"Love your neighbor as yourself" is not a suggestion, but rather a commandment! It means that you will no more want to see your neighbor (stranger and enemy according to Jesus in Luke 10) go without what they need than you would want that for yourself. It means that you would not entertain the thought of self promotion while neighbor is struggling or suffering.
Since 1980, the top 1% of those in the nation's economy doubled their income level. Since 1980, the top .1% more than tripled their income level. The average household income in our nation is about $34,000 and the mean per capita income is about $27,000. The gap between the very few who have the most and the increasingly more who have less is widening.
And yet Christians either sit silently, while screaming about other issues never addressed by Jesus, or they join the bandwagon, supporting those in government and business (increasingly the same entity), who promote the further wealth of the wealthy and further power of the powerful (same folks), while taking away what little power organized labor and others have in order to defend themselves and make a decent living.
While cutting programs for the poor, many in government are INSISTING that we continue tax breaks for the wealthy.
While cutting unemployment benefits in most states, many in government are INSISTING that we continue tax breaks for the corporations (whom they call job creators, though they are the ones who out of self interest for more personal profit laid people off and destroyed jobs to begin with).
While actively working to strip any say of the people in organized labor, many in government are allowing companies to strip away pensions and benefits for faithful employees of many years, that the companies agreed to pay them when they started work there!
Many of these people who are in government, in board rooms and voting booths are also in churches on Sunday mornings, praising Jesus.
Amos 5: 21-24
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your assemblies. Even though you offer me your offerings, I will not accept them, and your peace offerings I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your instruments I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amos 8:4-7
Hear this, you who trample upon the needy, and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, 'When will the restrictions be over so that we may sell unrestricted again? And the sabbath, that we may offer our wares for sale, and make the weights uneven and gain more money, and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the rotten produce to them?' The Lord has sworn by the pride of His people: "Surely I will never forget any of their deeds."
Matthew 25:31-46
Truly, I tell you, as you fed the hungry, clothed the naked, welcomed the stranger (alien in the land), visited the sick and imprisoned (with compassion and justice), so you did it to me. As you refused the feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, or visit the sick or imprisoned, you refused me. And the goats will go away to eternal punishment, but the sheep into eternal life. - Jesus
Luke 6:24-27
Woe to you who are rich now, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all others speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you. - Jesus
Luke 18:18-30
How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! - Jesus
James 4:1-10
What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war within your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war...'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
James 5:1-11
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous, who does not resist you... the Judge is standing at the doors.
The LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR thing is a COMMANDMENT. Jesus takes it seriously. It is NO JOKE! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob takes it seriously. Injustice, inequity, inequality God takes seriously. I am sometimes accused of talking too much about love, as if I am just sharing some nice thoughts with folks rather than sharing hard truths. This thing about AGAPE LOVE has a hard edge to it. At least according to Jesus, who IS the Judge of the living and dead in my faith, our salvation is dependent upon how well we treat "the least of these". How are we doing with that as politicians, business executives and voters (especially who profess to be "Christian") in our nation right now? I believe a whole lotta people who think they are sheep will be on the goat side of the ledger...
Trampling those who are already poor to gain more for those who are already rich is IMMORAL, at least according to God. With God, not all immorality has somehow to do with sex. GREED IS IMMORAL. INJUSTICE out of GREED is IMMORAL. The God whose name is praised by those who perpetrate this immorality is NOT PLEASED and WILL NOT allow it to continue. How's that for hard truth? How's that for a prophetic word?
To REPENT means to "change one's mind", presumably so that one's direction will change in life. I believe it is time for massive repentance and a different direction in our nation, so that ALL are lifted up and not just some. I believe THAT would PLEASE GOD. I pray for those with power and wealth. I pray for those who aspire to have it. I pray for my brothers and sisters who go without what they need because others hoard their abundance (Rich Fool - Luke 12) or step over the poor and ignore their plight as they come and go in opulent wealth (Rich Man and Lazarus - Luke 16). I pray for "the least of these" and try to help them because they are my sisters and brothers and Jesus loves them. I don't want to hurt those whom Jesus loves. It is not loving, faithful or wise. I also pray for those who perpetrate injustice out of immoral greed. I pray for their souls and the soul of our nation, especially now. It is the LOVING thing to do.
Pastor Jamie
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
"Shut up and come out, unclean societal spirits!"
Credit and/or my apologies must go to my wife, The Rev. Jacqueline Pinkney, for much of this, as it came out of her sermon preparation and our discussion of it this evening before prayer...
Mark 1: 21-28 YES! Dust your Bible off, go to the index and look up Mark, and read it, please :-)
In the synagogue, a man with an unclean Spirit encounters Jesus, and the spirit at seeing Jesus started to cry out to Him and negotiate with Jesus about His intentions. Jesus did not give the spirit the power or credibility worth talking, but demanded that the spirit exit the man. The spirit did with convulsions and loud cries.
We need to exorcise the unclean spirits in our society. They have been exercised for far too long and have become very strong and full of stamina. They are too healthy for our good, and they disrupt a healthy existence.
Like the man in the synagogue, until we encounter Jesus and His teachings in authority over our lives, we will remain with unclean spirits within as our norm, and live with them within us as if it is normal. It is only when we hear the teachings of Jesus as our authority that we see the "un-normal" state of our existence with them. We may be in the church and filled with unclean spirits, and until we encounter Jesus and His authority, we will deem them normal forces in our lives. And when we do see Jesus' authority in His teachings, we will try to negotiate, acknowledging who He is as Lord but not wanting to let go of the unclean... but Jesus will not give the spirits that much clout, even to listen to them, but will rather demand that they be silenced and cast them out of us. At that point, we will experience some discomfort, because they have become normal for us, and we are quite attached to them, so we do not want to let go, but rather to give Jesus acknowledgement and still be subject to the uncleanness of the spirits, gleefully going where they take us.
I know that Jesus is my authority... fulfiller of the Law and Prophets... Redeemer, Savior and LORD
of my life. I know that His Good News is good news because it teaches me the Kingdom Values within which I want to live. As a follower of the Way of Jesus, I have encountered Him and do encounter Him in His Good News... and I am in agreement with Him over the unclean spirit business.
I make every attempt to keep them silent and without power over my life.
So,
Unclean spirit of GREED... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your rationalizations, your seductive promises of wealth, your protestations of innocence and uprightness in "success", "achievement" and "growth", your selfish origins and the scope of your ruthlessness to always get more for self at the expense of others... Jesus taught very differently about greed and wealth, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
Unclean spirit of POWER... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your ideologies of dominance in the name of good and as our manifest destiny, your spoils of war, your blood lust and thirst for vengeance and pride of dominance and control, your profiting in blood, your "might makes right" attitudes and your perspective that power always has to be over someone else... Jesus taught very differently about abuses of power, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
Unclean spirit of PRESTIGE... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your false belief that it is all about you, your guise as just being seen for the great child of God you are, your hunger for constant acknowledgement, your pride in self alone, your constant striving to be famous and not necessarily to do the right things, to be recognized and not for things uplifting, and sick need to be favored over someone else... Jesus taught very differently about humility and service for others in it, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
Unclean spirit of FEAR... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your philosophy of self preservation and promotion above all others, your manipulation of others' fears so you can control them, your rationalization of judgment and exclusion of others because they are different, your false and arrogant sense of superiority over others who are not like you, your sick need to appear to be better than others and therefore the need to vilify them, and the venomous slander that leads to discrimination, exploitation and violence because your fear has led you to hatred of others... Jesus taught very differently about loving even stranger and enemy and not judging anyone, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
This may feel un-normal for a while and uncomfortable because it is not familiar, but my prayer is that these unclean spirits will come out of us, and that we will find our health and spiritual well being in Jesus. Encounter Him and His Good News. Submit to it, conform your way to His way. It'll only hurt for a minute, and the society around you will be much happier and healthier to be around you. You will ultimately feel much better inside. It will mean healing for your soul, and perhaps the soul of the church and our nation.
God bless you.
Pastor Jamie
Mark 1: 21-28 YES! Dust your Bible off, go to the index and look up Mark, and read it, please :-)
In the synagogue, a man with an unclean Spirit encounters Jesus, and the spirit at seeing Jesus started to cry out to Him and negotiate with Jesus about His intentions. Jesus did not give the spirit the power or credibility worth talking, but demanded that the spirit exit the man. The spirit did with convulsions and loud cries.
We need to exorcise the unclean spirits in our society. They have been exercised for far too long and have become very strong and full of stamina. They are too healthy for our good, and they disrupt a healthy existence.
Like the man in the synagogue, until we encounter Jesus and His teachings in authority over our lives, we will remain with unclean spirits within as our norm, and live with them within us as if it is normal. It is only when we hear the teachings of Jesus as our authority that we see the "un-normal" state of our existence with them. We may be in the church and filled with unclean spirits, and until we encounter Jesus and His authority, we will deem them normal forces in our lives. And when we do see Jesus' authority in His teachings, we will try to negotiate, acknowledging who He is as Lord but not wanting to let go of the unclean... but Jesus will not give the spirits that much clout, even to listen to them, but will rather demand that they be silenced and cast them out of us. At that point, we will experience some discomfort, because they have become normal for us, and we are quite attached to them, so we do not want to let go, but rather to give Jesus acknowledgement and still be subject to the uncleanness of the spirits, gleefully going where they take us.
I know that Jesus is my authority... fulfiller of the Law and Prophets... Redeemer, Savior and LORD
of my life. I know that His Good News is good news because it teaches me the Kingdom Values within which I want to live. As a follower of the Way of Jesus, I have encountered Him and do encounter Him in His Good News... and I am in agreement with Him over the unclean spirit business.
I make every attempt to keep them silent and without power over my life.
So,
Unclean spirit of GREED... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your rationalizations, your seductive promises of wealth, your protestations of innocence and uprightness in "success", "achievement" and "growth", your selfish origins and the scope of your ruthlessness to always get more for self at the expense of others... Jesus taught very differently about greed and wealth, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
Unclean spirit of POWER... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your ideologies of dominance in the name of good and as our manifest destiny, your spoils of war, your blood lust and thirst for vengeance and pride of dominance and control, your profiting in blood, your "might makes right" attitudes and your perspective that power always has to be over someone else... Jesus taught very differently about abuses of power, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
Unclean spirit of PRESTIGE... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your false belief that it is all about you, your guise as just being seen for the great child of God you are, your hunger for constant acknowledgement, your pride in self alone, your constant striving to be famous and not necessarily to do the right things, to be recognized and not for things uplifting, and sick need to be favored over someone else... Jesus taught very differently about humility and service for others in it, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
Unclean spirit of FEAR... I recognize you for who you are... shut up with your philosophy of self preservation and promotion above all others, your manipulation of others' fears so you can control them, your rationalization of judgment and exclusion of others because they are different, your false and arrogant sense of superiority over others who are not like you, your sick need to appear to be better than others and therefore the need to vilify them, and the venomous slander that leads to discrimination, exploitation and violence because your fear has led you to hatred of others... Jesus taught very differently about loving even stranger and enemy and not judging anyone, and Jesus says, "Shut up and come out of them!"
This may feel un-normal for a while and uncomfortable because it is not familiar, but my prayer is that these unclean spirits will come out of us, and that we will find our health and spiritual well being in Jesus. Encounter Him and His Good News. Submit to it, conform your way to His way. It'll only hurt for a minute, and the society around you will be much happier and healthier to be around you. You will ultimately feel much better inside. It will mean healing for your soul, and perhaps the soul of the church and our nation.
God bless you.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 6, 2012
what it is
OK, so God created us... gave us life... gives us all the possibilities and opportunities of living this life, and we are subject to the imperfections of it (disease, troubling situations, environment in which we live and which we affect, etc.)... God then sends the Son who redeems us (by dying for us) for our salvation after this life and who, incidentally taught us (in The Word... The Gospel - His Good News fulfillment of the Law and Prophets) what God expects of us on how we are to live as recipients of this life and redemption (also giving us His Grace in the Sacraments)... and sends the Holy Spirit to always point us to Christ Jesus in life, and therefore to God's Love, Grace, Redemption and Salvation... and God wants us to live according to the Law of Agape Love... apply that to the world around us and create joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, goodness and self-control in it...
... and we turn this God into a "Genie in a bottle", whom we call on to give us wishes and every desire, "Mr. Good Wrench" who will fix every trouble, magically (supernaturally) work on our behalf (if we are among the favored and blessed), "a prophylactic" to protect us from all harm and a "sugar daddy" to make us rich? All while we ignore what Jesus taught because all we want to do is offer Praise and Worship, along with our tithes and offerings, as a "priming of the supernatural pump"?
... does this seem to anyone else like a SLAP IN THE FACE TO GOD?
I ain't buyin' that... life is what we make it... good, bad or indifferent...
If God does not do another thing for me for the rest of my life, I could still spend it giving Thanks and Praise for what God has ALREADY done for me, and I will. Period.
Thank you, Lord. I PRAISE You for who You are - Loving, Merciful, Just, Gracious... and THANK you for what you have already done - creation, redemption, salvation, guiding me to You...
And out of thankfulness and gratitude, I will FOLLOW YOUR TEACHINGS for how you want me to live in the world and work to make it a place that is in alignment with your Kingdom Values, according to the Gospel of Jesus, my LORD.
Your Thankful Servant,
Jamie
... and we turn this God into a "Genie in a bottle", whom we call on to give us wishes and every desire, "Mr. Good Wrench" who will fix every trouble, magically (supernaturally) work on our behalf (if we are among the favored and blessed), "a prophylactic" to protect us from all harm and a "sugar daddy" to make us rich? All while we ignore what Jesus taught because all we want to do is offer Praise and Worship, along with our tithes and offerings, as a "priming of the supernatural pump"?
... does this seem to anyone else like a SLAP IN THE FACE TO GOD?
I ain't buyin' that... life is what we make it... good, bad or indifferent...
If God does not do another thing for me for the rest of my life, I could still spend it giving Thanks and Praise for what God has ALREADY done for me, and I will. Period.
Thank you, Lord. I PRAISE You for who You are - Loving, Merciful, Just, Gracious... and THANK you for what you have already done - creation, redemption, salvation, guiding me to You...
And out of thankfulness and gratitude, I will FOLLOW YOUR TEACHINGS for how you want me to live in the world and work to make it a place that is in alignment with your Kingdom Values, according to the Gospel of Jesus, my LORD.
Your Thankful Servant,
Jamie
Monday, April 30, 2012
first things first
Mark 1:15... the first recorded words of Jesus in the first Gospel written (60 AD... an imperative... a command... first of all, clarity that God's Kingdom is not far away, but with Jesus immanent... that the Old Testament Law and Prophets have been fulfilled... reached their time... now, this new covenant will be based on Grace and centered in Agape Love... Jesus said, "REPENT, AND BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS."
METANOEITE... repent... means, literally "to change one's mind"... it means that one changes the way one thinks that, presumably, one's life changes will follow... to change how we look at things... to change our perspective on things...
BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS... what Jesus came to offer (Luke 4:16-30)... Good News to the people of God that in Him there is Redemption and Salvation by God's Grace, and that that there is Justice in THIS part of God's Kingdom because The Law and Prophets are fulfilled in Jesus and the Kingdom is at hand... the acceptable time of the Lord is here... Kingdom Values are to be lived on earth.
One must CHANGE ONE'S THINKING to get this.
The Good News was something completely different than people had been hearing or living from those who represented God. Believe it or not, they said one thing and did another. Imagine it, but they would use God's word to exclude some people and beat them down with the Law. It is unfathomable for us to conceive of this, but they twisted the Word of God so that it seemed that God justified their abuses of power over others and their exploitation of others, especially the poor, for their own personal gain. It is maybe so far from our experience to grasp, that we may struggle with this passage. Can you imagine even the religious leaders turning the faith into something that would benefit themselves and people just like them over others who were powerless and poor? Naw... "By their fruits you will know them."
The Good News of Jesus turns things around in this part of God's Kingdom. Don't believe me? Read what Jesus taught and exemplified in the four Gospels... what did Jesus say about Greed? Power and authority? the rich and poor? corrupt religious leaders? corrupt people in power? homosexuals? (sorry, that was a trick one... Jesus said NOTHING about them)...
Read His Words... both quotes and parables... I dare you.
When you do, if you do, you may see that one needs to REPENT: change one's thinking, perspective, way of looking at things in order to believe in, value and follow the Good News in the world around us.
As The People of the Way of Jesus, we are embarking on a lectionary (system of looking at the scriptures for Preaching and Teaching) that is centered on Jesus' teachings and examples for us... you know, a consideration of what Jesus wants from us in how we live in this world... my prayer is that it will guide all those who engage in it to REPENT: change our way of thinking to Jesus' way of thinking, and believe in the Good News and conform our lives to living it in the world around us... I truly believe that in order to be a Christian, I must submit to Jesus' way and conform to Jesus' Will, and in order to do that, I must seriously look at what Jesus taught and exemplified for how we are to live in the world.
The first Imperative of Jesus in the First Gospel written - change your way of thinking (and living) and believe in what I (Jesus) tell you as Good News... it is not a suggestion, but an imperative... a command... the very first one! How are you at keeping it? I am looking at it very seriously for my life right now... I dare you to do the same!
Pastor Jamie
METANOEITE... repent... means, literally "to change one's mind"... it means that one changes the way one thinks that, presumably, one's life changes will follow... to change how we look at things... to change our perspective on things...
BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS... what Jesus came to offer (Luke 4:16-30)... Good News to the people of God that in Him there is Redemption and Salvation by God's Grace, and that that there is Justice in THIS part of God's Kingdom because The Law and Prophets are fulfilled in Jesus and the Kingdom is at hand... the acceptable time of the Lord is here... Kingdom Values are to be lived on earth.
One must CHANGE ONE'S THINKING to get this.
The Good News was something completely different than people had been hearing or living from those who represented God. Believe it or not, they said one thing and did another. Imagine it, but they would use God's word to exclude some people and beat them down with the Law. It is unfathomable for us to conceive of this, but they twisted the Word of God so that it seemed that God justified their abuses of power over others and their exploitation of others, especially the poor, for their own personal gain. It is maybe so far from our experience to grasp, that we may struggle with this passage. Can you imagine even the religious leaders turning the faith into something that would benefit themselves and people just like them over others who were powerless and poor? Naw... "By their fruits you will know them."
The Good News of Jesus turns things around in this part of God's Kingdom. Don't believe me? Read what Jesus taught and exemplified in the four Gospels... what did Jesus say about Greed? Power and authority? the rich and poor? corrupt religious leaders? corrupt people in power? homosexuals? (sorry, that was a trick one... Jesus said NOTHING about them)...
Read His Words... both quotes and parables... I dare you.
When you do, if you do, you may see that one needs to REPENT: change one's thinking, perspective, way of looking at things in order to believe in, value and follow the Good News in the world around us.
As The People of the Way of Jesus, we are embarking on a lectionary (system of looking at the scriptures for Preaching and Teaching) that is centered on Jesus' teachings and examples for us... you know, a consideration of what Jesus wants from us in how we live in this world... my prayer is that it will guide all those who engage in it to REPENT: change our way of thinking to Jesus' way of thinking, and believe in the Good News and conform our lives to living it in the world around us... I truly believe that in order to be a Christian, I must submit to Jesus' way and conform to Jesus' Will, and in order to do that, I must seriously look at what Jesus taught and exemplified for how we are to live in the world.
The first Imperative of Jesus in the First Gospel written - change your way of thinking (and living) and believe in what I (Jesus) tell you as Good News... it is not a suggestion, but an imperative... a command... the very first one! How are you at keeping it? I am looking at it very seriously for my life right now... I dare you to do the same!
Pastor Jamie
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Radical Community in Radical (Agape) Love
Yes, this will be a Bible Study kinda blog. Please take the time. It will be worth it!
Matthew 20:1-16 offers us perhaps an insight into God's Kingdom Values regarding provision in need as one's motivation, rather than another's worthiness or merit by works. It may not be what some want to recognize as a Christian value, especially in America, but it is clearly a value of Jesus.
The First Century followers of Jesus took Jesus' Grace seriously in how we live in the world around us. People committed to living the Agape Love that Jesus commanded, in every aspect of life. It led the people who followed Jesus' Way to live as Radical Community in Radical (Agape) Love.
Acts 2:43-47 informs us of just how much people gathered around faith together, as one people, sharing their food generously and living the love. It had a wonderful effect, and people were drawn to be a part of this Radical Community, knowing that they were Jesus' followers by their Agape Love.
Acts 4:32-35 offers a picture of how the people practiced Radical Ownership and shared of their abundance, so that there were none in need among them. They were of one heart and soul, and it led them to distribute of their collective abundance for each as any had need, and not because they "earned" it.
Acts 6:1-8 gives us a glimpse of how the people lived in a Radical Partnership in leadership, not lording their authority over others, even with those who were ethnically different, and shared the power in community as one people.
Acts 8:26-40 displays Radical Inclusion of one who was ethnically, religiously and sexually different and therefore excluded by the Law of Moses, but who was Baptized by Phillip and included in the community of faith out of Agape Love.
Acts 10:9-16 is a vision of Radical Freedom in personal practices in life, and the openness of loving mercy rather than sacrifice when it comes to practices of piety and dogmatism. No one was to be excluded on the grounds of how they might have once been considered unclean or by how their dietary practices were looked at as unclean.
Acts 11:27-29 gives a beautiful account of how Radical Sharing was practiced, even for those who were strangers, based on their need and the love of the community of believers for them.
Acts 27 is the telling of the story of how those who were once enslaved by others were freed by an act of Radical Liberation by God through God's servant Paul. It is a heart-warming story of the courage to stand up and speak justice to power, thereby changing those who once perpetrated injustice on others.
Imagine what the world around us would look like if we practiced Radical Community? What would it mean in how we live Agape Love in very real ways in society? What would it take within each of us in order that we might be of one heart and soul, and submit to Jesus' will and conform our ways to Jesus' way of being in the world? Does that not actually define what it means to be a follower of Jesus? The First Century Christians strove diligently to live the Agape Love the Jesus commanded in every aspect of life together. What would it look like if we did that today? Can you imagine? I would like to imagine it. I would like to see it. I would like to live it.
Pastor Jamie
Matthew 20:1-16 offers us perhaps an insight into God's Kingdom Values regarding provision in need as one's motivation, rather than another's worthiness or merit by works. It may not be what some want to recognize as a Christian value, especially in America, but it is clearly a value of Jesus.
The First Century followers of Jesus took Jesus' Grace seriously in how we live in the world around us. People committed to living the Agape Love that Jesus commanded, in every aspect of life. It led the people who followed Jesus' Way to live as Radical Community in Radical (Agape) Love.
Acts 2:43-47 informs us of just how much people gathered around faith together, as one people, sharing their food generously and living the love. It had a wonderful effect, and people were drawn to be a part of this Radical Community, knowing that they were Jesus' followers by their Agape Love.
Acts 4:32-35 offers a picture of how the people practiced Radical Ownership and shared of their abundance, so that there were none in need among them. They were of one heart and soul, and it led them to distribute of their collective abundance for each as any had need, and not because they "earned" it.
Acts 6:1-8 gives us a glimpse of how the people lived in a Radical Partnership in leadership, not lording their authority over others, even with those who were ethnically different, and shared the power in community as one people.
Acts 8:26-40 displays Radical Inclusion of one who was ethnically, religiously and sexually different and therefore excluded by the Law of Moses, but who was Baptized by Phillip and included in the community of faith out of Agape Love.
Acts 10:9-16 is a vision of Radical Freedom in personal practices in life, and the openness of loving mercy rather than sacrifice when it comes to practices of piety and dogmatism. No one was to be excluded on the grounds of how they might have once been considered unclean or by how their dietary practices were looked at as unclean.
Acts 11:27-29 gives a beautiful account of how Radical Sharing was practiced, even for those who were strangers, based on their need and the love of the community of believers for them.
Acts 27 is the telling of the story of how those who were once enslaved by others were freed by an act of Radical Liberation by God through God's servant Paul. It is a heart-warming story of the courage to stand up and speak justice to power, thereby changing those who once perpetrated injustice on others.
Imagine what the world around us would look like if we practiced Radical Community? What would it mean in how we live Agape Love in very real ways in society? What would it take within each of us in order that we might be of one heart and soul, and submit to Jesus' will and conform our ways to Jesus' way of being in the world? Does that not actually define what it means to be a follower of Jesus? The First Century Christians strove diligently to live the Agape Love the Jesus commanded in every aspect of life together. What would it look like if we did that today? Can you imagine? I would like to imagine it. I would like to see it. I would like to live it.
Pastor Jamie
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A disconnect
We seem to have a disconnect among the people who claim to be "Christian" in our country. We have people who worship weekly (weakly?) and who sit on the pews or theater seats, breathe in the sanctuary air, sing the praises and give the tithes, but who do not hear the Good News of Jesus and certainly do not heed it. Their practice is unloving, un-Christ-like and unhelpful in the world, especially in business and politics and in their attitudes toward others in the world around them and treatment of them.
Jesus said NOTHING against homosexuality, but did say a lot about the immorality of greed and the corruptions of the wealthy. Yet, the people who claim His name relentlessly go after those who are gay and champion those who build their wealth and power by exploiting the poor whom Jesus loved and championed.
Jesus talked in very powerful terms, even commands, about loving strangers and enemies, yet there are many in churches who ruthlessly attack "illegal" aliens in the land and who feel great joy at the death of our enemies.
Jesus talked about helping the hungry, naked, stranger, sick and imprisoned. In fact, Jesus identified our good treatment of them or refusal of help to them with Himself and how we treat Him. Yet, many "followers" of Jesus blame the poor for the plight we have inflicted on them, punish the sojourner in our land, keep the sick ones sick (unless we can charge them) and imprison more for profit and political gain.
Rather than lift up those who are most vulnerable in the name of our Glorious Lord, we lift up those as "lords" who exemplify all that is devoid of the Agape Love commanded by Jesus.
We are all such good "Christians", but we do not want to hear what Jesus taught and exemplified, and especially do not want to heed what He commanded. We are those who "honor (Him) with (our) lips only, but (our) hearts are far from Him." We have "itching ears" to hear what we want to hear, so we follow preachers who glorify our power and wealth, rather than the teachings and examples of Jesus. We follow False Prophets rather than Jesus, because we get more out of it. It is all about US, over others not like us and over those whom we can exploit within our nation and abroad, and do not follow Jesus our Lord, though we claim Him as Savior.
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?"
There is a disconnect between what we CLAIM TO BE and what WE ARE, in fact. Truly, to follow Jesus' teachings and examples would CHANGE THE WORLD. For some, it would not be a welcomed change because they could no longer live their unchecked hatred, greed and lust for power and self-indulgence. For others, it would be a tremendous gift of Grace, because they have been held down for so long, and they would be lifted up with Jesus.
Don't believe me? Read the four Gospels and pay particularly close attention to what Jesus SAID and DID regarding others, and particularly those most vulnerable. Warning: That will make it hard to be a "pretend" follower of Jesus or just claim Him as Savior and ignore Him as Lord of your life. It will also make you genuinely loving, so you would have to give up your attitudes, bigotries, greed, lust for power and self-indulgence at the expense of others.
Oh and yes, by the way, I believe that blatantly ignoring Jesus and His Way while claiming His name, but relying on God's Grace is a cheapening of Grace and a mocking of God... and we all know that "God will not be mocked".
I pray that you WILL read the Gospels and be changed by the Good News of Jesus - His teachings and examples... even as I continue that process of growth in faith. It will also change the lives of those around you and change the world.
God bless you as you strive to have a genuine faith in Jesus and submission to His Will...
Pastor Jamie
Jesus said NOTHING against homosexuality, but did say a lot about the immorality of greed and the corruptions of the wealthy. Yet, the people who claim His name relentlessly go after those who are gay and champion those who build their wealth and power by exploiting the poor whom Jesus loved and championed.
Jesus talked in very powerful terms, even commands, about loving strangers and enemies, yet there are many in churches who ruthlessly attack "illegal" aliens in the land and who feel great joy at the death of our enemies.
Jesus talked about helping the hungry, naked, stranger, sick and imprisoned. In fact, Jesus identified our good treatment of them or refusal of help to them with Himself and how we treat Him. Yet, many "followers" of Jesus blame the poor for the plight we have inflicted on them, punish the sojourner in our land, keep the sick ones sick (unless we can charge them) and imprison more for profit and political gain.
Rather than lift up those who are most vulnerable in the name of our Glorious Lord, we lift up those as "lords" who exemplify all that is devoid of the Agape Love commanded by Jesus.
We are all such good "Christians", but we do not want to hear what Jesus taught and exemplified, and especially do not want to heed what He commanded. We are those who "honor (Him) with (our) lips only, but (our) hearts are far from Him." We have "itching ears" to hear what we want to hear, so we follow preachers who glorify our power and wealth, rather than the teachings and examples of Jesus. We follow False Prophets rather than Jesus, because we get more out of it. It is all about US, over others not like us and over those whom we can exploit within our nation and abroad, and do not follow Jesus our Lord, though we claim Him as Savior.
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?"
There is a disconnect between what we CLAIM TO BE and what WE ARE, in fact. Truly, to follow Jesus' teachings and examples would CHANGE THE WORLD. For some, it would not be a welcomed change because they could no longer live their unchecked hatred, greed and lust for power and self-indulgence. For others, it would be a tremendous gift of Grace, because they have been held down for so long, and they would be lifted up with Jesus.
Don't believe me? Read the four Gospels and pay particularly close attention to what Jesus SAID and DID regarding others, and particularly those most vulnerable. Warning: That will make it hard to be a "pretend" follower of Jesus or just claim Him as Savior and ignore Him as Lord of your life. It will also make you genuinely loving, so you would have to give up your attitudes, bigotries, greed, lust for power and self-indulgence at the expense of others.
Oh and yes, by the way, I believe that blatantly ignoring Jesus and His Way while claiming His name, but relying on God's Grace is a cheapening of Grace and a mocking of God... and we all know that "God will not be mocked".
I pray that you WILL read the Gospels and be changed by the Good News of Jesus - His teachings and examples... even as I continue that process of growth in faith. It will also change the lives of those around you and change the world.
God bless you as you strive to have a genuine faith in Jesus and submission to His Will...
Pastor Jamie
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Kingdom within
Luke 17:20,21
"The Kingdom of God is within you."
Acts 17:28
"In Him we live and move and have our being."
We are not far from God and God is not far from us.
For those who profess to believe in Jesus, there is one question -
IS JESUS WITHIN YOU?
... and is often the case, a second question...
IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF YOU?
As a Person of the Way of Jesus, I believe I must not just
take Jesus out of the tomb on Sundays to Worship and Praise Him,
(Luke 24:5) but acknowledge Jesus as LIVING LORD of my life,
and follow what He taught and exemplified.
I believe I must go beyond "lip service" (Mark 7:6-8) and apply
what Jesus taught to my relationships, my practices in economics,
which we call GOOD STEWARDSHIP of God's Gifts, politics,
which we call JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN POWER, and every
other aspect of life in society. If I do not, I ignore one I call not
only Savior, but Lord, and relegate Jesus to a dead hero who taught
irrelevant things to my life today.
So, in business and economics and how I strive to practice them,
IS JESUS IN ME? IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF ME?
In politics and voting, rhetoric and practice,
IS JESUS IN ME? IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF ME?
Are my words and actions those that LIFT UP others in the Agape Love
that Jesus commanded, or do they tear others down out of my greed and
self-centered nature?
Do I put out in the world around me the "works of the flesh" of
Galatians 5:19-21 (please resist the urge to stay with fornication,
licentiousness, sorcery and such - I know they are sexier to think about
than idolatry, jealousy, selfishness, envy, party spirit and the rest, but
they are important, too)...
or do I put out in the world around me the "fruit of the Spirit in
Galatians 5:22-23 (Agape Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,
Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control)?
As one who claims the name of Jesus...
IS JESUS IN ME? IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF ME?
LOOK AT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT AND EXEMPLIFIED, as we
have it recorded in the Gospels...
Pastor Jamie
"The Kingdom of God is within you."
Acts 17:28
"In Him we live and move and have our being."
We are not far from God and God is not far from us.
For those who profess to believe in Jesus, there is one question -
IS JESUS WITHIN YOU?
... and is often the case, a second question...
IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF YOU?
As a Person of the Way of Jesus, I believe I must not just
take Jesus out of the tomb on Sundays to Worship and Praise Him,
(Luke 24:5) but acknowledge Jesus as LIVING LORD of my life,
and follow what He taught and exemplified.
I believe I must go beyond "lip service" (Mark 7:6-8) and apply
what Jesus taught to my relationships, my practices in economics,
which we call GOOD STEWARDSHIP of God's Gifts, politics,
which we call JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN POWER, and every
other aspect of life in society. If I do not, I ignore one I call not
only Savior, but Lord, and relegate Jesus to a dead hero who taught
irrelevant things to my life today.
So, in business and economics and how I strive to practice them,
IS JESUS IN ME? IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF ME?
In politics and voting, rhetoric and practice,
IS JESUS IN ME? IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF ME?
Are my words and actions those that LIFT UP others in the Agape Love
that Jesus commanded, or do they tear others down out of my greed and
self-centered nature?
Do I put out in the world around me the "works of the flesh" of
Galatians 5:19-21 (please resist the urge to stay with fornication,
licentiousness, sorcery and such - I know they are sexier to think about
than idolatry, jealousy, selfishness, envy, party spirit and the rest, but
they are important, too)...
or do I put out in the world around me the "fruit of the Spirit in
Galatians 5:22-23 (Agape Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,
Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control)?
As one who claims the name of Jesus...
IS JESUS IN ME? IS IT JESUS THAT IS COMING OUT OF ME?
LOOK AT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT AND EXEMPLIFIED, as we
have it recorded in the Gospels...
Pastor Jamie
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