Do we seek to do good, or just to not be bad?

In my reading this morning, I read Romans 12. I've read Romans 12 before, several times, preached on it, done group studies on it, and used in it in many different ways. But today, as so often happens when I reread Scripture, a new thought occurred to me.

The section of verses, 9-21, are entitled "Marks of the True Christian". Now, of course, these titles are not actually in the words of Scripture but are inserted by the editors and translators, but this heading always catches my eye and gets me excited (and feeling a little guilty) at the same time. Here is a list of pretty concrete things that you should be doing if you are a true Christian. Past some of the upfront and essential tenants of Christian faith (such as, in my humble opinion, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength', 'Love your neighbor as yourself', and 'Confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.'), this list is where it's at.

It's so direct and clear. It's tangible things that don't seem overly theological or too deep to grasp. There might be many different ways that a person could go about doing each of these things, but I'm confident that every person in the world could find a way to do them.

And yet, when was the last time you (or I) truly strove to do these things? I write this thinking of myself and fellow Christians, but also my fellow human beings. Sure, some things on this list are specifically Christian, or at least religious, but since when is extending hospitality to strangers something you can't do without a belief in Christ? Or rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep? Or living peaceably with all? Some would say that Christians often fail at many of these tasks, maybe even more than non-Christians.

Which brings me to my question: Do we seek to do good in the world, or are we just trying to not be bad?

Do we look at the lists that are in many of the the books of the bible, those famous lists that we hear railed about in sermons, and think to ourselves, "Well at least I'm not doing that! At least I'm not as bad as those people who [insert whatever your idea of the 'worst sin' is here]. I would never do someone as bad as that!"

It's much easier to look at a list that includes acts that we deem horrific and unthinkable and be proud that we haven't done those things than it is to look at a list of 'The Marks of the True Christian' and admit to ourselves that we aren't doing a single one of those things. What good is it to stay away from evil things if we are not doing good things as alternatives? Picking the road that is easier, both on our actions and ways of living as well as on our hearts and conscience, is wrong. It is contrary to God's purpose for our lives, and to what it means to be a caring, loving, and compassionate human being.

And if you're wondering what the list is and don't have a bible handy to look it up, here it is, as found in Romans 12:9-21 in the NRSV Translation:

Romans 12:9-21New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Day 27: Numbers 8-13, Mark 9

So if you've been trying to actually follow this blog, I apologize for the EXTREME laziness on my part for not posting anything in over two weeks. However, I haven't missed a day of the reading, so there are still comments GALORE that I will begin posting. Don't know how long it's going to take me to catch up, but I will.

And without further ado.....

Numbers 9:9-10
It didn't matter if the Israelites were unclean or if they were away traveling. If the time came for them to worship God and make a sacrifice, they were supposed to do it, wherever they were.

Numbers 11:14-15
Sometimes I think that we are dealing with situations and we turn to God with cries like these. We are dealing with situations that are way past our own ability to handle, and we have to turn to God, but instead of asking for God's help, strength, guidance or wisdom, we whine and blame God and say that we'd rather be dead.

Numbers 12:10-11
Why was Miriam the only one affected with leprosy? Hadn't Aaron spoken out against Moses as well?

Mark 9:38-41
I believe that this passage speaks strongly regarding divisions within the church. We are so often worried about who else is "in the club", that we totally overlook the fact that we are all, in some way, trying to do the work of Christ.

Ponderings:
I have been running into a lot of division lately, whether in a particular congregation or denomination, within families, or within politics in this country right now. Some of it seems to be completely irreconcilable, while other issues are those that shouldn't even be issues. (Don't worry, I'm SOOOO not going to use this as a soapbox for any sort of issues. Those opinions, as far as I'm concerned, shouldn't be floating around the interwebz.)

When you get more than one person in a group, you're going to have disagreements and differences of opinion. Even if you only had one person, you could still have more than one opinion. But more often than not, if people are getting into a group together, they've got something in common to begin with. They have a similar interest, work at the same place, live in the same neighborhood, or have a similar opinion about something. But even with similarities, you're still going to run into issues.

We read about this in the passage from Mark, that there were differences of opinion (or whatever) between the followers of Christ. Some of the disciples came across other people that they didn't know who were doing things in the name of Christ. Now these people weren't on street corners condemning others, they weren't going around using the Lord's name in vain, or doing things that Jesus wouldn't approve of. They were healing people, casting out demons. They were performing miracles.

Now I could be missing something, but miracles are good, right? Healing people, forgiving sins, sharing the Gospel message, those are all pluses in my mind when I think about the ministry of Christ. So you can understand my confusion when I read that the disciples said they told the people to stop. And It's also nice to see that I'm in the same boat with Jesus on this one. (At least in the thinking that it's fine what the other people are doing. I don't know that Jesus was likely ever confused about things, but who knows. Maybe. He was human after all)

But what I take away from this is that we, and this 'we' includes everybody, need to get off our high horses and realize that even if other people go about something differently, or just because they aren't part of our "crowd", doesn't mean that they aren't accomplishing something or doing good in the world. What right do I have to say to someone "I don't know you, and that's not how I would do it, so you have to stop"?

If someone is doing something good, in the name of Jesus, for the sake of the Gospel, and they're doing it because Jesus Christ is their savior and they feel called to do because they're trying to lead a Christian life, then they are my brother or sister in Christ. That is the bottom line.

Days 23 and 24: Leviticus 25-27, Numbers 1-2, Mark 6 and Numbers 3-7, Mark 7-8

Leviticus 25
Initially I thought that the sabbaths that the people had to take meant that had to stock pile and not eat anything from the fields. But they don't actually have to do that. They just can't work the fields. They can't rely on their own efforts within that year. They trust in God and God's Creation to provide all that they will need for the year.

Leviticus 25:39-55
There are regulations and commands regarding the support of those who need support, and those who are so desperate that they sell themselves as slaves. But all is to be forgiven in the year of jubilee, so that oppressive debt or social structures don't continue on trough the generations.

Numbers 5:11-28
Is this combination of bitter water something that will actually, scientifically, affect the womb, or is it an act of God that brings on the results? Are there actual places in scripture where this is used to test for infidelity?

Numbers 6:22-27
This well known blessing was originally for Aaron and his sons, so that they might in turn bless the Israelites in and through the name of God.

Numbers 7
This chapter started to play through my head like the 12 Days of Christmas, but instead it was "on the the 12th day of offerings that the leaders brought to God". It got more than a little repetitive.

Mark 6:8-12
Again, examples of relying on God to provide.

Mark 6:34
Jesus teaches people because he has compassion for them. He's got to be exhausted and worn out from the constant crowds, but he knows they need the message and the healing that only he can provide.

Mark 7:6-8
In order to truly worship God, we have to have our hearts in the same place as our lips, meaning we have to walk the walk if we're going to talk the talk.

Mark 7:18-19
Mark makes a pretty big claim here, that Jesus declared all foods clean. That was a big thing for people to hear at that time.

Mark 8:23-25
Perhaps when we go to God and ask for something, ask for things to be revealed to us, but then don't take the time to look intently at hat God is doing, we miss what we are meant to see and we see things not as they really are.

Today's thoughts and wonderings:
How are we a blessing to others? How do we take the blessing that was originally given to Aaron and his sons, so that ALL of Israel could be blessed, and put it into action in our lives?

Do we look for the people in our own lives who are desperate for help, who may be about to make themselves slaves to something in exchange for a little help, and offer them assistance in any way we can?

I have had people do this a lot for me lately, whether family or friends, whether in the form of gifts or loans, and I am unbelievably grateful for them, and for their love, encouragement and support. I would not be making it today if it wasn't for them.

And I'm not saying that if you haven't helped someone out lately that you are ignoring need around you or that you're a bad person, but have you ever considered doing something extra, giving to someone who needs it, whether they deserve it or not? Because I don't necessarily DESERVE the help I have received. I know I could have put more into savings, or not bought that movie I wanted. But I didn't. And whether I got myself into this situation or not, I'm here.

Another passage that I read today talks about putting into action what you are saying, what you are promoting or teaching to others. I'm not going to pretend to know what this looks like for you, or even suggest ways to live your life better. I don't think that this is the place for that.

But let me offer this: consider those around you. Look out for small signs that someone else is struggling, because every person out there is struggling somehow, whether it's financially, physically, emotionally or spiritually. Take the blessing that we find in Numbers 6, and the commands to help others that we see in Leviticus 25, and the compassion and love of Christ that we see all over the Gospels and put them into practice. Because we live in a broken and hurting world that we have the opportunity to make a better place, even if it's for one person for one day.

Give what you can, where you can, to as many people as you can, as often as you can. You may have more opportunities to help than you realize.

Days 21 and 22: Leviticus 15-19, Mark 3 and Leviticus 20-24, Mark 4-5

Leviticus 15:18
I wonder if this verse helps to contribute to the idea that many people have that sex is dirty and wrong.

Leviticus 17:11
It is in the blood that the life of the flesh resides. That is why blood is required for the offerings and the sacrifices that are made to God for atonement.

Leviticus 18
What exactly does the phrase "Uncover someone's nakedness" mean?

Leviticus 18-19
After almost all of the commands that God gives to the Israelites, God says "I am the LORD your God", as if that is the reason for the statutes and regulations, but also as a reassurance that when they follow these commands, God will recognize them as the chosen people, set apart and distinct from all of the other nations around them.

Leviticus 20:6
The term "prostituting oneself" is an interesting one, but very descriptive and, I think, very applicable.

Leviticus 21
The priests, the representatives of the people before God, were held to a higher standard than the rest of Israel. What does this mean for pastors and church leaders today, even though our role for the community is different from that of Aaron and his sons?

Mark 3:11-12
I had always wondered why Jesus had told the unclean spirits not to make him known. But now I understand: If Jesus wanted people to truly understand and believe that He was the Son of God, the Messiah, then the testimony couldn't come from people who were possessed by unclean spirits and demons. It wouldn't be a believable testimony. It would have been rejected as crazy.

Mark 4: 22
Everything that is secret will eventually become known. I don't believe that Jesus wanted some people to to be ignorant of his message while others knew and understood, I just think that come people weren't ready to ear and understand. Some people just needed more time or guidance to reach a level of understanding.

Mark 4:39
I wonder if part of Jesus' command of "Peace! Be still!" was for the sake of the disciples, to stop them from freaking out and worrying if they were going to die in the storm.

Mark 5:17-20
I find it interesting that they were afraid of Jesus or by what he had done, but when the man who had been possessed spoke to them about the incredible things that Jesus had done, they were amazed.

Today's Ponderments:
When we prostitute ourselves to practices or ideas, we give ourselves to them in exchange for little or nothing that benefits ourselves. It is not a relationship that we cherish or treasure, or one that means anything at all. Whatever we give ourselves to, that thing takes from us whatever it wants, whatever we are offering, and doesn't regard us as anything of importance. 

This is the total opposite of God's relationship with us, how God wanted to be in relationship, in covenant, with the Israelite people. God wanted them to live their lives in a certain way, to worship God and respect the boundaries that God had for their lives, but it wasn't a one-sided relationship. God would bless them, protect them, save them, make them prosper, and through them bless the entire world.

God knew that they would be tempted by false gods, by other nations and their ways of life, by actions and decisions that would bring them temporary satisfaction but in the long run ruin them. God always kept the promises that were made to the Israelites. It was the Israelites who prostituted themselves to other gods, to sorcerers, to nations outside of their own, just to get a quick fix, a momentary and perverted glimpse of the true reward and blessing that God had promised to them.

And the Israelites are not the only ones.

Day 20: Leviticus 9-14, Mark 1-2

Leviticus 10:1-2
Aaron's sons did things that the Lord hadn't commanded them to do in worship. They were not doing anything the was AGAINST the rules, but they were trying to make up their own ways of worshipping God, thinking that they could "improve" on what God had come up with.

Leviticus 11
I have always heard that the laws that were handed down to the Israelites were for the purpose of being set apart from other nations, and I get that. I understand that reasoning and the importance of that. But what I don't get is why they could eat particular animals but not others. What makes a rock badger, or a lobster, or an owl, unclean? Why those specific animals?

Leviticus 13:9
If you are cleansed of a leprous skin disease, one of the things you have to do is shave off your hair, ALL your hair, including your eyebrows. Because the leprous skin disease wasn't humiliating and embarrassing enough.

Mark 1:20
I love the image of James and John not only leaving immediately to follow Jesus, but that they probably jumped out of the boat into the water, getting soaked, and then trying to run through waist deep water to the shore where Jesus, Simon, and Andrew were standing, all the while with Zebedee and the hired men watching from the boat, wondering what in the world was happening.

Mark 1:43-45
I wonder if the man who was cured ever went and presented himself to the priest or made the offerings he was supposed to make to God. He certainly didn't keep his mouth shut about the whole thing like Jesus told him to.

Mark 2:5-12
What was the paralytic man thinking in between when Jesus told him his sins were forgiven and when Jesus told him to take up his mat and walk. Was he wondering why Jesus hadn't healed him, or was he rejoicing that his sins were forgiven?

Today's wonderings:
What do we imagine healing to be? How do we understand it? Is it physical, spiritual, emotional, or some combination of the three? Or is it something that we can't really qualify or quantify because we really don't understand exactly what it means unless we understand the situation?

For example, take the paralytic man whose friend pulled a McGuyver when they hauled him up onto the roof, dug through the ceiling, and lowered him down in front of Jesus. What was he expecting was going to happen? What were his friends expecting was going to happen? Were they bringing him to have Jesus heal his paralysis, or did they want him to hear the incredible message that Jesus was preaching, so that perhaps he would have some reassurance and hope in life, even if he was still paralyzed?

So often when we think of healing, we think of it in the physical sense. And in today's world, with all the science and technology, it is hard for us to comprehend or hope for physical healing. We hear the doctors report, that there is nothing more to be done, and we give up, convinced that the situation is hopeless and we must let go. Sometimes, this is the logical and rational conclusion, and we must accept that no one will live forever.

My family faced this 3 years ago when my father suffered a massive and sudden brain aneurysm. We were told by the doctors that there was no coming back from what had happened, that even if he did recover, he would never be the same. We all agreed that my dad would not want to live like that. Some would say that we had given up hope. I do not agree.

At that time, we decided to let go, to say goodbye. I still believe that if it had been the will of God to miraculously heal my father, that my dad would have been healed. But that did not happen. And, to my knowledge, no one prayed out loud for that in front of my family. The pastors and priests that were there to support us never once uttered the word "heal".

But what they did do is pray for us to have comfort that we were able to say goodbye, that we we confident in our decisions regarding what to do, and that we would have peace. They prayed for spiritual and emotional healing for my family, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

I like to think that the paralytic was eternally grateful to Christ not only for being healed physically, but for being healed spiritually and emotionally. I cannot even fathom what it must have been like for him to stand up, pick up his mat, and walk out of that house. But what I would imagine was even more amazing and incredible would have been that Jesus Christ, savior of the world, God incarnate, looked him in the eyes, and said to him, "Son, your sins are forgiven." I cannot imagine a more life-changing event than that.

Day 19: Leviticus 4-8, Matthew 28

Leviticus 5
I like that the finances and situations of individuals are taken into account when determining what people are to bring for an offering. It considers that some of the Israelites might not be able to afford a sheep or goat or even pigeons. But God still provides the means for their forgiveness.

Matthew 28:3-7
I always imagine that this angel of the Lord has a sort of "puckish" quality to him. He states things quite matter of fact, and reassures the women at the same time that he has terrified the guards. I see him sort of crouching down, his hands on his knees, with a friendly and almost mischievous glimmer in his eyes, relaying the most incredible and important news in the history of the world: "He is Risen".

Matthew 28:8
The women left the tomb with fear AND great joy. They still didn't quite understand what had happened, but it was obviously something big.

Matthew 28:18-20
The Great Commission. The charge of Jesus Christ to go out unto all the world, spreading the gospel truth and making new disciples everywhere. It still inspires within me a need and conviction to go and share the Good News, no matter how many times I've heard it.

Today's ponderings:
When you read or hear an account of the resurrection, the Easter story, what do you imagine happening? Who are you in the story? What role do you play? Are you a passive observer or an active participant?

And what do you think of when you imagine the individual characters that are written about? What do you think of the women who waited at the tomb, for whatever reason that they were there. What do you think of the disciples, who voluntarily abandoned Christ, and were informed by women that Christ was, indeed, risen. What comes to your mind when you consider the Jewish leaders, or the Roman guards, or the people who laid Christ in the tomb? What do you imagine when you think of the angel of the Lord, coming with brilliance and clothes of lightning, intimidating the guards until yet appeared dead, but assuring the women that they need not fear, for their hopes and prayers have been answered: He is Risen!!!!

When we truly take the time to consider the events, the situation, the people involved, we see things we overlooked, things that we were never aware of in a story that we have heard hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of times. It can evoke new feelings, bring fresh insights, and inspire us to follow the Great Commission that we find less than ten verses later in the story.

Day 18: Exodus 39-40, Leviticus 1-3, Matthew 26-27

Leviticus 2:11
No leaven or honey was to be offered as a burnt offering. Why not? What happens to leaven or honey if it's burned? Does it not give off a "pleasing odor"?

Leviticus 3:16-17
All fat is the Lord's. No one was to eat any fat or any blood.

Matthew 26:6-13
Sometimes a gift to someone in need, especially one that us extravagant, is exactly what that person needs at the time. It is given freely, without a thought to the cost or efforts, or what could have been done that was more "reasonable". There is a need and it can be helped. This is what matters.

Matthew 26:30
What hymn did Jesus and the disciples sing at the end of the Last Supper?

Matthew 26:50
When Jesus addresses Judas, he calls him Friend. How incredible is that?

Matthew 26:52-54
Jesus makes a point that the will of God, the prophecies in the Scriptures, will not be completed or carried out with violence.

Matthew 27:19, 24-25
I wonder what this did to Pilate's marriage, and also what it did to his heart and soul, to go against the urging and pleads of his wife, as well as his own feelings, and hand over a righteous and innocent man to be crucified by an angry mob. How do you live with yourself after that?

Matthew 27:42
I wonder if Jesus was tempted to give them a little show when he was being crucified. Would they really have believed he was the Son of God if he had gotten down off of the cross?

Matthew 27:50
Jesus breathed his last; he gave up his spirit. Was he still waiting for the possibility of God doing something, o stepping in? Or was it that after God forsook him, that he finally had the sins of humanity upon him, and he could then die?

Today's ponderments:
How many times in my life will I have read the story of the crucifixion, hear it read, hear it preached on, or seen it in movies?

I have been hearing it as long as I can remember. Growing up as a child, the only scripture I ever remember reading as a family was the Christmas story, and the story of the crucifixion and resurrection on Jesus Christ. It is one of the most familiar scriptures to me, and one that I have always been able to visualize and imagine in great detail.

And it is also one that still fills me with awe and sorrow every time I hear it. I still, even as a 29-year-old seminary graduate, retain a child-like fascination and wonder when it comes to the crucifixion and resurrection. I am still baffled every time that Judas betrays Jesus, still hoping that Peter WON'T deny Jesus. I still want to yell at Pilate "You had a chance to stop this, all of this, with hardly any consequence on yourself, but you don't!!!! You go with the mob, release a murderer, and turn the Son of God over to people who wildly chanting for his brutal and public execution!!! What were you thinking???!!!"

And, without fail, I imagine myself in the story, holding fast to Mary Magdalene, tears streaming down my face as I watch my Lord and Savior being tortured, humiliated, and sentenced to death on a cross, all for my sins and the sins of humanity.

The crucifixion story is one that I have heard over and over. I could tell it with as much detail as any of the gospel accounts. And yet, it still affects me in my very soul, moving between grief and guilt and overwhelming gratitude at what Jesus, the Savior of the world, gave for me and for all.