Have a Truly "New" Year

Lectionary Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18

I’m no stranger to New Year’s resolutions. Problem is – they usually end up being the same old thing. Many a year I have resolved to lose weight and tone up (you can put me down for that again this year), to balance my finances and give more of my gifts to God’s service. Last year I decided to do something unusual and resolved to be more open to people and self-revealing – to not be so private and mysterious but actually talk about my thoughts, feelings and experiences. Boy, am I glad the year is over! Goodbye to being friendly; Hello to fortress of solitude!

A Revolutionary Resolution

This year, however, I find scripture calling us to do some things that are really new. Not just new as in ‘It’s a used car but its new to me” kind of new – but the amazing “The old has gone the new has come! (2 Cor 5:17)” kind of new. The lectionary reading from the book of Hebrews makes sense to be chosen as a scripture for a new year – because the mindset and ideas God teaches us through it are absolutely revolutionary.

No one knows who wrote the letter the Hebrews – but it was clearly a document made to help converts from Judaism to Christianity understand who Jesus is and what he wants from us (and in the process managed to teach generations of Christians about such things as faith, love, and hope). In reading it – I found three resolutions I think all Christians should resolve to make their faith and this year truly “new”.

Be A Family

11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”

Hebrews tells us that we are brother and sister with Christ, and with each other. We are the same family. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we acted like it? Our species divides itself any number of ways – by race, by culture, by nationality, by experience, by age and most initially by family. We see that so much on religious holy days (like Christmas) when we gather with that unit we grow up with, and love. From our family we get our identity, our name, and our history. We give special allowances to our family, such as “yea, I know its an ugly sweater – but my Dad bought it for me” and we protect our family, “Nobody talks bad about my sister!”. At our core – our family is “us” and everyone else is “them”.

That’s not what God wants. Don’t get upset – I’m sure God loves the family unit and the strength that comes from a healthy family – but God also wants us to have more in common than blood. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ – we are all in God’s family. It’s clear over and over in the Bible that God doesn’t want Christians to live in the “us and them” world. God wants us to live in the “all of us” world. Imagine if we guarded and respected others as we try to do our parents. Imagine if we gave others the grace and “extra mile” we give to our brothers and sisters.

Jesus does something really odd on the cross – with all of Jerusalem watching. In the 19th Chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus is nearing physical death and he points to his mother and John and says “Woman, here is your son” and he says to John “Here is your mother” and the Bible tells us John took the mother of Jesus into his home. When you see that touching scripture you should ask one important question: Where the heck is James????

In the Catholic church, this scripture makes a lot of sense because they have dogma that says Mary never had sex, and had no other children. But Protestants, historians and bible scholars all agree that James, who ran the church in Jerusalem after the Ascension was Jesus’ brother and there were other siblings as well. So, riddle me this: Why would Jesus trust his brother James with the founding of the church in Jerusalem but not trust him with his own mother???? I believe it is a parting message of Christ – “you don’t have to be the same bloodline to be family – take care of each other.”

This year – try reaching out with the same forgiveness, openness, and willingness that you do your family of origin to all the people around you. (yes, it sounds impossible – I told you it was revolutionary - but give it a try). See at the end of the year how much more God has increased your ability to love when your family includes people who are different than you – but children of the same God.

Be close to Jesus

14 "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."

While we are enlarging our family – let’s make sure to remember Jesus is our brother too. We have a tendency in Christianity to carry on with great ritual about the Jesus who is the King – with Glory and Honor and Praise. Hark the herald angels sing – glory to the newborn king! And that is rightful – he is the King of Kings. However in all of our golden glorious high praise, we become more and more removed from our brother Jesus. (in fact, those of you who grew up in really “high church” probably think that last sentence is blasphemous – brother Jesus – indeed!). Don’t blame me – look at verse 11 again. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (and sisters).

That is the great wonder of the Christ. He is the high King of Heaven, but Hebrews makes it clear that he was also one of us. Our brother. Flesh like our flesh, blood like our blood, temptation like our midnight cravings. The reading is reminding us not just to keep Jesus high-up and far away – but close to us – as one who understands us like only a brother can. You know how you and your brothers and sisters have always worked together to understand, endure or communicate with your parents? Well – when you find God a little far removed, or you have those “why are you allowing this???” kind of questions with God – consider working with Jesus to understand and communicate with the Creator – after all – you and Jesus have the same true parent.

This year – be less concerned about religion (and how religious you are) and more concerned about the relationship you and your brother Jesus are experiencing. Pray together, invite Jesus to know your thoughts, your daily activities and your regrets, and keep reading, learning and loving him. Laugh and share time with him. If you make time for your earthly brother or sister - do it for Jesus too.

Be Free

14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Now there’s a resolution we can sink our teeth into. Its hard to think of treating other people like family – all those little brothers and big sisters we may have to adopt, and its exciting and scary to think of Jesus as our brother – but being free, that we can handle! Or can we?

Historically, the mistakes of Christianity have been when Christians reacted, instead of acted. Nowhere is that more evident in American Christianity than our over-indulgence in guilt and thoughts of sin. It’s not bad to feel sad when we do wrong, and it’s not bad to understand and admit our sin. The problem is, too often, we forget the rest of the good news in the process. God doesn’t want us to go running around all the time talking about what big sinners we all are! God wants us to proclaim the GOOD NEWS that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” and set us FREE.

Pastors and parishioners make this mistake easily – as a reaction to the world around us. The world seems so self-indulgent and sinful that we try to show our Christianity by talking about sin, and how it is a part of our being. We mistakenly believe that if we can just convince people that all people sin that they will accept and relate to Jesus. The declining numbers in churches (and the growing weariness about a Christian church full of judgment and lacking in relevance) are reflections that convincing people they sin is not enough. What we need to be showing them isn’t how we all sin – but how people are free from death, free from guilt and free to be the children of God. We’ve been filling people with the bad news, without showing them the good truth. Trust me – people know when they sin. What they don’t know is what to do about it. Let’s give some answers, instead of accusations. Drop the slavery mentality - Lift up the Grace of God.

This year – resolve to show your freedom in Christ and share the good news with the people who see your joy and life.

So there’s our scriptural challenge – if you keep your diet resolution, you will lose weight and be healthy. If you keep your financial resolutions, you’ll save money and have less stress. But if you will keep these resolutions – you will change your life, and God through you will change the world. Now, wouldn’t that be really “new”?

Happy New Year – family of mine