There were fewer of us that met this Monday, but we had a valuable time of practicing presence with each other.
We began with the story of the raising of Lazarus from John 11:17-36. Reading it in a different version (The Message) brought out some different aspects of the story. Was Jesus angry with all the mourners? If so, why? Or was he caught up with their emotions? When he wept - was it from anger and frustration or was it mourning Lazarus or from some other emotion? Unfortunately we did not have any answers, but it did bring up the idea that tears come from different emotional places.
So how do you feel when someone cries in your presence? There was a Sudanese funeral in our church just over a week ago, and some of the mourners were overwhelmed with grief - crumpling to the floor because it was just too much. We don't see that much in our society. We like to stay in control - put a lid on our emotions. Some of the mourners at that recent funeral were not hampered by that ideal. And some of their Canadian friends were willing to sit with them and cry with them. This is what practicing presence is - being fully present to others' pain. This is often not so easy to do. We, like many people we meet in the Bible, want to "jump to the resurrection". We want to go to the happy ending and avoid feeling all that comes before.
Our efforts to skip over the mourning can hinder others' healing. We don't have to find words to make others feel better, just spend time with them, where they are, so they know they are not alone in their time of sadness and loss.
As it says in Romans 12:15, we should "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
We moved on to Matthew 4:1-11 and the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. We all had trouble imagining not eating for forty days - let alone refusing food after that. That was our biggest temptation. But seriously, how did Jesus have the fortitude to turn down the temptation to turn rocks into bread? He must have been hungry. He would not have been hurting anyone else. How did he manage not to give in?
Just prior to his heading into the wilderness, Jesus was baptized. As he rose from the river a voice from Heaven claimed him as God's own son. Did this make a difference? Did some of the strength to keep going and resist the temptation of an easy fix come from the confidence that was displayed in that declaration? How can we remind our brothers and sisters that they, too, are loved and claimed by God? Is there a way to get this notion so ingrained it stays with us even through the times of wilderness & temptation?
Jesus also called upon memorized Scriptures to withstand the seemingly logical arguments of the tempter. Is this guidance for something we can do to help when we are going through hard times? Will having memorized scriptures and hymns (and poetry?) help?
The number 40 seems to be significant. In Biblical times 40 is a number of completion, of cleansing, of growth. There are 40 weeks of gestation for the birth of a full term child. There were 40 days (and 40 nights) of rain for the flood. There are 40 litres of water in the bath for ritual cleansing. For Forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. It takes about 40 years for power etc. to pass to the next generation (traditionally). Maybe sometimes we need to go through the process, through the 40 days of testing or trials in order to come out whole on the other side.
It is hard to understand but it seems that we need to develop a kind of patience. Just as Jesus didn't skip to the resurrection when he met Martha and then Mary but took time to mourn with them, we need to be prepared to wait, to journey, to endure, until the time of completion - until our 40 days (or however long) is over and we are cleansed and ready to accept the ministrations of angels, the resurrection, or whatever the outcome that awaits on the other side of our wildernesses.
We talked a lot about our wildernesses. And yes, there was weeping. We truly practiced presence with each other as we shared difficult times in our lives and in the lives of others' we care about. It was closer to 40 minutes than 40 days/weeks/years - but it was good. Sometimes it is good to just let the masks, the walls, the composure slip away and be truly present with each other. May each of us experience that kind of presence with others in our lives.
Wednesday, 28 October 2015
Monday, 26 October 2015
3 John
Though 3 John has 2 more verses than 2 John, it somehow seems shorter. I struggle to find much meaning for me in this letter.
After a brief greeting the writer commends Gaius for his hospitality and his faithfulness in living his life in keeping with his faith. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have people speak of your faithfulness to the truth? To be seen as the epitome of love and hospitality? While I usually fail miserably, I will hear this as a call to continue to learn to grow in "faithfulness to the truth" (v3). This is a real challenge as day to day distractions arise that pull at time, energy, finances. I admire Gaius for continuing to remain faithful.
The second section names someone, Diotrephes, who did not acknowledge the writer's authority. I guess here, again, we are warned against false teaching. I find it interesting that this person was preventing people from "welcoming the friends", and expelling people who want to do so (v10). In light of modern controversy, who are the "friends" - then and now. I assume then it was some travelling preachers, now ???? Could it be committed Christians from the LGBTQ community? Just wondering because they are the current "friends" who are often not welcome and whose inclusion can mean expulsion from the larger church body.
In general - I think this letter gives a tiny bit of insight into the age in which Paul lived - with itinerant preachers traveling around to support the churches, and other "charlatans" travelling around with different ideas trying to get them off track. Even then there were people who tried to take over the church and run it their own way. This letter can inspire us to be more like Gaius and Demitrius and to watch out charismatic, powerful false teachers like Diotrephes.
After a brief greeting the writer commends Gaius for his hospitality and his faithfulness in living his life in keeping with his faith. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have people speak of your faithfulness to the truth? To be seen as the epitome of love and hospitality? While I usually fail miserably, I will hear this as a call to continue to learn to grow in "faithfulness to the truth" (v3). This is a real challenge as day to day distractions arise that pull at time, energy, finances. I admire Gaius for continuing to remain faithful.
The second section names someone, Diotrephes, who did not acknowledge the writer's authority. I guess here, again, we are warned against false teaching. I find it interesting that this person was preventing people from "welcoming the friends", and expelling people who want to do so (v10). In light of modern controversy, who are the "friends" - then and now. I assume then it was some travelling preachers, now ???? Could it be committed Christians from the LGBTQ community? Just wondering because they are the current "friends" who are often not welcome and whose inclusion can mean expulsion from the larger church body.
In general - I think this letter gives a tiny bit of insight into the age in which Paul lived - with itinerant preachers traveling around to support the churches, and other "charlatans" travelling around with different ideas trying to get them off track. Even then there were people who tried to take over the church and run it their own way. This letter can inspire us to be more like Gaius and Demitrius and to watch out charismatic, powerful false teachers like Diotrephes.
Sunday, 25 October 2015
2 John - Short & Sweet
2 John is roughly a page long (13 verses) with the characteristics of a letter. It starts with a salutation and ends with greetings. It identifies the sender as "the elder" and the recipient as "the elect lady and her children".
I find the address of this document interesting - even before I read the letter. With all those modern people who want to keep women from leadership by claiming they should be silent in church, it is interesting to me that (it sounds to me like) an ancient writer is writing to a woman who is a leader of an early Christian community - and bringing greetings from another. This has never really been pointed out to me before. While numerous sources have quoted anything that remotely hints that women should not be in leadership, here is another little nugget suggesting women have held leadership positions since the beginning of the church. I think this avaoidance is another case of us reading into Scriptures. Our traditions have formed our opinions and influence what we read and how we read the passages we do read. I have found a lot of new understandings through this exercise of reading each document as a letter written to me. This is just one more insight into the ancient church that many ignore because it doesn't fit notions formed by interpretations filtered through culture.
I am not free of reading through my filters (of culture and current debates) - but I am trying to read what is written in the context in and into which it was written, and hear what it has to say to me. This may make my ramblings irrelevant to you - but I hope they might give you food for further thought (and maybe research). Back to 2 John.....
Once again we are reminded - not of new commandment but one "we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;"
We are also warned, once again, about deceivers. We are to "Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for".
And that's about it . Those are the two things that the writer found worth important enough to write this letter. It is so scarey to think we may be swayed by "deceivers" - people with the words and arguments that twist what is said in Scripture. Is it any wonder some people want to stick with the traditional interpretations? But maybe tradition can become the "deceiver"? Maybe it can become a filter through which the living Word cannot keep its meaning intact? How can we keep "what we have worked for" when we are so hard pressed to convince each other what is true and what is deception? However we work at discerning the meaning of Scriptures, I hope we can keep the other admonition, to love one another, central in our interactions with people with whom we may not agree. Let us also remember to pray. It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can remain confident in our reading of words written way before our time and from a very different mindset.
Let us continue to pray the God will be with us, will help us to love each other, and will help us understand the message of the Bible.
I find the address of this document interesting - even before I read the letter. With all those modern people who want to keep women from leadership by claiming they should be silent in church, it is interesting to me that (it sounds to me like) an ancient writer is writing to a woman who is a leader of an early Christian community - and bringing greetings from another. This has never really been pointed out to me before. While numerous sources have quoted anything that remotely hints that women should not be in leadership, here is another little nugget suggesting women have held leadership positions since the beginning of the church. I think this avaoidance is another case of us reading into Scriptures. Our traditions have formed our opinions and influence what we read and how we read the passages we do read. I have found a lot of new understandings through this exercise of reading each document as a letter written to me. This is just one more insight into the ancient church that many ignore because it doesn't fit notions formed by interpretations filtered through culture.
I am not free of reading through my filters (of culture and current debates) - but I am trying to read what is written in the context in and into which it was written, and hear what it has to say to me. This may make my ramblings irrelevant to you - but I hope they might give you food for further thought (and maybe research). Back to 2 John.....
Once again we are reminded - not of new commandment but one "we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;"
We are also warned, once again, about deceivers. We are to "Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for".
And that's about it . Those are the two things that the writer found worth important enough to write this letter. It is so scarey to think we may be swayed by "deceivers" - people with the words and arguments that twist what is said in Scripture. Is it any wonder some people want to stick with the traditional interpretations? But maybe tradition can become the "deceiver"? Maybe it can become a filter through which the living Word cannot keep its meaning intact? How can we keep "what we have worked for" when we are so hard pressed to convince each other what is true and what is deception? However we work at discerning the meaning of Scriptures, I hope we can keep the other admonition, to love one another, central in our interactions with people with whom we may not agree. Let us also remember to pray. It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can remain confident in our reading of words written way before our time and from a very different mindset.
Let us continue to pray the God will be with us, will help us to love each other, and will help us understand the message of the Bible.
October 19 - Practicing Presence through Compassion and Nurture
After taking time off for Thanksgiving and, previously, for various appointments/commitments, five of us met on Monday to talk about Practicing Presence.
We started with reading a part of the creation story from Genesis 1:26-28. This is a reminder that we are created in God's image. How does this play out in our lives? Though, of course, we do not have the same abilities or capacities as God has, we are called to be God's image bearers. Psalm 139: 13ff says:
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you....
Once again we are reminded that God made us. God knows what we are capable of. God walks along side us and helps us when we stumble - and wants us to do the same with people we see around us. One way we can bear God's image is to be compassionate - to walk alongside those who are hurting and want to help.
We also read Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. We were a little confused - but if you look at the Complete Jewish Bible it translates as "Show compassion, just as your Father shows compassion". It seems that, while to many of us compassion and mercy are quite different, when translating the Hebrew word used here, they can be interchangeable.
So, basically, there is to be no more "not my problem" - knowing ourselves to be image bearers of our caring creator, we are to practice compassion and help bring others through their suffering into new life.
The second aspect of Practicing Presence that we looked at was Nurture.
Here we looked at 4 passages:
1 Thessalonians 2:7b & 8; "We were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children...."
Hosea 11:3 & 4: "Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk....I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them."
Numbers 11:10-15: [Moses talking to God about the hungry Isaraelites] "...Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling child.,'...."
Isaiah 49:15: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you."
It is almost inconceivable to us that a mother would "forget" her child, so we thought and talked about the Isaiah passage for a while. To think that God loves us even more than we love our children is almost unfathomable - but a great thing to ponder.
The idea of God as mother was also something we discussed for a while. It brings out some different aspects of God. We talked about how this was not a super popular idea among some Christians - how inclusion of "Mothering God, you gave me birth" (HWB 482) was a part of some congregations' reasoning for not purchasing the "new" Hymnal, a Worship Book when it first came out. But the real question is, how do/should we be nurturing to those around us? So often our conversations are limited to the "Hi, How are you?" in the foyer Sunday morning. But then we spoke of mentors, older people who we picture as somehow significant to our growing up years. People who nurtured our faith in some way. We spoke of people who, even in brief conversations, could make you feel like you were the only person that mattered in that moment, that what you had to say was important. We spoke of people who have a gift/talent of bringing conversations to a deeper level. We named people we remembered as nurturing our faith in some way.
We are called to nurture each other's faith. We are called to respectful listening that helps draw out faith, that encourages growth and development. We are called to vulnerability - to open ourselves so that others feel it safe to be open with us. Through this we we are called to nurture, feed, help develop growth and wholeness for others, for our communities and for our world.
We started with reading a part of the creation story from Genesis 1:26-28. This is a reminder that we are created in God's image. How does this play out in our lives? Though, of course, we do not have the same abilities or capacities as God has, we are called to be God's image bearers. Psalm 139: 13ff says:
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you....
Once again we are reminded that God made us. God knows what we are capable of. God walks along side us and helps us when we stumble - and wants us to do the same with people we see around us. One way we can bear God's image is to be compassionate - to walk alongside those who are hurting and want to help.
We also read Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. We were a little confused - but if you look at the Complete Jewish Bible it translates as "Show compassion, just as your Father shows compassion". It seems that, while to many of us compassion and mercy are quite different, when translating the Hebrew word used here, they can be interchangeable.
So, basically, there is to be no more "not my problem" - knowing ourselves to be image bearers of our caring creator, we are to practice compassion and help bring others through their suffering into new life.
The second aspect of Practicing Presence that we looked at was Nurture.
Here we looked at 4 passages:
1 Thessalonians 2:7b & 8; "We were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children...."
Hosea 11:3 & 4: "Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk....I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them."
Numbers 11:10-15: [Moses talking to God about the hungry Isaraelites] "...Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling child.,'...."
Isaiah 49:15: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you."
It is almost inconceivable to us that a mother would "forget" her child, so we thought and talked about the Isaiah passage for a while. To think that God loves us even more than we love our children is almost unfathomable - but a great thing to ponder.
The idea of God as mother was also something we discussed for a while. It brings out some different aspects of God. We talked about how this was not a super popular idea among some Christians - how inclusion of "Mothering God, you gave me birth" (HWB 482) was a part of some congregations' reasoning for not purchasing the "new" Hymnal, a Worship Book when it first came out. But the real question is, how do/should we be nurturing to those around us? So often our conversations are limited to the "Hi, How are you?" in the foyer Sunday morning. But then we spoke of mentors, older people who we picture as somehow significant to our growing up years. People who nurtured our faith in some way. We spoke of people who, even in brief conversations, could make you feel like you were the only person that mattered in that moment, that what you had to say was important. We spoke of people who have a gift/talent of bringing conversations to a deeper level. We named people we remembered as nurturing our faith in some way.
We are called to nurture each other's faith. We are called to respectful listening that helps draw out faith, that encourages growth and development. We are called to vulnerability - to open ourselves so that others feel it safe to be open with us. Through this we we are called to nurture, feed, help develop growth and wholeness for others, for our communities and for our world.
Sunday, 18 October 2015
I John
I have now read 1 John about three times (plus some failed attempts). It does read a lot like the gospel of John, though Marcus J. Borg states that there is a consensus that it was not written by the same author(p 405). I find the writing somewhat circular - and that weighs me down as I read - but the two themes that keep coming at me are to avoid false prophets/idols - or I guess this could be to stay true to the message of Christ - and that love is extremely important - as a gift from God, as a sign of being a true disciple, as a response to God's love.
In the midst of reading through this document, I am also trying to read a book lent to me by well meaning friends. This book is written as a proof that one cannot be both Christian and Gay. I am finding it disheartening as I read this book. The author seems to be very well read and intelligent. His credentials are impressive yet so much of his argument is based on his 20th (or 21st) century understanding (the correct reading?) of Scripture. He quotes many scholars that hold opposing views, but seems to refute their arguments (though not necessarily to my satisfaction). Is this a false prophet of whom I should be wary? Or are the many voices I hear calling for full acceptance of alternate sexuality within the church the ones for which I need to watch out? How do I "test every spirit...to see whether they are from God" (4:1)? If people arguing both sides of an issue claim to be professing God's will and the gospel of Christ - or "that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (4:2) - are they both from God? How do I gain guidance from all this?
When the writer of I John says "We know that those who are born of God do not sin" (5:18) does he mean that we should be judging each other and ourselves and, if we still find sin within us, recognize that we are not of God? Is homosexuality a sin? When the writer speaks of mortal and non mortal sins (ch 5:14-17) is he referring to sexual differences? if so - which category do they fall under? He is very clear that hating a brother or sister is a sin - does this extend to people who are not a part of the church because they have found it an unsafe, even hurtful place to be?
If chapter 2:20 and following are accurate, we "have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of [us] have knowledge" and it is the antichrist that causes the confusion - but who is the antichrist in this situation? Why do I still struggle? Why don't I just know the answers? Why don't we all agree?
While there are many questions that arise for me - the answer, and the author of 1 John, always seems to come back to "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God...: (chapter 4:7ff). People of different faiths, Christian and other, have known and shown love - even, at times, to those who seem unlovable. There are people who are gay, or lesbian, or bisexual, or transgender, or "queer" or straight that know and show love. Who am I, with my imperfect expressions of love for others, to say that these people don't know God as well as I do? Or that God loves them less? Or that their expressions of love are less worthy than mine? "EVERYONE who loves is born of God and knows God". If I exclude people because some other people don't like the way they express their love - how am I showing God's love? Am I, then, walking in "light" or "darkness"? Am I then becoming one of "those who say, 'I love God,' and hate their brothers or sisters," (chapter 4:20) ? Who 1 John says are liars? "The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." (ch 5:21) This is where my thoughts rest.
What about purity? What about staying away from sin? "No one who abides in him sins" (ch 3:6). It seems to me there are two assumptions that allow that question in the midst of this debate - one is that straight people don't sin - "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us"(ch1:10) - and the other is that all LGBTQ people are sinning (willfully and often) - "You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin..." (ch 3:5). I guess I just don't see how anybody else's sins - even sexual sins if you consider homosexual activity a sin - are so much worse than my sins of omission (and commission). We have all sinned and fall short of God's glory and ultimate design - so if we want a pure church it is going to be mighty empty, I think. I'd rather lean toward love.
I do not have all the answers - but I believe that over and over again - in the Gospels, in the epistles and especially in I John - we are told that Love is the most important commandment, sign and gift. So if I am going to make a mistake - I am going to err on the side of love. I will continue to test the spirits - both of opinions and Biblical interpretation - and will continue to pray - to abide in Christ. I hope and trust that, somehow, I will discern which are the false teachings and understand better the true ones. I believe I will grow in love for my brothers and sisters, that I will be able to abide in Christ and hope that I will learn to free myself from sin, I believe this is the call of 1 John and I hope I will be able, with God's help, to answer that call.
In the midst of reading through this document, I am also trying to read a book lent to me by well meaning friends. This book is written as a proof that one cannot be both Christian and Gay. I am finding it disheartening as I read this book. The author seems to be very well read and intelligent. His credentials are impressive yet so much of his argument is based on his 20th (or 21st) century understanding (the correct reading?) of Scripture. He quotes many scholars that hold opposing views, but seems to refute their arguments (though not necessarily to my satisfaction). Is this a false prophet of whom I should be wary? Or are the many voices I hear calling for full acceptance of alternate sexuality within the church the ones for which I need to watch out? How do I "test every spirit...to see whether they are from God" (4:1)? If people arguing both sides of an issue claim to be professing God's will and the gospel of Christ - or "that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (4:2) - are they both from God? How do I gain guidance from all this?
When the writer of I John says "We know that those who are born of God do not sin" (5:18) does he mean that we should be judging each other and ourselves and, if we still find sin within us, recognize that we are not of God? Is homosexuality a sin? When the writer speaks of mortal and non mortal sins (ch 5:14-17) is he referring to sexual differences? if so - which category do they fall under? He is very clear that hating a brother or sister is a sin - does this extend to people who are not a part of the church because they have found it an unsafe, even hurtful place to be?
If chapter 2:20 and following are accurate, we "have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of [us] have knowledge" and it is the antichrist that causes the confusion - but who is the antichrist in this situation? Why do I still struggle? Why don't I just know the answers? Why don't we all agree?
While there are many questions that arise for me - the answer, and the author of 1 John, always seems to come back to "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God...: (chapter 4:7ff). People of different faiths, Christian and other, have known and shown love - even, at times, to those who seem unlovable. There are people who are gay, or lesbian, or bisexual, or transgender, or "queer" or straight that know and show love. Who am I, with my imperfect expressions of love for others, to say that these people don't know God as well as I do? Or that God loves them less? Or that their expressions of love are less worthy than mine? "EVERYONE who loves is born of God and knows God". If I exclude people because some other people don't like the way they express their love - how am I showing God's love? Am I, then, walking in "light" or "darkness"? Am I then becoming one of "those who say, 'I love God,' and hate their brothers or sisters," (chapter 4:20) ? Who 1 John says are liars? "The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." (ch 5:21) This is where my thoughts rest.
What about purity? What about staying away from sin? "No one who abides in him sins" (ch 3:6). It seems to me there are two assumptions that allow that question in the midst of this debate - one is that straight people don't sin - "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us"(ch1:10) - and the other is that all LGBTQ people are sinning (willfully and often) - "You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin..." (ch 3:5). I guess I just don't see how anybody else's sins - even sexual sins if you consider homosexual activity a sin - are so much worse than my sins of omission (and commission). We have all sinned and fall short of God's glory and ultimate design - so if we want a pure church it is going to be mighty empty, I think. I'd rather lean toward love.
I do not have all the answers - but I believe that over and over again - in the Gospels, in the epistles and especially in I John - we are told that Love is the most important commandment, sign and gift. So if I am going to make a mistake - I am going to err on the side of love. I will continue to test the spirits - both of opinions and Biblical interpretation - and will continue to pray - to abide in Christ. I hope and trust that, somehow, I will discern which are the false teachings and understand better the true ones. I believe I will grow in love for my brothers and sisters, that I will be able to abide in Christ and hope that I will learn to free myself from sin, I believe this is the call of 1 John and I hope I will be able, with God's help, to answer that call.
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
Jude
I am sure I have read Jude before. I read the whole New Testament for a class in college. I've tried to read through for personal growth - but I really don't remember Jude. Maybe it's because, on first reading there is not much to it. It is short. It is not poetic. There is no readily accessible theological break throughs, no great polemic on following Jesus or the way. It just doesn't seem to have a lot to say. I read it through three times trying to absorb something from the reading (yes it is THAT short). Eventually I got it - and now I can't get it out of my head. (By "it" I don't mean all the in depth theological meaning - I mean a message for me).
It is easy to skim over the central part of Jude where he talks of the Archangel fighting the devil for Moses' body (Weird - huh?) and the error of Balaam (?) and the rebellion of Korah (?) etc. etc. etc. This is all too different - these are not stories I learned in Sunday school. These are not stories that seem to fit together. And how do they relate to "waterless clouds carried along by the winds" or "autumn trees...twice dead, uprooted" ? The language and the references are all strange to me. I guess we really don't study Jude very often.
The commentary I read referred to Jude as "the strangest document in the New Testament". They don't know who wrote it to whom or when, or even why. We know he was the brother of James - but which James? If it was James the brother of Jesus it would have to have been written very early; but there are many James' - it could have been one from many years later. The only thing that seems certain (to scholars) is that Jude and 2 Peter are somehow related because they share so many phrases - but that still doesn't say who copied/quoted whom and so doesn't really give a lot of answers....so we have to ask different questions.
Jude is upset. He wanted to write a joyful letter of fellowship with the followers with whom he is corresponding, enticing them to an even deeper faith by reminding them of the "salvation we share" (v3). Instead he found it necessary to issue a call to arms - a rallying cry against "intruders" who were perverting the message. The letter is short and harsh and to the point. Stay True!
I have figured out some points through my limited research. Even the archangel did not accuse devil but called on the power of God.(From a Jewish Apocryphal book called the Testament of Moses) It is OK that we cannot do things on our own. We will not always have the right words or actions - but we can call on God to use what we do have to conquer evil.
Cain was given the same instructions as Abel about what God expected as a sacrifice - yet chose to do what was more convenient - which led to God not accepting his sacrifice which lead to jealousy that led to murder.(Genesis 4)
Balaam got a clear message from God not to go with the foreign powers as they sought to conquer Israel. When the princes offered him a lot of money, however, he dithered - and finally convinced himself that God did want him to go, after all. (Numbers 22)
Korah (Numbers 16) is a young rebel who accused Moses & Aaron, God's appointed leaders, of putting themselves ahead of everyone - "exalting themselves above the congregation of the Lord" (from gotquestions.org quoting Numbers 16:1-3). Basically he was doing what he was accusing Moses and Aaron of doing - trying to grab the power and respect of the group by taking over as leader. This revolt against God's leaders is equated to a revolt against God.
So we have stories of a man who ignored God's command, a man who twisted God's command to hear what he wanted to hear, a man who didn't even listen for God's command but wanted to do it on his own. Jude is warning about the intruders who were coming into the church, claiming leadership like Korah and their own interpretation of what God wanted, like Balaam, even to the point of ignoring the gospel that had been passed down, like Cain. How many televangelists could fit into those categories? How many cult leaders? But in a more subtle way - how many pastors, priests and congregations? We have people pushing us to ever looser interpretations of ethical behavior - and we have others who are fighting to close ranks and make choices black or white. When are we listening to God and when are we ignoring or perverting the message?
This is very troubling for me. For I know there is a push to say anything goes as long as you aren't hurting anybody (a subjective judgement). More and more we accept sexual relationships outside of marriage, "smart deals" which could be interpreted by some as stealing from another's profit (like ignoring copyright laws?). We admire the wealthy and equate their good fortune with God's blessings - so fight, sometimes bitterly, to get ahead. Where is the line? How do we hear God's voice? I can understand, to some extent, why some congregations want to stick to prescribed clothing and strict right and wrong ethics - even if it means excluding some people. I can sort of understand why some young people are drawn to cults or radical conservative religions that dictate what to wear and what to do. They don't want to have to figure out this confusing life. They don't want to risk getting it wrong. They don't want to risk being swayed by the intruders, by those who pull unsuspecting Christians from living a Godly life. Or is the strict fundamentalism the twisted message that is pulling Christians from God's loving inclusiveness? Are we being pulled by the promise of purity and justification to a radical fundamentalism as opposed to loving blind faith in God? How do we know which is the truth and which is the perversion?
Jude warns us to stay true - he exhorts us to "build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." This isn't easy but I think the message is to continue to work on learning for yourself - not just follow whatever charismatic leader happens along. We need to test the messages we receive and do our best to follow the message Christ has given, through his words and his life. Following Christ isn't an easy list of "do" and "don't" - it is a wonderfully messy, meandering journey of making mistakes and being forgiven again and again. That doesn't mean "anything goes". We need to try to live upright, faithful lives, and work to be worthy of the love and grace God showers on us - but we also need to realize we can't do it on our own. Even the Archangel Michael had his limits and had to call on God.
After 3 or 4 readings I really like Jude. Now I find it short but powerful, inspiring even. And definitely thought provoking. There is so much more there than first meets the eye - or at least than first met my eyes. I may need to read it for encouragement a few more times. Many find it harsh and judgmental - but now I read it more as a warning to me, not a condemnation of me. It is a condemnation of those who would lead me astray and a warning for me to be careful not to follow. It is very appropriate for this day and age. I need to continue to nourish my relationship - so I am not like a waterless cloud - promising life giving moisture but actually having nothing to offer - so I am not like an autumn tree that is dried up, and becomes uprooted. I need to trust God to lead as various issues arise and I need wisdom and guidance to think and do the right things.
I pray that God will keep me from falling, and will make me stand without blemish in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing.(from v24-25) (and help me figure it out).
It is easy to skim over the central part of Jude where he talks of the Archangel fighting the devil for Moses' body (Weird - huh?) and the error of Balaam (?) and the rebellion of Korah (?) etc. etc. etc. This is all too different - these are not stories I learned in Sunday school. These are not stories that seem to fit together. And how do they relate to "waterless clouds carried along by the winds" or "autumn trees...twice dead, uprooted" ? The language and the references are all strange to me. I guess we really don't study Jude very often.
The commentary I read referred to Jude as "the strangest document in the New Testament". They don't know who wrote it to whom or when, or even why. We know he was the brother of James - but which James? If it was James the brother of Jesus it would have to have been written very early; but there are many James' - it could have been one from many years later. The only thing that seems certain (to scholars) is that Jude and 2 Peter are somehow related because they share so many phrases - but that still doesn't say who copied/quoted whom and so doesn't really give a lot of answers....so we have to ask different questions.
Jude is upset. He wanted to write a joyful letter of fellowship with the followers with whom he is corresponding, enticing them to an even deeper faith by reminding them of the "salvation we share" (v3). Instead he found it necessary to issue a call to arms - a rallying cry against "intruders" who were perverting the message. The letter is short and harsh and to the point. Stay True!
I have figured out some points through my limited research. Even the archangel did not accuse devil but called on the power of God.(From a Jewish Apocryphal book called the Testament of Moses) It is OK that we cannot do things on our own. We will not always have the right words or actions - but we can call on God to use what we do have to conquer evil.
Cain was given the same instructions as Abel about what God expected as a sacrifice - yet chose to do what was more convenient - which led to God not accepting his sacrifice which lead to jealousy that led to murder.(Genesis 4)
Balaam got a clear message from God not to go with the foreign powers as they sought to conquer Israel. When the princes offered him a lot of money, however, he dithered - and finally convinced himself that God did want him to go, after all. (Numbers 22)
Korah (Numbers 16) is a young rebel who accused Moses & Aaron, God's appointed leaders, of putting themselves ahead of everyone - "exalting themselves above the congregation of the Lord" (from gotquestions.org quoting Numbers 16:1-3). Basically he was doing what he was accusing Moses and Aaron of doing - trying to grab the power and respect of the group by taking over as leader. This revolt against God's leaders is equated to a revolt against God.
So we have stories of a man who ignored God's command, a man who twisted God's command to hear what he wanted to hear, a man who didn't even listen for God's command but wanted to do it on his own. Jude is warning about the intruders who were coming into the church, claiming leadership like Korah and their own interpretation of what God wanted, like Balaam, even to the point of ignoring the gospel that had been passed down, like Cain. How many televangelists could fit into those categories? How many cult leaders? But in a more subtle way - how many pastors, priests and congregations? We have people pushing us to ever looser interpretations of ethical behavior - and we have others who are fighting to close ranks and make choices black or white. When are we listening to God and when are we ignoring or perverting the message?
This is very troubling for me. For I know there is a push to say anything goes as long as you aren't hurting anybody (a subjective judgement). More and more we accept sexual relationships outside of marriage, "smart deals" which could be interpreted by some as stealing from another's profit (like ignoring copyright laws?). We admire the wealthy and equate their good fortune with God's blessings - so fight, sometimes bitterly, to get ahead. Where is the line? How do we hear God's voice? I can understand, to some extent, why some congregations want to stick to prescribed clothing and strict right and wrong ethics - even if it means excluding some people. I can sort of understand why some young people are drawn to cults or radical conservative religions that dictate what to wear and what to do. They don't want to have to figure out this confusing life. They don't want to risk getting it wrong. They don't want to risk being swayed by the intruders, by those who pull unsuspecting Christians from living a Godly life. Or is the strict fundamentalism the twisted message that is pulling Christians from God's loving inclusiveness? Are we being pulled by the promise of purity and justification to a radical fundamentalism as opposed to loving blind faith in God? How do we know which is the truth and which is the perversion?
Jude warns us to stay true - he exhorts us to "build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." This isn't easy but I think the message is to continue to work on learning for yourself - not just follow whatever charismatic leader happens along. We need to test the messages we receive and do our best to follow the message Christ has given, through his words and his life. Following Christ isn't an easy list of "do" and "don't" - it is a wonderfully messy, meandering journey of making mistakes and being forgiven again and again. That doesn't mean "anything goes". We need to try to live upright, faithful lives, and work to be worthy of the love and grace God showers on us - but we also need to realize we can't do it on our own. Even the Archangel Michael had his limits and had to call on God.
After 3 or 4 readings I really like Jude. Now I find it short but powerful, inspiring even. And definitely thought provoking. There is so much more there than first meets the eye - or at least than first met my eyes. I may need to read it for encouragement a few more times. Many find it harsh and judgmental - but now I read it more as a warning to me, not a condemnation of me. It is a condemnation of those who would lead me astray and a warning for me to be careful not to follow. It is very appropriate for this day and age. I need to continue to nourish my relationship - so I am not like a waterless cloud - promising life giving moisture but actually having nothing to offer - so I am not like an autumn tree that is dried up, and becomes uprooted. I need to trust God to lead as various issues arise and I need wisdom and guidance to think and do the right things.
I pray that God will keep me from falling, and will make me stand without blemish in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing.(from v24-25) (and help me figure it out).
Friday, 2 October 2015
Sept 28 - Starting with the Shema
This past week has been one of various gatherings for our congregation. We spent some of our time together debriefing from these meetings and pondering the question of how to be and be perceived as a safe place for whoever would like to worship with us and share in our decision making.
We sequed into a discussion of companionship - the book we were following speaks of it coming from words meaning with (com) bread (pan) - so it is eating bread with - or the same bread. How do we walk along side each other and with others who are hurting or in need of a friend - how do we practice companionship?
We looked at Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Mark 12:28-31. The first is the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your sould, and with all your might (the shema) - and to keep these words with you at all times. The second is Jesus telling the scribe that this is the most important commandment, and the 2nd is to love your neighbor as yourself. So what do we take from this that is new?
The idea of binding the word to you (from Deuteronomy) - not literally as some have taken it - but making it such a part of you that it is with you always was somewhat intriguing. Think of developing such an attitude of God being with you, of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you. What would it be like if we became that God centred? How would our lives change if we saw God in EVERY interaction? How do we become so God-centric?
One person had been to a mindfulness workshop through work - there it was phrased more how to be truly present - or mindful. Even the secular world is recognizing that this is a need. But what if we took that seriously and spiritually? What if we took the time to just sit and breathe for 5 breaths? Would we feel the miracle of automatically doing that? Would we feel the Spirit being breathed into us? Can we become more mindful of God present with us and the Holy Spirit present in us?
What does loving God with all our heart, soul, strength & mind compel us to do? Perhaps "heart" is calling us to praise, to feelings of joy and worship. Perhaps "soul" is calling us to prayer and meditation? Perhaps "strength" is a call to action - to do what is right - make our activities count? Maybe "mind" is calling us to study - read, listen, take time for learning more about God and God's work? We thought about how this really is an encompassing call to God-centricity.
Interesting challenges - There was a quote from Brother Lawrence. According to Christian Classics Ethereal Library website (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice):
- Brother Lawrence is one of the most admired and imitated sons of the Catholic church. He worked for a time as a soldier before entering the Discalced Carmelite Prior in Paris. Lawrence was uneducated, and so had to enter the monastery as a layman. He worked in the kitchens and as a cobbler there for the remainder of his life. Lawrence is known for his devotion and ability to bring God into every aspect of his life. His classic Christian work, Practice of the Presence of God, details how to gain that constant and comforting connection to God. Readers have treasured this short and easy book for centuries because of Lawrence's honest advice and his obvious passion for spiritual matters. He rejoiced in everyday tasks, prayed constantly, and was known around the monastery for his kindness and willingness to help others. Practice of the Presence of God is a creative Christian work that is required reading according to many believers. Readers will come away with great peace and joy, and a better understanding of what it means to constantly be in God's presence.
Unfortunately I don't have the quote word for word - though I found many that were powerful in my search - but it was a challenge to practice presence - to invite God into the mundane, everyday acts of our lives and be present to the Spirit's comfort and guidance. It was a call to mindfulness. Brother Lawrence encourages all to fully engage with their whole selves - turn to God and face obstacles.
Maybe this is the final thought and challenge we need to take into our week - to truly become more God-centric.
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