1 Corinthians 12:9-13

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” vs. 12

For centuries the Church has acknowledged that it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. There is little argument among Christians that these Marks, or Attributes, have a solid foundation in the teachings of the New Testament, and most theologians would agree that they are a fitting definition of the Church. Despite that basic agreement however, we’ve had a dickens of a time figuring out just who is included in that One Church. Too often followers of Jesus have allowed their differences to define them and have paid little attention to Church unity. There are some denominations today that believe fervently that the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church is made up only of their congregations, and everyone else is on the outside. The good news is that those beliefs are becoming more rare in our world–most Christians have come to understand that the umbrella of inclusion is wide, and that they have brothers and sisters in Christ from a multitude of backgrounds. In fact, some are beginning to see that all people on earth, no matter what their beliefs and convictions, are a part of the one body of Christ. No one is excluded, and the same Spirit works in and through all God’s children. It’s a radical thought, and not all can accept the notion of a universal Christ, but what a blessing it is for those who can. 

Thought for the Day: What happens if the Church becomes too inclusive?

1 Corinthians 12:3b-8

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” vs. 7

It had become obvious to the Corinthians that there were differences among them, and as is the custom among sinners, they believed that those differences marked a kind of hierarchy. Some of them had greater gifts, ones that were of more value, and they would of course hold dominant positions in the community. In others gifts were negligible or maybe lacking altogether, and those persons would naturally be of less importance. In the Church, according to that thinking, some few would be bishops while others, more in number, would be parking lot attendants, or their first century equivalents. Paul detested that kind of thinking and he takes pains to set the Corinthians straight. He insisted that all persons were gifted; each had been touched by the Spirit of God, and every one of them was important in the life of the community. And more significantly, none of them was to be considered as any more or less important than anyone else. How ironic, given the plainness of Paul’s direction, that the Church turned into one of the most rigidly hierarchical systems in the world. Men, always it was the men, battled fiercely for the most powerful positions and they hung on to those spots until they died. But not always! At some times and in some places, Paul’s words have been remembered. Believers are encouraged to identify their gifts and to put them to use in the life of the community for the common good, and surprise, surprise, blessings always abound!

Thought for the Day: What are my gifts and how do I use them?

Psalm 104:24-34

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures…When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vss. 24, 30

Through billions of years the hand of our imaginative and inventive creator has been molding and sustaining the amazing variety of stars, galaxies, black holes, and dark matter that provide the backdrop for our existence on the planet we call home. For companions we have a stunning array of creatures both great and small that fill our lives with delight and joy. Like us, all of them have been given the breath of life by the spirit of God, and together we are the benefactors of God’s goodness. Together we have a stake in the future of this planet. Humans through the millennia have come to occupy a dominating position among God’s creatures and some even believe themselves to be the masters of the universe. Instead of seeing ourselves as caretakers, we’ve tended to exploit the riches of the earth and pillage its natural resources. Many species, given life by the spirit of God, face the prospect of extinction because of our relentless pursuit of power and wealth. We forget that all creatures have value in the eyes of the Creator, and that there is a place for us all in the economy of the creation. Unless we remember that our calling is to be caretakers, many inhabitants of our world, including humans, face an uncertain future.

Thought for the Day: Why are humans reluctant to protect the environment?

Acts 2:12-21

“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” vs. 17

As Luke recounts the events of that Pentecost morning from the perspective of several decades he considers that this outpouring of the Spirit marked the beginning of a new age, exactly what had been foretold by the prophet Joel. All distinctions would be wiped away and everyone would be enabled to give expression to the Holy Spirit of God. Men and women, young and old, even slaves, would be used to bear witness to the wondrous presence of God in the universe. No one would be excluded! It’s a marvelous vision, and one that has been fiendishly difficult to gain a foothold in reality. The old hierarchies have not ceded power willingly and have clung to distinctions with remarkable tenacity. Religious leaders could not imagine that the Spirit could possibly work apart from the old ordinances and commandments. But in some generations and in some places Joel’s vision has established itself and the blessings have been enormous. How good it is when all people are given opportunities to share their peculiar gifts and talents in the work of ministry! As new voices are heard, love abounds, and grace is multiplied, and the work of Christ takes root and grows. What was unleashed on Pentecost simply cannot be contained!

Thought for the Day: What kind of dreams do old men have?

Acts 2:1-11

“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” vs. 2

The disciples had sensed that there was more coming after Jesus’ death and resurrection, but they didn’t know what it might be. Some were likely still looking for an overthrow of the oppressive occupation, but they had no clear direction–so they waited in Jerusalem and continued to worship as in the past. And then there was an outpouring of the Spirit similar to that spoken of the prophets–it came upon them all without discrimination. Luke describes it in terms reminiscent of the opening verses of Genesis, a wind from God whose sound filled the room, and that’s what this was–it was a new creation, a baptism of the Spirit of God with purifying fire. And with the Spirit came a gift whose purpose was unmistakable–they began to speak in other languages, describing God’s deeds of power for all who were gathered there. This was no ecstatic language helpful only for themselves, this was the ability to bring the message of the Gospel to people of every folk and nation. Unfortunately the gift didn’t last–it seems to have been effective only for one occasion, but it was enough to give them a missional purpose. The good news of Jesus was for all and it was the disciples’ job to get it there, and that’s been the mission of the Church ever since, and it’s still our mission today.

Thought for the Day:  When will evangelism no longer be necessary?

John 17:7-11

“And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” vs. 11

According to the gospels there was a kind of unity among Jesus and his disciples that was of great value. He was able to send them out in his name and they did well in bringing healing to the hurting. But it wasn’t all sweetness and light! There were divisions among them, and occasional arguments–and of course there was a denial and a betrayal. Unity is tough! In John’s gospel Jesus prays that his followers would be one, in the same way that he was one with God. That has in fact, been one of the dreams of the Church all along. But if we’re thinking about unity without disputes and divisions we’re going to always be disappointed. It didn’t happen among the 12 and it certainly hasn’t happened since. Life in the Church has been contentious from the beginning. But the unity that Jesus is talking about is different. The unity that we have with him and one another is deep and inclusive. It’s rooted in love, and it happens despite our splintering tendencies. The Christ who was in the beginning and in whose image each of us was made, draws us inexorably together into a unity that preserves and protects us for all eternity. And not even we can mess it up!

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to feel the unity of the Church?

John 17:1-6

“I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.” vs. 4

According to John, Jesus glorified God by finishing the work that he had been given to do. It’s no accident then that in John’s gospel, Jesus’ last words from the cross are, “It is finished!” He had completed his mission and was ready for whatever came next. This isn’t a bad model for those who desire to walk in his Way. We aren’t called by God to figure out ways to glorify ourselves during our time on earth, something that’s an obvious emphasis of our current cultural environment. Too many people are already following that path. What they desire more than anything else is fame and attention, glory for themselves and fortune for their families. No, our calling is related to the particular blessings we’re able to share in our everyday encounters with ordinary people. This happens at work, in neighborhoods, and in our homes every single day. In those moments the Christ in us reaches out to connect with the Christ in others and the fruits of love are magnified. We may never achieve fame or wealth but that’s not what we’ve been born for. Our vocation is all about love connections, big and small, with other children of God, wherever we meet them. And, as with Jesus, that work will never be finished until the day we die! 

Thought for the Day: Why are some folks obsessed with personal glory?

1 Peter 5:6-11

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.” vs. 6

The longer we live in this world the more likely it is that we will come to understand the virtues of humility. We just don’t have all the answers and we don’t have solutions to every problem. Some things are beyond the capacity of human minds to comprehend or figure out. Naturally, some of our more arrogant politicians seem incapable of such thinking, but that shouldn’t stop the rest of us from humbly bowing our hearts and minds before the Lord of the Universe, and acknowledging that there’s more to life than our puny concerns and desires. In the scale of time each of us gets only a brief moment in which to shine and strut our stuff, and then our day is over, and a billion more take our place. That doesn’t mean our experience of life should be disdained or diminished! Our short moments of existence are precious and holy, an incredible gift from the Creator, and those minutes and years are to be cherished above all else. And as we learn to humbly give God thanks, Peter reminds us that God has even more in store for us. One day the humble will be exalted and in the fullness of time we will be drawn into the  miraculous unity of the Christ, the one who is the beginning and the end.

Thought for the Day: What breeds arrogance in us?

1 Peter 4:12-14

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” vs 12

Believers are regularly promised in the New Testament writings that they should not be surprised when suffering came their way. Times were different and persecutions came sporadically but inevitably to people of faith. They are told by their leaders that they should regard these ordeals as a test of their faith and an opportunity to identify with the sufferings that Jesus endured. We are fortunate not to live in such times, but that doesn’t mean we are immune to testing. Many of us haven’t been able to gather for in-person worship for months, and some are growing weary of the forced solitude. The loneliness that is endemic in our fast-paced world is becoming more intense and it’s been hard for congregational leaders to know how to respond. Staff members have been let go, while youth and music ministries have pretty much ground to a halt. Many congregations have applied for government assistance–something they’d never even thought of in years past. The challenges are enormous, and because of the nature of COVID-19, it seems that life in our churches will not return to normal for many months. The good news is that with the struggle will come endurance. Already the Spirit is at work among us, new models for ministry are emerging, and the Church of Christ will be stronger than ever! We can count on it!

Thought for the Day: How is the present crisis making the church stronger?

Psalm 68:32-35

“Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah” vs. 32

The word “selah” occurs 71 times in the psalms, always at the end of a verse, and no one knows what it means! Oh, some scholars have made guesses. Many say it is some sort of a liturgical direction that was used in temple worship, perhaps signaling a pause, but no one really knows for sure. Undoubtedly, at one time, when the psalms were being used regularly in the temple liturgy, everyone knew, but through the years, divorced from its context, the word lost its meaning. Of course, selah isn’t the only word in the Hebrew bible whose meaning has been lost. It’s actually quite common for translators to have to guess at the meanings of words, especially when they are rarely used. That’s how it is with words, new ones are born while others become archaic–and that’s even the way it works with the way we express our faith. Sometimes beliefs we have grown up with become obsolete, and we’re hard-pressed to make the transition. What we were so certain of in our youth is called into question, and we may even begin to wonder if there are any eternal values. It’s one thing for technology to change but shouldn’t biblical truths stay the same forever? When those disconcerting questions fill our minds it’s good to remember that God doesn’t change. Definitions and theologies are continually evolving, they’re all human made, but the Divine Presence is immutable. God will be God forever!

Thought for the Day: What ideas have I discarded as I grew older?