Israel had strong military security and the economy was good. The temple cult leaders reported that God was favoring them for their support of the religious leaders.
Entered AMOS the Prophet, who in no uncertain words let them know that they and those like them were not being favored by God. He told them that their misuse of their might and their injustice, both to those around them and those within the nation meant that their religious practices were empty, even a slap in the face of God. Israel would fall and fall hard, believing that they could do no wrong, but were God's favorites.
Many evangelicals have bought into the Law of Discovery and Manifest Destiny ideologies of Europe and America in the past, developing an American Civil Religion that manipulates its adherents to believe in prosperity theology, personal salvation as one's only concern and purity/holiness rather than faithfulness to Jesus' Way as the goal of followers of Jesus. Folk have heard it for decades and have been subject to it for decades. The results are not healthy. Many believe that America is God's country, favored above all others in the world and can do no wrong (along with Israel). Some believe that an anti-love, anti-justice, anti- equality, anti-equitability and anti-Christ occupier of the oval office is the chosen of God. Some believe that one can do whatever one wants to others, economically, socially and civilly, and not be at odds with God because they are
"saved". Amos would beg to differ.
Read Amos. Amos speaks to America right now.
Read James. James speaks to America right now.
Read the Good News of Jesus. Focus on what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for those who would follow Him. Jesus speaks to America right now.
There is nothing new under the sun, and Empires still fall.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Counting the Cost
Luke 14:25-33
There is a cost to discipleship, as with anything else.
We are in the middle of some major (and minor) repairs and remodeling on our house. We had to completely replace our porch roof so that we could minimize damage on our foundation and have a porch on which to sit. We had to replace our waste stack from basement to upstairs guest bathroom, so that we did not have a flood of water in our basement when the tub, toilet or sink were used. It meant tearing out a couple walls, one of which is in our kitchen. We had to have a gas line replaced, which meant tearing out basement ceiling. I tore out an old bar in the basement and we are making it family room space, which has taken no small amount of effort. Since the kitchen wall is torn out, we decided that now is the time to remodel the kitchen, which is a small space, but which will be re-done from ceiling to floor next month. We will be paying for this for a while, but it is part of the cost of living in a home. We knew (some) of that coming into it, and we believe it will be worth it.
I remember Pastor (PhD) Schein telling us in New Testament Theology in Seminary, "You put down your money, you make your choice, and then you live with it." It was regarding this lesson from Luke. If we are going to follow Jesus in our lives, there will be a price to pay. It means leaving behind the ways of life that are not of the Christ and living by a different set of values and rules. It means obedience to Jesus' command to love (Agape) neighbor as self, even as He loved. While some try to claim the name of Jesus and still walk in Empire, rather than Kingdom values and live by Empire rules rather than Jesus' "Golden" rule, others find it all just too hard, refuse to be so duplicitous and walk away. It would seem that very few are willing to be salt and light, or strive to become salt and light in the world as Jesus' followers. For the few, there is a cost that some find too much to pay. It means going against the tide or marching to the beat of a different drummer, and that most often leads us to the Cross.
We put down our money and made our choice in the 2016 election, as a nation. Whether out of adolescent acting out, true greed or blatant bigotry, some voted for a candidate very much more unlike the Christ and His values than the other. OK, empire values were apparent in both, but certainly not to the same degree. Now we all must live with it. Some have become emboldened by their adolescent tantrum and its results, and are now escalating their demands to be recognized above the rest. Some have become emboldened by the blatant bigoted expressions of our "president" and are now speaking and acting on their own, openly. Some are taking advantage of the loss of government protections of the most vulnerable through de-regulation and are striving to "make a killing" at the expense of the rest of us. Many or most people (women, LGBTQ, immigrants, black and brown sisters and brothers, the poor, the middle class, the disabled, the elderly, people not of a fundamentalist "christian" faith, civilians across the world in war zones, other economies) are paying the price for what the nation has done and what it is becoming, here and across the world. None of it looks like the Agape that Jesus commanded or the Kingdom values that Jesus taught. Very little of it looks even like Democracy anymore.
The cost of discipleship is to fly in the face of empire values, speak out, demonstrate, write, refuse to participate, resist and vote differently - to not be compliant through all of that. Yes, in doing so it will put us at odds with some folk who either are compliant or are complicit in the direction that the nation has chosen. Yes, it may mean a loss socially, economically and at times emotionally. Yes, it may even mean going to the Cross. That is the cost of discipleship (see Bonhoeffer). Now is the time to "put down your money and make your choice." Now is the time to stand with the most vulnerable and those held down, back and out, even those oppressed and occupied by empire. Now is the time to live Kingdom of God values as defined by Jesus in Agape Love, as we have that in the Gospels. Now is the time to follow Jesus. When others would follow "every wind of doctrine" and live like "their god is the belly", we must know who we follow and why. "Put down your money, make your choice and then live with it."
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We will follow Jesus, for His way is a better way for the world. His way is the Just Way, the Loving Way, the Way of Shalom. His way is sustainable. Empires fall. This one will, too. In the end, the question will not be how much wealth, power or status we had in life, but "how did we treat our neighbor(s)?" Follow Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace. It will lead you to the Cross, but it will also take you (and your neighbor) beyond it.
Pastor Jamie
There is a cost to discipleship, as with anything else.
We are in the middle of some major (and minor) repairs and remodeling on our house. We had to completely replace our porch roof so that we could minimize damage on our foundation and have a porch on which to sit. We had to replace our waste stack from basement to upstairs guest bathroom, so that we did not have a flood of water in our basement when the tub, toilet or sink were used. It meant tearing out a couple walls, one of which is in our kitchen. We had to have a gas line replaced, which meant tearing out basement ceiling. I tore out an old bar in the basement and we are making it family room space, which has taken no small amount of effort. Since the kitchen wall is torn out, we decided that now is the time to remodel the kitchen, which is a small space, but which will be re-done from ceiling to floor next month. We will be paying for this for a while, but it is part of the cost of living in a home. We knew (some) of that coming into it, and we believe it will be worth it.
I remember Pastor (PhD) Schein telling us in New Testament Theology in Seminary, "You put down your money, you make your choice, and then you live with it." It was regarding this lesson from Luke. If we are going to follow Jesus in our lives, there will be a price to pay. It means leaving behind the ways of life that are not of the Christ and living by a different set of values and rules. It means obedience to Jesus' command to love (Agape) neighbor as self, even as He loved. While some try to claim the name of Jesus and still walk in Empire, rather than Kingdom values and live by Empire rules rather than Jesus' "Golden" rule, others find it all just too hard, refuse to be so duplicitous and walk away. It would seem that very few are willing to be salt and light, or strive to become salt and light in the world as Jesus' followers. For the few, there is a cost that some find too much to pay. It means going against the tide or marching to the beat of a different drummer, and that most often leads us to the Cross.
We put down our money and made our choice in the 2016 election, as a nation. Whether out of adolescent acting out, true greed or blatant bigotry, some voted for a candidate very much more unlike the Christ and His values than the other. OK, empire values were apparent in both, but certainly not to the same degree. Now we all must live with it. Some have become emboldened by their adolescent tantrum and its results, and are now escalating their demands to be recognized above the rest. Some have become emboldened by the blatant bigoted expressions of our "president" and are now speaking and acting on their own, openly. Some are taking advantage of the loss of government protections of the most vulnerable through de-regulation and are striving to "make a killing" at the expense of the rest of us. Many or most people (women, LGBTQ, immigrants, black and brown sisters and brothers, the poor, the middle class, the disabled, the elderly, people not of a fundamentalist "christian" faith, civilians across the world in war zones, other economies) are paying the price for what the nation has done and what it is becoming, here and across the world. None of it looks like the Agape that Jesus commanded or the Kingdom values that Jesus taught. Very little of it looks even like Democracy anymore.
The cost of discipleship is to fly in the face of empire values, speak out, demonstrate, write, refuse to participate, resist and vote differently - to not be compliant through all of that. Yes, in doing so it will put us at odds with some folk who either are compliant or are complicit in the direction that the nation has chosen. Yes, it may mean a loss socially, economically and at times emotionally. Yes, it may even mean going to the Cross. That is the cost of discipleship (see Bonhoeffer). Now is the time to "put down your money and make your choice." Now is the time to stand with the most vulnerable and those held down, back and out, even those oppressed and occupied by empire. Now is the time to live Kingdom of God values as defined by Jesus in Agape Love, as we have that in the Gospels. Now is the time to follow Jesus. When others would follow "every wind of doctrine" and live like "their god is the belly", we must know who we follow and why. "Put down your money, make your choice and then live with it."
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We will follow Jesus, for His way is a better way for the world. His way is the Just Way, the Loving Way, the Way of Shalom. His way is sustainable. Empires fall. This one will, too. In the end, the question will not be how much wealth, power or status we had in life, but "how did we treat our neighbor(s)?" Follow Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace. It will lead you to the Cross, but it will also take you (and your neighbor) beyond it.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 13, 2018
HOPE
In my worst moments, I think HOPE is magical thinking.
It means going against the logic of what my eyes see, ears hear and brain processes to believe that things can get better or turn around. Without evidence of the potential for change or transformation, it seems like an abdication of one's determination to MAKE change or bring transformation.
In my best moments, I believe HOPE is what I had on a T-shirt some 20+ years ago from Sojourners Magazine - "Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, until the evidence changes." There is always hope that things can and will change, turn around, be transformed.
The difference is loving faith and action - to be clear, LOVING FAITH IN ACTION.
I believe that prayer is conviction toward action and then in action.
I believe that love is committed action. I know that of Agape Love, particularly.
My faith is in God's presence and transformative power of hearts and minds. That happens through voices, hands and feet of people. God works in relationships. God works in community. God works when people find a common faith and love and put them into action. Lives are changed and transformed in God working through relationships and in community. The Holy Spirit of God is active and relentless.
I do not ask God to supernaturally intervene. I ask God to change me and move me to act in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, according to God's will. I believe that we are in a relationship with God and called to be God's feet and hands, hearts, minds and voices in the world. Prayer that is asking for God to intervene in the world is an abdication of our responsibility as God's followers. Love that is a feeling without committed action is an abdication of our devotion to obey Jesus' command to live Agape Love (active commitment/committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable).
My faith in Jesus is a faith in Jesus' Way as God's Way for us and a better way for us to live in this part of God's Kingdom here and now. I have a deep faith in Jesus' Good News and in the Holy Spirit's relentless pointing to it as OUR way to live in the world, this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus' name." My hope is that by living Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace, others will take note and decide to live it as well, by the moving of the Holy Spirit. My hope is that it will transform hearts, minds and therefore lives as we repent (change our thinking and therefore our direction, turn around in our way of living.) All I can do is bear witness to Jesus by actively living His Good News of Agape Love and Grace and let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does.
In Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other), Prayer (convicted action in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now ) and Faith (an act of trust in Jesus and Jesus' Way), my Hope is transformed from magical thinking into a belief in and work toward Jesus' Way in the world, and the belief that perhaps others will do the same.
So, I still have HOPE. There is still HOPE.
Pastor Jamie
It means going against the logic of what my eyes see, ears hear and brain processes to believe that things can get better or turn around. Without evidence of the potential for change or transformation, it seems like an abdication of one's determination to MAKE change or bring transformation.
In my best moments, I believe HOPE is what I had on a T-shirt some 20+ years ago from Sojourners Magazine - "Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, until the evidence changes." There is always hope that things can and will change, turn around, be transformed.
The difference is loving faith and action - to be clear, LOVING FAITH IN ACTION.
I believe that prayer is conviction toward action and then in action.
I believe that love is committed action. I know that of Agape Love, particularly.
My faith is in God's presence and transformative power of hearts and minds. That happens through voices, hands and feet of people. God works in relationships. God works in community. God works when people find a common faith and love and put them into action. Lives are changed and transformed in God working through relationships and in community. The Holy Spirit of God is active and relentless.
I do not ask God to supernaturally intervene. I ask God to change me and move me to act in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, according to God's will. I believe that we are in a relationship with God and called to be God's feet and hands, hearts, minds and voices in the world. Prayer that is asking for God to intervene in the world is an abdication of our responsibility as God's followers. Love that is a feeling without committed action is an abdication of our devotion to obey Jesus' command to live Agape Love (active commitment/committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable).
My faith in Jesus is a faith in Jesus' Way as God's Way for us and a better way for us to live in this part of God's Kingdom here and now. I have a deep faith in Jesus' Good News and in the Holy Spirit's relentless pointing to it as OUR way to live in the world, this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus' name." My hope is that by living Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace, others will take note and decide to live it as well, by the moving of the Holy Spirit. My hope is that it will transform hearts, minds and therefore lives as we repent (change our thinking and therefore our direction, turn around in our way of living.) All I can do is bear witness to Jesus by actively living His Good News of Agape Love and Grace and let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does.
In Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other), Prayer (convicted action in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now ) and Faith (an act of trust in Jesus and Jesus' Way), my Hope is transformed from magical thinking into a belief in and work toward Jesus' Way in the world, and the belief that perhaps others will do the same.
So, I still have HOPE. There is still HOPE.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 6, 2018
heartening...
It is heartening for me to see and read the reactions to the horrible intolerance being perpetrated on the "strangers" Jesus called "the least of these", who are to be welcomed by any who follow Jesus.
It is heartening for me to see people gather together to say, "NO!" to the hatreds displayed as normative by a few hateful people.
It is heartening for me to see people stand up and say, "NO MORE!" to those who profit off the selling of weapons of mass destruction designed to create death on a large scale in public gatherings like schools.
It is heartening for me to see people help the poor, who were created by an unjust economic system and who are scapegoated and further victimized by the most ruthless and greedy in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people refuse to see the ignorance, hatefulness, greed, lust for power and desire for status as a normative value in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people continue to strive to provide healthcare for all people, especially the most vulnerable "least", who are to be cared for according to Jesus.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward a justice system that is equal for all and does not single out one particular segment of society for targeted, unjust oppression.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward equal education for all children, that will lead to more equal opportunities in their lives.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward bringing a living wage for all workers and equal pay for everyone who does the same jobs.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward regulation on those who would fleece much of the population for the gain of the few.
It is heartening for me to hear ANY pastor who will address the darkness in our world with the light of the Gospel of Jesus in Agape Love and Grace.
And it is heartening for me to see that the ELCA has elected its first African-American female Bishop, and in SE Pennsylvania where I live. Congratulations, Rev. Patricia Davenport! Congratulations, Southeast Pennsylvania! Congratulations, ELCA!
It is heartening for me to know that in the middle of this dark resurgence of hatefulness in racism, ethnocentrism, homophobia, classism and religious intolerance a church body has had the openness to the Holy Spirit to act on God's inspiration toward love and inclusion in love.
Pastor Jamie
It is heartening for me to see people gather together to say, "NO!" to the hatreds displayed as normative by a few hateful people.
It is heartening for me to see people stand up and say, "NO MORE!" to those who profit off the selling of weapons of mass destruction designed to create death on a large scale in public gatherings like schools.
It is heartening for me to see people help the poor, who were created by an unjust economic system and who are scapegoated and further victimized by the most ruthless and greedy in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people refuse to see the ignorance, hatefulness, greed, lust for power and desire for status as a normative value in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people continue to strive to provide healthcare for all people, especially the most vulnerable "least", who are to be cared for according to Jesus.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward a justice system that is equal for all and does not single out one particular segment of society for targeted, unjust oppression.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward equal education for all children, that will lead to more equal opportunities in their lives.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward bringing a living wage for all workers and equal pay for everyone who does the same jobs.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward regulation on those who would fleece much of the population for the gain of the few.
It is heartening for me to hear ANY pastor who will address the darkness in our world with the light of the Gospel of Jesus in Agape Love and Grace.
And it is heartening for me to see that the ELCA has elected its first African-American female Bishop, and in SE Pennsylvania where I live. Congratulations, Rev. Patricia Davenport! Congratulations, Southeast Pennsylvania! Congratulations, ELCA!
It is heartening for me to know that in the middle of this dark resurgence of hatefulness in racism, ethnocentrism, homophobia, classism and religious intolerance a church body has had the openness to the Holy Spirit to act on God's inspiration toward love and inclusion in love.
Pastor Jamie
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