Sin, and also with you

Romans 1:28-2:1 (NRSV)

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters,a insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die--yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.

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Man makes a gun.
Man goes to war.
Man can kill and man can drink and man can take a whore.
Kill all the blacks.
Kill all the reds.
And if there's war between the sexes then there'll be no people left.

And so it goes,
Go round again.
But now and then we wonder who the real men are.

"Real Men" written and recorded by Joe Jackson from "Night and Day"

This is one of those bible passages that people often read and think to themselves, or cry from the pulpit, thank God I am not like these people. And that can be said if the reading stops at the end of chapter one. The problem with that little message of condemnation and superiority is that it doesn't stop there.

No, Paul trips up his readers. Paul goes on to remind everyone who hears this letter to the church at Rome that those who pass ultimate judgments on others are sinful simply for this act of condemnation.

Don't misunderstand, this passage is not saying that people who abuse the weak and innocent should be let off because we are not to judge. On the contrary, we are to pass judgment to protect the weak and innocent. This is as good as we can do with earthly, humanly justice; but that's not ultimate judgment. We are not allowed to pass the ultimate judgment of damnation and separation from God.

That little nuance gets lost in the translation. We cannot judge a person's eternal walk with the Lord. That is known to God alone. That is between the Lord and the individual. We cannot pass that judgment, and when we do, we when we pass this judgment, we condemn ourselves, because we, the judges, are doing the very same things.

Joe Jackson reminds us that in our anger, in our rage, in our striving for "security," we will ultimately fail. And there is a war that will ultimately kill all of us. This song is an ode to young boys who grow up knowing that what they know of love doesn't jibe with "most of the rest of the world." It's different, and when you're young, different isn't necessarily good.

Society has norms, society has its rights and wrongs. Many of them are to protect the weak and innocent. Others are used to serve sin, particularly greed. "Who ever has the most toys wins." Sound familiar?

Other norms are discarded. The rules about impregnating a sister-in-law so your brother's name will be continued is an example. Important at the time, not so much now.

The Reformation leaders told us we are reformed and always being reformed. It isn't God who changes, but it is our knowledge and relationship with God that is being reformed. This changes what we once knew all too well; or Joe Jackson reminds us "And so it goes, Go round again. But now and then we wonder who the real men are."

As long as we remember who the Lord is, we'll be fine because the Lord remembers who we are.

Rumors and Deceit

April Fool's Day


Genesis 29:16-23

Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.

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But rumour has it I'm the one you're leaving her for

"Rumor Has It" written and recorded by Adele from "Adele 21"

If anyone in this good world believes that this day and age has perfected the bait-and-switch or the double-cross you only need to read this passage from Genesis to see that's just not so. In the computer age we may be bigger, stronger, and faster; but we are don't have the market cornered on deceit.

We might be conniving, but who among us has gotten what Laban got? He got the "girl with lovely eyes married off." That may not sound like a bad thing, but "lovely eyes" in that time was another way of saying she "had a great personality, sews her own clothes, and all the girls love her." She wasn't the pick of the litter. Laban got fourteen years of free labor from Jacob out of the deal and grandchildren to boot. This worked out for Laban and Leah.

Not so much for Jacob and Rachel.

The story continues with Jacob upset. He was hornswaggled out of the woman of his dreams for her plain sister. Laban relented. After Leah had her bridal week Laban would give Rachel to Jacob for another seven years. This was probably his plan all along. It's the effects of this bait-and-switch that will drive every relationship in the rest of the book of Genesis.

All of the horrors of slavery, terrors of prison, pains of famine, and joy of reconciliation begin with this little bit of deceit. This happens because Leah sings this line to Jacob, or that's the rumor.

This gives us something to chew on, what we do to benefit ourselves and cheat another is eventually used by God for salvation. This is true here within two generations. It's one of Laban's grandsons who by the hand of God saves the people of Israel.

Thank God for actions that we cannot control, even when we try.

A Black and White World

John 10:16

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

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Us and them,
And after all,
We're only ordinary men

"Us and Them" by Pink Floyd

Sad but true, we live in a black and white world. People tend to believe one thing and shun what does not fall in accord with those beliefs. It's true in the world and it's true in the church. So in the end there's us and there's them.

In the church this plays itself out in devastating ways. Some congregations and denominations will deny the sacraments to those who do not follow the path of the orthodox. Some will discipline, not allowing the other to serve because they do not follow the way of the church. Death is even a penalty.

If you want to point out fatwa and jihad you're welcome to, but death to the infidel is nothing new. The Old Testament has many examples of where the Lord has told the people to kill the other so that they might remain pure. Egyptians ended the lives of Jewish slaves with impunity. During the exile, the rulers of Babylon killed Jews. Innocents were slaughtered in the Holy Land at the time of Christ's birth. At the time of Christ Christians were killed by the Romans. At the Reformation, the Roman Church and the break away congregations were often in life and death struggles. World War II gave us Hitler. It's all a matter of us and them.

Jesus says that he has other sheep that do not belong to this fold, and he will bring them together because they also hear his voice. Jesus is the shepherd. Jesus says we will hear his voice. This is the most important thing we can learn in a world of us and them. In the eyes of God, there is no us and them, there is only God and us.

In a black and white world we see the differences, we see every little difference real or imagined. In the eyes of God there is only us. God is the creator we are the created. It is God and God alone who redeems creation. It is not up to us to decide who the sheep of the pen are. Everyone who hears the voice of the Lord belongs in the pen. God has made sure of that and Jesus lived, died and lived again so that we may come into the pen.

People have a habit of separating the black and the white, the us and the them. This is God's place alone. It is up to us to listen to the call of the Good Shepherd and follow his lead to the place God will lead us.

Persevere

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

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I'd say anything
Almost anything
Except good bye.

"A Girl Like You" by The Smithereens

The power combo, lead and rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and drums, few did it like The Smithereens. The driving rhythms and virtuoso guitar work were great. The lyrics with the melodies truly impressed me. It was the whole package, along with some New Jersey/New York swagger that truly made the band a great power combo. Even their ballads had teeth. (That's not a very "rock and roll" word, but you know...)

"A Girl Like You" is a song about undying love. It's about a man whose love perseveres even though the world doesn't understand. Or it's a stalker's tale, I can see how the second verse can be read that way, but the first and third, well, I'm going with love that perseveres all things.

There is a glorious difference between God's love and stalking though. The man in this song expresses a sort of jealousy along with the swagger of "I don't care what they say." That's a tough line to walk. It is that he is jealous that some may think he not worthy of the object of his affection? Jealous that there might have been or might still be another in her life? This is irrelevant to the love of God. There is enough love of God to go around all of creation. This jealousy is just one of the sins God calls us to set aside.

We should never be jealous that someone else might love God. In fact we should rejoice that there is a great cloud of witnesses sharing God's love. And when we quest, when we seek God's love, it is up to us to persevere. There are many worldly barriers, but none of them are unsurmountable.

The Love of God conquers all detractions. It is because of this and for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Sailing into the Presence of the Lord

John 21:1-8

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

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Well it's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Baby believe me, oh

It's not far to Never Never Land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Baby believe me, oh

Sailing (takes me away)
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
(I heard it could be)
Just a dream and a wind to carry me
(Soon I will be free)
Soon I will be free, yeah

"Sailing" recorded by Christopher Cross, written by Carter Burwell from Cross' self-titled first album.

Yesterday had two men heading home to deal with the events they had seen. Today we have the Apostles, those closest to Jesus. They decide to go back to work. They go fishing. It's not hard to imagine they go as much to take their minds off the events of the past few days as to make a few coins.

Jesus is the canvas on whom their lives is drawn, and on that canvas miracles are drawn. Yes, the fish are a miracle, but the greater miracle is the one who makes it all possible. The greater miracle is the one who makes the fire on the beach. The greater miracle is the one who already has a couple of fish on the fire.

The greatest miracle is his presence.

Sharing the presence of the fully human fully divine Lord of all, that's the greatest miracle of all.

and isn't that enough?

On the road to Emmaus...

Luke 24:13-18

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

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Oh brother, I can't, I can't get through
I've been trying hard to reach you 'cause I don' know what to do
Oh brother, I can't believe it's true
I'm so scared about the future, and I wanna talk to you
Oh, I wanna talk to you

"Talk" by Coldplay written by Emil Schult, Ralf Huetter, Karl Bartos, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jon Buckand, and Will Champion from the Coldplay album X&Y

There's a feeling, like you're the only person who knows the world has gone off its axis. There are a couple of ways to handle this knowledge, one is to go mad. Fly off the handle. Paranoia! You become a modern day gnostic and there's nothing and nobody who can join you on your little island. The other is to invite others to join you.

The disciples of Christ on the day following the resurrection were quite in between these two options. The Romans put a heavy guard on the tomb so when it was opened and found empty there was a special kind of hell to pay. Being a disciple put a price on your head. They were the first line of suspects when it came to grave robbing. Remember, it isn't paranoia when they are out to get you.

By in large though, they went on with their daily lives immediately. They were stunned. They were in shock. They barely knew what to make of the events of the past three days, but they knew what had happened. They knew.

Two disciples were on the road to Emmaus. These men were disciples, students of Jesus the Messiah. They were followers. They weren't as high up as the Apostles, but they were more than, if you will, the "Christmas and Easter" followers. They are set upon by another traveler, a man who it seems hasn't heard what happened in Jerusalem last weekend.

Of course they're stunned! There's only one place this fellow traveler could have come from on the road and that's Jerusalem! How could he not have heard! What rock was he living under! The rest of the story goes that these travelers told the Lord himself what happened in their own words. Then they shared a meal and in the breaking of bread they saw the true identity of their fellow traveler.

There's a feeling, like you're the only person who know the world has gone off its axis. Joyfully, when this feeling has a holy origin, there are others who can confirm that while it might be completely off its rocker, that's the way of the Lord. Some things have to be broken so they can be set properly. That's the way of the world sometimes.

The Resurrection Is Here to Stay

Easter Sunday


John 20:11-16

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”

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If you could feel what I could feel
Well then you'd know His love is real
If you could hear what I could hear
Well then you'd know the King is near

The resurrection is here to stay
And He's coming back again
The resurrection is here to stay
And He's coming back again
To reclaim all His souls and set us free
The resurrection is here to say
That He's coming back again

"The Resurrection" by Lenny Kravitz

Mary was beside herself. She was the first at the tomb to take care of the body of her Lord. She left before sunrise, and considering the Romans didn't want any more trouble you can bet they would arrest anyone who they caught making a move on the tomb. It could be assumed whoever came to the tomb would be his friends and the accessories to his crimes. To be out out before sunrise just made this point.

But the tomb was empty. Mary didn't go in, but she was sure she would have been able to see his body. She didn't, so she went to where the disciples were staying to share the news.

Peter and the Beloved Disciple went to the tomb and Mary followed. When the disciples saw nothing but the linen he was wrapped in, they left. They went home. The Lord is gone. He's so gone. The last thing they wanted was to be found by the Romans as grave robbers. Especially when there is a political reason to steal the body, to fake the resurrection.

The resurrection is here to stay
And He's coming back again

Mary doesn't care about earthly things. Robbery, politics, these things are not her concern. She loves her Lord and she is beside herself with sorrow and grief. If there's a time to go with the beatitude that those who mourn will be comforted, this is it. She loves her Lord and his body is gone.

This is when the man asks Mary “Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Mary doesn't know who asks this question. She figures he's the gardener, and begs him to tell her where the body of her Lord is so she can go get it.

The everlasting body of her Lord is standing right in front of her, but she doesn't recognize him until he says her name. What a wonderful truth, when the Lord calls us by our name, we recognize him.

Lenny Kravitz' father was agent Sal Kravitz and his mother was Roxie Roker. His mother was Christian and his father Jewish. Lenny was raised in a very spiritual home as a Christian and this shows in many of his lyrics. For anyone who says that Lenny doesn't always behave like a Christian (as if any of us do). I say we all live in the fall-Lenny's is kind of loud and kind of public sometimes. It's the late 20th Century equivalent of Dean Martin talking about Sinatra saying "It's Frank's world, we just live in it." It's Lenny's fall, regardless, Lenny knows and Lenny sings:

The resurrection is here to stay
And He's coming back again
To reclaim all His souls and set us free

Mary knows this from the teaching she has heard. She is overjoyed, or again as Lenny sings:

If you could feel what I could feel
Well then you'd know His love is real
If you could hear what I could hear
Well then you'd know the King is near

Mary now knows this from what she has seen. Mary then shares this word with the other disciples. Together they share the word with the world: He is risen; he is risen indeed. He's come back to reclaim all His souls and set us free.

Yes, the resurrection is here to stay.