Friday, October 31, 2008

Straw men

Today (Oct 31) is the Eve of All Hallows (All Saints). On this day in 1517 a young priest, Father Luther, tacked a long piece of paper onto the church door in Wittenburg. On that paper he had written 95 statements for debate. He disagreed with some of the practices of the Church headquartered in Rome. The authorities took notice. Debates did take place. Luther was urged to take back his statements, but he refused. He was excommunicated from the Church of Rome. Many people sided with Father Luther and began to follow his understanding of the Bible. These people became known as "Lutherans." Other people were following preachers named Farrell and Beza and Zwingli and Calvin. They became the "Reformed" Church (later also known as Presbyterians). Others followed the so-called Anabaptists. During this period Henry VIII broke with Rome, and the Anglican Church was born (today's Episcopalians in the U.S.).

When I was in the 6th grade my teacher, knowing that I was very involved in my church, gave me a book about Martin Luther to read. I was such a staunch 11-year-old Baptist that I refused to read anything about Luther. Seven years later in college I took a course on The History of Christianity, and my eyes were opened to the great diversity of the Church through the centuries. I came to love Martin Luther and his courageous preaching.

Over the years God has led me down an ever-broadening theological path. I have learned to appreciate the strengths of many diverse Christian and non-Christian traditions. Lutherans have their theological strengths; so do Episcopalians and Baptists and Catholics and Pentecostals and Methodists and Presbyterians; and other religions have wisdom to teach us--Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews...

Christ has become more real to me during my spiritual journey. He has also become bigger. Martin Luther helped the Church move away from the 'angry God' who is 'out to get us' to the merciful Abba we come to know through Jesus. (I'm not talking about an Old Testament God vs. a New Testament God; there is only one God.) Luther was able to recover the genius of the gospel that sees into the gracious heart of God.

Jesus is the Way to the Father. Not a doctrine about Jesus; not a theory about the inspiration of Scripture; but Jesus himself. He is bigger than our doctrines. He is more inclusive than our dogmas. He is more merciful than our theories of atonement. Jesus saves. There is no one else to save. But I believe that he saves those who don't fit our puny schemes of soteriological requirements. It's funny how some Christians don't want Jesus to save everyone unless they believe like them. I believe Jesus is more merciful than our theology is.

Martin Luther found freedom in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. Thanks be to God.


[photo by me]

Monday, October 27, 2008

planted


"They are like a tree planted by streams of water..." (Ps. 1.3, TNIV)

(Prayer based on Psalm 1:)
O Lord, I want to be happy. I do not wish to pal around with cynics or those who are up to no good. Plant me solidly in the moving stream of your truth. Make my life flourish with goodness and gentleness. Give my life substantially so that I am not blown away by theological fads or empty promises of success. Watch over me. Please do not let my ministry wither away. O God, let me drink deep from your spring of grace.

[prayer and photo by me]

Friday, October 24, 2008

observe it

Today I took a Sabbath.
I did nothing.


[photo by me at Cox Arboretum]

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Equality


I was reading a passage from Paul where he is encouraging the Christians in Corinth to 'step up to the plate' in their giving of an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. Paul spent a lot of his time traveling around collecting money for the church.

He says to the Corinthians: "not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your surplus at the present time should supply their needs [the churches of Macedonia], so that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. " (2 Cor. 8.13-14, NAB).

The NRSV uses different terminology: "I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance."

The Greek word for 'equality' (isotes) is the one used in Philippians two where Paul says that Jesus gave up equality with God when he came to earth. It's also the word used in Acts 11.17 where Peter says that God has given the non-Jews the "same gift" [equal gift] that God gave to the Jewish Christians. So, soteriologically speaking, the races are equal. We could say the 'gift' is eternal life. Which is correct. But the next verse (Acts 11.18) designates the 'gift' as the gift of repentance. "God has granted repentance unto life" even to non-Jews. We in the Reformed theological tradition have always believed that 'repentance' -- the ability to turn to God and be saved -- is a 'gift,' not a human accomplishment. It is a 'grant.'

Back to where I began: this week is Pledge Sunday in our church. Paul advises "balance, fairness, equality" when it comes to giving to the church. (2 Corinthians, chapter 8). This equality has to do with one's ability to give -- with one's present circumstances. Some are more able to give than others -- or able to give more than others. Paul urges them to "give according to what you have" (2 Cor. 8.11). He goes on to say, "It doesn't mater how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have." (v. 12) We all have a 'will.' The questions is: Will we be willing to use our will for God's cause?

My salary is going up, and I'm planning to increase my pledge to our congregation.

Perhaps our prayer ought to be not so much, 'Lord, give me more'; but, 'Lord, give my more willingness to give.'


[photo taken by me: Xenia Courthouse]

Monday, October 20, 2008

pierced themselves


I'm feeling better. Some time off and a chance to gain a better perspective clears the mind. I think I had become 'enmeshed' in the congregation (to use a Family Therapy term). I had been giving up self-differentiation. Setting my expectations too high: trying to change people--when the only person I can change is myself.

Why are some of us so hard on ourselves? I keep going back to what I believe to be true--namely, that first-born and those who are 'only children' are driven to accomplish and achieve in such a way that 'being successful' at what you do can become an unhealthy drive. And part of normal depression is making mountains out of mole hills. And of course there is all that stuff about synapses that don't connect correctly; that's what some of the medicine does--bridges the gap of the brain synapses so that they 'fire' effectively. Medicine for depression is like medicine for diabetes in this sense--that it supplies something to the body that is missing in the correct amount.

**

Another subject:
A recent study by the Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion found out that 55% of Americans say "I was protected from harm by a guardian angel." I wonder if all those angels ever run into each other. They must be all over the place. And I wonder why some people's guardian angels don't protect them from harm. Do some guardian angels go to sleep on the job? Can you ask for a replacement if your angel isn't working out so good?

**

The Evangelical church historian Mark Noll writes that in the year 1776 only 17% of Americans were religiously observant. By 1850 the percentage had risen to 34%. From 1980--2000 Americans practicing religion stayed around 62%. I guess this means we Americans keep getting more and more religious. Or maybe we're just going through the motions. Statistics are correct only 73% of the time.

**

I led a wedding rehearsal last Friday night. Directing a wedding rehearsal is an art. There are so many mother-in-laws who want to run the show. (Never seen a father-in-law who wanted to.) The bride is always nervous. The groom is trying to be manly with all his groomsmen. Several bridesmaids have already been in weddings and they have their ideas of how things should go. Everyone is hungry--wanting to get to the rehearsal dinner. The first thing I do at a rehearsal is gather everyone at the front of the sanctuary and have a prayer. Almost always at the rehearsal--when we practice saying the vows--the bride and groom get the giggles. The next day--at the real thing--one or both usually shed tears. I see the tears up close. I watch to see if anyone is about to faint. I smile a lot--trying to reassure everyone that everything is under control.
The wedding last Saturday was nice. Decorations not overdone. No country music during the ceremony. I pronounced them.

**

I had Sunday morning off. But I sent 6 hours at the church for two meetings in the afternoon and evening. I slept in on Sunday morning. Ah--to sleep during church! Now I know why they do it.

**

This Sunday is Pledge Sunday. Don't tell anyone--they may not come.
We are so touchy about money. People don't want anyone else to know how much they give to the church. If we all had a large faith we would all put our tax returns out on a table for all our brothers and sisters in Christ to see. But somehow we tie our personal 'worth' to money. Even more than sex--money is a hush-hush topic. Paul writes that "the love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6.10) I think the TNIV renders it more accurately in terms of Paul's intent: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
For most of us it's all about security, isn't it? We want to be 'secure.' Having money is part of the equation of security in this world. There are necessities. Bills to be paid. Mortgages. Health costs. Nursing homes. Vacations. Cruises. Cottages. Things. Stuff. Material goods. College. Children. Grandchildren. Jewelry. Books. Cars. Entertainment centers. Big houses. Lawn care. Insurance. Hairdos. Shoes. Oh yeah--Church. God.

**

"Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6.11)

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." (1 Tim. 6.7)

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a hilarious giver." (literal translation)


[photo taken at Cox Arboretum]

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Moth



















I'm hanging in there...sucking all the nectar I can out of vacation days. I went downtown yesterday and voted. Yep, all over with. No long lines for me.

Trimmed ivy and raked leaves today. (The Fall of Leaves is not as serious as the Fall of Man.)

I've been reading essays on the Biblical and theological framework of Melville's great novel, Moby Dick. And I've re-read large sections of Augustine's Confessions--both in Maria Boulding's translation (1998) and the newer one by Garry Wills (2006).

We have friends coming over tonight. Tomorrow I start back to work: Jack's surgery in the morning -- wedding rehearsal in the evening... Esther's surgery Saturday morning...Wedding Saturday afternoon... Vacation Sunday morning, but a meeting at the church in the afternoon; then a supper/stewardship meeting in the evening. Monday morning is Personnel staff reviews. Tuesday is Committee on Ministry meeting and Session meeting.

[I took the photo at Cox Arboretum]

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Bride





















Life gets out of focus sometimes. Occasionally we have to stop and ask ourselves, "What's the hurry?"

I've spent several hours scraping, cleaning, priming and painting our garage doors the last couple of days. They are bright white again. I always have a satisfying feeling when I can make something clean. Maybe it is just a feeling of personal accomplishment; or maybe there is a deeper sense of participation with the Son who washes the world.

To back off from responsibilities for awhile and regain a perspective on life is a cleansing experience. To listen to the birds and pay attention to the plants...to touch the earth... As the poet Mary Oliver says, one can live life as "a bride married to amazement." But if we lose the wonder of life by thinking we are indispensable, our perceptions of ourselves and others become cloudy and we never get to the wedding.

[photo made at Cox Arboretum]

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Two Turtles



















In order not to fall off the log,
we need dia-log. We're all on this log together.
Being able to talk about our feelings with a trusted and understanding friend is part of taking care of ourselves.


[I took this photo at Cox Arboretum]

Saturday, October 11, 2008

turtle
























I took this photo of a turtle at Cox Arboretum today. The little guy has his neck stuck out--and he's keeping his balance on a log.

I've gotten out of balance lately. I've been dealing with some depression for several weeks, maybe longer. Depression not only affects the mind, it affects the body. It is a disease that drains a person of vitality. No wonder I've been so fatigued.

Like that little turtle, I've been sticking my neck out a lot lately. I've been giving myself to the church nonstop. I have un-sabbathed myself. So, now I'm going to go back into a shell for a few days. I'm taking some of my remaining vacation days this Monday through Thursday; and hopefully will get a Sunday off. I need to get my balance back.

I regret that this past week I 'blew my stack' at a committee meeting. More frustration had been building up in me than I realized. And it all came out like an erupting volcano. I had been trying for a long time to be a 'nice' pastor by not saying what I was feeling, and finally I vented it all. I'm sure my manner of speaking (or shouting) and some of the content of my ranting was upsetting to some people. Actually, most of what I said was true; but venting always brings with it some distortion of the truth. It wasn't a pretty sight. But it's good every once in a while for a congregation to see the pastor's humanness.

I'm going to take care of myself. I'm going to stop working every night--either in meetings at the church--or taking stuff home to work on. I'm going to forget the church and its challenges/problems at least one or two days a week. With my doctor and my counselor I'm going to work on managing this disease. I think balance is the key.

Care-givers have to care for themselves. Ministers have to be ministered to. God is so good to accept us as we are. In the light of such grace we are able to change and be changed--to be vulnerable to each other--and open to the Spirit's healing, sanctifying power.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Bible


An article in USA Today tells about the NIV being hand-written by all kinds of people. This idea fascinates me. Could a congregation accomplish such a thing over a period of time? (Or maybe just one Gospel?) What would it be like to have a hand-written Bible--verses written by everyone in the congregation? Or what about a family hand-writing a gospel--each member writing a sentence of paragraph at a time?

(See the article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-09-29-bible-tour_N.htm)

Number 110

The best known psalms are probably Psalm 23, 46, 51, 100, 139...
But the Psalm that is quoted most often in the New Testament is Psalm 110.
Around 27 times this psalm is quoted or directly alluded to.
Jesus quotes it during an argument with the religious leaders in Matthew 22.44 (and Mk 12 and Lk 20); Peter quotes it on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2.34-35); Paul quotes it: 1 Cor. 15.25; Eph 1.20; Col. 3.1; Stephen alludes to it in Acts 7.56; Peter in his letter: 1 Pet. 3.22; the letter to the Hebrews: chapters 5,7,8, & 10.
Psalm 110 is a prophesy of Jesus as Lord, Messiah, King, High Priest and Judge.
The central message of the Book of Psalms is "God is King."
The psalms anticipate the Davidic King who will establish an everlasting kingdom.
The New Testament message is that Jesus is that King.


[photo by me]

Friday, October 3, 2008

women in robes


The magazine cover of Gospel Today shows female pastors/ministers. This particular magazine comes from the Charismatic branch of the Church. Pentecostals and Charismatic churches have never had a problem with women having a call to preach. On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Peter said that the Spirit was being poured out on both men and women. But Southern Baptists don't understand it that way. They forbid women from the pastoral role. So, when this magazine cover showed up in Southern Baptist book stores, they hid them behind the counter. (Oh, the pornography of females in clergy robes!) There are a handful of female pastors in Southern Baptist congregations (a handful out of 14,000 congregations). Since Southern Baptists have no central authority (humanly speaking), each congregation can do whatever it wants to. This is called the autonomy of the local church. Supposedly they have no creed; they don't believe in creeds. However, they have a doctrinal statement called The Baptist Faith and Message. It functions like a creed. It says that the pastoral role is only for males. They can point to particular passages of Scripture, like 1 Tim. 2. But other churches can point to passages like Acts 2, 1 Cor. 11, Gal. 3, Lk 24, etc. In my humble opinion, I believe that Southern Baptists and other churches that don't allow women in the inner circle of decision-making or in the pastoral/sacramental role are actually coming out of a male-domination ideology rather than a Biblical theology. There is plenty of positive talk about female leadership in the New Testament For a thorough investigation of the meaning of 1 Tim. 2.11-15, I recommend the book I Suffer Not a Woman by Richard Clark Kroeger and Catherine Clark Kroeger ((Baker Books, 1992). I also recommend Beyond the Curse: Women Called to Ministry by Aida Besancon Spencer (Hendrickson, 1985); and Why Not Women? by Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton (YWAM Publishing, 2000). The first evangelist was Mary Magdalene, sent by an angel to tell the men about Jesus' resurrection.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

10 C's or 10 P's?

Are the Ten Commandments actually 'commandments'? It doesn't say they are commandments in the Bible. It says in Exod. 20 that God spoke 'words' (not commandments... However, the official Catholic Bible for U.S. liturgies, The New American Bible, slips in the word "commandments" in Ex. 20.1, even though it's not there). These ten statements are called the "Decalogue" ('ten-words') by scholars.

Let me suggest a thought-experiment. These Ten Words were given to the Israelites--they had already been 'redeemed'--set free from oppression. The Ten Words were not given, therefore, in order to be redeemed, but in order to live a redeemed life-style.

So, what if we read them this way: The Lord is saying to his people: You belong to me; you are my possession; you are a special people. Therefore, I promise you that as you live like people belonging to me you will not have other gods before you.... I promise you that as you live like you belong to me you will not make graven images.... I promise you that as you live like you belong to me you shall not manipulate my Name.... I promise you will stop work and remember who you are... you shall honor old people... you shall not murder or steal or break covenant relationships or lie in court or want what your neighbor has.... I promise you that this will be your style of living because you belong to me.

This thought-experiment helps me recover the context of those Ten Words. They are the Words of God to his covenant people, describing how they are to manifest that covenant relationship in their lives. These are not threatening words, they are promising words.

It's just a thought.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Ears


Little Johnny came home from Sunday School and his mother asked him what he had learned. He said the teacher had read a story about Jesus helping beggars. But I don't understand, he said, why they only asked for nuts. What nuts? his mother said. Little Johnny said, Well, they were crying out, 'Almonds for the poor, almonds for the poor.'

Sometimes we don't hear Scripture correctly. Obviously people of faith and intelligence hear the Scriptures in different ways. Intelligent and faithful Christians read the same Scriptures and come away with different understandings. It's a fact of life.

I suppose it has to do with our individual biases, our individual life experiences, and the influence of those who have taught us.

I was a teenage fundamentalist. I grew up in a fundamentalist Southern Baptist Church. Whatever fundamentalists believe today--that's what I used to believe. I didn't know any better. No one told me there was any other way to 'hear' the Bible. But today I have a more open view of the Christian Tradition.

In my first year of college I was exposed to views of Scripture, faith, God, etc., that I had never heard before. Some of it was shocking to me. The college was a liberal arts school run by the Baptists, but it had a faculty which was not held captive by narrow viewpoints.

As I look back on that experience, I see that I could have rejected those new ideas and stayed in my safe cocoon of fundamentalism. Why didn't I? What made me be open to new ideas and not only hear them but accept them? I think the crucial factor was my teacher. My major professor in religion was a man who was trustworthy. He not only taught us about the concern of Jesus for the poor, he lived it out in his life. He was a person of integrity, gentleness, humility, and conviction. Because I trusted him, my mind and heart were opened up to alternative ways of hearing the Scriptures. Once I began to embrace a new perspective on the Bible, I began to feel the transforming power of God in my life and saw that my former categories of concern were too restricted.

Christians will always disagree about some controversial subjects, just as Christians will always be found in both of our political parties.

I find that the Bible speaks to my mind, my heart, and my soul. It affects the way I try to live my life. I don't claim to understand it all, or possess the 'truth' as if it is something I can put in my pocket. But I do feel strongly about some things that I believe Jesus cares about.

Christians not only need to listen to the Bible, but also to each other. Who knows--maybe almonds is what the beggars needed.

"Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak,
and slow to become angry." (James 1.19)