December 24, 2008
I Peter 4:1-6 (The Message)
“Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself. Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must,) they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus.”
Advent is the season of anticipation, of expectation. We focus our expectations on the fact that Jesus, God’s Son, was born into the world more than 2000 years ago. We focus our expectations on the fact that on December 24th we’ll gather with our families in a worship service somewhere to celebrate that birth. On December 25th, we’ll expect that Santa will have dropped through the chimneys of our homes, eaten our treats left out for him, and in kind return will have left all manner of goodies for our good behavior through the year. We’ll expect to eat the best of grandma’s home cookin’. We’ll expect to watch old Christmas movies or football games if the kids will let us near the television. We’ll expect snow laden hills and the fun of sledding. We will expect so very much more!
For the people of 1 Peter, they had been expecting to get their own ways. They had striven to live life by their terms. That was all fine and good for them except that it was a recipe for suffering. Peter wanted them to understand that God is not a God of suffering but that we live in a world that invests in suffering so it’s inevitable that we’ll experience it. He wanted them to grasp that the remedy to that suffering while we are here is to resolve ourselves to let go of our own expectations and to allow God’s expectations to be what guide us. If we can let go of our planning, we can step back and marvel at what God will bring us.
Just this morning, I have been thinking back on my life and how I’ve spent it charging ahead, trying to achieve all of the things that I thought I wanted only to realize that none of them have brought me the joy I desired. It wasn’t until I let go of those goals and dreams that I was open to letting God give me things that proved to be far better than I ever could have imagined. How silly I feel now but I also recognize how difficult it was to let go of my agenda for my life and just experience being.
I’m heading home for Christmas with my family, realizing that there will be no snow or sledding . . . but that’s not what makes Christmas special for me anyway. As I have grown older I have been able to put away my expectations of Christmas and I realize that Christmas is about a Message that God has tried to bring us for 2, 000 years—a Message that because of our expectations we keep missing.
Millennia ago, the people expected a Messiah who would come as an adult King. One who would fight battles for them, conquer territories and save them in all manner of ways. Instead, they got a baby, who just lay there in a manger and cried and ate. Little did they know that the baby would grow up with wisdom beyond what they could fathom, with a courage and willingness to bear their crosses for them, with a commitment to suffering and to bringing freedom to their lives.
The Message came in a tiny form but it was a big word that God is still hoping we will choose to embrace—let go of our expectations and let God work wonders in our lives. When we can do that we witness the greatest miracles in this world! May we embrace the merriness of the Message! Amen.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Baptismal Joy
December 17, 2008
I Peter 3:18-22
“He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact—saved from the water by the water. The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus’ resurrection before God with a clear conscience. Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.”
Charles was a minister who like most ministers during the season of Advent was caught up in the logistics of the season. How should the sanctuary be arranged? Who should light the advent candles? How will the service flow? He was so caught up in the logistics that what he witnessed in the service on the Sunday of Joy caught him so completely off guard and filled him with such joy, that tears filled his eyes. He had noticed that his daughter, Rebecca, had chosen to sit on the front pew that day, so maybe it shouldn’t have surprised him when she stood to profess her faith in Jesus Christ and request baptism. Rebecca seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
Peter’s words to his community here seem all over the place—judgment, patience of God, Noah, salvation, baptism, good conscience, Jesus as ultimate authority. How does one make sense of all of this? Why is Peter all over the place? The heart of Peter’s message here rests in the sentiment that Jesus’ suffering paved the way for the rest of us to claim holiness. There was purpose in that suffering and that purpose is made manifest when we claim the power of baptism. God waits for us to be ready for lifelong relationship and commitment to Him just as He waited for Noah to build the ark and claim his salvation. Noah’s salvation came because he was saved from the flood by floating in the ark on the waters of the flood. All of the people of Noah’s day who wouldn’t listen, were lost to death. The same is true of our salvation. There are those who will not comprehend what God wants to do for us and in us and through us. Some of those will be lost to separation from God (aka death) but there are others of us on whom God is simply waiting for us to let go and let God claim us.
Rebecca understood that God wanted to claim her. She could feel it in her heart. She knew that the waters of baptism are important waters. Her act of walking into the river to be immersed would be an act of understanding that she was making a choice to let God guide her life. She will experience days when she will want to go it alone, but her very baptism stands as a reminder that she made a commitment to God that God has made a commitment to her—a mutual pledge and intention. As long as she will remember her baptism and the call to hold tight to God, God will always hold tight to her.
It is so easy for us to treat our baptisms as if they are something we should just do to mark off of the list of our things to do before we die. But, that moment of baptism is a holy moment, one that stands as a marker that longs to be remembered, valued and held in esteem. So do we do that? Rare is the moment that I reflect on my baptism. Rarely do I stop to think about the emotions that ran through me up to and during those moments. Rarely do I allow myself to be challenged to claim them again and to live my life with the same fervor of the eight year old child in me that once claimed Jesus is Lord. I could spend a lot of time pondering why that is so. Any of us could! The fact of the matter is that we would be better served if we just did something about it—if we just chose to remember and live our lives more effectively because of the moments of our baptisms.
Charles realized that as he watched his precious daughter. His story calls us to remember our baptisms and claim intentionality in our living. In this joyous season of Advent, may we find our joy in reclaiming and deepening our relationships with the Living God! Amen.
I Peter 3:18-22
“He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact—saved from the water by the water. The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus’ resurrection before God with a clear conscience. Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.”
Charles was a minister who like most ministers during the season of Advent was caught up in the logistics of the season. How should the sanctuary be arranged? Who should light the advent candles? How will the service flow? He was so caught up in the logistics that what he witnessed in the service on the Sunday of Joy caught him so completely off guard and filled him with such joy, that tears filled his eyes. He had noticed that his daughter, Rebecca, had chosen to sit on the front pew that day, so maybe it shouldn’t have surprised him when she stood to profess her faith in Jesus Christ and request baptism. Rebecca seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
Peter’s words to his community here seem all over the place—judgment, patience of God, Noah, salvation, baptism, good conscience, Jesus as ultimate authority. How does one make sense of all of this? Why is Peter all over the place? The heart of Peter’s message here rests in the sentiment that Jesus’ suffering paved the way for the rest of us to claim holiness. There was purpose in that suffering and that purpose is made manifest when we claim the power of baptism. God waits for us to be ready for lifelong relationship and commitment to Him just as He waited for Noah to build the ark and claim his salvation. Noah’s salvation came because he was saved from the flood by floating in the ark on the waters of the flood. All of the people of Noah’s day who wouldn’t listen, were lost to death. The same is true of our salvation. There are those who will not comprehend what God wants to do for us and in us and through us. Some of those will be lost to separation from God (aka death) but there are others of us on whom God is simply waiting for us to let go and let God claim us.
Rebecca understood that God wanted to claim her. She could feel it in her heart. She knew that the waters of baptism are important waters. Her act of walking into the river to be immersed would be an act of understanding that she was making a choice to let God guide her life. She will experience days when she will want to go it alone, but her very baptism stands as a reminder that she made a commitment to God that God has made a commitment to her—a mutual pledge and intention. As long as she will remember her baptism and the call to hold tight to God, God will always hold tight to her.
It is so easy for us to treat our baptisms as if they are something we should just do to mark off of the list of our things to do before we die. But, that moment of baptism is a holy moment, one that stands as a marker that longs to be remembered, valued and held in esteem. So do we do that? Rare is the moment that I reflect on my baptism. Rarely do I stop to think about the emotions that ran through me up to and during those moments. Rarely do I allow myself to be challenged to claim them again and to live my life with the same fervor of the eight year old child in me that once claimed Jesus is Lord. I could spend a lot of time pondering why that is so. Any of us could! The fact of the matter is that we would be better served if we just did something about it—if we just chose to remember and live our lives more effectively because of the moments of our baptisms.
Charles realized that as he watched his precious daughter. His story calls us to remember our baptisms and claim intentionality in our living. In this joyous season of Advent, may we find our joy in reclaiming and deepening our relationships with the Living God! Amen.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Standing Strong in Faith
December 10, 2008
I Peter 3:13-17
“If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.”
It was the summer of 1991 and I was doing student summer missions with the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. We found ourselves at Meredith College for a week long orientation before being sent out to our various sites of ministry for the summer. Each year that these orientations were held, there was a keynote preacher for the week and this particular week welcomed a woman preacher. Carole Jackson was the pastor of Olive Branch Baptist Church in Apex, NC (if I recall correctly.) Emblazoned upon my memory is a moment of standing in the chapel at Meredith while Rev. Jackson stood and listened to a young male college student regale her on the ways in which she had no business being a preacher. Knowing that trajectory to be my future, I watched with great interest as Rev. Jackson listened to him, became slightly defensive and proceeded (in my book at least) to put him in his place. In truth, neither one won the argument as the other was not going to be convinced to change his or her mind.
Had Peter been the one observing Rev. Jackson and the young man, he might have used them as a study for his own community. Peter had called this community of believers who were also foreigners to the territory in which they now resided to offer respect to those native to the area by being sure to practice a sense of humility. Even so, he called them to keep that in balance with sharing their faith and calling others to the point of conversion. He realized that they were facing suffering for their beliefs and encouraged them that even as Jesus suffered, there was purpose in his suffering and there was purpose in the suffering they endured. Had he had the example of Rev. Jackson and the young man, I imagine that he would have given her points for her humility and her compassionate knowledge of her faith but he would have docked her points for selling her point. The young man would have gotten those points but would have been docked for the anger he portrayed.
The point of this scripture comes in the lesson that I gleaned as I watched the interchange between these two: there is great value in knowing and being able to articulate what we believe about God. Whether we succeed in convincing others, the simple act of being able to stand up for what we believe is a testament to our faith.
Maybe you are like me in that wrestling with your faith and working out your salvation is a daily event that invites you toward growth. Even as we work out our faith we are called to stand up for the basic tenets that serve as our foundation and we are called to live them out. In this Advent week of peace, may we each have the courage to live what we believe and thus extend God’s peace! Amen.
I Peter 3:13-17
“If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.”
It was the summer of 1991 and I was doing student summer missions with the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. We found ourselves at Meredith College for a week long orientation before being sent out to our various sites of ministry for the summer. Each year that these orientations were held, there was a keynote preacher for the week and this particular week welcomed a woman preacher. Carole Jackson was the pastor of Olive Branch Baptist Church in Apex, NC (if I recall correctly.) Emblazoned upon my memory is a moment of standing in the chapel at Meredith while Rev. Jackson stood and listened to a young male college student regale her on the ways in which she had no business being a preacher. Knowing that trajectory to be my future, I watched with great interest as Rev. Jackson listened to him, became slightly defensive and proceeded (in my book at least) to put him in his place. In truth, neither one won the argument as the other was not going to be convinced to change his or her mind.
Had Peter been the one observing Rev. Jackson and the young man, he might have used them as a study for his own community. Peter had called this community of believers who were also foreigners to the territory in which they now resided to offer respect to those native to the area by being sure to practice a sense of humility. Even so, he called them to keep that in balance with sharing their faith and calling others to the point of conversion. He realized that they were facing suffering for their beliefs and encouraged them that even as Jesus suffered, there was purpose in his suffering and there was purpose in the suffering they endured. Had he had the example of Rev. Jackson and the young man, I imagine that he would have given her points for her humility and her compassionate knowledge of her faith but he would have docked her points for selling her point. The young man would have gotten those points but would have been docked for the anger he portrayed.
The point of this scripture comes in the lesson that I gleaned as I watched the interchange between these two: there is great value in knowing and being able to articulate what we believe about God. Whether we succeed in convincing others, the simple act of being able to stand up for what we believe is a testament to our faith.
Maybe you are like me in that wrestling with your faith and working out your salvation is a daily event that invites you toward growth. Even as we work out our faith we are called to stand up for the basic tenets that serve as our foundation and we are called to live them out. In this Advent week of peace, may we each have the courage to live what we believe and thus extend God’s peace! Amen.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Defeating Evil
December 3, 2008
I Peter 3:8-12
“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good;
Run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
Listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back on those who do evil things.”
Maybe you were as shocked as I was to hear of the attacks in Mumbai. At some point, I heard that the terrorists even waited for the television crews to arrive before they began the bulk of their massacre. I couldn’t help but think of this as the very definition of evil. Evil is wicked and pernicious. It is that which brings sorrow and catastrophe. It is the fact of tragedy and suffering.
In the face of our world’s current reality of the terror launched in Mumbai, come these words from Peter. Peter is making a transition here from the discourse on relating to each other. He’s talked about slaves & masters. He’s talked about husbands and wives and now he turns to talk about how we relate to others and then more broadly beyond individual relationships. He is using these verses to create a transition toward discussing suffering.
His words are really lovely and they are not to suggest that as Christians that we are meant to be “doormats.” We are to stand up for what we believe. Christ did that didn’t he? We are to be people who speak truth but not people who offer retaliation for evils done to us.
It is not clear how India will react to this recent horror on their soil. Maybe from our vantage point of having been attacked in 2001, we feel that they should retaliate. Maybe from our vantage point of not having been attacked in seven years we feel they should not retaliate. No doubt we all have our different opinions. Peter is clear that we should not offer evil for evil and I believe that. Still, I wonder, in this world that knows so much suffering and catastrophe, so much retaliation and anger, when does the tide turn toward love? When will we find that moment where we no longer need to retaliate for the suffering we are caused? When will we find that moment when we can speak against the wrongs and love through them?
I don’t know when such evil will change in our world but I do hope that I live to see love defeat it. May our world and each of us know the hope of peace this week! Amen.
I Peter 3:8-12
“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good;
Run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
Listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back on those who do evil things.”
Maybe you were as shocked as I was to hear of the attacks in Mumbai. At some point, I heard that the terrorists even waited for the television crews to arrive before they began the bulk of their massacre. I couldn’t help but think of this as the very definition of evil. Evil is wicked and pernicious. It is that which brings sorrow and catastrophe. It is the fact of tragedy and suffering.
In the face of our world’s current reality of the terror launched in Mumbai, come these words from Peter. Peter is making a transition here from the discourse on relating to each other. He’s talked about slaves & masters. He’s talked about husbands and wives and now he turns to talk about how we relate to others and then more broadly beyond individual relationships. He is using these verses to create a transition toward discussing suffering.
His words are really lovely and they are not to suggest that as Christians that we are meant to be “doormats.” We are to stand up for what we believe. Christ did that didn’t he? We are to be people who speak truth but not people who offer retaliation for evils done to us.
It is not clear how India will react to this recent horror on their soil. Maybe from our vantage point of having been attacked in 2001, we feel that they should retaliate. Maybe from our vantage point of not having been attacked in seven years we feel they should not retaliate. No doubt we all have our different opinions. Peter is clear that we should not offer evil for evil and I believe that. Still, I wonder, in this world that knows so much suffering and catastrophe, so much retaliation and anger, when does the tide turn toward love? When will we find that moment where we no longer need to retaliate for the suffering we are caused? When will we find that moment when we can speak against the wrongs and love through them?
I don’t know when such evil will change in our world but I do hope that I live to see love defeat it. May our world and each of us know the hope of peace this week! Amen.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Direction to Husbands
November 26, 2008
I Peter 3:7
“The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.” (The Message)
“Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.” (NRSV)
Blub, blub, blub . . . that was the sound my blood getting its boil going as I read this in the NRSV translation. I was getting agitated such that I had to walk out to Peggy, our administrative assistant, simply to express with almost childlike anger that I don’t like Peter! With that, in her gentle way, she called me back to center. “Isn’t this one of those times when you have to consider the context?” she said.
Yep! It sure is. So what was the context then? Unlike the previous verses, Peter is now shifting to talk to the men who are Christian and are in marital relationships with women who are also Christian. This Message translation is actually more accurate to the Greek understanding in its paraphrase than the NRSV appears to be. Peter is calling husbands to treat their wives, who have less physical strength than they, with respect and honor. The word for honor is the same word used as the honor that one would pay the king. This is a call not just to the practice of mutual submission but to equality in marriage. It implies that the perspectives and social rankings of this life are irrelevant in the spiritual world. When we understand ourselves as spiritual beings we must understand ourselves as being on equal footing before God.
Early church tradition understood that one’s behavior had a direct effect on one’s prayers. So if the men wanted their prayers to be heard, they needed to treat their wives as equals.
Peter wants the men to understand that the direction of life when properly lived is not theirs to steer on behalf of their wives, nor is it for the wife to steer on behalf of the husband. It is the responsibility of every person to render his or her life to God such that God is the one who steers the direction of our lives. There is no more equal footing then that, when we all bow in submission to our God. May we seek to do just that in our living! Amen.
I Peter 3:7
“The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.” (The Message)
“Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.” (NRSV)
Blub, blub, blub . . . that was the sound my blood getting its boil going as I read this in the NRSV translation. I was getting agitated such that I had to walk out to Peggy, our administrative assistant, simply to express with almost childlike anger that I don’t like Peter! With that, in her gentle way, she called me back to center. “Isn’t this one of those times when you have to consider the context?” she said.
Yep! It sure is. So what was the context then? Unlike the previous verses, Peter is now shifting to talk to the men who are Christian and are in marital relationships with women who are also Christian. This Message translation is actually more accurate to the Greek understanding in its paraphrase than the NRSV appears to be. Peter is calling husbands to treat their wives, who have less physical strength than they, with respect and honor. The word for honor is the same word used as the honor that one would pay the king. This is a call not just to the practice of mutual submission but to equality in marriage. It implies that the perspectives and social rankings of this life are irrelevant in the spiritual world. When we understand ourselves as spiritual beings we must understand ourselves as being on equal footing before God.
Early church tradition understood that one’s behavior had a direct effect on one’s prayers. So if the men wanted their prayers to be heard, they needed to treat their wives as equals.
Peter wants the men to understand that the direction of life when properly lived is not theirs to steer on behalf of their wives, nor is it for the wife to steer on behalf of the husband. It is the responsibility of every person to render his or her life to God such that God is the one who steers the direction of our lives. There is no more equal footing then that, when we all bow in submission to our God. May we seek to do just that in our living! Amen.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Jurisdiction of Our Lives
November 19, 2008
I Peter 3:5-6
“Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.”
She woke me up at 5am and it was summer time! There was no need to prepare for school--no extra studying that needed accomplishing. She—my mother—woke me because she knew of my fascination with the royal family and this day was the day that Lady Diana Spencer was to wed Prince Charles! My mother curled up with me in those wee morning hours and we watched the royal wedding. As I recollect that day, I seem to remember being struck by the wedding vows. Lady Diana, as I recall, refused to use the word obey in her vows. The word ‘obey’ has several renderings but among them is the idea that someone gives jurisdiction of something over to someone else.
In our Scripture, Peter is continuing his earlier conversation with the women of the community encouraging them to be like Sarah, the matriarch of Judaism. Sarah, says Peter, offered jurisdiction of her life over to Abraham and because of Abraham’s offering of his life’s jurisdiction to God, both have become obedient to God. That obedience in Sarah’s example enhances her inner beauty and demonstrates her loyalty. In the face of a non-believing husband, Peter believes that the women he’s addressing will be setting an example for the cause of Christ especially if they are able to do so without fear and without intimidation.
For Peter’s sake, I hope his argument was successful in convincing the women of his day because it simply falls flat for me. If you know much about Sarah or Sarai as her given name was spelled, then you know that she was not a submissive type. Miki Raver, in her book, Listen to Her Voice: Women of the Hebrew Bible, tells us that Sarai meant “princess” but God changed her name to Sarah meaning “chieftainness.” Her name, suggests Raver, was rooted in the Hebrew word that meant “to command.” This woman was no shrinking violet and likely she held her own religion apart from that of her husband’s but of her own volition she gave jurisdiction of her life over to God.
Peter is right to set Sarah apart as a role model but not because she obeyed Abraham. He is right to set her up as a role model because she was a woman of faith to chose to give the jurisdiction of her life over to God and in so doing she cultivate a beautiful inner being—such that she chose to obey Abraham as well and to accept the obedience that he also offered her (mutual submission, I believe they call it!) She had an understanding that when we live our lives in relationship to God we also treat each other with the same deference.
I don’t blame Lady Diana for not wanting to obey Charles but I wonder what might have happened if she had required him to also have obedience toward her? I am of the opinion that ultimately Peter is hitting on a powerful truth—that when we treat each other as we hopefully treat God, we live out healthier lives with God and with each other. So I hope for each of us this week that we will cultivate our inner beauty—the gentle gracious kind that God delights in . . . may it be so! Amen.
I Peter 3:5-6
“Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.”
She woke me up at 5am and it was summer time! There was no need to prepare for school--no extra studying that needed accomplishing. She—my mother—woke me because she knew of my fascination with the royal family and this day was the day that Lady Diana Spencer was to wed Prince Charles! My mother curled up with me in those wee morning hours and we watched the royal wedding. As I recollect that day, I seem to remember being struck by the wedding vows. Lady Diana, as I recall, refused to use the word obey in her vows. The word ‘obey’ has several renderings but among them is the idea that someone gives jurisdiction of something over to someone else.
In our Scripture, Peter is continuing his earlier conversation with the women of the community encouraging them to be like Sarah, the matriarch of Judaism. Sarah, says Peter, offered jurisdiction of her life over to Abraham and because of Abraham’s offering of his life’s jurisdiction to God, both have become obedient to God. That obedience in Sarah’s example enhances her inner beauty and demonstrates her loyalty. In the face of a non-believing husband, Peter believes that the women he’s addressing will be setting an example for the cause of Christ especially if they are able to do so without fear and without intimidation.
For Peter’s sake, I hope his argument was successful in convincing the women of his day because it simply falls flat for me. If you know much about Sarah or Sarai as her given name was spelled, then you know that she was not a submissive type. Miki Raver, in her book, Listen to Her Voice: Women of the Hebrew Bible, tells us that Sarai meant “princess” but God changed her name to Sarah meaning “chieftainness.” Her name, suggests Raver, was rooted in the Hebrew word that meant “to command.” This woman was no shrinking violet and likely she held her own religion apart from that of her husband’s but of her own volition she gave jurisdiction of her life over to God.
Peter is right to set Sarah apart as a role model but not because she obeyed Abraham. He is right to set her up as a role model because she was a woman of faith to chose to give the jurisdiction of her life over to God and in so doing she cultivate a beautiful inner being—such that she chose to obey Abraham as well and to accept the obedience that he also offered her (mutual submission, I believe they call it!) She had an understanding that when we live our lives in relationship to God we also treat each other with the same deference.
I don’t blame Lady Diana for not wanting to obey Charles but I wonder what might have happened if she had required him to also have obedience toward her? I am of the opinion that ultimately Peter is hitting on a powerful truth—that when we treat each other as we hopefully treat God, we live out healthier lives with God and with each other. So I hope for each of us this week that we will cultivate our inner beauty—the gentle gracious kind that God delights in . . . may it be so! Amen.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Our Lives as Testaments
November 12, 2008
I Peter 3:1-4
“The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.”
Feminist that I am, it is often hard for me to get past words that insert submission and the idea of my giving authority of myself over to any other human. In fact, the idea begins to make my blood boil! These words begin to stir up such anger in me and then I realize that I am called to understand the context.
In the culture that was Peter’s there was apparently some sort of social problem going on between the church and Roman society. The Romans looked poorly on their wives and slaves being enticed toward cults as they may well have perceived Christianity. To that end, Peter felt it necessary to address these particular groups.
Peter is writing expressly to women who find themselves in marital relationships where the husband is not a Christian and his mission is to help the women find a way to demonstrate to their husbands the value of relationship with Christ.
Maybe you or someone in your family has watched the television show “What Not to Wear” on The Learning Channel. If so, then you know that the mission of the hosts, Stacey and Clinton, is to take an unsuspecting and hum-drum dressing woman and convert her into a well-dressed, well-coifed and self-assured woman. They do this by demonstrating all of her fashion errors and then they teach her how to determine what look is best for her all with the premise that she will have a renewed self-esteem if she will just adjust her wardrobe.
Consider Peter the “What Not to Wear” host of the ancient world. His advice is the reverse. He wants the women to understand that we are called to live by example and that no matter how we do our hair, wear our clothes or what jewelry we don, our true self-worth is determined by our relationship with God. The witness of that relationship and the sincere lifestyle that comes with it will be the convincing evidence that calls all people want what they have including their non-believing husbands.
So in spite of the phrasing that makes my feminist blood boil, the message is really one for all of us. We are called to overhaul the look of our hearts and thereby our living so that our lives become a testament of God’s amazing way with us. May it be so for each of us! Amen.
I Peter 3:1-4
“The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.”
Feminist that I am, it is often hard for me to get past words that insert submission and the idea of my giving authority of myself over to any other human. In fact, the idea begins to make my blood boil! These words begin to stir up such anger in me and then I realize that I am called to understand the context.
In the culture that was Peter’s there was apparently some sort of social problem going on between the church and Roman society. The Romans looked poorly on their wives and slaves being enticed toward cults as they may well have perceived Christianity. To that end, Peter felt it necessary to address these particular groups.
Peter is writing expressly to women who find themselves in marital relationships where the husband is not a Christian and his mission is to help the women find a way to demonstrate to their husbands the value of relationship with Christ.
Maybe you or someone in your family has watched the television show “What Not to Wear” on The Learning Channel. If so, then you know that the mission of the hosts, Stacey and Clinton, is to take an unsuspecting and hum-drum dressing woman and convert her into a well-dressed, well-coifed and self-assured woman. They do this by demonstrating all of her fashion errors and then they teach her how to determine what look is best for her all with the premise that she will have a renewed self-esteem if she will just adjust her wardrobe.
Consider Peter the “What Not to Wear” host of the ancient world. His advice is the reverse. He wants the women to understand that we are called to live by example and that no matter how we do our hair, wear our clothes or what jewelry we don, our true self-worth is determined by our relationship with God. The witness of that relationship and the sincere lifestyle that comes with it will be the convincing evidence that calls all people want what they have including their non-believing husbands.
So in spite of the phrasing that makes my feminist blood boil, the message is really one for all of us. We are called to overhaul the look of our hearts and thereby our living so that our lives become a testament of God’s amazing way with us. May it be so for each of us! Amen.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Christian Suffering
November 5, 2008
I Peter 2:21-25
“This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step by step.
‘He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.’
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.”
When I was a child my best friend was my next door neighbor, Chris. Most of the time, Chris and I got along really well but on occasion we would get into an argument and he would call me names. Inevitably, I would yell back at him (with that confrontational whiny tone that children can use so effectively with each other) “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Was I mimicking a saying? Was I trying to convince myself that the phrase was true? I don’t know . . . but what I do know is that I really didn’t believe those words. Words hurt me for a long time because I trusted in others more than I trusted myself to know what was right about me and certainly more than I trusted God.
Cultures, no matter the look of them and no matter the era, all seem to have the common denominator that we, as humans, heap abuse on each other. It was true of Peter’s day and his words to the hearers of the day were that they should take care to understand what it meant to be Christian. From a literalist perspective, one could take this as an admonition to endure suffering. But, when I read this, what I hear is an exhortation to understand what it really means to practice the Christian life.
The true Christian has come to such peace in their living that they find their identity in relationship with Christ not in what others say about them or in the actions taken toward them. God is their final authority and that being the case they can choose to respond to others without investment in the opinions of others and they can choose to be the wonderful beings that God created them to be. Because of the example of Christ, the true Christian understands that not everyone in our world has claimed the peace of Christianity and even people who call themselves Christians are works in progress who haven’t quite achieved such peace. So, it seems, that the admonition of this Scripture is to live from the loving perspective of that phrase: “sticks and stones (that the world WILL hurl at us) may break our bones, but words (for Christians who place their authority in a relationship with God) will never hurt us.” With that perspective, suffering may come our way and we can count it as insignificant and as part of the journey, for we know where our security rests . . . in Christ Jesus. May so find ourselves in the safety of God’s arms! Amen.
I Peter 2:21-25
“This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step by step.
‘He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.’
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.”
When I was a child my best friend was my next door neighbor, Chris. Most of the time, Chris and I got along really well but on occasion we would get into an argument and he would call me names. Inevitably, I would yell back at him (with that confrontational whiny tone that children can use so effectively with each other) “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Was I mimicking a saying? Was I trying to convince myself that the phrase was true? I don’t know . . . but what I do know is that I really didn’t believe those words. Words hurt me for a long time because I trusted in others more than I trusted myself to know what was right about me and certainly more than I trusted God.
Cultures, no matter the look of them and no matter the era, all seem to have the common denominator that we, as humans, heap abuse on each other. It was true of Peter’s day and his words to the hearers of the day were that they should take care to understand what it meant to be Christian. From a literalist perspective, one could take this as an admonition to endure suffering. But, when I read this, what I hear is an exhortation to understand what it really means to practice the Christian life.
The true Christian has come to such peace in their living that they find their identity in relationship with Christ not in what others say about them or in the actions taken toward them. God is their final authority and that being the case they can choose to respond to others without investment in the opinions of others and they can choose to be the wonderful beings that God created them to be. Because of the example of Christ, the true Christian understands that not everyone in our world has claimed the peace of Christianity and even people who call themselves Christians are works in progress who haven’t quite achieved such peace. So, it seems, that the admonition of this Scripture is to live from the loving perspective of that phrase: “sticks and stones (that the world WILL hurl at us) may break our bones, but words (for Christians who place their authority in a relationship with God) will never hurt us.” With that perspective, suffering may come our way and we can count it as insignificant and as part of the journey, for we know where our security rests . . . in Christ Jesus. May so find ourselves in the safety of God’s arms! Amen.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Grace Greater than our Sin
October 29, 2008
I Peter 2:18-20
“You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
“Look at the girl with the big hair and the little bitty face! What did you do to your pretty straight hair? I wondered what kind of horse was coming down the hall when I heard those steps and it’s you! Have you put on weight or do your clothes just make you look like it?” These are comments that have come my way in recent weeks and years. I do not take them as kind remarks but I would venture to guess that you too have probably been the recipient of similar sorts of comments.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
While the slaves of Peter’s day experienced much more harsh treatment than some disrespectful or hurtful words, the message that Peter is trying to relay is applicable to us at every level of life. What he wanted the slaves of the day to understand is that we choose how we react to the abuses that others hurl at us. They could try to fight back but where would that get them? Probably it would render more pain in their directions. If they were to be challenged by others, their best bet would be to rely on their God-given conscience and ultimately to practice grace toward others. That practice of grace was a gift of salvation. They needed only to reflect on Christ to remember that grace.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
That was the kind of grace that God gave us in Christ—grace that was greater than all our sin. Though throngs of people fought against the truth that one man sought to share—though those throngs murdered him violently—God’s grace and forgiveness were greater than any sin we humans could commit.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
Peter exhorted the slaves that in the face of the great pain they endured, if they could practice the kind of grace characteristic of God in the face of Jesus’ death, and the kind of grace characteristic of Jesus in dealing with the slings and arrows of humanity, they would know a peace that comes in a new awareness of God.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
What if we could practice that kind of grace in the face of the slings and arrows that humanity throws our way—no matter how harsh or hurtful? I think we might find that the derogatory comments toward us are often less commentary on us and more on the one speaking. I think we might find that we are a bit more compassionate, that our skin is tougher and that we begin to see others with God’s eyes.
May we claim the grace that is greater than all our sin and may we seek to be bearers of it! Amen.
I Peter 2:18-20
“You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
“Look at the girl with the big hair and the little bitty face! What did you do to your pretty straight hair? I wondered what kind of horse was coming down the hall when I heard those steps and it’s you! Have you put on weight or do your clothes just make you look like it?” These are comments that have come my way in recent weeks and years. I do not take them as kind remarks but I would venture to guess that you too have probably been the recipient of similar sorts of comments.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
While the slaves of Peter’s day experienced much more harsh treatment than some disrespectful or hurtful words, the message that Peter is trying to relay is applicable to us at every level of life. What he wanted the slaves of the day to understand is that we choose how we react to the abuses that others hurl at us. They could try to fight back but where would that get them? Probably it would render more pain in their directions. If they were to be challenged by others, their best bet would be to rely on their God-given conscience and ultimately to practice grace toward others. That practice of grace was a gift of salvation. They needed only to reflect on Christ to remember that grace.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
That was the kind of grace that God gave us in Christ—grace that was greater than all our sin. Though throngs of people fought against the truth that one man sought to share—though those throngs murdered him violently—God’s grace and forgiveness were greater than any sin we humans could commit.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
Peter exhorted the slaves that in the face of the great pain they endured, if they could practice the kind of grace characteristic of God in the face of Jesus’ death, and the kind of grace characteristic of Jesus in dealing with the slings and arrows of humanity, they would know a peace that comes in a new awareness of God.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin . . .
What if we could practice that kind of grace in the face of the slings and arrows that humanity throws our way—no matter how harsh or hurtful? I think we might find that the derogatory comments toward us are often less commentary on us and more on the one speaking. I think we might find that we are a bit more compassionate, that our skin is tougher and that we begin to see others with God’s eyes.
May we claim the grace that is greater than all our sin and may we seek to be bearers of it! Amen.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Slaves of God
October 22, 2008
I Peter 2:13-17
“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”
“Chu--, An--, Jan--, Scot--, Blythe! I need you to take the trash out of the house for me,” my grandmother would say. She had to run through the four children before finally finding my name. Once outside with the trash, I would enter the door and my cousin Alan would say, “Grandmommie is looking for you. She needs you to change a lightbulb in the bathroom.” I would head to the bathroom when I would hear, “An-Jan-Scot-Blythe, I need you to get some thing out of the attic.” Not five seconds would pass and the same rehearsal with the words I need you to mop a spot on the floor, can you go find the mop in the washroom?” And then, the rehearsal of names followed by, “I need you come slice these tomatoes for the sandwiches but make sure you rinse them first!” Mind you, I’m still changing the light bulb at this point! Now, you have to understand that I wasn’t the only one working. Everyone was being directed in similar fashion and marveling at how my grandmother could give us so many things to do before the first was finished or even attempted. We often thought we should have t-shirts that read “Slaves of Mary Frances!”
I don’t mean that in a negative way though in our cultural vernacular the word slave brings up the connotation of great negativity. In the culture of Peter, while negativity was engaged in slavery, there were also examples of slavery as a positive thing. Scholar Pheme Perkins has said that “inscriptions from Asia Minor show that in some instances of manumission freedmen were designated slaves of the god or goddess in whose temple the preliminary registration to free the person had taken place (Interpretation Commentary: 1&2 Peter, James & Jude, p.48).”
So Peter is calling this community to think in those terms: to live such lives that they are living for God. It is as if he is calling them to wear t-shirts that read “Slaves of God.” Those would have been shirts worth wearing because they would have indicated that the person had such love for God that he/she chose consciously and from their hearts to live exemplary lives based in love and respect for others. Peter’s message transcends the years. It is his message to our community as well. So often we live for ourselves, for our agendas and out of our self-centered perspectives that we miss the wonder of being a slave for God. I am proud to be a slave of Mary Frances (my grandmother, for I do love her that much!) but I hope that one day people will say of me that I loved God so much and lived for God so faithfully that the best term for me would be “slave for God.” I hope that for all of us! May that life be our striving! Amen.
I Peter 2:13-17
“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”
“Chu--, An--, Jan--, Scot--, Blythe! I need you to take the trash out of the house for me,” my grandmother would say. She had to run through the four children before finally finding my name. Once outside with the trash, I would enter the door and my cousin Alan would say, “Grandmommie is looking for you. She needs you to change a lightbulb in the bathroom.” I would head to the bathroom when I would hear, “An-Jan-Scot-Blythe, I need you to get some thing out of the attic.” Not five seconds would pass and the same rehearsal with the words I need you to mop a spot on the floor, can you go find the mop in the washroom?” And then, the rehearsal of names followed by, “I need you come slice these tomatoes for the sandwiches but make sure you rinse them first!” Mind you, I’m still changing the light bulb at this point! Now, you have to understand that I wasn’t the only one working. Everyone was being directed in similar fashion and marveling at how my grandmother could give us so many things to do before the first was finished or even attempted. We often thought we should have t-shirts that read “Slaves of Mary Frances!”
I don’t mean that in a negative way though in our cultural vernacular the word slave brings up the connotation of great negativity. In the culture of Peter, while negativity was engaged in slavery, there were also examples of slavery as a positive thing. Scholar Pheme Perkins has said that “inscriptions from Asia Minor show that in some instances of manumission freedmen were designated slaves of the god or goddess in whose temple the preliminary registration to free the person had taken place (Interpretation Commentary: 1&2 Peter, James & Jude, p.48).”
So Peter is calling this community to think in those terms: to live such lives that they are living for God. It is as if he is calling them to wear t-shirts that read “Slaves of God.” Those would have been shirts worth wearing because they would have indicated that the person had such love for God that he/she chose consciously and from their hearts to live exemplary lives based in love and respect for others. Peter’s message transcends the years. It is his message to our community as well. So often we live for ourselves, for our agendas and out of our self-centered perspectives that we miss the wonder of being a slave for God. I am proud to be a slave of Mary Frances (my grandmother, for I do love her that much!) but I hope that one day people will say of me that I loved God so much and lived for God so faithfully that the best term for me would be “slave for God.” I hope that for all of us! May that life be our striving! Amen.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
True Survivor
October 15, 2008
I Peter 2:11-12
“Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourself cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.”
It has been years since I tuned into the television show but maybe you still watch it. I remember those early days of intrigue that I had with it. People, previously unknown to each other, from around the United States gathered on an island somewhere on the world’s distant shores. They could bring very little with them and were given an item or two that would be their luxuries during a long competition that answered the question. Who would be THE survivor? The show, Survivor, as it is called, divides contestants into teams and requires them to compete in physical challenges. These challenges open doors for them to have surprises during their lengthy competition such as seeing family members from whom they’ve been alienated or having a special meal that they would otherwise not be able to enjoy. It gives them a break from this alien lifestyle. The attitudes that you witness among the participants are less than ideal. They are in a fight to win a million dollars and the viewer watches as they practice deception and conniving. They form alliances with each other and gang up in order to vote the person who may be the greatest threat to winning off of the island. And so it goes until there is one left standing.
In the world of Peter, Christians were like the survivor contestants. They had all manner of “bad things” being said about them though we are not told what those ‘bad things’ are. Cicero tells us that the people considered aliens at that time were expected to keep to themselves and stay out of the business of others. What enabled them to survive in any city was the goodwill that they cultivated among the locals and this was what enabled them to stay in the cities. Most likely Christians were viewed as a foreign cult and they may have had some anti-Jewish perspectives being demonstrated in their efforts at evangelizing. What Peter wants the Christians to understand is that they needed to be on the best behavior being certain to live the principles that they desired to teach. Only when their action was consonant with their word would they be able to represent Christianity for what it really was and truly make a case by their living for others to convert. Contrary to the television show the goal was to be the true survivor by living an exemplary life.
It is a tall order for any human but it is the order to which we signed on when we chose to call ourselves Christians. So, are we more like the survivors of the television show or more like the true survivors that Peter was calling the Christians to be? What will it take for us as individuals to be true survivors? What will it take for the church to stand in exemplary living? Lots of questions, I know! But I also know that the answers are within us! Amen!
I Peter 2:11-12
“Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourself cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.”
It has been years since I tuned into the television show but maybe you still watch it. I remember those early days of intrigue that I had with it. People, previously unknown to each other, from around the United States gathered on an island somewhere on the world’s distant shores. They could bring very little with them and were given an item or two that would be their luxuries during a long competition that answered the question. Who would be THE survivor? The show, Survivor, as it is called, divides contestants into teams and requires them to compete in physical challenges. These challenges open doors for them to have surprises during their lengthy competition such as seeing family members from whom they’ve been alienated or having a special meal that they would otherwise not be able to enjoy. It gives them a break from this alien lifestyle. The attitudes that you witness among the participants are less than ideal. They are in a fight to win a million dollars and the viewer watches as they practice deception and conniving. They form alliances with each other and gang up in order to vote the person who may be the greatest threat to winning off of the island. And so it goes until there is one left standing.
In the world of Peter, Christians were like the survivor contestants. They had all manner of “bad things” being said about them though we are not told what those ‘bad things’ are. Cicero tells us that the people considered aliens at that time were expected to keep to themselves and stay out of the business of others. What enabled them to survive in any city was the goodwill that they cultivated among the locals and this was what enabled them to stay in the cities. Most likely Christians were viewed as a foreign cult and they may have had some anti-Jewish perspectives being demonstrated in their efforts at evangelizing. What Peter wants the Christians to understand is that they needed to be on the best behavior being certain to live the principles that they desired to teach. Only when their action was consonant with their word would they be able to represent Christianity for what it really was and truly make a case by their living for others to convert. Contrary to the television show the goal was to be the true survivor by living an exemplary life.
It is a tall order for any human but it is the order to which we signed on when we chose to call ourselves Christians. So, are we more like the survivors of the television show or more like the true survivors that Peter was calling the Christians to be? What will it take for us as individuals to be true survivors? What will it take for the church to stand in exemplary living? Lots of questions, I know! But I also know that the answers are within us! Amen!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Unexpected Grace
October 8, 2998
I Peter 2:1-10 (The Message)
“So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.
Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:
‘Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor. Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation will never have cause to regret it.’
To you who trust him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, ‘the stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone.’
For the untrusting it’s ‘a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way.’ They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night and day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
Infants at the breast, the living Stone, the cornerstone, priestly work . . . all of these are images of the Old Testament that the author of I Peter uses in order to give description of the church. He is working with a church that has known unexpected grace that has come in the form of relationship with Jesus Christ. These are people who have experienced a new level of goodness in their lives and like rebirth they are beginning to watch as their lives are transformed. But Peter has to remind them that it is not enough to enjoy the ride right now. They have to continue to encourage each other in their faith, they must be community for one another and they must remain rooted in their Source in order to maintain the exhilarating feel of such unexpected grace. It is not enough to be transformed. They must pay it forward.
The word came through the email just last night. It read: “Saudades.” It was addressed to me and to all of my friends who had recently gathered in Chicago for a week of sharing, encouraging and challenging each other. The week had been much like the experience of Peter’s church in meeting Jesus. It was transformative and conversional! But then we left each other. No longer could I sit with Rick and be encouraged by his spiritual perspective on life. No longer could I laugh to the point of tears with Craig and Sandy. No longer could have Michelle to hold my feet to the fire. Then came this word, saudades. It was a word of unexpected grace from my friend Airton in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Saudades is a Portuguese word that doesn’t translate effectively to English. It means “I miss you” but in a way that is stronger than what our English word can communicate. That simple word offered care, reaffirmed friendship and brought memories of joy. Wrapped up in that word was not only the gift of a moment of unexpected grace but there was also an admonition to pay it forward.
Peter’s church found transformation in their relationship with their Source and were called to live that out in community. I found transformation among a community of friends who offer sincere care for me and who call me back to my Source. From whence does your unexpected grace come . . . and . . . how can you or do you find ways to pay that grace forward? For what you mean to me, I share Airton’s word with you, “Saudades, friends, saudades.” Amen.
I Peter 2:1-10 (The Message)
“So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.
Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:
‘Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor. Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation will never have cause to regret it.’
To you who trust him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, ‘the stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone.’
For the untrusting it’s ‘a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way.’ They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night and day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
Infants at the breast, the living Stone, the cornerstone, priestly work . . . all of these are images of the Old Testament that the author of I Peter uses in order to give description of the church. He is working with a church that has known unexpected grace that has come in the form of relationship with Jesus Christ. These are people who have experienced a new level of goodness in their lives and like rebirth they are beginning to watch as their lives are transformed. But Peter has to remind them that it is not enough to enjoy the ride right now. They have to continue to encourage each other in their faith, they must be community for one another and they must remain rooted in their Source in order to maintain the exhilarating feel of such unexpected grace. It is not enough to be transformed. They must pay it forward.
The word came through the email just last night. It read: “Saudades.” It was addressed to me and to all of my friends who had recently gathered in Chicago for a week of sharing, encouraging and challenging each other. The week had been much like the experience of Peter’s church in meeting Jesus. It was transformative and conversional! But then we left each other. No longer could I sit with Rick and be encouraged by his spiritual perspective on life. No longer could I laugh to the point of tears with Craig and Sandy. No longer could have Michelle to hold my feet to the fire. Then came this word, saudades. It was a word of unexpected grace from my friend Airton in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Saudades is a Portuguese word that doesn’t translate effectively to English. It means “I miss you” but in a way that is stronger than what our English word can communicate. That simple word offered care, reaffirmed friendship and brought memories of joy. Wrapped up in that word was not only the gift of a moment of unexpected grace but there was also an admonition to pay it forward.
Peter’s church found transformation in their relationship with their Source and were called to live that out in community. I found transformation among a community of friends who offer sincere care for me and who call me back to my Source. From whence does your unexpected grace come . . . and . . . how can you or do you find ways to pay that grace forward? For what you mean to me, I share Airton’s word with you, “Saudades, friends, saudades.” Amen.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sinners or Saints?
October 1, 2008
I Peter 1:13-25 (The Message)
“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this is no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said,
‘The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;
Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever.’
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.”
If you were to have said to me twenty years ago, “be holy as God is holy,” I might have reacted in one of two ways. “Holiness, shmoliness! I’ll live how ever I like!” Or . . . I might have become quite legalistic in my efforts at seeking such purity in my life. There are many that balk at the injunction because they buy more heavily into the idea that we are sinners, not saints, and therefore we find ourselves in desperate need of God’s forgiveness. Are we sinners or are we saints?
Peter is calling the people to forget the ways that they lived before they were Christians and to focus on purity and obedience. For Peter a holy life is one that calls each person to express love toward others, to see each other as a family. It is not something made up of rules on how to be but it comprehends that holiness starts with God reaching out in love to bring humans into relationship with him and then follows with humans reaching out in love to each other to nurture relationship. There are those who would say that if one can accomplish this they are saints. Maybe that’s true. So, are we sinners or are we saints?
I live a very sheltered life. That life revolves around the church. I do not know many people who are not Christian (though I do know some people who don’t act very Christian.) I have my own church centered vernacular that drives my life and no matter how I try, I find myself wedded to that vernacular. That vernacular and the experience of life in the church usually leave me feeling pretty saintly.
This past week though, I took some vacation days and gathered with a number of people that I knew really only casually. We were all in agreement that we wanted to know each other well and so our week was spent learning about each other. In the context of that learning, I realized how outmoded my language is and how I expect others to utilize church-speak so common to the halls of my environment. As I became aware of the expectations that I put on others I began to feel rather sinful.
I realized this week that innate in the injunction “to be holy as God is holy” is an understanding that our perspectives on life must be very broad, that our language and vernacular must be expansive, that non-judgment must be a crucial ingredient in the mixture of creating holiness in our lives. I realize that I cannot agree with objectors to the injunction because to me that perfection of holiness is attainable and the fact that we choose to seek it is what makes us all saints, but we are on a journey toward it and the trial and error lessons of the journey are what make us sinners. So are we sinners or are we saints?
Today, if you say to me, “be holy as God is holy.” My response would be more along the lines of “I’ll do my best.” My best in seeking holiness comes first in the search for a life journey that is lived in the “deep consciousness of God” and second in the practice of that consciousness through love. Twenty years from now when I look back on the words I’m about to write I may well do so with embarrassment and part of me hopes so. We do grow from our previous perspectives if we allow ourselves the opportunity to do so. Are we sinners or are we saints? It’s a question for you to answer but for me, I am not convinced that I am a sinner or a saint but after this week of being and experiencing love among others outside of the walls of the church, I think . . . that I just am.
I Peter 1:13-25 (The Message)
“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this is no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said,
‘The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;
Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever.’
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.”
If you were to have said to me twenty years ago, “be holy as God is holy,” I might have reacted in one of two ways. “Holiness, shmoliness! I’ll live how ever I like!” Or . . . I might have become quite legalistic in my efforts at seeking such purity in my life. There are many that balk at the injunction because they buy more heavily into the idea that we are sinners, not saints, and therefore we find ourselves in desperate need of God’s forgiveness. Are we sinners or are we saints?
Peter is calling the people to forget the ways that they lived before they were Christians and to focus on purity and obedience. For Peter a holy life is one that calls each person to express love toward others, to see each other as a family. It is not something made up of rules on how to be but it comprehends that holiness starts with God reaching out in love to bring humans into relationship with him and then follows with humans reaching out in love to each other to nurture relationship. There are those who would say that if one can accomplish this they are saints. Maybe that’s true. So, are we sinners or are we saints?
I live a very sheltered life. That life revolves around the church. I do not know many people who are not Christian (though I do know some people who don’t act very Christian.) I have my own church centered vernacular that drives my life and no matter how I try, I find myself wedded to that vernacular. That vernacular and the experience of life in the church usually leave me feeling pretty saintly.
This past week though, I took some vacation days and gathered with a number of people that I knew really only casually. We were all in agreement that we wanted to know each other well and so our week was spent learning about each other. In the context of that learning, I realized how outmoded my language is and how I expect others to utilize church-speak so common to the halls of my environment. As I became aware of the expectations that I put on others I began to feel rather sinful.
I realized this week that innate in the injunction “to be holy as God is holy” is an understanding that our perspectives on life must be very broad, that our language and vernacular must be expansive, that non-judgment must be a crucial ingredient in the mixture of creating holiness in our lives. I realize that I cannot agree with objectors to the injunction because to me that perfection of holiness is attainable and the fact that we choose to seek it is what makes us all saints, but we are on a journey toward it and the trial and error lessons of the journey are what make us sinners. So are we sinners or are we saints?
Today, if you say to me, “be holy as God is holy.” My response would be more along the lines of “I’ll do my best.” My best in seeking holiness comes first in the search for a life journey that is lived in the “deep consciousness of God” and second in the practice of that consciousness through love. Twenty years from now when I look back on the words I’m about to write I may well do so with embarrassment and part of me hopes so. We do grow from our previous perspectives if we allow ourselves the opportunity to do so. Are we sinners or are we saints? It’s a question for you to answer but for me, I am not convinced that I am a sinner or a saint but after this week of being and experiencing love among others outside of the walls of the church, I think . . . that I just am.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Gift of Time
September 24, 2008
I Peter 1:10-12
“The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah’s Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!”
When I was a little girl, my parents tell me that they would take me somewhere and the minute we arrived I would say something to the effect of, “This is great! What’s next?” I was and always have been ready to find out the next thing. I am bored easily and therefore always on the move. That mentality is not unlike the recipients of this letter. They have been told that Jesus will be returning. “Alright then, let’s get on with it! When can we expect him?” Many were in agreement that the prophets had predicted it but they never said when.
In our last vignette from this scripture the author discussed salvation and now he pulls on that idea as well as the idea of time (kairos). The people were anxious to know when this One in whom they found their salvation would make himself manifest to them. They were fixated on the idea and wanted to pin it down.
I must tell you that the author of Peter is rather naïve. Peter assumes that he has one singular audience—that there is one Jewish community and that everyone believes the same thing--that Jesus was the Messiah and that Jesus would be the one returning. Peter also assumes that Jesus existed prior to his birth on earth. There would be many that would disagree with such an argument. So, as we hear this passage, it is important to understand that from Peter’s perspective Jesus was indeed the end all be all. With that perspective, it is easy to see how the people were ready to get on with it. Let’s see this one who is our salvation! Let’s see him now!
Those of the ancient world would find more value in these words than I do now given their anxious anticipation of the Messiah’s return. Still, the value that I find here comes in that word of time. How often are we like these people (or like little Blythe for that matter )? How often are we so excited about the happening of something that we want it NOW?!! In our wanting of and excitement for some anticipated happening we often lose the value of the process and we fail to embrace the value of mystery. Mystery may be uncomfortable but there is purpose in it. Sometimes the very key to our security exists in the context of mystery.
This week I know that my awareness of time will be keen as it always is but as I traverse the minutes that it brings I will make a commitment to valuing each one. Will you join me?
I Peter 1:10-12
“The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah’s Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!”
When I was a little girl, my parents tell me that they would take me somewhere and the minute we arrived I would say something to the effect of, “This is great! What’s next?” I was and always have been ready to find out the next thing. I am bored easily and therefore always on the move. That mentality is not unlike the recipients of this letter. They have been told that Jesus will be returning. “Alright then, let’s get on with it! When can we expect him?” Many were in agreement that the prophets had predicted it but they never said when.
In our last vignette from this scripture the author discussed salvation and now he pulls on that idea as well as the idea of time (kairos). The people were anxious to know when this One in whom they found their salvation would make himself manifest to them. They were fixated on the idea and wanted to pin it down.
I must tell you that the author of Peter is rather naïve. Peter assumes that he has one singular audience—that there is one Jewish community and that everyone believes the same thing--that Jesus was the Messiah and that Jesus would be the one returning. Peter also assumes that Jesus existed prior to his birth on earth. There would be many that would disagree with such an argument. So, as we hear this passage, it is important to understand that from Peter’s perspective Jesus was indeed the end all be all. With that perspective, it is easy to see how the people were ready to get on with it. Let’s see this one who is our salvation! Let’s see him now!
Those of the ancient world would find more value in these words than I do now given their anxious anticipation of the Messiah’s return. Still, the value that I find here comes in that word of time. How often are we like these people (or like little Blythe for that matter )? How often are we so excited about the happening of something that we want it NOW?!! In our wanting of and excitement for some anticipated happening we often lose the value of the process and we fail to embrace the value of mystery. Mystery may be uncomfortable but there is purpose in it. Sometimes the very key to our security exists in the context of mystery.
This week I know that my awareness of time will be keen as it always is but as I traverse the minutes that it brings I will make a commitment to valuing each one. Will you join me?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Daily Salvation
September 17, 2008
I Peter 1:3-9
“What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.”
Maybe your family is like mine—big! In a big family like the one of which I am a part you are destined to find varied theological perspectives and we have them. Some years ago, when some of my cousins learned of my own spiritual journey that incorporated struggles, trials and even doubt, they freaked out. How in the world could a minister—“someone chosen by God”—doubt the very One who had chosen them?! In their eyes I had committed the ultimate sin and in those moments they built a theological wall between us by deciding in their fundamentalist ways what is right for me and for everyone for that matter. To them, doubt in their faith was an evil—a temptation that was not to be embraced.
These verses are about salvation. While salvation and the end time perspective were very real to the audience of Peter’s day, even Peter understood the value of speaking to the topic of salvation as a present day and even a present moment reality. To Peter, one’s salvation was constantly being worked out. It was being worked out in the laughter and joyful singing of life but also in those bitter struggles that cause us to wrestle with God, to doubt and to feel as if we have been put on trial. With each experience that we weather we gain a new strength and our faith is taken to a deeper level. We have acquired new spiritual tools to deal with this life.
Peter knows that this community to which he writes faces all sorts of attack from wicked people and that it would be easy for this community to be swayed by the wickedness rather than holding firm in their faith. It would be easy for them to lose hope as Christians wishing that they didn’t need to know suffering.
Peter’s message to them and to us is that suffering happens. It is not necessarily something that we bring on ourselves. It is not created by God for our testing. It just occurs out of the flow of life, out of the varying perspectives, reactions and decisions of fellow humans. It just is. So, for Peter, the answer in the face of difficult times is not like that of my cousins. It is not a ‘how dare you doubt the reality of God’ mentality. Rather, it is an understanding that salvation is this gift from God that lets us face what comes our way, wrestle with it and hopefully choose God in the end and in so choosing find that we are stronger for struggle that has been ours. Somehow we find more peace in our lives and a new sense of freedom.
I don’t know what specific struggles you face but I do know that we live in a world that seems synonymous with upheaval and so I hope that you will take Peter’s words as assurance—that you will work out your salvation, wrestle, struggle and in the end find the living hope that exists for each of us who call God our Savior. May hope be ours today! Amen.
I Peter 1:3-9
“What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.”
Maybe your family is like mine—big! In a big family like the one of which I am a part you are destined to find varied theological perspectives and we have them. Some years ago, when some of my cousins learned of my own spiritual journey that incorporated struggles, trials and even doubt, they freaked out. How in the world could a minister—“someone chosen by God”—doubt the very One who had chosen them?! In their eyes I had committed the ultimate sin and in those moments they built a theological wall between us by deciding in their fundamentalist ways what is right for me and for everyone for that matter. To them, doubt in their faith was an evil—a temptation that was not to be embraced.
These verses are about salvation. While salvation and the end time perspective were very real to the audience of Peter’s day, even Peter understood the value of speaking to the topic of salvation as a present day and even a present moment reality. To Peter, one’s salvation was constantly being worked out. It was being worked out in the laughter and joyful singing of life but also in those bitter struggles that cause us to wrestle with God, to doubt and to feel as if we have been put on trial. With each experience that we weather we gain a new strength and our faith is taken to a deeper level. We have acquired new spiritual tools to deal with this life.
Peter knows that this community to which he writes faces all sorts of attack from wicked people and that it would be easy for this community to be swayed by the wickedness rather than holding firm in their faith. It would be easy for them to lose hope as Christians wishing that they didn’t need to know suffering.
Peter’s message to them and to us is that suffering happens. It is not necessarily something that we bring on ourselves. It is not created by God for our testing. It just occurs out of the flow of life, out of the varying perspectives, reactions and decisions of fellow humans. It just is. So, for Peter, the answer in the face of difficult times is not like that of my cousins. It is not a ‘how dare you doubt the reality of God’ mentality. Rather, it is an understanding that salvation is this gift from God that lets us face what comes our way, wrestle with it and hopefully choose God in the end and in so choosing find that we are stronger for struggle that has been ours. Somehow we find more peace in our lives and a new sense of freedom.
I don’t know what specific struggles you face but I do know that we live in a world that seems synonymous with upheaval and so I hope that you will take Peter’s words as assurance—that you will work out your salvation, wrestle, struggle and in the end find the living hope that exists for each of us who call God our Savior. May hope be ours today! Amen.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Holy People
September 10, 2008
I Peter 1:1-2
“I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!”
I sat in the Honolulu airport last week and watched that usual airport scene that so many of us have witnessed. The flight attendants began to call for boarding first of the first class passengers who seemed to pride themselves on their ideal seating. These were people who walked a little taller and didn’t seem to engage themselves with others. As they boarded and the rest of us looked on awaiting our turns, the attendants were particular to have them proceed down the “elite” boarding aisle. No general boarders were to go down that aisle. Mind you, there was no physical boundary just the imaginary line that the airline hoped everyone would envision that extended from one sign’s arrow. Next the so-called “elite” boarders were invited on board and finally those of us who were to cram ourselves into the coach seats.
The books of Peter, though probably not written by him, were written to likes of the general boarders. They were sent specifically to the Jewish Christians who had been scattered in the Diaspora. Most likely the author didn’t know these people personally but had heard of their stories as the stories had made their way to Rome. These two books constitute letters that were written under the guidelines of ancient letters with the mission of exhorting people to claim the “living hope” that was theirs. That hope began first in understanding themselves as holy people—people who in spite of their physical scattering were not forgotten, were valued by God and by their fellow Christians. The author wants them to understand that in spite of their physical displacement that they were looked upon with grace and they were beloved.
The perceived attitudes of the first class boarders by the rest of us indicated to us that these people didn’t value us. They were centered on themselves. They couldn’t see the holiness in us nor could they witness God’s grace in us. It was easy for us to make that assessment of them but if we are honest, the very fact that we had perceptions of their attitudes indicated that we also could not see the holiness in them nor could we view God’s grace.
Peter’s opening words were for those scattered in the Diaspora about words of hope and the encouragement that not only had they not been forgotten but the holiness that existed in them was being acknowledge by those who didn’t even know them personally!
What lessons exist for us in that! How often in daily life do we fail to look upon others with grace? What are the ways that we can begin to see each other with different eyes? This is the call of these simple verses—that we see the holiness that exists in being “general boarders!” May we witness holiness and grace in each other this week! Amen.
I Peter 1:1-2
“I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!”
I sat in the Honolulu airport last week and watched that usual airport scene that so many of us have witnessed. The flight attendants began to call for boarding first of the first class passengers who seemed to pride themselves on their ideal seating. These were people who walked a little taller and didn’t seem to engage themselves with others. As they boarded and the rest of us looked on awaiting our turns, the attendants were particular to have them proceed down the “elite” boarding aisle. No general boarders were to go down that aisle. Mind you, there was no physical boundary just the imaginary line that the airline hoped everyone would envision that extended from one sign’s arrow. Next the so-called “elite” boarders were invited on board and finally those of us who were to cram ourselves into the coach seats.
The books of Peter, though probably not written by him, were written to likes of the general boarders. They were sent specifically to the Jewish Christians who had been scattered in the Diaspora. Most likely the author didn’t know these people personally but had heard of their stories as the stories had made their way to Rome. These two books constitute letters that were written under the guidelines of ancient letters with the mission of exhorting people to claim the “living hope” that was theirs. That hope began first in understanding themselves as holy people—people who in spite of their physical scattering were not forgotten, were valued by God and by their fellow Christians. The author wants them to understand that in spite of their physical displacement that they were looked upon with grace and they were beloved.
The perceived attitudes of the first class boarders by the rest of us indicated to us that these people didn’t value us. They were centered on themselves. They couldn’t see the holiness in us nor could they witness God’s grace in us. It was easy for us to make that assessment of them but if we are honest, the very fact that we had perceptions of their attitudes indicated that we also could not see the holiness in them nor could we view God’s grace.
Peter’s opening words were for those scattered in the Diaspora about words of hope and the encouragement that not only had they not been forgotten but the holiness that existed in them was being acknowledge by those who didn’t even know them personally!
What lessons exist for us in that! How often in daily life do we fail to look upon others with grace? What are the ways that we can begin to see each other with different eyes? This is the call of these simple verses—that we see the holiness that exists in being “general boarders!” May we witness holiness and grace in each other this week! Amen.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Seeking Joy (for September 3, 2008)
September 3, 2008
Jude 1:24-25
“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
The scene is powerful. Two men sit side by side on the brightest and sunniest of days peering out over the golden hues of the Egyptian pyramids. Their conversation moves to a holy point when the character played by Morgan Freeman poses the question, “What brought you joy today and to whom did you bring joy?
Jude understands that it is only God who can protect a community from falling victim to the evils that come its way and then only by the gift of God’s grace. He is a believer that God’s power is evidence for us in creation and in all that occurs among the order that is creation. But if God’s power is evidenced there, so is God’s judgment. As false teachers go, he is certain that they will one day stand before God in judgment and find themselves wishing that they had lived different lives—lives that would have brought honor and glory to God. So, to the true believers, he exhorts the community to live as if they were already standing before Christ.
Essentially, this is Morgan Freeman’s point to Jack Nicholson in “The Bucket List” movie. If we live our lives by simply asking those questions of ourselves each day—what brought you joy today and to whom did you bring joy?—maybe we would find that we would already be living as if we were standing before Christ.
So the questions rest before us today: What brought you joy today? To whom did you bring joy today? May our answers cause us to embrace the grace and glory of God and to stand without blemish in God’s presence! Amen.
Jude 1:24-25
“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
The scene is powerful. Two men sit side by side on the brightest and sunniest of days peering out over the golden hues of the Egyptian pyramids. Their conversation moves to a holy point when the character played by Morgan Freeman poses the question, “What brought you joy today and to whom did you bring joy?
Jude understands that it is only God who can protect a community from falling victim to the evils that come its way and then only by the gift of God’s grace. He is a believer that God’s power is evidence for us in creation and in all that occurs among the order that is creation. But if God’s power is evidenced there, so is God’s judgment. As false teachers go, he is certain that they will one day stand before God in judgment and find themselves wishing that they had lived different lives—lives that would have brought honor and glory to God. So, to the true believers, he exhorts the community to live as if they were already standing before Christ.
Essentially, this is Morgan Freeman’s point to Jack Nicholson in “The Bucket List” movie. If we live our lives by simply asking those questions of ourselves each day—what brought you joy today and to whom did you bring joy?—maybe we would find that we would already be living as if we were standing before Christ.
So the questions rest before us today: What brought you joy today? To whom did you bring joy today? May our answers cause us to embrace the grace and glory of God and to stand without blemish in God’s presence! Amen.
Building on Faith
August 27, 2008
Jude 1:20-23
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.”
It has been at least a year if not much longer. Specificity of time has a way of blurring in my mind. But, I do remember the actions of that morning very specifically. It was 7:30 in the morning and I was settling into my work when my office phone rang. It was Vioreca, a member of our custodial staff, who was frantically yelling into the phone. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying except for the part where she wanted me to come downstairs. I grabbed my cell phone figuring there was some sort of danger and I may need it somehow, closed the door and walked at a rapid pace. I could see her jumping up and down and waving at me to hurry. What I found as I looked out of the glass doors where she was standing was a man who was hurriedly trying to steal a trailer that belonged to our building supervisor, Steve. Steve was not on the church campus at the moment and so I walked out of the door (thank you adrenaline!) and simply said to the man, “May I help you?” The man replied that he was taking this for Presbyterian Hospital. I said, “No you’re not. You are going to detach it from your vehicle and you are going to leave.” He rapidly did what he was told and left.
I tell you that to say that if I hadn’t been more internally calm (I was cool as a cucumber externally) I would have wanted to ask him what was motivating him to do this illegal thing. There had to have been something behind the action—something with which I could have helped him. I was pleased that I had the presence of mind to call him on his action and reverse the behavior in the moment, however.
This is the point of Jude’s words: that as believers we are to focus our lives on developing our faith in three crucial ways—prayer in the Holy Spirit, love of God and waiting for Jesus’ mercy. (Now by the latter we have to understand that they were very focused in those days on the second coming of Jesus.) With all three of these in play in our lives, Jude suggests that these then cause us to demonstrate clear concern for the lives of others and thus, we are called to challenge the behaviors of others.
We are products of a culture, however, that has taught us well to not interfere with the lives of others and while there is value in allowing others to be as they are (especially when it is evident that they will not alter their ways or their behaviors,) there is something to be said for accountability with each other that motivates us to stay on the path of faith. Both perspectives should be held in moderation.
I have no way of knowing if the man attempting theft in our parking lot would ever change his ways, but if I had at least asked him why he was doing what he was doing there would have at least a been a chance that I could have guided him lovingly in a better way.
So, I wonder, are their people in our lives from whom we (who are faithful believers) have withheld our loving guidance? In order to offer that guidance though, we must be very careful and very clear that we are indeed right with God ourselves—we must be clearly focused on prayer, love and the practice of mercy.
May that be our mission this week—to be vessels of prayer, love of God and the practice of mercy! Amen.
Jude 1:20-23
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.”
It has been at least a year if not much longer. Specificity of time has a way of blurring in my mind. But, I do remember the actions of that morning very specifically. It was 7:30 in the morning and I was settling into my work when my office phone rang. It was Vioreca, a member of our custodial staff, who was frantically yelling into the phone. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying except for the part where she wanted me to come downstairs. I grabbed my cell phone figuring there was some sort of danger and I may need it somehow, closed the door and walked at a rapid pace. I could see her jumping up and down and waving at me to hurry. What I found as I looked out of the glass doors where she was standing was a man who was hurriedly trying to steal a trailer that belonged to our building supervisor, Steve. Steve was not on the church campus at the moment and so I walked out of the door (thank you adrenaline!) and simply said to the man, “May I help you?” The man replied that he was taking this for Presbyterian Hospital. I said, “No you’re not. You are going to detach it from your vehicle and you are going to leave.” He rapidly did what he was told and left.
I tell you that to say that if I hadn’t been more internally calm (I was cool as a cucumber externally) I would have wanted to ask him what was motivating him to do this illegal thing. There had to have been something behind the action—something with which I could have helped him. I was pleased that I had the presence of mind to call him on his action and reverse the behavior in the moment, however.
This is the point of Jude’s words: that as believers we are to focus our lives on developing our faith in three crucial ways—prayer in the Holy Spirit, love of God and waiting for Jesus’ mercy. (Now by the latter we have to understand that they were very focused in those days on the second coming of Jesus.) With all three of these in play in our lives, Jude suggests that these then cause us to demonstrate clear concern for the lives of others and thus, we are called to challenge the behaviors of others.
We are products of a culture, however, that has taught us well to not interfere with the lives of others and while there is value in allowing others to be as they are (especially when it is evident that they will not alter their ways or their behaviors,) there is something to be said for accountability with each other that motivates us to stay on the path of faith. Both perspectives should be held in moderation.
I have no way of knowing if the man attempting theft in our parking lot would ever change his ways, but if I had at least asked him why he was doing what he was doing there would have at least a been a chance that I could have guided him lovingly in a better way.
So, I wonder, are their people in our lives from whom we (who are faithful believers) have withheld our loving guidance? In order to offer that guidance though, we must be very careful and very clear that we are indeed right with God ourselves—we must be clearly focused on prayer, love and the practice of mercy.
May that be our mission this week—to be vessels of prayer, love of God and the practice of mercy! Amen.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Spiritual Deafness
August 20, 2008
Jude 1:17-19
“But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.’ It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions.”
I tracked her down today in the living room of her wing in the facility where she resides. Evelyn looked just lovely. She looked happy and healthy. But poor Evelyn cannot hear ANYTHING. I realized the tones in my voice are difficult to pick up so I wheeled her to her room at her request and then realized that no matter what I said, how loud I said it, or how close I was in proximity to her ear, she would not hear me. She would not hear because it was not physically possible. She simply could not hear me. There was a clear division that was created by her inability to hear and my inability to communicate. Thanks to be to God for technology but even then with her special sound magnifying instrument I spent 30 minutes literally leaning over her and screaming into the instrument for her to hear me. I was exhausted when I left but happy to have visited her.
When Jude speaks about the predictions of the apostles he notes scoffers. Scoffers being those people who are so bent on their own ways that they will not allow God to fill them with God’s spirit. The thought of being God’s vessel is not something that they can comprehend. They choose to create division because they are out for their own selfish gains. From Jude’s perspective they have no right to call themselves Christians because Christians by definition are people who possess the Spirit of God.
These people exist today. They are in our work environments. They are our neighbors and in some cases they may even be masquerading as our friends. These people are those who are spiritually deaf. They have not allowed themselves to hear anything beyond themselves and so they block out the voice of God. Unlike with Evelyn’s hearing, there are no tangible instruments to enable them to hear God’s voice, embrace God’s love and allow themselves to be God’s vessels. The only remedy is their willingness to let go and place their faith and trust in God.
It is easy to judge others around us and we have to be wary of others who do not choose to embrace God’s spirit. But, we also need to examine our own hearts to be sure that we are embracing faith and trust, that our ears are open and that we do hear clearly the voice of God’s love so that we can also communicate that love by our living. May that be both our challenge and our goal! Amen!
Jude 1:17-19
“But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.’ It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions.”
I tracked her down today in the living room of her wing in the facility where she resides. Evelyn looked just lovely. She looked happy and healthy. But poor Evelyn cannot hear ANYTHING. I realized the tones in my voice are difficult to pick up so I wheeled her to her room at her request and then realized that no matter what I said, how loud I said it, or how close I was in proximity to her ear, she would not hear me. She would not hear because it was not physically possible. She simply could not hear me. There was a clear division that was created by her inability to hear and my inability to communicate. Thanks to be to God for technology but even then with her special sound magnifying instrument I spent 30 minutes literally leaning over her and screaming into the instrument for her to hear me. I was exhausted when I left but happy to have visited her.
When Jude speaks about the predictions of the apostles he notes scoffers. Scoffers being those people who are so bent on their own ways that they will not allow God to fill them with God’s spirit. The thought of being God’s vessel is not something that they can comprehend. They choose to create division because they are out for their own selfish gains. From Jude’s perspective they have no right to call themselves Christians because Christians by definition are people who possess the Spirit of God.
These people exist today. They are in our work environments. They are our neighbors and in some cases they may even be masquerading as our friends. These people are those who are spiritually deaf. They have not allowed themselves to hear anything beyond themselves and so they block out the voice of God. Unlike with Evelyn’s hearing, there are no tangible instruments to enable them to hear God’s voice, embrace God’s love and allow themselves to be God’s vessels. The only remedy is their willingness to let go and place their faith and trust in God.
It is easy to judge others around us and we have to be wary of others who do not choose to embrace God’s spirit. But, we also need to examine our own hearts to be sure that we are embracing faith and trust, that our ears are open and that we do hear clearly the voice of God’s love so that we can also communicate that love by our living. May that be both our challenge and our goal! Amen!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Reflections from Clarence: Wandering Stars
Your devotional a couple of weeks ago left me thinking and I finally got the words on paper and decided to share this.
WANDERING STARS
Jude 12-13
Everywhere we see stars,
in movies, on TV, in Rock Bands,
on billboards
and fashion show runways.
They are athletes, artists,
singers, wrestlers
and rodeo cowboys. They race
cars, trucks, motorcycles,
dirt bikes and skate boards.
They are news anchors
politicians and preachers,
writers (well, maybe not poets)
and daredevils trying
to cheat death. They are
magicians and coaches,
and little children trying
to do grown-up things.
They are merchants, inventors,
politicians and heads
of governments.
Many are people
seeking fame to fill
empty spaces in their lives.
We call them celebrities.
Sometimes they are us.
Jude says that those who ignore
the way of love and live ungodly lives,
are wandering stars for whom blackest
darkness is reserved forever.
Enough to make us wonder
about wandering.
Clarence Eden
WANDERING STARS
Jude 12-13
Everywhere we see stars,
in movies, on TV, in Rock Bands,
on billboards
and fashion show runways.
They are athletes, artists,
singers, wrestlers
and rodeo cowboys. They race
cars, trucks, motorcycles,
dirt bikes and skate boards.
They are news anchors
politicians and preachers,
writers (well, maybe not poets)
and daredevils trying
to cheat death. They are
magicians and coaches,
and little children trying
to do grown-up things.
They are merchants, inventors,
politicians and heads
of governments.
Many are people
seeking fame to fill
empty spaces in their lives.
We call them celebrities.
Sometimes they are us.
Jude says that those who ignore
the way of love and live ungodly lives,
are wandering stars for whom blackest
darkness is reserved forever.
Enough to make us wonder
about wandering.
Clarence Eden
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Listen to the Whisper
August 6, 2008
Jude 1:14-16
“It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage.”
I have a friend who recently recounted an experience to me that seems to resonate with this passage. He is the president and owner of his own company and his business is such that it requires him to be on the road a lot thus leaving 10 to 15 employees in the office at any given time. Cameron began to notice than when he would return to the office (which was rare due to his selling of his product) there was a tension in the office that was unmistakable. When he coaxed some employees at different intervals into sharing why they thought the tension was there, they all indicated that one person was the cause. This young lady apparently had a way with using her speech and her actions for selfish causes. She would manipulate situations, flatter people to get what she wanted, lie about others to work things to her advantage and she had by her way of being left (to varying degrees) the other employees feeling abused. My friend didn’t believe their reports at first and decided to monitor the situation. He noticed that there was “a cloud” over the office whenever the young lady was present and it was as if the cloud completely lifted in her absence. People were happy, working productively, enjoying coming to work. But those times were short lived. Cameron realized that he had to do something, so he let the young lady go. He said that it was such a difficult situation but he knew he did the right thing and yet the only regret he had was that he hadn’t done it sooner because he lost some of his best people who had been diligently seeking other employment because of his own inability to shut the situation down with the young woman.
Jude sees that same sort of thing at work in this church. The people are hearing the words and being tempted, persuaded toward things that are not truth. As he quotes from an extra-Biblical source known as Enoch (verse 1:9), he uses words like ungodly, sinners and all to indicate how snowed the people are becoming and how dangerous it is to be so blind to the truth.
Some friends in the church gave me a calendar that has quotes from church signs on it—some are profound and some silly—but today’s speaks to our scripture when it says, “Goodness speaks in a whisper; evil shouts.” Those who are out for themselves are people who work situations to their own advantage like these false teachers and therefore make a choice to participate in evil. In the loudness and manipulative nature of their evil ways, people fail to see them for who they are and thus they fail to see the TRUTH.
Jude wants the Christians to wake up and to listen for goodness and truth. Had Cameron listened for the truth a little earlier, he wouldn’t have lost such great workers. I wonder if there are situations in your life where you are missing the chance to listen for the goodness. I encourage you this day, to join me, in listening for the whispers of life that reveal God’s goodness and truth.
Jude 1:14-16
“It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage.”
I have a friend who recently recounted an experience to me that seems to resonate with this passage. He is the president and owner of his own company and his business is such that it requires him to be on the road a lot thus leaving 10 to 15 employees in the office at any given time. Cameron began to notice than when he would return to the office (which was rare due to his selling of his product) there was a tension in the office that was unmistakable. When he coaxed some employees at different intervals into sharing why they thought the tension was there, they all indicated that one person was the cause. This young lady apparently had a way with using her speech and her actions for selfish causes. She would manipulate situations, flatter people to get what she wanted, lie about others to work things to her advantage and she had by her way of being left (to varying degrees) the other employees feeling abused. My friend didn’t believe their reports at first and decided to monitor the situation. He noticed that there was “a cloud” over the office whenever the young lady was present and it was as if the cloud completely lifted in her absence. People were happy, working productively, enjoying coming to work. But those times were short lived. Cameron realized that he had to do something, so he let the young lady go. He said that it was such a difficult situation but he knew he did the right thing and yet the only regret he had was that he hadn’t done it sooner because he lost some of his best people who had been diligently seeking other employment because of his own inability to shut the situation down with the young woman.
Jude sees that same sort of thing at work in this church. The people are hearing the words and being tempted, persuaded toward things that are not truth. As he quotes from an extra-Biblical source known as Enoch (verse 1:9), he uses words like ungodly, sinners and all to indicate how snowed the people are becoming and how dangerous it is to be so blind to the truth.
Some friends in the church gave me a calendar that has quotes from church signs on it—some are profound and some silly—but today’s speaks to our scripture when it says, “Goodness speaks in a whisper; evil shouts.” Those who are out for themselves are people who work situations to their own advantage like these false teachers and therefore make a choice to participate in evil. In the loudness and manipulative nature of their evil ways, people fail to see them for who they are and thus they fail to see the TRUTH.
Jude wants the Christians to wake up and to listen for goodness and truth. Had Cameron listened for the truth a little earlier, he wouldn’t have lost such great workers. I wonder if there are situations in your life where you are missing the chance to listen for the goodness. I encourage you this day, to join me, in listening for the whispers of life that reveal God’s goodness and truth.
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Ideal Church Family
July 30, 2008
Jude 1:8-13
“Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct. Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain, and abandon themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain and perish in Korah’s rebellion. These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds, autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.”
I have just returned from my family reunion where every year anywhere from 75 to 200 people who call themselves members of the Fuller Family gather for a couple of days to play games, update each other, dine together and profess their gratitude that for generations we have been a God-fearing family. No reunion passes without prayer and we are blessed with the chance to learn of each other’s spiritual growth.
It strikes me that the church should be the same way. Each week we should have fun together, update each other, fellowship and be grateful for our relationships with God. But like the Fullers, we should also hold each other accountable for our spiritual growth and development.
In this section of the book of Jude, the author seems like he’s all over the place. He understands that he cannot communicate with the false teachers solely on his own authority as a pastor. They can easily overlook such authority but in Jude’s mind, it is much harder to balk at the texts of their Jewish Christian heritage. He refers to stories taken from The Testament of Moses, a pseudopigraphal work. He acknowledges stories from the Torah and ultimately he calls the false teachers and all of the people to understand that our salvation is worked out daily in the context of our relationships with God and with each other. The main point of this passage is that we must be obedient to God and committed to rolling up our sleeves to do the work of faith. We must constantly and consistently seek God and not turn toward ourselves in self-reliance. This part is the kicker . . . that any part of our fellowship that fails to nurture his/her relationship with God serves to negate the ministry of the church.
That last part is difficult for moderate minded people to grasp. We want to include everyone and in our inclusiveness we run the risk of exposing ourselves to influences that take us away from what it means to live a Christian life and to be the church. There is a balance of course.
I guarantee you that if you show up at a Fuller Family Reunion we will embrace you and love you but you will also be required to pay homage to the God we serve and who has blessed our lives. I guarantee Jude would have said the same. This should be the perspective of the church as well.
So the question remains, is it? Is this the perspective you witness in your church? Or do you witness people showing up for socializing and networking purposes? Maybe there are even leaders selected in the church who fail to let God be the guide for their decisions and thus steer the church wrongly! Could it be that the church is failing to be the church? Might this be the crisis of the moderate church in 2008? And, if so, what would it take to set a new course? I hope when you answer these questions for your church you find that every person is daily dedicated to the seeking of God’s direction for their lives. I also must confess my surprise if that is true! Yet still I hope! May it be so! Amen.
Jude 1:8-13
“Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct. Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain, and abandon themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain and perish in Korah’s rebellion. These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds, autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.”
I have just returned from my family reunion where every year anywhere from 75 to 200 people who call themselves members of the Fuller Family gather for a couple of days to play games, update each other, dine together and profess their gratitude that for generations we have been a God-fearing family. No reunion passes without prayer and we are blessed with the chance to learn of each other’s spiritual growth.
It strikes me that the church should be the same way. Each week we should have fun together, update each other, fellowship and be grateful for our relationships with God. But like the Fullers, we should also hold each other accountable for our spiritual growth and development.
In this section of the book of Jude, the author seems like he’s all over the place. He understands that he cannot communicate with the false teachers solely on his own authority as a pastor. They can easily overlook such authority but in Jude’s mind, it is much harder to balk at the texts of their Jewish Christian heritage. He refers to stories taken from The Testament of Moses, a pseudopigraphal work. He acknowledges stories from the Torah and ultimately he calls the false teachers and all of the people to understand that our salvation is worked out daily in the context of our relationships with God and with each other. The main point of this passage is that we must be obedient to God and committed to rolling up our sleeves to do the work of faith. We must constantly and consistently seek God and not turn toward ourselves in self-reliance. This part is the kicker . . . that any part of our fellowship that fails to nurture his/her relationship with God serves to negate the ministry of the church.
That last part is difficult for moderate minded people to grasp. We want to include everyone and in our inclusiveness we run the risk of exposing ourselves to influences that take us away from what it means to live a Christian life and to be the church. There is a balance of course.
I guarantee you that if you show up at a Fuller Family Reunion we will embrace you and love you but you will also be required to pay homage to the God we serve and who has blessed our lives. I guarantee Jude would have said the same. This should be the perspective of the church as well.
So the question remains, is it? Is this the perspective you witness in your church? Or do you witness people showing up for socializing and networking purposes? Maybe there are even leaders selected in the church who fail to let God be the guide for their decisions and thus steer the church wrongly! Could it be that the church is failing to be the church? Might this be the crisis of the moderate church in 2008? And, if so, what would it take to set a new course? I hope when you answer these questions for your church you find that every person is daily dedicated to the seeking of God’s direction for their lives. I also must confess my surprise if that is true! Yet still I hope! May it be so! Amen.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Ordering Life
July 23, 2008
Jude 1:5-7
“Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their own position but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day. Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of fire.”
The beach seems to be the place where I am reminded the most of the order of life. The waves are meant to land on the shore sometimes softly other times by more powerful and even violent means. Nonetheless, each wave makes its journey to the shore before retreating. The sun, too, rises and plays its tag team game with the moon and even though they may be clouded from vision on occasion their order proceeds. There is something about the beach that with its celebration of order offers peace. There is something about faith that is meant to do the same.
As Jude enters this section of the writing, this is the message he hopes to communicate. He wants the reader at attention and uses this phrase that would have been common in ancient writings, “Now I desire to remind you . . ..” He wants them to understand that they already have all of the knowledge that they need and that before they allow themselves to be caught off guard completely by the false teachers among them they need to remember how God was at work among them—how God has always been at work among them. So he takes them for a stroll down memory lane. Remember how God saved the people when in Egypt. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah. Do not forget that God created an order to life and even to the life of faith. Sin is what totally disrupts God’s intended order. That simple perspective should help the people discern falsities among them.
There are many questions for us, as Christians, to consider here. How do we view God’s order? Do we even agree with Jude that God ordered life? There is the question of sin. What is our aversion to order and why do we buy so readily into its obstruction? What is it that order really offers you as you practice your faith? These, of course, are questions that only you can answer but as you do, I hope you find peace in the process. Amen.
Jude 1:5-7
“Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their own position but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day. Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of fire.”
The beach seems to be the place where I am reminded the most of the order of life. The waves are meant to land on the shore sometimes softly other times by more powerful and even violent means. Nonetheless, each wave makes its journey to the shore before retreating. The sun, too, rises and plays its tag team game with the moon and even though they may be clouded from vision on occasion their order proceeds. There is something about the beach that with its celebration of order offers peace. There is something about faith that is meant to do the same.
As Jude enters this section of the writing, this is the message he hopes to communicate. He wants the reader at attention and uses this phrase that would have been common in ancient writings, “Now I desire to remind you . . ..” He wants them to understand that they already have all of the knowledge that they need and that before they allow themselves to be caught off guard completely by the false teachers among them they need to remember how God was at work among them—how God has always been at work among them. So he takes them for a stroll down memory lane. Remember how God saved the people when in Egypt. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah. Do not forget that God created an order to life and even to the life of faith. Sin is what totally disrupts God’s intended order. That simple perspective should help the people discern falsities among them.
There are many questions for us, as Christians, to consider here. How do we view God’s order? Do we even agree with Jude that God ordered life? There is the question of sin. What is our aversion to order and why do we buy so readily into its obstruction? What is it that order really offers you as you practice your faith? These, of course, are questions that only you can answer but as you do, I hope you find peace in the process. Amen.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Are you serving God or is God serving you?
July 16, 2008
Jude 1: 3-4
“Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
He arrived recently on the front door step of the church and I went out and sat down with him. He was hairy from not shaving for days and there was a slight odor about him as if bathing had not occurred either. His name was Timothy and he told a tale of having an army career and of having killed 450 people through those duties. He claimed that he had lived a bad life even shooting his own father in the foot. He wanted to change, or so he said, and he wanted to “be saved.”
For Jude, salvation is about an ever renewed life—one in which morals are in place, an awareness of God’s Spirit at work in one’s life is occurring and the believer is given to fellowshipping with like minded folk. While Jude wants to expand on that thinking, he simply cannot because there are false teachers that are diverting his work. He has no choice but to call attention to this behavior. Because their Christian perspective is being redirected, Jude wants them to understand that such redirection is a threat to their salvation. It is thought that the false teachers crept into the churches in clandestine fashion to purposely mislead Christians and cause them to deny Christ. These people were like spiritual terrorists in Jude’s view and the Christians must wake up to what is going on around them and see the truth for what it is! These words are their wake up call to protect their salvation and to recommit themselves to living lives that reflect God as their Lord!
I found myself listening to Timothy and thinking that his presence before me was not about being saved. What he really wanted was money. He balked at that when I told him that’s what I thought and so I realized that it was just best to play his game. I talked to him about Jude’s understanding of salvation. Salvation is not something you do for a moment to get something you want. It is a lifestyle choice and a relationship choice. I talked to him about God’s love and gave a smile and handshake. I think Timothy will continue to use God to get what he wants but I pray for him that one day he will let God use him as his servant.
Maybe that is the best question for us. In this world where our senses are bombarded with Godless images, how is that we are relating to God? How is that we are relating to our world? How is that we are relating to each other? And, ultimately, are we using God’s name and status to attain what we want in life or are we allowing ourselves to be used by God and then reaping the glorious and inevitable benefits? Let’s hope when we are honest we are at least striving for the latter. May that be our goal and may we reap joy from it! Amen.
Jude 1: 3-4
“Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
He arrived recently on the front door step of the church and I went out and sat down with him. He was hairy from not shaving for days and there was a slight odor about him as if bathing had not occurred either. His name was Timothy and he told a tale of having an army career and of having killed 450 people through those duties. He claimed that he had lived a bad life even shooting his own father in the foot. He wanted to change, or so he said, and he wanted to “be saved.”
For Jude, salvation is about an ever renewed life—one in which morals are in place, an awareness of God’s Spirit at work in one’s life is occurring and the believer is given to fellowshipping with like minded folk. While Jude wants to expand on that thinking, he simply cannot because there are false teachers that are diverting his work. He has no choice but to call attention to this behavior. Because their Christian perspective is being redirected, Jude wants them to understand that such redirection is a threat to their salvation. It is thought that the false teachers crept into the churches in clandestine fashion to purposely mislead Christians and cause them to deny Christ. These people were like spiritual terrorists in Jude’s view and the Christians must wake up to what is going on around them and see the truth for what it is! These words are their wake up call to protect their salvation and to recommit themselves to living lives that reflect God as their Lord!
I found myself listening to Timothy and thinking that his presence before me was not about being saved. What he really wanted was money. He balked at that when I told him that’s what I thought and so I realized that it was just best to play his game. I talked to him about Jude’s understanding of salvation. Salvation is not something you do for a moment to get something you want. It is a lifestyle choice and a relationship choice. I talked to him about God’s love and gave a smile and handshake. I think Timothy will continue to use God to get what he wants but I pray for him that one day he will let God use him as his servant.
Maybe that is the best question for us. In this world where our senses are bombarded with Godless images, how is that we are relating to God? How is that we are relating to our world? How is that we are relating to each other? And, ultimately, are we using God’s name and status to attain what we want in life or are we allowing ourselves to be used by God and then reaping the glorious and inevitable benefits? Let’s hope when we are honest we are at least striving for the latter. May that be our goal and may we reap joy from it! Amen.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Mercy, Peace and Love
July 9, 2008
Jude 1:1-2
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”
Son of John Lewis, the late former pastor of The First Baptist Church of Raleigh; Son of Tom Hearn the former President of Wake Forest University; Son of Kirby Godsey former President of Mercer University; Son of Bill Stillerman current President of the Baptist Retirement Homes; Daughter of R. G. Puckett, Editor Emeritus of The Biblical Recorder (the newspaper for Baptists in North Carolina); Daughter of Denny Spear, former North Carolina Baptist Pastor and leader during turbulent civil rights struggles in Eastern North Carolina.
All of these people (David Lewis, Tom Hearn, Raleigh Godsey, Todd Stillerman, Janet Wade and Julie Hammond) are members of our church family and are great leaders in their own rights, but in Baptist circles, when I say something about these fine leaders of our church family, I have to utilize the reference points of their fathers in order to communicate how fortunate we are to have these among us!
In the same way, the author of Jude has to establish himself in relation to others that people would know—servant of Jesus Christ and he just so happens to be the brother of the well-known James. It is thought that this Jude is probably Jesus’ brother as well. At this point in Christian history, Jude realizes how well known James has become and introducing himself as a relative of James gives him a new level of credibility.
In the course of this short letter, Jude seeks to correct the teachings of those who have falsely represented the Gospel and like the writing of a thesis paper, his thesis for this letter is wrapped up in three words—mercy, peace and love. This is different from the greetings of Pauline literature with the perpetual, “Grace and Peace to you” extensions. Jude seeks to expand on that and his goal for the letter is that by its conclusion, if it is to make a difference in the lives of the people then mercy, peace and love will become more evident than ever in their relationships.
These short verses raise a variety of seemingly scattered questions. I think we are invited to examine, first, how we define ourselves. What level of credibility must we gain among other Christians in order to set theological perspectives straight? Is it even worth the effort in our modern day to attempt what Jude is attempting here? Certainly, we have false teachers among our culture! Do we just let them be? What about these issues of mercy, peace and love? How do we practice these and what merit do they really have?
Hopefully, Jude will take us toward some profound answers. Though, we must remember, that in a book this short there is little ground that he can cover theological speaking. There simply isn’t enough time and space for great depth so from the get-go as readers we are invited to a posture of grace toward our author!
Wishing you mercy, peace and love as we begin another chapter of the journey!
Jude 1:1-2
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”
Son of John Lewis, the late former pastor of The First Baptist Church of Raleigh; Son of Tom Hearn the former President of Wake Forest University; Son of Kirby Godsey former President of Mercer University; Son of Bill Stillerman current President of the Baptist Retirement Homes; Daughter of R. G. Puckett, Editor Emeritus of The Biblical Recorder (the newspaper for Baptists in North Carolina); Daughter of Denny Spear, former North Carolina Baptist Pastor and leader during turbulent civil rights struggles in Eastern North Carolina.
All of these people (David Lewis, Tom Hearn, Raleigh Godsey, Todd Stillerman, Janet Wade and Julie Hammond) are members of our church family and are great leaders in their own rights, but in Baptist circles, when I say something about these fine leaders of our church family, I have to utilize the reference points of their fathers in order to communicate how fortunate we are to have these among us!
In the same way, the author of Jude has to establish himself in relation to others that people would know—servant of Jesus Christ and he just so happens to be the brother of the well-known James. It is thought that this Jude is probably Jesus’ brother as well. At this point in Christian history, Jude realizes how well known James has become and introducing himself as a relative of James gives him a new level of credibility.
In the course of this short letter, Jude seeks to correct the teachings of those who have falsely represented the Gospel and like the writing of a thesis paper, his thesis for this letter is wrapped up in three words—mercy, peace and love. This is different from the greetings of Pauline literature with the perpetual, “Grace and Peace to you” extensions. Jude seeks to expand on that and his goal for the letter is that by its conclusion, if it is to make a difference in the lives of the people then mercy, peace and love will become more evident than ever in their relationships.
These short verses raise a variety of seemingly scattered questions. I think we are invited to examine, first, how we define ourselves. What level of credibility must we gain among other Christians in order to set theological perspectives straight? Is it even worth the effort in our modern day to attempt what Jude is attempting here? Certainly, we have false teachers among our culture! Do we just let them be? What about these issues of mercy, peace and love? How do we practice these and what merit do they really have?
Hopefully, Jude will take us toward some profound answers. Though, we must remember, that in a book this short there is little ground that he can cover theological speaking. There simply isn’t enough time and space for great depth so from the get-go as readers we are invited to a posture of grace toward our author!
Wishing you mercy, peace and love as we begin another chapter of the journey!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Choosing Obedience
July 2, 2008
Philemon 1:21-25
“Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
Have you ever met a really manipulative person? Manipulative and controlling people will use any angle they can find to accomplish whatever it is that they want. It would be easy for us to see Paul in that fashion. The words “confident of your obedience” at first glance suggest that kind of perspective that says, “I know you will do what I tell you to do or else there will be consequences.” This perspective aims at instilling fear in other people.
But that is not at all the perspective that Paul is trying to communicate. Paul is not that way because Paul has a strong relationship with God in which he understands that fear is not from God but love. So we are invited instead to see his words as a simple affirmation that suggests, “I know that you will do this because I know your heart.” Paul does know Philemon’s heart. They are close friends and they cherish each other’s opinions. Paul has been Philemon’s spiritual leader and he knows that a strong bond of trust exists between them. This perspective is rooted in love and his words that Philemon should prepare a guest room for him simply suggest an affirmation of that relationship. There is no doubt here that Philemon will do the loving thing, the right thing and the radical thing of freeing Onesimus one way or another because Philemon, like Paul, is a man of God’s love.
To me this passage is about where we choose to place our obedience. The oppressive, power hungry people of our lives like for us to believe that our obedience belongs with them and to them. Maybe you have people in your life like that. Maybe there are places that you are placing your obedience that don’t feel right to you but you know not where else to place it. This passage is a call to place our obedience with God, to always allow God to be our default and in the face of difficult decisions to trust that in our obedience to God the right paths for our lives will unfold. My prayer for us is that we will have the strength to lend our obedience to God in all things and that God will bring an ease to our lives for our faithfulness. May it be so! Amen.
Philemon 1:21-25
“Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
Have you ever met a really manipulative person? Manipulative and controlling people will use any angle they can find to accomplish whatever it is that they want. It would be easy for us to see Paul in that fashion. The words “confident of your obedience” at first glance suggest that kind of perspective that says, “I know you will do what I tell you to do or else there will be consequences.” This perspective aims at instilling fear in other people.
But that is not at all the perspective that Paul is trying to communicate. Paul is not that way because Paul has a strong relationship with God in which he understands that fear is not from God but love. So we are invited instead to see his words as a simple affirmation that suggests, “I know that you will do this because I know your heart.” Paul does know Philemon’s heart. They are close friends and they cherish each other’s opinions. Paul has been Philemon’s spiritual leader and he knows that a strong bond of trust exists between them. This perspective is rooted in love and his words that Philemon should prepare a guest room for him simply suggest an affirmation of that relationship. There is no doubt here that Philemon will do the loving thing, the right thing and the radical thing of freeing Onesimus one way or another because Philemon, like Paul, is a man of God’s love.
To me this passage is about where we choose to place our obedience. The oppressive, power hungry people of our lives like for us to believe that our obedience belongs with them and to them. Maybe you have people in your life like that. Maybe there are places that you are placing your obedience that don’t feel right to you but you know not where else to place it. This passage is a call to place our obedience with God, to always allow God to be our default and in the face of difficult decisions to trust that in our obedience to God the right paths for our lives will unfold. My prayer for us is that we will have the strength to lend our obedience to God in all things and that God will bring an ease to our lives for our faithfulness. May it be so! Amen.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Freedom from Oppression
June 25, 2008
Philemon 1:8-20
“For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.”
In his famous piece entitled Meditation XVII, John Donne writes that, “no man is an island entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main, if any piece be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or thine own were, any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind . . ..”
When I read this passage of Paul, I cannot help but think of John Donne’s writing of this piece. Of course, Paul is not writing about death exactly but by its very nature slavery is a death. It is a death of equality and a death of Christian values. Paul, understanding this fact, calls Philemon to a new and radical means of operating in that society. It would have been easy for him to admonish Philemon out of his position as a respected teacher but as a friend Paul wants Philemon to realize the essence of what it means to be a Christian. Christians stick out in society. They are meant to be different because at their very base level they love. That is their default system—love. If Philemon, as a Christian, is going to be involved in humankind, he has to see Onesimus on the same plane as himself. Paul can’t deny that what Onesimus has done is not wrong. He’s stolen from Philemon and proven to not live up to his very name that means “useful.” So Philemon is called not only to forgiveness but also toward being a bearer of freedom.
I listen to many of you talk about your jobs in these great big corporations where you are working 80 hour weeks, barely seeing your families, not finding fulfillment and at the mercy of the bosses and in some cases still struggling to make ends meet. In listening to you, I find myself appalled that in the year 2008 we still live in this society that condones slavery. It has just taken a slightly different form. Just because you need to make a dollar, you are confined to a position that offers less than what you desire and I so long to find a way to help you find empowerment over the inequities that both remain and confine us within our society. From my idealistic vantage point, these things should not be. Unfortunately, I am no Paul. I cannot waltz into your offices and call your bosses to loving postures thus I am left feeling helpless for your situations. I realize that there are many other ways in which we all feel helpless in the face of inequalities and so I ask you what your answer is. I’m inclined to believe that it is wrapped up in the practice of our love toward others. The question is, then, what does the practicality of that look like in our work environments, in our relationships with oppressive people and in any form that modern slavery may take. My prayer is that in the face of our oppression, whatever form that takes, that we will find peace and freedom. Amen
Philemon 1:8-20
“For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.”
In his famous piece entitled Meditation XVII, John Donne writes that, “no man is an island entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main, if any piece be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or thine own were, any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind . . ..”
When I read this passage of Paul, I cannot help but think of John Donne’s writing of this piece. Of course, Paul is not writing about death exactly but by its very nature slavery is a death. It is a death of equality and a death of Christian values. Paul, understanding this fact, calls Philemon to a new and radical means of operating in that society. It would have been easy for him to admonish Philemon out of his position as a respected teacher but as a friend Paul wants Philemon to realize the essence of what it means to be a Christian. Christians stick out in society. They are meant to be different because at their very base level they love. That is their default system—love. If Philemon, as a Christian, is going to be involved in humankind, he has to see Onesimus on the same plane as himself. Paul can’t deny that what Onesimus has done is not wrong. He’s stolen from Philemon and proven to not live up to his very name that means “useful.” So Philemon is called not only to forgiveness but also toward being a bearer of freedom.
I listen to many of you talk about your jobs in these great big corporations where you are working 80 hour weeks, barely seeing your families, not finding fulfillment and at the mercy of the bosses and in some cases still struggling to make ends meet. In listening to you, I find myself appalled that in the year 2008 we still live in this society that condones slavery. It has just taken a slightly different form. Just because you need to make a dollar, you are confined to a position that offers less than what you desire and I so long to find a way to help you find empowerment over the inequities that both remain and confine us within our society. From my idealistic vantage point, these things should not be. Unfortunately, I am no Paul. I cannot waltz into your offices and call your bosses to loving postures thus I am left feeling helpless for your situations. I realize that there are many other ways in which we all feel helpless in the face of inequalities and so I ask you what your answer is. I’m inclined to believe that it is wrapped up in the practice of our love toward others. The question is, then, what does the practicality of that look like in our work environments, in our relationships with oppressive people and in any form that modern slavery may take. My prayer is that in the face of our oppression, whatever form that takes, that we will find peace and freedom. Amen
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Refreshed Saints
June 18, 2008
Philemon 1:4-7
“When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all of the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.”
When I was coming along, my youth leaders would take us on retreats and they would post sheets of construction paper all around the room. Each person’s name was on one of those sheets that became known as IALAC cards. IALAC stood for I Am Lovable And Capable. During the course of the weekend, each person was to go around the room and write something on the cards of other people that demonstrated to them the person was lovable and capable. At the conclusion of the weekend, people would go home with their cards and on a sad day they could pull the cards out and get a lift!
In some ways this is like Paul’s IALAC card to Philemon. At first, we are led to believe that Paul and Philemon don’t know each other very well but as the scripture goes on we find that Paul has been instrumental in Philemon’s faith. At this point, it is as if Paul is buttering Philemon up for something that he wants to ask him to do later.
When I read these words several questions come to mind for me that I would pose to you today. Paul is beginning to call Philemon to an active example of his friend’s faith. This begs the question, how do our actions demonstrate our faith? If people in the car next to us look over at us, can they see a person of faith? What is it that we think that they see? What is that we want others to see? What justifications do we make for ourselves as we are striving to live a Christian life?
As we think about the fact that Philemon is a slave-owner and a Christian, we know that Paul is about to call him to a radical life change. So our challenge this week, may well be to identify the ways in which we are called to radical life change within our own hearts. What does that look like for you? Whatever it looks like, may we be found as those who have the “hearts of the saints” and may others be “refreshed through” us. Amen.
Philemon 1:4-7
“When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all of the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.”
When I was coming along, my youth leaders would take us on retreats and they would post sheets of construction paper all around the room. Each person’s name was on one of those sheets that became known as IALAC cards. IALAC stood for I Am Lovable And Capable. During the course of the weekend, each person was to go around the room and write something on the cards of other people that demonstrated to them the person was lovable and capable. At the conclusion of the weekend, people would go home with their cards and on a sad day they could pull the cards out and get a lift!
In some ways this is like Paul’s IALAC card to Philemon. At first, we are led to believe that Paul and Philemon don’t know each other very well but as the scripture goes on we find that Paul has been instrumental in Philemon’s faith. At this point, it is as if Paul is buttering Philemon up for something that he wants to ask him to do later.
When I read these words several questions come to mind for me that I would pose to you today. Paul is beginning to call Philemon to an active example of his friend’s faith. This begs the question, how do our actions demonstrate our faith? If people in the car next to us look over at us, can they see a person of faith? What is it that we think that they see? What is that we want others to see? What justifications do we make for ourselves as we are striving to live a Christian life?
As we think about the fact that Philemon is a slave-owner and a Christian, we know that Paul is about to call him to a radical life change. So our challenge this week, may well be to identify the ways in which we are called to radical life change within our own hearts. What does that look like for you? Whatever it looks like, may we be found as those who have the “hearts of the saints” and may others be “refreshed through” us. Amen.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Letters of You
June 11, 2008
Philemon 1:1-3
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Maybe in our day and age it happens most at funeral services. I cannot think of a time other than that when it happens, but maybe you can. I’m referring to the reading of a personal letter in the context of a public audience. Sometimes we hear letters that the deceased has sent to others and sometimes we hear of letters sent to them. Maybe it happens in the context of formal commendations. If we put our heads together, we could probably think of a number of ways in which this happens.
This epistle to Philemon is exactly that—a personal letter to be read in the context of a larger church setting. The church setting would have been a house church maybe of no more than twenty or so people that met in Philemon’s home. We can surmise that Paul is the one writing the letter and most likely it is being written about the same time that the Colossians letter was written and sent. Tychicus, who carried the letter to Colossae, is likely carrying this letter as well and is probably traveling with Onesimus who is the topic of this letter as we shall see.
Paul offers the traditional greeting in these verses to Philemon, Apphia (who is likely to be Philemon’s wife) and Archippus who may have been a family member a well. Notice the address to Philemon. Paul intentionally calls him his dear friend and co-worker. This address speaks to the point that will play out in the letter—that we are to treat each other as equals with respect and Christian love.
For now, in these words, Paul extends his love and care to these people and hopes for a profitable communication.
These words of scripture are not unlike the many letters that we have studied already but maybe they can prompt us to begin thinking about a number of things:
1. In what ways are we prisoners for Christ Jesus or can we even say that about ourselves?
2. Are we guilty of dealing with each other in unequal fashion? If so, how do we seek to remedy this?
3. If a letter were read about you in a public fashion, what would you hope that letter would say?
4. Do we live our lives as if someone were reading that desired letter publicly?
Knowing myself as a sinner, I know my answers to these questions easily and they remain for me a challenge. I hope you find in your answers a sense of challenge but also a sense of great hope! God’s best to you!
Philemon 1:1-3
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Maybe in our day and age it happens most at funeral services. I cannot think of a time other than that when it happens, but maybe you can. I’m referring to the reading of a personal letter in the context of a public audience. Sometimes we hear letters that the deceased has sent to others and sometimes we hear of letters sent to them. Maybe it happens in the context of formal commendations. If we put our heads together, we could probably think of a number of ways in which this happens.
This epistle to Philemon is exactly that—a personal letter to be read in the context of a larger church setting. The church setting would have been a house church maybe of no more than twenty or so people that met in Philemon’s home. We can surmise that Paul is the one writing the letter and most likely it is being written about the same time that the Colossians letter was written and sent. Tychicus, who carried the letter to Colossae, is likely carrying this letter as well and is probably traveling with Onesimus who is the topic of this letter as we shall see.
Paul offers the traditional greeting in these verses to Philemon, Apphia (who is likely to be Philemon’s wife) and Archippus who may have been a family member a well. Notice the address to Philemon. Paul intentionally calls him his dear friend and co-worker. This address speaks to the point that will play out in the letter—that we are to treat each other as equals with respect and Christian love.
For now, in these words, Paul extends his love and care to these people and hopes for a profitable communication.
These words of scripture are not unlike the many letters that we have studied already but maybe they can prompt us to begin thinking about a number of things:
1. In what ways are we prisoners for Christ Jesus or can we even say that about ourselves?
2. Are we guilty of dealing with each other in unequal fashion? If so, how do we seek to remedy this?
3. If a letter were read about you in a public fashion, what would you hope that letter would say?
4. Do we live our lives as if someone were reading that desired letter publicly?
Knowing myself as a sinner, I know my answers to these questions easily and they remain for me a challenge. I hope you find in your answers a sense of challenge but also a sense of great hope! God’s best to you!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Grains of Sand
June 4, 2008
Colossians 4:7-18
“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting, with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”
“To be a grain of sand lost on a beach with millions of other grains is to be nothing.” I recently read these words of David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates as they wrote about a certain personality type. It struck me as completely contrary to how Paul would interpret life. Paul was aware that he had a calling and that every one of us has a calling. Our callings take different shapes and forms but each of us is called to a purpose.
As Paul closes this letter, he takes the usual form of sending greetings to and from significant people in his ministry. Tychicus is his friend and courier in this effort. Onesimus is Philemon’s slave. John Mark and Paul once had an estranged relationship but now he, Aristarchus and Jesus Justus are imprisoned with Paul. Epaphras is someone that they know well and who had a role in bringing a sense of assurance to the people when foreign teachings were upsetting them. Luke, Paul’s physician, Demas and Nympha would all have played important roles in Paul’s ministry. All of these people were central to Paul’s ministry but there is one named about whom we know little and yet who is most significant. Archippus may well have been a member of Philemon’s family. It is noted that he has some sort of calling left to fulfill. Some might assume that his calling is wrapped up in the freeing of Onesimus. We simply don’t know.
What is significant here is that Paul is living in prison, in chains and manacles. In the midst of this difficult life he understands that for all of the sufferings and struggles of life, he is a grain of sand that matters and he knows that his obedience to that call is what brings his spiritual freedom. This raises two significant questions. First, what is your call? And second, are we giving appropriate obedience to our calls? What does life and world look like when we do? Are we grains of sand with millions of others that equate to nothing or is there significance to our living? A few questions to ponder as we leave this book! God’s best! -Blythe
Colossians 4:7-18
“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting, with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”
“To be a grain of sand lost on a beach with millions of other grains is to be nothing.” I recently read these words of David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates as they wrote about a certain personality type. It struck me as completely contrary to how Paul would interpret life. Paul was aware that he had a calling and that every one of us has a calling. Our callings take different shapes and forms but each of us is called to a purpose.
As Paul closes this letter, he takes the usual form of sending greetings to and from significant people in his ministry. Tychicus is his friend and courier in this effort. Onesimus is Philemon’s slave. John Mark and Paul once had an estranged relationship but now he, Aristarchus and Jesus Justus are imprisoned with Paul. Epaphras is someone that they know well and who had a role in bringing a sense of assurance to the people when foreign teachings were upsetting them. Luke, Paul’s physician, Demas and Nympha would all have played important roles in Paul’s ministry. All of these people were central to Paul’s ministry but there is one named about whom we know little and yet who is most significant. Archippus may well have been a member of Philemon’s family. It is noted that he has some sort of calling left to fulfill. Some might assume that his calling is wrapped up in the freeing of Onesimus. We simply don’t know.
What is significant here is that Paul is living in prison, in chains and manacles. In the midst of this difficult life he understands that for all of the sufferings and struggles of life, he is a grain of sand that matters and he knows that his obedience to that call is what brings his spiritual freedom. This raises two significant questions. First, what is your call? And second, are we giving appropriate obedience to our calls? What does life and world look like when we do? Are we grains of sand with millions of others that equate to nothing or is there significance to our living? A few questions to ponder as we leave this book! God’s best! -Blythe
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Spiritual dominoes
May 28, 2008
Colossians 4:2-6
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.”
We had a dominoes game in our home when I was growing up, but I am embarrassed to tell you that I never learned to play it. Instead, I took the dominoes and lined them up to see if I could make them fall with each domino hitting the successive domino in the line. It was only moments ago that my friend, Peggy, educated me in the game. After hearing her instruction, it struck me that the Christian life is like dominoes. Some of us have the game—we say we are Christian—but we never play it—we don’t really live the life. We fail to prove by our living and our relating to others that we are living out of a spiritual relationship with God.
Then it dawned on me that this passage is very similar to my way of playing with the dominoes. There is an effect that each “spiritual” domino, if you will, has on the next one. Let’s say we choose to engage in prayer. We begin, then, with the prayer domino. Paul says that we should devote ourselves to prayer. We have to be intentional about making time to pray and listen to God. If we invest in that prayer domino we find that it falls naturally into the “Source relationship” domino.
This second domino is the place where because of our dedication to prayer and listening to God, we begin to recognize that we have a relationship with God, who is our Source. We develop a new connection that engages both the mind and the spirit. This Source relationship domino then naturally taps the transformation domino.
At the stage of the third domino, we have committed ourselves to prayer, have a relationship with God and come to look honestly at ourselves. When we look in the spiritual mirror we see that our hearts are experiencing positive transformation. We are beginning to become gracious among other positive qualities. This domino falls then toward the thanksgiving domino.
When we reach the fourth domino of the spiritual life, not only do we have a committed prayer life, a growing relationship with God and are seeing the effects within ourselves, now we realize how very grateful we are for what God is doing in our lives. This puts us into a new and right disposition of love. We find that we are exhilarated by our growth and by the things that are happening in our lives. With that experience, our domino falls toward the “other relationship” domino.
At this fifth stage, we realize that our personal transformation is not only affecting us, it begins to affect the way that we interact with others. Our relationships begin to improve because some things have changed within us that allow us to respond to others less out of self and more out of love. We suddenly are able to utilize tools that in some cases might be new to us and in other cases might be things we understood only intellectually. Now, thanks to our rooting in prayer, we understand them experientially. This in turn causes our domino to tap the domino of someone else.
At this last stage, someone else becomes the beneficiary of our transformation and wants to know how we have claimed such peace. How have our lives been transformed? They too begin to want to play this came of spiritual dominoes and so they set up their prayer domino and the cycle begins for them.
This is Paul’s message of the passage: that Christ transforms the lives of others when we allow ourselves to be transformed by Christ. We begin to see that we aren’t separate from each other—that at our core—we are all spiritual beings—we just have to claim that status. Life is easier for us and for everyone around us when we choose that status.
Today, Paul asks us to take a hard look at our lives and determine if they are flavorful. If not, then all we have to do is start to play the spiritual domino game. Even if we’ve been Christians in name for a long time, we can begin to play at any moment by simply starting to pray.
Today, I would ask, are you willing to look honestly at your life? Are you able to discern places of growth—both where you need to grow and where you have allowed God to transform you? What are those places for you? Where on the cycle of the spiritual domino game to you need to invest effort? There is always room for growth for each one of us. We simply have to choose to play the game. This day may we find joy in the experiences of our Christian living! Amen.
Colossians 4:2-6
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.”
We had a dominoes game in our home when I was growing up, but I am embarrassed to tell you that I never learned to play it. Instead, I took the dominoes and lined them up to see if I could make them fall with each domino hitting the successive domino in the line. It was only moments ago that my friend, Peggy, educated me in the game. After hearing her instruction, it struck me that the Christian life is like dominoes. Some of us have the game—we say we are Christian—but we never play it—we don’t really live the life. We fail to prove by our living and our relating to others that we are living out of a spiritual relationship with God.
Then it dawned on me that this passage is very similar to my way of playing with the dominoes. There is an effect that each “spiritual” domino, if you will, has on the next one. Let’s say we choose to engage in prayer. We begin, then, with the prayer domino. Paul says that we should devote ourselves to prayer. We have to be intentional about making time to pray and listen to God. If we invest in that prayer domino we find that it falls naturally into the “Source relationship” domino.
This second domino is the place where because of our dedication to prayer and listening to God, we begin to recognize that we have a relationship with God, who is our Source. We develop a new connection that engages both the mind and the spirit. This Source relationship domino then naturally taps the transformation domino.
At the stage of the third domino, we have committed ourselves to prayer, have a relationship with God and come to look honestly at ourselves. When we look in the spiritual mirror we see that our hearts are experiencing positive transformation. We are beginning to become gracious among other positive qualities. This domino falls then toward the thanksgiving domino.
When we reach the fourth domino of the spiritual life, not only do we have a committed prayer life, a growing relationship with God and are seeing the effects within ourselves, now we realize how very grateful we are for what God is doing in our lives. This puts us into a new and right disposition of love. We find that we are exhilarated by our growth and by the things that are happening in our lives. With that experience, our domino falls toward the “other relationship” domino.
At this fifth stage, we realize that our personal transformation is not only affecting us, it begins to affect the way that we interact with others. Our relationships begin to improve because some things have changed within us that allow us to respond to others less out of self and more out of love. We suddenly are able to utilize tools that in some cases might be new to us and in other cases might be things we understood only intellectually. Now, thanks to our rooting in prayer, we understand them experientially. This in turn causes our domino to tap the domino of someone else.
At this last stage, someone else becomes the beneficiary of our transformation and wants to know how we have claimed such peace. How have our lives been transformed? They too begin to want to play this came of spiritual dominoes and so they set up their prayer domino and the cycle begins for them.
This is Paul’s message of the passage: that Christ transforms the lives of others when we allow ourselves to be transformed by Christ. We begin to see that we aren’t separate from each other—that at our core—we are all spiritual beings—we just have to claim that status. Life is easier for us and for everyone around us when we choose that status.
Today, Paul asks us to take a hard look at our lives and determine if they are flavorful. If not, then all we have to do is start to play the spiritual domino game. Even if we’ve been Christians in name for a long time, we can begin to play at any moment by simply starting to pray.
Today, I would ask, are you willing to look honestly at your life? Are you able to discern places of growth—both where you need to grow and where you have allowed God to transform you? What are those places for you? Where on the cycle of the spiritual domino game to you need to invest effort? There is always room for growth for each one of us. We simply have to choose to play the game. This day may we find joy in the experiences of our Christian living! Amen.
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