listening

No apologies. Sort of.

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 42; 146, 1 Samuel 1:21-2:11, Acts 1:15-26, Luke 20:19-26

When someone criticizes your faith or religious beliefs, what is your first reaction? What about challenges to other beliefs, like politics, music, or sports? Most of us instinctively want to defend our position. This isn’t by default a bad response, but it probably shouldn’t be our only response. Eager as we might be to “enlighten” the person who disagrees with us by exposing them to a torrent of fact, idea, and opinion, such a defensive reaction does not send a message of confidence. To the contrary, it often comes across as desperate, or even self-delusional.

This need to convince others – or maybe ourselves? – that we are right keeps Christian bookstores in business. Their shelves are stocked with volume after volume of apologetics ( defenses of and arguments for the Christian faith) supposedly meant to arm the well-meaning Christian against non-believers, especially smart ones who push (shudder) science. Careful study of these books on creationism, biblical inerrancy and gospel reliability reveals they are mostly meant to help Christians convince ourselves we haven’t backed the wrong high horse. Being knowledgeable about our faith, its tenets, and its history is a good thing – a scripturally sound one actually – but there’s a fine line between defending the faith and becoming defensive about it. If our faith balances on an intricate and delicate house of Bible flash cards atop brittle doctrine, its eventual fall is only ever one firmly slammed door away.

Listening to challenges and evidence with an open mind isn’t equal to admitting we are wrong; a firmly founded faith will withstand a little rough weather. If the scribes and priests in today’s passage from Luke had been willing to hear the criticisms Jesus gave in his parables, they might have appeared less foolish and actually learned something. When God speaks to us through others, it’s rarely to say “Keep on doing what you’re doing.”

Testimony is more effective as an invitation than a lecture or subpoena.  Should we develop a coherent understanding of our beliefs? Certainly. Yet the foundation of faith and faith shared rests not on our own understanding, but God’s.

Comfort: Our love of God speaks volumes more than our explanations of God.

Challenge: When someone disagrees with you, listen first to understand, and respond only when the situation requires it.

Prayer: God, I love you with all my heart and all my mind. Amen.

Discussion: What’s something you believe that you can’t prove? Why do you believe it?

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Hearing The Voice

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 67; 150, Isaiah 66:7-14, 1 John 3:4-10, John 10:7-16

One of the most popular images of Jesus is The Good Shepherd. Shepherding was a central part of his culture, so his audience would have been familiar with how tended their flocks. He contrasted the role of the true shepherd – who would lay down his life for his sheep – to the role of a hired hand, someone likely to flee if things got dangerous. He also spoke of the thief and the wolf, who scatter and harm the sheep out of greed and selfishness. Jesus is confident his own flock will hear and know him and be led to safety.

Sheep are not bright, but the constancy of their shepherd helps them come to know him as a companion, protector, and guide. They won’t survive long without listening. We, on the other hand, are free to follow our shepherd or not, to listen or to ignore. How can we learn to discern our shepherd’s call the hired hands and thieves who may be wolves in shepherd’s clothing?

We can know his words. Reading the Gospels ourselves is different than trusting others to interpret scripture for us. Many a thief has used scripture to bilk well-meaning sheep from their money and eventually their faith. Regularly studying the Gospels and reliable sources of instruction help us understand them in context and teach us to recognize that voice.

Our shepherd will lead us to abundant life. Any message that leaves us feeling diminished or unloved by God is being delivered by an inept hired hand. Our shepherd will challenge and correct us for our own good, but only in loving ways. Christ always calls us out of the wilderness onto the path of life, not into a tangle of thorny condemnation.

Finally, we can pray. Not long, bleating prayers to fill up the silence, but quiet prayers which leave room for the divine voice to reveal itself. If we are out of practice it may take us a while to hear that voice, but we’ll know it when we do.

Comfort: Jesus calls us home with a familiar, consistent voice.

Challenge: Make a point of regular scripture reading and prayer time to train yourself to hear the voice of Christ.

Prayer: God of Grace, thank you for calling to me, even when I try not to hear. Amen.

Discussion: Have you ever been mislead by spiritual thieves or wolves?

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Holy Inappropriate

/ JJS / 1 Comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 12; 146, Zechariah 11:4-17, 1 Corinthians 3:10-23, Luke 18:31-43

The Washington Post, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications have written about how the voices of women in the workplace are not heard as strongly as men’s. There are multiple cultural reasons for this, and possibly a few biological ones. When women attempt to compensate, they are often labeled “bossy”, “shrill”, or worse. In environments where men (and sometimes other women) don’t or won’t recognize this phenomenon, women are caught in a no-win scenario of being ignored or being dismissed.

We dismiss a lot of people. As Jesus passed Jericho, a blind beggar on the roadside asked what the commotion was about. When he heard it was Jesus, the beggar called out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those in front scolded him, but he persisted. Eventually Jesus stopped and ordered the crowd to bring the man over. He asked Jesus to restore his sight, and of course Jesus healed him. Then began to follow Jesus and glorify God, and the crowd praised God also.

Jesus wasn’t concerned that the beggar approach him the “right” way. If he hadn’t shouted and annoyed people, he wouldn’t have been heard at all. His blindness and his poverty were greater issues than whether the people around him were comfortable with how he cried for justice. Except for Jesus, not one person in the crowd was noted to express concern with his situation, but they sure spoke up when his attempt to do something about it inconvenienced them. The majority attempting to silence the minority – or the one – has always been an impediment to justice.

How do we silence people today? How often do we insist they need to be polite more than they deserve justice? We comfortably ignore them as long as they remain quiet in the back of the crowd, shush them when they don’t, then dismiss them as inappropriate and undeserving when they do what they must to be heard. Jesus never said “be polite” or “don’t make anyone uncomfortable.” If someone needs to shout to be heard, it’s time to ask why we didn’t notice them before.

Comfort: Everyone’s voice deserves to be heard.

Challenge: Pay attention to any tendencies you may have to dismiss a message or concern because you don’t like how attention is brought to it.

Prayer: Lord of Peace, teach us to listen to one another in love. Amen.

Discussion: When have you felt like you weren’t heard? Or when have you failed to hear someone else?

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Quick To Listen, Slow To Speak

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 67; 150, Esther 3:1-4:3, James 1:19-27, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Fire and brimstone. Hellfire and damnation. Pulpit pounding and Bible thumping. These (mostly) unfair representations of the Christian church persist for a reason. As with any group, angry voices are generally the loudest voices, and the loudest voices are the ones people hear and remember. We can blame the media for neglecting our daily efforts to feed the hungry, while focusing attention on headline-grabbing events where rabid protesters chant “God hates f(ill-in-the-blank)s” but we also have to acknowledge Christianity’s self-inflicted reputational wounds.

James tells us: “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” He also says “If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.” Quick to listen. Slow to speak. Bridled tongues. Basically the opposite of the behaviors our culture reinforces.

Practicing our religion does not mean getting angry when others don’t feel compelled to support or observe it with us. The Gospel doesn’t sound like good news when our message is effectively: “The freedom and joy I find in Christ are so great that I will socially, politically, and legislatively force you to comply with and enjoy it.” Anger is a bully, and we can’t bully someone into knowing Christ’s love. We can’t (and shouldn’t) even bully all Christians into believing exactly the same things.

What we can do is stand firm in love, however we understand that. It is absolutely possible to hold fast to our convictions without attacking those who challenge us. Tone matters: to many people, it may say more about us than our actual words do. Listening to our opponents and enemies isn’t the same as endorsing them. It may even open a door for us to face some unpleasant truths about ourselves.

When we stand firm, let us tilt our ears to listen. When we shout for justice, let us shout from atop a mountain of love. When we reveal sin, let us blanket it in the hope of reconciliation. Good news delivered in an angry voice is merely noise.

(For further thoughts on today’s reading from Matthew 6, see Keep It In The Closet.)

Comfort: Anger is exhausting; you can let it go.

Challenge: This week make an effort to hear what people are saying without trying to formulate a response while you listen.

Prayer: Loving God, teach me when to speak and when to remain silent. Amen.

Discussion: What angers you so much you can’t hold your tongue?

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Timing is Everything

/ JJS / 3 Comments

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 96; 147:1-11, Job 12:1, 14:1-22, Acts 12:18-25, John 8:47-59

One of the things people find annoying about Christians is that we just won’t shut up about it.

Years ago I was at a funeral for an infant. Such a tragically short life is difficult to eulogize, so it was no surprise the presiding pastor’s words were very general. What was surprising, at least to me, was how quickly he turned the service into an altar call. What exactly was he thinking? “You’re a captive, vulnerable audience focused on mortality … what better time to remind you about the dangers of hell!” Had this tactic ever paid off in a meaningful way? The approach felt less evangelistic than predatory.

We should always be willing to share the gospel, but we should be sensitive to when people are ready to receive it. After an angel freed Peter from Herod’s prison, he left Judea for Caesarea and stayed there. When the Jewish religious leaders were ready to stone Jesus because they did not want to believe his teachings, he hid and fled the temple. If the founder and the rock of the church know when to get out of Dodge, so should we.

Sharing our faith in a time and place where Christianity is not a new movement but the default expectation requires some discernment. To many non-Christians, and to many wounded faithful, we are perceived not as the new Apostles caring for the poor, but as the old hypocrites failing to embrace our own standards. Nobody in Rome 40 A.D. had been cut off in traffic by a van with a Jesus-fish sticker.

The message of Christ is always counter-cultural, even when Christianity is the culture. We don’t just have to share the Gospel, we have to contend with two thousand years of crusades, witch hunts, discrimination, and other baggage which have distorted it. To share our message of hope with people in their most vulnerable moments, we have to be vulnerable. To share it with people who are angry at Christianity, we have to first hear their complaints. We can best know when to speak by learning how to listen.

Comfort: You don’t have to evangelize every moment.

Challenge: It’s important to recognize the moments where you should.

Prayer: God of life, may my actions be a constant testimony, and may my words show people your love. Amen.

Discussion: What are your greatest challenges when sharing the Gospel?

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Hosanna!

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 56; 149, Numbers 20:14-29, Romans 6:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11

Today’s passage from Matthew is traditionally read during the Palm Sunday passion narrative. Jesus sends a couple disciples ahead to find a donkey and a colt so he can ride them into Jerusalem. A crowd gathers and lays cloaks and branches on the road as they praise his arrival with “Hosanna!” The colt and the donkey are rich with symbolism and meaning, but today let’s think about what it means to hear this story outside the Lenten and Easter season.

As Jesus arrived, word spread. Without social media, television, or cameras, word of mouth quickly drew great numbers – enough people to put the literal fear of God into local religious and civil authorities. A couple thousand years later, this is still true. When Christ is present in our communities, we see and hear about that presence in the testimony of changed lives. Sometimes, maybe unbeknownst to us, we are the ones testifying. When people hear our individual and collective stories, who responds with “Hosanna!” and who trembles? Throughout history, Christ has been on the side of the marginalized and downtrodden. If our lives causes the poor and the outcast to be afraid, and the powers-that-be to celebrate, it may be time to seriously re-calibrate our outlook and message.

Then there’s the other side of the coin. Most days we’re in the crowd minding our own business. When Jesus shows up are we more likely to recognize him in a polished preacher who could sell sand in a desert, a person wearing rags and living in a car, or someone who looks like they are from our own neighborhood? It’s a trick question, because it’s the message, not the style of messenger, that counts; any person we meet could be spreading the Word; we need to be open to hearing it.

We should be prepared to greet Christ not just yearly, but daily. The cloaks we lay before him are woven from lives of service; the branches grown from seeds of neighborly love. Though that first road led to the cross, we now follow him down the road to new life.

Comfort: Every day presents a chance to be renewed through Christ.

Challenge: Christ often arrives in unexpected ways, sometimes ways we find difficult to accept.

Prayer: God of New Life, thank you for the life, sacrifice, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. May my life be a worthy tribute to lay at his feet. Amen.

Discussion: Where have you unexpectedly discovered Christ?

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