October 21, 2023 – Devotions – Does The Bible Say…?

Does the Bible Say “Thou Shalt Not Kill?”

“Moses convened all Israel, and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the fire. And he said: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder.” Deuteronomy 5:1-17 (not inclusive)

It is true, not all killing is murder. That may seem hard to accept, especially anyone who thinks that killing animals for people to eat is a type of “murder”. However, if you have read even small parts of the Old Testament, you will understand that there is plenty of “G-d directed” killing – when the people come in to possess the Promised Land; and when the Israelites are in battle with their enemies, like when David kills Goliath.

There are two different Hebrew words used for the taking of life— “harag” is translated as “to kill”, and “ratsach” which is translated as murder. The word used in the 6th commandment is ratsach and implies the premeditated taking of human life, typically out of malice. The word harag is the term generally used for the killing of animals and the ruthless personal violence of man against man. Even in the Old Testament there was a distinction between “premeditated” murder and the unintentional killing of another human. For example we have this passage from Joshua 20:5 “Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor without premeditation and did not hate him beforehand”. The manslayer could flee to a designated city for protection from an avenger.

The Old Testament is hard for many people to read and understand because there is so much violence, and killing, and it seems to be “G-d-ordained” or “G-d-permitted” killing. And I must agree, it is hard to wrap our heads around those stories. As far as we know from the biblical witness, Jesus never called for a holy war against the Roman occupying forces – nor did he advocate attacking his most ardent detractors. In fact he rebuked Peter for cutting off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. All murder certainly involves killing, but not all killings are considered murders. Murder represents an unlawful killing. Soldiers who kill in combat during the course of a “just” war, for example, kill their enemies — but such killings have not typically been considered murder. Of course the argument will always be “What is considered a “just” war?” Similarly, a state may execute murderers for their crimes, but the representatives of such states would not see their execution as equivalent to someone bashing in the heads of a family with the blunt end of an axe. In both of these examples, the “just” war, and the execution of a murderer, the killing is done by representatives of the state and are therefore, technically, legal. But there is also a moral distinction in these examples. In some cases, private citizens can kill someone without charge. A car driver may accidentally hit a jaywalking pedestrian, killing them — but this is not seen as “murder.” Similarly, a woman may shoot an attacker in self-defense, killing them — but killing in self defense is not typically seen as murder.

In the New Testament Jesus seems to teach just the opposite stance – because he was a teacher of “non-violence”. Jesus taught: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44).

Pastor Dave

October 22, 2023 – Pentecost +20A

“Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:15-22

In the book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, the reader is introduced to something called the Babel Fish (an obvious take on the story of the Tower of Babel). The Babel Fish is interesting and amazingly useful – when inserted into a person’s ear, it allows that individual to hear any conversation that is not in their native tongue, translated into their native tongue. So, if I read this passage in Greek, and you had a Babel Fish in your ear, the Greek would be translated into English and you would understand every word that I spoke including the nuance of that Greek word. Just imagine how the bible could open up to each one of us if we had such a device. Of course that is the purpose of a pastor’s interpretation, so let’s see how I do.

This text from the Gospel of Matthew deals with an exchange between some Pharisees, some Herodians, and Jesus. The Pharisees, of course, were members of the most important and influential religious and political parties within Judaism. The Herodians are a separate Jewish sect who do not believe in the resurrection of the body, but more importantly are supporters of the Herod dynasty and, in that sense, allied themselves with the Roman State against Jesus when advantageous. As such, these two groups are linked politically and are opportunistic. So they are trying to trip up Jesus – to get him to speak publicly against either Jewish law and practice, or against Roman law and practice. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”, they ask Jesus. You see, even in the first century, the question and controversy of paying taxes was on the mind of the people. And, of course, when you are living under an “occupation”, paying taxes to that occupying force sure does not sit very well. How will Jesus answer this vexing question?

Of course, Jesus answers like he often answers, by asking a question. First he asks for a coin. And then he says, “Whose image is this, and whose title?” In asking that question, Jesus has spoken “THE” word that the Babel Fish would have instantaneously made you aware of the brilliance of Jesus’ question. Let me elaborate…And let’s start in the beginning. In the first book of the bible, in Genesis, we learn that God made Adam in HIS image – in fact makes all of humanity in HIS image – in the IMAGE of God.

“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

As the Rabbi’s would in every case of a text from the Torah, they would develop a teaching that they would include in the Talmud (a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish laws, philosophy, customs and history). Here is the teaching they developed on Adam being created in God’s image:

“Adam, the first human, was created as a single person to show forth the greatness of the Ruler who is beyond all rulers, Blessed Holy One. For if a human ruler…mints many coins from one mold, they all carry the same image, they all look alike. But the Blessed Holy One shaped all humans in the Divine image, as Adam was…and yet not one of them resembles another.”

The Rabbi’s drew an analogy between the image that Caesar, a human ruler, puts on the coin in his realm, and the image that God, the Divine Infinite Ruler, puts on you and me. In other words, the very diversity of human faces that you see around you today shows the limitlessness of the unlimited Creator – whereas the uniformity of Caesar’s coins highlights the limitations of the emperor – a human ruler. We are not all minted from the same mold, in other words. In fact, for some of us, they broke the mold….Amen?

But what does that all matter? Well, you need to insert your Babel Fish now, because there is one word that this text turns on. It is the word that the NRSV translates as “Head” – the Greek word is “Eikon”. Yes, it can be translated as head, like the image on a coin. But it can also mean the embodiment or the living manifestation of God in form or appearance, which is how the Genesis text is to be understood – we are all created in the image of, or in the living embodiment or living manifestation of God. So, we can look at this text this way. Jesus says, “Whose image is on this coin?” as he points to the Denarius. And then he looks right at the person who originally asked the question about taxes, and Jesus points to his chest, and says, “Whose image is on you?” And then he looks at you and me, Jesus does, and asks “Whose image is imprinted on you, and on you, like Abe Lincoln on the Penny?” In other words, the image that we wear on the outside tells others who we give authority to in our life. If money is your main focus in life, then you have a dollar sign imprinted on you. If being famous is your main focus, then you have a “YouTube” logo on your chest.

So who do you wear on the outside – or what image is stamped on your very being? If you are wearing the robe of faith through Jesus Christ, then people will know who has authority in your life. Those with ears, I hope you are listening.

Pastor Dave

October 20, 2023 – Devotions – Does the Bible Say…?

Does the Bible Say “Money is the Root of All Evil?

“Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness, is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” 1 Timothy 6:3-10

We might call this kind of use of scripture as a “Pocket Verse” – you know, when someone needs some scripture to support their argument, they reach into their pocket and pull out a line of scripture, a card to play and throws it in your face. After all, if it is in the Bible, it must be true, right? Look, we all know that money can be used in evil ways. Money can cause people to seek evil outcomes, and to do evil things. And, in the ever “soul-crushing” desire to have more and more “stuff”, some people will be lured into evil deeds and decisions. But, my friends, money is not the root of all evil – that is not what Paul is saying. When you read the scripture, you see that he says “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”

Paul does teach people to be content with what they have, not to get lost in seeking more and more, for “…there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it”. In other words, empty handed have we come into this world, and we will go out of this world empty handed, as Martin Luther so famously said: “We are all beggars”.

My friends, we all need money to live. But, we are not to live for money. Paul does not teach that rich people are going to hell, or that rich people should become poor to be closer to G-d. He does teach that those who have should be generous with and toward those who do not have – and that we must always thank G-d for the abundance of blessings, material and spiritual, that we have been showered with. Money must not become a “god” for us – but we always thank G-d for the money we have – and then pray for the strength and guidance to share out of our abundance.

Pastor Dave