John 8 contains the story of the woman caught in adultery. The legalists of Jesus’ day (the Pharisees) bring this woman to Jesus, point out that the law of Moses commanded that she be stoned to death, and asked Jesus what he had to say about the matter.
All of this was a test. They were looking for a way to trap Jesus. Nevertheless, what Jesus says to her has lived on as one of the guiding stories for the Christian Church.
Jesus says to them, “Let him among you is without sin cast the first stone.”
We are sometimes so preoccupied with the sins of others that we fail to acknowledge the sin in our own lives. We suffer from the mistaken notion that we will look better in God’s eyes, when our eyes are set upon that which is lacking in the life of another. We suffer from the illusion that our guilty conscience will go away if we find reasons why others ought to be “guiltier.”
Confession is the act by which sin is forgiven. We cannot confess the sins of a sister or brother, our talk of their sin can only accuse. The crowd who brought the woman to Jesus was eager to deal with her sin, but not their own. Jesus reminds them that God’s children are those who use their tongues to confess, not to condemn.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Devotion - Monday, February 8
Genesis 25:19-34 contains the early stories of Esau and Jacob. Recorded here are their births, and the note that one was pleasing to mom, the other to dad. By the end of the reading, we are to that infamous event in which Esau returns from the fields to find his younger brother cooking. Famished, Esau asks for some pottage.
“First sell me your birthright,” Jacob asks. “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Esau replies.
When we retell this story in Sunday school, we are more inclined to speak Jacob as the actor. We speak of his “stealing the birthright of his older brother.” This is not the summation offered in the Genesis. Verse 34 reads, “Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
“Despised” is a rather strong word. But what happens deserves strong words. Esau was entitled to inherit all that his father possessed. (Inheritance laws were quite different in this culture at this time.) Esau knew this, so did Jacob. Esau had been promised to receive it all. And yet, he thumbed his nose at it. He turned his back on it. For the sake of that which was immediate he gave it all away.
He was young. Long-term gratification is a difficult concept. We see this kind of behavior all the time.
The story in the Bible certainly illustrates how destructive it is to lack a vision for the long-term. The one who gives up his birthright for a moment of satisfaction is spoken of in the most unkind words.
We must always be on guard against sort-term gratification; particularly when it has long-term consequences. We cannot allow the pleasure of the moment to forsake that which is our birthright.
In our baptism God promised us everything; we are valued, we are appreciated, we are accepted. This is our birthright. How sad it is when those who have this birthright risk it for the sake of a short-term promise. The culture around us would offer us many trinkets. But as the country-western song points out, “Everything that glitters is not gold.”
Hold on to your birthright. It is worth a whole lot more than those who would encourage you to trade it in are able to pay.
“First sell me your birthright,” Jacob asks. “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Esau replies.
When we retell this story in Sunday school, we are more inclined to speak Jacob as the actor. We speak of his “stealing the birthright of his older brother.” This is not the summation offered in the Genesis. Verse 34 reads, “Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
“Despised” is a rather strong word. But what happens deserves strong words. Esau was entitled to inherit all that his father possessed. (Inheritance laws were quite different in this culture at this time.) Esau knew this, so did Jacob. Esau had been promised to receive it all. And yet, he thumbed his nose at it. He turned his back on it. For the sake of that which was immediate he gave it all away.
He was young. Long-term gratification is a difficult concept. We see this kind of behavior all the time.
The story in the Bible certainly illustrates how destructive it is to lack a vision for the long-term. The one who gives up his birthright for a moment of satisfaction is spoken of in the most unkind words.
We must always be on guard against sort-term gratification; particularly when it has long-term consequences. We cannot allow the pleasure of the moment to forsake that which is our birthright.
In our baptism God promised us everything; we are valued, we are appreciated, we are accepted. This is our birthright. How sad it is when those who have this birthright risk it for the sake of a short-term promise. The culture around us would offer us many trinkets. But as the country-western song points out, “Everything that glitters is not gold.”
Hold on to your birthright. It is worth a whole lot more than those who would encourage you to trade it in are able to pay.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Devotion - Thursday, February 4
For the past couple of days, there has been a hum of deep theological discussion surrounding the issues of salvation. It began with last Wednesday’s powerful presentation by our guest, Pastor Casey Callahan. It was furthered with my decision to follow up on Pastor Callahan’s comments by asking the Pre-Seminary Group to read and discuss an article on Neo-Calvinism. All of this has lead to what might be called a rather theoretical and somewhat esoteric discussion of how salvation happens and how it is determined who is saved and whether a particular person has been saved.
This morning, my Bible brought me to a verse which serves as the perfect correction to this abstract discussion. Hebrews 12:1 reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
Yes, it is important to understand the how’s and why’s of Christian Theology. It is a nagging question to understand why some respond to God’s invitation and others to not. But in the end, what matters most is our own willingness to follow. And, by virtue of being on the receiving end of this electronic message which implies that somehow you are a part of the community of faith known as Lutheran Campus Ministry-Clemson, you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Ask your questions; seek your answers – but lay aside the weights which would encumber you and run with perseverance the race set before you.
Spend some time today thinking about salvation and how it has come into your life. Spend some time on this, but not much. Use the remainder of your time doing the things Christ would have you to do – responding to the needs of others, reaching out to those who are lonely or lost, caring for your family and friends, looking for ways to help the poor.
“I don’t know,” is an okay response to the questions we are asked. What isn’t acceptable is “I won’t serve.”
This morning, my Bible brought me to a verse which serves as the perfect correction to this abstract discussion. Hebrews 12:1 reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
Yes, it is important to understand the how’s and why’s of Christian Theology. It is a nagging question to understand why some respond to God’s invitation and others to not. But in the end, what matters most is our own willingness to follow. And, by virtue of being on the receiving end of this electronic message which implies that somehow you are a part of the community of faith known as Lutheran Campus Ministry-Clemson, you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Ask your questions; seek your answers – but lay aside the weights which would encumber you and run with perseverance the race set before you.
Spend some time today thinking about salvation and how it has come into your life. Spend some time on this, but not much. Use the remainder of your time doing the things Christ would have you to do – responding to the needs of others, reaching out to those who are lonely or lost, caring for your family and friends, looking for ways to help the poor.
“I don’t know,” is an okay response to the questions we are asked. What isn’t acceptable is “I won’t serve.”
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Devotion - Wednesday, February 3
I have written of faith for several days now. This morning, I wanted to share insights to the workings of faith from the opening prayer of my devotional book. Faith should not be thought of merely as something we have, or something that we obtain, or something that we do. It is that thing within us which activates our response to God. It is the origin of our ability to see as if through the eyes of God; to hear as with God’s ears.
“O God, thou that wilt not flatter us who love flattery, and dost offer us toil who love ease, open our eyes that we may see what thou wouldst have us see in all the world around us, and our ears that we may hear what thou wouldst speak in him who is that Word, even Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.”
Faith is a gift from God. Faith becomes a part of our lives and nudges us in the direction which is pleasing to God. It is the very presence of God which opens our eyes and unstops our ears.
It is through faith that we are opened up to the vision of God; that we are allowed to share that view in which the fullness of the earth and the goodness of creation is readily seen. Surely this vision also allows us to see hope and potential. It ought to prevent us from thinking arrogant or uncharitable thoughts.
Faith is not merely the goal of our search; faith is the engine which drives our search. We should seek faith; we ought also to offer prayers of thankfulness for the faith which has been planted within us.
“O God, thou that wilt not flatter us who love flattery, and dost offer us toil who love ease, open our eyes that we may see what thou wouldst have us see in all the world around us, and our ears that we may hear what thou wouldst speak in him who is that Word, even Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.”
Faith is a gift from God. Faith becomes a part of our lives and nudges us in the direction which is pleasing to God. It is the very presence of God which opens our eyes and unstops our ears.
It is through faith that we are opened up to the vision of God; that we are allowed to share that view in which the fullness of the earth and the goodness of creation is readily seen. Surely this vision also allows us to see hope and potential. It ought to prevent us from thinking arrogant or uncharitable thoughts.
Faith is not merely the goal of our search; faith is the engine which drives our search. We should seek faith; we ought also to offer prayers of thankfulness for the faith which has been planted within us.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Devotion - Tuesday, February 2
I want to continue to draw insight out of Hebrews, Chapter 11. In the middle verses (13-22,) we are reminded that it was faith which gave Abraham the strength to take his only son to the mountain of sacrifice. Instructed by God to offer up his son, Abraham is obedient.
Setting aside for a moment the horror associated with human sacrifice, it might be helpful to focus on the lesson from Hebrews. Abraham is confident that God can accomplish God’s purposes, even when death enters the picture. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.”
Death is a reality. Each of us will die. Whatever we have accumulated, whatever we have accomplished will one day be passed on to another. In despair, we might consider it all pointless. But by faith, we are confident that nothing, not even death, will separate us from God and God’s promises to us.
Death is a rather uncommon event among college students. For this we can give thanks. However, when death does come into the lives of 18-22 year olds, it is generally linked with a great tragedy. It is tempting to allow despair to emerge.
The faith we share, the faith of the Christian church, needs to be spoken at such times. It is those whose faith has not been shaken who can remind those less confident of the power and guidance of faith. Faith allows us to retain our hope. Faith passes on to us the confidence of Abraham that not even death can stand in the way of God’s purposes.
Setting aside for a moment the horror associated with human sacrifice, it might be helpful to focus on the lesson from Hebrews. Abraham is confident that God can accomplish God’s purposes, even when death enters the picture. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.”
Death is a reality. Each of us will die. Whatever we have accumulated, whatever we have accomplished will one day be passed on to another. In despair, we might consider it all pointless. But by faith, we are confident that nothing, not even death, will separate us from God and God’s promises to us.
Death is a rather uncommon event among college students. For this we can give thanks. However, when death does come into the lives of 18-22 year olds, it is generally linked with a great tragedy. It is tempting to allow despair to emerge.
The faith we share, the faith of the Christian church, needs to be spoken at such times. It is those whose faith has not been shaken who can remind those less confident of the power and guidance of faith. Faith allows us to retain our hope. Faith passes on to us the confidence of Abraham that not even death can stand in the way of God’s purposes.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Devotion - Monday, February 1
This morning I was reading verses recently covered in our Tuesday Bible study. From Hebrews 11, we read the words, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We discussed these words, a few weeks back. We acknowledged that while this verse is often used as a definition of faith, it is really no definition at all. It is a statement, but it does actually define faith. It points to what it is that faith does for us. Faith is both the aim and the assurance of that in which we hope.
Faith is an important concept. It is an essential word in Protestant theology. But, what is it?
We sometimes confuse faith with belief. This is not the same thing. In the Augsburg Confession, Article XX, the reformers write: “Instruction is also given among us to show that the faith here spoken of is not that possessed by the devil and the ungodly, who also believe the history of Christ’s suffering and his resurrection from the dead, but we mean true faith as believes that we receive grace and forgiveness of sin through Christ…. Augustine also reminds us that we should understand the word ‘faith’ in the Scriptures to mean confidence in God, assurance that God is gracious to us, and not merely such a knowledge of historical events as the devil also possesses.”
To have faith in God is to trust in God; it is to have confidence in God’s promises; it is to live in such a way as to choose the wisdom of God rather than the teachings of the world.
Hebrews 11 points out that it was by faith that Able, Enoch, and Abraham lived a righteous life. It is by faith that they pleased God and received God’s blessings.
Faith is very important to us. Understanding what this word means is important.
Faith is an important concept. It is an essential word in Protestant theology. But, what is it?
We sometimes confuse faith with belief. This is not the same thing. In the Augsburg Confession, Article XX, the reformers write: “Instruction is also given among us to show that the faith here spoken of is not that possessed by the devil and the ungodly, who also believe the history of Christ’s suffering and his resurrection from the dead, but we mean true faith as believes that we receive grace and forgiveness of sin through Christ…. Augustine also reminds us that we should understand the word ‘faith’ in the Scriptures to mean confidence in God, assurance that God is gracious to us, and not merely such a knowledge of historical events as the devil also possesses.”
To have faith in God is to trust in God; it is to have confidence in God’s promises; it is to live in such a way as to choose the wisdom of God rather than the teachings of the world.
Hebrews 11 points out that it was by faith that Able, Enoch, and Abraham lived a righteous life. It is by faith that they pleased God and received God’s blessings.
Faith is very important to us. Understanding what this word means is important.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sermon - Epiphany 4 - 1/31/10
4th Sunday after Epiphany – Year B
January 31, 2010
I Corinthians 13:1-13
The Greatest of these is Love
It isn’t often that a preacher gets to preach on I Corinthians 13 - outside of a wedding. This chapter of scripture has been so completely associated with weddings, that it is difficult to hear it and not remember some wedding or some bride and groom.
When I am asked to preside at a wedding where this passage is selected, I make it a point to point out that this passage is not about two persons, entwining their lives with one another. This chapter speaks a word too universal to limit it to a relationship between two persons. If I am going to disrupt the flow of a wedding with such assertions, then I ought to at least make the same claim when dealing with the text during a Sunday morning. And, who knows, the assertion might be heard in this setting, whereas it is seldom heard by those gazing into one another’s eyes on the big day.
Remember where we are in the wider context. I Corinthians, Chapter 12 spoke of the variety of gifts given to the people of God. As Pastor Hartsell pointed out last week, this variety of gifts was given in order to make the Church stronger. It is when we appreciate the gifts of each, and incorporate them into the common task we share, that we are truly able to do the ministry Christ hopes for. We do not all possess the same gifts. We have each been given gifts for the common good. We share our gifts, so that the witness will be strengthened.
After discussing the variety of gifts, Paul points out that no one of us possess all that is needed. In the latter verses of Chapte 12, he writes, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? … Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?” To which the obvious answer is, “No.” We do not possess the same gifts. God does not intend for us to do so. We cannot make ourselves possess that which God has not intended us to possess. However, there is something we can do.
Chapter 12 ends with Paul’s instructions, “But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
This more excellent way, this way which can be striven for, is the gift of love. We may not be able to teach; we may not be able to speak in tongues; we may not be able to interpret tongues; but we can all have love.
“But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Perhaps you have heard, in other sermons or in other settings that while English only has one word for “love,” in Greek there are several. Whether you have been presented with them as a group, you have no doubt heard of them. The Greek word used throughout I Corinthians 13 is agape. You have probably heard the name agape assigned to various church institutions. There is a Lutheran camp in North Carolina called Camp Agape. Let’s come back to this option.
Another of those Greek words is philia. The meaning of this Greek word is revealed when we speak of Philadelphia. That Pennsylvania city’s tourism office interprets for you. We know that the name represents what the city hopes to be – the City of Brotherly Love. Philia is sometimes used for the relationship between lovers, but it is more often associated with the love which binds us together as a community.
Eros is another of these words. Thi is the same ancient root which gives us the words associated with eroticism; this is the passionate love which arises out of sensual desire and longing.
I would make a footnote that this type of love, very much a gift from God, is the love most often misused and abused. If you have not read the Human Sexuality Social Statement adopted at last summer’s ELCA Assembly, I encourage you to do so. It speaks powerfully and candidly of how we have allowed our society to commercialize this gift from God, leading to abuse and opportunities for exploitation.
Less known is the Greek word, storgē. This is the love one would hope to find within a family. It is the love a parent would have for a child, and a child for their parents.
Eros, philía, and storgē. All words for love, but not the same as the love of which Paul writes. The love of which Paul writes is agape.
It remains forever impossible to know exactly what a word meant to an ancient culture, but biblical scholars have come to accept that the love spoken of as agape love is that love associated with that which is divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful. This love, like all the others, is a gift from God. It is the same, but it is different. This love is not expressed in the tight confines of a human commitment of one person to another person. This love reveals its nature as it allows those who observe it to see the One who gives the gift. This love - divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful – is the greater gift.
We may not possess some of the spiritual gifts we see and admire in others. We may be envious of those others and their gifts. We may desire those other gifts, but they cannot be obtained. What we can strive for, Paul says, is this gift – this agape love. This love which is kind, not envious, never boastful or arrogant or rude.
There is, of course, an application of this kind of love to the bond between two persons. So, it is okay when this chapter is read at the establishing of a covenant of matrimony. It is okay. But it is far too limiting. The love beautifully spoken of in this chapter is a love to be sought in all of our lives. It is the greatest of all possible gifts God desires to give us. And Paul would encourage us to realize that this gift is ours for the taking.
“Strive for the greater gifts. And …. a still more excellent way” will unfold before you.
Amen.
January 31, 2010
I Corinthians 13:1-13
The Greatest of these is Love
It isn’t often that a preacher gets to preach on I Corinthians 13 - outside of a wedding. This chapter of scripture has been so completely associated with weddings, that it is difficult to hear it and not remember some wedding or some bride and groom.
When I am asked to preside at a wedding where this passage is selected, I make it a point to point out that this passage is not about two persons, entwining their lives with one another. This chapter speaks a word too universal to limit it to a relationship between two persons. If I am going to disrupt the flow of a wedding with such assertions, then I ought to at least make the same claim when dealing with the text during a Sunday morning. And, who knows, the assertion might be heard in this setting, whereas it is seldom heard by those gazing into one another’s eyes on the big day.
Remember where we are in the wider context. I Corinthians, Chapter 12 spoke of the variety of gifts given to the people of God. As Pastor Hartsell pointed out last week, this variety of gifts was given in order to make the Church stronger. It is when we appreciate the gifts of each, and incorporate them into the common task we share, that we are truly able to do the ministry Christ hopes for. We do not all possess the same gifts. We have each been given gifts for the common good. We share our gifts, so that the witness will be strengthened.
After discussing the variety of gifts, Paul points out that no one of us possess all that is needed. In the latter verses of Chapte 12, he writes, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? … Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?” To which the obvious answer is, “No.” We do not possess the same gifts. God does not intend for us to do so. We cannot make ourselves possess that which God has not intended us to possess. However, there is something we can do.
Chapter 12 ends with Paul’s instructions, “But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
This more excellent way, this way which can be striven for, is the gift of love. We may not be able to teach; we may not be able to speak in tongues; we may not be able to interpret tongues; but we can all have love.
“But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Perhaps you have heard, in other sermons or in other settings that while English only has one word for “love,” in Greek there are several. Whether you have been presented with them as a group, you have no doubt heard of them. The Greek word used throughout I Corinthians 13 is agape. You have probably heard the name agape assigned to various church institutions. There is a Lutheran camp in North Carolina called Camp Agape. Let’s come back to this option.
Another of those Greek words is philia. The meaning of this Greek word is revealed when we speak of Philadelphia. That Pennsylvania city’s tourism office interprets for you. We know that the name represents what the city hopes to be – the City of Brotherly Love. Philia is sometimes used for the relationship between lovers, but it is more often associated with the love which binds us together as a community.
Eros is another of these words. Thi is the same ancient root which gives us the words associated with eroticism; this is the passionate love which arises out of sensual desire and longing.
I would make a footnote that this type of love, very much a gift from God, is the love most often misused and abused. If you have not read the Human Sexuality Social Statement adopted at last summer’s ELCA Assembly, I encourage you to do so. It speaks powerfully and candidly of how we have allowed our society to commercialize this gift from God, leading to abuse and opportunities for exploitation.
Less known is the Greek word, storgē. This is the love one would hope to find within a family. It is the love a parent would have for a child, and a child for their parents.
Eros, philía, and storgē. All words for love, but not the same as the love of which Paul writes. The love of which Paul writes is agape.
It remains forever impossible to know exactly what a word meant to an ancient culture, but biblical scholars have come to accept that the love spoken of as agape love is that love associated with that which is divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful. This love, like all the others, is a gift from God. It is the same, but it is different. This love is not expressed in the tight confines of a human commitment of one person to another person. This love reveals its nature as it allows those who observe it to see the One who gives the gift. This love - divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful – is the greater gift.
We may not possess some of the spiritual gifts we see and admire in others. We may be envious of those others and their gifts. We may desire those other gifts, but they cannot be obtained. What we can strive for, Paul says, is this gift – this agape love. This love which is kind, not envious, never boastful or arrogant or rude.
There is, of course, an application of this kind of love to the bond between two persons. So, it is okay when this chapter is read at the establishing of a covenant of matrimony. It is okay. But it is far too limiting. The love beautifully spoken of in this chapter is a love to be sought in all of our lives. It is the greatest of all possible gifts God desires to give us. And Paul would encourage us to realize that this gift is ours for the taking.
“Strive for the greater gifts. And …. a still more excellent way” will unfold before you.
Amen.
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