Acts 3:11-16 Peter Goes There

Observation: Peter and John have just performed their first healing in Jesus' name. In the Jerusalem Temple, he invites a man lame from birth to stand up and walk. When this healing draws a crowd of astonished people, Peter "goes there." He uses the opportunity to speak about the fact that he didn't do this--the name of Jesus did. And because his pain is still raw, Peter also makes mention of the fact that less than two months ago, the same crowds here in Jerusalem that are so amazed by this healing, were the ones who handed him over to be crucified. Peter tells the good, bad and ugly of Jesus' story, but he makes it clear that this healing today is the next chapter of it.

Application: So, a lot of mainline Christians are terrible at evangelism. We're terrible at it because we're terrified of it. We think it means saying we have all the answers and no one else has any. We think it involves yelling at people that they're doing life wrong, they're sinners and they're going to hell. Especially when we do something good or kind to others, even if we understand that to be part of our faith, we rarely say that out loud, because we think that means it has strings attached. "I helped you dig your car out of the snow, but I did it in Jesus' name, so now you are required to come to my church."  Folks. That is not how evangelism works. None of that.

We can and absolutely should do good things, healing things, for our neighbors. We should love them, asking nothing in return. We should be out there with random acts of kindness, or paying it forward, or whatever catch phrase you want to use for being a decent human being. And we should not be shy about connecting that to our faith. Believe it or not, most people will not sick a team of lawyers on you if, when you offer them a little gas money, you say, "God has blessed me and I just want to be a blessing to you." Or if they compliment you on a piece of art you did, you say, "Thanks, I feel like God kind of inspired me there." Or if you step in with a kind word for a store clerk who's having a tough day, and they say "thanks," and you say, "Sure thing. I follow Jesus. That's what we do." I know this is hard. I know faith is personal. I know it feels private. I know people have a lot of pictures in their head from the media of Christians as wide eyed judgmental bigots, and you don't want to be seen as one of "those people." But also...if the idea of "Christian" folks have in their head goes unchallenged, without you dropping Jesus' name now and again when you actually manage to be kind and love somebody, then nothing will change.

So you're not Billy Graham. Neither am I. How about like Peter, let's just be decent human beings who sometimes talk about Jesus, shall we?

Prayer: God, help us to find chances to heal and love others in your name...and help us bring you into the conversation. Amen.   

Genesis 44:1-17 Joseph Messes With His Brothers

Observation: During a time of famine, Joseph, who is now the second-in-command to Pharaoh in Egypt, plays another trick on his brothers from the land of Canaan. He has already secretly returned their money to them when they come to Egypt to buy grain. After they come back and proclaim their innocence, Joseph takes it further and plants his silver cup in his youngest brother Benjamin's bag, to make it look like he stole it. 

I'm pretty sure Joseph already knows what he is planning to do--that eventually, he will forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery all those years ago, and invite his extended family to live with him in luxury in Egypt. Eventually. But first, he wants to mess with them. 

Application: To me, this is a familiar feeling. Not just messing with your siblings--although I was a pretty obnoxious older brother once--but the idea of "cutting loose" a little when you have resolved to do the "right thing." Having that last ice cream Sundae at the end of the week, when your diet starts Monday. Playing another hour of video games because you know tomorrow you're going to try to be screen-free. Sharing that last juicy piece of gossip, then swearing up and down it'll be the last one. When you have made a big decision and resolved to do something right, it can be tempting to do a little thing wrong--even if you know it's wrong--to celebrate. That's the whole idea of "Mardi Gras" or "Fat Tuesday" (which is coming up the week after next, BTW). When you know you're headed for the great spiritual challenge of Lent, why not succumb to a few temptations as a "last hurrah"? 

This rarely works out well. Even with false deadlines, we are great at justifying behaviors we know aren't healthy. We're great at procrastinating--at least I know I am. There's always going to be a reason to kick the can down the road, and the bigger and more life-changing the resolution is--like finally making that phone call, and offering forgiveness to a person who hurt you--the more it will make sense to us that we really aren't ready, and we may as well take a breather and get down to that next week, next month, next year. 

Here's what I think we should try instead: what if instead of making big, sweeping resolutions for some future date, we tried to do little, tiny "right" things, right now, instead of later? What if most of life isn't about grand gestures, but minute-by-minute choices that the Holy Spirit uses to slowly build and develop the person God needs us to be? What if March 6 (Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent) wasn't a deadline at all, but a day to reflect, and take one hour at a time, like any other day? What if it wasn't about big resolutions, no big giving up or taking up, but directions that we want to go, one baby step at a time? 

So yeah...maybe in this instance, don't be like Joseph. Don't put off the big right thing for tomorrow. Do the little right thing today. 

Prayer: God, when my vision gets too grand, I get intimidated. Keep me focused on what I need to do today, right now. Point me in the right direction, even if I don't get far today. Amen.   

Acts 13:26-34 All in the Family

Observation: In Antioch (modern day Turkey) Paul tells the story of Jesus before a hostile audience: Sergius Paulus, a Roman Proconsul, described as "an intelligent man" but not necessarily sympathetic. And with them is Elymas, whom the text calls "a magician" (probably a pagan fortune teller of some kind), who is trying to convince the Proconsul of the dangers of Christianity. Paul talks about how the residents of Jerusalem rejected Jesus, this fulfilling their own prophecies which they read at weekly services, because they did not understand that they refer to Jesus.

Application: This text is one of many in the New Testament that needs unpacking, because it has been misused to support Anti Jewish and Anti Semitic readings of scripture.

Firstly, and ALWAYS, remember that Jesus of Nazareth, all twelve original apostles, and Paul himself who makes this speech, lived and died as Jews. They regarded their own message as a faithful way of being Jewish, and not once did they ask their fellow Jews to be anything other than Jewish.

Secondly, remember that what we say to (and about) our own family, even though we may regret it later, sounds much, much different coming from the mouth of an outsider. Think of the snarkiest, most sarcastic thing you've ever said about a sibling, and then imagine how you'd feel if a stranger tweeted those exact words about them for the world to see. Brutal, huh? Well that, I believe, is how Jesus feels when Christians take his words about, say, the Pharisees and chief priests, and apply them to present day Jews with whom they have no relationship. Same thing with Paul's words about his own detractors. Mind you, a lot of his words are problematic even within his first century Jewish family. But outside the family, they're toxic.

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Thirdly, for Christ's sake (I mean this literally) we NEED to take into account the last two thousand years of history and how these words have been used by people in power to marginalize and do violence to Jews. In light of that, our "life application" for a text like this is simple, but not easy. First, repent, and second, work to make it better.

Our confirmation class will be attending a synagogue service in Traverse City next Friday. I am grateful that the rabbi and lay leaders are willing to welcome us into their sacred space, and I am praying that our kids will represent us well, and learn something. If the only take away is that this is a context of prayer in which their Lord would be 100% at home, my job is done.

Prayer: Lord have mercy. For the damage we have done to your family, for the damage we still do, and for the possibility of reconciliation and healing, have mercy and grant us peace. Amen.

Luke 19:41-44 The Story Behind the Story

Observation: Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem, wishing its people had "recognized the things that make for peace." He predicts that a great destruction will come upon the city because it has not recognized his ministry.

Application: To really know your Bible you need to also learn some history. There are a handful of historical events--you could really boil it down to four or five--that, once you know them, you read every single passage of scripture differently.

For instance, if you came to Luke 19 cold, with no knowledge of the context, and read Jesus' prophecy, you might think about some great supernatural smack down yet to be, decreed by God.

On the other hand, if you happened to know about the Jewish Revolt of 66-70 AD, in which Jerusalem was in fact beseiged and leveled by the Roman army, and the temple destroyed, leaving pretty much every Jew or Christian at the time traumatized...and if you knew Luke's Gospel was written maybe ten years later...that would really change things. You'd look again at Jesus' way of nonviolent faith-based resistance, for which he and all his early followers gave their lives, and think, "Huh. They really should have listened."

It's so important to know your history. The cliché that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, is a cliché for a reason. And for our wider society, which so often suffers from amnesia, sometimes people of faith, who bear witness to the many ways humans fall short, can be a communal memory.

Prayer: God, teach us our own story, again and again. But more importantly teach us yours. Amen. 

1 Corinthians 14:13-25 In Group Language

Observation: Paul talks to Corinthian Christians about speaking in tongues in worship. I'm fascinated by these instructions he gives about speaking and interpreting tongues, because though that gift seems to have been common in first century Corinth, and even Paul claims to have it, it's not something that's ever been common in any church I've been part of.

Application: I hate to admit, when I have been in worship settings where speaking in tongues has happened, instinctively I've reacted like the "unbeliever" Paul describes, thinking the speakers are simply out of their minds. I don't mean to sound judgemental, or as if I don't believe some people have this gift. I absolutely do, and I'm thankful that the Holy Spirit moves that way in some parts of the church. But especially if no one is there to "interpret", or give a commentary on the words they believe the speaker is saying, it's extremely off-putting for a brand new visitor. In cases like that, it really doesn't do what the Spirit intends, which is to build up believers and instruct us in faith.

But taking a step back from glossolalia (speaking in tongues) in a literal sense, I think a lot of communities have "in language," which is  very helpful and meaningful to those who "get it," but gobbledygook to everyone else. Anymore, we can't assume a visitor in worship will even know the basics of the Bible that many of us learned in Sunday school. So from this passage, I hear not just a warning for those who speak in tongues, but also for those like me who speak "Christian-ese" in our daily lives: remember to translate. You could really help someone if they knew what on earth you were talking about.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the language of faith you've given me. Give me the gift of interpretation, to share what you have taught me with others who will benefit from it. Amen. 

Acts 19:1-10 Baptism Is God's Promise

Observation: Paul meets some disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus. They have not heard that John saw himself as the precursor to the Messiah, Jesus. Paul explains that John's baptism was for repentance: a human promise to change one's ways to prepare for the Messiah. But baptism in Jesus' name is something else. It's a promise from God, that you are forever connected to Christ, and receive his Spirit: the Holy Spirit. Sure enough, when the disciples are baptized in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit comes.

Application: There are a lot of things we can do to repent, turn over a new leaf and change our behavior. We can change our routines. We can find a person or group to hold us accountable. We can practice mindfulness and consider what thoughts enter our mind before we speak or act. We can pray and read scripture daily (you'd think five snow days in a row would help me with that, but you'd be wrong!) There are a hundred things we can do to change our ways and recommit ourselves to God. But baptism isn't one.

I know Christians aren't all on the same page with baptism. Some do believe it's just an outward sign of an inward faith commitment a person makes. That it's all human action, that a person has to take for her or himself. As a Lutheran, I don't share that view.

We believe baptism is all God's action. God's promise, in Christ Jesus. It happens once, because God's action does not fail. God doesn't need to make a resolution every January to be your Father. God has always been your Loving Parent. Baptism gives us the Holy Spirit, who helps us repent now and again, but baptism itself doesn't require repentance. That was John's baptism: a stopgap measure, to get us ready for the real thing. All baptism in Christ requires is God's "yes." And God never, ever says no.

Prayer: Thank you God for the gift of my baptism. May your Holy Spirit transform me, and help me repent when needed. Amen.