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ThereseemsabitofagapbetweenhowmostfolkinmoderncommunitiesregardthecomingofChristmasandhowthegospelsactuallyusedintheseasonofadvent.IguessifWesterncommunitiesareanythinglikemineinthispost-Christianage,foraclearmajoritytheseasonofAdventusuallykicksoffcoincidingwithsomethinglikeaSantaparade(nottomentioneverlastingsoporificshoppingmallmusicsuchasRudolphtheRed-nosedReindeer,oreventhatoldfavourite“Snoopy’sChristmas”)TruethisreflectshowmanyinalargelysecularworldviewthestatusofChristmasbutwestillmayneedtoremindourselvesjusthowfarourcornerofthewiderworldhasmovedfromwhatwetalkaboutinourChurch.Truewecanarguethatwhatisnowrecognizedstandardpracticewillatleastencouragepotentialshopperstogetintoabuyingmoodatthetowncentre.ThisdoesnotmeanforgettingtoacknowledgethattoomuchemphasisoncommercialismhasaconsequencethatourChurchchosenpathintotheseasonbecomesalmostapassingafterthoughtforthosewatchingfromtheside-lines.

Possibly,atleastforLuke,thispotentialcommercialismmakesithardertofindappropriatetextsasleadintotheAdventseason.

PerhapswearenotasfreeaswemightwishtosafeguardtheNewTestamentinthepresentdayandage,andifwearenotcareful,oneconsequencemaybethatintheinchurchourgospel(Luke21:25-27)forthisyear’sfirstSundayinAdvent,maystillcatchmostofusunawareswhenitspeaksofsignsinthesun,themoon,andthestars,andontheearthdistressamongnationsconfusedbytheroaringoftheseaandthewaves.Whatthendowemakeoftheclaimthatpeoplewillfaintfromfearandforebodingofwhatiscomingupontheworld,forthepowersoftheheavenswillbeshaken.ThentheywillseetheSonofMancominginacloudwithpowerandgreatglory.Butnotethisverycarefully…Don’tforgetthatnextbit.Then,saysJesus(Luke21:32)“TrulyItellyou,thisgenerationwillnotpassawayuntilallthesethingshavetakenplace”.

AccordingtothispartofLuke’sstory,Jesusmakesnoattempttodownplaythecomingdisastersinhisprophecy.Hemayhavebeenspeakingfigurativelybutifthepowersofheavenwerenotliterallyshaken,asfarasLukesintendedaudiencewouldhavebeenconcerned,themayhemthatwouldhavealreadybefallenthembythetimeLukewrotehisinterpretationincludingtheRomanslayingsiegetoJerusalemanddestroyingthetemplemusthavegivenJesus’wordsrealimpact.

N.T.WrightinhiscommentaryonthetopicagreesthatinLuke’saccountJesusseemedtobefocusingnotsomuchontheendoftheworldasmuchasonthechaosoftheimpendingRomanassaultonJerusalem.TrueitcouldbearguedthatthishaslittledirectconnectionwiththeseasonofAdvent,thispartofLuke’sgospelremindsusthatfollowingthecomingsaviourifweremindourselvesthatdownthroughtheagesJesus’comingdoesn’tmeanfollowingthesaviourwillguaranteeusanautomaticlifeofheavenlybliss.Eitherway,thedetailinthissegmentofJesusreportedprophecyisluridenough.

Inshort,forLuke’scontemporaryreaders,themountingdespairwouldhavebeenrealenough.SomewithamodernfundamentalistbiasappearcertainthatJesuswastalkingofArmageddon,butend-timespredictionsmaymissthepoint.WhileitistraditionalWesternthinkingtotalkintermsofatime-linewithabeginning,amiddleandanend.ButdidyounoticetherecurringthemesoftheBiblesuggestthatencounterswiththeeternalarenotdependentonthelinealmeasurementoftimeAfterall,ifitwereonlytoLuke’sgenerationthatJesus’wordswereexpectedtohavemeaning,whatpossiblerelevancewouldtheythenhaveforustoday

Attheendofhisparableaboutthefigtree(Luke21:29-32)Jesusgivesacluewhenhesays“heavenandEarthmaydisappear,butmywordsshallremainforever”.TheAdventorcomingofwhichhespokemaynotsomuchbeapersonalmeetingwiththesaviourasmuchasapersonalrevelationabouttheessenceofwhatherepresented.

So,whythendidthelectionaryscholarschoosethisparticularreadingtointroduceAdventAlthoughIcannotbesure,IcanseehowJesus’insistencethathewiouldcomeinthemidstofswirlingdarkchaos,mayremindusofthenotionofunexpectedbirth.Yetthebirth,ifitistohavemeaningtoday,mustbemorethanastoryinabook.

The14th-centuryGermanmysticMeisterEckhartconjuredastrikingimagewhenhewrote:WhatisthegoodifMarygavebirthtotheSonofGodallthoseyearsago,ifIdonotgivebirthtoGodtodayInthatsenseweareall“mothersofGod”,forGodisalwaysneedingtobeborn.

ThissuggestsadifferentwayoflookingatAdvent.WhatifthebirthweexpectneedstobeembeddedinourveryessencebeforeJesuscanbesaidtohavecometomakeadifference

Itisnotsomuchthatwe,asmembersoftheChurch,canclaimtobeunawareoftheteachingoftheChristwhowastocomeandwhonowhascome.Atleastforsomeofuswehaveheardthefamiliarstoriesfromchildhood.Yet,surelyuntilwetakethisteachingtobeapartofourverybeing,Christhasnotarrivedforus.ArchbishopDesmondTutuinhisessayGodOnlyHasUs(fromhisbookGodhasaDream)putitrathermoredirectly:Whatisinterestingishowmanytimestheprophetssaythatifyourreligiondoesnotaffectthewayyouliveyourlife,itisareligionthatGodrejects.

AdventthencertainlyheraldsthebirthofChristatChristmas.Butifwearethoughtful,itmaydomorethanthatforus.Jesusmayhavecomeasachild,buthealsocameasachildwhogrewtobecomeassociatedwithamessage.Hewasneverintendedtoremaininthenativitycrib.Asheisrecordedassaying,hiswordsarethosethat“remainforever”.Butwordsrequirealistenerbeforetheytakeshapeinalife.Beforeourtimehecameforotherlisteners.Forsomethisgavemeaningtotheirlives…butonly,Isuspect,forsome.ThisAdventwillweseehimascomingtous

Thisleavesusaninterestingquestion.Iftheswordisabouttolayfurtherwaste–andifthesurvivorsaretobeimprisonedorscatteredasrefugees,inwhatsensewilltheSonofMancomeforthemAndforusalmosttwothousandyearslater,inwhatsensewilltheChristcomeforusForthat,afterall,istherealquestionofAdvent.

eemsabitofagapbetweenhowmostfolkinmoderncommunitiesregardthecomingofChristmasandhowthegospelsactuallyusedintheseasonofadvent.IguessifWesterncommunitiesareanythinglikemineinthispost-Christianage,foraclearmajoritytheseasonofAdventusuallykicksoffcoincidingwithsomethinglikeaSantaparade(nottomentioneverlastingsoporificshoppingmallmusicsuchasRudolphtheRed-nosedReindeer,oreventhatoldfavourite“Snoopy’sChristmas”)TruethisreflectshowmanyinalargelysecularworldviewthestatusofChristmasbutwestillmayneedtoremindourselvesjusthowfarourcornerofthewiderworldhasmovedfromwhatwetalkaboutinourChurch.Truewecanarguethatwhatisnowrecognisedstandardpracticewillatleastencouragepotentialshopperstogetintoabuyingmoodatthetowncentre.ThisdoesnotmeanforgettingtoacknowledgethattoomuchemphasisoncommercialismhasaconsequencethatourChurchchosenpathintotheseasonbecomesalmostapassingafterthoughtforthosewatchingfromtheside-lines

SomerandomThoughtsonaquestion:IsJesusYourKing

AtarecentceremonyintheAustralianParliamentAustralia,anindependentAboriginalpolitician(LidiaThorpe)createdanembarrassinginternationalincidentbycallingouttotheguestofhonour,KingCharlesIII:“YouarenotmyKing!”

AlthoughIsuspectfewAustraliansorNewZealanderswouldechoLydiaThorpe’swordsinsuchaceremony,perhapsherwordsmightremindusthatevenroyaltitlesonlycountforthosewhoseattitudesandactionsshowtruerespect.

Whattoday’s“ChristtheKing“orReignofChristSundaymeansisinevitablymuddiedbyafewthousandyearsofturbulenthistory.

IguessIneedtosayattheoutset,thatwhereafewyearsagoIwascomfortablewiththenotionofworshippingJesustheKing,ithastakenmesometimetosortoutwhatthismeans.Ittookmesometimetorealisebowingtoonewhodescribedhismissionintermsofservanthood,theterm“King”withitsimpressionofpowerandgrandeurseemsalmosttomisrepresentwhathewasteaching.

Whatismore,thatistheeasybit.Therealquestioncomesindecidingthat,givenwearesupposedtoberememberingChristastheKing,thetrickybitcomesindecidingthatapartfromtheformsofChurchworship,whichpartofourlivesneedreallifeadjustmenttohonourtheKingweclaimtofollow.

Kingsofcoursecomeinavarietyofshapesandforms.MostoftheKingsintheBibleweredistinctlyhumanbothinstrengthsandweaknesses.KingSaulinhismurderousjealousyoftheShepherdBoyKingDavidwashardlyakingtofollowanddon’tforgetDavidforallhisbraveryandattributedPsalmsdidhavehisbestfriendmurderedwhilehisbehaviourwithwomenwasdistinctlynon-PC.HissonSolomonwhocommissionedthefirstcollectionofreligiouswritinghadhimselfrecordedbyhissycophantbiographerasthewisestofallmen,yetSolomon’smurderoushabits,hisprolificwomanizingandhissplittingofthekingdommadehimanythingbutawisemanforhissubjectstofolloworemulate.Whenwethink“King”doesthisincludeKingHerod,orperhapsthatself-claimedDefenderoftheFaithandscourgeofEnglishCatholics,HenrytheEighth.

FormanyfolktodayourmuddleisworsebecauseKingsandQueenshavebecomesomethingofananachronism.Sois“ChristtheKing”–anotherking–yes–butwhatsortofking…andmoreimportantlyakingforwhoCanwehonestlysaywelivedifferentlivesasaresultoreventhatwecanfindthegloryofthekinginthepictureofacrownofthorns

WeMethodistshaven’talwaysbeenverygoodatdealingwiththisquestion.Forexample,olderMethodisthymnsseemedtohaveanOldTestamentnotionofastrongmankingratherthantheportrayalthatJesusappearedtoteach.ThetraditionalMethodisthymnbookoftenusedhymnsthatrefertotheking,yetinonestudybythecontemporaryhymnwriterBrianWrenlookingathowthesehymnsportrayedtheideaofking,Wrendiscoveredsomethinglike80%ofthemasculineimagesofthekinginhymnsimpliedcontroloverothersandsomethinglike60%referencestoJesusaskingwereimagesofpowerwithveryfewhymnsusingconceptsofhumilityandservanthood.

EvenifwewereclearaboutwhatsortofKingweshouldseeinJesus,itdoesnotfollowthatwewouldbeclearaboutwhatitmeanstohonoursuchaking.Appropriatelyhonouringleadersisnotnecessarilysomethingthatcomesnaturally.Wellitmaynotbepoliticallycorrectbutitseemstomethatinaworldandacommunitywheresomevaluesareclearlywrong,aking–orforthatmatteranyleaderwhoasksforradicalchangeofattitudeishardlylikelytobefobbedoffwithsongswithrepeatedphrasesofpraise.

TitlessuchasPresident,PrimeMinister,orKingmaytellusaboutintendedstatusbutwhattheydon’ttellusistowhatextentthestatusisrespectedandlistenedtobythemajority.

Byanalogy,whenitcomestoJesusasChristtheKing,thefirstdecisionthoseofuswhowanttobecalledhisfollowersmightaskofourselvesiswhetherornotbyouractionsandevenourthoughtsweshowheisourking,oralternately,isitthatwethinkandactasifheismerelyamemoryofakingforothers.

ItwouldbearrogantandinappropriateformetoanswerthatquestionforothersinthisChurch,yetIsuspectthereisstillvalueinthequestion,inthateachofusmustbeopentotheleadingofourownconscience.ItisanentirelyprivatequestionbutstillreasonabletoaskourselvesifthereareinfactdiscernibledifferencesinourthoughtsandactionsbecausewehavechosentofollowtheChristweunderstandtobeourking

IwanttosuggestthatsimplyshowingupinChurchonaSundaymaynotsettlethequestion.PerhapsifwereturntothecurrentRoyalfamilytheissuemightbecomeclearer.

WhenthethenPrinceCharlesandCamillacametoNewZealandafewyearsbackthereweretheusualcrowdsofRoyalwatchers.Forthosepresentthemaintaskseemedtobeiftheycouldactuallyseethecoupleintheflesh.Yetiftheroyalwatcherstookitastepfurther,perhapstheymighthavepausedtowonderhowtheirbehaviourshouldbeaffectedbythesortsofthingsPrinceCharlesisintoteaching.AmongotherthingsPrinceCharlesisclearlyinterestedinpreservingheritagebuildings,architecture,organicfarminganddevelopingNationalparks.

IamjustguessingbutIsuspectthatifPrinceCharleshadachoiceononehandbetweenmeetingflagwavingamateurphotographers,orontheother,inspiringotherstotakeuphiscauses,therewouldbenocontest.

IguesswhatIamtryingtosayisthatlookingatthefuturekingisnotquitethesameasfollowingthefutureking.

TochangetheillustrationtooneoncesuggestedbyTomWrightandonetowhichIcanpersonallyrelate,ShirleyandIhavenowownedthreedogs.Eachofthemweredifficulttotrainandsharedthesamefailing.Whenwepointedtosomethingwewishedtodrawtothedog’sattention,thedogwouldlookatthehand.

PerhapsitisatritecomparisonyetIwonderiffocusingonChristasaphenomenontoadmireandlabellingthatfocusasthepointofourworshipistomakethesamemistake.WearealwaysindangerofreactingtoapopularistimageofChristratherthanreactingtotheessenceofhisteaching.Perhapsitisoverstatingthecase,yetIsuspectthatsomeprefersingingfamiliarsongsdrawingattentiontothemajestyorpraise-worthynatureofChrist–yetgivingfarlessattentiontosongsremindingustofollowthedirectionhepoints.

ThereisalwaysatensionbetweenthetypeofKingthatwouldmostsatisfyapopulationandthesortwhomightbedrawingthepeople’sattentiontowhattheyneedtohear.ThereisastorysomeofyoumayhaveheardofareligioustouristwalkingpastthespectaculartreasuresoftheVaticanmuseumandwhothenmadethecommenttohisguide.“WellatleastStPetercannolongersay‘SilverandgoldhaveInone’.”“Well”,saidtheguide“Perhapsbythesametokenhecannolongersay“inthenameofJesusriseupandwalk.’”

IsraeldidnotalwayshaveaKing.Ifweread1SamuelcarefullywemightnotethattheJudgeandprophetSamuelmanagedtosubduethePhilistinesyetthepeopleheservedappearedtowantastrongermilitarysolution.InSamuelweshouldrememberthatalthoughDavidandSolomonwerelaterrememberedbythepeopleasrepresentingthegoldenageofIsrael,inISamuelthepeople’sdesireforaKingtobringtheirnationtoapointwhereothernationswouldrespectthemwasportrayedasdisobedienceagainstGod.NorwereDavidandSolomonalwaysleadinginamoralorpositivesense.

Iwouldsuggestthatthepeople’sperceivedneedtohavethesortofleaderwhocommandsrespectbyforcecontinuedthroughNewTestamenttimesandIwouldfurthersuggestevencontinuestothepresent.TosuggestthatournationisprimarilyconcernedwithBiblicalunderstandingandvaluesmaynotnecessarilymatchourattitudesandactionstoourneighbours–whethertheybelivinginadistantland–ormerelylivingnextdoor.

Haveyoueverheardthetypeofquizquestionwhereyouhavetonameapersonoranobjectfromanunfoldingdescription.Eachstatementbringsyouclosertotheanswer.

Sopayattention.Thequizquestionisunderway.WestartwiththedescriptionfromcontemporaryRomanhistorians.

SonofGod,bornofavirgin,miracleworker,princeofpeace,couldraisepeoplefromthedead…..prettyeasy………itwasofcourse…tarah….no,notJesus…atleastnottheintentionofthesameRomanhistorians’accounts….ForthemitwasCaesarAugustus.Andthatwasonlysomeofhistitles.

InJohn’sgospel,whenPontiusPilateisportrayedaskingJesusareyoutheKingoftheJewsitismostunlikelythatheandJesuscouldpossiblymeanthesameinusingthetermKing.Whenwelookattheslogan“KingoftheJews”thatPilateorderedforthecrosswhatwillthewordsconjureforus.

ThisofcourseisonlyonedayintheChurchYear.TodayChristtheKingSunday,andnextSundaywemovetotheseasonofAdventwhenwestarttoretellourChurchstoryofthecomingoftheonewecallChristtheking.Ourchallengewillbetoremembertheonewhocomesinhumility,whosemessagestartswithamangerratherthanapretentiousjewelledcrib,akingwhosefeastsarewithfishermen,beggarsandprostitutes,akingconcernedwithjusticeratherthanfineryandpossessions,akingwhodespiteresurrectionencouragesustolooktothesignsofthecrossamongstwhathasbecomehischurchandakingwhoasksforfollowersratherthanadmirers.

Weneedtostaywiththeseimages,notjustwellpasttheapproachingseasonofAdvent,butinthedaystocome,lestweforgetthemeaningofthisSunday’sdayofremembranceforChristtheKing.

IconfesstolikingsomeanecdotessomuchthatIamhappytorecyclethem.Today’sexampleisfromanactualpastTVinterviewwithamanwhohadsurvived11lightningstrikesandlivedtotellthetale.Thelightningvictim’sexplanationwasthatGodmustthereforehavehadsomespecialpurposeforhim.Mycynicalbestguessalterativewastoassumethatdespitewhateverthatmanhadinterpretedas“God’s”intervention,amorelikelychosenpurposeoftheAlmightyseemedtohavebeenusingthemanfortargetpractice.

Asithappens,IamcontinuallyastoundedbythenumberofpeoplewhocantalkwithauthorityaboutGod’smind–notonlybeingabletoexplaindivinereasonsfornaturaldisasters–butusuallyinterpretingdisasterasgrouppunishmentforimaginedconsequencesofGod-offendingbehaviour.Evenmoreremarkablearethedoom-sayingprophetswhohaveitondivineauthoritythateveryone(apartofcoursefromthe“true”believers)isforitinbigandterribleways.Attheveryleastweshouldremindoneanotherthattoday’sshortreadingfromMarkmakesmoresenseifwecontinuereadingonfromtoday’spassagethroughtotheendofthechapter.

Giventhelargenumberoffailedultimatedoompredictions,sinceMarkrecordedtoday’slesson,weneedtobecautiousaboutrushingtohastyconclusions.Don’tforgettoothatintoday’ssectionfromthegospelmessageinMark,Jesusiscautioninghislistenersagainstthedangersoflisteningtofalseprophets.HistorysuggestssinceJesusfirstspokethosewordstherehavebeennoshortageofcontendersforthefalseprophetclassification.

Whiledisastersareshowingnosignsofabating,thisshouldnotexcuseself-appointedprophetsfrompostingarticlesontheInternet,attributingeachlatestnaturaldisastertoafurthersignoftheendtimes.

ViatheInternetwearetoldthatcurrentdisastersoffirenottomentiontheoddhurricaneorearthquakeisGodpunishingpeopleforlaxattitudestogaymarriageandabortion.

Withsomanypastprophecies,itiseasytorecordthefailuresoftheself-appointedprophets.DoyourememberwhenheMayanCalendarclosedoffonDecember12,2012buttheworldwenton.RememberPastorHaroldCamping,whosepersonallyguaranteedpredictionsabouttheendoftheworldconvincedagoodnumbertoselltheirhousesandawaittheendonthreeseparateoccasions,yetdespitethehype,theendfailedtomaterialize.OtherfailuresamongmanyincludednumerousJehovah’sWitnesspropheciesoverthelastcenturyaswellassomeoftheSeventhDayAdventistpropheciesandmany,manymoredatingbacktoBibledays.

ThatmyeyesstillturnheavenwardatthecurrentprognosticationsshouldnotnecessarilybetakentomeanthatIamastoundedandimpressedbythelatestwarnings.WhenJesussaidtherewillbemanyfalseprophets,hiswordsshouldbeheeded,ifonlybecausehistoryhassinceprovedhimrightmanytimesover.Yetthecertaintywithwhichmanywell-meaningandnodoubtsincerezealotskeepclimbingintotheringtoreplaceearlierfailedprognosticatorsmightatleastgiveuspauseforthought.

Itisofcourseveryeasytobedrawntosuchpropheciesandmanysincereandotherwisemainstreampeoplehave,fromtimetotime,beensuckedintoassumingthatthistimeitisforrealandpeopleneedtobewarned.WhileitisnotexactlyanhistoricalsecretasaMethodistIshouldnotforexamplebesurprisedthatMethodistministertrainingdown-playstheslightlyembarrassingmemorythatfirstCharlesWesleyandthenhisbrotherJohnbothincorrectlypredicteddifferent(andwrong)datesfortheendoftheworld.

ItiscertainlynotthecasethatallprophetsaredangerouslyastrayandwhenPaulremindsusthatsomedohavethegiftofprophecy,weshouldrememberthatthroughtheagesprophetshaveprovidedinvaluableservicebothtosocietyingeneralandtotheChurchinparticular.

Toquoteonemanwhoseownreputationasamodernprophetiswelldeserved,ColinMorris:

“TherearemenandwomeninthemodernchurchwhoareworthytobenamedinthesamebreathasthoseHebrewwildmenoftheOldTestament.Theyseethingssteadilyandseethemwholewhiletherestofusthrasharoundtreatingtheworldasacheapwatch–tobesubjecttoinexpertinvestigationuntilallthepieceslieinfrontofus,defyingoureffortstoputthembacktogether.”(fromColinMorris,MankindMyChurch,P42)

However,beforewerushtoidentifythosesoworthy,wemightdowelltorememberthatOldTestamentprophetsweremainlyconcernedwithdrawingattentiontothecharacteristicsoftheirageandshowinghowtheirnationwasdemonstratingbehaviourwhichwentagainsttheprinciplesofgoodnessandjustice.Theirpropheciesweregroundedinpainfulrealitieswhichtheyfacedsquarely-oftenaftermuchserioussoulsearching–beforemakingtheiruncompromisingwarnings–ofteninthefaceofgenuinedangertopersonalreputationandevensometimestheirlives.

Itdoesoccurtomethattheremaybesomesignsthatmighthelpusdistinguishthegenuinefromthemisguided.

Whenitcomestothoseclaimingtobespeakinginthenameoftheirreligion,manyofthefalseprophetsIhavemetseemfixatedonfindinganswerstocomplexcontemporaryproblemsbyusingtheBibleforquotationsofthesortthegreatmissionaryCTStuddoncecalled“neatlittleBibleconfectionary”.Unfortunately,theBibleisnotdesignedasaonevolumeReadersDigestofinstantanswerstolife’sgenuinedilemmas.Andlet’sfaceit.Therearemorethanenoughwell-meaningchurchfolkblunderingintobadadviceinspiredbywell-meaningbutthoughtlessanalysis.

ThatdoesnotmeanthattheBibleisirrelevant–buttothegenuineprophet,attentionisdrawnnotsomuchtheanswersbutmoretothequestionstheBibleinvitesustoask–andthesemaywellbynotsomuchaboutscripturesbutaboutourrealities.

Forexample,MarkinhisselectionofwhatneededtoberecordedfromJesuswouldhavebeenmostkeenlyawareofthedisasterwhichhadalreadybefallentheTemplebythetimehewrotehiswords.ToMark,Jesus’wordswerenotsomuchdealingwiththeimplicationsofwhatwasstilltocome,asthecurrentdilemmasthediscipleswerelikelytobeencounteringatthetimeofwriting.

ItishardtobecertaininwhatsenseJesuswastalkingabouttheSonofMancoming.YetwhenJesustalksofhisimpendingworldofunfoldingterror,wecanseethatforMarkatleast,thiswasfarmorethanJesustalkingaboutsomemysteriousunpredictablehorrors.

Trialandbetrayal.(Verse9–13)Markknewaboutthis–ithadhappened.Desecrationandfleeingrefugees(verse14–20)….Hemightaseasilybeenwritingacurrentweekendnewspaperpoliticalcolumn.Falsehopesandpredictions.(verse21–23)Thetalkinturbulenttimesisinevitablyoffalsehopesandpredictions.

Somewerereadingthesignsandcallingthisthefinish.WhatdidJesussayIgnorethefalsehopes.Don’tlistentothefalseprophets.Keepyourfaithingoodtimesandbad.TheimplicationforhiscontemporarylistenerswassimplythatthetemplemayhavebeendestroyedbuttheChurchisstillalive.

Historytellsusthattheproblemsfacingthehumanracearelikelytobewithusformanyyearstocome.FoolishdecisionsdestroyinghabitatsanddispossessingcommunitiesstretchbackintothemistsoftimeandweneedlooknofurtherthanthePacificandnowEuropewheretherearerefugeesaplenty.

ThewarsJesusreferredtomaywellhavechangedinnature–buttwothousandyearslatertheyarenolessdistressingtothoseaffected.Thespectersofhunger,injusticeandfeararethereforthoseofuswhowillonlylook.Inshort,2000yearsofChristianitydonotandhavenotprovidedrespiteorprotectionfromwhatlookliketheravagesofthehorsemenoftheapocalypse.

Itmayevenbethatthemostconstructivewayoffacingdisasteristofocusontherebuild.TenyearsaoIremembertalkingthisthroughwithayoungministerwhosechurchbuildinghadbeendestroyedintheChristchurchearthquake.WhenIaskedhimhowheandhiscongregationwascoping,hesaid“Great.NowthechurchhasfallendownwearerediscoveringwhatChurchreallymeans.”

Atpresent,formeandmyfamilythereisplentyofsecurity.Unlikethesituationforsomevictimsourhomeisintact.Thereismoneyinthebank.Mostofmyfamilyareenjoyinggoodhealth.Wearesurroundedbyfriendsandfamilyandwehaveasupportivechurchcongregation.Yetifwereadthesignswewouldneedtobelivinginsomeother-worldlycocoonnottobeawarethatoursituationisvastlydifferenttomanyintheworld.Andweneedourprophetstobeforcingustorealizethatnotonlyarethoseinsuchsituationsfacinggrimrealities–butthattheseareourneighbours.Asself-claimedChristians,canwehonestlypretendthattheseareourneighbourstobelovedasourselves–asourfaithproclaims–atthesametimeweshowbyouractionsweareunconcerned

Forthoseofusconcernedprimarilywithourownsettings–andhowthosesettingsaffectus,ourneedisnotforprophetswhohavethesamemyopicview.Asawisepersononceobserved,tobewrappedupinyourselfisaverysmallparcel.Thisisperhapswhythefalseprophetlookingathisorherownimmediatecommunitydisastersandprojectingthemontothewholeworldforsignsofimpendingdoomseemssoirrelevant,

Thetrueprophetcanseethebiggerpicture.IsuspectatrueprophetmightreminduswearenotonlylivinginapostChristianworld–butthatweshouldbeadjustingourgoalsaccordingly.

Weaschurchmemberscouldwellignoretheproblems,sinceformanyofustheyoccuroutsideourimmediatefamilycircle.Andyeswemightfocusonlyonourimmediatechurchfamiliesandlocalcommunities–buttodosowouldmakeusentirelyirrelevanttothisserioussituation.

Tellingtheplainanduncomfortabletruthhelpsusseeoursettingasitreallyisandidentifiesmoreclearlytheplaceswherewecanapplythefruitsofourfaith.

Trueweareembeddedinasituationwheregenuineproblemswillcontinuetoaffectusandourneighbours.Someoftheseareveryseriousindeed.Buttheplacesofterroranddarkforebodingcontinuallyrecedeandre-emerge.Thatispartofthehumancondition.Wekidourselvesifwedon’tadmitthefrequentfailuresofthosewhopredictthefinalcataclysminwhatcomesnextbutareequallyblindifwepretendthatonlytheeventswhichdirectlyaffectourselvesaretheonesthatmatter.IfwearelisteningtoJesusinhismessage,wewillknowitisnotblindpanicorblissfulignorancewearecalledto.Ratheritisthenotionwecanfacetheworstthatourfutureholdswiththemysteryofhopeandthecertainknowledgethatactionsbornoflovehavemoretoofferthandespair.

Onrevealingthetruevalueofwhatweclaim….

OnethingwecanbesureofisthatelectionslikethejustcompletedUSelectiondoatleasthighlightsomestrengthsandweaknessoftheirvotingpopulation.Yes,amajorityoftheUSpopulationmaywellclaimtobeconcernedfortheunderprivileged,tobesupportiveofChristianvalues,andholdtruetovalueslike:peace-making,careforothers,beingwelcomingtorefugeesandholdingtruetothevaluesoftheUnitedNations…yetinpracticeagoodnumberapparentlyputself-interestattheverytopoftheissuestobedecidedbyelection.CanIsuggesttheUSisnotaloneintheweaknessesrevealed.

EachofthegospelwritershadtheirownpreferencesfortheirstoriesofJesus.NodoubttheauthorofMarkchosehisanecdotesfromamongstthemanypossiblememoriesofJesus,butIsuspectpartofhischoicewouldhavebeenslantedforexamplebyalreadyknowingthatbythetimehewrotehisgospeltheTemplehadalreadyfallen.

AswithanumberoftheNewTestamentwriters,Markseemsanxioustoconveythenotionthatactioncarrieswithititsownjudgment.ThecalamityofthefalloftheTemplemightthereforebeexplainedinMark’sview,ifGodseemedtohavesufficientreasontobelievehispeoplehaddeservedthepunishment.MyguessisthiswouldpresumablymakeMarkverysensitivetoanythingJesusmighthavedonetodrawattentiontoinappropriatebehaviourintheTempleprecincts.

Butthereissomethingelse.Inthefieldofobservation,asLouisPasteuronceputit,chanceonlyfavoursthepreparedmind.Whichbringsustotoday’sgospelaccountofJesuswithhisdisciplesattheTemple.Jesuswithvision,nodoubtsharpenedbyhisgospelofjusticeandcompassion,looksatthedailyritualattheTemple–aritualwhatismorethathadyearsandperhapsevencenturiesofpatternsofrecognizedandexpectedbehaviour.Jesusunsurprisinglyperhaps,giventhemainthemesofhisteaching,noticessomethingswhichhadprobablylargelyescapedtheattentionofthedailywitnessestothefamiliarsights.

First,helooksatthegownedandtasselledteachersofthelawposingforthecrowd.InJesus’day,alonggown–totallyimpracticalandrestrictivetothemovementsofthecommonworker–wasamarkoftherespectedscholar–andthatthegownswepttheground,markingthewearerassomeoneaboveworkingatlabour,carrieditsownmessageofimportance.

FollowingtheBookofNumbersCh15,verse38thetasselsattheedgeofthereligiousteacher’souterrobewerethetraditionalmarkoftheonesetasideasamanofGod–yettoday’scommentatorssaythatbythetimeofJesus,manythetasselshadgrowninprominenceasanostentatiousdeclarationofpiety.ThesewerethetasselsoftheRabbisand,justastoday’sreligioustitlescarrydeferenceandrespect,eventhewordRabbitranslatesas“Mygreatone”.TobeaddressedasRabbiwouldnodoubthavebeenpleasingtotheonewhocarriedthetitle.

TheRabbiwouldnotonlyexpectdeferenceinspeech,butalsoinaction.ProminentseatswerereservedfortheRabbisatthefrontofthecongregationinthesynagogues.IntheSynagogue,infrontoftheArk,wherethesacredscriptureswereheld,theRabbiswouldsitfacingthecongregationwheretheymightbeseenandhopefullybeadmired.Atfeaststhemostprominentguestswouldbeseatedatatoptablewiththemostimportantclosesttothecentre,andreligiousleaderswouldexpecttofindtheirplacenearthecentreatsuchagathering.

SuchovertbehaviourforeffectwouldindeedmakeamockeryofthereligiontheRabbisclaimedtorepresent,buttheadditionalaccusationJesuswasmakingwasmoreserious.Thiswasinfactamoreseriouschargethatthey“devoured”thewidows’houses.Likesomeethnicchurchesthatofficiallyclaimtohaveministerssodedicatedthattheyworkfornopay,thetruthwasthattheytookadvantageofthevulnerabilityofsomeoftheweakestinthecommunity,includingthewidows,pressuringthemtothepointthatinfacttheteachersofthelawcouldbecomewealthy.

WemayargueaboutthedegreetowhichMarkeditedtherecalledwordsandrecordsofJesus’actionsasherespondedtotheactionsoftheRabbis,butthereislittledoubtthattheentirethrustofthegospelrecordshowsusaJesustotallyopposedtothoseexpressingfaithbyclaimingprivilege.ThatJesuswentbeyondnoticingwhatotherspreferrednottonoticeandactuallychallengedwhathecouldseehappeningisalsofairenough.Hehimselfreportedlytaughtanddemonstratedwhatitmeanstolivebyservanthoodandbysodoing,wontherighttoquestionthosewhorathersoughthonourinactionsdirectlyopposedtoservanthood.Itisalsoatimelyremindertousthatwecanhardlycriticizewhatweseetodayunlessotherscanseethealternativeinus.

WhatmadeJesusdifferentfromtheotherspresentintoday’sgospelsettingthenhadtwoparts.First,hiswasthepreparedmindthatcouldnoticesuchhypocrisy.Second,andperhapsmoreimportantly,hehadwontherighttoquestionwhathesawbylivingthealternative.

Ifwearehonestwithourselvesaboutourownsocietyweoughttobeabletorelatetoasituationwherebysomeareelevatedtostatusandtitlewhichgoesfarbeyondlogicornecessity.Themegasalariesofferedtosociety’sidentifiedeliteandtheexcessivedeferenceshowntothoseinthepubliceyeiscuriousgiventherangeofbehavioursomeofourcelebritiesexhibit.TodayweareprobablysousedtotheconceptofhonouringleadersandcelebritieswhethertheybeintheChurch,inpolitics,insportoreveninshowbusinessthatwearehardlyinapositiontoseeourselvesasmoreenlightenedthanpeoplewereinthedaysofChrist.

RememberhoweverthatJesuswascomingtowhatsomemightseeasachanceobservationwithahighlypreparedmind.Bywayofpreparingourmindsalso,perhapswemightstartbyreflectingonwhatcharacteristicsaChurchshouldshowifitwerefollowingtheteachingofJesus.WhatmightweexpecttoseeforexampleifourChurchwasfocussedonobtainingjusticeforthosebeingdiscriminatedagainst,orperhapsfocussedonensuringloveforourneighboursWhatmightthismeanforourprogrammes,ourmeetingagenda,andwhatweexpectfromourleadersItisnotthefirstcenturyJerusalemTempleorwhathappensindistantplaceslikeTongawhichshouldconcernusthemost.Itisourownsettingandourownrelationships.

Regardlessofwhatstandardsothergroupsinthewidercommunitymightexpectfromthemselves,itseemstomethattheChurch,andfortheChurchreadus,isunderanobligationtoreflecttheteachingsoftheonetheChurchmembersclaimtofollow.

SometimeagomywifeandIhadamealwithamuchtravelledcoupleandamongtheirmanyanecdotestheytalkedofvisitingafamilyinaSouthernUScommunitywithastrongreputationforChurchattendance.Iwon’tnametheState.OurfriendshappenedtoasktheirhostswhyitwasthatinaStatewithplentyofblacksthattheyhadnotnoticedanyblacksinthelocaltowncommunity.Themanofthehousetoldthemwithobvioussatisfactionthateachtimeablackwasspottedintown,heandhismateswouldgettheirgunsandpayavisittotellthemtomoveon.Anditworks!hedeclared.Ourfriendsdidnotsharethisman’ssatisfaction.NowthinkforamomentabouttheChurchattendanceinthattown.ItiseveneasiertoenjoytheluxuryofcriticisingthoselivingintheUSfortheiracceptanceofself-centredelectionchoicewithoutthinkingofourownresponsibilities.

CantheystillclaimtobeChristianWell,canweYes,theUSjustvotedtomakeitcleartheywantedridofsomeoftheirrefugeepopulation–well,willwesetuptotheplateandoffertotakemoreoftheworld’sunwantedWhatwouldfollowersofJesussay

Perhapshere,itisthattheclaimedfaithdoesnotsometimesmatchtheexpectedbehaviour.Throughthecenturiestherehasbeenmuchdiscussionanddebateaboutwhatpeopleshouldbelieve.Whenhowever,wethinkofwhereJesusplacedhisemphasis,itwasnotsomuchbeliefbutappliedfaiththatseemedtodrawhisattention.Abeliefissomething–oftenworkedoutbyothers–thatisacceptedbecausetothebelieveritseemsreasonableenoughtobetrue.Abeliefinthatsensecanalsobeacademic,disconnectedfrompersonalrealityandevenartificial.Wecanbelieveaplankacrossariverisstrongenoughtoholdourweight.Weonlydemonstratefaithintheplankwhenwetrustourselvestotakethefirststepsonthatplank.Admiringtheplankcanonlyeverbeanexpressionofuntriedfaith.

ItisgoodthatMarkfindsJesusfollowinghiscriticismsofthebehaviouroftheteachersofthelawwithhisobservationsofthewidowandhermitefortheoffering.TheattitudesheencouragesarenotsimplythepreserveoftheChurchleadersorthewealthyandthepowerful.Whileourcommunityissostructuredthatourcelebritiesaretheoneswhodrawsociety’sadulation,Jesusremindsusthatinhisworldofupside-downvalues,itisthegivingheartwhichcounts,evenifitistheheartofthemosthumbleandunprepossessinginourcommunity.

IwouldliketofinishbyaskingusallmentallytostepbackapaceandwondertoourselveswhatJesusmighthavenoticedifbychancehehappeneduponourcommunity–andevenmorespecificallyifhehappeneduponusasindividuals.Wouldheseeinustheonewhoposedforothers–ortheonewhogenuinelylivedforothers

AbuBakrthefather-in-lawofMuhammad,onceprayedaprayerthatforitsreflectiveinsightsoundsalmostasifitcamefromsuchanencounter.

Yes,Iknowthatwedon’toftenlookfortruthinanother’sreligion,butthinkcarefullyaboutthesewordsandseeiftheymightalsospeaktoyou.

AbuBakr’sprayer……..

“IthankyouLordforknowingmebetterthanIknowmyself

Andforlettingmeknowmyselfbetterthanothersknowme.

Makeme,IaskYouthen,betterthantheysuppose

Andforgivemeforwhattheydonotknow.”

AMEN

ItiscuriouswhysomanyarepreparedtoadmireandpraisethewordsofJesusandthesaintsdownthroughhistory–yetmanyofthesubsequentself-identifiedfollowersshowlittleinclinationtoallowthosesamewordstointerferewiththeiractualdecisionsandactionswhichcharacterisethelivesofatleastsomeoftheself-claimedfollowersoffaith.

Haveyousharedmypuzzleastowhythoseadmiredtextsonlovefoundinvirtuallyeverymajorreligionturnouthavesolittleinfluenceonshapingreallifeactions.ForChristians,asColinMorrisonceobserved,“loveisthesubtextinvirtuallyeverysermon”.Yetacynicmightbeexcusedforwonderingifreligiousleadersaresatisfiedbyhavingfollowersadmirethewordingofteachingsratheronfindingwaystheneedtolivethosesamebeliefs.

ThoseofuswhothinkofourselvesasChristianwouldbewrongtothinkJesus’famouscommandmentsaboutloveareuniquetoNewTestamentChristianity.WeshouldnoteforexamplethatevenintheOldTestamentthesameinjunctionsoccurinseveralequivalentforms.WhenJesusisquotedassaying“theLordourGodisoneLord”,and“youmustLovetheLordyourGodwithyourwholeheart,andyourwholesoulandyourwholemindandyourwholestrength“–hewasclearlyrepeatingthefirstpartofwhattheJewscalledtheShema.

ThiswasaquotationfromDeuteronomy6:4selectedtobecontainedinthephylacteries–thelittleleatherboxestobestrappedontotheforeheadandonthewristwhenthedevoutJewwasatprayer.TheShemawasalsoplacedinasmallcylindricalboxcalledtheMezuzahwhichwas–andinfactoftenstillisplacedparticularlyonthefrontdoorandsometimesoneverydoorinaJewishhousetoremindtheJewoftheirGodeverytimetheypassthroughthatdoor.

ThattheShemaiscentraltotheexpressionofJewishfaithshouldbewellknown.TheShemawasontheJews’lipsastheypassedthroughthedoorsoftheNaziCrematoriaintheholocaust,asithadbeenastheirancestorsfacedpersecution,tortureandthestakeacrossEuropeinearliergenerations.

MindyouDeuteronomymaywellhavehadaplaceforremindingJewsthattheywerepeopleofafaith,butdon’tforgetitwasafaithforadifferentageandadifferentsetting.

Certainly,thereisthemagnificentstatementaboutwhole-heartedloveforGod,yetinotherplacesDeuteronomytakesustodarkanddisturbingplaces.Thereforexampleyouwouldfindveryun-Christian-likesuggestedactionstotakeagainstanyonewhochangestheirfaith(Deuteronomy6:13),orwhosufferedinjurytotheirprivateparts(23:1),orifyouhadthemisfortunetobebornaGirgashite(7:1-6).

Thatdoesn’tmeanDeuteronomyhasnothingelsetooffer.JesusisreportedasbeingabletofindversesfromDeuteronomytowardofftemptation(Matthew4:1-11).InotherplacesDeuteronomyisfarinadvanceofitstimeinexpressionsforcompassionforanimals(22:1-4,6-7)andinitscompassionforthepoor(24:10-22)

Soyes,thereisanOldTestamentcommandmentaboutlovingGod,butitislessclearfromDeuteronomyorJesus’rephraseexactlyhowJesus’listenerswereexpectedtogoaboutshowingtheirloveforthisGod.GiventhatelsewhereJesusisdismissiveofthosewhoprofessfaithwiththeirwordsyetwhoseactionsareapparentlymoreaboutpreservingimageandbeingself-serving,itisforexamplehardtobelieveJesusintendsustoshowourlovemerelybyrepetitionsofphraseslike“weworshipyou”or“Yournamebepraised”.Jesus’immediateshifttothesecondcommandmentremindsusthatthereisawholelifeattituderequired.

IfGodiscreator,thenwesurelymustshowaresponsebycaringaboutthiscreationinouractions…whichwenowdohow

IfweloveaGodofLove–thensurelywhatismostrequiredisthatwerespondwithactionsthatreflectthislove.Andifyoudon’tmindmyasking…doweInotherwordsifthepoor,thedisadvantagedanddispossessedwhohaveencounteredourChurchwereaskedwouldtheydescribeusfromouractionsasthosewhoclearlyloveourneighbours

ColinMorrisinthebookThingsShaken,ThingsUnshakenaddressesthatquestionofwherethisteachingfitstoday.

“Whatrelevance”,heasks“canthatbaldcliché,Godislove,havetothehecticworldofpoliticsandinternationalrelations–

Thenheanswers:“Well,therootofmanyofsociety’sproblemsistobefoundnotintechnical,politicalandeconomicissuesbutinalackoftrustandmutualrespectbetweenitsmembers.Itiseasytolookatotherswithoutactuallyseeingthem.Weseeastereotypeshapedbyourprejudicesandignorance.Lovegivesusthepowerofimaginationtoputourselvesinsomeoneelse’sshoesandseehowouractionslookfromtheothersideofthetracks,Southoftheequatororonthewrongsideofthebreadline.”

WhenJesuscoupledthefirstCommandmentwiththesecondCommandment–thistimefromLeviticusChapter19verse18;“Youshallloveyourneighbourasyourself“–therewashoweverasubtlereinterpretationwiththewayJesususedtheLeviticusquote.IguessthatwhenthewordshadoriginallybeenrecordedbythewriterofLeviticus,thereferencetoneighbourswasspecificallyintendedasanattitudetocommunityneighbours,orifyoulike,fellowJews.MuchoftheearlycodifyingoflawwasaboutstrengtheningandsupportingtheJewishcommunity–andaspartofthisstrengthening–wastoseparatethosewhodidnotbelong.

BluntlyinplacesthoseearlybooksoftheBibleshowedthatitwasnotonlypermissiblebutpositivelyencouragedforfollowerstoshowdislikeforthoseoutsidethecommunity.Someofthescripturestookpositivedelightinthedestructionofrivals.Theimportanceofloveforone’sfellowJewswasplacedalongsidestrictureslikeclassingeatingwithEgyptiansasanabomination,recognizingthosewithslantedeyesascursed,andevencallingforthewholesaleslaughterofopponentsasinPsalm137whereverse9reads:“Happyshalltheybewhotakeyourlittleonesanddashthemagainsttherock”.

Jesustookanentirelydifferentline.Jesusnotonlyshowedbywordandactionthatheintendedneighbourstobeinterpretedmorewidely.Hemeantlovingeventhosewithotherbeliefs–likehisparableoftheGoodSamaritanandhisencounterwiththewomanatthewell.Again,hisexamplesshowedhewasnotjustcallingforwords,butloveexpressed.

PerhapsweneedtoguardagainstassumingthatChristianityhassolerightstothisasaphilosophy.

SomeGreekslikedtoquotePythagoruswho,inanswertothequestion“Whoisyourneighbour”replied,“YourotherI”TreatingtheotherasbeingequallydeservingofyourattentionasyourselfisofcoursewhatJesuswassayinginLoveyourneighbourasyourself.

Whileitiseasytothinkofloveintheabstract,inpracticeofcourseitisincrediblydifficulttolovethosewegetclosestto.RightthroughtheBibletherearestoriesofsiblingrivalry,jealousiesoverimaginedandsometimerealunequaltreatment,difficultiesintryingtoforgiverivalsandjustplaindislikeofthosewhohavedifferentgiftsorbackgrounds.Hasmuchchangedoverthecenturies

AsArchbishopDesmondTutuonceputit:“WhatisitthatGodasksofusItissimplythatwemakeanefforttobelovingtooneanother,evenwhenwedonotfeellikeloving”.

Inpractice–andIguessitisbecauseaswebecomeclosertootherstheygettoknowourweaknessesandvulnerabilities,wesometimesfindourselvesgrowingimpatienttothepointwhereouremotionsgetthebetterofus.Thisevenappliestothosewhoaremarriedinlock-down.Ifmarriagedependedontheday-to-daycontinuedgoodfeelingsaboutone’spartner,Isuspectthereareveryfewmarriagesthatwouldsurvive.Andasforourenemies…WhatisthisaboutlovingourenemiesLove…Wedon’tevenlikethem!

Butlistenagainmorecarefully.NowhereintheBibledoesitsaywehavetolikeourenemy–orlikeourneighbour.Yousee,wemaynothavemuchcontroloverourfeelings,particularlywhenwefeelresentful.Apoorlyfunctioninglivercanbeenoughtomakeusirritable.Whenwearetired,weshowlesspatience.Butanyorallofthesefeelingscanbesetasidewhen,asanactofwill-power,wedeliberatelysetouttoactlovingly.

EvenPaul’sfamous“Loveis…”listinfirstCorinthiansChapter13isnotalistoffeelings.Itisalistofintentionalactions.

Loveispatient…..thismeansactpatiently

Loveiskind…thereforewemustdoactsofkindness(well,dowe)

Lovekeepsnoscoreofwrongs……putthewrongsoutofourminds,notbecausewearetryingtofeelthelove,butratherbecauseweknowwhichactionsareloving.

Don’texpecttofeelthatthedifficultworkmateisreallylikeyourbrotherorsister,becauseifyouarewaitingforthatfeeling,Ihavenewsforyou.Itmaybealongwait.Butifyouaregoingtotreatyourworkmateasasisterorbrotherthiswillchangetherelationship.

OneofthesadthingsinthemodernworldisthatthewordJusticehasbecomecorruptedtomeanretribution.Becauseoftheresentmentthissetsintrain,retributionrarelyseemstobringaboutanimprovement.WhentheBibletalksofjusticeitisfarmoreconcernedwithdistributivejustice–theactsnecessarytoseethateverybodyhasafairdeal.Itdoesn’ttaketoomuchthoughttorealisewhichofthesetwonotionsofjusticeismorerelatedtoanexpressionofwhatJesusreferstoloveofneighbour.

Itmayultimatelydependonwhetherornotwewantouractionstoresultingoodorinbad.Inthisuniverseweliveinwearesurroundedbynaturalconsequences.Everyactionhasconsequences.ToreturntoBishopTutuinhisbook”GodhasaDream”(Pp8081)

“Agooddeeddoesn’tjustevaporateanddisappear.Itsconsequencessaturatetheuniverseandthegoodnessthathappenssomewhere,anywhere,helpsinthetransfigurationoftheugliness.Butalso,itistruethatabaddeed–orwhattheBiblecallssin–justdoesn’tevaporateanddisappear,itsconsequencessaturatetheuniversetoo”.

TheremaybenoshortageoflawsandtrickyteachingsintheBiblebutultimatelywehavetodecidewhichoftheprinciplesaregoingtosetthedirectionofourlives.Jesuschoosestwowhichcanactasguidingbeacons.PerhapsliketheteacherofthelawwecanseehowlovingGodwhoseexpressioniscreationandlove–ineffectwithourwholebeing–andlovingourneighbourasourselves,givestheotherteachingsakeyperspective.IfthenwecantaketheseprinciplesandliftthemfromthepagesoftheBibletothepagesofourlife,ourhospitality,attitudetoenemies…evenourvotingchoices–perhapswetoomightdrawclosertothekingdom.

Regardlessofwhatweprefertothinkisthebestwaytoapproachstoriesoffaithhealing,thefactisthateachofushasadifferenthistoryofencounterswithourfaith.Thisincludesallsortsofexperiencesthathelpdeterminewhatwenowbelieve.

Seekingprotectionorhealingbyrecoursetofaithisjustasindividual.InAucklandoverthelastfewyearsyearIhaveencounteredanumberwhosefaithstoryincludeswhatsoundstomelikesincerelyexpressedclaimsoffaith-basedmiracle.WhileIamhappytobeprovedwrong,IamuneasywhenIseebeliefstendtoleadthebelievertorejectcurrentmedicaladvice.

Havingwitnessedanumberofsuchfaith-basedclaimsandhavingcheckedoutsomefaith-healingclaimsformyself,myownobservationssuggestthatmodernmedicinehasabettersuccessrecord.Ontheotherhand,Iamreluctanttogoasfarasexpectingotherswillnecessarilycometothesameconclusions.

Inmypersonalexperiencegenuinehealingmiraclesarecertainlynotcommon.Mypreferenceistoinsistthatbeforewedenythediscoveriesofmedicalscience,attheveryleastperhapsweshouldbeverycautiousatclaimsofmiraclesbecausesometimesclaimedfaithhealingisgoingtoraiseseriousquestionsintermsofwhatitmeansbypreferringprayerstowhenitisofferedasasubstitutefortestedconventionaltreatmentbasedonmedicalresearch‘Tomesuchhealingisevenmoresuspectwhenthemiracleappearstodefytheexpectedlawsofnature.

Certainly,ataminimum,weshouldbecarefulbeforerushingtodefendthefaithhealerwhoclaimstocurecancer,oralternatelypassonnewsofthosewhoofferfaithhealing,withoutknowingforsurewhathappened.Forthisweshouldalsostepbackalittleandlookharderattoday’sstoryofJesushealingtheblindman.

Tomywayofthinking,thismiracleofthehealingoftheblindmanBartimaeusisnotthesortoftalethatweshouldrushtobringtotheattentionofablindpersonwithnohopeofmedicaloptions!Thesedayswhilecataractscanberemoved,retinastransplantedandsomeprettyimpressiveeyesurgerycanofferhopesome,stillremainclearlyremainblind.Iamreasonablysureprayerfulinterventionasacureatbestwouldonlyapplytosomesituations.

AlternatelywemightalsoconsiderrememberingatypicalstandardwayofwritingreligioustruthinJesus’daywasbymeansofparable-likestory-telling.

ThetheologianBillLoadertakesthismorehelpfulwayoflookingattoday’spassage.Inhiscommentaryonthisreading,heremindsusofitssymbolicpurpose.WemightforinstancenoticethatthismiddlesectionofMarkrefersustothetimewhenJesus’ministryischangingwherebyheandthedisciplesarecomingdownfromthenorthinGalileeandbeginningthedescenttowardsJerusalemwhereexecutionawaits.Threetimes–onceinchaptereightverse31,inchapter9verse31andinchapter10verse33JesusstatesthathewillsufferastheSonofMan–andthathewillberejected.

ThedisciplesareportrayedasthoseblindtowhatJesusisupto.Ifnothingelse,thisencounterbetweenJesusandBartimaeusshowsthat,despitetheirconstantdailyinteractionswithJesus,thediscipleswereblindtoJesus’purposeandunabletoseehisvalues.Thewholeofthissectionisbookendedbytwohealingmiraclestodowithblindness–thefirstinChapter8verses22-26–andthenattheotherendtoday’saccountinChapter10:46–52.

AsLoaderpointsout,thedisciplesandJesuspresumablybothsawexactlythesameman,yetthereisaworldofdifferenceintheirperception.Similarly,theblindbeggarandtheothersinthecrowdknowJesusiscoming,yetBartimaeusistheonewhoacts.

ThenameBartimaeusisalsolikelytobeintendedtohavesymbolicsignificance(Bar=“sonof”and“Timaeus”meaningthe“worthyone”).Herewehavethisblindbeggar–sodesperateforhelpthathecallsout“SonofDavid,Jesus,havepityonme”.SonofDavid–whatisthisSonofDavidisthetitleoftheMessiah–andthoughblind,BartimaeusisseeinginJesussomethingthatJesus’disciplesareunabletonotice.Insomeways,forablindmanBartimaeusisportrayedasonewhohasnoticedquiteabit.Jesusispassing.Bartimaeusnotonlyknowsthisbutheseesthisashisopportunity,perhapshisonlyopportunity.HeseesJesusassomeonewhomightmakeadifferencetohislife.

Mostimportantofall,unlikemanywhoencounterJesus,BartimaeusseesJesusasoneworthfollowing–andnotjustintheory.Attheendofthestory,heactuallyjoinshimonthejourney.

PerhapstoJesus,thedisciples’blindnessmightwellhavebeenintendedtocomeacrossasblindnessoftheheart.TherewasaclamourofvoicespleadingforJesus’attentionbutwhenitcametotheloudpleadingsoftheblindbeggar,thedisciples(andIguessmostofthecrowd)lookedattheunwashed,blind,wretchedmanandjustassumedhewasunworthyofJesusattention.

BartimaeuscallsouttoJesus–thedisciplestellBartimaeustozipit.Theytellthisblindbeggarheisanobody.Foolishinretrospectmaybe,yetIdon’tthinkweshouldrushtooquicklytojudgmentonthedisciples.

TherehaslongbeensomethinginthehumanconditionthatmakesusbehaveasifourpreferredvisionofJesusisimprisonedinthesplendourofastainedglasswindowwherehecanbecelebratedwithloftyorganmusicandloudexpressionsofpraiseratherthanmakingaseriousattempttofollowtheJesuswhomadefriendswithdirtyblindbeggars.RememberJesusisnotabovetakingusdowntothesqualortofindhisfaceinthefacesofthehomelessanddesperate.

Forthoseofustemptedtogoalongwiththesuperiorjudgmentthemeandseeinothers’misfortunethejudgmentofGod,perhapswemightrememberthatforJesustherewasnohintofthat–atleastnotinthisstory.Itwasnot“Bartimaeus,yououghttobeaskingyourselfwhyGodhasvisitedyouwiththisblindness!”Butratheritwas,“Bartimaeus–whatdoyouwantmetodoforyou”

IfJesuscannoticetheneedsofthis,amostwretchedman,thenmaybe,justmaybe,forthoseofuswhowanttomakehisjourneyourjourney,wearesimilarlycalledtohisformofseeingandnoticing.

Jesuscanhearthisvoiceoftheblindbeggaramongtheclamourandinhisresponseshowsthat,toJesusatleast,Bartimaeusisseenasbeingentirelyworthbotheringwith.Thequestionforourconscienceis:willweinourturnbesimilarlymoved

Tosomeextentthereisalsoaquestionofperception.Because,don’tforgetweareallblindtosomeextent.Thescientistinmewantstoremindyouthateveryanimalhasadifferentrangeofperceptionsattowhatisoutthereintheworld.Dogsforexamplecanpickoutsmellsfarbetterthanwecan,aneaglecanseedistantobjectsmuchbetterthanwedo,thebatofcourseisfamousforusingsoundtohelpecho-locateobjectsinvirtualdarkness.

Humanscanonlyseesomethinglike30%ofthelightinthespectrumfromthesunandunderthewaterwhalesanddolphinsarefarbetterthanweareatsensingvibration.PigeonsnavigatebyusingtheEarth’smagneticfield.Comparedwiththese,oursightislimited.

InseveralplacestheBibletalksofanotherlevelofperceptionwhichisonlyavailabletothespirituallyalive.

Johnputsitthisway:“no-onecanseethekingdomofGodwithoutbeingbornfromabove”.(John3:3)ThatsoundsabitlikePaulwithhis:“themanwithouttheSpiritdoesnotacceptthethingsthatcomefromtheSpiritofGod,fortheyarefoolishnesstohim,fortheyarespirituallydiscerned”.(1Corinthians:2:14)

Thesedays,manymightassumePaul’swordsimplyapiousreligiositywhichisotherworldly.Butdidyounotice,reflectingonMark’sversionofJesus’meetingwithBartimaeus,amuchmoredown-to-earthapproachisalsoimplied.Thismayindeedbespiritualdiscernment,butattheveryleastitisnotdiscernmentwhichispulpitbound.

RememberinMark’sstorythedisciplesonlysawanuisanceofaman.Jesus’perceptionisattunedtoseeingBartimaeusassomeoneworthhelping.

ItwouldbedishonesttotrytoportrayChristianityasananswertoallthewoesoftheworld.

Inrealityweliveinaworldwherebadthingsdohappen–andsometimesbadthingshappeningtoverygoodpeople.Earthquakes,Tsunamis,volcanoes,house-fires,roadandairaccidents,shipsgoingdownatsea,childrenbeingscaldedordrowninginswimmingpools,babiesbeingborncrippledorblind,nowCovid–andsoonandonthroughaverylonglist.Christianitywillnotmakeourworldasafeplace.Yetwhatcanmakesomethingofadifference,isourperceptionofhowwecanhelpandourperceptionofhowweseeourneighbours.

WhentheearthquakesseverelydamagedmuchofChristchurchsomeyearsago,tomeoneofthesignsofwhattomeisamorecommonformofrestoredsightrestoredsightwasthewaymanypeopleimmediatelyralliedtohelptheirpreviouslyunknownneighbours.Thosewhomadecupsofteafortheshockedsurvivors,thestudentswhocleanedthestreets,thosewhofedthefrightenedanimals,checkedontheelderly,volunteeredtohelpinthepublicshelters…surelythesewerethosewhosawtheirfellowsastheyreallywere.

Whatisalittlemoreworryinginthesetimesofepidemics,arethosewhoseethemainissueastheneedtogettingbacktoChurchforworshipandpraise,yetatthesametimeifthosesamepeopleactasifunawareofthosehardhit.Surelythistooisaformofblindness.

BartimaeussawwhatJesusmightrepresentevenbeforehisphysicalvisioncleared.Buttherealtestfortheonce-blindbeggarcamewhenJesusdismissedhimwiththeword“Go”.Nodoubthethenhadmanychoicesofhowtorespond,thesamesortofchoicesifitcomestothat,wetoomustmake.TherealmeasureofwhathenowsawbeforehimwasthatBartimaeuschosetomakeJesus’journeyhisown.

Insomewaysthisstorywillhavemorechanceofspeakingtousifwelooktoitschallengeasaparable.Asinmostparables,wethenhavethechanceofselectingwhatitmightmeanforourownunderstandingandfuture.

IfthatisJesuswhoapproachestodealwithourformofblindness,howwillthestoryendforus

Afewversesintothisreadingwenote…“Whenthetenheardaboutthis,theybecameindignantwithJamesandJohn.Jesuscalledthemtogetherandsaid,“YouknowthatthosewhoareregardedasrulersoftheGentileslorditoverthem,andtheirhighofficialsexerciseauthorityoverthem.Notsowithyou.Instead,whoeverwantstobecomegreatamongyoumustbeyourservant,andwhoeverwantstobefirstmustbeslaveofall.”

Thinkingbackafewyears,IremembermywifeandIonceheardadistinguishedtheologiandescribeavisittooneofthoseIslandsinthePacific,Tuvalu,whereeverysooftenstormsurgesinundatetheIsland.Hedescribedhowwhensuchastormisontheway,mothersputchildreninthosepolystyrenebinsthattheAustralianscalleskiesandwecallchillybins.Atleastthisgivesthebabiesachanceofavoidingdrowning.Hetoldushowthehotelwherehehadbeenstayingwasalsofloodedfromtimetotimeandthathefeltmoresecurebecausehisbedroomwasinthesecondlevel.

Surelyinthespeaker’sview,theonewhowillturnouttobetheneighbouristheonewhodoessomethingtohelp….andforthatyoudon’tneedareligioustitle,religiousaffiliation,formalbeliefsoranyoneofanumberofmeasuresofself–importance.

Whenwepickuptoday’sgospelstory,Jesus’answertothedisciplesisnotsurprising.HerewehaveJesuswithagoodpartofhismissionbehindhim,withanywhereuptothreeyearsontheroads,hisdisciplesintow,watchinghimlivingouthiscompassion,withhisfocusonthepoor,thevictimsofinjusticeandthesociallyrejected–andmakingplainhistotaloppositiontoshowsofpowerandartificialpiety.Rememberhiswarningstothosewhoseekthelimelightinthenameofreligion–butthen–perhapsrightwhenheleastexpectsit,fromhisowncampsotospeak,thesebrothersJamesandJohnsuddenlygetitintotheirheadsthatthetimefortheirplaceinthesunmighthavearrived.

Sayingtheywerewrongisonething,butinviewofwhatsocietyteachesaboutpowerandrespect,weneedtobecarefulaboutidentifyingjustexactlywhyitistheywerewrong.

Idon’tthinkJamesandJohnweredoinganythingmuchdifferenttothoseofustoday,whothinkbecausewehavehappeneduponaparticularchurch,tohavebecomefamiliarwithaparticularsetofdoctrinesandhaveheardwhatseemstoustobetherightmessage,thatthissomehowmakesusmoreworthypeople.ActuallythatbringstomindthesortofdiscussiononthevalidityofbeliefsthatIusedtohear(andIconfess,sometimestookpartin)–asanundergraduateatUniversity.Raisedvoicesandsometimesevenangerthatotherscannotrecognizeourobvioustruth–andyetatotalblindnesstonoticingwewerenotbeingourmessage.

ThedisciplescouldhardlyclaimtheywereunawarewhatJesushadbeenteaching.TotheextentJesuswaslikeotheritinerantpreachers,hemaywellhavepreachedvariantsonthesamethemesanumberoftimes.Aswouldbethecaseinmanychurcheswherethereareregularcongregationmemberswiththesamepreacherweekafterweek,thedisciplescouldnothelpbecomefamiliarwithhisideasatleastatatheoreticallevel.SincethegospelswerenotwrittenbyJesus,itwaspresumablythedisciples,rememberingasbesttheycould,thosemanytimesretoldstoriesandparables,storiesthatshapedthesubsequentrecordsandformedthebasisforthegospels.Yethereistheimportantissue.Familiaritywiththemessagedoesnotmeanthatithastakenrootintheheart.

Atelevangelistmayhaveaviewingaudienceofthousandsandacleargospelmessagebutifthenewspapersaretobebelieved,morethanonetelevangelist,despiteknowingtherightwordstosayhasbeenguiltyoffraudorsexualimpropriety.

Apriestcanhavestudiedthescripturesatthehighestlevelandstillbeguiltyofchildmolestation.

TheNorwegianmassmurdererclaimedstrongconservativeChristianbeliefs,justasthesuicidebombercanclaimtobetruetotheteachingsoftheKoran.

ButbeingabletorecitesomekeystoriesandteachingsofJesusisonlyeveratbestasmallpartoftheChristianjourneyandcertainlyisnotsomesortoftalismanthatautomaticallywardsoffotherbaserinstincts.Happeningupon–andevenpassingonthegospelmessagedoesnotmakeusmoreworthy.

SowecomebacktotheZebedeebrothers–nodoubtadmiringofJesus–andyetwithanunexpectedgapintheirunderstandingofwhatherepresented.

Idon’tthinkweareinapositiontobetoohardonthem.Thereishardlyagroupinsocietythatdoesnotsetupvisiblehierarchies.CertainlyithappensinChurches,whichiswhythereisaPopeandhisCardinals,AnArchbishopofCanterbury,Bishops,andChurchPresidents,clergywithdifferentranksandresponsibilities,andevenvariousformsoflayleadershipinleadersmeetingsandtheirdenominationalequivalents.PerhapsitalsoneedsspellingoutthatJamesandJohnintheirdesireformorepowerwereprobablyfarfromunusualandtheirambitionsmightevenseemnaturalandsensibletomany.

WhatJesuswasinessencesayingwhenherebukedJamesandJohn,wasthattheywereseekingatotallyinappropriateformofpowertogowithhisteaching.Asheputit,theydidnotknowwhattheywereasking.

SomelikeCaesarAugustusderivedtheirpowerfrommilitarymightandpoliticalinfluence,andtherespectAugustuswonwasarespectpartlybornoutofseeinghowhedealtwiththosewhocrossedhim.Strangelyhowever,thisisacuriouslyephemeralpower.ThedictatororgeneralmaybeabletowreaktremendousdamagetohisfoesyetEmpiresdesignedtoliveathousandyearsoftensinkasfastastheyappear.RememberthethousandyearReichthatHitlerwastryingtoestablishin1935.

Afteramostdramaticriseandmany,manyspectacularbattlesinvolvingagoodpartofthepeopleoftheworld–tenyearslaterallthatwasleftwastherubbleanddeadbodies.

ShortlyafterHitler’sdownfallStalin’smassivepowerdisappearedalmostasquicklydespitethemillionshehadmurderedinSiberia.

Ontheotherhand,thegenuinelyhumblereligiousleadermaybetotallyatthemercyofhisorherenemiesbutcuriouslytheirmessageofforgiveness,compassionandactionsofservant-hoodmayliveonformillennia.WhenJesuswalkedthedustypathsofPalestine,theworldwasalmosttotallyunaware.Onlythreeofthecontemporaryhistoriansevenmentionedhimandthenonlyinpassing,andinnotinaparticularlyflatteringway.Yetthroughthecenturieshisquietinfluencehasgrownuntilnearlythewholeworldisawareofhismessage.AndthisisnottruesimplyofJesus.Thoseearlysaintswhoselivescouldnothavebeenmorehumblehavesometimesstartedordersoffollowersthatstillcontinuetoexerttheirquietinfluencecenturieslaterwhereasinthatsametimemanymightykingdomsandempireshaverisenandfallen–somealmostwithouttrace.Intermsofinfluence–isn’twhatJesusandthesaintsrepresentrealpower

Itisalsoamessagewhichistakingalongtimeformanytocomprehend.Irememberbackin2012therewascertainlysatisfactionthatrecentsanctionsagainstIranweredestroyingthatcountry’seconomy.NowMrTrumpsaysthatfailedpolicyisworthasecondtry.MilitaryincursionsandsanctionsarestandardWesternresponsestoanynationthreateningWesterninterests.Yetthereisafinelinetobedrawn.Asanotherpacifistmysticleaderfromanotherreligion,MahatmaGandhionceputit:“Aneyeforaneyemakesthewholeworldblind”.HaveyounoticedJesuswithhispreferredcourseofaction–forgiving70times7–isnotfavouredaspartofanynation’scurrentinternationalpolicies.

IfwebelieveJesustothepointwheretheywishtofollowhisteachingsshouldbeupfront.SurelytheJesuswayatleastsuggestssoonerorlatertheprotagonistsinanyconflictorstand-offmustcomeroundtothinkingthatforgiveness,understandingandcareforoneanotherprovidesamuchmorestablelongtermsolutiontoanylongtermconfrontation,whetheritbebetweensuper-powersorevenonlybetweenfamilymembersestrangedbyadimlyrememberedfamilyfeud.

Theremaybeamind-shiftrequiredfrombuildingasenseofrespectabilitytothenotionofattemptingtolivealifeofservant-hood–inotherwordsstartingtocaremoreaboutothersthanoneself.Thisisradicalandevencounterintuitive–butitisalmostcertainlyattheheartoftheChristianchallenge.

Weareprogrammedatbirthtoseekourownadvantage.Innaturethisindividualself-seekingmightmeanthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.Andtobefairmanynevermovepastthisinwardfocus.ButJesuscameteachingafaithdesignedtobenefitthewholecommunityratherthantheindividual.Forthistohappen,itisnottheoreticallearningthatisrequired.RatherwhatJesuscallsservant-hoodisashiftfromactiveself-interesttogenuinelythinkingfirstaboutothers….startingtotreatourneighboursaseverybitasimportantasourselves.

Somecatchonearly.Forothersofus(andIplacemyselfwiththisgroup)themomentofenlightenmentmaytakesyears–orevenremainanunattainablemystery.RemembertheSonsofZebedeewereonlyguiltyofaveryhumananddominantweakness,thatofself-concern.Sinceweprobablyknowourselvesbestofall–andsinceweknowthereissomethingofboththesaintandthesinnerineachofus,thequestionis….whereareweonthatcontinuumAndforthiscomingweek–andeventhecomingyear–isitgoingtobebeservant-hoodorthemorepopularself-interestthatshapesourthinking

(onMarkCh10:17-31)

TheRichYoungManandtheEyeoftheNeedle

Whiletoday’sstoryisveryfamiliartomanyChristians,whatismoreintriguingiswhysomanyofuswhoclaimtoacceptChristianityhappilyaccumulaterichesandpossessionsanddolittletoshowthatsuchareadingshouldaffectourdaytodaylives.

IsuspectweprefertoforgettheconfrontingaspectsofJesus’illustrationandgivepassingacknowledgementthatthatthewealthyhavejustasmuchneedaseveryoneelsetoputsomegenuineeffortintotheircommitmenttowhatwemightnowcallbeingagenuinefollowerofChrist.ThatthediscipleswereastonishedatJesus’wordswhentheyoungmangaveuponthenextstepofhisquestsuggeststhereisabitmoregoingonherethanmightatfirstmeettheeye.

Unsurprisingly,therichyoungman’squestionandJesus’answerseemmoreacceptablewhendisconnectedfromourreality,particularlywhenitcomestoourindividualpersonalsituations.ItmighthelptoremindourselvesthatjustasMarkrecordstheyoungmanbeingunawareofhisfaultswhenhecomestoJesus,wetooruntheriskofnoticingtherichyoungman’sfaultsyetnotnoticingthepotentialsimilaritywithourown.

IfitcomestothatIcan’thonestlysayIknowofmanywhohavetakenthisstoryseriously–certainlyatleastnotenoughtofollowJesusadviceintheformofliteralaction.Jesusseeminglyputsthebartoohighfortheaveragechurchgoer,letaloneforthescepticaladherent.Iguesssincenotmanyareexcessivelywealthytheremayevenbesomeconsolationformostofusinthehearingabouttheyoungman’sdiscomfortatJesus’reply.“Giveawayeverythingyouownandfollowme”isJesus’reply.Andofcoursetherichman,realisingjusthowharditwouldbetotakethatstepofcommitment,admitstohimselfhewouldhavetoomuchtoloseandgoesawaysorrowful.

Jesus’strikingmetaphorisinhisresponse.“ItisharderforarichmantoenterthekingdomofGodthanforacameltopassthroughtheeyeofaneedle.”

Iamtakingitthatcamelandneedlepartisnotnewformanyheretoday.SinceSundayschooldaysmanyofusmaywellhaveheardtheoftenrepeatedclaimthattheeyeoftheneedlewasactuallyasmallgateintheJerusalemwallthroughwhichacamelwouldhavedifficultypassing–anditisusuallystressedinthetelling,thatforthecamelthiswouldbedifficultbutbynomeansimpossible.Removethecamel’ssaddleandotherparaphernaliaandyoucoulddoitwithabitofencouragementespeciallyifthesqueezecameafterthecamelhadusedupsomeofthefatinitshumpturningittowateraftermanydaysinthedesert.

NodoubtsomeBiblescholarswouldpointoutthatthemeaningofthemetaphorisbynomeansdoneanddusted.PerhapsJesuswasactuallysayingitisactuallyimpossibleratherthandifficult–forifhemeantarealcamelandarealneedlethereisabsolutelynowayyoucouldgetthecamelthroughtheeyeoftheneedle.

Well,ifitcomestothatsomescholarsactuallysayineffect:“Nah–itissimplyamistranslation”.PresumablyJesuswastalkingAramaicandinAramaicthewordforcamel(gamla)isvirtuallythesameastheAramaicforrope(whichissometimesevenspeltthesameway)andonlychangesitsmeaningaccordingtocontext.AGreekspeakerlikeMark,recordingtheconversationinGreekyearslatermighteasilyhavemissedthispoint.ItwouldcertainlymakeforamoreconsistentmetaphorifJesushadsaiditwastheropethatwashardtogetthroughtheeyeoftheneedle.Andthenfor“hard”understand“impossible”.

Butreallythisisalljustacademic.Whicheverwayyoulookatit,wehaveacolourfulmetaphortostressthatattachmenttorichessomehowgetsinthewayoffollowingChrist.Thisthenbringsustowhatitmightmeanforustoday.

ThecluehereistheGreekwordMarktranslatesformoney–“chremata”.Chremata,Aristotledefinesforusasbeingallthosethingsforwhichthevalueismeasuredinmoney.Thisshouldrightlyconcernthosewhopreachorfollowaprosperitygospel–ieoneinwhichGodissupposedtomateriallyprosperthosewhofindhisfavour.

IsuspectthatJewsfollowingthepopularteachingsfromthescriptureinJesusdaywouldtakethisprosperityforthefaithfulasamatterofcourse.TheJews(andthatincludesthedisciples)mighthavetakentheyoungman’sprosperityasasignthathewasfavouredbyGod.ForexampleinPsalm37verse25itevenstates“Ihavenotseentherighteousforsakennorhisseedbeggingforbread”.

ThatJesusshouldhaveapparentlyignoredthisstandardview(andwhatismore,ignoredaviewwithscripturalwarrant)wouldindeedhavecausedthedisciplestodoadoubletake.Jesusappearstobeimplying–andquitedirectly–thattotheextentwefocusonsuchmattersandcometoexpectfortuneasbeingthenaturalandevenessentialGod-givendeservedreward,wearedrawnawayfromthefocusonhismission.

TorelyonsingleteachingssupportingpersonaladvancementwhilemissingthemainthemeslikeexpressingloveforonesfellowsorseekingjusticewouldindeedbeagrossmisuseoftheBible.IassumeJesushimselfbelievedthatscripturerepresentedthewordofGod,yetwedonothavetoreflecttoodeeplytonoticethatthroughthecenturiessincerebelievershavedoneunfortunateandevenhideousthingstotheirfellowsinthemistakenbeliefthatthisiswhatscripturestoldthemtodo.

IrememberreadingoncesomewherethattheBibleisnotsomuchtobetakenasthewordofGodasofferingthepotentialtobethewordofGodforthethoughtfulseeker.

Forthosewholiketofindnewwaysoflookingatafamiliarissue,youmightbeinterestedtoknowthattheDalaiLamamakesasimilarpointwithaslightlydifferenttwist.Basicallyhispointwasthatthereligionisfoundinourattitudestoothers–notinthetrappingswhichcansoeasilydistractus.Listennowtohiswords……HisHoliness,theDalaiLamaputsitthisway:

“Areligiousactisperformedoutofgoodmotivationwithsincerethoughtforthebenefitofothers.Religionishereandnowinourdailylives.Ifweleadthatlifeforthebenefitoftheworld,thisisthehallmarkofareligiouslife.Thisismysimplereligion.Noneedfortemples.Noneedforcomplicatedphilosophy.Yourownmind,yourownheartisthetemple;yourphilosophyissimplekindness.”

AndaswiththosewhowouldfollowJesus–itisactuallygivingupthefocusonthetrappingsandbeingfreedtolookaroundtothosewemeetwitheyesofsympathyandconcern–andifthatdoesn’twork–perhapsevengivingupthetrappingsinaliteralsense,whichisJesussuggestedpathbacktothatkeycentrality.

Itisaparadoxofthe21stcenturythatevenasanation,thericherweget,themoreethicalproblemscomeourway.Manyofusarebornintocomparativewealth,whileothersarebornintounremittingpovertywhichrathercutsacrossthenotionthateachwillberewardedinproportiontoourindividualfaithandeffort.

Forexamplelivinginanationwherethesoilisreasonablyproductive,goodmineralresources,wheretheweatheristemperate,andwherethepopulationisrelativelysparse,itismuchmoreexpectedthatprofitableminingorprimaryfoodproductionmightgivethenationabasefordevelopment.Contrastthiswitharegionwheretherearesevereweatherconditions,perhapsanariddesertorfrozentundra,fewnaturalresourcesandwherethereissparseplantlifeandover-population.TherelativefiguresforGNPinsuchcontrastingsettingstelltheirownstoryandtherelativewealthofonenationcomparedwithanotherchallengeustolookagainathowwearelivingoutourresponsibilitytothoselessfortunate.

Yetwhenwelistentoourpoliticiansofferingpromisesforeachelection,itis“chremata”thatrules.Forthoseofusborninfavourablesettings,itissurprisinghowlittleattentionweaskourleaderstogivetotheneedfordistributivejustice.

PleasenotethatJesusneversaysdon’tearnmoney.Itisratherourattitudetoearning,ourattitudetootherswhileweareearning,andhowweorganiseourgivingthatdemonstrateswhereourheartlies.

JohnWesley’sdictumof“Earnallyoucan,saveallyoucanandgiveallyoucan”ismuchmoreoutwardlyfocussedthanwhatAristotlewouldnodoubtcallthe“chremata”attentionofsomeofthisnation’smoneyedclasses.

Jesusneededtoputhisteachingintometaphortolifthislistenerstoapointwheretheymightencountermeaninginhismessage.

Inthesamewayeverynowandagainweneedourpoetsandhymnwriterstoedgeustowardsanunderstandingwhichishardtodefineinaclinicalsense.

Dr.HaldorLillenas,awellknownhymn-writer,hastakenthistopicandsetitasapoementitled,“Poverty.”(Iamstilllookingforafamiliarhymntunetosetthisasahymn–ideasanyone)

POVERTY

Ifinmyheartthereisnoloveforthosebysindefiled

AndifIlackcompassionforawayward,wand’ringchild;

IfIpossessnostrongdesiretohelphiminhisneed,

Toleadhimbacktopathsofpeace,ThenIampoorindeed.

IfIhavelostthetenderness,thegraceIoncepossessed,

IfIcannotappreciateanothersoul’sdistress;

IfIhavenotwithinmybreastawillingnesstofeed

Thehungrymultitudeofearth,ThenIampoorindeed.

IfIhavenotthestrengthtofeelanother’sburdensore,

IfIamblindtoalltheneedsthatclamouratmydoor;

IfIamdeaftoallthecryofheartsthatbreakandbleed

Withoutthesympathyoflove,ThenIampoorindeed.

IfIcannotappreciatethegoodinthoseImeet,

IfinmyblindnessIabhortheoutcastonthestreet;

Andifmyhard,coldheartdesirestocrushthebruisedreed–

ThenknowthatIhavelostmywealth,ThenIampoorindeed.

AndifIthrillnotatthetouchofdimpledbabyhands,

Norfeelthewealthmyhumblehomeandallitslovecommands

Andifthefinerthingsoflifearelostingraspandgreed

Theninmyheartabeggardwells,Andheispoorindeed!

IfIhaveloveforthosewhohateandtearsforthosewhofall,

IfIhavemercyfortheonewholovesmenotatall;

IfIhavepatiencewiththeonewhoholdsanothercreed,

Aheartforall,thewide,wideworld,ThenIamrichindeed!

…….Andtothispoem,thethoughtfulChristianmightsayAMEN

Divorce(andsomethingelse)intheFirstCentury

Ihaveoccasionallyencounteredastreetevangelist,who,withoutevenfindingoutmyname,ispreparedtogivemeashortBiblequotinglectureonwhatIclearlyneedinmylife.

Oneofthemostthoughtlessandhard-heartedwaystousescripturesistotakeversesawayfromtheircontextandusethewordsasprooftextstojudgethosewithdifferentbeliefsorbackgrounds.Unfortunately,thereisnoshortageofthosewhowouldquotesnippetsfromtheBibleandusethequotationstocondemnawiderangeofbehavioursthattraditionallyoffendself-righteousbutwell-meaningevangelists.

Today’sreadingforexampleisafavouriteofthosewhofeelittheirdutytocondemnthosewhosemarriagesfallapart.MarktellsherehowJesuswasoncetackledbythePhariseesonthatmosttrickyofsubjects–divorceandremarriage.Yetmakenomistakeaboutit.ReadingaboutJesus’wordsonthetopicisafarcryfromassumingthatJesusisspeakingtoourgenerationoroursocialframework.

Likeitornot,marriageinJesus’settingisnotthesameasmostmarriagesinoursettinginthe21stcentury.WhatwastakenasdivorceinJesus’dayishardlywhatwewhatmostwouldstillcalldivorce.ItisalsohardtoassumeJesus’questioners,thePharisees,wereseekingtheapprovedtimelessadvice.

Wecanimagineyoungcouplemightwellhavegonegotoaphariseeforadviceaboutmarriage.Isuggestthattodaymanywouldprefernon-religiousadviceforatroubledmarriage.Todaywehavemarriageguidancecounsellorsaplentyandevenlawyerswhoseemtospendtheirwholeprofessionalcareersdealingwiththelegalandfinancialcomplexitiesofmarriagebreakdown.IamguessingthatthelastthingthosewhoareintroublewiththeirmarriageswouldwantisaPhariseefromJesus’timespoutingancientlaws.

Rememberbackthenreligiouslawhadnoroomformercy,andthePharisees,perhapsrightly,realisedthatJesuswouldhavebeenhardputtoknowwhichclausesruledonthereallytrickyissues.Therewerealsoprobablyanumber,wholikeourmodern-dayexpertsinlitigation,werewellabletousetheminutiaetoachievepredeterminedgoals.

Somecommentatorsonthispassage,pointoutalltheconditionsinthosedayswhichtiltedveryheavilyinfavouroftheman.

Don’tforgetthat,atthattime,aPalestinianJew–andwhoperhapsonedayhappeneduponsomeonealittlemoredesirablethanhiscurrentwife,couldsimplycasthiswife,(ashis“possession”),asidebysimplesimpleformulawhich,in“Pharisee-speak“,wentsomethinglikethis:“Onthe…suchandsuch…….dayofthecalendar,I(name)…………sonof………….(thefather’sname)(Notethemotherdidn’tcount)…..andas(husband’sname)nativeofthetownof……actingofmyfreewill,andwithoutanycoercion,dorepudiate,sendbackandputaway(wife’sname….daughterof……(andhereyouputinthenameofyourwife’smother,whichbothidentifiesyourwifeandstressesherinferioritytoyou).Thenthehusbandadds….anduntilthispresenttime,mywife.Therewereafewmorewords,butthatwasessentiallyit.

Thereissomethingelsetoo.Sinceformostrabbisthisdeclarationofdivorceonlyofficiallyhadonereason–thatof“uncleanness”onthepartofthewife.Thendivorcewasathinlydisguisedwayofsayingshehadbeenunfaithful.Divorcingyourwifewasthereforealsoanunspokenpublicaccusationshewasguiltyofthecrimeofadultery.Sincethelawforthemostpartonlyallowedonecausefordivorce–divorcealwaysassumedthatcause.(cfDeuteronomyChapter4verseone).Thisleftthecommunityleadersfreetostonehertodeathiftheyhadamindto.Butletmestressthatnomatterwhatthehusbandhaddoneevenifitweredomesticviolenceoradultery–thewomanwasnotallowedtoseekadivorceonherownbehalf.Shewastheman’spossession.

Remembertoo,thedivorcewasnothinglikeourlawofinsistingonanequaldivisionofproperty–orperhapsmoreandmorecommonlythesedays–adivisionaccordingtothetermsoftheprenuptialagreement.Backthenthedivorcedwomanwastotallywithouthope.Ifshewasluckyshewouldnotbestonedandsomerelativesmighttakeherindespitehershame–butalltoooftenshewouldbecomeasocietypariah–reducedtobeggingorprostitutionforsurvival.

Rememberdivorceassumedadulteryonthepartofthewomananyway.WhatwashoweverquitenovelwastheobversestatementbyJesus.“Whoeverputsawayhiswifeandmarriesanotherwomancommitsadulteryagainsther“.

Theradicalbitwasintheimplicationthatthemanhasanequalresponsibilityforthewell-beingofthemarriage.

InourreadiingifyounoticewhatJesuswasdoing,hewasshiftingawayfromthetrickywordplayaboutthelawbacktotheprinciplesbehindthelaw.Marriage,hepresentedastotalandgenuinecommitmenttooneanother,andmoreimportantly,commitmentonbothsides.

IguessJesus’answerwouldhaveleftthemfeelinguncomfortable.Butletusbecareful.Eitherway,whattheythoughtofasmarriagethenismostcertainlynotwhatmarriagemeanshereandnow.Andtheirdivorceisnotourdivorce.

AnotherpointthatwewoulddowelltorememberisthatJesuswasaPalestinianJewlivinginaJewishsociety.Hiswordsinreplycannotthenbeusedtomakepronouncementsonsituationsfarremovedfromthissetting.HeisnottalkingofdivorceinHollywoodorAuckland.Norfortherecordcanweusehiswordsfordirectjudgementongaymarriageorwhatisstillsometimescalledbysomeas“livinginsin”.Nevertheless,hedoesappeartobedrawingattentiontoausefulgeneralprinciplethatcouldbenefitmanyrelationshipsinhisreply.

Jesus’notionofcommitmenttooneanotherwouldindeedprovideastrongbasisformarriageandavarietyofrelationshipsandeventoday,asanattitude,mutualcommitmentwouldcertainlyreducethepossibilityofamoderntimedivorce.Butthatisnottosayweshouldpretendtheworldisdifferenttoourreality.Inthiscity,asisthecaserightthroughournationandourchurchcongregations,divorceisstillafactoflife.Marriagesandde-factorelationshipsdofailandsometimestragically.

Evenifourcitizensandfriendswerethemselvessinglemindedaboutthesincerityoftheircommitmenttotheirpartner,unlessthepartnercanalsobringthesamedegreeofcommitment,stressandevenmarriagebreakdowncananddoesoccur.Wecanbegratefulthatyearsofwiselawmakinghaveremovedsomeoftheworstexcessesofwhatmighthappentothosecaughtinsuchsituationsoftenbeyondtheircontrol,butcanIsuggestjudgementofothersisnotwhatitisallabout.Thereisimpliedjudgementitistrue,butIhearJesuscallingforhislistenerstolooktotheirownvaluesandactions,notsomeoneelse’s.

Jesusiswisetodrawattentiontotheneedformutualcommitment,andbyimplicationtotheabsoluteneedtoavoidthebreakdownofthemarriage,yetinanymarriageoroneofitsmanydifferentmodernequivalentforms,onlythecouplethemselveswillknowhowthisplaysoutinpractice.Puttingitbluntly,itisnotsomeoneelse’srelationshipswhichareourconcern,itisourown.EvenifweknowJesuswasrecordedastalkingtoanaudiencewithdifferentmotivesandwithinanentirelydifferentsettingsoonerorlaterwehavetotakehisover-ridingprinciplesandaskourselveshowweareusingsuchprinciplesinourownlives.

TheattitudesthatJesustalksaboutseemanythingbutrulebound.Thereisunfortunatelyawayofapproachingotherswhichistodowithfocussingonconventionsandrules.Ifsocietyconventionshappentoruleagainstsomeformofrelationships,thiscangetinthewayofthenaturalwarmthofinteractionswiththoseaboutus.Thiswaywholeclassesofpeoplecanbesociallyshunned.Homosexuals,womenwearingtraditionalMuslimdress,neatlyscrubbedandsuitedyoungmenonbicycleswearingMormonbadges,Sikhmenwearingturbans,orthodoxJewsandinfactanyonewhodoesnotinstantlyfitinwiththesocialexpectationsofone’sownsocialgroupcanbedismissed.(Orshouldwesay“are”)

InJesus’daythoseunworthyofacceptancewouldincludedivorcedwomenandeveninsomecaseschildren.InmanyinstancesJesusisrecordedasoverturningthisattitude,whetheritbethetaxcollector,theprostitute,thetaxcollector,themanytimesmarriedwomanwiththewrongreligionatthewell.InshortJesuswasmodellinghisteaching.

BackthenchildrenwereoftensociallyshunnedandnotalwaysconsideredtobeworthyofconsiderationuntilpubertywhentheywereabletobecomesynagoguememberswiththeBarMitzvahandtheequivalentceremonyforgirls.Itwouldhavebeenconsideredbadformtoallowchildrennearanyoneimportant,includingteachersandrabbis.

Today’sreadingalsorecordsparentsbringingtheirchildrentoJesustobetouchedinblessing.ThatJesusstoppedhisdisciplesfromtheacceptedcustomofkeepingchildrenfromanyoneimportantisagainahelpfulmodelforourownattitudes.Itwasnotonly‘letthechildrencometome,forsuchasthesetheKingdomofGodbelongs…..”butthenhegoesthatonestepfurtherandsaysineffectthattheattitudeofthesechildreniswhatweallneed.

Itisnotrulesorconventionsthatwillultimatelytransformourrelationshipsorour21stcenturypilgrimage,butratheranopenheartedandevenchildlikeopennesstooneanother.Thequestionthenisnotforothersbutforourselves.Canweapproachotherswithachild-likeopenness.AsJesusremindsus,itisonlyforsuchpilgrimsthatthekingdomofGodwillstarttohavemeaning.

IttookmerathertoolongtorealizethatthekeyattractionoflongrunningsoapoperasonTVisthatthoseall-toohumanstrengthsandweaknessestypicallyportrayedarenotuniquetoanyplaceoranytime.Politicsalsorepeats.Downthroughthecenturies,eachnation’sleadersandeachtribewithinthatnationappeartojostlefortherighttospeakforall.TheupsideisthatsomeoftheancientparablesandwordsofwisdomintheBibleandotherreligionsHolybooksseemasneededtodayastheydidwhenfirstrecorded.

Thedownsideisthatwhenwiseadviceisofferedfew,choosetoapplyittotheirownsituation.Yes,Godistypicallyinvokedbygroupsonpolaroppositesidesofthedebatestogiveadditionalauthorityyetit’sjustthattheversionenactedinpracticeseemsfarfromthespiritoftheoriginalmessage.

Butwhenthecurrentcropofpoliticiansfinish-upwithunkindorbiasedpoliciesitmightevenbethatourvotingpatternsarenotalwaysdirectedbygenuineconcernforthedisadvantagedofournationortheworld.Adoptinglabelslikebeing“concernedfortheenvironment”ordemandingthereleaseofvictimsofinjusticeisnotquitethesameasputtingourowncomfortsatrisk.

Whichbringsustotoday’sgospel.Intoday’sreadingfromMark,wefindthedisciplescomplainingtoJesusaboutsomewhoareapparentlytryingtoclaimworkinginJesus’namewithoutbeingpartoftheinnercircleofdisciples.Inthiscasethesheerlikelihoodofsuchanattitudebeingshownbythedisciplessuggestshighlyplausiblereporting.

Jesuswillhavenoneoftheirexpressedconcern.“Hewhoisnotagainstusisforus”.Wemightdowelltoreflectthatthesewordssuggestanopennesstoincludeotherswhichisfarfrommoderndaynorms.AccordingtoRobertRoth,aninsecurecommunityorevenaninsecurenationsuggestsbyitsdealingswithothersthedirectopposite.“Hewhoisnotwithusisagainstus”isamoretypicalstandardapproach.

Thus,wefindasuperpoweractingharshlywithtradebarriersandotherexclusionsagainstthosewhoarereluctanttoshowdirectsupportforthesuperpower’spoliticalstance.Nodoubtyouwillhavealsonoticedthatwherecommoditieslikeoilareinvolved,tradepartnershipswithotherthanone’sownblocistraditionallydescribedasawarningsignandissometimesenoughtoattractsomeformofembargo.

Atamorelocallevelwefinditdifficulttohaveanythingtodowiththoseidentifiedasdifferent.Thishappenswherereligiousaffiliationisusedtojudgeothersinadvance.Forexample,asProtestantswearenottraditionallyverygoodinacknowledgingpacifisminJehovah’switnesses,socialactionfromtheSeventhDayAdventistchurchorpositivefamilyprogrammesfromtheChurchofLatter-DaySaints.WemayrunourownChurchcharitiesseeingthisasChristianityinaction,yetprefertoremainentirelyignorantaboutsaythecharitablefollowersofIslamwhoplaceahighpriorityonalmsgiving.

Notice,hereinMark’saccount,Jesusisfocusingontheactionsofthestrangerswhohaveoffendedthedisciplesbytakingactionsinvolvinghealing.Hedrawsattentiontotheseactionsandfindsinthemconfirmationthatthesestrangersareessentiallysharinghisownmission.

PerhapsitisonlyMark’schoiceofwhichwordstorecall,butinMark’saccountJesusthenimmediatelygoesontotalkofthosewhoplacestumblingblocksinthewayofwhathecalls“thelittleoneswhobelieveinme”.Hereitisbynomeanscertainheistalkingofchildrenandmightequallybetalkingofplacingobstaclesinthewayofthevulnerablenewcomerstothefaith.Byhisjuxtapositionofideas,Jesusseemstobesayingthattoworryaboutpeoplewhoaredoinggoodworks,yetwhoarenotofficiallysignedupmembersoftheinnergroupisplacingatotallyunacceptableandunnecessarystumblingblockinthewayofpotentialfollowers.

“Stumblingblocks”wouldhavebeenbetterunderstoodinJesusdaywhenthenightcouldbedangerouslydark,andhencestumblingblocksreferred(inthiscasemetaphorically)toeitherensurenaturallyordeliberatelyplacedrocksorlargepiecesofwoodwerelefttotripuptheunwaryinthedark.ThewordSkandalon–(orinthiscaseMarkisusingtheformSkandalizo)–bothofwhicharewordsfromwhichwegetthewordscandal.UsingthesewordssuggestJesus’disgustatthethoughtpeoplemightusesuchtrickstotriptheunwaryup.

Thesuspicionwithwhichagivenhumangroupregardsthosewhodon’tquiteshareone’sownreligiouspreferenceshasbeenpartofthehumanscenesincethehistoricalrecordbegan.Wherethedifferentreligionsdiffermoremarkedly,theresponsetothoseofotherfaithscanbeevenmoreextreme.Inthenewsoverrecenttimeswelearnthatonceagain,inplaceslikeGaza,theWestbank,LebanonandIranprotestsoverreligionintheMiddleEasthaveturnedincreasinglyviolent.

Whenmobsattackembassieswithcrieslike“DeathtoAmerica”,or“killtheChristians”wewoulddowelltocheckonthehistorythathasledthemtothatpoint.AlthoughmanywouldhaveusbelievethisisentirelyaconsequenceoftheviolenceandterrorismwhichnowalmostseemsapartofmodernIslam,wemightalsodowelltorememberthatthecurrentwavesofviolenceareatleastpartlyaresponsetohighhandedinterferencebytheWesternsuperpowers.

True,thecurrentviolenceagainsttheprotestorsistotallyreprehensible(evenifinfairnessitseemsunderstandable)anditiscertainlyfarfromthetolerantwordsofJesusaboutforgivingone’senemiesandshowingloveforneighbour.Yetifwelookedbackonourhistoryandfoundthere,pastcolonialarroganceshownagainstlocalpeoplecomingtothreatenourrecentancestors’dominanceoflandorresources,arewecertainwereallycertaintodaywewouldhavebehaveddifferently.

Wellthen,docurrenteventsintheMiddleEastshowIslamattemptingtoestablishtherighttoenactanhistoricreligionfollowingpreceptsofjusticeandloveAsweareoftenremindeditistrueJesussaidthatHealonewasthewaytotheFather(John14:6),andthatHealonerevealedtheFather(Matt.11:27;Luke10:22).

ButdidyounoticeIfJesusistheway–thatwhenhetellsustohavenothingtodowithseparatingoffthosewhoarenotmembersofourparticulargroup–infactcallingthisaction“placingstumblingblocks”–wearehardlyfollowinghiswaybyidentifyingtheheresyofthosewhowillnotjoinus.Tobeprecise,theJesuswayistosay“thosewhoarenotagainstusareforus”.

Yes,wehavereachedthepointwheresometellustheyareagainstus–butweshouldalsoaskourselveshow,inturn,wemightlooktothem.Mightwenotbyrecentactionsinmodernhistoryseemtobeagainstthem.SendingreconstructioninvestmenttoAfghanistanandIraqmustbeseenaspositiveyettheissueforthelocalpeoplemustincludeaskingatwhosehandsdidthedestructioncomeinthefirstplace

AttheendofthepassageJesusmakestheunexpectedconnectionbetweensaltandfire.Somecommentatorssuggestthathereheisprobablyreferringtothefactthatsaltwasusedwherethefirewasforasacrifice.Asacrificeismadeatpersonalcost.PerhapsthisiswhyweshouldparticularlynoteJesusfinishingthissectionwiththewords“ifsalthaslostitssaltinesshowcanyouseason.“Havesaltinyourselvesandbeatpeacewithoneanother.”Ifwelookatothersandlabeltheirwitnessasunacceptablebecausetheydonothavetherightcredentials,theyintheirturnwillbelookingatthesaltwedisplayinourlives.Jesusseemstobesayingitisoursaltratherthansomeoneelse’ssaltthatneedsattention.

RatherthanfocusontheextremistIslamicprotestorswhofindinsomeofthebehaviourofouralliesapparentinsultstotheprophet,perhapsweneedtobeaskingwhatitisaboutpastandrecentWesternChristianactionsintheMiddleEastthatcausestheRadicalIslamiststooverlookoursalt.

AreweforexamplesatisfiedthatoursidebombingciviliansbymistakewhentryingtokillterroristsconveystothelocalpopulationwhatwerepresentisintheirbestinterestsHowwillembargosonfoodandmedicinesaimedatgovernmentswhoarenoncooperativewithpolicieswefavourdemonstratetothelocalswearenotagainstthelocalpopulation

WhenwethinkofthenaturalindignationintheWestaboutlastyear’sHamascauseddeaths,wemightatleastpauseforthoughtatthewordsofthethenSecretaryofStateMadelineAlbrightwhensheclaimedina1998CBS60minutesinterviewthattheembargoscausingthelossofhalfamillionIraqichildrenwas“apriceworthpaying”forkeepingthepressureonBagdad.Andhereisathought…ifHamaswaswronginkillingorkidnappingtwothousandinnocentIsraelicitizensisIsraelwiththeassistanceofoursiderightinkillingthirtyfivethousandcivilianPalestinianwomenandchildrentoteachHamasalesson.

AnalternativeviewwasofferedbytheSecretaryGeneraloftheArableagueHEAmreMoussawhobackin2002putitthisway:

Suchissuesinevitablyaffectthewayothersseeus.Althoughreligionisnotcustomarilyseenaspartofourinternationalpolitics,sincetherearerelativelyhighproportionsclaimingaffiliationwiththeChristianchurchintheWest,thosewhodealwiththeWestmaketheassumptionthatWesternpoliticsisreflectingWesternreligion.AslongaswemakesimilarassumptionsaboutthoseinIslamiccountrieswecanhardlyexpectdifferenttreatmentforourselves.

Fortunatelyforourconsciences,itislefttoourpoliticiansratherthanourselvestomaketheinternationalpolicieswhichmayatfirstglanceseemtoabsolveusfromdirectresponsibility.Itisneverthelessthesignofapopulation’swishifaninternationalpolicyiscontinuedoveralongperiodoftimeanditcanonlydosoifweeitherapproveitorchosetokeepquietaboutourfeelings.

OneoftheimplicationsofJesus’suggestionthatwelooktoourownsaltmustsurelymeanweshouldconsiderourpersonalresponsibilitiesandactions.Ifourreligionistohavemeaningatall,surelyitmustaffectallourrelationships–atapersonallevel,atlocalchurchlevel,atcommunity,atnationalandeveninternationallevel.

“Havesaltinyourselvesandbeatpeacewithoneanother”.Ifwefollowhissuggestion,whatmightthatmeanforusandthosewemeet