What is Right

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,1 and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. (1 Peter 3:13-15a NRSV)

When you read the question at the beginning of the passage, it seems such an easy answer. It’s almost like saying, “Of course no one is going to hurt you if you are doing good.” But we know that isn't actually true. We know that plenty of people are harmed for doing good, for doing what is right.

And then there’s the question of determining what is “right.” I’m reading a book right now called Waiting for Gospel by Douglas John Hall. He identifies an issue in Christianity today concerning how we, as Christians, determine what is right. Many of you correctly jump to the answer that the Bible tells us what is right, and I agree with you. The problem is that good, faithful Christians do not always understand the written Word of God in the same way. That’s part of why the Department of Defense has over 200 organizations that endorse chaplains. That’s part of why there are countless denominations in the Christian community today. While it’s easy to claim there is an absolute “right,” it is much harder to agree on what that absolute right is.

So let’s say for the sake of argument that you know what is right - in a way that is faithful to your understanding of what God is saying to you. Have you ever suffered for trying to live that out? There are many levels of suffering, from simple criticism all the way to being martyred for your faith. In South Sudan, a place some of us know well, a women lives under condemnation of death because she won’t renounce her faith. That takes a tremendous amount of strength and trust.

And somehow through those times of suffering and harm there is a blessing. It’s not always easy to see that blessing. It’s sometimes much easier to see the pain that is caused by doing what is good and right. Sometimes that blessing is only knowing in your heart that you have done what God has asked of you.

Doing what is right can be a daily challenge. Our culture can be very complacent about the way we are “supposed” to live our lives. The author of 1 Peter is very clear. “Do not fear...do not be frightened.” God knows what we are doing and God is present with us in all that we experience. That is a blessing in the midst of suffering. That is a blessing that comes from the cross. 

Chosen For...

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

-1 Peter 2:9-10

There's a lot of pressure in being chosen to be God's royal priesthood. Or maybe it just feels like a lot of pressure. I think the emphasis should be on being chosen for the job and therefore given the amazing opportunity to live into it. That's the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front).

Now I'll say a little more about what it might mean to be God's holy nation and royal priesthood. The author of 1 Peter is making a clear statement about who we are and to whom we belong. Personally I really like this

language. I like thinking of myself as chosen by God because it means I am, first and foremost, defined by what God sees in me and what God wants for my life. I can make my own choices. I can try to, at times, deny what God wants from me, but from beginning to end I have been chosen to be one of God's people. That God-given identity is no longer up for debate. 

We don't all agree about how that begins. Some see baptism as an act of the believer that comes with a conscious choice. Some come from traditions where baptism comes to an infant (with the promise of the parents providing the "choice"). No matter how you were baptized, you have been joined to a whole nation of people whom God has chosen to be a community together.

In this particular passage, the characteristics of being "God's own people" are pretty specific: proclaim the acts of God (not the acts of humanity) and be receivers of mercy. What do those mean for you in your particular setting? Proclaiming the acts of God can be a little challenging. Many people today have been taught to keep their faith to themselves. We have to be very careful about how we talk about our faith in a world that is very sensitive to different perspectives. There's really nothing wrong with having different perspectives, we just have to be careful about how we "talk."

It's not about "preaching" about God, but it is about living in a way that shows what God has done in our lives and what God wants for the whole world. We experience mercy and so we share mercy with those we encounter. This identity with God is something we can hold onto as foundational to who we are and all that we do. This is the opportunity we have as God's royal priesthood.

Community

I decided it's time to return to my blog. It's probably way beyond time, but it recently occurred to me that I am writing a blog's worth of thought each week for the Protestant Chapel Newsletter, so it doesn't make sense not to post it here. Most weeks it has been a brief commentary on one of the Lectionary readings for the coming week - often influenced by thoughts while doing "Running Faith" on Thursday evenings (an opportunity for folks to run together while contemplating scripture).

NOTE: There will be context specific references in these posts. For now I'm not going to edit them out. Maybe that will change.

So, here it is: a commentary on Acts 2:44-47

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need...Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. (NRSV)

Community

Or is it communism? Wow, that’s a challenging thought! If you read this brief account of the early church you might feel a little uneasy with how it describes what the disciples did. They sold private property to hold it all together in common so that everybody would have what they would need. Sounds a bit sketchy to us who live in today’s culture of freedom, capitalism, and individuality.

It might be appropriate to challenge how we champion “individuality” today, especially when it is without regard to cost. But we also have to be careful about applying this account of the early church to our lives today without careful thought. This describes a community that was forming out of the chaos of God’s new revelation in Jesus Christ - a community that was separating itself from a communal history and trying to form a new understanding of who they were. This new community formed a new identity and a new purpose for their life - proclaiming the risen Christ and the coming of God’s Kingdom. This is not a commentary on today’s socioeconomic-political realities, but a description of God’s Kingdom.

We still can learn from them, however. Their issues with the world aren’t all that different than our current realities. We share their identity as Children of God.

We can learn from how they handled their “stuff.” All of what they had became completely secondary to their new identity as Children of God. They found community in broken bread and praise. Their community gathered for the purpose of mutual support and the worship of a loving God. We don’t do so well with that today. Our “stuff” has become more important than the community we share - whether it’s back home, or here at CLDJ (even though we have limited ability to accumulate stuff here).

I challenge you to consider what is drawing you away from the community that is here. What is it that has become more important to you than spending time with your brothers and sisters serving in this place with you? What is it that you can do to find a “glad and sincere” heart so that you can praise God? 

Ashes and crosses

Last night we had Ash Wednesday worship with the imposition of ashes. This morning I read a devotional that connected the covenant with Noah (the rainbow) with the cross - the way that God's promise has been revealed to us. What a great connection, to know that I am dust, and to dust I will return, but I don't go alone. God promises to go there with me (and has).

Where has God gone with you? What has God said to you in times of struggle? Pray to hear and try to be patient. God isn't always speaking loudly and clearly.

Visiting with God

How much time does it take to pray?

I think many people think it is too hard to pray because they simply don't have time to do it. But it really doesn't take a huge chunk of time to stay in conversation with God. Yes, it's important to take time out of your day to read the Bible and pray. But even when you don't carve out that much time from your schedule, you can still find time for prayer.

One way I have found time to pray is while I run. When I run around Middletown (which hasn't been for a while since I really don't like running in cold weather), I always have to run home uphill by Memorial Park (which is better than runnin up and down the big Jefferson St hill). As I get tired from the run, I take that time to thank God for all the strength I have and to ask God to continue to be with me. Sometimes I repeat the very old prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." It helps me keep going and gives a rhythm to my run.

Where have you found times to pray in unusual ways?

Unbinding Begins

If you were in class today, you know that we're going to try to use this blog as a way to communicate as we journey through Unbinding together. Please feel free to comment as you are able.

A thought about today:
Some of you were in worship at 11 when we had a baptism. It was truly amazing to be a part of God claiming Olivia Belle as a child. As I held her in my arms I was able to watch her cry when she woke up to getting cool water on her head and stop crying and close her eyes again as I prayed for her to be blessed by the Holy Spirit. I saw her watch her mom intently while we sang "Jesus Loves Me" to her. The presence of God's love was a definable feeling for me today in worship. I felt blessed to be a part of the work of the Spirit at that sacred moment. Truly one of the best things I get to do as a pastor!

Do you remember your baptism?

• If you don't remember, ask your parents about that day.

What does being baptized mean to you today?

What can you do to remember your baptism and what it means for you?

Why now?

I'm really close to the one year anniversary from the last time I posted on this blog. What does that say about me?

Well, it could say that I have the attention span of many others of my generation. I can't seem to find the focus and discipline to post consistently. Oh look, a squirrel...

Or it could say I am too busy to pay enough attention to this. But that's not really true.

What I think it says is that I am struggling to know what is important and what is not important. I find myself not writing enough - period. I faithfully prepare sermons that our outline driven. I write the periodic newsletter article. I write emails to communicate big and little things. I want to be passionate about writing, but I find too many passions vie for too little time.

It's an interesting life I lead - trying to be a dad, husband, pastor, Navy chaplain, soccer referee, and the list goes on and on. So much to do and so little time.

Do I need one more commitment? I'm not sure, but maybe I have to try...