Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Intentional Reading

One of the inspirations I've gotten is to encourage as many as possible in our congregation to commit to reading the whole of the New Testament over the summer. The goal is to have it done by August 31. There are 260 chapters in the 27 books of the New Testament. One book is only 1 chapter (Philemon) (pronounced Fi-LEE-mun)and some are only 5 or 6 chapters. If you read just three chapters a day from June 1 you'll be finished before August 31. So if you miss a day that's okay. There are 92 days in the three summer months, and at three chapters a day, you'll be done in 87 days. So there is some grace along the way.
All of us have read some of the New Testament. Many have read one of the gospels, or one of the letters, but not many of us have actually read the whole thing from front to back in a continuous pattern. Now I know several have told me that they have already read the whole of the New Testament, but then they usually tell me that was some years ago. So, it's probably time again anyway.
This whole thing started when I challenged my daughter to read the whole New Testament this summer. She's an avid reader, and a deeply committed Christian, but between schoolwork and fun summer reading, I wanted to squeeze in a little head knowledge of the Bible, and give her some inspiration. So to make it a challenge, I agreed that I too would read the whole New Testament this summer, if she would. She agreed. So we are both on the hook.
Then I thought, well, that's actually not a bad thing for all of us to do. And I said to myself, "I wonder how many people in the church would be willing to try it with us?" So I put the challenge out there, and I am so pleased at how many are deciding to take up the challenge. For many, this may be the first time they read much of the core documents of our faith. I pray that the Holy Spirit will work on all of us as we read or re-read the sacred story of who we are as Christians.
So, will you join us? Over 30 people signed up on the first Sunday I invited people to read along. You may start at any time. The goal is to be finished by or on August 31. Let us know that you are reading along with us. On Sunday, September 5 we will celebrate everyone's accomplishments. Enjoy!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Haiti and Hatred

I am troubled by two things ...
1) all the pain and devastation I see on the news among those poor people in Haiti. Everyone is trying their best to help, but the needs are so great. We will do our part on Sunday (January 17 and beyond) by taking a collection for Haiti and praying for them in church this Sunday. (Go to www.umcor.org if you wish to donate online.)
2) the insensitive remarks by "so-called" Christian "spokesmen" who believe they have the right to speak for God, and then pass judgment on the poor suffering people of Haiti as if God directed vengeance against them.

I am truly saddened by the remarks of 700 Club host Rev. Pat Robertson, and saddened that the secular media has picked up his remarks and replayed them so the whole world can hear his idiocy. It does make the job sharing the Good News of Jesus much more difficult when so-called Christians speak in such judgmental tones.

So, there are a couple of things I need to say here ...
When you have a theology that God controls everything, and when you believe that nothing happens unless God directs it, then you have no choice but to find a reason "to explain God's behavior." This is what I think is Pat Robertson's problem.

I believe that we live in a fragile world, where tragedies happen everyday of different magnitudes and breadth, and all we can do as Christians is sympathize and help people tangibly with our money, our time, our selves, our prayers and anything else we may be able to do to help. Whether it is earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, monsoons, or volcanoes; our posture must be first to help and empathize, not lay blame or try to explain.

Our God, the God I believe in and serve, is a God of love and compassion, forgiveness and grace, long-suffering mercy and kindness; NOT a God of "unannounced wrath".

And that brings me to another point, even in an Old Testament mindset where God wrought destruction, he always warned the people first. He always sent prophets to warn the people and give them a chance to repent and change.
Look at Nineveh. God sent Jonah to warn them of coming destruction. They heeded the warnings, repented in sackcloth and ashes and God spared the city.
Look at Israel. God sent Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and a host of other prophets, over and over, warning Israel and Judah of the destruction that invading armies would bring if they did not repent, and they chose to ignore the warnings.
So we can see that God is a God of grace and renewal, not a God of wanton destruction, especially for something that supposedly occurred in 1791. (Apparently the slaves of Haiti engaged in a Voodoo ceremony in August of 1791, asking for help to defeat their oppressors, the French.) Ultimately the slaves succeeded. This is the "pact with the Devil" that Pat Robertson refers to in his judgmental statement.

I pray that we can be much more like Jesus, than be like the Pharisees. Let us see the pain that the poor Haitians are enduring through the compassionate eyes of Jesus, not the critical eyes of the Chief Priests. Why would God take judgment against a people for something their ancestors may have done over 200 years ago. It doesn't make sense. Perhaps that's the problem of having a daily television show. You have to fill the airwaves with something, even if you have no idea what you're talking about. Let us pray for all the people of Haiti, and for all the misguided Christians who actually believe that stuff.