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The Privileged Many

Summary of message at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, Sunday, December 15 2013 (Advent 3). Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11.

It is often observed that this is a time of year when people who are down may feel even more down. There can be disillusionment – both with personal circumstances and from observation of the world. Where is the peace and joy of which Christmas speaks? It may seem any sort of success in life is for an elite, a privileged few. Christmas actually brings the message that we can be part of the privileged many – privileged to be part of God’s kingdom brought in Christ.

From Matthew’s telling at the beginning of chapter 11, it seems John the Baptist may have been suffering some disillusionment. He who had been first to recognize and point to Jesus as Messiah was in prison, and did not see from his vantage point how anything was different. He sent friends to ask of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?” Jesus replies by pointing to what is happening: massive healing, a sign of the kingdom’s breaking into the world in and through him. And he adds, as great a figure as John the Baptist is, having been foretold as the one to point to what is happening, the least in the kingdom is greater than he. This kingdom is both now and forever.

So what about us and our disillusionment? We need, like John, to see beyond our own circumstances to perceive the bigger picture of what God is doing in the world, and what he can do for us personally, especially as we accept the special fellowship that rest from our striving (end of chapter 11) can bring. We can handle pretty much anything with the right support.

Most importantly, our part in Christ’s kingdom gives us our true identity, which is not to be equated with our particular roles in life that can bring us disappointment and disillusionment. Our identity is wrapped up in Christ, who will not fail us. And we find we are already on what Isaiah celebrated as the highway of the redeemed (Isaiah 35:1-10). We are among the privileged many.

Don’t Miss This Turn

Don’t Miss This Turn: The Importance of Thinking Differently
Summary of message at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, Sunday, December 8, 2013 (Advent 2). Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12.

John the Baptist had one essential message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven (other than in Matthew “Kingdom of God”) is near, or at hand.” To repent meant basically to change your mind, to turn and seek more the mind and point of view of God. A change in behaviour, particularly toward others, would necessarily follow. John’s baptism was a sign of acceptance of such ‘turning.’

Among those who came to John at the River Jordan were the religious leaders. John called them hypocrites because he perceived that, in their treatment of things of faith as matters of possession and position, they were not seeking change, but were investigating a movement that threatened to have power outside of their purview and control. The common people flocked to John because he ignited in them an old prophetic hope: of independence from foreign influence and an era of justice and peace. Their repentance would help prepare them to be part of that.

Today, those of us (already) in the church may be susceptible, like the religious leaders then, of only wanting to be affirmed in our position and traditions. Or we may, like the people back then but in our own way, see a call to faith as a means toward better social conditions, and that is well and good. But John pointed to another, greater than he, who would baptize with his own life-altering power, and usher in a kingdom and reality, of a totslly different and eternal order. Rooted in the Lord, and therefore clearing away obstacles in our life that would let us welcome his new life, new creation really, and risking new ways of living and serving in the self-giving way of Christ, we show we are more and more being “turned” to adopt within us the mind of the Lord. Anything else is subject to judgment.

A question to reflect and work on, that I believe brings these things together: What are you committed to that will succeed only if God will do it? This question
(a) takes into account that the matter must be something that would be in keeping with God’s Kingdom goals,
(b) requires, at the same time, our own diligent work, and,
(c) will draw us closer to the Lord, and will lead us to having more his point of view as we move in to the next opportunity, and ongoing opportunities, to invite him to work in and through us.

Such a challenge is important both for our own discipleship and the life and work of the church.

Suddenly

Summary of message for Sunday, December 1, the first Sunday of Advent, at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, Toronto. Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44.

The patrons at a Glasgow pub Friday night could have had no idea what was going to transpire there that night. Some lives ended. Others will have been changed forever, and not for the better. I could mention other places and events – Lac Megantic, Tacloban in the Phillipines – places and events that experienced sudden and traumatic change. I suspect that, more often than not, when we think of sudden events, unexpected news, we tend to think of disruptive, unwelcome things. …

Jesus spoke of his coming at the end of time as we know it in t erms of suddenness. But this is meant to be good news, the best news. It is the fulfillment of the wonderful picture painted by Isaiah, a time of wonderful “shalom” – peace and fulfillment for the faithful. On this first Sunday in Advent, it is customary to have Scripture with such an apocalyptic theme, embracing the news of Christ’s coming again, with the effect that in celebrating his birth at Bethlehem, we will come to knowledge of hiim who is yet to come. And this ought to transform all our expectations. As in the times of Isaiah, there are still stark realities all around us, but also the experience of the unexpected in wonderful ways – a message for a season that we do think of, after all, as one of expectancy.

Jesus spoke of the sudden nature of his coming, as opposed to answering the “when” question. Not the angels, not even he, knew this, he said. This is in keeping with his self-emptying character, divesting himself of divine glory so as to experience what we experience on earth. And in this humility may be a clue as to how we are to be prepared for his coming – and for the unexpected in everyday life – by being like him in h is humility. Not all, he made clear, would experience his return as good news. Given any two people, he said, one will be taken up into the new reality, the other, well, not. It is those who share in his own character will be in sync with his coming kingdom, a kingdom described earlier in Matthew in terms of peacemaking, mercy, humility.

Perhaps we can demonstrate such humility and Christ-likeness by just not being so sure about so many things, or thinking we should be – even to the point of thinking we can predict what Christ himself said he did not know – the time of his return.. We can and should be sure of God’s love. Our loved ones should be certain of our love for them. But we insist on being certain and right about many things that just put us at odds with others. It is a large part of the increasing nastiness and polarized factions in our common life. Certainty is at the heart of all fundamental isms, and they are all destructive. We then effectively judge ourselves and make ourselves unfit for the kingdom of grace.

We are invited by our Lord to his table today. He freely gives himself to us. We join in taking his nurturing, transforming character within us. So now maybe we will experience new kinds of suddenness. Yes, we will still have tragedies, unexpected disruptive news and such. But the experience of his presence in our hearts and in each day brings a new kind of disruption: the inbreaking of grace, and beauty, and love. Such new kinds of suddeness will come readily and freely to those in whose hearts his love flows.

Passionate Messengers

Much has been mentioned today about the role of Twitter in the horror in Nairobi over the last few days. Right now our main concern is prayer for those directly affected by this horror. We would also pray, as instructed (Matthew 6:13) for deliverance from evil, over which we have no power of our own. We can only limit its manifestations. That being said, there will be in time maybe some advantage in reflecting a bit on some the reporting that has been made today through various sites and networks about the role of social media, specifically Twitter, through all this.

Specifically, it seems to be observed that those working the side of evil were better at using communication tools than the authorities. The bad guys seem to be acknowledged has having been more persistent, inventive, and actually more accurate about events as they were happening. I think we want to remember, however, that the terrorists knew what was going to happen because they planned it, and could plan the communication aspect of it as well, whereas the authorities had no time to plan the communications about something they did not know was going to happen. Also, authorities and institutions seem by nature to be more measured, cautious, and, often, slow to ackknowledgge realities.

I am compelled to see a parallel with how powerful commercial forces communicate in the world and how the church communicates. There are forces that create “needs” in us and are poised to fulfill those instilled needs. The communication is persistent,, nimble and inventive. We in the church communicate like authorities and institutions: with little of what we would call passion, which would bring persistence, nimbleness and inventiveness. OK, there is a huge difference in monetary resources. But there is also a huge difference in energy and creativity available – in our favour – through the Holy Spirit. The real difference is in passion. Where is ours?

Attentiveness

Out for a walk, I noticed this lineup of vehicles (from the other direction as well, out of view) to get fuel. I surmise that there has been word that the price of gas is going up at midnight. So good for these people for being alert to this and filling up now. Smart.

But then I’m thinking, it is easy enough to be alert to changes that will affect me. How alert and attentive am I to conditions and changes that affect others? Do I act as quickly and decisively to come to the aid and support of people for whom some change brings a difference to their lives? Am I even attentive to those changes?

Photo: at Kingston Road and Harwood Road, Ajax, Ontario, evening of September 5, 2013

To Guide Our Decisions

It is the time of year many church decision-making bodies will be meeting to gear up for the fall, or (preferably) to touch base on and confirm what has been worked out previously. Typically decisions are made concerning near-future activities and projects in accordance with a broader or longer-range plan or vision. It is generally considered advisable that all of this be as concrete as possible, and therefore, also, measurable.

Fine and good. But for Christian groups and organizations there is something more fundamental that comes before any of that, according to Paul in Colossians 3, at least the way I read it. And this will affect not only the spirit in which such decisions are made, but may well also affect outcomes. It is the priority of peace among Christians.

In reading verses 13-17 of Colossians 3, I see a progression from making sure there is peace and unity, and then, and only then, is there any talk of action, which is first making sure Christ’s teaching is embedded in all hearts, through mutual sharing and worship, and, for that matter, doing everything, in action or word, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Each part: the emphasis on peace (verse 14), worshipful community (15), and, summarily, doing all in the name of Jesus (verse 17), has thanksgiving as an integral part of it.

In the midst of visioning and action plans and setting measurable goals, we might want to consider peace as fundamental to it all. That’s the way I read it, anyway. Is that too conservative; does it detract from the great commission; does it keep us from being bold? No, the more I think about this, and reflect on some past hard experience, I think, ultimately, it makes for greater possibilities. A people united can do anything.

Closer to the Source

It is a holiday weekend. Many of us are flocking to places where we experience the meeting of the elements. We seem drawn to places where air, water and land come together. Such places tend to be refreshing, invigorating, and we get the sense of sharing something together. Many of our best memories are of times together in such places.

Maybe there is something else. May we recall something primal, elements of wind (or spirit in Biblical language), land, water, and place made for us and all living creatures. There, we are closer to the source. For the Christian this may lead to a further connection, with heaven and earth coming together in Christ, the Word of creation (John 1). Maybe it’s a less obvious but powerful way in which we are drawn to him, and why he has the ability, as well as the will, to bring together the various elements of our life and make whole people of us.

Photo: Lake Ontario at Ajax, Ontario

Union Station

I passed through Toronto’s Union Station last evening. The shot above was taken on Platform 27, with the Lakeshore East train approaching (note I am not on or over the yellow line as I take the photo!).

I suppose because I’m planning to have Christian unity as the them of August messages, I think of various elements of community and culture coming together as I look at this scene now. There are all those rail tracks, where there could be dangerous confusion if someone wasn’t in charge of traffic. There is the CN Tower, representing communication. There are the buildings where business of the nation and world is conducted. There is the city itself, with its great ethnic and spiritual diversity. Not visible in the shot are churches, which tend to be tucked away here and there, and where many people think of going if they want respite from everything else.

Respite from the world is part of what is necessary at times, but is that primarily what the church is for? I think not. Maybe as a church we should be more at the centre of things, where people live all these everyday things represented in the scene above? And we have one to keep us united and on track. May we be closer to him, and allow him to challenge us.

Authentic When and Though it Hurts

The Spanish prime minister is being criticized heavily for what is called a “cut and paste” response to the horrible train tragedy in the north of his country. He is not alone in this kind of thing. Either through awkwardness and fear of saying the ‘wrong’ thing, or just outright aloofness and insensitivity, there are those of us who seem to have a catalog of prepared platitudes and facial expressions for any occasion. This kind of approach might work in business, legal dealings and backroom politics, but I have even known and experienced it to be used in church circles. We certainly need to be more authentically human, which is to say Christ-like, with one another than that.

Expect the Unexpected

If we (earthlings) were to experience another large coronal mass ejection such was experienced in 1859, it would be catastrophic. I suppose it is one of those things about which it could be said that it is not so much a question of if, but when, it will come. If it came today, it would apparently fry our power and communications grids in such a way that it would take years to recover. Doing without Netflix would be the least of concerns.

Should we be doing what we can to prepare for this? Of course. At the same time, I find resonating with me the observation of Nassim Nicholas Taleb that we can be reasonably certain that some life-changing, earth-shaking event will happen in the lifetime of most of us, we just can’t know what it will be. What we can do is do our best to be prepared for the unexpected. We can also (returning to my own thoughts here) learn to be more comfortable with uncertainty in our lives, especially when the biggest human-made dangers come from those (‘fundamentalists,’ I think, is the term) who insist on being utterly certain about everything.