I wish I had a better title than the above for I do not believe it does this post justice. Nothing better came to mind to kind of pull together the thoughts roaming around in my head.
Let's start with Miley Cyrus. Not only did she grab attention at the VMA's, but the next thing you know, she is featured in a music video riding a giant wrecking ball naked (with hands strategically placed) seductively licking a sledge hammer. I've read more than a few opinion pieces analyzing, criticizing, and supporting her behavior. And I ask, "Is it surprising?"
Let's then move to Anthony Weiner. I posted about a shouting match he had the other day with a fellow Jewish New Yorker. New York voters soundly rejected him as a mayoral candidate particularly after he was found to be sexting even after losing his congressional seat for doing the same thing. One of his sexting partners showed up at his election party. After all was said and done, Weiner flipped the bird at reporters showing little contrition for anything he had done or was doing. And I ask, "Is this surprising?"
We move now to violence and the horrendous murders we have seen taking place in the news--particularly those with a racial overtone. I find it interesting how the different news networks have begun dealing with such matters after the George Zimmerman trial. Suddenly, each time a black person harms or kills a white person, there is a racial overtone and vice-versa. There seems to be a concerted effort to highlight violence that occurs between people of different color/race/ethnicity. And I ask, "Is such violence surprising?"
Now, we head toward the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor. I saw several stories in the past few days highlighting the fact that the wealthy keep getting more wealth while the poor remain in poverty. The few are lording it over the many, and there are cries rising up about the injustice of it all. But I ask, "Is it really surprising?"
I mean, I think all of these things have something in common. There is a common thread that actually binds it all together.
Think about what we teach now in school regarding human beings and how they came into existence. In our science classes we teach that man descended from apes. Man is simply another animal who evolved--there is nothing special about him. And how did that evolution occur? Through natural selection and genetic mutation. Now, we know we have little control over genetic mutation. This happens when our genes fail to make exact replicas either by a mistake in the replication process or from some sort of mechanism including being affected by radiation from the sun. It really doesn't matter--it's out of any control that we exert.
Ah, but natural selection--that's another story. For natural selection is all about the survival of the fittest. Death and disease wipes out the lesser and the weaker leaving the strong to thrive and survive. Passing on one's genes means rising to the top of the food chain, striving to be the highest on the ladder to ensure survival of one's genetic lineage. It means attracting the alpha of the opposite sex as well to ensure a good genetic bond. And protecting one's genes from those considered lesser is paramount! When a threat arises to challenge our status, it must be met and put down decisively. This is the natural way of things. Nature isn't some kind of Eden where everything gets along. It's fight, flight, freeze, and reproduce to pass on one's genes and ensure the survival of the species.
Sure, we talk about tit for tat and kindness being a part of the evolutionary process. We talk about how one species can be kind to ensure its survival--particularly if it's effective for a weaker beta male or female. But this is merely descriptive--it is not proscriptive.
This what we teach in school. Plain and simple. And we offer no sort of corrective to this in our science classes at all. Most high schools that I am aware of do not have the resources to offer philosophy or theology classes, and so most students are taught that this is what makes us tick--as the animals we have evolved to be.
And God forbid that we invoke any thought of a Creator in the educational process for that violates the separation of church and state. That is establishing a religion, and we simply cannot have that.
But we have no presented ourselves with a major conundrum. For science isn't capable of getting us from what is to what ought. And as a society, we have walked away from any sort of universal ought when it comes to morals and actions--in short we have walked away from any sort of religious foundations for morals and ethics.
And because of that, we are left with evolutionary thought guiding our behaviors and thoughts. The very stuff we taught in school. And it surprises me that many get so upset when people act like evolution has bred us to act:
When Miley Cyrus uses sexuality to make herself desirable and wealthy, she is simply using what nature gave her to climb the ladder and pass on her genes.
Anthony Weiner does the same thing from a male point of view.
Interracial violence mirrors what goes on in nature when different colors of fur cause species to attack one another from within.
Garnering more wealth is simply a way of garnering more power and prestige--rising to the top of the evolutionary ladder.
And even though kindness is shown in nature, there is nothing--nothing at all--there to take us from is to ought. There is nothing which says kindness ought to be the rule instead of fight, flight, freeze, or reproduction.
Only religion offers a foundation to take us from is to ought. Only faith gives us a foundation to go against many of the evolutionary instincts which drive us.
A failure to recognize this means we will simply keep teaching the same things and expecting different results. Perhaps God does indeed need to be reintroduced in school--not as a means of forcing religion upon anyone, but by helping folks understand:
We are more than animals.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Bandaids Versus Systemic Change: God's Work
One of the blogs I follow had an interesting take on this past Sunday's emphasis on God's Work. Our Hands. I get what he is saying. Really. I do. But I find some of the theology behind the assertion a bit troubling. Let's think about these statements in particular:
And we did this all the while knowing that acts of kindness and charity are poor replacements for systemic change and activism.
Really; that’s just the plain truth. Systems don’t change because I’ve handed a person a sandwich. Systems change when I press back against a culture that creates the have-nots in the shadow of the haves.
God’s work would be to flatten those economies in a way that changed life for everyone.
So, God's work--His REAL work--would be to flatten our systems of power and injustice and change life for everyone. That's the underlying theology, isn't it? Handing out sandwiches is good work, but it's not quite on a par with something grander--an overhaul of the system that causes people to go hungry. Well, there is truth in that statement. It would be nice to come up with some sort of system where there were no hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or imprisoned.
But there is a two-fold problem with this theology.
Problem #1: In reality, this is a modified theology of glory; a theology which seeks the boldest and grandest; a theology which seeks a total remaking of the world and its structures; a theology which focuses on the end times promise of a new heaven and a new earth; a theology which seeks earthly comfort in the way I think it should occur. Oh, that statement will probably cause a little bit of ire, but there is little difference, at least in my book, between saying, "If I just believe and have enough faith, then I will be blessed with wealth and prosperity." and "If I just push back against a culture that creates the have-nots in the shadow of the haves, then I am really doing God's work [and systems will change so that more will have.]"
Whether we like it or not, our focus as Christians comes in the form of the God made flesh: Jesus. And Jesus wasn't exactly revealing to us the methodology of bringing about such a theology. He wasn't one to tell his followers to "do the right things and God will bless you." He wasn't one that said, "Do the right things and you will bring heaven to earth." He wasn't one going around saying, "We need to push back against this Roman invasion and those who collaborate with it to produce poor people and stomp on people." He famously spoke, "My kingdom is not of this world." And it's not.
It involves the creation of a whole new world. Why? Because it is we as humans who build the systems.
That's Problem #2: What is the system that God has built to replace that which He supposedly would/could/is tearing down? Somehow, there is an assumption built into this whole shebang that some system exists that is indeed perfect where human poverty is eradicated. Somehow, there is an assumption that some system exists which the distinction between haves and have nots is erased. Looking at the history of the world, has such a system ever been established?
I am waiting for the answer....
Again, humans build the systems of which we are a part in this world. And those systems are just like us. They have their good points. They have their bad points. They are saintly in some ways. They are sinful in others. What more can you expect out of a system put together by beings such as we?
Even the Church, in all of its myriads of expressions throughout the world does not come close to reaching perfection. It does not come close to reaching the vision of heaven as articulated by Jesus and the earliest disciples. Why? It is composed of humans. Plain and simple. In order to create a perfect system, we must achieve perfection as human beings. Anyone want to take a guess how long it will take for that to happen?
Which brings us back to God's work. What is God's work?
Perhaps it is a bit old fashioned, but let's remember what the basics of our faith tell us. You know, those things called the Creeds.
1. God is creator.
2. God is salvation bringer.
3. God is sustainer.
4. God is sanctifier.
I think it poignant to recite at this point Luther's explanation of the Third Article of the Creed:
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.
What is God's work in this day and time:
Calling. Gathering. Enlightening. Sanctifying.
That sanctifying one is pretty important, you know. That's the one where God comes in and rearranges the furniture deep within us. Where He makes us holy--more Christ like. And when we start becoming more Christ like, we start doing the things He asked us to do: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, all those stop gap measures.
Why the stop gap? Why not something more? Why not something grand? Why not something transformational which blew up the imperfect systems of which we are a part?
Well, that would involve blowing us up first. That would involve eradicating all of our selfishness; all of our desire for more; all of our focus on what we want instead of what we need. Get rid of all that, and we can have a perfect system.
And that's not going to happen until the parousia--the end of times. Jesus knew this. He had the big picture, and He knew sanctification is a life-long process. He knew the grand things weren't going to happen short of remaking the world, so He taught us to see God's action in places where it hadn't been seen before--like a child and a seed and a prodigal father and a cross.
The grand remaking of the world is still to come. The trashing of all those imperfect systems is still to come. In the mean time, God's work continues. Don't sell it short.
And we did this all the while knowing that acts of kindness and charity are poor replacements for systemic change and activism.
Really; that’s just the plain truth. Systems don’t change because I’ve handed a person a sandwich. Systems change when I press back against a culture that creates the have-nots in the shadow of the haves.
God’s work would be to flatten those economies in a way that changed life for everyone.
So, God's work--His REAL work--would be to flatten our systems of power and injustice and change life for everyone. That's the underlying theology, isn't it? Handing out sandwiches is good work, but it's not quite on a par with something grander--an overhaul of the system that causes people to go hungry. Well, there is truth in that statement. It would be nice to come up with some sort of system where there were no hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or imprisoned.
But there is a two-fold problem with this theology.
Problem #1: In reality, this is a modified theology of glory; a theology which seeks the boldest and grandest; a theology which seeks a total remaking of the world and its structures; a theology which focuses on the end times promise of a new heaven and a new earth; a theology which seeks earthly comfort in the way I think it should occur. Oh, that statement will probably cause a little bit of ire, but there is little difference, at least in my book, between saying, "If I just believe and have enough faith, then I will be blessed with wealth and prosperity." and "If I just push back against a culture that creates the have-nots in the shadow of the haves, then I am really doing God's work [and systems will change so that more will have.]"
Whether we like it or not, our focus as Christians comes in the form of the God made flesh: Jesus. And Jesus wasn't exactly revealing to us the methodology of bringing about such a theology. He wasn't one to tell his followers to "do the right things and God will bless you." He wasn't one that said, "Do the right things and you will bring heaven to earth." He wasn't one going around saying, "We need to push back against this Roman invasion and those who collaborate with it to produce poor people and stomp on people." He famously spoke, "My kingdom is not of this world." And it's not.
It involves the creation of a whole new world. Why? Because it is we as humans who build the systems.
That's Problem #2: What is the system that God has built to replace that which He supposedly would/could/is tearing down? Somehow, there is an assumption built into this whole shebang that some system exists that is indeed perfect where human poverty is eradicated. Somehow, there is an assumption that some system exists which the distinction between haves and have nots is erased. Looking at the history of the world, has such a system ever been established?
I am waiting for the answer....
Again, humans build the systems of which we are a part in this world. And those systems are just like us. They have their good points. They have their bad points. They are saintly in some ways. They are sinful in others. What more can you expect out of a system put together by beings such as we?
Even the Church, in all of its myriads of expressions throughout the world does not come close to reaching perfection. It does not come close to reaching the vision of heaven as articulated by Jesus and the earliest disciples. Why? It is composed of humans. Plain and simple. In order to create a perfect system, we must achieve perfection as human beings. Anyone want to take a guess how long it will take for that to happen?
Which brings us back to God's work. What is God's work?
Perhaps it is a bit old fashioned, but let's remember what the basics of our faith tell us. You know, those things called the Creeds.
1. God is creator.
2. God is salvation bringer.
3. God is sustainer.
4. God is sanctifier.
I think it poignant to recite at this point Luther's explanation of the Third Article of the Creed:
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.
What is God's work in this day and time:
Calling. Gathering. Enlightening. Sanctifying.
That sanctifying one is pretty important, you know. That's the one where God comes in and rearranges the furniture deep within us. Where He makes us holy--more Christ like. And when we start becoming more Christ like, we start doing the things He asked us to do: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, all those stop gap measures.
Why the stop gap? Why not something more? Why not something grand? Why not something transformational which blew up the imperfect systems of which we are a part?
Well, that would involve blowing us up first. That would involve eradicating all of our selfishness; all of our desire for more; all of our focus on what we want instead of what we need. Get rid of all that, and we can have a perfect system.
And that's not going to happen until the parousia--the end of times. Jesus knew this. He had the big picture, and He knew sanctification is a life-long process. He knew the grand things weren't going to happen short of remaking the world, so He taught us to see God's action in places where it hadn't been seen before--like a child and a seed and a prodigal father and a cross.
The grand remaking of the world is still to come. The trashing of all those imperfect systems is still to come. In the mean time, God's work continues. Don't sell it short.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
It's Hard to Get My Head Around This
The last two days have been quite the whirl wind. I have been training and working with a new addition to our congregation's staff: a part time youth director.
Sometimes, I have a hard time getting my head around this fact.
When I first started serving this congregation nine years ago, we had a baptized membership of 189. Our average worship attendance was 65. Most would have not considered it a viable congregation--at least not for a full time clergy. Most would have considered it needing to be yoked to another church in a dual point parish.
Yet, the people here had a sense of call about them. They rejected any such notions and wanted a full time pastor. Not only this, they had discerned a call to add a part-time secretary--something they had never had in their history.
I came on board, and within a few months, we hired a secretary. Life was good.
I arrived in Cat Spring from a large congregation in Seguin. My previous congregation had nearly 1400 members, and the work load was intense. I generally was up at the church 4 nights per week. Sometimes, the meetings were grueling lasting two and a half to three hours. After four years there, I was tired, worn out, ready for a change.
Coming to Cat Spring was very, very different. There were hardly any meetings at all! There wasn't a full staff. But things were getting done, and getting done in a big way.
Congregational growth has been tremendous. In those nine years, our membership has more than doubled to 430. Our average worship attendance hovers at 120. Of course, if we weeded out the "summer slump" we would be at 140-150. Offerings are steady and very good. People do things--good things on a consistent basis--without having meeting after meeting after meeting.
As the congregation has grown, we have consistently added staff. First, the secretary. Then, a worship and music director. Then, came the leap of faith last year. The congregation decided to seek a part-time youth director. We budgeted for the position in the annual meeting, sent out advertizements, prayed, and waited.
Last week, the position was filled, and I woke up Monday, the head of a staffed congregation.
Now, at this point, there are some pastors who would begin telling you, "If you want your church and congregation to do the same thing, then here is what you need to do..." I'm not going to do that because I really don't know what technique to use to make any church grow. I really don't. I don't know the magic pill to make a congregation take off and grow like gang busters.
Too often, I think our congregations become obsessed with a theology of glory--a proverbial step by step plan that leads to growing attendance, offerings, and participation. If you do this, then you will be blessed by growth. If you follow the Lord just right, then He will add numbers to your congregation.
Problem is--I've seen numerous congregations strive to follow the right steps and still experience no growth. I've seen congregations throw out the welcome mat, make people feel warm and fuzzy, have all sorts of programming geared toward children, youth, young adult, middle-aged, and elderly; congregations who incorporate traditional and contemporary music; who become more conservative and more liberal, and nothing works.
I don't believe there is a secret formula to church growth or participation. I think much of it, like salvation, rests upon God's work upon the individual believer. I think much of it, like salvation, involves God's Spirit delving into the hearts and minds of people inspiring them to become a community of compassionate, caring, generous individuals who seek to do His will in the things they say and do. I think church growth revolves around God's action and not our own. Of course, we Lutherans proudly proclaim this to be Word, Sacrament, and the mutual conversation and consolation of the believers.
I do not know what the final outcome will be as this congregation moves into the realm of a staffed congregation. This congregation has never been there before. Sometimes such a move is met with tons of blessings. Sometimes, it so shakes the dynamics of the church that the opposite takes place. We are dealing with an institution made up of humans, after all. Yet, I keep reminding myself that it's not totally up to me. It's not totally up to my secretary or my music director or my youth director. Heck it's not totally up to the congregation members. For without God, we could do nothing. He makes the whole thing work, and if He needs me to lead a staff here at this church, I submit to His will.
I just have a hard time getting my head around it.
Sometimes, I have a hard time getting my head around this fact.
When I first started serving this congregation nine years ago, we had a baptized membership of 189. Our average worship attendance was 65. Most would have not considered it a viable congregation--at least not for a full time clergy. Most would have considered it needing to be yoked to another church in a dual point parish.
Yet, the people here had a sense of call about them. They rejected any such notions and wanted a full time pastor. Not only this, they had discerned a call to add a part-time secretary--something they had never had in their history.
I came on board, and within a few months, we hired a secretary. Life was good.
I arrived in Cat Spring from a large congregation in Seguin. My previous congregation had nearly 1400 members, and the work load was intense. I generally was up at the church 4 nights per week. Sometimes, the meetings were grueling lasting two and a half to three hours. After four years there, I was tired, worn out, ready for a change.
Coming to Cat Spring was very, very different. There were hardly any meetings at all! There wasn't a full staff. But things were getting done, and getting done in a big way.
Congregational growth has been tremendous. In those nine years, our membership has more than doubled to 430. Our average worship attendance hovers at 120. Of course, if we weeded out the "summer slump" we would be at 140-150. Offerings are steady and very good. People do things--good things on a consistent basis--without having meeting after meeting after meeting.
As the congregation has grown, we have consistently added staff. First, the secretary. Then, a worship and music director. Then, came the leap of faith last year. The congregation decided to seek a part-time youth director. We budgeted for the position in the annual meeting, sent out advertizements, prayed, and waited.
Last week, the position was filled, and I woke up Monday, the head of a staffed congregation.
Now, at this point, there are some pastors who would begin telling you, "If you want your church and congregation to do the same thing, then here is what you need to do..." I'm not going to do that because I really don't know what technique to use to make any church grow. I really don't. I don't know the magic pill to make a congregation take off and grow like gang busters.
Too often, I think our congregations become obsessed with a theology of glory--a proverbial step by step plan that leads to growing attendance, offerings, and participation. If you do this, then you will be blessed by growth. If you follow the Lord just right, then He will add numbers to your congregation.
Problem is--I've seen numerous congregations strive to follow the right steps and still experience no growth. I've seen congregations throw out the welcome mat, make people feel warm and fuzzy, have all sorts of programming geared toward children, youth, young adult, middle-aged, and elderly; congregations who incorporate traditional and contemporary music; who become more conservative and more liberal, and nothing works.
I don't believe there is a secret formula to church growth or participation. I think much of it, like salvation, rests upon God's work upon the individual believer. I think much of it, like salvation, involves God's Spirit delving into the hearts and minds of people inspiring them to become a community of compassionate, caring, generous individuals who seek to do His will in the things they say and do. I think church growth revolves around God's action and not our own. Of course, we Lutherans proudly proclaim this to be Word, Sacrament, and the mutual conversation and consolation of the believers.
I do not know what the final outcome will be as this congregation moves into the realm of a staffed congregation. This congregation has never been there before. Sometimes such a move is met with tons of blessings. Sometimes, it so shakes the dynamics of the church that the opposite takes place. We are dealing with an institution made up of humans, after all. Yet, I keep reminding myself that it's not totally up to me. It's not totally up to my secretary or my music director or my youth director. Heck it's not totally up to the congregation members. For without God, we could do nothing. He makes the whole thing work, and if He needs me to lead a staff here at this church, I submit to His will.
I just have a hard time getting my head around it.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Can We Just Skip this Part?
How many of you have ever wanted to have your dessert first? Be honest. If you are like me, you have. On numerous occasions. Forget having to eat the main course. Forget having to eat your vegetables. Forget cleaning your plate. Bring on the apple pie. Bring on the ice cream. Bring on the cookies. Bring on everything that is sweet and sends your taste buds into ecstacy. Let’s just skip to the good part.
It’s kind of like watching movies when I was a teen. I loved those action/adventure movies of the ‘80s. Yeah, I got hooked on Rocky, Rambo, Commando and anything with Bruce Willis, Jean Claude Van Damme, Arnold Schwartznegger, and Sylvester Stallone. But invariably, there would be slow moments between all the action sequences. More than a few times, I’d grab the remote control and fast forward through the slow stuff to get to the action sequences–the stuff I considered to be the good stuff.
And who of us in life wouldn’t like to fast forward through all the boring, meaningless, and bad stuff in our lives so that we could just enjoy the good stuff? Who of us wouldn’t like to skip the difficult stuff and enjoy the rewarding times? Most of us probably would in a heart beat. And most of us would probably like to do the same thing with our lives of faith.
I mean, take one look at our Gospel lesson for today. Incidentally, gospel, the literal translation of that word from the Greek is “good news.” Let’s read this again and see just what kind of “good news” Jesus proclaims:
25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them,
(Good news #1): 26‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. (Good news #2) 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. (Good news #3) 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
After I finish reading this little snippet, I can’t help but ask, “Can’t we just skip this part?” I mean, can’t we just gloss over this teaching and live our lives as happily and as merrily as we can? Can’t we skip that part about hating our family; hating life; carrying the cross; and giving up our possessions? Can’t we just explain this stuff away and say that Jesus is simply joking or using exaggeration to make a point?
There are more than a few people who indeed skip past these teachings. There are more than a few people who disregard them and explain them away. There are even a few preachers who blatantly teach a theology which ignores these words completely.
Yeah, in some ways, I’m taking a shot at the guy just down the road. You know, I have a number of folks who post his sayings to their Facebook timelines. Like the following one: “When you realize that God has put a blessing on your life, and you go out each day with the attitude that something good is going to happen to you, that’s when God can do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond.” Or here’s another one, “God doesn’t take you through challenges just to leave you beaten down. No, it’s time for you to rise up and claim everything that belongs to you.”
And here’s what Jesus says belongs to you, “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
What an interesting contrast. Let’s kind of put this in theological terms. The guy down the road is representative of a thread of Christianity that likes to skip the cross–to fast forward through the crucifixion and go straight to Easter. The resurrection is all the good of life. The resurrection is all the greatness of God. The resurrection is what it is all about: healing, wholeness, redemption, graciousness, eternal life, the presence of God in all its fullness. Yeah, we love that stuff. It’s fantastic. It’s more than the icing on the cake–it’s the whole cake in all its deliciousness.
But you can’t have the resurrection without the crucifixion. You cannot have the empty tomb without the cross. You cannot have eternal life without death. And a lot of times, we don’t want to talk about that. We don’t want to talk about going down those paths. We want the sweet stuff, but we don’t want to endure the heaviness.
Yet, we as Christians must ask the tough questions, and one of those questions is: which is closer to the Truth? Which is closer to the reality of life? Which is closer to the life that Jesus revealed to us and called us to live as His followers?
Listen to this quote from Bret Blair: The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers. The Italian freedom fighter Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the English people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against the enemies of England. Jesus demanded that his followers carry a cross. A sign of death.
Andrew died on a cross
Simon was crucified
Bartholomew was flayed alive
James (son of Zebedee) was beheaded
The other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death
Thomas was run through with a lance
Matthias was stoned and then beheaded
Matthew was slain by the sword
Peter was crucified upside down
Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows
Philip was hanged
The demands that Jesus makes upon those who would follow him are extreme. Christianity is not a Sunday morning religion. No. It’s much, much more. It’s a religion that demands your entire life. The good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, everything. It demands a willingness to suffer, to die, to walk away from all that is precious and dear in our lives, to give up our possessions. There is part of our faith that doesn’t necessarily come across as “good news”–at least while we are going through it. For carrying a cross isn’t “good news.” The cross means death, pain, and suffering. Christianity is not for the faint hearted.
But it is for those who can keep the end in mind. It is for those who believe that on the other side of the cross is the resurrection. It is for those who willingly count the cost and say, “The Lord will never leave me or forsake me. The Lord is my helper. What have I to fear?” The answer is: nothing. When we live God’s Word daily, we know that we will bear the cross, but we do not fear such a burden because we know the end. Amen.
It’s kind of like watching movies when I was a teen. I loved those action/adventure movies of the ‘80s. Yeah, I got hooked on Rocky, Rambo, Commando and anything with Bruce Willis, Jean Claude Van Damme, Arnold Schwartznegger, and Sylvester Stallone. But invariably, there would be slow moments between all the action sequences. More than a few times, I’d grab the remote control and fast forward through the slow stuff to get to the action sequences–the stuff I considered to be the good stuff.
And who of us in life wouldn’t like to fast forward through all the boring, meaningless, and bad stuff in our lives so that we could just enjoy the good stuff? Who of us wouldn’t like to skip the difficult stuff and enjoy the rewarding times? Most of us probably would in a heart beat. And most of us would probably like to do the same thing with our lives of faith.
I mean, take one look at our Gospel lesson for today. Incidentally, gospel, the literal translation of that word from the Greek is “good news.” Let’s read this again and see just what kind of “good news” Jesus proclaims:
25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them,
(Good news #1): 26‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. (Good news #2) 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. (Good news #3) 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
After I finish reading this little snippet, I can’t help but ask, “Can’t we just skip this part?” I mean, can’t we just gloss over this teaching and live our lives as happily and as merrily as we can? Can’t we skip that part about hating our family; hating life; carrying the cross; and giving up our possessions? Can’t we just explain this stuff away and say that Jesus is simply joking or using exaggeration to make a point?
There are more than a few people who indeed skip past these teachings. There are more than a few people who disregard them and explain them away. There are even a few preachers who blatantly teach a theology which ignores these words completely.
Yeah, in some ways, I’m taking a shot at the guy just down the road. You know, I have a number of folks who post his sayings to their Facebook timelines. Like the following one: “When you realize that God has put a blessing on your life, and you go out each day with the attitude that something good is going to happen to you, that’s when God can do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond.” Or here’s another one, “God doesn’t take you through challenges just to leave you beaten down. No, it’s time for you to rise up and claim everything that belongs to you.”
And here’s what Jesus says belongs to you, “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
What an interesting contrast. Let’s kind of put this in theological terms. The guy down the road is representative of a thread of Christianity that likes to skip the cross–to fast forward through the crucifixion and go straight to Easter. The resurrection is all the good of life. The resurrection is all the greatness of God. The resurrection is what it is all about: healing, wholeness, redemption, graciousness, eternal life, the presence of God in all its fullness. Yeah, we love that stuff. It’s fantastic. It’s more than the icing on the cake–it’s the whole cake in all its deliciousness.
But you can’t have the resurrection without the crucifixion. You cannot have the empty tomb without the cross. You cannot have eternal life without death. And a lot of times, we don’t want to talk about that. We don’t want to talk about going down those paths. We want the sweet stuff, but we don’t want to endure the heaviness.
Yet, we as Christians must ask the tough questions, and one of those questions is: which is closer to the Truth? Which is closer to the reality of life? Which is closer to the life that Jesus revealed to us and called us to live as His followers?
Listen to this quote from Bret Blair: The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers. The Italian freedom fighter Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the English people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against the enemies of England. Jesus demanded that his followers carry a cross. A sign of death.
Andrew died on a cross
Simon was crucified
Bartholomew was flayed alive
James (son of Zebedee) was beheaded
The other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death
Thomas was run through with a lance
Matthias was stoned and then beheaded
Matthew was slain by the sword
Peter was crucified upside down
Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows
Philip was hanged
The demands that Jesus makes upon those who would follow him are extreme. Christianity is not a Sunday morning religion. No. It’s much, much more. It’s a religion that demands your entire life. The good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, everything. It demands a willingness to suffer, to die, to walk away from all that is precious and dear in our lives, to give up our possessions. There is part of our faith that doesn’t necessarily come across as “good news”–at least while we are going through it. For carrying a cross isn’t “good news.” The cross means death, pain, and suffering. Christianity is not for the faint hearted.
But it is for those who can keep the end in mind. It is for those who believe that on the other side of the cross is the resurrection. It is for those who willingly count the cost and say, “The Lord will never leave me or forsake me. The Lord is my helper. What have I to fear?” The answer is: nothing. When we live God’s Word daily, we know that we will bear the cross, but we do not fear such a burden because we know the end. Amen.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Hell of a Shouting Contest (Who Can Judge Me?)
Wow!
Anthony Weiner, of course, became the target of many when he sexted with numerous women. It cost him his job in public office. Yet, in a bit of hubris in my opinion, he decided to run for mayor of New York City. Well and good. To err is human. To forgive is divine. Well... Um... That is... Until it is found out that the sexting continued even after he was caught the first time.
Apparently, the guy in the video objected to Weiner's decision to remain in the public eye, and they stood toe to toe.
And this is what I found interesting:
The repeated mantra, "Who are you to judge me? What makes you morally superior to me? Are you my judge? And you are perfect? You know who judges me? You want to think of me as your superior. Where do you get the morality to judge me? You are not my God."
Weiner and this guy going back and forth are Jewish, and it would be an intriguing question for them to sit down with a Rabbi and indeed hash this thing out. But there is a bigger problem raised in this exchange:
What is the standard for morality within our nation?
I'll give you 30 seconds or so.
Found it yet?
That's because I think you won't. I don't think you will find a moral standard which covers 100% of the folks in our nation.
This is one of the fall outs of the Post-modern world. Essentially, one can do whatever one wants as long as it does not "harm" anyone--to one's best definition of the word harm. Where this is exactly rooted as a particular philosophy in life, one must question for there are more than a few examples of where harming someone short term is actually a good thing in the long run. Don't believe me: vaccines. Short pain for the kids. Long term protection. But that is another issue.
What is at stake is how does one confront someone who has done something which the majority of people in society feel is wrong (sending nude pics and receiving nude pics from others when married)--when that person doesn't necessarily feel like he's done anything wrong? How does one invoke morality and a standard of life when another doesn't hold that same standard? How does one find some sort of moral high ground to point to when two people have such a vehement disagreement?
I mean, I could type this post out and fill it with all sorts of colorful language. Some of you might call me on it and say, "As a pastor, you should not be using such language."
I could easily respond, "God judges me. You don't. I don't believe I am doing anything wrong."
"But society thinks it's wrong. There are societal norms, and you are violating them."
"And society's norms are perfect? We live in a perfect society? What if their norms are wrong? Like back in the early history of our nation when people of color were thought to be less than fully human? Society dictates the norms?"
One can easily undermine any sort of argument just as Weiner does to this chap in the video.
Now, it is one thing to point to one's religious faith as a resource for such norms. It is another to point to the U.S. Constitution. It is another thing to point to case law interpreting that Constitution. It is another thing to point out the interpretation of certain passages from the Bible. All of these things are different!
Where is the agreed upon base, foundation, center?
We don't have one.
And until we get one, I believe we will see more shouting contests.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
The Monster isn't so Bad
How many of you here this morning have ever read “The Monster at the End of this Book?” I think we have at least a couple of copies of this book at my house. It’s based upon the Sesame Street character Grover. Grover is a furry, lovable monster who is quite full of drama. I used to love him as a kid because every once in a while, he’d become Super Grover and fly through the air. But that is beside the point.
For those few of you who might not be familiar with this kids’ book, Grover starts off by saying, “What, what did that say? On the cover? Did that say there would be a monster at the end of this book? Oh no. That’s terrible. I am so afraid of monsters!” As the book goes on, Grover begs the reader not to turn the page. He nails the pages together. He builds brick walls. No matter what happens, the pages keep getting turned.
At last, we get to the page just before the end. Grover pleads and pleads and pleads. “The next page is the end of the book, and there is a monster at the end of this book. I am so afraid of monsters. Please don’t turn the page. Please. Please. Please. Please.” Grover is sorely afraid.
Most of the children I have read this book to in my life love this story. In many ways they resonate with it. What child isn’t afraid of monsters? I mean, I don’t care how hard we as parents try, eventually our kids are exposed to those things which go bump in the night. Whether or not it’s Scooby Doo or Twilight or some other such fiction, sooner or later they learn about vampires, werewolves, blobs, ghosts, and goblins. Sooner or later they have nightmares about such things, and we as parents have to comfort them and tell them, “These things are imaginary. There’s no such things as monsters.”
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Hopefully, as they get older, kids grow out of such beliefs in monsters, ghouls and goblins. But the interesting thing that I have found, is that even as we grow up and put those fears aside, we do not stop being afraid. In fact, in many ways, our fears just leap from one particular thing to another. And I have come to think that as a nation, as a society, we suffer from an incredible amount of fear.
What are we afraid of? Let’s start the list:
One of the main items of fear since September 11, 2001 is terrorism. To stave off any sort of terrorist attack, we’ve battened down the hatches at airports. We’ve created the NSA. We’ve allowed spying on citizens lives in cyberspace and in reality. We’ve killed suspected terrorists and their children without trial or evidence that they have indeed committed an act of terror. And there is more that such agencies and the government would like to do to keep us safe.
There are many who are extremely afraid of crime. There is a heightened sense of fear as one reads the news stories about school shootings, inner city gang violence, and the beatings/killings of innocent people who are just going about their daily lives. Depending upon which side of the political aisle you sit on, you believe the answer either has to do with more government power or making people take personal responsibility.
We are afraid of losing our health. Talk to anyone who is having to deal with the recurring nightmare of dealing with a major injury or cancer or an extended hospitalization. They will flat out tell you how much of a headache they get from dealing with the whole medical industry. They will tell you they wonder how it is possible for anyone who is poor to pay for healthcare. They will tell you how much it costs them to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives. They will tell you the frustration in dealing with medications and their side effects. So, we throw ourselves into all sorts of exercise routines and diets. We are told to eat organically and locally even though it costs quite a bit to do this.
We are afraid of losing our money and income. Whether it’s by losing our jobs or by having the government increase taxes or by the oil and gas companies increasing the cost of gasoline, we are afraid of not having enough money to live on. We are afraid of having to cut back on what kind of lifestyle we live in. We are afraid to be more generous with the money we have and make just in case we might need it in the future.
We are afraid of the weather. Whether it’s the threat of climate change or the threat of drought or the threat of hurricanes or tornados, we are flat out scared of the weather. It’s unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try to control it. We’ve got to change our behavior so that the climate changes and we won’t have more rain, less rain, more hurricanes, more tornadoes, or what have you. Think about that for a minute–the suggestion we can actually control the weather.
Oh, and I think I’m just touching the tip of the ice berg. I think there are more than a few more fears and concerns I could throw out there. I haven’t even dealt with the fears we as parents face when dealing with our children. Will they do well in school? Will they run with the right crowd? Will they end up making good decisions? Will they end up like Miley Cyrus?
Fear after fear after fear pounds us. News story after news story raises our anxiety. Television commercial after television commercial scares us and then promises a product witch will offer salvation. Documentary after documentary appears telling us that food isn’t safe to eat, water isn’t safe to drink, our cars aren’t safe to drive, and our homes are full of toxins.
Is it any wonder people in our society tend to be more and more isolated? More and more inward focused? More and more depressed? More and more unwilling to simply engage and talk to each other? It’s much safer to text or email or perhaps call someone instead of having a real, live, sit down conversation. After all, that other person might get angry with something you say or challenge a point of view you hold and realize one more fear: the fear of conflict.
And it would be fortunate if we could come to church and find some comfort. It would be nice to come to church to hear a word from God which would cut through the fear and anxiety and help us to walk through the world with confidence. But all too often, we hear the opposite–or we hear claims of falsehood. We either arrive to have the hell scared into us so that we may believe to avoid the pitfalls of the eternal fire. Or we arrive to have our awareness raised about some other problem we cannot possibly hope to solve. Or we arrive to have a preacher tell us if we just believe enough, our best days are ahead of us and God will provide us with wealth, health and prosperity.
Alas, oftentimes, we leave the confines of these four walls beaten down even further thinking we are somehow inadequate because we do not measure up to God’s standards. We are sinful. We are part of sinful structures. We don’t have enough faith to attain prosperity and the perfect life.
Is there a word of hope for us? Is there a word that actually speaks to our situation? Is there a word which acknowledges the reality of fear and anxiety; acknowledges our inability to overcome it and change ourselves and the world; and yet offers us hope? Is there such a word?
Take a listen to this word; a word given by the writer of Hebrews. See if it hits you where you live: 3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ 6So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’
What can anyone or anything do to me? We know how we are called to live. We know not everyone accepts this way of life. We know we may suffer along the way, but we know how it all ends. We know the page will turn.
When the final page of “There’s a Monster at the End of This Book” is reached, Grover looks around and says, “Well, what do you know? This is the end of the book, and the only one here is me. I, lovable, furry old Grover am the monster at the end of this book. I told you and told you there was nothing to worry about.”
For those of us who are Christian, the end of the book is God and His Kingdom. The end of the book is resurrection. The end of the book is hope. Therefore, we can live God’s Word daily by saying with confidence: the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Amen.
For those few of you who might not be familiar with this kids’ book, Grover starts off by saying, “What, what did that say? On the cover? Did that say there would be a monster at the end of this book? Oh no. That’s terrible. I am so afraid of monsters!” As the book goes on, Grover begs the reader not to turn the page. He nails the pages together. He builds brick walls. No matter what happens, the pages keep getting turned.
At last, we get to the page just before the end. Grover pleads and pleads and pleads. “The next page is the end of the book, and there is a monster at the end of this book. I am so afraid of monsters. Please don’t turn the page. Please. Please. Please. Please.” Grover is sorely afraid.
Most of the children I have read this book to in my life love this story. In many ways they resonate with it. What child isn’t afraid of monsters? I mean, I don’t care how hard we as parents try, eventually our kids are exposed to those things which go bump in the night. Whether or not it’s Scooby Doo or Twilight or some other such fiction, sooner or later they learn about vampires, werewolves, blobs, ghosts, and goblins. Sooner or later they have nightmares about such things, and we as parents have to comfort them and tell them, “These things are imaginary. There’s no such things as monsters.”
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Hopefully, as they get older, kids grow out of such beliefs in monsters, ghouls and goblins. But the interesting thing that I have found, is that even as we grow up and put those fears aside, we do not stop being afraid. In fact, in many ways, our fears just leap from one particular thing to another. And I have come to think that as a nation, as a society, we suffer from an incredible amount of fear.
What are we afraid of? Let’s start the list:
One of the main items of fear since September 11, 2001 is terrorism. To stave off any sort of terrorist attack, we’ve battened down the hatches at airports. We’ve created the NSA. We’ve allowed spying on citizens lives in cyberspace and in reality. We’ve killed suspected terrorists and their children without trial or evidence that they have indeed committed an act of terror. And there is more that such agencies and the government would like to do to keep us safe.
There are many who are extremely afraid of crime. There is a heightened sense of fear as one reads the news stories about school shootings, inner city gang violence, and the beatings/killings of innocent people who are just going about their daily lives. Depending upon which side of the political aisle you sit on, you believe the answer either has to do with more government power or making people take personal responsibility.
We are afraid of losing our health. Talk to anyone who is having to deal with the recurring nightmare of dealing with a major injury or cancer or an extended hospitalization. They will flat out tell you how much of a headache they get from dealing with the whole medical industry. They will tell you they wonder how it is possible for anyone who is poor to pay for healthcare. They will tell you how much it costs them to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives. They will tell you the frustration in dealing with medications and their side effects. So, we throw ourselves into all sorts of exercise routines and diets. We are told to eat organically and locally even though it costs quite a bit to do this.
We are afraid of losing our money and income. Whether it’s by losing our jobs or by having the government increase taxes or by the oil and gas companies increasing the cost of gasoline, we are afraid of not having enough money to live on. We are afraid of having to cut back on what kind of lifestyle we live in. We are afraid to be more generous with the money we have and make just in case we might need it in the future.
We are afraid of the weather. Whether it’s the threat of climate change or the threat of drought or the threat of hurricanes or tornados, we are flat out scared of the weather. It’s unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try to control it. We’ve got to change our behavior so that the climate changes and we won’t have more rain, less rain, more hurricanes, more tornadoes, or what have you. Think about that for a minute–the suggestion we can actually control the weather.
Oh, and I think I’m just touching the tip of the ice berg. I think there are more than a few more fears and concerns I could throw out there. I haven’t even dealt with the fears we as parents face when dealing with our children. Will they do well in school? Will they run with the right crowd? Will they end up making good decisions? Will they end up like Miley Cyrus?
Fear after fear after fear pounds us. News story after news story raises our anxiety. Television commercial after television commercial scares us and then promises a product witch will offer salvation. Documentary after documentary appears telling us that food isn’t safe to eat, water isn’t safe to drink, our cars aren’t safe to drive, and our homes are full of toxins.
Is it any wonder people in our society tend to be more and more isolated? More and more inward focused? More and more depressed? More and more unwilling to simply engage and talk to each other? It’s much safer to text or email or perhaps call someone instead of having a real, live, sit down conversation. After all, that other person might get angry with something you say or challenge a point of view you hold and realize one more fear: the fear of conflict.
And it would be fortunate if we could come to church and find some comfort. It would be nice to come to church to hear a word from God which would cut through the fear and anxiety and help us to walk through the world with confidence. But all too often, we hear the opposite–or we hear claims of falsehood. We either arrive to have the hell scared into us so that we may believe to avoid the pitfalls of the eternal fire. Or we arrive to have our awareness raised about some other problem we cannot possibly hope to solve. Or we arrive to have a preacher tell us if we just believe enough, our best days are ahead of us and God will provide us with wealth, health and prosperity.
Alas, oftentimes, we leave the confines of these four walls beaten down even further thinking we are somehow inadequate because we do not measure up to God’s standards. We are sinful. We are part of sinful structures. We don’t have enough faith to attain prosperity and the perfect life.
Is there a word of hope for us? Is there a word that actually speaks to our situation? Is there a word which acknowledges the reality of fear and anxiety; acknowledges our inability to overcome it and change ourselves and the world; and yet offers us hope? Is there such a word?
Take a listen to this word; a word given by the writer of Hebrews. See if it hits you where you live: 3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ 6So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’
What can anyone or anything do to me? We know how we are called to live. We know not everyone accepts this way of life. We know we may suffer along the way, but we know how it all ends. We know the page will turn.
When the final page of “There’s a Monster at the End of This Book” is reached, Grover looks around and says, “Well, what do you know? This is the end of the book, and the only one here is me. I, lovable, furry old Grover am the monster at the end of this book. I told you and told you there was nothing to worry about.”
For those of us who are Christian, the end of the book is God and His Kingdom. The end of the book is resurrection. The end of the book is hope. Therefore, we can live God’s Word daily by saying with confidence: the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Amen.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
With Reluctance...A Word About Miley
There is a saying on internet chat boards: don't feed the troll.
Now, a "troll" is a person lurking on internet chat boards who makes it his or her job to incite anger and fury, taking things out of context and blowing them up to be something larger than what is intended. Or, the person intentionally adds a comment beyond the scope of the original thread simply to cause conflict. The theory is if you don't "feed" the troll by responding, it will go away.
Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMA show qualifies as such behavior, I think, and I am loathe to even comment on it. Yet, the performance achieved at least one goal--it raked in lots of viewers during and after the fact. Advertisers are licking their chops with the revenue generated. Such a thing, perhaps is at the root of the whole issue, by the way. Money. Money. Money.
I generally don't watch any sort of award show. It simply doesn't appeal to me, and I rather frankly don't care. In my estimation, there are much more important things in life to deal with and worry about than who can best keep us entertained and out of our boredom. For that is what such entertainment is all about, is it not? Isn't that the reason people flock to the movies: to be entertained and escape reality for a while? Isn't that why we tune into sporting events in record numbers? I mean, the Romans perfected sporting events a couple of thousand years ago, and we've managed to ratchet it up entertainment wise while minimizing the amount of blood spilled. And the business which has sprung up around these industries is amazing. Billions upon billions of dollars are sucked out of the average Joe's and Jane's pockets to fund this stuff, and we keep paying it because we are bored with our lives.
And face it, we all like a bit of excitement from time to time. Yes. We really do. We need something to get our hearts pumping and our adrenaline racing. We need something to make us take notice and help us believe there is something more to our lives than simply earning a paycheck, being at home watching our kids, sitting in front of pixellated screens watching characters enact lives full of excitement, adventure, and cunning, and then going to bed only to step into the same routine the next day.
Heck, yesterday, with the kids out of school and not much to do around the house, I found myself actually going nuts a bit. I wanted to be engaged in doing something besides just sitting at the house and watching my kids play. I wanted to be active. It was too hot to fish or hunt, and I've gotten to the point where playing video games no longer keeps me occupied very long. I craved some adventure and excitement of my own.
I needed a reminder of that one line from the book of Hebrews--a line I read the past Sunday (that sermon will be posted tomorrow): 5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ 6So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 emphasis mine.)
Be content with what you have.
My God, what a concept! It actually goes quite counter to what I've been taught most of my life through my schooling and society. The spoken and unspoken mantra pulsing through our culture is: don't ever be satisfied; push on; attain more; rise through the ranks; there are no limits; don't allow yourself to have any boundaries.
And there is something to be said for such a thing, especially when it comes to rising out of poverty and becoming self-sufficient. There is something to be said for "making it" and living the American dream. And, of course, that involves some work on our part. There is much satisfaction in creating and doing and earning something on your own. Simply having it given to you or expecting someone to give it to you isn't quite the way it works. And so, I think it important to draw a fine line between contentment and laziness.
And most of us should be more content. Should be.
I think about my own situation. I have a loving wife and three adorable children; a roof over my head; food on the table; a job I love; places to hunt and fish; congregation members who I truly enjoy working with and interacting with; plenty of "toys" to play with; good health; cushion in my bank account. I should be content. All of my needs are being met.
Ah, but there is that little voice which creeps in. "Wouldn't it be nice if...
Be content with what you have.
Miley Cyrus actually has it all. She made millions as Hannah Montana. If she and her parents invested wisely, she would never have to work again. In the minds of millions of kids, she is/was a heroine of sorts. Fame. Fortune. Millions of devoted fans. What more could one want?
Apparently a lot.
Just like a lot of us want a lot more even though we've got what we need.
Some of us are much more adept at listening to that other voice within our heads that says, "Slow down. Think. Think about what you have. Think about how you have been blessed. Think about what you are doing and what you would like to do. Think about what is most important and then think about what the best situation for you to achieve those things might be."
I am quite convinced when we stop and think about such matters, we will realize that we can indeed follow the writer of Hebrews' advice: be content with what you have. And we can stop feeding that other voice which is pretty much a troll in disguise.
Now, a "troll" is a person lurking on internet chat boards who makes it his or her job to incite anger and fury, taking things out of context and blowing them up to be something larger than what is intended. Or, the person intentionally adds a comment beyond the scope of the original thread simply to cause conflict. The theory is if you don't "feed" the troll by responding, it will go away.
Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMA show qualifies as such behavior, I think, and I am loathe to even comment on it. Yet, the performance achieved at least one goal--it raked in lots of viewers during and after the fact. Advertisers are licking their chops with the revenue generated. Such a thing, perhaps is at the root of the whole issue, by the way. Money. Money. Money.
I generally don't watch any sort of award show. It simply doesn't appeal to me, and I rather frankly don't care. In my estimation, there are much more important things in life to deal with and worry about than who can best keep us entertained and out of our boredom. For that is what such entertainment is all about, is it not? Isn't that the reason people flock to the movies: to be entertained and escape reality for a while? Isn't that why we tune into sporting events in record numbers? I mean, the Romans perfected sporting events a couple of thousand years ago, and we've managed to ratchet it up entertainment wise while minimizing the amount of blood spilled. And the business which has sprung up around these industries is amazing. Billions upon billions of dollars are sucked out of the average Joe's and Jane's pockets to fund this stuff, and we keep paying it because we are bored with our lives.
And face it, we all like a bit of excitement from time to time. Yes. We really do. We need something to get our hearts pumping and our adrenaline racing. We need something to make us take notice and help us believe there is something more to our lives than simply earning a paycheck, being at home watching our kids, sitting in front of pixellated screens watching characters enact lives full of excitement, adventure, and cunning, and then going to bed only to step into the same routine the next day.
Heck, yesterday, with the kids out of school and not much to do around the house, I found myself actually going nuts a bit. I wanted to be engaged in doing something besides just sitting at the house and watching my kids play. I wanted to be active. It was too hot to fish or hunt, and I've gotten to the point where playing video games no longer keeps me occupied very long. I craved some adventure and excitement of my own.
I needed a reminder of that one line from the book of Hebrews--a line I read the past Sunday (that sermon will be posted tomorrow): 5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ 6So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 emphasis mine.)
Be content with what you have.
My God, what a concept! It actually goes quite counter to what I've been taught most of my life through my schooling and society. The spoken and unspoken mantra pulsing through our culture is: don't ever be satisfied; push on; attain more; rise through the ranks; there are no limits; don't allow yourself to have any boundaries.
And there is something to be said for such a thing, especially when it comes to rising out of poverty and becoming self-sufficient. There is something to be said for "making it" and living the American dream. And, of course, that involves some work on our part. There is much satisfaction in creating and doing and earning something on your own. Simply having it given to you or expecting someone to give it to you isn't quite the way it works. And so, I think it important to draw a fine line between contentment and laziness.
And most of us should be more content. Should be.
I think about my own situation. I have a loving wife and three adorable children; a roof over my head; food on the table; a job I love; places to hunt and fish; congregation members who I truly enjoy working with and interacting with; plenty of "toys" to play with; good health; cushion in my bank account. I should be content. All of my needs are being met.
Ah, but there is that little voice which creeps in. "Wouldn't it be nice if...
- You had your own ranch.
- You had a bigger church.
- You had a better paying job.
- You had more opportunity for upward mobility.
- You had a better car.
- You had a larger audience to hear you preach.
- You had more opportunities to travel and get away.
Be content with what you have.
Miley Cyrus actually has it all. She made millions as Hannah Montana. If she and her parents invested wisely, she would never have to work again. In the minds of millions of kids, she is/was a heroine of sorts. Fame. Fortune. Millions of devoted fans. What more could one want?
Apparently a lot.
Just like a lot of us want a lot more even though we've got what we need.
Some of us are much more adept at listening to that other voice within our heads that says, "Slow down. Think. Think about what you have. Think about how you have been blessed. Think about what you are doing and what you would like to do. Think about what is most important and then think about what the best situation for you to achieve those things might be."
I am quite convinced when we stop and think about such matters, we will realize that we can indeed follow the writer of Hebrews' advice: be content with what you have. And we can stop feeding that other voice which is pretty much a troll in disguise.
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