Kingdom Economics

 Matthew 20:1-16 reflects Jesus' vision of Kingdom values regarding living wages.  It is an example of life beyond meritocracy, beyond capitalism (pre-dates it, in fact) and beyond the greed of Empire.  

Capitalism's iterations of empire have fed the few at the expense of the many for generations.  It is getting worse.  The income gaps are widening between the few that have most and the many who have very little.  Efforts are being made right now to enliven labor unions because of this, but since the desolating sacrilege of Reagan and Falwell, class war has been waged against the poor, labor class and middle class without answer.  Those who have wanted to return this nation to the robber baron days before our depression have been doing a great job of doing so, complete with crashes of the banking and real estate worlds as a result in recent decades.  Regular folk have lost much or most of what they had in recent decades, and no one has been held accountable for it.  It is the price of doing business with the ruthless purveyors of Capitalism under this Empire.

I must offer here that Jesus was not a communist or socialist.  The Gospels pre-date those systems by 1800 years.  Jesus was a humanist of God.  Jesus taught Agape Love as THE WAY to be faithful to God, and that Agape Love was to be applied in EVERY arena and aspect of life together, including economics.  The teachings, parables, commands and examples of Jesus clearly call for those who would follow Him to take care of "the least," and this parable calls us to a different system of distribution to one based on need instead of merit, greed or ruthless corruption.  

This is an example of Kingdom values to be followed by any who would follow Jesus in their lives - stock brokers who would follow Jesus, stockholders who would follow Jesus, executives who would follow Jesus, owners who would follow Jesus, taxpayers who would follow Jesus, economists who would follow Jesus, laborers who would follow Jesus. voters who would follow Jesus and politicians who would follow Jesus.  If any who claim Jesus' name would live this example of Kingdom values in economics, it would change not only the lives of God's children in our country that lives under the ruthless power of empire, but the lives of God's children across the whole world who suffer under it.

Jesus made a promise at the end of this parable for all who struggle under empire's fat, over-paid, greedy, ruthless, gluttonous thumb - "The last will be first, and the first will be last."  This will not last forever.  God will turn it around.  In the meantime, if we are to be faithful to the God who will restore justice under Kingdom values, we must live those values by following what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. 

This parable reflects Jesus' teaching on God's Will regarding economics, along with countless others from Deuteronomy, the Prophets and other sacred texts before Jesus, teachings that Rabbi Jesus knew and came to fulfill. 

Addendum: I love Democracy.  I value Democracy.  I do not love Capitalism.  I do not value it.  Contrary to popular belief among the adherence to American Civil Religion and its lord, Capitalism is not Democracy and Democracy is not Capitalism.  We need a more just, equitable and loving system that is humanistic and thus faithful to the Agape Love commanded by Jesus, thus faithful to God.

What you give and what you receive...

 Matthew 18:21-35

Forgiveness is hard.  It is especially hard when folk believe they are entitled to belittle, discriminate against or harm us.  It is hard when others who do so are unrepentant.  It is hard when those who treat us shamefully have no shame in doing so.  It is hard especially when we are healthy enough to believe that we deserve better than that from others.

But it is possible to believe that we deserve to be treated with respect, equity, equality and justice, and still to recognize that others make mistakes, look errantly at how they need to live in the world because of their own past traumas, and are operating out of their own pain.  Empathy for the trespasser can be difficult, and it takes some humility, but it also can be helpful for us.  It helps us understand that we, ourselves are capable of great good in others' lives and great evil to them.  It helps us to understand that we are not perfect either and that we each need to BE forgiven when we hurt others.  It helps us to see the value of forgiveness itself.

Forgiveness is the thing.  In order to understand it, we must grasp the importance of being forgiving of others when they sin against us, as much as we grasp the need for us to be forgiven when we sin against others.  Sin, breeches in trust, love, civility, respect, justice and integrity touch us all.  We need to be forgiven for our breeches that hurt others, and we must be forgiving of others for their breeches that hurt us.  

Refusing to forgive is truly like "swallowing a burning coal and expecting that to hurt the other."  In refusing to forgive, we carry around within us such a mass of malignant toxic sludge that it cannot help but powerfully affect our relationships with others who have not wronged us.  Forgiveness is for the sake of the forgiver.

Refusing to forgive is also an act of hatred and not love toward another person who is capable of sinning just as we are, hoping to inflict pain on those who need forgiveness.  Forgiveness is for the sake of the forgiven.

The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates this, and the problem of someone who believes that he/she/they deserves to be forgiven but has no need to be forgiving of others.  

Forgiveness does not always come instantly, even when it is sometimes declared quickly.  It can take a long time to bring oneself to forgive others, even oneself for breeches of trust, love, civility, respect, justice and integrity.  Doing the soul-searching work and bringing oneself to forgiveness, regardless of how much it takes to do so, can relieve everyone in a relationship of further pain.

Matthew's Jesus commands us not to judge because we are not qualified to be judges of others.  We are capable of the same sins that they are capable of in this life, as is illustrated by the "log in the eye" simile.  We are reminded that "the measure (we) give is the measure we will receive" (see also Luke 6:37, 38 on how forgiveness is the same).

Forgiveness comes of Love, Grace and Mercy.  Jesus is of Love, Grace and Mercy.  If we are people of Jesus' Way we will be of Love, Grace and Mercy as well.  Forgiveness is commanded because it is an act of Grace (undeserved loving mercy given freely) and Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy).

To value forgiveness, be must value both being forgiven and being forgiving.  To be followers of Jesus, we must see the value of forgiveness and strive to live it genuinely in our lives. 

Integrity and Civility in Conflict

 Matthew 18;15-20

I only knew ONE pastor who actually did this, in order, during a problem of a few people gossiping in a very hurtful way about a single mom in his Methodist Church.  The congregation when through all the steps with him and two of the three perpetrators left the church, while the third repented.  A year later, the pastor was asked to leave during a congregational meeting.

We do not do conflict well in our culture or our churches within the culture, partly because our churches reflect rather than address the culture. In the age of social media, it is way too easy to find things over which to have conflict with folks.  In our communities, we are much more prone to talk about people with others rather than to them when we have a conflict, and even more likely to "gather forces" of agreement around us, rather than take our issue to a person directly.  We do not seek objective persons to mediate in such conflicts.  No one believes that ANYONE is objective anymore.

Tribalism rules in 'muriKKKa.  If a person is of "our tribe," they are never wrong and we will fight like Hell to prove it.  If a person is either the accuser or the accused of another tribe, they must be wrong.  It is as true in our churches as it is in our culture.

Conflicts are common, but we are so tribal we cannot see ANY person or body as being unbiased or unprejudiced enough to help parties reach a solution.  That is a problem.

It takes civility to understand and empathize with two parties in conflict.  Each may have valid points, and our goal must always be to end conflicts through civil means.  The civility of the neutral party is to bring cooler heads and hearts to prevail in conflicts.  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."  Children of God value peace.

It takes integrity to go through mediation in conflict, integrity to consider the other party's perspectives and integrity to abide by the resolution to the conflict.  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."  To see God, we must be people of integrity.

Empire's ways of greed for more wealth than others, lust for power over others and desire for status above others destroys integrity, civility, compassion and empathy.  It is destroying ours because we ARE empire.  Jesus taught us to resist empire's ways and specifically to live differently from empire's way.  That is true in conflicts as well as in every other interaction with one another in our society.  If we want to be called "children of God," and see God, we will be people of integrity, civility, compassion and empathy.  If we are those people, the whole world will benefit.

What does it profit?

 

Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

Self-denial takes humility.  In the face of empire and its sick addiction to wealth, power and status, Jesus demands that those who would follow Him not give into these worldly/empire values.  The arrogant hubris of empire is intoxicating, but to follow Jesus, we must not make it about self.

 Indeed, the definition of agaph is SELFLESS, even SELF-SACRIFICING, unconditional committed action on behalf of the OTHER, even Stranger, Enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us.  Empire with its sights always on Quid Pro Quo could never sign on for that.  Only those who follow one who teaches Kingdom values would do so.

 agaph is the central COMMAND of Jesus.  So, when Peter gets a little selfish and would deny Jesus’ mission to bring this agaph to fruition for the sake of the world, Jesus must point out that empire’s way, the world’s way is Satan’s way.  The way of selfishness, abuse, hubris is against agaph and therefore against God.

 If we want to be followers of Jesus, we must deny ourselves.  We must deny ourselves as folk who believe that we are the center of the universe, as ones who ruthlessly take what we want at the expense of others, as people who gain power to exploit and abuse others with it.  We must deny ourselves, humble ourselves and serve.

 If we gain the life of empire on the backs of others around us, we lose our life with Christ Jesus.  If we lose the life of selfishness, greed, egomania and the exploitation and abuse of others, then we gain Christ Jesus.

 I believe we as a nation, we in business, we in politics, we in the church are in some very deep trouble here with Jesus.  We have been trying to serve two masters for way too long.  We have twisted the Good News of Jesus to accommodate our greed, lust for power over others and desire for status above others.  We have re-created Jesus in an image that celebrates our false sense of entitlement because we claim His name.  We have ignored the Gospel of agaph and Grace to embrace cherry-picked passages that justify our adherence to empire values.

 There are folk calling themselves “Christians,” who believe that they are at liberty to insult, oppress and judge others.  There are folk called by Jesus’ name who believe that they are being persecuted if they are not allowed to persecute other human beings.  There are some who claim the name and have re-created an image of Jesus that in no way resembles the Jesus of the Gospels.  There are preachers, teachers and leaders who have twisted the Good News so much that Jesus would puke to hear what they claim as truth.  There are many who are leaving the church or never coming, because they hear what the Gospel says and see what the church and its leaders do in the world.  There are many folk who believe themselves to be the sheep, who more resemble goats.

 What will it profit us in the end?

We have lost our souls.

We will lose our life with God.

 I do not believe that we will see real justice in my lifetime in America or across the world.  Our descent into the abomination which is empire has rendered real justice a pipe dream. 

 My only hope is that when Jesus returns, there will be justice, equity, equality and Shalom for all, because the world is so corrupt with its own passions that I very much doubt we will see it turn around by our efforts.

 I believe we must strive to resist empire and its evils by how we live.  I believe that we must deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus, living agaph to provide whatever little compassion, comfort and encouragement that we can to those who have had their lives dismantled by empire’s evils.  I believe that we are commanded to actively live the opposite of empire values in this part of God’s Kingdom here and now.  THAT is the REAL FAITH of Jesus, in Jesus, with Jesus. That is REAL faithfulness to God.

Who do YOU say Jesus is?

 

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Caesarea Philippi was renamed for Augustus.  He was in a region stolen even by name by the empire that occupied and oppressed God’s children there.

Here, Jesus asked the disciples who people said He was.  Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man – a hint for their answer – a name given for the one sent as a servant of God’s children by God.  The disciples reported that Jesus, this phenomenon well known by now was considered John the Baptist come back to life, or Elijah, come to usher in Messiah, or Jeremiah – a prophet who constantly had to deal with false prophets like Hananiah.

Peter, always very quick to jump in with both feet, claimed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.  Jesus, this ordinary guy who aspired to be the most faithful, often got things wrong, but this he got very right – Jesus called Peter blessed, and declared that this was revealed to Peter by God directly.  Jesus then claimed that Peter would be the one on whom the church would be built… and it was for a time… until Paul gained in influence because Peter failed to practice what he preached regarding considerations over clean and unclean foods and eating them (acts 10:9-16; Galatians 2:11-14).

In the end, Peter was faithful to Jesus to giving his life. 

Who is Jesus to us?

   For some in the church, Jesus is personal Lord and Savior but they ignore His teachings on life.

   For Some in the church Jesus is Lord of their lives and what He taught, commanded, modeled is faithfulness to God.

   For Some, Jesus is a prophet, a teacher.

What did it mean that Jesus was messiah/sent one by God to deliver God’s children from Sin and its death, to bring salvation by Grace through His redemption, and yes,

the Messenger of God regarding the New Covenant in that Grace - the fulfiller of Law and Prophets, the Lord of life in this part of God’s Kingdom here and now in Agape Love.

    Some would still hold onto the tradition of Pharisees, get all caught up in their own Purity and holiness, rather than faithfulness to the one of Grace and Agape Love, believing that their own purity and holiness brings them to self-righteousness

         and salvation.

This is a Dangerous consideration.  Who is Jesus?

For some, Jesus is wrapped in an American flag, spouts Capitalist Prosperity Theology and carries an AR-15.

   For some, Jesus is always straight, white, male and religiously biased…

   But that is NOT what I read of Jesus in the Gospels who opposed the tradition of the Pharisees…

       Reached out to Samaritan and Canaanite women

       Called people faithful who were not even of His faith

       Spoke of Eunuchs, excluded by the Law of Moses, as faithful servants of God

       Criticized the religious leaders who WERE of His own faith

           For being more dogmatic, more legalistic, more tradition-oriented than loving

           For judging, manipulating, misleading, hurting, exploiting others and not

                loving them.

 

If we ignore the Savior Jesus, we spit in the face of Grace

If we ignore Jesus as Lord, we fail to be faithful in following what Jesus commanded…

    And we run the risk of hearing the Jesus of Luke’s Gospel say,

    "I do not know where you come from," though we have eaten and drunk with HIm and were in the streets where Jesus taught..." Luke 13:22-30  

    or “I do not know you…” even though we prophesy in His name, cast out demons, heal, do other powerful deeds in His name… Matthew 7:21-23

    and “why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?”  Luke 6:46

 

So, there are counterfeit Jesus’ in our culture-

Images of Jesus that do not resemble the Jesus of the Gospels.

People who re-create Jesus in their own, judgmental, dogmatic, tradition of the Pharisees images.   You can tell them, because Jesus happens to hate the same people they hate.  Jesus represents precisely all that they value.

So, the question remains -

 

Who is Jesus to us?

Who is Jesus to you?

 

Another Prophet or Teacher?

A right-wing ideologue representative of American Civil Religion?

 Just one to give worship, praise, tithes, claim as personal Lord and Savior in order to gain our own salvation, and perhaps some wealth to boot?

Or Lord of our lives, who we strive to follow in transforming the world in Agape Love?

 

 

Matthew 15:10-28 Unclean

 There is so much concern among some "christian" peoples about purity and holiness, particularly that of others around them that they like to judge.

Jesus here fulfilled the "abomination" law and prophets.  It is not about what one eats or who one loves, what decisions one makes or what failings one might have that matters to Jesus.  What matters to Jesus is what is in one's heart and what comes out of one's mouth.  THAT Jesus considers clean or unclean. Dietary codes, sexuality and making decisions about one's own life do not make a person defiled, but rather if they have evil intent on trying to take what others have, killing others by whatever means or whatever reason, cheating on one's spouse and thus betraying them, using others for one's personal pleasure without affection, stealing by whatever means, and telling lies (or sharing "alternative facts") or accusing others of what you yourself are doing.

Jesus then highlighted this teaching by lifting up a Canaanite woman as an example of faithfulness.  For His disciples' benefit, Jesus went along with their misogyny and xenophobia, but only to give them a lesson.  Jesus healed her daughter and declared her a person of great faith (not his own).  This person considered to be only a woman, and a gentile dog at that, was used as an example of clean and unclean and how Jesus models how we are to engage with others.  

So, when you (or someone at your church) is spouting judgments against someone else for being "less than" or "beneath", not holy enough or "not one of us," especially "unclean," consider that Jesus' only concern is how we treat others, even or especially those who are different from ourselves.

A whole lotta folk who think they are the sheep, will find themselves on the goat side of the ledger when Jesus returns, depending upon how they treat "the least of these," that is, if you believe Jesus who is the judge who is to come.

What is coming out of your heart, mouth and actions with regard to others who are not like yourself is of critical importance regarding your faithfulness to Jesus, according to Jesus. 

So, how impure, unholy or unclean are we?  What are we saying and doing about others who are not like us?  It really is that simple. 

Matthew 14:22-36 FEAR

 I believe that fear creates hatred and enmity between people, and therefore enmity with God.  The disciples were afraid.  It is counter to faith in God (see I John 4).   

I have been in boats in storms, mostly as a young child and teen.  It is a helpless feeling on Lake Erie as the waves crash and no matter how hard you pull the oars, it seems the lake is going to win - and we know what that means.

I have had dreams and what I believed at the time to be encounters with paranormal powers.  That is no fun either.

I now believe in God's Presence and Love and Grace as being that which is constant and is sufficient for me.

What I mean by that is that I do not look for supernatural interventions to save me.  I believe that I have been preserved from death numerous times in my life, but I do not believe that God either pulls chords or pushes buttons to bring me harm or deliver me from it.

I believe that when Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit descended, we were promised not to be left alone.  The Pentecost experience was God's dramatic way of saying, "I am still with you."

I believe in Jesus' ultimate act of Grace on the Cross to give salvation through His redemption to ALL people.

I believe in Jesus' Way for us - the way of living Agape Love in order to transform the world.

It is not as if God has said, "You are now on your own."  It is like God saying, "I am with you, and I have given you the Good News of Agape Love to guide you on how you live with one another in faithfulness to me."  

To count on supernatural interventions is to believe that I/we can do whatever we want in this life and God will save us from the consequences.  That is cheap Grace.  

Whether it is the stewardship of the creation, individual decisions, collective ideologies and words and actions or stupid words and actions, I do not believe that God is beholden to rescue us from ourselves or each other.  I believe that we have been given the teaching, commands and examples of Jesus to guide us on how to live in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, and I believe that we have the presence of the Holy Spirit to give us comfort and a sense of accountability to God and Neighbor.

I do not believe in the power of prayer.  I believe in the power of the ONE who answers prayer, and in my experience that answer is often NO or NOT YET, or YOU CAN DO BETTER YOURSELF.  I pray in thankfulness for God's Grace and the Gospel.  Period.

I am a person of the Way of Jesus.  I believe that living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us to live is faithfulness to God.

I do not look for God to rescue me supernaturally from the consequences of my actions.  I believe in God's Love, God's Grace, God's Forgiveness, God's Guidance and God's Presence in my life, and I believe that THAT is enough.

I also believe that I am accountable to God for how I live with God's children, my sisters and brothers, even strangers and enemies, and especially the most vulnerable among us.  I believe that I am accountable to counter the empire values, ideologies and systems that hurt God's children who are my sisters and brothers.

That is my creed.  On those principles I live and move and have my being within God.