“From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:1–7, NRSV)
I am an impatient person. On a recent visit to a retreat center (St. Benedict’s), it was time for me to check out. But no one was on duty at the front desk and I needed to return my key.
Then, I noticed a bell on the front desk. A sign next to the bell said, “If you need help, ring the bell.” So, I did. And then I waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, I tapped the bell again, respectfully, not aggressively. After all, I was in a place of retreat and worship. But when I tapped the bell the second time an old priest sitting nearby came to the desk and said, “Patience, brother, patience.” I was, I guess showing my impatience.
But I think impatience is universal in our society. We don’t know how to wait for anything. We have a hard time waiting for one another. We get impatient with our leaders, and we quarrel among ourselves. But we have an even harder time waiting on God.
When we pray we expect an immediate favorable answer from God. When we don’t get what we want or need we quickly grow impatient. Some may even begin to doubt that God is listening at all and we may begin to lose faith. It’s hard not to be impatient.
The good news is that God does want to bless us—at the right time and in the right way. God wants to bless us abundantly like he did Moses and his people with the manna from heaven and the water from a rock. But we have to be patient. We need to learn patience.
Fear not, in God’s time and in God’s way blessings will flow to us like the water that gushed from the rock in the desert.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The Testimony of Creation
Lent is a time for reflection and prayer. It is a time when we examine ourselves and come face to face with our humanity and all the ways we fall short of God’s glory and expectations. But Sundays during Lent remind us of God’s love and infinite grace. Sundays in Lent are a time revel in the glory of God and one way we experience God’s glory is in the created world around us. Just watching the world reawaken reminds us we, too, can reawaken to God’s plan for salvation. The Psalm for today is a testimony and celebration of God’s glory and righteousness in all the world. Listen for a Word from God in Psalm 19:
“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19, NRSV)
John Calvin said that there is no reason anyone can claim that they never heard of God’s glory and saving grace. Why? It is because all of creation is a testimony to the One living God. Every passing cloud, each drop of rain, from dandelion to rose, and from singing bird to the rustle of dry leaves, God’s glory is proclaimed in all creation. All any of us have to do is open our eyes, or feel the coolness of the morning air, or hear the gentle purr of a kitten to know that God is real and alive. The testimony is all around us and fills every day. Even if there were no words, nature itself proclaims God’s presence and goodness.
So, it should humble us while at the same time fill us with joy that the creator of all all worlds should desire a relationship with us–call us his children–and extend to us his grace. And in extending his grace to us, God offered up his own son. And the Lord sealed our relationship and fills us with the very Spirit of his holiness. Not that we, ourselves, are holy but, God is holy for us.
We may not be able to understand God’s plan for salvation, but we can accept the gift of salvation God offers us in Christ Jesus his son. In just calling on his name–even in a whisper–we become one with him. And then, like all the created world around us, we begin to make God’s presence, grace, and glory known in the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.
“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19, NRSV)
John Calvin said that there is no reason anyone can claim that they never heard of God’s glory and saving grace. Why? It is because all of creation is a testimony to the One living God. Every passing cloud, each drop of rain, from dandelion to rose, and from singing bird to the rustle of dry leaves, God’s glory is proclaimed in all creation. All any of us have to do is open our eyes, or feel the coolness of the morning air, or hear the gentle purr of a kitten to know that God is real and alive. The testimony is all around us and fills every day. Even if there were no words, nature itself proclaims God’s presence and goodness.
So, it should humble us while at the same time fill us with joy that the creator of all all worlds should desire a relationship with us–call us his children–and extend to us his grace. And in extending his grace to us, God offered up his own son. And the Lord sealed our relationship and fills us with the very Spirit of his holiness. Not that we, ourselves, are holy but, God is holy for us.
We may not be able to understand God’s plan for salvation, but we can accept the gift of salvation God offers us in Christ Jesus his son. In just calling on his name–even in a whisper–we become one with him. And then, like all the created world around us, we begin to make God’s presence, grace, and glory known in the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Unity and Diversity in the Church
The founders of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ believed in the unity of Christ’s Body on earth, the Church. But from its birth the church has been diverse in its gifts, its traditions, and in its theology.
Paul saw the Corinthian church struggling with its diversity. So, he wrote to them, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Cor. 1: 10b NRSV). But is it realistic for us to truly be one?
Historically, even Judaism was not as unified as we may think—especially at the time of Jesus and Paul. You know the two main parties—the Pharisees and the Saducees. Paul was a Pharisee. And there are some who argue that Jesus, himself, was a Pharisee. Among other common beliefs of the Pharisees was the belief in personal resurrection.
But there were other parties within Judaism. There were the Essenes who lived in the desert, alone. They believed in a final cosmic struggle between good and evil which God would eventually win, and then God’s reign would be set up on earth forever. Then there were the Zealots. This was a conservative group within Judaism which advocated the overthrow of the Romans. Judas Iscariot may have been a Zealot. Some scholars think that Judas may have become of follower of Jesus because he believed he would lead an uprising against the Romans and restore the Jewish nation. In fact, there are some who argue that Judas handed Jesus over to the Sanhedrin to force Jesus into open rebellion in which he would call down the wrath of God to destroy Roman rule. There were other sects or parties within Judaism, but these were the main divisions.
In Corinthian the church was divided along the lines of who baptized them. Moreover, they argued about who had the greatest most significant gifts from God’s Spirit.
Today, in the 21st century, we have more divisions in the Christian Church than Paul could even imagine. We have Roman Catholics, Lutherans (several synods in fact), Baptists (there are more divisions among Baptists than there are among the Lutherans), Presbyterians, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ, to name only a few. There are Protestant, evangelical, Pentecostal, and Reformed. We have liberal, conservative and fundamentalists. And this is only in Western Christianity not to mention all the divisions among the Orthodox Churches of the East. So, today, it looks more and more like the Body of Christ is divided.
Was unity in the church a misguided dream of the restoration movement—a good idea but a little naïve? In what sense can the church be unified today?
We can celebrate the diversity of gifts among believers. The variety of our traditions adds “salt” to the church. And the varied ways we perceive the reality of God are a tribute to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But as different as we are there are at least two things that unite the churches: baptism and communion.
We are all baptized according to different traditions into One Christ. And we each share the meal Jesus ordained among his followers even if we celebrate it in diversity of form. So, you see, the Body of Christ on earth is indeed one. We are one in Christ.
Paul saw the Corinthian church struggling with its diversity. So, he wrote to them, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Cor. 1: 10b NRSV). But is it realistic for us to truly be one?
Historically, even Judaism was not as unified as we may think—especially at the time of Jesus and Paul. You know the two main parties—the Pharisees and the Saducees. Paul was a Pharisee. And there are some who argue that Jesus, himself, was a Pharisee. Among other common beliefs of the Pharisees was the belief in personal resurrection.
But there were other parties within Judaism. There were the Essenes who lived in the desert, alone. They believed in a final cosmic struggle between good and evil which God would eventually win, and then God’s reign would be set up on earth forever. Then there were the Zealots. This was a conservative group within Judaism which advocated the overthrow of the Romans. Judas Iscariot may have been a Zealot. Some scholars think that Judas may have become of follower of Jesus because he believed he would lead an uprising against the Romans and restore the Jewish nation. In fact, there are some who argue that Judas handed Jesus over to the Sanhedrin to force Jesus into open rebellion in which he would call down the wrath of God to destroy Roman rule. There were other sects or parties within Judaism, but these were the main divisions.
In Corinthian the church was divided along the lines of who baptized them. Moreover, they argued about who had the greatest most significant gifts from God’s Spirit.
Today, in the 21st century, we have more divisions in the Christian Church than Paul could even imagine. We have Roman Catholics, Lutherans (several synods in fact), Baptists (there are more divisions among Baptists than there are among the Lutherans), Presbyterians, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ, to name only a few. There are Protestant, evangelical, Pentecostal, and Reformed. We have liberal, conservative and fundamentalists. And this is only in Western Christianity not to mention all the divisions among the Orthodox Churches of the East. So, today, it looks more and more like the Body of Christ is divided.
Was unity in the church a misguided dream of the restoration movement—a good idea but a little naïve? In what sense can the church be unified today?
We can celebrate the diversity of gifts among believers. The variety of our traditions adds “salt” to the church. And the varied ways we perceive the reality of God are a tribute to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But as different as we are there are at least two things that unite the churches: baptism and communion.
We are all baptized according to different traditions into One Christ. And we each share the meal Jesus ordained among his followers even if we celebrate it in diversity of form. So, you see, the Body of Christ on earth is indeed one. We are one in Christ.
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