Luke 17:5-10 (the text for next Sunday, October 6)
Jesus never said that it would be easy to follow Him - to live what He commanded.
It takes great faith to believe that Jesus' Way is a better way for us and the world than is empire.
It takes great faith to believe that God will provide enough, and that humanity will not again live by greed, lust for power and status.
It takes a great deal of faith to believe that we CAN love one another with Agape Love, and because of it:
make sure that ALL have enough of what they need in order to live a life of well-being,
consider that equally shared power is a better, sustainable way than a few abusing power, and
live in humility and find the equal value in ALL people around us.
Empire divides and destroys the lives of some for the sake of the abundance of the few.
The Kingdom lifts all up and provides sustainable community values toward the Shalom of ALL.
It takes great faith to believe in that way of living and it takes great courage to work toward it.
His disciples wanted the easy way out.
They wanted their faith to be increased by Jesus and not through their own striving.
They had been given faith as a gift from God, but according to Jesus had not exercised it so that it would grow and allow them to do incredible things.
Jesus taught them a strong lesson about their role and about humility in it.
We are not servants so that we can call down supernatural interventions that enhance our own lives.
We are not servants so that we can give imperatives to the one we call "Lord" of our lives.
We are not servants so that we can imagine that we are, ourselves Lords.
As a friend of mine used to say to his adolescent son when he thought he should make decisions for himself, apart from his parents: "That is a decision for management, and you are not management."
Empire would make me believe that it is all about me and that I am to be lifted up with more wealth, power and status than others around me.
The Kingdom of God and Jesus teach me humility in service. I do not command the Lord to increase my faith. I do not ask the Lord to supernaturally intervene on my behalf, rather than make me learn the lessons of faith that come from exercising my faith in the world.
I serve.
I approach this Lord of my life, who has at great cost given me redemption and salvation out of Agape, and humbly ask how I may serve. It is a response to that gift of the Cross. It is out of gratitude for Grace and the Love of God, and it is an acknowledgement of who God is and who I am, who God ain't and who I ain't.
I may not like the service God has relegated to me.
It may be hard and require struggle and challenge and even pain.
It may not look like some ministry that rewards me personally, gives me more wealth or power or status.
It may not be that which makes me feel good all the time.
It is my service to God. It is that to which God has called me and for which God has prepared me.
I know who and what I am.
I know who God is.
"I know what I deserve. Don't give me what I deserve, please. Give me Grace, baby. I need Grace!" (Tony Campolo)
God lifts me up so that I may lift others up.
That is putting Agape Love out in the world around us.
Being God's little "special ones" separates, divides and destroys lives, ultimately.
It may make it easier for the few, but always makes it harder then for the many.
I don't want the easy way. I want the faithful way.
Following Jesus in the living of Agape Love toward the Shalom of all is not easy.
It is faithful.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Ignorance
I remember hearing a story from Jim Wallis of Sojourners, that the subway that brought congressional leaders to the Capitol building dropped them where they would have to literally step over homeless folk to get to work. I do not believe that they ignored the homeless. I am quite certain that they had them removed in time.
The unnamed rich man had it good. He had benefitted from the system of empire that rewarded the ruthless and unscrupulous. He was living the life.
Lazarus, the poor man, had nothing. It had all been stripped away by the ruthless and unscrupulous for themselves. But Lazarus did have a name. It is derived from the Hebrew name, Eleazar - God has helped. And His NAME was in the book of life.
So, as is the case for all of us, regardless of our economic standing, they both died. Lazarus was carried by the Angels to be with Abraham. The unnamed rich man died and went to be tormented in Hades. Here, the rich man knew his place with Abraham, because status is huge in empire and Abraham had a great deal of it. What he did not know, is that in heaven, there is no status. That was his hell. He tried to use his entitlement even to get Lazarus to be subservient to him for his own comfort and benefit. Abraham had to educate him on his lack of status now - a gut punch to have to look around and see where he really was, who he really was, what he really was. To his credit, the rich man had concern for his entitled brothers who had also given their souls to empire. But he still did not get that his status and entitlement in empire got him NOTHING in the Kingdom. He wanted them to be warned that the prophets who they ignored were right, along with the expectation in the law that children of God take care of one another, and especially the most vulnerable. Abraham pointed out that they had been given the Good News of God in the Law and Prophets, a good news for the most vulnerable among us, that God takes sides.
Alright kids, what do we learn from the story?
We have the Good News of Jesus, which fulfills the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:34-40).
It commands us to live Kingdom of God, rather than empire values.
It commands us to actively commit on behalf of the stranger, even enemy and especially the most vulnerable (Luke 10:25-37).
It commands us to be satisfied with enough and to share from any abundance we may have.
It commands us to advocate on behalf of those who are most vulnerable.
It lifts up humility and not hubris, community and not individual status.
It lifts up generosity and not greed, enough for all and not an obscene abundance for a few while others go without what they need and struggle to survive.
It lifts up sharing power in mutual respect, and not gaining more in order to victimize others.
It bases our salvation on how we treat the most vulnerable (Matthew 25:31-46).
There is a heaven.
There is a hell.
Individuals, corporations, ideological groups and nations are ALL subject to them, in the end.
And, ignorance is NOT bliss in the Kingdom.
And the big lesson...
Ultimately, your well-being is tied to the well-being of all others around you.
Abuse, exploit or ignore them at your own peril.
Pastor Jamie
The unnamed rich man had it good. He had benefitted from the system of empire that rewarded the ruthless and unscrupulous. He was living the life.
Lazarus, the poor man, had nothing. It had all been stripped away by the ruthless and unscrupulous for themselves. But Lazarus did have a name. It is derived from the Hebrew name, Eleazar - God has helped. And His NAME was in the book of life.
So, as is the case for all of us, regardless of our economic standing, they both died. Lazarus was carried by the Angels to be with Abraham. The unnamed rich man died and went to be tormented in Hades. Here, the rich man knew his place with Abraham, because status is huge in empire and Abraham had a great deal of it. What he did not know, is that in heaven, there is no status. That was his hell. He tried to use his entitlement even to get Lazarus to be subservient to him for his own comfort and benefit. Abraham had to educate him on his lack of status now - a gut punch to have to look around and see where he really was, who he really was, what he really was. To his credit, the rich man had concern for his entitled brothers who had also given their souls to empire. But he still did not get that his status and entitlement in empire got him NOTHING in the Kingdom. He wanted them to be warned that the prophets who they ignored were right, along with the expectation in the law that children of God take care of one another, and especially the most vulnerable. Abraham pointed out that they had been given the Good News of God in the Law and Prophets, a good news for the most vulnerable among us, that God takes sides.
Alright kids, what do we learn from the story?
We have the Good News of Jesus, which fulfills the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:34-40).
It commands us to live Kingdom of God, rather than empire values.
It commands us to actively commit on behalf of the stranger, even enemy and especially the most vulnerable (Luke 10:25-37).
It commands us to be satisfied with enough and to share from any abundance we may have.
It commands us to advocate on behalf of those who are most vulnerable.
It lifts up humility and not hubris, community and not individual status.
It lifts up generosity and not greed, enough for all and not an obscene abundance for a few while others go without what they need and struggle to survive.
It lifts up sharing power in mutual respect, and not gaining more in order to victimize others.
It bases our salvation on how we treat the most vulnerable (Matthew 25:31-46).
There is a heaven.
There is a hell.
Individuals, corporations, ideological groups and nations are ALL subject to them, in the end.
And, ignorance is NOT bliss in the Kingdom.
And the big lesson...
Ultimately, your well-being is tied to the well-being of all others around you.
Abuse, exploit or ignore them at your own peril.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, September 15, 2019
shrewd as a snake... unmixed as a dove
Jesus taught, using the parable of the Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1-13), that we must learn the lessons of the faithless because they are shrewd.
The punchline, however, is about being faithful with dishonest wealth so that God will entrust us with true riches.
The dishonest steward collected debts owed the rich man. He cut the bill to 50% for one and to 80% for another. It did two things. It settled accounts that were unsettled, thereby getting his boss some of what was owed instead of nothing, and it put the steward and the boss in good with those whose debts he discounted. From a worldly viewpoint, it might not have been a great move economically, but it did bring an outcome in some ways favorable for the debtors, boss and steward.
Favorable outcomes are measured according to our values. If profit is ALL we value, then only getting ALL of it would be favorable for the boss, the only one who counts in the scenario. Only the boss wins in that case, as Capitalists would have it.
If the well-being of humanity is valued, then this was a great outcome. Debtors, struggling under Roman occupation to survive, let alone thrive, would benefit greatly from this relief and would more highly value the steward and his boss. The boss, knowing that some is better than none and also knowing the value of human relationships (and not just with money), would see the value in a gesture that could build a relationship which might benefit him in the future and see the value to his soul of forgiving a portion of the debt toward the well being of the debtor. The steward was shrewd, in worldly terms, but perhaps in spiritual values as well.
Not allowing us to get on the praise train too quickly over the steward, Jesus in Luke then talks about being faithful or being dishonest, and de-values dishonest wealth while lifting up true riches.
We cannot serve God and wealth. We cannot value our own profit over the well-being of God's children and be followers of Jesus. God commands Agape Love toward the Shalom of others around us, loving neighbor as self. The rich man in Jesus' (Luke's) parable found some wisdom in valuing forgiveness, and did not only see the value of monetary profit. The debtors certainly experienced gratitude for the forgiven debts. The steward knew the value of relationships, even perhaps facilitating the economic well-being of debtors and future relationships based on (even limited) grace.
"The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." I Timothy 6:10 (philarguria - love of money, is the opposite of philanthropia - love for humanity)
Why? Because we are supposed to actively commit our lives to the well-being of our neighbor, according to Jesus. Love does not belong to money, but rather to God and to God's children - all of them.
So, the punchline is to be faithful over money and everything else, more highly valuing God and neighbor than mere money.
The stark reminder follows, that we cannot give lip service to God while loving money, or try to straddle the Kingdom and the world in our values. We cannot serve both with our hearts or minds or lives. We must choose either Kingdom values or worldly ones. We are called to love ENOUGH FOR ALL over an abundance of personal wealth. We are commanded to give our love to God and Neighbor and NOT to money.
Pastor Jamie
The punchline, however, is about being faithful with dishonest wealth so that God will entrust us with true riches.
The dishonest steward collected debts owed the rich man. He cut the bill to 50% for one and to 80% for another. It did two things. It settled accounts that were unsettled, thereby getting his boss some of what was owed instead of nothing, and it put the steward and the boss in good with those whose debts he discounted. From a worldly viewpoint, it might not have been a great move economically, but it did bring an outcome in some ways favorable for the debtors, boss and steward.
Favorable outcomes are measured according to our values. If profit is ALL we value, then only getting ALL of it would be favorable for the boss, the only one who counts in the scenario. Only the boss wins in that case, as Capitalists would have it.
If the well-being of humanity is valued, then this was a great outcome. Debtors, struggling under Roman occupation to survive, let alone thrive, would benefit greatly from this relief and would more highly value the steward and his boss. The boss, knowing that some is better than none and also knowing the value of human relationships (and not just with money), would see the value in a gesture that could build a relationship which might benefit him in the future and see the value to his soul of forgiving a portion of the debt toward the well being of the debtor. The steward was shrewd, in worldly terms, but perhaps in spiritual values as well.
Not allowing us to get on the praise train too quickly over the steward, Jesus in Luke then talks about being faithful or being dishonest, and de-values dishonest wealth while lifting up true riches.
We cannot serve God and wealth. We cannot value our own profit over the well-being of God's children and be followers of Jesus. God commands Agape Love toward the Shalom of others around us, loving neighbor as self. The rich man in Jesus' (Luke's) parable found some wisdom in valuing forgiveness, and did not only see the value of monetary profit. The debtors certainly experienced gratitude for the forgiven debts. The steward knew the value of relationships, even perhaps facilitating the economic well-being of debtors and future relationships based on (even limited) grace.
"The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." I Timothy 6:10 (philarguria - love of money, is the opposite of philanthropia - love for humanity)
Why? Because we are supposed to actively commit our lives to the well-being of our neighbor, according to Jesus. Love does not belong to money, but rather to God and to God's children - all of them.
So, the punchline is to be faithful over money and everything else, more highly valuing God and neighbor than mere money.
The stark reminder follows, that we cannot give lip service to God while loving money, or try to straddle the Kingdom and the world in our values. We cannot serve both with our hearts or minds or lives. We must choose either Kingdom values or worldly ones. We are called to love ENOUGH FOR ALL over an abundance of personal wealth. We are commanded to give our love to God and Neighbor and NOT to money.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, September 8, 2019
The Valued and the Lost
What or who do we value?
The Pharisees and Scribes did not value the tax collectors and sinners who came to listen to Jesus.
They did not value Jesus, either.
Those who judge others do not value them. They de-value them.
God values all of us.
The examples were especially contextual, as occupied peoples under empire had very little. Everything was taken by the oppressors, who took what they had to fuel the power machine that fed the wealth machine of the elites who were in control. One coin out of ten meant survival for the oppressed. One sheep out of a hundred meant feeding one's family or not. Tax collectors were especially hated, because they lined their own pockets through the over-charging of others on their taxes. That meant survival for them, or using the corrupt system to benefit themselves at the expense of others - an empire value. "Sinners" were targets of a people who had everything stripped away from them, including their self-worth, so the low hanging fruit for the judging of others in the spirit of "at least I'm not like them," were those who survived through practices that according to some social mores were clearly "wrong." Empire establishes horrendous and insidious hierarchies in society, dividing and eventually destroying community through them.
The Kingdom of God values everyone having enough, and thus living in Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being).
The irony, of course, is that the Pharisees and Scribes were the WRONG ones, the SINFUL ones here, for judging and promoting the unfaithful, destructive hierarchies. These highly "religious" folk, who had the status and position of appearing to be upright and godly, above moral reproach and the epitome of proper society, had bought into the empire values of Rome and lived them. They were a part of the problem. Yes, God even values these sinners. They should be thankful that Jesus welcomed and ate with sinners - LIKE THEM.
God does not like losing those who God values.
God goes after the one in a hundred, the one out of ten, because God values them.
There is great celebration in heaven when the lost are found.
There would be great celebration in heaven for the one lost Pharisee or Scribe that was found and restored to relationship with God, as well as the tax collectors and "other" sinners.
I wonder how much celebrating is going on in heaven now.
I wonder.
Pastor Jamie
The Pharisees and Scribes did not value the tax collectors and sinners who came to listen to Jesus.
They did not value Jesus, either.
Those who judge others do not value them. They de-value them.
God values all of us.
The examples were especially contextual, as occupied peoples under empire had very little. Everything was taken by the oppressors, who took what they had to fuel the power machine that fed the wealth machine of the elites who were in control. One coin out of ten meant survival for the oppressed. One sheep out of a hundred meant feeding one's family or not. Tax collectors were especially hated, because they lined their own pockets through the over-charging of others on their taxes. That meant survival for them, or using the corrupt system to benefit themselves at the expense of others - an empire value. "Sinners" were targets of a people who had everything stripped away from them, including their self-worth, so the low hanging fruit for the judging of others in the spirit of "at least I'm not like them," were those who survived through practices that according to some social mores were clearly "wrong." Empire establishes horrendous and insidious hierarchies in society, dividing and eventually destroying community through them.
The Kingdom of God values everyone having enough, and thus living in Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being).
The irony, of course, is that the Pharisees and Scribes were the WRONG ones, the SINFUL ones here, for judging and promoting the unfaithful, destructive hierarchies. These highly "religious" folk, who had the status and position of appearing to be upright and godly, above moral reproach and the epitome of proper society, had bought into the empire values of Rome and lived them. They were a part of the problem. Yes, God even values these sinners. They should be thankful that Jesus welcomed and ate with sinners - LIKE THEM.
God does not like losing those who God values.
God goes after the one in a hundred, the one out of ten, because God values them.
There is great celebration in heaven when the lost are found.
There would be great celebration in heaven for the one lost Pharisee or Scribe that was found and restored to relationship with God, as well as the tax collectors and "other" sinners.
I wonder how much celebrating is going on in heaven now.
I wonder.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, August 31, 2019
me and Jesus
Empire would have us believe that it is all about number one - that having more wealth, power and status for oneself is what life with Jesus is all about.
The teachings, commands and examples of Jesus show us that Agape Love, which Jesus commanded, requires us to be about the well-being of community, of those around us in the world.
Healings were about restoring people to Shalom, a big part of which was being restored to acceptance in community.
Teachings on Kingdom values regarding having enough material sustenance, sharing power equally and having dignified, mutual respect with one another are about being whole within community.
Empire devotees, many of whom claim Jesus as Personal Savior, would have us believe that though we use Jesus' name and claim Jesus, still we can and should value wealth, power and status for ourselves.
These are the folk who, since 1981 joined together to reshape American Christianity. Prosperity Theology, Church Growth and Purpose Theology are what they have spawned out of their devotion to empire while claiming love for Jesus.
They have exploited the faith for their own gain and have duped millions into believing that it is faithfulness to God in Jesus.
They have represented empire and have victimized millions because of their greed, lust for power and desire for status. They have sided with those who have taken what others have for themselves, abused their power over others and have gained notoriety and status for doing so.
They call themselves "Christians", but they are not followers of Jesus - the Jesus of the Gospels.
The Good News of Jesus is not about personal salvation alone.
It is certainly not about personal wealth or power or status, at least it is not about promoting them.
It is about every individual and thus the whole community, having enough material sustenance, shared power and mutual respect and equal standing in society for all to have Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being) in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
It is about the living of Agape (committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable), as commanded by Jesus.
Jesus' Good News is not about personal salvation. It is not about trying to get "saved" by "saving" others and thus objectifying them for one's own gain.
It is not about offering worship, praise and tithes as a cosmic priming of the personal ATM God, who will give one a comfortable, profitable life, especially because a person worships at a huge church cult and follows a certain personality who leads it, and submits to him or her.
It is not about living a false piety based on one's own false purity or holiness, thus believing one is "better than" others and deserves to be more blessed and highly favored, or is thus justified in judging others in order to elevate one's own status within false "Christian" communities.
It is not about using one's status to abuse any power it provides by hating, discriminating against, marginalizing, disenfranchising and dehumanizing others who do not share one's own race, ethnicity, faith, economic class, sexuality, gender or nationality.
Those are the things that the Temple Cult leaders, King and Romans did in Jesus' time - the things that Jesus rebuked, as we have Jesus' teachings, commands and examples in the Gospels.
It is not all about some direct communication about one's individual life purpose, designed to lift privileged persons above other persons in wealth, power and/or status.
In other words, "It is about you sweetheart, just not ALL about you."
Jesus' teachings, commands and examples, as we have them in the Gospels, lead us to offer active commitment on behalf of others, even strangers and enemies, and especially the most vulnerable.
They lead us to accept others, receive them and join with them to make sure that all have enough material sustenance, shared power and mutual respect.
They lead us to work toward the well-being, completeness and wholeness of all around us as servants.
They lead us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus in the living of Agape.
They lead us to shalom for all, equally in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Those are the Kingdom values that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, and they are to be lived here and now among those who claim to be followers of God in Jesus.
Empire teaches us otherwise, and plenty of false teachers teach us that we can give lip service to Jesus and our devotion to empire and its values.
They teach us that Jesus was about our own prosperity, the church's own numerical and financial growth and status, and about our own, special purpose that lifts us up above others in privilege.
When I follow Jesus, I cannot value greed, power over others or status above others.
In fact, doing so puts me at odds with Jesus and my Neighbor. It destroys community and the well-being of many in it. That is not God's will as we have it in Jesus' teachings in the Gospels.
I cannot serve two masters. I will either follow Kingdom values as I have them in Jesus, based on Agape Love and Grace, or I will devote myself to myself in the empire values of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status.
I cannot value empire AND follow Jesus. If I choose empire, I walk away from Jesus, very sad.
I do not want to gain the world, especially at the price of my soul and my neighbor's well-being.
It is not all about me and Jesus.
It is all about Jesus and us, together.
I am not following Jesus if I am not Agape loving (actively committed toward the well-being) of my Neighbor, even stranger, enemy and especially the most vulnerable.
I will strive, out of Agape, toward the Shalom of all those in the world around me, and thus find my own Shalom, not in order to be saved, but because I know the Grace of God that HAS SAVED ME.
I have been given much more than I have ever deserved, and for that I am thankful. If God provides not one more thing for me but the Grace with which I am covered and the Agape within which I live, I will be satisfied.
Following Jesus is my response in faith to Jesus and Jesus' Way of Agape for the world.
How I live with Neighbor is my response of love for God in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Loving neighbor as I love myself is my way of following Jesus and loving God.
Pastor Jamie
The teachings, commands and examples of Jesus show us that Agape Love, which Jesus commanded, requires us to be about the well-being of community, of those around us in the world.
Healings were about restoring people to Shalom, a big part of which was being restored to acceptance in community.
Teachings on Kingdom values regarding having enough material sustenance, sharing power equally and having dignified, mutual respect with one another are about being whole within community.
Empire devotees, many of whom claim Jesus as Personal Savior, would have us believe that though we use Jesus' name and claim Jesus, still we can and should value wealth, power and status for ourselves.
These are the folk who, since 1981 joined together to reshape American Christianity. Prosperity Theology, Church Growth and Purpose Theology are what they have spawned out of their devotion to empire while claiming love for Jesus.
They have exploited the faith for their own gain and have duped millions into believing that it is faithfulness to God in Jesus.
They have represented empire and have victimized millions because of their greed, lust for power and desire for status. They have sided with those who have taken what others have for themselves, abused their power over others and have gained notoriety and status for doing so.
They call themselves "Christians", but they are not followers of Jesus - the Jesus of the Gospels.
The Good News of Jesus is not about personal salvation alone.
It is certainly not about personal wealth or power or status, at least it is not about promoting them.
It is about every individual and thus the whole community, having enough material sustenance, shared power and mutual respect and equal standing in society for all to have Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being) in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
It is about the living of Agape (committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable), as commanded by Jesus.
Jesus' Good News is not about personal salvation. It is not about trying to get "saved" by "saving" others and thus objectifying them for one's own gain.
It is not about offering worship, praise and tithes as a cosmic priming of the personal ATM God, who will give one a comfortable, profitable life, especially because a person worships at a huge church cult and follows a certain personality who leads it, and submits to him or her.
It is not about living a false piety based on one's own false purity or holiness, thus believing one is "better than" others and deserves to be more blessed and highly favored, or is thus justified in judging others in order to elevate one's own status within false "Christian" communities.
It is not about using one's status to abuse any power it provides by hating, discriminating against, marginalizing, disenfranchising and dehumanizing others who do not share one's own race, ethnicity, faith, economic class, sexuality, gender or nationality.
Those are the things that the Temple Cult leaders, King and Romans did in Jesus' time - the things that Jesus rebuked, as we have Jesus' teachings, commands and examples in the Gospels.
It is not all about some direct communication about one's individual life purpose, designed to lift privileged persons above other persons in wealth, power and/or status.
In other words, "It is about you sweetheart, just not ALL about you."
Jesus' teachings, commands and examples, as we have them in the Gospels, lead us to offer active commitment on behalf of others, even strangers and enemies, and especially the most vulnerable.
They lead us to accept others, receive them and join with them to make sure that all have enough material sustenance, shared power and mutual respect.
They lead us to work toward the well-being, completeness and wholeness of all around us as servants.
They lead us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus in the living of Agape.
They lead us to shalom for all, equally in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Those are the Kingdom values that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, and they are to be lived here and now among those who claim to be followers of God in Jesus.
Empire teaches us otherwise, and plenty of false teachers teach us that we can give lip service to Jesus and our devotion to empire and its values.
They teach us that Jesus was about our own prosperity, the church's own numerical and financial growth and status, and about our own, special purpose that lifts us up above others in privilege.
When I follow Jesus, I cannot value greed, power over others or status above others.
In fact, doing so puts me at odds with Jesus and my Neighbor. It destroys community and the well-being of many in it. That is not God's will as we have it in Jesus' teachings in the Gospels.
I cannot serve two masters. I will either follow Kingdom values as I have them in Jesus, based on Agape Love and Grace, or I will devote myself to myself in the empire values of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status.
I cannot value empire AND follow Jesus. If I choose empire, I walk away from Jesus, very sad.
I do not want to gain the world, especially at the price of my soul and my neighbor's well-being.
It is not all about me and Jesus.
It is all about Jesus and us, together.
I am not following Jesus if I am not Agape loving (actively committed toward the well-being) of my Neighbor, even stranger, enemy and especially the most vulnerable.
I will strive, out of Agape, toward the Shalom of all those in the world around me, and thus find my own Shalom, not in order to be saved, but because I know the Grace of God that HAS SAVED ME.
I have been given much more than I have ever deserved, and for that I am thankful. If God provides not one more thing for me but the Grace with which I am covered and the Agape within which I live, I will be satisfied.
Following Jesus is my response in faith to Jesus and Jesus' Way of Agape for the world.
How I live with Neighbor is my response of love for God in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Loving neighbor as I love myself is my way of following Jesus and loving God.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, August 25, 2019
humility as Jesus' Way
Luke 14:1, 7-14... Lectionary for September 1.
Leaders of the Pharisees in Jesus' time were at the height of power and status, and working on their wealth by whatever means possible.
Jesus was invited to eat at this one's home, which was an intimate sharing, but he was being watched at this large gathering of folk vying for status according to Empire values.
Jesus was not buying it.
As often is the case, the Jesus of Luke took the opportunity to teach Kingdom of God values in the face of what was being lived in empire.
Every person has enough status. If you have a healthy concept of and love for self, you have enough esteem for self to feel comfortable among other people. You have enough power to feel secure. You have enough self-respect to feel equal to others. You do not need to be elevated "above" others in order to feel good about yourself. If you do need that, then you are compensating for a lack of self love, self-esteem, power and/or self-respect.
Empire tears down. It sets up falsehoods in community in order to destroy it. It starts with the belief that people who "would be someone" should have more wealth, power and status than others. It divides and destroys healthy community by separating out and pitting against. The natural result is that those who are most neurotically in need of elevating themselves become the most ruthless in community and elevate themselves by whatever means necessary. They set up a scenario in which some get much more than they need and others go without, in which some believe they are superior because they are desperate to believe that, and in which some ruthlessly control others around them in order to hold onto the delusion that it is best for some to have and leave others without what they need. They set up a religious community which mirrors empire, considering some to be more blessed and highly favored than others and ignoring the immorality of greed, lust for power and desire for status, ultimately making those within it to focus on personal gain, rather than community of faith well-being as God's Will.
The Kingdom builds up, not just individuals but also community. It comes from a belief that each has shalom when ALL have shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being). It is all about sharing the wealth, having a collective power that elevates all equally and lifting up healthy selves so that there need not be any status "above" others, because each feels secure so all can feel secure. It is based on all, equally having ENOUGH of what they need and not everything they want. It rejects the values of greed, lust for power and desire for status upon which empire is built. It is built, not on neurotic personal deficit, but healthy self and community awareness. It is built on agape (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable). It lifts up, brings up, helps up and builds up the whole community and not just some. It unites instead of dividing. It is sustainable and not destructive. This is Jesus' Way. Throughout the Gospels, this is Jesus' Way.
So, Jesus went into the midst of those who promote, promulgate and profit from empire, and taught them a different perspective. It must start with individuals understanding that humility is a better than hubris. It must start with individuals deciding to elevate those around them by humbling themselves, and in so doing, finding their safety and security in being a part of community in love. It must start by recognizing that Kingdom values are healthy, uplifting and sustainable for living in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, and making the choice to adopt, heed and live them in the world around you.
Want to be a follower of Jesus?
Follow Jesus.
Pastor Jamie
Leaders of the Pharisees in Jesus' time were at the height of power and status, and working on their wealth by whatever means possible.
Jesus was invited to eat at this one's home, which was an intimate sharing, but he was being watched at this large gathering of folk vying for status according to Empire values.
Jesus was not buying it.
As often is the case, the Jesus of Luke took the opportunity to teach Kingdom of God values in the face of what was being lived in empire.
Every person has enough status. If you have a healthy concept of and love for self, you have enough esteem for self to feel comfortable among other people. You have enough power to feel secure. You have enough self-respect to feel equal to others. You do not need to be elevated "above" others in order to feel good about yourself. If you do need that, then you are compensating for a lack of self love, self-esteem, power and/or self-respect.
Empire tears down. It sets up falsehoods in community in order to destroy it. It starts with the belief that people who "would be someone" should have more wealth, power and status than others. It divides and destroys healthy community by separating out and pitting against. The natural result is that those who are most neurotically in need of elevating themselves become the most ruthless in community and elevate themselves by whatever means necessary. They set up a scenario in which some get much more than they need and others go without, in which some believe they are superior because they are desperate to believe that, and in which some ruthlessly control others around them in order to hold onto the delusion that it is best for some to have and leave others without what they need. They set up a religious community which mirrors empire, considering some to be more blessed and highly favored than others and ignoring the immorality of greed, lust for power and desire for status, ultimately making those within it to focus on personal gain, rather than community of faith well-being as God's Will.
The Kingdom builds up, not just individuals but also community. It comes from a belief that each has shalom when ALL have shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being). It is all about sharing the wealth, having a collective power that elevates all equally and lifting up healthy selves so that there need not be any status "above" others, because each feels secure so all can feel secure. It is based on all, equally having ENOUGH of what they need and not everything they want. It rejects the values of greed, lust for power and desire for status upon which empire is built. It is built, not on neurotic personal deficit, but healthy self and community awareness. It is built on agape (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable). It lifts up, brings up, helps up and builds up the whole community and not just some. It unites instead of dividing. It is sustainable and not destructive. This is Jesus' Way. Throughout the Gospels, this is Jesus' Way.
So, Jesus went into the midst of those who promote, promulgate and profit from empire, and taught them a different perspective. It must start with individuals understanding that humility is a better than hubris. It must start with individuals deciding to elevate those around them by humbling themselves, and in so doing, finding their safety and security in being a part of community in love. It must start by recognizing that Kingdom values are healthy, uplifting and sustainable for living in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, and making the choice to adopt, heed and live them in the world around you.
Want to be a follower of Jesus?
Follow Jesus.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, August 18, 2019
The Prophet of God
Jeremiah will be in the lectionary in coming weeks.
There are true prophets who speak the will of God, and false prophets who speak the will of those who do not care about the will of God. They all claim to be true prophets of God.
We live in an age between Jeremiah (with gathering forces who threaten us) and Amos (a time of military strength and economic prosperity). In both those times, God raised prophets who would speak the will of God - the truth - to a people who did not want to hear it.
Jeremiah loved the nation, but was given a word of Exile, that his nation would fall because of its unfaithfulness to God. Hananiah, the false prophet, went to great lengths to proclaim that God's favor and blessings would be given. Jeremiah went to very dramatic lengths to show that they nation would fall to the gathering forces and that the people would be exiled, but there would be hope in the future if they returned to faithfulness.
Amos faced a nation that relied on its present military might and economic growth. The nation was corrupt and hurt many within the nation and outside of it with their unjust dealings and false, patriotic beliefs and pieties. Amos did not mince words or hold back in any way, but condemned the nation for its immorality and injustice due to greed, lust for power and false status.
It's more comforting to believe the false prophets of prosperity, growth, blessings and favor.
It's easier to believe the lies than face the truth.
But the truth will come.
True prophets share the harsh word.
In our day and age, they are spun in the media as being unpatriotic (as if their love for God is or should be synonymous with love for country), they are taken off the air, silenced, criticized by believers and non-believers, discredited, de-valued, vilified, de-humanized and disregarded.
It does not make their message any less timely or true.
False prophets and teachers twist the Word to suit their own interests and gain.
True prophets weigh the social, political, economic and spiritual climate against God's Word.
Jesus warned against the following of false teachers and prophets.
The Temple Cult leaders of Jesus' time and place were corrupt for personal gain in wealth, power
and status, having succumbed to the values of empire, so Jesus confronted them as a true Prophet.
The true prophets of our age, Wright, West and others, are misrepresented, silenced and/or disregarded. It does not mean that their messages are not true and the will of God.
In this time of relative ease, military strength and prosperity, do you not see how we have been corrupted by our love for wealth, power and status? Do you not see how we have treated our own people and others around us shamefully for our own gain? Do you not see the political, economic, social and spiritual forces growing that would destroy us?
Or are you listening to the Hananiah's among us? Are you believing the false messages of God's unending favor and blessings because you give praise, tithe and worship with prayer?
When people are/a nation is filled with Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status, hatefulness and ignorance, they are not being faithful to God. Period. Such a nation will implode or be conquered, as we have seen in history. Call it a natural consequence or act of God, it happens. It is happening to us because of us, now.
Our hope, as is always the hope, is REPENTANCE (metanoia - changing our thinking so that our direction changes). We must turn around and go in a direction faithful to God. Of course, those who most benefit from empire and the living of its values, will not allow that. Of course, the false prophets will tell you everything with empire values is just fine. If we do not come together to supplant the leaders and their false prophets, the nation will fall. It is that clear. It is that simple. It is that true. Again. Still.
Pastor Jamie
There are true prophets who speak the will of God, and false prophets who speak the will of those who do not care about the will of God. They all claim to be true prophets of God.
We live in an age between Jeremiah (with gathering forces who threaten us) and Amos (a time of military strength and economic prosperity). In both those times, God raised prophets who would speak the will of God - the truth - to a people who did not want to hear it.
Jeremiah loved the nation, but was given a word of Exile, that his nation would fall because of its unfaithfulness to God. Hananiah, the false prophet, went to great lengths to proclaim that God's favor and blessings would be given. Jeremiah went to very dramatic lengths to show that they nation would fall to the gathering forces and that the people would be exiled, but there would be hope in the future if they returned to faithfulness.
Amos faced a nation that relied on its present military might and economic growth. The nation was corrupt and hurt many within the nation and outside of it with their unjust dealings and false, patriotic beliefs and pieties. Amos did not mince words or hold back in any way, but condemned the nation for its immorality and injustice due to greed, lust for power and false status.
It's more comforting to believe the false prophets of prosperity, growth, blessings and favor.
It's easier to believe the lies than face the truth.
But the truth will come.
True prophets share the harsh word.
In our day and age, they are spun in the media as being unpatriotic (as if their love for God is or should be synonymous with love for country), they are taken off the air, silenced, criticized by believers and non-believers, discredited, de-valued, vilified, de-humanized and disregarded.
It does not make their message any less timely or true.
False prophets and teachers twist the Word to suit their own interests and gain.
True prophets weigh the social, political, economic and spiritual climate against God's Word.
Jesus warned against the following of false teachers and prophets.
The Temple Cult leaders of Jesus' time and place were corrupt for personal gain in wealth, power
and status, having succumbed to the values of empire, so Jesus confronted them as a true Prophet.
The true prophets of our age, Wright, West and others, are misrepresented, silenced and/or disregarded. It does not mean that their messages are not true and the will of God.
In this time of relative ease, military strength and prosperity, do you not see how we have been corrupted by our love for wealth, power and status? Do you not see how we have treated our own people and others around us shamefully for our own gain? Do you not see the political, economic, social and spiritual forces growing that would destroy us?
Or are you listening to the Hananiah's among us? Are you believing the false messages of God's unending favor and blessings because you give praise, tithe and worship with prayer?
When people are/a nation is filled with Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status, hatefulness and ignorance, they are not being faithful to God. Period. Such a nation will implode or be conquered, as we have seen in history. Call it a natural consequence or act of God, it happens. It is happening to us because of us, now.
Our hope, as is always the hope, is REPENTANCE (metanoia - changing our thinking so that our direction changes). We must turn around and go in a direction faithful to God. Of course, those who most benefit from empire and the living of its values, will not allow that. Of course, the false prophets will tell you everything with empire values is just fine. If we do not come together to supplant the leaders and their false prophets, the nation will fall. It is that clear. It is that simple. It is that true. Again. Still.
Pastor Jamie
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