Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. – 1 Peter 3:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 20, 2018): 1 Peter 3

One of Judaism’s greatest teachers was Hillel, the Elder. Hillel was born in Babylon around 110 B.C.E., and his life is thought to mirror that of Moses. Both Moses and Hillel lived 120 years, and both find their lives easily broken up into thirds consisting of forty years each. For Moses, those thirds are forty years in Pharaoh’s palace, forty years living as a shepherd in the wilderness, and then forty years as Israel’s spiritual adviser and Great Law Giver. For Hillel, he lived forty years in Babylon, forty years studying in Israel, and then forty years as Israel’s greatest spiritual adviser and preeminent teacher on the Law of Moses.

But one story of Hillel, the Elder sets him in direct contrast to another of Israel’s great teachers from that time, a teacher named Shammai. According to legend, a man approached both men asking them to teach him the Law of Moses, or the Torah, while standing on one foot. The question was, in itself, presumptuous. It was essentially asking these teachers, who had spent their lives studying and learning the Torah, to give him all that was contained in their life’s work in a very short period of time. According to legend, Shammai dismissed the man. Hillel, on the other hand, answered his challenge with these words; "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."

There are so many people around me that seem to be wrapped up in what it means to follow God and do his will. Often they are worried that they have not kept enough of his law. Yet, the words of Hillel the Elder still ring true. "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."

Peter, a few decades after the death of Hillel the Elder, and maybe a few years after the death of Shammai, seems to side with Hillel on this issue. This is what you need to know. As you live your life, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble, understand what it is like to walk in their shoes. You can almost hear the words of Hillel ringing through in Peter’s teaching. "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah.” Peter’s inclusion of this thought in his letter indicates that it is not just the whole of the Torah, it is the whole of Christian thought as well.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4 & 5

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:25

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 19, 2018): 1 Peter 2

Pastor Brian Zahnd insists that “The majority is almost always wrong. The crowd is untruth. Scapegoating is demonic.” If he is right, then what does that indicate for the populist movements that seem to be springing up all over the world. Can the will of the people really be trusted? I am not sure that I know the answer to the question. I am not undemocratic, I believe in free and fair elections. President Trump’s “jokes” about consolidating power and becoming “President for Life” fill me with more fear than you can imagine, and yet I have to admit that I often don’t know what is best for my country. And I am not sure that any one person really does. Leadership of a nation cannot be given to any populist movement because we will invariably get it wrong. While I think that Trump’s “drain the swamp” has appeal, even I know that a swamp serves a purpose in our ecological system. I do not need a politician who will do what I think is right; I need a politician who I can trust to do right things.

It was interesting as President Trump ramped up his rhetoric threatening a new trade war a couple of weeks ago, we started to relive Trade Wars of the past. And one of the quotes remembered by the news media (or fake news depending on which side of the argument you might be on) was from President Richard Nixon. (Now there is a president we need to emulate, who doesn’t need a little Tricky Dicky on their side – sarcasm in case you missed it.) According to Nixon, he engaged in Trade Wars to get the votes of the uninformed. And that forms the problem of the populist movement; it is based on the votes of the uninformed. But the other side of the problem is equally as daunting. We have no idea who it is that we can trust to do the right thing.

Peter closes off this section of his letter by expounding on Isaiah 53, a section of Isaiah’s prophecy that we know as the “Suffering Servant” passage. Partially based on Peter’s letter, Christians have long considered the “Suffering Servant” passage of Isaiah to be a prophecy about Jesus. And Isaiah writes this about the people –

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

All of us have taken a path not meant for us. We have done what seems right to us. And yet it is wrong. Isaiah’s words aptly sum up the contemporary populist movements. It seemed right, but it isn’t. But Isaiah stresses that the penalty of our wrong behavior is not laid on us who have gone astray, but rather on the mysterious “Suffering Servant.”

Peter’s message is that we know the identity of the “Suffering Servant;” it is Jesus. And even though we struggle with who it is that we can trust in our governments, ultimately we know that we can trust the one on whom God has placed “the iniquity of us all” with our lives. The Suffering Servant is also our Shepherd and the Overseer of our souls. He is the one who can be trusted with all that we don’t understand about this life. And even if we have wandered away, there is still a path that takes us back home again.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:15-16

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 18, 2018): 1 Peter 1

British novelist Martin Amis in “The Second Plane: 14 Responses to September 11” makes this observation: “It is straightforward—and never mind, for now, about plagues and famines: if God existed, and if he cared for humankind, he would never have given us religion.” In response, I have to admit that I am not sure that God gave us religion. In fact, there are moments in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, when I am not convinced that God’s response to his creation isn’t “Okay, if you want to deal with me in this way, then I will let you. But I command you to live up to your promises.” After all, the idea of sacrifice, a religious institution in the ancient world in many religions, predates the Mosaic Law. Even the story of Cain and Abel carries a story of sacrifice and religion, and the story takes place long before any pronouncement of God. Religion seems to be our idea, an idea to which that God has relented and accepted on our behalf. But we have failed to live up to our own rules.

I struggle with the problem of evil, and I totally understand Amis’s comment. If religion is God’s idea, then it seems to have been a bad one. While I reject that religion is the basis for many of the wars around the world (I think the basic reason for war is greed and that we simply place the blame on religion, but the blame does not belong there), religion can be a contributing factor.

But there is also a problem with judging God using our limited frame of reference. God is other. In spite of the Genesis story that humans are made in his likeness, we do not in any way resemble God. “In our likeness” seems to be a reference to our moral character, or maybe our higher level functions, but the essential core of God is other which means not like me. This sense of otherness is what the Bible means when it declares God to be Holy. Holy does not equate to perfection; it equates to the otherness of God.

So God is Holy. This means that he is set apart and that there are two ways to relate to this God who is holy or other. One way is through religion, an idea that Amis, for good reason, rejects. Religion says that I have to identify with God through the ideas of sacrifice and obedience. Religion is highly ritualistic. This kind of religion is reflected in rules and regulations and results in our seeing a God who appears to be wrapped up in some cosmic fight with evil.

But at his heart, this is not a description of the God of creation. Okay, it is possible that God will conform to this realm if that is where we want to meet him, but it is not him. Rather, God is the being who created this world and then set us in it, giving us the ability to choose good and evil. He refuses to childproof our world so that we cannot get into trouble. He made us the caretakers of our environment, and each other. The answer to Cain’s question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is still yes. And this God has issued to us an invitation – Be holy as I am holy. Be other as I am other. Participate with me in the act of loving this world. Be peacemakers wherever there is strife. Stand up against evil wherever it abounds. Give your help freely to those who cannot help themselves. Love when loving isn’t easy. God invites us into the process. So much, although not everything, could be solved by simply taking responsibility in this world and deciding to work with God.  

Amis takes aim at a God who would allow the 9/11 tragedy to take place. But the reality is that even in that tragedy, we failed God and each other. We forgot our responsibility in the mess. We are the reason for the horrors of September 11, 2001. We could have chosen love and failed. And we are still failing.

But God keeps issuing the invitation. Be holy as I am holy. Be set apart from the world. Respond with love everywhere, not just where it seems appropriate. Mend fences. Love those who live on the other side of the issue, race, or religion. Be holy. Will you mess up? Of course, that is part of the human condition. But you will also learn, and as a result, will love the world better. I believe that we have the power to stop the tragedies of this world. And the solution starts by declaring our love for each other in support of a Holy God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. – 1 Timothy 6:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 17, 2018): 1 Timothy 6

Albert Einstein famously said that “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” I think that most of us would agree. There is nothing more annoying to our sensibilities than people who believe that they are above talking to anyone who is perceived to be below their station in life. To us, it reveals a character flaw that deflates our opinion of them. People who behave this way are often called “stuck up” or “snobby,” neither of which we aspire to be.

But there is another reality; while we may try to treat each other with the respect due to any human being, we also tend to mirror the respect that is given to us. Sometimes, the disrespect we perceive that is being aimed at us is only a reflection of the disrespect that we have given to other people. And what makes this an even bigger problem is that we are often blissfully unaware that we are projecting disrespect. The scenario plays itself out in social situations all over our society. People get mad because they feel disrespected when the disrespect that they have received is actually just a mirror of the disrespect, albeit unintentional, that they have been showing to others. Complicating this issue is the reality that we seem primed to react aggressively, often seeing aggression when none is being offered. And the result is that we do not treat each other equally, and we respect very few people in our circles of influence.

So Paul makes this argument. I believe that he is in perfect agreement with the words of Albert Einstein. Speak to everyone the same way, or maybe even better, consider everyone your equal or maybe even your superior. Give to them the respect that you want to receive. But understand the world in which we live. Some people are going to be snobs, and some are going to react aggressively because they have become damaged and expect aggression from you. When this happens, refuse to be a mirror. Set the higher example and continue to give respect to those around you, even when no respect is returned to you. Do this as your sacrifice and offering to God, so that your witness is not tainted or destroyed.

The truth is this; people are watching to see if this Jesus is really making a difference in our lives. And the difference that Christ makes is not usually visible when we are being respected. It is visible when people disrespect us, and we continue to return respect to them. Giving respect even when we are disrespected is not a sign of weakness, it is the recognition that they too are valued children of God, and as his children, each one of us is special and worthy of respect.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1

Welcome to the celebration of all things Irish. Happy St, Patrick’s Day.

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. – 1 Timothy 5:23

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 16, 2018): 1 Timothy 5

Íte of Killeedy was an Irish Nun who lived during the 6^th Century. She was an extremely individualistic woman who taught many, and who lived a very simple life. Íte of Killeedy likely died of cancer somewhere around her ninetieth birthday. But beyond her teachings and famous pupils (like Brendan of Clonfert or Brendan the Navigator who some hold, although admittedly with very little proof, might have been the first European to make it all of the way to the Americas almost a thousand years before Christopher Columbus), it is Íte’s ascetic lifestyle that sets her apart.

Specifically, modern biographers like to tell the story of her beetle. According to the story, Íte of Killeedy had a pet beetle that fed off of her flesh. Some argue that the beetle eventually became the size of a small pig. While that is extremely unlikely, other stories say that she lost her beetle when it wandered away from her only to be killed by one of the other nuns who were living with her. The act provoked Íte to anger, declaring that “For that deed, no nun shall ever rule over me.”

Whether or not the story is true, it matches many stories from an early church that seemed to connect sanctity and suffering. Holiness was only available to the believer through a life of suffering. The idea seems to stem from Jesus’s Passion, not just that he died on a cross, but also that he was severely beaten and led a life that seemed to invite pain.

Asceticism is something that we do not understand now, nor do we find a compelling example of it in Scripture. Jesus bled and died for our sins, but there is no indication that his life was one of suffering. We know that Jesus wept, but I suspect strongly that he also laughed.

And Paul seemed to preach against this connection of suffering and holiness. Not only did he ask for his own personal thorn in the flesh to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7, maybe his own personal beetle), but he also argues with Timothy over adding wine to his diet. It appears that Timothy in his pursuit of a holy life had been drinking only water. The problem in the ancient world was that water was often impure, and it carried with it a number of diseases and sicknesses. Most of those sicknesses were removed from the wine in the fermentation process. Timothy was setting a good example for his followers, but he was doing it at the expense of his health. Paul’s instructions are clear. It is not God’s will for you to be sick or in pain. You will be able to do more for God if you take care of your body. In Timothy’s case, that meant adding a little wine to his diet.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6

If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? – 1 Timothy 3:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 15, 2018): 1 Timothy 3 & 4

A friend of mine tells a story of his Dad being forced out of his position. His Dad was a Pastor, and for some reason totally unknown to him, Dad had to leave the job he loved. Now, pastors leaving pastoral positions, either to go to a new position or to take a break from the calling is nothing new. Few positions are higher in stress than being a pastor of a church. Often, it seems as if you live in a fishbowl, with many eyes watching your every move. But, to the child, this move seemed abnormal.

Dad never talked about the move. He never told his children the reasons why the move was required. They simply packed up their belongings and moved on. Years later, my friend discovered the reason that Dad had been forced out of his job – him. At the time, and that period lasted through adolescence and well into his adult years, my friend was what might be described as a rebellious child. He was a troublemaker. And in spite of all the good that Dad had done in the church, those who were not happy with his performance had used this verse as a reason for his dismissal. Dad was failing at raising his son, so how could he run the church. My friend’s discovery, which didn’t happen until well after his father had died, filled him with guilt. He was the reason for the move that his Dad had never explained.

It sounds far-fetched, but I have sat on a board that proposed to use this verse in their pastoral search. And the board’s interpretation of the verse was that if the kids are not Christians, then how could this person lead a church. The problem with this interpretation is two-fold. First, we are a rebellious people, and some of us take longer to come to terms with our rebellious natures than others, and I am convinced that this has nothing to do with parental upbringing. And second, in the contemporary church, the Pastor is often over-worked, underpaid, and stressed beyond belief. One pastoral acquaintance admitted that during one stretch in his ministry, he routinely came home early and went to bed, a natural reaction to stress and depression, both the fault of the church. Often, the demands on the Pastor is so overwhelming that he has little left for the family. And that is not his fault; it is ours. As a result, the Pastor does not have the time or the energy to fulfill this simple command, to manage his family well; managing the church takes everything that he has to give.

But I believe that it also misses the point of this verse. There is a marked difference between the life of a Christian and one that has not accepted Christ. The demands of Christ are the pastor’s priority. And the Christian life is always first lived out at home. If a pastor cannot manage his family using Christian principals, then he will similarly lead his church. I believe that this is why pastors who lead their homes in an abusive way, even though their children might seem well-behaved to escape the abuse, will lead their churches in an abusive way. And, what might be even worse is that they will teach other men to be abusive. Pastors who have a low respect for women will carry that into their ministry. First, the flaw will be revealed at home, and then at the church.

But a home may also be managed according to Christian principles and still yield a rebellious child. And the true intent of Paul’s command here is directed at leaders of ministry. The only way our congregations will know how we lead at home is by how we react as a church leader. So, as a leader, we need to examine our home life and make sure that there is nothing there that would disqualify us from leadership because there is no doubt that the thing that disqualifies us will eventually be revealed in our public ministry.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 5

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. - 1 Timothy 2:11-12

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 14, 2018): 1 Timothy 1 & 2

On January 25, 1988, the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode “Angel One” was aired for the first time. The episode intended to comment on Apartheid in South Africa using gender instead of race. But the result was an episode that was widely seen as the most sexist of the Television series. The episode postulated a world where women were both bigger and stronger, and who ruled over “the weaker sex” – in this case, men. Men were the ones who wore the sexy and revealing clothes. And men were dominated by women. In a world dominated by men, the episode spoke directly to gender roles in our culture, and the concept of the episode being a comment on Apartheid was almost completely lost.  

We still struggle with gender roles. Part of the problem is that, generally, men are bigger and stronger. Gender equality is hard for us because we are different, and this difference is something that we teach at a very young age. I got beat up as a child on the school ground by a girl who lived down the street. She was furious with me, I can’t remember why, and just started pummeling me with her well-aimed fists, and all that went through my mind was “you don’t hit a girl.” Gender differentiation is learned early. “You throw like a girl” is because of a difference in bone structure. Often, priorities, for varied reasons, are also different. But the one thing that “Angel One” got right is that culture also has a huge influence on how we perceive gender expectations.

There are two possible reactions to Paul’s comments on women and gender. One, and many churches follow this interpretation, is to say that the inequality between men and women is God ordained. I know of churches who refuse to allow women to hold positions of leadership based on these comments of Paul. No women are allowed to preach unless it is at a women’s conference, or possibly to children. Men must always do the instructing, and never be the ones being instructed. This is the way that God intended the church to run because Paul said so.

I grew up in a denomination that owed its existence to some very capable women preachers during its earlier days, although admittedly it had become much more of a male-dominated profession as time had passed, yet there was also a healthy respect for women leaders. This denomination had made a conscious decision that there was an equality between men and women. Unfortunately, the by-product of that kind of thinking is that it appears to lead us to the conclusion that somebody is wrong, in this case, either Paul or the denominational leaders. But there is actually another interpretation that I think needs to be given serious consideration. Paul was speaking from a cultural perspective as he makes these remarks. If Paul were on the fictitious planet “Angel One,” he would have spoken the reverse, that men should be quiet and that no man should be given authority over a woman. After all, if the faith were to be given any importance by the society, then some cultural mores would need to be followed. There is no doubt that Paul’s words match perfectly the time in which he taught, even as much as they are out of step in contemporary society. If this line of thought is followed, then it is our task to identify the cultural elements – different from the spiritual, God-ordained ones – that cause the Christian Church to be ridiculed in contemporary society, starting with the concept of complete equality between the sexes.

And what bolsters this concept is that Paul had women who were key in his ministry, women that included Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and a certain evangelist by the name of Prisca or Priscilla. In many of his letters there are key women that he thanks for their hospitality and leadership, women that I believe, if his culture were similar to ours, Paul would have welcomed into speaking and teaching positions without a second thought.

But his times were not like ours, and if we are going to judge Paul for his words, it is according the dictates of his own time that he needs to be judged, just as we will be judged by the dictates of ours.     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 3 & 4