Tag Archives: Divisiveness

Spirit to spirit

Epiphany

February 7, 2020

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 2:1-12

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
   nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him’—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.   –1 Corinthians 2:6-12

I remember being told as a child that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Now I read that may not be true*. There is a catch Even though smiling uses more muscles, it is believed that it takes less effort than frowning. This is because people tend to smile more, which means the relevant muscles are in better shape. When muscles are in better shape, they require less energy (effort) when used*. This made me wonder if effort is the key to muscle produced energy, is effort the key to a healthy spirit?

The lowercase English word spirit derived from the Greek pneuma and the Hebrew rûach essentially describes the essence of humans—the breath of life that connects us to God.  The uppercase Spirit defines that same quality in God. Perhaps that is the substance of our being made in the image of God.

My spirit is disturbed as I try to make sense of the chaos of divisiveness that is epidemic throughout our land.  I found myself searching for facts about an issue this morning only to find dozens of analysis that differed based on the filter the writer was using to interpret the issue.  Fact is now an archaic word as we must deal with the multiple interpretations of truth. As I searched from one article to another, I began looking at the authors to determine which ones I could trust. More than ever I believe we must open ourselves to the leading of the Spirit as our connection to truth and invest our efforts in the spiritual disciplines that will provide the energy we need to end divisiveness and create a world ruled by shared love.

Prayer: Lord, clean the filters in our minds and hearts so that we can fully experience the flow of your empowering Spirit in our lives. Amen.

*https://zidbits.com/2011/09/does-it-really-take-more-muscles-to-frown-than-to-smile/

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.

Living in Harmony

Kingdom Building

November 24, 2019

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:11-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. –Colossians 1:15-20

The various schematics used to describe God were the subject of a theology class I completed several years ago. We dissected each of the ideas. Is there a Trinity or not? If there is a Trinity how does it operate? We viewed various illustrations of overlapping circles and triangles with God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit appearing in differing arrangements. All the schematics were followed by well-documented discourses of what they meant with arguments for why one was better than another. I am a rather pragmatic person, but I do enjoy exploring the ideas of others, so I read and studied the variations. My conclusion was that no one can describe God. I rather think Paul somewhat agreed with me when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

The quote from Colossians recorded above seems to be one of Paul’s attempts at helping people gain understanding of God. I particularly like the phrase and in him all things hold together for it is in our divisiveness that we tend to get into trouble. God created a world designed to work in harmony that of necessity requires diversity. Paul discusses this in greater detail in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians where he describes the Body of Christ and then in chapter 13 tells us the glue that holds us together is love.

This Agape* love means affection, good-will, love, benevolence, and more importantly it is a choice, our choice to love rather than to hate, to work together for the common good rather than to be divisive.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in always choosing to love one another as we strive together to create a harmonious world. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm

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.

Undivided

Kingdom Building

August 14, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19

Turn again, O God of hosts;
   look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
   the stock that your right hand planted.
They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;
   may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
   the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you;
   give us life, and we will call on your name. –Psalm 80:14-18

I was reminded of the Oklahoma City Bombing when I heard about the shootings in El Paso recently. I always remember the Oklahoma City Bombing when I hear about senseless mass killings. I was not in the bombing directly and did not feel it when it shook the building where I was in an interior office. Suddenly, as if on cue all the staff sitting in the open area outside my office jumped to their feet and said “What was that?” They felt it and some heard it. As the crow flies the Murrah building was about two miles away. TVs went on in our building where they existed, and work came to a standstill. The call for blood went out immediately and as a universal donor, I left for the nearest blood bank where I found a two-block line already formed. I felt guilty as I was pulled from the back of the line and moved to the front because of my O negative blood. Today, we are burning ourselves with fire and people are being cut down.

When did we become so divided? When did we become us and them? Like the two mothers arguing over the one living child*, are we seeking a Solomon to rule that God belongs to one side or the other?

We are all children of the one living God who loves each of us and all of us and commands us to love each other. We need to let go of what divides us and seek together to find the things that bring us to oneness and invite God in God’s forgiveness of our divisiveness to nurture that oneness throughout the earth.

Prayer: Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
   let your face shine, that we may be saved. –Psalm 80:18

*See 1 Kings 3:16-28

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.

Navigating to God’s Glory

Jesus’ Ministry
January 8, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

Do not fear, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
   and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
   and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.’ –Isaiah 43:5-7

The Kingdom of God has no sides as is true of the earth. While using directions seems to make it easier for mortals to navigate the earth, the truth is if we go far enough east, we arrive on our west. To God, all means all. Our categories of directions, nations, states, cities, skin color, ethnicity, or gender are meaningless to God. We humans are the ones who have the need to reduce numbers to more manageable sizes by creating artificial divisions. A problem arises when the members of those smaller segments cannot get along or begin to think one is better than another. At that point Isaiah quotes God as saying, “give them up” and “Do not withhold” reminding us of the shallow nature of our divisions. Isaiah reminds us that all are created for Gods glory and our job is to make sure everything we do with and among God’s creation is to Gods glory.

The year I graduated from high school, our school board considered consolidating with the nearest school who was our greatest rival in sports. We students thought the world would come to an end if that happened. The next years the schools consolidated. The world is still here, and that combined school offers more choices in classes with students scoring higher on achievement tests. Asking the question each time we interact with others, “does what I am doing glorify God” while being honest with oneself might be a good place to start self-correcting.

Prayer: Lord, help me examine myself to determine if my actions and the actions I support glorify you. Guide me in changing course so that all I do brings you glory. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, help me examine myself to determine if my actions and the actions I support glorify you. Guide me in changing course so that all I do brings you glory. Amen.

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.

Trouble We Got Some

guide-meLiving in the Spirit
October 24, 2016

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
   and you will not listen?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’
   and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing
   and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
   strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack
   and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
   therefore judgement comes forth perverted. –Habakkuk 1:1-4

I am a glutton for punishment. I record the Sunday morning news shows and usually view them beginning with lunch. I ask myself a similar question regarding the news to the one raised by Habakkuk in our scripture today. Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Why is what seems so clear to me totally obscure to others? Is common ground possible? Why does everybody saying the same stale words addressing the same less important issues attract my attention? Surely God, does not expect me to do anything about this mess?

I believe our political system is a very accurate reflection of our general population, including me, although I hate to face it. I further believe that our political system will not improve until and unless we get our lives in order. In a few years, the issues that divide us will seem as antiquated as our reading in Paul’s writings about eating meat offered to idols or whether gentile men must be circumcised. These two issues were dividing the church in the first century and had the members not agreed to disagree on them and move on to following Christ’s concern of feeding the hungry, Christ’s kingdom vision might never have survived and we would be the poorer for it.

People of faith must heed the call of our brokenness and become diligent in modeling Christ’s message so that the whole world can learn his lessons of love and inclusion.

Prayer: Lord, I see the trouble, help me make my contribution to ending it in your way, your truth, as exemplified in your life. Amen.

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.