Humble Piety

Today's readings:  Psalms 46 or 47; 148; Isaiah 65:1-9; Revelation 3:1-6; John 6:1-14

The Gospels may be "The Good News," but a lot of Jesus' message is old hat. Centuries before Jesus taught people of his day that true obedience to God means embodying a spirit of mercy and justice - rather than mercilessly following the letter of the law - Old Testament prophets had tried to deliver the same message. Isaiah told the exiled nation of Israel she had lost God's favor because of her "holier than thou" attitude (not even paraphrasing - see Isaiah 65:5). Their burnt offerings, once a pleasing fragrance, became a stench in God's nostrils as they substituted outward piety for love and mercy.

Flash forward 800 years, and no one seems to have learned anything. The occupying force may have changed from Babylon to Rome, but the Jewish people still needed to hear they were like whitewashed tombs - dressed up on the outside, but decaying inside (Matt 23:27). Flash forward another millenium or two and - no surprise - followers of Jesus need to hear we might be a little too focused on displays of piety and not enough on mercy. Who are the prophets of the message this time? Certainly many voices from within the church, but more telling are the voices of outsiders looking in. Surveys consistently reveal that non-Christians perceive Christians as hypocritical and judgmental. When non-believers are filling in for Isaiah and Jesus, it's time to take note.

Misplaced piety seems to be a chronic condition of the faithful. And lest we begin to feel too superior for reigning in our own pious impulses ... that's a form of it also. The good (old) news is that prophets speak because there is always hope we will listen and change our ways. Sowing mercy and justice is challenging work. It's much more comfortable to check off lists and to follow familiar rules than to listen to the voices telling us we need to reevaluate what we think God wants from us - especially when that might mean others will look down on us. When we feel challenged, "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches" (Rev 3:6).

Evening readings: Psalms 27; 93 or 114

Ineffable

Today's readings: Psalms 46 or 47; 146; 59:15b-21; Revelation 2:8-17; John 4:46-54

in-ef-fa-ble *
adjective
1. incapable of being expressed or described in words
2. not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable

Applying words to God is a tricky business. Since God is infinite, any definition we construct insufficient. We write and speak about God, and around God, but the words we use are not God. Some of the most powerful writing about God is not expository but poetic. The psalmists and prophets were particularly gifted at painting their experience of God in vivid metaphors, some so strange as to be dreamlike. When discussing God as a saving force, Isaiah described a warrior with a breastplate of righteousness, a helmet of salvation, garments of vengeance and a mantle of fury (Is 59:17). God is infinitely more than a warrior, but for Isaiah this was an image that addressed the needs of the time. When we contrast that with God as portrayed as a mother hen gathering her chicks (Matt 23:37), it is apparent different metaphors for God serve different purposes.

One danger of metaphors is that we allow them to become definitions. For example, God as “Father” is one of the most common metaphors, so common that many people take is as a firm definition. Many find this image strong and comforting, but to others who have not had good paternal experience it can be jarring, even alienating. While we should welcome the potential for growth that exists in grappling with challenging notions of God, when we insist on our own image of God as the defining one, we do a disservice to the God who is present for all people in all times and places. Furthermore, we hamper our opportunity to experience God in ever richer ways.

The good news is that if no words are sufficient – all words are on the table. We may not be able to define God, but we can express our understanding of God in words and images that reflect our own experiences. We are not limited to existing, traditional terms that alienate or offend us. To some people – people who feel the need to control the uncontrollable experience that is God – this notion is dangerous and heretical. But if our goal is truly to better understand God and not just to create a God in an image that is convenient for us, the work of doing so is holy.

Evening readings: Psalms 27; 93 or 114   * ineffable. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved January 08, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ineffable

Advent, Week 2: The Plumb-Line

Today's readings: Ps 122, 145, Amos 7:1-9, Rev 1:1-8, Matt 22:23-33

When we read Old Testament prophets like Amos, God may seem pretty keen on destroying Israel. Seven or so major prophets (depending on which version of the Bible you read) and a dozen minor ones are dedicated to spreading the message of possible destruction. Since Israel actually was destroyed more than once, to us these prophets may seem to be preaching a foregone conclusion. But each of these prophets – and God – were actually focusing on a message of repentance. Today’s passage from Amos tells us God was not only willing to forgive Israel, but that they willfully ignored the opportunity for God to save them.

In Amos’ vision, God responds to Amos’ pleas for mercy by relenting not once but twice from destroying Israel, first by famine (via locust) and second by fire. Prophetic visions are like dreams: packed with symbolism. So when God appears a third time and hangs a plumb-line from the city wall, it is not a judgment on their masonry skills. God wants Amos to remind Israel there is a standard against which their lives are measured. If they don’t meet the standard – if the foundations and walls of their lives are unbalanced, crooked and ready to topple – God doesn’t need to send natural disasters to crush them. They will implode thanks to their own carelessness. And Amos has been telling us they have been “careless” in every sense of the word, neither building their own lives in accordance with God’s blueprint, nor caring for the poor and needy as God requires.

If we held God’s plumb-line up to our own lives, would our construction be straight and true, or would the work be shoddy? God doesn’t present us with a standard for the purpose of harsh judgment, but to protect us from ourselves and our own tendencies toward carelessness. Conscience is the plumb-line God has instilled in each of us. When faced with difficulty or desire, we can be very skilled at ignoring that plumb-line, but we do so at risk of eventual self-destruction. When we use a plumb-line, we need to give it time to settle before it is accurate. If we use our consciences in the same way, not making snap decisions but waiting to be pointed in the most reliable direction, our walls will be strong and true.

Comfort: God provides all the tools we need.

Challenge: When making hard decisions, wait to hear your conscience.

Prayer: God of Peace, make my path straight and true.

Evening reading: Ps 40, 67



Discussion question:
When have you found it hard to follow your conscience?