"Humble is the one who keeps the path clear"

Mark 9:38-42; James 5:13-16

I have had a bunch of conversations with you over the course of the last month about humility.  And I agree with all of you. We don't live in a culture of humility. We don't always get anywhere by being humble.  I get it. I understand. I agree.  And yet, Jesus calls us out of our own way of living into a different one. We are not called to be conformists. We are called to be anything but that.  

And I think there is a difference between showing humility and being a pushover. Jesus was our role model for humility and he was not a pushover. Pushovers do not start a revolution that changes the world. Rosa Parks was humble and she was not a pushover.  Pushovers do not start a revolution that changes the world.  

We end our series on humility this month with these strong scriptures.  They implore us to take up action through prayer and good deed. To change things by being involved but not 'get in the way.' They suggest that we make a clear path for the least among us so that we don't inhibit their journeys.  Mark quotes Jesus as saying we'd be better off throwing ourselves in the river with a millstone tied around our neck than to block the path of someone who is oppressed.

Oh my goodness. Is this rich scripture in our current culture?!  When so much of the mainstream media reports on the Christians who try to block rights of others, who try to block choice of others, who try to condemn others. Jesus is saying do not block the pathway of the oppressed. It hurts you more than them.

And James tells the faithful, gather the church leaders together and pray for those who are sick and suffering. Anoint them with oil. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. James says in these acts they will be healed. In other words, prayer and action go hand in hand.  Pope Francis recently said, " You pray for the hungry, then you feed them. That's how prayer works." Exactly the point of James, I think.

Humility is not standing around letting someone boss you around. Humility is choosing to pray for those who have wronged you. And to find avenues to act for justice for those who have no voice. And to pray for those who need your prayers and find ways to alleviate their suffering. Humility is to do all of these: Pray, care, love, seek justice, get out of the way of someone's journey when it's not your path to choose.  And don't expect someone to give you some pat on the back or round of applause because of your great devotion.  Do it because it's what God wants you to do. And that's enough.

What do we do to really become followers of Christ in a world where humility and selfless love and good deed are so counter-intuitive?  Why is this so hard?  It's always been hard.  It wasn't easy for the disciples and it wasn't easy for Jesus and it's not easy for us now.  

Thoughts? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.

"But We DESERVE the Recognition"

Mark 9:30-37

This link addresses this scripture in connection with the Syrian civil war refugee crisis in Europe.


This scripture is pretty much all you need to know about what it means to actually follow the way of Christ.  The disciples are on the road and Jesus is continuing to tell them about exactly what is going to happen to him, torture, death, the whole awful scenario.  And... their discussions (arguments, really) with each other center on which of them is the greatest.

When they arrive at the house where they are staying, Jesus asks them what they were arguing about and then tells them this. "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."   The disciples had an entire afternoon of what today we might call "humble bragging" where they were telling one another why the good works they had done for Jesus might warrant them the title of greatest disciple. And as it turns out, they haven't been paying much attention in these recent days when Jesus keeps urging them to be quiet about good works.  The one who is greatest is the one who is the servant who says nothing but gives much.

Facebook and other forms of social media have taken the concept of humble bragging to new elevations. We let everyone know when we've done something good. Or fun. Or whatever. Even if we have the best of intentions in spreading the good news, it's still not the most humble of acts to post our good works.  I recently did it myself when I participated in the 9/11 Peace March in Boulder. Though I posted my message on Facebook because I was inspired to want more peace and tell everyone to want more peace, the post was also, even if unintentional, "Look at me! I did something good and worthwhile! Yay me!"

The second half of Jesus' words to his disciples drive home the clear point about where we go astray when we try to become more godly by doing good works and wanting recognition for it.  Jesus embraces a little child and says "Whoever welcomes one such child welcomes me, and welcomes not me, but the one who sent me."  Saying to the disciples, in essence, take care of the least of these. Take care and embrace and welcome those whom society has not embraced.  Do your part to embrace the community. That is how you really find favor with God. By selflessly reaching out and taking in whomever you can with a warm embrace and welcome.

Not to get a gold star. Not to win an award from the conference office. Not to 'get more people in the pews,' but just because it's what the people of God do.

There's a link to an article at the beginning of this post about this scripture as it relates to the current refuge crisis in Syria and Europe.   Clear examples of "whoever welcomes one such child" theology.  I hope you will take the time to read it.

What do we do to assist in this crisis and the crisis of human trafficking and so many other breaches of humanity that are all around us?  We should probably quit sitting around talking about it all and start welcoming and embracing instead.

What does this scripture say to you? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.

Humility is the Cross We Bear

Mark 8:27-38

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. --Mark 8:34-35


Again in this text today, Jesus asks "Who do you say that I am?" and when the answer is "You are the Messiah," he says... "Shhhh, Don't tell anyone!"  Next,  he says in a very public way so all can hear exactly what will be happening to him. The suffering, the rejection, the killing, the rising again. Peter rejects this idea and it upsets Jesus so much that he says "Get behind me, Satan," to Peter.

Then Jesus says to the disciples that they, too, must be willing to pick up their crosses and follow him. That those who want to save their lives will need to lose it.  What does that mean?

He expresses humility at the idea of being the Savior, but then expresses publicly the ways he will be shamed.

It's all a very complex idea, this Jesus-going-to-the-cross business.  And the idea of being quiet about his Messiahship, but very public about being willing to carry our own crosses.

I am wondering if humility has a definition in here somewhere. Is Jesus telling us that our willingness to lower ourselves to carrying a cross, a difficult and hard journey, is the way we find humility?  After all, a Messiah was a position to be lauded and honored, but a criminal's death on a cross was quite the opposite.

Where do we find our own sense of following Jesus in this  scripture?  Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below. 

"Working Undercover"

 James 2:1-5, Mark 7:32-37

Faith, by itself, without works, is dead, says the writer of James.  We learn in Ephesians that we have been saved through faith alone,  and that works will not gain us faith. But, we also hear repeated by Paul and other followers of Christ that the response to our faith in Christ is to do good works.  To help the poor, but not to make a name for ourselves. Rather, as a way of giving thanks to God for the gifts of grace and love in our lives.

Jesus sees the act of being humble as a true measure of one’s devotion to God.  The writer in James says if someone comes into our assembly dressed in the richest garments and someone else comes in dressed in rags and we show favor to the one in the fine garments, we are judging and showing distinction and dishonoring the poor.  He says that God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich. 

I think alongside that Jesus is also suggesting that we be humble in deed and word and action. That we not make a show of our faith. It is interesting to note that the many times Jesus heals people or performs a miracle of some sort, most every time he orders the disciples to not tell anyone.

It reminds me of the idea of the Random Acts of Kindness movement.  Doing a small gesture for a stranger.  Sharing a kind word with a neighbor. Anything really. Just showing kindness rather than cynicism and anger in the world around you.

Jesus healed. And said, “Shhh.”  So, what do we do to share the love of Christ with a savior who is imploring us to “shhh?”  Perhaps we think about how we share the love of Christ, why we see it as important to share, and what it means for those we share it with, without once giving a thought to what it might mean for us. 

All month we are going to be looking at humility as a Christian virtue. We will look at various passages that address the order of Christ to not tell others of his miracle-working and to be humble in our own faith.  And we will struggle with what exactly all that means.

What are your thoughts on being a humble follower of Christ while being an enthusiastic follower of Christ?  What are your thoughts on these passages?  What kinds of random acts of kindness or miracle-working do you like to be a part of? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.