Tag Archives: Power

Together in Love

Lent
March 2, 2018

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. –I Corinthians 1:22-25

My childhood bedroom had a window on the east side of our home. When I learned my directions, I related east to the sun coming in my window early in the morning. I can still close my eyes and think of my sun-filled bedroom window and usually, correctly orient myself to the east. I cannot explain that. God is our spiritual built-in compass. When we are aligned with God, we can get our bearings no matter how chaotic the world is around us. The power of God lies in God’s steadfast love to always be present with us guiding us as we pursue our purposes in life, always wanting the best for each of us and for all of us in community.

Christ being crucified is the apex of God’s power in love. Nothing more is needed. We all look for signs of the times. Today’s media parses every word and deed of people in places of power trying to ascertain what it all means and how it might affect us. While I must confess to being a news junky, I know in my heart that none of the foolishness we observe matters, if we stay at one with our Creator. When and if we ever learn to do that in oneness with all our siblings as children of God, we will realize the fullness of God’s Kingdom.

For some reason, humans have a hard time accepting the rule of love. We seem to gravitate toward needing to have levels of worth, not being able to accept that God is powerful enough and wise enough to love each and all of us exactly, individually and collectively right. God can, and God does. God proved it in Christ crucified.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole, make us one. Be our guiding light bringing us together in love. 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.

Power and Justice

Living in the Spirit
June 10, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Jesus proclaims in the scripture above that all authority in heaven and on earth is his. Where does that leave the power brokers in our world today? Where does that leave each of us? We are a nation enamored with power. A close friend, a former supervisor of mine, told of a wealthy local man who stormed into her office very angry upset that a relative of his was turned down for nursing care payments. He loomed over her demanding an explanation, which she gave him. His relative owned more resources than were allowed in the requirements for the program. The relative would have to liquidate the resources before the state could help her. He looked down into her eyes and said in a commanding voice, “Do you know who I am?” She replied “Yes, Mr._____ I do know who you are but you apparently do not know who I am.” and she gave him her name and reached out to shake his hand. Knocked off guard with a questioning look on his face, he turned and walked out of her office. I asked her what she would have said if he had asked who she was.  She just grinned. She was a child of God and thus she was committed to doing what was right and just and I am sure if he wanted to talk to her boss she would have arranged it.

Power is worthless if it is not of God. Power without justice is evil and will destroy itself from the inside out. The sad thing is it may destroy others it catches in its net.

Prayer: Lord, shield us from becoming driven by any power other than yours. Help us not only do justice but live 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.

Saying No to Power

Lent
April 8, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
   humble, and mounted on a donkey,
     and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ –Matthew 21:1-5

Apparently, what we see in movies is historically accurate, Roman leaders riding triumphantly into cities on beautify well trained horses were in control and in command. Their message was power, peace through violence or the threat of violence. Jesus’ ministry countered everything for which Rome and its emperor stood. Our scripture today illustrates that Jesus did not hold back his challenge to Roman power when he entered Jerusalem. Made fun of Rome’s triumphal entries by riding a donkey, a beast of burden, in his entry. Jesus’ people were being oppressed by Rome and their collusion with local religious leaders who were allowed their bit of power by not making waves. He came to free them from that oppression.

There are many types of oppression. We, today, probably think of being freed from spiritual oppression. It is hard for us to comprehend economic and political oppression although it exists all around us even in the United States. Sales taxes are harder on the poor than on the wealthy. They are called regressive taxes. Adding 8% to the cost of groceries for a person living in poverty means less than adequate food to eat. For someone making $100,000 a year it might mean ordering a glass of wine at a fine restaurant rather than a bottle.

Jesus wanted everyone to have enough. He did not demand that all had the same. As partners in Christ service we are called to do justice. Part of that call is working to assure that everyone has enough.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see injustice in our everyday lives and help us work to overcome it. 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.

Vision Quest

Lent
March 5, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.”’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. –Matthew 4:8-11

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. *

I tend to think of Jesus’ temptations as his vision quest in the tradition of some American Indian tribes. Young men, and women too, are sent out to be alone with the Spirit to find their calling as they transition to adulthood. At some level, all teenagers make such a quest. The key point is that we are the decisions we make.

When I first began my career, I noticed that many of the women with whom I worked were there not by the choice of pursuing a career but by the necessity of meeting their basic needs and often the basic needs of children. Some felt caught in a no win situation, doing whatever they were told for fear of losing their children’s livelihood. (A member of the Oklahoma state legislature recently was forced to resign because of sexual harassment. Among other things, he required his administrative assistant to supply him with nude pictures of herself.) I was working in pursuit of a career, single and with no children, and able early on to make the decision that I never wanted to ever be in a situation when I could not walk away from my job at any point. That decision influenced many later decisions I made about handling my finances mainly, but also being able to stand my ground for doing what was right.

Playing the game of power is a heady business and can become our god. Jesus possessed ultimate power but his task on earth, his vision, was to enable others to use their power to God’s glory advancing the influence of love throughout the world. He made three major decisions on his vision quest that set the values for his ministry: not letting the thirst for greed rule his life, not testing God, and not letting a hunger for power supersede his primary purpose. His example is a good one to follow.

Prayer: Lord help us understand that the power of love is stronger than all other forms of power, guide us in loving like Jesus. Amen.

*John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

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Real Abundance

I am the vineEastertide
May 2, 2015

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.  –John 15:1-6

I have spent more time studying the Hebrew Bible during the last year than I probably ever have. It was not by any pre-arranged design of mine; I have wondered if it was God’s intent. First, last summer, my Sunday school class explored in depth 1 & 2 Kings with a little Chronicles thrown in for good measure, and to get both sides of the story. My Bible study group decided to explore Isaiah in the fall and upon determining the fertile wealth of knowledge it contained moved so slowly we had to continue it into our spring session. The question this infusion has raised in my mind is this: Is the greatest challenge faced by we who chose to follow God our ability to continue in God’s love and service within the gift of God’s abundance? I like to describe that in biblical terms as what happens when the oppressed becomes the emperor? History does not give it a good rating.

1 & 2 Kings describes a roller coaster of good and bad kings that follow the great King David. Putting self and wealth and power above God, the bad kings drove the Israelites into desperate straits until a good king would arise and guide them back into God’s fold. This was repeated until the bad kings finally succeeded in losing the kingdom altogether. But God even delivered them from exile and promised them a leader who would help them stay on course. We Christian see that leader as Jesus the Christ defined in our scripture today as the true vine.

I fear we today are reacting very much like our ancestors in faith who once they gain wealth and power, tell God, “We’ve got this now. We can take it from here.” Of course, we cannot. Our nourishment must remain with the vine and we must do his work of not gaining wealth and power, but abundance for not only us but all of God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, continue to nourish us in our faith. Give us the vision we need to see what real abundance is and help us live into it. 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.

 

Letting Go of Sins

GreedLent
March 7, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 2:13-22

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. — John 2:13-15 

It has been fascinating to me to observe over the past several years, how people, particularly politicians, have attributed to Jesus ideas and teachings that he is never quoted as addressing at all. Yet the same people rarely mention the sins about which he seems the most concerned: greed and misuse of power. Perhaps they recognized quickly the unpopularity of dealing with the sins we all commit.

John tells the story of the clearing of the temple very early in his book. The synoptic gospels mention it much later. The subject of power and its interconnection to money was apparently as unpopular in the first century as it is now. John may have been drawing attention to the cleansing of the temple early as he traces the path to Jesus’ eventual death from the beginning of his book. The event seems to have been a turning point in Jesus’ life.

During this Lenten season we would do well to ponder the place of power and greed in our lives. They are insidious, creeping into our everyday way of being without our even suspecting it. Greed is taking the walk across the line of healthy gain to wanting more and more until our lives are eaten up with collecting and hoarding. Misuse of power leads to oppression. Combined they are lethal.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us of our sins that are so much a part of our lives we rarely notice that they are separating us from you and from our call to serve you. Convict us of what is keeping us from having full communion with you and give us the courage to let those sins go. 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.

 

God’s Gifts are Greater

School FailureLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 2, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14

 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. — Philippians 3:7-11

While traveling in Turkey recently, I traveled the paths of Paul as he spread the good news about Jesus throughout what was then Asia Minor. Walking through the ruins of Ephesus, I felt like I was walking through Paul’s writings. The crumbled walls of ancient temples to the gods of the day surrounded me. The pillars where the “in crowd” had their names carved to show their believed superiority were also broken and worn. Some new followers of Christ had lamented to Paul that their names could never be on these all important status symbols. Paul starts this scripture with a laundry list of his credentials, which are impressive and then he says they are meaningless when compared to being in relationship with Christ.

We still live in a world where it seems status symbols and acquisitions matter more than people, where teenagers attack other teens for their name brand shoes, and where, the grand buildings are cleaned and maintained by workers being paid wages that will not support their families.

We as members of the Body of Christ are called, like Paul, to tell the world the truth: People do matter. God loves all God’s children. God loves us so much that God sent Jesus Christ into the world to show us a better path. People of that day caught up in the hunger for power and greed, even religious leaders, were so fearful of his message that they killed him. But God said that is not the end of the story and restored him to life. As Paul says in this scripture there is nothing, no status symbol or acquisition that is more important than that.

Oklahoma Fact: For the 2014 school year, 46% of Oklahoma City Schools received an Fin the state Education Department’s rankings.*

Prayer: Lord of All, let us be a blessing to all your children as a demonstration of our love for you and our love for all those who were created in your image. Amen.

*The Oklahoman, Sunday, September 21, 2014, page 1A

 

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.