Believe in...

Revelation 2:12-29 (NRSV)

Call to faithfulness

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:

"I know where you are living, where Satan's throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication. So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:

"I know your works -- your love, faith, service, and patient endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication. Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden; only hold fast to what you have until I come. To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end,
I will give authority over the nations;
to rule them with an iron rod,
as when clay pots are shattered --

even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 

As I said yesterday, Revelation is not my favorite text.  One of the reasons I think is explained by my looking something up this morning on it.  I was looking for something on Luther and Revelation and Google did that thing where it guesses what your question is going to be.  And what Google said was this:  Did Luther believe IN Revelation?

Did Luther believe IN Revelation?

Therein lies my problem with Revelation.  You don't often hear folks saying "Do you believe IN Acts?  Or IN Ephesians?  Or IN Philemon?"  Revelation is given an idol-like status that unfortunately rivals that of believing IN Jesus Christ.  

However…that all said.  There are some beautiful texts in the book of Revelation.  There are images of glory and right worship and there is both command and promise.  So, I wouldn't throw it out and do think it needs careful study.

So…my suggestion?  The texts pulled out of the entire context for daily reading by the ELCA aren't all that helpful on their own.  Read the entire book with others.  Talk about it.  See what it meant for the people if was written for.

But believe IN Jesus Christ.  Not the book.

Gracious God:  You command and promise.  You destroy and you resurrect.  Help us to see that pattern in our lives and be swept away by it into a glorious relationship of life with you.  Amen

Be Faithful Unto Death

Revelation 2:8-11 (NRSV) Be faithful until death "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life: "I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.  Like I said on my first day of writing these devotions, the ELCA is certainly giving us a mixed bag (for good or ill!).  Revelation is certainly one of the tricky ones for me, but as many times as I read through this reading from the book (and I just read through it quite a few), only one sentence jumps out at me: be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life. I think it is sentences like this that contribute to the ongoing fixation of many Christians with this life being simply a prelude to the heavenly bliss that it to come.  Certainly there is a place for hope for the hereafter.  But it is easy to take too much away from John's writing to the persecuted people that the book of Revelation is meant for.  It's easy to forget Jesus' consistent message that "The Kingdom of God" is now.  We often tend to merge the two - heaven and the Kingdom of God.  They are not the same.   I'm not sure what apocalyptic writing in the 21st century would look like.  While we are not in the US a persecuted group, there are Christians around the world who are.  And for them - and even for us when we are suffering - it is comforting to imagine the great by and by where all our sorrows will disappear. But until that time comes, we have one thing that will sustain us, no matter what is happening in our lives: the gift of faith.  Being faithful unto death isn't a thing to do to make sure we get to heaven.  Being faithful unto death is living into the Kingdom life now.  The "crown of life" image can sustain us both now and not yet.  Let's not forget the now part. Comforting God: You have given us the gift of faith to sustain us both now and in the age to come.  Help us to cling to that faith in times of hardship and trial not simply so that we can imagine life in heaven with you, but so that we may also live fully the richness of the life you have given us now.  Amen.

Jesus Loved Him

Matthew 19:16-22 (NRSV)

Treasure in heaven .

Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Not my favorite version of this story, I have to admit.  And interestingly, not the one that pops up in the lectionary.  When we get this story of the "rich young man" it comes from the Gospel of Mark - the first gospel written.  It's a story that's well known and is the one that gives us the famous image about camels going through eyes of needles (not given to us today).  It's a story that appears in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

But the one thing that is missing from Matthew and Luke's versions may be (I am guessing...without any inside knowledge whatsoever!) the one thing that causes Mark's version to be the one we get in the lectionary.

In Mark's version, after the young man says to Jesus that he has kept all the commandments, Jesus "looked at him and loved him."

Jesus looked at him and loved him.

It's easy to use this text as a threat or a club to tell people they aren't giving enough or doing enough to help the poor or giving enough through stewardship to the church.  A lot easier when using Luke and Matthew's versions.

But we need to remember that what Jesus is offering this young man isn't a nice cushy cloud in an eternal heavenly life...one that comes not until he's dead.  

Jesus is instead offering him a kingdom life that is rich and full both now AND not yet.  One that will give him a freedom from possession and slavery to his "stuff."  He's opening the possibility of a life of love and fulfillment from that moment on.

And he's doing so because he loves him.

I'm not sure why Matthew and Luke left that part out.  But I'm going to guess it's a big part that we always want to remember.

Generous and loving God:  Help us always remember that the love you bear for us is the love that we are meant to share with others.  That letting go of the baggage that gets in the way of that love not only frees others, but frees us as well!  Amen

Hope in Times of Fallow Ground

Hosea 10:9-15 (NRSV)

Reaping injustice

Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;
there they have continued.

Shall not war overtake them in Gibeah?
I will come against the wayward people to punish them;
and nations shall be gathered against them
when they are punished for their double iniquity.

Ephraim was a trained heifer
that loved to thresh,
and I spared her fair neck;
but I will make Ephraim break the ground;
Judah must plow;
Jacob must harrow for himself.
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

You have plowed wickedness,
you have reaped injustice,
you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your power
and in the multitude of your warriors,
therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people,
and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle
when mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
because of your great wickedness.
At dawn the king of Israel
shall be utterly cut off. 

The first thing that I saw this morning when I got onto the internet was the announcement of the government shut down.  And the next thing I read were these words from that voice of cheer, Hosea.

"You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies.  Because you have trusted in your power and in the multitude of your warriors, therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people and all your fortresses shall be destroyed."

It isn't a stretch to read that through the the lens of what's happening in our nation's capital.  Lies, injustice, power are all words that we often see associated with the leaders in Washington.  It isn't hard to see the ruins of peoples' lives - mothers dashed at least metaphorically in pieces with their children.  It's easy to see leaders in this country trusting their own power and then to feel rather depressed about it.

But our God lets us know that their is hope.  God wants to rain righteousness, not sorrow.  

We seek God not in the powers of this world.  Not through government and strength.  We seek God in the small places.  The unexpected places.  Hope comes through fallow ground.  It comes when the powers of this world fail us, as they have today.

It comes because the power of the cross doesn't fail us.  New life comes from fallow ground.  

Seek God today in those places that don't fail.  

Good and gracious God.  We are reminded over and over again not to trust in powers and principalities.  We are reminded also that through death you bring new life.  Bring new life to us today.  Give us hope and remind us ever to trust in you even when the ground before us seems fallow.  Amen

Devotionals

This post comes from realizing I need a little bit of discipline in my writing life.  I started this blog without really figuring out what it's purpose was for - beyond my own musings about life, faith, and church.  So since day one I've wrestled with "WHAT should I write about" and "WHEN should I write."  I realized that without answering the "when," I'm not sure I can fully answer the "what."

Two things coalesced today into giving me some idea.  First, as part of my own morning devotionals, I subscribe to the ELCA's daily Bible readings list-serve.  What I love about it is that each day takes me to a new and different part of scripture.  What I don't like is that unlike some of the other devotionals I read, there is no written response to the reading.  

That takes me to the second thing that gave me an idea.  One of the most helpful activities I ever had in Seminary was in my first class - Old Testament 1 with Dr. Bob Robinson.  (One of my favorite classes).  Over the course of the Semester, Dr. Robinson had us keep a journal of our Bible readings (one I sadly can't seem to find).  Each day I would write a small reflection on what the reading said to me.  It was a good exercise that I thought I'd keep up.

I didn't.

So, now seems a good time - and this seems a good place.  And the ELCA gives me good fodder.

So, not promising I'm going to do this (yet) every day.  But it's time to start to try.  Reading devotionals each day has been an important aspect of my faith life.  Let's see if writing them is as well!

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV) God is rich in mercy You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.  "For grace you have been saved through faith" is rather like mother's milk for Lutherans and this passage from Ephesians is one that I go back to time and again.   And in the dialogue between faith and works, it comes down pretty emphatically on the side of faith. But St. Paul isn't letting us off the "works" hook either.  We were, after all, made for good works. "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Faith isn't an a action or a belief so much as it is our way of being.  It is what we are designed for.  Living out our lives in the way God has designed for us - finding that place where passion meets purpose - is the ultimate freedom. I remember the first time Alex was laid in my arms.  I'm sure I'm not alone, as other new parents can attest.  That moment when that small, crying little being is put in your arms and you fully realize: taking care of this new creature is what I was designed for.  Loving this child is what I am meant to do.  Being his or her parent is who I am!  What better good work than raising a child? Or maybe it was the time you realized your gift.  The first time a musician's fingers touch the piano keys and a melody comes forth.  Or a public speaker rouses an audience to action.  Or a teacher sees a student graduate with honors.  When you were finally conscious of who it is you are meant to be.  How amazing was that feeling? Good works, according to good Lutheran theology, are a response to the work that God first does in us.  They are the response of faith. But they are also quite simply just who we are meant to be.  God, as we know from Genesis, saw everything God made and knew that it was good.  Living into that goodness is what we are meant for and what ultimately will be the place where our passion meets our purpose. Loving God - you have created us to love and be loved.  You have designed us to be your good creation.  Remind us today and always of the freedom and joy that is found from being what you have made us to be.  Amen.

Where you are...

The good news:  I'm going for two posts in a week.  The bad:  I'm still not really confident in this whole blogging thing (so not yet putting it 'out there' all the way).

So, after listening to Nadia Bolz-Weber's On Being interview, I downloaded her new book, Pastrix, onto my Kindle.  Just started it this morning.  This woman is a prophet for our time.  Her voice seems to speak to the marginalized - but wait…that's each of us in some way, isn't it?  She herself has marveled at being a voice now not simply for the outsiders who flocked to her church, a House for all Sinners and Saints, in Denver, but also for folks like me:  soccer moms, middle class folk.  

One of the things that strikes me over and over again is her huge emphasis on community vs. individualized faith.  This is a theme I've seen recurring in many of the areas I've read and studied.  It also means doing the work of the gospel where you are.  Being fully engaged in your community, wherever that may be.  Not sitting on the sidelines or up in the balcony as an observer.

It's the kind of message that we all need to hear.  And it prompts me to excitement in my vocation:  as I continue to get to know the folks at St. Paul's.  As I get the honor of being part of their faith in action,  and get to see God's love through their eyes.

St. Paul's has its 175th anniversary this year.  Tomorrow is a community picnic to celebrate the event.  All our welcome to come and celebrate with us.  God loves a good party.  This week our gospel reading has Jesus telling the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.  What do the shepherd and the woman do when the lost sheep and coin are found?  They throw a party!  Joy abounds!  

I can think of no better way to show community love in action.  Every day the lost are found!  Sometimes we are the lost ourselves and are found again and again and again!  Celebrate!  Throw a party!

Tomorrow the good folks at St. Paul's will do just that.  But I'm reminded that really we do it each and every Sunday when we say:  The Lord be with you…And also with you!!  What could be more joyful than that - wishing God's peace on everyone in the community and then reaching out to make welcome those who haven't yet come to the party?

Grace Interrupting

I begin this with the caveat that I really don't like using the word "should" in terms of faith.  So, I'm breaking one of my own rules here.  Caveat over.

There's a reason I suspect that we "should" go to church frequently and read the bible frequently, and/or read books by theologians smarter than we are frequently. The reason is that we need to hear the story again and again and again until we actually start to believe it.  Or more accurately we need to hear the story again and again so we can believe it again.

Now I've "believed" it for as long as I can remember - way back from the days when as a tot I sat in Grace Lutheran Church in Hartford, CT and listened to my grandfather play the organ or direct the choir.  At the time, really that was all I paid attention to - the music.  Somehow though, something about Jesus loving me crept into my preschool brain.  The believing seed was planted.

Along the way, sometimes I've believed with a small b.  Sometimes I've believed with invisible ink - the kind of believing you can't really see.  And every now and then God knocks me clean out with some Big B believing.  It's really been pretty fluid - I've always had the image of faith as a river - with me weaving in and out of this believing/faith thing.

Even as I went to Seminary and served churches in volunteer and professional ministry positions, the truth was that every day was not a Big B day.  In fact, I've probably been experiencing a little bit of little b believing for the past few months.  You just get used to the daily grind, you know?  Meeting the new folks.  Organizing the new office.  Having lots of meetings.  Doing paperwork. Planning stuff.  Suddenly putting your faith out there in a blog just seems to daunting and more Big B than you're feeling.  So days turn to months and suddenly you feel like your little b is in danger of being invisible ink b.

And that's almost always when God grabs you by the scruff of your neck, puts someone or something in front of you you can't ignore, and says "Pay attention!"  In other words, Grace works her magic.

Today that someone was Nadia Bolz-Weber.  Now I've heard her before - in videos, interviews blogs, etc.  But as I listened to her interview today on Krista Tippitt's On Being on NPR podcast, God did that scruff of the neck thing.  

As I listened I realized everything she said in the interview resonated with me in a visceral way.  On the surface, I don't have much in common with her.  Unlike Nadia, I've grown up as a Lutheran.  I don't have lots of tattoos - just one, and that pretty new.  I hadn't been addicted in the past to drugs or alcohol.  I grew up a nice suburban girl in nice suburban churches.

But the truth was, my nice suburban girl was always just a cover for the scared, imperfect, highly insecure control addicted freak who lived right below the surface.  I might not have been addicted to drugs or alcohol, but my addiction to look right, act right, and BE right were just as destructive.

Listening to Nadia speak about how Grace interrupts us in a disruptive way, how the Christian life is one of continual death and resurrection (rather than a simple once and done saved experience that leaves you a 'good' person), how God is out to give us a divine heart transplant and how none of that happens when it's exactly convenient to you, lifted a huge boulder off my little b heart.  I had always "known" from growing up in my Lutheran churches that we are "resurrection" people, but never let it sink in deep enough.  Grace resurrects us daily.

I've been reading a lot of Richard Rohr lately, who has helped me make sense of Thomas Merton's whole concept of the true self and the false self.  The language is different, but the concept is the same and dovetailed with what I heard from Nadia: we are beautiful creatures created by the living God, but we spend a whole big part of our life not believing it…not little b believing OR big B believing.  We settle instead for what we think we know is right, where we are comfortable, and what makes sense, keeping that true little self hidden from growing and stretching out into the world.

Richard Rohr, Nadia Bolz-Weber join others who have fertilized my little true self who is trying to bloom.  And every now and again, when I can feel that true self trying to make herself known, I realize it's because I'm having a Big B moment.  Grace has interrupted in a loud, visceral way.

Lately I've been playing around in my head just how important Jesus' command of Do Not Judge is.  Some part of me has sensed that along with loving God and neighbor, this is part of the big truth that we just need to get.  And with the help of Nadia and Richard I think I'm beginning to see just why.

If we are too busy judging others - what they do, who they are, who they love, what race they are, how much money they have, who they voted for, what version of God they do or don't worship - we are missing out on Grace knocking on our door wanting to fertilize our little true self.  We can't see God coming to grab US by the scruff of the neck if we are too busy pointing out the scruffs of other people's necks. We can't see what in us needs the divine heart transplant if we are too busy telling other people they need to change their hearts.  We can't see the people God has put in our lives - from Jesus to the lady in supermarket to the other driver to the waiter who brings you a meal.  We can't see that those people are there for Grace to work her magic.  We miss out on a whole wonderful part of our relationship with God if we're too busy trying to pick the specks out of other peoples' eyes.

We forget this.  We forget how grace works.  We forget that sometimes God graciously gives us Big B moments.  We forget and we go on judging and so we get dragged into little invisible ink b lives.

Until the next moment God tries to get our attention.  Like God got my attention today.  I am thankful for Nadia Bolz-Weber giving me a Big B reminder.  I'm also thankful for a community of faith where opportunities for reminders abound!  I've had more than one face at St. Paul's lift my little b toward the Big B!

I know the story. I've heard it since I was a preschooler sitting in my grandparents' church. 

But it's a story that bears repeating again and again.  Because sometimes it sinks in.