Love Your Neighbor

The words, “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR” sound simple enough at first glance. So, we feed a homeless person now and then…or maybe invite the nice old lady next door over for thanksgiving dinner. However the words spoke by great individuals through history, including Jesus are much more difficult and complicated than we may expect.

I began to look at the concept of humility. We are told that we must humble ourselves. We are told to be submissive. We are told that pride goes before a fall. But, what does true humility look like and how do we achieve it?

Through the scope of the acceptance of a higher power (I particularly believe in one G_d), we can see humility resound as a product of vision. By vison, I mean seeing the relation between G_d and humanity. If G_d is truly G-d, then G-d is the essence of true greatness. There would be no other being greater. In seeing this, humanity would be left at a clear second. Humility comes from experiencing G-d’s true greatness and understanding and excepting our lack of greatness. We are equal, in that all humanity shares a common frailty…a common lack of greatness. I am not greater than my brother, mother, neighbor, or even the derelict standing on the street corner hustling false greatness. The Scriptures state that all fall short of the glory of G-d. All humanity is less than great.

Now, grasping this common ideal, we can begin to see our neighbor’s frailty not as a less than ourselves, but equal to ourselves. Showing grace and love towards those who share life with us is not an act of helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves, but rather supporting those who are not G-d. Supporting those who fall short in their quest for greatness. All individuals are on a quest for greatness, even those who have seemed to throw their hands up and commit emotional suicide.

We are persuaded to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are challenged to love our enemies. We are instructed not to let our love be dictated by an individual’s response. We see a picture of Jesus the Christ giving up his life in agonizing pain for all, even those who crucified and beat him. We see a picture of absolute love shown to even those who were seemingly undeserving and we hear a call to do likewise.

To love your neighbor is not to simply love those who love you, but to love all humanity in the same way you love yourself in your humanity…having experienced true greatness in G-d, we can know full well that that we are not great…and what greatness we see in ourselves, when we love our neighbor, is merely a reflection of true greatness.

 

The Rapper’s Delight

Sekou tha Misfit is an accomplished slam poet and entertainer. He is not a rapper, despite what the title suggests. Although, in this piece, he embodies the character of a rapper, who flaunts all of the amenities bragged about by most rappers. “I’m a Rapper” deliberately exploits the current culture of mainstream hip-hop in a compelling, conscious MC effort.

Rapper v. MC…I know it seems like everything reminds me of religion and the church, but damn…this one hits close to home. The lies we tell, the false securities we dispence…all amount to cocky frivolity. The day the church accepts her truth…and shuts down the falsities of prosperity, sinlessness, happiness and a safe community, the sooner we can downgrade the task of deprogramming our children and children’s children from the belief that if they follow all the rules, then God will smile and make all their dreams come true.

It is not that you are destined to suffer and have no “worldly treasures”, but rather that these are not promised…they are not the point. 

Honesty, when speaking about our lives, our hurts, our failures, and our lack of earthly blessings, has become all but extinct in this “rapper’s delight” we refer to as our message in the modern church.

 

Great is Thy Faithfulness

 

Christian?

The Disclaimer: okay, this is one topic that I haven’t come to a definitive stance on. Basically, something that I’m currently deconstructing.

And now the LORD says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:5-6

Isaiah shares a glimpse into the role of the Servant of the Lord. Historically, Christian scholars hold to idea that Isaiah was referring in part to the coming Messiah’s role. I have spent some serious time studying church history and the Christian culture. What I have found is an interesting evolution of culture, traditions and beliefs. Isaiah paints an interesting picture of a Messiah that came NOT to bring a new belief system, but rather gather those in Israel who had lost sight of their original beliefs and relational religion and secondly, providing grace (an open door) to the rest of the world to encounter God in this same way.

“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures— either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.” Matthew 5:17-18

Jesus refers to this as a completion of the law. He speaks of a bigger picture, not merely the ‘righteous” acts they had become used to, but instead revealing a desire for us to have a “righteous” heart. He sums this up  concept in verse 48 by saying, “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You are kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

So here is where I began to deconstruct Christianity…or at least Christianity as I have come to know it. What I have seen in regards to church history is more a presentation of a new religion…a belief system. I have began to see it as a lop-sided belief system, which has separated itself from the original plan. Even in it’s name, it speaks of separation from the original system in place. What is interesting is, in traditional Christianity, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, part of the Triune God. In essence, He is God…well at least part of God the whole. He is the same God who spoke to Abraham. He is the same God who delivered Gideon. He is the same God who shows up much later to remind His people who He is. He shows up as Jesus to remind His people of their purpose.

In seeing Jesus, NOT as the bringer of a new covenant, but rather as a reminder of the old, the purpose of God becomes illuminated. Christianity is not a new covenant for the gentiles, rather, it is a expanse of the old covenant. Christians can not merely serve Jesus, but must realize the grandeur of God in all His forms and functions. Now I realize that most Christians, relate as well to the Father and the Spirit. However, the traditions we have formed have somehow caused us to drift away from the original idea…and more towards a new covenant.

The children of God (Israel) had began to create laws and procedures to ensure they would remain holy. The 613 Mitzvot (Commandments) that are still observed today by most Orthodox Jews are a great example of this. Many of these laws became the topic of debate as the Christian church began seeking some form of order. Discusses about whether or not Timothy needed to be circumcised or the establishment of the Eucharist as a separate ritual from the original Passover Seder had become common practice. Looking around at culture for inspiration for places fo worship (pulpits, benches and art) and styles of learning (one-sided conversations from the stage). This new sub-culture of God’s children…looking for a definitive label and order to their new beliefs.

In looking back to find the answers to what God’s church is supposed to look like, it becomes a difficult task. It is difficult partly due to the diverse examples we see throughout the Scriptures. We see a very organic relational experience in the Graden in Genesis. We see a sacrifice as a great part of the faith during the early stages of humankind, like those experienced by Abel and Abraham. We see commandments laid out via Moses. We see the use of Judges and eventually Kings. We see the establishment of the Levitical priesthood and the Temple. We see Midrash to fill in the gaps within the mystery of God. We see corrupt temple leadership. We see the Christ. We see the disciples. We see a new leadership structure. We see new laws. We see new traditions. We see the Canonization. We the the Canonized Scriptures in print. We see Protestants. We see glorious buildings with flashing lights, cool music and quick relative messages.

So, what’s my resolve? I continue to go back to the words of God via Moses…”Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and the words of Jesus…”Love others as well as you love yourself”. These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them. Everything else for me right now is being deconstructed…traditions, rites, buildings, community, worship, preaching, living.

Selah.

 

Dear Church…

Dear Church,

I haven’t written about you for some time. It wasn’t because I realized I was stuck in some sort of a phase. It wasn’t because I’ve changed my mind and look back at my foolishness thinking…wow, how crazy I was. It’s because I’ve been busy…living life.

I still think we need to fix some things…check that, a lot of things.

I still think that most of us are more concerned with the weekend service than with the services we provide to the community throughout the week.

I still think that we are missing the mark (hey, that’s the definition of sin…go figure).

I still think that many of our “church” organizations are concerned more with themselves than with their community.

I still believe you were created for much more than this.

I still think that we have become dangerously close to being desperately far from God’s purpose.

I still think we can improve…not our preaching style, multimedia implementation and music quality, but rather our focus on the journey for truth.

I still think one sided conversations from the stage, secluded green rooms, elaborate worship productions, giving a tenth, and the eucharist without the feast is missing something.

I still love you.

I still have a hope that we will find our way.

Anyways, just thought I’d share. Just in case you missed me.

 

You Seem Nice, But I’m Not Looking to Join Your Organization

I love people; I really do. I love God; yes it’s true. The issue arises when people who seemingly love God join and promote the propagation of the organization. Many refer to this organization as the church, however to me it’s more like some sort of Primerica / Amway / Prepaid Legal business plan. Encouraged to start by gaining new members by first recruiting family and friends. Then your family and friends recruit their circles and eventually you score some crucial points within the organization. Now I know that propagators of the organization believe they are justified because, that is where they believe God exists and rules. Membership, partnership, dues are all red flags that keep me from committing to the organization. I’ve committed to the God in your organization’s name and vision. I have partnered with those around me to spread love. I even give generously to my community and my world when the opportunity arises.

Now, here’s the thing…I love the people in the organization. I even love what many of the organization state as their reason for being. I just don’t love the organization. The truth is, I just can’t pledge allegiance to your organization and well, I still wonder how it is you justified it. I’ve searched far and wide for theological justification for the organization, but in the end I only see it as the fence constructed to keep the sheep safe and happy. As I look at the history of the probation of the Gospel (or as I like to call it, a big slap in the face to God’s people when they forgot who He was) and can see where councils, legislation and governmental hierarchy was established in order to create safety, order and common ground. However, these have seemingly done more harm than good.

So then my dilema, do I think the organizations should just close shop and go away? If they do, what would that do to the brittle spiritual lives of their followers who placed so much of their faith in the organization?

I don’t think, practically speaking, the organizations should be shut down. I do think that organizations should focus more on what the product is and less on the team selling the product or on what they think the product is used for. I don’t disagree that a simple organized plan of action is beneficial. I do agree that getting like-minded people together in unity can do more to shift culture than a single solo revolutionary. I just think this done in a sound fashion has become a rarity. Not just in this century, but since the beginning of human kind. We like order, hence the need for organizations. We like to follow, hence the need for government. We like the approval of others, hence the lack of individual revolutionary thinking. We like a clear plan of action, so we know if we are failing or succeeding, hence the education system full of grades and degrees. The problem…that’s not what being a follower of God is about. It’s about walking sometimes blindly towards an indescribable light down an abstract trail marked with tears. It’s about faith. It’s about doubt. It’s about discovery. It’s about love. It’s about grace and it’s marked by it’s relationships, not with the organization, but with the world.

Consider with me, that your organization is not doing the best job at providing an environment for discovery, faith and doubt. Consider that maybe your organization is creating more machinists than revolutionaries. Consider that your organization is not utilizing your generous gifts as well as you may have thought. Keep your Costco card. Hold on to your Starbucks card. Hey, even double check you didn’t leave home without your AAA card. But for the love of God, consider the worth of your organizational membership. I’m not saying to quit and run. I am imploring you to be a revolutionary in and out of the walls of your organization. I am imploring you to discover for yourself the plan of God for your life.

 

A Whore and Grace

The Gospel of John has a story found in the eighth chapter that has long been a questionable tale of grace, judgement and righteousness. Many scholars debate it’s validity and question whether it actually happened. That said, the story provided an interesting premise for grace.

^1-2 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. ^3-6The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.

^6-8Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

^9-10Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”

¹¹“No one, Master.”

“Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”

First, let me say, the woman was in fact caught in adultery. She was in fact destined to be stoned in accordance with law. The religious scholars and Pharisees were in fact justified in wanting to stone her. Jesus was in fact breaking the law as the culture of that day understood it.

Now that being said, here’s that part where some cringe. I began merging this concept of the adulterous woman with the old saying many attribute to Augustine or Luther, “the church is a whore, but she is my mother”. Throughout history, the church, the glorious Bride of Christ has been referred to as a whore. This idea of whoredom being associated with God’s children is interesting to say the least. Even the Prophet Hosea was told to go and marry a whore name Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim and have children with her. Even though she “is loved by another man and is an adulteress”, Hosea buys her back and marries her again. It is a strange, yet beautiful metaphor of God’s frustration and grace towards Israel.

So the question is, if the church is a whore, is she forever a whore? No. In the story of the adulterous women, she no longer commits the acts she had become quite famous for. She went and sinned no more. The Prophet Isaiah says (64:6), “We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves—sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.” The “we” is referring to those outside of the will of God. The beauty of the story in John is the grace shown by Christ to the woman. The jagged pill to swallow is the grace shown to a “repentant” sinner. It seems unfair and a bit gross. I’m sure the onlookers were physically disgusted by Jesus’ actions. In the second chapter of Hosea, we read God’s plan of redemption in relation to Israel as the whore.

^14-15 ”And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I’ll court her. I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.

^16-20 ”At that time”—this is God’s Message still—”you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’ Never again will you address me, ’My slave-master!’ I’ll wash your mouth out with soap, get rid of all the dirty false-god names, not so much as a whisper of those names again. At the same time I’ll make a peace treaty between you and wild animals and birds and reptiles, and get rid of all weapons of war. Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies! And then I’ll marry you for good—forever! I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You’ll know me, God, for who I really am.

So, whether you believe the church is a whore, “who sells her favors to the highest bidder” or whether you feel as though the church is redeemed and on the other side of grace is a simple matter of action. Does the church continue to sell herself out? Is she of the world and not simply in it? Does she commit acts that harm herself and those around her? Does she find comfort in the night?

I am hard pressed to find individual followers of God prostituting themselves to those around them intentionally. We do, however, see this practice many times in the modern church’s polity and demeanor. We will probably not see these actions written in her bylaws, vision statements and fundamental beliefs. We may see them however in her actions.

Now that said, I am not here to cast a stone, albiet deserving. I have found myself to be a whore at times in my life. My hope and prayer is that the women we affectionately refer to a mother, would recognize her beauty and stand strong as the glorious bride. My prayer is that I would not be an onlooker, but one who kneels down to pick her up.

I love the story of Hosea in relation to the story in John. It paints of picture of a God who is not ashamed to be in an intimate relationship with a whore, a disgrace, a sin-infected, sin-contaminated bride. A God who is not satisfied with her remaining that way. A God who cares for the illegitimate children of sin as though they are His own. A God who embraces what society disregards.

 

The Easter Bait and Switch?

JoBros at Saddleback - Easter 2010

Lasers, smoke, flashing-flashing lights (Kanye shout out), donkeys, camels, free cars, free wii’s, free plasmas, helicopter egg drops, celebrity athletes…and even the Jonas Brothers. This is what Easter means to me. Well, not really, however it seems like we have stepped over some faint line in the sand. Now, I’m not the overly conservative type. I appreciate a good marketing gimmick like the rest of them. I just wonder if we have gone to far. At what point is it all justified…1 soul, 10 souls, 200 souls, 2,000 souls or even 10,000 souls? At what point is our pomp and circumstance okay? At what point do we taint the message?

Many evangelical pastors refer to Easter Sunday as the Superbowl of church services. It’s when the highest percentage of borderline believers attend. They take it as a challenge to convert and persuade those who don’t usually attend the week after Easter, to get “plugged in” and “follow” their organization…in turn, promising to make life better and save them from eternal damnation.

Switching gears for a second…have you ever gone on a first date with someone and were thrown back by how amazing they were. Make-up was perfect, they asked the right questions, maybe opened the door, and even ended the night with simple gentle romantic kiss. Have you had the unfortunate opportunity to find out later that that same person was a bit bi-polar (not medically, but just a bit crazy). Finding out they just want you to be silent and follow behind them 10 paces. No more kisses. No more romance. No more donkeys and lasers. No more Jonas Brothers. No more free coffee and donuts. No more friendly handshakes. No more better life. This is what many feel like the week after Easter.

Am I saying these organizations are bad or corrupt…no. Am I saying that they are intentionally using the old “bait and switch“…no, of course not. I am, however saying that I eagerly wish they would not try so hard to put on a great show…and well, just be themselves. I do wish that the “service” they present on Easter is similar to the “service” they present the weeks following.

This Easter, maybe we could just be ourselves…messed up, dysfunctional, failing individuals doing our best to follow God on a sometimes blind journey of love and reconciliation. Maybe.

Related articles

• Easter Gimmicks?. (greatriversofhope.wordpress.com)

 

From the Mouth of a Prophet

Listen, far-flung islands, pay attention, faraway people: God put me to work from the day I was born. The moment I entered the world he named me. He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate. He kept his hand on me to protect me. He made me his straight arrow and hid me in his quiver. He said to me, “You’re my dear servant, Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”

But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing. I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work. Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word. I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”

“And now,” God says, this God who took me in hand from the moment of birth to be his servant, To bring Jacob back home to him, to set a reunion for Israel—What an honor for me in God’s eyes! That God should be my strength! He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—just to recover the tribes of Jacob, merely to round up the strays of Israel. I’m setting you up as a light for the nations so that my salvation becomes global!“

God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel, says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations, slave labor to the ruling class: ”Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—and then fall on their faces in homage because of God, who has faithfully kept his word, The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”

God also says: ”When the time’s ripe, I answer you. When victory’s due, I help you. I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me, to put the land in order, to resettle families on the ruined properties. I tell prisoners, ‘Come on out. You’re free!’ and those huddled in fear, ‘It’s all right. It’s safe now.’ There’ll be food stands along all the roads, picnics on all the hills—Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, For the Compassionate One guides them, takes them to the best springs. I’ll make all my mountains into roads, turn them into a superhighway. Look: These coming from far countries, and those, out of the north, These streaming in from the west, and those from all the way down the Nile!”

Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead! Mountains, send up cheers! God has comforted his people. He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.

But Zion said, “I don’t get it. God has left me. My Master has forgotten I even exist.”

“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands. The walls you’re rebuilding are never out of my sight. Your builders are faster than your wreckers. The demolition crews are gone for good. Look up, look around, look well!  See them all gathering, coming to you? As sure as I am the living God”—God’s Decree—”you’re going to put them on like so much jewelry, you’re going to use them to dress up like a bride.

“And your ruined land? Your devastated, decimated land? Filled with more people than you know what to do with! And your barbarian enemies, a fading memory. The children born in your exile will be saying, ’It’s getting too crowded here. I need more room.’ And you’ll say to yourself, ’Where on earth did these children come from? I lost everything, had nothing, was exiled and penniless. So who reared these children? How did these children get here?’”

The Master, God, says: ”Look! I signal to the nations, I raise my flag to summon the people. Here they’ll come: women carrying your little boys in their arms, men carrying your little girls on their shoulders. Kings will be your babysitters, princesses will be your nursemaids. They’ll offer to do all your drudge work—scrub your floors, do your laundry. You’ll know then that I am God. No one who hopes in me ever regrets it.”

Can plunder be retrieved from a giant, prisoners of war gotten back from a tyrant? But God says, “Even if a giant grips the plunder and a tyrant holds my people prisoner, I’m the one who’s on your side, defending your cause, rescuing your children. And your enemies, crazed and desperate, will turn on themselves, killing each other in a frenzy of self-destruction. Then everyone will know that I, God, have saved you—I, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

-Isaiah

taken from the 49th chapter of the book of Isaiah.

 

Fasting Social Interaction

This idea of social fasting is nothing new. Many friends, especially during the lent season, are refraining from facebook, twitter, and even hanging out with much of their community. For centuries, people have done this, usually retreating to a cave, monastery or hermitage. My question is not whether it is right or wrong, but rather whether it is beneficial.

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

In light of Isaiah 58′s description of true fasting, it seems fairly counterproductive to retreat. It seems more productive and effective to, instead of fasting social activity, rethink how you spend your social life. Instead of just hanging out and posting random quotes on facebook or tweeting your lunch…being more deliberate in doing away with the yoke of oppression and loose the chains of injustice. This seems more in line with the type of fasting that is not only pleasing to the G_d of the scriptures, but also most beneficial to our neighbors…who we are instructed to love.