Matthew 10:40-42

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” vs. 40

It’s been the custom in recent years for congregations to announce that all are welcome in their faith communities, and that no distinctions will be made. It’s a worthy mission statement and reflects a move toward inclusivity that is to be admired. But it’s also a reversal of the situation that early disciples found themselves in, one that Jesus comments on in today’s text. Jesus did not expect that his disciples would sit in their prayer circles waiting for people to come worship with them. He didn’t tell them to welcome anyone, rather, they were the ones who would be going out to others. They’d be the ones knocking on doors and asking if there were any way they could help. The picture he paints is eerily similar to the practice adopted by Mormon missionaries out on their missions. It’s an image of discipleship that is uncomfortable for many–we would much rather be on the other side of the door. Of course it’s important for us to welcome those who come our way, and the more inclusive we can be, the better. But it’s probably even more important for us to be going out with the gospel to our scattered neighborhoods, and Jesus is right, those who welcome us will be blessed, for in welcoming us our neighbors will be welcoming Jesus!

Thought for the Day: When have I been surprised by a stranger’s welcome?

Romans 6:19-23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” vs. 23

Paul’s language in this section of Romans can easily be read from a dualistic perspective. Two alternatives are offered: death or eternal life, and it’s implied that the choice is ours. If we continue in sin we will die, but if we stop sinning and submit to God we will have life. For many this is a familiar message, one that they’ve heard in countless sermons. The problem is that such a dualistic reading of scripture often leads to anxiety and fear. We are pressured from our youth to avoid sin, often defined in moralistic terms, and to accept Jesus as our Savior. As a result even the best begin to wonder if they’ve done enough to obtain eternal life, and the worst just give up–given their track record they know there’s no hope. The good news is that this probably isn’t what Paul had in mind as he wrote to the Romans. There is dualistic imagery, but it’s not an either/or. Sin does lead to death–we see those consequences regularly in our world. But the free gift is for all people, the best and the worst, and our salvation has already been taken care of in Christ Jesus. All people sin, and all are saved. It’s not a dualistic system, one that divides us into the good and the bad. And the last thing we have to worry about is whether we have eternal life! That’s been taken care of!

Thought for the Day: What is dualistic thinking?

Romans 6:12-18

“But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” vss. 17-18

Some wonderful and devout followers of Jesus are obsessed with perfection. They’re conscious of all their words, thoughts, and actions and know instantly when they’ve sinned–and their weakness drives them nuts–and it happens nearly every day. As a result they’re continually lamenting their sins and constantly down on themselves. Their anguish is palpable–and it’s all so sad. Our call is not to free ourselves from sin, it’s to accept our freedom from sin, and there’s a big difference. When we try to free ourselves from sin we’re attempting the impossible, and it’ll never happen. But when we accept our freedom from sin, we can celebrate the righteousness we have in Christ. Of course sin will visit us from time to time, probably even daily, but in Christ we are no longer its slaves. In fact, in Christ righteousness will abound, and as we continue to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus, we will lead spectacular lives, ones that are full of love and kindness even if they aren’t models of perfection! To obsess about our sin is to be a slave to that sin, and it destroys the joy of living. We’re forgiven sinners, and will be until the day we die. 

Thought for the Day: How do I feel when I sin?

Psalm 89:15-18

“Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance; they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness.” vss. 15-16

The psalmist knew the joy that came from being part of a community of faith that was centered around a common allegiance to the House of David. That community came together regularly for worship of the Lord and to celebrate the Lord’s anointed. There was a thrill that came from being a part of the crowd and shouting out to glorify the king. The psalmist believed that he was a part of the Chosen People and that knowledge brought him great happiness.  We see a bit of that kind of excitement in the regular campaign rallies that are held in our country. Participants can scarcely control themselves as they gather to extol the virtues of their chosen one. There is of course a danger that lurks close to the surface of such adoration, one that the people of Israel experienced regularly. Namely, the object of such adoration will almost surely prove to be inadequate. In the long run, no kings or presidents are worthy of the praise that is heaped upon them, and none of them can bring the long-lasting happiness that we crave. There is a happiness or contentment, however, that does persist and that is available to all–and it’s not just for in-siders. This is the peace that comes from knowing the Light, the Christ who dwells within every human creature. In that peace all people can find their joy!

Thought for the Day: What gives me happiness?

Psalm 89:1-4

“I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.” vs. 1

Sometimes when we read the psalms we wonder just who these Pollyanna writers must have been. We imagine that they lived in more tranquil times than ours, that they didn’t face the societal upheavals that get daily attention from our news sources. Otherwise, how could they have possibly written such optimistic and positive hymns of praise? Of course it’s not true that their lives were free of trouble and disaster. In reality their times were much more turbulent and difficult than our own, but they still found reason to sing aloud of God’s faithfulness and love! And so do we on our better days! Even in the face of pandemic and racial tensions many of us still realize that this old world is a pretty remarkable place and we are blessed to have the privilege of life in this time and place. We do have a God whose name is synonymous with steadfast love, and that God is not going to desert us. No matter what shenanigans we humans come up with to create tension and undermine relationships we don’t have to worry about the One who brought all things into existence. We may not like the politics of the time, and religious claims can leave us weary, but our God transcends all those trivialities, and will be faithful even into our grandchildren’s generation and beyond.

Thought for the Day: For what am I praising God today?

I can’t believe it! For the second time in less than two weeks I just published a blog instead of scheduling it. My apologies. I’m going to reschedule it and hopefully get it to publish on the right day!

Zechariah 9:9-10

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” vs. 9

For the next four months, whether we like it or not, we’re going to be subjected to intense campaigning as candidates flood the media with their distorted accusations and claims. We’ll see slick expensive commercials on television and see signs on every street corner. Billions of dollars are going to be spent to buy our votes. So who will we choose? For some platforms and policies are a priority and they will tend to support a particular party. Others are more likely to vote for candidates who reflect their personal values–for them character is a primary concern. The prophet Zechariah would have been amazed at our process–voting was a foreign concept and kings were never elected. But there’s little doubt about the kind of king he dreamed of. He wanted a ruler who was powerful and who exuded humility, one who would come riding on a donkey. That’s a powerful image, one that Jesus adopted when he entered Jerusalem on his last fateful journey, and one that has been cherished by believers ever since. Sadly, it’s not a virtue often seen among our modern politicians. Often our leaders have an elevated sense of their own importance and seldom hesitate to proclaim their own greatness. We’ll see a lot of that before next November, and some will take note–if character is important for them, humility may be the best indicator.

Thought for the Day: What are the marks of humility in a politician?

Jeremiah 28:7-9

“As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.” vs. 9

Upon hearing the words of Jeremiah, the prophet Hananiah upped the ante by repeating his prediction that peace was just around the corner for Judah, and Jeremiah went away in silence. He didn’t believe the prophecy of peace, but only time would reveal the truth. That’s what makes it so hard to figure out what we should believe about the future. The current COVID predicament is a case in point. Everyone knows that the virus is going to hang around for a time, but what shall we do in the meantime? Our experts are giving contrary directions, and some are doing it with great certainty. But which prophet shall we believe? The one who says it’s safe to resume normal activities with some precautions or the ones who say the worst is yet to come? Under what conditions shall our schools reopen? Right now the politicians hold the purse strings–their decisions will direct us. Shall we believe them? And what about churches? When will they be safe for in-person worship? We’re craving a Jeremiah with some definitive word from the Lord. And the truth is that we’re just not going to know–we have to wait until time reveals what was right. And that’s not easy to do! Especially when decisions have to be made.

Thought for the Day: What has helped with my reopening choices in recent weeks?

Jeremiah 28:5-6

“and the prophet Jeremiah said, ‘Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles.” vs. 6

Jeremiah wasn’t the only prophet in town during the years of his ministry. There were many rivals and he was familiar with them all. One of them, Hananiah, was a particular favorite of the Jerusalem elite because he brought words from the Lord that perfectly aligned with the desires of their hearts. He told the gathered priests that Jeremiah was wrong–the country faced a return to prosperity and not destruction–and he said it with passion. Jeremiah responded with sarcasm, a handy tool for a prophet, and said “Amen” to what Hananiah had said. “It would be nice if the country had a rosy future–who could be against that!” In our time we see this in the ongoing conversation about global warming. Right now the Hananiahs have the center stage and the power to control the narrative. It would be nice if those who paint beautiful pictures of the future were right and the nay-sayers were wrong. Unfortunately just making stuff up and making optimistic projections doesn’t do a thing to alter the real consequences of climate change. Sadly, it could very well be that once again the Jeremiahs will have the last word, no matter how much we might like them to be wrong.

Thought for the Day: Why was Jeremiah so pessimistic?

Matthew 10:35-39

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” vs. 34

There are many who wish that Matthew had not bothered to include these words of Jesus in his gospel. They’re disquieting and harsh, especially to those who love harmony in daily living. Frankly it would be nice if we could just take scissors to these verses and excise them from the text, something that Thomas Jefferson actually did in his personal version of the gospels. The problem is that it’s important for us to hear what Jesus had to say, even if we don’t like what he said. He’s obviously not talking about arming his disciples and having them carry weapons as a part of their mission. But he is saying that our obsession with harmony in relationships can keep us from our call to speak the truth in the course of our ministries. In our efforts to be nice and inoffensive we bite our tongues and ignore comments and behaviors that we know in our hearts are wrong. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with being on good terms with family and friends, but harmony can never be the highest value for followers of Jesus. That doesn’t mean seeing how many folks we can get to “unfriend” us on Facebook–being offensive is no virtue in itself! But our integrity as Christians demands truthfulness, and possibly alienating someone that we love.

Thought for the Day: Which is more important to me, being “nice” or honest?