Matthew 19:24 - "Again I tell you it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich [person] to enter the kingdom of heaven."
Wow. That's some serious difficulty. It sharpens his point further. When Jesus uses expressions like this, he really wants his disciples to understand this new way of thinking. Clearly, the rich, young man was not prepared to hear this prescription. Do we go to Jesus asking what we can do only to balk at the answer? Are we ready to hear Jesus' prescription for us?
In any case, much ink and many electrons have been spilled writing about this verse. We make up all kinds of ways to accomplish this feat (boil the camel down, etc) or even other interpretations (the non-existent Needle Gate). But the Greek - for once - is clear. Hole of a needle ... the word for needle comes from the verb 'to sew'. There is no other way to interpret this passage honestly.
There are, however, some manuscripts that read kamilon instead of kamelon. Kamilon means rope or ship's cable. Still not going through the eye of a needle. So rather than giving rich people any out, as so many have done, Jesus actually doubles down on his original proclamation. Just in case they (or we) were not clear about the previous verse, he clarifies with a picture no one can misinterpret, unless they're searching for an out.
So my question is, why don't we live this way as Christians? The first apostles did, according to Acts. They clearly understood Jesus' words here. There are 2,000 years worth of reasons but I think it boils down to human beings wanting what we want. We are creatures of rationalization and justification after the fact. Especially here in America, we have a societal tendency to live by the motto, it is better to ask forgiveness than permission.
Jesus argues the exact opposite in these two verses. He is calling his disciples and us to be better than that, to have more integrity and intentionality about our actions and our thinking. He is reiterating the difficulty of getting into heaven. Rich people, by virtue of the immorality of their riches will not make it - unless God has mercy on them. He tells us all that God's heart is for those who are oppressed, poor, disabled and otherwise marginalized.
What about my heart? Yours? Do we have the courage to live with this as an ideal to strive for?
B
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Hardly
Matthew 19:23 - And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you, a rich man will hardly (or with difficulty) enter into the kingdom of heaven."
This verse gives a little more context to some of the things I wrote in my last post: riches being immoral and unethical because historically people get rich by keeping others down. All riches gotten this way are immoral and unethical, whether one knows it or not. White privilege, structural racism, misogyny, classism, ablelism all contribute (in America) to the rich getting richer and keeping others out. It is immoral to be rich when so many of one's fellow countrypeople are poor. (I have a separate rant about owning more than one house while there are homeless people living on the streets.)
All this is a hint about why it is difficult - or hardly happens. I think it's worth exploring the word "hardly" here. I've never seen this verse translated that way, yet Bibleworks has it listed. Its use really sharpens Jesus' point. Does it mean it hardly ever happens, as in rarely? or hardly will happen, as in never? The latter is definitely more punchy and both are much more drastic than the way this verse is translated. Will a rich man get to heave? Hardly. i.e. not gonna happen as opposed to just being extra difficult. Jesus says it's not possible - for us anyway.
This translation also helps us understand the disciples' reaction to this statement, which we'll look at in a bit.
B
This verse gives a little more context to some of the things I wrote in my last post: riches being immoral and unethical because historically people get rich by keeping others down. All riches gotten this way are immoral and unethical, whether one knows it or not. White privilege, structural racism, misogyny, classism, ablelism all contribute (in America) to the rich getting richer and keeping others out. It is immoral to be rich when so many of one's fellow countrypeople are poor. (I have a separate rant about owning more than one house while there are homeless people living on the streets.)
All this is a hint about why it is difficult - or hardly happens. I think it's worth exploring the word "hardly" here. I've never seen this verse translated that way, yet Bibleworks has it listed. Its use really sharpens Jesus' point. Does it mean it hardly ever happens, as in rarely? or hardly will happen, as in never? The latter is definitely more punchy and both are much more drastic than the way this verse is translated. Will a rich man get to heave? Hardly. i.e. not gonna happen as opposed to just being extra difficult. Jesus says it's not possible - for us anyway.
This translation also helps us understand the disciples' reaction to this statement, which we'll look at in a bit.
B
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Sorrowful
Matthew 19:22 - And hearing this word, the young man went away sorrowful for he had many possessions.
Aha! The plot thickens! Our young man is rich! His attitude is the very description of idolatry - putting something, anything above God in our hearts and lives. This young man kept the commandments listed, but what about the others concerning God's place in our hearts? Without love for God, something is missing.
Yet how many of us - meager as our possessions are - would do (and did do) the same? Since all other people in the Bible act as our stand ins, we are also called to do the same: look over our possessions, what do we have that someone else can use? Where are we hoarding? what? money? clothes? books? houses? food? What is in the way between us and life? This is a question we must all answer one way or another. We are the rich man. We are the people who cannot follow Jesus perfectly.
Was this man sorrowful because he missed heaven (eternal life?) or because he realized all his work was in vain or both? Did he realize that he did not have it in him to do as Jesus suggested and couldn't picture himself ever doing that? He fails to see that he is capable if he would only turn toward God rather than his works. There is hope for us too! Jesus is strong where we are weak, as Paul said. If we cannot do it today, maybe we can still take a step in that direction. Even if it is only contemplating the possibility of following Jesus in this way. Even if it is only gathering courage and building our trust in God. One thought, one step, one day at a time.
B
Aha! The plot thickens! Our young man is rich! His attitude is the very description of idolatry - putting something, anything above God in our hearts and lives. This young man kept the commandments listed, but what about the others concerning God's place in our hearts? Without love for God, something is missing.
Yet how many of us - meager as our possessions are - would do (and did do) the same? Since all other people in the Bible act as our stand ins, we are also called to do the same: look over our possessions, what do we have that someone else can use? Where are we hoarding? what? money? clothes? books? houses? food? What is in the way between us and life? This is a question we must all answer one way or another. We are the rich man. We are the people who cannot follow Jesus perfectly.
Was this man sorrowful because he missed heaven (eternal life?) or because he realized all his work was in vain or both? Did he realize that he did not have it in him to do as Jesus suggested and couldn't picture himself ever doing that? He fails to see that he is capable if he would only turn toward God rather than his works. There is hope for us too! Jesus is strong where we are weak, as Paul said. If we cannot do it today, maybe we can still take a step in that direction. Even if it is only contemplating the possibility of following Jesus in this way. Even if it is only gathering courage and building our trust in God. One thought, one step, one day at a time.
B
Friday, August 25, 2017
Sell, Give, Follow
Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come, follow me."
So much has been written about this verse and those that follow. Is he serious? exaggerating? being hyperbolic? joking? just trying to prove a point? if so, what point? Maybe a combination of all? I don't think Jesus is joking or being hyperbolic or exaggerating. I think he is serious and he is trying to prove a point.
I admit, I did not always feel this way and I am beginning to change my mind for some unexpected reasons.
As a white, straight, Christian woman who lives in 21st century America, much of what I have is due to white privilege. This privilege is itself due to slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, redlining, inferior education of black people. In other words, I have what I have because someone - a lot of someone elses suffered. I may not be the richest white person out there, but my skin color (and my white sounding name) automatically confers on me certain privileges that African-Americans do not.
For example, I can walk around in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago at daybreak wearing a hoodie. I know because one morning, I was doing exactly that when a police cruiser began following me. Slowly. As I passed under the Metra station viaduct, it did to. They then turned into what I knew was a parking lot, turned around and cut their lights. I saw them as I walked by. Now, I am being creeped out by this. Here I am carrying a coffee cup - just as harmless as skittles! - and I can tell they're singling me out. I didn't realize at first that it was the hoodie. As I kept walking, they pulled out of the parking lot, turned on their lights and continued following me. By now i realized what was going on, but had not yet taken the hoodie off. I crossed the street, they did, too. I began to think about how black people live this way every day of their lives. Of course, when I took the hoodie off, they took off. I can do things without consequences that many black people cannot do.
This would have turned out much differently if I were black. That is just one piece. The prison system punishes black "offenders" more harshly than white ones. Educational opportunities were more numerous for me. Sure, I was kept out of internships due to financial constraints, yet overall, my opportunities were better - especially better than those of young Clevelanders.
I married a man who had a privileged childhood and money stashed away. His dad had a union shop and employed all kinds of people, yet the money was a privilege of being white. It all goes back to the systemic racism of chattel slavery on which our country was founded. The three-fifths comprise guaranteed a divided nation. It's systemic racism that until recently, was much more prevalent than out and out personal racism.
So how does that situation compare with the situation in Roman-occupied Israel? As I currently understand it, those Jewish people who were rich were collaborators with the Roman authorities. Therefore, they were keeping the poor people poor in order to stay rich and powerful. Tax collectors, temple authorities, money changers - these all had their hands in the pockets of the Jewish farmers and laborers.
The salient similarity is that those who were rich made sure that there could be no competition from those who were poor. The game was rigged. Here in the US, Republicans fan the flames of racism, anti-immigrationism and "law-and-order" in order to keep poor white people and black people from coming together. As such, the riches the wealthy have are stolen from the poor. They are ill-gotten gains and are therefore immoral and go against the commandment to not steal. Rather than pointing this out, Jesus prescribes the cure: go, sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me. This the prescription is not just for this young man but for all of us as well.
B
So much has been written about this verse and those that follow. Is he serious? exaggerating? being hyperbolic? joking? just trying to prove a point? if so, what point? Maybe a combination of all? I don't think Jesus is joking or being hyperbolic or exaggerating. I think he is serious and he is trying to prove a point.
I admit, I did not always feel this way and I am beginning to change my mind for some unexpected reasons.
As a white, straight, Christian woman who lives in 21st century America, much of what I have is due to white privilege. This privilege is itself due to slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, redlining, inferior education of black people. In other words, I have what I have because someone - a lot of someone elses suffered. I may not be the richest white person out there, but my skin color (and my white sounding name) automatically confers on me certain privileges that African-Americans do not.
For example, I can walk around in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago at daybreak wearing a hoodie. I know because one morning, I was doing exactly that when a police cruiser began following me. Slowly. As I passed under the Metra station viaduct, it did to. They then turned into what I knew was a parking lot, turned around and cut their lights. I saw them as I walked by. Now, I am being creeped out by this. Here I am carrying a coffee cup - just as harmless as skittles! - and I can tell they're singling me out. I didn't realize at first that it was the hoodie. As I kept walking, they pulled out of the parking lot, turned on their lights and continued following me. By now i realized what was going on, but had not yet taken the hoodie off. I crossed the street, they did, too. I began to think about how black people live this way every day of their lives. Of course, when I took the hoodie off, they took off. I can do things without consequences that many black people cannot do.
This would have turned out much differently if I were black. That is just one piece. The prison system punishes black "offenders" more harshly than white ones. Educational opportunities were more numerous for me. Sure, I was kept out of internships due to financial constraints, yet overall, my opportunities were better - especially better than those of young Clevelanders.
I married a man who had a privileged childhood and money stashed away. His dad had a union shop and employed all kinds of people, yet the money was a privilege of being white. It all goes back to the systemic racism of chattel slavery on which our country was founded. The three-fifths comprise guaranteed a divided nation. It's systemic racism that until recently, was much more prevalent than out and out personal racism.
So how does that situation compare with the situation in Roman-occupied Israel? As I currently understand it, those Jewish people who were rich were collaborators with the Roman authorities. Therefore, they were keeping the poor people poor in order to stay rich and powerful. Tax collectors, temple authorities, money changers - these all had their hands in the pockets of the Jewish farmers and laborers.
The salient similarity is that those who were rich made sure that there could be no competition from those who were poor. The game was rigged. Here in the US, Republicans fan the flames of racism, anti-immigrationism and "law-and-order" in order to keep poor white people and black people from coming together. As such, the riches the wealthy have are stolen from the poor. They are ill-gotten gains and are therefore immoral and go against the commandment to not steal. Rather than pointing this out, Jesus prescribes the cure: go, sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me. This the prescription is not just for this young man but for all of us as well.
B
Thursday, August 24, 2017
What do I Still Lack?
Matthew 19:20 - The young man said to him, "I have kept all these. What do I still lack?"
Give him credit, he knows he's not there, it's not enough to just perform the commandments without opening one's heart. Perhaps this question helps us answer our previous question of why he is asking - he knows that there is something missing.
He states he has kept all the commandments. However, as I have said, there is a difference between adhering to the letter of the commandments and their spirit. I one is not working toward flourishing of all life, one is not fulfilling the 5th commandment. Without that second piece, there will be no love. It is easy not to kill other human beings. It is not so easy to think through all our actions to ensure they do not harm or kill the spirit. We must open our hearts to how our actions affect others. So often we fool ourselves into thinking that there can be salvation without this broadening of our 'love horizons.'
This young man lacks love. He lacks concern for the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the prisoner. Jesus prescribes a cure, an action to take, but it is the young man's mind and heart that need opening.
B
Give him credit, he knows he's not there, it's not enough to just perform the commandments without opening one's heart. Perhaps this question helps us answer our previous question of why he is asking - he knows that there is something missing.
He states he has kept all the commandments. However, as I have said, there is a difference between adhering to the letter of the commandments and their spirit. I one is not working toward flourishing of all life, one is not fulfilling the 5th commandment. Without that second piece, there will be no love. It is easy not to kill other human beings. It is not so easy to think through all our actions to ensure they do not harm or kill the spirit. We must open our hearts to how our actions affect others. So often we fool ourselves into thinking that there can be salvation without this broadening of our 'love horizons.'
This young man lacks love. He lacks concern for the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the prisoner. Jesus prescribes a cure, an action to take, but it is the young man's mind and heart that need opening.
B
Monday, August 21, 2017
Action
Matthew 19:18-19 - And he said to him, "Which?" Jesus said, "You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself."
Notice anything about Jesus' list? He skips the commandments concerning God: having no Gods before Yahweh, having no idols, and keeping the Sabbath. Which we tend to think of today as the Piety commandments.
Why? Are they so obvious that they need not be mentioned? Or are they somehow less important to God? Or are they only relevant or real if one is practicing the others?
Jesus is referencing Amos 5:21 - "I despise your festivals, and I take not delight in your solemn assemblies." Because their hearts were far from God. One cannot merely follow the first three commandments. One must follow them all - it's all or nothing! Nothing we do pleases God unless we are working to help others - our neighbors. Paul also talks about this in 1 Cor 13 - whatever good we do without love avails us nothing. We must honor God, love God as well as performing all the other commandments.
Thus, unless we are keeping the final seven, the first three are meaningless. However often we go to church, study the Bible, pray, tithe, it's no good unless we love God and our neighbor as ourself. We must love our neighbors by acting out the commandments in our daily lives. Living out the commandments entails abstaining from killing and stealing as well as positively supporting the flourishing of life. You shall not kill, you shall lift others up, help them flourish. You shall not commit adultery, you shall love your wife as yourself. You shall not steal, you shall ensure that everyone has enough so that there is no need to steal. You shall not bear false witness, you shall praise and bless others. You shall not covet your neighbors' possessions, you shall rejoice with them in their abundance, ensure all have enough so coveting is unnecessary.
What good must we do? Which commandments must we keep? Jesus tells us, calls us to make choices that benefit others as well as ourselves and our families. We need to keep all the commandments, even those that Jesus didn't mention. Then our honor toward God, our worship will be acceptable. Then we can begin to see that we are called to be "community-minded."
B
Notice anything about Jesus' list? He skips the commandments concerning God: having no Gods before Yahweh, having no idols, and keeping the Sabbath. Which we tend to think of today as the Piety commandments.
Why? Are they so obvious that they need not be mentioned? Or are they somehow less important to God? Or are they only relevant or real if one is practicing the others?
Jesus is referencing Amos 5:21 - "I despise your festivals, and I take not delight in your solemn assemblies." Because their hearts were far from God. One cannot merely follow the first three commandments. One must follow them all - it's all or nothing! Nothing we do pleases God unless we are working to help others - our neighbors. Paul also talks about this in 1 Cor 13 - whatever good we do without love avails us nothing. We must honor God, love God as well as performing all the other commandments.
Thus, unless we are keeping the final seven, the first three are meaningless. However often we go to church, study the Bible, pray, tithe, it's no good unless we love God and our neighbor as ourself. We must love our neighbors by acting out the commandments in our daily lives. Living out the commandments entails abstaining from killing and stealing as well as positively supporting the flourishing of life. You shall not kill, you shall lift others up, help them flourish. You shall not commit adultery, you shall love your wife as yourself. You shall not steal, you shall ensure that everyone has enough so that there is no need to steal. You shall not bear false witness, you shall praise and bless others. You shall not covet your neighbors' possessions, you shall rejoice with them in their abundance, ensure all have enough so coveting is unnecessary.
What good must we do? Which commandments must we keep? Jesus tells us, calls us to make choices that benefit others as well as ourselves and our families. We need to keep all the commandments, even those that Jesus didn't mention. Then our honor toward God, our worship will be acceptable. Then we can begin to see that we are called to be "community-minded."
B
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Which?
Matthew 19:18-19 - And he said to [Jesus], "Which?" Jesus replied, "Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself."
It seems our man is not satisfied with Jesus' answer. He asks for more detail: which commandment(s) must I keep. As if there was a loophole only Jesus knew about. All of them! There were some loopholes, but there are usually self-defense type situations. If a man invades your house, you're allowed to defend yourself and your family. But this is a hypothetical situation the man is not talking about. He wants to know which commandment (in particular?) will get him to heaven - eternal life. He's focused not on caring about others or the plight of the less fortunate, but only on himself.
Which commandment(s) will I have to keep to get eternal life? This is a wrong question on top of a wrong question. He did not have ears to hear the truth underlying Jesus' words 0 there is no one thing we can do to inherit eternal life. However, we must act and since actions arise from our hearts and minds, we must begin by recognizing our own motives. Recognizing that other people matter too. There is an attitude required - an attitude of love - for God, for ourselves, for others. We can begin by changing our attitudes or our actions. Changed attitudes lead to changed actions lead to changed attitudes ... ad infinitum. If we choose to follow love we will naturally begin to "keep the commandments" and if we choose to "keep the commandments" we will naturally begin to love.
Some of us require more radical actions in order to change our hearts and minds. As we will see, this man is one of the (us).
B
It seems our man is not satisfied with Jesus' answer. He asks for more detail: which commandment(s) must I keep. As if there was a loophole only Jesus knew about. All of them! There were some loopholes, but there are usually self-defense type situations. If a man invades your house, you're allowed to defend yourself and your family. But this is a hypothetical situation the man is not talking about. He wants to know which commandment (in particular?) will get him to heaven - eternal life. He's focused not on caring about others or the plight of the less fortunate, but only on himself.
Which commandment(s) will I have to keep to get eternal life? This is a wrong question on top of a wrong question. He did not have ears to hear the truth underlying Jesus' words 0 there is no one thing we can do to inherit eternal life. However, we must act and since actions arise from our hearts and minds, we must begin by recognizing our own motives. Recognizing that other people matter too. There is an attitude required - an attitude of love - for God, for ourselves, for others. We can begin by changing our attitudes or our actions. Changed attitudes lead to changed actions lead to changed attitudes ... ad infinitum. If we choose to follow love we will naturally begin to "keep the commandments" and if we choose to "keep the commandments" we will naturally begin to love.
Some of us require more radical actions in order to change our hearts and minds. As we will see, this man is one of the (us).
B
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Charlottesville
This is a rough draft:
We have had a great demonstration of what happens when we (white people, mostly) don't keep the commandments. There was a neoNazi march through the University of VA on Friday night (8/11) ahead of a "Unite the Right" rally on Saturday in Charlottesville. White men marched through campus with Tiki torches shouting slogans such as "White Lives Matter" "You will not replace us" and "Jews will not replace us." Clearly their deep story is hurting them as well. It's causing them to feel threatened and ignored rather that being catered to. Being one voice among many scares them - they're so used to being the only voice that mattered.
It worsened the next day when the KKK, neoNazi groups and white supremacy groups came to the rally armed; with shields and racist flags. Police were slow to do anything when violence broke out. The governor finally declared a state of emergency and the police began dispersing people. I don't know who started the violence - it doesn't matter because the rally goers came prepared for it and the protestors did not. After most of the rallygoers dispersed, a Dodge challenger drove into a crowd of protesters, killing one person and injuring 19 others. Terrorism.
David Duke, a former kKK grand knight, called for Trump to recognize the white supremacists gave him the wh. There were so many people who could have stopped this and chose not to. So much blood on our hands for allowing this kind of hate to gain such power.
I'm sad. I'm writing this out in lieu of going to church because I have no current church home in which to lament this tragedy. This tragedy is due to a deep story that says white people are better, superior to black people, that America is a "European" country, and that America is a Christian country. None of that is true. There is no love in these ideas and thus no keeping of the commandments. It's an ideology of death. They have (consciously or otherwise) chosen death over life.
I'm so grateful that there were counterprotesters willing to challenge these bigots face-to-face. Certainly Trump didn't challenge them on Saturday claiming violence on many sides. Monday he condemned them and then last night defended them. Our own president is one of them. It was obvious but so many people said, "give him a chance." Well that's what primaries are for - to see what they're like. I think people really don't want to believe, even now, that we have a Nazi problem in the US. We white-wash our history so we don't understand how horrible slavery was. We white-wash racism so we don't have to look at its effects. We really don't like to question the stories we were given even when they no longer match what we see.
My heart is sad and yet maybe, maybe some good might come - people's eyes might be opened, conversations might be possible. I must have hope. Hope in the God whose with us in this mess - even if it doesn't feel like it - encouraging us to do better, feeling hurt and sad along with us, loving those who are being wounded and killed. The saddest thing is that this is just another day in black America. Nothing new. We have not dealt with our history of slavery, Jim Crow, KKK and general racism and this is the end result - a divided nation. The longer we put those conversations off, the more people will be hurt and killed and the chances of having the conversation becomes dimmer.
B
We have had a great demonstration of what happens when we (white people, mostly) don't keep the commandments. There was a neoNazi march through the University of VA on Friday night (8/11) ahead of a "Unite the Right" rally on Saturday in Charlottesville. White men marched through campus with Tiki torches shouting slogans such as "White Lives Matter" "You will not replace us" and "Jews will not replace us." Clearly their deep story is hurting them as well. It's causing them to feel threatened and ignored rather that being catered to. Being one voice among many scares them - they're so used to being the only voice that mattered.
It worsened the next day when the KKK, neoNazi groups and white supremacy groups came to the rally armed; with shields and racist flags. Police were slow to do anything when violence broke out. The governor finally declared a state of emergency and the police began dispersing people. I don't know who started the violence - it doesn't matter because the rally goers came prepared for it and the protestors did not. After most of the rallygoers dispersed, a Dodge challenger drove into a crowd of protesters, killing one person and injuring 19 others. Terrorism.
David Duke, a former kKK grand knight, called for Trump to recognize the white supremacists gave him the wh. There were so many people who could have stopped this and chose not to. So much blood on our hands for allowing this kind of hate to gain such power.
I'm sad. I'm writing this out in lieu of going to church because I have no current church home in which to lament this tragedy. This tragedy is due to a deep story that says white people are better, superior to black people, that America is a "European" country, and that America is a Christian country. None of that is true. There is no love in these ideas and thus no keeping of the commandments. It's an ideology of death. They have (consciously or otherwise) chosen death over life.
I'm so grateful that there were counterprotesters willing to challenge these bigots face-to-face. Certainly Trump didn't challenge them on Saturday claiming violence on many sides. Monday he condemned them and then last night defended them. Our own president is one of them. It was obvious but so many people said, "give him a chance." Well that's what primaries are for - to see what they're like. I think people really don't want to believe, even now, that we have a Nazi problem in the US. We white-wash our history so we don't understand how horrible slavery was. We white-wash racism so we don't have to look at its effects. We really don't like to question the stories we were given even when they no longer match what we see.
My heart is sad and yet maybe, maybe some good might come - people's eyes might be opened, conversations might be possible. I must have hope. Hope in the God whose with us in this mess - even if it doesn't feel like it - encouraging us to do better, feeling hurt and sad along with us, loving those who are being wounded and killed. The saddest thing is that this is just another day in black America. Nothing new. We have not dealt with our history of slavery, Jim Crow, KKK and general racism and this is the end result - a divided nation. The longer we put those conversations off, the more people will be hurt and killed and the chances of having the conversation becomes dimmer.
B
A Story That Leads to Death
Matthew 19:17 - If you wish to have life, keep the commandments.
Jesus is really quoting Moses and Joshua from Exodus. Choose life, i.e. follow the commandments, and you shall live. All would be well with the Israelites so long as they followed the commandments. If they, we, you, I do the right thing, all will be well. This is the underpinning of the just world fallacy. This is the story that those interviewed in Strangers tell themselves. When I do the right thing, I'll be rewarded - all will be well. All isn't well and rather than question the story - which may be a sin - they look to others to blame. Those people, welfare frauds and those who jump in line, affirmative action. Make no mistake, this is racism.
They cannot see and their religion tells them not to ask even if they could, that their own internal conception of the world is what is hurting them. Fox News didn't put that there. Their religion and their culture and their parents did. The people they trusted and continue to trust put those lies there. They are not alone - we have all been lied to by our parents. Not on purpose of course, but because they were lied to as well. It is brutal to discover this. It hurts. Until we realize that we, too, have participated in perpetuating the lie. Maybe in some way, we too have profited from this lie. From encouraging people not to grow up - keeping them dependent. Yes, and even some Christians are profiting from this lie. A brand of Christianity that is not what Jesus preached - although he recognized it and preached against it.
The scriptures have always been twisted by the powerful to support what benefits them. I can't imagine Trump or Falwell or Pence taking Jesus' teachings to heart. Keep the commandments and you will live. Clearly Jesus doesn't say our lives will become pain- and problem-free. In fact, he predicts the opposite. No, he says we will LIVE. He's not talking about physical life, everyone dies, but rather truly live. Life to the fullest. No longer will we be dead souls in living bodies ... But what are the details? What does Jesus mean exactly by "live?" Keeping the commandments requires action - loving God, loving neighbor. It's not a warm, fuzzy feeling. It requires physical action. Doing and living according to the commandments leads to Life, lead to Love.
There are many times when Jesus advises people to go one step further - by taking actions that lead to life flourishing for others. Jesus is always challenging us to go one step further. This takes a lot of self-reflection, which our society frowns on. It causes one to question things that society as whole is not ready to have questioned: racism, sexism, misogyny, heterosexism, ableism, culturalism, white privilege, capitalism. Without having these conversations, we will instead have more events like Charlottesville, VA last weekend. Nazis, white supremacists, and the KKK terrorizing others. I'll have more on that next post.
Keeping the commandments is the mark of maturity. Wanting things our own way all the time is both greedy and immature. Not to mention ultimately destructive. This desire fails to recognize how interdependent all human beings are; all creation is. Our actions create consequences for all of creation - even the smallest irritation has the possibility to multiply itself in the larger world.
Jesus was trying to show his disciples what maturity looked like. It begins by recognizing the humanity of all people - no matter their country of origin, economic status, skin color, gender, age, sexuality, abilities (or disabilities). The tragedy of Trump is the triumph of Toddlerhood; the complete inability or unwillingness for people to grow up and stop feeling entitled to have everything their own way. Keep the commandments and you shall live; live fully, love fully.
B
Jesus is really quoting Moses and Joshua from Exodus. Choose life, i.e. follow the commandments, and you shall live. All would be well with the Israelites so long as they followed the commandments. If they, we, you, I do the right thing, all will be well. This is the underpinning of the just world fallacy. This is the story that those interviewed in Strangers tell themselves. When I do the right thing, I'll be rewarded - all will be well. All isn't well and rather than question the story - which may be a sin - they look to others to blame. Those people, welfare frauds and those who jump in line, affirmative action. Make no mistake, this is racism.
They cannot see and their religion tells them not to ask even if they could, that their own internal conception of the world is what is hurting them. Fox News didn't put that there. Their religion and their culture and their parents did. The people they trusted and continue to trust put those lies there. They are not alone - we have all been lied to by our parents. Not on purpose of course, but because they were lied to as well. It is brutal to discover this. It hurts. Until we realize that we, too, have participated in perpetuating the lie. Maybe in some way, we too have profited from this lie. From encouraging people not to grow up - keeping them dependent. Yes, and even some Christians are profiting from this lie. A brand of Christianity that is not what Jesus preached - although he recognized it and preached against it.
The scriptures have always been twisted by the powerful to support what benefits them. I can't imagine Trump or Falwell or Pence taking Jesus' teachings to heart. Keep the commandments and you will live. Clearly Jesus doesn't say our lives will become pain- and problem-free. In fact, he predicts the opposite. No, he says we will LIVE. He's not talking about physical life, everyone dies, but rather truly live. Life to the fullest. No longer will we be dead souls in living bodies ... But what are the details? What does Jesus mean exactly by "live?" Keeping the commandments requires action - loving God, loving neighbor. It's not a warm, fuzzy feeling. It requires physical action. Doing and living according to the commandments leads to Life, lead to Love.
There are many times when Jesus advises people to go one step further - by taking actions that lead to life flourishing for others. Jesus is always challenging us to go one step further. This takes a lot of self-reflection, which our society frowns on. It causes one to question things that society as whole is not ready to have questioned: racism, sexism, misogyny, heterosexism, ableism, culturalism, white privilege, capitalism. Without having these conversations, we will instead have more events like Charlottesville, VA last weekend. Nazis, white supremacists, and the KKK terrorizing others. I'll have more on that next post.
Keeping the commandments is the mark of maturity. Wanting things our own way all the time is both greedy and immature. Not to mention ultimately destructive. This desire fails to recognize how interdependent all human beings are; all creation is. Our actions create consequences for all of creation - even the smallest irritation has the possibility to multiply itself in the larger world.
Jesus was trying to show his disciples what maturity looked like. It begins by recognizing the humanity of all people - no matter their country of origin, economic status, skin color, gender, age, sexuality, abilities (or disabilities). The tragedy of Trump is the triumph of Toddlerhood; the complete inability or unwillingness for people to grow up and stop feeling entitled to have everything their own way. Keep the commandments and you shall live; live fully, love fully.
B
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Life
Matthew 19:17 - If you would have life, keep the commandments.
Life. Jesus uses the word 'life' where the man used the expression 'eternal life.' Jesus' use of the word 'life' implies that the man is not yet even living, here and now. Maybe that comes first? This reminds me of Dante's Inferno, in which a man appears who is so evil that his soul is already in hell, even though his body is still alive. The walking dead. A new conception of the word zombie. Perhaps our questioner is walking dead - it seems he's not as bad as Dante's example, but who knows? He is self-absorbed and self-focused, wanting to do good things only for some personal reward rather than because they are the right thing to do. In any case, baby steps are needed. Life first - learn to live life fully here before you set your sights on eternal life. A life without love, such as the man seems to exhibit, is a sham life, a meager life. As we will see, it is a life full of possessions but empty of love.It is not life to the fullest.
Jesus as not-God, pointing to God, saying baby steps, keep the commandments because the commandments lead to life.
B - written before the Nazi rally of 8/12/17 and not updated.
Life. Jesus uses the word 'life' where the man used the expression 'eternal life.' Jesus' use of the word 'life' implies that the man is not yet even living, here and now. Maybe that comes first? This reminds me of Dante's Inferno, in which a man appears who is so evil that his soul is already in hell, even though his body is still alive. The walking dead. A new conception of the word zombie. Perhaps our questioner is walking dead - it seems he's not as bad as Dante's example, but who knows? He is self-absorbed and self-focused, wanting to do good things only for some personal reward rather than because they are the right thing to do. In any case, baby steps are needed. Life first - learn to live life fully here before you set your sights on eternal life. A life without love, such as the man seems to exhibit, is a sham life, a meager life. As we will see, it is a life full of possessions but empty of love.It is not life to the fullest.
Jesus as not-God, pointing to God, saying baby steps, keep the commandments because the commandments lead to life.
B - written before the Nazi rally of 8/12/17 and not updated.
One Who is Good
Matthew 19:17 - There is one who is good.
Clearly this is a reference to God, YHVH. Since we Christians believe that Jesus was and is the son of God, it's clear that Jesus is hiding his true self here. He is distinguishing between himself - his human self - and God. This shieing away from being called "good" is yet another challenge to the man wh asked the question. Why do you call me good ... There is one who is good." The implication here is that the man should be asking God, the Rabbi's. The statement highlights his challenge to the man and the reasons behind his question.
Jesus is continually pointing to God in his ministry. He wants his followers (us) to keep their (our) eyes on God and the things of God rather than the business of people on earth. Jesus continually points to God as the Shepherd of Israel - are we looking at where he is pointing? Or are we looking at his finger? This focus on God, continues in his final sentence - "But if you would have life, keep the commandments." The Law from God. Look to God's law, God's words rather than human beings or our wisdom or laws.
Where does the "deep story" come in here? What does Jesus see in this man to give him what amounts to a non-answer? Denial about his true situation? Arrogance? Complacency? I say 'non-answer' because Jesus only tells the man what he already knows, which seems to hint that our conclusion of the last post that Jesus was challenging the man to ask himself why he is asking. What story is the man telling himself? Jesus is the "golden ticket?" Jesus has been doing miracles, maybe Jesus has the answers? By looking into his own 'deep story' and motivations, the man will learn something about himself that Jesus cannot teach him by words alone.
Is Jesus challenging us to do the same?
B - written and not updated before the Nazi rally on 8/12/17.
Clearly this is a reference to God, YHVH. Since we Christians believe that Jesus was and is the son of God, it's clear that Jesus is hiding his true self here. He is distinguishing between himself - his human self - and God. This shieing away from being called "good" is yet another challenge to the man wh asked the question. Why do you call me good ... There is one who is good." The implication here is that the man should be asking God, the Rabbi's. The statement highlights his challenge to the man and the reasons behind his question.
Jesus is continually pointing to God in his ministry. He wants his followers (us) to keep their (our) eyes on God and the things of God rather than the business of people on earth. Jesus continually points to God as the Shepherd of Israel - are we looking at where he is pointing? Or are we looking at his finger? This focus on God, continues in his final sentence - "But if you would have life, keep the commandments." The Law from God. Look to God's law, God's words rather than human beings or our wisdom or laws.
Where does the "deep story" come in here? What does Jesus see in this man to give him what amounts to a non-answer? Denial about his true situation? Arrogance? Complacency? I say 'non-answer' because Jesus only tells the man what he already knows, which seems to hint that our conclusion of the last post that Jesus was challenging the man to ask himself why he is asking. What story is the man telling himself? Jesus is the "golden ticket?" Jesus has been doing miracles, maybe Jesus has the answers? By looking into his own 'deep story' and motivations, the man will learn something about himself that Jesus cannot teach him by words alone.
Is Jesus challenging us to do the same?
B - written and not updated before the Nazi rally on 8/12/17.
Why Do You Ask Me?
Matthew 19:17 - And he said to the man, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one who is good. But, if you would have life, keep the commandments."
Matthew buries the lede here. There's a lot going on so it's understandable. Trying to get to the deep story, I think to do Jesus justice, we need to play around with stressing words in his question. "Why do you ask ME ..." is different than "WHY do you ask ..." Stressing the 'why' might make Jesus look angry or irritated. However, I think he is responding to the man's unexpressed need. The man discusses a solution, Jesus asks for the reason. In other words, he may be saying, "Dude, I really think you need to ask yourself why you would ask me this.
Stressing the 'me' underscores this point - Not just why the man is asking but also why he chose Jesus. Lastly, stressing 'good' underscores Jesus humanity in apposition to his divinity. This is evidenced in the following sentence - there is only one who is good. I think it's safe to say that Jesus is challenging the man to consider what he's asking, why he's asking, why he chose Jesus, and why he thought Jesus would know about the 'good'.
Possible responses: He thought Jesus would affirm him and say he needn't do anything. He might have really wanted to know. Maybe he realized something was missing in his life. Or he wanted to show Jesus and his followers that he was his equal or even wanted to test him. Of course, we don't know because no answer is recorded.
The first possibility is most in line with the nature of the question. I think he wanted Jesus to say he was good to go. Jesus is not about affirming out bullshit stories. He's about challenging his followers (including us) to repent - turn around - and change our lives. For every question we ask, Jesus asks a probing question in return - always getting us to look not to Jesus to perform a miracle or give an answer, but rather to our own lives. Thus his question is or may be the most salient point in the pericope. Challenging the man to look into his own heart and see where it might need cleaning up, mending, breaking.
B - written before the events of Aug 12, 2017 and not updated.
Matthew buries the lede here. There's a lot going on so it's understandable. Trying to get to the deep story, I think to do Jesus justice, we need to play around with stressing words in his question. "Why do you ask ME ..." is different than "WHY do you ask ..." Stressing the 'why' might make Jesus look angry or irritated. However, I think he is responding to the man's unexpressed need. The man discusses a solution, Jesus asks for the reason. In other words, he may be saying, "Dude, I really think you need to ask yourself why you would ask me this.
Stressing the 'me' underscores this point - Not just why the man is asking but also why he chose Jesus. Lastly, stressing 'good' underscores Jesus humanity in apposition to his divinity. This is evidenced in the following sentence - there is only one who is good. I think it's safe to say that Jesus is challenging the man to consider what he's asking, why he's asking, why he chose Jesus, and why he thought Jesus would know about the 'good'.
Possible responses: He thought Jesus would affirm him and say he needn't do anything. He might have really wanted to know. Maybe he realized something was missing in his life. Or he wanted to show Jesus and his followers that he was his equal or even wanted to test him. Of course, we don't know because no answer is recorded.
The first possibility is most in line with the nature of the question. I think he wanted Jesus to say he was good to go. Jesus is not about affirming out bullshit stories. He's about challenging his followers (including us) to repent - turn around - and change our lives. For every question we ask, Jesus asks a probing question in return - always getting us to look not to Jesus to perform a miracle or give an answer, but rather to our own lives. Thus his question is or may be the most salient point in the pericope. Challenging the man to look into his own heart and see where it might need cleaning up, mending, breaking.
B - written before the events of Aug 12, 2017 and not updated.
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
What's in it for me?
Matthew 19:16 - And see, a person came up to him (Jesus) and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?"
I read and excellent piece in Commonweal Magazine dealing with just this passage. The author makes the case that Jesus meant what he said in the story that follows. I will go over that as we go along, but for today I want to go through the thinking (the 'deep story') of the man speaking with Jesus
First, this is clearly a selfish question. The man doesn't appear to be concerned about doing good except as it relates to his eternal status. It seems the question uppermost in his mind at anytime might be, "What's in it for me?" It's formulated differently in the story, but I think they are similar. His only thought is for himself.
Second, despite this, he recognizes that in order to get to heaven/hold eternal life, he needs to do something considered good. Eternal life in his thinking is a reward for the good he will do. It reminds me of the people who were interviewed in Strangers in Their own Land. They all imagined they were in line for some reward and their resentment was based on the fact that they didn't consider people like Barack Obama to be ahead of them. They must have cheated. They were doing all the right things - the good in our story - and they hadn't yet received their reward. Quid pro quo. It's essentially a business transaction.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with my mom a while back. We were discussing her employer's hiring decisions. My mom told me that her boss, if given a choice between two equal candidates, one without kids, disabilities and one with kids or disabilities, would choose the one without. I was rightly shocked and hurt. (I have lupus.) My mom said, "Well, that's business." This is such an American idea and it's held up as "common sense." It hurts those who need help the most. "It" being this cost-benefit analysis that refuses to take the welfare of the community into account while making decisions. It's immoral and unethical. In fact, it is the end - the place where thinking of heaven as a reward for good work lands.
I think this was one thing Paul spoke against. This thinking that we get a reward for doing good things on earth - heaven. He was clear: Heaven is not a reward for good behavior. It is not a quid pro quo. We can never be good enough on our own to enter heaven. The good that we do is because Jesus commanded it: Love one another as I have loved you.
The seeker in this verse, and business people everywhere, has missed the most important thing. Love.
B
I read and excellent piece in Commonweal Magazine dealing with just this passage. The author makes the case that Jesus meant what he said in the story that follows. I will go over that as we go along, but for today I want to go through the thinking (the 'deep story') of the man speaking with Jesus
First, this is clearly a selfish question. The man doesn't appear to be concerned about doing good except as it relates to his eternal status. It seems the question uppermost in his mind at anytime might be, "What's in it for me?" It's formulated differently in the story, but I think they are similar. His only thought is for himself.
Second, despite this, he recognizes that in order to get to heaven/hold eternal life, he needs to do something considered good. Eternal life in his thinking is a reward for the good he will do. It reminds me of the people who were interviewed in Strangers in Their own Land. They all imagined they were in line for some reward and their resentment was based on the fact that they didn't consider people like Barack Obama to be ahead of them. They must have cheated. They were doing all the right things - the good in our story - and they hadn't yet received their reward. Quid pro quo. It's essentially a business transaction.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with my mom a while back. We were discussing her employer's hiring decisions. My mom told me that her boss, if given a choice between two equal candidates, one without kids, disabilities and one with kids or disabilities, would choose the one without. I was rightly shocked and hurt. (I have lupus.) My mom said, "Well, that's business." This is such an American idea and it's held up as "common sense." It hurts those who need help the most. "It" being this cost-benefit analysis that refuses to take the welfare of the community into account while making decisions. It's immoral and unethical. In fact, it is the end - the place where thinking of heaven as a reward for good work lands.
I think this was one thing Paul spoke against. This thinking that we get a reward for doing good things on earth - heaven. He was clear: Heaven is not a reward for good behavior. It is not a quid pro quo. We can never be good enough on our own to enter heaven. The good that we do is because Jesus commanded it: Love one another as I have loved you.
The seeker in this verse, and business people everywhere, has missed the most important thing. Love.
B
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