Lenten Devotional 03: The Justice of Mercy

Friday, February 24, 2012

Scripture reading: Leviticus19:9-18

In this Lenten season we prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ, remembering our sinful nature, and repenting of the mindset it creates. At the end of Lent we will experience hope through God’s grace in the cross event. The sin nature is not our focus, but the reality of God’s grace that redeems sinful humanity.

Today, we look at the laws of holiness and how they play a part in our Lenten journey. Personally, I hate talking about sin and the law, but it’s important to know how these things lead us to the grace and mercy of the Lord.

 Prior to today’s pericope, we have a very controversial passage (Lev. 18) about sexual practice (or sexual idolatry theories, but that’s another conversation). The following chapter (Lev. 20) is a similar account. Amidst all this talk about the Canaanite god Molech, idolatry, and more sex than I know what to do with we have our passage concerning neighbors.

The Lord wants the people of God to be just and merciful to the people around us: sharing with the poor (vv. 9-10), honest in our business (vv. 11-14), balanced in our justice (vv. 15-16), reasoning, and loving to our neighbor (17-18). For the Israelites, this meant showing mercy to their persecutors, which may have been different than they were treated. This was true for Israelites dealing with Canaanite idolatry and for those in Babylonian captivity. This is true for us.

As we sacrifice things through temporary fasts, remembering the real sacrifice of Christ, may we recall the scriptures and know that it’sall about God – the work God has done and continues to do – and deception’scurse (that bonded our will to sin) has been met with the mercy of a just Lord.

Lord, God, you sent your son to atone for the fact that we are sinners, but the fact that we are sinners pales in comparison to the just mercy of your grace; you are the Lord our God. May your grace do what the law and our piety fails to do and point our eyes to your cross. May the words of the scriptures be a reminder that you are God and only through your work of the cross are we justified. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 02: Deception's Curse

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Scripture Reading: Genesis 3

In yesterday’s reading, we remembered that it’s all about God and today we look at the metanarrative of creation’s fall away from God. God creates the heavens and the earth (Ch. 1-2). After the humans are banished from the Garden of Eden, we have the story of Cain and Able. The story of Creation and Fall portray the beginning of all life, all brokenness, and the journey through history that would lead to the cross event (death and resurrection).

All people share in the consequence of Original Sin and the condition that bonds us to death and separation from God; this is what makes redemption necessary. How did this come to be our reality? In the second creation account (Gen. 2:5-25) we are told that eating from the tree of knowledge (both good and evil) cuts us off from the tree of life (2:17). Genesis 3 illustrates the tale of how we became sinners (3:1-7).

The cunning serpent stands in contrast to naked innocence (Robert Alter, Genesis). The snake deceives the woman and the man does not try to resist. They are lured into a lust for knowledge (both good and evil). Once the snake successfully deceives the humans, they hide from the LORD God (3:7-10). God’s response, “Who told you that you were naked” (3:11) reveals some intriguing possibilities for the Genesis metanarrative.

Looking at the story of Genesis 3:1-24, from the perspective of Yahwist writers and redactors, during the Babylonian Exile (587 BCE) it’s not hard to see the serpent as parallel to the sea dragon Tiamat of the Ancient Babylonian creation story the Enuma Elish (Simpson, IBC). What makes this parallel important? The Primeval and Primary History (Genesis-2 Chronicles) repeatedly displays the challenge of remaining devoted to Yahweh in a henotheistic culture. The deception of the snake conceives sin: which brings forth blame, hardship, subordination of women, deviation, and separation from God (3:12-24). This was not God’s desire for us.

Original Sin causes individual sins, making it a greater alienation between us and God. In our innocence, humanity was once free and had an equal share in everlasting life. Now that we have been infected by Original Sin, our will is bonded and we have equality in being sinners. Humanity was not meant to have the knowledge of good and evil, like God (3:22-23). Therefore, the deception of our sin condition is what separates us from God and only God can restore the connection to life that Original Sin has broken.

Lord, God, “for dust [we] are and to dust shall [we] return.” “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Lord, you are God and we are broken people because we were deceived to think otherwise. May we kneel at your cross and repent and may the work of Christ reconcile us through the grace of a loving God. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 01: It's All About God

Ash Wednesday: February 22, 2012

Scripture reading: Matthew  6

As we begin this Lenten journey with God incarnate – in life, death, and resurrection – I humbly invite you to join me in these devotional readings.

Our text today is really all about God and the teachings of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. Immediately preceding our pericope, Jesus has told his audience to love their enemies and to pray for them. Following the selected text, Jesus instructs people not to judge because we will be judged in the same light. In the first section of today’s text, the Lord warns against public piety (actively expressing one’s devotion to God through deed and practice) saying that pious actions are not to be done for show (I sincerely hope this devotional doesn’t fit such a description).

In giving and in prayer (vv. 1-6) we’re told not to show off what we do for God or that will be the extent of our reward. Throughout the discourse (Mt. 5:1-7:28) we are given instructions of orthopraxy (correct practice) and the same is true for this pericope.

In turn, we are taught to pray the Lord’s Prayer. We pray to “Our Father in heaven,” the generator of all things; whose name is pure, “hallowed be your name.”  We are to pray with reverence and humility because our prayers, our giving, our possessions, our daily needs, and our fasting (which is important to Lent) are all about God. Jesus’ teaching in this discourse is really all about God: how we serve God, how we pray to God, how we treat people in the name of God, and how we respond to the work of God.

Lord, God, thank you for your word and this difficult teaching that really says control is not ours to have because you have originated all things. Thank you for the fact that your grace is what saves us, through the cross. May we be ever humbled by this passage and remember that our hope is in you and not in the showiness of our deeds or piety. Thanks be to God, The message of the scriptures continue to transcend culture and remain relevant in this world,. We pray in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lenten Devotional Introduction

Last year, Lent brought the inception of The Dialect of Praxis; this year, the blog will host a Lenten Devotional series, beginning Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2012) and ending Easter Sunday (April 8, 2012). Posts will occur daily by 10AM EST. There are two ways to follow the series: “Join the conversation by email” (on the right side of the blog) or access it via the link to this introduction found on Facebook, which will contain a link to each daily post (email subscriptions will be easier).

Grace and peace to you from the Triune God.

Click for daily devotional posts. 
01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11,12, 13,14, 15, 

Up Against Technology

Telephone interviews are a double-edged sword. Today, I helped conduct a mock interview for someone and had a small epiphany in the process – phone interviews are a subjective nightmare. Facing an interview is a challenging task, with a fair degree of self-analysis. Conducting an interview may be more difficult than being interviewed. Consequently, asking interview questions isn’t too bad if you know what you’re looking for, but I found that phone interviews place more weight on the candidate to ensure concise answers that always refer back to the question. Now, I have even more respect for the people who interview me.

On another note, I was reading an article on the Life Hacker website (which has proven useful) and came to the conclusion that people can be quite dumb on the internet. Yes, I find it ironic that I’m blogging about stupid people on the internet. I witnessed people get into quite an intense war of words over a comment suggesting that people ought to proofread their work. Last I checked, proofreading is a standard practice emphasized throughout one’s education; yet, this spawned a rather harsh battle with insults and name-calling. Frankly, I find this stupid with a capitol R. Seriously, is there anything that isn’t sensitive or offensive anymore? I’m all about respecting others, but when did people get so sensitive about such trivial matters as proofreading? If that’s not ridiculous, I don’t know what is.

In yet another technology issue, why is it that when I decide to give up Facebook for the Lent season, my email inbox started to fill up with Facebook emails? I guess we'll see how long it takes for me to want to crack. Key words, want to crack because I won't crack. For those who keep contacting me via Facebook, you can reach me here, instead (throughout the Lent season).