Cracking open the Religious Club.

Act 13:44-52  The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul.  Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles.  For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"  When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.  Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region.  But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.  So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium.  And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

 Paul and Barnabas are men who grew up thinking that their Jewish roots entitled them to claim an exclusive relationship with God. The teaching of Jesus helped them discover both that the love of God is larger than their particular Jewish beliefs, and that they are called to share this love outside of their Jewish identity. The passage for today describes them explaining this to other Jewish people – and drawing on the authority of the prophet Isaiah to do so. Acts 13:47 shows them quoting Isaiah 49:6 to explain that Jesus did not bring a new message:  he came to remind the Jewish people of something that the prophets had been saying through the generations... that the love of God is “to the ends of the earth”, and those who know God ought to be a light to this truth.

Let me invite us as Christian not to fall into the same kind of thinking that Paul and Barnabas opposed: let us not become a closed circle of “Jesus-followers” who thank God that ‘we are in’. Jesus calls us to turn outwards and be a light that includes “the ends of the earth”.   

 

Third Sunday of Easter
The Lord is with us
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.154

 

Skip for Joy

John 15:1-11  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

 

Look at this figure:[1]

What emotion do you see?

When last did you feel like this?

 

These are not just irritating questions – they are the deepest questions of life. Today my daughter and I were watching little Japanese children skipping down the road outside her home, and we both exclaimed “How cute”. My next comment to her was “Why is it that while children can express such unfettered joy, we as adults lose this ability?” 

Jesus promises that “your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Surely this cannot remain as an intellectual concept, or a fleeting feeling swiftly suppressed? Why has the religious impulse to joy been so effectively crushed out of us – and when did we agree to become so “respectable”? This is not a joy that ignores the difficulties of life. On the contrary, it is a joy that helps us cope with the toughest times. Like a branch that is connected to the vine, we can draw on God's strength to get though each day. This strength is sufficient that when we reach the end of the day - we will find enough left over for some joy as well. 

 

In the interests of my soul, I resolve to skip for joy more often.

And you?

 

Second Sunday of Easter

Partakers of Eternal Life
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.148

 

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[1] This is made by Richard van As and can be seen at http://richardvanasanimation.blogspot.jp/2011/01/oh-joy.html

Love is not a Creed but an Activity

1John 3:11-24  For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.  We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.  How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?  Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.  And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him  whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

This letter is written in a context of church division. There are some who have broken away from the church led by John, and they are suggesting that John was misguided and they alone had the truth. John replies by using the illustration of Cane and Able: both are brothers from the same family, but one became a murderer because his “deeds were evil and his brother's righteous “.  John suggests that the only way of testing which brother was righteous is to look for “love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action”.

Like John, we too live in a world where we divide ourselves against each other on the basis of claiming sole access to the truth. Even worse, we (who ‘have the truth’) are then tempted to think angry, murderous thoughts of those who hold a different religious point of view to us. Recently, when someone heard that I was in Japan, her response was one of dismay: “Jesus is not in that country”. While it is true that organized Christian churches are a miniscule part of this country’s religious statistics, that does not mean that Jesus is not here! John says that “we will know that we are from the truth” wherever people love “in truth and action” (vs18-19). In the past two weeks I have received nothing but the greatest love and respect from the Japanese people. I see the same kind of love that Jesus showed, in the lives and actions of the people here. To use the metaphor of John, let us not become like ‘Cane’ with the Japanese ‘Abel’.

 

Thought:
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

C. Her­bert Wool­ston (1856-1927)

 

Second Sunday of Easter

Partakers of Eternal Life
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.148

 

Step Back in Line!

 2Corinthians 4:1-7 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

My thoughts for today are drawn to the following verse from the reading:  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. (2Co 4:5)

The word slave is translated from the Greek word  δοῦλος. I believe that Paul chose this word because he wants to make a point: that those who follow the way of Jesus must get used to being second. Jesus gets the spotlight and we step back into the shadows. We are at the command of Jesus, who gets to be the one in charge.

I saw an illustration of this yesterday today when I caught the express train from Hiroshima to Osaka. The ticket examiner entered the carriage, took off his hat, and bowed to all the passengers. He welcomed us to the coach, and wished us a pleasant journey. Then he replaced his hat and proceeded to collect our tickets. This action on the part of the ticket examiner clarified our relationship: while he was wearing a smart uniform, with white gloves, and braided hat, he was not important. The passengers were important, and he was offering to assist our journey. So too with those who follow the way of Jesus: we exist for the sake of those who want to live life more fully. We are “your slaves – for Jesus sake”.  

The reality is that this is easier in ideal that in practice. The human ego is so hungry for affirmation that we mistake people’s respect and admiration for Jesus, as admiration given to us. Before we know it, we think that we are capable of running the Jesus-project: we specify the way people can follow Jesus; we control who is part of the family of Jesus; and we even go so far as to decide who Jesus might hate!  We have stopped being the “slaves”, and have become the “masters”.

Paul urges us to become the slaves – for Jesus sake. Let us return to slave status.

Thought

“People who don't like the idea of slavery think there's some middle ground — not being a slave to sin or Jesus — but there's no middle ground.” — J. Miles

 

Second Sunday of Easter

Partakers of Eternal Life
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.148

 

We are not naked

2Corinthians 5:1-10  For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling-- if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.  So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord--  for we walk by faith, not by sight.  Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.  For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

Greek culture in the first Century admired two things: athletic prowess and philosophical oratory.[1] Paul/Saul, the teacher of Jesus’ way, had neither of these. He was considered to be both a poor speaker, and a small, ugly man. In 2 Corinthians Chapter 4, we see Paul beginning to respond to this perceived disadvantage by asserting that his message was larger than the “clay jar” that preached it.

Now in Chapter 5 Paul insists that his weak appearance does not discredit his ministry. He states his confidence that the temporary, fragile body he currently uses will be replaced by a future resurrected body. This hope guarantees that he will not be bodiless in the future, and this enables him to continue with his ministry. Therefore although some of his Greek audience might think that his battered and bruised body is something to be ashamed of, he knows that this is only temporary and will exchange this for a future body that will clothe him for eternity.

Here is a useful challenge in our image obsessed culture. It is a sad reality that advertising makes us feel insecure about the way we look. For example, I am in Japan, where young Japanese girls have been persuaded by the dominant media images to die their gorgeous, glossy black hair blond or brown in order to look better!   

 

We who are followers of Jesus need not feel ashamed of the way we look. These bodies are only temporary. Of course we need to care for our bodies, and feed our bodies, and keep our bodies fit, so that we are able to give our best service to God. But we do not need to be seduced by the lie of our culture that questions whether we are beautiful enough, or thin enough, or young enough. These are a waste of our God-given energy. Let us rather worry about the way we offer love and compassion; let us obsess about using our bodies to build God’s values of justice, and righteousness, and peace.  

Thought:

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

 
GUNGOR "Beautiful Things"

 

Second Sunday of Easter

Partakers of Eternal Life
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.148

 

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[1] Of course they admired many more things – but these two are important here.

The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-11  "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

A shepherd who loves his sheep. A shepherd who knows each sheep by name. A shepherd who will risk his life so that his sheep can be safe. This is an arresting image that has brought great comfort to those of us who follow Jesus. We immediately feel safe, and cared for, and treasured. And so we should.

But this is only half the image. The other half of the image lies in the post-Easter story of Jesus on the beach telling Peter that he is to take over the task of being the shepherd. We who inherit the faith of Peter cannot escape this injunction for ourselves: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). We are to be shepherds like Jesus: knowing, loving, and serving God’s sheep.

The love I have received – I pass on.

Renewal

You found me at my nadir
When despair attained new heights
I was cold to you
Unfeeling
You drew me out
Made me feel
Nourished my soul
Made me love again
Japanese poet Daichi Matsui
http://www.mywordwizard.com/japanese-love-poetry.html

 

Second Sunday of Easter
Partakers of Eternal Life
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.148

 

“Us” and “Them”

Easter Monday

Acts 11:19-26  Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.  The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.  Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians."

Jesus was not a Christian.

When I make this statement either in my history class, or from the pulpit, I get looks of bewilderment from many who hear this. I can almost hear them thinking “What? Of course Jesus was a Christian.” I can hear the next comment which is something like “And what strange teaching is he going to give us now?”

Well here it is folks: Acts 11 v 26 tells us that the first time that the followers of Jesus were called ‘Christian’ was in Antioch. Mostly they would have called themselves “Jesus-followers”, or “followers of the way” or more likely “students of רַבִּי שׁוּעַ   (Rabbi Jesus)”.  Jesus was not a Christian - Jesus was a Jew!

I suspect that the reason we want to think of Jesus as a Christian, is that he will then be ‘like me’. This attempt to make Jesus ‘in my own image’ has been a recurring temptation of every generation over that past 2000 years. It is only when I recognise that Jesus is unlike me, that I am able to love other people who are unlike me too. This was the example set by Barnabas, and then by Saul. These two good Jewish believers were able to embrace the Greek Gentiles with acceptance and joy,

The challenge for us is to show the love of Jesus to people who are not like us. I have found this to be my challenge of the past week. I am in Japan – a country where I do not understand the language, the culture, or the climate. It is frustrating to walk into a bookstore and not to be able to read a single book; it is even more frustrating to be finding my way through bus tops and train stations in a part of this country where English is not spoken. I am tempted to ask: “Why can they not speak a language I understand?”  The actions of Barnabas and Saul challenge me to stop trying to understand the Japanese people on my terms, and instead embrace them unconditionally with the love of Jesus.

 

Thought: Can your relationship with Jesus help you learn to accept ‘other’ people on their terms, and not yours?

 

Second Sunday of Easter

Partakers of Eternal Life
Scripture reading taken from A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants p.148