Category Archives: Grace

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Christians, Stop Shoving!

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.

“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver

A number of years ago, before Chris Tomlin was a praise band must-know, Cathy and I went to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert which featured Tomlin and Jeremy Camp as openers.  Tomlin absolutely “stole the show” creating a worship space out of a concert center and leaving the audience so tired after standing and singing with him that when Chapman came out, we mostly just sat and listened politely.  We were apparently all thinking the same thing, “when Chapman finally stops singing, I am going to find that tiny Chris Tomlin booth in the lobby and buy his CD.”  And so, after the last prayer (for a safe ride home) we stormed the lobby where a crush of people were all trying to get to the swamped table at the same time.  As Cathy and I were being pushed, gouged and jerked around there was one of those odd unplanned moments of quiet, and then we heard a voice thick with 100% pure, honest, adolescent sarcasm say, “Christians, stop shoving!”

Of course, I know Christian people are still people and act accordingly but the memory of that night brings about a question I have been asking myself, God and others since I walked into Highland Park Baptist Church at the age of 17 and heard the gospel for the first time.

Why aren’t Christians more peaceful?

In Christianity we seem to have a long-distance relationship with peace.  We treat it like a spouse who happens to be in Antarctica doing research. We show peace’s picture around, telling people all about it and how much we love it and miss it, but we don’t have any real plans to make the journey to get it or unite with it full time.

Oh, good! Satellite radio! Now peace and I can Skype, or play a game of checkers together.

The key to the question seems to be that Christians don’t really have a place for “peace practices” as part of their expectation, liturgy or understanding.  Churches are full of programming – book groups, Sunday School, Youth group, Divorce Recovery groups,  Chronic Illness Support Groups, Mommy Groups, and Christian men’s breakfasts. We have plenty of space and  time devoted to Upward Sports and downward spirals.  But not peace.

Let’s face it – church worship is anything but peaceful.  We have so much stuff crammed into that hour (50 minutes if you go to the early service) – music, pastoral prayer, announcements of more activity, sermon, communion, children’s sermon, offering, special music – that churches who do “passing of the peace” often give the practice a very generous 2 minutes where people turn to the person next to them, shake hands and tersely mumble, “peace by unto you” before sitting down and waiting for the worship train to leave the station once more.  In church peace is simply a rest stop.

Every once in a while, a “peace trend” will hit the church. A few years ago it was Labyrinth walks – encouraging church members to come and walk the maze of contemplation gathering peace.  Some churches even committed all the way into digging up the grounds and building replicas of the Chartres labyrinth into their property. Others used the easier and more fleeting “Labyrinth In A Can”.

Just make sure to pack the peace up and put it away before the Swinging Seventies group comes in for tea and bible study.

But the labyrinths grew over or got put away because the Lenten family fair needed the fellowship hall floor.  Taize is another peace practice churches flirt with – holding it once a year as a special service and making sure to warn people there won’t be any talking.   We adore Buddhist monks and invite them to speak whenever possible, because we secretly envy their seemingly solid, enlightened peace.  We love peace – but our love for it and our church’s ability to encourage it don’t often work together.

Churches are made of people. And so, if we want a church and a faith more centered in peace – then we as the building blocks must have peace in ourselves first.  Jesus seemed to know we as a faith community would have problems with peace.  I think that’s why he said, “MY peace I give you.”  Because he knew we weren’t very likely to get some of our own. Listen to his words:

 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:25-27

So what can we do to become a peace-filled people?

1.  Take responsibility for your peace.  Don’t expect the church to hand it to you or create a program for you to accumulate peace like so many glass beaded crosses we get from the Women’s Mission Project.  Don’t expect a TV guru or  a book with a lotus on the cover to overwhelm your heart with calm.  Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things” — that means YOU have to learn.  Set aside space, time, attention for peace practices in your life.

Oh Geez – I can already hear you shouting, “Are you crazy? You must live in a fantasy world. I have KIDS, WORK, DOGS, CHORES, CHURCH, CHURCH CHORES, LIFE. I don’t have time for peace!!!”  Stop yelling, it’s not very peaceful. And stop making excuses while you’re at it.  People with children can still find peace.  Work with it.  Work with your kids – maybe teaching them to meditate (if only for 5 minutes) or sit a listen to a nice peaceful song with you would start them on a better road.  Ultimately – how are you gonna do it?  I don’t know.  But ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how — don’t just leave the spirit standing at the door while you say, “I’m too busy to learn peace today.”

2. Don’t be ashamed of your peace.  In America we value stress and productivity. The more stressful and harried you are – the more important you must be.  We have lifted Steve Jobs up as the pinnacle of American success and then mumble quietly, “he was a work addict, mean-spirited, and isolated.”   All this push for activity makes it seem as if you are some kind of freak or socialist-communist-hippie-loser if you manage to get to work on time, walk in calmly, and smile because you feel at peace.  It’s not popular to live at a sane pace – and sometimes it even takes sacrifices (sorry, I can’t be in another book club, take on another bible class, start another jogging group).  But the solid joy and peace it provides makes it worth it.

“I do not give as the world gives,” says Jesus.  The world gives with strings. The world gives with false promises.  The world gives with “karma” (what you do comes back to you). The world gives with stress.  Jesus gives unconditionality, truth,  grace, and peace.  Don’t be ashamed to have those gifts.

3.  Lose your peace when it matters.  Jesus wasn’t some prozac driven happy guy who never lost his cool. He was angry (we love that temple story, don’t we?), he was sad, he was annoyed, he was argumentative.  But, all of those times we see his less-than-overtly peaceful side — were for good reason.  Jesus got angry over corruption, sad over loss, annoyed with stupid entrapping Pharisee questions, and argumentative with anyone who tried to say the Kingdom of God should leave someone out.

Don’t lose your peace over political differences with your neighbor, whether the youth group spilled juice on the new carpet, or who at work doesn’t have to use a copier code like you do.  Don’t give up your peace fighting over whether God helps football players, or which translation is the ONE TRUE TRANSLATION of the Bible.   Lose your peace over the millions of hungry people in the world, the physical violence toward women and children that happens in countries large and small, the spiritual violence of intolerance aimed at so many vulnerable people.  You want to be upset? Be upset where it matters.  Leave the guy who cut you off on the freeway to God (and accept that he may get grace instead of karma).

I heard a young man say not long ago, “As far as I’m concerned Christianity is just another hate group.”  I grieved his opinion, but also saw the logic by which he had achieved it.  We have been so busy allowing the loud, angry voices of faith dominate the media, the church, and the grocery store that we are playing catch-up in trying to show the world that we really are a love group – that has somehow lost its peace.   Let’s make an effort as individuals who make up the body of Christ to get it back, and this time – stay with it.

Christians, stop shoving.

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Spirituality is…Just a Vehicle

The warm water beads as it runs down the curves
Of the beautiful surface so tan
She’s polishing the Jaguar again

Hasn’t run in a year or two
Nice car but the wheels don’t move, anymore
Maybe she remembers
Maybe something’s got her scared
It’s too precious to be careless
And it’s finally been repaired

So you never see her drive it
She won’t risk it any more
It’s too easy to collide it
And it hurt so much before

Could it be
That it’s really just a vehicle
Standing like a statue all this time
Could it be
Its just a vehicle
She shines
“Just a Vehicle” by David Wilcox

One of the reasons we have trouble pinning down what spirituality is probably has to do with our tendency to use that word as a noun, which the dictionary affirms is rightfully done. However, when we transition our understanding not to the letter of the law but the spirit – the word suffers in its proper form.  You remember nouns – “person, place or thing.”  Starting with that perception and marinated in America’s consumerist, personality obsessed culture, spirituality can morph into something as useless as beautifully waxed sports car that sits in the window on display.

Where will I put the groceries?

 Spirituality is not a thing we can own like so many gadgets, machines or paintings.  We can’t buy and we certainly can’t sell it – even at the Christian Book Store.  Spirituality is not a person. We can find evidence of it in the behavior of people – Mother Theresa, Ghandi, The Dalai Lama, or Mrs. Wallace from our Sunday School class, – but no one human being is spirituality incarnate. We should never get so caught up in the star-culture (cult-ure?) that we get confused and lose our way.  Spirituality is not a place we arrive, but a method for getting somewhere.

While I hate to argue with the good people at Dictionary.com, spirituality in its purest and best form is a verb. It is an active, moving vehicle made to take us to our destination.  Every person has a different idea of where they want the car to go.  Some folks just want it to take them to a happy day, or drive them out of a valley of sorrow or a late night abandoned street called “Fear.”  Others want to travel to realms they have never seen before – beautiful places like “Peace” or busy intersections like the corner of “Need” and “Community”.  Still others want it to drive them all the way to Heaven, sometimes without leaving earth.

Our lives as spiritual people is often a search for the key that makes this car go and sadly most have a key in their own pocket, having picked it up long ago.  Just like there is more that one type of car – there is more than one key that can put the vehicle in gear. Some of the best keys are prayer, peace, reflection, giving, listening, opening. forgiveness and, of course, the master key that can start every car – love.  And once you start the car – you must drive it.

It’s a risk, you know. You could run out of gas if you start out on a long journey of faith without enough fuel and provisions. You could get lost and need to find somewhere to stop and get directions (and, you would be willing to have to ask for them!).  In a world so full of doctrines, traditions and interpretations – you might even crash your car into someone’s parked ideas.  Through the spiritual journey – some cars start out shiny and new, but end up looking like this:

Well, I don’t have to worry about those window dings anymore.

When that happens, the amazing love of God, and the spirituality found in the love of others will drive you where you need to go until the frame can be healed, the metal melted and re-formed and the tires changed. Then, as the repairs are complete, your task is to get behind the wheel anew- and keep going.

Spirituality isn’t something we have to be admired or gain status. Its a functioning vehicle of heart, mind and soul designed to take us, and sometimes passengers we pick up along the way, to all the places God would have us go.

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Spirituality is…A Do-Over

“With God, every moment is the moment of beginning again.”
Catherine Doherty

     One of the most awesome and powerful elements of childhood is the “Do-Over”.  You remember the “Do-Over” don’t you?  It usually happened when someone new was playing a game and violated a rule without knowing it, or there was so much confusion or contesting about a play in a game that the simplest, best method for solving the crisis was simply to pretend the event never happened and start again.  Do-Over’s are metaphysical miracles. They are part time-travel (going back as if something never happened), part opportunity (a baseball strike before a do-over could become a hit the second time around), and all grace.

     As we grow up, we seem to use Do-Overs less and less, and we seem to need them more and more. A chance to go back, a chance to re-do, and a chance to change the outcome of our actions or in-actions would change the game of our lives and the world entire. 

     In the bible, there is a story of a woman accused of adultery.  The bible describes the scene this way:

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”   John 8:3-11

We may be tempted to think of that scenario as her “Do-Over”.  But we would be wrong.  It isn’t a Do-Over for her — no one who gets that close to death can pretend it didn’t happen.  It’s a Do-Over for the crowd – for us.  They have judged, accused and sentenced her – they have treated her badly, and looked upon her with neither mercy, nor wisdom. Jesus stops this event before it gets any worse, and by pointing out their own sin gives them a chance to walk away, think about it, and hopefully do better the next time around.

Spirituality – the ability to look internally and give mercy externally is a constant invitation to Do-Over. It is the comfort that reminds us it is never too late to begin again.

Imagine Jesus, compassionate and protective, standing with the woman caught in the act of adultery, challenging the crowd to examine their souls. It is a moment of tense silence as the stones in their hands grow heavy with the weight of their own sins. What if, suddenly, one person unable to see his sin (or unwilling to admit it) throws a rock at the woman? It strikes her, and bounces to the ground. What would happen? You know. So do I. She would die under a barrage of stones as the flood gates of self righteousness open.

But what then? How could there possibly be a Do-Over then?  The answer lies with the stones.

What would happen to the stones? Would they lay on the ground jagged and stained? Would someone collect them and show them in a museum? Would someone in her family retrieve them, sharpen them and throw them back at members of the crowd? And perhaps the most intriguing question of all – what would Jesus, the Savior, do with those stones?

I believe Jesus would pick up the stones one by one and with his tears and his own garment clean the blood from their surface and use them to build a bridge or a well or a church. I believe Jesus would reclaim those stones in the name of the Holy God who made them and use them for hope’s purpose. I believe Jesus would make a lesson and a life change of those stones.  I believe he would make those stones a monument to the power of beginning again.

We live in a world where sinners throw stones every day. We hurl insults, divide with prejudice, and judge one another without hardly any thought to the stones we are throwing or the sin we deny. Jesus is pretty clear. If you have sin in your life, then you must seek forgiveness, reconcile with God and change your ways. And until you do that wonder of wonders — leave the stones on the ground.  Only a person without sin may throw a stone (and, really, why would that person want to?).

Jesus is still in front of us – writing in the sand, reminding us to search our hearts, to build some bridges, and to never forget the power of the Do-Over.

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Ancora Imparo

Lectionary Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

“Ancora Imparo” is Italian for “I am still learning”. It is attributed (unsourced) to Michelangelo who is said to have uttered the famous phrase when he was 87 years old. It’s hard to imagine the painter of the Sistine chapel, sculptor of David, and self described liberator of angels (“I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”) telling someone he was still learning. And yet, I believe he was. His art was a journey, not a fact, and he learned more about it until the day he died.

When it comes to the Bible, I can say with great confidence – “Ancora Imparo”. I am still learning. I am learning from history, from the Holy Spirit, from the people – young and old alike – who I am blessed to talk with, and from the sacred library that is the Bible itself. I am unashamed in my journey of learning, and if you spend more than ten minutes near me – I will learn something from you! (Yes, I am sort of a learning vampire).

I tend to cringe when I hear someone remark “And that’s in the Bible!” to justify their actions or belief. I think it’s a backwards (and sometimes abusive) way to do things. It is not God’s desire that we see the Bible through our eyes and use it to support our faith-view. It is God’s desire that our eyes see through the lens of the Bible and we become it’s faith-view.

In other words – we shouldn’t study to make sure the Bible says what we think it says. We should study to be sure we are becoming who the Bible says God thinks we are. The book isn’t going to change. We are!

Confusion and Clarity

Jesus advocated change. His followers advocated doing things differently. As Jews, men had to be circumcised on the body. As Christians, they were told to be circumcised spiritually in the heart (and the body could be spared). The old eating laws were changed and shrimp was back on the menu (along with food offered to idols for those who didn’t mind that kind of thing). The old seating laws (temple classism, and religious sexism) were changed. Now the poor, women, and eunuchs were all baptized and part of the faith. Suddenly, the old laws had new meanings and prophecy became the present. Imagine their surprise when they got a letter that said, “All scripture is God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16).

By “holy scripture” – the epistle didn’t mean the New Testament, the Gospels, and book of Revelation. Those writings were still being written, collected and debated. By “scripture” the writer meant the Torah, the writings of the Prophets, and laws given to Israel. How weird for the converted Jews and Gentile Christians who had been living a new way to get a letter that says “Keep living your new way in Christ because the old way is good”. WHAT? Which is it??? Old or New? Law or Love? And even more confusing – the answer they got to the “law or love” question was: “Yes”.

Fortunately there is also some clarity. Notice Timothy is told that the scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (3:15). Wait a minute…if the writer is talking about the Torah, written before the common era, where does Jesus come in? Jesus comes in through the prophets who foretold the Messiah. The Holy Scriptures of Israel’s past talked about the fact there would be change – there would be a Messiah. The prophets said new people would be grafted in to the faith. There would be peace. There would be love. The old laws prepared the people to live faithfully so they could have faith enough to live a new way when the Messiah came. The law led us to love.

The code of Leviticus/Deuteronomy had one purpose for the Hebrews: to teach them to live their lives in such a way that others could see they were God’s people. (That’s what the no mixing fabrics, foods, and purity rituals were all about – showing other cultures about the One God). We don’t have to avoid shrimp, sacrifice doves, or avoid poly-cotton T-shirts. But Leviticus still challenges us to live our lives in such a way that others can see we are God’s people. The method, in the light of grace, has changed. But the meaning is the same. Law leads to Love. The law won’t change, but we will.

Those Itching Ears….

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead,
to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears
away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all
situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the
duties of your ministry.”

Whenever I hear about the itching ears Timothy was warned about – its usually in the context of someone fearing the Bible is being used too “liberally” and that the tough realities of Christ are being ignored for a popular or social gospel. But, like the question about the law – there is more than meets the eye (or ears!).

In the time this letter was written, the Gnostics were in a theological war with the followers of Christ through the Apostles. The Gnostics believed Jesus didn’t really die (and hence was not resurrected), they thought they needed special wisdom, and put more emphasis on deities than salvation. To the converted Christians who came from Pan-theistic (many gods) cults – the Gnostic theology sounded good – you could have Jesus, and still believe in other stuff and impress each other with special knowledge. It proved to them that the people who worshiped many gods weren’t wrong all along. Those were most likely the “itching ears” the letter was warning about. They were warned about forsaking the truth and grace of Jesus Christ for a story that made them feel right.

And what about our itching ears? What myths do we turn to? Some people turn to stories passed down in tradition (like that it was an apple Eve ate, or that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute – the Bible says neither). Others follow church dogma, and confuse it with Biblical truth (nowhere does the Bible say that you have to be a “member” of a church to take communion or do anything else). People who preach “prosperity faith” see the teachings on giving, but forget the widow’s mite and the mandate to help the poor (not the church fund). Parents who correct their children by hitting them see the scriptures about the “rod of correction” without considering it’s a metaphor for teaching discipline or learning what that Hebrew word translated “rod” really meant.

We all have itching ears. We all want to hear what we already believe. We want the Bible to back us up and prove we were correct. And we are all warned not to forsake the truth and grace of Jesus Christ for a story that makes us feel right. How do we not? How do we stay true to our Messiah? We need to follow the advice given to Timothy. “Keep your head in all situations…do the work of an evangelist”. Use your brain and make some sense! An evangelist is a “good messenger” – someone who shares the good news not the old fears.

We are called to act with grace, not react with self-righteousness. Don’t memorize verses – live them. Don’t make the Bible a part of your life – become a part of it. Forsake condemnation and follow Christ in conversation. Don’t use the Bible to prove you – but strive with your life to prove the Bible. Then lean, lean, lean on grace – and don’t forget that’s what is holding you up. For by grace are we saved…

I believe the Bible is the Word of God, carried to us by human hands, and it tells me who God is, and who I am supposed to become as an individual and in a community. As for everything else – “Ancora Imparo”.

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The Wrong Side of Good

Lectionary Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

For about 10 years I was the Camp Director for Chi-Rho (7th and 8th grade), CYF (Christian Youth Fellowship – High school) and College camp. I loved camp weeks – they were exhausting, emotional and amazing. The CYF camp ended their week with a dance and a “last campfire” where the kids were allowed to stand up and “give testimony” about what God had done for them. Unfortunately, amidst the heartfelt praises and prayers, some young folks felt a need to compete for the spot of “worst life/sin/trauma and by the end it seemed like a contest of who had the most hideous experience that God had redeemed them from. One year, a shy senior named Rikki changed all that.

In her three previous CYF years she had never given testimony. She was a smart and quiet girl with the gift of listening and a great sense of humor. At the AYC planning meeting she remarked dryly, “I hate testimony night. In one hour I realize all the kids I respect are needy, drug addicted psychos with bad families and it makes me think the laughter I have shared with them all year was a lie.” Thus, I was surprised when after 2 kids who had tried drugs, one who was “sexually tempted” (3 years running), 2 ugly step-parent stories and 1 suicide of a friend (whom no one had ever heard of before), that Rikki stood in the testimony box. To this day I remember what she said:

“I never gave a testimony before, because I felt like I didn’t have one and I feel guilty for my blessings. My parents love each other and they love me. I grew up in church and I did the very best I could to please my mom and dad and make them proud. I fought with my brother sometimes but I love him, and I know he loves me. I got good grades, never tried drugs, don’t care about sex, and know Jesus died to forgive the sins I have committed, even if they weren’t very big. I guess my testimony is that you don’t have to fall apart for God to be in your life.”

I was in awe of Rikki and her simple honesty, and respect her to this day for it. For the first year in my camp memory, testimony night was really about God.

Paul’s Testimony

In the first epistle of Timothy Paul seems tempted to tell people of the extremes in his conversion. He begins talking about himself and his sins. The letter becomes like a TV confessional. Paul: Extreme Makeover. That fact that he refers so much to himself is what makes many bible scholars say this epistle wasn’t written by Paul, but by one of his students who is using his name and authority to keep his traditional message alive. No matter which side of the scholarly “Did he or didn’t he write this?” you fall on – there is a message here all of us.

Paul was a Pharisee, scholar, and zealot for the cause of legalistic Judaism. He wasn’t just some Rabbi on a street corner; he was a political up-and-comer with a fantastic mind, good credentials and Roman citizenship. He had “leader of the San Hedrin” written all over him. He wasn’t just holy – He was the holiest. So holy, in fact, that he was willing to kill Jews who followed Jesus, just to preserve the purity of his faith.

Then he hears God, goes blind, and opens his eyes to Jesus Christ. Suddenly, and with great shame, he realizes all he had told himself was right, was wrong. Suddenly, he discovers he was on the wrong side of good.

Imagine the guilt he must have felt. How would it feel to make a stand for traditionalism, harm the spiritual heart of people by telling them they are outside of God’s plan and condemn them to death only to discover that you were wrong? Imagine Paul’s testimony night as he stands before the campfire recounting the lives he ruined by thinking God didn’t want them.

Our first thought is to say: Well, he made up for it! He started churches all over the world. He taught Christ to countless generations and he was whipped, tortured and killed for preaching Christ. For every one person he killed, there were 50 more he helped find eternal life! But in Paul’s head – the scales weren’t balancing. In Paul’s head (human heads are always the hardest place for forgiveness to reach) -he was the worst sinner ever. What does God give Paul to help him get through the guilt and to the grace? Education, Eternity and Example.

Education:

Paul admits his error was not one of malice, but of ignorance. He thought he was doing good! He crossed the line from discernment into judgment. He sat in God’s chair by accident. “Not everything is permissible or good”, Paul himself will later tell us. However, the idea isn’t to go around judging people, but discerning God’s desire. Discern is a Greek word – (discere) – it means “to seek what is hidden”. When we are trying to discover what the right side of good is, we need to look for what is hidden –God’s will – not our opinion (our opinions are rarely hidden). God teaches Paul, and reclaims him.

Eternity:

In a moment of great grace God through Christ gives Paul eternal life and forgiveness. Those two must go together. There is not point in forgiveness if you are going to die. It is cruel to live forever if you aren’t going to be forgiven. Paul celebrates the fact that no life is so lost that Christ cannot find it, and no work is so good that you don’t need Christ. Eternal life is a gift of God, no matter what your testimony may be. We need to forgive those who harm us with their idea of “rightness” and pray they learn of God’s grace and find freedom for their future as well.

Example:

One of my favorite texts in the New Testament is First Timothy 1:16. “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” In other words – my entire life is an example of JUST how patient and forgiving God can be. It reminds me of a poster I saw recently on the Demotivation website. In it a ship is sinking into the sea. The caption reads: “It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.” That’s what Paul is saying in his humbled state. My life proves God can forgive and put up with anyone. That’s quite a change from the top Pharisee who had a reputation for being always right. We come through grace and education to Christ, not only so we can live forever, but so we can shine that example to others on the journey.

I still keep in touch with Rikki, who has a Masters and followed her dream to teach English in Russia and her current life, like her early days, is still really good. Paul’s life ended just as violently as he had lived the early part of it– with his execution. Yet, Christ secured eternity for both of them, and forgives them just the same. No matter which side of good you find yourself in, there is forgiveness, education and eternity for you through Jesus Christ. Claim it, and praise God forevermore. Get rid of your guilt, and make your life really about God.

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Conditions in a World of Grace?

Isaiah 58:9-14

One of the basic principles we are taught in mathematics is conditional logistics, otherwise known as “if….then…” statements. If A = B then B = A. Or if A=B and B=C then A=C. Okay – enough math (I know it makes some of you dizzy). Conditional statements are important, though, because they set up the basic framework of math. They are the tracks for the train.

In church, we hear all the time about our unconditional God. We hear about the God who sent his son Jesus the Christ to die for us without condition. We cling to the hope of Grace – that amazing reality that God forgives our sin through the blood of Christ spilled on our behalf. Grace seems to defy conditional logic. IF Sin=Death and Humans=sin THEN Christ=eternity. Wait….that’s not logical. No – it is not. It’s love. God’s love. And love is anything but logical.

Can an unconditional God have a conditional reality?

However, in this week’s lectionary Old Testament reading the If…Then statement comes out. Isaiah 58 was written approximately 587 BCE which was after Israel had been released from their long Babylonian captivity. The people were very unhappy. Oh sure, they were glad not to be slaves anymore, but disheartened and crabby. They didn’t have a temple anymore. Their culture, religion, government and food supplies were in a shambles. They were blaming each other and hurting themselves. You know how people get when they are disappointed. Grumble-city! Along comes the prophet to give them a message from God. He says:
“

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of
oppression, with the pointing finger and
malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.”

So to all this complaining our God says “If….then.” IF you get rid of oppression and IF you feed and care for each other, THEN you will be in light and not darkness. Later the scripture goes on to say IF you keep the Sabbath, THEN you will find joy in God.”

God’s answer to the cries of the people of Israel is to say: “If you’re unhappy and you know it – stomp your feet! (stomp, stomp). If you’re willing to give of yourself and lift others up – you’ll be blessed! In other words – you’ve got the problem. You solve it! “

Christ’s Parallel

It is very similar to Luke 9:10-17 (the feeding of the 5,000) when the disciples tell Jesus the crowd is hungry and he says “You give them something to eat”, but then Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish so all can dine. God is telling them to stop oppressing, finger pointing and playing the blame game and then the light of the community can shine. But God also promises to be the light bringer, just as Jesus multiplied the fish.

So what can we make of these conditions? Is God still unconditional? You bet. The truth we see in this scripture is one of the most important things to learn in a developing Christian life: Grace is not conditional, but Growth is. Grace – the gift of God to us is without condition. BUT growth in Christ requires the IF’s to get to the THENS.

If you want God to love you – God already does. If you want God to forgive you – God already has. But if you want God to grow you as Christ’s disciple and if you want the peace of Christ, the joy of God, and the heaven on earth that is the Christian life, then you must be obedient. You must stop oppression and speak out against those who would batter, violate or isolate God’s children. You must stop finger pointing and learn to give to and forgive others. You must stop malicious talk and learn to lift in love.

Then you will have a life where you are not using your energy holding other people down for your own ego. You will have freedom because you are not holding onto the past pains and grudges that wound you. You will have joy because you’ll be sharing strengths with each other not just complaining about weaknesses. You will be a light people can use to find their way to God.

How do you start this growth in God? By prayer. The first thing God tells them to do is pray, and God promises to be there. After prayer, comes obedience – following God’s desires for our charity, generosity and active Christianity. After obedience comes justice. When the hungry are eating, when the victims are safe and when the wounds are healed the light will shine so brightly we will live in the noon of God forevermore.

This equation doesn’t happen over night. You may need to study, pray or to talk to a mentor or wise person about how to heal old wounds, forgive great wrongs, feed the hungry or let go of oppressing habits. The promise of God is the same: to be here with us while loving us without condition and inspiring us to enlighten a world that has seen way too many dark days.

May we all Grow in Grace.