FEBRUARY 2005

THAT SAYING IN THE RESTROOM

Last month the men’s restroom, on the other side of the back of the sanctuary, was spruced up. Ben Ball, Tom Crittenden, Bruce Haddock, and Gary Smith applied a fresh coat (or two) of paint. Dark blue paint, to be specific. And adding some nice touches here and there, Karissa Smith acted as the interior decorator of the project. It all turned out very nicely, very attractively. St. Peter’s United Methodist Church and especially the men of the church are grateful to the painting crew, the interior decorator, and the unnamed others who contributed to the project.

The redecorated restroom displays a handsomely framed cross with a saying. Located beneath the cross, the brief verse is attributed to an Edwin Markham, a name that rings not one bell in this pastor’s memory. The verse goes like this: "Whoever falls from/God’s right hand/Is caught into/His left."

On a first glance, the reader will think this sentence is one of those nice sayings that does more to move the heart than inform the mind. However, upon a second glance, the reader might discover this saying both moves the heart and informs the mind.

The saying -- "Whoever falls from/God’s right hand/Is caught into/His left." -- suggests that God has two hands, so to speak. Picturing God’s two hands is another way of claiming that God has two ways of working in the world. Luther, the great German reformer of the Church, said the right-handed work of God involves the Gospel, while the left-handed work of God involves the Law. God’s right-handed work -- that is, God’s Gospel work -- in the world employs forgiveness, empowerment, the sacraments. On the other hand, God’s left-handed work -- that is, God’s legal work -- in the world employs the Ten Commandments, the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor, and the authority of institutions of society (family, school, church government, and the state).

With this in mind, the saying -- "Whoever falls from/God’s right hand/Is caught into/His left." -- begins to thicken and take on more meaning. It declares that the love of God to people in this world can be exercised through His right-handed work and through His left-handed work, through the Gospel and through the Law, through the Church and through the state, through forgiveness and through discipline (even punishment).

We United Methodists are tempted to believe that God has only a right-handed work. But the greater Church reminds us that God’s left-handed work is real and necessary, and that it can lead people toward the sphere of His right-handed work.

For example, consider the response of some United Methodist leaders to the war on terror in Iraq. As pacifists, some of our leaders believe this war is wrong in its motivation, its strategy, and its goal. Neglecting the mysteries of God’s left-handed work, they seem to assume that only God’s right-handed work is worthy of God. However, God’s providence can, at times, work through the just use of military force for just ends. In other words, the right hand of the Almighty does not try to disable His left hand. If it did, chaos and injustice would always win the day in this world.

Another example concerns the training of children and youth. Some adults find it difficult, if not impossible, to discipline young people. Some believe that love, without discipline, is sufficient for the training of our young. But again, is this not another way of trying to turn the Almighty One into a one-handed God, so to speak?

"Whoever falls from/God’s right hand/Is caught into/His left." It is a wonderful saying. Simple, yet deep. Brief, yet wide ranging. And it is all about the love of God working throughout all of our lives in this world -- for our good and for God’s glory.

And there the saying hangs. On our church’s restroom wall.