I was driving to a church meeting last Tuesday when I saw the sign that has been erected by Washington County welcoming travelers to the county. It is a large white stone monument that says "Welcome to Washington County" but also adds, "Birthplace of Texas." I know what that last part means but to travelers from outside of Texas or even to foreign visitors perhaps they shake their heads and wonder what it means for Washington County to call itself the Birthplace or Texas. If they venture a bit farther then the sign, perhaps to Brenham, and go to the Visitor Information Center, they may find a brochure or other information about the hamlet of Washington, Texas, just up Hwy. 105 from Brenham. There is where they will find the official "Birthplace of Texas" with the historic building where they could learn about why this place bears this name.
We learned in school when we took Texas History that early Texan pioneers settled in Texas when it was still a part of Mexico and, as the Colonies did in the century prior, soon they became disgruntled with the policies of the Mexican government that greatly affected their lives. Rather than move back to the United States and give up the land that the Mexican government had given them, they decided to have a rebellion and soon the Texas Revolution began. Those who were bent on revolution met at Washington on the Brazos in 1836 and declared themselves free from the Mexican government and soon the armed forces of Mexico led by General Santa Anna were racing across Texas to quell the rebellion and restore order. Unfortunately for him, the Texans were led by the tough soldier Sam Houston who led the forces of Texas to conquer the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto and took Santa Anna captive as part of it all, bringing independence and freedom to the Texans there.
From 1836 to 1845, Texas was a country of its own with its own government, President, and money. For nine years it functioned as a country of its own until finally its leaders decided they would be better off as a state in the United States rather than a country, a decision that some Texans today still hate happened. Texas gave up the right to be independent when it joined the Union and today is one of 50 parts of one whole unit. Despite what some secessionists say, Texas does not have the right to be an independent nation again. It became part of a nation in 1845 and its future is bound up in that nation and its welfare.
Jesus was talking to the religious leaders of his day in John 8 and one of the most quoted verses in the Bible is found in that chapter. "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32) His point to his listeners was that he would bring them the truth and they would be free from sin. They took him literally and got upset that he would imply that they were not already free because they were not slaves (except to the Roman government). His point was that freedom from sin is even more important than freedom as individuals.
Many religious persons throughout history struggled with this idea. Some were even the founders of certain religious traditions found throughout the world. Martin Luther believed that he was consumed with sin and tried to do all the works he could to bring about relief. He beat himself, he crawled on his knees up the steps of St. Peters in Rome while on a pilgrimage there, he read the scriptures voraciously, he prayed over and over again for relief from the sins he believed plagued him. Finally, he was reading from Romans and came across the idea that salvation was achieved through faith, not works, and the lightbulb came on over his head and he began to teach and preach that, much to the dismay of the religious hierarchy of his day who made their living selling the right to get out of hell for the right price. His very life was at stake because of his decision to tell the good news of faith to those fearful for their eternal future. All this happened while he was a priest serving as a monk.
John Wesley was an Anglican priest serving a parish in the Church of England. He mourned his sins and also wondered how he would escape the fires of hell because of his wickedness. He was attending a meeting on Aldersgate Street in London when he heard the book of Romans read and explained and he had what Methodists call his "Aldersgate Experience" where his "heart was strangely warmed." He received good news from the Holy Spirit about the role of grace in his life and how he could have assurance for his sins being forgiven rather than have to be in despair. That experience launched him into the work that became the forerunner of the Methodist movement both in England and abroad.
Both of these Reformers received news of freedom that they had longed to hear. The Holy Spirit spoke to them of this good news that they shared with others and began the Reformation that brought about the Protestant churches we have today. When you know the truth, it will set you free from worry, anxiety, despair, and sin. You will be free to know God's love is true for you personally and that God loves you just the way you are. Let the Spirit speak words of truth to you so you will find peace in this world of conflict and strife.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Right Priorities
When I meet with a couple to discuss their upcoming wedding, we usually discuss my list of things that I have decided cause the biggest problems in marriage for couples. The list is one that I have formulated over the years as I have talked with couples and counseled with individuals concerning their relationships. The list is not one that incorporates all the issues or problems that may evolve during a marriage but it is one that I think lays the groundwork for a good relationship if one considers what is involved in having a good relationship or marriage.
I always tell the couple that at the foundation of a good relationship is communication. If two people can talk about whatever is on their minds, then they can usually tackle just about any problem if both of them are willing to try to solve them. Actually listening to the other person and hearing what their concerns are AND having a desire to find a resolution to a problem will help people to get past whatever the issues may be that divide them. So, good communication is at the heart of every good relationship.
Then, we go into discussion of issues that regularly cause division in a marriage--children, relatives, work, use of time, religion (church attendance), how to decide where to spend holidays, and finally to the big one, the problem that causes many marriages to stumble....no, not that one, but the one I name is MONEY. Yes, money, the use of money, overspending and overuse of credit is a huge problem for couples and if they do not talk about how they will spend their money, how they will arrange their banking and saving, these issues can divide a marriage and has even ended marriages.
Money is a necessary part of living and all of us want it and need it in order to live comfortable lives. Money allows us to buy possessions, both small and large. Money is both real (such as cash or checks) and imaginary (such as is given to us by credit cards and loans of various sizes). We can see the cash we use and the checks we write that represent cash but the use of charge cards and the acquisition of loans is an almost mysterious process. It is very easy for people to be overextended in their use of credit cards and their handling of loans. When people begin to feel the pressure and tension of living in an overextended state with little money to do anything except pay bills, then tension may develop between the persons involved in the use of money.
Jesus talked about money many times in the Gospels. Sometimes he told parables that ended with platitudes such as "You cannot serve God and money." This week, we are reading from Mark's Gospel a familiar story commonly called, "The Rich Young Ruler". Mark seems to only tell us that he is a man and that he is wealthy. We do not know that he is young or rich but that has been the tradition told in regard to the story over the years.
The man bows at the feet of Jesus and asks him to tell him what he needs to do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments and Jesus names some of them to which the man says that he has tried to obey them all from his youth. Jesus then tells him to go sell what he has and to give the money to the poor and to come follow him. At this command, the man goes away "grieving" because he "had many possessions" which in the ancient world would indicate that some was wealthy since most people had very few possessions.
Jesus then does a teaching segment on how wealth can stop one from entering God's Kingdom, although he says it is not impossible, but just difficult. He also says that those who give up things in order to follow him will be rewarded in the world to come. The platitude that ends this story is: "Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." In other words, things are not always what they seem to be using worldly standards to try to negotiate the spiritual world. Worldly things do not matter as much as spiritual things when it comes to following Jesus.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ involves having a relationship with him. It is just like having a relationship with a spouse or other relative. We can allow things in life to separate us from others, things such as the ones on my list, or we can not consider them as important as our relationship with Jesus and consider it to be of utmost importance to our lives. Money may be one of those things for some people but it is not the only one. Life is full of choices that may present options that stand between us and our devotion to Christ.
Jesus was actually describing the greatest commandment when he commanded the man to sell his possessions and follow him. He somehow perceived that this man's wealth stood between him and his relationship with God. The first commandment says to love God with all our of being. It is called the greatest commandment because of that duty. Anything that comes between loving God with all of our being and us is something to be cleared away so as to have a right relationship with God.
It may be money but in the modern world it may be one of a host of other things that keep us from truly knowing, loving, and serving God. It may be something that we have to do, such as resolve a conflict with another person, or something we have to not do, such as turn off our television or computer now and then to allow time to seek God through prayer and study. In either case, asking God to direct our lives so we can have a better relationship with God is a prayer that God will truly answer as we seek the truth and light that only God can bring.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Biblical Literacy or Is That Illiteracy?
Recently one of the candidates who is running for President of the US was asked what his favorite scripture was in the Bible since he said that he thinks the Bible is the greatest book ever written. He first said that it was too private for him to discuss and then, when pressed further, said that his favorite verse was the proverb that said not to bend to envy. Some Bible scholars have been discussing this interaction and many think that perhaps this candidate has rarely if ever actually read the Bible and perhaps is bringing it into the public forum so as to gather some votes and voters. Who is to know if the man ever reads the Bible but his response is similar to many who say they value the Bible and think it is the greatest book ever written but they do not actually read the Bible?
When people defend certain societal views of theirs using the Bible as their defense, hardly ever does one hear them quote Book, chapter, and verse in their defense. Usually they just say, "Well, the Bible says..." and they leave it at that.
I had a young woman in a Bible study group one time tell everyone, "Well, it is like it says in the Bible, 'Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime." As the words came out of her mouth, I could not believe that she actually thought the verse she quoted could be found in the Bible. I raised my hand and said, "I don't believe that is actually from the Bible." She was taken aback at what I said and tried to defend her views and I challenged her to find the verse in the Bible. She could not, of course, because that proverb is taken from American culture, not from the Bible. She admitted to me later that she was mistaken and we both laughed about it.
That example is not uncommon though. Surveys have been done asking participants to say whether or not a proverb or verse can be found in the Bible. Most of the time the participants are unable to successfully pass the test of the survey.
I enjoy watching game shows such as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" or "Jeopardy". When the subject is something found in the Bible, I usually become amused because the game show participant rarely knows the answer and I usually do. One time a woman was in the last round on the Millionaire show and a Bible question came up. She either had to answer or had to walk away and she did not know the answer (which I thought was pretty simple) and she had to walk away ending her time on the show.
I know that I have been to seminary and have two theological degrees and have almost 25 years experience as a pastor but much of the knowledge of the Bible that I possess was taught to me as a child in Sunday School. I had the Bible drilled into me weekly with games such as "Sword Drill" where we had to open our Bibles and find specific verses. We were given challenges to make us want to look into the Bible and learn what was there. We had memory verses to learn again and again and were given prizes if we could say them. I had a mother who pushed Biblical knowledge on me over and over as long as I lived in the same house as she did. So, even though I have advanced studies in seminary, I can attribute much of my Bible knowledge to my early roots as a Christian.
It is sad that many people who are Christians and who say they believe in the Bible as God's Word hardly ever open the book or read its words. They may hear it read aloud in worship services and hear a pastor preach from it but they have never personally taken the opportunity to read it for themselves and to learn what it truly says about the social issues of our day. They instead listen to television preachers tell them what they should believe and give a world view that is more akin to the medieval world rather than the modern world as they sway them into thinking the way they promote.
Some may be surprised to find that the Bible does not say anything about many modern topics. It is silent on those because the cultures of the ancient world did not contain many of the modern things we discuss today. Some Bibles are translated specifically to promote their own theological bent and even the translation of the Bible one chooses to read will lead one to think in a certain way about our world and its peoples.
The Holy Spirit gives light to those who seek it. Those who honestly open the Bible and ask God to direct them in understanding it will find light and truth. Those who simply carry it around or hear what others may say about it without actually reading its words for themselves will be led in one direction or another and may find turmoil and confusion. God will lead us where we should go in life and God's Spirit will never fail to be our guide in our lifelong search for truth. Open the book and read its words and ask God to direct you as you honestly search for the truth contained in it. You will find peace and joy in such a personal venture.
When people defend certain societal views of theirs using the Bible as their defense, hardly ever does one hear them quote Book, chapter, and verse in their defense. Usually they just say, "Well, the Bible says..." and they leave it at that.
I had a young woman in a Bible study group one time tell everyone, "Well, it is like it says in the Bible, 'Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime." As the words came out of her mouth, I could not believe that she actually thought the verse she quoted could be found in the Bible. I raised my hand and said, "I don't believe that is actually from the Bible." She was taken aback at what I said and tried to defend her views and I challenged her to find the verse in the Bible. She could not, of course, because that proverb is taken from American culture, not from the Bible. She admitted to me later that she was mistaken and we both laughed about it.
That example is not uncommon though. Surveys have been done asking participants to say whether or not a proverb or verse can be found in the Bible. Most of the time the participants are unable to successfully pass the test of the survey.
I enjoy watching game shows such as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" or "Jeopardy". When the subject is something found in the Bible, I usually become amused because the game show participant rarely knows the answer and I usually do. One time a woman was in the last round on the Millionaire show and a Bible question came up. She either had to answer or had to walk away and she did not know the answer (which I thought was pretty simple) and she had to walk away ending her time on the show.
I know that I have been to seminary and have two theological degrees and have almost 25 years experience as a pastor but much of the knowledge of the Bible that I possess was taught to me as a child in Sunday School. I had the Bible drilled into me weekly with games such as "Sword Drill" where we had to open our Bibles and find specific verses. We were given challenges to make us want to look into the Bible and learn what was there. We had memory verses to learn again and again and were given prizes if we could say them. I had a mother who pushed Biblical knowledge on me over and over as long as I lived in the same house as she did. So, even though I have advanced studies in seminary, I can attribute much of my Bible knowledge to my early roots as a Christian.
It is sad that many people who are Christians and who say they believe in the Bible as God's Word hardly ever open the book or read its words. They may hear it read aloud in worship services and hear a pastor preach from it but they have never personally taken the opportunity to read it for themselves and to learn what it truly says about the social issues of our day. They instead listen to television preachers tell them what they should believe and give a world view that is more akin to the medieval world rather than the modern world as they sway them into thinking the way they promote.
Some may be surprised to find that the Bible does not say anything about many modern topics. It is silent on those because the cultures of the ancient world did not contain many of the modern things we discuss today. Some Bibles are translated specifically to promote their own theological bent and even the translation of the Bible one chooses to read will lead one to think in a certain way about our world and its peoples.
The Holy Spirit gives light to those who seek it. Those who honestly open the Bible and ask God to direct them in understanding it will find light and truth. Those who simply carry it around or hear what others may say about it without actually reading its words for themselves will be led in one direction or another and may find turmoil and confusion. God will lead us where we should go in life and God's Spirit will never fail to be our guide in our lifelong search for truth. Open the book and read its words and ask God to direct you as you honestly search for the truth contained in it. You will find peace and joy in such a personal venture.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Being First in God's Kingdom
I recently had an experience while getting my hair cut at Supercuts in Austin that made me think about the Gospel lesson from yesterday's lectionary. My wife and I were there and I had already had my haircut and she was in the chair getting hers. As I sat waiting for her to finish, suddenly the door opened and an elderly woman entered the place along with a younger man that I assumed could have been her son. The older woman was using a walker and the younger man carried an instrument of some kind that had a tube leading from it to the woman's clothing where it was hidden beneath. The hair stylist who had done my haircut, a younger man in his 30s, greeted the couple warmly and asked them to sign in. He explained it would be a wait of about 30 minutes which seemed okay with the elderly woman. As he told them to have a seat to wait, the younger man stopped him and asked a request of him. He said that the woman could not sit in the regular chairs where we were waiting because of her legs and she may not be able to get back up if she did, so he wondered if she could sit in one of the stylist chairs that was not being used. The stylist smiled and said, "Of course. Just choose any one that is not be used and you are welcome to sit there." The younger man with the woman thanked him for his consideration and the stylist replied, "Of course. We are glad you are here and want you to be comfortable."
What a warm welcome this stylist gave to this aged woman with many health issues. It made her feel included and accepted as she was. They went out of their way to do what they could to be sure that her needs were met so that she could receive her hair styling along with other customers.
This lesson from life made me apply it to our life as Christians and as church members, of course. It made me think about the welcome that we give to others who venture into our churches or the personal welcome we give to individuals whom we meet in life.
The Gospel lesson for yesterday was found in Mark's Gospel where Jesus asked the disciples what they were talking about as they traveled to Capernaum. They were silent because he knew that they were arguing about who was the greatest in the Kingdom that Jesus was bringing. Jesus told them that to be first in God's Kingdom means that we have to be servants to all. To make his point clearer, he called a little child to be among them and said, "Whoever welcomes one such as this welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." (Mark 9)
Children were not seen as precious gifts from heaven in the ancient world as they are today in North America. They were seen as a burden and responsibility, one more mouth to feed, until they were old enough to contribute and help out with growing the crops necessary for all to be fed. So, welcoming a child was an act of courage and acceptance because they represented a cost to the family who had a new child.
We like to think that we welcome all persons whom we meet but all of us have suspicions or fears or prejudices that we brought to adulthood with us from our childhood. We learned to fear or mistrust others based upon ideas or characteristics about them. Perhaps our feelings about them have to do with the color of their skin, their country of origin, their religion, their language, or their sexual orientation. We may judge persons immediately based upon these and other factors without getting to know them first. Welcoming the stranger who is different may be challenging for us but it should not be considered impossible if we truly want to act on Christ's behalf to others.
Persons who have rarely ever been a stranger or newcomer have a hard time relating to the feelings of others who are different. Perhaps one has always lived in the same community or area where one was born and grew up and finds it hard to know how persons may feel who are new to an area or country. Perhaps some have never been friends with others who are different.
I grew up in a town that was all white and never knew a person of color until I went to college. I was taught to be wary of persons who were not of my same race. When I went to college I wanted to be friends with all persons so I began to get acquainted with others and soon had many friends who were African-American. As I worked in many places, I got to know persons who were different from me in many ways and soon found that all of us have the same needs and desires in life. We all want to be happy, to be loved, to be safe and secure. We all want a good future for ourselves and for our children.
Think about times when you have received a genuine welcome from others? What did they do that conveyed sincere welcome to you? How did they treat you to make you feel included and welcome? How do we translate the welcome we have felt into a welcome that we offer others across all the distinctions that often separate us? How do we make persons to feel welcome in our personal space and in our churches?
As we ask God to open our eyes to others around us and to see their needs, God will direct us into how we can expand our welcome so that we will truly be a welcoming and inclusive church as well as individuals who strive to show God's love to all in our world, even those who are much different than we are.
What a warm welcome this stylist gave to this aged woman with many health issues. It made her feel included and accepted as she was. They went out of their way to do what they could to be sure that her needs were met so that she could receive her hair styling along with other customers.
This lesson from life made me apply it to our life as Christians and as church members, of course. It made me think about the welcome that we give to others who venture into our churches or the personal welcome we give to individuals whom we meet in life.
The Gospel lesson for yesterday was found in Mark's Gospel where Jesus asked the disciples what they were talking about as they traveled to Capernaum. They were silent because he knew that they were arguing about who was the greatest in the Kingdom that Jesus was bringing. Jesus told them that to be first in God's Kingdom means that we have to be servants to all. To make his point clearer, he called a little child to be among them and said, "Whoever welcomes one such as this welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." (Mark 9)
Children were not seen as precious gifts from heaven in the ancient world as they are today in North America. They were seen as a burden and responsibility, one more mouth to feed, until they were old enough to contribute and help out with growing the crops necessary for all to be fed. So, welcoming a child was an act of courage and acceptance because they represented a cost to the family who had a new child.
We like to think that we welcome all persons whom we meet but all of us have suspicions or fears or prejudices that we brought to adulthood with us from our childhood. We learned to fear or mistrust others based upon ideas or characteristics about them. Perhaps our feelings about them have to do with the color of their skin, their country of origin, their religion, their language, or their sexual orientation. We may judge persons immediately based upon these and other factors without getting to know them first. Welcoming the stranger who is different may be challenging for us but it should not be considered impossible if we truly want to act on Christ's behalf to others.
Persons who have rarely ever been a stranger or newcomer have a hard time relating to the feelings of others who are different. Perhaps one has always lived in the same community or area where one was born and grew up and finds it hard to know how persons may feel who are new to an area or country. Perhaps some have never been friends with others who are different.
I grew up in a town that was all white and never knew a person of color until I went to college. I was taught to be wary of persons who were not of my same race. When I went to college I wanted to be friends with all persons so I began to get acquainted with others and soon had many friends who were African-American. As I worked in many places, I got to know persons who were different from me in many ways and soon found that all of us have the same needs and desires in life. We all want to be happy, to be loved, to be safe and secure. We all want a good future for ourselves and for our children.
Think about times when you have received a genuine welcome from others? What did they do that conveyed sincere welcome to you? How did they treat you to make you feel included and welcome? How do we translate the welcome we have felt into a welcome that we offer others across all the distinctions that often separate us? How do we make persons to feel welcome in our personal space and in our churches?
As we ask God to open our eyes to others around us and to see their needs, God will direct us into how we can expand our welcome so that we will truly be a welcoming and inclusive church as well as individuals who strive to show God's love to all in our world, even those who are much different than we are.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Believing or Doing or Both?
We are reading passages from the book of James each week during worship in the month of September. James was written to the first century church to guide them in how the life of faith is to be acted out in daily life. Paul wrote to other churches and stressed belief in Jesus Christ ("saved through faith, not works, lest anyone should boast"). James stresses works as an important part of the life of faith ("faith without works is dead"). The tension between these two views were not apparent at the time of their writings because they were written to different groups of Christians and each did not have both to compare. We modern Christians have both writings and more that inform us of how the life of faith works in daily life. We wonder if belief is the most important component or is what we do for others is more important than what we believe or does it take both to make a Christian a complete person?
James is adamant about religion containing works of piety and mercy. Last week we read one of the key verses of the book of James---"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (1:27) This week we continue with what James teaches and will hear--"You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (2:8) The concern of chapter two, however, is not to judge others based on criteria that one may set for oneself but to love others without being judgmental.
James is concerned that some in the early church were favoring the wealthy over the poor when they attended worship. He went as far as to call it a sin to show partiality to some based on criteria we set for ourselves. (2:9) He compares it to other sins that we consider to be serious and are named in the Ten Commandments. He urges mercy for all, for "mercy triumphs over judgement." (2:12)
So, we are left with the instruction to love all and to show mercy and to not judge, something that even Paul would agree with James about. So, what does that have to do with belief? If one believes in Jesus as savior, then does the Christian life consist strictly of believing and professing one's belief to others OR are acts of mercy and piety necessary to the Christian life in order for one to truly be Christian?
I think Jesus own' teachings help to answer that question and the passage quoted most often in regard to this topic is from Matthew 25 where Jesus describes the great judgment where people are separated as sheep are from goats. The judge who separates the people sits on the throne and the criteria used to decide whether one goes to everlasting peace or eternal punishment has to do with works. The judge does not ask if one believed in Jesus as one's savior. The judge asks those who stand before him...did you feed the hungry?...did you give drink to the thirsty?...did you welcome the stranger?...did you give clothes to the naked?...did you take care of the sick?...did you visit those in prison? (Matt. 25:31-46). The answer given determined the fate of those being judged.
Jesus' parable about the judgment did not have the judge ask one time what one believed. The outcome was based solely on works. That leads me and others to conclude that the complete Christian life must include acts of mercy and piety and charity. Saying what one believes is not enough to satisfy God. Showing what one believes through what we do for others demonstrates our belief. When it comes down to it, it really does not matter what we believe about God or Jesus or social issues if our lives do not demonstrate a life of love toward others in the way we treat them and in what we do to help them in their distress.
Paul was a great man and a great theologian and his own life demonstrated love for others in the way he lived among First Century persons. He acted out his beliefs through his life of love and sacrifice resulting in his death for what he believed and taught. He most likely would have agreed with James if they would have discussed their views together. There is no writing saying they ever did this but both men's writings guide our thinking today as they struggled to reflect the teachings of Jesus to those of their day, both in what they said and in how they lived.
James is adamant about religion containing works of piety and mercy. Last week we read one of the key verses of the book of James---"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (1:27) This week we continue with what James teaches and will hear--"You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (2:8) The concern of chapter two, however, is not to judge others based on criteria that one may set for oneself but to love others without being judgmental.
James is concerned that some in the early church were favoring the wealthy over the poor when they attended worship. He went as far as to call it a sin to show partiality to some based on criteria we set for ourselves. (2:9) He compares it to other sins that we consider to be serious and are named in the Ten Commandments. He urges mercy for all, for "mercy triumphs over judgement." (2:12)
So, we are left with the instruction to love all and to show mercy and to not judge, something that even Paul would agree with James about. So, what does that have to do with belief? If one believes in Jesus as savior, then does the Christian life consist strictly of believing and professing one's belief to others OR are acts of mercy and piety necessary to the Christian life in order for one to truly be Christian?
I think Jesus own' teachings help to answer that question and the passage quoted most often in regard to this topic is from Matthew 25 where Jesus describes the great judgment where people are separated as sheep are from goats. The judge who separates the people sits on the throne and the criteria used to decide whether one goes to everlasting peace or eternal punishment has to do with works. The judge does not ask if one believed in Jesus as one's savior. The judge asks those who stand before him...did you feed the hungry?...did you give drink to the thirsty?...did you welcome the stranger?...did you give clothes to the naked?...did you take care of the sick?...did you visit those in prison? (Matt. 25:31-46). The answer given determined the fate of those being judged.
Jesus' parable about the judgment did not have the judge ask one time what one believed. The outcome was based solely on works. That leads me and others to conclude that the complete Christian life must include acts of mercy and piety and charity. Saying what one believes is not enough to satisfy God. Showing what one believes through what we do for others demonstrates our belief. When it comes down to it, it really does not matter what we believe about God or Jesus or social issues if our lives do not demonstrate a life of love toward others in the way we treat them and in what we do to help them in their distress.
Paul was a great man and a great theologian and his own life demonstrated love for others in the way he lived among First Century persons. He acted out his beliefs through his life of love and sacrifice resulting in his death for what he believed and taught. He most likely would have agreed with James if they would have discussed their views together. There is no writing saying they ever did this but both men's writings guide our thinking today as they struggled to reflect the teachings of Jesus to those of their day, both in what they said and in how they lived.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Crumbs Under the Table
When my wife and I first became Methodists back in the early 80s, we worshiped with a small Methodist congregation, aptly named Wesley United Methodist Church. There were only about 50 regular worshipers there each Sunday. The congregation was small but the members were devout and devoted to their expression of faith. Each first Sunday of the month, Holy Communion was celebrated and we were instructed to turn to page 832 in the back of the red hymnal to find the order of worship for Holy Communion. The language contained in it was very old, some of it going back to the Anglican roots of the Methodist Church.
One particular part of the order of Holy Communion was called the Prayer of Humble Access. These are words contained in it that we would pray before we would receive the elements of Holy Communion:
"We do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so as to partake of this Sacrament of thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life, and grow into his likeness, and may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen."
After that prayer, we would make our way to the altar rail to kneel to receive the bread and grape juice (never wine in the UMC), feeling pretty unworthy even to accept these tokens of faith from the hand of God. I always liked that prayer, even though the mood of it is fairly dismal at first. I think I liked the idea of gathering up the crumbs that fall from the table, such as a dog may do when small bits of food fall to the floor while the family is eating. That is a very humbling image--one who picks up crumbs that fall below the table instead of eating at the table with others.
This image can be found in the Gospel lesson we will examine next Sunday during worship. A Gentile woman approaches Jesus, asking him to heal her daughter. For some reason, Jesus is hesitant to grant her request. Perhaps it is because of her status as a Gentile and of him being a Jew. He tells her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." The woman was not dissuaded by Jesus' comparing her to a dog; instead, she used that same image to state her case--"Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
How surprised Jesus must have been to hear that from this lowly woman. He saw her comeback as a statement of faith in him. "For saying that, you may go--the demon has left your daughter." She received the healing she had desired from Jesus for her daughter because she would not be put off. Her persistence brought about what she desired.
"Crumbs under the table" in this story has to do with humility and lowliness, accepting that our status is not with those in power in society. Perhaps that is why Jesus saw something in this woman that resonated with him. He too was lowly, not part of the power structure or religious class of his day. He could see that she was coming to him in humility but desiring something desperately needed for her daughter.
Humility is something that Jesus stressed again and again as a key to being part of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Beatitudes taught that the meek, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are merciful, those who suffer for righteousness' sake, and the peacemakers were first in God's Kingdom. Those who were servants of others were leaders there. Arrogance and self-righteousness have no part in the kingdom that Jesus established. It was only by coming to God as a child or one lowly in spirit that connected with what Jesus taught about his kingdom.
Some in religious circles substitute "kin-dom" for "kingdom" when they talk about the Kingdom of Heaven. They make this change for many reasons but one of the positive reasons has to do with kinship, with belonging to one another. We all are unworthy to gather up the crumbs under the table, unworthy in our own righteousness, at least. God makes us worthy to be part of God's great Kingdom of love and mercy by accepting us as his own, not based on our own merit but based solely on his grace. And God commands us to do the same for others....to accept them as they are and love them as they are and allow God to work in their lives to become what God would make of them.
We will share Holy Communion this Sunday, all of us sharing the crumbs we can gather as we admit our need and accept the grace that only God can give.
One particular part of the order of Holy Communion was called the Prayer of Humble Access. These are words contained in it that we would pray before we would receive the elements of Holy Communion:
"We do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so as to partake of this Sacrament of thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life, and grow into his likeness, and may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen."
After that prayer, we would make our way to the altar rail to kneel to receive the bread and grape juice (never wine in the UMC), feeling pretty unworthy even to accept these tokens of faith from the hand of God. I always liked that prayer, even though the mood of it is fairly dismal at first. I think I liked the idea of gathering up the crumbs that fall from the table, such as a dog may do when small bits of food fall to the floor while the family is eating. That is a very humbling image--one who picks up crumbs that fall below the table instead of eating at the table with others.
This image can be found in the Gospel lesson we will examine next Sunday during worship. A Gentile woman approaches Jesus, asking him to heal her daughter. For some reason, Jesus is hesitant to grant her request. Perhaps it is because of her status as a Gentile and of him being a Jew. He tells her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." The woman was not dissuaded by Jesus' comparing her to a dog; instead, she used that same image to state her case--"Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
How surprised Jesus must have been to hear that from this lowly woman. He saw her comeback as a statement of faith in him. "For saying that, you may go--the demon has left your daughter." She received the healing she had desired from Jesus for her daughter because she would not be put off. Her persistence brought about what she desired.
"Crumbs under the table" in this story has to do with humility and lowliness, accepting that our status is not with those in power in society. Perhaps that is why Jesus saw something in this woman that resonated with him. He too was lowly, not part of the power structure or religious class of his day. He could see that she was coming to him in humility but desiring something desperately needed for her daughter.
Humility is something that Jesus stressed again and again as a key to being part of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Beatitudes taught that the meek, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are merciful, those who suffer for righteousness' sake, and the peacemakers were first in God's Kingdom. Those who were servants of others were leaders there. Arrogance and self-righteousness have no part in the kingdom that Jesus established. It was only by coming to God as a child or one lowly in spirit that connected with what Jesus taught about his kingdom.
Some in religious circles substitute "kin-dom" for "kingdom" when they talk about the Kingdom of Heaven. They make this change for many reasons but one of the positive reasons has to do with kinship, with belonging to one another. We all are unworthy to gather up the crumbs under the table, unworthy in our own righteousness, at least. God makes us worthy to be part of God's great Kingdom of love and mercy by accepting us as his own, not based on our own merit but based solely on his grace. And God commands us to do the same for others....to accept them as they are and love them as they are and allow God to work in their lives to become what God would make of them.
We will share Holy Communion this Sunday, all of us sharing the crumbs we can gather as we admit our need and accept the grace that only God can give.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Sticks and Stones
Most of us can remember being teased by others when we were children. Sometimes the teasing hurt us. Perhaps someone called us names based upon what we looked like or some characteristic that we had. When that happened, often someone would say to the teaser, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." We knew that was not true--words do hurt people--but we wanted to appear that the teasing did not bother us.
Words are powerful tools, either for good or evil. Words can build up others or tear them down. Words can praise or destroy another person. Words, once said, are difficult to retrieve. Once they are out of our mouths, they cannot be taken back. The effect of words is long lasting. Sometimes they cause us to be shaped into the person that we become.
When I was a school teacher, in my first year of teaching, I taught in a rural school district north of Houston. I taught special needs students, many of whom had behavior issues as well as learning challenges. One boy that I taught was named Barry. He was in the fifth grade but was large for his age and may have even been older than the other students due to his learning difficulties. Barry was full of energy and was always chasing the other students and often an altercation would happen between one or more students and Barry. Usually they were minor incidents and did not require a lot of attention.
One day, when I was on playground duty, an older teacher came toward me with Barry by his side. The older teacher had his arm around Barry's neck and had a scowl on his face. He brought Barry in front of me and held him there. "Mr. Carpenter," he said, "you see this boy." I looked at Barry who was looking down at the ground. "Yes," I replied, "I see Barry." "Well," the older teacher continued, "one day Barry is going to be in the penitentiary. He can't keep his hands to himself and he is always getting in trouble." I looked at Barry, who was still looking down at the ground and immediately I had feeling of empathy toward him. How must it have felt to him to have this older teacher make the prediction about him that he would one day be in prison? That experience has bothered me all through the years because of the actions of that teacher.
Years later, as I read the Houston newspaper, I saw an article about a man named Barry who had burned a building down and was being sent to prison. Yes, it was the same Barry who now had grown up to be a man and who had lived up to the predictions that the older teacher had made about him. I wondered if Barry became the person that people said he would be, if he had lived up to their expectations, because few had faith in him that he could be anything different that what he became.
Psychologists call that a "self-fulfilling prophecy". That means that people often become what we think they will become. What we see in others often shapes who they are because they internalize the perceptions of others and see themselves the way others see them. If teachers constantly tell students that they are slow or low achieving or mean, many times the students will live up to their teachers' expectations and become what others say they should become.
That does not stop with students. It continues with adults also. The words we use about others have power. The words can do good or cause harm. We are the ones to determine what happens when we say the words.
"...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. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing." (James 3:8-10a)
Words are powerful tools, either for good or evil. Words can build up others or tear them down. Words can praise or destroy another person. Words, once said, are difficult to retrieve. Once they are out of our mouths, they cannot be taken back. The effect of words is long lasting. Sometimes they cause us to be shaped into the person that we become.
When I was a school teacher, in my first year of teaching, I taught in a rural school district north of Houston. I taught special needs students, many of whom had behavior issues as well as learning challenges. One boy that I taught was named Barry. He was in the fifth grade but was large for his age and may have even been older than the other students due to his learning difficulties. Barry was full of energy and was always chasing the other students and often an altercation would happen between one or more students and Barry. Usually they were minor incidents and did not require a lot of attention.
One day, when I was on playground duty, an older teacher came toward me with Barry by his side. The older teacher had his arm around Barry's neck and had a scowl on his face. He brought Barry in front of me and held him there. "Mr. Carpenter," he said, "you see this boy." I looked at Barry who was looking down at the ground. "Yes," I replied, "I see Barry." "Well," the older teacher continued, "one day Barry is going to be in the penitentiary. He can't keep his hands to himself and he is always getting in trouble." I looked at Barry, who was still looking down at the ground and immediately I had feeling of empathy toward him. How must it have felt to him to have this older teacher make the prediction about him that he would one day be in prison? That experience has bothered me all through the years because of the actions of that teacher.
Years later, as I read the Houston newspaper, I saw an article about a man named Barry who had burned a building down and was being sent to prison. Yes, it was the same Barry who now had grown up to be a man and who had lived up to the predictions that the older teacher had made about him. I wondered if Barry became the person that people said he would be, if he had lived up to their expectations, because few had faith in him that he could be anything different that what he became.
Psychologists call that a "self-fulfilling prophecy". That means that people often become what we think they will become. What we see in others often shapes who they are because they internalize the perceptions of others and see themselves the way others see them. If teachers constantly tell students that they are slow or low achieving or mean, many times the students will live up to their teachers' expectations and become what others say they should become.
That does not stop with students. It continues with adults also. The words we use about others have power. The words can do good or cause harm. We are the ones to determine what happens when we say the words.
"...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. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing." (James 3:8-10a)
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