One Other Thought About The Message Of The Bible

Another thought is moving through my mind this morning.  It is about the message we hear between the covers of the Bible.  It has to do with our American treasure.  I know it is one of my treasure.  And I am pretty sure it is most Americans treasure.  

Our “in-alienable rights.”

In-alienable rights are defined as something that no one can take away from you.  

During the ancient times, recorded in the Old Testament, people’s right were not so free or personal.  God was the one who called all the shots.  

And the people rebelled.

Just like we do, in this nation, when we disagree with how and why our own rights are being limited..  It happens all the time doesn’t it?  Marches, silent protests, sit-in, filibusters on the floor of congress to name a few.

In the Old Testament the people were told what to do, how to worship, what to sacrifice, and even how to use their time.

During that time the prophets, called by God to speak for him, called all the shots.  And the prophets were not popular people.  During that time it could be God’s fault if life got difficult.  They could blame God.  Read the book of Job if you have a question.

One other clear example was the wilderness grumbling that  God was not providing for them like the "good life" they had in Egypt — in the good old days kind of thing.   

It was God’s fault if they experienced any kind of bad happening.

When God came, in Jesus’ skin, that all changed.  He came to bring us our first in-alienable right.  To believe.   He came to teach us that all we needed to do and know about was the best way to live together and who to believe in.  

And then he left this earth with one very clear message:  Believe it or not!

Believe in a God who loves you more than you could ever love.

Believe in a God who is unconditionally gracious, merciful, compassionate and forgiving.  

A God whose thoughts and way our as far from ours as the east is from the West.  

And by the way, much much wiser.

What Is The Main Message of The Bible Part Two

Yesterday I shared with you The Book of Amos’ call, to attention, against the “chosen” people of Israel.

I'll just review, the more specific problems, in the land, at that time: 

A violation of moral and religious codes.

  

General evil activity.   

Violation of moral and religious values -- religious corruption.   

Enslavement of the poor and needy.  

Wealthy women’s — “cow's” — arrogant ways of speaking and acting.   

Over Self-indulgence, and self-satisfaction,  regardless of the needs of others.  

Over all unfaithfulness to God and God’s Will.

Now lets go to the New Testament and hear what Jesus said about the human being's activity.  

I’ll begin with the one teaching that overs all the rest: The Greatest Commandment.

36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, " "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”Matt. 22)

What many people don’t seem to realize is that Jesus took quality time explaining all of the Ten Words — Ten Commandments.  He was very explicit about how these famous guidelines for life should be approached.  I have written about these in a Ten Commandment series of blogs.  However I will review them briefly again here.  

He begins each guideline like this:  “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient time, ‘you shall not…but I say to you…..’”

He starts with anger (murder), goes on to adultery, then divorce, oaths, retaliation, love of enemies, Almsgiving, and  prayer. 

He then counsels us on our treasures (talents, finances and possessions), true sight, serving two masters, worry and judging others; ending with the Golden Rule.

12 "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get.(Matt. 7)

You can find all of this , and more, in Matthew 5-8.

What Jesus is making clear, in these Sermon On The Mount  teachings, is that we always need to look beyond the specific word in order to understand the complete meaning.  

Example:  

We should not murder, that is very true.  However we need to consider the emotion that often prompts the act of murder — anger.  

We should not commit adultery.  So it would be wise to think about the things that create the need to do so.  The same goes for divorce.

As far as retaliation — getting revenge — Jesus uses a an analogy that is often quoted:

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 

One eighth grade confirmation student  was very clear, when we were studying this commandment.  He called this guideline: stupid.   “Thats stupidest thing I have ever heard.” he announced in class one day.  

Not hitting back, not yelling back, not resisting force of any kind is just not natural to we human types. Jesus was very aware of this weakness in us.

Jesus does not stop, at the Sermon on the Mount, with he teaching about how we are to live together in peace and harmony. 

There is also the big issue — the temptation — to be greedy.  Jesus taught against greed more that he taught about love.  Check it out in Luke 4, where Jesus was lead into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  There are for temptations that Jesus faces.  All of them have to do with replacing God with self.

He was clear about not playing God in any way, shape or form. 

He was clear about not judging our neighbor as well.

He treated the lowly, and out cast, with tender respect.  That included the despised tax collectors, and all others labeled “sinners.”  

One teaching that most people really don’t like to hear, is what he said about sharing our wealth of talents and treasures with others.  Instead building our stock plans, or savings account, for our own welfare.  Jesus’ point was that generosity was not only to be offered with our money, but our concern for the welfare of others.

He told a parable about this:

6 Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. 

17He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' 

18 Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, 

19 and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' 

20 "Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods - who gets it?' 

21 "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."(Lk.12)

Then there is the huge issue of forgiveness.  Another biggie for the human ego. When asked how often we needed to forgive.  His answer was “seven time seven.”  That is, there is no limit to our need to forgive and be forgiven.

Or, a really really, unrealistically, illogical teaching:  Take the servant role in life.  Instead of being the one who always expects to be served. This invitation was a pervasive stance in Jesus entire ministry. As a matter of fact it was the subject on one of his last opportunities to teach his disciples was it most important.  See John 13.  It is too long to print here. 

Or, do you remember what he said about rudeness, arrogance and in-hospitable behavior?  Or being false witnesses — saying something untrue or incorrect.  All big no nos.

Or how about helping the poor and needy? 

Or praying for your enemies and those who hate us?

The above issues contain all the basic guideline, for life, that we all learned in kindergarten:   Don’t tell a lie, don’t hit, don’t cut in front, don’t cheat.  Look both ways when you cross the street.

They are all in place for a reason.  Go figure!

One more important thing, was one of Jesus’ teaching moments, that often gets lost in the sentimental story of the Good Shepherd.  It is when he talks about making life meaningful — abundantly full.

6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10 NIV)

God provides in illogical, unbelievable and unrealistic ways.

It is just the truth!

What Is The Main Message Of The Bible?

If I were to ask you to summarize of what the Bible is all about.  What would you say of first?  

Would you quickly say, it is about God?

That would be quite true.  At least it is surely true for the Judaeo-Christian people. 

However, I would like you to get more specific.  More in detail about what you think is God’s message found between the cover of that book.  Why would it be important to investigate?  What does it actually say that relate to people of all the ages?

And, why is it the number one best selling book in history — at least that is what the polls claim?

Allow me to give you my take on this famous book. To do so I will first use two small books from the old testament, Jonah and Amos.  And then the  New Testament story about the message Jesus came to bring to the world.  I choose these two “minor prophets,” Amos and Jonah, because they are simple and make their point clearly.

Jonah is an extremely human story about how people, quite commonly, react to God.  Most people know Jonah as the guy who ended up in the belly of a big fish  A whale.  The question constantly posed, about this book, is it an actual story — something that really happened — or an analogy or metaphor?  

I really hate to admit this, but I do believe that it is not a true happening.   But I always add:  it could be true because God can do anything.  I also believe that it is an important message for us to ponder.

I am not going to give you a full book review.  You can read it for yourself. Its short!  Suffice to say Jonah didn’t want to do what God asked.  So he ran away.  Ended up in the belly of the fish; and prayed his guts out for God to help him.  God did!  Then he did what God wanted; and ended up under a bush pouting because God helped someone Jonah despised  — like he helped Jonah.  Imagine!

Simply, it is a story of the human ego wanting the be treated fairly.  But not liking it when the other guys — the “bad guys” were treated the same.

Read it, it will make you smile with understanding.

Now to Amos:

I particularly like Amos because he is a simple man who lead a simple life:

…. “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Amos spoke the word from God to those who practice deceit in economic trading, and evil practices .  Mostly he, matter-of-factly, pronounced only the facts.  He went through all of the objection God had with this messes up nation.  Not a pretty review.

Unlike other prophets, there was no call to repentance from Amos.  He just lays out the problems that existed.  Then announced the curse to follow — a  major  famine.  Not a famine of crops or water.  But rather, they would experience  God's silence in their midst.  Not hearing God’s word ever again.

That may seem odd to the people of today.  Like, not a big deal really.  But in those days that thought alone would have created great distress to most of the Hebrew people.  Except,  of course, for the Kings and economic giants of the day.   Most ordinary folks counted on God to guide them and keep them on track.  To have God silent would leave their lives in total chaos.  

Fast forward to today:

Jonah’s story, and Amos’ words, could easily a relevant prophesy to our local, national and world leaders today.   As well as the rest of the people. 

Names would change, but the conditions remain much the same.

7 This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 9 “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.”

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos is saying: “ ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’ ” 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”on16 Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say, “ ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’ 17 “Therefore this is what the LORD says: “ ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’ ”(Amos 7)

What If God Payed You A Visti?

I woke this morning with a weariness of all the discussions and challenges, about the simple action of prayer.  Our attempt to enter into the confusion, and conflict, of the world scene in some small way.  

And my mind is weary of my life long passion for figuring out the truth of God’s amazing presence; and active activity in a world that wants to deny God’s possibility.  

And then I thought of Abraham and Sarah and how they laughed at God’s messengers for telling them things that, to their human minds/logic, seemed absolutely ridiculous.   Their story comes from Genesis 17 and 18.  

I’ll paraphrase:  It all begins when God appears to Abraham with the offer of a covenant — a promise/contact.  He blesses Abraham.  Then tells Abraham something that sound totally out of the question.  God tells Abraham that his barren wife Sarah will give him a son.  

What would be good for you to know is that both Sarah and Abraham are much too old to even dream of having children — way past the age of parenthood. 

Now here is why my mind thought of this, this morning.  They both "laughed" at the news.  They laughed at the possibility God was offering them.  God was speaking of impossible things to their logical minds.  So they laughed!

This laughter came at two different times.  God tells Abraham that at age one-hundred years old he was going to father a son with his ninety year old wife.  

It says:  He “fell on his face and laughed.” 

The second laugh came in the next chapter when the three visitors told Abraham about the advent of his son.   And Sarah, listening from inside the tent, laughed at the absurdity of such news.

9 They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 10 Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" 13 The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh.”(Gen. 18)

Now I invite you to imagine yourself in the story.  And you are having ice tea on your deck, or patio, on a lovely Saturday afternoon.  Life is simple and good.  

Then three strangers come into you backyard.  

What would you do?  

What would you say?  

And more to the point, how would you feel about being   

                               intruded upon?

Abraham didn’t know the strangers were messengers — angels — of God’s.  Yet he treated them with worshipful respect.  No question asked.  Regardless of their status, he just invites them to sit in the shade; and offers them fresh water and the best food possible.  

Times have most certainly changed.  

Strangers today, especially ones who invade our private space, might well be greeted with cautious suspicion.

We certainly wouldn’t order fresh bread made of the finest flour; nor bar-b-q the best, and most tender, meat from the Fridge. 

But don’t stop imagining.

What if God did come and stand in your yard?  As three men, angels, messengers bearing God’s personal message to you?  They don’t identify themselves.  They are just there.  

But, lets say that they did identify themselves to you?

What if they told you that they were sent by God to speak to you?

Does that thought make you laugh at the possibility?  Or at least do you feel a little snicker of doubt forming in your throat?

Do you think that is possible today?

It happened to Abraham several times. 

It happened to a young girl named Mary as well.

Why not you?

How is it, do you think, that we face the very real possibility of God’s activity on our world today, let alone our private worlds?

Back to your quiet Saturday afternoon sitting quietly with no expectations or have-toos.  And God comes to interrupts the calm.  A bit of tension enters your peaceful day.

Clarification: 

It wasn’t God’s presence before Abraham that caused the laughter.  it was the promise of something that seemed impossible.   

That is the glitch!  Either now or in ancient time. When Abraham walked the earth God’s Angel visits were not so uncommon.  It wasn’t something out of the question.

But not today!  If someone were to tell you of a visit from one of God’s angels today.  It would most probably send humor dancing up into your laughing area.  You probably wouldn’t be so obvious about it.  But the laugh would silently by there.  Right?

Interruption:

In the Old Testament we are told of another promise that God made through the Prophet Isiah.  A promise made in the middle of a not so pleasant time in history.   Then God promised a Savior. One who would come and set the world straight.  One who would come and bring people back to dead center — to God.  And this Savior  would be:  

A wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6)

Who would bring wolf and lamb together.  Where leopard and kid would lie together.  In a world where neither human nor animal would hurt of destroy. (Is. 11)

A laughable promise?  

No one laughed then!  

Again, have you ever thought about God coming to your home?  Sitting in your backyard, or in you living room?  Making you impossible promise that will be kept?

Promises that would make you want to laugh at the thought.

Is it such an impossible thing, that God would come — or send on of his angels — to your house?

I actually don’t think so.  I think that God not only come to us personally.  But God keeps coming over  and over and over again.  God never stops trying to get us to sit with him and talk to him; so that we might see more clearly, and listen more carefully, and trust him more confidently.

Just for giggles, if God did come.  

What would you want to talk about? 

 What would you like to know?

Prayer. AND

A voice from an articulate reader:

“Prayer is good.  Prayer must be followed by action 

Pray AND then

Stand up and be heard, take action to demand moral policies

Stand up to those in power who think prayers are enough so they take no action

Stand up to those who resist change, who take lobby money to stay in power

Like the students of school shooting yelled loud and clear:

We want more than your prayers

We want action with sensible laws

Stand up against immoral separation of families 

Stand up and say this is not right

Stand up and get involved

Get off the pew and DO something

Wishing and hoping for ‘everyone’ to pray for a better world is good

In the meantime add an AND to that wish

Do something.  Today. Even if it is small.

Give yourself permission to point out where you see immorality

No matter who you might offend

Speak out loud

I’m pretty sure Jesus would agree

Jesus did something after he prayed

People who stop with prayer aren’t following the full message Jesus brought.”

My response:

No, Jesus didn’t standby and do nothing.   That is absolutely the truth.  And when Jesus lifted, a small loaf of bread and a couple of fish, in thanks to God our provider.  He did it to show us how to trust.  He did it as a teaching moment for those thousands sitting there hungry.   He action of faith got lots of people’s attention.  His message?  Pray, trust, allow God to do what God does best.  Act!

What I can do right now is pray and write.  See I’m becoming lazy too.  Yet, at the same time,  I have never been an activist . Never had much competitive spirit.  Even on the tennis court, I just wanted to play the best way I could, performing each stroke in good form.  What I loved about tennis is not winning but hitting the ball correctly . To me there is nothing more satisfying.

I like what you wrote about the AND to prayer.   However I have a different take on the AND.  However, my first thought this morning, in my quieter mind, was I don’t want to deal with the AND.  In my quieter mind I want to say to you that my request for prayer; is that the faith those prayers offer, prompts God, God‘s Spirit, to move. To move into the situation, being prayed about, and create order out of the chaos.

My quiet mind calls that kind of prayer, trust.  Trust in  a God who is wiser and much more powerful than anything I could possibly do.

All of the yelling, and marching, and posters are good to bring attention to a serious problem. However in order to get action taken on gun control, or immigrant treatment, or trafficking of human bodies. or anything else.   Takes the mighty hand of God.  

Throughout history, from the beginning of creation on, God’s biggest failure has been the design of the human mind. He created us to be good, and loving, and tender with ourselves and with each other.  Yet, all we have to do is look back through history to see that that plan didn’t work out so well.

You see, your cousin has learned the hard way not to try to change somebody else’s mind. I can tell you what I believe. I can live the way I believe I should. It is the only way, that I have found, to coexist with others.  I do that  by loving them and honoring them for who they are and what they think. That doesn’t, in anyway, mean that l like, or approve of, or agree with them.  

When we were children growing up you and I heard  this phrase a lot: “Never talk about religion or politics.”    Right?  

There is a good reason for that old phrase. I think it was because religion and politics (I will add personalities traits) are pretty well established from early on. Personally I have experienced  firsthand  the attempt to correct, you might say,  the theology of those who want to limit God to the human way of thinking. And even though I had studied, throughout seminary,  the uselessness of such an attempt.  I did tried anyway.   And I can tell you that it did not work.  

The possibility of changing someone else’s mind, or philosophy, or personality, or Biblical interpretation, or worldview is basically a waste to time and precious energy.  

Is that a defeatist  attitude?  

Maybe!   

However I would say it is realistic.

So as much as I appreciate the marches and the posters and the energy to protest.  I see them as, I think, you see Prayer.  That is not quite doing the whole job. 

But what prayer does, that demonstrations don’t, is to engage God in the issue or problem.  God has had a lot of experience with the tensions of the human mind. Through the centuries he has somehow learn to conquer evil, that often times comes, from that human mind. And I believe that is why he came in Jesus’ skin.  Once and for all to say: Here’s the way it supposed to be.  Do it, or don’t do it, my way.  Believe me or not. Then deal with the consequences of your choices.

The point of my blog was to get people to invite God into the equation.  Of course you have to realize, and so do I, that there are at lease two factions of thought that could be praying to God.  Those who are Republican and those who are Democrats. Those who are radicals and those who are pacifists. Those who love  violence and bloodshed and those that don’t.   All praying to the same God.   All praying for their way to be done.

So then, God takes all of that different information, and praying, and thinking, and doing, and wanting, and needing, and does it his way.   His way not our way! 

Jesus tells us that when we pray in his name, God will act.  He does not say that the prayer will be acted upon in our favor.  The prayer will be handled by the unfailing wisdom of God who always knows better.