Monthly Archives: March 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:23 am on March 8, 2015  

Not Business As Usual – Rev. David J. Schreffler

March 8, 2015
Sunday

“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” John 2:13 – 16

“Passover was a big deal. The population of Jerusalem would quadruple. Streets and alleys would be packed with people. The crowds would include soldiers, zealots, “knife-men,” priests, children, religious fanatics, wonder workers, magicians, hellraisers, Pietists, and animals.

Jesus is described as going directly to the Temple. There he encountered the business of the Temple, including money changers. Roman coins were forbidden within the Temple, which meant that people needed to get their Roman coins changed into Temple coins. The money changers would perform this “service”- but at a huge up-charge. Jesus makes a “whip of cords” and “threw out all of the temple”. Jesus was going up against the religious power in Jerusalem by attacking the economic basis of the Temple. This appears to be an attack on the entire sacrificial system. (progressiveinvolvement.com March 5, 2012)

What is G*d saying to us in this action by Jesus? We all think of Jesus as the “Lamb of G*d”, as gentle with children, as a healer and teacher. But Jesus also shows that he has righteous anger – in particular anger toward what worship of G*d had become – a business. We do talk of the business of worship, but we do not want it to become “a business”. If worship becomes “something we do expecting “payment”, or with the “disinterest” that some do their jobs, then worship has lost its “power”.

What else is G*d saying to us in this action by Jesus? Is Jesus pointing out that the Temple will no longer be necessary – that G*d will be setting up a different way to become close to the people? Absolutely…and it is not “I do thus and so, so that G*d will love me”, but “because G*d loves me through the cross of Jesus, I will do thus and so.” We cannot allow our worship of G*d to become “business as usual” – at least that it becomes so rote that we are not thinking about our relationship with G*d. It takes getting out of our “business” mentality from the “work week” and getting into our “grace” mode. What I mean is our relationship with G*d is not about what we do, but about the “power” of the Holy Spirit speaking to and directing our lives.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:07 am on March 7, 2015  

Teaspoons or Tablespoons of Love? – Rev. David J. Schreffler

March 7, 2015

“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” Mother Teresa

“Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey’s end. Christ made love the stairway…hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it… ” Fulgentius of Ruspe (468 – 533) “For All The Saints” volume III

It is hard to love unconditionally. If it was not hard, G*d wouldn’t have needed to command us to love the Lord with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. Love is one of the things that we can control – or so we think. If love is an action, then we can parse out our love little bits at a time – to whom we want.

Sergei Fudel (1901 – 1977) puts it this way:

“Sin…is “remembering oneself” and forgetting others. Therefore all sins are, in a greater or lesser degree, a renunciation of love, a greater or lesser pride and conceit. Instead of giving ourselves to others, caring for them and being concerned for them, I remain absorbed in myself. When I am at prayer, does it not happen that I really address myself? I assert myself, my own selfness, my ego, instead of the non-ego, instead of G*d and other people, instead of love. …love is all that leads us to G*d. Love defeats pride, destroys selfishness and lust, both bodily and spiritually.” “For All The Saints”, volume III

So love of G*d is to drive us to love our neighbor – unconditionally. But that opens us up to lots of things, in particular to have our love rejected and or abused. Matthew 24:12 says “because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold”. So we learn to parse out our love by the teaspoon, so that we protect ourselves from being taken advantage of. And in many cases, I have to be careful that my love and gestures of love for others is not done with a cold heart, thinking that since I often feel taken advantage of, that a teaspoon of love is better than nothing. Well, a teaspoon of sugar may make the medicine go down easier, but a teaspoon of love may make me feel better, but does nothing for those choked by fear, disaster, drug addiction, and the like.

Think about it. “Love is patient, love is kind, love does not judge or insist on being right.” Paul is talking about Agape love – love of and for G*d – not brotherly and sisterly love. But, when we realize that G*d loves us unconditionally, well, instead of teaspoons of love, we might find a way to share our love, first by the tablespoon, and then bucket fulls.

Pastor Dave