On December 4, I wrote a blog on "My Conversion" which got more views than any other blog in over six years.
Tonight I want to share with you my newfound mission.
I just completed a course on The Gospel of Matthew at Columbia Theological Seminary, as part of my Doctor of Ministry program in "Gospel, Culture and the Transformation of the Church".
It rekindled my love for biblical exegesis and the use of the historical-critical method, among others for understanding the contexts of language, culture, history and socio-political realities in the First Century (and Old Testament age). I believe that this is vital for anyone who wants to take on the mantle of being a pastor or church leader. Fundamentalist understandings of scripture are a disservice to our Lord and our Lord's people. We must be responsible with this most awesome and life-changing gift.
I am re-dedicating my ministry (and my blog) to the task of helping disciples of Jesus understand what it means to follow Jesus faithfully. Understanding that faithfulness means reaching across boundaries in Agape Love, and righteousness means working toward the restoration of community by living the forgiveness, mercy and Grace that are necessary for reconciliation with one another and all of the body with God.
We have a responsibility to "make space for one another" by facilitating interaction. We, the body of Christ are called to not leave behind those who are most vulnerable, but work toward the completeness, wholeness and well-being (Shalom) of all the members of the body, while reaching out to those who do not live God's Kingdom values, but rather worldly empire values that divide, marginalize, oppress and exploit many in our world.
I am more of a "Gospel of Luke/Acts kinda guy", believe me. But in this class with a profound and insightful professor, my eyes have truly been opened to so much more in Matthew than I have ever gleaned in 30 years of ministry and 9 years of school. Perhaps some of it is because I am much more receptive to learning this now, or because of the desperation of facing the socio-political picture we now face, but I am very much enthused about this Gospel and what it has to say about our current context.
The worldly empire personified in Rome, including Herod and supported by the Temple Cult (Pharisees, Elders, Chief Priests and Scribes) in Jesus' time was about oppressing and exploiting the world and Israel for the sake of the few. Ceasar was called "son of god", and the temple cult believed they were brokers for God in the world. The level of corruption around greed and lust for power left the masses very vulnerable and abused. Some in our population as a nation have felt that their whole lives. Others more recently have had their belief of entitlement and superiority challenged, and they have reacted by supporting the empire for personal gain. Politicians and Religious leaders in our own nation have participated in the corruptions of empire, and the results have been devastating for many in our country, supported by many and challenged by a few. The middle class shrinkage since 1981, the Great Recession in fraud and "too big to fail" practices by the very few at the top have been undergirded by Prosperity Theology (see my blog from 4/7/14), American Civil Religion (see my blog from 11/27/16) and other un-Christ-like ideologies that the religious leaders have used to exploit the people of God for their own gain. It was into this kind of world situation that Jesus, Messiah, son of God and son of humanity, Savior, Lord, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets and King came. The Gospel of Matthew shares the tension between God's Kingdom Values and worldly empire values at nearly every turn, which grows to a very powerful crescendo in the judgment of 25:31-46 and eschatological hope in the end.
This year, I will blog from the Revised Common Lectionary - the Year of Matthew (A).
I will blog the week before the text is assigned, in case it might be of some help for some in preparing sermons or bible studies, and for those who will be hearing it on Sundays.
While the Gospel of Matthew is arguably best read aloud in one sitting, like those in the First Century received it, the Lectionary chops it up into pieces, so we must take it that way over the year.
My prayer is that this may in some small way enlighten and inspire you to come to understand the relevance of the Good News of Jesus, and value more completely what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us how to live within God's Will as we walk in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Pastor Jamie
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