I learned early on that a "Christian" is someone who follows the Christ - someone Christ-like - a "little Christ", if you will.
Jesus' followers were disciples - student followers who were devoted to Jesus as teacher and to His teachings, and then to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
I have a troubling conundrum, however.
I witness people claiming to be Christian and professing devotion to Jesus, the Christ, who do not devote themselves to what Jesus taught or submit to Jesus as Lord of their lives by following what Jesus taught and modeled.
Now, I know that the umbrella of Christianity is very large. I accept that. But shouldn't a devotion to following what Jesus taught and modeled for us be the defining factor for those called by the name of the Christ?
Jesus, who said that in order to be His disciples, we must abide in HIS Word, obey HIS commands and live the Agape Love that HE commanded, taught and lived - does this Jesus not expect those who would be called by His name to at least strive to live by what He taught?
I see people who profess to be Christians judging others, though Jesus commanded us not to judge. Not only do many folks judge, but they justify it with other parts of the Word that Jesus fulfilled.
I see people who profess to be Christians refusing to forgive others, though Jesus commanded it.
Again, they use parts of the Word to justify what Jesus clearly commanded His followers not to do.
I see people concerned about earning their salvation through praise, worship and tithes - Jesus talked about salvation in the context of how we treat the most vulnerable among us, even stranger and enemy.
I see people concerned about getting more for themselves, when Jesus very clearly made material wealth not only unimportant regarding Kingdom values, but warned against greed as the enemy of faith in Him.
I see people wanting to control the lives of others and how they live, when Jesus clearly spoke about the hypocrisy of trying to control others out of hubris, rather than humbly examining the self.
I see people claiming Jesus' name and using their political position and power to hurt the most vulnerable.
I see people claiming Jesus' name and running their businesses off the backs of people they routinely
exploit, mistreat, underpay and then throw away when they are done with them, though Jesus' teachings and parables give a different view of Kingdom values.
I see people claiming Jesus' name and wanting to have status in society above others, though Jesus raised the humble and humbled the elevated in society.
I see people claiming Jesus' name and intentionally voting for candidates who represent gains for them, knowing that it means losses for others around them.
I see people claiming Jesus' name and hating others who are different from them and actively trying to hold them down, back or out - even trying to destroy their lives, though Jesus taught Agape Love - committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable.
I see faith leaders who claim Jesus teaching prosperity for some instead of manna living for all, personal power over others instead of the humble lifting up of all and status over others instead of loving community and fellowship for all.
I see polititians claiming Jesus and ignoring His teachings in how they govern.
I see business people claiming Jesus and ignoring His teachings in how they do business.
I see citizens claiming Jesus and hating others not like them and voting for those who will hurt their sisters and brothers, even sisters and brothers who share their faith.
I also see that some have claimed Jesus and have created their own definition of "American Christian" that has included their idolatry of ideology, nation, race, ethnicity, sexuality, economic class and gender. Some of them claim this to be a "Christian nation" while doing and saying the most un-Christ-like things.
Does this make folk "bad Christians"? They are not following the Christ, not "little Christs" in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Can they claim to even be "Christians"? Why would they claim to be and not follow the Christ?
I believe that Gandhi perceived the problem long ago, though certainly there were others long before him who did the same - "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
I ask again - What is a Christian?
Much more these days, in this climate, I confess that I prefer to call myself -
A PERSON OF THE WAY OF JESUS, as I strive to live the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for any who would follow Him.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Monday, September 3, 2018
Labor
We live in confusing times for those who labor.
They hear politicians say that they are the only ones who will create jobs for them, the same politicians who wage war on organized labor and even claim that wages are too high, while those who are working two jobs are still behind and struggle to make it financially.
They see executives and owners make record profits, along with stockholders while their wages remain stagnant and provide them with less every year.
They receive tax cuts that may help them with gas money for a few months of the year, while the same executives and owners get huge percentages of tax cut for themselves.
Robots are taking jobs that people once performed.
Even self-checkout machines replace cashiers at the local stores, creating long lines for those who want to deal with a person, rather than a machine because fewer cashiers are hired.
Self-pump gas stations, even self serve McDonalds screens replace workers.
Machines are made that can work longer, produce more and cost less to operate than employees.
Some companies just cut the workforce and double the work load of existing employees, rather than hire enough workers to do the job well.
But it is the low paid, hard worked immigrants who get blamed for jobs being lost.
Workers are encouraged to look for blame laterally and "below", rather than see that this is a system designed to make more for those at the top at the expense of those at the bottom, especially at election time.
We are fed at an early age that Capitalism is synonymous with Democracy and that Capitalism is the best system in the world for elevating people in their standard of living, yet intentional effort is made to make it an unjust system that has no limits at the top, while limiting the possibilities of those at the bottom, and making it impossible for them to rise even to a secure and sustainable standard of living.
Healthcare, living wage, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, workers' rights, the retirement age, taxation, job safety and safe land, water and air are "weaponized" at election time to keep those in power in control of the wealth.
Since 1981 a massive re-distribution of wealth has been perpetrated on the middle class and the poor for the benefit of the wealthy. It continues, unchecked today. Anyone who suggests that it is wrong or proposes measures to reverse this trend is labeled "communist" or "un-American." The Greedy, Power Mongers and Entitled are seen as the "real Americans." And many of the easily gullible have been duped into believing that they can and will be in this club someday. With the cries of "at least I'm (straight, or white or protestant or male or English speaking, or all of the above)", they believed they are in some way entitled above someone else, anyone else - desperately holding onto that belief that they hold some similarities with those who abuse them and hold them down, back and out.
Those who are not white, straight, male, protestant and/or English speaking are increasingly blamed, marginalized, victimized and demonized by those gullible, easily duped who believe what their masters tell them and blame those who they are told to blame.
BUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD holds different VALUES. And we live in the KINGDOM OF GOD, in this part of it, here and now. We are called to live by a different set of values and rules for living.
In the PARABLE OF THE LABORERS in Luke 20, we learn that God values laborers being paid what they need to sustain them, rather than what they are told they deserve for their labors. Because of that, we take a value for the work - productive, edifying work that builds up the Kingdom, knowing that we will have enough on which to live and thrive - without the worry that we won't. These were the day laborers, the least paid in society, but God values giving them enough on which to live and sustain their families. You would think that Christian employers would do the same.
Jesus also said, "the laborer deserves to be paid." (Luke 10:7)
It was a fulfillment of the Law of Moses - "You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other countrypersons or aliens who reside in your land. You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt." (Deuteronomy 24:14-16)
Jesus also said, "For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish..." (Mark 14:7)
It is a direct reference to and fulfillment of the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy 15:7-11 - " If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be... Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought... view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on earth, I therefore COMMAND you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy in your land.'"
Perhaps the Prophet Ezekiel has a message to our nation in this regard, refuting the teachings about the sin of Sodom that some unscrupulous false teachers have claimed and shedding light on what the sin of Sodom truly was - a sin with which we must grapple in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now -
"This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it." Ezekiel 16:49, 50
Indeed, from the mouth of Jesus, the Judge of all the living and the dead, we have witness in Matthew's Gospel of a vision of the return of the Christ for ALL NATIONS -
Divided into sheep or goats, saved or condemned, not based on professing faith, worshiping, praising, saying a particular prayer or tithing, but rather -
HOW WE TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US -
How we treat JESUS, by how we treat Jesus' sisters and brothers, especially
THE HUNGRY, NAKED, THE STRANGER IN THE LAND, THE SICK AND IMPRISONED.
God's Kingdom Values are that we give them a chance and enhance their lives as much as we are able to do so, especially from our abundance as a nation and people within it.
So, labor my friends.
Do labor that is honorable and that lifts others up, provides others with what they need and makes the creation a better place for all who live within it.
Employees - Work hard. Lift up other laborers. Demand justice for them and not just yourselves, regardless of your differences with them.
Employers - Pay them a living wage. Give them benefits that they need. Provide security and for their future. Take enough for yourselves and value giving more to those who most need it, rather than taking more for yourselves.
Stockholders - Support the businesses in which you invest by taking enough but not demanding always a higher percentage of gain or participating in measures that mean gain for yourselves at the expense of those who labor to help you make more. Take less if it means more for them.
Politicians - It is the people who you serve with your public service and not industries, corporations or the most wealthy and powerful. That is simple to understand. It seems a hard truth for you to honor. Our nation is only as strong as the most vulnerable among us. The creation within which we live is the only one we have or will get. Destroy nothing and no one for your own, personal gain.
These are Kingdom Values. If you claim the name of Jesus, these are what you must live. If not, then you will go away sad, like the rich young man who wanted salvation but could not follow Jesus. (Luke 18); or like the rich fool who built bigger barns for himself rather than share of his abundance and who lost it all at an unexpected death (Luke 12); or the nameless rich man who ignored the needs of the sick and poor Lazarus at his gate, only to find himself in Hell, regardless of how entitled he believed himself to be (Luke 16); or one of the goats who think they are sheep until the coming judgment of Jesus, the Christ - (Matthew 25:31-46). These Kingdom Values are part of the Law and Prophets fulfilled in Jesus. Live them. Not out of fear, but because it is the right thing to do according to the God you claim to follow - because those who God loves need you to do the right thing in this part of God's Kingdom, HERE AND NOW.
Pastor Jamie
They hear politicians say that they are the only ones who will create jobs for them, the same politicians who wage war on organized labor and even claim that wages are too high, while those who are working two jobs are still behind and struggle to make it financially.
They see executives and owners make record profits, along with stockholders while their wages remain stagnant and provide them with less every year.
They receive tax cuts that may help them with gas money for a few months of the year, while the same executives and owners get huge percentages of tax cut for themselves.
Robots are taking jobs that people once performed.
Even self-checkout machines replace cashiers at the local stores, creating long lines for those who want to deal with a person, rather than a machine because fewer cashiers are hired.
Self-pump gas stations, even self serve McDonalds screens replace workers.
Machines are made that can work longer, produce more and cost less to operate than employees.
Some companies just cut the workforce and double the work load of existing employees, rather than hire enough workers to do the job well.
But it is the low paid, hard worked immigrants who get blamed for jobs being lost.
Workers are encouraged to look for blame laterally and "below", rather than see that this is a system designed to make more for those at the top at the expense of those at the bottom, especially at election time.
We are fed at an early age that Capitalism is synonymous with Democracy and that Capitalism is the best system in the world for elevating people in their standard of living, yet intentional effort is made to make it an unjust system that has no limits at the top, while limiting the possibilities of those at the bottom, and making it impossible for them to rise even to a secure and sustainable standard of living.
Healthcare, living wage, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, workers' rights, the retirement age, taxation, job safety and safe land, water and air are "weaponized" at election time to keep those in power in control of the wealth.
Since 1981 a massive re-distribution of wealth has been perpetrated on the middle class and the poor for the benefit of the wealthy. It continues, unchecked today. Anyone who suggests that it is wrong or proposes measures to reverse this trend is labeled "communist" or "un-American." The Greedy, Power Mongers and Entitled are seen as the "real Americans." And many of the easily gullible have been duped into believing that they can and will be in this club someday. With the cries of "at least I'm (straight, or white or protestant or male or English speaking, or all of the above)", they believed they are in some way entitled above someone else, anyone else - desperately holding onto that belief that they hold some similarities with those who abuse them and hold them down, back and out.
Those who are not white, straight, male, protestant and/or English speaking are increasingly blamed, marginalized, victimized and demonized by those gullible, easily duped who believe what their masters tell them and blame those who they are told to blame.
BUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD holds different VALUES. And we live in the KINGDOM OF GOD, in this part of it, here and now. We are called to live by a different set of values and rules for living.
In the PARABLE OF THE LABORERS in Luke 20, we learn that God values laborers being paid what they need to sustain them, rather than what they are told they deserve for their labors. Because of that, we take a value for the work - productive, edifying work that builds up the Kingdom, knowing that we will have enough on which to live and thrive - without the worry that we won't. These were the day laborers, the least paid in society, but God values giving them enough on which to live and sustain their families. You would think that Christian employers would do the same.
Jesus also said, "the laborer deserves to be paid." (Luke 10:7)
It was a fulfillment of the Law of Moses - "You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other countrypersons or aliens who reside in your land. You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt." (Deuteronomy 24:14-16)
Jesus also said, "For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish..." (Mark 14:7)
It is a direct reference to and fulfillment of the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy 15:7-11 - " If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be... Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought... view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on earth, I therefore COMMAND you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy in your land.'"
Perhaps the Prophet Ezekiel has a message to our nation in this regard, refuting the teachings about the sin of Sodom that some unscrupulous false teachers have claimed and shedding light on what the sin of Sodom truly was - a sin with which we must grapple in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now -
"This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it." Ezekiel 16:49, 50
Indeed, from the mouth of Jesus, the Judge of all the living and the dead, we have witness in Matthew's Gospel of a vision of the return of the Christ for ALL NATIONS -
Divided into sheep or goats, saved or condemned, not based on professing faith, worshiping, praising, saying a particular prayer or tithing, but rather -
HOW WE TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US -
How we treat JESUS, by how we treat Jesus' sisters and brothers, especially
THE HUNGRY, NAKED, THE STRANGER IN THE LAND, THE SICK AND IMPRISONED.
God's Kingdom Values are that we give them a chance and enhance their lives as much as we are able to do so, especially from our abundance as a nation and people within it.
So, labor my friends.
Do labor that is honorable and that lifts others up, provides others with what they need and makes the creation a better place for all who live within it.
Employees - Work hard. Lift up other laborers. Demand justice for them and not just yourselves, regardless of your differences with them.
Employers - Pay them a living wage. Give them benefits that they need. Provide security and for their future. Take enough for yourselves and value giving more to those who most need it, rather than taking more for yourselves.
Stockholders - Support the businesses in which you invest by taking enough but not demanding always a higher percentage of gain or participating in measures that mean gain for yourselves at the expense of those who labor to help you make more. Take less if it means more for them.
Politicians - It is the people who you serve with your public service and not industries, corporations or the most wealthy and powerful. That is simple to understand. It seems a hard truth for you to honor. Our nation is only as strong as the most vulnerable among us. The creation within which we live is the only one we have or will get. Destroy nothing and no one for your own, personal gain.
These are Kingdom Values. If you claim the name of Jesus, these are what you must live. If not, then you will go away sad, like the rich young man who wanted salvation but could not follow Jesus. (Luke 18); or like the rich fool who built bigger barns for himself rather than share of his abundance and who lost it all at an unexpected death (Luke 12); or the nameless rich man who ignored the needs of the sick and poor Lazarus at his gate, only to find himself in Hell, regardless of how entitled he believed himself to be (Luke 16); or one of the goats who think they are sheep until the coming judgment of Jesus, the Christ - (Matthew 25:31-46). These Kingdom Values are part of the Law and Prophets fulfilled in Jesus. Live them. Not out of fear, but because it is the right thing to do according to the God you claim to follow - because those who God loves need you to do the right thing in this part of God's Kingdom, HERE AND NOW.
Pastor Jamie
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