(context is Luke 13:1-9 - the lectionary text for Lent III on March 24)
To be clear - the belief that God pulls strings or pushes buttons to immediately "punish" sinners I do not hold. This is an imperfect world to which we are subject and imperfect because our sinfulness has made it so. Imperfect things happen as a consequence of contributing to, participating in and living in a sinful world. The belief that specific punishment or blessings are dolled out immediately as punishment or rewards is not faithful to a mature faith or love of heart, soul, mind and strength for God. It's not that simple. The relationship is covenantal and not contractual.
Jesus pointed out two disasters and tragedies to make His point, according to Luke's Gospel.
Pilate had ordered believers to be killed while they were offering sacrifices in the Temple. They were no worse sinners than others, according to Jesus.
Eighteen people died in a tragic accident when a structure fell on them. They were no worse sinners than any others, according to Jesus.
You see, we attempt to assign FAULT or SIN to victims of such things, in an attempt to believe that we are better somehow, giving us a false sense of security that "surely God would never let that happen to me."
Jesus put it back on the people and their perceptions. "Unless YOU repent, YOU will perish..." Our focus is all wrong when it is on the FAULT or SIN of victims around us. Their tragedies are not indications of our being better somehow or immune to bad things happening to us.
Long ago I stopped asking myself, "Why me?" when things happened to me, and came to acknowledge, "Why not me?" I contribute to, participate in and am subject to the imperfections of sinfulness like everyone else, as a person of faith in Jesus and Jesus' Way.
Perhaps it is not just the focus but the WORDS and ACTIONS on behalf of victims of tragedies with which we should concern ourselves. Rather than looking for FAULT or SIN in them, maybe we should respond with LOVE and SUPPORT.
Certainly, it has to do with us examining OURSELVES and coming to repentance because it is the right thing to do, regardless of our tragic or natural deaths.
To illustrate, we have the Parable of the DUNG, as I call it (when I want to keep it respectable).
We live in a covenant with God in which God is most "Gracious and Merciful, slow to anger and abounding in Steadfast Love." God does not give up on us and pull strings or push buttons to destroy us at the first signs of us not bearing good fruit in the world. God instead fertilizes the ground in which the seeds of faith and love are planted and works to cultivate us in order to bring us to bear good fruit. On the other hand, this is not a cheap Grace to be taken for granted regardless of how we live in the world around us. Repentance from sin is expected in this covenant. God is still Judge.
So, the folk at Mother Bethel in Charleston, the Sikh folk at the Gurwara Temple, the folk at the Tree of Life Synagogue and the folk at Al Noor and Linwood Mosques were not greater sinners than anyone else.
The folk in the Boeing planes that went down were not greater sinners than anyone else.
They were victims - some of the very specific sinful, hateful, ignorant, unconscionable and immoral actions of others and some of random and tragic reflections of living in an imperfect world (or unconscionable, immoral neglect to work toward their safety - yet to be seen).
WE need to reach out in love and support, pray for their loved ones AND ACT on behalf of others to make sure these things do not happen again. We need to REPENT (change our thinking) regarding the blaming of the victims in any way.
THE PERPETRATORS need to REPENT (change their thinking so their actions follow) to come to an understanding of God's Love and Grace (NOT based on false notions of privilege or entitlement, merit or status, wealth or power) that includes ALL people of ALL nations, ethnicities, sexualities and faiths.
WE need to commit ourselves to ACTIONS that will eliminate the hatreds, fears and intolerances of some over others and the GREED, LUST FOR POWER and DESIRE FOR STATUS that create a climate in which these things can repeatedly happen.
Repent, says Jesus in Luke, of wrong thinking and actions.... and TO right thinking and actions.
Pastor Jamie
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