Lectionary Reading: John 4:5-26
Hearsay – (def) –1: talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source 2: a statement or report current without known authority for its truth. (Miriam-Webster Online).
As Christian people we are taught to avoid “heresy” (ideas or opinions contrary to the position of the official “church”). However our faith and our world would be much better if we were taught to avoid “hearsay” as well. Spiritual hearsay are the things we are told or believe about the Bible with almost no real evidence, scholarship or reason. Sometimes we repeat things other pastors have told us (repeating what they heard from someone else most likely) or we just hear something that “sounds right”. Either way, Spiritual hearsay is all around us. Think of the things we hear from pillar, pulpit and post:
“Well, the Bible says ‘God helps those who help themselves’.”
No, it doesn’t. Benjamin Franklin said it (and it was an Athenian Proverb from Ancient Greece before Ben published it).
“Mary Magdalene was a prostitute”
No, she wasn’t. There is no biblical evidence to support that view – just popular (and papal) gossip.
“The Samaritan Woman whom Jesus met at the well was a shameful woman who drew water in the middle of the day when the other women weren’t there because she didn’t want to face society.”
Not necessarily. She could be there at the time for any number of reasons including she was drawing water to feed livestock back from droving (like women in the OT), or she just wanted a drink in the middle of the day or the Holy Spirit brought her to the well to prepare her for an encounter with the Messiah. For centuries, this poor woman has carried a mantle of “shame” that is nothing but unnecessary gossip preached from the pulpit.
Dr. Frances Gench called this kind of church sanctioned character assassination “interpretive litter” in a lecture I attended last fall. To paraphrase her, “I often go to Wal-mart in the middle of the afternoon to accommodate my schedule or sometimes can’t sleep and shop at 2:00 AM. I would hate for people to announce from the pulpit I am a woman of loose morals, simply because I shop at odd hours.”
Yet year and after year, sermon after sermon – the poor Samaritan Woman is relegated to the “bad girls” of the bible on nothing but circumstantial evidence at best. In fact, clergy get so excited about talking bad about her and the fact that even though she must be a terrible sinner – Jesus talked to her – they miss so much of what this story really could teach us. Let’s look at a few of the real lessons in this wondrous tale.
A life of racism
We know she has lived a life separated from Jews, and has felt the sting of prejudice. She’s shocked when Jesus – a Jewish male - talks to her – a woman, and a Samaritan. She has been used to being treated “less than” because of her race, and her gender. She is astounded and taken aback by the equality represented in this conversation.
In our xenophobic country, where the immigration debate sometimes hinges on the fact laborers from Mexico don’t readily assimilate into American culture (because we are egocentric enough to think they should turn their back on their beautiful language, their rich heritage, and their family-centered lives), we need this woman’s experience to ring in our hearts more than ever. We need to remember Jesus encountered people on his life journey every day who had been separated and stung by racism and cultural ignorance and what he did was treat them with respect, guidance, generosity and hope. He didn’t suggest she should stop being a Samaritan (as if she could. As if any of us can truly stop being the person God made us to be) nor did he withhold the good news from her because she wasn’t a “citizen” of the temple. He explained that the day was coming when all people would have a chance to access the Messiah equally and worship in spirit and truth.
A life of loss
Of course, a lot of the “shame” people have dumped on her shoulders is due to the fact she tells Jesus she has no husband, and he rightfully assesses she has had 5 husbands and the man she is living with now is not her husband. Does that mean she’s a prostitute or loose woman? Certainly not.
She could have been legally divorced (“put away”) because she was barren, and the law allowed for that to happen so a man could have children by a wife. She could have lost her husbands to death – life expectancy was very low and disease, hunger, Roman occupation or farm accidents could easily take her men away. We don’t even know how old she is. We don’t know about the man she has now – is he a lover, a neighbor who has taken her in as a servant (to fetch his water in the middle of the day), a lame or blind man who requires her help but can’t marry her in the temple? In short – we simply don’t know.
What we do know is that this woman has had a life of loss. For whatever reason her marriages were ruined, lost or taken. She was involved with vows and promises 5 times and each time something disappointed her. How heart breaking her life must have been. Jesus rightfully tells her story to prove to her he is a prophet. He also rightfully understands that what this woman needs is not our judgment and scorn, but our empathy and our hope for her future. In meeting Jesus her life will change. She has found the one whom, in spirit, she will never lose.
In a world of divorce, multiple divorce, blended families and all kinds of family units – let us not be so quick to condemn, but be swift with mercy, hope and love. We don’t need to know someone’s “story” to know that the story of Jesus says we are to love first, foremost and always.
A life of thirst
The woman has lived a life of racism, sexism, injustice, disappointment and change. She, like any who have been denied justice, security and constancy – has developed a thirst. A thirst for a God who will never forsake her or take her loved one, a thirst for equality and spiritual freedom, and a thirst for hope and peace.
I’ve had that thirst. Maybe you too? I have had a thirst for a family who would love me without harm, and a community which would accept me without expecting to me fulfill their expectations of my personhood. I have had a thirst for justice for the poor and poorly educated, so that opportunities are given to them to know real peace, real hope and real escape from hunger and disease. I have a thirst to see people in community, and worship filled with diversity. I have a thirst to know the Messiah has come and because he has come, our world will be different, better and whole.
Perhaps I find myself frequently defending the Samaritan Woman because we have the same thirsts, and because we have the same experience. We have both met the Messiah, and he has told us both the truth about our lives. He gave us living water that will never run dry, and he sent us both into our community to tell the others the light of life has come. Once we dispel the need to cast her as a villain – we see her as she could truly be: as our sister, our mother, our daughter, our friend – certainly our neighbor.
Perhaps if we all stop with the spiritual hearsay, and look at spiritual truth – that we are all God’s children and all able to encounter the sacred (no matter what time we go to the well) – we would know a stronger forgiveness in our own lives, and feel a more sincere welcome in our churches, hearts, and homes.
Let us pray for that day, now and ever more. Amen.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Is It A Sin?
Lectionary Reading: Romans 4:1-8;13-17
One of the questions I hear a lot starts with, “Is it a sin to….” The end of the question varies – “to commit suicide”, “to get angry”, “to divorce an abusive husband”, “to use birth control”… depending on the issue at hand. The sad thing is, I hear a lot more talk about sin than salvation and a lot more consternation about being slaves to sin than celebration about being free in love.
Paul seems to have been hearing the same stuff from the Roman church. In Chapter 4 he launches into a tirade about Abraham, reminding the people that Abraham didn’t inherit the blessings of God because he was sinless (in fact, in you know anything about Abraham you know he had quite a few recorded sins) but because he was loved by God, and God forgave his sins. Paul stresses the important thing is not the law of interpretation, but the love of God. It’s a funny soapbox for a man who spent most of his life as a Pharisee – a teacher of the law. Yet his speech points out some neat things for us too.
Not Every Bad Thing Is A Sin!
I think one of the reason sin is so prevalent in our world is that we talk so much about it and have trivialized it to the point that everything seems like a sin. When we do that the real destruction caused by actual sin goes unnoticed amidst all the judgment over petty issues and personal ideals. There is a difference between casual acts of humanity that may not be in our best interest and sin. In Romans 4 Paul points out a scripture from the old testament that says, “Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered.”
Transgressions and sins are different things. It reminds me of the old preacher’s joke. A woman walks up to her Pastor one day after church and says “You have to forgive me pastor, I am subject to a terrible sin. The sin of pride has gotten me.” The concerned pastor frowned and asked her, “what do you mean?”. “Well,” she began. “Every Sunday I look at all the women in church and realize I am the prettiest of them all. The whole time you are preaching I become aware of my beauty and how much better looking I am than the rest of your congregants.” The pastor laughed and said, “Oh Mrs. Jones – that’s not a sin. That’s a mistake!”
There is a difference in the two! Transgression means literally “To step across” (American Heritage Dictionary). It means to walk across a boundary. When we step outside of God’s will for us, we are transgressing. Its not hard to do – particularly when some parts of God’s will (where we should work, how we should vote or think about things like abortion, suicide, divorce or war) are not very clear. Still when we step over the boundaries, we are transgressing.
Sin is a conscious betrayal of God’s will by our action or inaction. Sin is when we know exactly what God wants, and deliberately do the other. Sin strikes as the very heart of God and God’s desire for who we are. I think its a mistake (but not a sin) to call every thing that someone does we find to be unacceptable a “sin”. What it does is surround us with sin – and overwhelm us with a sense of spiritual helplessness. By labeling everything sin, nothing gets examined – we just chalk it up to our “fallen nature”, ask forgiveness and move forward. But a transgression – that we could heal, learn from, or discover with – if only we did more than slap a skull and crossbones label on it and surrender to it. A sin reflects a betrayal of a deity. We may transgress against each other – but we do not sin against each other.
More clearly – there are differences between transgressions (forgiven) and sins (covered).
Transgression
Stepping over the boundaries
Sometimes we know where the boundaries are
Sometimes we don’t
We can transgress and not mean to do that
We can learn from transgressions
We can transgress against one another
We can be forgiven
We can forgive others
Sin
Deliberately betraying God
We know what God’s laws are
We know when we are stepping over them
We intentionally are choosing to disobey God – you can’t accidentally sin.
We can learn from the consequences of sin
We cannot sin against one another - a sin is a betrayal of deity
We can be forgiven by God
We cannot forgive the sins of another (only God can forgive)
By keeping a clear view of what we are doing – we are more spiritually prepared to learn from, seek forgiveness and allow God to change our behavior.
Its about Grace!
Further Paul goes on to remind the Romans once again that you cannot “work” out your salvation and you can’t work to get forgiveness. It is the Grace of God that frees you from your transgressions and covers your sins. When we spend so much time obsessed with what is a sin and what are the consequences – we miss the whole point of Christianity which is that Jesus Christ died and rose again to take this matter off our hands (and off our minds). Christ wants a glorifying body that reflects his love, power, change and peace to the world. But just going over again and again our sinful natures – we aren’t bringing anyone closer to God – we are simply hamsters on the wheel of guilt.
Its important people study the bible and know the absolute will of God. Its also important for people to study the bible so they know where the boundaries are and are less likely to transgress against God. But it is critical Paul reminds us – to dwell and celebrate the Grace of God that saves us, and embraced Abraham.
So in your life, instead of always asking the backwards question “Is it a sin….” Start by asking the frontwards question – “What does God want me to do or say” or “Is it the gospel?” –The Bible says every morning God’s mercy is new for us. It’s a new day. Don’t dwell on the failure. Live your life on the faith.
One of the questions I hear a lot starts with, “Is it a sin to….” The end of the question varies – “to commit suicide”, “to get angry”, “to divorce an abusive husband”, “to use birth control”… depending on the issue at hand. The sad thing is, I hear a lot more talk about sin than salvation and a lot more consternation about being slaves to sin than celebration about being free in love.
Paul seems to have been hearing the same stuff from the Roman church. In Chapter 4 he launches into a tirade about Abraham, reminding the people that Abraham didn’t inherit the blessings of God because he was sinless (in fact, in you know anything about Abraham you know he had quite a few recorded sins) but because he was loved by God, and God forgave his sins. Paul stresses the important thing is not the law of interpretation, but the love of God. It’s a funny soapbox for a man who spent most of his life as a Pharisee – a teacher of the law. Yet his speech points out some neat things for us too.
Not Every Bad Thing Is A Sin!
I think one of the reason sin is so prevalent in our world is that we talk so much about it and have trivialized it to the point that everything seems like a sin. When we do that the real destruction caused by actual sin goes unnoticed amidst all the judgment over petty issues and personal ideals. There is a difference between casual acts of humanity that may not be in our best interest and sin. In Romans 4 Paul points out a scripture from the old testament that says, “Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered.”
Transgressions and sins are different things. It reminds me of the old preacher’s joke. A woman walks up to her Pastor one day after church and says “You have to forgive me pastor, I am subject to a terrible sin. The sin of pride has gotten me.” The concerned pastor frowned and asked her, “what do you mean?”. “Well,” she began. “Every Sunday I look at all the women in church and realize I am the prettiest of them all. The whole time you are preaching I become aware of my beauty and how much better looking I am than the rest of your congregants.” The pastor laughed and said, “Oh Mrs. Jones – that’s not a sin. That’s a mistake!”
There is a difference in the two! Transgression means literally “To step across” (American Heritage Dictionary). It means to walk across a boundary. When we step outside of God’s will for us, we are transgressing. Its not hard to do – particularly when some parts of God’s will (where we should work, how we should vote or think about things like abortion, suicide, divorce or war) are not very clear. Still when we step over the boundaries, we are transgressing.
Sin is a conscious betrayal of God’s will by our action or inaction. Sin is when we know exactly what God wants, and deliberately do the other. Sin strikes as the very heart of God and God’s desire for who we are. I think its a mistake (but not a sin) to call every thing that someone does we find to be unacceptable a “sin”. What it does is surround us with sin – and overwhelm us with a sense of spiritual helplessness. By labeling everything sin, nothing gets examined – we just chalk it up to our “fallen nature”, ask forgiveness and move forward. But a transgression – that we could heal, learn from, or discover with – if only we did more than slap a skull and crossbones label on it and surrender to it. A sin reflects a betrayal of a deity. We may transgress against each other – but we do not sin against each other.
More clearly – there are differences between transgressions (forgiven) and sins (covered).
Transgression
Stepping over the boundaries
Sometimes we know where the boundaries are
Sometimes we don’t
We can transgress and not mean to do that
We can learn from transgressions
We can transgress against one another
We can be forgiven
We can forgive others
Sin
Deliberately betraying God
We know what God’s laws are
We know when we are stepping over them
We intentionally are choosing to disobey God – you can’t accidentally sin.
We can learn from the consequences of sin
We cannot sin against one another - a sin is a betrayal of deity
We can be forgiven by God
We cannot forgive the sins of another (only God can forgive)
By keeping a clear view of what we are doing – we are more spiritually prepared to learn from, seek forgiveness and allow God to change our behavior.
Its about Grace!
Further Paul goes on to remind the Romans once again that you cannot “work” out your salvation and you can’t work to get forgiveness. It is the Grace of God that frees you from your transgressions and covers your sins. When we spend so much time obsessed with what is a sin and what are the consequences – we miss the whole point of Christianity which is that Jesus Christ died and rose again to take this matter off our hands (and off our minds). Christ wants a glorifying body that reflects his love, power, change and peace to the world. But just going over again and again our sinful natures – we aren’t bringing anyone closer to God – we are simply hamsters on the wheel of guilt.
Its important people study the bible and know the absolute will of God. Its also important for people to study the bible so they know where the boundaries are and are less likely to transgress against God. But it is critical Paul reminds us – to dwell and celebrate the Grace of God that saves us, and embraced Abraham.
So in your life, instead of always asking the backwards question “Is it a sin….” Start by asking the frontwards question – “What does God want me to do or say” or “Is it the gospel?” –The Bible says every morning God’s mercy is new for us. It’s a new day. Don’t dwell on the failure. Live your life on the faith.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Weeds in the Wheat
Weeds in the Wheat
A meditation on the NIU shooting
I read with great sadness the news about the NIU shooting. The news rings heavy with echoes of Virginia Tech, The Amish School Shooting, Columbine, and school violence before and after.
How does this keep happening? What causes it? Why aren’t we learning? Why aren’t we changing? Why are our precious young people still dying?
Matthew 13:24-30
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
These tragedies happen because there are weeds in the wheat. In the field of God’s children where we all can be fed by the wheat of justice, forgiveness, mercy and love – the enemy has sown other seeds – anger, abuse, social ostracism, greed, ego, exploitation, prejudice, and other things.
In the wheat of our health care system which offers healing and hope to the mentally ill, is the weed that too many people fall through the cracks and go unseen, unknown, and unhealed.
In the wheat of personal freedom to express yourself and to protect your family, comes the weed of automatic weapons, easy to buy handguns and armor piercing bullets.
In the wheat of our God-intended design to be social beings who relate to one another in community, come the weeds of ego – the need for fame, revenge or status as well as the weeds of isolation, cruelty, and manipulation.
Like the servants we ask, "what can we do to get rid of these weeds"? We are advised some of these weeds will always be among us, that only God can remove them from our species at the end of time. While we can’t take the weeds from the field – we are not helpless to sustain the wheat. The weeds were sown when we were asleep.
Now we must wake up.
It’s a pain-staking task – I know. We must go out into the field, putting some of our other chores and distractions aside for a moment, and one by one untangle the wheat from the weeds. Pulling them apart and nurturing the soil with prayer, wisdom and justice. We must grow our roots together to fend off the isolating tactics of the weeds, and we must lift, carry and journey with those whose beloved grain has gone the threshing house to be embraced in God’s love.
We must never forget or ignore the Spirit wind of God which blows through our field of wheat, causing us to dance together in praise and wonder. We must never abandon a piece of our field to the takeover over the weeds.
Tonight, with the people of NIU, Virginia Tech, and so many other places near and far we grieve – because there are weeds in the wheat.
Tonight, with the people of NIU, Virginia Tech, and so many other places near and far we have a great hope – because there is wheat growing through the weeds.
A meditation on the NIU shooting
I read with great sadness the news about the NIU shooting. The news rings heavy with echoes of Virginia Tech, The Amish School Shooting, Columbine, and school violence before and after.
How does this keep happening? What causes it? Why aren’t we learning? Why aren’t we changing? Why are our precious young people still dying?
Matthew 13:24-30
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
These tragedies happen because there are weeds in the wheat. In the field of God’s children where we all can be fed by the wheat of justice, forgiveness, mercy and love – the enemy has sown other seeds – anger, abuse, social ostracism, greed, ego, exploitation, prejudice, and other things.
In the wheat of our health care system which offers healing and hope to the mentally ill, is the weed that too many people fall through the cracks and go unseen, unknown, and unhealed.
In the wheat of personal freedom to express yourself and to protect your family, comes the weed of automatic weapons, easy to buy handguns and armor piercing bullets.
In the wheat of our God-intended design to be social beings who relate to one another in community, come the weeds of ego – the need for fame, revenge or status as well as the weeds of isolation, cruelty, and manipulation.
Like the servants we ask, "what can we do to get rid of these weeds"? We are advised some of these weeds will always be among us, that only God can remove them from our species at the end of time. While we can’t take the weeds from the field – we are not helpless to sustain the wheat. The weeds were sown when we were asleep.
Now we must wake up.
It’s a pain-staking task – I know. We must go out into the field, putting some of our other chores and distractions aside for a moment, and one by one untangle the wheat from the weeds. Pulling them apart and nurturing the soil with prayer, wisdom and justice. We must grow our roots together to fend off the isolating tactics of the weeds, and we must lift, carry and journey with those whose beloved grain has gone the threshing house to be embraced in God’s love.
We must never forget or ignore the Spirit wind of God which blows through our field of wheat, causing us to dance together in praise and wonder. We must never abandon a piece of our field to the takeover over the weeds.
Tonight, with the people of NIU, Virginia Tech, and so many other places near and far we grieve – because there are weeds in the wheat.
Tonight, with the people of NIU, Virginia Tech, and so many other places near and far we have a great hope – because there is wheat growing through the weeds.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Should You Really Follow Your Heart?
Lectionary Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11
Today is the first Sunday of Lent – a season to remember Christ’s sacrifice, and love for us. It’s also the start of Valentine week (so get ready to see more flower or chocolate vendors than you’re used to seeing). One of the things we hear most frequently this time of year is about the triumph of love and the idea that you should “follow your heart”.
“Just follow your heart, and do what makes you happy”. Best Selling greeting card artist, Flavia
“There is no reason not to follow your heart." Steve Jobs, founder/CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar in a graduation address at Stanford University.
Even my buddy Napoleon Dynamite (“Vote for Pedro!”) says “Just follow your heart. That's what I do.”
However, for all the encouragement to set sail after our emotional ideals – there is one real life example from history that always cautions me that following your heart may be the path to ruin.
Mark Anthony was a general of Julius Caesar’s army, a Tribune of the Roman senate, and a member of a triumvirate that ran Rome after Caesar’s assassination. He was a man of seemingly endless potential. When Octavian (later to become Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome) began to fight with Anthony over power and money in the triumvirate, Anthony went to Egypt, and fell in love with Queen Cleopatra VII. He soon became involved in Egyptian dress, drugs (opium), and decadence. He renounced Roman Republic values and Octavian went to war with him. Octavian was young, and Anthony the much more seasoned and wise warrior. However, at the sea battle of Actium, Anthony and Cleopatra both had ships prepared for war. Suddenly, Cleopatra broke through Octavian’s line and sailed into open water without firing a shot taking her ships with her. Anthony stood at the most monumental decision of his life. Should he fight Octavian, follow Roman discipline and preserve the triumvirate and democracy, or should he follow his heart and chase his erratic Egyptian wife?
He followed his heart. He left the battle, and joined Cleopatra on her ship. 20,000 men and the battle were lost. When Anthony and Cleopatra arrived in Alexandria a few days later, Octavian and his men were already there. Anthony killed himself (as a Roman nobleman was supposed to do when defeated), and Cleopatra followed him by killing herself 3 days later when her attempt to seduce Octavian failed. Octavian dismantled the Republic, and become the first Emperor of Rome.
Mark Anthony’s heart journey cost Rome democracy, cost both Rome and Egypt their leaders, ended both the Hellenistic Age and the Ptolemaic Dynasty and left Egypt in Roman hands for 300 years. Wonder what would have happened if he had just done his duty?
Approximately 59 years after the Battle of Actium where Anthony followed his heart, Tiberius the son of Augustus (It was Augustus who appointed Herod the Governor of Judea and demanded all the world should be taxed which drew a young Galilean couple to Bethlehem for an adventure on a starry night) was Emperor of Rome, and a young Jewish Rabbi went out into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days.
Follow Your Discipline
Imagine 40 days without food. Imagine 40 days without people. The bible tells us that Satan showed up, an expected guest to this fasting ritual, and tempts Jesus. At first, the devil forgets the “follow your heart” idea – it being so sentimental and modern – and goes for the easy shot. Follow your stomach. Satan encourages Jesus to turn stone into bread. Jesus has a choice. Follow the discipline of his fast and devotion, or follow his heart in its human desire for food.
Jesus follows the discipline. In our lives – discipline is an important part of being the people God desires us to be. For all the impetuous power of love and passion, there is nothing more reliable and sustainable than discipline. The Lenten season, discover what being a disciplined Christian means to you. Sometimes it will mean making the decision to “stay the course” God has set you upon. Sometimes it will mean refusing to take the easy way out a solution, and working in the way God wants you to work. Sometimes it means forgiving those we would rather hold a grudge against. Sometimes it means saying “No” to power, and “Yes” to service. Always it means doing it God’s way.
Follow Your Faith
The devil then realizes that Jesus has a physical strength and discipline that can’t be tempted. So he tries another tactic – empirical evidence. Nothing is more powerful than being able to prove a point with a real life demonstration. If Jesus were to throw himself off a cliff and God saved him, it would prove this “humanity” and “vulnerability” of Christ was just a sham and the deity of Jesus would be clear. That’s what the devil would want people to believe - that we can’t be like Jesus or relate to his message, because he was “special” and “protected”. For Jesus - he would get unqualified evidence that what he thought about God was right - and God would protect him. Jesus again stands at the crossroad of decision. He can follow his faith and know God would protect him without testing it or he can follow his human need “just to be sure” and test God.
Jesus follows his faith. The bible reminds us in Hebrews that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things UNSEEN.” Jesus doesn’t need to see God save him from an ill-advised cliff jump. He knows God loves him. He knows God is there for him and his mission is not finished. He knows it so well, he won’t offend God by testing. In our human and vulnerable state – we often want to test God. “God, if you’re there – I’m going to go out on this limb and see if you catch me” we say as we make unwise and bad choices. We jump off life’s cliffs with bad decisions, ego trips, selfish choices and we wait to see if God is going to catch us. This Lenten season, learn to know God is there without having to push God up against a wall to believe it. Have faith in the God who is with you. Have faith in the guidance you are given. Don’t test God. Trust God.
Follow Your Love
So the devil gives it one more try – the dumbest one if you think about it. He takes Jesus to a hill and shows him the entire world and promises him that the devil can give it to him. The devil’s flaw in this reasoning is that he thinks Jesus wants the stuff – the kingdoms, the palaces, and the power. But Jesus isn’t a stuff kind of guy. Jesus didn’t come because God so loved the stuff of the world. Jesus came because God so loved the people of the world. So not only did Jesus not love this power trip, Jesus loved God. Jesus has a choice. He can follow his love for God and the children of God, or he can follow the shallow lonely path of greed.
Jesus follows his love. Jesus tells the devil his job is worship God and serve God. The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines worship this way:
Worship (verb) – to adore with great respect, honor and devotion. In other words – to love. The Lenten season, put away the need for things, for power or for position. Put away your need to be smarter than someone, better than someone or more beautiful than someone. Give up the desire to be first and become a servant. Love God. Love God’s people.
If Mark Anthony had the discipline to do his duty, the faith in Cleopatra not to chase her, and remembered his first love – the Roman Republic – that Jewish Rabbi who died for our sins in the ultimate act of love would have been born into a much different world.
When you are looking for what you need to follow – follow God.
Today is the first Sunday of Lent – a season to remember Christ’s sacrifice, and love for us. It’s also the start of Valentine week (so get ready to see more flower or chocolate vendors than you’re used to seeing). One of the things we hear most frequently this time of year is about the triumph of love and the idea that you should “follow your heart”.
“Just follow your heart, and do what makes you happy”. Best Selling greeting card artist, Flavia
“There is no reason not to follow your heart." Steve Jobs, founder/CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar in a graduation address at Stanford University.
Even my buddy Napoleon Dynamite (“Vote for Pedro!”) says “Just follow your heart. That's what I do.”
However, for all the encouragement to set sail after our emotional ideals – there is one real life example from history that always cautions me that following your heart may be the path to ruin.
Mark Anthony was a general of Julius Caesar’s army, a Tribune of the Roman senate, and a member of a triumvirate that ran Rome after Caesar’s assassination. He was a man of seemingly endless potential. When Octavian (later to become Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome) began to fight with Anthony over power and money in the triumvirate, Anthony went to Egypt, and fell in love with Queen Cleopatra VII. He soon became involved in Egyptian dress, drugs (opium), and decadence. He renounced Roman Republic values and Octavian went to war with him. Octavian was young, and Anthony the much more seasoned and wise warrior. However, at the sea battle of Actium, Anthony and Cleopatra both had ships prepared for war. Suddenly, Cleopatra broke through Octavian’s line and sailed into open water without firing a shot taking her ships with her. Anthony stood at the most monumental decision of his life. Should he fight Octavian, follow Roman discipline and preserve the triumvirate and democracy, or should he follow his heart and chase his erratic Egyptian wife?
He followed his heart. He left the battle, and joined Cleopatra on her ship. 20,000 men and the battle were lost. When Anthony and Cleopatra arrived in Alexandria a few days later, Octavian and his men were already there. Anthony killed himself (as a Roman nobleman was supposed to do when defeated), and Cleopatra followed him by killing herself 3 days later when her attempt to seduce Octavian failed. Octavian dismantled the Republic, and become the first Emperor of Rome.
Mark Anthony’s heart journey cost Rome democracy, cost both Rome and Egypt their leaders, ended both the Hellenistic Age and the Ptolemaic Dynasty and left Egypt in Roman hands for 300 years. Wonder what would have happened if he had just done his duty?
Approximately 59 years after the Battle of Actium where Anthony followed his heart, Tiberius the son of Augustus (It was Augustus who appointed Herod the Governor of Judea and demanded all the world should be taxed which drew a young Galilean couple to Bethlehem for an adventure on a starry night) was Emperor of Rome, and a young Jewish Rabbi went out into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days.
Follow Your Discipline
Imagine 40 days without food. Imagine 40 days without people. The bible tells us that Satan showed up, an expected guest to this fasting ritual, and tempts Jesus. At first, the devil forgets the “follow your heart” idea – it being so sentimental and modern – and goes for the easy shot. Follow your stomach. Satan encourages Jesus to turn stone into bread. Jesus has a choice. Follow the discipline of his fast and devotion, or follow his heart in its human desire for food.
Jesus follows the discipline. In our lives – discipline is an important part of being the people God desires us to be. For all the impetuous power of love and passion, there is nothing more reliable and sustainable than discipline. The Lenten season, discover what being a disciplined Christian means to you. Sometimes it will mean making the decision to “stay the course” God has set you upon. Sometimes it will mean refusing to take the easy way out a solution, and working in the way God wants you to work. Sometimes it means forgiving those we would rather hold a grudge against. Sometimes it means saying “No” to power, and “Yes” to service. Always it means doing it God’s way.
Follow Your Faith
The devil then realizes that Jesus has a physical strength and discipline that can’t be tempted. So he tries another tactic – empirical evidence. Nothing is more powerful than being able to prove a point with a real life demonstration. If Jesus were to throw himself off a cliff and God saved him, it would prove this “humanity” and “vulnerability” of Christ was just a sham and the deity of Jesus would be clear. That’s what the devil would want people to believe - that we can’t be like Jesus or relate to his message, because he was “special” and “protected”. For Jesus - he would get unqualified evidence that what he thought about God was right - and God would protect him. Jesus again stands at the crossroad of decision. He can follow his faith and know God would protect him without testing it or he can follow his human need “just to be sure” and test God.
Jesus follows his faith. The bible reminds us in Hebrews that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things UNSEEN.” Jesus doesn’t need to see God save him from an ill-advised cliff jump. He knows God loves him. He knows God is there for him and his mission is not finished. He knows it so well, he won’t offend God by testing. In our human and vulnerable state – we often want to test God. “God, if you’re there – I’m going to go out on this limb and see if you catch me” we say as we make unwise and bad choices. We jump off life’s cliffs with bad decisions, ego trips, selfish choices and we wait to see if God is going to catch us. This Lenten season, learn to know God is there without having to push God up against a wall to believe it. Have faith in the God who is with you. Have faith in the guidance you are given. Don’t test God. Trust God.
Follow Your Love
So the devil gives it one more try – the dumbest one if you think about it. He takes Jesus to a hill and shows him the entire world and promises him that the devil can give it to him. The devil’s flaw in this reasoning is that he thinks Jesus wants the stuff – the kingdoms, the palaces, and the power. But Jesus isn’t a stuff kind of guy. Jesus didn’t come because God so loved the stuff of the world. Jesus came because God so loved the people of the world. So not only did Jesus not love this power trip, Jesus loved God. Jesus has a choice. He can follow his love for God and the children of God, or he can follow the shallow lonely path of greed.
Jesus follows his love. Jesus tells the devil his job is worship God and serve God. The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines worship this way:
Worship (verb) – to adore with great respect, honor and devotion. In other words – to love. The Lenten season, put away the need for things, for power or for position. Put away your need to be smarter than someone, better than someone or more beautiful than someone. Give up the desire to be first and become a servant. Love God. Love God’s people.
If Mark Anthony had the discipline to do his duty, the faith in Cleopatra not to chase her, and remembered his first love – the Roman Republic – that Jewish Rabbi who died for our sins in the ultimate act of love would have been born into a much different world.
When you are looking for what you need to follow – follow God.
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