Lump of Coal

Isaiah 6:6-8

1 Kings 19:1-15b

These two scriptures have been fundamental as per my call story. However, until recently I did not realize how they connected. The 1 Kings passage I am sure is familiar to you and I am always reminded to listen for God in the still small voice within me and/or in the silence and to not expect God in the dramatic and loud. This is certainly important for everyone to follow God, to respond to your call (be it ordained ministry, or wherever God is calling you). I did discover another important part of this pericope from 1 Kings that relates to call and became obvious from Isaiah's call story in the temple.

Isaiah is able to say "Here am I; send me!" after the seraph took the coal and removed his guilt and sin. This image always reminds me of my initial calling to ministry as a child. I grew up in the Roman Catholic tradition and was preparing for my first communion 30 plus years ago. Each week we went to church my mother, sister, and I would not go forward for communion. The closer it came to my first communion the more I realized that my mother was not receiving communion. I finally asked her why she did not, and she told me because she married my father outside the church due to him having been divorced and thus she was not allowed to have communion. I then started to worry because I was a result of this unrecognized marriage that I should not be allowed to the communion table as well. As Disciples we uphold an open table, but in the Roman Church it is Close or Closed Table. That is we Disciples believe that the sacrament/ordinance is educational in nature and thus someone who does not believe may actually discover Christ in the partaking, thus nobody is turned away from the table, while the Roman Catholic (& other denominations) believe the sacrament is of a nurturing nature. Therefore, only members and those deemed worthy are invited to the table. This is one of the criticisms of the early founders of the Restoration Movement that the Christian Church (DOC) came out of, which encouraged us to always have an open table. I then asked my mother and the nuns why I should be allowed to partake in communion if I am a product of an unrecognized marriage. The response was correct, which was that does not affect me; however they did not convince me. I still worried that I was squeaking by to receive communion. I do not remember the actual first communion service, but rather the rehearsal the day before, I recall being shown where the host was kept and seeing in the sacristy. But I vividly remember sitting in the pews when the Deacon started telling us how the actual event would take place. We were sitting there with our little stoles that we made in CCD over both shoulders, Deacons in the Roman Catholic Church only wear a stole over one shoulder. The Deacon then joked that he was jealous of all us as he was waiting to be allowed to wear his stole over both shoulders as a Priest. All the other children simply laughed, but I then thought I had to become a Priest myself, as I sat there with a stole over both my shoulders in God's house and I would be taking communion the next day just squeaking by as a child of an unrecognized marriage. I did not dare speak up, for I did desire to have communion, but I felt all this guilt upon me. Even though it was truly underserved guilt it was real to me.

I then carried my prayer book around and would recite prayers for every occasion. I was deeply concerned about following the rules. Then about six months later I was on the church grounds and remember feeling as if a light was upon me and I realized that God did not want me to become a priest because I thought I had to, rather God wanted me to say yes knowing my guilt and sin had been removed. It was as if a lump of coal had touched my lips and I knew the resurrection was for me as well, and then I was able to say "Here am I; Send me!" Of course I did not end up a priest but found my way to the Christian Church with the open table where I go often and reminded of that experience on the church lawn.

How does this relate to the 1 Kings pericope? Well not only did I hear God in the silence and knew my inherited guilt was wiped away, but the word coal used in Isaiah is only used in 1 Kings and nowhere else in the Bible. The Hebrew word for "hot coals" (resapim) was what the seraph touches Isaiah's lips as well as what the messenger used to bake cake for Elijah. These made me realize that not only does God want us to follow because we are saved from our sins and guilt, but we will also be sustained by God. I realize now that our open table not only is of the educational nature, but includes the nourishing nature as well. An open table is inclusive of both natures. God with his lump of coal in these scriptures wipes our guilt away and bakes us cake to sustain us in our journey. Communion does the same.

AMEN

 

Rectify

Galatians 2:15-21

Paul is writing to the Galatians about the infamous Antioch incident. This is the time when the issue of the gentile Christians needing to follow the Jewish laws and traditions come to a head for Paul. See Peter (Cephas) had been visiting for a while and had been sharing in table fellowship with every believer, those of Jewish decent like himself and gentile decent. However, when a contingency came from Jerusalem from James, Peter drew back from open table fellowship in fear of the reaction of the circumcision faction (as Paul named those that require the continuation of Jewish laws and customs). This was outrageous to Paul, and it seems he lost the argument this particular time for how he writes about it with passion, and Luke the writer of Acts writes about the incident matter-of-factly. Yet we know that Paul ultimately wins this theological argument, for we do not keep kosher. (I do love Hebrew International Hot Dogs, but it is not required to be a Christian).

So Paul then writes this theological statement about the justification through faith in Jesus Christ. Now today we hear the word justify and we cannot help but think of validation and/or vindication of someone's actions, however Paul is making it clear that our salvation does not come from our own actions, such as following the works of the law. One may simply look at this problem as being passé for the vast majority of Christians are not of Jewish decent and we do not require the works of the law. As written above, Paul did win this argument, yet today we slip back into some of the same problems of the early church. Church should not be a place where the rules and traditions dictate salvation, for salvation is God's acting alone.

Paul believes it is the faith in Christ which then justifies an individual, which in our English sounds as if our faith validates our salvation. This is not what Paul really meant when he penned dikaioo), for when we translate it to justify we imply vindication and validation, which is exactly what Paul is critical of the works of the law. However, the word can be translated also as rectify, which demonstrates we are put in the right only by responding to God's Grace and Love in our faith of the Christ. For when you read that one is rectified by faith in Christ, there is no way to assume that what you did makes you deserve salvation, rather, your faith has allowed God to put you right, "saved you." It is not what we do but we must respond to God's Grace with faith so we may be rectified.

From the Greek word dikaioo), the translation to English via the Latin Root becomes "Justify" and via the Anglo-Saxon root "Rectify." While I believe the latter is better suited as I stated above, having grown up in print shops I cannot help but think of how printers use the word justification. You may remember when you used a typewriter or anytime you use a word processing program, that you must justify the margins. This use more closely resembles the theological use Paul desires, for it also does not imply validation or vindication. Each page needs to be justified as per its use and the creator of the document is the one that determines the margins. We are blank pages to God since Jesus wiped our sins off the page with His time on the tree and the empty tomb. As blank pages we need direction and guidance from God, but not in the form of rules and regulations, but margins visible by the Creator God and known on each individual.

We are rectified through our faith in Jesus Christ, and we are justified as a page of living scripture to be a witness.

One Gospel

Galatians 1:11-24

 

Paul is writing to the Galatians about his authority to preach the Gospel. One group of scholars believe Paul is responding to the criticism that he was not one of the twelve who knew the earthly Jesus, thus Paul writes that his revelation came through the resurrected Lord Jesus and not by any human. We do not have any source of any criticism specifically on his authority, but one can see how it is reasonable to believe Paul has to make it clear his authority came not from any man. However, some other scholars will argue that Paul is making it clear that he was not too connected with the Jerusalem church to these Galatians. See the Galatians were mostly pagan converts and thus were not interested in being required to participate in the Jewish laws, such as keeping kosher and being circumcised. There is certainly evidence that the Jerusalem church did originally require Jewish law and/or a two tier church (separate but equal, which doesn't work, which Paul would argue). Thus Paul makes it clear he did not even go to Jerusalem for three years and when he did he only met Peter, the leader, and James, Jesus' brother, the best two names to mention. A third group of scholars actually don't believe this was a response to a specific criticism; rather Paul was making a specific point to the Galatians. I believe he understood that there was both camps in Galatia and some even asked both questions, thus making this a great statement of authority, and especially for this specific church.

What is scary about this scripture is how it has been used by individuals to claim authority via a revelation of the Risen Lord Jesus. This scripture alone may even support that idea, however, this is specific letter and thus important to look at all of Paul's letters and the Gospels as well. For instance, Paul makes it clear that he is sharing the message he had received from others in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul also mentions the importance of the interdependency of the church whenever he wrote of the Body of Christ (the Church). Paul clearly states that one may speak in tongues but there needs also one with the gift of interpretation. Paul knows there is a history and also one Spirit we are all baptized into.

Thus it reminds me of the game "Telephone" (or "Gossip" as it was corrected from the choir) in which you get a circle of children and tell something to the first child and then they pass it on to the next and so forth until it comes all the way back to the first. Often what is repeated is nothing like what was originally stated. The way we evangelize we may depend only on our own experience or only on what the church tells us (our revelation of the Christ or our Tradition). If we truly want to be effective of this game "telephone" with telling the Gospel, evangelizing, we must check with where the message is coming in our tradition AND check with our own revelation of the Risen Christ, to assure we pass on the One Gospel. It may not always sound exactly the same, however, this will assure the One Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

New Math

Matthew 28:16-20

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

 

I love math. I am not a mathematician, but I was the only one in the Match Club at my college who was not a major in math. Part of this love of math came from a geometry class that proved to me the importance of faith. I remember sitting in the back of the room in the first or second class of the semester and the good teacher went to the blackboard and put one dot on the board and said, "that's one point," he then put a second on the board, "two points make a line," he then put a third point, "three points not on the same line make a plane," then pointing out in the classroom, "and a fourth point not on the plan, makes space," he then paused and said, "that is all based on our faith that one point exists, all math is based on the faith of one point existing." Going to the smallest physical points one can prove that the point is a wave or something else, but math needs for one point to exist. And even if you do not understand what I am writing about, I hope you can understand for me I understood that my life was given meaning and order because I have faith in the One God.

The scriptures are two of the closest ways our scriptures acknowledge the Trinity. However, much of Paul's letters make it clear that he still believed in one God. Even here Paul writes as the Lord Jesus and the communion of the Holy Spirit thus not directly calling those two actually God. It is where he comes the closest, but generally he writes about us getting closer to God through Jesus, and working in communion with the same Spirit. Paul is just as all the early followers believed in the One True God. However, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is difficult for the church to explain to those that did believe in the One God or to those who believed in many gods, that this 3 was also one.

Remember New Math? If you don't it was a pedagogy that was pushed on American students and Western European students in the 1960's with the purpose of catching us up with the Soviets who where in space already. The problem was that this method of teaching emphasized theory, some of which the teachers did not know well (if at all) and the parents were frustrated as they could barely help with their children's homework. Remnants of this pedagogy did remain through our education system, but in a decade or so, making sure the majority of students understood basic arithmetic returned to the classroom.

Just as the tradition of the Triune God, Three in One, the Trinity, can be debated and defined by theologians, it is not important to be hung up on the New Math. Rather the simple arithmetic of this Church Tradition. The Trinity represents that God's self is in RELATIONSHIP with God's self. Thus we are also to be in relationship. If it was just Jesus and the Creator God the model would be God in relationship with humanity. Having the three reminds us that we are in relationship with God, each other, and God is in relationship with us individually and with all of humanity. It is still mystery that the one true God can be of three personas, but that brings me back to having faith in the one true God. To have faith is to be fine with the mystery and thus understand that having faith in the One God will thus make the whole world work together in relationship.

Holy Mystery

Acts 2: 1-21

Pentecost/Baptisms

I walked out to the floor after reading the scripture with a classic paper airplane. I then shared how I learned how to fold that design when I was perhaps just 6 years old in my uncle's house in Gig Harbor, Washington. I do not even remember which older cousin taught me the folds but I remembered what I had to do, to fly the plane. Often it flew upside down as it did when I threw it. For generations and for that matter millenniums, humans did not understand flight, but appreciated it when they saw the bird. Just as I appreciated the throwing of my first airplane, I did not understand why it flew but I enjoyed it.

See we emphasize knowledge so much but I tell you if someone told me they knew everything about God, I would tell you they are missing something. If one told me they knew everything about church tradition and history, I would tell you they are missing something. If they told me they knew everything about the Bible right down to the Hebrew and the Greek, I would tell you they are missing something. If they told me they knew how God was working in their lives and what God has plans for them I would certainly tell you they are missing something.

When the Spirit blew through that room of Galileans and drew everyone to see what happened it was beyond comprehension. Some simply enjoyed the experience and opened themselves to hear the word of God and others mocked. When Peter got up to explain this event he started with Joel, which was a great place to begin. However, what was more important was the experience itself and how it led others to believe following Jesus as the way to the One God. It was an unbelievable experience that could not be explained in human terms. All of the sudden these 11 Galileans could share the Gospel in any native tongue, thus foreshadowing the fulfillment of the great commission. Sending the Gospel around the globe as everyone is able to be saved.

Well the two boys who were baptized today will need to continue to learn about God. And it will be our responsibility as church to continue their education. From learning about the Bible, to church tradition and history, from how it is we explain God, for instance as the Trinity, to how God is working in their lives, will be important for each of us to nurture them in greater understanding. Yet today I tell you that they can share and teach each of us about the part that is missing for most of us adults. That is understanding the Holy Mystery. See we tell children that God is so big God is everywhere and yet small enough God is in our hearts, and they are fine with that. We speak of a God that judges and yet loves and forgives all, and they are fine with that. We speak of One God with three personas the Trinity and while they may say "huh" they are generally fine with that, for they understand God is beyond understanding. They understand that one must have faith in God. One must be able to be fine with the Holy Mystery that is God and work with Faith. The Holy Spirit is that quiet breeze that directs us when we have faith, when we are fine with the Holy Mystery.

I then took out a red paper airplane that is shaped more like a tube and said I have no idea how this flies, but I have faith it does and threw it. (well two times it flew ok and then flew very well).

 

AMEN

 

Winnowing Wind

Luke 3:7-18

Sounds like good news doesn't it? "The ax lying at the root…" "you brook of vipers!," well it is the Good News. This sermon was a two part sermon in part because some were exiting and entering as we had our blood drive before during and after the service. That way there was a better chance for someone to catch one of the two.

The first was about John's baptisms. We know that baptisms were not started by the followers of Christ, which is evident here as John is baptizing people in the Jordan before Jesus starts his earthly ministry. John is preparing the way for Jesus, but others were also baptizing for multiple of reasons, but John foreshadows what our Christian Baptism would become. For John preached that his baptism with water was a sign of repentance (turning to God) for the Kingdom of God in near. The Christian Baptism becomes not only a sign of repentance, but unifying with Christ's resurrection. Now those that were being baptized on this day were turning to God and asked the profit John, "What then should we do?" and John answers very specifically. It is not a simply an answer like, love God, lover everyone and be good. It is specific and financial in nature. The first it to everyone and it says one should share what they have extra and the second two ask people who are in positions of power to not use it for their own benefit. In contemporary society it would not be simply about sharing your coat and your food, but through the church we are able to fulfill this way of sharing what we have as "extra." We never feel it is "extra" but when we pledge we are demonstrating our commitment to follow Jesus, that we give priority to turning to God.

After John had given this stewardship sermon to those gathered and noticed that they were contemplating he may be the Messiah, he tells of Jesus coming. The Good News. Jesus is coming with a winnowing fork to clear the threshing floor gathering the wheat and burning the chaff. This does not sound like the Jesus I learned about in Sunday School. John does say the ax sits at the base of the tree and I do there will be a judgment for those that do not repent, and Psalm One uses this metaphor of wheat and chaff to refer to separate individuals, good and wicked. However, John reference to the ax was to those that presupposed that they were part of the chosen because their ancestor was Abraham. John is not referring to simply the chaff and wheat, but that Jesus is coming to do the threshing with fork in hand. To understand you must know that each grain has chaff that must be removed. Today we have breed our crops to make it easy and have machines, but in the days of John and Jesus, the farmer would have to toss the grains in the air on a windy day. The movement and the wind would separate the chaff from the wheat on each individual grain. Thus Jesus comes and works on each of us individually as we all have chaff that needs to be removed. This is the Good News because Jesus will work on us, with the help of the Holy Spirit (Ruach/Wind). Each of us we repent and receive our baptism of water, but it is Jesus who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (wind) and fire. A baptism that is actually working that Jesus does on us each individually.

The Color Assumption

Acts 16:9-15

 

Happy Mother's Day, this scripture is perfect for Mother's day. Lydia is essentially one of the first church "mothers" along with others mentioned in Acts. Like Tabitha the only one named as a disciple (Acts 9:36) and Pricilla and Aquila who in Acts 18:24-26 are described as teachers. Specifically correcting Ephesus on the "Way of God." See Lydia came down to the river to pray with others God worshippers and she had her whole household baptized. Made me think about my own household and upon reflection it was my mom that was in charge of our church going and faith. This may be your experience as well as it seems that mothers are in charge of the faith, but that is simply a stereo type. For instance, my son parents are both ordained ministers (Pray for him). Yet even he goes to his mom when he gets hurt over me, and I think that is one aspect of God to be like a mother. When Luke, the writer of Acts, writes about going down to the river it is mentioned they talk to many women but they mention Lydia specifically as she had her whole household baptized.

I reflect back on the first house I can remember at 4 y.o. when we moved to New England from New York. See my mom was in charge of the house and my dad felt he was in charge of the land. See my dad came from Rural poverty and had not had land for at least 12 years when he left for college on a scholarship. My mom came from city poverty as a first generation American and she had lost her father at the age of seven, making it very difficult to have enough money. My mom decorated the house and choice the church, while my dad saw to the garden. He got a pig. He was excited to raise animals again, but he commuted into New York City everyday leaving the pig to the "city girl." Needless to say the next year we had a well fertilized garden.

My mom was in charge of the house, but the point is not on women as leaders in this scripture but the assumption based on money.

Having a pig in a the affluent town was not normal in this town in Connecticut and while we were never as poor as our parents grew up it was less then the "norm" and for some they looked down on us for having a pig, or a car not running in the driveway, etc. (a culture not shaken easily) Once even someone gave my mom this compliment after discovering she was first generation American "you should be scrubbing my toilet." This created one of my mother's favorite sayings, "I don't care if you have money, if you don't care that I don't."

This is the real point of this scripture. See Paul and Silas went and it states they talked to the women, and as the other scriptures in Acts I shared earlier it was normal to have women in roles of leadership. Paul makes that clear with his statement in Galatians 3:28 "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." In this scripture, it is more important that Lydia sells purple. I cannot emphasize enough how rare and valuable her merchandise is in the time period. She is rich. Rich enough that she is probably a widow who had enough money to keep her household herself, which would include slaves and many families as a household was an economic unit larger then our contemporary idea of household. She was very rich and "well-to-do" and yet she was going down to the river to meet with the Jews who worshiped the one God. Curious about knowing the one God she went to the river and met Paul and ultimately met Jesus through the witness she found. The point here is that we often hear in church how we must help the poor and marginalized. I will often preach that and witness that, yet I do not want to forget my mother's wise advice, "I don't care if you have money, if you don't care that I don't." This for me reminds me that people who drive nice cars and seem to have it all are also broken and are looking for something at the "river," at church. A great example of this is the blood drive we will be participating in next week, for we will be giving our blood to others who need it despite their social economic position. This is really what the Gospel is about, Jesus gave blood to help everyone poor and rich. So next time you think someone has it all together, remember Lydia who went down to the river for something found Jesus and thus her whole household was baptized.