To Be born Anew 4/12/17

recording of the sermon is here

Today we have a Pharisee, Nicodemus sneaking over to see Jesus in the cover of the night. But who were the Pharisees.  Besides the accounts in Mathew when Jesus throws at them the seven woes, as Christians, we do not hear much about them.

Matt 23:31-33 "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?"

 Matt 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in."

So, who were these Pharisees?

Per that font of wisdom Wikipedia; “The Pharisees /ˈfærəˌsiːz/ were at various times a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought in the Holy Land during the time of Second Temple Judaism. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Pharisaic beliefs became the foundational, liturgical and ritualistic basis for Rabbinic Judaism.”[1]

There were conflicts between the Pharisees and the Sadducees one, the Sadducees were more Hellenistic or Greek allowing only for the written law with Greek philosophy while the Pharisees honored Oral history of the Torah, the prophets and the writings as well as they supported the resurrection of the dead.

“During the start of His ministry the body of Pharisees would have been interested to hear what Jesus had to say. They were interested to hear what any teacher in Israel had to say. The problem that they had with Jesus was His monumental claims and the authority in which He spoke. No man had ever spoken like this man, and no man had ever won the favor of the masses so quickly and so thoroughly. He even went so far as to claim that He was the very reason for Torah and the fulfillment of it. Their opposition against him grew to the point that they had plotted His death. When Jesus was to be arrested, the Pharisees were among those that came to take Him away:”[2]

John 18:2-3 "Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons"

So why Let this Pharisee in?  Why have an audience with him?  Well for one we know Jesus believed in the teachings of the Pharisees.

Matt 23:1-4 "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

Jesus’ problem with the Pharisees is that they were hypocrites however, as in any group, not all were hypocrites and some were very good men.

“It is also important to note that all of the Pharisees were not like those described in Matthew 23. The gospels contain references to Pharisees who were admirable men. Nicodemus is an excellent example of what a Pharisee ought to have been. He was genuinely a seeker of truth (John 3:1 ff.) (Todays reading), spoke out for justice on behalf of Jesus (John 7:50) [i.e. Here Nicodemus ask the others to hear Jesus out before condemning him], and remained a follower of Jesus even after the disciples had fallen away (John 19:39) [i.e. when Nicodemus brings herbs and aloe to the tomb].

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin and he looked for the kingdom of God (Mark 15:43), he was almost certainly a Pharisee, he also did not consent to the decision to do away with Jesus (Luke 23:51) [i.e. in Luke he disagrees with the Pharisees decision]. He was a disciple of Jesus "secretly, for fear of the Jews" (John 19:38) and he made final provisions for the body of Jesus.

There were no doubt many such Pharisees who believed in Jesus, yet probably secretly. Even those who were not necessarily believers could display admirable traits: Gamaliel argued for open-mindedness (Acts 5:34 ff.); others warned Jesus of an attempt on His life: Luke 13:30-31 "On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."[3]

In Luke, there are at least three separate occasions ion which Jesus dines at a Pharisees home.

So, in this conversation we hear Jesus tell Nicodemus that he must be born form above or anew.  The issue here is Jesus seems to be saying one thing and Nicodemus is understanding another thing.  But the Greek word used in the line has two meanings.  Even in our language today being born “anew” would not make us jump to the conclusion that one means for us to be being physically born again.  But this confusion and this statement may be part of Johns intent.

And then, according to the seven times Journal; “Jesus' reply seems unrelated to Nicodemus' statement. Why did He respond in this way?

According to some commentators, Jesus' response was to Nicodemus' inability to "see" beyond a certain point. The Pharisee was willing to acknowledge that Jesus was "a teacher come from God," but was not willing to accept Him as the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Son of God. Thus, Nicodemus was unable to "see," or experience, the operation of the Kingdom. He had only seen a visible sign, but was unable to "see," with spiritual perception, the invisible Kingdom of God.”[4]

I believe Jesus is trying to get the Pharisee, Nicodemus, to move beyond his tradition to move past a practical theology and into a spiritual, more esoteric way of viewing life. A new way of being in the world.

I like the way Jesus explains it in the message Bible;

“5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.”[5]

“We are spiritual beings having a human experience” I am sure you may have heard this said before.  Dr. Wayne dryer likes to quote it and attribute it to de Chardin but there is no proof that Chardin ever actually said it.  But that is beside the point.  The point is we are spiritual beings and we must renew ourselves make ourselves a new by spirit.

So how does one go about making oneself anew to be born from above?  Prayer and practice!  Just look at Christ’s ministry it is all prayer and practice. If he is not teaching us how to be in the world if he is not leading either by example or parable then he is teaching us to pray or going off to pray.

Richard Rohr reminds us that “Jesus’s own style of teaching in stories, parables, and enigmatic sayings was undoubtedly learned in his own prayer practices.  He clearly operated from a consciousness different from that of the masses and even that of the religious leaders who largely fought him.  Most seemed to misunderstand him, or even ignore him, despite what seem to be astounding healing and miracles.”[6]  Even Nicodemus who sought out the teacher still confused what Jesus was trying to say so that Jesus had to explain it again.

We often tend to focus on Jesus’ miracles but Jesus had a strong prayer life. “Jesus himself seemed to prefer a prayer of quiet, something more than social, liturgical, or verbal prayer, which is mentioned only a very few times.  What we do hear are frequent references such as ‘In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place to pray.’ (Mark 1:35; also in Matthew 14:23 and Mark 1:12-13) Luke describes him as praying privately before almost all major events. There are the forty days alone in the desert, which means he must have missed the family-based Sabbath observances and the public temple services.  And of course, there is his final prayer alone in the Garden of Gethsemane.”[7]

Richard Rohr Points out that Jesus taught us “You should go to your private room, shut the door, and pray to your Creator who is in that secret place.” (Matthew 6:6)  This is again rather explicit and also intimately invitational, especially because most homes of his people would have had no such thing as a private room.”[3]

But some people Caught what Jesus was teaching, he was teaching of seeking a quiet place.  This quiet private space does not need to be physical.  It can be spiritual, it can be done in group much as it is done here today.

“We need no wings to go in search of

God, but have only to find a place where we

can be alone and look upon Him present

within us.” These words were written by St.

Teresa of Avila in her book The Way of

Perfection”[8]

One way to look upon God present within us is to sit quietly, breathe slowly and focus on a word or phrase from the Bible.  Allow whatever calls to you maybe in the daily reading or through the ancient practice of Bible roulette.  Sit with the phrase or word for just 5 minutes in the morning, do it again 5 minutes somewhere in your lunch hour and again at the end of the day.  This is one way you stay connected to the spirit of God.  You stay washed anew from above.

Maybe you’re a person who needs something more concrete more rigorous.  There is the liturgy of the hours.

“The Liturgy of the hours consists of;

Matins (during the night, at midnight with some); also called Vigils or Nocturns or, in monastic usage, the Night Office

Lauds or Dawn Prayer (at Dawn, or 3 a.m.)

Prime or Early Morning Prayer (First Hour = approximately 6 a.m.)

Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer (Third Hour = approximately 9 a.m.)

Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour = approximately 12 noon)

None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour = approximately 3 p.m.)

Vespers or Evening Prayer ("at the lighting of the lamps", generally at 6 p.m.)

Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring, generally at 9 p.m.)

This arrangement of the Liturgy of the Hours is attributed to Saint Benedict. However, it is found in Saint John Cassian's Institutes and Conferences,[12] which describe the monastic practices of the Desert Fathers of Egypt.

You can see if you are living a monastic life in community with this schedule Christ and God are always in your heart and on your mind.  For the average me, I mean the average Joe this is a bit umm shall we say tight.

But there are lighter versions around such as the divine hours as interpreted by Phyllis Tickle there are four books for each of the seasons and a special book for Christmas time.  They consist of prayers listed day by day with morning, midday, and vespers, now if you are really disciplined there is an order to be recited right before bed.

The concept for those who practice the hours is that all over the world there are Christians everywhere praying all the time the same psalms and songs and prayers.  There is the universal connection to the other and each other.  The problem still is this is a much-disciplined practice and very difficult for those who live normal everyday first world lives.”[9]

There are many many ways to keep yourself refreshed and anew.  There are many ways to seek out the connection from above.  You are called to do so.  We as Christians are called to do so.  We are called to take time on the Sabbath, we are called to walk the path, the way of Christ and in that way we are called to be born anew in the spirit daily.

For some that may mean a walk on a quite path, for others that may mean doing something artistic creative and yet highly focused.  For others, it may be chanting or meditating.  Still for others it may be dancing.

I would encourage any and all to seek out a retreat for yourself some quiet time that is just between you and God.  Perhaps you need to journey with someone to talk out your spiritual needs?  I also strongly support the concept of having a spiritual companion, friend, spiritual director.  This si a person professionally trained to walk with someone on their spiritual journey.  They are there to help you notice the all the richness of the path you are on.

I encourage you to seek out a spiritual practice that works for you. The season of lent is always a great time to do this.  Instead of giving something up one can take on a spiritual practice. It is a way to seek to be born anew, form above, everyday. May God continue to bless us as we continue our spiritual journey amen!

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[1] wikipedia, The Pharisees, February 27, 2017, accessed March 6, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees.

[2] Bible History Online, Jesus and the Pharisees, 2016, accessed March 6, 2017, http://www.bible-history.com/pharisees/PHARISEESJesus_and_the_Pharisees.htm.

[3] Bible History Online, Jesus and the Pharisees, 2016, accessed March 6, 2017, http://www.bible-history.com/pharisees/PHARISEESJesus_and_the_Pharisees.htm.

[4] Vance A. Stinson, "Born From Above" ... Or ... "Born Again?,” 2012, accessed March 7, 2017, http://7times.org/newsletter/bornagain.shtml.

[5] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message Remix: (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2003), 1929.

[6] Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See (New York: Crossroad Pub., 2009).

[7] Ibid.

[8] Joseph Shore-Goss, The Persistent Widow's call to us...Pray Constantly, October 24, 2016, accessed March 7, 2017, http://revjoeshore.blogspot.com/search?q=prayer.

[9] Joseph Shore-Goss, They will produce Much fruit, May 10, 2015, accessed March 7, 2017, http://revjoeshore.blogspot.com/2015/05/john-15-1-8-then-you-will-produce-much_10.html.

what Kind of Child of God are we called to be?

 one can listen tot eh sermon Here!

What kind of Child of god are we called to be?

Today’s Gospel has Jesus filled with the holy spirit being led out into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days.

“To fast simply means to voluntarily abstain from eating and/or drinking for

an extended period of time.

Biblical fasting is a discipline of voluntarily denying one’s self of the basics

of eating to be available for prayer and communion with the Lord. Since it

is an ultimate act of self-denial, you are simply entering into an intense training in

righteousness.

You can fast for one day, one week, or just one meal. You can fast from one

type of food or from all foods. You can fast or abstain from solid foods or all foods

and liquids. It is during this time of abstinence from food that you are to spend

time seeking the Lord in Bible study, prayer and meditation.

The discipline of fasting is designed to separate you from your perceived

life support so you can focus exclusively on the Lord, your actual life support.

Fasting is the one discipline Jesus promised would bring about supernatural results.

Fasting just one time will be equivalent to having one good workout in the

gym. You may feel great for a while, but you will experience new lasting effects in

the long term”.[1]

Forty days and nights were a long time to go without food but I believe the fast Jesus was on might have looked more like something we dee during Ramadan.  Literally defined, fasting means to abstain "completely" from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset. 

Unlike Ramadan that happens in the communities of faith, the Gospel says Jesus was out in the wilderness. So, unless Jesus brought a caravan of Food supplies I suspect his fast looked more like what John was doing when he lived in the wilderness.

I would also venture this may have been Jesus’ motivation.  He knew John. John was his cousin.  He was aware of the Baptizers preaching of redemption and the life he was living.  It is said that the holy spirit led z to the wilderness.  In this choice, it may also have become a time of discernment, speculation and revelation.

God sent the Godself to earth to be born of woman and become fully human and fully alive.  God became human to learn, grow, and to experience what his creation meant.  What it meant to be well human.

That leads to after 30 years of being a good son.  Learning to be a carpenter.  Learning what it meant to be a Jewish man raised in the town of Nazareth. The spirit started to move something in his heart.  He suddenly had to make a change.  What was the catalyst for this drastic move we don’t know?  But suddenly he decides to go off to the wilderness for forty days, where he fasts, and prays.

Of course, the main thing every one recalls and pays attention to is what is called the temptation of Christ. While hungry, dehydrated, exhausted and probably, literally prayed out Satan comes to challenge Christ.  To give him three opportunities to stray from his path.

I think the First temptation is the most tempting.  I don’t know about you but I love baked dread.  There is nothing like the smell of it as the aroma fills the house.  Letting it cool on the window sill or counter till it is finally cool enough to slice into.  So now I have got you all thinking about fresh baked bread, right!

So now imagine being hungry and tired and someone reminds you hey you can just go make yourself a loaf.  Not just make yourself a loaf of bread but just command these stones to do it and they will become bread for you.

This temptation, one could say, it hits at the heart of what is the root of humanity.  I mean food and water is what is needed to be alive.  Food is desperately needed and wanted when one is hungry.  So, after forty days of fasting you can bet this hits Christ right where it means to be human.

This temptation would so appease what Jesus wants and needs but in the refusal, we are called to be better.  In Jesus’ refusal to accept the offer, challenge, distraction from Satan he sets and example.  He does not seek personal satisfaction.  And answers this temptation with “it is written people won’t live only by bread but by every word spoken by God” (Matt4:4) “Jesus refused to make his personal needs the center of his life but continued focus on God’s plans and trust God.  Jesus teaches us to resist temptation for personal reasons.”[2]

As we are born into this world as Human so was Jesus. This temptation is very real and translatable to us as this is about “ME”! Right?  This is about our basic needs what we want here and now.  What we want when we want it.  How many times has what I needed or I wanted got in the way of what God was calling me to do or calling me to be? I wonder and no I am not going to start listing my personal failings for you all to enjoy that was rhetorical.

In the second temptation Satan takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple.  Now even looking at the temple mount today that sit high above sea level at 2430 ft.  Now that is the height of the base structure you add a temple on top of that and some turrets and pillars well on can imagine the height must had been dizzying.

Satan says to Jesus if you are the only begotten throw yourself down “and here the devil uses a verse of Scripture (Psalm 91:11–12), but the Lord replies again with Scripture to the contrary (Deuteronomy 6:16), stating that it is wrong for Him to abuse His own powers”[3] the psalm Satan uses is a psalm of Moses and God is saying how the people will be protected as they are the chosen people.  Talk about using scripture out of context. So, Jesus rebukes him using Deuteronomy out of context.  See the c setting is commanding the Jewish people to follow Yhwh and not to follow the examples of others around them who worship other Gods.  Yhwh reminds them that he has a short fuse and do not test me.

All in all, this is a mighty big production Satan has put before Jesus but again Jesus stands his ground, um pinnacle.  He is not about to allow his own being be used to sensationalize himself.  He was not about to attract attention to himself by attempting this grand act just for Satan’s enjoyment or anyone else’s.  Jesus refused to put himself in front of God.

As we are born into this world as Human so was Jesus. This temptation is very real and translatable to us as this is about look at what I can do.  So many times, we lose our spiritual center.  The prayerful ministry we are called to do as individuals can and has become less about ministry and more about look what I can do.  Ministry becomes self-promotion as opposed to self-sacrifice and gift.

.  How many times has what I done and what I felt needed to be done go in the way of what God wanted to be done?  How many times were people’s hearts, spirits broken because I made a ministry about me? Because I made some project about being perfect so I looked good instead of making it about God and the people so that good was done?

Then, as if the temple wasn’t scary enough Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain and shows him all the kingdoms and offered them to him. The site Got questions dot org say this about the final temptation;

 “and if any quick route to the Messiahship could be attained, bypassing the passion and crucifixion for which He had originally come, this was the way. The devil already had control over the kingdoms of the world (Ephesians 2:2) but was now ready to give everything to Christ in return for His allegiance. But the mere thought almost causes the Lord’s divine nature to shudder at such a concept and He replies sharply, “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Deuteronomy 6:13).”[4]

“Jesus resist the temptation for power and control and again uses free will to resist temptation.”[5] He does not let the concept of power and control and/or riches of the kingdoms sway him.  He stays faithful to his path.

How many times have I allowed the concept of power, control or even financial stability sway we from where God has called me to be?  How many times did I say yes to the easy light path or maybe it was the expected path.  Not necessarily being tempted by power but perhaps giving into to power and influence as opposed to doing what God would want or has called me to be. I wonder.

Ministry Matters website reminds us:

Most of the time, without any real thought, we do what we want to do and make inferior choices. We trivialize sin when we think of it as an error in judgment. Sin is a flawed approach to decision making that leads us to the worst decision with which we can be comfortable. In a thousand ways, we get used to making lesser choices. We’re so used to choosing what’s easiest that deciding to become more than we are doesn’t occur to us.

Yet it’s always possible to be true to the higher calling. Jesus is baptized in the muddy water of the Jordan River. The voice from heaven proclaims, “You are my child, my beloved, in you I am well pleased.” Then Jesus goes to the middle of nowhere to decide what kind of child he’s going to be.”[6]

This time of Lent is an opportunity for each one of us to enter an intentional time of prayer, reflection and fasting if you feel called to do so.  This is a time when one can decide What kind of child of God am I called to be. Maybe this is a time of self-sacrifice for the better of the self and or the world around you.  It is for you to decide. The one thing I recommend is just don’t give in to temptation and make the easy choice.  pray about it and allow yourself to be challenged.  Amen 

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[1] Miles McPherson, 40 days of prayer and fasting, 1997, accessed February 28, 2017, http://www.sdrock.com/uploads/docs/archive/prayerfasting.pdf.

[2] Scott Hoezee, ed., The Abingdon Preaching Annual (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2017), 33.

[3] questions.org, What was the meaning and purpose of Jesus' temptations., 2017, accessed March 1, 2017, https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-temptations.html.

[4] questions.org, What was the meaning and purpose of Jesus' temptations., 2017, accessed March 1, 2017, https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-temptations.html.

[5] Hoezee, The Abingdon Preaching Annual, 33.

[6] Bret Younger, Disabling intentions, February 1, 7217, accessed March 1, 2017, http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/4748/disabling-temptations. 

Let us Be the Fulfillment

Today’s readings Jesus is still speaking on the mount.  He has just finished the Beatitudes and is continuing to address the crowd.  “You are the Salt of the Earth”.  Now we all know what salt is and, this has to be metaphoric for he asks what good is salt if it loses its flavor?  What Good is it?

Peter woods in the Abingdon Press preaching annual of 2014 relays a story:

I stood on the barren piece of land where a vibrant community of people had lived.  The area is called district six, once populated by a multi ethnic community that was quintessentially Cape Town: colorful, exotically indigenous, and as spicy as Malay cuisine.

That was before apartheid came, the infamous system designed d by Christian, White South Africans to keep the races apart and favor the minority. During the implementation of apartheid, District six was systematically bulldozed to the ground and all sixty thousands of its residents forcibly removed.  Each race was taken to its allocated Ghetto.

When I stood on that barren piece of land, it was 1999 and the Parliament of World’s Religions had come to South Africa to celebrate the diversity of faiths of the world in this country that had recently been healed of the scourge of apartheid. Nelson Mandela was president. The parliament held many of its sessions in the area of old district six.  One session in particular was held on a still barren tract of land awaiting restitution claims to be concluded.

Jewish delegates of the Parliament created a large patch of salt about three by three meters that we had to walk through to get to the open land.

Salt on the land renders it barren for many years.  In South Africa, the salt of segregation created Bareness; created by Christians who had lost their understanding of justice for all.  We still worshipped on Sundays, but separately. We stilled Prayed, but only for our own concerns.  We had become bland, heartless, and barren.”[1]

Jesus is admonishing the Elders, the Pharisees, and the scribes for they have lost their flavor, their fire the thirst for justice in the world.

Then he goes on and states that you are the light of the world.  There is no point to that light if you hide it away.  Do not hide your faith.  We are called to be visible to stand out in the world but if we hide ourselves, if we have become good quiet Christians, maintaining a status quo, it makes no sense.  “In the same way your light must shine before others so that they may see your Good acts and that they may give praise to Abba God in Heaven.”  One of my Favorite Hash Tags in Face book or on twitter when our queer community starts bashing Christianity they see in the world, as if all practices of Christianity are the same, I hash tag it with #nothatkindofchristian

A conservative movement has hijacked Christianity and what it is supposed to be in the world and the only way to revision and let people know what Christianity can be is by being that proud, nonjudgmental, welcoming Christian we claim to be.  We have to be God’s unconditional love in the world.  We have to allow people to know the true message of Christ that Love does and can win and there is no place for prejudice or hate in the Kindom of God, not as we understand it.

Jesus then says I have not come to abolish the laws but fulfill them.  What does that mean, I don’t know why but the first thing I thought of is what happens when your order is fulfilled?  You are sitting at the restaurant and you order a lovely piece of Pecan Pie.  What happens next? Someone brings the pie, right? Then what?  Well most likely, you eat the pie.  Does the server bring you another piece?  No because that order has been fulfilled.  Maybe that is too simple, or maybe not.

Got questions dot org explains it this way;

In Matthew’s record of what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount, these words of Jesus are recorded: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).

It is frequently argued that if Jesus did not “abolish” the law, then it must still be binding. Accordingly, such components as the Sabbath-day requirement must be operative still, along with perhaps numerous other elements of the Mosaic Law. This assumption is grounded in a misunderstanding of the words and intent of this passage. Christ did not suggest here that the binding nature of the Law of Moses would remain forever in effect. Such a view would contradict everything we learn from the balance of the New Testament (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15).

Of special significance in this study is the word rendered “abolish.” It translates the Greek term kataluo, literally meaning, “To loosen down.” The word is found seventeen times in the New Testament. It is used, for example, of the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans (Matthew 26:61; 27:40; Acts 6:14), and of the dissolving of the human body at death (2 Corinthians 5:1). The term can carry the extended meaning of “to overthrow,” i.e., “to render vain, deprive of success.” In classical Greek, it was used in connection with institutions, laws, etc., to convey the idea of “to invalidate.”

It is especially important to note how the word is used in Matthew 5:17. In this context, “abolish” is set in opposition to “fulfill.” Christ came “...not to abolish, but to fulfill.” Jesus did not come to this earth for acting as an opponent of the law. His goal was not to prevent its fulfillment. Rather, He revered it, loved it, obeyed it, and brought it to fruition. He fulfilled the law’s prophetic utterances regarding Himself (Luke 24:44). Christ fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic Law, which called for perfect obedience under threat of a “curse” (see Galatians 3:10, 13). In this sense, the law’s divine design will ever have an abiding effect. It will always accomplish the purpose for which it was given.

If, however, the Law of Moses bears the same relationship to men today, in terms of its binding status, then it was not fulfilled, and Jesus failed at what He came to do. On the other hand, if the Lord did accomplish His goal, then the law was fulfilled, and it is not a binding legal institution today. Further, if the Law of Moses was not fulfilled by Christ—and thus remains as a binding legal system for today—then it is not just partially binding. Rather, it is a totally compelling system. Jesus plainly said that not one “jot or tittle” (representative of the smallest markings of the Hebrew script) would pass away until all was fulfilled. Consequently, nothing of the law was to fail until it had completely accomplished its purpose. Jesus fulfilled the law. Jesus fulfilled all of the law. We cannot say that Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system, but did not fulfill the other aspects of the law. Jesus either fulfilled all of the law, or none of it. What Jesus' death means for the sacrificial system, it also means for the other aspects of the law.[2]

Now let me say this about that…It does not mean some of the law is not good as a practice.  If you do not want to eat, shellfish as a spiritual practice that is up to you.  Also, remember that what we understand as quote “The Law” unquote is nothing like what neither the people of Jesus’ time nor the Jewish people today understand as the law.

For example should you be interested in the complete Talmud you can buy “Complete Full Size Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud English Volumes (73 Volume Set)” for about 2000 dollars. That includes every word of the text which is then; “vowelized and translated Each phrase is explained so that the reader understands the reasoning and flow Each question, answer, proof and rebuttal is introduced so that the reader will know where the Gemara is taking him Notes expand on the explanation of the Gemara's points, and explain unfamiliar ideas without interrupting the flow of the text Detailed diagrams Introductions to the entire tractate and to each topic.”[3]

So anyone want to do that let us know when your done and we look forward to a brief summary.

Jesus actually goes unto say that every letter and dot and squiggle of the law shall remain until it is fulfilled. 

What are these laws?  What laws is he referring too? Well the first he says, “Unless your sense of Justice surpasses that of the religious scholars and the Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“Jesus’ point in the Sermon on the Mount was that God sees the heart, and that we are actually held to a higher standard than external conformity to a set of rules. The Pharisees taught that, as long as you did the right things, you were “holy.” Jesus said not so, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

Jesus is teaching the necessity of having a heart to follow God. Putting on an act and going through the motions of serving God is dishonest. It is also futile, because God sees through the masks we wear (see Mark 7:6). A person who pretends to be holy on the outside yet nurtures a sinful heart is a hypocrite. The Pharisees, whom everyone thought were holy, were guilty of just such dissimulation. God does not want more activity that is religious; He wants a heart dedicated to Him. Holiness starts on the inside.”[4]

  This is why we gather as a community on Sundays, to energize our hearts.  To feed that which is our Holy connection to God and to energize ourselves for the week so that we may see and claim the blessings around us and seek to right the injustice that is so very plain to see in our world.

We, as Christians, are called to live out Christs call to justice and live out God’s call that is why as United Church of Christ our denomination is a Just Peace denomination.  Now this may seem like a tangent but it is one place where this denomination has excelled.

First let look at what Just war is. According to Wikipedia; “Just war theory (Latin: jus bellum iustum) is a doctrine, also referred to as a tradition, of military ethics studied by theologians, ethicists, policy makers, and military leaders. The purpose of the doctrine is to ensure war is morally justifiable through a series of criteria, all of which must be met for a war to be considered just. The criteria are split into two groups: "right to go to war" (jus ad bellum) and "right conduct in war" (jus in bello). The first concerns the morality of going to war, and the second the moral conduct within war.[1] Recently there have been calls for the inclusion of a third category of Just War theory—jus post bellum—dealing with the morality of post-war settlement and reconstruction.”

Just War theory postulates that war, while terrible, is not always the worst option. Important responsibilities, undesirable outcomes, or preventable atrocities may justify war.[2] But in contrast to that the UCC is a Just Peace Denomination.

“A Just Peace is grounded in God's activity in creation. Creation shows the desire of God to sustain the world and not destroy. The creation anticipates what is to come: the history-long relationship between God and humanity and the coming vision of shalom.

Just Peace is grounded in covenant relationship. God creates and calls us into covenant, God's gift of friendship: "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore" (Ezekiel 37:26). When God's abiding presence is embraced, human well-being results, or Shalom, which can be translated Just Peace.

A Just Peace is grounded in the reconciling activity of Jesus Christ. Human sin is the rejection of the covenant of friendship with God and one another and the creation and perpetuation of structures of evil. Through God's own suffering love in the cross, the power of these structures has been broken and the possibility for relationship restored.

A Just Peace is grounded in the presence of the Holy Spirit. God sends the Holy Spirit to continue the struggle to overcome the powers ranged against human bonding. Thus, our hope for a Just Peace does not rest on human efforts alone, but on God's promise that we will "have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

A Just Peace is grounded in the community of reconciliation: the Just Peace Church. Jesus, who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14), performed signs of forgiveness and healing and made manifest that God's reign is for those who are in need. The church is a continuation of that servant manifestation. As a Just Peace Church, we embody a Christ fully engaged in human events. The church is thus a real countervailing power to those forces that divide, that perpetuate human enmity and injustice, and that destroy.

Just Peace is grounded in hope. Shalom is the vision that pulls all creation toward a time when weapons are swept off the earth and all creatures lie down together without fear; where all have their own fig tree and dwell secure from want. As Christians, we offer this conviction to the world: Peace is possible. “

I bring this to you today to consider as a congregation might we want to consider to become officially a Just Peace Church and to answer Christs Law to bring our sense of Justice to surpass those of the Pharisees and be a Just peace Congregation.

It’s not an easy decision and there is study to go along with that, but as we move into our identity as UCC we have already of course claimed the open and affirming, we are a accessible to all church and we are the first Creation Justice Church.

Jesus said; “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). I hope we are getting there.

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[1] Jenee Woodad, ed., The Abingdon Press Creative Preaching Annual 2014 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013), 42.

[2] gotquestions.org, What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it?, accessed February 2, 2017, https://www.gotquestions.org/abolish-fulfill-law.html.

[3] amazon.com, Talmud Complete, Medium, accessed February 2, 2017, https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Schottenstein-Talmud-English-Volumes/dp/1578190673/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1486073540&sr=8-5&keywords=the+talmud+complete.

[4] gotquestions.org, What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it?, Medium, accessed February 2, 2017, www.gotquestions.org/jesus and the Law.

Reflection MLK

                                                                                                                                            

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

Good morning. We gather this morning to reflect on God and to remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy of courage for our world today.

Let’s start by remembering our history.

Nearly one hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, Afri- can Americans, especially those in Southern states, still lived in an unequal world of segregation and various forms of oppression, including race-inspired violence. “Jim Crow” laws at the local and state levels barred African Americans from classrooms and bathrooms, from theaters and voting booths, from juries and legislatures.

Finally, in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the “separate but equal” laws that had allowed racial discrimination in schools with the decision of Brown vs. the Board of Education.

In the turbulent years that followed that important decision, civil rights activists used nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to bring about change, as seen in movies such as Selma, released in 2014. Through their action, the federal government finally enacted legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Many leaders from within the African American community and beyond rose to prominence during the civil rights era, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. In Kansas City many leaders such as Rev. Nelson “Fuzzy” Thompson, Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver II, and others risked—and sometimes lost—their lives in the name of freedom and equity. Today, we have a national holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because he gave his life for the freedom and equity of all humanity in America.

Let us take a moment, have a bit of fun, and quiz your civil rights history.

1.             The 1955–56 Montgomery bus boycott a protest against segregated public facilities in Alabama, was led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and lasted for how many days? 381 days

2.             Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. realized that the nonviolent tactics used by this Indian political and religious leader was one of the most potent weapons available to African Americans in their struggle for freedom. Who was this Indian political and religious leader? Mahatma Gandhi

3.             With the goal of redeeming “the soul of America” through nonviolent resistance, this organization was established in 1957, to coordinate the action of local protest groups throughout the South drawing on the power and independence of black churches to support its activities. What was this organization? Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

4.             During what event did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech?

(A)  the Selma campaign

(B)   the Birmingham campaign

(C)   the March on Washington—Correct

(D)   the Montgomery bus boycott

5.             What was a common motto of civil rights activists in the 1950s and 1960s?

(A)  “We Shall Overcome”—Correct

(B)   “Liberty and Justice for All”

(C)   “One Nation Under God”

(D)   “Live and Let Live”

Did anyone get all five correct? Good job!

Today we often take our freedoms for granted yet in light of our recent history we may be much more aware of underlying prejudices and fears that have been festering in the dark around us.[1]

I was born and raised in Detroit.  I have a vague memory of being in my basement with my parents watching TV as the riots went on:

 "The 1967 Detroit riot, also known as the 12th Street riot, was a violent public disorder that turned into a civil disturbance in Detroit, Michigan. It began in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 23, 1967. The precipitating event was a police raid of an unlicensed, after-hours bar then known as a blind pig, just north of the corner of 12th Street (today Rosa Parks Boulevard) and Clairmount Avenue on the city's Near West Side. Police confrontations with patrons and observers on the street evolved into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in the history of the United States, lasting five days and surpassing the violence and property destruction of Detroit's 1943 race riot.

To help end the disturbance, Governor George W. Romney ordered the Michigan Army National Guard into Detroit, and President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The result was 43 dead, 1,189 injured, over 7,200 arrests, and more than 2,000 buildings destroyed. The scale of the riot was surpassed in the United States only by the 1863 New York City draft riots during the U.S. Civil War,[1] and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The riot was prominently featured in the news media, with live television coverage, extensive newspaper reporting, and extensive stories in Time and Life magazines. The staff of the Detroit Free Press won the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for general local reporting for its coverage.”[2]

        It was immediately after the riots that my parents decided to move to Livonia Michigan.  Though I cannot find proof of it, I believe that African American people were not legally allowed in Livonia. To this day, it is rates as one of the whitest cities in the United States.  Not much to be proud of.

     I do not recall my parents being blatantly racist then again they had no reason to display it.    They lived in the whitest city around. I did not see any people of color growing up except on TV until I entered high school.

In high school I became active in Focus Hope. “In 1968, Father William Cunningham (1930–1997) and Eleanor Josaitis (1931-2011) co-founded Focus: HOPE.  Together, they adopted the following mission:

Recognizing the dignity and beauty of every person, we pledge intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice and to build a metropolitan community where all people may live in freedom, harmony, trust and affection. Black and white, yellow, brown and red from Detroit and its suburbs of every economic status, national origin and religious persuasion we join in this covenant.  —“[3]

This pledge is still mine today…There are many emotions surrounding this week, I believe things that were allowed to fester in the dark are now brought into the light. 

We can live to love those in pain, we can stand with those on the margins, and we can fight so that all may live equally in the love of God.  The all-loving God….all loving that means the language of us versus them needs to stop!

This means we can fight for what we believe in without vilifying another part of the America that is us, without vilifying another part of the world that is us for we…each and every one of us are beautiful children created in the image of God.  Moreover, I believe Dr. King’s vision can still come to be true.

Dr King did say; “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” this is just as true today as it was then.  Yes, we can have fun with the late night comedians and the randy rainbows of the world but we must be cautious.

Do not, I mean we must not allow hatred, anger, and demeaning language to become our mantra.  We must not allow our dialogue to degenerate into hatred and name-calling.  If you are frustrated Honor Dr. Kings legacy by writing letters.  Attending local government meetings.  Work in the system.  Love your neighbor.  Your neighbor, by the way, is the one you do not understand and do not like what they are doing in government or what laws they are passing.

I want to say Happy Birthday Dr. King your legacy shall live on in me and I hope in each one of us.

 

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[1] lia McIntosh, The Abingdon Press Preaching Annual (tn: abdingdon press, 2016).

[2] wikipedia, 1967 Detroit Riot, December 18, 2016, accessed January 12, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Detroit_riot.

[3] focus hop inc, Focus: HOPE's Mission Inspires Everything We Do!, 2017, accessed January 12, 2017, http://www.focushope.edu/page.aspx?content_id=1&content_type=level1.