Today’s Readings: Psalm 6; Nehemiah 1:1-11; Luke 9:57-62; Titus 2:1-15; Psalm 39
Featured Reading: Luke 9:57-62. Since the earliest days of our country, certain Christian communities enjoyed a great deal of power and privilege. This was especially true in the colonies of the Northeast where the Pilgrims and Puritans settled. The religious establishment of the day quickly became THE establishment of the day. While those events might have transpired over 350 years ago, we are still living with the effects of it today. Many contemporary American Christians continue to live with the idea that their faith ought to enjoyed special status in society. These folks complained loudly, for instance, when prayer was removed from public school; when the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ was replaced by ‘Happy Holidays’ by retail clerks in December; and when the name ‘Winter Break’ took the place of ‘Christmas Break’ in our public schools. I’ve always struggled to understand why some Christians viewed those shifts as tragic. I guess that’s partly because I don’t think it’s a good thing when Christianity enjoys a great deal of power and privilege – for that power and privilege often distorts our understanding of the Gospel. If you have any question about that, just look into the disturbing notion of “The Prosperity Gospel” that sprung up in the 20th Century! Yikes!!! I strongly believe that the message of Jesus is most powerful when it is proclaimed not from the center of power, but rather from the margins. Jesus made a similar point in response to an individual’s statement that he wanted to follow Jesus wherever Jesus went. “Are you ready to rough it?” Jesus asked. “We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” That simple awareness-raising challenge is one that resonates across the centuries and confronts us today. During this season of Lent, I would as: “Are you ready to rough it?” Are you ready to stay in the kind of inns to which Jesus would lead us, or are you expecting luxurious and privileged stays in a place like the Four Seasons? Til next time…
Featured Reading: Luke 9:57-62. Since the earliest days of our country, certain Christian communities enjoyed a great deal of power and privilege. This was especially true in the colonies of the Northeast where the Pilgrims and Puritans settled. The religious establishment of the day quickly became THE establishment of the day. While those events might have transpired over 350 years ago, we are still living with the effects of it today. Many contemporary American Christians continue to live with the idea that their faith ought to enjoyed special status in society. These folks complained loudly, for instance, when prayer was removed from public school; when the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ was replaced by ‘Happy Holidays’ by retail clerks in December; and when the name ‘Winter Break’ took the place of ‘Christmas Break’ in our public schools. I’ve always struggled to understand why some Christians viewed those shifts as tragic. I guess that’s partly because I don’t think it’s a good thing when Christianity enjoys a great deal of power and privilege – for that power and privilege often distorts our understanding of the Gospel. If you have any question about that, just look into the disturbing notion of “The Prosperity Gospel” that sprung up in the 20th Century! Yikes!!! I strongly believe that the message of Jesus is most powerful when it is proclaimed not from the center of power, but rather from the margins. Jesus made a similar point in response to an individual’s statement that he wanted to follow Jesus wherever Jesus went. “Are you ready to rough it?” Jesus asked. “We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” That simple awareness-raising challenge is one that resonates across the centuries and confronts us today. During this season of Lent, I would as: “Are you ready to rough it?” Are you ready to stay in the kind of inns to which Jesus would lead us, or are you expecting luxurious and privileged stays in a place like the Four Seasons? Til next time…
3 comments:
Maybe the tension is between the concepts of "holy nation" and "holy individual" The Psalms passages are both about the struggles of the individual. Nehemiah uses both the plural "we" and the individual "I." But Nehemiah's purpose was purifying the nation of Israel and defining it's spiritual and geographical boundaries.
And Nehemiah's programs broke up marriages and damaged many people - as do all calls for a monolithic "holy nation."
What makes for a "holy nation" in a good way?
One that frees the individual to follow their own path towards "holiness?"
One that cares for the least? (Works out of Nurturing Mother framework)
Jesus's comments certainly call us to the margins but this passage in Luke sounds like the demands of a cult.
Dutch
for a another day --
a secular society versus a religiously pluralistic society
Thanks Dutch for joining the conversation. I look forward to journeying with you in the days ahead!
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