February 19, 2017
Epiphany 7A

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:38-48

“Be perfect.” When we hear that command, most of us hear an injunction to a kind of moral perfectionism. But that’s not actually what the original language implies. “Perfect,” in this case, stems from telos, the Greek word for “goal,” “end,” or “purpose.” The sense of the word is more about becoming what was intended, accomplishing one’s God-given purpose in the same way that God constantly reflects God’s own nature and purpose. Eugene Peterson’s The Message gets closer to the mark, I think, when he translates it, “You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity.” Does that let us off the hook with all the other things? Certainly not. But it does help us get to the root of the issue. We can only do these other things — repaying evil with good, forgiving and praying for those who harm us — to the degree that we can live into our God-given identity as blessed and beloved children.” (David Lose, workingpreacher website, Perfect, February 13, 2011)

My friends it is hard to live the Christian life. Period. End of Sentence. Often it is VERY difficult. We have always been told to “stand up for ourselves” – to “never back down” – “don’t be a doormat” – and “don’t let people take advantage of you.” But isn’t it also true that when we respond or react to someone who is being negative toward us, all we end up doing is adding fuel to the fire, and escalating the situation. Rather than doing that, Jesus says: “if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also…and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second.” My friends, what Jesus is saying is this: as people who are supposed to be “Kingdom Dwellers” – light for the world, and salt of the earth – we are therefore supposed to live differently. When we allow the actions of others, in this case, being treated badly, and persecuted, and disrespected, and even attacked, when we allow those actions to influence our actions, meaning striking back either physically or verbally, then WE have lost control. But when we turn the other cheek, when we walk away, when we refuse to answer insult with insult, we have then maintained power over the situation – and have not relinquished control, at least control of our actions. And that is hard. But, the way of the Kingdom is not easy – it requires commitment and it requires courage if we are to live as God’s set apart, holy people.

Pastor Dave

February 18, 2017
First Protest Against Slavery in English Colonies

“An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-50

On this date, February 18, 1688, a group of Quakers conduct the first formal protest of slavery in Germantown, Pa.

“In what has been called the first step against African American slavery in the English colonies, the authors of the Germantown Petition Against Slavery called upon the golden rule to illuminate their protest. Drafted by Francis Daniel Pastorius and signed by himself and three others, the petition stated: “There is a saying that we shall doe (sic) to all men like as we will be done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent or color they are.” Populated by carpenters, weavers, tailors, and shoemakers, the immigrant Mennonite and Quaker families that comprised Germantown knew the pain of religious persecution and valued the religious freedoms of their new home. As such, it was difficult for them to understand how some of their fellow English settlers could support the slave trade. Five years after the founding of Germantown, Pastorius and three others presented their views on slavery to the nearby Dublin Quaker Meeting. Unfortunately, though the members of the Meeting agreed slavery was unjust, they were unable to arrive at a consensus that involved any direct action. The petition was forwarded to the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, then to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Minutes indicate that the petition was ultimately sent to the London Yearly Meeting, though it’s unclear whether it actually arrived, as the LYM made no mention of it. The practice of slavery continued in the colonies, and was both tolerated and practiced by some Quaker communities. Though their arguments often fell on deaf ears, the members of Germantown continued to speak against slavery. In time, their leadership influenced both Quaker abolitionists and Philadelphia society, and in 1776, Quakers penned an official proclamation banning slavery.” (TODAY IN 1688: QUAKERS CONDUCT THE FIRST FORMAL PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY IN GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, February 18, 2011, As part of Black History Month, Westlaw Insider will be examining issues and events that have shaped African American history.)

The disciples were unclear about a teaching from Jesus, but instead of sitting to discuss the matter, they broke out into an argument about who was the greatest – or who would be the greatest. OMG – that sounds like so many conversations I have heard this year. When people don’t agree with one another, or when they don’t understand one another, instead of sitting and trying to listen to one another, they break out into an argument trying to belittle each other claiming that their stance is better and any other carries no credence. And so many of those arguments revolve around religious, cultural, and political fears.

In a different place, in a different time, some Quakers from Germantown did not agree with the treatment of African Americans in the colonies, in particular with the issue of slavery. Though many did not agree with them, the Quakers persisted, writing an official proclamation some 88 years later banning slavery. Most certainly there were Quakers as well as others who did not agree with them. But with faith and conviction, they found a way to lift their voices against this practice and persist in the face of opposition.

There are times when we need to sit and listen. And there are times we need to speak. The challenge is to know when to do each, so that we honor the dignity of all people.

Pastor Dave