Tag: christianity

Second Sunday of Advent – Prepare the Way (Luke 3:1-6)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
The Call from John the Baptist to Repent, by Renier de Huy, 12th century

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
    and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” (New Revised Standard Bible)

In this Christian season of Advent, we are reminded that God is not only high above us, transcendent, far away; God is also close to us, immanent, and with us.

We remember at this time of year that God does not remain distant, but entered our time and space at a particular moment in history, for a distinct purpose.

The Roman Empire was powerful, large, and very much in control of every place where it existed. The litany of imperial rulers and authorities which the Gospel writer Luke listed is meant to give us a feel of the Roman weight, and how much Roman might was ensconced in Judea.

The world at the turn of the common era was under the dominion of powerful people with lots of influence. But God did not come to any of them. Instead, God came to a loner – a man who spent his time out in the wilderness. His name was John, the son of Zechariah. We know him as John the Baptist.

With God coming to John at a precise point of time in a particular place, that made John a prophet with a singular message. John was born for this. (Luke 1:76)

It is fitting that a man hanging out on the fringes of society all by himself would be the one to prepare the way for Messiah.

After all, Messiah’s message would be one of bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to prisoners, and freeing those who are oppressed. (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-2)

God’s prophetic calling for John was one of preparation. John was to prepare the way of the Lord. He was to get the people ready to receive Messiah.

John went about his ministry of preparation by calling folks to repent, to change their minds and amend their ways, so that there might be forgiveness.

In a reference from the prophet Isaiah, Luke alluded to Jewish exiles returning from their Babylonian captivity. The actual physical road from Babylon to Jerusalem was a hard journey due to the distance and topography.

The “road” or the “way” in Holy Scripture is also a metaphor for the spiritual journey we take in this life. And that road has a lot of challenges to it. The very act of walking as a pilgrim over a long arduous journey changes a person.

It is rarely the destination that makes a person; it’s the journey itself which leads one to a changed life of thinking differently, and seeing things from a perspective we’ve never seen before.

The smoothing out of the road is a way of saying God is making it easier for people to return to the Lord, to get them ready for a new life with promises fulfilled and unexpected joy.

In other words, valleys raised and mountains flattened represent God’s efforts at helping us experience a complete transformation of life. The Lord will do everything possible to make renewal and restoration happen for us.

The Lord will set things right. In our contemporary world that is now largely controlled by powerful oligarchs and the super-rich, God will turn it upside-down. All of the world’s current powerful people will find themselves looking up, not down.

It would be nice and reassuring if I could give you certainty about the journey ahead. But I cannot do that. Yet, what I can do is assure us of what is at the end of the road. Look beyond the current days of self-centered leadership and popular ignorance, and understand that all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Prepare the way of the Lord. We do that by how we go about walking the road. Each step we take every day is important and makes a difference. And when we stumble, there is plenty of grace to help get us back on our feet and moving forward.

We are all collectively journeying together to Bethlehem. And as we daily move and walk, at the end of our journey, Jesus is there.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. (Galatians 4:4, NRSV)

And nothing can stop us or separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NRSV)

The journey may be arduous. You might feel like giving up. But Jesus is our Immanuel, God with us. In him, is our hope and our joy.

O Holy One of Israel, out of the embrace of mercy and righteousness, you have brought forth joy and dignity for your people. Remember now your ancient promise; make straight the paths that lead to you, and smooth the rough ways, so that in our day we might bring forth your compassion for all humanity. Amen.

First Sunday of Advent – The Paradoxical Christ (Luke 21:25-36)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Christ Among the Doctors, by Paolo Veronese, c.1560

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Do we understand the dire situation of humanity? Is there comprehension of the sinister road that many choose to walk? Or are we cut off from ourselves, fragmented and unable (or unwilling) to participate in becoming people who are wise and seek what is just?

Perhaps we are adrift, lost in our own hubris, believing that our beliefs and opinions are so right as to either force them on others; or either live and let live, as if nothing bad will ever happen.

But the Son of Man is coming. He has a lesson for us from a tree; and an exhortation to beware.

I just hope it’s not too late for many of us.

Today’s Gospel lesson is part of a longer discourse by Jesus, warning about coming persecution and impending destruction of the Temple. It’s apocalyptic stuff about famine, war, judgment, with exhortations in the midst of suffering.

This is how we are beginning the new Christian Year, and season of Advent. Dealing with judgment and cosmic cataclysm may seem out of sync with the month of December.

Advent helps us prepare our hearts in anticipation of Christ’s birth. It’s actually one of the best times to remember that just as Jesus came as a child in his first advent, a second advent is yet to come, in which Jesus returns as the judge.

The Coming of the Son of Man

The season of Advent, and Jesus himself, are paradoxical. In my estimation, all of Christianity is inherently paradoxical. A paradox brings two contrasting truths or images together. Jesus is God. Jesus is human. Both are true. Jesus is a paradox. Jesus came. Jesus is coming. His advent is a paradox.

Jesus and his teaching may seem self-contradictory. But it nonetheless shows us truth. That’s what a paradox does. It expresses things like Jesus being both a baby and a savior, an infant and a king, a servant and a sovereign.

Christ brings peace. And Christ brings division. To keep your life, you must lose it. In order to be first, you must be last.

The Lesson of the Tree

Trees are some of our greatest teachers, that is, if we will but listen to them and observe them. The tree teaches us the paradox that with the changing of the leaves, death can be beautiful. In using the tree’s wood, we learn there is new life through destruction.

The dormancy of the tree in winter appears as if it will last forever. Yet, when Spring arrives, we discover that the bare branches and lifelessness is temporary, not permanent. The tree blossoms, almost exploding with life and color.

Our earthly trials and tribulations will not last. God will vindicate the righteous. Redemption is near. There is the paradox of suffering that leads to glory, and tears which will give way to great comfort.

The Exhortation to Watch

But we must watch. Jesus tells us to beware. With paradox, and in the apocalyptic view of things, events that happen on this earth that we see are mere reflections of much greater workings on an unseen plane of existence.

Paradoxically, the struggle between good and evil is both earthly and celestial; it is playing out on multi-dimensional levels. There is always more going on than what meets the eye. Therefore, watch out, because you do not really know what’s happening unless you’re looking with both physical and spiritual eyes.

So, stay awake. Pay attention. Be prepared. Keep awareness of yourself and your situations.

As we move into the busyness and bustle of this month, let us not overprepare for something transitory and impermanent. Let’s remember to use our vision to see a large and expansive world in need of the paradoxical Christ.

If you are reading this, or listening to this, then there is hope. This present existence is not permanent; it won’t last forever.

For what is at stake is the coming of the kingdom of heaven, a realm of existence that is both already here, and not yet here. In allowing such a rule to come and take over our lives, we find freedom and peace and permanence.

Tying our hopes to earthly rulers and all of their construction of petty kingdoms and fiefdoms will only end in darkness and disappointment.

The Servant King, who rules through loving service, is coming. And the Universal Judge, who controls all things with a powerful gracious force, is also coming.

The paradoxical Jesus was here, is here, and is to come.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Divine Judgment and Human Judgmentalism (Luke 21:20-24)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Jesus Wept Over It, by Enrique Simonet, 1892

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it, for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled. (New Revised Standard Version)

Judgment is coming… and is already here…

To be more specific, God’s judgment is coming; and humanity’s judgmentalism is already here.

Because of our judgmental spirits, we ought not be surprised that the judgment of God will be here soon.

I cannot get through a day – barely an hour – without hearing judgmental statements coming from another’s mouth. And sometimes, it’s my own mouth.

Judgmentalism is rife. It’s everywhere. And there’s no way to escape it. In a “normal” day (if there is such a thing for me) I hear all sorts of statements, without even trying to hear them. And when I do, I usually have a thought about it (in the parentheses):

  • “They did it because they don’t care about anything.” (And you don’t seem to give a rat’s rear end about understanding why they did it.)
  • “They deserved all the bad stuff they received.” (And you don’t?)
  • “The only reason they got the job to begin with is because of their connections.” (I didn’t realize that you are all-seeing, like God)
  • “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” (Maybe, but neither do you.)
  • “The rain is terrible.” (That’s your assessment. But it isn’t the local farmer’s assessment of the rain. He thinks it’s wonderful.)

Judgmentalism is the tendency to make quick and excessively critical judgments of others, especially moral judgments which characterize another’s thinking or way of being as immoral, unethical, monstrous, and/or harmful.

Our human judgmentalism of one another tends to detract from the sort of judgment we ought to be paying attention to.

Ultimately, none of us sits as Judge to arbitrate what who deserves punishment, or not. That is the job of Judge Jesus. So, when the true judge speaks, it behooves us to listen and follow through with what he (Christ) says about upcoming divine judgment.

When Jesus said his words of Jerusalem’s impending destruction, he was making it clear that these would be days of God’s vengeance, of divine judgment against the people. It would not last forever, because the wrath of God never does.

Yet, judgment is imminent. God will not let times of injustice, unrighteousness, and hatred last without end.

Therefore, Jesus was warning his disciples, and all who would follow him, about how they are to live while they await the end of all things.

We are not to be led astray, and be fooled by anyone who claims the name of Christ, yet lives like a devil. Unfortunately, some will foolishly succumb to falsehood. Everyone will suffer in some way.

Believers are to be watchful and prayerful. This is not passivity on our part, but actively putting a great deal of energy into becoming wise and interceding on behalf of others.

If we cannot sit still in silence, in contemplative prayer, for even 20 minutes, then we have a problem. It will be quite difficult to discern the good, right, and just.

If we cannot go half the day without making a judgmental statement about another person, then we have an addiction which needs to be broken.

If we continue to have reasons why we cannot (and therefore will not) read or listen to Holy Scripture, especially the New Testament Gospels of Jesus, then we are likely following someone else other than Christ.

If we keep moaning about the state of the world, the problems in our families, and all the local issues of our communities, then it is imperative that we come back to examining the words and ways of Jesus and deal with our own junk, instead lamenting everyone else’s.

If you know how to prepare for a zombie apocalypse, a new movie that’s coming out, or a birthday party for someone, but don’t have any idea about how to make life preparations for a coming disaster (let alone your own eventual death) then the last thing that ought to be happening is judging another person for anything at all.

You’ve got some work to do to get ready for the coming of Christ.

“Let us be alert to the season in which we are living. It is the season of the Blessed Hope, calling for us to cut our ties with the world and build ourselves on this One who will soon appear. He is our hope—a Blessed Hope enabling us to rise above our times and fix our gaze upon Him.”

A.W. Tozer

It’s possible that you may want to judge me for saying not to be judgmental. It’s happened more than once in my life. Yet, if we can learn to distinguish between the person and the behavior, then we can deal with unjust behavior, and leave any condemnation of the person to God.

If ever we struggle to know what to do, one can never go wrong with showing grace.

Gracious God, I repent for being quick to pass judgement both in speech and thought. For every time my words or actions of judgment and condemnation have hurt someone, I repent. Lord, I pray that I will not focus on the faults or shortcomings of others. Help me to see others through the eyes of grace. Amen.

Pray and Give Thanks (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and acceptable before God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For

there is one God;
    there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
    who gave himself a ransom for all

—this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. (New Revised Standard Version)

In our extreme busyness, do any of us stop long enough to consider what is of upmost importance in our lives? Or do we scurry about, not considering why we fill every minute of the day with constant motion and activities which – if we are honest – only frustrate us?

Whether we know anything about William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Hamlet, or not, many a person lives out his centuries old words:

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

Writing to Timothy, a new and young pastoral leader of the Ephesian Church, the Apostle Paul made it clear what is, above all, the activity which the church and all believers in Jesus are to engage in: prayer.

Perhaps that sounds too trite or simple. Yet, there is really nothing easy about prayer. To pray is more like heading out on a wrestling mat with the Incredible Hulk. This is going to take some serious work.

The most important activity we can do is to keep persevering in prayer, never giving up, but continually getting back out there on the wrestling mat of prayer and putting all of your energy into it.

Everyone in leadership must be prayed for. Yes, each person who leads needs our prayers, without exception.

Christians are to be, first and foremost, people of prayer. And those prayers are to be for all sorts of various situations, and for all sorts of persons.

We are to pray for specific needs; general circumstances and situations; urgent and emergent requests; and, as the capstone to all prayer, expressions of thanksgiving and gratitude are most needed.

A weak and ineffective prayer is one that gives no thanks to God, nor offers gratitude to God for anyone.

Conversely, however, prayer filled with power and effectiveness is stuffed with thanksgiving to God, and liberally offers thanks to God for everyone, including the ones we don’t much care about.

Specifically, whenever we fail to pray for, and give thanks for, the very people we don’t much like, and would rather not pray for, at all, then we ought not expect any of our prayers to be heard nor answered by the God who is concerned for every human being on the face of this planet.

For the Christian, prayer is never optional nor merely occasional; prayer is necessary and vital, all the time. And prayer is a close relative to thanksgiving.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:18, NRSV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6, NRSV)

In the ancient world of Paul and Timothy, much like our present contemporary world, prayers are needed so that we can live peaceably, with godliness and dignity.

We need religious tolerance and political stability, guaranteed by people in leadership positions. We need God’s sovereign and gracious enablement and direction of world leaders, so that God’s benevolent kingdom will come, and God’s ethical will be done, here on this earth, as it is always done in God’s heaven.

Christians recognize one God. The ancient Romans acknowledged many gods. In fact, veneration of the Roman Emperor as a god began after the assassination of Julius Ceasar in 27 B.C.E. He was proclaimed as divine, and added to the official pantheon of state gods in the Empire. Praying to divinized Ceasars became a real thing in the Roman world.

Paul clearly instructed Timothy to pray for Kings and Caesars, and not to them. Just like everyone else, rulers are dependent upon the mercy of God. Leaders are mortal, not divine; and ought never to be treated like gods.

So, when the Apostle stated that there is one God and one Mediator between God and humanity, he was clearly saying that Christ is King, and Ceasar is not. This was subversive language, at the time, and could get a Christian into some serious trouble.

For us today, it may seem silly to worship a ruler. Yet, we in our contemporary culture have a definite bent toward divinizing particular celebrities, politicians, sports icons, and music and movie stars. Some of what folks do certainly looks like worship of famous persons.

All of the celebrities of this world need God, and need our prayers for them (and not to them!) as people, like us, requiring deliverance from guilt and shame, just like we do.

I am a Calvinist, a person who holds to a Christian tradition from the Reformer John Calvin. I have encountered many people who believe that Calvinism is determinism, as if people are wholly bad, and cannot make choices because everything is already predetermined.

A Reformed Christian tradition simply places emphasis where (we believe) emphasis is due: upon God, and God’s sovereign decrees, commands, will, and decisions. Because ultimately, everything comes down to God, not us.

We worship God, not our choices, or anyone else’s. Before we ever chose God, God chose us.

Everyone needs deliverance, but not everyone receives it. The Reformed concept of “limited atonement” simply recognizes that not everyone will be redeemed. The atonement of Christ is unlimited in its scope for all people, but limited in its application to some persons.

The heart of God is that everyone would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Yet, not everyone experiences this.

This, in no way, flies in the face of a Christian theological tradition like Calvinism. A human judge may pronounce a severe sentence upon the accused; but that does not necessarily mean that the judge desires it, or enjoys putting someone away.

Jesus, the Son of God, and Son of Humanity, gave himself as a ransom for all. This assumes we all carry a significant debt that cannot simply be canceled; it must be reckoned with and redeemed.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Spiritual captives need freedom. Spiritual debtors need redemption. The spiritually oppressed need a champion, a warrior. Spiritual slaves need someone to pay for their release from bondage.

The death of Christ is the atoning act which provides new life for humanity. An existential exchange happened, in which Jesus vicariously took our place, and released us from the power of sin, death, and hell.

This is the good news which Christianity proclaims: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, and are now free to live a good, right, and just life. There is now nothing hindering our prayers. We have full access to God through Christ.

Thus, we are to use this incredible privilege of accessibility by praying to God on behalf of everyone; and giving thanks for all things, especially the deliverance which has been secured for us.

There are quite enough grumpy curmudgeons in this world. We don’t need any more of them. What we do need, and can never get enough of, are people who have heartfelt thanksgiving – and are grateful for both the good and the bad; those they don’t like, as well as the people they do like; those in an opposing political party, along with their own; their enemies, and their friends.

The good news of Jesus changes us to be people who exist in the world for good; and not for ill. And those who insist on hate speech and hateful actions, are evidencing that they are not people of prayer, and are ingrates who do not know God.

They shall find out the hard way that there is no unlimited atonement.

The Gospel is not a tale told by an idiot.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Christ, have mercy, and grant me your peace. Amen.