Misundertanding and Sin and Special Music

Judges 2:11-13

Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped the Baals; and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

"Take Me to Church" written by Andrew Hozier-Byrne from Hozier's "Take Me to Church" EP

The Israelites weren't the most faithful of people before, during, or after the days of the Judges. They wanted a Judge to keep them in line. Maybe that's so they wouldn't have to keep themselves in line. Well, when a bad Judge ruled, the people strayed. They would worship the Baals, the Astartes, and the Asharas. Nothing like a good fertility god or goddess to keep the spirit fruitful.

Hozier's song isn't about church as the Body of Christ. According to him it's about institutions that undermine natural parts of being human, though he adds that the church has a pretty big legacy about doing just that. As for the video, Hozier didn't want to make the direct visual connection to the church and violence against humanity, thus the anonymous hooligans. But let's face it, from the worship of the Baals to crucifying people for being who they are, the church's reputation is less than sterling.

But what does Hozier mean by "natural parts of being human." The song lyric begins with a woman singing about worshiping in the bedroom. Presumably lovers worshiping one another. As for me, I say let love rule! There is no law against love. "Worship" without God is a step too far, but within a holy, committed union, let lovers worship one another for in this God who is love rejoices.

The video though shows two men, no woman. What does God say about a committed gay relationship. Scholars split. I lean toward love. I reject pedophilia and pederasty, force is not love. A partner who is not old enough to know about a committed adult relationship cannot agree to be a part of an adult loving relationship. But as it pertains to gay or lesbian lovers, as for me, I say let love rule! There is no law against love. "Worship" without God is a step too far, but within a holy, committed union, let lovers worship one another for in this God who is love rejoices.

Recently, some youth have sung this song in church during worship. To what end? Praise is the only answer, but why this song? Is it the melody. I get that. It's a haunting song. Play it on the piano, sing it well, maybe a cello like he did on Saturday Night Live, and it's a great song. No wonder it was a killer on the charts. Is it the lyric? I hate to say it, but I may be one of the last people on earth who listens to lyrics so probably not. The video is gripping too, but does this video get shown in church? Do people love the chorus, the lyric you hear several times? The first line and the last two are worshipful in a traditional sense, but when you sing "I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies/I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife," the point of that knife is pretty sharp. Is it as an act of shock or defiance that escapes a congregation filled with old people? Petulance will get you no where. (Believe me, I've tried.)

Well, here's a way to look at this within the Body of Christ, it's a sideways look at the lesson of Joseph. The lesson of Joseph was what his brothers meant for bad, God used for good. Hozier didn't mean ill for the church. That wasn't his point. So the lesson of Joseph doesn't apply. So whatever the singer intended, whether Hozier or the Youth Chorale, whatever they intended, use it. Hozier's "Take Me to Church" was never intended to be theology. It's a scathing indictment of people, humans who treat others violently, including the church. It's an indictment of sin, individual and corporate! If that works, use that. Is it a discussion on how gays and lesbians are treated? If you want to consider the video, use that. Is it something else, find it and use it.

Never forget, Israel kept being enslaved because they kept following bad Judges. Maybe that's a place to start. Violence in the name of the Lord is a lousy way to present the Lord to creation.

Temptation and Redemption

2Samuel 11:1-3(NRSV)

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OPP, how can I explain it
I'll take you frame by frame it
To have y'all jumpin' shall we singin' it
O is for Other, P is for People scratchin' temple
The last P, well, that's not that simple

"O.P.P." written by Alphonso James Mizell, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy, Jr Anthony Shawn Criss, Keir Lamont Gist, and Vincent E. Brown; recorded by Naughty by Nature

Anybody who doesn't know that parts of the bible could make Soap Opera stars blush doesn't know the bible very well. This is one of the stories we learn because it is so sordid. King David should have been out in the field with the troops; it was the time of year when kings went out to battle, but David was not. So he sees this really hot woman and he has to have her.

First lesson: Don't pin this one on the woman. Bathsheba did not have a real choice in the matter. She could either go to David or she could die for disobeying by not going to the king. These are her choices. "Appealing to the better nature" of an ancient king was not in the cards.

David calls her knowing Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah the Hittite. The adultery is not hers, he faces his temptation by thinking below the waist. What follows is not on her head. This is why I don't highlight the second verse of this song where the woman is blamed for her part in the indiscretion. In this case she is without blame.

So she goes as called and she becomes pregnant.

David connives several ways to try to get out of his adultery. To David's frustration, Uriah the Hittite remains honorable to his king and his men in the field and does not partake in the comforts of home, if you know what I mean.

David finally to free himself from his shame gets Uriah killed in battle. David all but kills Uriah himself. The prophet Nathan discerns this and calls David on his sin. Nathan tells David of the consequences of his sin too, Bathsheba will miscarry.

This is what happens when you fool with O.P.P.

Yet ultimately, this relationship begun in sin will bear fruit and good fruit too. David and Bathsheba will have a child. They have a son and name him Solomon. The wisest of all the kings of Israel; it will be Solomon builds the Lord's temple.

This is not an encouragement to go and sin so you can bear a wise son, that's probably a one time only thing. What this does show, that temptation exists. Seeking deliverance from evil is the better way to live.

Yet, through the work of the Lord, the sins of the people can be redeemed for God's purpose. God is sovereign, God is in control, even when we're out of control.

Thank You

Genesis 3:22-24 (NIV)

And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

1Corinthians 15:45-47 (NIV)

So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stiff all in the collar
Fluffy in the face
Chit chat chatter tryin'
Stuffy in the place
Thank you for the party
But I could never stay
Many thangs is on my mind
Words in the way

I want to thank you
falettinme
Be mice elf
agin

Thank you
falettinme
Be mice elf
agin

Dance to the music
All nite long
Everyday people
Sing a simple song
Mama's so happy
Mama start to cry
Papa still singin'
You can make it if you try

Sly & the Family Stone: "Thank You (Fallenttinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"

Ah, the fall. The moment after Adam and Eve were deceived into sharing the fruit of the vine and falling from grace. The horror and the pity, I like what George Burns said in the 1980's movie "Oh, God." Adam and Eve were just teenagers, they didn't have the savvy to take on the serpent. Oh well.

Then again, God knew all along that something would happen to gum up the works with creation. If it wasn't one thing it would be another and this is it, the biggy, eating the fruit of the tree of Good and Evil so they would know as much as God. Whoops, that does qualify as the biggy.

But since God knew all along that something would happen, something would have to change, he sent his Son. He sent his Son as the second Adam, the Divine Reset Switch so that all creation would be reconciled to the Creator.

In the beginning we were all living in accord with the Lord, but that changed. In Christ, it changes back. In this we are to say one thing, thank you.

Lord our God, Thank You Fallenttinme Be Mice Elf Agin.

Looking for Signs

Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If God was here he'd tell you to your face,
Man, you're some kinda sinner

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

"Signs" originally written and recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band, this version by Tesla

Signs, everybody wants a sign. Thomas doubted the stories of the resurrection. He wanted to see Jesus. Not only did he see the Lord, he saw his hands and side and put his hand in the holes. Granted, he just wanted to see what the other apostles had seen, but still, he's not taking anybody's word for it, he just wants to see it for himself.

The Discovery Channel made stars out of the hosts of "Mythbusters." One of the myths they debunked was "we never landed on the moon." Still, people won't believe until they see astronaut lunar debris for themselves and will still say "they brought this stuff six months before opening the moon for tourism."

Americans have always been a skeptical people. It probably began with the revolution. It's reflected in the Bill or Rights. After all, the main articles define governmental rights, but where are the rights of the common man? That's right, the Bill or Rights. It probably turned the corner from skeptical to cynicism during Watergate. Where all governments have their shady actions, President Nixon took this to new extremes.

So the Pharisees want their signs. Jesus tells them that their generation will receive no sign.

In truth, Jesus had shown them a sign, the incarnation. Emmanuel, God with us is the sign sent to this generation. God with us is the sign sent to all generations. It was first seen in the person of the Father in the Garden of Eden, it was seen again in the person of the Son in the Garden of Gethsemane, and is seen in our own gardens in the divine wind that blows across all creation, the Holy Spirit.

We all want signs, it's only human. The glory and the joy of God is that the signs of God in the world are found all around us. We find them in a hand from a neighbor. We find them in the hugs and kisses of a loved one. We find them in the warmth of the sun and the refreshing breezes of our own gardens.

What stands between us and this glorious revelation, let me tell it to your face, it's sin. Sin will be in our way until Christ comes again. In the meantime, Christ breaks into our world every day in every moment. Live intentionally and see that Christ is in the world. Those are the signs worth seeing. Those are the signs worth following.

Saint Patrick and the Dreadful Snakes

A Pre-St. Pat's History Lesson


Genesis 3:14-15

The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
cursed are you among all animals
and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Snakes Alive" instrumental by The Dreadful Snakes [Bela Fleck (banjo), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Pat Enright (guitar), Roland White (mandolin), Blaine Sprouse (violin), and Mark Membree (bass)] from "Snakes Alive"

The legend of St. Patrick begins with his kidnapping from England and being taken to Ireland at a young age. He eventually escaped his captors and returned to England where he became a priest. I say legend because there are so many stories about the man with so little corroboration that legend is a better word than fact. Then again, there is often as much truth in legend as there is in fact.

Years later, Patrick returned to Ireland, there he began to spread the gospel. One of the things which evangelists today should take from Patrick is that he knew the lay of the land, he knew Ireland and its people long before it became "the mission field." I wonder if he ever thought of it in the way many people think of "the mission field." He wasn't a stranger to the land or its people. He knew what they valued and he knew how to share what he valued.

He was a captive and when he returned he returned with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Knowing the land, knowing the people, he took the three leaved shamrock and explained the Trinity. He explained that God was in three persons like three leaves on the clover. He explained that God was still one as the flower was one plant. He shared three in one in a way they would understand.

Patrick is beloved in Ireland. He is the Patron Saint of Ireland. By him, Ireland became a nation that worships the Lord. For this, I say "Happy St. Patrick's Day." But there is a more popular part of the legend of Patrick, and if I didn't go there there would be no reason for this scripture and this song.

According to the legend, Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland using his staff when snakes confronted him during a forty day fast. Fighting the dreadful snakes off with his staff, he was like Aaron before Pharaoh. Then again, since the glaciers receded and Ireland became a land mass, there has never been evidence of snakes on the island. Britain has snakes, but none have made it to Ireland. There have never been any snakes for Patrick to banish so the legend is just that, a legend.

Or... this part of the legend could have referred to the serpent symbolism used by the druids, and when Patrick brought the Good News, the Gospel shared by Patrick banished those snakes. See what I mean, not literal snakes, but the snake symbols and the druids who worshiped them. They were banished and the Lord was worshiped. Not factual snakes, but legendary snakes. Like I said, this is one time when the legend has even more truth than the facts. Then again, Patrick wouldn't have known any of this if he hadn't known the people he came to serve in the name of the Lord.

A Very Freaky Gospel

Judges Week! Thanks to the Rev. Linda Sharon for the scripture and interpretation.
The music choice is all mine.


Judges 16:6-14

So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them.

With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”

He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”

He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric and tightened it with the pin.

Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She's a very kinky girl,
The kind you don't bring home to mother.

"Super Freak" recorded by Rick James, written by Rick James and Alonzo Miller, from "Street Songs"

In the story of Samson and Delilah, this dialogue is where Delilah asks and Samson lies avout the source of his strength. He tells three different lies before he tells her the truth of how to subdue his strength. In the first lie, Samson is bound with fresh bowstring. In the second, he is bound with new ropes that have never been used. In the third, his hair is pinned into a loom.

In each of these stories, Delilah cries, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” This is Samson's cue to escape the bonds and kill the Philistines. The third of these stories ends as Samson awakens to Delilah's screams. Only after these three false starts does Samson tell the truth and Samson is subdued.

One of the things Pastors often hear from the flock is that holy writ is so old, and so ancient that it has precious little to do with life today. Often this is code for "scripture is not very interesting or relevant." Look at this story again. When we read it, we read Samson is bound while asleep and Delilah awakens him to the threat of the Philistines. Oh really?

So now, look again, no where in the first two trials does it say Samson slept? It doesn't say Delilah wakes him. That doesn't happen until the third.

Often, people say that scripture is stale, stodgy, sterile. There's nothing like today's life and time in it. Well let me just say this about Delilah, "She's a very freaky girl." Samson liked her freak too. If he was awake while Delilah bound him with bow string and then with new ropes, and scripture doesn't mention sleep until the hair-pinning incident, this story suddenly reveals a much kinkier twist.

It then also goes deeper to remind us of this tried and true lesson--We are not punished for our sins, but by our sins.

There is a lot of scripture we never see because we think we've seen it all. Beware, and be alert. There are a lot of things we gloss over because we think we already know when unless we pay close attention we don't.

Naked

Genesis 3:8-11a

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows

"Everybody Knows" written by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson, recorded by Leonard Cohen and a host of others, originally released on "I'm Your Man"

Adam and Eve had the knowledge, knowledge they did not need to have. But they had it now and there was no turning back. That was when our melodrama changed to stage right with the entrance of the Lord God walking into the garden. This new knowledge give Adam and Eve all sorts of insight. They knew they had lost their perfect connection with the Lord God. They knew they had done wrong. They knew they disobeyed. They knew they disappointed the Lord God. They knew they were in trouble.

Everybody (both of them, but still it was everybody) know that the plague is coming and that it's moving fast. They knew they were naked and they knew they were more than nude, they were naked. They were laid bare before the Lord God. Death was coming. Their sin was naked before the Lord God. All they had was shame and fear. They had no idea what was coming next. So they hid.

It's our first reflex too when we are caught. Shame, fear, denial, "fight or flight," the reactions are numerous but they are just that, reactions. It is up to us to act, not react. Yes the plague is coming and moving fast. It is truly an artifact of the past, sin. We are creatures bathed in sin, individual and corporate. Our selves and our communities are covered in a sinful nature that is impossible to escape, those who don't know are foolish or ignorant.

Only in Christ, through the Lord God, in community with the Holy Spirit can we live in and through that plague. Only in this can we live in and not of the world, the plague. It's coming, it's coming fast, it's here. Everybody knows. This is not a chicken little moment. God is asking where we are. It's time to stop hiding.

President's Day and Love Me Like a Rock

Happy President's Day!


Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, but against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If I was President
And the Congress call my name
I'd say "Who do
Who do you think you're fooling?"
I've got the Presidential Seal
I'm up on the Presidential Podium

"Loves Me Like a Rock" written and recorded by Paul Simon on "There Goes Rhymin' Simon"

Many a day I am a big fan of hyperbole and exaggeration. These are two of the building blocks of humor. That's the reason I like them, for humor, for comedy. I don't really like them in politics. Unfortunately, because of fear we are becoming a society built largely on hyperbole and exaggeration. A society that has become spectacle, a mere shadow of itself.

The Presidential debates during this election year have become a mere shadow of their intention. Lincoln and Douglas would take all of the candidates by the ear and show them what it meant to debate.

Lest you think I point at one side of the aisle, one side may be a three ring circus, but the other side of the aisle features its own sideshow not to be denied nor ignored.

These candidates struggle against each other, they struggle so they can struggle against what? Congress? World leaders? The invisible hand of the market and the economy? The Koch Brothers? They fight each other so they can fight someone else. Fear and fight. Fear and fight. Who needs a President and a Russian Premier? How about a global game of Risk fought out like the days of Goliath?

Is that our fight? Is that our future?

We have gotten so worried about separation of church and state that as we grind the theological moxie of our candidates we forget to ask them what they truly believe, not where they go to church. Where is our struggle? Where is their struggle? If their struggle is against the enemies of flesh and blood, but against the greater authority of darkness. This power is not an individual. This power is greater than any one person.

Truly I say to you, that power is in all of us. Each and every one of us. It is the power of sin.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians tells us how to fight that struggle, it is to put on the whole armor of God. It isn't to blame. It isn't to point fingers. and it isn't to ask "Who do, who do you think you're fooling?"

That is the rock that loves me.

Ashes to Ashes

Ash Wednesday


Genesis 3:19
Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky

"Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie from "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" (1980)

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the season of introspection, reflection, and repentence. Who says the season doesn't need better Public Relations?

Of course, we're more familiar with Ash Wednesday's naughty cousin, Mardi Gras. Given the choice between reveling like tomorrow won't come and wearing ashes hearing someone in a black robe say, "From dust you came and to dust you will return," who wouldn't take beer and beads any day of the week?

Of course, there's more to the choices than that, which is why I've been the guy in the black robe holding the ashes.

"From dust" is the curse laid upon humanity after the fall, after the first (the original) sin. Upon eating of the tree Adam and Eve learned of death, and they learned what it would mean to them, they would return from whence they came. When the only rule you had to follow was "Don't eat that," it's a mighty fall from grace to death.

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky.

Still, there is more to Lent than just ashes and fasting. Today, many of us will be reminded of this curse, this curse Jesus accepted as his own, the truth that the body will be put to the ground. We do this with the mark of the ash. Jesus did this by the agony of the cross. But in this agony there is mercy and there is grace.

A few years ago, when imposing the ashes, I was encouraged to say "You are a child of God. From ashes you came and to ashes you will return." This first sentence is the addition. It should be understood of course, and it should be repeated as often as possible. It's easy to remember pain and suffering. It's easy to remember work. It's easy even to remember the glory of what comes after the end. But without the joy of what comes with life in God in Christ, we are truly lost. And we are all children of God, that must never be forgotten.

As Adam and Eve were God's children we are God's children. As they were disciplined for disobeying we too are disciplined for disobeying, but the joy of life in God; that is something they could not forget and something we must always remember.

By the mercy of God, let us be marked as his. Marked by the ash, and by his blood. Marked that in life and in death we belong to God.

Who Gets Hurt

Yeah, it's country, but it's right.
)

Exodus 20:18

Neither shall you commit adultery.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You keep telling me, baby
There will come a time
When you will leave her arms
And forever be in mine
But I don't think that's the truth
And I don't like being used and I'm tired of waiting
It's too much pain to have to bear
To love a man you have to share

"Stay" by Sugarland

If you come to this blog just to read the words, thank you, but this time please watch at least a bit of the video. Look at the pain in the eyes of vocalist Jennifer Nettles. I mean look at it. This song is the story of a woman who is having an affair with a married man and her pain. Look at it.

Scripture says "you shall not commit adultery" but why? (Pretty obvious, but go with me here...) Yes, it messes with the family unit, no doubt about it, and that's a bad thing. Families are stronger when a wedge isn't driven into the log splitting it into pieces. But that's not what this song is about.

This song is about the "other woman." It's about the pain she experiences. She wants more, or by the end of the song wanted more. She knows he won't leave his wife and it's tearing her up. She's in pain. At the moment, in this perspective, we aren't imagining the couple's situation, we're in her shoes. Because of this song's hard lyrics and Jennifer Nettles' emotionally raw performance we can imagine it.

It's easy to imagine the pain and horror of a family coming apart, that's the plot of nearly every "cheating spouse" story ever told. Rightly this is the horror of cheating on your partner, but it is only one of the horrors of adultery. But there's another player in this story too. It's the horror of a woman who is hurt being the third point in the triangle.

Here's the thing about sin, it causes everyone who is touched by it to hurt. Even when it's a situation that begins so right when it turns wrong is goes so very wrong. Know this from the look on Jennifer Nettles' face and the tears in her eyes, because of sin everyone hurts, even those we don't tend to think of being hurt.

Mr. Bad Example

)

Matthew 15:1-9 (NRSV)

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm very well aquainted with the seven deadly sins
I keep a busy schedule trying to fit them in
I'm proud to be a glutton, and I don't have time for sloth
I'm greedy, and I'm angry, and I don't care who I cross

I'm Mr. Bad Example, intruder in the dirt
I like to have a good time, and I don't care who gets hurt
I'm Mr. Bad Example, take a look at me
I'll live to be a hundred, and go down in infamy

The title track from "Mr. Bad Example" by Warren Zevon (1991)

Jesus gets ticked off over hypocrisy more than any other type of sin. People who should know better, people who are called to be better, people who have received all of the benefits life has to offer--and then forsake the call to do God's work with these benefits are never spoken of well in the gospel.

The Scribes and Pharisees had a good thing going, and they knew it. They were the holy of the holy and their place in the temple and society were secure, until Jesus came to muck it all up.

Jesus came and called them out on their hypocritical behavior. Simply men themselves, they held others in far lower esteem. They had a system or rules and laws that placed a burden on people that could not be managed. They took their own rules, which began innocently enough as ways to keep the Law of Moses, and turned them into a horrible cross for the people to carry.

They tithed to the temple-which ultimately came back to themselves-instead of helping the poor and infirm. They actually caused more distress than they relieved. They would tithe spices, keeping silver and gold for themselves.

Warren Zevon is known for the images he is able to create with words and music, Mr. Bad Example is a great example. The Bad Example here describes the Scribes and Pharisees well. They knew the sins, and exercised many of them. They knew their status, and protected it at all costs, including the death of Jesus.

"I don't care who I cross." In this context, there is a bit of double-entendre that both the Lord and Warren are smiling over in heaven.

It's Different for Girls

John 8:2-9

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same

"It's Different for Girls" by Joe Jackson from "I'm the Man"

A friend once asked me the most provocative question about this scripture, she asked "Where is the man?" For those who questioned her intention with raised eyebrows she asked "Where is the man, the one who also must have been caught in the very act of committing adultery?"

Man, it's different for girls, isn't it?

So all of the fat cats in the synagogue are making their points and pointing their fingers and getting ready for a good old fashioned stoning, you know, the kind we had when we were little but don't do so much any more? In the midst of all of this, here's Jesus, just writing on the ground with his finger while all around him blows up.

It calms down enough so that Jesus is demanded to make his judgement against the woman, and judgement against is the foregone conclusion, when he stands up and says, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” That's when time freezes.

Jesus returns to his writings and the crowd begins to turn away, beginning with the Elders.

My friend thinks that Jesus has been writing the names of the scribes' and Pharisees' girlfriends in the dust. Hypocrites, you're all the same.

I guess in this case it was different for girls. She was taken to the temple, presumably in a state of undress. She was dragged through the streets. She was screaming while everyone else was yelling. It was going to be an old fashioned stoning just like the stonings when we were kids. But Jesus reminded them of one thing, that they were not without sin either.

Somewhere there was a man who was sharing the same sin. Somewhere there were friends and family who were just as guilty as she. Maybe not of the same sin, but in the sight of God, what the difference one sin to another.

Jesus knew this. He reminded the scribes and Pharisees that their judgement was coming along too. Maybe this is why the elders left first. They had lived enough life to know when they were indicted. They had the wisdom, they just needed the sharp reminder. As for the young men, they got the message. It's our message too. There is none without sin, and to say so is like dragging this woman through the streets and leaving the man at the scene of the scene.

Readers might ask why I didn't take this writing to the end, all the way to "go and sin no more." There are two reasons:

The first is that today I wanted to focus on the hypocrisy of sexism and how there are times where the sins men and women commit are different for women. I want to say that this is not so.

The second, well, if nothing else, life has shown us that we as a society don't get "go and sin no more." Just watch the news and get back to me on that one.

Refusing to Let Go

Genesis 32:10a

I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know you wanna leave me,
But I refuse to let you go,
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.

"Ain't too Proud to Beg" written and performed by The Temptations

When we think about the matters of faith, we think of them from our point of view. This is more than business as usual, it's the best perspective we have. Today, thinking of "The Temptations," I want to consider this from the other side of the coin.

God knows that we are a sin-soaked people. That's the way of life. We will do everything in our power to harm ourselves in sometimes the laziest and in other times the most creative ways imaginable. Television shows and entire television networks have been built around programming around people being stupid in imaginative ways. Johnny Knoxville and MTV created a cottage industry around the aptly named "Jackass" collection.

In our sin sick ways, we try to leave God everyday, that's just a plain and simple truth. It's God who refuses to let us go. God has begged and pleaded for our return, our reconciliation. He even sent his Son to take us from our own demise.

We have problems living into the redemption. This is true. We have trouble even conceiving what it cost God to pay for our disobedience. The least we can be is thankful. The least we can be is humble. Jacob showed this humility.

Jacob could at least acknowledge that he was not worth of God's steadfast love and faithfulness. Jacob could at least acknowledge that he was the servant of God. He realized that what God had done in his life and for the life of his people was now and would in the future be great.

Now, imagine how much love comes in the words "I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me." It is up to us to show even a shimmer of that love in return to God and to one another.

The Strangle of Greed

Monday after Easter


Matthew 27:4-5

He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But [the Chief Priests] said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The road I cruise is a bitch now
Ya know ya can't turn me round
And if a house gets in my way
Ya know I'll burn it down

You ran the night that you left me
You put me in my place
I got you in a stranglehold baby
That night I crushed your face

"Stranglehold" From 1975's "Ted Nugent"

If you want to peg one of the seven deadly sins on Judas Iscariot, it would be impossible. Everyone on earth has been hooked by all seven of them at one time or another, and Judas' sins are probably the most public of sin since the Original. Was he deceived by envy? Was he prideful? Was he greedy? Scripture certainly pins greed squarely upon his chest.

Judas took thirty pieces of silver to betray the Lord and he did it with a kiss. It didn't take long for "Judas Kiss" to enter the language as a term of betrayal.

Forgiveness comes from the Lord. If no sin is unforgivable, then this sin wouldn't be unforgivable. What scripture tells us is that Judas did not even seek forgiveness from God. Instead he went to the temple elite. The same men who paid him to betray Jesus would not offer him absolution from the sin they asked him to commit. Pilate washed his hands of Jesus' death, but it was the temple leadership that washed their hands of Judas.

Sin had a stranglehold on Judas, and on the leaders who exploited him. Judas was not able to live with his sin. Based on the silence of scripture, evidently the leaders were. Judas tried to receive absolution by returning the payment for his betrayal. The leaders were not willing to take it back, afterall, it was blood money.

They provided the silver that fed his sin, but were not willing to accept his repentance. Of course, they weren't able to either.

Pardon my French, but let's just say the road Judas cruised was a bitch. His own sin and the sin of the men who tempted him put him in his place. In the end it was sin's stranglehold that took Judas to the noose.

What if Judas had sought forgiveness from the Lord instead of the temple elite? Sure, he wouldn't have been worthy but none of us are worthy. Would it have changed Judas' life? I have to believe that yes, it would have changed his life. I believe that absolution is as close as the kiss from Jesus, but most of us wallow in our own version of the Judas kiss. If Judas can find absolution in God, then who are we to say our sins are too big?

I would like to imagine when Judas received his eternal reward, Jesus kissed him again. Jesus forgives. Jesus knows what happened and why it happened. Sin had a stranglehold on Judas, strangling that ultimately went to his throat. It is the Lord who releases the hold of sin on our lives, even the life of Judas.

Ted sings, "Some people think they're gonna die someday, I got some news you never gotta go." Here's what's funny, Jesus proved that even God can die. He also proved that God can overcome death. When death is defeated, all other bets are off. So while Ted may be right, we know that only with God, all things are possible.