A Day Full of Politics

I, like many in America, have a love/hate relationship with politics. On the one hand, politics leads to law and order (sometimes). Politics serves as the platform for public debate which shapes the ethos and attitudes of the diverse collection of people who call themselves Americans. It is an incredible privilege to participate in the political process on election day. However, there is a very real dark side (insert Darth Vader theme music here) of the process, which we have finally weathered for one more season...campaigning and the hollow promises and inflated rhetoric that accompany said events. It is one thing to bring to light one's own strengths and point out strategically the errors or weaknesses of one's opponent. It is quite another thing to have announcers with voices that would be well off to read obituaries for the Grim Reaper paint images of opponents that would make the dead spin in their grave.

In ancient times in Greece and Rome, politics served as the marketplace of ideas. It was the way in which philosophers and public representatives debated ideas instead of character. The Apostle Paul even took many swings at public debate, as well as writing in letters against the competing ideas of both Greeks and Romans, and competing camps within early Christianity.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a conversation between Sojourner's editor, Jim Wallis and evangelical pastor, Greg Boyd. This was an attempt at bringing dialogue and real conversation back into the realm of faith and politics. For the past several years, faith has been a pawn of the political process and those within the faith community are finally speaking out, shaping and defining an independent voice apart from the two ruling parties of partisan politics. Each of the gentlemen have a unique perspective and I invite anyone who is interested in both faith and politics to listen to the conversation. Jim Wallis and Greg Boyd Discussion at Bethel University

I tend to resonate with Jim Wallis' perspective that faith has an active, and prophetic role to play in the political landscape, however it must be both faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and prophetic in a way that the message is not co-opted by an individual political party. There are far too many important issues that are present in our current situation as a nation that neither party is addressing. As people of faith and people of hope in God's kingdom, I believe we are called to participate as created co-creators of a more just and righteous world. My hope does not ultimately rest in the hands of politicians, regardless of political affiliation. My hope, and the hope of the faithful is in the hands of God's grace and truth, it is found in communities that lift one another up in love and care for the widow and the orphan, it is found in honest conversation about what really is happening in wars, in economies, in schools, in places of worship.

My prayer tonight is that who ever is elected may be so bold as to represent the best interest of the area to which they have been called to serve, and not just the people who will elect them again. My prayer is that the voice of those without a voice may somehow be heard by those who have power to give them voice and that their lot in life may be improved. My prayer tonight is that those who legislate and lead our government may do it honestly and continually reach into their wellspring of hope and faith, whatever that may be, so that we are a more just and perfect union.

Peace to your house.

Getting lost in the truth

This is the text of my sermon from this last week. To read the Bible text for context, click here.

Get Lost…in the Truth – John 8:31-36

Rick Warren, of Purpose Driven Life fame said in an interview this week, “A satisfying life is what you experience when you’re doing what God created you to do.”

This quote seems to be a twist on what Jesus is talking about in the reading this morning. He says, “If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…so if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.”

You may be thinking like the Jews in this reading were, “but I don’t think that I am captive to anything.” Jesus had another word for them. He says in essence, everyone has something that separates them from God, and holds them captive.

I am still thinking that I’m not sure what this freedom is all about, or if it’s worth something. Although, I imagine that if we search our souls, and examine our lives carefully, we can come up with more than one thing that we feel traps us, or even oppresses us, one or more things that we know separate us from our true selves, and from the love of God. Maybe it is money, or our families or the societal pressure to have a family, perhaps the extreme pressure of a job has its grip on you.

Young people and kids, do you feel like you have to be popular in order to be good at anything? Even the desire to be popular instead of being ourselves can trap us.

There are enough distractions in the world for us that we can get lost in them.

Yet, Jesus offers you and me to a radically different way of living our lives that involves looking very deeply at ourselves and those we have relationships with, and looking very deeply to God…and not just once, but daily.

This morning, one small child will be/was brought into God’s loving relationship through baptism. Baptism is God’s gift to us, in which God gives us the unconditional promise of forgiveness and God’s presence in our lives. These promises are not only for today, but for everyday. In baptism, God starts a relationship with us through these waters and God’s holy word. And God continues that relationship of promise with us daily. It’s good to remind ourselves of those promises.

This is the beginning of a radically different way of life. Yet these promises don’t have much effect if we don’t learn to trust in them and live by them.

This summer, Erica and I lived out in OR and we traveled all the way across the country in our Ford Focus with whatever we thought we needed for the summer and her mom’s old classical guitar. Neither of us played the guitar, but we both had the desire to learn. Over the summer, we took turns learning some chords, and teaching each other a few things. We were learning the rules of the strings, how to strum and how not to make hideous sounds, but harmonious ones. I have not been keeping up on my strumming lately, but she has. Although, I still have the desire, I haven’t experienced the thrill of really playing the guitar. It will take time, and practice. It takes some discipline (like the word disciple). Discipline can sound like a downer word, but think of all the things that we enjoy only through practicing a discipline. It is actually fun! And freeing. I will be freed when the guitar and I can make music together.

I think our relationship with God is similar. When we have a desire to know God, and know how God wants to use us in the world we experience the thrill and fun of that relationship when we take the time to learn about our wonderful God.

This morning in addition to Olivia’s baptism, there are five young men who are continuing their walk of faith by saying yes to God’s promises for them. They are affirming their baptism. God has given these young men a wide variety of gifts… compassion, kindness, humor, athleticism, intelligence, and hearts that are seeking God’s direction and presence in their lives. I ask that we as their faith family surround them and continue to encourage them in their faith walk and to help them live into God’s truth and the freedom that we are given because of God’s amazing love and grace.

When we talked with these young men yesterday, we talked about faith as though it was running a race. I see it this way…the time between baptism and confirmation is like training. We learn the techniques and work to strengthen our bodies and minds so that when we face a difficult challenge, we are equipped to handle it faithfully. As you take this step of faith, you are not expected to be perfect, or even the best runner of the race. By standing before this congregation and before God, you are expected to be faithful, to seek the truth and freedom that God has already given to you and to share the thrill of faith with others. You don’t have to do this alone, in fact, one of the great things God gave us was the church, we’re all in this with you together. Keep digging deeper into yourselves and God. Ask questions and share your struggles. Celebrate when you have a “God moment”, those times when you just know God is with you.

Jesus is most certainly all about truth and freedom. And it’s in our daily lives, it’s in those very events that we feel bound to that Jesus so deeply wants to free us. As disciples, Jesus frees us from those things that trap us by giving himself to us on the cross and placing all of our barriers and sins with him on it, so that the things that separate us from ourselves and God are not the last word, they don’t have the final say. The last word is that we are God’s people, called and claimed in baptism and invited into a radical way of truth and freedom with Jesus. When it all comes down to it, we are invited to get lost in the truth. Amen.

Rest, Retreat, and Initiation

It was great to spend the second half of last week on retreat with the staff. There was plenty of hype about how fun and beneficial the previous retreat was, and this one did not disappoint.

It is amazing how gathering together to learn about each other can ground people into a new way of being. Centered in worship and sabbath, we opened ourselves to the wonder of God and asked God to be with us in our work and play throughout the retreat. Three tools were useful in helping us learn who we are: Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, the Enneagram and People Styles.

By using these tools, we are now more able to understand where each of us is coming from and how we can best support each other in the work and ministry that we do.

I feel like we got to know each other more in those couple of days than we had in the first six weeks that I was here. By getting to know each other and how we work with one another and process the information we confront, it seems that we are more equipped to live out God's calling for us as the staff of a congregation. I think of all the times that Jesus tried to get away with his disciples. It often happened without much preparation, and only with a few at a time. When they were able to get away, Jesus was most clearly revealed as God's son...at Jesus' baptism, on the mountain with James and John at the transfiguration, at the last supper and with Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus.

Getting away is so important. It allows us to re-evaluate who we are and remember whose we are. It is a gift to be able to get away these days of busyness and productivity. Yet, I would argue that it should not be a gift, but a regular rhythm of life. Take time to reflect and live instead of letting it fly by. Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." That is far to common an occurrence these days. It's sad.

An experience of Hope

I had a profoundly wonderful day today. It was one of those days that did not lend itself to grandiose strides in any one project, and nothing too out of the ordinary happened. However, I have been washed over with thanksgiving and joy today.

I am so thankful to be a child of God today. I have felt the unwarranted and undeserving love of God, as if God has said today, "J, you really are mine and you can't do anything about it, simply enjoy this gift." Now, I always know this cognitively, but rarely it seems do I see and taste and touch it. And the best thing is that I haven't done a darn thing to deserve it. I woke up like I always do, got ready for work, worked, came home, ate dinner with my wife, went for a walk, ran some errands and blogged. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Yet God grabbed hold of this day for me to see it with fresh eyes. Humble eyes, joyful eyes.

I am also so thankful that God has called me to the church in which I am serving as intern pastor. Everyday I enter the building and talk to the people I am more thankful. I am filled with ideas, hopes, dreams and desire to serve with People of Hope to be the stewards for God's party, usually called the kingdom of God. The party has already begun, the festivities are in place and we as God's gathered people get to set the table for others to come and see and taste that the Lord is good. Come and taste and see. Come discover the wonders and mysteries of the Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit - co-eternal, co-equal and one.

I can't wait to see what this one, whom we call the Trinity has in store for me tomorrow. What is in store for you? It is in these rare moments of hope that I see most clearly what is always in front of me. But, it is in the dimmer days of doubt that only make hope the sweet nectar that it is and God's faithfulness to us real. As great as it feels to live life in the euphoria of the experience of God's grace, we fool ourselves if we deny the reality of pain. So, if tomorrow is full of pain, I will rejoice in knowing God's goodness and mercy are not reliant on how I feel, but solely on Christ's righteousness which has been given freely to me, and there isn't anything I or anyone else can do about it. That's the good news for us today.


Peace to your house.