Tag Archives: Loving Like Jesus

Voting

Eastertide

May 11, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

The right to vote and control of who can vote is all over the news right now. Voting is essential for a democracy to be a democracy. We should never take it lightly. In 2020, I voted for the first time by mail because of COVID, and I must say I was a better-informed voter.

I could not miss the significant candidates and questions. They were constantly on my TV and in my mailbox. I had not paid much attention to the two men running for county sheriff or reviewing the city charter changes. It was not hard to do. I checked the sheriff candidates’ credentials and studied the charter changes. Had I stood in line for and hours or more in the June heat, having not done my homework, I would have grabbed my ballet completed the easy parts, and most likely skipped voting for a new sheriff or expressing my opinion on the city charter issues.

I did a study a few years ago about voting participation and discovered that less than half of registered voters in Oklahoma voted most years. This count did not include those who were eligible to vote but did not register. The result was that none of our elected officials won by a majority of legal voters. Truth is political parties, and people supporting specific issues only what the people to vote who will select their candidate or cause.

We, the people, must control voting. I think everyone should be required to register to vote at the age of eighteen, just like we require people to register for the draft. I also think Australia may be on to something. In Australia, if one does not vote and does not provide a good reason for failing to vote, they pay a fine. That is a little scary to consider. We might have to improve the quality of our education system so young people learn the responsibility they have as citizens.

People of faith have another consideration. We must consider our moral obligations as a citizen and do our part in assuring that our elected officials consider what is right and wrong for their constituents when making decisions, not what is best for their party or their wealthy donors or their personal wealth.

Prayer: God of Justice, help us strive for righteousness and justice in meeting our obligations as citizens. Amen.

Yielding to God

Eastertide

May 9, 2021

Scripture Reading: John 15:9-17

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. John 15:1-17

Do we know what God is doing? Do we understand our role in the fulfillment of God’s vision? Does our idea of what God’s kingdom is meshing with what God through Jesus Christ taught us? We are called to bear the fruit of God’s love, fruit that will last, in support of God’s Kingdom ruling on earth. Our job is to work to that end by loving God and loving one another. How do we do that?

Following Jesus Christ requires us to let go of those things that get in the way of our loving others and take on the attributes of caring for others. We did not get the assignment to judge anyone, nor do we pick and choose those we are to love.  The word translated love in the above verses comes from the Greek word agape’ which, for the believer, is preferring to “live through Christ” (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God’s will (choosing God’s choices) and obeying them through God’s power*.

No one can do that without dedicating their lives to understanding God’s love, accepting God’s wisdom, and opening our whole beings to God’s empowerment. Life presents for us many challenges that shape us as we are. Some of that is good and directly helps us serve God fully. Some of what we have taken in as truth distracts us from following God completely.  We must be willing to let the distractions go while filling the vacancy caused by its absence with the excellent and helpful loving attributes. It is a lifetime quest that takes an intentional investment of all we are to become who God created us to be. It is indeed worth the work.

Prayer:
Have Thine own way, Lord,
  Have Thine own way;
Thou art the Potter,
  I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
  After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
  Yielded and still. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/25.htm

**First verse of Have Thine Own Way, Lord by Adelaide Addison Pollard. See at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/449

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.

Abiding with God

Eastertide

May 8, 2021

Scripture Reading: John 15:9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11

After major surgery, I groggily awoke in the night to see an ebony arm extended from a crisp white sleeve as the hand patted my arm. A reassuring voice said, “You are all right, just go back to sleep. Everything is OK.” I experienced the deepest level of trust and peace. God’s emissary had come to care for me, and I went back to sleep. She was probably the night nurse checking my vitals, but her assurance came from God, and I abided in it.

We call on God to abide with us when we are most vulnerable, and that is good and right. However, Jesus instructed us to abide always in his love as he continuously abides in God’s love. Abide, translated from the Greek word meno* means to stay, wait with, or remain, suggesting an intimate level of connection. We must not confuse it with the English word having the connotation of putting up with something.

Abiding with God takes practice. I worked with a man who was born in another country. English was his second language. Even though he had lived in the USA for 40 years and spoke the language with an Oklahoma accent, he still translated English into his native tongue, prepared his response in that language, and finally expressed his answer in English.  He did it very quickly as it was not apparent in conversations that he was processing something before he spoke. I wonder how long it would take Christ-followers to screen our lives through Jesus’ lens so that we could feel more confident in our loving like Jesus all the time.

Prayer:
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me*. Amen.

First verse of hymn Abide with Me by Henry Francis Lyte see at https://www.google.com/search?q=abide+with+me+lyrics&rlz=1C1CHZN_enUS922US922&oq=abide+with+me&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j46i433j0l3j46l2j0l2j46.6647j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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 our Faith

Eastertide

May 7, 2021

Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-6
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Faith is trusting in the advice of a valued source that has passed the test of time. Jesus Christ demonstrated his value in his sojourn on earth. He went so far as dying on a cross to save us from ourselves and the evil that distracts us. He conquered the world in his resurrection and the subsequent gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us. If Jesus proclaims that loving God and loving one another is the way to fulfill God’s Kingdom, we can count on it being the way, the truth, and the life. (See John 14:6)

Why do we make life so hard? Have we ever tried loving like Jesus 24/7? I have been trying to change my everyday habits, like washing my dishes immediately after my meal instead of leaving them in the sink until the next meal. Living alone opens doors of opportunity to be untidy, particularly during the pandemic. I am trying to add one better habit at a time. I think we all might want to dedicate our post-pandemic year to practice loving like Jesus until it becomes a habit. That first will require us to review and learn anew how Jesus loved. We then need to discern the areas we are already doing reasonably well and target the areas that need improvement. We might start with a few simple things. I am a terrible card sender, but I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to get a card in the mail sometimes, just to say I hope you are doing well.

Prayer: Lord, help us see the opportunities we have to love like you. 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.

The Load of our Workarounds

Eastertide

May 6, 2021

Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-6

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave…when first we practice to deceive.” ― Walter Scott, Marmion

The problem with commandments is not that they are burdensome. Trying to get around them entangle us in webs of complexity that are burdensome. The process starts with the failure to have no other gods before God, when, in fact, we move easily among the gods that tempt us. The whole prosperity gospel venture says wealth illustrates our status with God. Visualize that concept next to a cross with God’s son hanging on it.

Mark 7:10-13 tells us that Jesus called out the elders for doing workarounds when Jesus said For Moses said, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.” But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban” (that is, an offering to God)— then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.’

Ultimately if we read what we call God’s Ten Commandments, we will agree with Jesus that following two commandments covers them all, loving God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. These are very straightforward and not burdensome until they challenge our personal desires. Our goal is to practice them so thoroughly until we prefer the lightness of their load.

Prayer: God of love, help us to seek and find the lightness of your passion as it permeates our very being. Amen.

*See Mark 12:30-31

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.

Privilege and Justice

Eastertide

May 4, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Welcoming gentiles as followers of Christ was a culturally challenging part of the early church. In the scripture above, Peter identifies the gift of the Holy Spirit as God’s sign that the gentiles should be accepted. Who do we cast as outside God’s love, and how do we open our hearts to all God’s children?

As we arise from the savagery of COVID, I find myself to be short on patience and restless. I wonder if others feel the same. The people I observe via media seem eager to get back to what they deem normal. My impatience is targeted at all the injustice that the virus revealed, and my restless response is to wonder why we are not moving faster to restore not what to us is expected but wholeness to our fractured world. Our former normal did not and will not address justice issues.

I have been attending a class on White Privilege, and it dawned on me as I listened to the discussion that there is no justice in privilege. We often use the term underprivileged to describe poverty, lack of a good education, or loss of hope. There is nothing normal between the privileged and underprivileged. Our society tracks many measures of success by the percentile they are above, at, or below norms. There is no identified “at” related to privilege. I believe the “at” of privilege must be justice.

In our society, we stumble about measuring poverty with antiquated tools to find its impact on our world. Do we measure poverty to determine at what point it negatively impacts privilege? How do we measure privilege and its effects on the society? Is it as essential to get a handle on privilege to bring about justice as it is to address the underprivileged? At what point does justice end and privilege begin, and who gets hurt in the process?

Prayer: God of Justice, send your Spirit to show us how to wedge justice into our consideration of the impacts of privilege in our world today. 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.

Who is In, Who is Out

Eastertide

May 3, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Who is in, and who is out? Humans spend a lot of time discerning who is accepted and who is not. I watch grieving parents on TV recently whose son was going through the fraternity rites of becoming one of those considered acceptable. He was forced, cajoled into drinking too much hard liquor in too short a time, and died. The fraternity has been banned from the school, and eight young men face criminal charges for the incident.

Athletes at a local faith-based university knelt in solidarity against racism during the presentation of the US National anthem, and the school banned them from ever doing it again. The whole campus is now caught up in discerning who is right and who is wrong. Who sets the standards of acceptable behavior?

For weeks, I cannot recall a morning when the lead story on the news was not someone being shot overnight in Oklahoma City, many killed, many teens and young adults as our nation struggles regarding the right to possess weapons. What legacy are we passing to our children?

Peter was speaking to a crowd of both Gentiles and Jews about the living Christ, the One who came to teach all how to love and care for one another.  We are called to accept all of God’s people, and all people are God’s. It is hard to change cultural norms. We all have been taught directly and indirectly that some are in and some are out. This story of Peter’s speaking does not leave it to him to tell us who God accepts. The Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. God has spoken now; we humans must clear our hearts and minds of all those prejudices that are so much a part of our being. although we do not recognize them as pre-judgments. God calls us to love one another and that requires us to find common ground for the Common Good.

Prayer: Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within us*.  Amen.

*See Psalm 51:10

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.

Called

Eastertide

May 2, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 15:1-8
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

I fear some have mistaken being chosen, set apart, called whatever word we pick, meaning we are in a higher class than others. More loved, more gifted, more . . . What it usually requires is a lot of dangerous, hard work Loving like Jesus. A few months ago, I read the book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson that describes the caste system at work in the USA. It was emotionally hard to read but well worth the experience. There is nothing I can find in Jesus’ teachings that support a hierarchy of worth. Indeed, just the opposite runs through his words and example. I have probably given this example before, but it bears repeating. The best surgeon in the world would not be successful at saving a life if the person who sanitized the operating room did not do their job well. One of my grandfathers died of sepsis from an unclean tool used to lance a boil.

That said, I do think God sets some apart for particular duties. Paul certainly seems to meet that description. All those who shared Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection with us answer a special call.  Being chosen may result in doing one or more vital specific tasks, but it always means a lifelong commitment to loving God and loving like Jesus wherever it takes us. No Christ-follower serves on their own. We are always linked to that Vine extending from the Vine-Grower who nurtures us to bear much fruit.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all those who have touched our lives with your love and guided us to recognize the spiritual nourishment we need to answer your call. 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.

Loving the Hater

Eastertide

April 29, 2021

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. —1 John 4:7-12

The news reported this morning that a small town in Oklahoma with about 3,000 residents found nearly half the town papered with notices inviting participation in the KKK. A few other towns had similar experiences. The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified 12 hate groups in Oklahoma, from racist skinheads to Neo-Nazis. I find it ironic that some are also identified as being affiliated with various faith groups. Guess they had not read John 4.

What is hate?

  1. intense hostility toward an object (as an individual) that has frustrated the release of an inner tension (as of a biological nature)
  2. an habitual emotional attitude in which distaste is coupled with sustained ill will
  3. a strong dislike or antipathy*

What causes hate? What are the benefits of hating? Freud related depression resulting from anger turned inward, as a reaction to being hurt. Every human is unique, and no other human can know how some behavior or words might impact another. Bullied by a girl in grade school, I was reminded of her every time I meet someone who shares her name. I could have projected my hurt and fears caused by being bullied on those who shared her name, never knowing why. I hope I did not recoil from anyone because of my history with one person because they shared her name. As I look back on her, I now remember a large girl who had been held back a couple of years in school and was the source of teasing by older children on the playground.

Hating is a means of establishing self-worth when for whatever reason, a person never had or has lost the relationships that foster a love of oneself. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves**. That may involve loving our neighbors until they love themselves.

Prayer: Lord, you love us despite our sins and gave your life to free us from their bondage. Empower us to love like you love to help others understand what love is. Amen.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/hate
**See Mark 12:31

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.

Seeking Clarity

Eastertide

April 28, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 22:25-31
From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
   my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
   those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
   May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth shall remember
   and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
   shall worship before him.
For dominion belongs to the Lord,
   and he rules over the nations.

To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
   before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
   and I shall live for him.
Posterity will serve him;
   future generations will be told about the Lord,
and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
   saying that he has done it.

The first words of Psalm 22 are well known to many of us, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? as one of Jesus’ seven last statements made from the cross.  In quoting this text, Jesus recognized the cost of his quest, the above later verses in Psalm 22 describe the vision for which he came and gave his life. God is with us; the poor shall be fed, all nations shall worship together, the dead shall be raised. The coming of the Kingdom of God is a done deal for Jesus had accomplished his mission.

I love John’s way of stating this reality in a world that seems to be in utter chaos,

His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’ John 16:29-33

Do we live as if we believe that Jesus Christ has conquered the world? What is our concept of such an idea? I fear we in the USA envision the Kingdom of God as a place where we will have our cake and eat it, too—some kind of special privilege. Jesus never said that. He said that God’s Kingdom is a place where everyone is loved and loves everyone else. All have enough of the necessities for life and the opportunity to become fully the people God created them to be living in peace with one another. The question we need to ask ourselves do we share that vision?

Prayer: Lord, clarify my aspirations as a citizen of your Kingdom. Help me see clearly when my desires are more the desires of this world than your Kingdom. Refocus my life to be more in sync with your righteousness and justice. 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.