Tag Archives: Low Self-esteem

God’s Purpose for All

Lent
March 20, 2018

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

I thank you that you have answered me
   and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
   it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
   O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! –Psalm 118:21-25

Is Christ the cornerstone of our lives? The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure

Is Jesus’ life the reference point for all we do? It seems we are morphing more and more into a “me first” society. We make decisions based on what is in it for us. Particularly apparent in the white privilege attitudes, the idea distorts the most basic tenets of faith based on love for all and the understanding that all are made in the image of God.

It is possible that white privilege stems from a feeling that if one is not better than others he or she is not a person of worth. I do not know from where that type of thinking derives. Does it stem from what seems to be a natural human trait of being competitive with one another? Competition can be fun and can push us toward higher goals, and competition has nothing whatsoever to do with proving anyone’s individual worth.

I once watched attorneys battle out a case in court with great emotion each doing the best for his client. When the case ended they met at the back of the courtroom and one said, “Want to get some lunch.” Sports, when done correctly, is also a great outlet for our competitive tendencies. Sportsmanship is the art of competing fairly and honestly while gracefully accepting the results.

When we live within a system that recognizes any kind of privilege, we are neither fair nor honest regarding what is right or what is just, and we never experience gracefully accepting results because the system is always rigged for us to win.

Most carpenters and bricklayers, even the highly skilled ones, do not rely on their ability to sight a straight line with their eyes alone. They used some type of level to make sure everything is aligned. Our external level is Jesus Christ. The only way we may see our world objectively is to allow him to show us what it looks like through his eyes.

Prayer: God of Justice, help us align closely with our cornerstone, Jesus Christ so that we hold up our responsibility of maintaining a society that is in sync with God’s purpose for all. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Higher Ground

Eastertide
May 12, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.Once you were not a people,
   but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
   but now you have received mercy. –1 Peter 2:9-10

The word translated here as race is from the Greek word, genos*, and, yes, it stems from the same Greek word ginomai as our English word gene. Do you think the ancients were saying that being made in the image of God is saying God is in our DNA? Probably not what we imagine when we read “a chosen race”.  The English word race does relate to heredity or tribe and that is most likely what our ancestors in faith were referencing. Other countries may do it too, but we in the USA have no trouble appropriating this language applying it to ourselves: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people. I think 1 Peter is speaking to all of God’s people but it is not talking about being more worthy or better than others. Being chosen by God entails taking responsibility for doing the work of God. Now that we know God’s love, we are compelled to share it with all God’s other people.

Classifying and ranking people by race, income, ethnicity, etc. seems to be on the increase. Perhaps it just feels more comfortable in public now. My dad remembered the KKK marching in parades in the 1920’s when he was a child, just before the Great Depression following a period of Anything Goes**. Why do you suppose it is necessary for some to feel that they are better than other humans? Perhaps it was needed to justify greed that enslaved people. Much of the science of racial differences arose in the 18th and 19th centuries. Greed is rampant in our world today as a chasm grows between the haves and the have nots and the middle-class shrinks.

God’s love for all his offspring is unconditional. What more proof of anyone’s worth is needed?

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
  Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.***

Prayer: Lord, heal my soul so that I understand your love is enough for my self esteem. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/1096.htm**Anything Goes is a musical about the 1920‘s. Learn more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anything_Goes***Chorus from hymn, Higher Ground see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/396

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

 

Higher Ground

ChickensLiving in the Spirit
August 27, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:1, 7-14

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ –Luke 14:7-11

Who created pecking orders? Since this descriptive word derives from chickens, one might assume it is naturally occurring as it seems to be present in all animals, including humans. The correct term for pecking order is dominance hierarchy. Hens peck; roosters most often use their claws. Did God create pecking orders? Does God intend for humans to control their urge to revert to nature or as Jesus urges in our scripture today are we to order our lives through love?

I have lived in urban areas twice as long as I lived on a farm, but I still remember chicken behavior. Placed in charge of chickens at the age of five, I fed and watered the animals, gathered their eggs, and locked the door to their house each evening to protect them from coyotes and other animals. I took over the job from my sister who was afraid of chickens, but at the age of 7 could graduate to milking cows. I have been pecked and spurred by hens and roosters and can assure you both are most primitive ways of solving problems.

It is funny what we humans deem to be important. Why do we need external validation of who we are? Why are we not able to acknowledge our innate worth in being children of God? Both low self-esteem and pride are stumbling blocks to our fulfillment of God’s call to service.

Prayer: Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground*. Amen.

*Chorus to Higher Ground words by Johnson Oatman, Jr. See at http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Higher_Ground/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.