Walking a little at a time into 1 Corinthians.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)
Okay, I'm moving slowly through this letter. Having said that, we must remember that something very foundational is being said to us through the Apostle as he brings this word to the church in Corith. At the beginning of the letter to the Romans, Paul writes that the "power of God" is the gospel - that story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This story is good news because it shows the complete and unending way that God is for us - without hesitation - without waiting for our response - without getting anything right - without being deemed "morally" right. Paul begins and ends his counsel to the Corinthians in the Alpha & Omega of God's movement toward us and for us. Therefore, when we hear the foolishness of God for us - even when we want to resist its universal power and withhold its extravagant love just for those who with us and like us - it is still the power to pull us through the death of the day and it is our foundation for new life. Yes, always fools are we...fools who do not despair at our perishing...fools who are rescued for a life that is as foolish as the love of our God.
Connection: We do not need to stay quiet. We do not need to let this precious gift of life be silenced by those who are afraid of God's unbounded love alive among us. We need only prayerfully encourage one another to continue on with our foolishness and know that it will get us no where...because our end is already within the foolish grasp of our God.
Lord of New Life and Endless Foolishness, you have been for us beyond our ability to be for ourselves. Continue to lead us - continue to hold us - continue to take us through the cross into your promised land that is being unveiled each and every day. Amen.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
16 May 2005
Bear with me for this ongoing journey into 1 Corinthians.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)
The good news - is foolishness...Jesus dying on the cross as a sign of the beginning of life eternal - is foolish...the love of God for us before we know to ask for it or do anything to earn it - is foolish. It is foolish to the perishing because, from what I can see and know within myself, the perishing will do anything not to perish. We will hold onto any message, any power, any promise of life, that will stop us from perishing. We do not want to perish. We do not want our ideas to fall apart. I do not want the things I find so precious in life to be taken from me or me from them. The "perishing" ones, like me, will fight like hell to stay away from the vulnerability of the cross because the cross is death...the cross is out of our control...the cross doesn't let me win...the cross means i will perish - and that is a forbidden concept. We are so sold on victory that we do not know how to hear the word of the cross. Just listen to the way Christians are talking these days. We sound more like the powers of Rome and the Religious elite of Jesus' day than like followers of the one who gets nailed by those powers. The gracious love of God that takes us through the ugliness of our death no matter what the cause will always be considered foolish. The martyrs of the faith, remember, are those who walk out into the open living within the full expression of God's grace and as they are out there at play in the Reign of God, there are those who are perishing and fear resurrection live brought out of the power of death, and those powers - those perishing will do just about anything to silence the play of martyrs.
Connection: Help me with this! I'm not sure I am able to stand within the glory of such a gracious word without trying to turn it into something else...which would be anything less than an unconditional and unbounded love for all. I know it's foolish...but how do we, together, endure the rejection of others and ourselves when the Spirit of God grabs hold of us for the living of these days?
You promise us life, O God, well we need to be empowered for that life because we are too easily moved by those powers that claim that we are fools who do not understand the how we must live to be your beloved. Remind us that, already we are beloved, already we are yours, and already we can be free with you. Amen.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)
The good news - is foolishness...Jesus dying on the cross as a sign of the beginning of life eternal - is foolish...the love of God for us before we know to ask for it or do anything to earn it - is foolish. It is foolish to the perishing because, from what I can see and know within myself, the perishing will do anything not to perish. We will hold onto any message, any power, any promise of life, that will stop us from perishing. We do not want to perish. We do not want our ideas to fall apart. I do not want the things I find so precious in life to be taken from me or me from them. The "perishing" ones, like me, will fight like hell to stay away from the vulnerability of the cross because the cross is death...the cross is out of our control...the cross doesn't let me win...the cross means i will perish - and that is a forbidden concept. We are so sold on victory that we do not know how to hear the word of the cross. Just listen to the way Christians are talking these days. We sound more like the powers of Rome and the Religious elite of Jesus' day than like followers of the one who gets nailed by those powers. The gracious love of God that takes us through the ugliness of our death no matter what the cause will always be considered foolish. The martyrs of the faith, remember, are those who walk out into the open living within the full expression of God's grace and as they are out there at play in the Reign of God, there are those who are perishing and fear resurrection live brought out of the power of death, and those powers - those perishing will do just about anything to silence the play of martyrs.
Connection: Help me with this! I'm not sure I am able to stand within the glory of such a gracious word without trying to turn it into something else...which would be anything less than an unconditional and unbounded love for all. I know it's foolish...but how do we, together, endure the rejection of others and ourselves when the Spirit of God grabs hold of us for the living of these days?
You promise us life, O God, well we need to be empowered for that life because we are too easily moved by those powers that claim that we are fools who do not understand the how we must live to be your beloved. Remind us that, already we are beloved, already we are yours, and already we can be free with you. Amen.
Saturday, May 7, 2005
13 May 2005
This week ends within the first chapter of 1 Corinthians.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?... For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. (1 Cor. 1:10 -13, 17)
What is it about the different "camps" within a community that makes the word of grace different? Could it be that each side puts something a bit higher on the priority for life list? Could it be that fear somehow steers a person in another direction...and another person in yet another direction...and then another person in quite an opposite direction? Could it be that we are not content to let the Grace of God as it is know in Christ, Jesus, and throughout the scriptures? Could it be that we think we have something to lose if we do not have a side to represent...a side we can say is right when the other side is "off a bit"? We thank our God for a word so simple it is the power to dismantle the great wisdom of any of us. It is a word that does not settle for the power of what one side can say over and against the other side. It is a word that presses us beyond our wants and leads us into a very foolish position for life - gracious love and abundant peace.
Connection: I can probably find fault with others as well as you can. In fact, you can find fault with me and I can do the same with you. But in the midst of all this will we ever experience that peace that is promised to us - I doubt it. Only as we embody the graciousness of God's Reign will we begin to be surprised by its peace among us.
We move from side to side and yet you, Most Gracious Lord, side with all of us so that we will begin to see that the divisions between us have been made worthless by your love that is always reconciling and healing us and making us one in you. Amen.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?... For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. (1 Cor. 1:10 -13, 17)
What is it about the different "camps" within a community that makes the word of grace different? Could it be that each side puts something a bit higher on the priority for life list? Could it be that fear somehow steers a person in another direction...and another person in yet another direction...and then another person in quite an opposite direction? Could it be that we are not content to let the Grace of God as it is know in Christ, Jesus, and throughout the scriptures? Could it be that we think we have something to lose if we do not have a side to represent...a side we can say is right when the other side is "off a bit"? We thank our God for a word so simple it is the power to dismantle the great wisdom of any of us. It is a word that does not settle for the power of what one side can say over and against the other side. It is a word that presses us beyond our wants and leads us into a very foolish position for life - gracious love and abundant peace.
Connection: I can probably find fault with others as well as you can. In fact, you can find fault with me and I can do the same with you. But in the midst of all this will we ever experience that peace that is promised to us - I doubt it. Only as we embody the graciousness of God's Reign will we begin to be surprised by its peace among us.
We move from side to side and yet you, Most Gracious Lord, side with all of us so that we will begin to see that the divisions between us have been made worthless by your love that is always reconciling and healing us and making us one in you. Amen.
12 May 2005
What is all this talk of agreement in the middle of division? We continue with 1 Corinthians.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?... For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. (1 Cor. 1:10 -13, 17)
All we may touch on today is the urging that there be agreement and no divisions among the Corinthians. There will always be divisions among us...all of us in every place and time. Paul isn't talking about simple divisions. Rather, we will be in agreement about the Reign of God that comes through out Lord, Jesus. We will weigh all things with that vision among us. Our life together will always settle on the truth of the Good News. We will be of one mind about the faithfulness of our God and the grace of God that creates a people out of nothing at all. There will not be multiple ways to consider the love of God. It is one love - as seen in Jesus. It is one gracious love that carries us without end - and nothing will cause it to trip up...ever. So united we live and within that unifying truth we gather together to tackle the events of this day to which we usually give the power to control us.
Connection: When there is division in the church, would it be good if we asked one another, "What is it about the grace of God in Christ, Jesus, that we find less than true?" Then our discussions may bring us around to look at what it is that has authority for us in our lives. I think we will begin to see quite quickly how grace does or does not shape us & what else we are trusting to shape our community.
Bind us together by the love that is known through our Lord, Jesus. Even when we turn and follow other stories that cannot bring the fullness of life you promise, let your love continue to bring us to the table of prayerful discussion and revelation through your grace. Amen.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?... For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. (1 Cor. 1:10 -13, 17)
All we may touch on today is the urging that there be agreement and no divisions among the Corinthians. There will always be divisions among us...all of us in every place and time. Paul isn't talking about simple divisions. Rather, we will be in agreement about the Reign of God that comes through out Lord, Jesus. We will weigh all things with that vision among us. Our life together will always settle on the truth of the Good News. We will be of one mind about the faithfulness of our God and the grace of God that creates a people out of nothing at all. There will not be multiple ways to consider the love of God. It is one love - as seen in Jesus. It is one gracious love that carries us without end - and nothing will cause it to trip up...ever. So united we live and within that unifying truth we gather together to tackle the events of this day to which we usually give the power to control us.
Connection: When there is division in the church, would it be good if we asked one another, "What is it about the grace of God in Christ, Jesus, that we find less than true?" Then our discussions may bring us around to look at what it is that has authority for us in our lives. I think we will begin to see quite quickly how grace does or does not shape us & what else we are trusting to shape our community.
Bind us together by the love that is known through our Lord, Jesus. Even when we turn and follow other stories that cannot bring the fullness of life you promise, let your love continue to bring us to the table of prayerful discussion and revelation through your grace. Amen.
11 May 2005
Let's pick up with this introduction from 1 Corinthians and talk about the end of all things.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor.1:4-9)
Here is the beginning of the power for new life - the promise. Whatever the day may have ready to hand us and whatever we may try to see beyond today, the story of new life is our story right through the end of all things. When we look out to the end - we are blameless because the end - just as the beginning - is owned by the Grace of God - our Lord Jesus. This is not a word of speculation or a promised based on a series of proposition that add up to Good News. This is the promise of a faithful God who invites us - calls us out - to share in the life that this promise brings forevermore. We are talking about the end being a forever reality - even now. Now is the faithfulness of God a reality and it will remain even when we turn and run the other way. Despite our actions, the grace of God, faithful through the end...continues to woo us into life along the way with Jesus.
You never let us go, O Lord of Life, and it is by your gracious embrace that we have life even when we stumble and fall short. You never let go of us and we are told that no other reality is set before us. Make this our strength and courage and hope in this day. Amen.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor.1:4-9)
Here is the beginning of the power for new life - the promise. Whatever the day may have ready to hand us and whatever we may try to see beyond today, the story of new life is our story right through the end of all things. When we look out to the end - we are blameless because the end - just as the beginning - is owned by the Grace of God - our Lord Jesus. This is not a word of speculation or a promised based on a series of proposition that add up to Good News. This is the promise of a faithful God who invites us - calls us out - to share in the life that this promise brings forevermore. We are talking about the end being a forever reality - even now. Now is the faithfulness of God a reality and it will remain even when we turn and run the other way. Despite our actions, the grace of God, faithful through the end...continues to woo us into life along the way with Jesus.
You never let us go, O Lord of Life, and it is by your gracious embrace that we have life even when we stumble and fall short. You never let go of us and we are told that no other reality is set before us. Make this our strength and courage and hope in this day. Amen.
10 May 2005
Just as we continue to be shaped by the Spirit of God, the Corinthian church was being shaped by a vision of God's Reign that is beyond our rule.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor.1:4-9)
Paul gives thanks for what has been given to the people. These are gifted people - just as we are. They have been given a word about the very center of God's love for us - just as we have. Not only this. We are given this gift so that the grace of God - revealed in Jesus - will become a revealing event among us. Paul gives thanks for he knows how the grace of God is, by its very definition, a gift that will never settle for any other word about God -- for there is no other word but the one that opens up its arms to reveal a love the world cannot produce nor does it really want to. Giving thanks for the Corinthians is a sign of hope. Like the closing of any generation, it is a blessed event to see that this love of God that knows no bounds continues to wrap itself around the people who are just now stepping out to live within the boundlessness of God's grace.
Connection: The powers of this world and the situations we encounter can be overwhelming to us. Fear and anxiety and the many forms these are manifest in the most simply and basic aspects of our day can easily dominate our every move. I hate being anxious...and yet I know that is all I will be if I do not have others who will, like Paul, keep my eyes fixed on this essential foundation for life that really does give us a life other than our anxious pursuits.
O God who walks with us when we are not sure of our next step, we need your hand to be a reminder of the peace you bring and the life you create so that we will not run away from your gracious Reign. Amen.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor.1:4-9)
Paul gives thanks for what has been given to the people. These are gifted people - just as we are. They have been given a word about the very center of God's love for us - just as we have. Not only this. We are given this gift so that the grace of God - revealed in Jesus - will become a revealing event among us. Paul gives thanks for he knows how the grace of God is, by its very definition, a gift that will never settle for any other word about God -- for there is no other word but the one that opens up its arms to reveal a love the world cannot produce nor does it really want to. Giving thanks for the Corinthians is a sign of hope. Like the closing of any generation, it is a blessed event to see that this love of God that knows no bounds continues to wrap itself around the people who are just now stepping out to live within the boundlessness of God's grace.
Connection: The powers of this world and the situations we encounter can be overwhelming to us. Fear and anxiety and the many forms these are manifest in the most simply and basic aspects of our day can easily dominate our every move. I hate being anxious...and yet I know that is all I will be if I do not have others who will, like Paul, keep my eyes fixed on this essential foundation for life that really does give us a life other than our anxious pursuits.
O God who walks with us when we are not sure of our next step, we need your hand to be a reminder of the peace you bring and the life you create so that we will not run away from your gracious Reign. Amen.
9 May 2005
With so many divisions in the Church I would like to return to 1 Corinthians and the graciousness of the Community of the followers of Jesus.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:3)
I wanted to start with a simple notion. Grace and Peace comes into the mix of the community that is being shaped by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit moves among us. The Spirit moves us beyond ourselves. The Spirit carries us into the living reality of the Grace of God that is always made known among the people who call Jesus, Lord and Christ. The Spirit creates - in the middle of this graciousness within the community - the Peace of God's Reign that, quite frankly, befuddles us. The Peace that abounds among is part of our character. Peace is always an interactive reality because a body/community cannot be at peace unless it is completely connected and has a sense of balance and unity. Paul will eventually talk about the body and unity and resolution of conflict within this letter to the Corinthians, but it all takes place as he stand on a foundation of the Grace of God that is and will be and makes for our Peace.
Connection: The more I listen to the divisiveness of the Church (which can even be heard outside the Church) the more I am convinced of our need to rest - breathe - and consider the Good News of the Reign of God. When we are about to fight or swear at the "other" side, how do we keep in mind the universal nature of the love of God that we can see so vividly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? This does not mean we do not stand tall. Rather it means we do not give up this Gracious foundation for anything less. In that stand is a Power that is beyond our capabilities and yet is a gift to us.
Open our eyes again, O Lord. Just as you always take our hand and lead us beyond the turmoil of this day be our guide that walks us within the domain of your gracious Reign when there is nothing but talk of division and hatred. Amen.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:3)
I wanted to start with a simple notion. Grace and Peace comes into the mix of the community that is being shaped by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit moves among us. The Spirit moves us beyond ourselves. The Spirit carries us into the living reality of the Grace of God that is always made known among the people who call Jesus, Lord and Christ. The Spirit creates - in the middle of this graciousness within the community - the Peace of God's Reign that, quite frankly, befuddles us. The Peace that abounds among is part of our character. Peace is always an interactive reality because a body/community cannot be at peace unless it is completely connected and has a sense of balance and unity. Paul will eventually talk about the body and unity and resolution of conflict within this letter to the Corinthians, but it all takes place as he stand on a foundation of the Grace of God that is and will be and makes for our Peace.
Connection: The more I listen to the divisiveness of the Church (which can even be heard outside the Church) the more I am convinced of our need to rest - breathe - and consider the Good News of the Reign of God. When we are about to fight or swear at the "other" side, how do we keep in mind the universal nature of the love of God that we can see so vividly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? This does not mean we do not stand tall. Rather it means we do not give up this Gracious foundation for anything less. In that stand is a Power that is beyond our capabilities and yet is a gift to us.
Open our eyes again, O Lord. Just as you always take our hand and lead us beyond the turmoil of this day be our guide that walks us within the domain of your gracious Reign when there is nothing but talk of division and hatred. Amen.
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