The Worst Idols Happen When We Place The Best Things Upon False Pedestals.

Scripture:

Galatians 4:4-6

4 You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

Observation:

The irony of Paul's own life, prior to his conversion and commissioning by Jesus, is that he (with other Pharisees) had come to believe that the Mosaic law code was the superlative revelation of God's will for the world. As a result he arrived at a place in his faith journey where the Mosaic law (itself deeply suspicious and critical of all forms of idolatry) had become an idol. That is to say, Paul and other pharisees had come to place their faith, their hope, their trust in methods for fulfilling even the most rigorous aspects of the Mosaic law. They put their hope in achieving righteousness by merit through discipline and sacrifice.

Still others put their hope in gaining righteousness as an ethnic birthright through the outward sign of the Abrahamic covenant (circumcision).

As satisfying as it is to cluck our tongues and shake our heads at the foolishness of "those guys, over there" I am reminded today that our own tradition tempts us to worship similar idols. How are we, as Lutheran followers of Jesus putting our hope in false idols as opposed to in the name of the Living God Alone? At times, it seems to me that Lutherans are especially tempted to such errors because of the amount of pride and identity we have invested in having "good theology". And so, we come to the logical end of idolatry - violence towards ourselves, towards God, and towards the other.

Application:

What if, just for today, as a little experiment, I tried to really 

yield to the wisdom of God as interpreted in Galatians: 

"the only thing that counts is faith working through love."?

What if today, we all decided to talk a little less about our 

faith and participate in it more fully.

How might that manifest in You life?

Prayer:

Our Father, Who Art In Heaven, holy be your name. Your kingdom come! Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Amen.

Climate Control

Scripture:

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Observation:

This "watchword" grabbed me today. It is always worth checking out where a single verse is located in the broader context of its book. When I looked up Revelation 3, I was reminded that this is the section where John is instructed to write letters to various upstart Christian communities (to the angels of these communities as it to be exact). Laodicea is the intended recipient community of this corrective invitation. The verse in question is all promise and invitation; but, it is interesting to note what precedes this:

(NRSV)

The Message to Laodicea

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin[a] of God’s creation:

15 “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.

Challenge much!?!

Revelation 3:16 and 3:20 have always resonated with me. Today I found out that they actually hang together. Cool!

How incredible is this invitation?  

Phil, all you have to do is open the door to me.  

I am knocking and waiting.  

Just open the door and we can eat together - sharing in each 

other's company in this deliciously simple-yet-profound way.

Have you ever been asked the question: "If you could dine with any person from history, who would you chose?" I have often thought I'd choose Jesus. Imagine the wry smile on my face when I realized he has been patiently though not dispassionately awaiting just such an opportunity!!!!

This is a seriously cool promise. Perhaps it is not by accident that it is paired with a pretty serious challenge. "Phil, if only you would choose a direction and really commit to it, I would be pleased. But, if you are intent upon continuing to meander about, doing as you like, I am going to cut ties with you in an abrupt manner.

Invitation. Challenge.

To grow, we need to be cheered on, encouraged and challenged. To grow in faith, these challenges must always be tempered by commensurate demonstrations of solidarity, care and love.

Application:

Today I am taking my temperature as a disciple. Am I hot or cold as a learner/follower of Jesus? Am I lukewarm and complacent?

Does the temperature of your commitment to the Lord need adjusting? What better way to begin than by opening the door and sitting down to dine with the Rabbi himself?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, don't spit me out! Thanks for shaking me awake. We live in such sleepy, complacent, satiated times. Could we make a dinner date soon? I am hungry and can't imagine anyone I'd rather dine with. Amen.

Justice, Righteousness, Holiness and Love

Scripture:

Isaiah 5:15-17

15 People are bowed down, everyone is brought low,

and the eyes of the haughty are humbled.

16 But the Lord of hosts is exalted by justice,

and the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness.

17 Then the lambs shall graze as in their pasture,

fatlings and kids[c] shall feed among the ruins.

Observation:

Isaiah's prophecies are uttered into a culture and time where individuals and the society as a whole had lost their way. These verses are followed by a series of gasping accusations testifying how the people of God have failed to be a lighthouse to the nations. People have marginalized God and put themselves, their hobbies and obsessions at the centre. This does not bode well for the people of God - never has, never will. The meaning of the statement, "For I AM a jealous God" is this: God doesn't suffer marginalization. When God ceases to be the centre for us as individuals and as communities we can expect events to "bring us low" in a hurry.

Here's the thing I love about this passage, though: it subverts our twisted understanding of justice and righteousness. Far from being an execution or eternal banishment in the name of justice, the events that humble us are not meant to cut us off from God, but to restore us to right relationships with God (and each other and ourselves). For, the "Holy (dramatically other than we ask, imagine, or expect) God shows himself holy by righteousness." The key to understanding this passage is that righteousness doesn't mean vengeful or "being right at the expense of continuing to be in relationship." Rather, to be righteous is to stand in right relationship to God, to self, and to other. This is the crux of Luther's great (re) discovery: God's righteousness is not limited to a punitive, or controlling "tough on crime" definition of justice. God is love. Therefore, God's righteousness is communicated throughout creation in patient, suffering, transformative, costly love.

Where we expect (and deserve) death sentences, 

we receive life sentences.

Sound too good to be true? Look again at verse 17. 

There in the midst of the levelling of the city, 

new life is taking hold. 

It is wobbly-kneed, ridiculous and vulnerable; but, 

justice has broken up ground and hearts formerly 

infertile in their hardness.

You see? 

The breaking, the correction, is not the goal. Nor is it required 

to soothe the fiery will of a wrathful god. 

The breaking, even the dying, happens so that life might 

prosper again ... in a good way.

Application:

I no longer dread God's correction. No, it isn't pleasant; but, it won't kill me. And, it creates a world with a real future, a world where the Centre holds.

Prayer:

Healer of Our Every Ill, 
Never forsake us.
Take us.
Break us.
Remake us.
Wake us,
to the life abundant you prepare and unfold before us.
Amen.

"My Lighthouse!"

Scripture:

Galatians 3:27-28
27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

Galatians 3:28 is a favourite verse of mine, one that blows the doors off potential sources of division, separation, judgement, exclusion and the like. But, it is always important to read around favourite verses that get bumper-sticker-ized. Every time I look a little wider I am surprised and challenged by what I find.

In this case, one doesn't have to go far to find a challenge. Reading verse 28 in light of verse 27 makes it obvious that the eradication of divisiveness based around differences is not (yet) a cosmic or even an earthly reality. This promise (and challenge) belongs to "as many of you as were baptized..."; which is to say, belongs to the church.

As Paul puts it, the church is necessarily (though always imperfectly) inclusive. However, some would take that to mean that the church must be inclusive to everyone who might ever like to visit, or stop by mid-week seeking help or council. While it is true that the church must always look beyond itself if it is to partake seriously of the mission it (we) are called to, mission is different than inclusion.

Being in mission to those who are "other" to us requires that 

we demonstrate a radical regard for their fundamental worth 

as human beings; but, that does not automatically mean that 

the church must change in order to "include" those who are 

not yet part of her (and may not even desire to be).

Isaiah 2 envisions the mission of the city of God attracting 

others to it, not because its doors are open to all without 

placing any demand or challenge upon them. Rather, the 

prophet envisions people from all corners of creation 

streaming to the city on a hill because they are attracted to its 

light, its justice, its peace, ... it's peculiarity or otherness.

Application:

When I am dealing with folks who don't belong to our church, (or, often, any church) I always try to present myself as accepting and non-judgemental. But, too often that slides into an overly passive state where I feel like I fail to really demonstrate what it is that is so different and attractive to me about Christianity. Maybe that is because I am overly focussed on Christianity as an institution or a method of spirituality. It seems to me that as we journey together to re-discover what radical discipleship is - as we learn to be followers of Christ Jesus rather than members of his fan club or loyalty rewards club - I am growing ever bolder to share what I have found to be Good News! Today (and now tomorrow) I'm going to look for the opportunities God sends my way to do just that.

Prayer:

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Grant me grace to see "all those who have received baptism" as equal in your sight. Grant me resolve never to confuse shallow acceptance with unconditional love. Grant me wisdom to discern when and how to mix and calibrate invitation and challenge. Amen.

It's Philip and the Brain!

Scripture:

Isaiah 1:18-20
18 Come now, let us argue it out,
says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be devoured by the sword;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Galatians 3:17-18

17 My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Observation:

I have often been struck by what I perceived to be a conflict alive in scripture. Case in point, Isaiah 1. There in the span of three short verses (and certainly not just there!) something is offered and then seemingly pulled back. Verse eighteen declares what will be in the future in a way that has power to achieve the declaration. We have a simple english word for such a type of speech that packs power to create: promise. (In Christian circles we might also say, "gospel".)

But, in the very next verses, the enacted promise seems to be unravelling through a series of qualifications: 
      "if ...then...shall".

I have struggled in the past to wonder how to reconcile such 

passages. Is our identity as "chosen-of-God" secure; or, is it 

conditional upon our "right-behaviour".

In a book called "Covenant and Kingdom", Mike Breen likewise identifies two major themes that run throughout scripture. However, rather than place them in competition with one another, he describes how they related to one another. He treats the tension between them as something to be upheld rather than as something to be resolved.

I have found these two "triangles" to be helpful in interpreting scripture. I wonder if you might too?

(Below - from "Covenant and Kingdom: The DNA of the Bible", Mike Breen, 2010, 3DM)


"Covenant is the way in which the Bible describes and defines relationship: first our relationship with God and then our relationship with everyone else."

Covenant:
Father(God) --> Identity --> Obedience

"Kingdom is the way in which the Bible describes and defines responsibility: first, our responsibility to represent God to the people we know and then to everyone else."

Kingdom:
King (God) --> Authority --> Power

Application: 

Today (just like every other day, Pinky!) 

I will let God tell me who I am; then, let my decisions and 

actions follow from that beautiful security and freedom. 

Having said all that, do you read/hear today's Moravian Texts 

prayer differently?

Prayer:

Father/King, you are ever patient with our inaction. Help us to drown out the noise so that we can hear your voice. Hold us in your arms so that we can let go of fears that hold us back. We look forward to following you. Amen.

There's a New Sheriff in Town

Today I read through all the assigned readings in my devotional and felt a giant "whoosh". I wish I could say it was the Holy Spirit moving powerfully into the neighbourhood of my brain and heart. Alas, the sound was numerous passages of holy scripture zooming over my head.

Does this every happen to you? You read the words on the page, but for whatever reason they fail to connect.

I find Paul's letters to be like that oftentimes - especially when I am reading them in smaller sections. The arguments are so involved and dynamic that it can be all-too easy to lose track of the forest through the trees.

When that happens, sometimes switching to a new translation can help. On days like today when I am feeling particularly dense, I turn to one of two favourites - The Message, or the Amplified version. Today I turned to The Message and I am so glad I did.

By the way, if you are not a raging church nerd with numerous Bible translations available in hard copy, you might want to check out this website:

https://www.biblegateway.com

It will let you search, study and read scripture in tons of translations for free! We like free.

Scripture:

Galatians 2:15-3:5 (The Message)

19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Observation:  

I grew up dreaming of being a cowboy. In the tales of the Wild West, the "Law men" were often the heroes who brought order to chaos with their strength and resolve. According to the rules of the "world as it is" "Law men" are esteemed and powerful. But the King of Heaven is not impressed by even the squarest jawed sheriff.

I am tired of "working my head off" to try and impress God and bring order to the chaos of this world and my own life. Thankfully, in Jesus Christ, there is a new Sheriff in town. This Sheriff has received authority to command the elements, cast out demons, heal the sick and forgive the sinful. And, although the Sheriff won't tolerate any challenges to his badge, he does seem to be looking for faithful deputies he can trust.

Application: 

Thanks to Eugene Petersen's knack for bringing the teachings of scripture into evocative language that connects to my reality, I am reminded today that faith is not about mastery. I do not need to master scripture any more than I can master a volcano. I do not have to grasp God's big plan for my life or yours. I am free to follow the marching orders of my Sheriff.

Wanna try it? Follow me as I follow Him.

Prayer:

Jesus, you are the Way and the Truth and the Light. Help me to follow obediently; to question humbly, and to see clearly. Amen.