Life beyond "Yes!" - For today's full-text click here
(We encourage everyone to read the full text. We hold each other accountable as we pray, read and engage the Bible. If you feel the text has not been handled well please comment and give thoughtful correction. This is what Scripture means when it encourages us to wrestle with the Bible and mentally struggle with it and inwardly digest it.)
As we read Scripture it is important to hear clearly what God commands and to precisely analyze the response described in the narrative. What we will begin to see is that rarely is the response actually in perfect alignment with God's request. Usually, it is "sort of similar" yet varies in significant details. More is done; less is done; something similar is done but rarely is the response what God asked. Sin distorts how we view ourselves and then corrupts how we hear God and respond to God. From Eden, the echo "Surely God did not say..." ripples through human history and is recorded for us in Scripture. We provide all the excuses and alterations to God's command necessary to make God palatable and relevant.
This week we have encountered some violent and even gruesome texts. How do we react when warriors are called by Joshua (God's chosen leader of Israel) to place their feet on the neck of captured pagan kings and to slaughter them? How do we react when David kills and beheads Goliath? The lectionary surrounds these histories with victory Psalms. I fear many of us are tempted to feel vindication, justification, and even delight. I fear we are tempted to read these narratives as if a righteous God commanded these acts. I fear we forget that these men (these pagan kings and belligerent defiant warriors) though denying God and separated from God are God's children loved by God; I fear we forget how alike them we are behind our masks and in our hearts.
As we read the Bible carefully we will see that human history spins out of control not because we trust God and act obediently but rather, because humans seem wholly incapable of doing as we are asked.
One modern example might be this. Jesus commissioned the Church to bear witness and to teach obedience to all He commanded. It is valid to clarify and interpret words and deeds recorded for us in Scripture. However most preaching and teaching goes beyond witness; it extrapolates, offers opinion and advances an agenda apart from Christ. Much of what we do under the banner of Christ promotes a bureaucracy, a business, an ideology and an agenda beyond the command and commission given us by Jesus Christ. As it was from the beginning so it is now - we question and modify God's words to suit ourselves. So, why does it surprise us that the "church" is in crisis? Why does it surprise us that those we are sent to bear witness to view us with suspicion and contempt? Sadly the answer is: because we are a "church" not Christ's Church.
As we practice reading and hearing God precisely, I believe we can learn to be Church precisely. Why? Because reading and hearing are acts of submission to the author/speaker. We seek what God is saying NOT what it means for me. Reading and hearing Scripture thus submits us to God. Following God leads to our restoration to Him. Interestingly, the violence and gruesome histories we encounter in and around this week's readings are given this submissive context in the lectionary. We find this context in Acts 5. In Acts 5 we are shown the obedient witnessing Church; we are shown what we are called to be. We are shown that God acts as we obey.
The question is will we be this Church, or, will we seek every 'if, and, and but' to excuse and modify God's command and commission?
One modern example might be this. Jesus commissioned the Church to bear witness and to teach obedience to all He commanded. It is valid to clarify and interpret words and deeds recorded for us in Scripture. However most preaching and teaching goes beyond witness; it extrapolates, offers opinion and advances an agenda apart from Christ. Much of what we do under the banner of Christ promotes a bureaucracy, a business, an ideology and an agenda beyond the command and commission given us by Jesus Christ. As it was from the beginning so it is now - we question and modify God's words to suit ourselves. So, why does it surprise us that the "church" is in crisis? Why does it surprise us that those we are sent to bear witness to view us with suspicion and contempt? Sadly the answer is: because we are a "church" not Christ's Church.
As we practice reading and hearing God precisely, I believe we can learn to be Church precisely. Why? Because reading and hearing are acts of submission to the author/speaker. We seek what God is saying NOT what it means for me. Reading and hearing Scripture thus submits us to God. Following God leads to our restoration to Him. Interestingly, the violence and gruesome histories we encounter in and around this week's readings are given this submissive context in the lectionary. We find this context in Acts 5. In Acts 5 we are shown the obedient witnessing Church; we are shown what we are called to be. We are shown that God acts as we obey.
The question is will we be this Church, or, will we seek every 'if, and, and but' to excuse and modify God's command and commission?
