Those of you who know me know that I do not shy away from giving a piece of my mind, though as you also know, I do not have too much to spare. I will give you my 2 cents worth every time, and with inflation being what it is, that is not worth the full amount.
BUT...
I strive to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled on how His followers should live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
I believe that Agape Love is at the center of what Jesus shared with the world, and that it is commanded.
So, when I read that I am to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your MIND; and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27), I believe that that is EXACTLY what God wills of me, according to Kingdom values.
And when I read in Paul's scrumptious theology of the Gospel in Romans (12:2) that we are not to be conformed to this world, but rather "transformed by the renewing of your MINDS - so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect," I take that seriously.
I believe it all starts with Jesus' first Imperative (Mood) statement, a command, in the first Gospel written, in the first chapter - Mark 1:15. With what did Jesus START His proclamation of the Good News? "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; REPENT, AND BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS." And as we all know, metanoia (repent) means to change one's mind/thinking, so that one's direction will change.
This faith is a deeply emotional thing for me, too. I still quiver to think that Jesus was sent to show me God's Way for me, and then suffered greatly and died horribly on my behalf. It brings me to tears, "When I survey the wondrous Cross", that "alas, my treason, Jesus hath undone Thee; 'twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee; I crucified Thee." (the hymn Ah, Holy Jesus) and that "my sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole IS NAILED TO THE CROSS AND I BEAR IT NO MORE" (When Peace like a River). My soul DOES Praise the Lord! I am thankful. I am grateful. It makes me want to love this Lord my God with ALL that I have, including my MIND.
Because it is NOT just about my heart. It is about my MIND and my Neighbor that my soul is filled, touched and moved. I believe that Jesus' Good News cannot be understood, accepted or lived unless I DO "change my mind and thinking, so that my direction" is in following Jesus' Way. I have received a lot of emotional appeals by preachers and authors that have at times made me think that this faith in Jesus is all about Worship and Praise, Tithes and living a pure and holy life. But when I read the teachings, commands and examples of Jesus in the Gospel witnesses, I see that this is not ALL ABOUT ME. It is not all about making me feel the ecstasy of Worship and Praise. It is not all about making me get more blessed and highly favored than someone else, or gaining monetarily or in power or prestige in the world. It is NOT about MY purity or holiness. It is about God and faithfulness to God's Way. It is about Neighbor. It is about US. It is about COMMUNITY living God's Kingdom values. That often requires sacrifice of 'self'.
This faith is about following Jesus TO THE CROSS. It is not just about the future glory beyond that for myself, but the living of Kingdom values in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now. It is about living in self-sacrifice out of Agape Love that lifts up "the least of these" (Matthew 25:31-46). It is about being an advocate for others who are powerless or voiceless in the world, standing with them as they confront the corrupt systems (social, political, economic) that hold them down, back and out. It is about LIVING the Agape Love that Jesus commanded, taught and modeled for us in the Gospels. Yes, I must REPENT from the thinking that this is all about me feeling good and getting what I want, in order to follow Jesus. As Paul put it, anyone who would follow Jesus must have "the same MIND in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) If I want to be a follower of Jesus, I must follow Jesus there.
So, I must constantly change my mind/thinking from what the prevailing "winds of doctrine" say by those with "itching ears" to hear what they want to hear. I must rather look to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as I have that in the Gospels, in order to find what God wills for me in my life. Then, I must constantly renew my mind so that, having the same mind in me that was in Christ Jesus, I am able to love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind.
It ain't rocket science or brain surgery. It's not hard to understand. It is hard to get our MINDS around because we have heard so many other, conflicting messages and it is hard to live.
It starts with repentance - a changing of one's mind/thinking, so that one's direction will change.
Imagine how good it will FEEL when we know that Neighbor (even stranger and enemy according to Jesus in Luke 10:25-37) has what neighbor needs for wholeness, completeness and well-being. If we love Neighbor as "self", as we are commanded, we will certainly strive for that on behalf of our Neighbor. Imagine how GOOD IT WILL FEEL when that is true of ALL God's children? Can you think like that? Can you follow Jesus in that direction?
I DO MIND, do you?
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Reformation - the great "uncovering"
During the days of King Josiah, as they were remodeling the Temple, they broke down a wall and found a treasury box hidden inside. They were no doubt excited to find the offerings of years gone by stashed there. What they also found was "THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF THE LORD GIVEN THROUGH MOSES". King Josiah read it and tore his clothing in regret, shame and loss. This was in the eighteenth year of his reign as king, so we know THE WORD was hidden behind a wall and buried beneath the money for AT LEAST that long. (II Chronicles 34)
King Josiah enacted immediate reforms at having uncovered The Word of God, discarded and hidden, buried under the offerings. They seemed dramatic, because they had gotten so far from The Word, but it was counted as faithfulness to Josiah.
Jesus followed John the Baptist (Elijah), who preached repentance (changing one's thinking so that one's direction will change). Jesus ushered in the New Covenant of Grace in Agape Love, challenging what the religious leaders and political leaders had done to God's people in hiding the Word from them. Jesus uncovered the truth of God's Will and Kingdom Values, which they had buried in their concern for outward piety and for their control of the people socially, politically and economically. They exploited God's people by abusing their authority and burying the true Word under their twisted interpretations that got them power and wealth. Jesus addressed that regularly. (Matthew 23 and elsewhere)
Martin Luther and others in the Reformation era strove to uncover The Word from the corrupt traditions of Pope Leo X and his predecessors. The Gospel of Jesus' Grace had been buried under church hierarchy, piety, ritual, the sale of indulgences and abuses of authority by the Popes and church officials. Luther and others uncovered the truth of salvation by Grace through Faith, so that God's people would no longer be exploited and oppressed by the Greed and Lust for Power that had become the Holy Roman Empire in their day. (see The 95 Theses of Martin Luther)
We need Reform now.
Since 1981, when Reagan (political right) got in bed with Falwell (religious right), the Good News of Jesus has been buried behind a wall of Greed and Lust for Power in the form of Church Growth, Prosperity Theology and other "itching ears" (II Timothy 4:1-5) movements that have coincided with the political "right's" agenda to privatize all services and gain power in order to exploit the masses for their own gain. We need to unbury the Good News of Jesus from the treasury box that has fed the bellies of the Bishops and Clergy and has left the people of God like "sheep without a Shepherd" (Mark 6:34). We need to address the corruptions done by the twisting of God's Word and exploitation of the masses. We need to attack this new "sale of indulgences" through tithing with a promise of monetary return and wealth, prosperity and blessings with favor that is used to exploit the desperate and greedy. We need to expose the lust for power and prestige that leads clergy to manipulate and exploit God's children. We need to reject the corruptions that have held God's people from living Agape Love for 35 years, raising as important purity and holiness, worship, praise and tithes above what God wants of God's people (Mark 7:1-23).
We need to first UNCOVER the Good News of Jesus from within our hearts. We need to WANT to have the Good News restored, preached, taught and lived. We need to reject the false teachings and unbury the Agape Love way of life that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us. We need to embrace salvation by Grace through Faith and live the Agape way of not judging and forgiving others. We need to break down the walls that this Good News has been hidden behind and make it our standard of living as people who profess to follow Jesus. We need to weep over having kept it buried for this long, and repent (change our thinking so that we can follow Jesus) so that we can believe in His Good News as His Way for us, as God's Will, as Kingdom Values - Jesus' first command (imperative mood statement) in the first Gospel written, in the first Chapter of that Gospel (Mark 1:15)
We need Reform NOW.
In the face of all the divisions, hatefulness, oppression, exploitation, genocide, racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and violence, we need to live Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy - Luke 10:25-37), and live it NOW.
We need Reform NOW - a great "UNCOVERING".
Pastor Jamie
King Josiah enacted immediate reforms at having uncovered The Word of God, discarded and hidden, buried under the offerings. They seemed dramatic, because they had gotten so far from The Word, but it was counted as faithfulness to Josiah.
Jesus followed John the Baptist (Elijah), who preached repentance (changing one's thinking so that one's direction will change). Jesus ushered in the New Covenant of Grace in Agape Love, challenging what the religious leaders and political leaders had done to God's people in hiding the Word from them. Jesus uncovered the truth of God's Will and Kingdom Values, which they had buried in their concern for outward piety and for their control of the people socially, politically and economically. They exploited God's people by abusing their authority and burying the true Word under their twisted interpretations that got them power and wealth. Jesus addressed that regularly. (Matthew 23 and elsewhere)
Martin Luther and others in the Reformation era strove to uncover The Word from the corrupt traditions of Pope Leo X and his predecessors. The Gospel of Jesus' Grace had been buried under church hierarchy, piety, ritual, the sale of indulgences and abuses of authority by the Popes and church officials. Luther and others uncovered the truth of salvation by Grace through Faith, so that God's people would no longer be exploited and oppressed by the Greed and Lust for Power that had become the Holy Roman Empire in their day. (see The 95 Theses of Martin Luther)
We need Reform now.
Since 1981, when Reagan (political right) got in bed with Falwell (religious right), the Good News of Jesus has been buried behind a wall of Greed and Lust for Power in the form of Church Growth, Prosperity Theology and other "itching ears" (II Timothy 4:1-5) movements that have coincided with the political "right's" agenda to privatize all services and gain power in order to exploit the masses for their own gain. We need to unbury the Good News of Jesus from the treasury box that has fed the bellies of the Bishops and Clergy and has left the people of God like "sheep without a Shepherd" (Mark 6:34). We need to address the corruptions done by the twisting of God's Word and exploitation of the masses. We need to attack this new "sale of indulgences" through tithing with a promise of monetary return and wealth, prosperity and blessings with favor that is used to exploit the desperate and greedy. We need to expose the lust for power and prestige that leads clergy to manipulate and exploit God's children. We need to reject the corruptions that have held God's people from living Agape Love for 35 years, raising as important purity and holiness, worship, praise and tithes above what God wants of God's people (Mark 7:1-23).
We need to first UNCOVER the Good News of Jesus from within our hearts. We need to WANT to have the Good News restored, preached, taught and lived. We need to reject the false teachings and unbury the Agape Love way of life that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us. We need to embrace salvation by Grace through Faith and live the Agape way of not judging and forgiving others. We need to break down the walls that this Good News has been hidden behind and make it our standard of living as people who profess to follow Jesus. We need to weep over having kept it buried for this long, and repent (change our thinking so that we can follow Jesus) so that we can believe in His Good News as His Way for us, as God's Will, as Kingdom Values - Jesus' first command (imperative mood statement) in the first Gospel written, in the first Chapter of that Gospel (Mark 1:15)
We need Reform NOW.
In the face of all the divisions, hatefulness, oppression, exploitation, genocide, racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and violence, we need to live Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy - Luke 10:25-37), and live it NOW.
We need Reform NOW - a great "UNCOVERING".
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, October 16, 2016
The First Century Believers and Agape
Those who followed Jesus strove to directly live the Agape Love He taught, commanded and modeled in the world around them, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. They applied this "active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy" (Luke 10:25-37) to EVERY aspect of life together, and it had dramatic consequences. It was a radical thing, because people noticed this kind of love and behavior that they saw nowhere else in the world around them. They responded by joining the community of believers and living that Agape with others around them. They believed in Jesus and His Good News - that following what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled was a better way for the world in which they lived.
They experienced a RADICAL REVELATION of God in the Pentecost experience, which created RADICAL COMMUNITY, not exclusive of nationality or culture or even faith of origin, but inclusive of all present (Acts 2:1-13).
This RADICAL COMMUNITY lived the RADICAL AGAPE LOVE that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, as it was witnessed to them by the Apostles, and it created a RADICAL OWNERSHIP, and SHARING in which they shared ALL THINGS toward their well-being (2:43-47). This led to radical growth in the community, as people responded to the love shown.
This RADICAL COMMUNITY in RADICAL AGAPE LOVE also created a RADICAL SOCIAL REALITY, because they ELIMINATED POVERTY, out of a sense of unity as people with one heart and one soul (4:32-35).
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE, when shared brought wholeness and completeness, even healing, deliverance and restoration because of the RADICAL AVAILABILITY of ordinary people who were willing to allow the shadow of their lives to fall on the lives of others (5:12-16).
This RADICAL COMMUNITY born of RADICAL AGAPE LOVE was an expression of RADICAL INCLUSION, as even Gentiles, Romans and others came, not just as members of the community, but also welcomed as LEADERS in it (6:1-7). The Good News of Jesus' Agape Love grew in hearts and lives.
This RADICAL COMMUNITY and its RADICAL INCLUSION born of RADICAL AGAPE LOVE also meant that those excluded by the Law of Moses, even on cultural, religious or sexual grounds, were INCLUDED in the community of believers (8:26-40). The Holy Spirit specifically worked that among them.
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE of Jesus also meant RADICAL TRANSFORMATION of hearts that were opposed to Jesus' Way (Acts 9:1-22), and the RADICAL INCLUSION of those who had formerly been enemies because of a RADICAL ADVOCACY among them (9:26-31).
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE was lived in RADICAL COMMUNITY that could not let traditions become a stumbling block to their RADICAL UNITY, so God advanced the RADICAL INCLUSION to those whose traditions and even faith practices were different, those who were previously considered enemies (10:9-48).
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE continued to have a profound effect on the RADICAL COMMUNITY, so that they even reached out to STRANGERS with a RADICAL GENEROSITY and SHARING, to ensure their financial well-being (11:27-29).
The RADICAL ADVOCACY continued as people were given a second chance who may not have done so well at following the first time (15:36-41).
The RADICAL ADVOCACY also meant deliverance of those from both SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL exploitation (16:16-24). This RADICAL LIBERATION meant a loss for the oppressors, but freedom for the oppressed.
The RADICAL ADVOCACY also meant the salvation of many people who had other oppressions, and whose lives were endangered for profit (Chpt. 27).
This is the doctrine of PEOPLE OF THE WAY OF JESUS, to LIVE the AGAPE that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in every aspect of life in the world - THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now!
They experienced a RADICAL REVELATION of God in the Pentecost experience, which created RADICAL COMMUNITY, not exclusive of nationality or culture or even faith of origin, but inclusive of all present (Acts 2:1-13).
This RADICAL COMMUNITY lived the RADICAL AGAPE LOVE that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, as it was witnessed to them by the Apostles, and it created a RADICAL OWNERSHIP, and SHARING in which they shared ALL THINGS toward their well-being (2:43-47). This led to radical growth in the community, as people responded to the love shown.
This RADICAL COMMUNITY in RADICAL AGAPE LOVE also created a RADICAL SOCIAL REALITY, because they ELIMINATED POVERTY, out of a sense of unity as people with one heart and one soul (4:32-35).
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE, when shared brought wholeness and completeness, even healing, deliverance and restoration because of the RADICAL AVAILABILITY of ordinary people who were willing to allow the shadow of their lives to fall on the lives of others (5:12-16).
This RADICAL COMMUNITY born of RADICAL AGAPE LOVE was an expression of RADICAL INCLUSION, as even Gentiles, Romans and others came, not just as members of the community, but also welcomed as LEADERS in it (6:1-7). The Good News of Jesus' Agape Love grew in hearts and lives.
This RADICAL COMMUNITY and its RADICAL INCLUSION born of RADICAL AGAPE LOVE also meant that those excluded by the Law of Moses, even on cultural, religious or sexual grounds, were INCLUDED in the community of believers (8:26-40). The Holy Spirit specifically worked that among them.
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE of Jesus also meant RADICAL TRANSFORMATION of hearts that were opposed to Jesus' Way (Acts 9:1-22), and the RADICAL INCLUSION of those who had formerly been enemies because of a RADICAL ADVOCACY among them (9:26-31).
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE was lived in RADICAL COMMUNITY that could not let traditions become a stumbling block to their RADICAL UNITY, so God advanced the RADICAL INCLUSION to those whose traditions and even faith practices were different, those who were previously considered enemies (10:9-48).
This RADICAL AGAPE LOVE continued to have a profound effect on the RADICAL COMMUNITY, so that they even reached out to STRANGERS with a RADICAL GENEROSITY and SHARING, to ensure their financial well-being (11:27-29).
The RADICAL ADVOCACY continued as people were given a second chance who may not have done so well at following the first time (15:36-41).
The RADICAL ADVOCACY also meant deliverance of those from both SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL exploitation (16:16-24). This RADICAL LIBERATION meant a loss for the oppressors, but freedom for the oppressed.
The RADICAL ADVOCACY also meant the salvation of many people who had other oppressions, and whose lives were endangered for profit (Chpt. 27).
This is the doctrine of PEOPLE OF THE WAY OF JESUS, to LIVE the AGAPE that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in every aspect of life in the world - THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now!
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Speaking the truth in Agape Love
I heard a pastor on TV this morning talk about how Christians should not "exit quietly" upon Jesus' return. He talked about how we need to be conspicuously in the sphere of politics and such...
To be fair, I know that this pastor has blessed many people and I am sure that I would agree with much of what he teaches, and while I agree with today's outward statement of this pastor of some very dear friends of mine, I dare say that I would not agree with what at least some of what that means to him.
You see, I believe that our, contemporary "Desolating Sacrilege" that Jesus spoke of is the mixing of church and state that happened in 1981 and following, when Reagan and the political "right" got in bed with Falwell and the religious "right". The corruption of scripture, the constitution, democracy and ethical economics has been the result since that time. Fueled by a preoccupation with sexual "morality" which was raised as smoke and mirrors to cover abuses of power and wealth and the "normalization" of greed and lust for power, the corruptions of the church have gone hand in hand with the corruptions in politics and economics for 35 years. Instead of the church addressing the culture with the Good News of Jesus, it has reflected the culture, justifying its actions by twisting the teachings of the Word and ignoring much of what Jesus, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets taught.
I believe that followers of Jesus SHOULD have a "noisy exit". We should NOT sit down or sit by quietly while this happens. I believe that when it is all said and done, we who follow Jesus need to boldly stand and speak truth to power and wealth - that is, corrupt power and wealth - which means speaking truth to a LOT of American Christians.
I believe that if I am a follower of Jesus, I will follow what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers to live. It is much less about purity and holiness for Jesus than it is about right living with one another, which pleases God.
Jesus' central teaching was Agape Love - HIS COMMAND for His followers to live - which includes NOT JUDGING OTHERS and FORGIVING OTHERS.
What we have seen come out of much of the American Church has been intolerance of people who Jesus never condemned, even as fulfiller of the Law and Prophets.
Jesus' teachings, commandments and examples consistently include the outcast, the foreigner who lives in the land, the practitioner of other faiths, women, the sick, the imprisoned and the socially, politically and economically most vulnerable.
What we have seen come out of much of the American Church has been the exploitation, further disenfranchisement, rejection, subjugation and de-humanization of many who Jesus embraced as Savior and Lord.
I heard it from our Uber Driver last night, who fancies himself a minister responsible to tell "the truth", but whose truth has been shaped and shaded by intolerance and corruption.
I hear it from lovely people who are striving to live what their preachers are telling them is necessary in order to be "righteous" children of God.
I hear it from strangers, friends and even people I dearly love.
Let me be clear.
I am not a "Christian" like that. I am a PERSON OF THE WAY OF JESUS. I follow Jesus, which means that I strive to live the Agape Love Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. Jesus is my redeemer and Savior who gave His life as the ultimate act of Grace (undeserved loving mercy freely given) for me. Jesus is therefore my Savior. Jesus is also Lord of my life. JESUS is my authority. I believe that to be a "Christian" means to live with God as Jesus showed us how to live with God.
The preachers, politicians, corporate leaders and even Uber Drivers who claim Jesus' name but strive to ignore His teachings, commands and examples on how to live Agape Love in the world do NOT represent what I believe it means to faithfully follow Jesus.
I am going to get very practical on you, now.
Get a RED LETTER version of the New Testament (preferably NRSV, which I believe is the most faithful to the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts).
Read what Jesus said.
Read the IMPERATIVE statements of Jesus (do this, don't do that) - Commands.
Read the Parables of Jesus as teaching tools.
Read what Jesus DID and how He addressed the Religious and Political Leaders of His time.
Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets.
If you want to live with God, live what JESUS defined as living with God.
Read it over and over, if you need to... and THEN try to feel OK about judging others who are different, or feel OK about exploiting or ignoring the poor, de-humanizing anyone, rejecting people who cohabitate in this land, vilifying people of other faiths or promoting the church itself, instead of the Mission of the Gospel.
Read it over and over, if you need to... and THEN try to believe that this is all about Worshiping Jesus, who never said, "Worship me", praising, giving tithes and expecting monetary blessings in return or more blessings than others around you.
And if you are concerned about the time when Jesus returns, listen to what JESUS says are the criteria for salvation in Matthew 25:31-46. Nothing here of worship, praise or tithes. Nothing here of purity or holiness. What JESUS says defines the Sheep and Goats is how we live Agape Love (or refuse to live it) with one another in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
I DO BELIEVE that followers of Jesus need to NOT be silent or absent from the public arena. I DO BELIEVE that we need to address the political and economic arena with the Gospel of Jesus who warns against Greed and shows His preference for the Poor, who warns against abuses of power and shows His preference for those abused by them. I DO BELIEVE followers of Jesus need to FOLLOW JESUS, because His Way for THIS PART of God's Kingdom is a better way for all of us.
But it starts by knowing what Jesus WANTS of us as His followers, and being willing to submit our lives to Jesus' Way for us.
Go ahead, read it over and over again... I dare you to do so without having at least SOME of your notions about church, politics and economics challenged!
Pastor Jamie
To be fair, I know that this pastor has blessed many people and I am sure that I would agree with much of what he teaches, and while I agree with today's outward statement of this pastor of some very dear friends of mine, I dare say that I would not agree with what at least some of what that means to him.
You see, I believe that our, contemporary "Desolating Sacrilege" that Jesus spoke of is the mixing of church and state that happened in 1981 and following, when Reagan and the political "right" got in bed with Falwell and the religious "right". The corruption of scripture, the constitution, democracy and ethical economics has been the result since that time. Fueled by a preoccupation with sexual "morality" which was raised as smoke and mirrors to cover abuses of power and wealth and the "normalization" of greed and lust for power, the corruptions of the church have gone hand in hand with the corruptions in politics and economics for 35 years. Instead of the church addressing the culture with the Good News of Jesus, it has reflected the culture, justifying its actions by twisting the teachings of the Word and ignoring much of what Jesus, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets taught.
I believe that followers of Jesus SHOULD have a "noisy exit". We should NOT sit down or sit by quietly while this happens. I believe that when it is all said and done, we who follow Jesus need to boldly stand and speak truth to power and wealth - that is, corrupt power and wealth - which means speaking truth to a LOT of American Christians.
I believe that if I am a follower of Jesus, I will follow what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers to live. It is much less about purity and holiness for Jesus than it is about right living with one another, which pleases God.
Jesus' central teaching was Agape Love - HIS COMMAND for His followers to live - which includes NOT JUDGING OTHERS and FORGIVING OTHERS.
What we have seen come out of much of the American Church has been intolerance of people who Jesus never condemned, even as fulfiller of the Law and Prophets.
Jesus' teachings, commandments and examples consistently include the outcast, the foreigner who lives in the land, the practitioner of other faiths, women, the sick, the imprisoned and the socially, politically and economically most vulnerable.
What we have seen come out of much of the American Church has been the exploitation, further disenfranchisement, rejection, subjugation and de-humanization of many who Jesus embraced as Savior and Lord.
I heard it from our Uber Driver last night, who fancies himself a minister responsible to tell "the truth", but whose truth has been shaped and shaded by intolerance and corruption.
I hear it from lovely people who are striving to live what their preachers are telling them is necessary in order to be "righteous" children of God.
I hear it from strangers, friends and even people I dearly love.
Let me be clear.
I am not a "Christian" like that. I am a PERSON OF THE WAY OF JESUS. I follow Jesus, which means that I strive to live the Agape Love Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. Jesus is my redeemer and Savior who gave His life as the ultimate act of Grace (undeserved loving mercy freely given) for me. Jesus is therefore my Savior. Jesus is also Lord of my life. JESUS is my authority. I believe that to be a "Christian" means to live with God as Jesus showed us how to live with God.
The preachers, politicians, corporate leaders and even Uber Drivers who claim Jesus' name but strive to ignore His teachings, commands and examples on how to live Agape Love in the world do NOT represent what I believe it means to faithfully follow Jesus.
I am going to get very practical on you, now.
Get a RED LETTER version of the New Testament (preferably NRSV, which I believe is the most faithful to the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts).
Read what Jesus said.
Read the IMPERATIVE statements of Jesus (do this, don't do that) - Commands.
Read the Parables of Jesus as teaching tools.
Read what Jesus DID and how He addressed the Religious and Political Leaders of His time.
Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets.
If you want to live with God, live what JESUS defined as living with God.
Read it over and over, if you need to... and THEN try to feel OK about judging others who are different, or feel OK about exploiting or ignoring the poor, de-humanizing anyone, rejecting people who cohabitate in this land, vilifying people of other faiths or promoting the church itself, instead of the Mission of the Gospel.
Read it over and over, if you need to... and THEN try to believe that this is all about Worshiping Jesus, who never said, "Worship me", praising, giving tithes and expecting monetary blessings in return or more blessings than others around you.
And if you are concerned about the time when Jesus returns, listen to what JESUS says are the criteria for salvation in Matthew 25:31-46. Nothing here of worship, praise or tithes. Nothing here of purity or holiness. What JESUS says defines the Sheep and Goats is how we live Agape Love (or refuse to live it) with one another in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
I DO BELIEVE that followers of Jesus need to NOT be silent or absent from the public arena. I DO BELIEVE that we need to address the political and economic arena with the Gospel of Jesus who warns against Greed and shows His preference for the Poor, who warns against abuses of power and shows His preference for those abused by them. I DO BELIEVE followers of Jesus need to FOLLOW JESUS, because His Way for THIS PART of God's Kingdom is a better way for all of us.
But it starts by knowing what Jesus WANTS of us as His followers, and being willing to submit our lives to Jesus' Way for us.
Go ahead, read it over and over again... I dare you to do so without having at least SOME of your notions about church, politics and economics challenged!
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, October 2, 2016
James, the New Testament Prophet
Written after 57 A.D., James knows the 1st Century community of believers in Jesus. James also knows the corruption of political and religious leaders and the ways that the poor and most vulnerable struggled to survive under their unscrupulous control.
James promises that the rich "will wither away".
James likens generosity to God's work through humans with one another. Riches gained and kept for self are the opposite of God's value.
James equates care for the most vulnerable and remaining uncorrupted by the world as the true religion valued by God.
Prestige and position are signs, not of God-given blessing, but the level of corruption of the one who possesses them.
James points out that it is the rich who oppress, which is against God's will. Their wealth is at the expense of the poor and NOT a sign of God's favor. The poor are not to emulate them or lift them up, but recognize their treachery and NOT support them.
James points out that if one lives by the law, even ONE law broken means accountability for it all.
James points out that faith is LIVED... shows signs of faithfulness... not saying one thing and doing nothing or doing another thing... it is the FRUIT that we bear which is a sign of faith... "faith, if it has no works, is dead".
*If we follow Jesus, we will follow what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled in the Gospels and LIVE IT. Righteousness is how we treat one another, especially "the least of these" rightly. Faithfulness is how we faithfully live the AGAPE that Jesus commanded (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially the most vulnerable and even stranger and enemy). Matthew's vision of Jesus' judgment supports this, perhaps what informed James the Prophet (Matthew 25:31-46).
James exposes the corrupt political and economic thinking of that time and this one in 4:1-17, where he addresses greed, abuses of and lust for power and the need to abandon such hubris for humility. T
*This is an indictment of corrupt political machines that prey on their citizens, corrupt religious leaders who benefit at the expense of their flocks and corrupt military might that supports corrupt, greedy business practices - it is an indictment of the U.S. in 2016 - government, business and church.
James gives hope to those who have been powerless and poor. In chapter 5, James promises that God will correct the wrong direction of the rich, dramatically. God will deliver the victims of greed, abuses of power and a system of corrupt privilege, dramatically.
James also directs the people who would follow Jesus to let their WORDS be simply about truth, just as their ACTIONS are simply about the consistent living of AGAPE in the world. No hyperbole. No manipulation by words. No persuasion for self benefit. Just truth in word and action is to be valued, in humility.
Finally, James encourages true Elders, who follow Jesus' Way, to pray over folk who are suffering, and the people of God of confess our sins and repent (change one's mind - to follow Jesus' Way - so that one's direction is consistent with God's will).
Let your words and actions be consistent with what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, and let them be consistent with each other.
Hold political, economic and religious leaders to the standard of the Gospel teachings of Jesus. Hold EVERYONE, including YOURSELF to those standards, for living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled (Agape Love) IS faithfulness to God.
James, the New Testament Prophet says so.
Pastor Jamie
James promises that the rich "will wither away".
James likens generosity to God's work through humans with one another. Riches gained and kept for self are the opposite of God's value.
James equates care for the most vulnerable and remaining uncorrupted by the world as the true religion valued by God.
Prestige and position are signs, not of God-given blessing, but the level of corruption of the one who possesses them.
James points out that it is the rich who oppress, which is against God's will. Their wealth is at the expense of the poor and NOT a sign of God's favor. The poor are not to emulate them or lift them up, but recognize their treachery and NOT support them.
James points out that if one lives by the law, even ONE law broken means accountability for it all.
James points out that faith is LIVED... shows signs of faithfulness... not saying one thing and doing nothing or doing another thing... it is the FRUIT that we bear which is a sign of faith... "faith, if it has no works, is dead".
*If we follow Jesus, we will follow what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled in the Gospels and LIVE IT. Righteousness is how we treat one another, especially "the least of these" rightly. Faithfulness is how we faithfully live the AGAPE that Jesus commanded (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially the most vulnerable and even stranger and enemy). Matthew's vision of Jesus' judgment supports this, perhaps what informed James the Prophet (Matthew 25:31-46).
James exposes the corrupt political and economic thinking of that time and this one in 4:1-17, where he addresses greed, abuses of and lust for power and the need to abandon such hubris for humility. T
*This is an indictment of corrupt political machines that prey on their citizens, corrupt religious leaders who benefit at the expense of their flocks and corrupt military might that supports corrupt, greedy business practices - it is an indictment of the U.S. in 2016 - government, business and church.
James gives hope to those who have been powerless and poor. In chapter 5, James promises that God will correct the wrong direction of the rich, dramatically. God will deliver the victims of greed, abuses of power and a system of corrupt privilege, dramatically.
James also directs the people who would follow Jesus to let their WORDS be simply about truth, just as their ACTIONS are simply about the consistent living of AGAPE in the world. No hyperbole. No manipulation by words. No persuasion for self benefit. Just truth in word and action is to be valued, in humility.
Finally, James encourages true Elders, who follow Jesus' Way, to pray over folk who are suffering, and the people of God of confess our sins and repent (change one's mind - to follow Jesus' Way - so that one's direction is consistent with God's will).
Let your words and actions be consistent with what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, and let them be consistent with each other.
Hold political, economic and religious leaders to the standard of the Gospel teachings of Jesus. Hold EVERYONE, including YOURSELF to those standards, for living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled (Agape Love) IS faithfulness to God.
James, the New Testament Prophet says so.
Pastor Jamie
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