Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:3)
So let me just start off by saying that one of the reasons I really enjoy writing these devotionals/reflections is that it gets me looking at scripture differently. Sifting through the text line after line for small nuggets that might illuminate a conversation on discipleship has helped me to see things I have previously just read over and never noticed. This particular verse just jumped out at me as all kinds of craziness – I swear that somehow I have never read it before… though I’m sure I have several times.
Paul… circumcises????
This is Paul we are talking about… Paul who spends a significant amount of time saying that Gentiles do not need to be circumcised and that circumcision is nothing. Spend some time in Galatians and you will see just how clear he is about his stance on not doing circumcision. You will also see that he promotes another case where such was pointedly not required:
But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. (Gal 2:3)
Many scholars will tell you that a point is made two verses earlier from where we began in Acts today to note that Timothy is half Jew (through his mother) and half Gentile (through his Greek father) and so he is of Jewish descent but not a Jew because he is uncircumcised. The conjecture on this strange inconsistency from Paul is that he circumcises Timothy to ease tension with Jewish Christians and make Timothy more acceptable to them.
This doesn’t hold water with me at all. (By the way I spent over an hour researching this little inconsistency… I even dragged Tom in on the fun!) Again look to Galatians where Paul not only holds Peter (referred to as Cephas by Paul) to account for hypocrisy but does so in very accusing and public language. His problem with Peter was doing something that was wrong in order (get this), to please the concerns of Jewish Christians.
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned; for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction. (Gal 2:11-12)
Paul has no patience with doing anything for the wrong reasons – and he seems to think placating people and crowds is a wrong reason. Paul’s faith and trust in God and reliance that only the Gospel is important is unyielding in his life. And while I’m quite willing to think that Paul has some serious faults (and perhaps a fair bit of competitive bias against Peter) I just can’t imagine a person this sure of his convictions would waffle in randomness…. something else must be going on, and something important.
And this got me to two things. The first is a potential answer. Scholar Walter Kaiser reminds us that there is a difference between forcing a gentile to adopt Jewish ways and saying she/he needs to be circumcised to be saved, and healing the torn identity of a half-Jew.
Titus (in Galatians) was a Gentile = do not circumcise.
Timothy (in Acts) was a half-Jew living as unaccepted by either tradition of his lineage = circumcise.
To force Titus to be circumsized was to say he and his faith was incomplete without it (which is radically not true for Paul). But to offer the same to Timothy is to offering healing and wholeness to a person who has never full lived his own identity. The circumsicion here is not about Chrsitian faith but Timothy's own particular identity.
This approach to the inconsistency seems like it’s on to something… and what it’s on to makes my day complete! Don’t you just love when God seems to have arranged your day (little known to you) to have the same subject come up over and over again in different guises?
Yesterday’s subject (this is when I was doing all that thinking) the subject was essential tenets; call them fundamentals of faith. What do we name as things everyone has to believe or has to do? And the traditional answer in our reformed/Presbyterian tradition is not to name them. That we just can’t offer unconditional answers to that question. It would be nice… but they just aren’t there.
Jesus doesn’t come close to saying here is what are orthodox beliefs (right beliefs) and you have to believe them or else! The closest you come is probably the Sermon on the Mount and the beatitudes… and perhaps the one I’m most likely to choose:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength… and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
Neither of these however makes all our decisions clear. Neither of these are answers, as much as they provoke questions. How do we love? Who is our neighbor? What does all your strength look like in my daily life?
And this is discipleship… living the questions. Paul is certain circumcision is unnecessary for Christian faith – but even he recognizes that context matters. One rule does not rule over all people in all times. And so Paul does something that appears radically inconsistent… and yet for Paul – who has problems with everything – it wasn’t a problem at all. Because in that place and at that time it is what makes senses to the Gospel message Paul carries. And Paul won’t be governed by rules… but by the Gospel that is Jesus Christ and the freedom that faith in Christ offers the world. It offers healing to those whose identity is torn; it offers reconciliation that brings divided groups (Jews and Gentiles, woman and men, poor and rich) together, it tears down dividing walls of hostility.
And how do we do that? …by discipleship that seeks to live in the questions!
Where are you offering healing to the torn?
How do you bring divided groups together?
What walls of hostility have you built in your heart?
Reconciling God,
Give us the power to trust in you enough to forego building walls and setting rules. Help us to live in the here and now – seeing the light of Christ and the good news in our midst and participating in the healing and building up of the body of Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
October 7: Two or Three are Gathered
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. (Acts 15:36-40)
We all realize that disagreements happen. And if you think churches (or missionary efforts in this case) splitting apart is new… well, its not! But what really grabs the focus of my attention in this passage is the how it ends. Conflict splits the two of them… and Barnabas grabs Mark and goes one way while Paul grabs Silas and goes another direction. (Of interesting side note… say good-bye to Barnabas because they never reunite and he does not appear again in the Book of Acts.)
What doesn’t happen in this ending?
Neither one goes off alone.
They part ways and even distance themselves from each other, but they do not go alone… which continues a trend of discipleship – it’s a group activity.
In this day and age I will hardly be the first to tell you that many of us think we can go it alone. We all have reasons – rationalizations - but whatever they are, it adds up to my own sense of spirituality (and maybe even study and prayer) apart from anyone other than God.
“I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.”
“It’s between me and God.”
Here is the problem… its not. Paul is as close to a lone wolf as we get in the New Testament and yet he always has someone with him and despite numerous disagreements and differences with the “main church” in Jerusalem he always maintains connection with them. (See Galatians 1 and 2 for examples.) Discipleship just isn’t done alone. Jesus called 12 and sent 70… but even then he sent them in pairs. And of course there is much quoted, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (Mat 18:20)
We just can’t do this alone. We need people to hold us accountable, to affirm and support us, to give us companionship. I recently watched a great video from ted.com on where good ideas come from. (Here is a shorter, slightly more fun, version of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU) by Steven Johnson. His research suggests that the idea of the lone genius having a Eureka moment (like Isaac Newton being hit on the head with an apple and grasping the idea of gravity) is mostly a false notion. In fact he tells us, good ideas come from people networking together in ways that their individual hunches can collide together and create good ideas. Discipleship is no different.
We need to collide with one another… theologically, spiritually, socially, fiscally, emotionally… and just about any other –ally besides physically! Discipleship just isn’t between you and God, and its only spiritual. It’s a group project!
What are you trying to keep between only you and God?
Who are you pairing with in your journey?
In what ways are you networking your hunches with others?
Gathering God,
You call us out of individuality to a corporate journey. Help us network and collide with one another that our shared energy and thought may witness good ideas - and good news - to the world. Amen.
We all realize that disagreements happen. And if you think churches (or missionary efforts in this case) splitting apart is new… well, its not! But what really grabs the focus of my attention in this passage is the how it ends. Conflict splits the two of them… and Barnabas grabs Mark and goes one way while Paul grabs Silas and goes another direction. (Of interesting side note… say good-bye to Barnabas because they never reunite and he does not appear again in the Book of Acts.)
What doesn’t happen in this ending?
Neither one goes off alone.
They part ways and even distance themselves from each other, but they do not go alone… which continues a trend of discipleship – it’s a group activity.
In this day and age I will hardly be the first to tell you that many of us think we can go it alone. We all have reasons – rationalizations - but whatever they are, it adds up to my own sense of spirituality (and maybe even study and prayer) apart from anyone other than God.
“I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.”
“It’s between me and God.”
Here is the problem… its not. Paul is as close to a lone wolf as we get in the New Testament and yet he always has someone with him and despite numerous disagreements and differences with the “main church” in Jerusalem he always maintains connection with them. (See Galatians 1 and 2 for examples.) Discipleship just isn’t done alone. Jesus called 12 and sent 70… but even then he sent them in pairs. And of course there is much quoted, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (Mat 18:20)
We just can’t do this alone. We need people to hold us accountable, to affirm and support us, to give us companionship. I recently watched a great video from ted.com on where good ideas come from. (Here is a shorter, slightly more fun, version of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU) by Steven Johnson. His research suggests that the idea of the lone genius having a Eureka moment (like Isaac Newton being hit on the head with an apple and grasping the idea of gravity) is mostly a false notion. In fact he tells us, good ideas come from people networking together in ways that their individual hunches can collide together and create good ideas. Discipleship is no different.
We need to collide with one another… theologically, spiritually, socially, fiscally, emotionally… and just about any other –ally besides physically! Discipleship just isn’t between you and God, and its only spiritual. It’s a group project!
What are you trying to keep between only you and God?
Who are you pairing with in your journey?
In what ways are you networking your hunches with others?
Gathering God,
You call us out of individuality to a corporate journey. Help us network and collide with one another that our shared energy and thought may witness good ideas - and good news - to the world. Amen.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
September 30: Saved and Called
But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses." The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter… Peter stood up and said to them, "…God, who knows the human heart, testified to them (the Gentiles/uncircumcised) by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us… we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." (Acts 15:5-11)
WARNING: IF YOU WANT CLEAR CUT ANSWERS AND MONOLITHIC UNDERSTANDINGS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH DO NOT PROCEED ANY FURTHER.
Okay now that I have that warning out of the way… welcome to my whirling and twirling world. The more time I spend with the Bible the more questions I have… and the fewer answers. Today we are told that we are saved by grace and there is nothing for us to do but avoid a couple of particularly problematic practices as part of our salvation. But just a few days ago we read: "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
So which is it?
Do we have stuff to do for our faith… or not? Because I’m getting confuzzled here and I sure wouldn’t mind if the Book of Acts would be a bit more consistent!! (Okay actually I’m reveling in it because I have a love of ambiguity and paradox and believe it to be the heart of our walk with God… but I can certainly see how such inconsistency would make many of us quite frustrated!)
So what is going on here?
Well, once again, I’m lacking in the book of God’s authoritative interpretations of Holy Scripture… so I’m just going to have to tell you what I think might be going on.
It might just be that there is, in fact, a difference between being saved and being a disciple.
We all are called to be disciples, I firmly believe that. But we aren’t all ready to act on that calling… many of us – like many of those in Biblical story – are still weighted down with other concerns be they lifestyle, family, or trust. And truth be told those concerns never go away, disciple or not. But many of us still follow in the footsteps of the rich young ruler, and the various would-be followers of Luke 9, and the crowds of disciples in John 6 (the list goes on) who choose to walk away from Christ because discipleship just asked too much for them at that time. (I would remind you that Nicodemus walked away in John 3 as well… and yet at the cross it is Nicodemus who is ready to claim Jesus body when the disciples are conspicuously absent.) So discipleship is hard – and we aren’t all ready or able at all times in our lives. However… just because we aren’t ready to answer the call of discipleship doesn’t mean we aren’t saved.
That we are saved by Grace just is… it isn’t a fact because I can’t give you observable evidence – but it is a faith claim that is just true, regardless of whether I choose to acknowledge it or not, believe it or not, live into or not. If God is sovereign (and I believe that God is) and God has, in Jesus Christ, died and risen to save all of God’s creation (which I believe God has done) then we are saved: like it or not, accept it or not!
We do not need to be circumcised… we don’t need to earn it; we do not even need to live into it. God loves us BEFORE we can even do any of that… and in love God has named, claimed, saved and redeemed us… still BEFORE we can do any of that. This is what the disciples are discerning and claiming in our text today.
However…
The story doesn’t end there. Salvation isn’t simply for salvation’s sake.
Salvation is ultimately about entering in, living in, and witnessing to, the Kingdom of God.
This is where discipleship and apostleship comes into play. This is where the discomforting and transformative power of God comes into play. This is where our “right” becomes our responsibility.
That we are saved and inheritors of the Kingdom of God is a done deal. But actually living into the joy of that Kingdom here and now – seeing the Kingdom of God as tangible reality (fact) and living in that Kingdom even as we walk the highways and byways of this world is a matter for our journey of discipleship. Anyone, everyone, is saved. Being a disciple requires answering the call and embarking on the journey… and yes… it does require “doing” things.
Do you feel the blessing of God’s salvation that claims you as one in whom Christ dwells and delights?
Are you seeking to see, live and show others the Kingdom of God?
What helps you know when you are walking in the Kingdom and living kingdom ways, and when you are not?
Almighty Savior God,
You have saved us. It is a done deal: signed and witnessed. Help us to feel the joy of your love in our life, and to answer the call of truly living into that joy in all that we do and all that we say and all that we are. Let us be a window to you for the world. Amen.
WARNING: IF YOU WANT CLEAR CUT ANSWERS AND MONOLITHIC UNDERSTANDINGS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH DO NOT PROCEED ANY FURTHER.
Okay now that I have that warning out of the way… welcome to my whirling and twirling world. The more time I spend with the Bible the more questions I have… and the fewer answers. Today we are told that we are saved by grace and there is nothing for us to do but avoid a couple of particularly problematic practices as part of our salvation. But just a few days ago we read: "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
So which is it?
Do we have stuff to do for our faith… or not? Because I’m getting confuzzled here and I sure wouldn’t mind if the Book of Acts would be a bit more consistent!! (Okay actually I’m reveling in it because I have a love of ambiguity and paradox and believe it to be the heart of our walk with God… but I can certainly see how such inconsistency would make many of us quite frustrated!)
So what is going on here?
Well, once again, I’m lacking in the book of God’s authoritative interpretations of Holy Scripture… so I’m just going to have to tell you what I think might be going on.
It might just be that there is, in fact, a difference between being saved and being a disciple.
We all are called to be disciples, I firmly believe that. But we aren’t all ready to act on that calling… many of us – like many of those in Biblical story – are still weighted down with other concerns be they lifestyle, family, or trust. And truth be told those concerns never go away, disciple or not. But many of us still follow in the footsteps of the rich young ruler, and the various would-be followers of Luke 9, and the crowds of disciples in John 6 (the list goes on) who choose to walk away from Christ because discipleship just asked too much for them at that time. (I would remind you that Nicodemus walked away in John 3 as well… and yet at the cross it is Nicodemus who is ready to claim Jesus body when the disciples are conspicuously absent.) So discipleship is hard – and we aren’t all ready or able at all times in our lives. However… just because we aren’t ready to answer the call of discipleship doesn’t mean we aren’t saved.
That we are saved by Grace just is… it isn’t a fact because I can’t give you observable evidence – but it is a faith claim that is just true, regardless of whether I choose to acknowledge it or not, believe it or not, live into or not. If God is sovereign (and I believe that God is) and God has, in Jesus Christ, died and risen to save all of God’s creation (which I believe God has done) then we are saved: like it or not, accept it or not!
We do not need to be circumcised… we don’t need to earn it; we do not even need to live into it. God loves us BEFORE we can even do any of that… and in love God has named, claimed, saved and redeemed us… still BEFORE we can do any of that. This is what the disciples are discerning and claiming in our text today.
However…
The story doesn’t end there. Salvation isn’t simply for salvation’s sake.
Salvation is ultimately about entering in, living in, and witnessing to, the Kingdom of God.
This is where discipleship and apostleship comes into play. This is where the discomforting and transformative power of God comes into play. This is where our “right” becomes our responsibility.
That we are saved and inheritors of the Kingdom of God is a done deal. But actually living into the joy of that Kingdom here and now – seeing the Kingdom of God as tangible reality (fact) and living in that Kingdom even as we walk the highways and byways of this world is a matter for our journey of discipleship. Anyone, everyone, is saved. Being a disciple requires answering the call and embarking on the journey… and yes… it does require “doing” things.
Do you feel the blessing of God’s salvation that claims you as one in whom Christ dwells and delights?
Are you seeking to see, live and show others the Kingdom of God?
What helps you know when you are walking in the Kingdom and living kingdom ways, and when you are not?
Almighty Savior God,
You have saved us. It is a done deal: signed and witnessed. Help us to feel the joy of your love in our life, and to answer the call of truly living into that joy in all that we do and all that we say and all that we are. Let us be a window to you for the world. Amen.
Monday, September 27, 2010
September 27: Suffering Discipleship
There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
Before I put a word (or two) in on this let me offer you a series of favorite quotations… it’s a list that is hard to edit, but it could be longer!
The first quotation comes from Jurgen Moltmann in the beginning of his book, The Crucified God. It is the follow up to his book A Theology of Hope.
“As far as I am concerned, the Christian church and Christian theology become relevant to the problems of the modern world only when they revel the ‘hard core’ of their identity in the crucified Christ and through it are called into question, together with the society in which they live.”
The second quotation comes from popular Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor who was known for stories that embraced the darkness of the world around her. She was also very thoughtful about her strong Catholic faith. This particular comment comes from a letter written to a friend.
“I think that the Church is the only thing that is going to make the terrible world we are coming to endurable; the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it, but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.”
The final quotation comes from theologian H. Richard Neibuhr as he characterizes the God of Liberal Theology (the belief that human society is getting better and better and will bring in the Kingdom of God). Despite great critique liberal theology lives on in American society and this particular critique is also easily aimed at the popular sense of God as benign moralistic deity (God is up in heaven and basically wants good things to happen to me but otherwise isn’t very involved in my life).
“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministry of a Christ without a cross.”
So why do I give you these three quotations? Well… back to the text.
There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
It have always (as far as I know… perhaps there was a time in childhood I felt different) felt that Christian faith requires that you be moved out of out of your comfort zone. To pull another Neibuhr quotation it, “comforts the afflicted, and afflicts the comforted.”
I believe that self-sacrifice and yes – even suffering – is inherent to Christian faith and discipleship. I do not believe such suffering is good. I do believe that it is the necessary byproduct of living in the Kingdom of God that chooses to not play by the rules of society – in fact it even chooses to turn them upside down. It is the necessary byproduct of a life lived loving God, neighbor and self.
A way to understand the cross (not the only way, but certainly a way) is that the price of living a life in the way of Jesus Christ is the world will attempt to kill you because it cannot abide people who choose to live so “foolishly”.
Our world understands and condones hate and fear… it just cannot abide love.
I’m biased on the subject.
I understand discipleship is joyful… but maybe not fun.
I understand it is fulfilling… but often lonely.
I understand it is desirable… but not because of what I get out of it, as if by signing up I pay to receive services and entertainment.
Discipleship is desirable because “here we find the words of eternal life” – even when that eternal life comes at the cost of our earthly life (or comfort) as it did for so many of the early disciples.
I’m biased… and so I leave you with these quotations – because I am not alone.
I’m biased… and so I leave you with these questions – because I want to be with you too.
How do you see the cross present in your life?
What do you love most, and hate most, about the Church – the body of Christ in the world?
Who is God for you?
Loving God,
Your love is radical. Your love stirs and pushes, pulls and embraces. Your love puts a call on our life that is hard to live as it invites us to live so differently from the world of self-interest, competition, and fear. Help us to love, as you have loved us. Amen.
Before I put a word (or two) in on this let me offer you a series of favorite quotations… it’s a list that is hard to edit, but it could be longer!
The first quotation comes from Jurgen Moltmann in the beginning of his book, The Crucified God. It is the follow up to his book A Theology of Hope.
“As far as I am concerned, the Christian church and Christian theology become relevant to the problems of the modern world only when they revel the ‘hard core’ of their identity in the crucified Christ and through it are called into question, together with the society in which they live.”
The second quotation comes from popular Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor who was known for stories that embraced the darkness of the world around her. She was also very thoughtful about her strong Catholic faith. This particular comment comes from a letter written to a friend.
“I think that the Church is the only thing that is going to make the terrible world we are coming to endurable; the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it, but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.”
The final quotation comes from theologian H. Richard Neibuhr as he characterizes the God of Liberal Theology (the belief that human society is getting better and better and will bring in the Kingdom of God). Despite great critique liberal theology lives on in American society and this particular critique is also easily aimed at the popular sense of God as benign moralistic deity (God is up in heaven and basically wants good things to happen to me but otherwise isn’t very involved in my life).
“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministry of a Christ without a cross.”
So why do I give you these three quotations? Well… back to the text.
There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
It have always (as far as I know… perhaps there was a time in childhood I felt different) felt that Christian faith requires that you be moved out of out of your comfort zone. To pull another Neibuhr quotation it, “comforts the afflicted, and afflicts the comforted.”
I believe that self-sacrifice and yes – even suffering – is inherent to Christian faith and discipleship. I do not believe such suffering is good. I do believe that it is the necessary byproduct of living in the Kingdom of God that chooses to not play by the rules of society – in fact it even chooses to turn them upside down. It is the necessary byproduct of a life lived loving God, neighbor and self.
A way to understand the cross (not the only way, but certainly a way) is that the price of living a life in the way of Jesus Christ is the world will attempt to kill you because it cannot abide people who choose to live so “foolishly”.
Our world understands and condones hate and fear… it just cannot abide love.
I’m biased on the subject.
I understand discipleship is joyful… but maybe not fun.
I understand it is fulfilling… but often lonely.
I understand it is desirable… but not because of what I get out of it, as if by signing up I pay to receive services and entertainment.
Discipleship is desirable because “here we find the words of eternal life” – even when that eternal life comes at the cost of our earthly life (or comfort) as it did for so many of the early disciples.
I’m biased… and so I leave you with these quotations – because I am not alone.
I’m biased… and so I leave you with these questions – because I want to be with you too.
How do you see the cross present in your life?
What do you love most, and hate most, about the Church – the body of Christ in the world?
Who is God for you?
Loving God,
Your love is radical. Your love stirs and pushes, pulls and embraces. Your love puts a call on our life that is hard to live as it invites us to live so differently from the world of self-interest, competition, and fear. Help us to love, as you have loved us. Amen.
Monday, September 20, 2010
September 20: Personal God
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" …When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, "Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them… " Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. (Acts 14:11-18)
Commodities abound in our world and economics makes the world turn.
We are each in the business of buying and selling commodities – and even more important our culture is in the business of turning people and ideas into commodities to be sold. There is probably no place that it is easier to see this than with entertainment and sports stars.
We aren’t really interested in the person of Michael Jordan… we just want to wear his shoes. We do not care about the hopes and dreams of LeBron James, we just want to drink Sprite just like he does… because maybe if we do we can have as many “commodities” as he does. Our fashion designers are selling a lifestyle as much as individual clothing, and movies and television shows turn people into “types” that we want to emulate.
I do not think I have to convince you that the American dream has become a way of turning people and ideas into commodities to be bought and sold… if I do – I’ll have to do it in another space. Because what I want to get at, and what I think we are invited to question from our text today… is that we struggle not to do this same thing to the each other, to the church, and even to God.
Go back to the text for me for a minute… what is it that the crowds want to do to Paul and Barnabas?
They want to claim that Paul and Barnabas are “the gods” in human form.
They are ready to name Paul the Greek god Hermes, and Barnabas is Zeus. Even the priest of Zeus is ready to play the game. Before we get to the reaction of Paul and Barnabas let us spend a bit more time with the crowds.
Why name Paul and Barnabas as Hermes and Zeus? Well I have already tipped my hand. I think it’s about making them into commodities. It isn’t really a way to compliment Paul and Barnabas… it’s a way to profit from them.
Let me back up… when Nike created the “Air Jordan” brand it wasn’t to laud Michael Jordan. And the fact that he profited from it is only secondary… the point to it all was to allow a group of others to profit from him. Nike profits from his name, the wearer of the shoe profits from feeling like they can “be like Mike”, and shareholders profit from everyone wanting that commodity to the tune of a hundred dollars for each pair of shoes.
So how do we profit from turning Paul and Barnabas into Greek commodities (aka gods)? We tame them. We control them. We make them at our beck and call – answering our needs. I don’t know what do with a radical, political and theological revolutionary prophet walking around in the name of the alleged son of the alleged Jewish God. But I do know what to do with Hermes. He has a known character and mission… he is, after all, our creation. And so we name Paul as Hermes and then he’s no mystery after all. He won’t meddle in our lives – in fact we will meddle with his as we redefine his message through the lens of “Hermes” to fit our lives… for our profit. We put their healing power to use for our own gain.
Thus is it that Paul and Barnabas have to rend their clothing and lament to the commodifying crowds… “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things (commodities… gods…) to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them… "
Do we make church to fit our lives? Do we make God to fit our lives? Do we find voices and put them into categories that are easier to deal with? Do we figure out how people and ideas will profit us… either monetarily or in some other tangible (emphasis on tangible… we don’t want elusive rewards after all) way? Do we make people and ideas into commodities in our life?
You bet. Only God won’t let us. God won’t hang with such settled answers, and such easy boxes. And God’s disciples following in the way of Christ won’t either… even though the temptation is large and the struggle to resist doing so is nearly impossible to navigate. We are to rend our clothes and remember/witness that we are just mortals… the church is just a mortal institution… but the message we carry is so much more. The God we point to in the way we live our lives is so much more – God is everything.
When we meet someone we do not ask: what does this profit me? We engage in mutual sharing and learning and growing. This is the way of Jesus Christ.
How have you sought to turn others into commodities in your life?
Are there ways you have tried to do the same with God and/or the church – engage the community to find personal profit?
How are you living your life to help others turn from worthless things to the living God?
Personal God, you came this world that we might know you face to face in a living relationship. Help us to care enough about one another to do for each other as you have done for us. Amen.
Commodities abound in our world and economics makes the world turn.
We are each in the business of buying and selling commodities – and even more important our culture is in the business of turning people and ideas into commodities to be sold. There is probably no place that it is easier to see this than with entertainment and sports stars.
We aren’t really interested in the person of Michael Jordan… we just want to wear his shoes. We do not care about the hopes and dreams of LeBron James, we just want to drink Sprite just like he does… because maybe if we do we can have as many “commodities” as he does. Our fashion designers are selling a lifestyle as much as individual clothing, and movies and television shows turn people into “types” that we want to emulate.
I do not think I have to convince you that the American dream has become a way of turning people and ideas into commodities to be bought and sold… if I do – I’ll have to do it in another space. Because what I want to get at, and what I think we are invited to question from our text today… is that we struggle not to do this same thing to the each other, to the church, and even to God.
Go back to the text for me for a minute… what is it that the crowds want to do to Paul and Barnabas?
They want to claim that Paul and Barnabas are “the gods” in human form.
They are ready to name Paul the Greek god Hermes, and Barnabas is Zeus. Even the priest of Zeus is ready to play the game. Before we get to the reaction of Paul and Barnabas let us spend a bit more time with the crowds.
Why name Paul and Barnabas as Hermes and Zeus? Well I have already tipped my hand. I think it’s about making them into commodities. It isn’t really a way to compliment Paul and Barnabas… it’s a way to profit from them.
Let me back up… when Nike created the “Air Jordan” brand it wasn’t to laud Michael Jordan. And the fact that he profited from it is only secondary… the point to it all was to allow a group of others to profit from him. Nike profits from his name, the wearer of the shoe profits from feeling like they can “be like Mike”, and shareholders profit from everyone wanting that commodity to the tune of a hundred dollars for each pair of shoes.
So how do we profit from turning Paul and Barnabas into Greek commodities (aka gods)? We tame them. We control them. We make them at our beck and call – answering our needs. I don’t know what do with a radical, political and theological revolutionary prophet walking around in the name of the alleged son of the alleged Jewish God. But I do know what to do with Hermes. He has a known character and mission… he is, after all, our creation. And so we name Paul as Hermes and then he’s no mystery after all. He won’t meddle in our lives – in fact we will meddle with his as we redefine his message through the lens of “Hermes” to fit our lives… for our profit. We put their healing power to use for our own gain.
Thus is it that Paul and Barnabas have to rend their clothing and lament to the commodifying crowds… “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things (commodities… gods…) to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them… "
Do we make church to fit our lives? Do we make God to fit our lives? Do we find voices and put them into categories that are easier to deal with? Do we figure out how people and ideas will profit us… either monetarily or in some other tangible (emphasis on tangible… we don’t want elusive rewards after all) way? Do we make people and ideas into commodities in our life?
You bet. Only God won’t let us. God won’t hang with such settled answers, and such easy boxes. And God’s disciples following in the way of Christ won’t either… even though the temptation is large and the struggle to resist doing so is nearly impossible to navigate. We are to rend our clothes and remember/witness that we are just mortals… the church is just a mortal institution… but the message we carry is so much more. The God we point to in the way we live our lives is so much more – God is everything.
When we meet someone we do not ask: what does this profit me? We engage in mutual sharing and learning and growing. This is the way of Jesus Christ.
How have you sought to turn others into commodities in your life?
Are there ways you have tried to do the same with God and/or the church – engage the community to find personal profit?
How are you living your life to help others turn from worthless things to the living God?
Personal God, you came this world that we might know you face to face in a living relationship. Help us to care enough about one another to do for each other as you have done for us. Amen.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
September 16: Being Anti-Venom
“…and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” Act 14:2b
I am risking pulling this text REALLY out of context. I’m not just focusing on one verse but on half a verse. (If you have ever wondered about why you might occasionally see an “a” or “b” in a biblical citation it means that the first half or second half of the verse is being referenced. A great tool for those of us who only like half of what the Bible says!)
I want to focus on this particular piece of the verse however because in keeping with our last devotion I think it points out something about the nature of those who follow in the way of Christ. Disciples and apostles are absolutely filled to the brim with anti-venom. That’s right… the waters of baptism, the wine and juice of the table, the spirit of God is anti-venom in our blood and it just won’t allow us to get poisoned…
Okay so don’t go try and get bitten by any snakes to disprove me – I’d rather not have to make a whole rash of hospital visits over the next few days!! Clearly I don’t actually mean to think “good Christians” (whatever that is) are immune to poison (that particular passage in Mark just isn’t in “my” canon: “they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them.” Mark 16:18). What I do mean to say is that in this text those that heard and put trust in the good news of Christ, those who followed in the way of Christ, are those who didn’t allow their minds to get poisoned “against the brothers”.
I think this is a very important message today because I think we live in an age rampant with poison. Our minds are poisoned daily.
Politics poisons us… “against the brothers.”
Religion poisons us… “against the brothers.”
Competition in sports, marketplace poisons us…
“against the brothers.”
Institutional pride and nationalism poisons us…
“against the brothers.”
Classicism, racism, sexism poisons us…
“against the brothers (and sisters!!).”
Cliques, gossip and whose in and whose out mentality poisons us…
“against the brothers.”
Jesus is inoculation against poison.
Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus lifted up Centurions and Samaritans as role models.
Jesus died for all. Jesus rose for all.
Jesus frees us from being poisoned… “against the brothers.”
And here the brothers is no longer simply Paul and Barnabas but all our brothers and sisters and the people around us who we would like to think are not part of “our” community.
Following in the way of Jesus means allowing yourself to be inoculated against such poisons. And I think this may be one of the hardest things we can do because we have to give up A LOT to do that. We have to give up the right to stand at the water cooler and get snarky about “those other people”. We have to give up the right to carry on to hurts and vengeance and self-righteousness. We have to give up the rage and frustration and drive and need that fuels us to be first… and to be right, because it is a poison that is anathema to the heart of Christ who reminds us that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
We have to give up so much… and then we have to actually practice “turning the other cheek” and living in service to the “other” – washing the feet of our neighbor… even when our neighbor’s action don’t warrant it, because the whole idea of “warrant” and “worth” are wrapped up in poison.
“Do you want to be made well?”
Jesus asks this in the John 5.
Jesus wants to rid us of our poisons.
Jesus invites us to be live a life freed from poisons… and freeing others from them as well. Jesus requires us not to poison or be poisoned… “against the brothers” - whomever they may be.
What poisons are you carrying around with you?
Do you want to be made well?
How are you helping others to let the poisons go?
Inoculating God,
Help us to want to be healed. Give us the strength to let go of the poisons that destroy us but also define us in ways we find sadly comforting. Healing us, help us to go forth into your world helping to free others from their poisons as you have freed us from ours.
Amen.
I am risking pulling this text REALLY out of context. I’m not just focusing on one verse but on half a verse. (If you have ever wondered about why you might occasionally see an “a” or “b” in a biblical citation it means that the first half or second half of the verse is being referenced. A great tool for those of us who only like half of what the Bible says!)
I want to focus on this particular piece of the verse however because in keeping with our last devotion I think it points out something about the nature of those who follow in the way of Christ. Disciples and apostles are absolutely filled to the brim with anti-venom. That’s right… the waters of baptism, the wine and juice of the table, the spirit of God is anti-venom in our blood and it just won’t allow us to get poisoned…
Okay so don’t go try and get bitten by any snakes to disprove me – I’d rather not have to make a whole rash of hospital visits over the next few days!! Clearly I don’t actually mean to think “good Christians” (whatever that is) are immune to poison (that particular passage in Mark just isn’t in “my” canon: “they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them.” Mark 16:18). What I do mean to say is that in this text those that heard and put trust in the good news of Christ, those who followed in the way of Christ, are those who didn’t allow their minds to get poisoned “against the brothers”.
I think this is a very important message today because I think we live in an age rampant with poison. Our minds are poisoned daily.
Politics poisons us… “against the brothers.”
Religion poisons us… “against the brothers.”
Competition in sports, marketplace poisons us…
“against the brothers.”
Institutional pride and nationalism poisons us…
“against the brothers.”
Classicism, racism, sexism poisons us…
“against the brothers (and sisters!!).”
Cliques, gossip and whose in and whose out mentality poisons us…
“against the brothers.”
Jesus is inoculation against poison.
Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus lifted up Centurions and Samaritans as role models.
Jesus died for all. Jesus rose for all.
Jesus frees us from being poisoned… “against the brothers.”
And here the brothers is no longer simply Paul and Barnabas but all our brothers and sisters and the people around us who we would like to think are not part of “our” community.
Following in the way of Jesus means allowing yourself to be inoculated against such poisons. And I think this may be one of the hardest things we can do because we have to give up A LOT to do that. We have to give up the right to stand at the water cooler and get snarky about “those other people”. We have to give up the right to carry on to hurts and vengeance and self-righteousness. We have to give up the rage and frustration and drive and need that fuels us to be first… and to be right, because it is a poison that is anathema to the heart of Christ who reminds us that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
We have to give up so much… and then we have to actually practice “turning the other cheek” and living in service to the “other” – washing the feet of our neighbor… even when our neighbor’s action don’t warrant it, because the whole idea of “warrant” and “worth” are wrapped up in poison.
“Do you want to be made well?”
Jesus asks this in the John 5.
Jesus wants to rid us of our poisons.
Jesus invites us to be live a life freed from poisons… and freeing others from them as well. Jesus requires us not to poison or be poisoned… “against the brothers” - whomever they may be.
What poisons are you carrying around with you?
Do you want to be made well?
How are you helping others to let the poisons go?
Inoculating God,
Help us to want to be healed. Give us the strength to let go of the poisons that destroy us but also define us in ways we find sadly comforting. Healing us, help us to go forth into your world helping to free others from their poisons as you have freed us from ours.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
September 8: Bringing Salvation
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. (Acts 13:45-48)
If you haven’t noticed I’ve gone backward a bit. Just a few verses mind you – but backward all the same. Its not that I didn’t see these verses last week, its just that maybe on some level I was avoiding them… that’s right, I love difficult and challenging scripture lessons but I’m as prone as the next person to want to skip or gloss over some texts.
This text is like a gold mine (silver, diamonds and maybe even some oil too) of phrases for a theology of salvation. Whatever you are prone to want to understand about how salvation works, what it is, and why it matters – you’ll find what you want to see here! Step right up… salvation theologies are on a sale: 2 for dollar!
There is rejection, judgment, eternal life… light and salvation (and of course the ends of the earth… wherever those may be). There is jealousy and praise, Jews and Gentiles… and of course there is even the word of all words: “destined”. (It’s just asking for the prefix “pre” to be added.)
So what is it that I don’t like about this text… well I don’t like the free for all we might make of these “gold mine texts” that might just as well be a mine field of conceit. As soon as we think we understand salvation (that’s the conceit part) we are bound to start profaning the gospel. So I’m hesitant to even touch the word “destined” and turn it into any kind of support for the doctrine of predestination. I wish to take care of what we think it means to “bring salvation” as if it is ours to parcel out. For that we ought to recall how the author (Luke) and subject (Paul and Barnabas) go about their ministry.
And in keeping with that thought I’ll tell you what I do think is important to take from this text. When Paul “brings salvation” it isn’t to his glory (he doesn’t stick around to feed his ego… but moves on – apparently to the ends of the earth). Paul “brings salvation” boasting only of the cross of Christ and only to the glory of God. Paul doesn’t pick and choose who he gives his message to, it’s for all people. In fact that is the foundation of Paul’s calling, to take the gospel to those who had been deemed “outsiders”. Paul also doesn’t spend time telling people whether they really received salvation or not. In fact, one of the most interesting comments this text makes is, “Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life.”
The only judgment about worthiness for salvation is self-judgment. Whether or not we are saved (it appears from this text) is a matter of whether or not we allow ourselves to receive the gift (freely given by God and pointed out to us by the people around us… fellow disciples and apostles on their journey).
So the Jews (in this particular time and place) choose jealousy… and the Gentiles choose joy and praise. And the responsibility of those who have chosen joy and praise is go forth as light shining in the world that is too often darkened by jealousy and spite. The light we shine in the life of the world is to reveal to all around us one thing: the gospel… the good news that salvation is theirs as well – if they are willing to allow themselves to receive it!
Salvation is a gift – God’s gift.
Salvation is for all – all those who allow themselves to accept it in joy.
Salvation is revealed throughout the world (to the ends of the earth) and it is our responsibility to help people see it by making our lives be light in the darkness, pointing to Christ and the gift of salvation.
Have you allowed yourself to receive the gift of salvation?
Do you choose joy and praise?
Are you a living as light in the world helping others find God’s gift?
Saving God,
Help us to want to be healed by your gift of salvation. Lead us to joy and praise and enable us to bear your light into the world helping each other to live into the gifts you have given us. Amen.
If you haven’t noticed I’ve gone backward a bit. Just a few verses mind you – but backward all the same. Its not that I didn’t see these verses last week, its just that maybe on some level I was avoiding them… that’s right, I love difficult and challenging scripture lessons but I’m as prone as the next person to want to skip or gloss over some texts.
This text is like a gold mine (silver, diamonds and maybe even some oil too) of phrases for a theology of salvation. Whatever you are prone to want to understand about how salvation works, what it is, and why it matters – you’ll find what you want to see here! Step right up… salvation theologies are on a sale: 2 for dollar!
There is rejection, judgment, eternal life… light and salvation (and of course the ends of the earth… wherever those may be). There is jealousy and praise, Jews and Gentiles… and of course there is even the word of all words: “destined”. (It’s just asking for the prefix “pre” to be added.)
So what is it that I don’t like about this text… well I don’t like the free for all we might make of these “gold mine texts” that might just as well be a mine field of conceit. As soon as we think we understand salvation (that’s the conceit part) we are bound to start profaning the gospel. So I’m hesitant to even touch the word “destined” and turn it into any kind of support for the doctrine of predestination. I wish to take care of what we think it means to “bring salvation” as if it is ours to parcel out. For that we ought to recall how the author (Luke) and subject (Paul and Barnabas) go about their ministry.
And in keeping with that thought I’ll tell you what I do think is important to take from this text. When Paul “brings salvation” it isn’t to his glory (he doesn’t stick around to feed his ego… but moves on – apparently to the ends of the earth). Paul “brings salvation” boasting only of the cross of Christ and only to the glory of God. Paul doesn’t pick and choose who he gives his message to, it’s for all people. In fact that is the foundation of Paul’s calling, to take the gospel to those who had been deemed “outsiders”. Paul also doesn’t spend time telling people whether they really received salvation or not. In fact, one of the most interesting comments this text makes is, “Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life.”
The only judgment about worthiness for salvation is self-judgment. Whether or not we are saved (it appears from this text) is a matter of whether or not we allow ourselves to receive the gift (freely given by God and pointed out to us by the people around us… fellow disciples and apostles on their journey).
So the Jews (in this particular time and place) choose jealousy… and the Gentiles choose joy and praise. And the responsibility of those who have chosen joy and praise is go forth as light shining in the world that is too often darkened by jealousy and spite. The light we shine in the life of the world is to reveal to all around us one thing: the gospel… the good news that salvation is theirs as well – if they are willing to allow themselves to receive it!
Salvation is a gift – God’s gift.
Salvation is for all – all those who allow themselves to accept it in joy.
Salvation is revealed throughout the world (to the ends of the earth) and it is our responsibility to help people see it by making our lives be light in the darkness, pointing to Christ and the gift of salvation.
Have you allowed yourself to receive the gift of salvation?
Do you choose joy and praise?
Are you a living as light in the world helping others find God’s gift?
Saving God,
Help us to want to be healed by your gift of salvation. Lead us to joy and praise and enable us to bear your light into the world helping each other to live into the gifts you have given us. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)