1. We are incapable of knowing the mind of God.
2. We know God's compassion.
Why does God allow people to die, even people who God loves? In my work with hospice I encounter people who struggle with this on some level, everyday. Those who are aware of and watch their loved ones move toward death struggle greatly with God's mind in it all. After all, they know that the person they love who seems to be near death is a saint. They have touched so many lives and done so many wonderful things for others that their presence on earth is sorely needed, especially in the life of those struggling with their impending death. "Maybe it's our faith that is the problem. Maybe if we pray more and rightly God will answer our prayers. Yes, that must be it. If we call on the Lord in earnest faith and feel the presence of the Lord in our moment of devotion, then surely Lazarus will not die. If God is present, there life is and that will surely heal him. We are people of faith after-all, and God does answer prayer. We should never give up on God. We must believe that God will heal him/her." The only problem with this thinking is that, Lazarus died again. He was raised but is not still walking on earth today. He eventually died. Death is a part of life, either life with God or life apart from God, with all who God loves, whether they love God or do not love God. Death happens. When the person does die, then one who believes this way is faced with either: a. my faith was not strong enough, or b. God is perhaps not as loving or available as I believed, or does not act like I think God would act.
How can such as loving God allow this to happen? It happens. It is a part of life. Since before the story of the fall and consequences for it, we have struggled with why life is finite and difficult, and why we must suffer all manner of pain in life, and eventually the loss of it. Yes, most of us believe that God could intervene and change this, and why God does not ultimately eludes us. That may be an expression of our belief in God's omnipotence or an expression of our expectations out of a sense of entitlement for believing in God. Still, most of us believe that God is loving. So, when Jesus gives the purpose of Lazarus' death as a lesson for others in God's presence and power, some take it to mean that it points to the even greater glory of life eternal in heaven, which leads some of them to think that we are not supposed to grieve the loss of this mundane, earthly life but rather celebrate the new, eternal life in heaven as believers. "If we are really believers, we will believe that what our loved one has now is so wonderful that we should not grieve at all, and in fact, grieving is a sign of a lack of faith in eternal life as a promise of God." The only problem with this thinking is that, even saying that He knew the purpose of Lazarus' death was in his being raised and glorifying God in it, still Jesus wept, at the very least for those who were grieving. God in the flesh wept for someone who was grieving. The empathy and compassion of God for lowly humanity is shown in this emotional offering, yet again. We grieve, not for the person who died, but that we have lost their presence with us. When others support us in our grief or we support them, we are sharing what is meant to be shared - empathy and compassion.
We are incapable of knowing the mind of God. Books are full of people who believe otherwise, but God is "immanent but wholly other". God is not limited to our logic or reasoning, our prejudices or biases, our compassions or complacency, our love or apathy and our values or ideologies. God is God. We are not God and are incapable of knowing the mind of God. We learn, we strive and we grow. It is in the process of having God revealed to us, even in our struggles to "get a handle on" God that means growth for us. It is in the seeking that we find more than we knew before, even in our frustration at not fully knowing, that brings us to a new place in our spirituality and humanity. It is in the baffled not knowing that we eventually know more, if we continue to strive. And that is life with God. It is enough, even more than enough.
Even in the struggle, frustration and bafflement, we strive believing in God's compassion for us, and that is enough. It is that which unbinds us and sets us free, even in death. It is the love of God that makes it all possible. The love we know. The compassion we know. The mercy and grace we know. That is what gives us new life, ultimately, even in death or especially in death. Life in this part of God's Kingdom or life in that part of God's Kingdom - it is the Love, Grace and Mercy, the compassion of God that transcends the great chasm - it is that within which we ALL live, whether in this part or that part of the Kingdom. That revelation of God is certain, even while we struggle with the mind of God.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
but do you really see? John 9:1-41
He was blind from birth. He did nothing himself to become blind. So, whose fault made him blind? Was it the "sin of the fathers"? Jesus, the Light of the World, could not leave him in darkness.
And he could be restored to community, once he was restored. He could be reconciled with those who thought something was wrong with him. But they found it hard to believe that he was worthy.
And he could be restored to the faith community, once he was restored. He could be among those assembled before God. But they found reasons why he might not be worthy. Then, when they acknowledged his restoration, they still labeled him "a sinner" because in their minds, still he was not worthy (like them).
And, of course, they denied that Jesus, the one who had restored him, could be of God. When their twisted logic could not reconcile what they beheld, they threw him out, one final act of marginalization.
It calls into question who were the real blind ones. We do not see what we will not see. Being blind, living in darkness, our only hope is to encounter the Light of the World. But when we encounter the Light of the World and are faced with enlightenment, we may still choose blindness and darkness, tragically, and try to shed that darkness and blindness on those around us.
Those born sick, those born poor and those born as disenfranchised minorities (women, LGBTQ, black or brown, Muslim, children of resident aliens) have done nothing wrong. Yet, those blind to the Light of the World, even some who claim to know the Light of the World, try to claim there is something wrong with them that renders them "less than" themselves, and therefore worthy only of wrath, marginalization, discrimination and exploitation.
It seems to me that it is folk who are not so enlightened who have such a worldview.
It seems to me that it is those who, deep down, question their own worth who look for others to treat
so shamefully.
It seems to me that it is those who know that they are wrong, but who desperately need to feel that
they are right and even more desperately need others to see them as being right, who look for
someone else to be "better than".
They may be professionals, neighbors, even PhD's, but their blindness to Grace and Love keeps them
in the darkness.
They may claim to be enlightened, and will desperately try to prove that they are to others, but they
dwell in darkness by choice.
They may claim to see it all very clearly, even more clearly than anyone else, but they are blind to the
darkness within them and the destruction of the world in which they live, to which they contribute.
They may seem very friendly, funny, fun-loving and even compassionate - but only with people just
like them, or who think just like they do.
They may seem to have it all together on the outside, but inside they are darkness and blindness, all
while claiming that there is something wrong with "those people".
And the Light of the World can be in their face, and can do incredible things in their lives and they
might witness amazing things in the lives of those around them, but still remain blind and in
darkness.
Does this describe anyone you know?
It describes me. Yes, I have been blind and in darkness. Little by little I have been washed in the pool, and I am seeing the darkness that has dwelt within me. And as enlightened as I like to think that I am, there are still "those people" for me, too. I still have blindness and live in murky darkness within.
For me, the elites and wealthy are "those people". For me it is the powerful and the bigoted. For me it is those who claim a faith in Jesus and do everything opposite His teachings that they can in order to promote themselves with power, wealth and status. For me it is the poor white folks, the ones with whom I grew up, who do not see that the wealthy, powerful, mostly white elites do not care for them, but just because they are straight, white and fundamentalist (male, or willingly subject to male domination) in their thinking they think they are "better than" anyone who is not - the ones who desperately try to believe they are superior to someone, anyone else. For me it is those who are oppressed by someone else, so they must find someone, anyone else they can believe is less worthy than themselves, so that they can discriminate against someone else in order to believe they are "better than" someone, anyone else.
I have met folk who are exceptions, of course, but it has not stopped me from stereotyping vast swaths of the population. When I read classist, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, ethnocentric, religiously intolerant, misogynist, nationalist, elitist, hateful and bigoted statements on Facebook or hear them on TV or the radio, and hear them from family, neighbors, co-workers, and others in public, I lump them into a growing group of reprobates in my mind and heart - darkness.
It hurts people I know and love much more than it does me, because I am a straight, white male in America. I do not call myself a "Christian" anymore because of what that stands for in America at this time in history, but I am a person of the Way of Jesus. I get so angry knowing what people think, say and do against people I love who are marginalized, though there is nothing wrong with them. And, of course, I feel justified in my anger, my angry words and my marginalization of those who continue to hurt those I love. I believe that I see so clearly who and how they are - blindness.
And the Light of the World comes to me and offers, relentlessly, to restore my sight and help me see the light. And sometimes I am just determined to perceive my darkness as light and my blindness as sight. At times I see just a glimmer of the light, and something happens or I read or hear something and go right back into my darkness and blindness. It is my frustration, but also my hope.
What I do know is that hatred does not eliminate hatred. Prejudice does not eliminate prejudice. Darkness does not eliminate darkness and closing one's eyes does not help one see. It is evil, darkness and blindness that I must attack and not those who suffer it in, like I do. Somehow, I must address the darkness and blindness from which we ALL must be liberated, instead of the attacking those who are subject to it in their lives, or I am in danger of doing and saying things to make myself feel better about my unworthy self, and "better than" someone else.
Somehow, I must advocate those who I love who are being hurt by the blindness of others that they reckon as clear sight, and the darkness of others that they believe is life in the true light. But I must do it without becoming what I do not value. Less Pharisee and more disciple, I think I should be.
If I could only help others see the wisdom and faithfulness of living in Grace and Love, and with them, myself... then, perhaps we can truly see and walk in the Light of the World.
Pastor Jamie
And he could be restored to community, once he was restored. He could be reconciled with those who thought something was wrong with him. But they found it hard to believe that he was worthy.
And he could be restored to the faith community, once he was restored. He could be among those assembled before God. But they found reasons why he might not be worthy. Then, when they acknowledged his restoration, they still labeled him "a sinner" because in their minds, still he was not worthy (like them).
And, of course, they denied that Jesus, the one who had restored him, could be of God. When their twisted logic could not reconcile what they beheld, they threw him out, one final act of marginalization.
It calls into question who were the real blind ones. We do not see what we will not see. Being blind, living in darkness, our only hope is to encounter the Light of the World. But when we encounter the Light of the World and are faced with enlightenment, we may still choose blindness and darkness, tragically, and try to shed that darkness and blindness on those around us.
Those born sick, those born poor and those born as disenfranchised minorities (women, LGBTQ, black or brown, Muslim, children of resident aliens) have done nothing wrong. Yet, those blind to the Light of the World, even some who claim to know the Light of the World, try to claim there is something wrong with them that renders them "less than" themselves, and therefore worthy only of wrath, marginalization, discrimination and exploitation.
It seems to me that it is folk who are not so enlightened who have such a worldview.
It seems to me that it is those who, deep down, question their own worth who look for others to treat
so shamefully.
It seems to me that it is those who know that they are wrong, but who desperately need to feel that
they are right and even more desperately need others to see them as being right, who look for
someone else to be "better than".
They may be professionals, neighbors, even PhD's, but their blindness to Grace and Love keeps them
in the darkness.
They may claim to be enlightened, and will desperately try to prove that they are to others, but they
dwell in darkness by choice.
They may claim to see it all very clearly, even more clearly than anyone else, but they are blind to the
darkness within them and the destruction of the world in which they live, to which they contribute.
They may seem very friendly, funny, fun-loving and even compassionate - but only with people just
like them, or who think just like they do.
They may seem to have it all together on the outside, but inside they are darkness and blindness, all
while claiming that there is something wrong with "those people".
And the Light of the World can be in their face, and can do incredible things in their lives and they
might witness amazing things in the lives of those around them, but still remain blind and in
darkness.
Does this describe anyone you know?
It describes me. Yes, I have been blind and in darkness. Little by little I have been washed in the pool, and I am seeing the darkness that has dwelt within me. And as enlightened as I like to think that I am, there are still "those people" for me, too. I still have blindness and live in murky darkness within.
For me, the elites and wealthy are "those people". For me it is the powerful and the bigoted. For me it is those who claim a faith in Jesus and do everything opposite His teachings that they can in order to promote themselves with power, wealth and status. For me it is the poor white folks, the ones with whom I grew up, who do not see that the wealthy, powerful, mostly white elites do not care for them, but just because they are straight, white and fundamentalist (male, or willingly subject to male domination) in their thinking they think they are "better than" anyone who is not - the ones who desperately try to believe they are superior to someone, anyone else. For me it is those who are oppressed by someone else, so they must find someone, anyone else they can believe is less worthy than themselves, so that they can discriminate against someone else in order to believe they are "better than" someone, anyone else.
I have met folk who are exceptions, of course, but it has not stopped me from stereotyping vast swaths of the population. When I read classist, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, ethnocentric, religiously intolerant, misogynist, nationalist, elitist, hateful and bigoted statements on Facebook or hear them on TV or the radio, and hear them from family, neighbors, co-workers, and others in public, I lump them into a growing group of reprobates in my mind and heart - darkness.
It hurts people I know and love much more than it does me, because I am a straight, white male in America. I do not call myself a "Christian" anymore because of what that stands for in America at this time in history, but I am a person of the Way of Jesus. I get so angry knowing what people think, say and do against people I love who are marginalized, though there is nothing wrong with them. And, of course, I feel justified in my anger, my angry words and my marginalization of those who continue to hurt those I love. I believe that I see so clearly who and how they are - blindness.
And the Light of the World comes to me and offers, relentlessly, to restore my sight and help me see the light. And sometimes I am just determined to perceive my darkness as light and my blindness as sight. At times I see just a glimmer of the light, and something happens or I read or hear something and go right back into my darkness and blindness. It is my frustration, but also my hope.
What I do know is that hatred does not eliminate hatred. Prejudice does not eliminate prejudice. Darkness does not eliminate darkness and closing one's eyes does not help one see. It is evil, darkness and blindness that I must attack and not those who suffer it in, like I do. Somehow, I must address the darkness and blindness from which we ALL must be liberated, instead of the attacking those who are subject to it in their lives, or I am in danger of doing and saying things to make myself feel better about my unworthy self, and "better than" someone else.
Somehow, I must advocate those who I love who are being hurt by the blindness of others that they reckon as clear sight, and the darkness of others that they believe is life in the true light. But I must do it without becoming what I do not value. Less Pharisee and more disciple, I think I should be.
If I could only help others see the wisdom and faithfulness of living in Grace and Love, and with them, myself... then, perhaps we can truly see and walk in the Light of the World.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 12, 2017
"... killing me softly with His song..." John 4:5-42
A Rabbi of Israel engages a woman of Samaria (rival, enemy in both history and religious practice, with generations of animosity). There was teasing, even flirting (for that time and place, culture). There was a sharing of God's Kingdom truths and values. There was a gentle call for self examination, and there was an acknowledgement of Jesus as Prophet and then Messiah. There was witnessing and testimony. There was confusion by followers of Jesus over His willingness to talk to a woman in public, and a Samaritan at that, but they dared not ask "Why?". Jesus gave a sermon lesson on reaping and harvesting, as if the fruits of His labor came almost too easy. People came, hungry to encounter the Kingdom. Then He went home to bring the Kingdom there.
I am astounded that people are sectarian about belief in God, especially those who claim to follow Jesus.
Perhaps when the worldly empire values have divided us enough, when the divisions have become so pronounced and the constant conflict has risen to a fevered pitch, then we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when the many who have nothing at the hands of the few with all the power and wealth get fully fed up, not with their position in the system, but with the system itself that has put them and others in that situation in life, then we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when gross injustices perpetrated on some and the corrupt gain of a few that promote them have become so obvious that alternative facts will no longer camouflage reality, then we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when the fruits of corruption, hatred and greed have affected more of the folk who thought they were "in the club", then we will find our compassion in empathy that has been lost, and we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we have tired of seeing people beaten and killed, starving and dying of treatable diseases and being held down, out and back by others, we will find our full humanity again and welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when the walls have been built so high and we realize that they keep us held in as much as they keep others held out, we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we see the plight of those turned away at our arbitrary lines in the sand, and find our heart for those who have not enough or have too much danger and abuse in their lives, we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we go to the well, separated from others of our own people because of some stigma or difference or life situation we find ourselves in, hoping to fill our lives and be filled, we will encounter someone who reaches across boundaries to have an honest discourse about life, and we will find our commonality, rather than just our differences, because we have welcomed Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we leave the well, having been filled with more than just water, and tell others about our connection with God and how it moved us, they will recognize their hunger for something other than what divides us and will find what they have been missing as they welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps we will embrace Agape Love as a better way, and necessarily shed Greed, Power and Self-Promotion as our true values and recipients of our devotion, following the one who reached across the great, cosmic abyss to identify with us, bring us a better way and then sacrifice Himself for us out of that Agape Love.
Perhaps in the repentance we experience (changing our thinking so that our direction changes), we will ourselves reach across boundaries and draw close those who we have pushed away, recognizing our commonalities instead of only our differences, and our need to be connected with one another in order to be connected with God.
Go to the well. Shed your inhibitions, your sectarianism, the history of being divided for the gain of a few, the false notions of superiority and xenophobic fear. Have the encounter with God that reaches across boundaries and connects us back together as children of God who hold much more in common than we have in differences.
I am astounded that people are sectarian about belief in God, especially those who claim to follow Jesus.
Perhaps when the worldly empire values have divided us enough, when the divisions have become so pronounced and the constant conflict has risen to a fevered pitch, then we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when the many who have nothing at the hands of the few with all the power and wealth get fully fed up, not with their position in the system, but with the system itself that has put them and others in that situation in life, then we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when gross injustices perpetrated on some and the corrupt gain of a few that promote them have become so obvious that alternative facts will no longer camouflage reality, then we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when the fruits of corruption, hatred and greed have affected more of the folk who thought they were "in the club", then we will find our compassion in empathy that has been lost, and we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we have tired of seeing people beaten and killed, starving and dying of treatable diseases and being held down, out and back by others, we will find our full humanity again and welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when the walls have been built so high and we realize that they keep us held in as much as they keep others held out, we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we see the plight of those turned away at our arbitrary lines in the sand, and find our heart for those who have not enough or have too much danger and abuse in their lives, we will welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we go to the well, separated from others of our own people because of some stigma or difference or life situation we find ourselves in, hoping to fill our lives and be filled, we will encounter someone who reaches across boundaries to have an honest discourse about life, and we will find our commonality, rather than just our differences, because we have welcomed Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps when we leave the well, having been filled with more than just water, and tell others about our connection with God and how it moved us, they will recognize their hunger for something other than what divides us and will find what they have been missing as they welcome Kingdom of God truth and values.
Perhaps we will embrace Agape Love as a better way, and necessarily shed Greed, Power and Self-Promotion as our true values and recipients of our devotion, following the one who reached across the great, cosmic abyss to identify with us, bring us a better way and then sacrifice Himself for us out of that Agape Love.
Perhaps in the repentance we experience (changing our thinking so that our direction changes), we will ourselves reach across boundaries and draw close those who we have pushed away, recognizing our commonalities instead of only our differences, and our need to be connected with one another in order to be connected with God.
Go to the well. Shed your inhibitions, your sectarianism, the history of being divided for the gain of a few, the false notions of superiority and xenophobic fear. Have the encounter with God that reaches across boundaries and connects us back together as children of God who hold much more in common than we have in differences.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Who is my neighbor? Community Devotion on March 5
We showed a News Clip from You Tube: from the CBC about a
Muslim gentleman who gave his shoes to a homeless man on a bus and walked home
barefooted… a Sikh busdriver reported it and the man’s Imam talked about him,
but the man did not have his picture shown because he wanted no recognition for
doing it.
The lawyer knew there were “those people” he didn’t like so much … in fact, he hated them…and didn’t treat them so well, so he asked the teacher, “And who is my neighbor?” hoping that whoever the Teacher said, those people he hated were not among them…
The teacher told this story…
an alley.
A neighborhood pastor came walking by and saw him but didn’t want to get involved,
but he was afraid that if he stopped to help he might offend some Crip members of
his church.
Someone from his own neighborhood who knew him saw him, but couldn’t be bothered, afraid someone might see her do it.
But a member of the Crips saw him, took him to Grady and payed the bill.
The teacher asked… who was neighbor to that young man?
The lawyer knew what the teacher was getting at, but answered “The one who helped him.”
The Teacher said, “Go and do the same thing.” THAT IS loving neighbor as self. That is being a neighbor.
You see…
To God, Neighbor is NOT defined by commonality, geographical proximity
or shared ideology or faith… it is stranger… the one who is different from
myself, even enemy…To God, Neighbor is defined when ACTION is taken on behalf of someone, anyone in need… anyone who needs you to be neighbor to them
To love neighbor as self means that you would no more want to have harm come to someone else than you would want that for yourself or someone you love.
And it means that you would not want to see anyone, even a stranger or enemy go without what they need than you would want that for yourself or someone you love.
regardless of how one feels about them. The Agape Love taught here is not about
feelings, but rather is defined as “active commitment and therefore committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy, and especially the most vulnerable”.
Regardless of our differences… over
race, ethnicity, culture, economic class, sexual orientation, religion,
ideology or whatever else makes us different, we are to be about Crossing
Boundaries… Connecting with compassion… Focusing
on our Commonality… we are to advocate for other human
beings… to lend them our power, our voice, our resources… so that their lives
will be made better… lives of well-being, completeness and wholeness, which is shalom –
Peace.
As the Teacher commanded that those who
follow Him love neighbor like THAT…
So the teacher commands all who would follow God’s Way to live today…If we want to be right with God – if we want to be right in our spirit -
the Question is NOT, “Who has been a good neighbor to me?”, but rather
“Have I been a good neighbor to others, even strangers and enemies?”
Sunday, March 5, 2017
God so loved... John 3:1-17
The Pharisee official came by night. Perhaps to shield Jesus from scrutiny, but most likely to preserve his own position among the Pharisees. He proclaimed "We know that you are a teacher who has come from God", yet the official stand was to oppose this man who had overturned the Temple Cult leaders' corruption in public. They knew He was from God, but had to oppose Him in public because He was threatening their position, power and wealth. What a strong power over someone the worldly empire values have, that one should know in their mind, heart and soul, in their conscience that one is from God and speaks the truth, yet have to publicly denounce that person because of the cost to their worldly position, power and wealth. So, Nicodemus, whose conscience drove him to seek Jesus, also wanted to hold onto His position and what came with it.
Jesus answered the question that Nicodemus did not ask with an answer that might have been very difficult to hear. You cannot be double-minded. You are either "born from above" and know that your kinship, belonging, values and citizenship are primarily in the Kingdom of God, or you are not, and your allegiances, ideologies, values and loyalties are worldly. Being a Pharisee, Nicodemus struggled with literal thinking. Pharisees still do. He was thinking of physical birth. Jesus was talking about being "born from above" in water (the water of repentance) and the Spirit of God, within the guidance and power of the Spirit of God. It is a spiritual birth. Indeed, the water baptism is an acknowledgement of the spiritual connection we already have with God, for the words "from above" do not in any way mean that we did anything but receive it. God birthed us in the Spirit. We either live as people who see our first reality in life as being in God or we do not. We either live as people who embrace the spiritual truth of our relationship with God and exhibit the values of the Kingdom in how we live, or we live as people who only see ourselves as being in and of this part of the Kingdom, and we do not embrace them. Nicodemus had been claiming that connection, but his mind, heart and soul were living as if there was none, adopting instead the worldly empire values that got him his position, power and wealth.
Jesus then gave a lesson on the difference between Kingdom and worldly values. First, he admonished Nicodemus for claiming to be a leader of God and not understanding the spiritual truths of being a child of God. Then Jesus spoke of His mission as Jacob's ladder, the "ascender" and "descender" between that part of God's Kingdom and this part of it. He was foretelling of His death, and again did so regarding the serpent in the wilderness that, when looked upon brought salvation as it was lifted up on a pole. Just so, Jesus would be lifted up on wood and it would mean salvation. This is a most necessary spiritual truth. Worldly empire will not provide this, indeed it cannot. Living worldly empire values does not bring us closer to the one who saves. We can claim the name, worship and praise, tithe and witness all we want, but if we do not live out of our spiritual Kingdom values in the world, we are not living as people who acknowledge that we have been "born from above."
Jesus gave the context for this lifting up. It is Agape Love. God so actively committed on behalf of the unworthy in the whole world, that God sent the Son, the beloved to teach us about Kingdom values. God so actively committed on behalf of the whole world, that Jesus was sent to die for the world, not to condemn it. As John proclaimed when he first saw Jesus coming in the wilderness, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!", so we acknowledge that it was for the whole world that Jesus came, not to condemn but to save. It was not just some, special and privileged who Jesus came to save. God's Grace and Agape are not limited that way. Jesus took away the sin of the whole world in order that we might live as children of God who live by Kingdom of God values. Jesus then (vs. 18-21) explained that those who do not believe in Jesus as God's messenger and savior, those who do not believe His message of Good News and live Kingdom values have ignored the light for darkness, have chosen to live evil hatred instead of the light of love. They may even claim Jesus' name, but choose to live worldly empire values instead of Kingdom values, and in so doing have distanced themselves from God and thereby have condemned themselves. Jesus did not condemn them to ignore the Kingdom values He taught and live in darkness. They chose to ignore the spiritual truth of their being for the prestige, position, power and wealth that worldly empire values could give them, and walked away from true light.
Wow. We do not know what happened with Nicodemus immediately after this encounter. Perhaps it was too much to come to value and he joined the rest of the religious leaders who gave lip service to God but lived worldly empire values. We do know that he argued on Jesus' behalf (chapter 7) and that he helped Joseph of Arimathea with Jesus' burial (chapter 19). Perhaps some of it sunk in.
We are spiritual beings in physical bodies. We are living in the Kingdom of God, here and now. If our primary relationship is with God, then we will acknowledge God's boundless mercy and Grace and live thankful lives, living the values of the Kingdom to which we belong. If we do not make our primary relationship that with God, then we will live worldly empire values living as if our connection is only to this part of God's Kingdom, and not acknowledge God. If we choose to give lip service to God, even worship, praise, tithe and witness, and do not live Kingdom of God values, then we are living the worldly empire values life, far from God. Even if you are recognized as a religious leader, but do not live Kingdom of God values in the world around you, you are not living as one who is "born from above." Jesus spoke the word of God. It was His Good News, His commands. He came to bring Kingdom values to light in how we live in a world that is filled with the darkness produced by living worldly empire values. If we believe in Jesus' testimony and witness to God's Kingdom values and live them, then we are walking in the light and not in the darkness. There is nothing here of then and there in the Kingdom, but rather of how we live here and now in it.
You are "born from above". Your citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. As a child of God and citizen of the Kingdom, you are called to live Kingdom of God values in the world around you, as Jesus taught us to do. God's love for the whole world demands that we put those values out into the world, and not more of the darkness of worldly empire values that the people who walk in darkness already know too well. Be a person of the light, "born from above" and living the Agape Love in the world that Jesus commands, for the sake of the whole world that God so loves.
Pastor Jamie
Jesus answered the question that Nicodemus did not ask with an answer that might have been very difficult to hear. You cannot be double-minded. You are either "born from above" and know that your kinship, belonging, values and citizenship are primarily in the Kingdom of God, or you are not, and your allegiances, ideologies, values and loyalties are worldly. Being a Pharisee, Nicodemus struggled with literal thinking. Pharisees still do. He was thinking of physical birth. Jesus was talking about being "born from above" in water (the water of repentance) and the Spirit of God, within the guidance and power of the Spirit of God. It is a spiritual birth. Indeed, the water baptism is an acknowledgement of the spiritual connection we already have with God, for the words "from above" do not in any way mean that we did anything but receive it. God birthed us in the Spirit. We either live as people who see our first reality in life as being in God or we do not. We either live as people who embrace the spiritual truth of our relationship with God and exhibit the values of the Kingdom in how we live, or we live as people who only see ourselves as being in and of this part of the Kingdom, and we do not embrace them. Nicodemus had been claiming that connection, but his mind, heart and soul were living as if there was none, adopting instead the worldly empire values that got him his position, power and wealth.
Jesus then gave a lesson on the difference between Kingdom and worldly values. First, he admonished Nicodemus for claiming to be a leader of God and not understanding the spiritual truths of being a child of God. Then Jesus spoke of His mission as Jacob's ladder, the "ascender" and "descender" between that part of God's Kingdom and this part of it. He was foretelling of His death, and again did so regarding the serpent in the wilderness that, when looked upon brought salvation as it was lifted up on a pole. Just so, Jesus would be lifted up on wood and it would mean salvation. This is a most necessary spiritual truth. Worldly empire will not provide this, indeed it cannot. Living worldly empire values does not bring us closer to the one who saves. We can claim the name, worship and praise, tithe and witness all we want, but if we do not live out of our spiritual Kingdom values in the world, we are not living as people who acknowledge that we have been "born from above."
Jesus gave the context for this lifting up. It is Agape Love. God so actively committed on behalf of the unworthy in the whole world, that God sent the Son, the beloved to teach us about Kingdom values. God so actively committed on behalf of the whole world, that Jesus was sent to die for the world, not to condemn it. As John proclaimed when he first saw Jesus coming in the wilderness, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!", so we acknowledge that it was for the whole world that Jesus came, not to condemn but to save. It was not just some, special and privileged who Jesus came to save. God's Grace and Agape are not limited that way. Jesus took away the sin of the whole world in order that we might live as children of God who live by Kingdom of God values. Jesus then (vs. 18-21) explained that those who do not believe in Jesus as God's messenger and savior, those who do not believe His message of Good News and live Kingdom values have ignored the light for darkness, have chosen to live evil hatred instead of the light of love. They may even claim Jesus' name, but choose to live worldly empire values instead of Kingdom values, and in so doing have distanced themselves from God and thereby have condemned themselves. Jesus did not condemn them to ignore the Kingdom values He taught and live in darkness. They chose to ignore the spiritual truth of their being for the prestige, position, power and wealth that worldly empire values could give them, and walked away from true light.
Wow. We do not know what happened with Nicodemus immediately after this encounter. Perhaps it was too much to come to value and he joined the rest of the religious leaders who gave lip service to God but lived worldly empire values. We do know that he argued on Jesus' behalf (chapter 7) and that he helped Joseph of Arimathea with Jesus' burial (chapter 19). Perhaps some of it sunk in.
We are spiritual beings in physical bodies. We are living in the Kingdom of God, here and now. If our primary relationship is with God, then we will acknowledge God's boundless mercy and Grace and live thankful lives, living the values of the Kingdom to which we belong. If we do not make our primary relationship that with God, then we will live worldly empire values living as if our connection is only to this part of God's Kingdom, and not acknowledge God. If we choose to give lip service to God, even worship, praise, tithe and witness, and do not live Kingdom of God values, then we are living the worldly empire values life, far from God. Even if you are recognized as a religious leader, but do not live Kingdom of God values in the world around you, you are not living as one who is "born from above." Jesus spoke the word of God. It was His Good News, His commands. He came to bring Kingdom values to light in how we live in a world that is filled with the darkness produced by living worldly empire values. If we believe in Jesus' testimony and witness to God's Kingdom values and live them, then we are walking in the light and not in the darkness. There is nothing here of then and there in the Kingdom, but rather of how we live here and now in it.
You are "born from above". Your citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. As a child of God and citizen of the Kingdom, you are called to live Kingdom of God values in the world around you, as Jesus taught us to do. God's love for the whole world demands that we put those values out into the world, and not more of the darkness of worldly empire values that the people who walk in darkness already know too well. Be a person of the light, "born from above" and living the Agape Love in the world that Jesus commands, for the sake of the whole world that God so loves.
Pastor Jamie
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