Sisters and Brothers...
Our world seems to be in chaos right now. Young people enjoying camp, in Norway, face the real threat of serious violence when an armed man, intent on killing as many people as he can, opens fire on their camp, for an hour and half. Daily, it seems, we read or hear about some suicidal zealot, who attaches a bomb to his or her back and walks into a public area, killing as many people as they can and killing themselves. Its not just overseas either. Labor battles in the NFL have led both parties to take verbal jabs at the other, even though there would come a time when they would all have to work together again. But perhaps the greatest illustration of how our times are just out of sync come through the ongoing budget battles in Washington D.C. The problem with the neverending sour notes that flow from the ongoing fight is that it, often times, pits citizen against citizen as well. Our world, our society, our country is at odds. If we aren't fighting, something feels wrong, doesn't it?
The reality is, as Jesus and any historian knows, that conflict between people, parties, countries, and couples happens. When we are dealing with human emotions and human limitations, conflicts are inevitable. It is not that conflict in and of itself is bad; it isn't. But as Matthew 18 teaches, and as our tradition illuminates, how we handle conflict makes the difference. Will we, like the punks in Washington, continue to fight, fight, fight, creating more victims of the common folk? Will we surrender our knowledge of right and wrong to the desire for revenge, violence, and hatred like the religious zealots all over the world? Will we succomb to the allure and seduction of wealth and status, like the NFL, leaving nothing but questions and pain? Or will we choose another way?
Jesus tells us how to deal with personal conflict in Matthew 18: 15-20, and this has long been the resource and model for how the Brethren have handled conflict/sin within the church. (I think the church's obsession with sin led into dark, questionable areas of judgment and damnation, and i dont believe Jesus was talking about sin). Anyway. Jesus tells us that if someone takes issue with you, go to them, talk it out, work it out, and make it known that something is wrong. Dont be passive-aggressive and use the press or Rush Limbaugh to further your agenda. Talk to the person.
If that doesn't work, and sometimes conflict is so difficult and deep, take a friend, a community member, so that they can facilitate and oversee the process. If, even with an objective set of eyes, no resolution occurs, then take the matter before the whole body, and if that doesn't bring resolution, then a spiritual "separation" is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of the whole. But the church must always leave the door open for reconciliation and restoration, no matter how severe and deep the conflict goes.
The goal is a holistic community full of brothers and sisters who will walk together through the fires of hell, and they will stand beside and with each other in: one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
But in our me first culture any concern that doesn't put my needs, my wants, or my desires first often leads to me walking out, leaving, letting my absence be the voice. That, folks, is not acceptable. Not Christian. And not loving. What does honor Jesus? Sitting down and working through the muck and mire of being a community. Sitting down and hashing out what elephants exist in our body. And honestly and lovingly deal with whatever cancers arise or exist, so that we, as a whole, can be healthy, holistic, and more Christlike.
This Sunday we have that chance. But it takes an honest effort, from us, to be vulnerable and honest and loving as we let our grievances out so that we can the healing power of Jesus in. If we do not enter into the process of reconciliation with a deep desire for a healthier body, we might never know the beauty, power, and joy of BEING the CHURCH! So join us in naming the elephants, throwing the elephants away, and stepping into a new day, a new creation, a new being as the West Milton Church of the Brethren. God is there waiting, we just need to show up.
Amen....
Shalom,
jerry
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Why is it? Matthew 17: 24-27
Dear Family...
Have you ever noticed that parents rarely see the thorn, twig, or log in the eyes of their own children? Sure they can, as i know personally, point to the faults of other children, quickly and loudly as i am prone to do, but when it comes to their own little progeny; it seems their own sons and daughters fell from the tree of perfection. The kids are the best behaved, most intelligent, could win any beauty contest, and can run faster than Usain Bolt. We, at least as i have experienced, think our children are perfect. Oh, how love is blind...
And it just isn't our children that we favor, is it? We point out how badly the Michigan Wolverines have violated NCAA rules, or in my case the Missouri Tigers, but when KU or the Ohio State face sanctions, we argue well why are they picking on our school? Everyone does it. Our politcal candidate can get away with eggregious acts, but his/her opponent, from the other party, no way. Love is not the only thing that opens the door to blind eyes; allegiances, cliques, or sports teams have a way of making us see roses, while the rest of the world sees the thorns.
But it has always been this way. Perhaps the greastest example of how allegiances, or perhaps national identity, can blind us to truth comes to issues involving our own country. We can justify certains acts, even if the UN and other international courts question our motives, we, as the people, stand behind the government's actions. Why? Because we are America, and we know what is best for the whole, right? Or put another way. Its ok if we torture "terrorists" because we are protecting America, but if the Viet Cong or the Taliban or any other group were to torture American Soldiers, we would cry injustice and demand severe punishment for the parties at fault. We do it; we justify it. Others do the same thing, and we see it as a deep violation of humanity.
This is nothing new. In the Greco-Roman world, if you or I were born as a Roman Citizen, we could and would get away with certain things that the other occupied people, could not get away with. We wouldn't be taxed as hard. We had rights. We couldnt be thrown into prison without a fair trial, or at least offering our arguments for innocence. Being Roman, in the Roman Empire, had a lot of perks, similiar to being a naturalized citizen of the United States now.
This is what Jesus is dealing with. He didn't want to pay taxes to an unjust empire, one that was forcing him to pay into the treasury that armed the soldiers who would kill and oppress and violate Jesus' Jewish brothers and sisters. And Jesus, with a full awareness of how the taxation worked, names it when he suggests that the empire will only tax its citizens a fair amount, but for the occupied people, for those people seen as less than, well they can and will be taxed as hard as the Romans could get away with, without causing a coup.
We love to protect our own, even at the cost of others. But Jesus makes it clear that even in the face of what is clear injustice, the people of God are to do all they can to create a culture of peace. When asked if he was going to pay the taxes, Jesus tells Peter, go fishing. Get the drachma coin. And pay Caesar. Why? Because to not do so would have brought a severe retribution and punishment, and it would have gotten many killed. Jesus chose, even knowing it was unfair, the path of the greater peace.
And it cost him. More than two drachma coins, choosing the path of peace cost Jesus his life, as it will cost any and all who choose to be makers of peace. To create a world of peace requires that we give up more than two drachma, we have to give up our entire being so that peace can and will emerge from the cold, hard, oppressive hand of the world, a world which loves violence, war, and oppression.
We must do it in a way that doesn't do violence against the oppressor, which is the hardest act of peacemaking. We have to see the violator as our sister or brother and name and identify their value and worth as human beings, only then are we true peacemakers. To do violence against those who do violence against us, or in the biblical language that so many people rush to quote: An eye for an eye, well in the words of Gandhi, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."
Arent we blind enough? Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Have you ever noticed that parents rarely see the thorn, twig, or log in the eyes of their own children? Sure they can, as i know personally, point to the faults of other children, quickly and loudly as i am prone to do, but when it comes to their own little progeny; it seems their own sons and daughters fell from the tree of perfection. The kids are the best behaved, most intelligent, could win any beauty contest, and can run faster than Usain Bolt. We, at least as i have experienced, think our children are perfect. Oh, how love is blind...
And it just isn't our children that we favor, is it? We point out how badly the Michigan Wolverines have violated NCAA rules, or in my case the Missouri Tigers, but when KU or the Ohio State face sanctions, we argue well why are they picking on our school? Everyone does it. Our politcal candidate can get away with eggregious acts, but his/her opponent, from the other party, no way. Love is not the only thing that opens the door to blind eyes; allegiances, cliques, or sports teams have a way of making us see roses, while the rest of the world sees the thorns.
But it has always been this way. Perhaps the greastest example of how allegiances, or perhaps national identity, can blind us to truth comes to issues involving our own country. We can justify certains acts, even if the UN and other international courts question our motives, we, as the people, stand behind the government's actions. Why? Because we are America, and we know what is best for the whole, right? Or put another way. Its ok if we torture "terrorists" because we are protecting America, but if the Viet Cong or the Taliban or any other group were to torture American Soldiers, we would cry injustice and demand severe punishment for the parties at fault. We do it; we justify it. Others do the same thing, and we see it as a deep violation of humanity.
This is nothing new. In the Greco-Roman world, if you or I were born as a Roman Citizen, we could and would get away with certain things that the other occupied people, could not get away with. We wouldn't be taxed as hard. We had rights. We couldnt be thrown into prison without a fair trial, or at least offering our arguments for innocence. Being Roman, in the Roman Empire, had a lot of perks, similiar to being a naturalized citizen of the United States now.
This is what Jesus is dealing with. He didn't want to pay taxes to an unjust empire, one that was forcing him to pay into the treasury that armed the soldiers who would kill and oppress and violate Jesus' Jewish brothers and sisters. And Jesus, with a full awareness of how the taxation worked, names it when he suggests that the empire will only tax its citizens a fair amount, but for the occupied people, for those people seen as less than, well they can and will be taxed as hard as the Romans could get away with, without causing a coup.
We love to protect our own, even at the cost of others. But Jesus makes it clear that even in the face of what is clear injustice, the people of God are to do all they can to create a culture of peace. When asked if he was going to pay the taxes, Jesus tells Peter, go fishing. Get the drachma coin. And pay Caesar. Why? Because to not do so would have brought a severe retribution and punishment, and it would have gotten many killed. Jesus chose, even knowing it was unfair, the path of the greater peace.
And it cost him. More than two drachma coins, choosing the path of peace cost Jesus his life, as it will cost any and all who choose to be makers of peace. To create a world of peace requires that we give up more than two drachma, we have to give up our entire being so that peace can and will emerge from the cold, hard, oppressive hand of the world, a world which loves violence, war, and oppression.
We must do it in a way that doesn't do violence against the oppressor, which is the hardest act of peacemaking. We have to see the violator as our sister or brother and name and identify their value and worth as human beings, only then are we true peacemakers. To do violence against those who do violence against us, or in the biblical language that so many people rush to quote: An eye for an eye, well in the words of Gandhi, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."
Arent we blind enough? Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Friday, July 8, 2011
Mountain Moving? Matthew 17: 14-23
Sisters and brothers,
My hometown has kicked out quite a few success stories. Besides the Refinery Basketball team, which McPherson is historically famous for, some other famous McPhersonites, at least in local lore include the original accountant for Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut began in Wichita, and the founding owners hired a little unknown, cheap, accountant from McPherson to watch their finances. That, i think is safe to say, was a good risk investment by Mr. Schroeder. We have had NBA players, plenty of Division I athletes, a published poet, numerous pastors, several doctors, too many teachers to count, and people who have chosen to be successful at home, and all of these stories, except for the Refinery Basketball Team, emerge from the time i was in high school until now.
And yet there is one story that, at least for me, trumps them all. My junior year, in high school, i took my year book, as all good students do, to get friends to sign it. I handed my yearbook to my good friend, at the time, who played basketball, worked with me at Kentucky Fried Chicken, and we had spent many hours just chatting. He signed it. I got it back and looked at his signature. The signing, loosely, goes you might want to keep this as an early autograph for when i end up on ESPN. Jonathon Coachman.
Yes that Jonathon Coachman. The one who was on W.W.E. and is currently a sportscenter broadcaster. We all scoffed at his arrogance so many years ago, but Jonathon believed, no he knew, that ESPN was his destination. And because he believed in himself so much, even when others doubted or outrighted mocked him, Jonathon reached his dream, and he remains the last one laughing, as we are all admiring his determination and drive from a distance.
I rehearse his story, and he is a McPherson College graduate as well, not because i am name dropping, though i am proud of him and honored to call him a fellow Mac Alum, but because his narrative proves the power of faith. If we believe, even with the faith of a mustard seed, that something miraculous, something mysterious, something beyond logic can happen, if we believe it; it will happen. We all share and know stories of individual persons doing great things, because they believed they could. The professional athlete who was too small, too slow became the all time rush leader: Emmitt Smith. The high school freshman who was cut from his freshman basketball team became the greatest basketball player, so far, to have ever played the game: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. And that kid who seems to struggle with basic subjects in school, you know the one who teachers are marking for failure because he is too slow, yeah well he is going to grow up and discovery a theory of relativity and stand as one of the greatest physicists: Albert Einstein.
People often doubt the crazy ideas and faith of those who dream dreams, but without the dreamers who believe so strongly, the world would cease to exist. So i ask you, sisters and brothers, are we dreaming dreams? Are we living in a mountain moving faith? Do others look at us and scoff at our idealism and immature beliefs that we can do amazing things in Christ? Are we being judged as unrealistic, out of touch with reality? If we arent hearing barbs against our idealism and radical faith, are we honoring the faith Jesus spoke of? If, on the other hand, people commend us for being rational, realistic, careful, are we dishonoring the faith of Jesus?
The answer lies in the Gospel of Matthew, somewhere, so read up and be ready to answer these questions on Sunday or any day when it is asked of you: how does faith in Jesus affect your life...Amen...
Shalom,
jerry
My hometown has kicked out quite a few success stories. Besides the Refinery Basketball team, which McPherson is historically famous for, some other famous McPhersonites, at least in local lore include the original accountant for Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut began in Wichita, and the founding owners hired a little unknown, cheap, accountant from McPherson to watch their finances. That, i think is safe to say, was a good risk investment by Mr. Schroeder. We have had NBA players, plenty of Division I athletes, a published poet, numerous pastors, several doctors, too many teachers to count, and people who have chosen to be successful at home, and all of these stories, except for the Refinery Basketball Team, emerge from the time i was in high school until now.
And yet there is one story that, at least for me, trumps them all. My junior year, in high school, i took my year book, as all good students do, to get friends to sign it. I handed my yearbook to my good friend, at the time, who played basketball, worked with me at Kentucky Fried Chicken, and we had spent many hours just chatting. He signed it. I got it back and looked at his signature. The signing, loosely, goes you might want to keep this as an early autograph for when i end up on ESPN. Jonathon Coachman.
Yes that Jonathon Coachman. The one who was on W.W.E. and is currently a sportscenter broadcaster. We all scoffed at his arrogance so many years ago, but Jonathon believed, no he knew, that ESPN was his destination. And because he believed in himself so much, even when others doubted or outrighted mocked him, Jonathon reached his dream, and he remains the last one laughing, as we are all admiring his determination and drive from a distance.
I rehearse his story, and he is a McPherson College graduate as well, not because i am name dropping, though i am proud of him and honored to call him a fellow Mac Alum, but because his narrative proves the power of faith. If we believe, even with the faith of a mustard seed, that something miraculous, something mysterious, something beyond logic can happen, if we believe it; it will happen. We all share and know stories of individual persons doing great things, because they believed they could. The professional athlete who was too small, too slow became the all time rush leader: Emmitt Smith. The high school freshman who was cut from his freshman basketball team became the greatest basketball player, so far, to have ever played the game: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. And that kid who seems to struggle with basic subjects in school, you know the one who teachers are marking for failure because he is too slow, yeah well he is going to grow up and discovery a theory of relativity and stand as one of the greatest physicists: Albert Einstein.
People often doubt the crazy ideas and faith of those who dream dreams, but without the dreamers who believe so strongly, the world would cease to exist. So i ask you, sisters and brothers, are we dreaming dreams? Are we living in a mountain moving faith? Do others look at us and scoff at our idealism and immature beliefs that we can do amazing things in Christ? Are we being judged as unrealistic, out of touch with reality? If we arent hearing barbs against our idealism and radical faith, are we honoring the faith Jesus spoke of? If, on the other hand, people commend us for being rational, realistic, careful, are we dishonoring the faith of Jesus?
The answer lies in the Gospel of Matthew, somewhere, so read up and be ready to answer these questions on Sunday or any day when it is asked of you: how does faith in Jesus affect your life...Amen...
Shalom,
jerry
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