March 13, 2015

“Even if the Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4

“Jesus said, Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod. Do you still not see or understand?” Mark 8:15-17

“No person is really any good till they know how bad they are, or might be;” G. K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936) The Secret of Father Brown

“No person is really any good until they know how bad they really are.” These are some interesting words, something for us to dive into today. How can we fix a wall damaged by termites until we have stripped away the drywall to expose what has been eaten away? The same is true of our “true” selves. As Paul says, we either have veiled from our understanding how “bad” we really are, or this understanding has been veiled from us by the gods of this world. So, what do we need to tear away the outer walls so we can see the termites within? First, we need to take time to examine who we are, or what we have become. We need to take time to do some true soul-searching. This requires some honesty about ourselves. And often it requires getting some feedback – having someone you know and trust be able to share their observations truthfully with you. Second, we need to be willing to accept the feedback and honesty. Third, we need to be committed to change – to “get rid of the dirty self-deception” and resist the “yeast of the Pharisees” – the “yeast” being the enticement to think that we, at least, are not as bad as those “other” people.

One of the complaints about the religious system of the Pharisees and Sadducees was the difficulty of knowing when and if one had done enough to merit G*d’s love – of burdening the people with 600 + commandments. My friends, the Gospel does not need to be veiled – it is as plain as the famous text from John 3:16: “for G*d so loved the world…”. Here is a poem by William Cowper to end this devotion:

“Oh how unlike the complex work of man,
Heaven’s easy, artless, unencumbered plan!
No meretricious graces to beguile,
No clustering ornaments to clog the pile—
From ostentation as from weakness free,
It stands like the sky-blue arch we see,
Majestic in its own simplicity!

Inscribed above the portal from afar
Conspicuous as the brightness of a star,
Legible only by the light they give,
Stand the soul-quickening words— Believe and Live!

Too many, shocked at what should charm them must,
Despise the plain direction and are lost.
Heaven on such terms? (They cry with proud disdain)—
Incredible! Impossible and vain!—
Rebel because ‘tis easy to obey,
And scorn, for its own sake, the gracious way.”

Pastor Dave

March 12, 2015

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on.” Matthew 6:25

“It is impossible for us to solve the riddles of life. Neither can we attain by a perspicacious solution of all the problems of the universe the proof that the reins of government are in the hands of G*d, who guides all things well; nor have we in our religious faith the means of solving these problems. The will of G*d suffers no question. But we can win the strength to bear the burden of these mysteries, if we do not allow ourselves to be mastered by tormenting fears about the material side of life, but rather seek with all our hearts and minds the kingdom of G*d…” Rudolf Bultmann (1884 – 1976) “For All The Saints” volume I

Fear. Anxiety. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of failing? Are you afraid of flying? Are you afraid of spiders, the dark, snakes, hearses, or being alone? There are many things that can make us anxious or afraid. When I was younger, I used to be afraid to walk into hospitals. Everytime I entered a hospital to visit a family member or friend, by throat would tighten, my heart would race, and I would break out into a sweat. Today, I spend some weeks going to the hospital every day. My fear subsided once I recognized that my fears were something I needed to face – and with G*d’s help, and time, the fear went away.

The text from Matthew is dealing with a different kind of fear – the fear of material things – or better said, a lack of material things. There are a lot of people who lack in our society and in our world. And these people lack material necessities for a variety of reasons, reasons like a lack of money, the lack of available resources, greed, hoarding, etc. In my devotion for February 11, I spoke about the programs in our community that look to gather up the leftovers around our communities and distribute them to people who lack. But there are two problems as I see it: first, these programs continually are running low of needed supplies; and second, it does nothing to help people deal emotionally with the endless cycle of fear and need. It is one thing to be without – it is another to be without and trust that G*d will provide. I have found in my life that of all of the worrying and concern about running out, or not having enough, G*d has always provided – the worrying has done me no good. “Do not be anxious about your life.” This is easier said than done – but so goes the way of the cross.

Pastor Dave