Living God’s Way rather than Our Way

I was having a conversation today on a variety of topics which related to how the Church views different moral challenges in our society. Among other topics the issue of a “list of rights and wrongs” was mentioned as if the Church life could somehow be boiled down to what we as Christians are “allowed” or “not allowed” to do before we were accused of sinning. I was reminded of how the ancient Jews had confused the Law as “nothing more” than a list of do’s and don’ts as opposed to a way of life designed to follow God.  Consider today’s  Gospel Reading:

Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5 (RSV) - At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?"  And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?"  And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him.  And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here."  And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?"  But they were silent.  And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch it out," and his hand was restored.

The Ancient Jews were unable to see past the letter of the Law and therefore could not recognize Christ. I don’t think it is a coincidence that today there are many who can’t see Christ for the same reasons. Until the Church is able to express that our way of life isn’t about a list of do’s and don’ts we will never  inspire people to follow Christ.

Life isn’t about what we can and can’t do, but whether or not we want to be in union with God. If we want union, then we stand a better chance of living the life rather than the law. Orthodoxy is a way of life. When we dwell on the do’s and don’ts we focus on how we are “not allowed to do what we want,” and we will stop at nothing trying to convince others of our right to do what we want. It was the mistake that Eve made when confronted by the serpent. Orthodoxy is God’s gift to guide us back to living His way rather than our way.

Free to Do Good

Continuing with yesterday’s post about being free to follow the Church, today’s Epistle reading reminded me that the Law of the Church can and is many time abused by people trying to control others. When we consider the Holy Canons of the Church as a way to control behavior, we are already in a state of abuse. In truth the Holy Canons, also known as Canon Law, is meant to guide people into a holy life in Christ.

St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 1:8-14 (RSV) - TIMOTHY, my son, we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, immoral persons, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

When the Holy Canons are used for good, they lead others to Christ. When they are used for control they turn others away from the Church. My guess is the person who left the comment I blogged about yesterday has been abused by the Church. If He had felt the loving guidance of the Church and wanted to live with Christ, he would see the goodness in the Holy Canons and not evil.

If you find yourself considering how the Holy Canons are good to control behavior, I invite you to consider another point of view. When you are seeking control over others, it is more likely you are the one with a choice to make. Do you use the Law for Good or evil? You are free to do Good. Now go do it.

Modern Day Pharisees

We read the Holy Scriptures and too often think about the Pharisees as if they no longer exist, but I encounter them every day. I’m not speaking about Jewish Pharisees, but Orthodox Pharisees. Allow me to explain...

Consider today’s Gospel Reading... Gospel Reading: Luke 6:1-10 (RSV) - At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?" And Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" And he said to them, "The Son of man is lord of the sabbath." On another sabbath, when he entered the synagogue and taught, a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" And he looked around on them all, and said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.

The Orthodox Christian way of life, much like the ancient Jewish way of life, is enriched by a litany of “do’s” and “don’ts” that is meant to shape our life to align with a Godly life rather than an earthly life. The life of prayer rules, fasting rules, lectionaries, service schedules, almsgiving, and the like can be a bit taunting to the outsider. Making things worse, Orthodox Pharisees, continue to insist on obeying these “rules” but continue to display a lack of understanding why the Orthodox Christian way of life is so important.

The same thing was the case in today’s Gospel lesson. The Pharisees didn’t understand WHY the law was created in the first place. It wasn’t merely to teach the Jews to refuse to work on Saturday, but that we as humans needed the inspiration to spend time in prayer and rest. Otherwise we have a tendency to keep working until we fall over from exhaustion. The Pharisees focuses on doing the Law but never took the time to understand WHY.

The Orthodox Christian way of life is enriched when we fast. We learn that life isn’t about pleasing our own selfish desires. We learn that we can go without for a period to allow for prayer and rest. We learn to keep food in its proper place – nutrition for the human body.

The Orthodox Christian way of life is enriched when we schedule our daily life around times for prayer. We learn that taking time for our relationship with God is crucial to understanding our time on earth. We learn that if we don’t schedule prayer, we are likely to just keep right on working and forget to spend some time talking to God.

The Orthodox Christian way of life is enriched when we read the Holy Scriptures every day, but we more likely would read the parts we like over and over again and miss the full experience of the Holy Scriptures. The lectionary guides our reading throughout the year to align to certain seasons and holidays helping us put the different pieces together.

The Orthodox Christian way of life is enriched when we take care of the poor and tithe to the Church. Jesus commanded us to love others and see Him when we see others, and caring for the poor helps us to actually express our love in actions rather than just use the words. Tithing to the Church helps us put God and mission of His Church first in our life. If we wait to see “how much we can afford to give” we will always find other things to claim our attention.

We don’t do these different actions merely to do them, but to gain spiritual benefit from them. Take a moment to call your priest and schedule Holy Confession to confess your sins and discuss these issues. He will help you realize that it isn’t about following the rules; it is about allowing the rules to help you live a new life in Christ.

State Law vs Religious Law

Our final “Ask Father” sermon for the season answers the question, “What is our Church view on the state law and our religious law?” During election season the balance between Church and State is often brought into the highlight. It can be a bit confusing navigating between the issues to determine if we as Orthodox Christians are obligated to follow the State or follow the Church. A brief study of the words of Saint Paul (Romans 13.1-7) helps us see the governing authorities have an obligation as well, to defend goodness. There might reason to ignore certain laws, but that does not eliminate the consequences. The end has a bonus question, so watch until the end!

 

We Hold Ourselves to a Higher Standard

We live in a world, much like the Christians of the first century, in which morality is based not on the teachings of Christ, but the teachings of darkness. Daily, it seems, our world is stepping further away from the way of life of Christ and His Church, as is evidenced in the daily news reports. In a world in which the terminally ill are invited to take their own lives with “dignity,” or in which there is no longer a distinction between males and females, we must strive to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We are encouraged by Saint Paul to coexist peacefully in this world, all the while never faltering in our commitment to live a life worthy of Christ. Holding ourselves to a higher standard doesn’t mean abandoning nonbelievers to hell; rather it means being in a constant state of prayer that their hearts may be softened. Of course, we understand the Gospel message will fall sometimes on deaf ears, but that does not give us license to live according to the same fallen standards of the world. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Sanctity of Life

Here is the first episode of our new Summer Sermon Series, "The Sanctity of Life."

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 35 (Reflections on John 1-11)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Today’s reading bring many thoughts to my mind, but two I wanted to share with you. First,

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (John  6.66-69)

When the teaching of Jesus Christ become too hard to bear, some believers choose to leave rather than remain within the Church. And what is Christ’s response? He allowed them to depart freely. That’s how much God loves us. If we want to walk away, while He desires us to remain, He allows us to depart. What that means for us today is that Jesus wants us to freely follow Him, without forcing us and without trickery. This was one reason He didn’t reveal Himself with power to the multitudes, as He will when He returns riding on a cloud, so that people would be able to freely accept Him with their own will.

If God doesn’t force people to follow Him, why do we Christians still try to force people to love Him and His Church? Not only is not productive, it also does not express the freedom that God grants. That same freedom, we are not permitted to take away from others.

Another thought came to my mind while I was reading today. When Jesus heals on the Sabbath, while this is technically breaking the Law, Jesus reminds us that the Law is for a purpose – to do the will of God, which is love. The religious elite had no difficulty doing work on the Sabbath if it was something such as circumcision.

Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7.21-24)

We each choose every day which “rules” of the Church we think are important to follow, while rejecting others. Then we turn around and speak badly of others who choose, based upon what THEY think, different “rules” of the Church to follow. Who is correct? Maybe both are correct, depending upon the circumstances, or maybe both are incorrect.

Sin is sin, and every time we look at the sin of others and declare THEM sinners, while holding our chin up high, we are no better than the religious elite who rejected the compassionate healing Jesus did on the Sabbath. Shame on us!

Until tomorrow…..Consider where you have acted as one of the religious elite rather than showing compassion on your brothers and sisters.

Stop Being a Hypocrite!

The religious “elite” couldn’t tolerate that Jesus healed on the Sabbath, even though they regularly broke the Sabbath by watering their animals. Their obedience to the Law, something which should have been a blessing, became their condemnation because their hearts were not in their actions. They obeyed the Law, while not knowing the purpose of the Law. The same can happen to YOU as you struggle to be a “good Christian” and obey the laws of Christianity. Don’t fall into the trap of judging your brothers and sisters. That’s what the hypocrites do. Stop  being a hypocrite!

Who Can be Saved?

When the Disciples were faced with the ultimate command of God, given to a certain rich man, “Sell all that you have and distributed to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Luke 18.22) they couldn’t anticipate ANYONE would EVER get to heaven. Jesus gave one of the most popular statements, while being the hardest to swallow, “’For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ And those who heard it said, ‘Who then can be saved?’” (Luke 18.25-26) While it might be impossible for man…..it is not impossible for God. All you need to do is be WILLING to separate yourself from the comforts of the world, and God can take care of the rest.

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Judgment is coming - don't be caught off guard!

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 7 (Matthew 25-28)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Today’s readings speak a great deal about the final Judgment. While yesterday Jesus commented on how eternal life will “feel”, today we hear how He will judge. At first glance, it seems a harsh and vengeful act of God, but it deserves a closer look. YESTERDAY’s readings (Matthew 18-24) featured the anguish in the hearts of those condemned. Today’s readings feature not only the regret of those condemned, but the finality of God’s judgment.

“Kingdom of heaven shall be…” is the series in which we see God quickly, and without notice, putting an end to creation. For those who were prepared and spent their life in harmony with God, the quick judgment is a blessing. “For the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24.22) It is the swift and final reality that their hearts are cold that seems so tormented.

"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' – Matthew 25.11

And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. – Matthew 25.25-27

Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? – Matthew 25.44

Don’t find yourself being caught off guard. Don’t find yourself shut out of the wedding feast. Don’t find yourself full of regret. Life a new life in Christ TODAY!

Until tomorrow….remember “The “Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 4 (Matthew 8-12)

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 4 (Matthew 8-12)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

While reading today’s assigned readings for the New Testament Challenge, I was struck by how easily (from my 2013 point of view) people either didn’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah, or how easily they misunderstood His message. On that point, many things have not changed either in regard to recognizing Jesus or understanding His teachings. That is painfully evident in the plethora of Christian “Denominations” and billions of human beings who do not believe.

Take for a moment how miracles are portrayed in the Scriptures. At first glance, every time Jesus turned His head, another paralytic or blind man was healed. One might think there were no sick people remaining after Jesus left a village. But in fact many remained sick, and EVERYONE eventually died and was buried.

Or how some refused to see the truth in the Law of Love; it seems ridiculous that some would save a lamb, while allowing a sick man to remain sick ON THE SABBATH!. I guess if a sick man was as profitable as a lamb, he would be saved on the Sabbath.

I enjoy the practice of reading long passages of Scripture because it affords me the chance to see the greater story line. This helps both in the understanding and acceptance of the truth of Christ. The Miracles taken as a whole reveal the pattern of Christ’s love and healing power, rather than His “magic” to take away sickness. His healing on the Sabbath reveals His compassion rather than His “Judgment” in a court of law.

I’m not suggesting that laws and tradition have no place in Faith. On the contrary, I believe they are crucial in assisting us put our faith into action and, as the name of this blog suggests, Live a New Life in Christ!

Until tomorrow….enjoy the 2013 New Testament Challenge 

The Law of Love

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10.27) With these words a certain lawyer told the Lord he knew the Law and what it stood for, but that wasn’t enough for this certain lawyer. “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (Luke 10.29) The answer Jesus gave, I suspect, wasn’t exactly what the lawyer hoped for.

The story of the Good Samaritan found in the Gospel of Luke (10.25-37) is a story about a man wanting to justify himself, but finding himself rebuffed by the Lord. He must have considered himself quite special that he would dare to test God saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10.25) From his response to Jesus, he obviously sees himself as already qualified for eternal life. But Jesus desired more from him.

“Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10.37) This was the Lords final words to this lawyer. He was sent to love his neighbor as himself BY showing mercy. The so-called righteous ones were the ones who ignore the wounded man. It was the supposed enemy that stopped and showed compassion on the wounded man. Our love for each other is expressed in the mercy we show each other as taught in the story of the Good Samaritan. Do you love your neighbor as the Good Samaritan? The Lord wants more for you if you’re up for the challenge. Now…Go and do likewise.