In 1945 the Japanese had been fighting American soldiers for over three years. They were convinced that they could not lose the war because their gods had made them superior. They were a chosen people. Americans were a mongrel people who were not racially pure. It was unbelievable that their warriors were losing island after island. When Americans reached Okinawa it became evident that heaven had deserted them. In despair thirty thousand military and civilian personal hurled themselves to their deaths from the top of an Okinawaian cliff. They could not endure the shame.
There is something deep inside the human psyche that makes us want to believe we are God’s favorites. Young people knock on my door and tell me they are God’s elect and my baptism is of no value unless I am rebaptised by one of them. Group after group, denomination after denomination, nation after nation believe they are the chosen ones. It is not an idea foreign to my childhood. I even learned memory verses from Scripture to support this deep basic human hunger.
Could it be that God is not and has never been impressed by groups and organizations? Could it be that God is instead searching for humble individuals who deem themselves unworthy and come to Him as one willing to be used in any way God needs to further His kingdom? There is a very interesting verse in Revelation 7. John wrote, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, . . .” It seems to be about people and not about groups.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 15, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org