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.
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).
It’s been a quiet month for The Dialect of Praxis, but many thoughts
have been brewing, and it’s about to get a little louder. Among the percolating
questions, who are role models, why do so many Christians misunderstand mental
illness, and Sanctification; what happens after Justification? Today’s post, “What
type of role model are you; The False Dichotomy of Role Models” (we’ll get to
the other questions another day).
Everybody is a role model. But, not
everyone is the same type of role model and maybe some people shouldn’t be
afforded the title. Everyone’s a role model, but not everyone wants the job.
“I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a
basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids” (Charles Barkley).
“I would like to be called an
inspiration to people, not a role model - because I make mistakes like
everybody else. When I'm offstage, I'm just like everybody else” (Britney
Spears).
“I’m not a “Role Model,” I don’t
wanna babysit kids…” (Eminem).
The previously quoted celebrities
claim they are not role models and I feel sorry for them. Few people choose or
feel called to be rolemodels, but it’s
not that simple. It used to be, parents, teachers, ministers, and prominent
public figures that were bestowed the title of role model. Thanks, in large
part, to the internet, no one is exempt from the title. If you come into
contact with other human beings, you are a role model, but what type of role
model are you?
To be a role model is an arduous task
and all have been designated with the job, but not all share the same
responsibility. NBA super-stars, like Barkley, may be an example to kids and/or
admirers, but their examples may not be what parents want for their kids; that’s
why celebrities and public figures are generic-role-models.
The difference between celebs, parents, and people like me, job description
defines what kind of role model responsibilities come with the position.
Public figures, like celebrities,
teachers, and ministers have two things in common: first, they are not primary-role-models; second, if they don’t want to be criticized for their
influence they’re in for a bumpy ride. Hence, this is where I let celebrities
off the responsibility train. Their example (intended or otherwise) is one of a
generic-role-model and their job
description is only the technical definition of “role model.”
Teachers and ministers make a
decision or fill a calling; as a result, they are secondary-role-models. A secondary-role-model has more
responsibility than celebrities (who are generic-role-models).
Teachers and ministers were hired (professionally and voluntarily) to fill an,
intentionally, influential position. As secondary-role-models,
they will receive more critical reviews. As a Ministry Worker (and a human
being) I don’t enjoy heavy criticisms of what I say or do, but it comes with
the job description. Thus, the difference for secondary-role-models (like me) and generic-role-models (like celebrities and public figures) is we
have a greater responsibility to respond to our critics. This reality does not give
us primary responsibility.
Parents are the primary-role-models. It is a parent’s
job description to raise their children in the ways they think best and they
have the most responsibility for the behavior they want their children to
emulate. If parents want their kids to be educated, it is on them to foster
good work habits and environments, it is up to them to work with teachers, and
it is up to them to be the primary
example of learning for their children. If a parent wants their child to have
lifelong faith discipleship, then a parent has to model the example of faith
that they hope their children will live out. As a Youth Minister, I will teach
young people the scriptures and foster orthodoxy to the best of my abilities,
and encourage orthopraxy, but the job of faith discipleship starts with the
parent.
Bottom line, all people are rolemodels, but parents are primary-role-models, educators and
ministers are secondary-role-models,
and celebrities and public figures are generic-role-models.
No one is exempt (thank you Social Media, Internet, and human communication).
All aforementioned role models fail and God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus, the
Role Model of Role Models, died for all of us role models (called humans) out
of grace for our imperfect modeling; may we look to the cross in humility, as
none of us has been afforded our positions as role models, without the work of
God.
“‘Do not think that I have come
to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill”
(Mt. 5:17, NRSV).
One cannot preach grace with a
machinegun for a microphone.
This past week, twelve million
Christians debated over a video that says Jesus>Religion.
Jefferson, the Spoken Word creator of the video has a lot to say about Jesus
and religion. Is this man preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ or condemning people
who call themselves Christians? Yes. In addition to what I’ve said elsewhere,
does the Bible back up the claims of the popular video? Yes and no.
Definitions are important. First,
who is Jesus? Jesus is the Son of God, fully man and fully God, he lived, he
died (by crucifixion on the cross), and he resurrected from the dead. The work
of the cross was done for the redemption of all people because all suffer from
a chronic affliction called sin.
Second, what is religion? It is, “a set of beliefs
concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered
as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional
and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct
of human affairs” (Dictionary.com).
What does Jesus>Religion claim and is it scriptural? Claim one, “Jesus
came to abolish religion.” I could not find this in scripture, but here’s what
I did find: “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Mt.19:16-21; Mt. 5:17). Claim two, “Just because you call some people
blind, doesn’t automatically give you vision.” True, but that judgment was
Jesus’ call (Jn. 9:39-41) and I’d suggest it stay his call. Claim three,
“If religion is so great, why does it [insert negative here]?” Religion isn’t
the problem; sin is the problem (Ps. 25:6-12).
The claims of Jesus>Religion continue. Claim four, “But,
in the Old Testament, God actually calls religious people whores.” This is a
bit of a stretch, but the Israelites were called whores because God knew they
were inclined to sin and turn from the covenant they had made with the Lord (Deut.31:15-21, ESV). Claim five, “Religion might preach grace, but another thing
they practice.”It is true; Christians are guilty of not practicing what they
preach. However, grace is from God (Jn. 1:16-18). And,
scripture says a lot more on religion and grace (Mt. 5:3-7:27; Acts15:5-11).
Three out of five is pretty good,
right? Claim six, “Now I ain’t judging; I’m just saying, quit putting on a fake
look because there’s a problem if people only know you’re a Christian by your
Facebook.” Unless one is going to take time to disciple “Facebook Christians” this
remark is ill-advised (Gal. 6:2-5).
Turning to the opposition of Jesus>Religion; Jesus=Religion. What does the opposition claim? Claim one, “Where
do you get off speakin’ up for the man risen from the dead, without botherin’
to quote a single word that he said?” While the point may be valid, it deters
from a message of grace and contradicts Jesus’ teaching: “Whoever is not
against us is for us” (Mk. 9:38-40).
Since I’m a Lutheran, I share
more views with the Jesus=Religion author,
but I will compare one point of controversy from each video. “Because, if grace
is water, the Church should be an ocean” (Jesus>Religion).
“The grace is the water, this baptism now saves you, and the Church is the
place where this giving out raises you” (Jesus=Religion).
Does scripture support salvation through baptism? Yes and it’s been a heated
debate for easily five-hundred years. We are baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection
(Rom. 6:1-7). Thus, baptism brings us into Christ’s resurrection (1Pet. 3:18-22). This is orthodoxy, not heresy, and there are other views if
you don’t agree with it.
Finally, Jesus is greater than
religion, but religion points believers to the grace of the cross. Both of these rhyming
You Tube preachers have solid points and a common problem. As servants of the
Lord, Christians are called to humility: “The fear of the Lord
is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor” (Pro. 15:33,
NRSV). Where the first falsely slanders religion, the other mocks his brother’s
folly, and both preach grace with a machinegun.
“Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34, KJV).
I abandoned the regular flow of
dialect to engage the works of others: Lewis, Dostoyevsky, and DeVries. As a
result, I’ve enjoyed the invitation to minister to people in the absence of
writing. With my eyes fixed on the cross, this blog seems less essential to my
being. But, some thoughts have been stirring that I thought I’d share with you
all.
Religion is not the problem, as some might suggest, it is infected by what afflicts the greater systemic
issue. Religion is meant to serve as a GPS to the cross (where we find God) and
the negative symptoms occur when we abandon our navigational tools. Religion is
a stabilizer to our experiential and emotional perceptions; it is a set of
beliefs, constructed of theologies and philosophies, which do not waiver when
we don’t feel good about God. Sadly, religion tends to get the blame for things
it has little or nothing to do with and its definition gets lost.
The greater affliction I
mentioned earlier, infect more than just religion. The internetis a relevant
example, a system within systems, which is meant to serve the user. Our
systemic affliction takes algorithms meant to customize sites (like Google,
Facebook, Netflix, and more) and reveals an ugly symptom of the greater
affliction (the symptom being individualism). If “it’s all about me” it’s no
wonder we point fingers at systems, like religion and the internet.
Dear friends, life is the system
and it is afflicted by a chronic condition, the sin nature. Sin isn’t popular
and it may be over emphasized in some denominations, but it is a real
affliction. Thankfully, religion tells us that the God of the cross died for
us. Christ’s death is the antidote for our chronic affliction and the systemic
affliction is given over to the hope of resurrection. This is the work of God,
through the gift of grace. And that, my friends, is the definition of religion.
"Just a Song," Girls, (Father, Son, Holy Ghost; music only)
Ministry is more than a job; it
is life – messy, versatile, eclectic, joyous, sad, unpredictable, fun, and
challenging – it is not always easy to gauge success versus failure. As a
minister, I’ve made real friends, seen real tears, witnessed real blessings,
made honest mistakes, encouraged real discipleship, endured failures, and
experienced real success. Ministry is real life – not edited for TV – and it is
the living call to express the real promises of God.
I’ve loved my six years in the
ministry field. Sometimes it’s hard to hear from youth I once led, when they
tell me they don’t believe in the God of the cross or the real promises of
Christ. Yet, my ears and my heart open to these people. My life as a minister
doesn’t end when I leave a church context. Every story is important to me. I
feel privileged when people, I’ve preached the Gospel of Christ to, come to me
with their stories, doubts, questions, and so on. Life doesn’t stop when things
don’t go as we’d hoped; neither does ministry.
All of my youth kids, from all of
the ministries I’ve been involved with, your story matters. You matter. I’m
still listening (whether you consider Jesus your savior or not). I am a
minister and I am here for you, should you need someone to tell your story. I
believe that God loves you and that the cross is the answer to our doubts. May
I meet you with love and grace – as I believe Christ does – wherever you may be
in life and/or faith.
Arguably, one doesn’t witness
signs from God, today, in the way that people did in the scriptures. Prophets
aren’t telling nations to repent, God’s not smiting the wicked, and people
still pray. Did God leave the world to its own devices? Have people stopped
being sinners? Are prayers going unanswered? Would life be better with signs
from God? The scriptures have prophets, there is lots of smiting in the Cannon,
the word of the Lord came to God’s chosen in the Bible. Nations feared the Lord
in biblical narratives.
Perhaps, one can argue that God
was more active in people’s lives, during biblical times. Did having more signs
from God make biblical figures holy people? Evidence is to the contrary. People
spoke to God, people were chosen by God, and they were still sinners. King
David was the leader of God’s people and he had some illicit behaviors (2 Sm.11; 2 Sm. 12). David, the king, was still a sinful man.
Life without signs from God
hasn’t made the world more or less corrupt. With or without signs, Original Sin
has always tainted humanity. The Early Church had signs and they kept asking
for more (Jn. 6). Why do people continue to pray for signs and miracles; when
that’s never been what brought humans closer to God? The more miracles and
signs Jesus did, the closer he got to being crucified (Jn. 6:35-7:1). Pray
for healing, pray for forgiveness, pray for help, pray for wisdom, pray with
thanksgiving, pray in mourning, pray for faith, pray for hope, pray in lament,
pray with joy, and pray for endurance. Prayers can still be answered (and are
answered) without Jesus having to walk on water.
This world was broken and sinful
when miraculous signs occurred with the same frequency of television episodes. Signs
don’t make life better in the long run; they make life better, until one needs
another sign. The Lord hears our prayers and faith is God’s gift to the world.
Generations come and go, signs last like seasons, but people remain sinners. God
has not left the world to fend for itself; rather, God has graciously answered
the prayers of a world full of sinners – whether spoken or unspoken – with the
hope of the resurrection. Life and the world have never been better because of
signs from God. Instead of signs, it is God’s love and grace for all that has
redeemed and will continue to redeem the effects of Original Sin. The only sign
one needs from God was given to all through the event of the cross.
