Being An Agent of God

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

John 10:1-10

I am reading the ninth chapter of John this week. This is the first story of Jesus in this chapter and it has so many issues that fill my mind. I will probably be spending a few days working through what God is speaking through this passage to me. 

The first question I must face is the issue of the source of blindness. In the ancient world, people believed that those who were born with a debilitating disease the parents or grandparents had sinned. The disciples knew Jesus would know what caused the man to be blind. Along with the primary question, the larger issue I have about this section is the response of Jesus.

Jesus proclaimed this person was born blind to be a demonstration of God's power. This idea is hard for me. The thought that God would make someone "less" just to be a part of the demonstration of Jesus' power. How can a loving God do this? How can a grace filled God do this? 

I realize focusing on the subject of why born is not central to my faith. It is not important to focus on while discovering the focus of God's desire to teach through Jesus. The central focus is the willingness of the person to be used for God's will. 

Are we able to be the instrument of God's grace? The blind man in this story was willing to be that instrument. He went to the pool to wash off the mud. He allowed Jesus to put the mud made of spit on his eyes. This is the focus for me in the response of the blind man. Not why he is blind, but what he is willing to do with the blindness when confronted by Jesus. 

Sent : John 20:19-31

This is the link to my sermon on Sunday for any who might feel called to listen.

What Does Christian Mean?

The decry of many in Christian circles in the loss of "Christian America."[i] It was most obvious the other week with the Supreme Court ruling on marriage across the country. I have been asking what does the term Christian mean. I believe the term has had a change in definition and understanding since it was coin long ago.

How the Name Was Given

In truth, people who believe in Jesus Christ cannot take credit for the title of Christian. Biblical tradition reports that the title was given to the followers of Jesus in an ancient city called Antioch.[ii]  The title was given to followers of Jesus by non-Jewish people. It is a composite word from two languages, Greek and Latin. The meaning is “like/belonging to Christ.” The people on the outside saw the people following Jesus as being like Christ.

What Happened

I believe today we understand the title to be less of action and more of persuasion. People identify as a Christian not because of what they accomplish, but what personal convictions they hold on faith. In and individual believes in a god and believes that god sent a person on earth with the name of Jesus, they are a Christian. But that does not seem like enough. It is because of this identification many people are throwing away the title of Christian and identifying in more generic terms.[iii]

What Is Happening

Well, Gabe Lyons believes that this is changing with a new generation of followers.[iv] I believe that all followers can learn from this new generation. It will take us all reclaiming a new title. We cannot keep the Christian title for the near future. It has been tainted by hate, hypocrisy, judgement, and many other misalignments. No, it would be better to take on a different identifier. I do not mean the trendy titles of spiritual, religious, or any other generic religious motif. No, I believe we should relearn a very basic ideal of Jesus’ teaching. We need to live again ,” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”[v]

Our identifier will not be words or titles as the faith passed down from generations past. In the now, the identifier of followers of Christ must be our actions. Once our actions coincide with the New Testament teaching and words of Jesus, others may one day call the followers of Jesus by the title of Christian. But we must earn that title. It is then that the song, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love” will ring true.

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord 

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord 

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored 

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

They will know we are Christians by our love 

We will work with each other, we will work side by side 

We will work with each other, we will work side by side 

And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride 

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

They will know we are Christians by our love 

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand 

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand 

And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land 

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

They will know we are Christians by our love[vi]

---

[i] Gabe Lyons states the end was in May, 2007 with the death of Jerry Falwell. (Lyons, Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith (p.13). New York: Doubleday Religion.)

[ii] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A25-26&version=NASB. The term only occurs in two other places in the New Testament (Acts 26:28; 1 Pet 4:16) (Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 273). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

[iii] Lyons, Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith (p. 11-12). New York: Doubleday Religion.

[iv] Lyons, Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith. New York: Doubleday Religion.

[v] Luke 10:27, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10:27&version=NASB See also Matthew 22:36-40

[vi] Copyright © 2010 ChristianLyricsOnline.com All Rights Reserved. http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/carolyn-arends/theyll-know-we-are-christians.html

Third Monday in Lent: Lent 2014

Lenten Devotional

Mark 12-13

Sorry of for missing some days, but the weather, study leave and all good things of God's creation pulled me away from the computer.  I am learning a devotional like this is harder to put together day by day than I anticipated.  I covet your prayers as I pray for all who read.  In these chapters we have some more parables and teaching on the end times, but I feel that the center is held by Jesus' teaching on the greatest commandment.

Again, Jesus is being trapped by the religious elite of His time with the question of what is the greatest commandment.  Now, Jesus answers with the general teaching that all great rabbis and teachers have given, 

‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12: 29-30).

The first part of this response is from Deuteronomy 6:4-5.  This passage called the shema.  It is the central teaching of all the law as Jesus proclaims. All people we to memorize this text and it was part of the worship for Jewish people.  Jesus does not end with this proclamation.  He gives a second that is just as important.

Jesus proclaims it is just as important to love your neighbor as yourself.  Between these two commandants is the fullness of the law and the prophets.  This is the twist that is true in all of the Old Testament, but never seems to come out in the teaching by the elders.  If we demonstrate our love for others, we are demonstrating our love and devotion to God.  The opposite is true also.  In demonstrating our love of God, we demonstrate love of others.  

The religious leaders of Jesus time were getting caught in the law of making sure all the rules were followed to the neglect of other people.  THis is true many times today.  We want to make ourselves look great in the eyes of others even if it pushes other people away.  When we start looking at others as people in need of our compassion and deserving of God's love and forgiveness as much as us, the world turns upside down.  Jesus was very good at turning things upside down.  

We are left with the same challenge today as they were, love God and love your neighbor.  What are some ways we can demonstrate love to others in tangible meaningful ways?

Second Saturday in Lent: Lent 2014

Lenten Devotional
Matthew 25-26

The gospel continues through on teaching of what followers of Jesus should do to prepare for the end times and what it means to be ready for the end time.  Now we enter into a few parables focusing on these the ways to live in the end and how to be ready.

The first is the parable of Ten Virgins.  Again the story focuses on a wedding situation.  This time the maidens of the wedding group have to wait and wait for the party to begin.    Half the group gets everything ready and keeps a full supply of oil for what ever might come.  The other half does not make any preparations.  When the time came, it was midnight and dark.  The oil and wicks of the second group runs out while the first group has enough to be ready.  There was not enough to share and keep all the lamps running.  The half not ready are sent to find more on their own and they are left out of the feast and the celebration.  A teaching that we must always be ready.

This parable is followed by two more showing that the work of Christ must continue.  The parable of talents where a servant is given different amounts and the one given the least and did nothing was removed.  The last of the parable in chapter 25 is similar.  to the parable of the talents.  This one looks at separating the sheep from the goats.  The ones who come into the kingdom are those that have continue the work and given onto the least.  These teachings all lead to the final times in the gospels.  The next section is the betrayal and anointing of Jesus. 

All of this reminds me of yesterday.   We must remain vigilant in the work of our Lord not matter the length or conditions.  Both of the parables remind us that we are given something from God.  What have you been given that is available to be used?  Some are as simple as a listening ear or a comforting voice to the people hurting.  All of these do not seem important in the scheme of the world.  These are some of the greatest gifts we can have and use with others.  What are you hiding from the world?  Or, what are you afraid to use for the risk?