Crossing the Rubicon

Crossing the Rubicon

1 Peter 3:13-22

The Rubicon River separated the North called Gaul from Italy proper in the century before and after Christ. It formed a border line to what was considered actually being in “Rome”. Because of the concern that Rome could be defeated not by the armies of other countries (whom Rome had always defeated in battle) but by a general taking the Roman army against the city, a law was created that made it illegal (treason) to cross the Rubicon with an army. In 49 BCE Julius Caesar did just that. Taking his full army to Rome, he knew the act of crossing the river was an act of treason and war. In legend the moment he crossed the river he reportedly said, “ālea iacta est - "the die is cast”. Once you cross the Rubicon, there is no turning back.

In popular culture the phrase “Crossing the Rubicon” means the same as taking a risky and irrevocable action or starting a revolution that cannot be turned back from. In our passage today Peter is telling Christians to “cross the rubicon” – not with an army of might but with a force of peace. How do we create revolution? Courage, Conversation, and Conscience.

It Takes Courage to Create Change

The first thing Peter tells us is “do not be frightened”. Christianity is not a faith walk for people who lack conviction or courage. It requires making stands so radical in their nature that people are tempted to think us quite mad. Christianity is designed to be so embracing that the very people other shy away from – the homeless, the immigrants, the lepers, the prisoner and the outcasts – are the very ones we take in, create community with and consider our equals. Instead of the old way of thinking ourselves “religious” and them “cursed” – Christianity is the courage to say “These are my brothers and sisters I am them – they are me.”

Don’t be afraid of the world around you. Create change by your willingness to be equal – not just when it gives you rights, but when it keeps you humble. Learn from everyone God puts in your path and teach them through your courage to side-step the norm of achievement, busy-ness and social status. The Rubicon was a boundary. Be willing to break the boundaries of class and stature and cross into the true Christian life.

Conversation, not Condemnation

Peter then challenges us to do something modern Christians struggle with more than anything – be ready to talk about Christ. Not only be ready to talk about Jesus – but be ready to do it gently and respectfully!

15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
Now there’s a groundbreaking thought. Instead of condemning people for their belief, practices or non-practices and walking around with a list of mental does and don’ts – be ready to be gentle, respectful and talk with them. Peter knows what we should notice in the gospels – Never does Jesus point out someone and say “Well, they are just going to hell” and walk away. He chides the Pharisees (church folks!) and talks about the woe they face if they don’t learn to embrace the spirit of the Lord other than the letter of the law. But mostly he listens, he teaches and he loves.

Lets not just bring “respect” into our churches – lets create a revolution of change by taking respect out into the world – and when people notice our gentle nature and respect then they can say “What is it about you that’s different?” and you can be prepared to talk about Jesus Christ.

Have Conscience on your side.

Americans like to be “right” – no matter if we are right or wrong – or even if right or wrong really isn’t the point – we like to be “right”. Having a conscience means you don’t enforce your “rightness” but God’s goodness, God’s holiness and God’s love. Notice Peter expect Christians to live such good behavior that anytime someone says something bad about them – its slander – because Christians don’t act badly. That’s what it means to live with conscience.

Instead of worrying about creating theological arguments about our beliefs and how right we are to follow Jesus, lets channel that desire to be right into our lives – be right about how we act, be right about what we give, and be right before God in our hearts. Not only will that make an irrevocable difference our lives, but it will cross the Rubicon of faith and show they world a revolution of hope.

Crossing the Rubicon was how Julius Caesar started the revolution that took Rome from a corrupt Republic to the age of the Emperors – some like Caesar were tyrants, some the Augustus brought the peace of Rome (pax romana), roads and culture to the world. No matter what historians decide about that act – one thing is for cure – not being able to go back – took the whole world forward.

Make a change in your relationship of faith that makes an unchangeable mark on the world around you.

Don't Be Driven

Lectionay Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10

Five years ago a phenomenon in Christian publishing changed the way many people see faith and life. That phenomenon was “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Published in 2002, it became an international best seller for people looking for some meaning and purpose in their existing by teaching that God has a purpose for each person and the things that happen. However, the book has garnered as much criticism as acclaim. From its lack of the gospel message, to its “new age-like” feel for devotional but not missional understanding the book has some folks wondering what people are really seeking that drives them to this work.

Although I find some parts of the book quite helpful, I am one of the critics in general, not because of the main idea – but of the way that idea is presented. (I am also not too happy with the mass merchandising of faith – but I’ll write that in the “Purpose Driven Journal” with my “Purpose Driven Pen” after I drink from my “Purpose Driven coffee cup”). My concern is expressed in the very title of the book – the word “Driven”.

According to the dictionary, driven means, “being propelled or pushed forward. Having a compulsive or urgent nature”. Mature Christianity isn’t about God pushing us along or a compulsive need requiring us to participate. Christianity is about our willingness to go, because of our love for and relationship with our creator. People who are “driven” are often singularly visioned, inflexible, and uninvolved with the people or places around them. Think of a work addict – someone so consumed or driven by work that they take work on vacation, ignore their family and soon lose perspective of the rest of the world. We are not created to be driven – even by an idea like our divine purpose – we as God’s children are instructed to be called.

We are to be called, not driven.

The lectionary scripture in FirstPeter reveals a treatise on what we are called to be – living stones building the body of faith as temple of the Christ by our actions and behaviors. But in that treatise is a list of who we are called to be.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Identity - A Chosen People

One of the things that the converts from Judaism to Christianity were missing was their status as “chosen”. As the Hebrew people they had been raised for generations with the fact they were God’s own people – chosen and called to proclaim the name of God. When they converted to Christianity, there was a sense of confusion and loss in some early communities. They asked, “we were once God’s chosen people. Now who are we?” This book goes to remind them that they are still chosen of God and still were a people proclaiming the name of God.
It is a humbling and beautiful thing to realize we are not Christians because we chose God, or were driven to God. We are Christians because God chose us – humanity – to create, relate to and reveal the relationship to. We are a chosen people called to relationship.

Service - A Royal Priesthood

There are two services offered to God in the Old Testament: those done by prophets, and those done by priests. A prophet is someone who brings the message of God to the people. A priest is someone who brings the people to God. That’s our role – we are part of a royal priesthood – we are not called to speak for God. We are called to bring the people to God. Imagine how embracing and powerful the church would be if we remembered that we are a priesthood – called to serve and to connect.

Community – A Holy Nation

A nation is a collective of people, with different traits, backgrounds and gifts, who live within the some territory and hold a common bond. We as Christians are called to be God’s nation – not defined by our country – but by our citizenship is heaven. A nation is not made of people who are the same, but by people with the same foundational contract. To the age old question “well, can’t I just worship God at home alone?” the answer is Yes – but the call is for us to be together – to be a nation of Christ on earth.

So that’s who we are – living stones. We are not people meant to be driven by internal goals or external faith precepts. We are people meant to be called by the clear voice of God, forgiven by the grace of Christ and gathered into one people.

Our Brother James

Who was James in relation to Jesus?

Who is James in relation to us?

There’s a lot of scholarly argument about who James is. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox faiths claim James is not related to Jesus in any way, because their dogma tells them Mary never had sex and was a perpetual virgin. Many Protestants believe James was indeed the son of Joseph and Mary making him the younger half brother of Jesus. Other protestants use ancient traditions to make the case that after Jesus was born Joseph died young, and Mary married a man named Clopas who had children of his own – making James the older stepbrother of Jesus. And still more suggest James was actually a cousin because neither Hebrew nor Aramaic have a word for “cousin” and used the term “brother” interchangeably.

So: non-brother, younger half-brother, older step-brother or cousin – we don’t know. But what we do know is that he was Jesus’ spiritual brother – just as the Bible calls us all “joint heirs with Jesus” – we are all God’s children and related to Christ through that. And it’s that spiritual brother role that I find the book of James brings to me. James is our spiritual big brother.

Everyone needs an older sibling (even if they aren’t born with one). That role of someone who has a little more experience, a little more wisdom to give, and is someone that you can talk to about the really sticky things you might not otherwise bring up in conversations with your peers is a need we all have to fulfill. An older sibling who has been through what you have experienced or endured, and can support you through your joys and encourage you is a great gift of heaven. Throughout my life I have been blessed with mentors and “big sisters” who have taught, nurtured, laughed frequently and shared experiences with me. As I got a little older I have been blessed to be a “big sister” to some younger men and women who have allowed me that joy and help them by sharing my experiences, encouragements, thoughts and know-how. It’s the larger circle of life in God’s family on earth and we are always blessed when we get the rare chance to participate in it.

Spiritually, James is our big brother. His 5 chapter book deals with the real-life issues other writings skirt right by. His speech is plain. His message is unmistakable. While other biblical books challenge us with the truth of resurrection and the beauty of being saved by God’s grace – James comes along as says “Yes, grace is a gift of God, but don’t just sit on your can while receiving it. Do something! Don’t just take the gift – USE IT.” The book of James is a treatise on Christian maturity. It’s a book that says “it is time to grow up little sister/little brother – here’s how”. Let’s take a quick look at the 5 chapters of this amazing letter and see the message our bro has for us.

Chapter 1: Be Positive Under Pressure

Whether you are suffering from lack of wisdom and don’t know what to do (ask for it!), or are being tempted, James tell us in chapter 1 to persevere. The ability to see the hand of God in all things, and endure the whirlwind of life on earth is a great sign of spiritual maturity. How do we learn to be positive under the pressures of our jobs, ideas, expectations and regrets? By hearing and doing. Those are the bookends of the Christian faith. Hearing helps us understand God’s relationship with us and the world around us. Doing helps us live in and take it into our being. Christians don’t always have to be happy – but they should be hopeful (and reach out with hope to one another).

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Chapter 2: Be Merciful to Others

Maturity in Christianity means realizing there are more people in God’s world than you, and embracing them with equality and grace. Christianity is not selfish, or self-seeking. It does not seek to make someone think like you, act like you or be like you. It seeks to open a door to God for all people so that in relationship with their creator they can be who God made them, not who God made you. Playing favorites – rewarding the rich, desirable or similar, while punishing the poor, needy or different is not the act of a mature Christian, but of a slave to ego, our big brother reminds us.

Mercy, we are reminded, is not just in thinking – its found by doing. Faith without deeds is dead, James says. It isn’t saying we can “work our way to heaven” – but it is saying if we produce no fruit, we might be the prettiest most useless tree on the planet. Mercy isn’t a feeling, its an action.

James 2:12, 13 “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

Chapter 3: Master Your Mouth!

A recurrent theme is this small book is to watch what you say. Its not just the fact that words can tear down or build up that has James concerned. It’s the idea that people speak without thinking, or let their emotions take over the communication center and do a lot of damage. Things like belittling people, gossip, name calling, or discouraging words don’t transmit the love of Christ or desire of God. They simply hurt. There are times that people have to be told “No” or instructed that they are doing something incorrectly or unwisely. However James reminds us with his talk about wisdom there is a big difference between “instruction” and “destruction” – Use the wisdom that comes from Heaven – it’s positive, controlled, God-centered. That way your words can create, and not destroy.

James 3:2 “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

Chapter 4: Be a Peacemaker, not a Troublemaker

Stop fighting. Stop fighting with each other over stuff like baptism, communion, and what hymnal to purchase. Stop fighting with other Christians over worship styles, who can serve God, and what prayer style is best. Stop fighting with people in the world about the things of the world. Stop suing each other at the drop of a hat, and stop blaming other people for your problems. It’s that clear. We are to show the power of Christ through our peacemaking, not how much controversy we can bring to the table. Like any good big brother, James says in a timely way “forget about your petty drama and get over it! Grow up and follow God.”

James 4:1 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?”

Chapter 5: Be Patient not Panicked

Don’t run around grumbling, blaming and acting badly. Just as God is willing to wait an eternity for us to grow into the people God wants us to be, we should reflect that likeness in our patience. Remember when you endure a trial that God is a healer who gives good gifts. Sometimes those gifts require our work, our patience, our learning, our seeking, or our forgiveness. Sometimes we simply have to wait. Everyone goes through times at the top of the circle, and everybody goes through times at the bottom. Instead of deciding that God has withdrawn from you during those darker times or events, remember that God uses time, wisdom, prayer and faith as healing/helping/guiding elements. Don’t panic. Be patient. God is still God.

James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

James didn’t help us with the other older sibling stuff – like how to tie our shoes, or what to say to our parents when we come home with a bad report card, but he does help us with the questions that plague us in our walk to maturity in Christ. The book of James gives us 5 lessons from our big brother as a blueprint about who we should be and how we should act. No matter who he was to Jesus, he has certainly been a godsend to us.

What is up with That?

Lectionary Reading: Luke 24:13-35

"'Do you want to honor Christ?'
'Then do not glorify him here in the church with silken garments
while neglecting him outside where he is cold and naked'
Archbishop of Constantinople - John Chrysostom (347-407 CE).

The story of Jesus and the walk with the men to Emmaus is a frequent passage for preachers to pull and discuss during Eastertide. We tend to focus on how they didn’t know it was him until he broke the bread (emulating communion, or just a meal), and how they seemed to have lost hope, only to rediscover it once they encountered Christ is his new form. But at some point its time to be truthful and ask the honest question we have been dying to ask since Easter Sunday. The question is:

What is up with that?

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and she thinks he’s the gardener. She followed and loved him for years, yet she doesn’t recognize him until he says her name.

What’s up with that?

Jesus appears to the men on the road to Emmaus, but they do not recognize them because the Bible says, “they were kept from recognizing him” (v16).

What’s up with that?

Jesus appears the next morning while they are fishing. He calls to them, but they do not know it is him until a large haul of fish comes in the net.

What’s up with that?

Why is it, exactly, that the people who were closest to him, who loved him, and who followed him had no ability to recognize him when he returned to earth? He is capable of revealing himself – in time his voice, his habits (breaking bread), his scars all reveal his true self to his community. Why is he so mysterious to begin with?

To reveal the nature of the truth

There is a famous scene in the novel “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain where Tom and Huck, fresh from their adventures, sneak back into town just in time to attend their own funeral. Crouching out of visual range, Tom is shocked to see the tears of weeping and wailing that occur on his behalf. Even Aunt Polly has kind words to say about him. Tom is stunned to learn what the people really think.

I think the time after the resurrection allows Jesus to do that same thing. With his beloved community believing he is dead, Jesus can hear what they really think. Jesus always had a little trouble getting people to tell him the truth. “Who do they say that I am?” he asked the disciples once, just to learn what was going on behind his back.

Thinking he is the gardener, Mary of Magdala cries “They have taken my Lord away,” and Jesus learns he is still the Lord of Mary and she still walks his way and wears his yoke. Walking with the men from Emmaus, Jesus gets to hear what they truly think of who he was. He hears how they thought he was a prophet, and would be the one who redeemed Israel, but he was killed and they are disappointed. I doubt they are the only ones.

Imagine how disappointed Jesus must be to hear these travelers and realize that after three years of teaching, they are still getting it all wrong! He’s not a prophet, he’s a savior! He’s not a military leader who cares about government, he’s the son of God who takes away the sin of the world! I sometimes wonder how he feels listening to us when we neglect, reject, and misuse his mission and words. Does he think – 2000 years of teaching, and they are still getting it all wrong!

To experience the joy of revelation

Any teacher will tell you that wading through tons of paperwork, administrative issues, unsupportive parents, uncaring students, and lunch duty are not what they love about teaching. What they love about teaching is the moment – that amazing moment – when the light goes on, and the lesson makes sense, and the student learns. The moment a human learns (hence changes) is so beautiful its worth all the work to get to it. That's when the angels rejoice.

I always sense a certain joy in Jesus when he reveals himself. He sees Mary’s tears change from sorrow to relief to joy. He sees the disciples turn from fear to purpose. He bursts on the scene usually saying “Peace Be With You” – just loving the reaction he gets. There is a little mischief in the post-resurrection Jesus. He disappears on a moment’s notice, and appears without warning through locked doors. In short, he’s loving it. And, after the pain of separation and death, what’s not to love about new life?

Someone asked me once how I knew people would be better and more understanding in heaven. My answer was, “Because the experience of physical death is a life change that won’t leave you the same. If surviving a car accident or fighting cancer can change you – imagine what death does.” Jesus is alive, and his joy in not diminished by the work he has left to do.

Jesus reveals himself to us daily – in the wisdom of a morning devotional reading, in the kind word of a mentor, or a note of encouragement from a friend. Jesus reveals his truth to us when we are lost in the lies of the world, and Jesus reveals the light of God when a dark day threatens to overcome us. Jesus heals us, talks to us, sings with us, laughs with us, breaks bread in our groups, brings us lots of love and calls us by our name. Like his followers in those strange days after Calvary – we get a chance to have the joy of seeing Jesus again and again. Don’t take those for granted. Enjoy them, and praise God for them.

To help us see Jesus in the world

Mary sees a gardener. But he’s really Jesus. The men walking to Emmaus see a traveler whom they ask to stay for dinner so he won’t have to walk at night. But he’s really Jesus. The disciples see some know-it-all man on the shore shouting out fishing tips. But he’s really Jesus.

It could have gone differently. Mary could have thought the gardener was beneath her – a common laborer and ignored him or brushed him off without thought. The men walking to Emmaus could have though the traveler wasn’t informed enough to talk to or a “stranger” who probably didn’t speak their language, best avoided and passed him without out word. The disciples could have dismissed the fishing advice of the ravings of a fool. After all, if he were really a fisherman wouldn’t he have a boat?

But Jesus is training them, and us to see him in the people of the world. Remember this:
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25).

Jesus is out there in our homes, in our city, and in our world. Jesus wants us to seem him in the hungry lined up at food shelters, and the homeless sleeping in our gardens. Jesus wants us to see him in the “strangers” who speak a different language and need hope, help and compassion. Jesus wants us to see him in the elderly who need a listener, the disabled who need medicine, transportation, and companionship, the victims who need healing and protection, the survivors who need to speak and to help others, the lonely who need love, and the overwhelmed who need peace. Jesus is out there on our roads to Emmaus, work, play, Walmart and the drive we make to church.

So, that’s what’s up. Jesus is waiting to see how we really feel, to reveal himself to us again, and let us see him and serve him in this world.

"'Do you want to honor Christ?'
'Then do not glorify him here in the church with silken garments
while neglecting him outside where he is cold and naked’.”