For all my sisters and brothers who advocate a strict adherence to the Law (and Order)... Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:28-34...
From Deuteronomy through all history, Love has been the Law for those who worship the One God.
It is the COMMAND of God.
It is God's IMPERATIVE.
"There is no other commandment greater than these" ...
That we LOVE GOD with all our HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH...
That we LOVE NEIGHBOR as SELF...
More important than offerings and sacrifices (tithes, penance), even Worship or Praise.
The word is Agape in Greek.
Active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable, according to Jesus (Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46).
We love God by loving those who God loves - actively committing to their well-being.
It is not just suggested or expected. It is THE COMMAND of Jesus.
With all our heart,
With all our soul,
With all our mind,
With all our strength... all of our selves engaged in, focused and committed to living this Love...
We are COMMANDED to love others, commit to their well-being (even stranger and enemy) just like we love our selves!
With our words and actions.
By keeping our mouths shut at times and in what we don't do.
By how we interact in society, do our work, engage in politics and economics and raise our children.
We are COMMANDED to love God with all we have and love our Neighbor as we love our selves.
We are COMMANDED to not want or allow any lack or harm come to them anymore than we would want or allow that for ourselves.
We are COMMANDED to do what we can to enhance their well-being in life, even as if it affects our own well-being (and it does).
The immigrants at our border, who God loves.
Our black and brown sisters and brothers, who God loves.
The poor, the sick, the disabled, all children, LGBTQ folk and people of all faiths within our land and across the world.
For if we do not, we are rejecting, hurting, discriminating against, abusing, exploiting JESUS.
For if we do not, we are slapping JESUS in the face with our blatant apostasy (walking away, abandoning) of Jesus' Way..and are "FAR from the Kingdom of God."
So, it really is this simple -
If we Worship, Praise, Tithe, Pray, exhibit spiritual gifts, live pure and holy lives according to some deeply "religious" code but do not actively live AGAPE LOVE with ALL PEOPLE, IT ALL MEANS NOTHING.
(see I Corinthians 13)
Truly, we live by THIS Law or we die by THIS Law, according to Jesus, who many of you claim as Savior and Lord, and who is the Judge of the living and the dead.
So, how are we doing at living within the Law?
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Relevance...
Does the Good News of Jesus have any relevance in our lives here and now?
Is the Gospel just about "pie in sky when we die", or is it illuminating and authoritative in guiding how God wants us to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?
Do Kingdom Values apply to life here and now?
Does what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers, as we have those in the Gospels, speak to us on how God wants us to live as children of God here and now?
Relevance is in the eye of the beholder. I remember Jim Wallis at a SCUPE Conference (Seminary Consortium on Urban Pastoral Education) talking about his Bible full of holes, left from a Seminary project of literally cutting out passages on the Poor and Oppressed to put on a poster board... he said that what was left, a swiss cheese looking thing, is America's Bible because we don't want to look at those things relative to our faith. We all know that folk "cherry pick" their favorite passages to "prove" their ideologies, while ignoring scores of others that challenge those ideologies. Is what is truly relevant only what we WANT to be relevant? Can we ignore the rest and be right with God or our Neighbor(s)?
At the risk of some personal "cherry picking" of my own, there are two passages that strike me regarding relevance to how we live in the world in light of Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom. Both come from the same Gospel, so they have the same writer who worked from a singular context in which the Gospel was shared and to which the Gospel addressed life with God.
Matthew 20:1-16 has long been used to talk about Grace in the Kingdom. I believe that it is a fine example of that. But is it Grace solely relative to getting into the Kingdom of God or is it a picture of Grace expectations of God in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now? If Grace is a Kingdom value, is it not supposed to be valued by those in the Kingdom here AND there? Do we wait to value Kingdom Grace when we get into heaven only, or is there value for its living here and now? What does God want from us?
It is here that I must interject that I believe the propensity for much of the church that claims Jesus to reduce our faith to concern only for our personal salvation through Worship, Praise, Tithes and verbally claiming Jesus as personal Savior has challenged the relevance of the Gospel in the world today. I also believe that those who superimpose their beliefs of personal purity and holiness to concerns regarding salvation as if they are the only concern, have further challenged its relevance for us. These works are not Grace. Personal salvation, I contend, is not an issue for those who are faithful to Jesus as Lord. So, what does being faithful mean?
I believe it means what Jesus is witnessed as sharing that it means - abiding in His Word, living His commandments, following Jesus. The Gospel IS Jesus' fulfillment of The Law and Prophets. Living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as Lord and Savior IS faithfulness to God. We live in the Kingdom here and now. We are called to follow Jesus, what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, here and now.
So when the Landowner (God), goes out into the vineyard to hire laborers at 6am, and then goes again at 9am, Noon, 3pm and 5pm - it is pure Grace. These are the day laborers who have not been chosen to work for the day and are in danger of not having the daily subsistance pay to feed their families for the day. The landowner seeks to help out unhirable laborers, for their sake.
And when the Landowner then pays those who came later the daily subsistance wage so that they can feed their families, just like the ones who worked 12 hours, it is because they needed it, though they had not "earned" it. That is pure Grace. That is what is valued in the Kingdom of God.
If a Company Owner or CEO follows Jesus, would they not do what Jesus taught is the Kingdom value thing to do? Would they not hire as many people as possible so that people have work? Would they not pay them enough on which to live? In fact, if we value this Kingdom of God Grace that Jesus taught, would we not take less willingly so that others would at least have enough on which to live (be generous like the Landowner)? Would CEOs not take less than 300x what laborers make so that those laborers can have enough for their families? Would stock holders not be willing to take fewer dividends because it means that others have what they need? Yet, people in those positions, many of whom claim Christ Jesus as personal savior, ignore what Jesus taught as Lord. Some of them claim it would be "socialism" or "communism" and that it flies in the face of American values for Capitalism. But what does any of that have to do with what Jesus taught? Is our first loyalty not to the Jesus who taught this?
Yes, you can "spiritualize" this passage and make it only relevant to getting into heaven, except for our second passage from the same Gospel.
In Jesus' vision of the Judgment (25:31-46), it is not those who Worship, Praise, Tithe or claim Jesus as personal Savior, or those who consider themselves (more) pure or holy who are the sheep separated for salvation vs. the goats, separated for "eternal punishment".
According to Jesus, who IS the Judge as Lord and Savior - salvation is based on how we live Agape Love and Grace - how we took care of the most vulnerable or refused to take care of them here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. In fact, Jesus likens our treatment of them to our treatment of Him. Our salvation is based on how Gracious and Loving we are with: the Hungry, thirsty, stranger in the land, naked, sick and imprisoned - the most vulnerable who are crushed by the injustices the world creates (in systems like Capitalism), as some take more than they need and leave others without food, clothing, welcoming inclusion in the community, healthcare and justice. There is little room to "spiritualize" this, so we cut it out of our Bibles, or at least out of the relevance of our faith.
And yes, this may be seen as a works instead of Grace orientation for our faith. Or it may be seen as obedience in faith to the living of it as it is defined by Jesus. James 2:14-26 (in fact all of chapter 2)comes to mind.
For me, Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Kingdom of God Values, and at their center are Agape Love and the living of it, and Grace. These Kingdom Values are meant to be lived HERE AND NOW, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. I do not concern myself with heaven, but rather with living faithfully to the Good News vision of what God values in the Kingdom. God takes care of salvation. I must focus my life on living the Agape Love and Grace that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me.
How is it for you? Do you try to make Jesus relevant only as personal Savior for getting into heaven, and not Lord of how you live your life? Do you have a Swiss Cheese Bible that cuts out the parts you don't like or that don't fit into your American Civil Religion ideology, hoping that other works will still qualify you for heaven? Or do you strive to be faithful to God by being faithful to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in His Good News?
Relevant or Irrelevant? Sheep or Goat? We are children of God and rely upon God's Grace. We are ALL children of God and rely upon God's Grace being lived among us, here and now.
God loves you and not only you. God loves those who are in need and those considered strangers or enemies. Our faithfulness to Loving God is expressed in how we Love (Agape) Neighbor as self. *
Pastor Jamie
*For further understanding of what Agape Love is, please read Luke 10:25-37. It has been central for me (along with Matthew 25:31-46) in defining Agape Love as active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable.
Is the Gospel just about "pie in sky when we die", or is it illuminating and authoritative in guiding how God wants us to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?
Do Kingdom Values apply to life here and now?
Does what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers, as we have those in the Gospels, speak to us on how God wants us to live as children of God here and now?
Relevance is in the eye of the beholder. I remember Jim Wallis at a SCUPE Conference (Seminary Consortium on Urban Pastoral Education) talking about his Bible full of holes, left from a Seminary project of literally cutting out passages on the Poor and Oppressed to put on a poster board... he said that what was left, a swiss cheese looking thing, is America's Bible because we don't want to look at those things relative to our faith. We all know that folk "cherry pick" their favorite passages to "prove" their ideologies, while ignoring scores of others that challenge those ideologies. Is what is truly relevant only what we WANT to be relevant? Can we ignore the rest and be right with God or our Neighbor(s)?
At the risk of some personal "cherry picking" of my own, there are two passages that strike me regarding relevance to how we live in the world in light of Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom. Both come from the same Gospel, so they have the same writer who worked from a singular context in which the Gospel was shared and to which the Gospel addressed life with God.
Matthew 20:1-16 has long been used to talk about Grace in the Kingdom. I believe that it is a fine example of that. But is it Grace solely relative to getting into the Kingdom of God or is it a picture of Grace expectations of God in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now? If Grace is a Kingdom value, is it not supposed to be valued by those in the Kingdom here AND there? Do we wait to value Kingdom Grace when we get into heaven only, or is there value for its living here and now? What does God want from us?
It is here that I must interject that I believe the propensity for much of the church that claims Jesus to reduce our faith to concern only for our personal salvation through Worship, Praise, Tithes and verbally claiming Jesus as personal Savior has challenged the relevance of the Gospel in the world today. I also believe that those who superimpose their beliefs of personal purity and holiness to concerns regarding salvation as if they are the only concern, have further challenged its relevance for us. These works are not Grace. Personal salvation, I contend, is not an issue for those who are faithful to Jesus as Lord. So, what does being faithful mean?
I believe it means what Jesus is witnessed as sharing that it means - abiding in His Word, living His commandments, following Jesus. The Gospel IS Jesus' fulfillment of The Law and Prophets. Living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as Lord and Savior IS faithfulness to God. We live in the Kingdom here and now. We are called to follow Jesus, what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, here and now.
So when the Landowner (God), goes out into the vineyard to hire laborers at 6am, and then goes again at 9am, Noon, 3pm and 5pm - it is pure Grace. These are the day laborers who have not been chosen to work for the day and are in danger of not having the daily subsistance pay to feed their families for the day. The landowner seeks to help out unhirable laborers, for their sake.
And when the Landowner then pays those who came later the daily subsistance wage so that they can feed their families, just like the ones who worked 12 hours, it is because they needed it, though they had not "earned" it. That is pure Grace. That is what is valued in the Kingdom of God.
If a Company Owner or CEO follows Jesus, would they not do what Jesus taught is the Kingdom value thing to do? Would they not hire as many people as possible so that people have work? Would they not pay them enough on which to live? In fact, if we value this Kingdom of God Grace that Jesus taught, would we not take less willingly so that others would at least have enough on which to live (be generous like the Landowner)? Would CEOs not take less than 300x what laborers make so that those laborers can have enough for their families? Would stock holders not be willing to take fewer dividends because it means that others have what they need? Yet, people in those positions, many of whom claim Christ Jesus as personal savior, ignore what Jesus taught as Lord. Some of them claim it would be "socialism" or "communism" and that it flies in the face of American values for Capitalism. But what does any of that have to do with what Jesus taught? Is our first loyalty not to the Jesus who taught this?
Yes, you can "spiritualize" this passage and make it only relevant to getting into heaven, except for our second passage from the same Gospel.
In Jesus' vision of the Judgment (25:31-46), it is not those who Worship, Praise, Tithe or claim Jesus as personal Savior, or those who consider themselves (more) pure or holy who are the sheep separated for salvation vs. the goats, separated for "eternal punishment".
According to Jesus, who IS the Judge as Lord and Savior - salvation is based on how we live Agape Love and Grace - how we took care of the most vulnerable or refused to take care of them here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. In fact, Jesus likens our treatment of them to our treatment of Him. Our salvation is based on how Gracious and Loving we are with: the Hungry, thirsty, stranger in the land, naked, sick and imprisoned - the most vulnerable who are crushed by the injustices the world creates (in systems like Capitalism), as some take more than they need and leave others without food, clothing, welcoming inclusion in the community, healthcare and justice. There is little room to "spiritualize" this, so we cut it out of our Bibles, or at least out of the relevance of our faith.
And yes, this may be seen as a works instead of Grace orientation for our faith. Or it may be seen as obedience in faith to the living of it as it is defined by Jesus. James 2:14-26 (in fact all of chapter 2)comes to mind.
For me, Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Kingdom of God Values, and at their center are Agape Love and the living of it, and Grace. These Kingdom Values are meant to be lived HERE AND NOW, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. I do not concern myself with heaven, but rather with living faithfully to the Good News vision of what God values in the Kingdom. God takes care of salvation. I must focus my life on living the Agape Love and Grace that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me.
How is it for you? Do you try to make Jesus relevant only as personal Savior for getting into heaven, and not Lord of how you live your life? Do you have a Swiss Cheese Bible that cuts out the parts you don't like or that don't fit into your American Civil Religion ideology, hoping that other works will still qualify you for heaven? Or do you strive to be faithful to God by being faithful to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in His Good News?
Relevant or Irrelevant? Sheep or Goat? We are children of God and rely upon God's Grace. We are ALL children of God and rely upon God's Grace being lived among us, here and now.
God loves you and not only you. God loves those who are in need and those considered strangers or enemies. Our faithfulness to Loving God is expressed in how we Love (Agape) Neighbor as self. *
Pastor Jamie
*For further understanding of what Agape Love is, please read Luke 10:25-37. It has been central for me (along with Matthew 25:31-46) in defining Agape Love as active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
greater than...
Two of the twelve wanted to be elevated above the rest in status, according to empire values.
They wanted to be considered greater than the rest of their sisters and brothers, to be privileged and among the elite who are entitled to more acclaim, adulation and admiration for being closer to the greatest of them all.
Jesus, considered the greatest among them, pointed out to them that there is a price to being the greatest, at least for those who live Kingdom values. The greatest servant among servants in the Kingdom is the one who sacrifices the greatest, and perhaps they were not ready for that kind of being lifted up.
The other ten were angry. Perhaps they too aspired to be considered for elevation above others, and these two brothers dared to come out and ask for it. It was a teaching moment on the Kingdom.
Jesus addressed the Roman values of which everyone being occupied was painfully aware, and addressed the temptation of those who were victimized by their love for wealth, power and status to adopt these empire values as their own for the sake of what they might gain for themselves.
Empire values are not gracious and loving in any way. They prevent the living of Agape Love. These values are the antithesis of living Agape Love. The striving for more, always more wealth, power and status are not about committed action to the other or others who are stranger, enemy and most vulnerable, but rather about getting more by any means for self or those associated or just like self. It is inwardly focused and not self-sacrificial in any way. Empire values do not elevate all equally, but always some above the rest. Empire values, in fact, necessitate the victimization of some for the sake of others, and the building of a great disparity in well-being due to the great disparity of wealth, power and status among peoples. In empire, many are exploited, manipulated and even destroyed for the enhanced pleasure of the few. There is no Agape Love in it. Those who aspire to live Kingdom Values dare not adopt these values, or they have wandered from the Lord and the Kingdom, having no Agape Love or Grace within them.
Kingdom Values define greatness differently. Valuing the well-being of all, equally means that enough for all is lifted up as a primary concern in the Kingdom. Jesus taught this, commanded it and modeled it, as we have witness by the Gospel writers. If someone does not have what they need, those who live Kingdom Values will sacrifice of their abundance in order for their need to be met. It is the Law of Agape Love and Grace, not founded on "deserving", entitlement or privilege but built on the Kingdom Value that all are of worth, equally. Jesus defines greatness by whoever serves as a
doulos, a slave. If one wishes to be great in the Kingdom, one must greatly serve others. A public servant serves the public. A follower of Jesus serves God by serving humanity. It is not about what we get in empire value terms, but rather what we are able to give that defines us as people who live the Kingdom Values taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus. Jesus is our example - the greatest among us, Son of God, who refers to Himself as Son of Man - and who gave up any Glory or Greatness in empire value terms to rise to Greatness in serving others according to Kingdom Values.
So, do you want to be "greater than" others according to empire values, or greater than you were before according to Kingdom of God Values? Mark 10:35-45
I'll strive to walk with Jesus in Grace and Agape Love.
Pastor Jamie
They wanted to be considered greater than the rest of their sisters and brothers, to be privileged and among the elite who are entitled to more acclaim, adulation and admiration for being closer to the greatest of them all.
Jesus, considered the greatest among them, pointed out to them that there is a price to being the greatest, at least for those who live Kingdom values. The greatest servant among servants in the Kingdom is the one who sacrifices the greatest, and perhaps they were not ready for that kind of being lifted up.
The other ten were angry. Perhaps they too aspired to be considered for elevation above others, and these two brothers dared to come out and ask for it. It was a teaching moment on the Kingdom.
Jesus addressed the Roman values of which everyone being occupied was painfully aware, and addressed the temptation of those who were victimized by their love for wealth, power and status to adopt these empire values as their own for the sake of what they might gain for themselves.
Empire values are not gracious and loving in any way. They prevent the living of Agape Love. These values are the antithesis of living Agape Love. The striving for more, always more wealth, power and status are not about committed action to the other or others who are stranger, enemy and most vulnerable, but rather about getting more by any means for self or those associated or just like self. It is inwardly focused and not self-sacrificial in any way. Empire values do not elevate all equally, but always some above the rest. Empire values, in fact, necessitate the victimization of some for the sake of others, and the building of a great disparity in well-being due to the great disparity of wealth, power and status among peoples. In empire, many are exploited, manipulated and even destroyed for the enhanced pleasure of the few. There is no Agape Love in it. Those who aspire to live Kingdom Values dare not adopt these values, or they have wandered from the Lord and the Kingdom, having no Agape Love or Grace within them.
Kingdom Values define greatness differently. Valuing the well-being of all, equally means that enough for all is lifted up as a primary concern in the Kingdom. Jesus taught this, commanded it and modeled it, as we have witness by the Gospel writers. If someone does not have what they need, those who live Kingdom Values will sacrifice of their abundance in order for their need to be met. It is the Law of Agape Love and Grace, not founded on "deserving", entitlement or privilege but built on the Kingdom Value that all are of worth, equally. Jesus defines greatness by whoever serves as a
doulos, a slave. If one wishes to be great in the Kingdom, one must greatly serve others. A public servant serves the public. A follower of Jesus serves God by serving humanity. It is not about what we get in empire value terms, but rather what we are able to give that defines us as people who live the Kingdom Values taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus. Jesus is our example - the greatest among us, Son of God, who refers to Himself as Son of Man - and who gave up any Glory or Greatness in empire value terms to rise to Greatness in serving others according to Kingdom Values.
So, do you want to be "greater than" others according to empire values, or greater than you were before according to Kingdom of God Values? Mark 10:35-45
I'll strive to walk with Jesus in Grace and Agape Love.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, October 14, 2018
When your Greed owns you...
Mark 10:17-27
The rich man desperately wanted to be right with God. He had completed the check list of commandments. What he had not done was live Agape Love with others around him.
His wealth, like those within empire in that time and in this one, was gained off the exploitation of others in a system that gave more to the ruthless at the expense of everyone else. One cannot follow Jesus or be right with God if one hurts others for personal gain, whether directly or indirectly. Jesus offered him penance - make it right. Give it back. Change your life. Repent (metanoia - turn around, change your thinking and direction in life and how you live it).
The man went away shocked that he would not inherit eternal life and grieving because he could not live Kingdom values over empire values, because empire values had helped him gain so much for himself, and he was not willing to give that all up, even for eternal life with God. He had many possessions (and wanted more). His Greed Owned him.
What do we give up when we value our own wealth over the well-being of others who struggle just to survive? We give up the freedom of knowing that we can trust that God will provide us with enough and that enough IS enough for us, and that we will live a satisifed, thankful life with enough. We give up the sense of community in knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of those around us in it. We give up a liberation from being owned by greed and the systems that promote it and that drive our lives into the ground as we try to gain more wealth - always more, regardless of what we already have. We give up OUR true well-being. We give up our souls.
Jesus warned His followers about wealth - that being wealthy most probably precludes one from entering the Kingdom. Why? Because one does not value the Kingdom, but only empire when one chooses wealth for self over the well-being of all. His followers' reactions were typical for anyone who has bought the line that God blesses those who are wealthy and powerful and that is why they have their wealth and power. Wealth and power are not signs of God's favor of some over others, but rather signs of the ruthlessness of people who claim God but actively hurt God's children by benefitting from the systems that provide an abundance for some over others. Greed is insidious, in that it makes one believe that he/she can be right with self, God and others by living one's life only valuing obtaining more, always more for self at the expense of others. But God values everyone having enough, and no one being owned by their greed.
Those who are not satisfied with enough, who do not trust that God will provide enough for all including themselves and that it WILL BE enough, cannot be truly thankful for what they have because they are always seeking more as their value. They cannot be truly connected with sisters and brothers because they are pursuing their own gain even at their expense. They cannot be right with themselves because they are living in captivity to the acquisition of wealth that will drive them at the expense of their joy, shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that produces peace within and around a person) and relationships with others and God. They cannot be right with God because they have dedicated all love to wealth instead of loving God and neighbor as self (with a healthy love for self). They cannot be right.
You will know WHEN YOUR GREED OWNS YOU, because you will at some point recognize that you will sacrifice anything or anyone else to gain more wealth or power or status for yourself. You know that Greed owns you when you are faced with Jesus and His Kingdom values of Agape Love for God and Neighbor and you find excuses and justifications and rationalizations for choosing your desperate, sick need for more wealth, power or status over God and Neighbor.
When your Greed owns you, eventually you will be shocked (like those finding out they are goats and not sheep at the judgment - Matthew 25:31-46) and go away grieving because you cannot break free from what has driven you and now owns you, even to "inherit eternal life." - even to save your soul.
"Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Jesus (Luke 12:13-21 - the parable of the Rich Fool)
Pastor Jamie
The rich man desperately wanted to be right with God. He had completed the check list of commandments. What he had not done was live Agape Love with others around him.
His wealth, like those within empire in that time and in this one, was gained off the exploitation of others in a system that gave more to the ruthless at the expense of everyone else. One cannot follow Jesus or be right with God if one hurts others for personal gain, whether directly or indirectly. Jesus offered him penance - make it right. Give it back. Change your life. Repent (metanoia - turn around, change your thinking and direction in life and how you live it).
The man went away shocked that he would not inherit eternal life and grieving because he could not live Kingdom values over empire values, because empire values had helped him gain so much for himself, and he was not willing to give that all up, even for eternal life with God. He had many possessions (and wanted more). His Greed Owned him.
What do we give up when we value our own wealth over the well-being of others who struggle just to survive? We give up the freedom of knowing that we can trust that God will provide us with enough and that enough IS enough for us, and that we will live a satisifed, thankful life with enough. We give up the sense of community in knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of those around us in it. We give up a liberation from being owned by greed and the systems that promote it and that drive our lives into the ground as we try to gain more wealth - always more, regardless of what we already have. We give up OUR true well-being. We give up our souls.
Jesus warned His followers about wealth - that being wealthy most probably precludes one from entering the Kingdom. Why? Because one does not value the Kingdom, but only empire when one chooses wealth for self over the well-being of all. His followers' reactions were typical for anyone who has bought the line that God blesses those who are wealthy and powerful and that is why they have their wealth and power. Wealth and power are not signs of God's favor of some over others, but rather signs of the ruthlessness of people who claim God but actively hurt God's children by benefitting from the systems that provide an abundance for some over others. Greed is insidious, in that it makes one believe that he/she can be right with self, God and others by living one's life only valuing obtaining more, always more for self at the expense of others. But God values everyone having enough, and no one being owned by their greed.
Those who are not satisfied with enough, who do not trust that God will provide enough for all including themselves and that it WILL BE enough, cannot be truly thankful for what they have because they are always seeking more as their value. They cannot be truly connected with sisters and brothers because they are pursuing their own gain even at their expense. They cannot be right with themselves because they are living in captivity to the acquisition of wealth that will drive them at the expense of their joy, shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that produces peace within and around a person) and relationships with others and God. They cannot be right with God because they have dedicated all love to wealth instead of loving God and neighbor as self (with a healthy love for self). They cannot be right.
You will know WHEN YOUR GREED OWNS YOU, because you will at some point recognize that you will sacrifice anything or anyone else to gain more wealth or power or status for yourself. You know that Greed owns you when you are faced with Jesus and His Kingdom values of Agape Love for God and Neighbor and you find excuses and justifications and rationalizations for choosing your desperate, sick need for more wealth, power or status over God and Neighbor.
When your Greed owns you, eventually you will be shocked (like those finding out they are goats and not sheep at the judgment - Matthew 25:31-46) and go away grieving because you cannot break free from what has driven you and now owns you, even to "inherit eternal life." - even to save your soul.
"Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Jesus (Luke 12:13-21 - the parable of the Rich Fool)
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Jesus and Power
Power, with Wealth and Status are what I call "the unholy trinity" of American Civil Religion. It is not Christian. In the time of Jesus, it was Roman. The Roman Empire was built on these values above all others. Jesus countered them with His teachings, as we have them in the Gospel witnesses. Jesus taught Humility, a value for enough for all and shared power. Jesus rejected empire values. Those who follow Jesus should perhaps consider rejecting them also, since they are clearly not Kingdom values, at least according to, you know, the Christ that Christians claim to follow.
America is not a Christian nation. The founders, mostly deists, intentionally structured things so that no one religion would dominate our society. We have been a welcoming beacon for people of all faiths until this moment. In addition, we can hardly claim to exhibit Christian principles to the world, at least if you define those principles by what was taught by The Christ. We are empire today.
Like Rome, the American Empire has colonized the world, now through McDonalds and Coca-Cola, our domination of the World Trade Organization, IMF, UN and other international organizations, and our military occupations and ever-shifting political alliances. Now many want us to go nationalistic, which happens when a single nation, full of hubris, decides that it is dominant enough to benefit only itself and isolate from its accountability to others, but still dominate. Jesus countered Rome and counters this empire in the commands, teachings and examples attributed to Jesus in the Gospels.
What is valued on an empirical scale is also valued within the society and by the individuals who give their devotion to empire values. The abuses of power in politics, economics,within communities and families bears that out.
Those who value power above community, have set up systems to get and keep power in order to dominate others around them. Their value is the power itself (along with the wealth and status that come with it). It is what they treasure, so it is the object of their love, rather than community. As Jesus taught, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Since it is about having power and using it in devotion to the god of empire - self - abuses of power are part of the expectation.
Those who value above all else this power (and the wealth and status that come with it), believe that
having power means that one is entitled and privileged above others who do not have it. They believe that having power over others means that one is entitled above others and above scrutiny and reproach because they have it. Therefore any challenges to the abuses of power are challenges to the value for power (and the wealth and status that come with it), and the beliefs of those who would challenge it, along with their character must be held suspect by those who value power and give their devotion to it above all else.
When abuses of power occur, those who do not value it above all else will rise to challenge those abusing it. They will stand in the face of those who have abused it. They will stand up to the powerful and how they have abused their power. The response is predictable. Those who have the power will claim to be the victims of those who "unjustly" question their integrity or character, as will those who value power above all else and aspire to have it someday. How dare they question the values established by so many in empire? How dare they "victimize" the abusers of power for just exercising the power that they most value? It rallies those with power and those who aspire to have it, against those who challenge its legitimacy and abuses. Others remain silent in the face of such abuses because they comply with the unjust systems that promote them, thus helping to promolgate them rather than confront them.
This happens throughout empire when people challenge the systems set up to promote some above others in an attempt to help them get and keep power over others. It happens in regions within empire as those who believe they are to be "entitled" to have power over others exercise their beliefs by whatever means necessary to gain and keep power over "those people." It happens within communities as keeping "those people" out, dominating them or getting rid of them is a common exercise of the abuses of power. It happens within society as some who believe they are inherently privileged to have power abuse what power they do have over others. It happens in churches. It happens in neighborhood organizations. It happens in families as one tries to dominate powerfully over the other or others within the home.
The love of power (and the wealth and status that come with it) is not of Christ. Those who would follow Jesus as Lord do not love power above the other (neighbor - including stranger and enemy, and the most vulnerable) or God, and do not participate in empire values, but in humility strive to lift up all people and community itself -as did Jesus, the one we claim to follow. We use our power in Agape love, toward the well-being of all around us and not ourselves above others. For followers of Jesus, that happens in families, communities, organizations, regions and nations. It happens in economics and politics. It happens wherever we reside.
Jesus stood up to power. Mark 6:30-44 offers an account of how Jesus, in the face of Rome's empire and abuses of power, gathered an army of 5,000 men (plus women and children) in a day (a Roman cohort was 5500 men) and armed them with food instead of swords. Jesus broke them into groups of 100 and 50, a common Roman tactic for battle. Jesus armed them with His Good News of Agape Love and with food - fed their souls and their bodies to prepare them for the battle of their lives in the living of that Agape Love.
Jesus stood up to power and mocked it. Luke 19:28-48 offers an account of how Jesus, mocking the power of Rome and confronting the abuses of power among Temple Cult Leaders caricatured Roman power by ridiculously mocking the military parades of Roman legions entering the city, complete with genuine cries of love and devotion from the crowds. Jesus confronted the abuses of power and the seeking of wealth and status by the corrupt Temple Cult leaders of the time, dramatically demonstrating God's disdain for their love of power, wealth and status.
Jesus taught His followers a different way in perceiving and living power in the world. Luke 22:24-27 offers an account of Jesus rebuking power and status over others, using empire as a negative example, and commanding His followers to be servants and turn their definitions of power and status upside down. Jesus calls us not to "lord" power over one another, but rather to use whatever power we have to serve one another - to serve the whole community toward Shalom- the well-being, completeness and wholeness of ALL.
Finally, Jesus demonstrated Power according to Kingdom values. Jesus called His followers friends and family, fed, healed, forgave, refused to judge and then died for all, even or especially the least worthy (betrayer, denier, those who crucified Him, Rome, Temple Cult leaders, etc., etc....) YOU and ME.
Jesus taught, commanded and modeled what God wants of us in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
These are Kingdom values.
So, confront those who abuse power, even if it is the systemic norm - ESPECIALLY when it is the systemic, empirical norm. When those in power claim entitlement to be above scrutiny or reproach because they are the elites in power, confront the system itself. Refuse to participate in empire values and live by a different set of rules - by Kingdom values as we have learned them from Jesus in the Gospels. Speak truth to power - the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. Refute those who aspire to have that power someday, who are in support of those who have and abuse it. Rally the army of followers and arm them with the Good News and sustenance. Mock the absurdity of empire values. Demand justice - equal justice for ALL - live Agape love - active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable - as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the Gospels. Do it in politics by how you speak, write, call and vote. Do it in your economics by what you buy and from whom, and how you stand with those most exploited and abused.
Follow Jesus regarding Power (wealth and status).
Pastor Jamie
America is not a Christian nation. The founders, mostly deists, intentionally structured things so that no one religion would dominate our society. We have been a welcoming beacon for people of all faiths until this moment. In addition, we can hardly claim to exhibit Christian principles to the world, at least if you define those principles by what was taught by The Christ. We are empire today.
Like Rome, the American Empire has colonized the world, now through McDonalds and Coca-Cola, our domination of the World Trade Organization, IMF, UN and other international organizations, and our military occupations and ever-shifting political alliances. Now many want us to go nationalistic, which happens when a single nation, full of hubris, decides that it is dominant enough to benefit only itself and isolate from its accountability to others, but still dominate. Jesus countered Rome and counters this empire in the commands, teachings and examples attributed to Jesus in the Gospels.
What is valued on an empirical scale is also valued within the society and by the individuals who give their devotion to empire values. The abuses of power in politics, economics,within communities and families bears that out.
Those who value power above community, have set up systems to get and keep power in order to dominate others around them. Their value is the power itself (along with the wealth and status that come with it). It is what they treasure, so it is the object of their love, rather than community. As Jesus taught, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Since it is about having power and using it in devotion to the god of empire - self - abuses of power are part of the expectation.
Those who value above all else this power (and the wealth and status that come with it), believe that
having power means that one is entitled and privileged above others who do not have it. They believe that having power over others means that one is entitled above others and above scrutiny and reproach because they have it. Therefore any challenges to the abuses of power are challenges to the value for power (and the wealth and status that come with it), and the beliefs of those who would challenge it, along with their character must be held suspect by those who value power and give their devotion to it above all else.
When abuses of power occur, those who do not value it above all else will rise to challenge those abusing it. They will stand in the face of those who have abused it. They will stand up to the powerful and how they have abused their power. The response is predictable. Those who have the power will claim to be the victims of those who "unjustly" question their integrity or character, as will those who value power above all else and aspire to have it someday. How dare they question the values established by so many in empire? How dare they "victimize" the abusers of power for just exercising the power that they most value? It rallies those with power and those who aspire to have it, against those who challenge its legitimacy and abuses. Others remain silent in the face of such abuses because they comply with the unjust systems that promote them, thus helping to promolgate them rather than confront them.
This happens throughout empire when people challenge the systems set up to promote some above others in an attempt to help them get and keep power over others. It happens in regions within empire as those who believe they are to be "entitled" to have power over others exercise their beliefs by whatever means necessary to gain and keep power over "those people." It happens within communities as keeping "those people" out, dominating them or getting rid of them is a common exercise of the abuses of power. It happens within society as some who believe they are inherently privileged to have power abuse what power they do have over others. It happens in churches. It happens in neighborhood organizations. It happens in families as one tries to dominate powerfully over the other or others within the home.
The love of power (and the wealth and status that come with it) is not of Christ. Those who would follow Jesus as Lord do not love power above the other (neighbor - including stranger and enemy, and the most vulnerable) or God, and do not participate in empire values, but in humility strive to lift up all people and community itself -as did Jesus, the one we claim to follow. We use our power in Agape love, toward the well-being of all around us and not ourselves above others. For followers of Jesus, that happens in families, communities, organizations, regions and nations. It happens in economics and politics. It happens wherever we reside.
Jesus stood up to power. Mark 6:30-44 offers an account of how Jesus, in the face of Rome's empire and abuses of power, gathered an army of 5,000 men (plus women and children) in a day (a Roman cohort was 5500 men) and armed them with food instead of swords. Jesus broke them into groups of 100 and 50, a common Roman tactic for battle. Jesus armed them with His Good News of Agape Love and with food - fed their souls and their bodies to prepare them for the battle of their lives in the living of that Agape Love.
Jesus stood up to power and mocked it. Luke 19:28-48 offers an account of how Jesus, mocking the power of Rome and confronting the abuses of power among Temple Cult Leaders caricatured Roman power by ridiculously mocking the military parades of Roman legions entering the city, complete with genuine cries of love and devotion from the crowds. Jesus confronted the abuses of power and the seeking of wealth and status by the corrupt Temple Cult leaders of the time, dramatically demonstrating God's disdain for their love of power, wealth and status.
Jesus taught His followers a different way in perceiving and living power in the world. Luke 22:24-27 offers an account of Jesus rebuking power and status over others, using empire as a negative example, and commanding His followers to be servants and turn their definitions of power and status upside down. Jesus calls us not to "lord" power over one another, but rather to use whatever power we have to serve one another - to serve the whole community toward Shalom- the well-being, completeness and wholeness of ALL.
Finally, Jesus demonstrated Power according to Kingdom values. Jesus called His followers friends and family, fed, healed, forgave, refused to judge and then died for all, even or especially the least worthy (betrayer, denier, those who crucified Him, Rome, Temple Cult leaders, etc., etc....) YOU and ME.
Jesus taught, commanded and modeled what God wants of us in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
These are Kingdom values.
So, confront those who abuse power, even if it is the systemic norm - ESPECIALLY when it is the systemic, empirical norm. When those in power claim entitlement to be above scrutiny or reproach because they are the elites in power, confront the system itself. Refuse to participate in empire values and live by a different set of rules - by Kingdom values as we have learned them from Jesus in the Gospels. Speak truth to power - the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. Refute those who aspire to have that power someday, who are in support of those who have and abuse it. Rally the army of followers and arm them with the Good News and sustenance. Mock the absurdity of empire values. Demand justice - equal justice for ALL - live Agape love - active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable - as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the Gospels. Do it in politics by how you speak, write, call and vote. Do it in your economics by what you buy and from whom, and how you stand with those most exploited and abused.
Follow Jesus regarding Power (wealth and status).
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, September 29, 2018
What is a Christian?
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
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
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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