in the face of change....

"... You cannot serve God and mammon.  The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this and they scoffed at Jesus.  But Jesus said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before humans, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among humans is an abomination in the sight of God."  Luke 16:13-15


Interesting, first of all, that the word "abomination" here used by JESUS, refers to the immorality of GREED, and not any form of sexual activity, which is how I hear it MOSTLY quoted of late.

These are the Pharisees who would search out a way to destroy Jesus.  You see, it is as Luther was warned in the great Reformation of the Church in his time - "They will destroy you, not because you have attacked the crown of the pope, but rather the bellies of the monks."

The system is the way it is because SOMEONE benefits from it being this way.  Those with power and wealth will talk about change, but the security of their position depends upon things staying the same.  Anytime someone would actually bring change, rather than just talk about it, even if it is Jesus, they must be dealt with - first by attempts to publicly put them to the test, then by scoffing outrightly and then by whatever means are necessary.  Change is threatening to those who like it the way it is because they benefit from it the way it is.

We see that in the Gospels with those who had corrupted the religious practices of God's will among the people for the sake of their own power and wealth.  We see it in politics and economics in our country today.  Those few who have the most power and wealth talk about change, even talk about doing what is "best for the American people", but their vision is limited to what is best for themselves and the few others who are like them.  When someone, anyone (in this case our President) tries to actually change the way things are in order to benefit others who have less, they go to whatever means necessary to thwart the effort.  They try to convince those who struggle because of their lack of power and wealth that the person suggesting the change is somehow immoral or ungodly.  They distract those who would most benefit from the change with other issues designed and/or created just for that purpose.  They claim that they best speak for "the people", on whose backs their wealth and power are built.  They throw accusations about the person's faithfulness, loyalties and character in attempts to discredit him/her among the people.  They may even kill that person if none of these work (see Jesus, Lincoln, Kennedy (s), King, etc, etc, etc).

Calling things what they are is dangerous in this political and economic climate.
And while verbalizing the need for change is all too common, actually working to change things so that all people and not just the wealthy and powerful benefit, is nearly political, economic (and perhaps physical) suicide.

My prayer is that the change will continue.
My prayer is that we will not return to the policies that got us into this recession and political polarization.
My prayer is for justice for all, peace for all and enough for all people.
That would be a BIG change.

Pastor Jamie