No Distinctions

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27-28

It is human to make distinctions between people.  We love to decide who's in and who's out, who counts and who doesn't.  Our country is founded on the principles of making distinctions between people.  First it was the Native Americans who were deemed to be less than deserving of their land.  Because they were considered less than fully human the early immigrants decided they could justify their genocidal agenda.  Then it was the highly lucrative slave trade.  Because Africans were subhuman they could be used as property and exploited in order to generate more profit for the burgeoning cotton market.  In fact many pastors and religious leaders used the bible to justify slavery. Women were oppressed and kept from voting, gays and lesbians are denied the right to marry and receive benefits, and the poor are constantly blamed and told they are undeserving.  This is a brief sketch at how we as a society have made distinctions and share in a national history that is deeply flawed and troubling. 
As individuals we too make distinctions about people who matter and people who don't.  But, as Paul reminds us, in Christ there are no distinctions.  In Christ these differences are not important.  Through Christ we share a deep connection to every person.  We are all children of God.  So what should this mean for how we live?  There are of course those who can bend these scriptures to imply that in the heavenly realm these distinctions will dissolve, even as they remain in place.  After all, Paul never condemned slavery.  But do not be misled.  God's saving grace has deep ramifications for eternal life and life here and now.  Because God makes no distinctions, we are called to see all people as children of God.  Because God loves all people, we are called to love all.  Until we confront our own sinful tendency to discriminate and make distinctions we cannot truly understand the deepness of God's love--it is truly a radical for all kind of love.  The kind of love that changes everything.

Living on Purpose

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ⁵“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5

We are all here for a reason, created by God for a purpose.  No one is here by accident; we all matter to God.  The call story of Jeremiah is powerful because it implies that God had created him to be a prophet, he was set apart prior to his birth for God's purposes.  I believe this is true for each of us.  The difficulty for many is that divine declarations such as this are rather uncommon.  Very rarely does God issue edicts from on high that are easily understood and followed.  Instead we each must discern God's call in our life.  We each must discover who God created us to be.  For some this journey takes a lifetime, while others know very early. 
The key to discovering our purpose is to truly believe that we are here for a reason, that our life has significance. A second step is to find our passion or gift.  God has created us just the way we are and for a reason.  We get into trouble when we compare ourselves to others or try to be something we are not.  God made you the way you are and not like someone else.  Finally, when we connect our gifts and passions to helping others we often find our purpose.  God made us who we are for a reason and that reason is to love and serve others.  When we employ our whole selves for the sake of others--in whatever form it may take--we are fulfilling our purpose. 
For Jeremiah this meant becoming a prophet who would speak God's word to God's people.  He would comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  His words would not be popular but he would change hearts and lives.  So it is with us.  When we discover God's purpose for our life we are not guaranteed riches or comfort, an easy life or acclaim.  But we will discover who we are and find deep fulfillment.  We will be tested and go through hardship, but we will emerge as God's people.  May we become God's people, bringing forth light and life into a dark, troubled, and broken world.

Cheerful Giving

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

When we give we should give as God does--willingly and generously.  When we learn to be generous with all we have we experience a deep joy that no amount of riches can match.  Paul argues that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly--those who hold back and are not generous will not receive the benefits of being generous.  They will not experience the deep trust that takes place, they will not experience the joy of being part of something bigger than their self.  We are called to give as a way to honor and thank God, but it also gives the giver a deep fulfillment and sense of purpose.  This is why God loves a cheerful giver because the result of becoming generous is joy.

But how do we get there?  How can we convince ourselves or our spouse or anyone else to take the generosity plunge?  Rather than wait for someone to cognitively believe what Paul suggests before becoming generous, I would submit that we need to behave our way into new belief.  We must begin to act more generously to begin to believe that generosity builds trust.  We must give ourselves away first in order to understand the joy that comes.  If we wait until we believe in order to act, it will not happen.  This is why scripture so often frames giving as a command, because if it were not commanded no one would do it! But God knows what we need and knows how blessed we will be when we give.  God is the most generous giver, and when we become generous we share in a small way "the image of God."  May we behave our way into new belief.

To the Wealthy

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, ¹⁹thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.  1 Timothy 6:17-19

Most likely you are, like me, are not rich.  But by worldly standards if you own a car, have indoor plumbing, food each day, and a roof over your head you are in fact rich compared to others in the world.  So this scripture is important to understand for we who have been given much.  The spiritual issue of wealth and possessions centers around ownership.  If we understand that God has created everything and given us all that we have--that God is in a sense the owner of all creation--then we rightly understand ourselves as stewards of God's gifts.  A steward is a caretaker of another's property.  A steward is deeply committed to ensure that the goods in their possession are cared for and used properly.  A biblical understanding of money and possessions starts here.  We have been given much to care for, but how we use it should reflect God's values.  It matters to God how we spend our money.  It matters to God how we use our time.  It matters to God how we employ our God-given gifts and talents.  We must continually remember that God is the owner and we are to be good stewards.  With this clear understanding the call to be generous flows naturally.  In a world where there is a great inequality and a deep and growing chasm between the wealthy and the poor, what is the response of people of faith?  1 Timothy suggests that being generous not only honors God, but unlocks for the wealthy "the life that really is life."  When we become more and more generous with what we have, we discover the divine joy of giving.

Fruit of the Spirit

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23

There is no law against these things.  For some reason I find this phrase in scripture quite humorous and revealing.  Why would there be a law against any of those things?  I know that when Paul talks about the law he is talking about the Old Testament laws that guided the faith and community life of the Jewish people, but can you imagine if there were laws that forbid such things?  It is unlawful to love others. It is unlawful to have peace and patience.  It is unlawful to be generous or faithful, to be gentle or exhibit self-control. Hard to imagine that these ultra positive, relationship building and sustaining virtues would ever be considered against the law. Yet, Paul adds this tidbit.

They key to understanding this passage is these virtues are the fruit of the spirit.  The holy spirit produces these qualities in us.  On our own we function like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are against the law because we rarely do them on our own.  Left to our own devices and agendas we will rarely love others, we are anxious and need to control, we will lack patience with others, we will hold back and do not give, we will not have the courage and strength to be faithful, we will treat people harshly, and we will lack self-control with our appetites and urges.  Without the intervening of the spirit, we cannot produce the fruit of the spirit.  We need God's presence in our life to live out the best of ourselves.  We need the spirit in our life to lead us to a life worth living.  Without God and the work of the spirit in our life we function like virtues are illegal.  So let us submit ourselves to the spirit's work and allow God to lead us.

Giving All

He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; ⁴for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:3-4

 

 

As people came to the temple to worship they brought forth offerings.  Jesus noticed that those who were rich offered large amounts while a poor widow put in two small copper coins.  He then praises the widow for her generosity and chastises the rich for only giving from their abundance.  Being a generous and giving person is not so much about how much we give, but how much we trust.  Do you trust God to provide for all of your needs and thus enjoy the freedom to be generous with all you have?  Or do you only give from your abundance, holding back and staying safe?  Jesus challenges us to give all of ourselves, to hold nothing back.  What holds you back?  What is keeping you from trusting God more fully?  Giving is a place in our spiritual life where we made need to behave our way into new beliefs.  We may need to become more generous in order to increase our trust, rather than developing more trust in order to become more generous.  The widow had little but gave all, how about you? 

The Macedonians

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; ²for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, ⁴begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints

 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

 

Throughout his missionary journeys Paul was able to form relationships for Christ with many different people in many different places.  As he went from place to place he preached the gospel, established churches, and trained leaders.  Once a local church was in place he moved on to the next location and began again.  What we have recorded in the scriptures is Paul’s correspondence with the churches he established.  The correspondence often took the form of encouragement, ongoing instruction, and addressing issues within the church. 

Paul also was collecting money from each the churches he worked with to help support the church in Jerusalem.  In this passage, Paul encourages the church in Corinth by citing the example of the Macedonian church, who while poor gave generously to support the Jerusalem church.  The church in Corinth had more wealth and Paul believed they needed to become more generous in their giving.  It is reasonable to assume that Paul had mentioned the Jerusalem collection before and had not received a favorable response—otherwise it would not be in the letter.  The Macedonians gave generously in spite of limited means, even begging to be part of the broader church.  The Corinthians seemed to have fallen into the trap of turning inward and denying the connections to their sisters and brothers in the larger church. 

What might this mean for us today?  Are we more like the Macedonians or the Corinthians?  Do we see giving as a privilege we enjoy to be part of what God is going in the world?  Or is giving an obligation that we reluctantly participate in?  The attitude we bring to what we have makes all the difference.  The Macedonians lived in thanksgiving for what God had done in their lives, and from their thanks came generous gifts.  Paul holds them up as an example of faithfulness in order to inspire others.  I pray we might all be so inspired!

Contentment

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13

When Paul writes the Philippians he writes from prison awaiting his death sentence.  As he writes the church at Philippi he writes of having found a place of such deep contentment that he can do all things through Christ.  Paul has such deep trust in God that he can endure suffering, pain, and the knowledge that he will be put to death for his faith.  Paul is content in times of abundance and in times of great need.  This is a faith to live for! This is the spiritual maturity that comes through a lifetime of faithfulness and trials.  Paul was continuingly tested in his ministry and endured great hardship.  Each test however led Paul to a greater trust and stronger faith.  The secret is trusting God is with us even when life is difficult.  The secret is knowing that God has already written the end of the story--the story of the full redemption and restoration of all creation, including us!.  The secret is a faith that is bigger than anything we face in this life.  Paul writes to the church and shares his faith because he knows that we too will face trials.  He encourages us all to develop the kind of faith that can find contentment in all conditions and truly believe that through Christ all things are possible.  When we know this in our heart we will have real peace, real contentment that the world cannot offer.

 

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Philippians 1:21

Greed

And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15

How much is enough?  How many things in our life do we need before we can feel secure?  Jesus tells his followers to be on guard against all kinds of greed because he understands how easy it is to get sucked into a materialistic lifestyle.  When we think of greed we often confine our thinking narrowly.  We think of the super rich scrooge like person who has achieved their wealth by depriving others and is a terrible and miserly person.  This is greed but only an extreme version.  The spiritual issue Jesus is concerned with is having anything come before God--it is about idolatry.  In terms of our possessions, greed takes the form of possessions possessing us.  Are there things you accumulate and collect?  Are there things you cannot live without?  This would be a good place to begin to take inventory. 
The cultural phenomenon we need to be aware of in regards to possessions is our insatiable appetite for more.  It is not just that we have too much stuff, but it is the frequency that we feel we must replace the old with the new.  I find myself getting lured into this kind of thinking frequently.  We need a new TV because our old one isn't a flat screen high definition.  The old one still works fine.  We need new phones because they don't have internet or other new features, but our old phones still work.  We sometimes dream of new furniture that would be updated and stylish, but our current furniture is still functional and comfortable.  In the past I have found myself thinking of new cars, a new house, and new gadgets that would make life more enjoyable.  This is the lie we all buy into--that new stuff we make our lives better.  Sometimes we do need something new, but mostly we want it.  Our desire for more becomes an appetite and perhaps an addiction.  It also keeps us from being thankful for what we have and makes contentment impossible.  Jesus knew that kind of anxiety-filled life that a possession driven mentality produces.  He knew the lure of abundance and the false comfort of things.  He knew and warned us.  May we take a deep look at our own lives and be on guard!

Judgment and Repent

Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. ¹²For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. Amos 5:11-12

How we spend our money matters to God and reveals our true values.  All we have is a gift from God and we called to good stewards of the resources at our disposal.  God's hope is that we would use our resources to be a blessing in the world.  Far too often however, we use our resources for our own purposes and neglect God's commands.  Each of us is called to repent and seek the transforming power of God's love.  The good news is that we are given a new chance and a new way through Christ.  But every now and then we need to hear from Amos and the prophets. 
Amos offers a startling indictment against the people of Israel.  They have forgotten the goodness and mercy of God and failed to care for the poor.  They have built beautiful homes, pleasant vineyards, and have an abundance of everything while they "trample" on the poor.  God's judgment comes in the form of the Assyrians who will conquer God's people and lead them away in exile.  Because they have neglected to love their neighbor and remember God's goodness and commands, they are no longer under the blessings of God.  Similarly, when we lead lives that are against God's vision for life we will struggle to find peace, happiness, and meaning in life.  It doesn't mean God is punishing those who oppose God's ways.  It means when we live life only for ourselves and neglect our neighbor we will reap what we sow.  We are the masters of our own destruction.  But it is not too late and despite the harshness of Amos' critique there is always hope in the voice of the prophets.  "Seek the Lord and live." (5:6)  Seek the Lord, seek out God's ways and you will be blessed and become a blessing for others.

Focus and Remember

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. ⁵You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

This passage is called the shema and it is a centerpiece in the Jewish faith.  It has traditionally been recited as a daily prayer and reminds the faithful of who God is, what God has done for the people, and how to respond.  The Lord has brought the people out of Egypt and into the land of Israel. (6:10-11)  The Lord has been faithful and fulfilled the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  What the Lord asks for is to be loved and not to forget.  The Lord asks of us to focus our lives on God and not forget the many blessings we have received from God.

It is all too easy to get distracted in life and forget the things that truly matter.  We can get caught up in our daily stress and grind and fail to give thanks.  We become consumed with the details and decisions, awash with anxiety and we forget to make God the center.  The shema is a clarion call to repent and return.  It is simple to understand but hard to live out.  Making God the center of our lives and not forgetting, is spiritually difficult but has the potential to transform our lives.  The ancient Israelites understood this.  The shema became the center of their prayer life and they were given instructions on how to pass the faith on to their children and future generations (6:6-9).  We need these same reminders today.  We need the shema as part of our daily spiritually discipline.  We need to focus and remember.

We Get Distracted

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:25

 

 At some level we truly do know that God is in charge.  We can acknowledge that God has created all things, given us all we have, and ultimately has and will be good to us in the future.  I think we get that--at least at a head level.  But we still worry. We still have trouble trusting.  We still find ourselves fixated on the small things in life and pay too little attention to the big things.  Jesus' words speak to the human condition of anxiety. We wonder about our health, our financial future, and our relationships.  The world around us is constantly changing and life is incredibly fragile.  So we worry and fret for ourselves and our loved ones and sometimes we get stuck in worry and mired in anxiety.  How can we move beyond this?

 

Jesus reminds his audience about the birds in the air and lilies in the field.  God has provided for their needs and they are free to live a life without worry.  "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (6:26) The birds do not store up food for tomorrow but trust that God will provide.  They have this trust because each day they find food.  The old adage that the best predictor of the future is the past seems apropos.  We can trust God to meet our needs because God has met our needs.  God has provided for us in the past and will provide for us in the future.  We may not be able to predict or control exactly what that looks like (there is a deep connection between a need to control and anxiety) but we will be ok.  We need to remember each day what God has done for us.  We need to give thanks for the many gifts of grace and love we have received.  By remembering and giving thanks we prod our worrying and anxious hearts to trust.



God is First

Then God spoke all these words: ²I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; ³you shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:1-3

 

Idolatry is a slippery thing.  We might think the first commandment is about worshipping foreign gods or statues, and it is.  But idolatry is also about the things that get in the way of our relationship with God.  When things other than God are first place in our lives they function as an idol.  It can be negative things like money or pride or power, but it can also be benign things like health and family and security.  The other gods in our lives beg us to trust them rather than God.  These other gods seek our attention and devotion and promise happiness, success, and security.  God called the Israelites to faithfulness and to remember all that God had done for them.  We need this reminder too.  We need to remember that God has given us all we have and will ever be.  We need to remember that God is God and nothing else is. God is calling us to a faithful life in which God comes first.  May we have the strength and wisdom to put God first and reject the siren song of the idols which call our name.

Focus on God

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  Matthew 6:19-20

Like most people, I have a lot of stuff.  I don't think about how much stuff I have very often; it is there but goes unseen. But I have a closet full of clothes, a full dresser, jackets, shoes, computers, furniture, gadgets, and lots of junk.  And I consider myself non-materialistic! I have been storing up for myself treasures on earth for sure!

When Jesus tells his listeners and us to store up treasures in heaven he is telling us to get our priorities straight.  Historically, he was most likely talking to people who were mostly in poverty and had very few possessions.  To them his message seems to be: do not aspire to be like the rich who hoard money and possessions, but instead focus your attention on God--the thing that really matters.  On the other hand, when you have a life of abundance and comfort you may not notice all that you have.  It can however become the focus.  We are not content to have enough, we have an appetite for more and more. 

The spiritual answer to wealth and possessions is developing deep trust in God and discovering contentment.  We need to realize that all we have is a gift from God and we are entrusted with what we have to give God glory.  God will continue to provide for our needs so we do not need to store up for ourselves and hoard.  This is challenging and difficult in our culture, but it helps unlock a life of more peace and a deeper sense of God's work in our life.  I am going to clean out my closet...

Spirit and Truth

The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ²⁰Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” ²¹Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. " John 4:19-21

There are occasions at church when someone will come, during now worship times, to pray in the sanctuary.  It doesn't happen too much, but when it does it is someone who seems troubled and is seeking out a space to connect with God.  God is certainly present in the church and it is understandable why people seek out so called "sacred spaces" to connect with God.  But is it only in the sacred places that we can meet God?

When the woman at the well meets Jesus she discusses the sacred space of the mountaintop which had been important to her ancestors and the sacred space of the temple in Jerusalem for the Jewish people.  Jesus refutes this whole worldview be asserting that it is not a space which makes an occasion sacred but the presence of the spirit.  We can have a moment with God anywhere at anytime.  We do not need to be at church, or in nature, or at an appointed time.  Jesus teaches the woman that God seeks those who will worship in "spirit and truth" (4:24).  What is needed to worship God in spirit is an openness to God's presence in our life.  God is everywhere all the time.  When we become aware of God's presence in our life and have eyes to see and ears to hear, then any place or time can be sacred.  To experience the sacred with must slow down, open our hearts, and let God's presence be revealed.

Revelation and Worship

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

What is the result of a lifetime of worshipping fully?  What happens to a person after dedicating their life to worship and prayer?  The story of Anna suggests it results in understanding what God is up to in the world.  Anna is a widow who has spent many years coming to the temple and dedicating her life to worshipping God.  The moment she sees the 8-day old Jesus she knows the truth.  It will be through this child that the redemption of Jerusalem will take place.  This child is the one they have been waiting for.  Anna sees Jesus and knows immediately. 

Like anything, the more we spend our time devoted in worship, prayer, and reading the word the more we will grow.  We do not become spiritual giants overnight.  Rather, we become more spiritually strong through a lifetime of discipline and effort.  Anna knew Jesus because she had read the word and knew intimately the promises of God.  She was actively looking for signs of God's work in the world and was open.  The revelation that came to her was the result of a lifetime of faithfulness. 

What might God be trying to reveal to us?  How would a lifetime of spiritual discipline better prepare us to see what God is doing in our lives and the world?

Living Sacrifice

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

To worship fully means giving thanks and praise to God with all of heart, soul, and strength.  But worship is more than an hour a week at church discipline.  According to Paul, worship is to be understood as a whole body experience.  Our bodies themselves not only participate in worship, but are to be presented as worship.  This has tremendous implications for how we live. Worshipping fully means that all that we do should be done as act of thanksgiving to God.  When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, offer acts of compassion, extend hospitality, offer grace, forgive others, or work for a more just world are lives are worshipful.  This is a concept that transforms how we think of worship and how we ought to think of our lives.

Jesus Models Prayer

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Matthew 14:22-23

To worship fully we must devote our heart to God, we must give thanks and praise for all that God has done in our lives and for all that God is.  Through Jesus, we not only have the opportunity to worship God but also to see an example of a worshipful life.  Jesus models a life of worship by taking intentional time regularly to connect with God through prayer.  He knows that he cannot sustain his ministry of healing and transformation without prayer and worship. 

After Jesus feed 5,000 people with five bread loaves and two fish, the scriptures say he "immediately" sent everyone away and went by himself to pray.  He didn't take a victory lap or enjoy the accolades from his disciples or thanks from the crowd, he simply went away.  Perhaps Jesus needed to spiritually recharge after exerting himself in such a way.  Perhaps he wanted to remain humble and not allow himself to take personal credit for such a feat, and in humility wanted to give God thanks.  Or perhaps Jesus just needed time away; time with God and apart from everyone always needing or wanting something.  Either way, Jesus went off and prayed and then returned the next day to continue the work he was called to.  Jesus provides for us a model for how to live a worship-filled life, may God grant us the grace to live it out.

Worship and Doubt

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:16-17

 What is the relationship between faith and doubt?  Is there a difference between having beliefs and having faith? Is it possible to worship God when you have doubts about what you believe? 

These are important faith questions that people often wrestle with.  When I was in college I had very serious doubts about God and what I believed.  Yet, I would find myself going to worship on a somewhat regular basis.  I felt compelled to be there, yet while I was there, I felt very conflicted. I could not recite the Lord’s Prayer or creed, and I could not bring myself to sing the words of the hymns. I had doubts and yet there I was in worship.  God was working in my life despite my doubts and questions.

When the disciples met the resurrected Jesus, they had doubts. The original Greek can actually be translated as “they worshipped and doubted.”  Rather than suggesting that some of the eleven worshipped and some doubted, the text implies that worship and doubt can fit together. It is only when we equate faith with belief that doubt becomes the enemy of faith.  Faith can be understood as distinct from belief when we see faith not as the absence of doubt or certainty, but trust in God.  I may not have all the answers or right beliefs about God, but I can have a deep and abiding trust in God.  Simply put, faith is a heart condition while belief is about the head.  While it is important to have beliefs and be able to articulate what we believe, ultimately believing the right things about God is quite different from having a relationship with God.

Life brings challenges and circumstances that can often shake the foundations of what we believe.  As people move through illness, suffering, and loss it is not uncommon to encounter doubts and questions.  Yet in the midst of our questions we can still have faith, we can still hold tightly to the presence and promises of God.  Yes, worship and doubt can and often do fit together and we should cultivate an open environment which lets those of who have trouble saying the words to worship and doubt.

Seeking God

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. ²³For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. Acts 17:22-23

I believe that we were all created to be in relationship with God.  A fundamental level, this is the purpose of our life--to connect to God and discover the love and joy that only God can provide.  This is deep truth for me, one which I have come to believe over a period of time.  God creates in us the capacity or even hunger for relationship, but does not force it upon us.  I have experienced this as a journey.  Throughout my life I, as I look back now, have become more and more aware of God's presence in my life.  There were times when I ran from God and times when I ran toward God.  But whether I was cognizant of it or not, I have always been seeking God.  And I also believe God has always been seeking me (even more important). 

Not everyone's journey is the same, but God's heart is the same for each person.  God's loves everyone without exception and is calling each of us into relationship.  Paul certainly understood this for himself and for others.  He had dedicated his life to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, which made it possible for each person to receive and know God's love.  Through Christ, God was opening the door beyond tribal religion and unifying the people of God through God's amazing love and grace.  When Paul comes to Athens, he knows about their many gods.  As he studies the shrines and objects of their worship he notices a shrine to an unknown God.  The Greeks had numerous gods for every occasion and contingency, but they had a shrine to god they were not aware of.  Whether they seeking to cover all the bases or if they were truly open to something new is borne out in the results of Paul's efforts (some dismissed him, others wanted to hear more: 17:32). More importantly the natural openness of the Greeks to something new and something uncertain speaks to the deep truth that without God in our life we are left feeling empty.  No matter what other gods we worship, no matter how successful, educated, wealthy, or respected we might be, nothing can replace God's role in our life.  We are born to seek God and until we find God and are found by God, we will continue to restlessly search until our heart finds contentment in God's love.

Hope and Praise

Isaiah 2:2-4; Psalm 103:1-2

Worship begins with the acknowledgment that God is worthy of worship.  God is more than we can ever understand; more powerful, more loving, more mysterious.  God is God and we are not.  To worship fully we must seek to be in the presence of the living God, who has created, redeemed, and sustains all of creation.  We worship God and give thanks for all we are and ever will be.  We find our identity in our relationship with God and we find our hope for our future.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the great hope we find in God.  Hope for our future, hope for our redemption, and hope for justice. 

He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:4

This vision of the future is filled with hope and filled with the expectation that God can and will bring peace to our relationships and our world.  We place our hope in God because we believe that God's vision for the world will become a reality. We have hope because we know God's promises will be fulfilled.  We give thanks to God in advance and we worship.

The faith community have been worshipping and giving thanks since the beginning and is captured perfectly in the Psalter:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psalm 103:1

The Psalms were written for congregational singing and this chorus offers great praise to the Lord.  It seeks not only God's blessing, but that the entirety of the singer be filled with God's presence and blessing.  To worship fully means that all that is within me is focused on God; my whole being is focused on giving God thanks and praise.  This is a song worth singing and a prayer worth praying each day!

Possible

And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God. Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:36-38

 

Nothing is impossible with God.  This is the fundamental truth about the story of Christmas.  The birth of Jesus, the story of Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth, the shepherds and the wisemen, Herod…it is an amazing and miraculous story.  That God would enter into this world and live among us; that God would be so humble by taking on flesh and blood for the sake of humanity. This is nothing less than the impossible becoming possible.

 

Mary was a teenage girl who was inconsequential.  She was no one from nowhere.  She was engaged to be married to Joseph the carpenter, but it was an arranged marriage that she had no say about.  And yet, God chose Mary to bear the Christ child.  God could have picked a queen or a princess.  God could have picked a priest or well know leader’s family to have the child.  God could have done anything, but God chose Mary.  This of course says a lot about Mary.  She was faithful and obedient to God.  She says yes when she had so much to lose.  Yet the story is remarkable not only for what it says about Mary, but more importantly what it says about God.  God chose to come into this world as an illegitimate son.  God chose to come into this world as a child born into to poverty from a family with few prospects.  God chose to live among us in obscurity and incognito for 30 years.  God could have chosen otherwise but did not.

 

God’s decision reveals a lot about God’s heart.  God has a heart for the oppressed and marginalized.  God has a heart for the nobodies of this world.  In Jesus, we clearly see that God is up to something powerful and miraculous.  God is fulfilling the promises made through Moses and the prophets.  God’s kingdom is entering into the world to transform it.  Mary understood God’s big plans and signs the beautiful Magnificat which ends thusly:

 

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Luke 1:51-55

 

The kingdom of God, ushered in through the birth of Jesus, it is a great reversal.  God’s work in the world is to bring peace and hope and love to a dark, troubled, and broken world.  God will humble the exalted and exalt the humble.  God will bring justice and mercy into this world.  God’s kingdom makes the impossible possible.

A Loss of Hope

Luke 1:1-25; 57-80

Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” Luke 1:18

As we enter the season of Advent and take time to reflect upon what the birth of Jesus means for us today, it is natural to re-read the scriptural accounts.  Some stories we know well, while others are far too often overlooked.  The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is vitally important to the story of Jesus, because of the divine action in the birth of John the Baptist.

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were considered “righteous” and “blameless” before the Lord (1:6), despite not being able to have children.  The scriptures tell us that Zechariah had prayed to God for a child (1:13) but they in their advanced age were childless.  As a temple priest, Zechariah would have been seen as a leader in the community but because they had no children there would have been some people who would have questioned Zechariah and Elizabeth’s faithfulness to God.  In those days (and today) children were seen as a blessing from God.  But it was also true that not having children was a point of shame and disgrace, particularly for Elizabeth (the women always get blamed!) (1:25).   They may have prayed for years for a child and yet nothing changed. 

When the angel comes to Zechariah with the news that he will have a son who will be an instrument of God’s work, he should have been thrilled. After all, God heard the prayer and was delivering.  Instead Zechariah responds with doubt and disbelief.  “How will I know this is so?” (1:18). He is asking for a sign from God in order to believe.  If anyone should be able to have faith or believe in the mysterious ways of God it should be a priest or religious leader.  But Zechariah has lost hope. He has lost a sense that with God all things are possible; that just because a situation may seem desperate or bleak God can and will bring redemption and transformation.  Zechariah has lost hope and asks for a sign.  The angel silences him and he is then unable to speak until after the child is born. 

When we lose hope and cannot believe in the promises and presence of God, we live in a silent and devoid world.  We can no longer hear God’s voice or receive the good news. Hope is not wishful thinking or naïve.  Biblical hope, a God-filled hope, is the belief that God can and will turn suffering into redemption, a belief that despite all outward appearances God will heal a broken world, a belief that God’s love is stronger than hatred or division or greed or anything else that divides us.  Hope is a choice to believe despite the evidence to contrary, and despite the long and arduous wait. 

Zechariah lost hope in the midst of waiting.  He lost hope waiting for a messiah and could no longer see what God was up to.  I pray that we all might maintain hope and reminder Paul’s words:

We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not disappoint us. Romans 5:3-5

Worldy and Godly Wisdom

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

What is the proper relationship that a person of faith should have with the world? Must me take James' absolutist perspective that the world is totally bad and always oppossed to God?  Can anything good come from the world?  Throughout his letter, James offers stringent exhortation for the community of faith. They must reject the wisdom from below (worldly wisdom) and seek to follow the wisdom from above (Godly wisdom). Following the way of the world is dangerous because it fundamentally challenges the community of faith to stay connected to God and to one another.

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. James 4:1-2

Worldly wisdom promotes competition and envy among people. We crave what we do not have and we crave more of what we do have. These cravings drive our behavior to acquire more and cause us to see others as opponents or obstacles that stand in our way, rather than fellow human beings worthy of dignity and respect. Within the church, a worldly widsom driven by envy and competition is disastrous for the mutual spiritual building up that we are called to live out.

James rightly calls out this behavior and mindset and calls the faithful to abide by the wisdom from above. The wisdom from God never forgets that God is the source of all blessings; God is the one who blesses us and provides for our needs. Godly wisdom is humble. Godly wisdom does not crave and strive for more but finds contentment and peace within God's grace. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10)

James writes to a community of people who continually find themselves in the tension between worldly and Godly wisdom, a tension that continues today. We cannot ever truly separate ourselves from the world, nor should we strive to. God created the heavens and the earth and called them good. There is much beauty, goodness, and love in the world. But we also must remember that the ways of the world tear down and destroy. We must be in the world but not of it. We must be able to be in the world in order to share God's love and grace with others. But we must also be able to stand back and view the things of this world from a spiritual perspective. We must be able to critique the world and call ourselves and others back to faithfulness. Like any tension, it is always a difficult balance to maintain. Thus the Christian community is so vital because it can offer us support, encouragement, and correction.

Taming the Tongue

But no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. James 3:8-9

Growing up I remember being taught: "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Usually this was the last line of defense against those who said mean and nasty things to me. The only problem is it isn't true. Words do hurt. Words cause lasting and deep pain. In fact, the physical pain we endure often heals while the emotional pain from words of judgment and condemnation can last a lifetime. So, how are you using your words? To build people up with praise and encouragement or to tear people down with words of judgment, critique, and meanness?

James really understood human nature and the capacity of the tongue to spout venom and evil words. I cannot imagine meeting someone who at some point in their life has not said things they regret; hasn't used hurtful words. Unfortunately, the most hurtful words we use are often against those we love the most. We speak words of hurt and judgment to our children, parents, and our partners. These words cannot be taken back or undone. James' words for us are convicting words of caution, but also words of encouragement. Our tongue can be used to tear people down, but can also be used to build people up. We can speak words of love into people's lives. We can bless people with encouragement. We can console people who are hurting. Our words can give hope and comfort. The choice of what comes out of our mouth is ours to make. What will you choose to say?

Faith and Works

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? James 2:14

James is deeply focused and dedicated to help the early Christian community live as fully dedicated followers of Jesus. He speaks powerfully against those who profess to be followers of Jesus with their mouth, but whose actions do not measure up. Hypocrisy has always been a major challenge for the faith community and remains the biggest complaint against Christians today. When we say we love others, but act in mean spirited ways, we betray our faith. When we say we are concerned for the poor, but do nothing to address poverty we demonstrate our hard hearts. When we say we love God, but only focus on ourselves we prove to be a shallow imitation of a disciple. James wants us to live our faith in action as well as in our hearts. James' call to the church is to be one that cares for the most vulnerable, is committed to loving acts of service and is seeking a community where all people are included and respected as people of God. The good fruit of faith is works of love and service.

For all this we can commend James' contribution to the cannon. He has much to say to all of us and we need to take his challenge seriously. But James also speaks about being justified (made righteous) through works not through faith.

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:24

James argues that faith alone cannot justify our relationship with God. It is through works of love that people's relationship with God is made right. This is the opposite of what the apostle Paul argues:

Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. Galatians 2:16

Paul says that we are justified by faith in Christ and NOT by works of the law. This is the complete opposite of James. How do we reconcile such opposing view points on a topic as important as salvation?

Martin Luther saw this contradiction clearly and advocated dismissing James from the bible as he called it "an epistle of straw." His theological vision was closely tied to Paul's articulation of justification in Galatians and Romans (see Romans 3:21-26). For Luther, works could never get us closer to God. Only Jesus can provide salvation which comes as a free gift of grace through faith. Since the time of the Reformation, Luther's interpretation has held sway among Protestants leading to the marginalization of James' influence. But did Luther get it right? Are James and Paul really arguing against each other? Does James really have nothing to offer? Is it possible to follow Paul's interpretation of salvation and James' exhortations for living the Christian life?

I find it helpful to remember that neither Paul nor James were writing as a systematic theologian. They were both deeply concerned about the real lives of the Christian community and write pastorally. Their concern is not to carefully articulate a well-reasoned and precise theological argument for how salvation happens. Rather their primary concern is for people to live faithful lives. James' argument is compelling because he does not allow us to be self-satisfied in our relationship with God. It is not enough to be a believer; true faith will be expressed in action. Paul says many similar things about good works and loving others. In the end, I think Paul probably gets justification right but James is more helpful in encouraging us to live faithful lives. Without the letter of James we would be without a strong and powerful voice calling us to live lives worthy of being called a follower of Jesus. This voice is needed today.

Doers of the Word

But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22

The letter of James is hard-hitting and intense. James challenges us to be all-in for Christ and he is unrelenting in requiring complete devotion to God. It seems almost inconceivable that someone could read James and not feel spiritually inadequate or that their actions do not measure up to God's expectations. I certainly feel convicted when reading it. That being said, James is also a faith-filled letter with encouragement and deep insight into human nature. James challenges the reader/hearer to apply their faith into their life in real and meaningful ways. This is an important message for all of us to hear and even more important for us to do.

When James tells us that that we must be doers of the word and not merely hearers of the word, he calls out all of us who sugarcoat and qualify the tough teachings of scripture to fit our own agendas. James knows our tricks and knows our ability to self-deceive. We can often comfort ourselves with the idea that we are faithful to God because we come to church, read the bible, and pray regularly. But James insists that the life of faith is more than this. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27) To be a doer of the word is directly linked to helping the most vulnerable of the society in their needs. We cannot claim to be faithful to Christ if we merely hear these words but do not act. For James, faith is an action verb and it is best expressed in acts of love and compassion for those who are most needy. This is a challenging word for all us and calls us to get off the comfy sidelines of passive faith and into the game of serving and loving our neighbor.

The life of faith is not easy; it requires everything we have and is not without hardship and difficulty. But James also articulates the great promise that the life of faith offers.

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

To love the Lord means to be doers of the word; that our whole life is focused on faithfully living out our calling as children of God. May we each have the strength and courage to be doers and not merely hearers.



The Empty Tomb

Luke 24:1-12

The empty tomb is a question for each of us. Will we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, thus fulfilling all of God's promises and demonstrating the victory over death, darkness and the forces of evil? Or will the empty tomb signify doubt, skepticism and leave us with unanswered questions?

The women who came to the tomb on that first Easter morning faced their own choice. They arrived to further prepare Jesus' body for burial. They came to offer him one last humble act of service and love. They find the tomb empty and two angles who ask them:

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5

The women then remembered Jesus' words about his death and resurrection and went back and told the disciples everything. The women make the choice to believe and to tell the story. The disciples reacted differently: "but these words seemed like an idle tale, and they did not believe them." (Luke 24:11) They did not believe it was true. They chose to harden their hearts to what God was doing and it kept them from remembering what Jesus had told them and from seeing what was happening.

Easter asks each of us a question: who do you say that Jesus is? With eyes of faith we can see that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of the world. When are hearts are hardened and closed we cannot see. Jesus made his choice; to go to the cross for all of humanity. What will your choice be?

On the Sabbath

Luke 23:47-56

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandments. Luke 23:56

I have often wondered what the followers of Jesus were thinking and feeling after Jesus' death. It was nearly two full days between Jesus' death and the discovery of the empty tomb.  The scriptures say they rested on the sabbath. What was that like? Did they offer praise and thanks to God that day? Did they see the events that led to Jesus' death as part of God's work? Did they still believe he was the one? Did they share their questions and fears with one another or remain silent? What did they think would happen next?

Even after the death of Jesus, the followers of Jesus remained faithful to God. They may not have had answers or understood what God was doing, but they observed the sabbath and were faithful. In the midst of the trials and difficulties of life may we have the strength to remain faithful to God who is always faithful to us.

A Perversion of Justice

Luke 22:54-23:46

Jesus is betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and handed over to the religious leaders. Everything about Jesus infuriated the leaders. He was popular among the people in ways they never could be. He taught with authority that was astounding as he proclaimed the kingdom of God. He healed people, performed miracles, fed the hungry, and fulfilled all the promises of the messiah. The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees hated Jesus and finally had their chance to kill him. As they brought Jesus to be questioned they asked him: "are you then, the Son of God?" to which Jesus replied "you say that I am." (Luke 22:70) This was enough testimony for the religious leaders to condemn Jesus. He does not admit anything nor deny anything. He has not incited riots nor disturbed the peace. Yet, at this point his fate is sealed. The leaders have committed themselves to Jesus' death. They had him over to Pilate and then Herod for questioning and neither finds any cause for punishment. Yet the leaders persist in finding Jesus guilty. They stir up the crowd to ask for Barabbas' release and to crucify Jesus. Finally Pilate grew tired of debating and gave into their demands.

But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. Luke 23:23-24

It did not prove to be overly difficult to convince Pilate to condemn an innocent man to death. He went along with it and released Barabbas.  Jesus had done nothing worthy of punishment, let alone be sentenced to die. He was accused out of jealousy and spite. Pilate orders his death like it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience in his day. Jesus' death was a perversion of justice and a moral failure for all involved. Yet, Jesus remains ever faithful and ever obedient and even asks God to forgive them all. "Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) Indeed, they did not know what they were doing. It was they, and us, who deserve condemnation. It was they, and us, who deserve punishment and death. Yet, Jesus says nothing of our sins, nothing of our failures. He accepts the blame and takes the pain. Jesus takes our place and asks God to forgive us. We have sinned and fallen short in so many ways, yet Jesus offers us a reprieve. We can proclaim today Good Friday because of it.

Come to the Table

Luke 22:1-53

As Jesus gathers with his disciples for the last time he must have been filled with mixed emotions. He knew the time had come to go to to cross, he knew God's plan was about to be fulfilled, but he also knew this was the last time he would have with the disciples. As they gathered together Jesus offered last minute words of wisdom and instruction (see John 13-17 for the extended version). He specifically tells the disciples to remember him by celebrating what we today call holy communion.

Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”²⁰And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:19-20

Jesus knew how difficult the life of faith would be.  For the disciples this would mean hardship, persecution,and martyrdom.  Jesus commands them and us to remember him by coming to the table. We come to the table to remember all the Jesus has done for us, we come to be fed with the bread of life, we come to be filled with the presence of Christ.  We come to the table as individuals but we leave united as God's people.  Through Christ we receive our salvation and it is at the table the we receive a tangible sign of God's amazing love and grace. 

Jesus knew we would need to come to the table. Jesus also knew that not everyone at the table was faithful, that his betrayer was also seated among the faithful.

"But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.²²  For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!”²³Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. Luke 22:21-23

Judas is at the table.  Jesus knows he has already betrayed him but he does not exclude him from the last supper.  This is important for us to understand. We are not required to be perfect to come to the table. We are not required to even be faithful.  Jesus allows Judas to come and receive.  This is good news for us.  We are called to the table regardless of who we are or what we have done. We are called to the table to receive God's grace and forgiveness. For the Judas in each of us, this is good news.

The Widow and the Mighty

Luke 21:1-38

In Holy Week, Jesus spent a great deal of time at the temple. He attracted large crowds as he taught about the kingdom of God and spoke out against the hypocrisy and abuses of the religious leaders. When a poor widow comes forward and places two small copper coins in the offering Jesus is moved by her faithfulness and genorosity.

Truly this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on. Luke 21:3-4

The widow's gift demonstrates a complete trust in God.  She gives everything, knowing and believing that God will meet her needs. The others who come forward may have given larger gifts but she was more generous and more trusting.  The widow is faithful and trusting giving all she has to live on, while the rich givers give only out of what they do not need. 

If all the people of Israel had been as faithful as the widow then perhaps the gloom and doom scenarios Jesus outlines afterward would seem less foreboding. Jesus speaks about the coming calamity for the temple and Jerusalem. He speaks of destruction, persecution, wars, natural disasters and more.  Much like the Old Testament prophets, these events serve as an indictment against the faithlessness of the people. Jesus also speaks of the coming of the Son of Man in an apocalptic conclusion to the world. Jesus tells us: "Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36) May we be like the faithful widow who trusted in God's grace and knew that God would be good and merciful, despite a chaotic and unpredicable world.

Resurrection Marriage?

Luke 20:27-47

Jesus was an equal opportunity offender. He offended the Pharisees, the scribes, the chief priests, the Levites, and the Sadducees. In Jerusalem, all of these different religious groups are present and they all have urgent questions and points of debate for Jesus. The Sadducees were a group that only believed the first five books of the bible (the Torah) were authoritative. Finding no explicit reference to the resurrection in the Torah they denied it. Their question for Jesus seeks to reinforce their non-belief in the resurrection by coming up with an exaggerated example of a woman who married 7 different brothers because they all died: "therefore, whose wife will she the woman be?" (Luke 20:33) Jesus answers that in the earthly realm people are given in marriage but in the age to come this will no longer be necessary. And he adds: "Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:36)

Jesus' response illustrates the idea that in the life to come much of what we worry about will no longer matter. The issue with marriage, and being given in marriage, was directly tied to children. Having children was the point of marriage in Jesus' day, but in heaven there will be no more children born.  The resurrection does not mean that all of our human relationships are disintegrated but it does mean that the relationships will be transformed. Marriage was largely transactional in the ancient world, but in heaven all people will be children of God with no power differentials. This is a wonderful hope and beautiful vision. One to which the Sadducees had no response.

Truth and the Status Quo

Luke 20:1-26

After Jesus entered Jerusalem during the first holy week, the tension and conflict with the Pharisees and other religious leaders reached a fever pitch. Jesus continued to speak out against the abuses and hypocrisy of the leaders, and they were conspiring to kill him. Whereas, their previous interactions were heated, in Jerusalem everything is magnified. More people are hearing Jesus' message, more people are seeing the Pharisees put to shame. The interaction over his authority and paying taxes to the emperor exemplify this heightened tension.

The chief priests, scribes,and elders approach Jesus and ask: "by what authority are you doing these things? who is it that gave you this authority?" (Luke 20:4) Their question assumes that the teachings of Jesus are only legitimate if they are authorized through the religious system. Jesus was not educated by the Pharisees or scribes, he did not serve as an apprentice, nor was he given authority to speak. Yet, Jesus' teachings resonated with the people and were powerful. Jesus is authorized by God to speak, but the leaders cannot see it and will not recognize his legitimacy. They are more concerned with right order than righteousness, proper authority than the author of life, maintaining power than serving others. Jesus challenges the leaders worldview and authority and publicly shames them through his rhetorical genius. When Jesus returns their question of authority to a question about the origin of John's baptism he exposes the true heart of the leaders.

They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Luke 20:5-8

The leaders are more interested in saving face than engaging in a true conversation with Jesus. They would rather say nothing to his question and look foolish than actually share what they truly believe and risk alienating the people. Similarly, those who asked Jesus about paying taxes find themselves exposed: "and they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent." (Luke 20:26) It is this kind of political expediency that Jesus rebukes. By contrast, Jesus speaks the truth and is willing to face the consequences.

It is not a mistake that Jesus' journey leads him to the cross. Like the ancient prophets before him, Jesus speaks God's truth to the people. He is willing to challenge the powerful and the status quo. He is willing to speak out and face the consequences. Good Friday is the temporary victory for the forces of this world, but Easter is the ultimate vindication.

Donkey or War Horse?

Luke 19:28-48

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Luke 19:38

As Jesus rode into town, on the day we now call Palm Sunday, he was received as a king by the Jewish people. Many had been with Jesus throughout his journey of healing, preaching, and teaching and saw in this act the fulfillment of messianic prophesy (Zech 9). God's promises were coming true! They had hoped the messiah would re-establish the rule of God, restore the reign of David, and depose all foreign invaders. The messiah would be a great leader who would rule with divine power.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Pilate and his army come to Jerusalem for the festival of Passover. He came with warhorses, soldiers, armor, and weapons. Pilate comes to town to keep the peace through intimidation and force. The Romans were quite aware of all the Jewish customs and hopes and wanted to keep everything calm.

Jesus of course does not come as conquering hero, but as a humble servant. He came to redeem and restore God's people, but not by force or might. Jesus came to transform a nation through love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus came to town on a donkey and not a warhorse. It would have been easier to see Jesus as the messiah if he had seized earthly power; it would have improved living conditions for the Jewish people if he had expelled the Romans. But God was up to something quite different in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

It is How You Use It

Luke 19:1-27

Jesus talks quite a bit about wealth and how we can faithfully use our money. More precisely, Jesus consistently warns his followers of the difficulty of being wealthy and faithful. The story of Zacchaeus and the parable of the pounds are illustrative of Jesus' perspective. Zacchaeus is a tax collector who makes his money not only collecting taxes for the Romans, but also by adding "graft" onto the tax for his own income. Tax collectors were hated because they cheated people and were understood to be immoral. When Zacchaeus encounters Jesus he is overwhelmed by Jesus' acceptance and vows to make amends for his exploitative ways:

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Luke 19:8

 

Zacchaeus vows to live a changed life and Jesus declares that "salvation has come to this house." The story tells us that it is not ever too late for those who live dishonestly to change. It is not ever to late to repent and receive forgiveness.

The parable of the pounds, like other parables, can be interpreted in multiple ways. The most common interpretation is to assign the role of the nobleman to either God or Jesus, and the slaves as those who receive Jesus and those who do not. In this interpretation the third slave is chastised because he did not utilize his gifts and share the message of salvation. The other slaves were able to multiply the money of the master through their effort and thus grow the estate--grow the kingdom. This interpretation encourages us to take advantage of opportunities to share God's love and not to hide our faith or be timid.

Another interpretation of this parable sees Jesus not as a character in the parable, but as one who names and unmasks the exploitative economic system of his day. The master is quite wealthy and is hated by the people because he has gotten rich at their expense. When he leaves to continue to grow his empire and employs his slaves to grow the business, he is not moved by benevolence but by greed. The slaves who multiply the money no doubt mimic the exploitative methods of their master and grow the business at the expense of the people. The third slave is a hero because he stands up to the master and names the exploitation and immorality. 

Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth,for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ Luke 19:20-21

The third slave is a whistleblower who has the courage to name the evil ways of the master. He is punished for his honesty and the master then orders that all others who oppose him will be slaughtered. The story illustrates the necessity to stand up to evil and the price that is often paid by those who speak the truth. Jesus is heading to Jerusalem and will be speaking truth to power. He will not play the religious game, he will not endorse the Roman empire, he will not back down. For this, Jesus will be treated like the third slave in the parable.

Either interpretation can be edifying for our faith. We should look for opportunities to share God's love with others, we should use all the gifts we have been given to God's work in the world. But, as people of faith we are also called to stand up against injustice and evil. The world needs people of faith who are bold and who are willing to risk.

The connection between these stories lies with the different ways that Zacchaeus and the master respond to the challenge of their wealth. Zacchaeus acknowledges his sinful ways and seeks forgiveness. The slave master doubles down on his choices and seeks to eliminate any truth tellers or opponents. There is no remorse and no transformation. For those who have power and wealth and have gained it by exploiting others, these stories frame the spiritual choice: repent and be forgiven, or continue to perpetuate evil. Let us pray for more like Zacchaeus.

One Thing Lacking

Luke 18:18-43

When Jesus heard this, he said to him "there is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

Luke 18:22

Jesus' conversation with the rich ruler goes to the heart of what it means to be a disciple. The man wants to know "what must I do to inherit eternal life" (Luke 18:18). Jesus then turns the question back to the ten commandments as a way of telling him that he already knows what to do--he just needs to do it. By the way, if this questions sounds familiar it is the exact same question that a lawyer asked Jesus in Luke 10:25 to which he responds with the story of the Good Samaritan. In both stories, Jesus responds to the question by putting forth a prophetic and challenging word. In one case, that a Samaritan was most faithful and in this case that a rich man must sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. Both stories imply that the person who thinks they are faithful lacks one thing: either acting to help others or putting God first.

Jesus' challenge to the rich man is a first commandment challenge. The man is focused on himself--what must I do to inherit eternal life. He doesn't ask Jesus "what must I do to be faithful to God" but is only focused on the reward of eternal life. The rich man has spent his life accumulating wealth and putting wealth above all things. The challenge Jesus gives is to sell it all and then come and follow is devastating for the man. He does not know who he is without his wealth. His wealth has become his god and it is idolatrous.

Becoming a follower of Jesus requires complete obedience. We cannot put anything else before God in our lives. This is incredibly difficult for all of us, not just those who are wealthy. We can be tempted to put our family, career, or desires before God and they can become gods in our lives. No doubt, like the rich man, we will then convince ourselves that we are not making these things above God but if we are honest and look at our behavior we can see that we all have room to grow in our obedience. Putting God first is a daily decision and requires a faithful and humble heart. May God grant us the strength.

Learning to Depend

Luke 18:1-17

Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. Luke 18:17

We are told that in order to be considered a successful adult you must be independent. Independent from our parents and not needing any assistance. In fact, the most desired state to be in is "independently wealthy" which means you have done so well at being independent that you no longer even depend on a job for money. Materially, being independent and taking care of our own needs is a good thing; we should encourage our children to work hard and seek to be self-sufficient. But, if this mentality of independence seeps into our spiritual lives we will have real trouble.

Jesus tells his disciples that anyone who wishes to enter the Kingdom of God must do so like a little child. A child of course is completely and unapologetically dependent upon his/her parents. Children depend on their parents for everything and it is only as the grow older that they begin to think about separating themselves. We must re-learn dependence on God in our lives. We must learn to trust God to take care of our needs and our difficult situations. We must acknowledge the extent to which we already completely depend on God's grace. This is not easy for adults who are independent. We would much rather only use God as divine safety net, only praying when we really need it. But God not only wants our hearts when we are in trouble, but to learn to depend and trust God in all ways.

Jesus not only uses the example of a little child as a model of faithful dependence, but a widow and a tax collector as well. The widow persistently comes to the judge seeking justice. She will not take no for an answer and truly believes she will prevail. Jesus tells this story as a way to illustrate the tenacity needed for a robust prayer life. "Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1) He also tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanks God he is not like the lowly sinners who surround him, but that he is righteous. He depends on himself for his righteousness and not God. The tax collector bows before God and seeks forgiveness.  Jesus concludes by stating: "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)

Being dependent on God requires humility, it requires that we confess that we cannot do everything and we need help. What the world might call weakness, God calls strength.  We are called to humble ourselves are learn to trust God. We are called to stop trying to control everything and let God lead. We are called to pray without ceasing and believe that God hears our prayers, listens, and will creatively and powerfully respond. We are called to let God be God. So may we learn to depend and grow spiritually strong.

The Kingdom of God

Luke 17

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;²¹nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17:20-21

When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was coming, they were really asking about the end of time. When would God return to bring all of creation to its end? They were talking about judgment and apocalyptic scenarios. Jesus talks about this as "the coming of the Son of Man."  He does not reject God's end time coming and judgment, but he does differentiate it from the Kingdom of God.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God is "among" or "within" you. They must have been totally confused. They were waiting for God to come back and establish God's rule on earth. Jesus is telling them that they/we have access to God's rule already--it is within us. The Kingdom of God, according to Jesus, is not something we have to wait for it is already here. When God rules our heart and lives, we begin to see and experience things differently. When God is leading my life I experience joy, peace, and hope. The Kingdom of God is already here and we can experience the fullness of God in this life.

This is a radical and life-changing idea. God will return at the end of time to bring creation to a culmination, but God is not absent from our lives today. We can experience a foretaste of the feast to come by living our lives with and for God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can be inspired to live life God's way, faithfully serving the Lord, and loving our neighbors. God can reign in our hearts. I pray it to be so for you, me, and all people.