Yesterday, I was honored to represent my brand of Christian witness, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, at the installation of one of the Church’s ministers at a new place of ministry. My peer and friend, Rev. Shannon, has been the Minister for Faith Formation at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Norman, OK for a few months now. Yesterday, was the formal recognition of this ministry through a bit of liturgy and prayer. I was privileged with the trust of the pulpit as well by the Sr. Minister, Rev. David, to say a few words. We call it preaching. Here is a snippet from my words about Romans 12:1-8.
Biblical scholars agree that we are reading the last genuine letter that Paul ever wrote or dictated. We receive it and read it through a 21st century lens that recognizes old stereotypes, and we hear the call to ethical living based in our beliefs about God and Jesus the Christ. The New Testament scholar Marcus Borg calls this portion of Romans the “so what” section as Paul moves from theology about God and Christ to what that theology means when put into practice in our living. It is counsel about relationships and community and discipleship and being Christian that begins with reasonable service and “don’t be conformed by this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.”
Paul know something about transformation and renewal. “The good that I would do, I do not. That which I do not want to do, I often do.” (Romans 7:19) Honest self reflection. That is honest self reflection. You know, reading through the authentic letters of Paul it is easy to determine that he had a big ego, but I imagine that Paul would be embarrassed and corrective if he knew that many followers of Jesus set him, Paul, as equal to or above the one he proclaimed as Christ. For to long, Christianity has placed more emphasis on Paul’s words, Paul’s understanding of faith, and Paul’s understanding of being a follower of Jesus for deciding: who is or is not worthy of leadership in the congregational life; for deciding who is or is not worthy of being ordained into Christian ministry; and for the ordering of the Church rather than listening to the teachings of Jesus. I get why. You know why. About some things and about some issues Jesus said nothing, specific.
You know Jesus, that pesky peasant teacher from Nazareth who taught in parable and offered radical hospitality to the outcast of his time. Jesus, who when asked about the greatest commandment answered, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus, who comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable in his time and today. I think that is what Paul is trying to emulate or replicate or be for those who where first “followers of the way” and then labeled “Christian” in his historical context and ours. The universal Church has thought of Paul’s words, and the writings of the ancient organizers or theologians of Christianity, as “gospel truth” rather than commentary. The scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan provide a different glimpse into the Apostle in their book, The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon. That would be a good book for a Sunday school class or a conversation over coffee once a week. It will give you another perspective about our letter writing friend Paul.
Some words as you center yourself for the work and service of this day or your reflection on the day.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.” Gandhi
“As I rock my sweet baby tonight, I hear jets overhead. Can’t help but think of a mama doing the same in Syria. Kyrie eleison.” Rev. Kelli Driscoll
A Story
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And the elders and chief priests argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kindom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. (Matthew 21:23-32, NRSV)
Reflection
“Every religion has a basic vocabulary: its “big words” and collections of words, spoken and heard in worship, embodied in rituals and practices. Thus, to be Jewish means “speaking Jewish”; to be Muslim means “speaking Muslim”; to be Buddhist means “speaking “Buddhist”; and so forth. By “speaking” I do not mean merely knowing either the ancient language of these religions or their modern descendants. I mean something more basic: the way practitioners use the concepts and ideas from their religion as a lens through which to see the world, the way they use them to connect their religion to their life in the world.”
(Marcus Borg, Speaking Christian, HarperOne 2011, pp. 5-6.)
Remembering
Persons whose religion has been hijacked by the media and by their brand of fundamentalists whom believe that God is only on their side.
Refugees fleeing lands where bullets, bombs, and grenade launchers are more available than daily bread and nourishing water.
Those that grieve: for lives lived well and for lives that were too short.
Nurses and doctors that heal, comfort, deliver bad news, and remember why they became nurses and doctors.
Muslims, Christians, and Jews who are still fighting crusades with more lethal weapons, but with the same spite.
Colleagues, peers, and friends serving and working with the children of God in their midst to make justice happen, love as God loves, and recognize the image of God within themselves and all persons they meet.
God who we know by many names, listen, hear, act. Amen.