On Monday a small group of us gathered to discuss the first 10 chapters of the book of Acts. While we were a little scattered and found the section hard to discuss as a whole, some things jumped out at us.
The beginning of the book is very similar to end to the end of the book of Luke. It has a few more specifics (like it was 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension) and describes the ascension with a little more detail - like the questioning of the disciples even as Jesus prepared to leave. It was amazing to us that they still didn't understand who Jesus was and what his purpose was. They ask him whether he was now going to restore Israel's kingdom. They are still looking for political power/triumph even after living with and following Jesus for years, after listening to him preach and watching him perform miracles, even after seeing him die and then come back to life, It is hard for us, with the benefit of hindsight, to understand how they can be so dense. Maybe this is a cautionary tale - one to remind us that maybe we don't have the whole picture either. Maybe what we think is so obviously right, isn't. It is definitely puzzling and makes me wonder what kind of hopes or beliefs I might be holding on to that may be blinding me to God's true message. What is hindering my understanding of God's message to me?
In Acts 2 we have the story of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. When we looked more closely it was interesting to see that it wasn't flames coming down on each head - but "divided tongues, as of fire". This is an interesting simile. I wonder if it is a play on words in the original language - tongues of fire bestowing the gift of tongues on the disciples? There was the sound like the rush of wind - but was there wind? It wasn't important - the main thing was that people, poor, ignorant fishermen and common people, could suddenly speak eloquently and be understood by people from around the world. According to some scholars, it was the gift of understanding that was the huge deal. The people waiting for the spirit suddenly understood Jesus and all he taught. The people outside heard the noise and listened - and heard preaching and worshipping in their own languages. Suddenly they could understand. So often we concentrate on the gift of speaking - but maybe we need to focus more on the gift of understanding. What power, and comfort, and strength there would be in understand how God is working in our lives, in knowing with absolute certainty what God is saying to, asking of, and expecting of us.
Then we looked at "spirit" in a different way. Are there different spirits? The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles and other disciples in the room - but is there a darker spirit that powers the violence and awful events happening around the world. We thought about the protestors in Ferguson. Some were there out of righteous outrage at what they understand to be the senseless death of a young man by a police officer whose decision was based more on the man's colour than his actions. Some are there, to mourn the loss of the life of a young, unarmed black man. But there was also something else in play - a dark, malicious seeming spirit. How does mourning or moral outrage translate into destroying the businesses and property of people who were in no way involved in the case that sparked the riot? How does shooting guns and burning police cars and buildings, both public and privately owned, help Brown or his family or the plight of black Americans? How does more injustice and senseless violence toward innocent people bring justice to what they see as an unjust situation? Is there a vengeful spirit that burns within some of these people? Is there an evil spirit? Why does the dark side sometimes seem to be more powerful than the light? Where is the powerful Holy Spirit when there is so much anger and destruction? Why doesn't it overpower the darkness and eliminate evil? I don't have answers - and we talked about it for a while but still struggled to figure out what all this means for us. Does the situation in Ferguson, Missouri mean that there are spirits out there that are more powerful than the Holy Spirit?
As I contemplate the discussion, the story of Acts, and the pictures from the news coverage of Ferguson, I am starting to think that, whether or not there are other spirits, when we let our emotions take control, there is no room for the Holy Spirit within us. The Spirit, though powerful, will not enter nor stay where it is not wanted. I also think the Spirit works through willing people, not usually directly on a situation. So it is our unwillingness to get involved or to make a difference that limits its power. I wonder, if we really prayed, and really opened ourselves to the Holy Spirit and its power, would we be more powerful and able to overcome darkness? Maybe we don't trust enough - don't open ourselves enough, don't listen enough - to let the Spirit work within us and help us to understand, and help us to speak so others can understand. In a situation like Ferguson on Monday there may be too many people blinded by rage and fueled by a lust for violence, blood, fire,and destruction for those blessed by the Holy Spirit to make a noticeable, newsworthy, difference - but maybe not. The protests continue - but by Friday they have become peaceful protests that get the message out without all the destruction. Maybe the Spirit is working - just not on our timeline?
Even if we are too few and too far away to make a difference in a situation like Monday in Ferguson, what are we doing about the situation(s) here? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us as we deal with smaller conflicts within our homes, churches and communities? Are we asking for understanding? Or are we still looking for power - for our own way - to rule over the others who are "wrong"? As we look forward to Christmas and beyond, I pray that we also look "upward" - to God - to help us open our hearts and our minds so we can both receive and give the gift of understanding.
Friday, 28 November 2014
Monday, 17 November 2014
November 17, 2014 - Luke 13-24
Today was a day when we had a little trouble focussing. The latter half of Luke is made up of a variety of passages - stories and sermons on a variety of different topics. There was no cohesive issue or theme that caught our attention. There were many pieces, however that had us wondering.
Why is there a reference to a narrow door that will be locked to many, but through which people from north south, east and west will gain entrance to eat in the kingdom? Why does it say that one must "hate father, mother, wife and children, brother and sisters"? Aren't we to love everyone? On one hand it suggests that we need to give up all possessions but then there is a glorification of the dishonest manager who uses his employers debtors to set himself up after he was fired. Why are there references to the Kingdom of God being present, but then other statements that speak of things to happen once the Kingdom of God comes?
We felt a little lost with some of these questions. We talked a bit about understanding difficult passages and how different denominations have alternate understandings of the Bible and its authority....and then got off track trying to remember/research the beginnings of some groups of Christians. It was also interesting when there was reminiscing of our various experiences with "revival" preachers and growing up with different impressions of different denominations. No, we were not very focussed at all.
As we talked of our childhood impressions and experiences it became clear, once again, that we come from different places and have different views of many things. Yet we enjoy getting together and exploring the scriptures together. I'm sure there are many issues on which we would not all agree, yet we feel a kind of kinship as we struggle with different issues together. Our question is, how this can be extended to the larger congregation? How can we get past the differences, the separation of various groups from each other, and the sense, that many seem to have, of not being heard, not being valued? How can we become one body with many parts? Mennonite Church Canada has issued a statement that includes the words that disagreement does not negate unity in Christ. How can we live that out?
No, in many ways we did not really study much of Luke today - and didn't come up with many answers. There were more observations and interesting insights than I have recorded, but the majority of the afternoon was raising questions and looking for answers. We pray that God will speak to us. to our congregation, and to our leadership; guiding them and us as we continue the journey of being God's church on earth.
Why is there a reference to a narrow door that will be locked to many, but through which people from north south, east and west will gain entrance to eat in the kingdom? Why does it say that one must "hate father, mother, wife and children, brother and sisters"? Aren't we to love everyone? On one hand it suggests that we need to give up all possessions but then there is a glorification of the dishonest manager who uses his employers debtors to set himself up after he was fired. Why are there references to the Kingdom of God being present, but then other statements that speak of things to happen once the Kingdom of God comes?
We felt a little lost with some of these questions. We talked a bit about understanding difficult passages and how different denominations have alternate understandings of the Bible and its authority....and then got off track trying to remember/research the beginnings of some groups of Christians. It was also interesting when there was reminiscing of our various experiences with "revival" preachers and growing up with different impressions of different denominations. No, we were not very focussed at all.
As we talked of our childhood impressions and experiences it became clear, once again, that we come from different places and have different views of many things. Yet we enjoy getting together and exploring the scriptures together. I'm sure there are many issues on which we would not all agree, yet we feel a kind of kinship as we struggle with different issues together. Our question is, how this can be extended to the larger congregation? How can we get past the differences, the separation of various groups from each other, and the sense, that many seem to have, of not being heard, not being valued? How can we become one body with many parts? Mennonite Church Canada has issued a statement that includes the words that disagreement does not negate unity in Christ. How can we live that out?
No, in many ways we did not really study much of Luke today - and didn't come up with many answers. There were more observations and interesting insights than I have recorded, but the majority of the afternoon was raising questions and looking for answers. We pray that God will speak to us. to our congregation, and to our leadership; guiding them and us as we continue the journey of being God's church on earth.
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
November 10, 2014 - Luke 1 - 12
Wow, hard to believe it has been a year since my last blog. We trust, through the ups and downs of the past year, God is continuing to work in and through us.
This fall we have been doing an overview of the gospels. We spent a few weeks discussing our impressions of Matthew and questions that arose from our reading of it. We then looked at Mark and some its themes and "mannerisms" - things that made it unique, or at least different from Matthew. While none of us are experts, it has been enlightening to read large portions of Scripture, discuss them, and see what has made an impression on us.
Today four of us gathered to begin to look at Luke. After reading Mark, Luke comes across as quite "wordy". Luke takes the time and effort to set up the story of Jesus with the interweaving of the stories of the foretelling and birth of John the Baptist with old and "new" prophecies of Jesus. We read the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. We hear the angel announce to Mary that she was to have a child. We see the song of Mary and the prophecy of Zechariah. Then we get to
the much loved, memorized, and read version of Jesus' birth. This is quite the contrast to the less than a verse (...until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus) in Matthew and the total absence of a birth story in Mark. The whole tone of this gospel is more story like, easy to read with the stories and sermons interspersed. Jesus is presented as less abrupt, more interested in the individuals that need healing, even when they are slaves, children, women, foreigners or relatives of a Pharisee. We talked about some of the differences, and, more importantly, some of the stories and themes that stood out for us.
Although it was interesting to note how each gospel seemed to have its own focus and priorities (like Matthew focussing on Joseph while Luke focusses on Mary prior to Jesus' birth), it was some of the content of Luke, itself, that got us going. One commentary noted that Luke is the basis for much theology - I think we found this easy to agree with. Here are a few things that stuck us as we pondered the first 12 chapters of Luke.
We took note of the importance of women to this story. Elizabeth and Mary are only the first of the women mentioned in crucial roles. Anna prophesies. Simon's mother-in-law was healed. the widow of Nain raised Jesus' compassion to a point that, without being asked, he raises her son from the dead. Jairus' daughter and a woman with a hemorrhage are healed. The "sinful" woman washed Jesus' feet with her tears, anointed them with perfume - and had her sins forgiven. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, "and many others" are listed as travelling with Jesus and the twelve apostles. Women appear to be more significant to Luke than the other gospel writers. He also brings out that Jesus healed women, foreigners, a child of a Pharisee, a slave. Jesus does not seem to discriminate but values each person, and women as well as men are significant to his ministry.
What drew our attention most, however, were passages from the sermon on the plain in Luke 6: "Love your enemies" (6:27), "Do not judge"(6:37) and in between those: "..[God] is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked"(6:35). How can we love someone who we cannot trust? How can we not judge? How can we, as a church, make decisions without judging? Why is God kind to the ungrateful & the wicked? What about those who are trying to follow, trying to live lives worthy of God's love? We don't have definitive answers, but came up with some food for thought.
Love is not always a feeling. Love can be an action - working for what is best for a person, even if we don't particularly like him or her. We can pray for whoever it is that is causing us distress. So even in the case where we cannot feel positive feelings, nor, perhaps, even forgive hurtful or even evil actions, we can still pray for the person that caused these things and act in a positive manner. Sometimes, in praying for a person, we can come to appreciate some better qualities we may have previously overlooked. Sometimes in acting in a loving manner, we can come to care in a truly loving way. Perhaps prayer can help change hate or animosity or dislike into love over time.
While our first reaction may be that it is strange, and maybe even unfair, for God to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked, perhaps we should just be thankful. As humans, we tend to put sin on a sliding scale and, because we know we meant well, or are truly sorry, we put our sins on the lesser end of the scale. We tend not to think of ourselves as wicked. But does God use the same scale? Perhaps our living in relative wealth and comfort while others, even in our city, go hungry (not to mention cold), is seen by God as a wicked thing. Perhaps our wishing for more stuff, or better vacations, or even better health or relationships is seen as being ungrateful for the stuff/health/relationships already have. Are we truly thankful for the myriads of blessings we have received? Maybe we need to recognize that we are not getting the judgement we deserve any more than those that even we would consider wicked and ungrateful. We need to be thankful that God is kind - for that is what we count on when we offer our prayers. We don't deserve anything - so like the employer who pays the same to those who work all day and those that work an hour - God gives us all a chance for salvation and a life in relationship. We need to focus on the wonderful gift that is for us - and not on the fact that others, even some we may deem less worthy, are offered the same gift. Perhaps it is this that will help us not to judge and to be truly grateful.
There is so much more in Luke - we look forward to continuing our discussion next week with more of our group in attendance. I hope and pray that we will continue to learn, to discover more of the message of the Bible as we continue this voyage into scripture.
May God be with us and with our friends and families, and with our congregation and with our enemies (if we have any). May we be truly grateful for all we have received and may that gratitude help us love those around us.
This fall we have been doing an overview of the gospels. We spent a few weeks discussing our impressions of Matthew and questions that arose from our reading of it. We then looked at Mark and some its themes and "mannerisms" - things that made it unique, or at least different from Matthew. While none of us are experts, it has been enlightening to read large portions of Scripture, discuss them, and see what has made an impression on us.
Today four of us gathered to begin to look at Luke. After reading Mark, Luke comes across as quite "wordy". Luke takes the time and effort to set up the story of Jesus with the interweaving of the stories of the foretelling and birth of John the Baptist with old and "new" prophecies of Jesus. We read the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. We hear the angel announce to Mary that she was to have a child. We see the song of Mary and the prophecy of Zechariah. Then we get to
the much loved, memorized, and read version of Jesus' birth. This is quite the contrast to the less than a verse (...until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus) in Matthew and the total absence of a birth story in Mark. The whole tone of this gospel is more story like, easy to read with the stories and sermons interspersed. Jesus is presented as less abrupt, more interested in the individuals that need healing, even when they are slaves, children, women, foreigners or relatives of a Pharisee. We talked about some of the differences, and, more importantly, some of the stories and themes that stood out for us.
Although it was interesting to note how each gospel seemed to have its own focus and priorities (like Matthew focussing on Joseph while Luke focusses on Mary prior to Jesus' birth), it was some of the content of Luke, itself, that got us going. One commentary noted that Luke is the basis for much theology - I think we found this easy to agree with. Here are a few things that stuck us as we pondered the first 12 chapters of Luke.
We took note of the importance of women to this story. Elizabeth and Mary are only the first of the women mentioned in crucial roles. Anna prophesies. Simon's mother-in-law was healed. the widow of Nain raised Jesus' compassion to a point that, without being asked, he raises her son from the dead. Jairus' daughter and a woman with a hemorrhage are healed. The "sinful" woman washed Jesus' feet with her tears, anointed them with perfume - and had her sins forgiven. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, "and many others" are listed as travelling with Jesus and the twelve apostles. Women appear to be more significant to Luke than the other gospel writers. He also brings out that Jesus healed women, foreigners, a child of a Pharisee, a slave. Jesus does not seem to discriminate but values each person, and women as well as men are significant to his ministry.
What drew our attention most, however, were passages from the sermon on the plain in Luke 6: "Love your enemies" (6:27), "Do not judge"(6:37) and in between those: "..[God] is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked"(6:35). How can we love someone who we cannot trust? How can we not judge? How can we, as a church, make decisions without judging? Why is God kind to the ungrateful & the wicked? What about those who are trying to follow, trying to live lives worthy of God's love? We don't have definitive answers, but came up with some food for thought.
Love is not always a feeling. Love can be an action - working for what is best for a person, even if we don't particularly like him or her. We can pray for whoever it is that is causing us distress. So even in the case where we cannot feel positive feelings, nor, perhaps, even forgive hurtful or even evil actions, we can still pray for the person that caused these things and act in a positive manner. Sometimes, in praying for a person, we can come to appreciate some better qualities we may have previously overlooked. Sometimes in acting in a loving manner, we can come to care in a truly loving way. Perhaps prayer can help change hate or animosity or dislike into love over time.
While our first reaction may be that it is strange, and maybe even unfair, for God to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked, perhaps we should just be thankful. As humans, we tend to put sin on a sliding scale and, because we know we meant well, or are truly sorry, we put our sins on the lesser end of the scale. We tend not to think of ourselves as wicked. But does God use the same scale? Perhaps our living in relative wealth and comfort while others, even in our city, go hungry (not to mention cold), is seen by God as a wicked thing. Perhaps our wishing for more stuff, or better vacations, or even better health or relationships is seen as being ungrateful for the stuff/health/relationships already have. Are we truly thankful for the myriads of blessings we have received? Maybe we need to recognize that we are not getting the judgement we deserve any more than those that even we would consider wicked and ungrateful. We need to be thankful that God is kind - for that is what we count on when we offer our prayers. We don't deserve anything - so like the employer who pays the same to those who work all day and those that work an hour - God gives us all a chance for salvation and a life in relationship. We need to focus on the wonderful gift that is for us - and not on the fact that others, even some we may deem less worthy, are offered the same gift. Perhaps it is this that will help us not to judge and to be truly grateful.
There is so much more in Luke - we look forward to continuing our discussion next week with more of our group in attendance. I hope and pray that we will continue to learn, to discover more of the message of the Bible as we continue this voyage into scripture.
May God be with us and with our friends and families, and with our congregation and with our enemies (if we have any). May we be truly grateful for all we have received and may that gratitude help us love those around us.
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