As I continue to read through the Sermon on the Mount on an (almost) daily basis, one particular snippet keeps haunting me:
28Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. --Matthew 7:28-29
Jesus astounded the people with His teaching...
because he taught as one having authority.
Not like the scribes who presumably taught but didn't do so with authority.
Question: What does it mean to teach with authority?
Does it mean teaching with absolute certainty?
Does it mean having all the answers?
Wiping all the dust off of my Greek lexicons, I can see two possibilities in translating the Greek word "exousian" in this case:
1. Ability, capability, might, power.
2. authority, absolute power.
Which one?
Reading through the Expositor's Bible Commentary gives a clue. Notice throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly says, "You have heard it said...but I tell you..."
Jesus doesn't cite any other authorities. He doesn't quote other teachers or wise men. He quotes the sacred Scriptures and goes beyond what they even say.
The law: "You have heard it said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'"
Fine, easy enough. Don't sleep with anyone who you are not married to. Can accomplish the fulfillment of that law without too much difficulty.
With Authority: "But I say, if you even look at a woman with lust in your heart you have committed adultery with her."
Jesus goes above and beyond what the law states as He teaches. Was anyone else daring to do such a thing? Did anyone else dare to make the Mosaic Law even more strict than articulated?
I remember taking a class on Judaism in college. The rabbi was very straight forward with us when he talked about the Jewish concept of sin. "It isn't a sin if you think it," he said. "Only if you act on your thoughts."
Jesus doesn't follow that rule. Jesus includes not only the action but the thoughts which lead to the action as sinful.
"I tell you..."
Is this the understanding of such authority? Or is it more?
And are such folks astounded by authority today? Or resentful? Can the Church claim to have such authority in its teachings? Is it something the Church has lost along the way?
So many questions to wrestle with.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Souring on Football
It used to be close to a second religion for me. O.K., maybe not quite that, but there was a day when I couldn't wait to watch football on t.v.
Thursday night. Check.
Friday night. Check.
Saturday all day. Check.
Sunday afternoon. It's Cowboy's time!
Monday night. Can't miss.
Didn't matter if I didn't really have any allegiance to the teams playing. I got to watch the game.
The game.
Unfortunately, it's not a game anymore. It has gone much further. It has become an obsession driven by one thing and one thing alone: money.
Things began souring within me this past year when the NFL and player's union duked it out over??? Yep. Money.
Millionaires versus billionaires. In the midst of some very tough economic times, I had no sympathy. I still have no sympathy. I find it abhorrent that the game which built itself on the backs of blue collar folks now raises ticket prices and parking prices and concession prices to the point where those same blue collar folks can no longer watch their favorite teams in person. Blah!
Oh, I still take a little time off to watch a quarter or two of the game on Sunday, but I don't go out of my way anymore. If there's something else to be done, I give it priority.
Same with college football. The game used to be about rivalries. It used to be about tradition. It used to be about building a program to dominance and watching it compete for a national championship every year. Now, traditions are being thrown into the wind. Rivalries are split as teams head to superconferences. Who gives a darn about the national championship when you can get television commitments and contracts worth millions. THE DOLLAR HAS DESTROYED THE GAME!
I'm not naive. I know that money is necessary. I know it helps colleges out. But it's a shame when the athletic programs outshine the schools of engineering, medicine, education, science, etc. How many lives has a damn football game saved? Compare that to one graduate of the school of medicine. How many roads has a football game constructed to get people to their jobs? How many children has a football game cared for and taught the basics of life? Zip. Nada. Nil.
And yet, colleges and universities spend more and more money on their athletic programs...more and more money on the salaries of their coaches...more and more money on some insanely designed and crafted uniforms. While tuition continues to skyrocket for those students who will truly make a difference in the world around us.
It's a shame, really. I love football. I'm sure one of these days, I will be rooting for my son as he plays. I'll enjoy the game, but there will still be a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
Thursday night. Check.
Friday night. Check.
Saturday all day. Check.
Sunday afternoon. It's Cowboy's time!
Monday night. Can't miss.
Didn't matter if I didn't really have any allegiance to the teams playing. I got to watch the game.
The game.
Unfortunately, it's not a game anymore. It has gone much further. It has become an obsession driven by one thing and one thing alone: money.
Things began souring within me this past year when the NFL and player's union duked it out over??? Yep. Money.
Millionaires versus billionaires. In the midst of some very tough economic times, I had no sympathy. I still have no sympathy. I find it abhorrent that the game which built itself on the backs of blue collar folks now raises ticket prices and parking prices and concession prices to the point where those same blue collar folks can no longer watch their favorite teams in person. Blah!
Oh, I still take a little time off to watch a quarter or two of the game on Sunday, but I don't go out of my way anymore. If there's something else to be done, I give it priority.
Same with college football. The game used to be about rivalries. It used to be about tradition. It used to be about building a program to dominance and watching it compete for a national championship every year. Now, traditions are being thrown into the wind. Rivalries are split as teams head to superconferences. Who gives a darn about the national championship when you can get television commitments and contracts worth millions. THE DOLLAR HAS DESTROYED THE GAME!
I'm not naive. I know that money is necessary. I know it helps colleges out. But it's a shame when the athletic programs outshine the schools of engineering, medicine, education, science, etc. How many lives has a damn football game saved? Compare that to one graduate of the school of medicine. How many roads has a football game constructed to get people to their jobs? How many children has a football game cared for and taught the basics of life? Zip. Nada. Nil.
And yet, colleges and universities spend more and more money on their athletic programs...more and more money on the salaries of their coaches...more and more money on some insanely designed and crafted uniforms. While tuition continues to skyrocket for those students who will truly make a difference in the world around us.
It's a shame, really. I love football. I'm sure one of these days, I will be rooting for my son as he plays. I'll enjoy the game, but there will still be a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sermon Delivered: September 18, 2011: How Does Your Generosity Measure up with Gods?
Life may be a lot of things, but one thing I have come to see: life isn’t fair.
Oh sure, we try to sugar coat things and pretend like things are fair. We try and teach our children that they should be treated fairly at school. We try to teach them that they should share with others. We try to teach them they should receive a reward equal to the work they put into something. Those of us who are parents work diligently to make sure our kids are treated fairly within our homes–at Christmas, each kid gets the same number of presents–each kid gets the same number of cookies–each kid gets the same amount of time spent upon the computer. We expend tons of time and energy trying to teach our kids fairness and telling them they should do likewise. And despite all our efforts to do such things, eventually, they have to learn the hard lesson of life that fairness is just an ideal. It doesn’t really exist.
Think life is fair?
Ask the worker who worked for Enron if life is fair.
Ask the guy who spent most of his life working for the same company only to lose his job and benefits to
company downsizing or to a younger, cheaper worker.
Ask the military man who spent years overseas fighting for freedom who now has to take his shoes off and be patted down in the airport.
Ask the rancher who has spent years of blood, sweat, and tears working on his property, building up his herds and his assets only to see it wiped out in a horrific drought.
Ask the homeowner who is given 15 minutes to evacuate because a fire is bearing down on his home and who eventually loses everything in that fire.
Ask the people who lost loved ones to the tornadoes in the eastern United States.
Ask the people who have sought to live the right kind of lifestyles who don’t drink, don’t smoke, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and who still ended up with cancer.
See if they will tell you life is fair. See if they answer in the affirmative.
And yet, we still hold onto our concept of fairness. "O.K. Pastor, we know that life here on earth isn’t fair.
But when God comes, when God finally reveals His Kingdom, then things will be fair."
Really?
Do you really think so?
Jesus told a parable one day about the kingdom of heaven. A landowner went to where the day laborers had gathered. Probably a place like that little supermarket there in Bellville where men gather on a daily basis. This landowner hired the lot of the workers who were there promising them the usual daily wage.
This landowner trusted the men to do the work they were chosen to do. He didn’t spend all day supervising them. In fact, the landowner took several trips to the marketplace that day, and each time he went, he found more and more idle workers. Each time, he invited those workers to head out and get some work done in the vineyard. Each times the landowner said, "I will pay you what is right."
Even at the end of the day, when there was only one hour of work to be done, the landowner went to the marketplace and found some men who were idle. "Why aren’t you working?" the landowner asked.
"No one would hire us," they replied. That sounds like a familiar phrase in our current economy.
This landowner, however, did not turn them away. "Go to work. I will pay you what is right."
At the end of the day, the landowner calls his manager to him. "Time to pay the workers. Start with the one’s we hired last, and then end with the ones we hired first."
Now, I’m not sure why the landowner decided to pay in this fashion. I know he could have saved an awful lot of grief if he would have paid the first ones who came to work first and then ended with the last ones. But perhaps this landowner isn’t concerned about feelings, and perhaps he indeed is trying to teach a lesson.
The folks who were hired to work only one hour receive their payment. Surprisingly, IT’S AN ENTIRE DAY’S WAGE! Can you imagine their surprise? Can you imagine their shock? Holy cow! They certainly didn’t deserve this, so I am sure their thankfulness toward the landowner is sky high.
I’m sure the next folks in line wondered if they would receive more since they had worked longer hours.
Nope, they too received a day’s wage. Perhaps they were a little disappointed, but at least they could say they received a day’s wage without having to work an entire day.
As each successive group came forward, I’m sure their disappointment grew as they saw they would only receive a day’s wage. However, no group complained. They all knew they had worked less than a day and their wage was more than right. Even though it was less in proportion, they were still ahead of the eight ball.
But then the last group comes forward. This group had indeed worked all day. They had labored the most.
They had endured the burning sun. Their muscles bore the brunt of the heavy labor. They had seen everyone else get more than they deserved. They thought and had convinced themselves they should receive more too. It was only fair. It was only fair that they should be treated like everyone else who had been given more than what their work was worth.
But the landowner paid them what they had agreed upon earlier. The landowner did not give them extra. And they were upset. They grumbled. They complained. "It’s not fair!" they shouted. "Those last ones, the ones who came in and worked only an hour–you paid them for a whole day’s work. How could you do this? And how could you only pay us what you are paying us when we have worked the hardest? Where is the justice in that? Where is the fairness in that? This isn’t right!"
And the landowner reminds them, "Look, guys, you agreed to work for me for the usual daily wage. You are receiving what you negotiated for. And you are angry about it? Furthermore, this is my vineyard and my money. Certainly you are in no position to tell me how I am to spend my money or who to hire, are you?
And finally, are you angry at me and are you envious because I am generous?"
And in so doing, the landowner plays his trump card, and Jesus makes His point. In the kingdom of God, things are not fair. Generosity abounds to the point where those who did little work still receive the same amount of wages as those who worked the hardest. Put this way, it didn’t matter how much work was done or how long one worked, everyone received the same thing.
Now, this smacks us hard with our own sense of fairness. Many of us probably identify with those at the end of the line. Haven’t we worked hard? Haven’t we busted our tails off? Don’t we deserve more than what we get? Perhaps we do, but why don’t we identify with those who are paid first and who came to work last?
I remember working at the Sealy Christian Pantry one Wednesday many moons ago. A gentleman and his son came to get food. When we handed them their bags, they were surprised at the amount of food they received. They were overwhelmed at the generosity of the pantry. They had never needed food before, but when they were in need–when they hadn’t been able to find work–generosity touched them deeply.
Why is it that so many of us don’t seem to sense such generosity on our lives? When it comes to our working in the kingdom of God, do you honestly think we have worked all day long? Do you honestly believe we have given our all to the landowner? Do you honestly think we deserve to be paid a full day’s wage of salvation and the many gifts we have in our lives? Do you think God is being fair to us in the midst of our sinfulness and the amount of time we dedicate to Him in our lifetimes?
No. I think if we were honest with ourselves, we’d see we deserve none of what we get. And yet, God gives it to us anyway. We have been paid more than what we deserve because God is generous and not fair.
So, this now leads me to ask us this morning, how does our generosity stack up against God’s? If Jesus gives us insight into God’s generosity in His Kingdom, and if Jesus asks us to help others see that kingdom in our midst, what does that say about how we try to do things? Do we seek to be fair? Or do we seek to be generous? There is a big difference between the two. Life isn’t fair, and life can be downright harsh. The kingdom of heaven isn’t fair either, but it is downright generous. Where does your discipleship lead you? Amen.
Oh sure, we try to sugar coat things and pretend like things are fair. We try and teach our children that they should be treated fairly at school. We try to teach them that they should share with others. We try to teach them they should receive a reward equal to the work they put into something. Those of us who are parents work diligently to make sure our kids are treated fairly within our homes–at Christmas, each kid gets the same number of presents–each kid gets the same number of cookies–each kid gets the same amount of time spent upon the computer. We expend tons of time and energy trying to teach our kids fairness and telling them they should do likewise. And despite all our efforts to do such things, eventually, they have to learn the hard lesson of life that fairness is just an ideal. It doesn’t really exist.
Think life is fair?
Ask the worker who worked for Enron if life is fair.
Ask the guy who spent most of his life working for the same company only to lose his job and benefits to
company downsizing or to a younger, cheaper worker.
Ask the military man who spent years overseas fighting for freedom who now has to take his shoes off and be patted down in the airport.
Ask the rancher who has spent years of blood, sweat, and tears working on his property, building up his herds and his assets only to see it wiped out in a horrific drought.
Ask the homeowner who is given 15 minutes to evacuate because a fire is bearing down on his home and who eventually loses everything in that fire.
Ask the people who lost loved ones to the tornadoes in the eastern United States.
Ask the people who have sought to live the right kind of lifestyles who don’t drink, don’t smoke, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and who still ended up with cancer.
See if they will tell you life is fair. See if they answer in the affirmative.
And yet, we still hold onto our concept of fairness. "O.K. Pastor, we know that life here on earth isn’t fair.
But when God comes, when God finally reveals His Kingdom, then things will be fair."
Really?
Do you really think so?
Jesus told a parable one day about the kingdom of heaven. A landowner went to where the day laborers had gathered. Probably a place like that little supermarket there in Bellville where men gather on a daily basis. This landowner hired the lot of the workers who were there promising them the usual daily wage.
This landowner trusted the men to do the work they were chosen to do. He didn’t spend all day supervising them. In fact, the landowner took several trips to the marketplace that day, and each time he went, he found more and more idle workers. Each time, he invited those workers to head out and get some work done in the vineyard. Each times the landowner said, "I will pay you what is right."
Even at the end of the day, when there was only one hour of work to be done, the landowner went to the marketplace and found some men who were idle. "Why aren’t you working?" the landowner asked.
"No one would hire us," they replied. That sounds like a familiar phrase in our current economy.
This landowner, however, did not turn them away. "Go to work. I will pay you what is right."
At the end of the day, the landowner calls his manager to him. "Time to pay the workers. Start with the one’s we hired last, and then end with the ones we hired first."
Now, I’m not sure why the landowner decided to pay in this fashion. I know he could have saved an awful lot of grief if he would have paid the first ones who came to work first and then ended with the last ones. But perhaps this landowner isn’t concerned about feelings, and perhaps he indeed is trying to teach a lesson.
The folks who were hired to work only one hour receive their payment. Surprisingly, IT’S AN ENTIRE DAY’S WAGE! Can you imagine their surprise? Can you imagine their shock? Holy cow! They certainly didn’t deserve this, so I am sure their thankfulness toward the landowner is sky high.
I’m sure the next folks in line wondered if they would receive more since they had worked longer hours.
Nope, they too received a day’s wage. Perhaps they were a little disappointed, but at least they could say they received a day’s wage without having to work an entire day.
As each successive group came forward, I’m sure their disappointment grew as they saw they would only receive a day’s wage. However, no group complained. They all knew they had worked less than a day and their wage was more than right. Even though it was less in proportion, they were still ahead of the eight ball.
But then the last group comes forward. This group had indeed worked all day. They had labored the most.
They had endured the burning sun. Their muscles bore the brunt of the heavy labor. They had seen everyone else get more than they deserved. They thought and had convinced themselves they should receive more too. It was only fair. It was only fair that they should be treated like everyone else who had been given more than what their work was worth.
But the landowner paid them what they had agreed upon earlier. The landowner did not give them extra. And they were upset. They grumbled. They complained. "It’s not fair!" they shouted. "Those last ones, the ones who came in and worked only an hour–you paid them for a whole day’s work. How could you do this? And how could you only pay us what you are paying us when we have worked the hardest? Where is the justice in that? Where is the fairness in that? This isn’t right!"
And the landowner reminds them, "Look, guys, you agreed to work for me for the usual daily wage. You are receiving what you negotiated for. And you are angry about it? Furthermore, this is my vineyard and my money. Certainly you are in no position to tell me how I am to spend my money or who to hire, are you?
And finally, are you angry at me and are you envious because I am generous?"
And in so doing, the landowner plays his trump card, and Jesus makes His point. In the kingdom of God, things are not fair. Generosity abounds to the point where those who did little work still receive the same amount of wages as those who worked the hardest. Put this way, it didn’t matter how much work was done or how long one worked, everyone received the same thing.
Now, this smacks us hard with our own sense of fairness. Many of us probably identify with those at the end of the line. Haven’t we worked hard? Haven’t we busted our tails off? Don’t we deserve more than what we get? Perhaps we do, but why don’t we identify with those who are paid first and who came to work last?
I remember working at the Sealy Christian Pantry one Wednesday many moons ago. A gentleman and his son came to get food. When we handed them their bags, they were surprised at the amount of food they received. They were overwhelmed at the generosity of the pantry. They had never needed food before, but when they were in need–when they hadn’t been able to find work–generosity touched them deeply.
Why is it that so many of us don’t seem to sense such generosity on our lives? When it comes to our working in the kingdom of God, do you honestly think we have worked all day long? Do you honestly believe we have given our all to the landowner? Do you honestly think we deserve to be paid a full day’s wage of salvation and the many gifts we have in our lives? Do you think God is being fair to us in the midst of our sinfulness and the amount of time we dedicate to Him in our lifetimes?
No. I think if we were honest with ourselves, we’d see we deserve none of what we get. And yet, God gives it to us anyway. We have been paid more than what we deserve because God is generous and not fair.
So, this now leads me to ask us this morning, how does our generosity stack up against God’s? If Jesus gives us insight into God’s generosity in His Kingdom, and if Jesus asks us to help others see that kingdom in our midst, what does that say about how we try to do things? Do we seek to be fair? Or do we seek to be generous? There is a big difference between the two. Life isn’t fair, and life can be downright harsh. The kingdom of heaven isn’t fair either, but it is downright generous. Where does your discipleship lead you? Amen.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
We're More Connected than Ever Before. (Not!)
Late last year, I entered the realm of texting.
Not necessarily by choice.
Actually, I started receiving numerous texts from church members, and since I didn't have a texting plan on my phone it cost the church extra $$. The obvious solution was to upgrade my phone (I wasn't going to text without a full keyboard) since the extra money spent would be less than what was being spent on the texts I was receiving and sending.
Now, I get texts regularly. To be fair, I also send a few, and I confess, it's much easier to get in touch with people because folks will oftentimes respond to a text quicker than to a voice message. At least we're communicating, but contrary to all the hype, I have come to see I am not really connecting.
Technology has a (ahem!) wonderful way of actually distancing us from those we come in contact with.
Way back when, when there were no phones, most communication was done face to face. Of course, you could write letters to communicate, but you usually did this when someone was some distance away. If you needed to communicate, you got on your horse, went to your neighbor and talked. How many of us really do that today?
Then came the telegraph followed by the telephone. Suddenly, we could send and receive messages much faster. We could call one another and talk without leaving the comfort of our own homes. We could still hear the person on the other end of the line, but suddenly, we were one step removed from his or her presence. Of course, the phone was a boon for people separated by distances. Now they could talk and check in. I don't want to minimize this positive. It was good. But face to face time began its erosion.
Enter email and text. Whereas the telephone enabled you to communicate without leaving your home, you at least had to talk to someone. That might be pleasant. It might be awkward. But at least you had to go back and forth. You could pick up some inflection in voice and read moods if you listened carefully. With email and text, you no longer have to do that. You can zap someone else and wait for a reply if you so choose. You don't have to listen for clues that offer emotion. You don't have to enter into another's personal space and be affected by it. One more step further removed from personal, face to face connection. In fact, there's almost no connection what-so-ever except for information. And can we exist and be in relationship through electronic words alone?
No wonder it seems like we are lonelier than ever. We've replaced face to face with typing through a hand held computer with no interaction at all. We're connected to machines instead of each other.
Yet, the t.v. and radio commercials tell us that beyond a shadow of a doubt we are more connected than ever.
Pardon me if I puke.
Not necessarily by choice.
Actually, I started receiving numerous texts from church members, and since I didn't have a texting plan on my phone it cost the church extra $$. The obvious solution was to upgrade my phone (I wasn't going to text without a full keyboard) since the extra money spent would be less than what was being spent on the texts I was receiving and sending.
Now, I get texts regularly. To be fair, I also send a few, and I confess, it's much easier to get in touch with people because folks will oftentimes respond to a text quicker than to a voice message. At least we're communicating, but contrary to all the hype, I have come to see I am not really connecting.
Technology has a (ahem!) wonderful way of actually distancing us from those we come in contact with.
Way back when, when there were no phones, most communication was done face to face. Of course, you could write letters to communicate, but you usually did this when someone was some distance away. If you needed to communicate, you got on your horse, went to your neighbor and talked. How many of us really do that today?
Then came the telegraph followed by the telephone. Suddenly, we could send and receive messages much faster. We could call one another and talk without leaving the comfort of our own homes. We could still hear the person on the other end of the line, but suddenly, we were one step removed from his or her presence. Of course, the phone was a boon for people separated by distances. Now they could talk and check in. I don't want to minimize this positive. It was good. But face to face time began its erosion.
Enter email and text. Whereas the telephone enabled you to communicate without leaving your home, you at least had to talk to someone. That might be pleasant. It might be awkward. But at least you had to go back and forth. You could pick up some inflection in voice and read moods if you listened carefully. With email and text, you no longer have to do that. You can zap someone else and wait for a reply if you so choose. You don't have to listen for clues that offer emotion. You don't have to enter into another's personal space and be affected by it. One more step further removed from personal, face to face connection. In fact, there's almost no connection what-so-ever except for information. And can we exist and be in relationship through electronic words alone?
No wonder it seems like we are lonelier than ever. We've replaced face to face with typing through a hand held computer with no interaction at all. We're connected to machines instead of each other.
Yet, the t.v. and radio commercials tell us that beyond a shadow of a doubt we are more connected than ever.
Pardon me if I puke.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
When was the Last Time...
folks said, "Wow!" when they heard about something the church has done?
At least in a positive way?
Oh, sure, I know that such a thing is often said about an individual congregation's activities.
"St. Steven's raised over $10,000 at their annual picnic."
Wow.
"St. Peter's raised $30,000 to provide clean drinking water in Africa."
Wow.
Lakewood Church draws 15,000 people every Sunday.
Wow.
Not to diminish such accomplishments, but really, is this all the Church is capable of? Is this all the church can do? Individual congregations impacting local communities? That's it? When is the last time the Church did something that made the world take notice? When is the last time the Church did something that made folks across a broad geographical area stop and ponder the power of God working through His people?
I'm waiting.
It seems like the only big things that draw attention to the church are pastors who get put on the spot when asked questions about God's relationship toward homosexuals...
or when a pastor or priest gets caught abusing a child...
or when a pastor or priest is seen with a prostitute (and not in the same fashion that Jesus visited with prostitutes)...
or when a pastor/church embezzles money.
Such things cause people to say, "Wow." and shake their heads in a very negative manner.
But where are our tremendous acts of kindness, generosity, and overwhelming grace that cause people to stop and pause? Where are our acts of unconditional love and sacrifice that cause people to stop and say, "The church still has relevance."?
Is there anything beyond the political agendas of the religious right and religious left? Can Christians actually get together and make a difference beyond such politically driven ideology?
Can we think beyond ourselves and our local congregations to embrace the reality of a world changing faith which seeks not its own glory but to glorify our Father in Heaven?
Can we make such a difference?
When was the last time...
At least in a positive way?
Oh, sure, I know that such a thing is often said about an individual congregation's activities.
"St. Steven's raised over $10,000 at their annual picnic."
Wow.
"St. Peter's raised $30,000 to provide clean drinking water in Africa."
Wow.
Lakewood Church draws 15,000 people every Sunday.
Wow.
Not to diminish such accomplishments, but really, is this all the Church is capable of? Is this all the church can do? Individual congregations impacting local communities? That's it? When is the last time the Church did something that made the world take notice? When is the last time the Church did something that made folks across a broad geographical area stop and ponder the power of God working through His people?
I'm waiting.
It seems like the only big things that draw attention to the church are pastors who get put on the spot when asked questions about God's relationship toward homosexuals...
or when a pastor or priest gets caught abusing a child...
or when a pastor or priest is seen with a prostitute (and not in the same fashion that Jesus visited with prostitutes)...
or when a pastor/church embezzles money.
Such things cause people to say, "Wow." and shake their heads in a very negative manner.
But where are our tremendous acts of kindness, generosity, and overwhelming grace that cause people to stop and pause? Where are our acts of unconditional love and sacrifice that cause people to stop and say, "The church still has relevance."?
Is there anything beyond the political agendas of the religious right and religious left? Can Christians actually get together and make a difference beyond such politically driven ideology?
Can we think beyond ourselves and our local congregations to embrace the reality of a world changing faith which seeks not its own glory but to glorify our Father in Heaven?
Can we make such a difference?
When was the last time...
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A Letter to Christians of the State of Texas
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
One day, a man asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus told a story. I am sure you are quite familiar with it. It's called the Parable of the Good Samaritan. At the end, Jesus says, "Go and do likewise."
Those of us who live in Texas know that many of our neighbors are hurting. Recent wildfires have devastated Bastrop and parts of the Tri-County area near Magnolia. Nearly two thousand homes have been destroyed. Our neighbors are hurting and in need.
Churches and Christians around the state have responded graciously and generously. Food and clothing have made their way to these areas in copious amounts. Churches and Christians have looked to "adopt" families and help them through these difficult times. However, the biggest task remains: rebuilding. Who will help with this process?
Too often, we have been guilty of passing the buck of rebuilding to others--individuals, the government, other social agencies. Such a task seems too monumental for us as the church. Most denominations are in decline and dollars seem to be stretched thin. Congregations seem isolated and unable to even consider building houses and homes. Yet, I want to challenge you to really think about such an outlook. I want to challenge you to look beyond your own congregation, your own denomination, and your own circle of people you associate with who are Christian. I want to challenge you to look beyond the differences that separate us as brothers and sisters--those finer points of doctrine which cause us to label ourselves: Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc. I want to challenge us to look beyond such things--as important as they are to giving us our identities--and look to the command of the one who gives us our true identity.
"Go and do likewise," He said. Who of us can argue this from our respective backgrounds? Who of us can argue that Jesus doesn't tell us to reach out to our neighbor who is in need and help him or her rebuild and transform his or her life? Who of us can argue that Jesus doesn't call us to go the extra mile with generosity--not only taking care of our children, but our enemies and those who persecute us?
Is it too much to ask of the larger Church, the Church that transcends denomination lines to unite to help our neighbor? Is it too much to ask of the larger Church to lead in rebuilding instead of waiting for someone else to do it? Is it too much to ask of us to come together in this time of need to show the true power of God working through--as St. Paul calls us--the Body of Christ on earth?
When is the last time the Church did something on the side of good that caused the world around us to say, "Wow!"? When is the last time the Church undertook a project so big and so daunting nearly everyone around said, "You are crazy."? When is the last time the Church united in such a fashion to make a difference in the lives of thousands? Is the Church even capable of such a thing in this day and age of divisiveness and squabble?
I'm willing to try and find out. I'm willing to say the Church can indeed do such a thing. And I think we can begin right here and right now in the state of Texas as we seek to rebuild the homes of our neighbors who lost them to these fires.
I ask you to pray for this endeavor. I ask you to be willing to support it financially. I ask you to support it with your time and efforts. I ask you to get this letter into the hands of as many people as you possibly know and challenge them to add their support.
I have set up a Facebook group entitled "Texas Rebuilds After Fires." Join. Participate. Network. Add friends and family. http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/276767935668973/ Let's see how far this thing can go as we seek to do what Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
For those of you not on Facebook, contact me. My work email address is stjohncatspring@texasbb.com. I can also receive the old fashioned kind of mail at 480 Ross St. Cat Spring, TX 78933. Finally, the phone number of the church is 979-865-5444.
May God bless you and lead you to do that which is right as you seek to serve Him.
Peace,
Rev. Kevin Haug
One day, a man asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus told a story. I am sure you are quite familiar with it. It's called the Parable of the Good Samaritan. At the end, Jesus says, "Go and do likewise."
Those of us who live in Texas know that many of our neighbors are hurting. Recent wildfires have devastated Bastrop and parts of the Tri-County area near Magnolia. Nearly two thousand homes have been destroyed. Our neighbors are hurting and in need.
Churches and Christians around the state have responded graciously and generously. Food and clothing have made their way to these areas in copious amounts. Churches and Christians have looked to "adopt" families and help them through these difficult times. However, the biggest task remains: rebuilding. Who will help with this process?
Too often, we have been guilty of passing the buck of rebuilding to others--individuals, the government, other social agencies. Such a task seems too monumental for us as the church. Most denominations are in decline and dollars seem to be stretched thin. Congregations seem isolated and unable to even consider building houses and homes. Yet, I want to challenge you to really think about such an outlook. I want to challenge you to look beyond your own congregation, your own denomination, and your own circle of people you associate with who are Christian. I want to challenge you to look beyond the differences that separate us as brothers and sisters--those finer points of doctrine which cause us to label ourselves: Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc. I want to challenge us to look beyond such things--as important as they are to giving us our identities--and look to the command of the one who gives us our true identity.
"Go and do likewise," He said. Who of us can argue this from our respective backgrounds? Who of us can argue that Jesus doesn't tell us to reach out to our neighbor who is in need and help him or her rebuild and transform his or her life? Who of us can argue that Jesus doesn't call us to go the extra mile with generosity--not only taking care of our children, but our enemies and those who persecute us?
Is it too much to ask of the larger Church, the Church that transcends denomination lines to unite to help our neighbor? Is it too much to ask of the larger Church to lead in rebuilding instead of waiting for someone else to do it? Is it too much to ask of us to come together in this time of need to show the true power of God working through--as St. Paul calls us--the Body of Christ on earth?
When is the last time the Church did something on the side of good that caused the world around us to say, "Wow!"? When is the last time the Church undertook a project so big and so daunting nearly everyone around said, "You are crazy."? When is the last time the Church united in such a fashion to make a difference in the lives of thousands? Is the Church even capable of such a thing in this day and age of divisiveness and squabble?
I'm willing to try and find out. I'm willing to say the Church can indeed do such a thing. And I think we can begin right here and right now in the state of Texas as we seek to rebuild the homes of our neighbors who lost them to these fires.
I ask you to pray for this endeavor. I ask you to be willing to support it financially. I ask you to support it with your time and efforts. I ask you to get this letter into the hands of as many people as you possibly know and challenge them to add their support.
I have set up a Facebook group entitled "Texas Rebuilds After Fires." Join. Participate. Network. Add friends and family. http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/276767935668973/ Let's see how far this thing can go as we seek to do what Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
For those of you not on Facebook, contact me. My work email address is stjohncatspring@texasbb.com. I can also receive the old fashioned kind of mail at 480 Ross St. Cat Spring, TX 78933. Finally, the phone number of the church is 979-865-5444.
May God bless you and lead you to do that which is right as you seek to serve Him.
Peace,
Rev. Kevin Haug
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sermon Delivered September 11, 2011
First Lesson: Genesis 50: 15-21
15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" 16So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." 19But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
I know that you have been there at some point or another.
Some of you have told me while I sat or stood next to you.
Something has happened in your life that has turned everything upside down for the moment.
A frightening medical diagnosis.
A loved one stricken with disease and hospitalization.
A child lying in a hospital bed.
One of the worst droughts ever hanging on and devastating your livelihood and land.
Fires raging around burning, threatening people you know.
Sometimes you feel like you are shouting up at the Almighty saying, "Where are you? What are you doing? Can’t You see how devastating this is?! Aren’t You going to do anything about it? How could You let this happen?"
No one likes being surrounded by such dark things. No one. It takes a toll on your mind, your body, and your spirit.
Where is the hope?
Many years ago, a young man experienced the very same thing we experience. This man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was the favored child of his father. In fact, his dad went out of his way to shower kindness and favors and gifts upon him. This young man relished his father’s attention, and he also held it over the heads of his brothers.
Oh, most of his brothers didn’t like him at all. They were jealous of the attention he got from his father, and one day, their brother pushed it too far. Their brother shared with them a dream that he had about the sun, the moon, and some stars bowing down to him. He had also shared a dream about making hay sheaves, and all the brothers’ hay sheaves bowed down to his. In a not too subtle way, this young man was telling his brothers they should bow down to him.
Their anger was at a fever pitch. Their dad did nothing to curve their brother’s behavior. So if dad wouldn’t teach this whipper-snapper a lesson, they would. One day as their brother came walking, they seized him and threw him in a pit. They intended to kill him, but one decided that was a bit much. So, instead of killing him, they sold him to a group of slave traders. They then lied to their father and told him their brother was dead–devoured by a wild beast.
Now, for a moment put yourself in the place of that young man. Where once, he walked as a sort of king amongst his brothers, he now found himself in shackles. Where once he was free to go and do as he pleased, he now was forced to serve and obey every command of another. The silver spoon that once resided in his mouth was now yanked out.
But it was only beginning. This young man was eventually sold and began working in another’s house. His master’s wife approached him wanting sexual favors. The young man rejected them. The wife lied and said something happened that didn’t, and the young man went from being a slave to being a prisoner. But that wasn’t even the end of his fall.
While in prison, he met two men. Each of those men shared with him a dream. The young man interpreted both of those dreams and told them what would happen. One of the men would be reinstalled into the King’s court, and the young man said, "Put in a good word for me when you get there." The man promised he would...but didn’t.
Our young man was in prison. Alone. Betrayed by his brothers. Betrayed by his master’s wife. Betrayed by someone he helped. Never was he more alone. Never was he more desperate. Never more was his faith tried and tested. Life was simply not fair. Sure, he had been big headed and overbearing, but did that warrant such punishment? Did that warrant such despair?
But then, then things took an interesting turn. The king had a bad dream and needed it interpreted. None of the wise men of the kingdom could do so, and that’s when one of the king’s servants spoke up. Perhaps his memory was finally jogged. "There is a man in your prison who can interpret this dream."
The king called the man up, and through the irony of ironies, this prisoner was made second in command in the kingdom! Talk about major redemption.
But the story isn’t finished. The young man was set in charge of preparing for drought and famine. He was set in store of collecting grain for the famine years, and when famine struck, their kingdom had food–so much food they helped feed people from all around, including his brothers who came seeking food.
Eventually this young man and his brothers met up. He revealed himself to them, and they were reconciled. Things were going along swimmingly until their dad died. Then the brothers, became worried. What if our young man decided to exact revenge? That’s where our first lesson comes into play this morning. Their reconciliation culminates with this young man, who is named Joseph, by the way, saying these powerful words, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today."
What you intended for harm, God intended for good.
It wasn’t until this moment that Joseph could put it all together. It wasn’t until he had endured the pain, the humiliation, the suffering, the imprisonment and the betrayal that he could put it all together. It wasn’t until he had come all the way through to the other side that it all began making sense. All along the way, God had a plan. God was using these terrifying, frustrating, and daunting events to make something good happen.
Sometimes, when we are sitting in our own personal prisons, this is the last thing we want to hear. We want certainty. We want results. We want things to go back to the way they were. We want our loved one to be healed. We don’t want the pain. We don’t want the frustration. We don’t want the anger. We don’t want these things to happen to us anymore.
But then they do.
Again and again.
Lives are uprooted.
Fires rage.
Drought persists.
But into the midst of all these things, a ray of light can shine down clearly for those of us who believe. For our
God is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph. The same God who saw Joseph through all the trials and tribulations he faced is the same God who is working in the midst of our trails and tribulations. When others or the devil intends things for evil, God intends them for good.
And this was rammed home for you and for me on the day Jesus rose from the grave. For this reveals that in the end, God’s word will have the last say.
But in the mean time, I cannot answer the questions of why. I cannot make things better. I cannot remove anger and frustration and pain. But I can point to hope. I can point to the One who has promised to work in such dire situations. I can affirm to you that God intends things for good–we just can’t see it now. And all I can do, and perhaps you as well is to cling stubbornly, persistently, and with all our might to this hope: what some may intend for evil, God intends for good. Amen.
15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" 16So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." 19But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
I know that you have been there at some point or another.
Some of you have told me while I sat or stood next to you.
Something has happened in your life that has turned everything upside down for the moment.
A frightening medical diagnosis.
A loved one stricken with disease and hospitalization.
A child lying in a hospital bed.
One of the worst droughts ever hanging on and devastating your livelihood and land.
Fires raging around burning, threatening people you know.
Sometimes you feel like you are shouting up at the Almighty saying, "Where are you? What are you doing? Can’t You see how devastating this is?! Aren’t You going to do anything about it? How could You let this happen?"
No one likes being surrounded by such dark things. No one. It takes a toll on your mind, your body, and your spirit.
Where is the hope?
Many years ago, a young man experienced the very same thing we experience. This man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was the favored child of his father. In fact, his dad went out of his way to shower kindness and favors and gifts upon him. This young man relished his father’s attention, and he also held it over the heads of his brothers.
Oh, most of his brothers didn’t like him at all. They were jealous of the attention he got from his father, and one day, their brother pushed it too far. Their brother shared with them a dream that he had about the sun, the moon, and some stars bowing down to him. He had also shared a dream about making hay sheaves, and all the brothers’ hay sheaves bowed down to his. In a not too subtle way, this young man was telling his brothers they should bow down to him.
Their anger was at a fever pitch. Their dad did nothing to curve their brother’s behavior. So if dad wouldn’t teach this whipper-snapper a lesson, they would. One day as their brother came walking, they seized him and threw him in a pit. They intended to kill him, but one decided that was a bit much. So, instead of killing him, they sold him to a group of slave traders. They then lied to their father and told him their brother was dead–devoured by a wild beast.
Now, for a moment put yourself in the place of that young man. Where once, he walked as a sort of king amongst his brothers, he now found himself in shackles. Where once he was free to go and do as he pleased, he now was forced to serve and obey every command of another. The silver spoon that once resided in his mouth was now yanked out.
But it was only beginning. This young man was eventually sold and began working in another’s house. His master’s wife approached him wanting sexual favors. The young man rejected them. The wife lied and said something happened that didn’t, and the young man went from being a slave to being a prisoner. But that wasn’t even the end of his fall.
While in prison, he met two men. Each of those men shared with him a dream. The young man interpreted both of those dreams and told them what would happen. One of the men would be reinstalled into the King’s court, and the young man said, "Put in a good word for me when you get there." The man promised he would...but didn’t.
Our young man was in prison. Alone. Betrayed by his brothers. Betrayed by his master’s wife. Betrayed by someone he helped. Never was he more alone. Never was he more desperate. Never more was his faith tried and tested. Life was simply not fair. Sure, he had been big headed and overbearing, but did that warrant such punishment? Did that warrant such despair?
But then, then things took an interesting turn. The king had a bad dream and needed it interpreted. None of the wise men of the kingdom could do so, and that’s when one of the king’s servants spoke up. Perhaps his memory was finally jogged. "There is a man in your prison who can interpret this dream."
The king called the man up, and through the irony of ironies, this prisoner was made second in command in the kingdom! Talk about major redemption.
But the story isn’t finished. The young man was set in charge of preparing for drought and famine. He was set in store of collecting grain for the famine years, and when famine struck, their kingdom had food–so much food they helped feed people from all around, including his brothers who came seeking food.
Eventually this young man and his brothers met up. He revealed himself to them, and they were reconciled. Things were going along swimmingly until their dad died. Then the brothers, became worried. What if our young man decided to exact revenge? That’s where our first lesson comes into play this morning. Their reconciliation culminates with this young man, who is named Joseph, by the way, saying these powerful words, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today."
What you intended for harm, God intended for good.
It wasn’t until this moment that Joseph could put it all together. It wasn’t until he had endured the pain, the humiliation, the suffering, the imprisonment and the betrayal that he could put it all together. It wasn’t until he had come all the way through to the other side that it all began making sense. All along the way, God had a plan. God was using these terrifying, frustrating, and daunting events to make something good happen.
Sometimes, when we are sitting in our own personal prisons, this is the last thing we want to hear. We want certainty. We want results. We want things to go back to the way they were. We want our loved one to be healed. We don’t want the pain. We don’t want the frustration. We don’t want the anger. We don’t want these things to happen to us anymore.
But then they do.
Again and again.
Lives are uprooted.
Fires rage.
Drought persists.
But into the midst of all these things, a ray of light can shine down clearly for those of us who believe. For our
God is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph. The same God who saw Joseph through all the trials and tribulations he faced is the same God who is working in the midst of our trails and tribulations. When others or the devil intends things for evil, God intends them for good.
And this was rammed home for you and for me on the day Jesus rose from the grave. For this reveals that in the end, God’s word will have the last say.
But in the mean time, I cannot answer the questions of why. I cannot make things better. I cannot remove anger and frustration and pain. But I can point to hope. I can point to the One who has promised to work in such dire situations. I can affirm to you that God intends things for good–we just can’t see it now. And all I can do, and perhaps you as well is to cling stubbornly, persistently, and with all our might to this hope: what some may intend for evil, God intends for good. Amen.
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