Tomorrow's (Advent 2) Gospel from Matthew 3:1-12 presents the picture of John the Baptizer preaching his "baptism of repentance" at the Jordan River, "and the whole district made their way to him."
Yet, in the midst of this story John becomes irate because he sees (probably prominent) Pharisees and Sadducees lining up for baptism. The writer of Matthew seems to assume that his/her readers understand John's anger, but it's not so clear to us today.
He was upset because the Pharisees would believe that they already "had things right with God" but because they believe in the life in the world to come probably figured they should "get baptized" just in case there was something they needed to repent for but didn't know about.
He was upset because the Sadducees (the word means "the righteous ones") also believed they were righteous and not in need of repentance, but they did not believe in a world to come--no afterlife.
John looked beyond their actions and looked into the conditions and intentions of their hearts. They were not there because they truly believed they needed to turn their lives around, but were simply trying to live out the maxim, "better safe than sorry." They were insincere and John knew it.
The message in the story is that it matters how we live. Our intentions and our motivations matter--and how they are lived out in our actions matters also. Let us in this season of sincerity be certain that our love is true, that our wishes for health and happiness are real, and that, where we have the opportunity, that our caring and giving be truly generous and open-handed.
To use a 60's phrase, John's message to us and to our world is "get real." We have more than enough phonies.
08 December 2007
05 December 2007
The Nazareth Manifesto
The history of the Christian Church has been one of turmoil and tension. Sometimes the trouble has come from "outside," but most often it has come from internal stresses, dissent, and power struggles.
Today is no exception. In the USA, nearly every "mainline" denomination is besieged within and without from forces tearing at the fabric of their very being. After the Disciples of Christ, some of the Baptist denominations (particularly The Alliance of Baptists and The American Baptist Churches) are very close to the UCC in doctrine and polity.
Over the past 30 years, we've witnessed the breakup of the Southern Bapist Convention, and, more recently, similar attempts to disrupt the American Baptist Churches. Out of this turmoil a new effort is underway, called the New Baptist Covenant, spearheaded by former presidents Carter and Clinton and leaders of several Baptist denominations and fellowships.
One of the related efforts is development of a video titled "The Nazareth Manifesto," which discusses Luke 4:18-19 as Jesus' "mission statement" and a call to the church to be about social justice. You can click the play button to view the 5-part (14 minutes) video. If you're not Baptist, just substitute "Christian" wherever you see/hear the word "Baptist" in the video. The message is not just for Baptists, but all serious (particularly those of us who think of ourselves as progressive or liberal) Christians.
Today is no exception. In the USA, nearly every "mainline" denomination is besieged within and without from forces tearing at the fabric of their very being. After the Disciples of Christ, some of the Baptist denominations (particularly The Alliance of Baptists and The American Baptist Churches) are very close to the UCC in doctrine and polity.
Over the past 30 years, we've witnessed the breakup of the Southern Bapist Convention, and, more recently, similar attempts to disrupt the American Baptist Churches. Out of this turmoil a new effort is underway, called the New Baptist Covenant, spearheaded by former presidents Carter and Clinton and leaders of several Baptist denominations and fellowships.
One of the related efforts is development of a video titled "The Nazareth Manifesto," which discusses Luke 4:18-19 as Jesus' "mission statement" and a call to the church to be about social justice. You can click the play button to view the 5-part (14 minutes) video. If you're not Baptist, just substitute "Christian" wherever you see/hear the word "Baptist" in the video. The message is not just for Baptists, but all serious (particularly those of us who think of ourselves as progressive or liberal) Christians.
03 December 2007
Advent
Sunday, Dec. 2, was "Christian New Year's Day" as I often call it. It was the "First Sunday of Advent," the beginning of the Christian Year. For many Protestant Christians, Advent, as one of the "seasons" of the year, is a season of confusion. Many of us just aren't sure what to do with Advent.
Perhaps this will help a little: Advent is to Christmas as Lent is to Easter.
So Advent (approximately 4 weeks) and Lent (40 days) are seasons of preparation leading up to Christmas and Easter, respectively. In some places Lent has been, traditionally, a time for encouraging unbelievers to embrace Christianity--the occasion for the "spring revival meeting" in many churches--while Advent has been the time when Christians who've "dropped out" are encouraged to "Come Home for Christmas."
In any case, Advent can, and should, be a time when Christians and non-Christians are invited to think about peace, reconciliation, health, and wholeness and how these values can be better exemplified in our own lives, as individuals and as communities.
If we want peace, then we need to find a way to become peaceful and to work for peace; and here's the hard part: we need to do it in ways that don't provoke more strife and anger. Conflict and warfare are not the path to peace.
If we want reconcililation, then we need to find ways to mend fences with those nearest to us--members of our own families, our neighbors, our enemies, and the person who sits near us in worship each week. It may mean that we have to make the first move, rather than wait for the other person to "go first."
If we want health, then we have to adopt and begin to live a "healthy lifestyle." This is not to be confused with dieting, losing weight, exercising, or body building, though these things--judiciously applied--might be part of a healthy lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle means avoiding things which damage us and, at the same time, adopting habits which repair past damage and promote health for the present and future.
If we want wholeness, then we have to remember that we need to be healthy, not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually. We need to examine our beliefs, our priorities, our assumptions about "how the world works." We need to examine our attitudes and motivations and intentionally work to let go of those which damage us and those around us and, of course, work to adopt new attitudes and motivations which provide for health.
Advent, as a season of preparation, can truly be a time when we prepare for the year ahead, when we take an active role in our own lives. Someone once said there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say, "What happened?" Advent people are the first kind.
Perhaps this will help a little: Advent is to Christmas as Lent is to Easter.
So Advent (approximately 4 weeks) and Lent (40 days) are seasons of preparation leading up to Christmas and Easter, respectively. In some places Lent has been, traditionally, a time for encouraging unbelievers to embrace Christianity--the occasion for the "spring revival meeting" in many churches--while Advent has been the time when Christians who've "dropped out" are encouraged to "Come Home for Christmas."
In any case, Advent can, and should, be a time when Christians and non-Christians are invited to think about peace, reconciliation, health, and wholeness and how these values can be better exemplified in our own lives, as individuals and as communities.
If we want peace, then we need to find a way to become peaceful and to work for peace; and here's the hard part: we need to do it in ways that don't provoke more strife and anger. Conflict and warfare are not the path to peace.
If we want reconcililation, then we need to find ways to mend fences with those nearest to us--members of our own families, our neighbors, our enemies, and the person who sits near us in worship each week. It may mean that we have to make the first move, rather than wait for the other person to "go first."
If we want health, then we have to adopt and begin to live a "healthy lifestyle." This is not to be confused with dieting, losing weight, exercising, or body building, though these things--judiciously applied--might be part of a healthy lifestyle. The healthy lifestyle means avoiding things which damage us and, at the same time, adopting habits which repair past damage and promote health for the present and future.
If we want wholeness, then we have to remember that we need to be healthy, not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually. We need to examine our beliefs, our priorities, our assumptions about "how the world works." We need to examine our attitudes and motivations and intentionally work to let go of those which damage us and those around us and, of course, work to adopt new attitudes and motivations which provide for health.
Advent, as a season of preparation, can truly be a time when we prepare for the year ahead, when we take an active role in our own lives. Someone once said there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say, "What happened?" Advent people are the first kind.
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