Jesus' Birth and Herod's Death

This month's Natiional Geographic contained an article on the discovery of King Herod's tomb at his large palace called the Herodium. It contained an eight story structure built on the top of a man-made mountain. At the base of the mountain was the largest swimming pool in the world. Not coincidentally Jesus was born just a few miles away in a Bethlehem cave a short time before Herod's death. Herod was the world's richest man who did everything on a large scale with the hope of being remembered as one of the greatest builders who ever lived. Jesus built on a smaller scale touching individual lives and forming a small and loving community. At last report Herod's buildings were in ruin and few remember him. Jesus is being celebrated around the world and his community still lives and grows. It seems that building relationships is more permanent then building monuments to ourselves in God's way of doing life.

DMac

Christian Carousel?

When I wrote to the evangelistic association as a teen to tell them that I had made a commitment to Christ, they kindly wrote back and gave me a gospel of John and some advice. They advised me to find a local church where the Bible was preached and to leave mine if the Word was not preached there. Sounded like good advice; the only problem is that it was not Biblical! One is hard pressed to find any evidence of "temple hopping" in the Hebrew Bible( there was only one!) and people did not" synagogue shop" in Galilee during Jesus' day. People understood that they were not a member of an organization which they could choose to join or leave; they knew that they were part of a community and that they would have to live and work out issues in that community. Not so today. People switch frequently (my church gains many folks this way). In fact I find the more "biblically based" people say
they are the more likely they are to consider switching communities. Perhaps they are more biblical but not in this case; Jesus would be amazed at their move and a bit disappointed as well.
dmac

Donor Insensitivity

I read alot in philanthropic fund raising materials about "donor sensitivity". This means that organizations work to make giving opportunities fit the donor's needs and desires. Essentially one tries to make giving very palatable to the giver. This puts giving at the service of the donor. I am sure this approach is popular with donors who then "call the shots "on the giving. However, I cannot see in the gospels that this is Jesus' approach. He is hardly considerate of the rich young ruler's desires. He is not very concerned about James and John's family business. He calls them to leave their Father. It appears that in matters of giving Jesus wants to make the calls and then we can decide whether or not to follow. I think Jesus understands one big thing that we often do not- that the possessions we "donate" actually belong to him anyway. He has been kind enough to let us borrow them. When he asks for a part of them back that's his call not ours!

Mustard Seeds and Megachurches

The mustard seed was about the smallest seed known to the world in the days of Jesus. Yet when Jesus wanted to talk about the Kingdom of Heaven he used the seed as a main metaphor to describe its nature and method of advancement. Me? I would have used something larger and more majestic. Shane Claiborne notes that Jesus did not compare the kingdom to the "cedars of Lebanon". I would have. Is not size the goal of the kingdom? Isn't bigger always better? Churches like mine seem to be built on those premises. If we are big then we are certainly in God's will. If we are big enough won't we be more attractive to the world? Apparently not, according to Jesus. The mustard seed is small and it spreads almost randomly, but the remarkable thing is that it is impossible to kill once it gets going --- like kudzu in Florida, notes Ray Vanderlaan. What might this mean for my church? Perhaps we could worry less about how big a splash we can make or how many we can assemble in the building and worry more about spreading acts of Christlike love in a random pattern-such as taking Christ everywhere we go!
DMac

Thanksgiving I

Iam thankful for so many things. I am thankful for my car so I can hurry from place to place and get more tasks done. Jesus had to walk and go more slowly through life. I am thankful for my corner office so I can get more accomplished without interruption. Jesus worked out in the open and people with problems came to him from everywhere. I am thankful for my four bedroom house in the suburbs so I can have my space. Jesus lived in a house with 12 disciples and Peter's extended family and had to learn life in community. I am thankful for my Ipod so I can fill my time with entertainment. Jesus had to live with more silence and pay attention to the thoughts in his head. I am thankful for all my Bibles at home and the office so I can always find God's Word. Jesus had no copy of the Bible; he had to memorize it and carry it in His heart . It seems that the things I value may actually serve to keep me from being like Jesus. Maybe I will make a new list for Thanksgiving.
DMac

The Limits of Learning

This is the Celsus Library one of the most famous libraries of the ancient world. It was located in the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most significant cities in all of the Roman Empire. Across the street, however, archaeologists have discovered a large brothel. It seems that having the collected wisdom of the day did not help the Ephesians live lives of real wisdom. Outside the city gates was the city dump. This dump did not house old tires or televisions; rather it was the site for infants to be dropped off to die fom exposure. As many as 500 infants might be left here at one time in this very educated prospreous city. Some, no doubt, born out of unions just across from the library. By the way, church tradition records that early Christians often came to the dump to rescue these babies. They also pooled their funds and bought slaves sold at the same gate to give them their freedom! I wonder if the the difference between the Ephesian pagans and their Christian counterparts may have been due in part to the reading material of the Christians. They were people of the Bible and their study led to actions that valued life and honored God.
DMac

Signs

" Signs, signs, everywhere are signs...." goes the old song. Last night I was watching a game and after a player scored a touchdown he made a sign above his facemask. The referee flagged him for taunting even though, as the announcer pointed out, the ref probably did not know what the sign even meant! I agree with the ref; regardless of what the sign meant it probably served to separate the player from his opponents. Paul faced a church that specialized in separating themselves from others by claiming to follow different "apostles" like Paul, or Peter, or Apollos. Paul chastised the Corinthians and urged them to focus on what binds them together in unity--Jesus himself. I still see signs and bumper stickers 10 days after the Presidential elections. If it were in my power I would throw a flag on these folks and penalize them for harming the unity of our nation. Let us do all in our power to support the unity not only of our nation, but our church as well.
DMac