A Teleological Life
Once again, through ways I will not bother relaying, I found myself preaching on a Sunday morning. The topic: finding purpose.
One of the biggest problems with the Advent/Christmas season is the worry about “losing the meaning of Christmas” due to “commercialism” and the other coca-cola-Santa-Claus-vices. I submit that there is a greater fear in limiting the Providence of God by localizing His actions and planning to one or two moments in time. The birth was not the end or the purpose of the incarnation, neither was the crucifixion, nor the resurrection. Place the various holidays and our personalized application of them on the back burner. They all work together in a unified way. God has an overall plan. A purpose. A “teleos” = goal.
From here a quick summary of various events in the life of Christ which show His clear acknowledgment of this goal/purpose, though mainly things were focused around Luke 2:41-52, where the pre-teen Jesus is going about His “father’s business”.
An old prof of mine has recently submitted that a better rendering of that phrase is said “to be among those who belong to my Father.” And who would those people be? Who belongs to the Father? Everyone, as evidenced by Jesus’ interactions in life: the “churched” and “unchurched” were on His relational radar.
Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the disciples, those others called but who walked away, the scribes, the tax collectors, the Pharisees, the prostitutes. None is exempt from the goal of Christ, calling all men/women onto repentance, and showing all how to live in perfect communion with God.
If we are Christians (read: “little christs,” “Christ like,” or “imitators of Christ”) then it seems to reason that said goal is the same: the purpose does not change, though individually we need to figure out what that looks like in each of our lives. How my goal is sought, accepted, or achieved will not be the same for you, but I still need to be actively seeking opportunities and accepting the ones that fall in my lap. I’ll say that again:
I need to be actively seeking opportunities and accepting the ones that fall in my lap.
Amid Kat Williams allusions and a bit of biblical exegesis, the question remained (and remains) how do I go about my Father’s work if I am not around His people with a specific purpose, and a godly one at that? It was not a five point sermon, with the preacher’s amazing answer at the end. Instead it was one question, repeated in different ways:
What is it God would have you do, specifically, relationally, and daily? What purposes/goals are you supposed to seek out and/or accept as they come your way?
Why I Hate Being A Christian
This is my rant.
It is in poem form, it is not done yet, but it is true. 100% accurate. I couldn’t make this shit up. I’ve even cut out some of the insanity.
I will finish this one day, polished and hopefully published, but this is where it stands after a few days of weeding out the editorializing and commentary on the part of the speaker (me). This is as close as I can get right now to just stark, non-didactic observation.
The setting: a Reformed church in Wisconsin. White. Trying to be ‘progressive.’ Okay, I’m done.
Enjoy and cringe.
——————————————————————————————
“oh say, can you see ”
trapped in McCain country on a Sunday morning
the 6th of July. it’s an election year in the Midwest
and the rest of the country i suppose, though here
fireworks blaze for an extra week, like the cross on the lawn
of this church, when decorated for Christmas.
the reverend is traditionally, though ironically, robed
in black. the seasonal green sash around his shoulders
brings out the color of eyes, which close in prayer
as hands raise before god, over the congregation. he begins
with pride in the brave pioneers, mindful of their duty,
their manifest destiny to purify this promised land
like the children of Israel in Canaan, allowing us
to follow their footsteps onto this savage shore –
my eyes snap open in remembrance of some who came
in shackles, and those who left souls buried beneath
railroads and on tearful trails. i tuned back in on barbwire
swastikas and something about child molesters. he praises
the precious freedoms which stand against radical Islam,
baked bread and diesel fumes – the scents of home –
which triggers thoughts of Margaret awaiting word
on chemotherapy, and the silence of the drums this week
from Jeffery’s absence –the terrible spill which left his children
wondering when they will be able to play with their father.
after the amen i try to concentrate on the sermon,
but become lost in the mountains of Jerusalem
and their significance to our national & economic security,
how the Psalm relates to sheiks in sand or the almighty
dollar replaced by the euro. and then the axis of evil –
abortions, poverty and rap music – the balm for boys
who play games, young black men who only dream
of being musicians and athletes. the sincerity brought tears
to his eyes. he closed with a call for us to take stock of the symbols
of his faith: a body whipped and hung on a tree; an empty tomb;
the white wash of baptism; sitting inside the master’s house,
welcomed to wine at His table. and of course bread. with solemn nods
we were ushered forward for the Eucharist . i almost ran out
of room to take note.
~ MEH
I was trying to find a picture of the guy, but I can’t find the name of the church. . . . blast!
Real Christians Ask Questions
Sermon Summary:
Acts 17:17-32 - Paul’s Sermon on Mars’ Hill.
Paul spoke on Mars Hill to a group of gathered philosophers, judges, and generally wise people. He expressed to them the nature of God, but he never used a passage from scripture. Paul spoke to the surrounding masses through their own language, their own history, their own religion, their own poetry, their own philosophy. He told them the metaphysical, cosmological, relational, and religious nature of His God, and he did so through their own devices. Paul knew his audience and confronted and challenged them where they lived.
This is what we are called to do. If you do not understand why someone believes what they believe, you are pretty useless in talking to them. Knowing their beliefs only gets you so far: an argument. Understanding why the individual (not the collective) believes a thing brings you to conversation, and possibly change, in you and them.
If you tell someone they need Jesus but don’t know what they believe and why, why would they believe what you have is better? It is like telling someone your car is better than theirs when you haven’t even seen it with your eyes, not to speak of a test drive.
Sometimes your personal religious experiences and knowledge of the Bible means nothing, while an understanding of where the other person is coming for is everything.
Sermon On The Sabbath
Here is the link to the last time they were crazy enough to let me preach.
It was about the purpose and meaning of the sabbath, and why maybe you need to switch churches.
From Luke chapter 6.
Even got dudes with withered hands. What more can you want?
Here is the Trailhead page about it
Palm Sunday Preaching
Only I can be home for less than 5 hours and then be told that I’m preaching the next day . . .
“For Me . . . ?”
_________________________________
Sermon Summary: [Text Mostly John chp 12
Jesus: “Stop throwing things in front of me that mean nothing; you didn’t grow these Palm trees, I did. They cost you nothing. And these clothes you will pick up the moment the festivties are over and then wash them. You’ll even look back and complain that you ruined your Passover-best to your friends. How about you throw your LIVES down for a change.
And years from now people will read these words and conjure up all sorts of foretelling meanings about my death, completely missing the real point: your death. Your death to self.
Open your hands and lay your lives down before me.
I don’t need your leaves or your linens: I want your lives!”