"It's Not Just the Baby or the Bathwater"

Matthew 5:17-20, 43-48

The old adage don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater implies that you should avoid tossing everything out the window when you are changing something, because you might just toss out the most important thing of all.  That isn’t exactly what this week’s scripture and text are suggesting, but it is in the same vein.

In this scripture, which we are only reading a portion of, (but the entire passage is included on the link), we can see that Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount by trying to explain to them what it means to fulfill the law.  He starts out by saying he doesn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  Those who love the letter of the law are probably thrilled to hear him say he doesn’t want to abolish it, but wonder what he means exactly, when he says he wants to fulfill it.

In We Make the Road by Walking, McLaren suggests that we are not supposed to stay “where tradition has brought us so far,” nor are we to “defy tradition reactively.”  We are instead to try living into the “highest and best intent of tradition.”  In other words, get below and under the surface of what the law is aimed at.

When Jesus says, “You have heard it said…” he follows it up with a “But I say” pattern throughout the longer portion of this scripture. You have heard it said an eye for an eye… but I say turn the other cheek.”  Don’t repeat a violent action against you with another violent action of our own.  The core of the non-violent protest movement is mapped out here, something Martin Luther King, Jr lived by. And died by. 

The suggestion here is a strong and difficult one, but so powerful.   Rather than just looking at the surface of the law that has been established, go deeper and get at the root of the problem.  Work on the root of the problem and the rest will more likely fall into place.

Living into the perfection of a righteous life. That is what Jesus calls us to. Not perfect actions on the outside, but perfect intent on the inside.  Living in a way that is more than just ‘good enough.’  Trying with every ounce of our being to try to do our very best in every situation. The overused slogan WWJD seems to fit here, actually.  What did Jesus say to do? Dig deeper. Find the best intent of the law and the tradition and fulfill it.

So, it doesn’t make sense to say that all the traditions of the past are tossed aside because we have a new and funky way of being followers of Christ now.  That’s just silly.  It’s like throwing your Bible aside and saying it isn’t relevant anymore.  It also doesn’t make sense to say that ‘this is what the law says, or ‘the Bible says I should only do this’ and not look deeper into the hows and whys of a particular law or tradition.

Are you a staunch rule follower or do you try to bend the rules?  When does bending the rules actually serve to fulfill the intent of the rule

"It's Like Looking in a Fun House Mirror"

Matthew 5:1-16  (Chapter 27 in We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren)

The sermon series during Lent is based on Matthew 5-7, commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount, some of the most difficult and daring words of the scriptures.... designed to show the disciples and the others gathered there exactly what it might mean to follow this path Jesus is suggesting.

The Beatitudes are the first words he utters... Blessed are the poor, those that mourn, the meek, etc.
Brian McLaren tells us that in this day, to say 'blessed are these..." would be to say "Pay attention: These are the people you should aspire to be like."  Wow.  I have never heard any pep-talk or motivational speaker tell me I should aspire to be poor and meek and crying.  I am sure the people gathered that day were no different in their assessment of what he was suggesting. Sounds crazy, foolish even.

It is like looking in a fun house mirror and thinking you will see one thing, but seeing something entirely different instead.  You think you are medium height, but the mirror suggests you are very short and squat or very tall and thin.  Jesus suggests that the labels we and others have put on ourselves of how we want to be seen, or how others want to see us are false. They are not the reality that Jesus calls us to. We don't have to seek the society view, we can seek the gospel fun house view instead.

This is game-changing instruction in a world that rewards the rich and powerful and tells us to be out for our own happiness and independent and self-made.  Jesus suggests that self-interest and self-promoting people are just not the kind of people needed to create this new Reign of God.  He says we should turn the social and societal pyramids upside down.  We shouldn't be climbing a ladder of success but embracing a world with care. He tells us there will be a price to pay for following this upside down, crazy, inverted way, but we will receive priceless rewards.  McLaren calls it 'unconventional blessedness,' which can lead to 'true aliveness.'

This early part of Matthew 5 also compares this way of living to being light the salt of the earth and light on a hill.  Claiming ourselves to be salt and light are wonderful metaphors all on their own of what it means to follow a crazy, unconventional path. To create an unexpected identity in a world that likes to label us a certain way.

From We Make the Road by Walking:

"That identity will give us a very important role in the world. As creative nonconformists, we will be difference makers, aliveness activists, catalysts for change. Like salt that brings out the best flavors in food, we will bring out the best in our community and society. Also like salt, we will have a preservative function--opposing corruption and decay. Like light that penetrates and eradicates darkness, we will radiate health, goodness, and well-being to warm and enlighten those around us. Simply by being who we are--living boldly and freely in this new identity as salt and light--we will make a difference, as long as we don't lose our 'saltiness' or try to hide our light."

Jesus is trying to let the people gathered know that this is a whole different way of seeing God, of seeing yourself, and of seeing yourself in relationship with God. It is a whole new way of being religious, so to speak. Jesus isn't trying to restore the old religion, nor is he trying to start a new one. He is suggesting a movement, steeped in the traditions of the past, that is 'bigger, deeper, and more subversive: a global uprising that can spread to and through every religion and culture."  It requires deep inner reflection about who we are, who we want to be, who we might become and what we will create of our lives.

This journey of Lent this year at NUMC is called "One Step Up and Two Steps Back." That is not to suggest that we aren't actually making any progress getting somewhere, but rather to suggest that the road sends us not forward, but in a kind of dance... that will take us not on a path of expected norms, but in a swirl of movement in chaotic, but life-filling directions.

What kind of person do you want to be right now? What kind of child of God do you want to be? How can the Beatitudes offer you instruction on how to reshape your identity this Lenten season?

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

"Housewarming Party"

Mark 2:1-19

In this scripture, Jesus, whom some called Rabbi,  is in a home and so many have gathered around to hear what he has to say that no one can even come close. The house is full of people and the yard area is full of people. People everywhere trying to hear the rabbi teach and to seek healing from him.

Some people wanted their paralyzed friend to receive healing, healing that they had heard Jesus could offer.   Because of the crowd they couldn't get close, so they went on the roof and dug a hole through it and lowered the man on his mat down to Jesus.  Now, I'm not sure what happened with the insurance claim on that roof, but Jesus was impressed with the faith of the crew who lowered the paralyzed man down and with his faith. He offers the man forgiveness of sins and this upsets the scribes. Who does he think he is to offer what only God can offer? Jesus challenges their rebuke and does more than that.  Long story short, the man is healed and takes up his mat and walks.

Next, Jesus goes to the home of a tax collector for dinner.  Again a challenge to the scribes who say, "Who does he think he is to eat with sinners and tax collectors?"  Jesus calls them out once again for their critique of his inclusive ministry.

These stories show Jesus challenging authority, yes. But they also show Jesus inside of homes, being among the people, eating with them, praying with them, offering them a new life, a forgiven life, a healed life. He is not on some distant pulpit offering God's love; he is within the contexts of the people's lives. Without regard to what someone else might think.

These stories show us that faith is all that is needed to connect to this new and radical Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God only has to be trusted to be true.  Chapter 26 of We Make the Road By Walking says "when people trust it is true, they act upon it, and it becomes true. Our faith unlocks its potential."
Thinking of the Kingdom of God like an uprising, a faith uprising, is a kind of exciting prospect.  Even though it seems crazy to think of a world where the least are first and the shunned are saved, it isn't as crazy, says McLaren, as thinking that "a little more hate can conquer hate, a little more war can cure war, a little more pride can overcome pride..." and so on.

Perhaps trusting in the message of Jesus and following Jesus are one in the same. We can't help but follow if we trust in the radical message of discipleship he preaches.  These stories today suggest that our faith is what transforms the world. If we have faith, then our hearts and heads are transformed to a new way of living and that will allow us to change the world.

If the paralytic man or the tax collector had distrusted or been suspicious or cynical of the message of Jesus, they would not have had their lives transformed. But because they chose to open their hearts, to take a chance and invite themselves into the life of Jesus, their faith changed them.

What does it mean that Jesus changes these people's lives within the context of a home?  What does it mean that his message was received by many as life-saving, but by the religious leaders as blasphemous?  Who do we act more like today... the people who wanted to see Jesus or the cynical religious leaders?

Questions or comm

"Wedding Gifts"

John 2:1-12  Chapter 21 of We Make the Road By Walking by Brian McLaren

Have you ever wondered why miracles seem to happen so often in the Bible, but not anymore? Are you one of the skeptics who can't buy into the fact that the miracles of Jesus actually happened?  Miracles in the Bible can test our faith.  You either believe the stories and then get disheartened because children aren't risen from the dead or blind men cured of their blindness anymore, or you don't believe them and, in so doing, reduce your life to a smaller disenchanted version of a world where the impossible never happens.

In We Make the Road by Walking, we read of a third way to look at the miracle stories. Ch. 21 asks what if we look at the miracles in the Bible in a way that asks us "what happens to US when we imagine miracles happening?"  It suggests maybe the miracle stories are meant to shake up or normal assumptions and inspire us to imagine what might be possible if we can look at the world in more miraculous way.

The wedding in Cana, the setting of Jesus' first miracle, has run out off wine. Jesus' mother Mary encourages him to fix the problem, but he doesn't want to try. Doesn't think it is his place or time.  Off to the side, there are all these stone containers used to store water for the ritual baptisms we spoke of a few weeks ago. Containers, then, that are supposed to be a way to separate you from the unclean.  But they are empty.  And Jesus asks the servants to fill them with water.  And then he asks them to get some out and let the head of the banquet try it.  Suddenly, the water has been made into wine... the best wine... and all is well. The head of the banquet can't believe that the wedding party has saved the best wine till the lasst.

John says that this miracle in Cana is a sign. Signs point to something else. Send us in a deeper understanding of what is going on. They explain things.  What is this sign explaining?

What does it point to... the container that used to be used to separate the purified religious from the 'other' now being used to hold a celebratory beverage? An ABUNDANCE of celebratory beverage, in fact?  What does it mean that Jesus reimagined what the baptismal waters might be used for ONCE again, just as his cousin John did by baptizing in the river?  What does it mean that God shows in this miracle that the best is saved for the last?  (Ch 21, McLaren)

You see, the miracle stories are gifts to us.  This wedding story is a gift to us. We can see all the signs we see in this story as gifts... Gifts that keep on giving because they show us different ways of interpreting the message.  We can create new life in an old party by turning our own old water into a new wine.  We can reimagine our own church traditions and rituals in new and interesting ways. We can listen to the nudging of others who believe in us when they tell us we can indeed begin a ministry here and now in a new way.

What signs (messages, directions) do you get out of this story? What water into wine experiences might you want to be a part of in our church or in your own life?    Have you ever experienced a miracle? Have you ever prayed for a miracle that never came?  Sit with the words "empty," "full," and "transformed."

 I would love to hear your thoughts. Email me or comment below.

“Tempting Choices”

Luke 4:1-15

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

It is hard to believe, but just as soon as Jesus has his wonderful baptism moment he’s led to face harsh tests. He is baptized into the messiness of ministry in the world, and the dove of peace alights on his head, and now he’s being tempted by the devil.

It’s like God never cuts us a break, right? We do something really grand like publicly vowing our love for God and our desire to do God’s work in a new way in the world, and then BAM immediately we are in the desert suffering.

Like most people whose stories end up being worth sharing, whose movement ends up being worth following, Jesus has to be tested, to face trials, to see where this power he has been bestowed by God will take him.

And, though the force of evil, the Devil, (or whatever language you want to use to describe the tempter in this story), is strong and very tempting, Jesus is able to persevere. He is not a show-off and he isn’t interested in any shortcuts.  He doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody. He is able to remain steadfast to God.

Through a time of intentional fast in the desert, through the many temptations that pile up, Jesus keeps his eye on God, on his role, on his ultimate power through sharing love to the world.

McLaren writes, “So he will not use his power for personal comfort and pleasure. He will refuse unscrupulous means to achieve just and peaceful ends. He will not reach for spectacle over substance.”  When do we use our privilege and power to remain comfortable? Fill in the blank with any personal, corporate or political failings here. When do we think showy or gaining praise for our ‘event’ or what we do at church is better than touching the heart of God?

Jesus reminds us in this passage that following God, says McLaren, is “not driven by a human lust for pleasure, power, or prestige, but empowered by the Spirit. And of course if we want to join Jesus in his great work, we must face our own inner demons and discover the same Spirit-empowerment.”

The next part of the passage discusses how Jesus goes to his hometown saying the scripture is being fulfilled here and now… and the people cannot deal with that and nearly run him off a cliff. They actually are seething with rage that Jesus would suggest that the time is NOW for the scripture’s prophesies to be fulfilled.  So, he goes from fasting to temptation to near death… and he hasn’t even started his public ministry yet… he’s still a ministry candidate, so to speak…

Two things here stand out.  One is the idea that we can be so captivated by the lure of recognition and influence and power that we walk away from God, even in the realm of church work.  We want the praise for singing in the choir, or having a good sermon or delivering food to the OUR Center, and so we get intoxicated by the way praise feels, rather than working solely for God’s message to reach our community.

At the same time, we get so paralyzed by the thought of being rejected by those who criticize the church and what it stands for, and so we allow our harshest critics to ‘run us off a cliff’ rather than standing strong and working solely for God’s message to reach our community.

How DO we prepare to face God’s work in our lives? How might intentional fasting, or centering prayer, or meditation, or some other spiritual discipline help you to focus yoru mind more fully on God?

How do we rid ourselves of the temptation to seek praise and honor for what we do?  How do we stand firm and follow through with sharing God’s love with the world beyond our doors? How do we BECOME disciples and CREATE disciples?

Email me or comment below.

"Water+Prophet=Spirit Infusion"

Luke 3: 10-23;  Ch 19 We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren

So, Jesus is grown now.  And so is his cousin, blessed offspring of Elizabeth and Zechariah.  I really wish we had more stories about both of this men during their "coming of age" years, but alas, we don't.  And it's a shame because it's such an interesting stage of life...  I'd love to know how they got from their childhood years to the point see them meeting today.

As Brian McLaren tells us in Ch 19 of We Make the Road by Walking, John, cousin of Jesus, would have lived a privileged and comfortable life as the son of a priest. One assumes he will follow his father into Temple work, performing and officiating at the rituals of Jewish life... offering sacrifices, officiating at religious festivals, and performing ritual cleansings called baptisms.

Baptisms were performed to make one ritually clean because pilgrims coming to the temple might have been in contact with other people from other religions and cultures. So special bathing places were constructed so those entering could ceremoniously cleanse before they presented themselves to God in the temple.  It isn't as xenophobic as it sounds to us now because this was a group of people who were marginalized and occupied... they were trying to preserve their own religious identity in any way they could.

So how strange that Zechariah's son starts performing baptisms not like his father,  within the safe confines of the temple, but way out away from the temple... not in the holy baths... but out in the public in the river!  This in and of itself is a scandalous way to do ministry.  And he has traded his priestly robes and stoles for the fur of animals, the 'rough garments of a  beggar,' as McLaren calls them.

A clear protest against status-quo ritual.  A new baptism with a new intent is what John is offering. People don't need to move the temple out to the country, but to move themselves out of the temple.
And, in the words he utters in this text in Luke 3, we hear of what he expects them to do outside the temple... share their wealth and possessions with others, feed those who are hungry, treat people with equality and dignity.  He offers repentance (rethinking). He offers repentance (question your assumptions).  He offers repentance (turnaround). Don't look at baptism as a way to make yourself spiritually pure and cleansed so that you can be superior.. quite the opposite... baptize yourself and repent so that you might best be in solidarity with everyone, everywhere.

And, wonderfully, beautifully, in this setting... in this context... under these parameters and conditions, Jesus walks up to identify himself with this movement. To be baptize into this belief system. To begin his ministry by following the words of his cousin John.

And God is obviously pleased. Something descends from the sky like a dove and lands on his head (although, ohmygosh this scares the daylights out of me to think about...). And a voice from what seems to be On High says, "You are my son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

At 12, Jesus understood God as Father. Now here at age 30, Jesus is being recognized publicly by God as son.  This connection has gone public. And soon it will go viral.  The dove shows that peace is what this relationship ushers in... but of course the context and the words that John utters about repentance earlier suggest that won't be easy to come by.

So, John comes of age and becomes a prophet.  He leaves the holy water of the church behind and finds his ministry offering baptism waters out in the messy world. And Jesus, who stayed behind at the Temple as a 12-year old, now ventures outside too, to receive his own marching orders.  And God blesses this adventurous baptism.  The Spirit descends to offer peace.  And, in the words of the great Maurice Sendak,  "Let the wild rumpus start."

God wants us to create Peace on Earth, but not in the safety of our sanctuaries.  What on earth, then, are we to do with this instruction?  How do we repent (rethink, question our assumptions, and turn around)?  Why does it have to be so hard?

Email me or comment below.

“Destined to Shake Things Up”

Luke 2:39-­52 / Chapter Nineteen of We Make the Road By Walking by Brian McLaren)

THIS SUNDAY WE RECOGNIZE TWO IMPORTANT DAYS:

Human Relations Sunday and Human-Trafficking Awareness Sunday

January has been declared Human Trafficking Awareness month by President Obama for the past several years. In recognition of this, the Anti­Trafficking Task Force of Boulder will be hosting fellowship time after church on Sunday, January 18, 2015 with informational posters and books to peruse. Thanks to Linda Thompson for organizing this time of awareness. We hope to do more in the coming year to support this work.

What were you like at age 12? Are you much the same as you were then or VERY different?  Sadly, this week's scripture is the only glimpse we get into the childhood of one Jesus of Nazareth. Plenty of fictional accounts have been written of Jesus' growing up years, but this is the only biblical account we have.

The family of Mary, Joseph and young 12-year old Jesus (and likely some other children) was on the annual pilgrimage to Passover at the Temple in Jerusalem. It seems to be a large group traveling together, relatives, neighbors, friends, fellow villagers, traveling from Nazareth for the High Holy Days. This is a journey of some distance---over 60 miles-- not a short or quick trip, but a trip that likely took nearly a week each way. The large group all traveled together, though, so at first Mary and Joseph did not notice he wasn't with them. When they looked among the crowd and realized he wasn't there they did what any of us would do in the same situation. They panicked and began to frantically search everywhere for him.

Which brings to mind the fact that this is a real emotion happening right now with many families. A child has gone missing and they don't know where the child has gone.  Unfortunately, a very real problem in our society is often not talked about or only whispered about, but it is becoming more prevalent all the time.  That is the problem of human-trafficking... young girls and also young boys kidnapped or lured away and sold into human-trafficking enterprises, as slaves or prostitutes.  This day we are recognizing this very real concern and I ask that we pray for ways we can possibly help.  Denver is a hot spot for such crimes because it has intersecting interstates in I-25 and I-70 that crisscross the country. Children are lost each day in this horrible criminal way.  Churches can be voices for those who have none, offering to seek justice and change through whatever means we can.

Today is also Human Relations Sunday in the church. We recognize the work on behalf of marginalized and minority populations that goes on each day.  We recognize the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and others that led to the Civil Rights Act in this country and continued the slow crawl toward equality for all people. Recent events have perhaps led us to believe that we are headed backward instead of forward, but on this day we celebrate the legacy of those who have worked for human relations by vowing to do all we can to continue moving forward to a day when all people are treated equally and with the same dignity.

Mary and Joseph were terrorized, of course, when they couldn't find the boy Jesus on the road with the others. After three long days of searching, they found him in the Temple sitting among the leaders... They scold him the way any of us would "Why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick. We've been looking everywhere for you." Jesus very calmly replies "Didn't you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father's house?"  People often marvel here at this point in the scripture about the maturity of Jesus, sitting among the scholars, growing in wisdom by listening, learning, asking questions, seeking more information and new understandings.  I see it in a theoretical way, but the parent in me still wants to ground him for a month.... "LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, young man," I want to shout! We Of course, we know NOW that Jesus was destined to shake things up, and I suppose this is his first foray into consciously doing that.

At least Jesus is safe. And growing and learning in all the ways we want a child to be safe and grow and learn. At least he is protected here and was protected earlier when his family fled to Egypt to avoid Herod's wrath.  This is the kind of protection we want for all our kids.  And why we are called to protect and reach out to those who aren't in a safe place where they can grow in wisdom.  We want to create the kind of world where kids aren't picked out of crowd and criminalized, where kids aren't profiled for the color of their skin, where everyone feels safe and secure.

Lofty dream, perhaps. But we who are called Christian have signed on for being people who dream big. Like MLK, Jr and all those in the Civil Rights movement, like those who still fight battles for freedom from oppression today, we are called to make the world a Peaceable Kingdom. We are the people, followers of Jesus, who are destined to shake things up, just like those who came before us.

Jesus the boy was in the temple learning. In a sanctuary. Safe. Thank God. I still hope he got in some trouble for it, even if he felt called to be there. :)  But sometimes those destined to shake things up begin by coloring outside the lines or doing the unexpected. And that is a good thing. Even when it's hard to recognize. 

What are your impressions of the boy Jesus?  How can you grow in wisdom in the days ahead? To whom or about what do you need to listen, learn, ask questions and seek more information and new understandings? Email me or comment below.