In our polarizing age, we come to see things in extremes. There is much "either... or..." thinking going on. The church is no different.
There are those who would have us Worship, Pray, Tithe and study the Inerrant, Infallible Bible and only concern ourselves with our own salvation. There are others who believe the faith is about action with humanity alone, and being loving with the most vulnerable all the time, only focusing on them.
There are some in the church who believe the church is a business and should be run like a business, with consumers getting services based on what they give and the church trying to build its own security in terms of wealth and influence in the world. Others believe that the church is family, and is all about the giving away of what it has for the sake of the people within and around it.
The Kingdom values of Jesus would seem to refute the dichotomies.
Mary's value was for Jesus. Her comforting, soothing action was an act of devotion and recognition of who Jesus was to her. Jesus was worth the cost to her. Though he spoke in shades of the Law's concern for the poor, Judas did not speak out of devotion to the Jesus or the poor, but out of his disdain for Jesus and the Kingdom values Jesus represented. His criticism was out of a belief that Jesus Himself was not worthy of the cost of Mary's ministry. He would say the same thing regarding the poor, had it been spent on them.
Jesus, fulfiller of Law and Prophets, shared the old law - "Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'" (Deuteronomy 15:7-11) Jesus also demanded that Judas recognize His presence and that it was fleeting. He directed Judas to check his empire values and recognize Kingdom values - the Kingdom before him. Judas, now disillusioned with the Kingdom values demonstrated by Jesus, expressed that disillusionment in terms of worldly values.
For Jesus and Jesus' followers, there is a time to Worship, Adore and give Devotion to the Lord. There is also a time to help the most vulnerable among us which comes out of that devotion. Both are necessary. Both are expressions of Agape Love for God and Neighbor. Both are required of those who would follow Jesus.
It is not a question of either worshiping God or serving Neighbor. It is a command to both give our devotion in worship and in service to Neighbor, beyond serving ourselves.
Judas ended up walking away from the Kingdom values of Jesus, in favor of the empire values of the Temple Cult Leaders of his time.
For followers of Jesus who would live within Kingdom values, a deep devotion to God IS expressed in a deep devotion to the Poor. Both... And...
Pastor Jamie
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