any different than those who came before him. He confesses his own sin and the ways he has contributed to their current predicament. He is as much to blame as any and acknowledges his own need for God’s grace and mercy even as he prays for his people.
This is a hard truth for us to grasp. Especially if one lives in America. We have been raised on the myth that every man or woman is indeed an island. That one’s success or failure in life is directly tied to the amount of effort one puts in. And while individual effort is absolutely essential for success, it is not the only factor in play. In fact, it may not even be the biggest factor! Certainly the start one gets in life makes a difference. One’s physical and mental health. The stability of one’s family of origin. Educational opportunities. Access to resources, especially financial resources, is key. Opportunities to advance in one’s career. The elimination of any barriers that might otherwise impede upward mobility. The list goes on and on. Layer in the impact of local, state, and federal laws, social policy, community resources, etc. and I think you get the point. None of us is an island. None of us finds success purely on our own. All of us are part of something larger than ourselves that directly contributes or inhibits our ability to succeed.
Now there are some on the progressive left who want to eliminate personal responsibility altogether. They argue we are NOT responsible for own actions but are simply products of the environment that produces us. So we should not be held accountable. If we are unable to succeed in life, it’s because the system is stacked against us. Expectations are thereby lowered. Equity of outcomes must be mandated and enforced. Standards must be eliminated because they are products of oppression. On the flip side, there are some on the conservative right who want to pretend like systemic oppression doesn’t exist. They argue everyone is solely responsible for their own actions and all environmental challenges are essentially the same. They resist any attempt at reform. They refuse to acknowledge the structure barriers that do exist. They close their eyes to the many ways standards, outcomes, and standards are culturally bound and influenced. Christians must reject these false binaries. We must embrace the truth of Scripture that we are both personally and corporately responsible for our sin. Like Daniel, we must confess our personal and corporate guilt and ask for God’s forgiveness. Furthermore, we must hold both people and systems accountable. We must work for personal transformation and corporate reformation. We must work for personal holiness and communal/social justice. We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us see the ripples we create with the lives that we lead and do all we can to make sure we are spreading ripples of righteousness and peace.
Ultimately, this goes back to the most ancient of questions…“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Am I responsible for my brother or sister and their well-being? Do I have a share in the lives of those around me? Am I aware of the impact I make with the words I say or do not say? The things I do or not do? Have I grasped the full effect of every dollar I spend? Every minute I waste? Every breath I take? The Lord’s answer is clear. You are your brother’s keeper. You are responsible for your sister. You are part of a larger whole. You are part of His family. You are part of His Body. You are a royal priesthood. A holy nation. A people for God’s own possession. And the great news of the gospel is that just as sin and death and guilt and shame entered the world through one man, so did righteousness and grace and peace through the one man, Jesus Christ! He died for all sin. Personal and corporate. Individual and communal. He is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the entire world! Thanks be to God!
Readings for tomorrow: None