As I participated in worship yesterday and as I was listening to the sermon being delivered I thought to myself, "Now this is a sermon from which a blog post could be born." The scripture about which the minister was preaching was Ezekiel 18:1-9. Historically it is believed that this text was written during Israel's exile in Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem and before Israel was set free to return to the promised land. It's probably a time in Israel's history when collectively Israel was feeling sorry for itself. The collective consciousness of Israel was trying to figure out just how they got to where they were. Where once they were powerful under the leadership of King David now they were broken and exiled to a foreign land living under the rule of a foreign king.
The scripture begins with God speaking to Ezekiel giving him directions, telling him the message that is to be relayed to the people. The people believe that their sinfulness is passed down to them from the generations that preceded them. So you can hear the people saying, "If only our father's and mother's hadn't done what they did, then we wouldn't be punished now for their sins of yesterday." The scripture records, "The Lord said: Ezekiel, I hear the people of Israel using the old saying, 'Sour grapes eaten by parents leave a sour taste in the mouths of their children.' Now tell them that I am the Lord God, and as surely as I live, that saying will no longer be used in Israel. The lives of the people belong to me--parents as well as children." [CEV, Ezekiel 18:1-4] The text continues on telling us that those who sin against God will be punished and those who are not sinners will not be punished. We are also told that those who turn from their sinfulness will be returned to the grace of God and will have life. The chapter ends with this: "I will judge each of you for what you've done. So stop sinning, or else you will certainly be punished. Give up your evil ways and start thinking pure thoughts. And be faithful to me! [CEV, Ezekiel 18:30-31a]
No longer is God willing to accept two things: the first is this, that the collective consciousness of the people of Israel speaks for the individual's responsibilities; the second, the blaming of others for the choices that we make in our own lives. While God spoke these things to Israel so long ago through Ezekiel they still hold true today. Let me be candid, there is a pervasiveness in our culture of abdicating our personal responsibility and accountability to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. I'm a visual thinker and at this point I envision God rolling God's eyes in frustration and disappointment. Perhaps a look similar to that look of disapproval that we may have received from our elders when we misbehaved as children.
The truth of the matter is that indeed for many of us we find ourselves in difficult circumstances and situations that may not have been of our own making or choosing. Yet, history is replete with examples of people who have made the personal choice to overcome those circumstances despite the odds against them. Many who were born into poverty have through determination and education lifted themselves from that situation. Many who were born into abusive or addictive families have chosen to overcome the odds that they too would be abusers or addicts. They have made a choice to seek the help that will give them the courage and the tools to overcome those circumstances.
Perhaps what God was communicating to Israel and to us is this: as long as we continue to blame someone else for the circumstances in which we find ourselves we will never have the wisdom, insight, determination, or fortitude to overcome them. We must, in order to overcome, take personal responsibility for our lives. To have the clean slate from which to grow we must be accountable for the choices that we make. This is not to say that we have to be alone in this process; this couldn't be farther from the truth. Consider 12 step recovery groups: it is companioning that provides the pivotal backbone necessary for recovery. The first thing one does in recovery after admitting they have a problem is to find strength and companionship in God and others who are recovering. Much could be learned in our broader society from the relational aspects of 12 step recovery groups.
Largely in our society, we are mired in the addiction of blaming others for our ills rather than empowered by the victory of assuming personal responsibility and accountability for our lives. A fundamental shift has occurred that has moved us in the wrong direction spiritually and morally. We must, each of us as individuals, seek to do what is right and just. We must, each of us as individuals, claim personal responsibility for our lives and be accountable for the choices that we make. A place to start is to seek the strength and wisdom that comes from a relationship with God. Turn to God! Seek God's forgiveness!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Theologians Today
If you're one of those people who look around at your church and wonder what happened to the congregation that used to be vital and rich with energy for Christ; or one who has been so busy doing the work of Christ in your church and community to think about what has happened to your mainline denominational congregation; perhaps we can gain some understanding through this example.
Sometimes I click through to articles or blog posts that come up on my Facebook page. Yesterday was one of those times. A post entitled, "Occupy Wall Street: On a Theological Pre-Occupation by Catherine Keller" piqued my curiosity so I clicked through to see what it was about. This is a post that was entered on a blog called "The Theology Salon." I'm not sure how old the blog is or who has started it but evidently it's sole purpose, at the moment, is to promote theology and the Occupy Movement.
So the blog post begins, "Mysterious, isn’t it—at just about the point when the last hopes for the Obama administration were collapsing, a new ground for hope arises. The chance that this presidency might somehow, despite the impossible obstructions of hypercapitalism, turn the tide of economic, ecological and military destruction was, by the end of the summer, swallowed by the void that waits in ambush. That nihilism waits on the left, that waits in me—the jaded despair that gets too smart to trust again. To have faith in—what? The people? Democracy? Political process? A better future? A just and sustainable planet? The new heaven and earth—i.e. the renewal of the atmosphere and its planet? A god who matters, now? (sorry, but this is a theology blog, yes?)"
If you weren't curious enough to click through above and read to the bottom of the post to find out who Catherine Keller is here's her tag line, "Catherine Keller is Professor of Constructive Theology at the Theological School of Drew University." A quick look up of Constructive Theology on the net tells me that this form of theology is an attempt to deal with some of the issues surrounding what has been traditionally known as the field of Systematic Theology. Nonetheless, Ms. Keller is a theologian at Drew University, which is more to the point that I wish to make.
Point 1: Evidently Ms. Keller has put her faith and hope in Barak Obama and his administration based upon the "Hope and Change" presidential campaign of 2008. Seeing that he hasn't lived up to all the promises that he made her faith and hope is now dashed for this country and for the world.
Point 2: Perhaps I'm wrong, I'll concede that because I don't know Ms. Keller personally, but it does seem strange to me that a professor of theology should feel the need to apologize publicly for writing about God, oh, by the way "god".
Point 3: The breakdown seems quite evident to me: Ms. Keller, and perhaps many like her who are teaching in our institutions of higher learning, both public and private, and especially in theological institutions around this country have lost their way. There is one and only one in whom we should be placing our faith and hope: that one is God. God our creator. God our sustainer. God our redeemer.
Point 4: When one puts their faith and hope in human made systems, in human beings before one's faith and hope in God, then there is bound to be disappointment. Seemingly her disappointment stems from the collusion of government and business, which I agree is troubling and problematic. However, greed and will to power has been core to the human condition from the beginning. Hmmm, isn't that why Jesus came? To show us the way; to give us an alternative to the greed and power core of our condition; to tell us that we are to put our faith in God, and God alone?
Point 5: Our young people and especially the potential leaders of our churches are being taught by folks who believe as Ms. Keller believes: we have to publicly apologize for 'god'. It makes one pause and ask if they even believe in the Judeo-Christian God.
You can massage the facts all you want but the truth remains that our country was founded by people who had a tremendous and courageous faith in the Judeo-Christian God. We are a people who are sinking because we have wandered away from God. We have listened to those who tell us that this God doesn't exist; this God in not worthy of our faith. I know this because I was once one of those people and God allowed me to come to the end of myself. God allowed me to realize that there is no other than God at the center of all that exists. So I am bold to say: turn now America to be again a nation that is under God.
P.S. Upon reading further in her blog post you will note that Ms. Keller has now put her faith and hope in the Occupy Movement. I'm afraid that Ms. Keller is in for another disappointment. My prayer is that her disappointment will not be one of realizing just how fortunate she was to have been living in this great country because it no longer offers us the freedoms that we enjoy now. By the way, those are the very freedoms that allow for the Occupy Movement to exist in the first place.
Sometimes I click through to articles or blog posts that come up on my Facebook page. Yesterday was one of those times. A post entitled, "Occupy Wall Street: On a Theological Pre-Occupation by Catherine Keller" piqued my curiosity so I clicked through to see what it was about. This is a post that was entered on a blog called "The Theology Salon." I'm not sure how old the blog is or who has started it but evidently it's sole purpose, at the moment, is to promote theology and the Occupy Movement.
So the blog post begins, "Mysterious, isn’t it—at just about the point when the last hopes for the Obama administration were collapsing, a new ground for hope arises. The chance that this presidency might somehow, despite the impossible obstructions of hypercapitalism, turn the tide of economic, ecological and military destruction was, by the end of the summer, swallowed by the void that waits in ambush. That nihilism waits on the left, that waits in me—the jaded despair that gets too smart to trust again. To have faith in—what? The people? Democracy? Political process? A better future? A just and sustainable planet? The new heaven and earth—i.e. the renewal of the atmosphere and its planet? A god who matters, now? (sorry, but this is a theology blog, yes?)"
If you weren't curious enough to click through above and read to the bottom of the post to find out who Catherine Keller is here's her tag line, "Catherine Keller is Professor of Constructive Theology at the Theological School of Drew University." A quick look up of Constructive Theology on the net tells me that this form of theology is an attempt to deal with some of the issues surrounding what has been traditionally known as the field of Systematic Theology. Nonetheless, Ms. Keller is a theologian at Drew University, which is more to the point that I wish to make.
Point 1: Evidently Ms. Keller has put her faith and hope in Barak Obama and his administration based upon the "Hope and Change" presidential campaign of 2008. Seeing that he hasn't lived up to all the promises that he made her faith and hope is now dashed for this country and for the world.
Point 2: Perhaps I'm wrong, I'll concede that because I don't know Ms. Keller personally, but it does seem strange to me that a professor of theology should feel the need to apologize publicly for writing about God, oh, by the way "god".
Point 3: The breakdown seems quite evident to me: Ms. Keller, and perhaps many like her who are teaching in our institutions of higher learning, both public and private, and especially in theological institutions around this country have lost their way. There is one and only one in whom we should be placing our faith and hope: that one is God. God our creator. God our sustainer. God our redeemer.
Point 4: When one puts their faith and hope in human made systems, in human beings before one's faith and hope in God, then there is bound to be disappointment. Seemingly her disappointment stems from the collusion of government and business, which I agree is troubling and problematic. However, greed and will to power has been core to the human condition from the beginning. Hmmm, isn't that why Jesus came? To show us the way; to give us an alternative to the greed and power core of our condition; to tell us that we are to put our faith in God, and God alone?
Point 5: Our young people and especially the potential leaders of our churches are being taught by folks who believe as Ms. Keller believes: we have to publicly apologize for 'god'. It makes one pause and ask if they even believe in the Judeo-Christian God.
You can massage the facts all you want but the truth remains that our country was founded by people who had a tremendous and courageous faith in the Judeo-Christian God. We are a people who are sinking because we have wandered away from God. We have listened to those who tell us that this God doesn't exist; this God in not worthy of our faith. I know this because I was once one of those people and God allowed me to come to the end of myself. God allowed me to realize that there is no other than God at the center of all that exists. So I am bold to say: turn now America to be again a nation that is under God.
P.S. Upon reading further in her blog post you will note that Ms. Keller has now put her faith and hope in the Occupy Movement. I'm afraid that Ms. Keller is in for another disappointment. My prayer is that her disappointment will not be one of realizing just how fortunate she was to have been living in this great country because it no longer offers us the freedoms that we enjoy now. By the way, those are the very freedoms that allow for the Occupy Movement to exist in the first place.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Who on earth wants to repent?
"From that time Jesus began to proclaim, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' " [Matt 4:17, NRSV]
We don't hear too much about Jesus calling for the people to repent. Mostly we hear about the teachings that came as a result of this call to repentance; those teachings that tell us how to put that repentance into practice. Such as love God and love one another; or if you see someone who is hungry give them food; or if you see someone who needs some clothes give them some of yours. Then there are the teachings that are the hardest to follow where Jesus tells us to love our enemy; or to forgive not just 7 times but 7 times 70; or to take up our cross and follow him.
So what does it mean to repent? In our society we have all sorts of cultural baggage attached to that word. For many it conjures up images of old tent revivals where the pulpit pounding preacher is yelling at the congregation to repent or end up in hell. Most of us have seen these scenes portrayed in movies but there are many who have witnessed them in person. Most of the people I know who've been first hand witnesses don't have very good feelings associated with those memories. I'm not convinced that Jesus came preaching the 'Hell and brimstone' kind of repentance.
Repent! Jesus did come preaching repentance. I personally like the Greek word that is translated as to repent: metanoia. This word means to turn, to change, to change from one thing into a new thing. It's the root word for the word metamorphosis. This is probably more true to the meaning that Jesus came preaching rather than the 'Hell fire and brimstone' meaning that is seared into our collective memory.
Jesus came preaching that we are to change, that we are to turn. Throughout history Jesus has been referred to as the new Adam; the one who came to make right what Adam and Eve had done wrong. Just what is it that they did? Of course, they ate the fruit of the tree of Good and Evil. But isn't it a story about more than that? They defied God. They chose to do what they wanted to do because they wanted to do it. They chose to satisfy themselves over doing the will of God. Hmmm ... essentially they are the first of a long list of Biblical characters who demonstrate the human propensity for self-centeredness over God-centeredness. So, when Jesus comes preaching that we are to change, that we are to turn, he's telling us that we are to turn away from self for fulfillment and turn to God. The changes that we make in our lives are to be changes that put God first rather than self first. But that's not as easy as it sounds, is it? Often words can be spoken and written a lot easier than they are to live out.
The first step in this change process, in this process of turning, is to acknowledge to yourself and to God those areas of your life where you haven't put God first. No matter who you are these exist. Is it your work, or play, or your family, or relationships, or finances? It just might be worthwhile to make a written list of these things. That makes it more concrete. Ask yourself such questions as: What are those things in my life that I keep for myself, that I don't want to give to God? Where in my life am I defying God? Once you've made that list, give these things over to God and ask for God's help in restoring your life so that God is first. Here's the thing about repentance: it's not just a one time thing and then all is right with the world. We have to keep doing this process over and over again. Maybe it's just best practice to go through this process on a daily basis to keep the proverbial house in order.
There's no denying it, this is hard work. But here's the thing: Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." [Matt. 11:28-30, NRSV] If you're not an Amish farmer you might not get this idea of being yoked with Jesus. A yoke is the apparatus that is used to bind two horses or oxen together when plowing a field or hauling a wagon. It enables the two animals to work together in unison so that that work of pulling the plow or hauling the load is shared between the them. This is a wonderful image if you substitute yourself and Jesus for the animals and imagine you and Jesus together pulling the plow through the fields of life or hauling that heavy load up one of the steep hills of life that we have to traverse.
Repent! Turn around! Turn from self and turn to God!
We don't hear too much about Jesus calling for the people to repent. Mostly we hear about the teachings that came as a result of this call to repentance; those teachings that tell us how to put that repentance into practice. Such as love God and love one another; or if you see someone who is hungry give them food; or if you see someone who needs some clothes give them some of yours. Then there are the teachings that are the hardest to follow where Jesus tells us to love our enemy; or to forgive not just 7 times but 7 times 70; or to take up our cross and follow him.
So what does it mean to repent? In our society we have all sorts of cultural baggage attached to that word. For many it conjures up images of old tent revivals where the pulpit pounding preacher is yelling at the congregation to repent or end up in hell. Most of us have seen these scenes portrayed in movies but there are many who have witnessed them in person. Most of the people I know who've been first hand witnesses don't have very good feelings associated with those memories. I'm not convinced that Jesus came preaching the 'Hell and brimstone' kind of repentance.
Repent! Jesus did come preaching repentance. I personally like the Greek word that is translated as to repent: metanoia. This word means to turn, to change, to change from one thing into a new thing. It's the root word for the word metamorphosis. This is probably more true to the meaning that Jesus came preaching rather than the 'Hell fire and brimstone' meaning that is seared into our collective memory.
Jesus came preaching that we are to change, that we are to turn. Throughout history Jesus has been referred to as the new Adam; the one who came to make right what Adam and Eve had done wrong. Just what is it that they did? Of course, they ate the fruit of the tree of Good and Evil. But isn't it a story about more than that? They defied God. They chose to do what they wanted to do because they wanted to do it. They chose to satisfy themselves over doing the will of God. Hmmm ... essentially they are the first of a long list of Biblical characters who demonstrate the human propensity for self-centeredness over God-centeredness. So, when Jesus comes preaching that we are to change, that we are to turn, he's telling us that we are to turn away from self for fulfillment and turn to God. The changes that we make in our lives are to be changes that put God first rather than self first. But that's not as easy as it sounds, is it? Often words can be spoken and written a lot easier than they are to live out.
The first step in this change process, in this process of turning, is to acknowledge to yourself and to God those areas of your life where you haven't put God first. No matter who you are these exist. Is it your work, or play, or your family, or relationships, or finances? It just might be worthwhile to make a written list of these things. That makes it more concrete. Ask yourself such questions as: What are those things in my life that I keep for myself, that I don't want to give to God? Where in my life am I defying God? Once you've made that list, give these things over to God and ask for God's help in restoring your life so that God is first. Here's the thing about repentance: it's not just a one time thing and then all is right with the world. We have to keep doing this process over and over again. Maybe it's just best practice to go through this process on a daily basis to keep the proverbial house in order.
There's no denying it, this is hard work. But here's the thing: Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." [Matt. 11:28-30, NRSV] If you're not an Amish farmer you might not get this idea of being yoked with Jesus. A yoke is the apparatus that is used to bind two horses or oxen together when plowing a field or hauling a wagon. It enables the two animals to work together in unison so that that work of pulling the plow or hauling the load is shared between the them. This is a wonderful image if you substitute yourself and Jesus for the animals and imagine you and Jesus together pulling the plow through the fields of life or hauling that heavy load up one of the steep hills of life that we have to traverse.
Repent! Turn around! Turn from self and turn to God!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Are you in or out?
There's lots of talk these days about who's a real Christian and who's not. Fingers pointing at front running presidential candidates by those claiming to know if these are true followers of Jesus Christ or not based upon their religious affiliations. Now clearly there are those about whom we can say with certainty that they are not followers of Jesus Christ because of their religious affiliation. For example, those who are Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu, to name a few. However, when it comes to shades of Christianity we should be careful in our finger pointing exercises regarding who's in and who's out. Yes, before you go off and shout at me that there are clearly some theologies about Christ that have been rejected by the traditions of Christianity, I assure you this is true. But, the question that remains to be answered is this: when we come before God our maker will we be judged based upon our subscription to human theological understanding or will we be judged based upon the love of God that is in our hearts?
There has been much wrangling and hand ringing throughout the ages over our theological understandings of God and Jesus Christ. But has all this theological argument and discussion brought us any closer to God or closer to one another? I'm inclined to poll negatively on this at this juncture but the final verdict is still out.
Personally, I believe that those who are so certain that they've got it all figured out regarding who's in and who's out are just liable to be really surprised in the end. I also think that Jesus would have had some harsh and critical words to say to these folks because often in their certitude they believe that they're in and the others are out; and this belief is often not held in such ways that are filled with the compassion and love of God. In other words, it is often assumed that one ought not associate with those who are believed to be out for fear that they might tarnish one's image in the eyes of God, or some such thing. It seems to me that it is this very attitude that Jesus sought to correct. Most likely it was the correction of this attitude that was the root cause of his execution. How many times does scripture record Jesus telling those who were on the fringes that they too were the beloved children of God. Scripture is replete with evidence of Jesus' distaste of the self subscribed chosen of the religious establishment. Many times he confronts the hardened hearts of those who believe they have it made; those who believe that they were in while all those other unclean ones were out. I do believe that his message was quite the opposite.
For me Jesus was not just another man. For me Jesus is the son of God and it is through my faith in Jesus that I know God. I strive to follow him in all the dealings of my life. I am far from perfect in living out my faith and for this reason I am wholly grateful that Jesus is also my redeemer and intercessor. I decided long ago that it's not my job to decide who's in and who's out and for this I am also really grateful as it would be an overwhelming responsibility. It is my job to bring to the world the message that Jesus Christ is the light of the world who shines the love of God into places where darkness abounds. It is my job to allow the light of Christ to shine in me and through me, to the best of my ability. This journey of following Jesus Christ while not without its challenges is one that I am grateful to be on and I invite you to join me.
There has been much wrangling and hand ringing throughout the ages over our theological understandings of God and Jesus Christ. But has all this theological argument and discussion brought us any closer to God or closer to one another? I'm inclined to poll negatively on this at this juncture but the final verdict is still out.
Personally, I believe that those who are so certain that they've got it all figured out regarding who's in and who's out are just liable to be really surprised in the end. I also think that Jesus would have had some harsh and critical words to say to these folks because often in their certitude they believe that they're in and the others are out; and this belief is often not held in such ways that are filled with the compassion and love of God. In other words, it is often assumed that one ought not associate with those who are believed to be out for fear that they might tarnish one's image in the eyes of God, or some such thing. It seems to me that it is this very attitude that Jesus sought to correct. Most likely it was the correction of this attitude that was the root cause of his execution. How many times does scripture record Jesus telling those who were on the fringes that they too were the beloved children of God. Scripture is replete with evidence of Jesus' distaste of the self subscribed chosen of the religious establishment. Many times he confronts the hardened hearts of those who believe they have it made; those who believe that they were in while all those other unclean ones were out. I do believe that his message was quite the opposite.
For me Jesus was not just another man. For me Jesus is the son of God and it is through my faith in Jesus that I know God. I strive to follow him in all the dealings of my life. I am far from perfect in living out my faith and for this reason I am wholly grateful that Jesus is also my redeemer and intercessor. I decided long ago that it's not my job to decide who's in and who's out and for this I am also really grateful as it would be an overwhelming responsibility. It is my job to bring to the world the message that Jesus Christ is the light of the world who shines the love of God into places where darkness abounds. It is my job to allow the light of Christ to shine in me and through me, to the best of my ability. This journey of following Jesus Christ while not without its challenges is one that I am grateful to be on and I invite you to join me.
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