Freed FROM and Freed FOR

One of the things that came to mind when writing my sermon that, through my writing process, just didn’t make it in was this idea of freedom. Lately I hear the word “freedom” thrown around a lot. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians speaks about what it means to be free and teaches that freedom comes with responsibilities.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15)

Paul is explicit and completely clear; our freedom should ALWAYS be viewed through the lens of loving and serving our neighbor. People today often disagree about that, and the fact that Paul has to explain freedom to the Galatians suggests it wasn't a settled question then either. Perhaps one solution is to examine the results. If the way you exercise your freedom results in the fruits of Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - Galatians 5:22-23), then it is likely to be the freedom that comes from Christ. But if the way you exercise your freedom results in the "works of the flesh," (fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these - Galatians 5:19-21) you might be acting out of selfishness, not freedom.

Some people have said to me “My rights come from God, not from the Government.” That is absolutely true…but our “rights” are not absolute as you think they are when viewed through loving our neighbor and the fruits of the spirit.

We are freed through Christ, but remain slaves to one another… Galatians 5:13.  

I AM my brother’s keeper.

I talked a lot about Paul today. Learning more about Paul, who he was and what he believed is valuable for a Christian. Below are links to a 2-part PBS documentary about Paul that I found entertaining and informative. One of them even features a relative of mine!

I pray that you all have a blessed week.

Pastor Bob

Part 1 of the History of St. Paul

Part 2 of The History of St. Paul

What's your excuse?

This week’s lectionary readings are pretty full of lessons for us. It’s hard to pick ONE thing to focus on, be it for my sermon or for this (virtual) time we have together. In doing some research and looking into the background of these texts I learned something interesting that points out how being aware of cultural and linguistic differences can really change the meaning of scripture for us.


Let’s focus on this part of the gospel reading (Luke 9:57-60):

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

To our sensibilities, Jesus must come across as pretty cold and lacking empathy. After all, the man had to bury his father, whom we assume must have JUST died. Surely Jesus could have allowed him time to mourn and finish his father’s affairs, right?

But here’s where those important cultural and linguistic differences come in. In the culture of the middle-east at that time (and in many parts still today) the last child who remained unmarried was expected to stay at home, NOT looking for a spouse or trying to establish their own home or family, to care for their parents until the last parent passed. THIS was the situation the man Jesus found himself in. Jesus called him to follow, but the man said “Let me bury my father first”, when in fact his father hadn’t even died yet.

Remember, earlier in this reading it says that Jesus had “set his face” to Jerusalem, where he knew his life would likely end. From what I know of Jesus, it sounds like he had reached a place (mentally and spiritually) where he just wasn’t going to listen to excuses. Still perfect in his love for us, Jesus was DONE with our apologias and gave the man an answer that may read as lacking charity.

What do YOU think? Is caring for an elderly parent a good enough excuse to put your own call (or just your life) on hold, indefinitely? I am torn, and I think the answer may vary based on a lot of other circumstances. I am certainly not here to judge YOUR circumstances.

For you to ponder I came across this list of “The Ten Lames Excuses in the Bible” compiled by writer Kenneth Berding. Some of them are just plain funny, but I wonder how many of them I have used (or TRIED) to use myself.

10 – That snake made me do it. (Eve in Genesis 3:13)

9 – That woman, that YOU gave me, made me do it! (Adam in Genesis 3:12)

8 – I would have DIED if I hadn’t eaten some of that red stuff! (Esau in Genesis 25:30)

7 – The rivers are cleaner back home. (Namaan in II Kings 5:12)

6 – My family ain’t much to speak of. (Gideon in Judges 6:15)

5 – I don’t speak no good. (Moses in Exodus 4:10)

4 – It’s only a few bleating animals. ( Saul in I Samuel 15:15)

3 – I’m too young. (Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:6)

2 – Gotta bury my father first. (an unnamed man in Luke 9:59 – his father wasn’t even DEAD yet!)

1 – I threw the gold into the fire and this calf came out. (Aaron in Exodus 32:21-24)

AND….my own special bonus “Honorable Mention” goes to: “Lord, he has been dead for 4 days and he stinks”, which was Mary (the sister of Lazarus) who was trying to make excuses FOR Jesus. Jesus was having NONE of it and raised Lazarus from the dead anyway. (John 11:39-43)

A Midweek Pause

 As part of my job at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church I produce a weekly video devotional we call "The Word on Wednesday".  We use pastors and lay people from churches in the area and share a brief time of prayer and preview the Gospel text for the upcoming Sunday.  I hope you enjoy this week's edition!

I needed a good laugh...

You'll be seeing more posts from me that feature Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber.  On her website  she does a better job introducing herself than I ever could. I encourage you to experience her podcast or check out some videos of her preaching on YouTube, OR read one of her best-selling books.

While not a sermon, this recording of her at the Liminal Festival gave me exactly the laugh I needed and reminded me that once in a while we ALL misread the situation...and that's OK.

Warning: She uses frank language, in other words she swears, in a contextual not gratuitous way.  If that is offensive to you....well you've been warned.

Fruits of the Spirit

 

Thanks to the kids at Rockford Lutheran Academy for the great banner!

We often have to ask who we can trust.

Our society is perhaps more divided than it has ever been. "Tribalsim" is rearing its ugly head in ways that have already....ALREADY...led to violent uprisings in our country. It scares me and I often find myself reacting in ways that have more to do with my personal past traumas than with how I know I should react as a religious leader. I need to do better.

We have to decide whom we should trust. That's not the same thing as choosing sides. There may be people who have come to different conclusions than us in some matters, but still did it from a sincere and Godly place. There may very well be people to trust on BOTH sides...at least I hope there are.

In deciding whom to trust, Scripture gives us some guidance in what are called "Fruits of the Spirit". In Galatians 5:22-23 they are listed as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. People who demonstrate these characteristics are people to trust. Watch our leaders, watch your neighbors. Who do you know who demonstrates these attributes? Lift THEM up!

Just prior to listing the Fruits of the Spirit, Paul tells us the characteristics in people we should avoid: "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." Some of these words seem to have definitions for us (in the 21st Century) that may seem "open to interpretation" but I think there's enough specificity and context for us to get a picture of the people to avoid. Most certainly these sins are something many of us have been guilty of, but we haven made a way of life of them. They aren't our habit.

I want to leave you with one last thought; Judging someone by the fruits of the spirit is NOT the same judgement that Jesus warned us against in Matthew 7:1-3 ("Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. ) There is a difference between "judging" or "being judgmental" and just using good judgement. And I plan on exploring that difference very soon in another message.

In the mean time, have a blessed Memorial Day weekend. Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and pray that those freedoms and principles endure. They are in peril.

On Saturday June 4th David and I will be representing Rockford's Lutheran community at the Pride Month Kick-Off Party in downtown Rockford.  David and I feel a call to minister in this community (we have for years now) and are looking forward to this opportunity.  

We are not the first religious organization to take part in a Pride event, in fact I don't think I have ever been to a parade or Pride event where churches WEREN'T represented in some way.  Recognizing the abuse some have endured at the behest of the church and by some falsely claiming to be doing it in Christ's name is heartbreaking and inexcusable.  But I believe there can be value in reconciliation and healing in just reaching out.

Our theme is this; Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries and our member churches are doing great things in our community.  We are feeding, clothing, housing and welcoming the stranger in new ways, always demonstrating Christ's call to love our neighbor, and we NEED you to help us.  Come to church, or don't.  Maybe you'll get there, maybe you won't.  But will you help us feed, clothe and house your neighbor?  Maybe you don't need the church, I understand why some don't.  But maybe you can recognize the Christians doing the right thing and consider that they might need YOU?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and read your comments below.

Who is NOT Pastor Bob?

 I am a lay-person and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  I have continued my education and enjoy exploring issues of theology and the emerging church movement.  I am the co-founder of Laundry Love Rockford and am currently serving as the president of Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries. 

During the summer of 2022 I will be serving as interim leader of Garden Prairie United Church of Christ in Garden Prairie, IL.  I plan on using this online space to explore new ways of engaging people with the gospel and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ that has had such a positive impact in my own life.  Once I start at Garden Prairie UCC (mid-June) you will be able to view the text of each Sunday's sermon along with all the citations, footnotes and references.  Your feedback and comments are both welcome and encouraged!  Until then I will try and regularly post some of my own writing along with interesting articles and news.

I am married to a wonderful man named David. David is my rock, my spiritual cheerleader and he accompanies me on this journey.

For the theology nerds out there I would describe my personal views as a hybrid of Queer Theology and Liberation Theology.  Many of my views, and certainly my worship practices, are pretty traditional.  I often find that I am the most liberal person and the most conservative person in the room...at exactly the same time.

I am glad you're here!  Using the comments feature on each post is a great way to begin a conversation.  May God bless us on our journey together.

P.S. I say 'NOT' Pastor Bob because I am NOT a Pastor.  Sometimes I preach or lead worship.  Sometimes I teach and lead discussions and now I have been asked....temporarily...to lead a church.  But I am not ordained and, at least at this point, don't have any plans to pursue that.  Many of my friends are Pastors and we have a fantastic one at our home church.  They worked really hard to use that title and I feel like my using it would diminish their work and dedication.