January 16, 2023 – “Spewing Rhetoric”

“Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you! For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in We  of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:17-26

{When my son, William, was young, we belonged to a small country church. On Communion day, deacons would pass around the “bread and juice.” One Sunday, we attended a church out of town that was more formal. What our church called bread and juice, this one referred to as elements, a word William didn’t understand. As Communion began, the pastor said, “If the deacons will come forward, the elements will pass among us.” William was suddenly excited and I didn’t know why. Then he leaned toward me, whispering something that caused me to burst out laughing. With all eyes on us, I took him by the hand and we made a hasty exit. All the way to the car, he protested. “Mom, we’re going to miss the circus. The pastor said the elephants were going to pass among us!”}

We often speak about the fact that there is “…an elephant in the room” when there is something that goes unspoken among a group. In my opinion there are too many elephants in too many rooms because people are afraid to talk about their feelings and state their disagreements openly fearing retribution and condemnation.

Now, this is 21^st century America, and we are so divided in our society it is no wonder people are afraid to share their opinions. My Lord it took fifteen votes to determine who would be Speaker of the House because 21 members of his own party refused to vote unless they got their way.

I know that our society has become very sensitive and seemingly unable to “stomach” dissenting opinion – and not just dissenting opinion but the occasional faux pas or even the intentionally controversial statement or viewpoint. So, I am going to be intentionally controversial – I am not going to let the elephant in the room breathe any air – so here goes:

Why can’t we all just grow some thicker skin and not take ourselves and our opinions and our feelings so seriously all of the time?

Why can’t we take time to discern a comment, a situation, and a controversial opinion before we open our mouths and spew hatred and shout epithets at one another? Take time to consider your response – weigh your opinion – form your post before you act. And, if I may be so bold, take time to realize that just because someone says something controversial does not mean they are an idiot. Some of the smartest people in the world have held seriously radical views and dangerous opinions–people like Martin Luther, Jan Hus, and author Charles Bukowski. So, if you disagree with me, well, spew away – I can take it.

(the opinions expressed by this devotion writer are not representative of his or her viewpoint or to be given any weight toward his or her ability to express an informed opinion – all concerns should be given to the elephant in the room so that we can all just continue to loathe one another until a time in the future when Jesus renders all things unto himself.)

Let us pray: Dear G-d, give me a discerning mind and open heart so I may listen before I speak. Amen.

 Pastor Dave

January 15, 2023 — Epiphany 2A

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” John 1:29-42

Abraham Lincoln was truly a “John the Baptist” figure. Why would I say that? Well, let’s see – Abe Lincoln was a relative unknown, coming out of the wilderness of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois to become President of the United States, and whose elocution truly raised him up as a political figure. John the Baptist, too, came out of the wilderness, living off locusts, dressing in camel’s hair, and was known for his fiery rhetoric. Abe Lincoln was, at times, a tortured man – it was believed that he struggled with depression most of his life, often called “melancholia” at that time – besides having to deal with the immensity of the Civil War. John the Baptist, it seems, must also have been tortured with his own “demons”, preaching and struggling with religious leaders, like Herod who eventually put him into prison and had him killed. And Abraham Lincoln and John the Baptist were both men pointing to something bigger than themselves – Lincoln to a country without slavery (a house divided against itself cannot stand…this government cannot endure…half slave and half free), and John the Baptist to the arrival of the Messiah (Look, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world).

Abe Lincoln and John the Baptist both are remembered for their words as well as their actions. Both, though driven by fears, were not afraid to say the things the world needed to hear in great times of distress. No, you and I are not Abe Lincoln, or John the Baptist, but you and I do have a voice – a voice that needs to proclaim what Jesus has done for us, even when we are afraid to speak. The word never spoken is the opportunity that never happened for one more person to hear of the love of Jesus. We may not change the world with our voice, but we may change the world-view of one person to whom we do share our voice.

Pastor Dave