Like many people who are quiet and perhaps even shy, I find music to be a wonderful and needed form of expression. I sing and play the guitar OK and have no aspirations to do other than share who/what I feel with others through the medium. The other side of this reality is the receiving of others' gifts through their music. I write a few original songs, doctor and add to some but mainly enjoy singing and hearing songs whose words and tunes express what I know and feel. On most Wednesday evenings I join many others at FAT ALBERT'S, the oldest ongoing folk club (I believe) in Canada. Like most of the folks who attend, I sign up and sing my two numbers each time I go and once a year, again like most of the others, I get to do an extended set of about a half an hour. Christmas is only two weeks away now and so I've been thinking about what I would do tonight.
My first number will be a spiritual from the slaves of the old American South, a song that has long been a favorite and that I try to sing every year, one place or another. It goes like this:
Mary had a baby. Oh Lord. Mary had a baby. Oh yes, Lord. Mary had a baby. Oh Lord,
An de people keep a comin and de train don gone.
2) What did she call him?-------
3) She called him baby Jesus-----
4) Where was he born?-----
5) He was born in a manger.-------
6) Why did he come here?-----
7) He came to show the way.-----
The refrain," An de people keep a comin' and de train done gone" would have been a code message referring to the underground railroad with brought slaves up to Ontario to freedom. How ironic and aprapo that the words are just as meaningful today but in a new context. We are enslaved today to our blindness and materialism and we just keep a comin', needing to be set free. But it certainly does seem that the train is gone and we're left behind. Is there anyone/group to lead us to new life?
The first song was chosen but what should follow? What came to mind was not a song of the season as such but one that gives guidance as to what the last verse in the previous song was about. It is about "The Way" that to which Jesus and the "birth narratives" point and a song that I can well imagine being a favourite of Jesus had he lived in this setting. It is a song therefore of idealism and love, from the 1960's of course, song by The Holleys. The words "in God I'm" in the third line are my own insertion.
I invite you to hear the words as those of the angels or to be a star toward which you are called to follow. Think about it and even pray. Enough said.
The road is long with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows where, who knows when?
In God I'm strong, strong enough to carry him. He ain't heavy; he's my brother.
So on we go. His welfare is my concern. No burden is he to bare; we'll get there.
For I know he will not encumber me. He ain't heavy; he's my brother.
If I'm laden at all, I'm laden with sadness that everyone's heart isn't filled with the gladness of love for one another.
So on we'll go where ever the road will turn. While we're on our way to there, why not share?
And the load doesn't weigh me down at all. He's ain't heavy; he's my brother.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Church's Lack of Leadership at Christmas
Our public in general, largely ignore the churches. We have many reasons to do so, one being their general lack of leadership in anything that is relevant. We are usually ahead of the churches when it comes to ethics and spiritual understanding. As an example I bring up the fact that most people here, religious or not, know that Christmas is much too materialistic; we spend far too much money and not enough time at Christmas. The huge gap between the reality and the hope of the season causes it to be the most stressful event of the year. The rate of suicide and mental illness peaks at this time. And we all know this. Every year there are numerous polls that confirm this knowledge and people individually vow to break the trend to evaluate the Christmas season by the effort/time/expense of gifts. Some people and families agree to donate to the needy or to designated causes instead of the usual swap of stuff. But most people slide back into the commerce induced habit of spending. This is one good example of how difficult it is to change anything important when you are basically alone.
I'm certain that every year, in every pulpit there are many cries of despair at the materialism of Christmas, of how far off the mark our society has "strayed" from the mark we Christians claim as our own. But what are the churches doing about it except weeping privately and wringing their collective hands? There are obviously many "unchurched" who agree with them and would like to be affective in changing what, they know, from various points of view, is a wrong and damaging trend. How difficult would it be for churches to organize a multi denominational and cross cultural campaign to de-commercialize Christmas? With a little publicity, (it would certainly be newsworthy), and word-of-mouth circulation, a movement like this would be a very real help to our culture and a sign that maybe there's something to value in organized Christianity after all. All you would need to do is provide meeting places in each neighborhood, a few designated people (each from a different church), and a few examples of faithful giving/causes to support. Treat it like an AA meeting, perhaps, encouraging people to share how crazy the Christmas season had become for them and to explore alternatives together.
No "evangelism" please, churches. You see, we have no reason to believe your words. We need to see some action, some proof that YOU believe your words. Churches, we need you to become real to us, to be TRUTH to us not mere story, not something that once was. So don't keep Jesus and God's WORD in the manger or on some hillside. Figure out some ways that you can BECOME the story to and for us! Churches, you are there. Let us hear from you in our time of need. In your time of crisis. Listen to us, the people around you. We are believers in the HOLY and in God's LOVE but we don't see it in what you are doing. In this season of Christmas when we know how crazy things have become PLEASE come to us with something more than manger scenes, teas, bazaars and choir concerts! Wake up to your blindness and deafness in order to see, hear and DO.
Step 10: A Song for All Seasons
I'm certain that every year, in every pulpit there are many cries of despair at the materialism of Christmas, of how far off the mark our society has "strayed" from the mark we Christians claim as our own. But what are the churches doing about it except weeping privately and wringing their collective hands? There are obviously many "unchurched" who agree with them and would like to be affective in changing what, they know, from various points of view, is a wrong and damaging trend. How difficult would it be for churches to organize a multi denominational and cross cultural campaign to de-commercialize Christmas? With a little publicity, (it would certainly be newsworthy), and word-of-mouth circulation, a movement like this would be a very real help to our culture and a sign that maybe there's something to value in organized Christianity after all. All you would need to do is provide meeting places in each neighborhood, a few designated people (each from a different church), and a few examples of faithful giving/causes to support. Treat it like an AA meeting, perhaps, encouraging people to share how crazy the Christmas season had become for them and to explore alternatives together.
No "evangelism" please, churches. You see, we have no reason to believe your words. We need to see some action, some proof that YOU believe your words. Churches, we need you to become real to us, to be TRUTH to us not mere story, not something that once was. So don't keep Jesus and God's WORD in the manger or on some hillside. Figure out some ways that you can BECOME the story to and for us! Churches, you are there. Let us hear from you in our time of need. In your time of crisis. Listen to us, the people around you. We are believers in the HOLY and in God's LOVE but we don't see it in what you are doing. In this season of Christmas when we know how crazy things have become PLEASE come to us with something more than manger scenes, teas, bazaars and choir concerts! Wake up to your blindness and deafness in order to see, hear and DO.
Step 10: A Song for All Seasons
Step 8: Faithfulness is a Journey
One other truth told us in the birth naratives of both gospels is that faithfulness is a journey; don't expect to stay as you are if you want to grow in love/spirit. Just because we are loved/forgiven/accepted by God just the way we are does not mean that God doesn't will much more for us, doesn't offer us ways of growth and paths to discovery. In the same way that a parent loves and accepts a mischievous four-year-old but hopes they will grow up some day and does their best to present to them paths of maturity and love in the hopes that the child will chose them for their own.
The three astrologers (wise men) embark on a journey toward a new king, a smart move politically and economically. They made their calculations, their choice and then went for it. The wealthy and powerful in Herod's court knew everything that the wise men did but chose to stay at home. They missed out. Joseph and Mary figured out the facts and journeyed to Egypt, to refuge. When the time was right they chose to journey back. In the Lukan narratives Mary travels to visit Elizabeth. (This would have been very unusual thing for a lone woman to do.) Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The shepherds leave the flocks and travel to (or into) Bethlehem.
We shouldn't be side tracked by any arguments over the details. A few miles or a long and dangerous journey. These are truths to teach us not historical acts. These are present perogatives. For us. For all. For then. For now. For all time. If we desire to become more. If we really want to claim out heritage as God's Children. If we could grow, even to the stature of Christ. If we would follow in the WAY of Jesus of Nazareth we must chose the journey. What are the "stars" that point the way? Identify them and then really do search for them knowing that what may be the obvious may not be the true. Be calculating about it. God gave you a brain. Aren't you really stupid if you don't go for all that live has to offer?
Is there someone who you think might be able to help/guide/challenge/support you? (Elizabeth) What's keeping you from going/seeking and learning from them?
What is threatening us, endangering our growth, our Herods? How can we escape from it? Where is a haven to where we can go that will facilitate our growth, and "Egypt" for us?
Do we listen for God's WORD in the world around us? If we do hear it do we ignore it? Where will we most likely hear it? Do we assume that, common as we are God's WORD is not for us? (Remember the shepherds).
What are the things that hold us back from our journeys? Remember that the shepherds had to leave their flocks. (This didn't mean total abandonment for they no doubt would have had cousins that would have looked after them for a while. All the same, it would have been a risk.
Enter your journey with both eyes open knowing that you not only don't know what you will be involved with on the journey, or how the journey will turn out, but that you can assume that the journey you foresee is only the start in itself; the journey you are trying to identify is only itself the first step in a greater journey. There will be results./affects to the trip that will enable and call you to more. Jesus certainly had more to do when he returned from Egypt. What Mary learned from Elizabeth helped to prepare her and guide her all her life. In the story of the astrologers we aren't told of any results in their lives but their journey changed many others, setting in motion other journeys. The shepherds returned as different people, enabled and changed in their proclamation of God's love.
The message, the truth, the WORD is there for us: God's CALL is all around us, there for us to see and hear. Those that should be most aware of it often (usually) miss it or try to mold it to suite their own agendas. We have full power to answer it or ignore it. We are given our minds and experience to help us in our choice. To follow is dangerous and unusual. Power and Wealth is against us. We will be changed and risk much in the journey. It is open ended and the only promise is that God will be with us.
This is not kids' stuff. We can easily understand how the manger scene and Santa are more popular than what the gospel writers had to tell us. The truths of the birth narratives are so much more difficult than belief even of the birth from a virgin. It's better public relations wise to cover up a difficult truth with a belief in the impossible.
But through it all God still come to us. Vulnerable, loving, accepting, humble and open, just like a little babe born of poor and outcast parents of an oppressed people in a conquered land.
Step 9: The Church's Lack of Leadership at Christmas
The three astrologers (wise men) embark on a journey toward a new king, a smart move politically and economically. They made their calculations, their choice and then went for it. The wealthy and powerful in Herod's court knew everything that the wise men did but chose to stay at home. They missed out. Joseph and Mary figured out the facts and journeyed to Egypt, to refuge. When the time was right they chose to journey back. In the Lukan narratives Mary travels to visit Elizabeth. (This would have been very unusual thing for a lone woman to do.) Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The shepherds leave the flocks and travel to (or into) Bethlehem.
We shouldn't be side tracked by any arguments over the details. A few miles or a long and dangerous journey. These are truths to teach us not historical acts. These are present perogatives. For us. For all. For then. For now. For all time. If we desire to become more. If we really want to claim out heritage as God's Children. If we could grow, even to the stature of Christ. If we would follow in the WAY of Jesus of Nazareth we must chose the journey. What are the "stars" that point the way? Identify them and then really do search for them knowing that what may be the obvious may not be the true. Be calculating about it. God gave you a brain. Aren't you really stupid if you don't go for all that live has to offer?
Is there someone who you think might be able to help/guide/challenge/support you? (Elizabeth) What's keeping you from going/seeking and learning from them?
What is threatening us, endangering our growth, our Herods? How can we escape from it? Where is a haven to where we can go that will facilitate our growth, and "Egypt" for us?
Do we listen for God's WORD in the world around us? If we do hear it do we ignore it? Where will we most likely hear it? Do we assume that, common as we are God's WORD is not for us? (Remember the shepherds).
What are the things that hold us back from our journeys? Remember that the shepherds had to leave their flocks. (This didn't mean total abandonment for they no doubt would have had cousins that would have looked after them for a while. All the same, it would have been a risk.
Enter your journey with both eyes open knowing that you not only don't know what you will be involved with on the journey, or how the journey will turn out, but that you can assume that the journey you foresee is only the start in itself; the journey you are trying to identify is only itself the first step in a greater journey. There will be results./affects to the trip that will enable and call you to more. Jesus certainly had more to do when he returned from Egypt. What Mary learned from Elizabeth helped to prepare her and guide her all her life. In the story of the astrologers we aren't told of any results in their lives but their journey changed many others, setting in motion other journeys. The shepherds returned as different people, enabled and changed in their proclamation of God's love.
The message, the truth, the WORD is there for us: God's CALL is all around us, there for us to see and hear. Those that should be most aware of it often (usually) miss it or try to mold it to suite their own agendas. We have full power to answer it or ignore it. We are given our minds and experience to help us in our choice. To follow is dangerous and unusual. Power and Wealth is against us. We will be changed and risk much in the journey. It is open ended and the only promise is that God will be with us.
This is not kids' stuff. We can easily understand how the manger scene and Santa are more popular than what the gospel writers had to tell us. The truths of the birth narratives are so much more difficult than belief even of the birth from a virgin. It's better public relations wise to cover up a difficult truth with a belief in the impossible.
But through it all God still come to us. Vulnerable, loving, accepting, humble and open, just like a little babe born of poor and outcast parents of an oppressed people in a conquered land.
Step 9: The Church's Lack of Leadership at Christmas
Step 7: The Christmas Story in Luke
The gospel we call Luke is clearly for the underdog, the poor. The message for the reader is that the birth (understand life, words, ministry, purpose, etc.) of Jesus of Nazareth is predicted and recognized by the PROPHETIC in the person of John the Baptist. Now John was certainly a real person in history, a prophet who, as usual, was outside the mainstream religion and certainly not well thought of in official circles. We are fairly certain that he was killed by the rulers of his day. Prophets are rarely popular with those in authority. John was a proverbial shit-disturber and his recognition and validation of Jesus would warn the reader that the things John got in trouble for would be multiplied in Jesus. The song that Mary sang is clearly revolutionary in every way and can be overlooked or misinterpreted only by those who are blinded by wealth and power. Throughout the Lucan narratives this theme holds true. The background of John the Baptist is outside of the mainstream and unexpected. As is the birth of Jesus.
An outcast? In a manger? No room for them? Recognized only by the most maligned and "unclean" people in that culture, shepherds? Who do God's angels talk to? The educated? The religious of the day? The rulers? NO WAY! They are all completely unaware and uncaring.
This is scary stuff. It would have been revolutionary to read two thousand years ago and it had better be now also or else we are clearly either missing the whole point or are part of the majority that are just blind to what is going on in God's world. I know it scares (and enlives) me for I am among the wealthy of the world, am well educated and am part of the establishment. Do I really understand God's call to us in Christ? I can only try to listen from my own hillside and try to hear what is sung to me and to follow as I am guided.
Is this WORD what we hear in churches at Christmas? Where is the danger, the calling, the warnings, the hope and joy of the change that can be ours and the world? Enough of the cuddly manger scene! It makes me sick! What was meant to warn and guide us in life and death has been relegated to a cute children's story. What a sin! What a waste!
Step 8: Faithfulness is a Journey
An outcast? In a manger? No room for them? Recognized only by the most maligned and "unclean" people in that culture, shepherds? Who do God's angels talk to? The educated? The religious of the day? The rulers? NO WAY! They are all completely unaware and uncaring.
This is scary stuff. It would have been revolutionary to read two thousand years ago and it had better be now also or else we are clearly either missing the whole point or are part of the majority that are just blind to what is going on in God's world. I know it scares (and enlives) me for I am among the wealthy of the world, am well educated and am part of the establishment. Do I really understand God's call to us in Christ? I can only try to listen from my own hillside and try to hear what is sung to me and to follow as I am guided.
Is this WORD what we hear in churches at Christmas? Where is the danger, the calling, the warnings, the hope and joy of the change that can be ours and the world? Enough of the cuddly manger scene! It makes me sick! What was meant to warn and guide us in life and death has been relegated to a cute children's story. What a sin! What a waste!
Step 8: Faithfulness is a Journey
Step 6: More on the Christmas Story in Matthew
As stated earlier, the purpose of the birth narrative in Matthew is not to teach us history but to remind us of truths we really all ready know. Things that we should hold in mind as we read the body of the gospel. The lens through which we'd better be seeing if we're going to have a chance to understand the fullness of the GOOD NEWS imparted.
The condensed story is this: when King Herod was on the throne three astrologers some to court in order to give homage to the newly born heir to the throne. Of course the whole court is traumatized because there is no such person. Because of an obscure passage that looks forward to a future king being born in Bethlehem, the three inquirers are sent there with the understanding that they are to report back. The short (five miles) journey is made and the baby is located in a house (not a manger as in Luke). The three men do as their custom requires and they leave for their home after being warned in a dream not to return to Jerusalem to Herod. When Herod figures out what happened he has all the young boys in Bethlehem killed but Joseph and Mary had already left town and were on their way to Egypt.
What would have the original readers of this story understood? Firstly, as Gentiles (non-Jews) they would feel invited and included by the story because in it the first to seek Jesus were also Gentiles. To recognize and follow Jesus you certainly wouldn't have to be a Jew. This was a universal affair. Secondly, they would recognized the reality that the Word of God in any form is never appreciated and usually is in opposition to those in power. Power and wealth is always threatened by LOVE. Wealth always does what it can to destroy LOVE. If LOVE is going to survive it must be smart and mobile and recognize the peril and preciousness of its position.
There are other themes and lessons from Matthew but these are the greater. I have rarely heard them proclaimed in challenging ways in this season. Yet how many "wise men" have we all seen? Cute little kids in robes and crowns. Photo opportunities. Lost chances to learn and grow. The clergy know this stuff but are too lazy or scared to share the meaty stuff. So we get the fluff year after year.
Step 7: The Christmas Story in Luke
The condensed story is this: when King Herod was on the throne three astrologers some to court in order to give homage to the newly born heir to the throne. Of course the whole court is traumatized because there is no such person. Because of an obscure passage that looks forward to a future king being born in Bethlehem, the three inquirers are sent there with the understanding that they are to report back. The short (five miles) journey is made and the baby is located in a house (not a manger as in Luke). The three men do as their custom requires and they leave for their home after being warned in a dream not to return to Jerusalem to Herod. When Herod figures out what happened he has all the young boys in Bethlehem killed but Joseph and Mary had already left town and were on their way to Egypt.
What would have the original readers of this story understood? Firstly, as Gentiles (non-Jews) they would feel invited and included by the story because in it the first to seek Jesus were also Gentiles. To recognize and follow Jesus you certainly wouldn't have to be a Jew. This was a universal affair. Secondly, they would recognized the reality that the Word of God in any form is never appreciated and usually is in opposition to those in power. Power and wealth is always threatened by LOVE. Wealth always does what it can to destroy LOVE. If LOVE is going to survive it must be smart and mobile and recognize the peril and preciousness of its position.
There are other themes and lessons from Matthew but these are the greater. I have rarely heard them proclaimed in challenging ways in this season. Yet how many "wise men" have we all seen? Cute little kids in robes and crowns. Photo opportunities. Lost chances to learn and grow. The clergy know this stuff but are too lazy or scared to share the meaty stuff. So we get the fluff year after year.
Step 7: The Christmas Story in Luke
Step 5: The Virgin Birth
Most non-Christians assume that all Christians believe in the doctrine of the virgin birth. Although that is not true during the Christmas Season we certainly run up against this belief at every turn. It is certainly assumed in our carols and pageantry. Few Christian habits/traditions are as destructive and misinformed as is this one. The story of Mary being a virgin is a great story and has truths to tell us but it is not history. That many believe it to be fact is a tragic exposure of ignorance, spiritual laziness and the power of the first aforementioned sin.
Belief in the virgin birth was clearly not important to all early Christians because it is not mentioned in the earliest Gospel, Mark, or in the latest Gospel, John. Indeed, that only two of the Gospels, the ones that have birth naratives at all, mention it is some context should inform us that the idea was a tool used by those early evangelists and not a main part of the message itself. And it is only used in the birth narative sections of these two gospels. There is absolutely nothing within the body of any of the gospels that imply anything out of the ordinary regarding the family of Joseph and Mary. The story is told in Matthew but only after the author goes to great lengths to impress upon the readers that Jesus of Nazareth is part of and indeed the product of all the good and holy men that had come before him within the Jewish people. He is a descendant through Joseph. The writer of this gospel is very concerned to prove that Jesus was predicted by Jewish scriptures and bends over backward in his proof-reading and searching for anything that could possibly be construed or contorted to be used to that affect. It is clear that much of what he writes is to support these scriptures. It is ironic that the quote he uses as proof is in error. He is quoting from he modern Greek translation of his day. The problem lies in the fact that in the original Hebrew, the word used is that Matthew reads as "virgin" really is "young woman'. No virginity is implied. Every translator today know this. But the tradition is followed. It seems as if we don't have enough nerve to correct the translation glitch.
There was another reason for the virgin birth to be included in birth narratives. We must remember that the gospels as we have them were written to Gentiles in a Greek-thinking culture by other Gentiles. This was done some thirty to seventy years after Jesus, after his followers began to understand that Jesus was not going to come back and lead them to glory. With this change in understanding they became aware of the need to write things down in ways that would help future people to understand, believe and follow. Although they were not Jewish (the Jewish followers of Jesus being mainly killed by the Romans in the rebellion in the 60's) they used the Jewish forms of literature. Two gospels, those we call Matthew and Luke adopted the Jewish custom of introducing the main part of their writing with stories that set the stage, that told the big truths that were bigger than time and history. The best example of this in Jewish scriptures is the first ten chapters of Genesis that sets the stage for and lays out the truths in a rememberable and challenging, but yet unhistorical way for the rest of the Torah.
So how to tell present and future Greek thinking people about Jesus of Nazareth? Fact: the TRUTH and WORD of the God of Israel was and is found in Jesus of Nazareth, now for them CHRIST. What forms of speech and imagery would best be used to convey this truth? To the Jew, The SON OF GOD meant someone who was especially close to God, but had certainly no divine connotation. To those with a Greek cultural background it meant much more. In Greek mythology Hercules was the offspring of Zuse and Princess Lia (or her stand-in). In their mythology gods were very sexual and randy beings. So the Virgin Birth helped to explain the reality of what people experienced in Jesus to be understood withing the Greek culture for whom the gospels were directed.
There was also within Greek culture (as opposed to the Jewish) an understanding that anything good and of God was not earthy and of course, sex was very unholy. How could one through whom God comes to us be sexual or even be born because of sex? Again this concern was solved by the story of the virgin birth. It is tragically ironic that this simple story that was told to clear things and help in understanding now is such an obstacle. It us used by the so-called fundamentalists proof of belief. If one does not believe in the virgin birth they are definitely not Christians and are therefore going to fry! How stupid, un-Christ like and how very unlike the early church. Saint Paul didn't know anything about it so if it doesn't make sense to us, don't worry about it.
I long to hear a good sermon preached on the virgin birth, on how it answered questions in that time, questions that we still have today. Questions about how God comes to us and leads us through this Jesus of Nazareth, questions of life and birth and death. But the questions and answeres must be in language and imagery that are our own, not that of a foreign culture two thousand years ago. Use the imagery but remake it to be your own. When you sing "Silent Night" don't take it literally but allow it to take your mind and soul on a search of mysteries, of God, earth and you, to awaken yourself to the possibility of God becoming real within you again, like a baby, ready to be raised again in new life.
Step 6: More on the Christmas Story in Matthew
Belief in the virgin birth was clearly not important to all early Christians because it is not mentioned in the earliest Gospel, Mark, or in the latest Gospel, John. Indeed, that only two of the Gospels, the ones that have birth naratives at all, mention it is some context should inform us that the idea was a tool used by those early evangelists and not a main part of the message itself. And it is only used in the birth narative sections of these two gospels. There is absolutely nothing within the body of any of the gospels that imply anything out of the ordinary regarding the family of Joseph and Mary. The story is told in Matthew but only after the author goes to great lengths to impress upon the readers that Jesus of Nazareth is part of and indeed the product of all the good and holy men that had come before him within the Jewish people. He is a descendant through Joseph. The writer of this gospel is very concerned to prove that Jesus was predicted by Jewish scriptures and bends over backward in his proof-reading and searching for anything that could possibly be construed or contorted to be used to that affect. It is clear that much of what he writes is to support these scriptures. It is ironic that the quote he uses as proof is in error. He is quoting from he modern Greek translation of his day. The problem lies in the fact that in the original Hebrew, the word used is that Matthew reads as "virgin" really is "young woman'. No virginity is implied. Every translator today know this. But the tradition is followed. It seems as if we don't have enough nerve to correct the translation glitch.
There was another reason for the virgin birth to be included in birth narratives. We must remember that the gospels as we have them were written to Gentiles in a Greek-thinking culture by other Gentiles. This was done some thirty to seventy years after Jesus, after his followers began to understand that Jesus was not going to come back and lead them to glory. With this change in understanding they became aware of the need to write things down in ways that would help future people to understand, believe and follow. Although they were not Jewish (the Jewish followers of Jesus being mainly killed by the Romans in the rebellion in the 60's) they used the Jewish forms of literature. Two gospels, those we call Matthew and Luke adopted the Jewish custom of introducing the main part of their writing with stories that set the stage, that told the big truths that were bigger than time and history. The best example of this in Jewish scriptures is the first ten chapters of Genesis that sets the stage for and lays out the truths in a rememberable and challenging, but yet unhistorical way for the rest of the Torah.
So how to tell present and future Greek thinking people about Jesus of Nazareth? Fact: the TRUTH and WORD of the God of Israel was and is found in Jesus of Nazareth, now for them CHRIST. What forms of speech and imagery would best be used to convey this truth? To the Jew, The SON OF GOD meant someone who was especially close to God, but had certainly no divine connotation. To those with a Greek cultural background it meant much more. In Greek mythology Hercules was the offspring of Zuse and Princess Lia (or her stand-in). In their mythology gods were very sexual and randy beings. So the Virgin Birth helped to explain the reality of what people experienced in Jesus to be understood withing the Greek culture for whom the gospels were directed.
There was also within Greek culture (as opposed to the Jewish) an understanding that anything good and of God was not earthy and of course, sex was very unholy. How could one through whom God comes to us be sexual or even be born because of sex? Again this concern was solved by the story of the virgin birth. It is tragically ironic that this simple story that was told to clear things and help in understanding now is such an obstacle. It us used by the so-called fundamentalists proof of belief. If one does not believe in the virgin birth they are definitely not Christians and are therefore going to fry! How stupid, un-Christ like and how very unlike the early church. Saint Paul didn't know anything about it so if it doesn't make sense to us, don't worry about it.
I long to hear a good sermon preached on the virgin birth, on how it answered questions in that time, questions that we still have today. Questions about how God comes to us and leads us through this Jesus of Nazareth, questions of life and birth and death. But the questions and answeres must be in language and imagery that are our own, not that of a foreign culture two thousand years ago. Use the imagery but remake it to be your own. When you sing "Silent Night" don't take it literally but allow it to take your mind and soul on a search of mysteries, of God, earth and you, to awaken yourself to the possibility of God becoming real within you again, like a baby, ready to be raised again in new life.
Step 6: More on the Christmas Story in Matthew
Jesus, the Messiah? No Way?
We are now well into the Christmas Season. I’ll try not to bore you and depress myself with the usual and well shared observations of how our habits and displayed values at this time are so opposite to what we know is faithful to the meaning of the spirit to which we give lip service. What I will do is highlight some deathly errors in understanding that have been perpetuated for many centuries. They are deadly in that they lull their believers into laziness and stupidity, keeping them/us from growth and life.
Last Sunday, the first of Advent, there was the predictable Jewish scripture readings that looked forward to a Messiah. In the Christian tradition these have been taken as proof that indeed Jesus of Nazareth was that foreseen person. We continue to unquestioningly follow that assumption with dozens of songs and sermons that refer to him as messiah or king. Nothing could be more contrary to the message, life and death of Jesus of Nazareth.
First of all, some definitions and education. The word MESSIAH is used to describe the king of Israel in the same way that CZAR was the king of Russia or PHARAOH was the king of Egypt. It did not have any divine connotation other than the hope that the messiah would be a person who ruled as God willed, that is, with justice and love. The Jews were very realistic about their rulers. Even the best example of their considerable run of messiahs (King David) was not remembered as being perfect in any way. Indeed, no other people of ancient times was more earthy and realistic about past rulers.
At the the time of Jesus the Jews had been ruled by oppressors for many generations and longed for a messiah to claim the throne and lead them in faithful revolt against Rome and all she stood for. The first task of the claimant to the title and throne would be to kill the present rulers, Roman and those Jews who had been co-opted by their "Pax Roma" and wealth. All who read or have even a passing knowledge of what Jesus did and said well know that Jesus not only didn’t fit the job description, he wasn’t even interested in the job. Even more than that he thought the job unfaithful and against the will of God.
Within the writings we call the New Testament there are at least three times the people tried to make Jesus the Messiah (King). He rebuked them each time. He refused to become ruler. When he asked Peter who the people said he was Peter answered that many, Peter included, wanted him to be the Messiah. Jesus harshly cut Peter off with the famous "Get you behind me, Satan"! But they simply wouldn't take him at his word, assuming that of course he wanted to be the messiah. Who wouldn't? Can't God use all the earthly power and influence available? Finally, in agony, resignation and sadness, as a last resort to make them understand, he allowed them to have their way. What we observe on PALM SUNDAY is Jesus entering Jerusalem as Messiah, his followers literally taking control of Jerusalem, offering Jesus the throne and assuming that they would be reigning with him in God's new kingdom, the kingdom of Israel. What did he do? He deserted the city, allowing the Romans to come out of their fortress Antonia where they had holed up and to again take control in the name of Caesar.
Only by showing them in this most radical and costly way could they be made to truly understand that Gods WAY was not the way of violence and enforced piety.
And at last his followers understood. For about two hundred years the early church was able to follow THE WAY of peace and radical love. They in fact the followers of the risen Christ were first known to others as THE PEOPLE OF THE WAY, living lives of a radical and new kind of love in the example of what was shown them in Jesus of Nazareth. They knew as did Paul of Tarsus whose writings in our "New Testament" are the earliest we have and who tells us that "all are called to grow, even to the stature of Christ." Jesus was not a messiah to them to be merely believed in but the true example of what there were called to become. His WAY, the WAY proven to be that of God was the only way worthy of their lives. But gradually the need to be accepted and popular overcame the movement and faithfulness gave way to faith. Jesus became more of a king and less of a suffering servant. The person of Jesus became more important than the WAY he showed us in word and life. But we can’t be too hard on the Christians back then. Have we done anything differently?
We so dearly want Jesus to be KING. We long for, desire a king – it’s instinctive. A good king will solve all our problems, fix all the wrongs, will do everything for us. All we’ll have to do is cheer as he comes by, pay the taxes he levies and give up much of our freedom. Small prices to enable us to believe in a king who is divine and all seeing, He’ll know we are cheering in our belief, take note of us, kiss us and make "it" better.
Although we humans claim to want independence we are really quite lazy in most things. We’d really rather not get involved with much of the reality of this world. Live is so much easier when we can believe that LOVE has nothing to do with JUSTICE, that what we do and want affects only those in immediate contact and the problems of the world and reality of poverty is the responsibility of a higher level of authority or "people" in common, not our affair as a person. Let’s trust in democracy, we tell ourselves, vote the right person in and then we can forget about it. Let’s make Jesus King and then all we have to do is believe and not follow.
But if we value at all the person of Jesus, somewhere we must recall him telling others that as children of God they were to DO. His whole message was that ALL are children of God, that nothing is more important than doing/living a life of LOVE in God’s Spirit. Everything he did and said led and called others to assume responsibility for their journey and to take the courage and direction to get on with that wonderful and risky life. Jesus did nothing for us but to show us the way. He was not a magical king who did it for us. What he did was show us the way, get killed because the WAY of God is usually threatening to those in power. If the experience of his followers had ended with the cross (the usual form of Roman execution) we wouldn’t be writing/reading this for the WAY of Jesus would have obviously NOT have been the WAY of God. The experiences of the resurrection validated what Jesus did and said, exposing as a lie the assumption that power/wealth/death rules and dictates how we should live. Only after that experience did the followers of Jesus know that his WAY was truly God’s WAY.
But Jesus as Messiah? NO WAY! As our king to bow down to and worship? Nothing would be more abhorrent to Jesus of Nazareth. He told them and tells that we still have to do it ourselves. It is up to us, entirely. We now know beyond a doubt what and where the real power lies but we still must claim it and do it. Jesus has saved us by opening our eyes, not by taking any responsibility for us. He has not taken any sins away. He couldn’t care less about any past sins. What he cared about then was that people wouldn’t waste their lives by not growing in love. It’s tragic that we haven’t learned but are still sinning.
Talk about SIN! The most deadly sin is to chose to stay small in love, to make a king of Jesus so we don’t have to think, feel, love and grow. Yes, we’re all sinners, but not how we’re used to thinking of it. Every time we hear about "King Jesus" or the "Messiah is Born", and are comfortable about it, shudder a little and understand your and my sin. None of us want to take responsibility for our spiritual selves.
Don't expect churches to start to deleting or changing their hymns/carols and speech. To become communities of PEOPLE OF THE WAY would necessitate many giving up power, presitge and false assumptions that have been the foundations of faith for generations. It isn't likly to happen. The death of the old and rebirth of the new is much more feasible. But we can always hope for the unexpected.
In the meantime, "the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay." Let’s just let King Jesus do it! Back to our Christmas shopping.
Step 5: The Virgin Birth
Last Sunday, the first of Advent, there was the predictable Jewish scripture readings that looked forward to a Messiah. In the Christian tradition these have been taken as proof that indeed Jesus of Nazareth was that foreseen person. We continue to unquestioningly follow that assumption with dozens of songs and sermons that refer to him as messiah or king. Nothing could be more contrary to the message, life and death of Jesus of Nazareth.
First of all, some definitions and education. The word MESSIAH is used to describe the king of Israel in the same way that CZAR was the king of Russia or PHARAOH was the king of Egypt. It did not have any divine connotation other than the hope that the messiah would be a person who ruled as God willed, that is, with justice and love. The Jews were very realistic about their rulers. Even the best example of their considerable run of messiahs (King David) was not remembered as being perfect in any way. Indeed, no other people of ancient times was more earthy and realistic about past rulers.
At the the time of Jesus the Jews had been ruled by oppressors for many generations and longed for a messiah to claim the throne and lead them in faithful revolt against Rome and all she stood for. The first task of the claimant to the title and throne would be to kill the present rulers, Roman and those Jews who had been co-opted by their "Pax Roma" and wealth. All who read or have even a passing knowledge of what Jesus did and said well know that Jesus not only didn’t fit the job description, he wasn’t even interested in the job. Even more than that he thought the job unfaithful and against the will of God.
Within the writings we call the New Testament there are at least three times the people tried to make Jesus the Messiah (King). He rebuked them each time. He refused to become ruler. When he asked Peter who the people said he was Peter answered that many, Peter included, wanted him to be the Messiah. Jesus harshly cut Peter off with the famous "Get you behind me, Satan"! But they simply wouldn't take him at his word, assuming that of course he wanted to be the messiah. Who wouldn't? Can't God use all the earthly power and influence available? Finally, in agony, resignation and sadness, as a last resort to make them understand, he allowed them to have their way. What we observe on PALM SUNDAY is Jesus entering Jerusalem as Messiah, his followers literally taking control of Jerusalem, offering Jesus the throne and assuming that they would be reigning with him in God's new kingdom, the kingdom of Israel. What did he do? He deserted the city, allowing the Romans to come out of their fortress Antonia where they had holed up and to again take control in the name of Caesar.
Only by showing them in this most radical and costly way could they be made to truly understand that Gods WAY was not the way of violence and enforced piety.
And at last his followers understood. For about two hundred years the early church was able to follow THE WAY of peace and radical love. They in fact the followers of the risen Christ were first known to others as THE PEOPLE OF THE WAY, living lives of a radical and new kind of love in the example of what was shown them in Jesus of Nazareth. They knew as did Paul of Tarsus whose writings in our "New Testament" are the earliest we have and who tells us that "all are called to grow, even to the stature of Christ." Jesus was not a messiah to them to be merely believed in but the true example of what there were called to become. His WAY, the WAY proven to be that of God was the only way worthy of their lives. But gradually the need to be accepted and popular overcame the movement and faithfulness gave way to faith. Jesus became more of a king and less of a suffering servant. The person of Jesus became more important than the WAY he showed us in word and life. But we can’t be too hard on the Christians back then. Have we done anything differently?
We so dearly want Jesus to be KING. We long for, desire a king – it’s instinctive. A good king will solve all our problems, fix all the wrongs, will do everything for us. All we’ll have to do is cheer as he comes by, pay the taxes he levies and give up much of our freedom. Small prices to enable us to believe in a king who is divine and all seeing, He’ll know we are cheering in our belief, take note of us, kiss us and make "it" better.
Although we humans claim to want independence we are really quite lazy in most things. We’d really rather not get involved with much of the reality of this world. Live is so much easier when we can believe that LOVE has nothing to do with JUSTICE, that what we do and want affects only those in immediate contact and the problems of the world and reality of poverty is the responsibility of a higher level of authority or "people" in common, not our affair as a person. Let’s trust in democracy, we tell ourselves, vote the right person in and then we can forget about it. Let’s make Jesus King and then all we have to do is believe and not follow.
But if we value at all the person of Jesus, somewhere we must recall him telling others that as children of God they were to DO. His whole message was that ALL are children of God, that nothing is more important than doing/living a life of LOVE in God’s Spirit. Everything he did and said led and called others to assume responsibility for their journey and to take the courage and direction to get on with that wonderful and risky life. Jesus did nothing for us but to show us the way. He was not a magical king who did it for us. What he did was show us the way, get killed because the WAY of God is usually threatening to those in power. If the experience of his followers had ended with the cross (the usual form of Roman execution) we wouldn’t be writing/reading this for the WAY of Jesus would have obviously NOT have been the WAY of God. The experiences of the resurrection validated what Jesus did and said, exposing as a lie the assumption that power/wealth/death rules and dictates how we should live. Only after that experience did the followers of Jesus know that his WAY was truly God’s WAY.
But Jesus as Messiah? NO WAY! As our king to bow down to and worship? Nothing would be more abhorrent to Jesus of Nazareth. He told them and tells that we still have to do it ourselves. It is up to us, entirely. We now know beyond a doubt what and where the real power lies but we still must claim it and do it. Jesus has saved us by opening our eyes, not by taking any responsibility for us. He has not taken any sins away. He couldn’t care less about any past sins. What he cared about then was that people wouldn’t waste their lives by not growing in love. It’s tragic that we haven’t learned but are still sinning.
Talk about SIN! The most deadly sin is to chose to stay small in love, to make a king of Jesus so we don’t have to think, feel, love and grow. Yes, we’re all sinners, but not how we’re used to thinking of it. Every time we hear about "King Jesus" or the "Messiah is Born", and are comfortable about it, shudder a little and understand your and my sin. None of us want to take responsibility for our spiritual selves.
Don't expect churches to start to deleting or changing their hymns/carols and speech. To become communities of PEOPLE OF THE WAY would necessitate many giving up power, presitge and false assumptions that have been the foundations of faith for generations. It isn't likly to happen. The death of the old and rebirth of the new is much more feasible. But we can always hope for the unexpected.
In the meantime, "the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay." Let’s just let King Jesus do it! Back to our Christmas shopping.
Step 5: The Virgin Birth
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