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Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum: A Christmas Story

It was a teaching moment. As Jesus was watching the contributions go into the temple treasury, he noticed a widow. She was placing two copper coins into the box. Jesus drew the disciples’ attention to the widow and noticed her generosity. Where others gave out of their wealth, she gave out of her poverty (Lk. 21:1-4). Where the rich, who gave a lot, only gave a small portion of their wealth, she gave everything she had though the total amount was the sum value of maybe a penny. Jesus’ commentary on her giving was Kingdom of God valued; she gave more than anyone else.

God looks more at the giver than the actual gift.

When Samuel was in the process of anointing the new king for Israel, God told the prophet not to be consumed with their looks but their heart (1 Sam. 16:7). David’s brothers looked more royal than the scrappy boy tending his father’s sheep. But Israel had already been down that road with someone looking kingly but not acting kingly. God wanted someone whose heart was set on him, not on the power kingship brings to the monarch.

The theme of weakness into strength recapitulates throughout Scripture. The humble will be lifted. The rejected will be accepted. The powerless will find power. So it’s no wonder that somewhere along the way someone creates a story like the drummer boy.

In the story the little boy found his way with the throng of people who heard that the Messiah had arrived as a baby in a manger. People were bringing gifts, but the little boy had no gift to bring. Many of the people had the means to travel and the resources to present great gifts. The little boy had nothing and the long journey was beyond both his means and his ability.

When the boy finally reached Bethlehem and stood before the baby king, he watched the adults present their gifts to the child and his parents. Shame swelled over him. He neither had a gift nor could afford such luxuries. He stood there like he was out of place and overwhelmed.

Finally his opportunity to present his gift came to him. He hands were empty. His poverty spoke volumes as he stepped forward. Confessing his lack of gift, he offered the one thing he had. He offered to play his drum. With the mother’s blessing, he started to play. Amazingly, the crowd grew silent, the animals joined in the song and the baby smiled.

Such a small gift, such a simple song. Yet it strikes at something near to the heart of God. For God continues to look not at how big the gift is, but how big the heart that gives the gift.

A hug. A cup of water. An encouraging text. A lunch at a fast food restaurant. A meaningful prayer. An offer to babysit. A phone call. Cleaning up a mess. Holding a baby so a mother can have a moment of peace. Dropping your last few coins in the collection plate because it’s all you have.

Where we’re consumed with how big and impressive our gift to God is, God is far from amused. He’s looking at the heart of the giver, such as the level of generosity, the amount of cheerfulness and the volume of faith when the giver gives.

Maybe that’s why we’re drawn to a little drummer boy.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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A Prayer Conversation

I prayed to God,
“Let me do great things for you!  Let me proclaim your Word to the people.”
God said to me,
“Good!  Go to the nursing home; I could use someone down there.”
I thought,
“I don’t see much greatness in that.”

I prayed to God,
“Let my life be a platform for your glory!”
God said to me,
“Gladly!  The local school needs a volunteer to mentor a struggling student.” 
I thought,
“That’s not much of a platform.”

I prayed to God,
“Let me minister to the people.”
God said to me,
“Wonderful!  The elderly gentleman down the street needs a ride to the doctor. 
Why not volunteer to give him a ride?” 
I thought,
“I don’t know; he’s disabled and kinda has an odor.”

I prayed to God,
“Let me be a beacon of purity to clean up this world!”
God said to me,
“Good idea!  Your neighbor needs someone to clean her house.  Why not start
there?”
I thought,
“I wasn’t quite thinking of that kind of cleaning.”

I prayed to God,
“Let me speak to a ‘standing room only’ crowd!”|
God said to me,
“Great!  Go teach a Bible class down at the jail. They have 20 willing inmates with
only 15 chairs.” 
I thought,
“I wanted the room to be a lot bigger.” 

I prayed to God,
“Let this church be a point of gravity for our community!” 
God said to me,
“Sure!  See that visitor over there with the ragged clothes and prison record? 
Make them feel like they are at home.” 
I thought,
“Not really the kind of people I want at this church.”

I prayed to God,
“Why doesn’t anything big ever happen in my life where you get the glory?”
God said to me,
“I don’t know.”
I thought,
“Me neither.”

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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Somewhere Between What Did Happen and What Could Have Happened

The Christmas story is filled with controversy at so many levels. We can begin with December 25th as an odd time for Jesus’ birth since shepherds were unlikely to be tending sheep in the fields during the winter months (Lk. 2:8); it was possible, but unlikely. We can clarify how the Bible speaks of the three gifts of the Magi, but says nothing of the number of Magi present (Mt. 2:11b). We can preach that the traditional manger scene never occurred, as the shepherds saw the baby Jesus in the manger (Lk. 2:16), but the Magi went to a house to see Jesus (Mt. 2:11a). 

Not only is the traditional manger scene foreign to the Biblical narrative, but the Christmas story, according to Matthew, is filled with scandal, jealousy and murder, making any prime-time movie look white-washed in comparison. Matthew specifically calls out four women with tainted lives in Jesus’ genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth (she spent the night with Boaz), and Bathsheba, which leads to a young Mary pregnant out of wedlock (Mt. 1:3, 5-6, 18-19). Matthew’s story ends in a blood bath, as well as a fore-shadow of the crucifixion; Herod’s jealous rage executes and orders to kill all baby boys in the Judean region (Mt. 2:16). Like the cross, we’ve glossed over and photo-shopped the birth narrative of Jesus to make the story more palatable.  

If we begin talking about the amount of commercialism tied to Christmas, we might all be shamed.

I’ve come to terms with the Christmas story’s relationship to the pop-culture telling of the birth story of Jesus. Personally, I’m just kinda glad that Jesus’ story is being told (i.e. Phil. 1:15-18). That said, one area I’ve struggled with is the classic Christmas song, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (It’s also one of my favorites). I can accept the liberties with the Biblical story and the use of fantasy as imagery in the song.

* The night wind speaks to the lamb about the star in the sky.
* The lamb goes to the shepherd boy about the song he hears, presumably the song of the angelic host.
* The shepherd boy, in combining him with the Wise Men, goes to the Mighty King to tell him about the child shivering in the cold, pleading with the King to bring silver and gold. 

At this moment the song departs entirely from the Biblical narrative. It’s this divergence that I’ve struggled with the most. 

When Herod heard the news that the Christ was born, he used worship as a pretense for murder (Mt. 2:8). The baby was a threat to his throne, and he was going to eliminate any threat (historically, Herod was known for such actions). However, the song says the Mighty King declares to all the people hope and peace, as the baby child will bring goodness and light. 

It’s here that my upbringing starts to scream, “We cannot sing this song, because it’s not true!” The Mighty King tried to stop the baby’s reign before it even started; he never promoted his reign. My soul was in turmoil. I loved the song, but it told a story that never happened. The song is nothing but short of a lie. 

A couple of years ago, I experienced an epiphany when a different understanding of the song emerged. Maybe the song was not about “What Did” happen. We know what happened. Instead, maybe the song tells us about “What If” something else happened. 

“What If” the Mighty King humbled himself?
“What if” the Mighty King used his power and position to lead a restoration?
“What If” the Mighty King rallied the people of Judea around Christ?
“What If” the Mighty King led the throng in worship to the Christ?

We all live somewhere between “what did happen,” and “what could have happened.” A husband and father could have been the spiritual leader of his family, but chose apathy while mocking or criticizing people of faith. A business owner could have ministered to the people but was too preoccupied with making his next dollar. A church could have made a difference in the community, but were too consumed by internal strife or just afraid to act in faith. 

Living between “what did happen” and “what could have happened,” means we have the choice. The choice is not only what kind of story we want to live out, but what kind of story God wants us to live out.                                       

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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The Writing’s On the Wall Or the Lipstick Is On the Door’s Framing Edge

Mom’s stash of Avon sample lipstick was stored in the top drawer to the right of the sink in the only bathroom of my childhood home. Various shades were available, all in the classic white casing. I don’t remember who her dealer was or how she amassed such a collection. I do remember the drawer held a gazillion of these little lipsticks. 

On this day I was about eight years old. We were leaving for vacation to spend the week with our best friends on the Oregon Coast. Plenty of adventures awaited us and I was making the last trip to the bathroom before going to the car where dad was patiently waiting for us.

As I hovered around the sink I saw the opened drawer filled with the Avon lipsticks. They never called to me before, but they did that day. Their cry was loud and clear, motivating me to reach into the draw to remove one. Opening the lid, I stared at the reddish-pink color of ink before me. As if caught up in a trance, I opened the white cabinet door behind me. I took the lipstick and marked a squiggly line down the door’s framing edge. Standing back to admire my work, the reddish-pink color on the white background popped. It was almost like Christmas lights sparkling in the snow. I put the lid back on the lipstick and returned it to the drawer, then headed out to the car where I awaited the next adventure.

I didn’t have to wait long.

I was sitting next to my sister behind the driver’s seat when mom came and got into the car. Her face was fiery red with smoke fuming from her ears; she was about to blow and someone was gonna “get it.” It just wasn’t going to be me.

With the precision of a laser guided missile, she zeroed in on my sister and unloaded her payload for the sin I committed. Deanna did her best at denial by claiming innocence and ignorance.

Mom turned a deaf ear.

I remained silent and stayed clear of the fallout.

The more Deanna denied guilt, the stronger mom accused her of wrongdoing. Mom’s final argument was more than a simple shot across the bow, “Do you think one of your brothers would do this?”

I turned my head, raised my eyebrows and look out the window.

I’ve had some forty-five years to reflect on that incident. I wouldn’t say I feel a lot of guilt from what I did, in part because I was a child. Children do things they either regret or laugh about as adult. Deanna and I have laughed about this many times.

But there may be a couple of insights worth noting about this “writing on the wall.” First, never remain silent when you’re called to speak. We witness someone being bullied and turn away. We see the injured and refuse to help. We watch the poor and turn a blind eye. We know someone is making bad life decisions but choose not to intervene. While history’s voice is filled with the silence of those watching the unjust act, Scripture reminds us otherwise.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy (Prov. 31:8-9).

Secondly, never allow the innocent to be punished for the actions of the guilty. Time and time again stories emerge where the people know who committed the crime or the sin, but remain silent. Maybe they fear those in power or maybe they fear the majority. Maybe apathy has choked their voice. Either way, justice is perverted. Truth is lost. The guilty, going unpunished, thrive without anyone to challenge them.

I should have owned up to my deed. I ought to have said, “Mom, I vandalized the cabinet,” and then accepted the consequences.

While the writing may not always be on the wall, the sound of our silence will be loud and clear to God. I’m pretty sure that we’ll encounter a moment when someone’s voice needs to speak and be heard in the silence. Let’s make sure it’s ours.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

By the way, if you still feel bad for my sister about taking the punishment for my sin and silence, then ask her about the cantaloupe.

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The Apologetix* of “Weird Al” Yankovick

For forty years “Weird Al” Yankovic has cranked out parody after parody of hit songs, and some of them are better than the original song he’s mocking. With his accordion he broke through with a parody of the Knack’s “My Sharona” with his “My Bologna.” As his fame grew and his musical talents developed, his parody’s deepened as well. During the 80’s he caricatured Huey Lewis and News, Madonna, The Kinks and Cindy Lauper. He continued playing his accordion by arranging pop songs into polkas which were often as popular as his parodies. He even delved into writing some of his own songs.

Taking something original to spoof as an exaggeration for the sake of humor is the heart of a parody. They are a distorted reflection of the initial song. Others have chosen this form of artistic style, but none seem to have the longevity and endearing passionate success as “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Parodies are a lot of fun, especially if you’re familiar with the song it’s spoofing. On the other hand a parody of Christianity is a sad expression of faith, and too many Christians spend their days spoofing Christ instead of providing an authentic-original Christ to the world.

Beyond the easy target of charlatans who claim God is telling them to bilk or con millions out of the people, let’s bring this closer to home. Because even in our defense of the Gospel, we may be just a parody of Christ’s expectations for our lives.

If we sing with all gusto, “The Old Rugged Cross,” but refuse to carry our own cross (Lk. 9:23), we may be a parody of Christ ● If we plead with God and others for forgiveness, but refuse to forgive (Mt. 6:15), we may just be spoofing Jesus ● If we look in the mirror and only see what we want to see instead of the blemishes that need fixed (Jas. 1:24) then we may be making a mockery of Christianity ● If we condemn people for failing to follow the “whole council of God” but pick and choose which commands we’ll obey (Mt. 7:1), then we may be misrepresenting God’s Word ● If we pride ourselves on what we do for God, but fail to realize who we are before God (Lk. 18:9-14), then maybe we’re simply satirizing the Christian faith ● If we show no compassion for the poor, but demonstrate plenty of concern for the wealthy (Jas. 2:1-9) then we may be distorting Christ’s presence in the world ●  If we are willing for everyone to wash our feet, but are unwilling to wash anyone else’s feet (Jn. 13:14), then we may be insulting Jesus ● If we’re willing to hold to doctrinal purity at the expense of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), then we may be lampooning the Gospel ● If we can quote the Great Commission (Mt. 28:16-20), but resent it when God brings the Great Commission to our back door, then we may be perverting the very Gospel God expects us to preach.   

All of us run the risk of simply making a parody out of the genuineness of Christ and his teachings. When we “parody,” it’s not funny and it’s not even fun. People want the authentic and real Jesus and it’s our challenge to deliver a real, authentic, genuine melody of Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

*Apologetix is a Christian band who parodies pop songs into Christian songs. Their name is derived from “apologetics” which is a defense of the gospel.

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CHURCH: At Odds with the State

The relationship between the State and the Church is tenuous at best. While North Americans are used to a seemingly compatible partnership between the two, history and much of the other world’s kingdoms say otherwise. When Jesus was born, Herod the Great tried to kill him under the guise of wanting to worship him (Mt. 2:8,13). Herod’s son, Antipas, executed John the Baptist (Mt. 14:3-12) for a number of reasons including challenging the king’s immoral marriage. The Jewish religious government with a conspiring Roman government falsely accused Jesus and had him executed. Thus the Christian movement was born with clear battle lines drawn: the Christ was rejected by the State, so that the Church is at odds with the State.

North America has enjoyed a truce with the State, but that doesn’t mean either side really trust the other. Over the years I’ve heard the fears of Christian believers and their rights being taken away by the State. Usually, I hear those fears expressed along party lines: the Democratic Christians distrusts the Republican President while the Republican Christian distrusts the Democratic President.

So just to be clear, I do not believe Christians in the United States are under attack. Maybe our values are being challenged. Maybe our neighbors have tired of our judgmental and condemning attitudes. Certainly people are concerned about how much the Church extends its power into civil and governmental places, while the Church is concerned about its voice being silenced.

As history has shown and the Biblical narrative has proven, God’s Kingdom cannot be overcome, no matter how hard the forces against God’s Kingdom try (Mt. 16:18). The reason is that God’s Kingdom is spiritual and is in no need of the physical for it to grow.

The State only sees the “here and now,” but the Church believes in the “there and then” (Jn. 14:2-3). The State may strip away your rights, but the Church has already given up its rights (1 Cor. 9). The State may outlaw prayer, but cannot stop the Church from praying (Dan. 6). The State may close church doors, but they cannot stop the Church from assembling (Acts 4). The State may carry-out some unforgivable actions, but it only empowers the Church to forgive (Lk. 23:34). The State may rape your spiritual heart-land, but the Church’s soil to grow the Fruit of the Spirit remains rich (Gal. 5:22-23). The State may use its power to make you suffer, but the Church only rejoices at the thought of being worthy to suffer for Jesus (Act. 5:41). The State may threaten you with death, but the Church will only embrace life (1 Thess. 4:13-18). The State may scorn you with hatred, but the Church only responds with love (Mt. 5:44). The State will make us feel destitute, but the Church knows the world is not worthy of us (Heb. 11:38). The State may try to squash our hope, but the Church knows that hope will not disappoint (Rom. 5:5). The State addresses us with cursing, but our comeback is always with blessing (Rom. 12:14). The State will try to persecute to weaken our faith, but the Church finds that persecution only strengthens faith (1 Pet. 1:6-8). The State may claim to rule the land, but the Church knows who sits on the throne (Rev. 4-5). The State may intimidate by fear tactics, but the Church only responds with faith tactics (Heb. 11:11).

No, I don’t believe Christians are being persecuted in North America, and the Church is not directly at odds with the State right now. I also believe that the Constitution is the bumper to protect the Church from the State. That said, it’s always nice to know we have a fallback plan. And honestly, the fallback plan is actually who we are. We just need to keep acting like the Church God intended.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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Stone of Sisyphus: Excercises in Spiritual Futility

In the 1966 “campy” Batman movie starring Adam West, Batman finds a bomb. His attempt to defuse the bomb was really about trying to get it over the docks and into the body of water before it explodes. Yet at every attempt to defuse the bomb, innocent people were in his way.

He looked out a window only to find a marching band playing, “Bringing in the Sheaves.” He ran down the stairs only to find a restaurant filled with customers eating dinner.  He headed out the door to the corner of the pier only to find some nuns walking by. Turning down the boardwalk he encountered a mother pushing her baby in a stroller. Rotating around, he headed to the dock only to bump into the band again, still playing “Bringing in the Sheaves.” Running back to the pier he spied a perfect spot beyond a ladder attached to the pier, until a man appeared on the ladder. Changing directions he headed to the corner of the pier only to discover a couple enjoying a romantic afternoon in a rowboat. And just as he found the perfect spot to unload the bomb, he sees a family of ducks swimming in the water.

In a moment of exasperation Batman looked directly into the camera to speak to the audience, thus breaking the “fourth wall,” and cried out, “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”

We live in a world where bad things happen and it’s like everyone or everything stands against us. You stub your toe first thing in the morning. Someone pulls out in front of you on the way to work, or worse you’ve totaled your car. You’re overdrawn and still have bills to pay. A friend backstabbed you and all trust is lost. You turned left when you should have turned right and now your GPS is yelling at you as it recalculates. And all the time you’re thinking, “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”

The Biblical story is filled with events where the world (people or systems) turned on the faithful. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and he’s eventually falsely accused of a crime and thrown in prison. David loses his kingdom to his son and is on the run with Absalom in hot pursuit. The kinfolk of Jeremiah turn on him and his preaching by dumping him in a well. Gomer cheats on Hosea. Jesus heals a man and stirs up conflict because the healing was on the Sabbath. Paul is falsely accused in Philippi and his affliction list in 2 Corinthians 11 is a sober reminder of living a life for Christ. The Hebrews writer may have said it best,

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground (Heb. 11:35a-38, emphasis mine).

Because we’ve all have days where we’ve been left holding a bomb, we have a choice. We can let it explode making a bigger mess. Or we can keep looking for a place to dump the bomb. Do we really have another alternative?

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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Bringing In the Sheaves! Or What Do You Do When You Can’t Get Rid of a Bomb?

In the 1966 “campy” Batman movie starring Adam West, Batman finds a bomb. His attempt to defuse the bomb was really about trying to get it over the docks and into the body of water before it explodes. Yet at every attempt to defuse the bomb, innocent people were in his way.

He looked out a window only to find a marching band playing, “Bringing in the Sheaves.” He ran down the stairs only to find a restaurant filled with customers eating dinner.  He headed out the door to the corner of the pier only to find some nuns walking by. Turning down the boardwalk he encountered a mother pushing her baby in a stroller. Rotating around, he headed to the dock only to bump into the band again, still playing “Bringing in the Sheaves.” Running back to the pier he spied a perfect spot beyond a ladder attached to the pier, until a man appeared on the ladder. Changing directions he headed to the corner of the pier only to discover a couple enjoying a romantic afternoon in a rowboat. And just as he found the perfect spot to unload the bomb, he sees a family of ducks swimming in the water.

In a moment of exasperation Batman looked directly into the camera to speak to the audience, thus breaking the “fourth wall,” and cried out, “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”

We live in a world where bad things happen and it’s like everyone or everything stands against us. You stub your toe first thing in the morning. Someone pulls out in front of you on the way to work, or worse you’ve totaled your car. You’re overdrawn and still have bills to pay. A friend backstabbed you and all trust is lost. You turned left when you should have turned right and now your GPS is yelling at you as it recalculates. And all the time you’re thinking, “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”

The Biblical story is filled with events where the world (people or systems) turned on the faithful. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and he’s eventually falsely accused of a crime and thrown in prison. David loses his kingdom to his son and is on the run with Absalom in hot pursuit. The kinfolk of Jeremiah turn on him and his preaching by dumping him in a well. Gomer cheats on Hosea. Jesus heals a man and stirs up conflict because the healing was on the Sabbath. Paul is falsely accused in Philippi and his affliction list in 2 Corinthians 11 is a sober reminder of living a life for Christ. The Hebrews writer may have said it best,

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground (Heb. 11:35a-38, emphasis mine).

Because we’ve all have days where we’ve been left holding a bomb, we have a choice. We can let it explode making a bigger mess. Or we can keep looking for a place to dump the bomb. Do we really have another alternative?

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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Lining Up with Jesus Or Jesus Lining Up with Us?

By the time Jesus arrived in the world, the Jewish nation was hardly a unified people. Their land was divided into three sections: the Samaritans occupied the land between the Galilean Jews and the Judean Jews. Both the Galilean and Judean Jews saw themselves as part of the same people.  The Samaritans were loosely connected to the ancient Northern Kingdom of Israel and were deemed apostates by the Jews.

While the Jews might say they were one people, their fragmented social structure said otherwise. At least five sectarian groups splintered off to themselves. The two main groups were the Sadducees and Pharisees. The Sadducees came from the wealthy, aristocratic Jewish families and were responsible for maintaining the temple duties. Being friendly with Rome, they were to appoint the high priest, but that priest had to be preapproved by the State. The Books of Moses were the only basis for Scripture and they denied the resurrection. The Pharisees were keepers of the traditions. They not only accepted the written prophetic books as Scripture but also treated the oral traditions as authoritative. The Scribes and Teachers of the Law were typically from the Pharisees, and were known as “people of the book.” The Sanhedrin comprised of Pharisees and Sadducees and were the final ruling court for Jerusalem.  

The Essenes viewed Jerusalem and its religion as corrupt (which it was). Many of them occupied property at the base of the Dead Sea and dwelled in its caves. They spent their days copying Scripture and a variety of other scrolls while developing their own piety of poverty, daily washings and asceticism. They had time on their hands as they waited for Jerusalem’s destruction. When Rome did destroy Jerusalem, their moral victory was short-lived. The soldiers turned to the caves around the Dead Sea to destroy any remnant of the Jews.

The Zealots were strongly anti-Rome. It wasn’t uncommon to threaten officials or anyone favorable toward Rome as they hated the Gentile’s occupation of their lands. Jesus recruited a Zealot as one of his disciples, making one wonder what the conversations were like between Simon and Matthew who collected taxes in support of the Gentiles occupying the land?

The Herodians supported the Herod family. Very little is known about this group as extra-biblical accounts are scant on details.

So when Jesus came onto the scene, who did he align with? It’s not always an easy question to answer. For instance, on the divorce question he seems to hold the more conservative or rigid position (see Mk. 10:1-12) that some Pharisees would agree with. However, at the same time he challenged the conservative interpretation of Scripture (Mt. 5:21-47). When Jesus leveled the seven woes against the Pharisees, he agreed that their teaching compatible with Scripture, but their behavior was not (Mt. 23:3).

Jesus was at odds with the religious leaders. Where they were about power and control, Jesus was about self-sacrifice. Where they were about prideful position, Jesus was about humble positions. Where they wanted to be served, Jesus was willing to serve. Where they talked about the good of the people, Jesus acted on behalf of the people’s good. Where they were focused on keeping their rules, Jesus was focused on turning hearts toward God. Where they were about manipulating the people, Jesus was about ministering to the people. Where they were never going to give up anything, Jesus was willing to let go of everything. Where they never trusted, Jesus had faith. They believed that if and when the Messiah arrived, he would naturally line up with them. Jesus arrived and was immediately at odds with the Jewish leaders.

So with all these fragmented splinters of Judaism, who did Jesus line up with? Or maybe a better question might be that if Jesus didn’t line up with his own religious and political structures, why are you so convinced he’ll line up with yours?

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)

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More Than A Meal: Reflections on the Lord’s Supper

I grew up with the Lord’s Supper as a staple in worship. I have no memory of the Church assembling on Sunday mornings without passing the trays. I can remember asking my mother why I could not eat the crackers and drink the juice. She explained that the bread and wine were for Christians to remember Jesus, and I wasn’t a Christian. I also remember asking why we ate the crackers first, and she enlightened me with her rich theological response, “We always take a drink after we eat something.”

I remember one time in Tillamook, Oregon how the person serving the Supper accidently passed out the juice first. Before passing the bread, the guy who prayed ask God for forgiveness for doing the Supper wrong.

When I was a teenager, my dad led the Sunday night Communion service. The members who missed Sunday morning were invited to come forward and sit on the front pew. Dad said one single prayer for both the bread and the cup before serving them. I don’t remember anyone ever questioning the procedure.

When I got my driver’s license, I was asked to take Communion to an elderly lady. While I cannot remember her name, I remember going to visit her. With the portable Communion box, I prepared to give her the bread and cracker. The moment of offering the Supper was the first time I felt uneasy about what I was doing, but I didn’t have an understanding for the Supper to properly ground my belief. I had already taken the Lord’s Supper at the worship hour, so I didn’t have to take it with her, right?

When I went to college, I spent my breaks at my brother’s house in Nashville. At the time he was highly involved in two ministries that occupied much of Sunday. Since he was my ride, I’d go with him to worship, then to a local nursing home for worship, then to the local jail for another worship. We celebrated the Supper at the assembly. When we went to the nursing home, we broke bread with the residences, even helping them break the bread and drink from the cups. When we went to the jail and worshiped with the inmates, we broke bread with them as well. It started to hit me. What if I refuse to break bread with my brothers who were in prison? What if I told them, “No thank you, I already ate”? Would my actions have created distance and possibly even shamed them and left them thinking I was better than they? If we’re invited to eat at someone’s home, do we refuse?

So over time my experience has led me to some conclusions about the Supper. First, if Jesus is hosting the meal (it’s the Lord’s Supper), then I’m sitting with him at his table. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve eaten that day, I’ll eat once more if I can eat with Jesus. Secondly, if anyone wants to join us, I’ll not be the one to stop them. I’m not the host, Jesus is. If they’re taking it in a wrong way, so have I and Jesus never stopped me. I’ve spent most of my adult life with a legalistic and judgmental approach to the Supper and Jesus was patient with me. I can extend that same grace to others. Thirdly, our tradition and practice enforces an individualistic view of the Supper never intended by Jesus nor the Apostles. While the meal is a community event, we’ve convinced ourselves that the meal is between an individual and God (a common misunderstanding of 1 Cor. 11:28).

I’m glad that the Lord’s Supper is a staple in worship. I anticipate our times together with Jesus at the Table because it’s more than a meal.

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)