Friday, April 22, 2011

Preparing the Way

Rev. Valerie Robideaux

“And the crowds asked him, 'What then should we do?' In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations, and be satisfied with your wages.’” (Luke 3:10-14)

Scot McKnight discusses these words from the voice of John the Baptist as an example of what it means to live a life of the Jesus Creed- of the Spirit-filled power to baptize, to do justice, and to live as servant leaders.

“Be satisfied with your wages.”
Tax-day is still in the rear-view mirror.


“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none.”

I think I have at least five coats hanging in my closet. What about you?

As Christians, our life is not our own. Our things are not our own. John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Lord, the Messiah. John was speaking against the injustices of his day, to prepare the people for the radical teachings and ministry of Christ.

“Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

We have three computers in our home and four televisions.

We are called to prepare the way of the Kingdom. We are called to move aside, to lay things aside for the work of the Kingdom. When we move from knowing the love of God to choosing to love God in return, we experience a transformation. We become adopted heirs of Christ and are clothed in God’s grace allowing us to love God, love self, and love others as we have been commanded.

When we are open to this transformation, we become uncomfortable- because the message of Christ is uncomfortable. When we experience this transformation, we begin to live our lives in radically different ways. We become more conscious about what we purchase, what we discard, when we speak up and when we are silent.

Are you preparing the way of the Kingdom?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Affirming the Tuba

Rev. Matt Rawle

Several years ago a youth director decided to form a youth praise band in the congregation which he served. He simply made an “all call” to any youth who were interested. Jamie and Wendy wanted to sing, Scott grabbed his drum sticks, Jim restrung his guitar, and Jeff . . . well, Jeff tuned his tuba. The youth director wasn’t quite sure how this was going to work, but as he remembered from his Vacation Bible School days, “All God’s creatures have a place in the choir” (even though “praise band” is never explicitly mentioned—he was never a literalist, so he went with it). At the first rehearsal the youth tuned up and plugged in and played “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High . . . whomp, whomp, whomp, whomp.” It was pretty terrible, tragic really. The tuba was an obvious elephant in the room. What is a youth director to do?

During the rehearsal there was considerable feedback in the sound system. The youth director didn’t really know how to fix the problem, so he asked the band for ideas. Jeff jumped up and said, “I know how to fix it.” He set his tuba down, walked behind the sound board, fixed the feedback, and there he stayed—to everyone’s liking, including his own. From then on, they made beautiful music together.

In 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, Scott McKnight talks about affirmation. He writes, “Affirmation creates a wave of considered appreciation of others. We are wise to avoid flattery and insincere affirmations, but otherwise, the Jesus Creed shapes the kind of love that leads to the open acknowledgment of others.” It would have been easy to say “No” to Jeff and his tuba. The band would initially have sounded better, but eventually the feedback would have crippled any concert. The band needed Jeff. Jeff needed the band. Failing to recognize one’s desire to be a part of the group, even if he or she brings considerable baggage (in this case, a tuba), would have erased the beauty God was trying to express. Which of your gifts needs to be recognized in the church? Whose gifts do you need to celebrate?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

How much do you love me?

Rev. Andy Goff

Do you remember as children hearing someone you loved or held in high esteem say these words: "How much do you love me? This much or THIS much?" of course the bigger the hands were outstretched the more they knew we loved them. As we begin this week known as Holy Week, we will also be asked this question by Jesus. What will your answer be?

Scot McKnight reminds us again that the Jesus Creed is at the heart of our love for God. This week as a community of faith we will be challenged to walk with our Lord to Calvary. How will we respond?

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

I suspect that the above quote is a start for us. My prayer is that my love for my Jesus will not be this much but T-H-I-S much for he who gave me SO much. How about you?

How much do you love him?

ALMOST THE BENEDICTION

Rev. Elenora Mackey Cushenberry, Th.D.

Almost to the benediction…that’s the way we could look at these last few chapters of 40 Days Living The Jesus Creed. Just four more chapters (days) to go. The equivalent of extinguishing the candles or taking the Christ light out into the world, recessional hymn, benediction, congregational fellowship/dispersing. McKnight almost made it! But, then, he dropped the bombshell—that onerous and divisive “M” word. “You see, that’s why I don’t like Church,” I could hear someone say. “Money always has to come up!”

In 1973, the O’Jays recorded one of their hit songs, “For the Love of Money.” With this song, we are reminded that we “do thangs, do thangs, do thangs - bad thangs with it.” Yet the aim is to “do thangs, do thangs, do thangs - good thangs with it – yeah.”

Almost the Benediction!

Money is a part of our lives. Money is also a part of the DNA of Jesus’ ministry. “Hey, you over there, isn’t your Rabbi going to pay taxes just like everyone else?” (Matthew 17:24) Judas carried the purse and stole from it (John 12:6, 13:29). And, there were women who traveled with them and gave of their resources (Luke 8:2-3). Interestingly, money was used to accuse Jesus: “They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’” (Luke 23:2)
As I mediate on today’s reading, Matthew 25 comes to mind. Matthew 25, the passage describing the final judgment, gives us a good picture of both the importance of money and how we should use our money “to do thangs, do thangs, do thangs, good thangs with it”: When I was hungry, you fed me.” This takes money. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. This, too, takes money. When I was naked, you clothed me. Used or new clothes—money! When I was sick, you took care of me; imprisoned, you visited me.” Yes, money, money, money—especially if we take into consideration the cost of gasoline for driving.

I’m happy that McKnight saw the necessity of including the topic of money before giving us the benediction. In this way, the “almighty dollar, money” is dethroned and the Almighty God sits on the throne of our lives, our ministry, our worship, our money. The offertory is an integral part of our worship of God and the ministry of Jesus Christ!

For the love of God, we will give and use our money to do thangs, do thangs, do thangs, good thangs with it…and let the Church say, “YEAH!” or “AMEN”!
All things come from you, O God, and of Your own have we given!

Now, let us move on to the Benediction.

Lyrics of “For the Love of Money” copied from http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/allaboutthebenjamins/fortheloveofmoney.htm
We are reminded that the offertory consists of more than just monetary gifts. It also consists of offering memorial gifts, our talents and gifts, etc.

Pressing Forward in Love


Rev. Ellen Alston

Weather report for the week: The sun is shining for the moment, but with gathering clouds, and severe storms are threatening in the days ahead. I’ve brought an extra layer to wear for comfort and security, but strangely I find myself letting go of it and laying it out onto the street. Someone has put a palm branch into my hand, and I am waving it and crying out “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

I am amazed at how Jesus enters right into my life, my city, my world. Here he comes, riding awkwardly on a colt, a magnet for both cheers and jeers, and letting each of them roll right off his back. It’s difficult for me to see what God is doing here, unless I look with eyes of faith that trust that God follows through. I’m pinning my hope on Jesus, but again it’s not something I can see right now, but a glimpse of his in-breaking kingdom that spurs me on while I live as if it has already been fulfilled.

This Holy Week is really about the in-between time, the strange unfinished time when God is bringing it all together even as it feels like it is all coming apart. It’s the time when Jesus walks completely in who God is, even as the closest disciples run away. Such time would be unbearable, were it not for the love that remembers its source, and anticipates its culmination.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Love is Enough

Rev. Wayne Evans

I was visiting my Aunt Ernie in the nursing home. Dementia brought on by Alzheimer’s Disease caused her to no longer know who I was. I sat there in her room and told her of my fond memories so many things she did for me when I stayed her while my parents attended sessions of the Annual Conference in Shreveport. She cooked wonderful meals, and treated my siblings and me as if we were her own for that week. They had a huge home that I marveled at as we explored it to find all the treasures there. Their entire home was air conditioned! They must have been rich! She loved children, and after hers were grown she spent over twenty-five years in the nursery at FUMC of West Monroe every Sunday caring for the little ones of the congregation. She would sing to them and tell them how much Jesus loved them.

In her final months my aunt could only say “Uh-huh” as I asked questions
which called for an affirmative response. She had otherwise lost the ability to engage in conversation with me. Before I left I began to sing “Jesus Loves Me.” She began to sing along with me. Even though she did not recognize who I was, she had a profound relationship with her Savior who loved little children. He had claimed her as one of his own. She could no longer serve him or do for others, but she knew his love was there for her. Her arms could no longer hold little children, but she was confident that this One was now holding her in His. Love is all that remains.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Eternal Life -- Eternal Love

Rev. Juan Huertas
In many Christian circles we find an obsession with heaven. The way many of these Christians put it, becoming Christian is about earning an entrance ticket into heaven. This easily becomes a reason for not engaging the world, for ignoring its plights, and for a self-centered life of faith. Eternity becomes something that will happen someday, that we will enjoy at the end of time.

The world in this point of view becomes a place for “passing thru.” So human reality, earthly reality, embodied existence becomes another stumbling block to the real life promised some day, to the real concern of God, to our “spiritual life.”

In today's reading on our journey Scott McKnight gives us a helpful corrective. He tells us that “[w]hat is finally eternal is love, and heaven and eternal life are terms that house what is truly eternal: love.” (168) In loving God, neighbor, self, we are participating in the divine life, we are participating and inaugurating eternal life. Love keeps us centered, hopeful and inspired on being about God's own nature in the world. We, as embodied beings, making incarnate God's nature for the many who are not yet responding to God's initiative in their life.

We might be at a point in our Lenten journey where tiredness is beginning to set in. We are ready for celebration, we are ready to take on that which we gave up, we are ready to sing Alleluia once again. Those things might seem like the heaven that we are waiting for, so near and yet so far away.

The promise of the Gospel is the promise of eternal life that begins today. We do not have to wait. The God we serve gave us an embodied savior and through that savior has taught us to love in the same way. Let us go into these last days loving. Knowing that in our loving we are participating in God's own nature, knowing that in loving we are making possible heaven right here on earth.

As we prepare to hear the story of Jesus' last days let us also remember that our embodied existence is no stumbling block. In fact our savior reminded us in his suffering and death that this world, this created order, is worthy, sacred, God's own image in the world. God's love for that world tells us something about the power of God's Spirit within us that allows our loving to be an agent of participating in the eternal life of God-self. Thanks be to God!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Optimism from a pessimist

Rev. Valerie Robideaux

I actually laughed out loud when I read Scot McKnight’s title for Day 32 of 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed. “The Optimism of Love.” I find it rather ironic, or perhaps perfectly divinely inspired, that I was (randomly?) chosen to blog on “The Optimism of Love.” Those who know me can attest that I am rather quick to complain, roll my big brown eyes, and give painfully honest answers to difficult questions. Over dinner with a friend, she asked about pregnancy and motherhood. My response, “ah! It is so hard!” After my tell all of pregnancy woes and baby blues, I did make mention of the splendid aspects of each as well. Small mention.

It is not that I do not believe in optimism or expressing the joys in life, I just find it really challenging to speak about them. The good is almost too private for me, while I am all too quick to make public life’s difficulties. Within me is actually a deep well of emotion, but to share that is too risky. So, I skillfully and strategically side with pessimism as a defense mechanism.

I am grateful for McKnight’s emphasis on the less familiar optimism of love found in scripture. “It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7. McKnight states that the optimism of love is not “thinking positively only good things will happen. The optimism that comes from a Jesus Creed kind of love becomes optimistic because it believes and hopes in God” (McKnight, 163-64).

“It believes and hopes in God.” Loving God, loving self, and loving others does not require a constant cheery outlook on life. It does not ask for cliché and simple answers to life’s tough questions. It requires honest, purposeful and intentional living steeped in believing and placing hope in God’s promises of a new creation.

When I found myself in a deep postpartum depression, I realized no one really shared with me the painful, life changing, guilt-producing realities of motherhood. I recently received a paper from a student expressing irritation with pre-packaged theological answers like “everything happens for a reason.” Sometimes there is no “optimistic” answer to our tragedies. There is an honest, purposeful, and intentional response that can only come from optimism in love. “I don’t know, but I choose to believe and hope in God. And I have experienced God’s transformative work through the painful moments of my own life.”

God transforms nothing into something. God transforms pain into passion and death into new life. God is a God that calls for a resurrection, not easy and pleasing answers to our lives. Believing and hoping in that is an optimism this pessimist can relate to.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

And this is love...

Rev. Matt Rawle

Love is patient,
Satiating restless waiting
Love is kind,
Providing generous abundance
Love is not envious,
Poisonous placating
Or boastful,
Selfish advance
Or arrogant,
Condescension, berating
Or rude,
A loveless romance

It does not insist on its own way
It does not insist on its own way

It is not irritable or resentful
Aggravated bitterness
It does not rejoice in wrongdoing
Reveling mischief
But rejoices in the truth
Illumined ballet

It bears all things
Hardships, calamities, strife
It believes all things
Goodness, mercy, grace
Hopes all things
Peace, justice, resurrection
Endures all things
All Things

Love never ends
Love never ends
Love never ends

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Love is what you do

Rev. Jack O'Dell

I am pretty sure that all moms say this in one way or another at some time or another to all their children. I remember how my mother told me. “Your actions are speaking so loudly that I cannot hear your words.”

Now as a teenager those words just strolled through the ears. But as I have grown in years, they linger more readily than I like to admit. There are times in my journey I grow pretty impatient, somewhat unkind, and yes pretty arrogant.

I think the hospital world picked the word, patient, for its clientele on purpose. When one is in the setting of a hospital, you find yourself not very patient. You are most of the time very uncomfortable dressed in a half gown that shows the world more than one wants to be seen. The answers to what has brought you there is usually not a “quick fix”. And on top of all of this, you can not sleep.

But all of life has a part of this in it. The times when we find ourselves out of Christian character—patient, kind, and humble—are times when the rough edges of life are closing in us. Relationships are not what we expected. Or maybe they have become what we expected much to our dismay.

The answer that Jesus gives to us wherever we are is love. Love can transform our rough edges into the character of Christ. When we give ourselves to the Jesus creed, the Holy Spirit creates within us the capability to be patient, to say kind words, and know humility. It is not what we do, but what the presence of Jesus does within us.

Love is what you do.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Insatiable!

Rev. Elaine Burleigh

“The common good? But we’ve worked hard to acquire our gifts and now you tell us they are meant to be used for the common good? Well not until I’ve secured my future…then maybe I’ll help those less fortunate. But I don’t want to hear talk about “the common good. That just smacks of socialism!”

I’ve heard variations on this theme for as long as I can remember. Reading between the lines what I hear is anxiety and maybe even a little anger. We’re anxious about many things, but we’re especially anxious that there won’t be “enough” to go around. Not enough power, not enough wealth, not enough security. So we jealously guard what we have and reach for even more. And we respond with anger when someone suggests that we have a duty to share our resources or use our gifts to help someone else. Especially if we don’t know or like that someone else.

But then the Jesus Creed begins to move through our anxiety and our anger, bringing the promise of redemption and the power of a new perspective. As our love of God and neighbor increase, anxiety and anger decrease. Soon, the lens of scarcity through which we have viewed the world is transformed into an awareness of abundance – God’s abundant love and attentive care for us and for the world. And this is what I love about the power of the Jesus Creed -- the more we for God and neighbor, the more joy we find in using our gifts for the common good, and the more we use our gifts for the common good, the more deeply we desire to love God and neighbor. One feeds the other. May our appetite for God be insatiable!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Only 40 days...Say it isn't so!

Rev. Andy Goff

The season of Lent is here and if you are like me, then you will realize that 40 days aren't enough. Let's be honest, some of us need more than 40 days! Lent as we know is a time for us to do some real soul searching as we find ourselves in the light of the cross. Have we been living up to what God expects of us? Where have we fallen short and how can we make amends for the wrongs we have done?

Lent for me is that time to look closely at myself as I strive to do just what is stated in Deuteronomy: " Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" (Deut. 6:4-5). Am I able to truly love God with all that I am even when I fall down? Scot McKnight reminds us in his book that loving God is "our primary relationship." (Jesus Creed pg. 3). These days of Lent gives me the opportunity to truly love God and to love my sisters and brothers as God would expect me to do. Even when I don't feel like it.

So, instead of going clockwise with a culture that says that we should give up something for these 40 days, I would rather focus on remembering that love of God is paramount to everything I do and everything I am. I may not always make it but at least I can try. Only 40 days? Shouldn't this time be much longer? I suspect that 40 days is a start.

David L. Wade in his book, Lord Forgive Me, Prayers of Confession, sums up these days of Lent and what this season is truly about:

Lent--
A season of sacrifice, a season of penitence
What shall I give up?
Something I don't like? Or can't do without?
Something that's not good for me?
Something traditional?
Who should I tell? Or should my Lenten journey be
private? personal?
"Not like the hypocrites"?
More prayer,
More Scripture reading
More acts of generosity
More expressions of love?
Lord, forgive me for not knowing how to observe
Lent; And help me to use this season
To come closer to you.
Not just for six weeks,

Saturday, April 9, 2011

God means what God says

Rev. dawn b. young

Luke 10:33 – 35 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper.

We are asked to read and hear today about God’s boundless love, and in reading I go directly to the story of the Good Samaritan. This isn’t your typical parable from Jesus, there is a chance we understand this in the telling. This guy was beaten, left for dead, and two folks that you would anticipate assisting you just walk on by. Then to compound the pain, you are rescued by someone that you wouldn’t anticipate coming to your aid. Pretty much anybody could understand that.

Except the point that Jesus is making goes way beyond that. In our context today, for us to really understand the insulting compassion of the Samaritan we would have to imagine that the Samaritan, the rescuer, our rescuer, would have to be the person we hate most in the world. For some of us, that might be Osama bin Laden. For others, that may be a person who looks different from us. Still others may find their rescuer is someone who is of an alternative life. Or someone who we don’t think is a Christian. Or one who believes in another god.

That’s the boundless love that God demands. That whether we are the Samaritan assisting those on the road or we are the object of that assistance, the love we have, God’s love in us, is that boundless love. How will we live out the boundless love of God today?

Thursday, April 7, 2011

A New Approach to the Game

Rev. Ellen Alston

So many games to play, so little time – especially in Kairos: God’s Time. I remember as a child spending time on the playground in games of, shall we say, “mild” competition. Who could stand on one foot the longest without losing their balance? In the swimming pool or lake it was who could hold their breath the longest underwater? Or a great one-on-one indoor version was who could stare into the other’s eyes the longest without blinking?

One of the quotable quotes from Gil Rendle at Tending Our Lives Together was this: “If you want to repair broken trust, choose to offer trust rather than wait for it.” Those words resonated with me as I have witnessed, and experienced, and lived myself at times in the waiting game of “I can hold out longer than you can, so I wait for you to make the first move.”

Well, the stakes in the game are higher now, as we live into God’s future for our lives and for our church. An urgency for the healing power of love cries out from a world scarred and torn by countless fears and acts of violence. Children of God, who are brothers and sisters in Jesus’ eyes, look at one another askance and withdraw from engaging in “holy conversation” that might actually challenge and transform their assumptions. Both regimes and revolutions can operate out of a paranoia that risks replicating or reinforcing precisely what they seek to suppress. And it doesn’t begin on the international stage; it grows out of the choices we make in the most intimate of relationships of home, family, neighbors, church, community, and beyond. From Cain and Abel to the position-jostling disciples, the need for a new approach to the game is clear. And perhaps that is what moved God to give Jesus as “pioneer and perfecter” of the new Way.

No longer is there any need to lose our balance, hold our breath, or not blink our eyes. The Jesus Creed points to the life we were created to live, with one another and with God, as natural and expected as breathing in and out. And as far as our fear of the unknown territory, the yet uncrossed bridges? No need to fear making the first move: Jesus is already there!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

EPIPHANY ON A MOUNTAIN TOP

Rev. Wayne Evans

Charlotte knew better than to say “yes,” but she accepted the invitation anyway to go backpacking with the adult Sunday school class to Colorado. The trip was an annual tradition for the Sojourners Class. Charlotte Brent was the Director of Christian Education at St. Luke’s in Shreveport. She was at least 15 years older than the members of the class and had never liked to “rough-it,” but she heard how much the hardy souls who went enjoyed the camaraderie. She decided to go with them that year. She bought hiking boots and went for long walks in them everyday to “break” them in and to increase her stamina.

Hiking with a full backpack was not easy, and each day got more challenging as they climbed higher and higher. On the day they were to reach the peak Charlotte grew wearier with each passing hour. A friend offered to carry her gear, as they continued their climb. She swallowed her pride, and agreed. So for the final hour or two of ascent to the peak she could only put one foot in front of the other, and pull herself up. A couple of her fellow hikers lagged behind the others to accompany her.

When Charlotte finally arrived at the top, she was pleased to see someone had built a campfire. She sat down on a log to catch her breath. A friend brought her a cup of hot tea. As she savored the warmth of the brew, another friend removed her boots and began to massage her weary feet with cream. Her aching arches relaxed as if the other woman’s hands were absorbing all the pain and hurt of the day. No one had touched her feet with such tenderness since her mother had bathed her as a child over fifty years before. She felt such gratefulness that someone cared enough to bathe her feet.

In her mind she reflected this must have been what it was like for Jesus to wash Peter’s feet. She felt humbled that she who had been serving these members as their Christian educator, was now being served by them. She realized she could not have made the journey alone. She really needed them.

She understood why Jesus commanded us to wash feet. We show love best not with our words, but when we humble ourselves to serve another. We wash feet to remind ourselves and to remind one another that Christ gives himself to us as we serve. Go and do likewise.

A few years after this incident Charlotte returned to seminary to earn a M.Div., and become an elder until her death in 2000. She told this story in a sermon in 1992.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Communal Memory

Rev. Juan Huertas

It is easy to forget what we are about. We get busy living our lives, satisfying our wants, fulfilling our dreams that we begin to believe that our gathering, our being the church, is about us. Today, Scott McKnight reminds us that we are not the first Christian community to have trouble remembering.

McKnight tells us about the church in Jerusalem, let by James the brother of Jesus. They too easily forgot their reason for being and began to “kowtow to the rich by giving them prominent seats,” and “humiliate the poor by asking them to find a spot on the floor.” (122) McKnight tells us that the people needed to remember, they needed to recall their “memory love.”

Communal memory helps us stay centered on our identity as people of God. This is the reason why in worship it is important to continue to retell our story of faith, in word and deed. We gather to praise God and to remember the “mighty acts in Jesus Christ.” As we retell the story it becomes more deeply ingrained in our communal memory. When we begin to walk another way and ignoring those who need it most we lean on that communal memory – memory love – to remind us that God has “chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5)

As we continue this journey of Lent we must dig deep into our communal memory. The walk to Jerusalem is still difficult, paying attention to the forgotten takes transformed vision, sacrificial love takes courage! Our story reminds us again and again that we are empowered by God's Spirit, that we are not alone, that we must pay attention to the reason for our existence, and live into it day after day.

The goal of our communal ministry is not just to remember but to re-member. To bring back into being the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As McKnight tells us to “convert our memories into a ministry of loving our neighbor as ourselves.” (125) We do this by becoming the ministry of Jesus where we work, live, and play. We do this by letting the proclaimed story of Jesus in word and Jesus own presence in Eucharist, make us the body of Christ for the life of the world.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Really? But how?

Rev. Elaine Burleigh

Dave Ramsey would love the first part of Romans 13:8 -- "Owe no one anything…". Many churches are offering Dave Ramsey's thirteen-week Financial Peace University to help people do exactly that -- "owe no one anything!" Or, to use Dave's terminology, "get out of debt!" But keep reading Paul's letter to the church in Rome and we hear Paul advocating a much more profound kind of debt -- a moral obligation to love one another. Truth be told, paying off all my creditors and staying out of financial debt is a cake walk compared to the kind of debt Paul says is a must for all followers of the way…

Does Paul really expect me to love the guy who just broke into the church and stole my brand new laptop computer? Really? What about that church member who just barged into my office and cursed at me…again…for something she imagines I did or didn't do? Got to love her too? And what about the… Well, yeah, there are quite a few names on my list of Hard to Love. So what do I do with them? I know how to love them in the abstract, because after all they are children of God. So I know how to pray for them. I know how to smile at them and say nice things to them. But mostly, I know how to avoid them…because I don't like being cursed at or berated for not living up to their expectations. But something tells me that Paul expects more...

Scott McKnight says there are two sides to this debt of love, and neither of them are "abstract." First, he says is "the side the active engagement". So, loving one another requires me to spend time with them and help them! Oh, this is going to painful. Second, he says, is the side of "active avoidance: avoid doing things that will wound or wrong or harm the person." Well, of course. But that would be so much easier if the "Hard to Love" people lived by the same rules. Then McKnight suggests that the more we know a person, the more we know what to avoid and what not to do. Yes, but…

I suspect that each one of us is among the "walking wounded." We all carry the scars of old wounds. Some of those wounds are fresher than others. Some are closer to the surface than others. And some are more easily irritated, so that a simple "good morning!" can rip open that old wound and before you know it you are on the receiving end of unexpected anger. In circumstances like these, what does it mean to "love one another?" And, how? How do I keep my cool when someone attacks without provocation? I can't. I can't. I can't. Not unless…I've done the hard work of healing my own wounds. Not unless I have first myself enough to look into the darkness of my own soul and pick up each wound, one at a time. Not unless I have first trusted Christ enough to hand each wound over to his loving arms, knowing that he will take the wound and heal it and transform it into a strength. Then when I stand in front of the Hard to Love person whose own woundedness is exploding all over me, I can say to myself, "I recognize that pain. Once it was my pain. "

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Called to freedom

Rev. Valerie Robideaux

“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:13-15

Working on a college campus, I am surrounded by students discovering their freedom. Freedom to think, freedom to believe, freedom to succeed, freedom to fail, freedom to go to Wal-Mart at 2am, freedom to skip class or attend class. Released from the chains of the parental phrase “well, under my roof…” college students bask in the sunshine of newly found freedom.

I don’t know about you, but I like my freedom. I too like to do what I want when I want. I like being the parent who gets to determine the rules for “under my roof.” I like to decide how I spend money, how I schedule my day, how I worship, how I eat, how I go about my vocation, etc.

Paul’s words in Galatians convict me, though. Even though I experience many freedoms on a daily basis, the kind of freedom Paul describes is vastly different. The freedoms I enjoy and take great pleasure in are freedoms from authority, an opportunity to express my autonomy, a submission only to my own will and desire.

Freedom found in Christ, the freedom we are called to first requires submission. It requires an emptying of my will and desire in order to have the freedom to love God and others more fully.

How does this freedom in Christ instruct my everyday freedoms I so enjoy?

Scot McKnight states, “God grants us the freedom to do what God made us to do. What God made us to do was to love others. Anytime we use the freedom to harm or dishonor others, we deny ourselves true freedom.” (Jesus Creed, 116).

How might my everyday choices harm or dishonor others?

Friday, April 1, 2011

Give it to me straight, preacher

Rev. Matt Rawle

Talking about judgment is difficult for some. It’s far too easy for others. On one end of the spectrum, the plank in our eye is so large that people dismiss judgment all together, claiming that holding each other accountable reeks of self righteous exclusivity and pious bullying. On the other end of the pendulum swing we obsess over the speck of dust in our brother’s eye, proclaiming a works righteousness gospel in which God details our life in a ledger, and if our sins outweigh the good fruit of our faith, we will spend an eternity in torment.

I think McKnight is on to something when he talks about the difference between “judging” and “discernment.” We are not to judge others, namely, as our creeds confess, because Christ is the judge of the living and the dead. Have you ever pondered why God would “delegate” this eternal responsibility to the Son? It is because Jesus walked with us, ate with us, washed our feet and commanded that we do the same. It is because Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners and rose again so that we might find abundant life. Our judge is also the one who died and rose again for our sake, and this gives me hope. So we are not to judge others because in so doing we assume the role of The Beloved, and if we remember our story well, attempting to assume the role of The Divine is what got us kicked out of the garden (Genesis 3).

Having said this, we are to hold each other accountable in faithful, loving, Christian community, not assuming the convicting role of the Spirit; rather grabbing a towel and filling a basin of warm water and washing each other’s feet in humble service. If I’ve learned one thing in the parish it’s this: If you publicize a foot washing service, folks will go out of their way to make sure their feet are presentable!

Rather than preaching an offensive Gospel of judgment (those who typically call for an offensive word usually want a word that offends everyone but them) or to live by the proverbial “to each his own,” we are to prayerfully discern how to live as a holy and humble community with one another, meeting the needs of each other so that the light of Christ may burn away the darkness we hold deep within our souls. May God bless you with humility and discernment as we walk on the way which leads to abundant life.