The Reverberations Of Hypocrisy

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant;

Yesterday, from the book of easy Ezekiel,  I talked about the choices that we have —  the choices that we make in our lives.  In the book of Matthew we read of  the choices people face as each day evolves into another.  The chief priests and elders had the choice to recognize — that is to believe in — who Jesus was.  In the parable that Jesus gives them,  one sons choose to do what the father asks of him; one does not.  There is subtle message in these two ways of choosing. It is not only what one believes, it is not just one says, it is what one does because of belief.  In other words the chief priests and the leaders of the synagogue say they believe in God. And throughout the history they had experienced various prophets who  came in God’s name to bring God‘s message. Now the discussion in this particular chapter has to do with John the Baptist; and whether the Chief Priest and Elder believed he was from God or not.  And it is about Jesus, and whether the believed that  he is from God or not.  The question they ask Jesus is where his authority come from.  In other words who do you think you are doing, and saying, the things that you do and say.

But what we don’t hear in this particular reading is the part of the gospel where Jesus enters Jerusalem with a great fanfare. Greeted with love, and respect, and privilege from the people along the way. The chief priests see this and Are not at all pleased. Then he comes in to the temple turning over the tables of all those selling in the temple.  Reminding them that this is his fathers house and his fathers house is a place of prayer. Now all of this appalls the Chief Priests and the Elders.  I don’t like it that  this man Jesus has the respect that  only they deserve. They don’t like it that people listen to Jesus better than they listen to them. And they don’t like that Jesus seems to have an authority that only belongs to those who serve in the temple as God’s authority.  In other words, they are envious/jealous of Jesus. And so they challenge his authority.

So Jesus tells them this very simple parable about two sons. One son says he’ll do what the father has asked.  One son says he will not do what the father ask.  However,  the one who said he would, not do it, did.   And the one said would do, did not.    This time the chief priests and the elders saw past this simple parable about to sons who say one thing and do another. They realize that Jesus is talking about their faith life and what they say, and what they do, and what they believe or don’t believe, doesn’t match. We call that hypocritical!   And Jesus often talked about the problem of hypocrisy.  

As I was reading this I thought about how little children catch hypocrisy so quickly.  They watch adults, and they listen to what they say, and they pay attention to what they do and don’t do.   And often times all of that doesn’t match in their little minds. I can remember when my two girls were very small, in elementary school.  I was talking on the phone one day to someone who wanted me to do something that afternoon. I didn’t really want to do it. And so I told ‘a little white lie’.  When I got off the phone my oldest daughter called me on what I had said. She said to me “mommy are you not feeling good?”  That one incident taught me a huge lesson. One of the things that I have always ask of my children, and my grandchildren, is to tell the truth. It was very important when my children were young. It is very important to me now, that people tell the truth. But what  my children heard that morning was me not being completely truthful.  The Messages we give our children tell them all about us. The words we say, things we do, and don’t do, that don’t match.

In my most recent years of ministry, I have seen the results of how christian hypocrisy has effected our younger generation.  They have watched Christian’s in their own community say one thing and you do another. Example! Love your neighbor! They hear this over and over and over again. They are told to be kind! They were told to share! They are told to tell the truth! And then they watch! And they listen! And I’m sure they wonder what the problem is.   But then they watch! They watch people say one thing and do another? I was raised with an old saying, I’m sure most of you have heard it:    “do as I say, not as I do!”  That no longer washes with a young minds of today. Didn’t wash in our children’s minds either!   And now they are calling us out!   And making us own our own hypocrisy. And, like to chief priests and the elders we don’t like it!

23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. 30 And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.

(Matthew 21:15-32 RSV)

Choose Life! Or Choose Death!

  Reference:  Ezekiel 18:1-32

I was reading this morning the book of  Ezekiel where someone is suggesting that God’s ways are unfair. God is questioning this person/persons about their theology.  About their  understanding of the ways of God.  And God challenges them to reconsider their opinion about who is punished, That is, who will finally end up dying without God. That is, ending up in a less than pleasant place in the end.   What is of concern here is the question of whether a human being can act freely apart from there historical situation.  But the speaker is suggesting the concept or idea that one generations actions have a determining influence on the next generation in the eyes of God.   That is  because of our cultural conditioning and traditional understandings of Scripture, God, and the Hebrew religion’s  teachings, A person doesn’t have a chance in hell to be saved, or to be good, or to be right with God if their background has Been wickedness and evil.

 So we have to back up and read this conversation today and try to replace what we have learned in our own history from years ago. And what the Bible even says in certain places about the generations influencing, impacting, the next generation. And we have to enter in again to the understanding — or rather the misunderstanding —  of sin.   What sin truly is! And what sin has been created to be in the human mind.   God is trying to help the people understand, in this discussion, is that God is fair.   That God does not judge a person by their past. That God only looks at the heart and soul of a person at any given moment. He wants them to know that sin is not necessarily passed on from generation to another.   That each person has the privilege – – and responsibility – – to choose. To choose the way that they will live.   The choices are quite simple! You can live as God has asked: that is with a true heart that desires to follow the ways of God‘s will. Or to choose the opposite. The opposite of God is the ‘sin’.    To put it in more specific terms, sin is the opposite of love,mercy,justice/fairness, compassion.   And when we choose opposite of God, the thought is that we dies without God’s blessing.  At the same time if we have at one time or another actedopposite of God;  but now have expressed honest regret/repentance we will live with God forever. And it is God who decides this! Not are brothers and sisters. For only God can know our hearts!

The good news, that God came in Jesus to bring to his fallen people, is that this issue of living opposite of God’s will is a revolving thing.  It is on going!  Seemingly never ending until the day we leave this physical body.  We are constantly fighting the battle of choices! However, the blessing is that we keep fighting.  We continue to try!  We continue to desire to do better!  Here in lies the tissue thin place between true evil and occasional temptations to do opposite of God.  Because the evil and wickedness that Ezekiel is referring to here is the constant willingness to live opposite of God’s will for His human creation.  One who doesn’t give a rip about what Jesus taught about God and God’s will.

So, I will ask you what God asks us of us in Deuteronomy: to choose life.  Life in, and with, God! Not death without God!

 It is certainly our  privilege  to choose!

Imagine The Possibility

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.(Phil. 2:1-13)

I am thinking of one word this morning: possibility.  Because when I read these word from Paul, as he writes to the Philippians, my mind imagines what could be possible with just a little adjustment of the human ego. 

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

Imagine!  Just let your mind roam the wonders of what it would be like to live in a community -- not to mention the whole world -- if we all just stepped back from ourselves for a moment and remembered.  Remembered that every single  person on this earth has feeling and thoughts and fear and quirks.  That every person has wants and hopes and needs the same as we do.  Not one person -- not even you or me -- is without fault or rough edges.  If we could all get out of our navel and allow our neighbor the same space of grace we enjoy.  Imagine the possibility for peaceful existence!  

And by the way, it is a possibility.  It is possible because God has placed in each person his Spirit to enable us to be unselfish.  Yep!  I truly believe that!  God's Spirit is just waiting for us to listen to his prompting.  Thats all!  We just have to remember to listen!  We have to want God's activity in our crazy imperfect selves.  God doesn't expect us to be angels with wings.  God just wants us to want to live graciously, as we move among all the other crazy people that surround us, with the offer of God's loving acceptance.  The same loving acceptance God offers to us each minute of the day.

The possibility is very possible!  At least for the majority of the world population.

Spiritual Ambiguity

27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,

The Book of Philippians Is a short book with some powerful images for us to consider.  It is a letter from the Apostle Paul to a people who are close to him in friendship and faith.  Paul is in prison as he writes this letter.  Himself unsure of his own fate and seemingly doing some  reflection on what his faith in Jesus means for his present situation and the lives of those he has been called to serve.  And something has prompted him to write to them of his own passion for the truth God spoke and modeled through Jesus.  

 In this one chapter (see below) Paul’s thoughts seem to run in at least three directions.  First he offers his gratefulness for their friendship and support.  However, number one on his mind is that the people remain faithful — steadfast — in their resolve to stay true to what they know that Jesus taught.  We hear this clearly in his use of the word Gospel.  Gospel in this case is not a reference to the first four books of the New Testament.  It refers to the way of life and ways of  thinking that Jesus taught.  Thirdly Paul uses his present situation to inform them about their own situation — the fear of persecution — which is in danger of dividing the community.  His plea is to come together in this unsure time and to support each other instead of fight among themselves.  He make clear that they are blessed to have each other to count on.  Something Paul does not presently experience among strangers who are there for their passive evil actions and non-loving behavior.  

This small chapter is referring to a prevalent human  condition I’ll call spiritual ambiguity.  The place of confidence and hope verses a place of fear.  When we are faced with some kind of danger.  Or, a time when we are faced with the choice between personal needs or wants and something we don’t want.   It is called the ‘urgent concern for self’!  Be it like Paul who is facing execution. Or, one of us dealing with a death sentence from physical disease.  Or, being face to face with an unfriendly gun.  Or like Peter in the courtyard denying that he is one of Jesus’ disciples.  Or, the innocent Jesus facing the Cross!  When we are in any situation where we must protect ourselves, we can identify with this chapter from Philippians.  Because, we are also asked to stay focused on the promises of God. 

8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. 12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. 15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. 20 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.(Phil. 1:8-30)

‘Step Out Of The Traffic!’

‘Step out of the traffic!’ 

Take off your watches!  Shove back from your  computers! Step back from your lists and your schedules!  ‘Be quiet in this moment and Know that God is here!’

Know that God is just waiting to be called upon, to be invited into your busy mind waiting to help sort out the messes, to help gentle the noise.  God is just waiting to be recognized as all powerful. A God who is very able and willing to help and guide and equip us for anything we are asked to handle.  God is more than willing to simply sit with us and be quiet with us in the moment as a caring friend would do.

The Psalmist suggests that we take time in our day to know this God. To sit with him a moment and ‘just be’ and to listen to the things he has to tell us.

The Psalmist is very wise!

1 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. 2 We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, 3 Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us. 4 River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. 5 God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. 6 Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. 7 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us. 8 Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, 9 Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. 10 "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." 11 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us.

(Psalm 46 The Message)

One More Story of God's View of Fairness

Yesterday I talked about the parable of the generous landowner who paid all his workers the same wage for the day no matter how many hours they worked.  And was then question about his fairness. This morning we take a quick look at the story of Jonah; who also feels that God has acted unfairly.  Unfairly to Jonah that is!  Some of you have heard my take on Jonah and what a great human story it is. If you have not read the story I encourage you to do so. Its a short very story! I truly believe that this story is in the Bible because it asks us to take a good hard look at ourselves; and the way we view right and wrong, fair and unfair.

Lets think of it this way!  Your mom and dad have asked you to do something important that you don’t want to do.  That is not an unusual event in one’s life!  But, you decide not to do it!  You decide that you will run away.  Literally run away! You hop a ship going in the other direction from what your parents want you to do.  But they catch up with you; and as you jump ship you are swallowed by a huge fish.  This is where the story gets hard to relate to;  because it gets too unrealistic.

So let me make a jump back to God and Jonah.  In the belly of the fish Jonah prays and prays and prays to God for help to get out of that fishy belly.  And three day later Jonah find himself on the beach.  God is right there to meet him.  And sends him to do what he should have done in the first place. Which was to warn some nasty evil people to straighten up — clean up —  their act.   Or God would wipe them out.  Jonah hated these people!   Jonah also was aware that if the people listed, and did shape up, God would forgive them.  

Long story short, Jonah was correct!  And this is were we pick up the story this morning.  What I invite you to notice is how Jonah reacts to God’s mercy on the evil people.  Then I ask you to remember how gracious and forgiving God was to Jonah — all the way through the story.  Then remember throughout your life experience when you have had similar times of thinking how unfair things turn out. 

Both the Gospel Reading from Matthew and Jonah point out to us the gigantic difference between the human creation and its Creator.  Pay attention to the precious truth of how God treat those who do their best to follow in his ways.  How patient God is with our failures and mistakes.  How compassionate God is at our admission of guilt.  

And, how the concept of fair is not at all what we understand it to be.

1 Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. 2 He yelled at God, "God! I knew it - when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness! 3 "So, God, if you won't kill them, kill me! I'm better off dead!" 4 God said, "What do you have to be angry about?" 5 But Jonah just left. He went out of the city to the east and sat down in a sulk. He put together a makeshift shelter of leafy branches and sat there in the shade to see what would happen to the city. 6 God arranged for a broad-leafed tree to spring up. It grew over Jonah to cool him off and get him out of his angry sulk. Jonah was pleased and enjoyed the shade. Life was looking up. 7 But then God sent a worm. By dawn of the next day, the worm had bored into the shade tree and it withered away. 8 The sun came up and God sent a hot, blistering wind from the east. The sun beat down on Jonah's head and he started to faint. He prayed to die: "I'm better off dead!" 9 Then God said to Jonah, "What right do you have to get angry about this shade tree?" Jonah said, "Plenty of right. It's made me angry enough to die!" 10 God said, "What's this? How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. 11 So, why can't I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than a hundred and twenty thousand childlike people who don't yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?”(Jonah 4The Message)

What, Or Who, Constitute Fair?

We have two stories in the lectionary this week that bring to mind the childhood quest for understanding about what is  “fair”.  It is actually not just a child’s quest.  It is a human quest!  

The question can be asked of both the Old Testament Reading from the Book of Jonah (I’ll talk about Jonah tomorrow), and the Gospel reading about the landowner who hired labors to work in his vineyard.  Then at the end of the day he paid the same wage to each worker whether they had work from morning to evening; or just the last few hours of the day.  They all got the same amount of money.  And the question invariably arose:  Is that fair?  “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat”.(Matt. 20:12 -13 NRSV)  The landowner’s response?  Are you envious because I am generous?

Just think about what a labor union could do with that!

As most of you know, a parable has a two point message.  One part is always familiar to the culture.  A common issue of the day.  And in Jesus day people who needed work, to provide for themselves or their families, would gather in the town square and hope that someone would hire them for the day.  This day the owner of a vineyard came early in the morning and hired works for a “daily wage” — usually one denarius.  A denarius was a low wage that was barely  enough for one person let alone a family.  A denarius  today would be less than ‘minimum wage’.   So you can understand why the workers who worked all day would be miffed!

Here is the twist!  Parables are most often meant to  expose  the presuppositions that all too often shape our lives to such an extent that we cannot even imagine alternatives.  It exposes our set of values and expectations  of how and what is fair.  Parables expose our parameters, our inability to see past “what has always been” — and “should be”.  These stories tell us that in the Kingdom of God we find that God usually doesn’t follow our set of presumptions, values and parameters.  That God is not limited to our narrow mindset.  

So, when that happens.  When God doesn’t follow our plan.  We grumble!  We question!  We pout and maybe even have a tantrum.  Or, we take to the streets and scream for justice.  Or, we gather around us people who agree with our point of view ; and stand firm in our resolve to make it right, to make it fair.  To make it happen our way.  

So then!  One has to ask: what constitutes fair?   And here in lies the point of the stories!  The story of the landowner!   And the Story of Jonah!  

The point of the parable is not about human presumptions, values, and parameters.  The point that Jesus is making — at least in this Matthew text — is only about God.  About how God operates!  About how God loves!  About how God’s generosity, forgiveness, mercy and grace works.  And, the problem we have with God’s choices!

1 "God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. 3 "Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. 4 He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. 5 They went. 6 At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing? 7 ' "They said, 'Because no one hired us.' "He told them to go to work in his vineyard. 8 "When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, 'Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.' 9 "Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. 10 When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. 11 Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 12 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.' 13 "He replied to the one speaking for the rest, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we? 14 So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. 15 Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?' 16 "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." (Matt. 20:1-16 The Message)

What We Say, And What We Do, Are Two Different Things

Yesterday I shared a small portion of Ps.119, that is requesting God’s guidance in all ways of living, behaving and speaking to others.  TodayI share a passage, in Romans  13 (see below), where the Apostle Paul is referencing Jesus’ summation of the commandments:  Love God!  Love your neighbor!  

However Paul begins his discussion with an interesting phrase:  Owe no one anything, except to love one another;….This is one of those lines that gets overlooked.   The first four word of the sentence get lost in the next five.  What we hear is something about love that fulfills the law.  In other words, it has something to do with either the Commandments or all the rules in the book of Leviticus. Sort of like, if we act nicely toward others we are doing the proper behavior required by the rules of life.  Period!  We can check it off our list as one good deed today.

The little word owe put introduces a broader interpretation to what we might defined as an obligation or responsibility!  Something we are indebted to.  The call to love entails something far deeper in meaning.  This love that Paul, and Jesus, talk about is something that binds us to our actions.  It is not a one time nice word or action.  It is a constant way of living and being.  Because we are loved by God in the purest form of the word.   That is: freely given no stings attached!  And because we are so loved we just want to return the same in kind.  That is the only thing we owe anyone is what we are given from God.  It has really nothing at all to do with rules.  Or, by the way, human expectations!  It has to do with something within us that is responding to something so very precious that we are inclined to ‘do’ it for others — no strings attached.  It is a way of life every day all the time.

Now!   Does that mean we are perfect, or even good, at this loving?  Hardly!  But that is not really the point!  The point is that because of this unconditional love God gives us; we live with a much different world view — a different frame of reference.  We desire to be loving!  But we often fall short of the mark.  Here is the place of our tissue thin personalities!  The Apostle Paul puts is this way in Romans 7:  15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.

So now let me pull this discussion back to my recent posts on the attitudes and behavior of our national and world leaders.  And admittedly this falls on the side of judgment!  But! But! I have a problem with those who claim to be doing good!  Who talk a good talk!  And yet are taking actions that are very much different then the love of God.

I plead guilty to my unloving opinion!

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.(Rom. 13:8-10)

Fanatics? Extremists? Or Wise?

I have just learned one more time that I don't know how a blog works (;  Yesterday I wrote a blog that this morning I somehow deleted *^*%&^$%*&

But it brought to my blog space two thought provoking responses.  One is apparently on my blog page sent by Rick.  The other one was in my email this morning.  I am assuming that you can all read Rick's for yourself.  I have printed the other one for you to read.  I am grateful that my thoughts provoke conversation.  I thank both of you for your insight.  And welcome more participation as time goes on.

Other response:

"I may wear rose colored glasses, but I believe and see God’s compassion, kindness and love in action.  I have experienced this in my life through kind words spoken when I am hurting; through a warm hug; even from the smile of a stranger on a bad day. Globally and in the news it might seem the arrogant and greedy win, but individually and in community God’s love is alive and well.  I have faith that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are at work in our messed up world. Isaiah 40:31; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 8: 26-27. A thought provoking blog and certainly stirred my thinking and faith."

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So now allow me to say this about all of that!  Psalm 119 is the longest and most complete psalm written.  It covers just about all of human needs and feelings.  The particular section I am focusing on this morning is verse 33-40 (see Below); because this section asked for guidance as to God’s hope for the human heart. First of all the Psalmist asked for understanding.  Something that all of us could use a giant helping of.  Then he requests God’s guidance in staying true to the commandment to love our neighbor, by having the courage to act with integrity and unselfish ways.  To keep him from puffed up pride that gets in the way of doing what is right.

In these last few posts I have been aiming at the human quality of greedy power, and attitudes of arrogance, that seem to permeate our national and world leaders egos. They seem to give themselves permission to just do what they want, when they want, to whom ever they want. Just because they want to!  And, the most frustrating thing is, they seem to do it without any true resistance.  No one is willing to actually ‘do’ anything about it.  Oh, there is a lot of talk!  But truly, talk is cheap without action.  It is extremely easy to point a finger and accuse!  It is quite another thing to actually take action. 

When Jesus saw injustice, or arrogance, or rudeness, or meanness,  or any form of unkindness  he moved in and corrected the behavior.  Not only calling the wrong into question, but correcting the situation.  Of course, he was crucified for such boldness!   Today they would just continue to discredit him.   Or, fire him.

And when a group of people march for some cause they feel strongly about; they are called fanatics.   Excessive!  Extremists!  That is, people not in the know!  Without the intelligence to be in the ranks of authority. Or! Or, to call said authority into question!

And yet, we are told that: “one person can make a difference”!  And actually I do believe that is possible.  However when it come to politic, and other arenas of dominance, the statistics  are not all that impressive.  And when Jesus is brought up as the model for how to work together — Jesus doesn’t pull much wait.  The  subject of Jesus is put in the box with fanatic, and extremist or some other popular discrediting term that under minds the persons involved.  

Now, with all that being said, I am very much aware that God is the only true power in the universe.  And I totally have faith that God is quite active in our world today.  However, God does ask his people to help him!  That was clear from the first chapter of the Bible.  See Gen. 1:27-31 and Matt. 28:16f.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways. 38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you. 39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. 40 See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life. (Ps. 119:33-40)

What Wins Kind or Arrogant?

It has become increasingly evident that the people in the United States are living in fear of the direction that our political systems is heading.  I hear it all the time.  And the saddest part is  that even once close families are perilously divided by who voted for who.   Pointing fingers of hate and anger in both direction.  

One of the readings in the yearly church lectionary for  Sunday, September 10, was Ezekiel 33:7-11 where God is talking to Ezekiel about helping the despondent Israelites, who had been exiled into Babylon (a place were bulling and meanness win),  about their temptation to live as the wicked Babylonians. The Israelites had been taken from their lives as the “Chosen” people of God in Jerusalem. The center of their religious life of faith.  Their home, where they found a solid foundation, and constant support, from temptation to wander away from God.  And now they live with very little community support.  In a culture that begs them to compromise their belief systems and the ingrained values of the Jewish Religion.

Many in today’s American culture feel the pull of temptation away from God’s way of living.  Because, it seems, that the natural instinct of humanity is geared toward the power to win over others.  We are competitive creatures who want to find success at all cost, and in the most direct possible ways.  And the sad truth is, the ways of God — humility, kindness, mercy, justice and love don’t win!   

That is clearly what the exiles saw in Babylon.  The wick and mean get the prize!  They got all they wanted, and more, by walking all over the "losers"; and climbing on the backs of others.  They seem to have it all -- money, power, glamor! So, "if it works, don’t fix it!”   Why not join them????

According to that model of living, Jesus would never make it in 2017 in any culture on the earth.  Love, kindness, and compassion doesn't matter!  Mean wins!  Even today!

7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 

8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.

9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life. 

10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" 

11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?(Eek. 33:7-11)

Who Has the Right to destroy Another?

I forgot to post this yesterday 🌝 So remember today!

Yesterday morning I wrote a post to publish today.  But as I sat here this morning I remembered!  9/11!  And three songs immediately came in to my mind: Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten", Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning" and An artist unknown to me "Do You Remember?" 

All three of those songs talk about a day none of us could ignore; nor ever forget.  Maybe not in our every minute; but this date is one that will never pass without a memory.  Why?  Because it woke us up to the possibility that the United States of America is also vulnerable!  And that is horrifying to a people who have, for so long, lived in denial of such possibility.

The songs are graphic and bring back the pain of that day.  The sadness that our sisters and brothers on the east coast experienced in those awful moments in New York City, Washington D.C. and in the air over Pennsylvania.  The destruction was massive and quick!  Not chance to change it! No possibility that it didn't happen on American soil.  Bammm!  Done!  Period!  Horrifying!  

Now! I want you to remember that horrific -- un-godly  -- actions taken in the name of God!  Yes, in the name of "God", a minority group of people who claim to have the will of God as their personal guide for doing what they do.  And yet what they did, it seems to me and many others I am sure, so against the God I have faith in.  

Now! I want you to remember the God that Jesus came to personally model for us. The God of love and compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  A God who wants peace among his people. A God who came in Jesus skin to teach us not to be mean and unkind to others. The God who long before he came to earth in Jesus, had his Prophet Isaiah announce to the nation:


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

Now ask you!  Does that sound like a God who would have commercial airplanes, full of innocent people, do such massive destruction and murder?

And yet, with all that being written, we have in our country groups of Christians -- who claim to believe in Jesus --  who would have us believe that God is a God like the god the Taliban believes in.  A God of wrath, judgment and destruction.  Who want us to believe that if we don't watch out God will get us, and punish us, and send us to hell or maybe have us killed. 

Now! Go on tube and listen to those songs sung from deep in hearts of those three men.  Watch the pictures!  Then remember this morning!  Where you are and what you are doing.  And remember now the healing that has taken place by God's Grace alone.  And remember that God does not wish for us to do harm -- large or small -- to our neighbors.  Neighbors close!  Or neighbors far away!

What We Know And What We Really Learn

...make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

It is so very easy for us to know something in our brains and then just let what we know stay there in our brains -- in our knowledge bank.  In the libraries of our mind we store a lot of information.  There are many books of information in the archives of our gray matter.  Most of it we don’t use so much anymore -- it was learned once, for some reason or another, and now has been filed.

Information about God is not to be learned or stored that way.  For one thing, God-information is never stagnant.  We can never learn too much God-information. The other thing is that it is not to be stored, it is to be used and nurtured and allowed to grow bigger and stronger.  God-information is crucial information like looking both ways before crossing the street.  Your life depends on it!

16 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. 17 For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. 18 Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? 19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time:.... 22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.... 

 25 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. 26 That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.(Gal. 5:16-25 The Message)