At the end of may, in conjunction with the Indiana Jones movie, we discussed about the knowledge of good and evil and what impact that had on our ability to discern good and evil. We questioned whether the quest for knowledge would lead us to death.
I have been reading The Uncensored Bible, which addresses some of the more obscure and risque portions of the Bible. According to Jacob Milgrom, a biblical scholar from Cal-Berkeley, the knowledge of good and evil is a euphemism for intercourse. His description goes into great depth, but in brief, the only two other biblical references to "knowledge of good and evil" are references to such a topic. He also points to the transitions in scripture that suggest that it was then that they became aware of their sexuality.
The traditional notion of original sin and the "knowledge of good and evil" usually leads to a moral sense or the capacity to explore the goodness of humanity. One more final note though from this book as we revisit the garden discussion and the knowledge of good and evil ... indeed sexuality has been used through history in constructive (good) and destructive (ways). Are our eyes opened to a new way of treating and respecting one another?
Jul 11, 2008
Jul 9, 2008
The Pot and the Kettle, and a Mirror too!
My mother likes the phrase, "that's like the pot calling the kettle 'black'." When my brothers and I used to go at it and verbally insult one another, my mother would step in and try to lighten the mood with her phrase and point out that our insult wasn't really fair because it could be applied to the person saying it as well.
This past Sunday, I made a comment in my sermon about some statements through the years that have bothered me. In our attempt to go withwards as a community and bring our divisions to an end, I commented that phrases like "my service" and "your service" were divisive. Someone reminded me afterwards that I may have used those same phrases myself, you know like the pot calling the kettle "black."
That phrase can be applied to me every week. When I prepare a sermon, I write and deliver the message in front of a mirror. With God's help, I find myself on the journey seeking to be more grace-filled, more communal, more inclusive, more free of sin, closer in my journey to God. When I was asked in my ordination interviews ten years ago what it meant for me to be "set apart" as an ordained clergy, my response was that I believe I am "set within." My ordination makes me no different, only that I have been put into a community to grow and be challenged with as I journey as well.
May we know such journey, may we know such community ... withwards.
This past Sunday, I made a comment in my sermon about some statements through the years that have bothered me. In our attempt to go withwards as a community and bring our divisions to an end, I commented that phrases like "my service" and "your service" were divisive. Someone reminded me afterwards that I may have used those same phrases myself, you know like the pot calling the kettle "black."
That phrase can be applied to me every week. When I prepare a sermon, I write and deliver the message in front of a mirror. With God's help, I find myself on the journey seeking to be more grace-filled, more communal, more inclusive, more free of sin, closer in my journey to God. When I was asked in my ordination interviews ten years ago what it meant for me to be "set apart" as an ordained clergy, my response was that I believe I am "set within." My ordination makes me no different, only that I have been put into a community to grow and be challenged with as I journey as well.
May we know such journey, may we know such community ... withwards.
Jul 7, 2008
Humility (Any help on this coming Sunday's sermon will be appreciated)
Humility is a difficult thing. Since coming out of my shell as a sophomore in high school, I like to be the center of attention. Working behind the scenes? Not for me. Playing second fiddle? Not my thing. Does that mean I do not like authority? I certainly hope not. Nor do I hope that it means I am starved for attention.
Humility is defined as, "A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." St. Bernard (the monk, not the dog) defines it as, "A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself."
In thinking about this coming Sunday's sermon and talking about direction (for oneself and our church) I don't think we can move forward in life unless we are content with who we are. The second definition above by St. Bernard is interesting in that the lowering of oneself (abasing oneself) comes when we know who we truly are. It is not a matter of authority, attention, or recognition, rather it is a matter of confidence in who we are and an affirmation of our gifts from God. Do you agree? Is contentment in our very creation key to being able to move forward in our faith journey or our life journey? I am open to your contributions for Sunday.
Philippians 2 talks about Christs' humility in this way: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
Humility is defined as, "A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." St. Bernard (the monk, not the dog) defines it as, "A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself."
In thinking about this coming Sunday's sermon and talking about direction (for oneself and our church) I don't think we can move forward in life unless we are content with who we are. The second definition above by St. Bernard is interesting in that the lowering of oneself (abasing oneself) comes when we know who we truly are. It is not a matter of authority, attention, or recognition, rather it is a matter of confidence in who we are and an affirmation of our gifts from God. Do you agree? Is contentment in our very creation key to being able to move forward in our faith journey or our life journey? I am open to your contributions for Sunday.
Philippians 2 talks about Christs' humility in this way: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
Jul 5, 2008
God Bless America
In thinking about that phrase again this weekend and hearing it on TV and the radio, I keep thinking to myself, indeed God already has. At least statistically, consider the following:
+ America is 6% of the world’s population but we consume over 40% of the worlds resources.
+ Of the 6 billion people in the world, 1.2 billion live on 23 cents a day, how many of us can do that in America?
+ 40% of the world’s population lack basic sanitation services, how does that compare to our U.S. home?
+ Every 15 seconds, someone in the world dies of hunger, how does that compare to our diet here in the land of amber waves of grain?
+ 1 billion people in the world are without safe drinking water, and yet in America we consume 26 billion liters of bottled water a year.
God Bless America. I hope that our recitation of such a mantra goes beyond that which is material. Perhaps God already has blessed us … with people who have a sense of vision for peace as Jesus teaches. Perhaps to have peace or the ability to make peace makes us rich or blessed beyond measure . The idea of blessing in the Bible is that we wanted to be blessed by God so that we could share that blessing with another. Is that what we’re doing?
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God.” Or to hear it from the Message. “You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.”
In a world of disparity - economically and socially – where the things that divide us are stronger than ever. In world torn apart by war, violence in the streets, poverty right outside our door, Christ keeps calling out to all peacemakers.
+ America is 6% of the world’s population but we consume over 40% of the worlds resources.
+ Of the 6 billion people in the world, 1.2 billion live on 23 cents a day, how many of us can do that in America?
+ 40% of the world’s population lack basic sanitation services, how does that compare to our U.S. home?
+ Every 15 seconds, someone in the world dies of hunger, how does that compare to our diet here in the land of amber waves of grain?
+ 1 billion people in the world are without safe drinking water, and yet in America we consume 26 billion liters of bottled water a year.
God Bless America. I hope that our recitation of such a mantra goes beyond that which is material. Perhaps God already has blessed us … with people who have a sense of vision for peace as Jesus teaches. Perhaps to have peace or the ability to make peace makes us rich or blessed beyond measure . The idea of blessing in the Bible is that we wanted to be blessed by God so that we could share that blessing with another. Is that what we’re doing?
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God.” Or to hear it from the Message. “You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.”
In a world of disparity - economically and socially – where the things that divide us are stronger than ever. In world torn apart by war, violence in the streets, poverty right outside our door, Christ keeps calling out to all peacemakers.
Jul 2, 2008
Weakness
As I was preparing for the bible study I lead on Tuesday nights, I found myself getting angry. The study was called "Jesus Recognizes Our Weaknesses" from the Jesus 101 series. The author was talking about how there are people in our lives (both whom we know and do not know) who like to exploit our weaknesses. I was getting angry because I have been there. There was a time in my life when someone who I considered a close friend was feeding on my weaknesses to build themselves up and guilt me in our friendship. I was not mad at that person, but I was angry at myself because I knew it was happening and allowed it to continue. I thought that I was being a good friend by loving and accepting unconditionally.
The point of the study was that Jesus recognizes our weaknesses and would never exploit them. It is the Sunday School answer to everything (Jesus would never let you down, hurt you, etc). The thought that kept coming to mind was of course Jesus would never take advantage of us because we don't have to share a house, apartment, workplace, neighborhood, with him. Jesus presence is in Spirit, but not in bodily presence. Is that fair to say?
As I have been stewing on this, I keep coming back to how we experience Christ ... through others. Our way of life and how we relate to one another is a testimony to our faith. As Christians, we are the ones who serve as Christ hands, feet, mouth, and heart in this world. The lesson then, perhaps is, more so for us in terms of how we treat one another and how we interact. Do we exploit other's weaknesses? Do you? Can people look at Christs' representatives in this world and say, "Jesus Christ does not exploit my weaknesses"?
My friend was/is a Christian.
The point of the study was that Jesus recognizes our weaknesses and would never exploit them. It is the Sunday School answer to everything (Jesus would never let you down, hurt you, etc). The thought that kept coming to mind was of course Jesus would never take advantage of us because we don't have to share a house, apartment, workplace, neighborhood, with him. Jesus presence is in Spirit, but not in bodily presence. Is that fair to say?
As I have been stewing on this, I keep coming back to how we experience Christ ... through others. Our way of life and how we relate to one another is a testimony to our faith. As Christians, we are the ones who serve as Christ hands, feet, mouth, and heart in this world. The lesson then, perhaps is, more so for us in terms of how we treat one another and how we interact. Do we exploit other's weaknesses? Do you? Can people look at Christs' representatives in this world and say, "Jesus Christ does not exploit my weaknesses"?
My friend was/is a Christian.
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