February 28, 2015

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the Scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but G*d alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Rise, take up your pallet and walk?” Mark 2:1 – 12

“We can all understand how a man forgives offenses against himself. You tread on my toe and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on other men’s toes and stealing other men’s money? This is what Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all offenses. This makes sense only if He really was the G*d whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin.” C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) Mere Christianity

Jesus was not just a moral teacher, like Ghandi or St. Augustine, or even Mother Theresa. Jesus was the Son of G*d, and he offered to people what no one else would ever think to do when considering the sins of others. In the Hebrew bible, if someone sinned against you by stealing from you, they would need to restore what was stolen and add a fifth. If a man accidentally killed one of your animals, you would return to that one an animal of equal value. Rules were set up so that a community could function without chaos breaking out from bad behavior.

When Jesus came along, things changed – at least in terms of his teachings about sin. When a woman was brought to Jesus who had committed adultery, Jesus simply said “Whoever is without sin may cast the first stone”. When everyone had left Jesus said to her “Go and sin no more.” Jesus was not so fast to condemn people – except for the Pharisees and others who thought they did not commit sin. To those teachers of the law he made it his mission to point out their spiritual blindness. Instead of condemning people, Jesus met them where they were and loved them into a new life. But he also challenged them to repent and change their ways, while also forgiving them.

If you think forgiveness is easy, re-read the story of Jonah; recall how many times Jesus tells Peter that we must forgive a brother or sister who has sinned against us; and look around our world, our world that likes revenge more than forgiveness. Only Jesus can perfectly forgive all of us who do not deserve that forgiveness. And in this world, we need Jesus – he gives all of us the strength to get up again and face the world.

Pastor Dave

February 27, 2015

“Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not G*d made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of G*d, the world did not know G*d through wisdom, it pleased G*d through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For the foolishness of G*d is wiser than men, and the weakness of G*d stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-31

“Mysticism keeps (people) sane. As long as you have mystery you have health; when you destroy mystery you create morbidity. The ordinary (person) has always been sane because the ordinary (person) has always been a mystic. If the person saw two truths that seemed to contradict each other, he would take the two truths and the contradiction along with them. He has always left himself free to doubt the gods; but…free also to believe in them. Thus he has always believed that there was such a thing as fate, but such a thing as free will also. Thus (people) believe that children were indeed the kingdom of heaven but nevertheless ought to be obedient to the kingdom of earth. The whole secret of mysticism is this: that man can understand everything by the help of what he does not understand. The Christian permits free will to remain a sacred mystery…the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and a contradiction, can extend its four arms for ever without altering its shape. Because it has a paradox in its center it can grow without changing. The circle returns upon itself and is bound. The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travelers.” G. K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936) “For All The Saints” volume III

“The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travelers.” What a beautiful statement! Chesterton may not always be easy to understand, but in one sentence he captures the heart of the Gospel. The cross is free – there is nothing we can do to earn such love. It points its travelers, those searching, in each direction – north and south, east and west. We travel east and west to all of humanity – there is no where that the cross does not in some way, manner or fashion touch someone with the love of G*d. And if there is such a spot, we are sent to be the bearers of this Good News. The cross also points north and south. We are given a glimpse of the enormity of G*ds love for all people – all people. And G*d’s love comes down to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. This is what we know, in a nut shell, of the work of G*d. And yet, G*d remains a mystery.

When Chesterton says we “can understand everything by the help of what we do not understand”, he speaks of the mystery of G*d. We never will fully understand the works of G*d – nor do we want to. But we remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit who speaks to us in truths and in contradictions. Jesus was fully human and fully divine – that is truth. In the weakness of the crucifixion we see the strength of G*d’s love for all people – that is contradiction. Christ reaches his glorification on the cross – that is truth. So, while G*d remains a mystery to us, the love of G*d for all people through the cross of Jesus is not a mystery – it is a truth. And it is not a contradiction – it is a prescription for making all of us foolish people just a little wiser.

Pastor Dave