A Better Way

When were we taught the best way to deal with difficult issues was to draw up sides and attack each other?  Blame, slander, and vilification of those we disagree with seem to be the order of the day.   Recent debates on health care reform have taught us that some have never matured in the way to resolve differences.   No matter your opinion of whether the bill for reform should have passed, is there anyone who feels good about the spirit of the discourse among our elected leaders?  

Of course, this is not a slam on either political party.  It is on all involved.  Unfortunately, the inability to deal with difficult decisions and controversial issues is not limited to our state and federal elected leaders.  I imagine you might be aware of some other examples also. 

So why would I write about this in the Chimes?  It is because there is a better way.  Matthew 18.  Matthew 18 is a powerful chapter that gives a foundation on how to deal with conflict.  It makes some basic assumptions like respect, forgiveness, honesty, speaking to each other rather than about each other and so much more.  Even when conflict gets to the height of brokenness, Christians are called to treat those we are in difficulty with like tax collectors and Gentiles.  Of course, we know what Jesus did to them.  He died for them; for us. 

I recognize there is a great deal of cynicism as to the possibility for us to positively change the level of debate in our country.  My hopes are not that high. My hope is we will all take time to read and pray Matthew 18.  (Maybe there will one day be a sermon series on it!)  When we have taken this teaching of Jesus to heart, then we can be the voice of faith and holiness when all others are only angry and blaming. 

After all, it is not up to us to save the nation.  It is our work to be faithful to the one who can. 

 

Packing for the Journey

This week I am at Lake Huron Retreat Center, 12 miles north of Port Huron. I am here as a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Detroit Conference. Our primary task this week will be interviewing persons who believe they are called to ordained ministry. It will be a time of discussion, prayer and decision.

We interview candidates on Tuesday and Thursday. On those days, there is an expectation we will dress in a professional manner. For the rest of the time, casual attire is appropriate. The preparation for decision and discernment began at home as I tried to decide what to pack to bring with me. I always over pack for every retreat, no matter where it is or how long it will last. I was determined to bring only the essentials and no more. I may run out of clothes by the end of the week, but at least I can know I felt good about bringing in a small bag!!

Our spiritual life asks us to always pay attention to what we are packing. Are we carrying too much baggage? Have we laid at the foot of Christ what only he can carry and then resisted picking it up again? Are we carrying agenda others have put on us that is taking us away from what God is expecting of us? Are we equipped with prayer, Biblical clarity and holy community?

This Lent is a time for us to prepare ourselves to be equipped for the journey we are on. It is time to be certain we are traveling light enough so if the Holy Spirit calls for a response, we will be ready. It is time to make sure we have in our life what we need to sustain us for times when the journey is in wilderness. I pray you pack well and we all travel faithfully in the days ahead.

Getting Up

I often wonder what my sleep schedule will be when I retire. My life now has so many different schedule and time demands. When I go to sleep, how long I will sleep and when I get up is not always in my control. So when my work demands end, anywhere from 11-18 years from now, I wonder when I will go to bed or get up.

Lately, I have been waking up a lot in the night. Odd hours like 3: 30 a.m. 4:11 a.m. and 5:07 a.m. I am not sure why. Male menopause? Stress? I don’t know. This morning I woke at 4:11. Wide awake. I laid in bed and considered what was so important I had to wake up then. Should I get up or try to force myself back to sleep? I thought of young Samuel and how the voice of God kept waking him up in the predawn. I asked God to speak to me if it was his desire. Were the thoughts in my head from God or from me?

I do not know. Perhaps I will find out in the days ahead as those thoughts are placed into action. Maybe God will speak to me more clearly tomorrow or maybe not at all. All I know is I am up and when I quit trying to figure it all out, I become aware how still and quiet everything is now. No one is around and it quiet enough to hear a pin drop, or maybe even for God to whisper. I am not sure why you got me up God again today this early, but thanks for this moment of peace. For now, it is gift enough.

Sin thoughts

As I am preparing for Sunday, I have been immersed in thoughts about the character, definition, impact and confusion about sin.  Sin, it appears, is one of those topics that is easier to define when you don’t really consider it.  Those who first heard Jesus teach thought they knew what sin was.  They could describe it and name those who were guilty of it.  But Jesus saw sin as something different from what others thought.  His teaching in word and action suggests sin is not a simple list or act.  Perhaps the greatest sin of the church is what we have taught people sin is and help people so easily label others as sinners.  Anyway , I am looking forward to sharing on Sunday  and the conversations that come from it.  Here are a few interesting thoughts others have had on sin over the years….

 

·         “Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it is hurtful”  Benjamin Franklin

·         “The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity”  George Bernard Shaw

·         “Should we all confess our sins to one another we would all laugh at one another for our lack of originality”  Kahlil Gilbran

·         “A sin takes on a new and real terror when there seems a chance that it is going to be found out”  Mark Twain

·         “Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.”  Henry Ward Beecher

·         “Sin is sweet in the beginning, but bitter in the end.”  The Talmud

·         “Few sinners are saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon”  Mark Twain

 

What do you think sin is?

 

Sin has been givng a bad name

Jesus confused the religious of his day.  They were clear as to what was right and wrong.  They knew the things they needed to do and the things that were forbidden.  When you failed in your obligation or committed an act deemed against God, you were sinning.  Religious education became, in essence, learning what was right according to the Law and what was not acceptable.  Jesus learned these things as a boy. When he became a man, he continued, it appears according to the Gospel record, to observe these commands.  He went to Temple, read from the Torah, and observed the high holidays. 

But he also hung out with people that were considered unacceptable.  He did not keep basic understanding of fulfilling commandments (working on the Sabbath) or prescribed holy practices (such as washing hands or not eating with the unclean).  Jesus was seen as a blasphemer.  He was considered to be in violation of the Law and practices of God’s chosen people.  So he was considered a sinner by some.

Others saw him as a Savior, a healer, a teacher and a Redeemer.  He was to some a Messiah.

When we consider who Jesus is to us, we are sooner or later forced to deal with the question about sin.  There is too often only two choices offered.  Either it is when we do something bad, according to a list the religious have, or it is only in the eyes of the beholder.  One is conforming to practices we are taught that are right or wrong, and the other is letting our own judgment determine for ourselves what is right (ethical, moral, holy) or wrong, (immoral, unethical, sin).  Both definitions miss the point and give sin a bad name.  Each take partial truth and run with it until the truth is lost in practice.

This Sunday, I am preaching a sermon titled, “Sin is not what they told you”.   I invite you to come and join in the conversation and consider perhaps what sin is from a third paradigm, Jesus.  See you in church!