A Census of the Soul

Originally posted at Caffeinated Thoughts.

The other night I was reading Psalm 40. Anytime I read this particular Psalm I can’t help but think of the group U2. They sing a song called “40” which is on their 1983 album, War. The song, appropriately titled, is a modification of Psalm 40. Consequently, I started humming the tune as I continued to read.

You can listen to it below.



While reading the Psalm, verses 9-10 caught my attention:

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

As I read this I pictured the Psalmist, David, making a case for himself before God. I see him bowing humbly before Almighty God while pouring out his heart. In the previous verses David already acknowledged that God had heard his cry and raised him up from the muddy pit of despair. He recognizes his own sin and God’s goodness. He now says, in essence, “God I stand for you. I haven’t made my belief in you a secret. In fact, it’s plain for everyone to see. You are my salvation, and I want everyone to know your love and truth. I will be counted as one who belongs to you.”

I continued to think about the boldness with which David shared his faith even as I read through to the end of the Psalm. Finishing up I searched the front of my Bible for a bookmark to hold my place and came across our unopened 2010 Census Form. As I held it in my hands I considered the millions of people who would be filling out this same form (reluctantly or otherwise) in the coming days in an effort to be counted.


Governments everywhere demand an accounting of individual citizens for varied reasons including representation, taxes, and provision of public services. In the New Testament we read that the census is what brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.

Believe me – this is not an effort to give you warm fuzzies about filling out your census form. The truth is there is another far more important census taking place. It’s not a questionnaire that you need to fill out or a blog post you need to respond to. It is a census that takes an accounting of each heart. It asks, “Where do you stand? What do you believe, and who do you live for?” These questions are a great deal more personal that the ones you will be marking down on a black and white piece of paper.

But in contrast to the frustration we might feel toward our own government and its census this heavenly kingdom that deals with our hearts is governed by God and has eternal benefits and consequences. We must all decide for ourselves if we will stand up and be counted as a citizen of this kingdom.

Hebrews tells us that this is not an optional census. One day we will each give an account of our lives:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God created everything we see. Nothing that we have done or will do comes as a surprise to him. He knows our weaknesses before we even begin to list them. So even though we will give an accounting, we won’t measure up to God’s perfect standard without giving our hearts and lives to Jesus and accepting his sacrifice for our sins.

Whether we choose to live for Jesus or not Paul tells us in Philipians 2:10-11:

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In Revelation John writes:

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

This passage speaks of events that will occur in the future. It references every part of creation giving praise to God. The U2 video here demonstrates that people have a desire to worship and will give their praise to someone or something. Regardless of the other things we choose to give our attention to here on earth eventually we will all bow before Jesus.

The question at hand is, “Are we willing to stand up and be counted for Christ now – at home, at school, and at work?” The decision we make here establishes where we will spend eternity. David determined that he would stand and proclaim God’s salvation and truth to everyone within earshot. How will you respond?

CT: The Devastating Mercy of God

This is a reprint of my post last week on
Caffeinated Thoughts.

Today I was reading from the book of Isaiah, and I was struck by the holiness and justice of God. God was in the midst of chastising the nation of Israel. This judgment was proceeding because of the Israelites’ great sin, namely bowing down to idols, pursuing the gods of other nations, and exalting themselves and their own will above God’s. After repeated warnings to repent and turn from their ways God told His people via Isaiah that he was going to send men from Assyria, a wicked nation in their own right, to destroy them.

Despite many admonitions and divine intervention throughout biblical history it seems the Israelites just can’t keep out of trouble. Even after the miraculous parting of the Red Sea we find these stiff-necked rebels cornering Moses’ brother Aaron, and convincing him to cast a calf out of gold for the people to worship. After witnessing this scene or one like it play out in nearly every book of the Old Testament one begins to wonder, “What were they thinking?” As if we in our glorious hindsight could have done, or presently do, any better.

Consider for a moment the state of our country, our churches, and our homes. Are we any different from the Israelites who share with us the simple misfortune of being a member of a fallen humanity? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).

I too have been subject to the chastisement of God. I could make excuses and tell you that I have never bowed down to an idol, but that wouldn’t be true. I have bowed down to my work and my craft while ignoring my relationship with God. I have given my allegiance to news and entertainment while ignoring the family that God has given me to care for. I have put my wants and desires above the needs of the widow and the orphan.

These are not statements made from hyperbole or out of a desire to elicit some feeling of shame or guilt. This is simply the truth of my sin, and it is why I must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israelites and bear the judgment that God meted out to them. I am no better, I am no worse. I am a sinner.

The wonderful thing about the book of Isaiah, and the rest of the Bible for that matter, is that the story does not end with the Israelites destruction or the damnation of humanity. God tells his children, even in the midst of armies laying siege to Jerusalem that he is going to send a deliverer. He sees that they are weak. He knows that they are unable to achieve righteousness on their own; so he sets out the most bizarre and devastatingly merciful rescue plan ever conceived of.

Yes we will experience pain and there will be devastation, but as a result we are shaken from the prison of ourselves so that we can see God and in seeing Him, understand that a holy God cannot abide sin, not any at all. It is in this revelation that we see the Lord high and lifted up, and we hear his voice as it shakes the very foundations of the earth. So along with the angels we can’t help but bow down and cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory.” We humbly confess that, yes, we are a people of unclean lips and we live among a people of unclean lips, but we rejoice with shepherds who while going about their duties are the unlikely audience to a heavenly chorus who proclaims the arrival of the Deliverer.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:10-14)

For it is only in the blanket of salvation offered by the tiny babe born in a manger that we find true hope, lasting peace, and genuine restoration.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, (Isaiah 9:6)

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