3)
Another thing that's come up recently is what the Kingdom of God means.
I used that phrase a few times in my blog, and didn't realize that
others might hear it very differently than I do. What does the Kingdom
mean for non-believers? How do people who are trying to set it up here
on earth share the Kingdom, or even the Kingdom work, with those who
don't believe in God? Should the goal of Christians be to convert them
so that they can be saved, and share in this Kingdom?
So... this really is one of the most important parts of this whole discussion. What does the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven mean? It is the essence of almost everything Jesus said, it is what the parables are meant to illustrate. A good friend of mine suggests that from a marketing stand point, if you were to break Jesus' message down into a bumper sticker it would be "the kingdom of God is in your midst".
Now there have been countless volumes written about the kingdom of God, or heaven (Matthew uses this phrase more often). I could not and will not come close to touching all of the intricacies of exactly what it means, and how it effects us. I will offer up some very basic understandings of what I have learned over the years, and what I believe to be true.
First off it is important to look at the word kingdom. The word kingdom doesn't have a very modern ring to it. When we think of kings and queens we are just as likely to think of knights and dragons and damsels in distress, as we are to think of the royal family in England with all of their scandal and opulence. But for us the understanding of kingdom would not really have a very concrete meaning. It would have had a more concrete meaning when it was originally translate into English however. But what is interesting is the word used for kingdom in the scriptures, was not the word kingdom, it was the word empire. And in Jesus time, this word would have had huge implications. As the empire was quite literally the oppressive super power government that was in charge of the known world at that time. Jesus begins talking about an empire that belongs to God, not Caesar. An altogether different political reality than the one that existed. And what is even more revolutionary is Jesus seems to say that this kingdom is here in His person, but is also to be lived out, and also coming. We will get to this a bit more later
Now we have to contextualize things. What exactly would Jesus mean in our day and age? We don't really talk about kingdoms, nor is the idea of empire really one that we understand much since the hey day of the English Empire (though many rightly point out the empirical nature of the United States). If Jesus were speaking to us today what word would he use instead of empire? As an American I would suggest two different terms. Those of you in other countries can apply your own contextualization. I think nation, would be a possible word in America. Since America as a nation is a cultural melting pot to some extent it could work. So Christ could talk to us today about the nation of God. But I think a better phrase in todays world, would focus on the worldwide global economy. I think that the global economy actually is more of the "powers that be" than even the mega power US. So Jesus would speak to us today about the "economy of God"
So Jesus comes into the world speaking of the economy of God, he then explains it and lives it. It is not a future tense destination, but a journey towards the ultimate reality. It begins in Him. It is looking at the way God means things to be, and beginning to live like God's will is reality, even in the phase face of the economy of the world. And it affects everything. Economy is essentially about power, and value. In todays world the stories of Jesus would be incredibly subversive. They would speak about the idea that in God's economy it is those that are undervalued, that have the greater value in God's. It would talk about the injustice that keeps those that are more powerful on top of those that have no resource to grasp power. And just like Jesus quite literally did in his time, would say in our time, "you cannot live in the worlds economy, and in God's, as God's economy does not value the same things, so get rid of your economic comforts and follow me into a new world of sharing, and forgiving, and loving even those that might try and harm your economic status through an oil monopoly" What Jesus tells us is stories that explain how Gods desires for our world, can and must be lived out here and now, as a prophetic act of faith. It's ties to the future is simply this, in the redemption of all things, this is how we will live... so believing this is true we will start living in this reality here and now.
I personally believe that the disciples did not believe all of the things we say are essential Christian doctrine until much later. But they began to walk with Jesus, and take part in that ideal of the economy of God. They were called disciples for beginning to walk in "the way" so why do we think conversion is the necessary first step? Lets walk together and live out this kingdom (which by the way is pretty much the teachings of all the major religions, and thoughtful secular humanism) and leave conversion up to God. It is my hope that everyone believes as I believe, as I find much comfort, and joy and challenge in it, but that does not mean I cannot work with others, nor does it mean that my ulterior motive is to convert them.
Ultimately I think we need to follow the example of Jesus. Jesus pulled together a community of very diverse people, and began to live out the kingdom. His words and teachings had power and authority because of the integrity of his life. When you live what you say, it matters. Jesus lived, in this community, an ethic that said the people who are considered least valuable... these will be our friends, and focus. The people that are not only considered most valuable, but hold that value with deceit and violence we will call to repentance. We will care for the sick, we will share our resources with each other, we will not engage in us and them mentality. We will practice non violent resistance towards oppressors. And most of all we will live a life of love. It is my belief that we need everyone who is willing to join us in this new economy, regardless of "spiritual" belief system.
rev
Showing posts with label greg boyd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greg boyd. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The parable of the talents
When I spoke at Tribe L.A. I mentioned that I believed this parable was very misunderstood by most of modern traditional christian teaching. Ched Myers introduced me to a different way to read this passage, and I will develop the reasons why I believe it is correct as we go. It is found in the 25th chapter of Matthew, and also in Luke but we will look at the Matthew passage today.
Matthew 25
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “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. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Now the standard reading of this passage goes like this: God gives you gifts whether they be speaking, or music, or sowing, or making money. You are to use these gifts to the best of your ability... for God, and if you don't, God will throw you out into outer darkness. Of course these points must be nuanced, and danced around, especially the idea of you will be judged by what you do, as modern Christianity has tended to adopt an almost gnostic love of what you believe or know, rather than what you do here on earth. In these dances we say... well what that means is each person is given a certain amount of faith, but if you don't use that faith blah blah blah.
Now, I am already getting negative. Please bear with me. Though I agree with the idea that we should make the most of what we are given... I do not believe that is the point of the teaching. And if it was, it would not be a parable. You see a parable is not a children's story to teach us morals using quaint images. A parable is a device used to violently yank us out of our cultural stupor, or powerfully confront our positions of power, by slipping through our defenses. Like Nathan saying to David, "Thou art the man" parables are supposed to confront either power, or culture. A traditional reading of this does neither. It reinforces the culture we live in. In fact, it does so in a very diabolical way if we look beyond the surface.
In this parable we see that people are judged on their ability to make a profit... for an absentee landlord. We see that those that make a profit get an ever larger share, to make a profit for the landlord but never actually share in the profit, thought they do get to "share in the joy of their master". They stay slaves, they are never freed, and are always judged by their ability to make more and more for their master. This holds up the status quo, it continues a system and structure that is there. How is this a parable of good news? of liberation? of the kingdom of God?
But if we look a bit further, we will see that this is indeed a parable. Our problem is we get the roles turned around. Specifically the role of the master. We have been conditioned to believe that the master is always God, but there are many masters in this world, including Satan, the domination spirit that rules the entire world. Lets look at the parable closer:
The slave who is cast out says some things that are confirmed by the master, the master is...
mean, or hard
he reaps where he does not sow (which we call theft)
he gathers where he did not sow seed (which we also call theft, or occupation)
in addition we see a couple of other things
these other slaves were praised for using money to make a hundred percent profit? even in this day that would be considered unsavory, but how did they do it back in the day this was written? the only way was by lending and foreclosing on properties and then selling them at profit, A practice that basically made all of judea either abjectly poor, or extremely wealthy
the master says that the slave could have put the money in a bank for interest. But the Jewish people were commanded not to take interest from each other. So how does this Jewish God say to take interest?
And finally, how does this story fit the life of Jesus?
So what does this story really say? It says this in my opinion. That the lords and masters of this world, the corporations, the governments, the banks ect. expect those under them to work hard, to maximize profits for them. Though they steal, and defraud, and do whatever it takes to make themselves fat and happy, the best they can offer you is that you will be a slave that can "party with" the boss once and a while if you make some good profit for them. But if you decide not to play that game, to take this money of empire and plant it in the ground and see what organically comes from it, if you only give back what is given to you. You will be called wicked, and lazy, and cast out into darkness. Which is what happens to Jesus. He faces all of that darkness on Golgotha. Which is what we are called to, when He says pick up your cross and follow me. We are called to stand against fraudulent, thieving, mean masters, seeking only their own profit. We are called to concern ourselves with a different agenda than propping up their empire, (as we read in the very next parable, we are to care for those others that are not "profitable to empire"). And we are called to stand against the fear that grips us, as we await our ostracizing. We are called to pick up our cross, and follow Jesus
rev
Matthew 25
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “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. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Now the standard reading of this passage goes like this: God gives you gifts whether they be speaking, or music, or sowing, or making money. You are to use these gifts to the best of your ability... for God, and if you don't, God will throw you out into outer darkness. Of course these points must be nuanced, and danced around, especially the idea of you will be judged by what you do, as modern Christianity has tended to adopt an almost gnostic love of what you believe or know, rather than what you do here on earth. In these dances we say... well what that means is each person is given a certain amount of faith, but if you don't use that faith blah blah blah.
Now, I am already getting negative. Please bear with me. Though I agree with the idea that we should make the most of what we are given... I do not believe that is the point of the teaching. And if it was, it would not be a parable. You see a parable is not a children's story to teach us morals using quaint images. A parable is a device used to violently yank us out of our cultural stupor, or powerfully confront our positions of power, by slipping through our defenses. Like Nathan saying to David, "Thou art the man" parables are supposed to confront either power, or culture. A traditional reading of this does neither. It reinforces the culture we live in. In fact, it does so in a very diabolical way if we look beyond the surface.
In this parable we see that people are judged on their ability to make a profit... for an absentee landlord. We see that those that make a profit get an ever larger share, to make a profit for the landlord but never actually share in the profit, thought they do get to "share in the joy of their master". They stay slaves, they are never freed, and are always judged by their ability to make more and more for their master. This holds up the status quo, it continues a system and structure that is there. How is this a parable of good news? of liberation? of the kingdom of God?
But if we look a bit further, we will see that this is indeed a parable. Our problem is we get the roles turned around. Specifically the role of the master. We have been conditioned to believe that the master is always God, but there are many masters in this world, including Satan, the domination spirit that rules the entire world. Lets look at the parable closer:
The slave who is cast out says some things that are confirmed by the master, the master is...
mean, or hard
he reaps where he does not sow (which we call theft)
he gathers where he did not sow seed (which we also call theft, or occupation)
in addition we see a couple of other things
these other slaves were praised for using money to make a hundred percent profit? even in this day that would be considered unsavory, but how did they do it back in the day this was written? the only way was by lending and foreclosing on properties and then selling them at profit, A practice that basically made all of judea either abjectly poor, or extremely wealthy
the master says that the slave could have put the money in a bank for interest. But the Jewish people were commanded not to take interest from each other. So how does this Jewish God say to take interest?
And finally, how does this story fit the life of Jesus?
So what does this story really say? It says this in my opinion. That the lords and masters of this world, the corporations, the governments, the banks ect. expect those under them to work hard, to maximize profits for them. Though they steal, and defraud, and do whatever it takes to make themselves fat and happy, the best they can offer you is that you will be a slave that can "party with" the boss once and a while if you make some good profit for them. But if you decide not to play that game, to take this money of empire and plant it in the ground and see what organically comes from it, if you only give back what is given to you. You will be called wicked, and lazy, and cast out into darkness. Which is what happens to Jesus. He faces all of that darkness on Golgotha. Which is what we are called to, when He says pick up your cross and follow me. We are called to stand against fraudulent, thieving, mean masters, seeking only their own profit. We are called to concern ourselves with a different agenda than propping up their empire, (as we read in the very next parable, we are to care for those others that are not "profitable to empire"). And we are called to stand against the fear that grips us, as we await our ostracizing. We are called to pick up our cross, and follow Jesus
rev
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Christendom has abandoned Christ!
There are many voices calling out in the market place of Christian
ideas. There are many different narratives. But by and large the
megalithic power that can be called Christendom has abandoned its
supposed creator. We have opted out of the radical, revolutionary
lifestyle that this crazed prophet and messiah called us to. And have
adopted a cultural niceness. We have embraced an economy of me first,
and maybe some left overs for the deserving poor. We have clung to a
doctrine of grace that gives us pithy phrases to recite in order to go
to heaven when we die, or better yet get raptured out of this mess. We
have created a politic of defense against everything that may be
unpleasant.
But this Christ we say is at the center of who we are, who we are meant to be and who is the resurrection of us here and now... well this Christ was not known for his stance against illegal immigration, his stance against public health care, against gay marriage. This Christ was not known for his pro death penalty stance, his pro war stance, his pro capitalism stance. This Christ we say is our Lord, Savior, Redeemer and ultimately the one we follow, practiced radical inclusive love towards those deserving and undeserving. This Christ cared for the poor, and chastised the rich. This Christ loved and spent time with the heretical Samaritans, but condemned the religious leaders and theologians of the orthodoxy. This Christ saved the sinner from condemnation, and did not condemn. This Christ taught us how to resist oppression by not cowering, but not fighting either. This Christ included women in his entourage, and was born of questionable circumstances, and condemned those that were holiest. This Christ included in his friends the despised, the working class, the traitor.
We have abandoned Christ, but no bother, we have built another Christ, in our own nationalist, materialistic, and gnostic image. And we bow down to this new Christ amidst wonderfully hip music, and great preaching, and rituals, just like the Israelites bowed to a calf of gold...
But God was not pleased with that
rev
But this Christ we say is at the center of who we are, who we are meant to be and who is the resurrection of us here and now... well this Christ was not known for his stance against illegal immigration, his stance against public health care, against gay marriage. This Christ was not known for his pro death penalty stance, his pro war stance, his pro capitalism stance. This Christ we say is our Lord, Savior, Redeemer and ultimately the one we follow, practiced radical inclusive love towards those deserving and undeserving. This Christ cared for the poor, and chastised the rich. This Christ loved and spent time with the heretical Samaritans, but condemned the religious leaders and theologians of the orthodoxy. This Christ saved the sinner from condemnation, and did not condemn. This Christ taught us how to resist oppression by not cowering, but not fighting either. This Christ included women in his entourage, and was born of questionable circumstances, and condemned those that were holiest. This Christ included in his friends the despised, the working class, the traitor.
We have abandoned Christ, but no bother, we have built another Christ, in our own nationalist, materialistic, and gnostic image. And we bow down to this new Christ amidst wonderfully hip music, and great preaching, and rituals, just like the Israelites bowed to a calf of gold...
But God was not pleased with that
rev
Monday, August 29, 2011
A challenge (I need your help)
Lately there have been some challenges put out into the interwebs. Like this one by Jules. To me this is a great challenge, and a great way to confront some of our issues.
But I would like to issue a challenge of my own:
To every Church in the Western Christian world, take one Sunday a year (or twice a year, a month, heck every Sunday), and do not have a service. Take all of the money that would come in, and tell people to spread it around your city. Organize trash pick ups, car repair, free car washes, having lunch or breakfast with the homeless. Take one Sunday, and have a big party where you invite everyone that doesn't get invited to parties, in your homes, in the parks, on your block. On that Sunday visit prisons, and hospitals and old folks homes. Instead of singing songs for worship, sacrifice your time and money to care for those not cared for, the orphans, widows, or the mentally ill. Instead of listening to the word of God, go be the word of God realized, standing up for the marginalized, planting food gardens in public places, or doing a rally for better treatment of low income employees.
What would happen if Saddleback in Orange County, and the Eucatastrophe in Fort Worth, if Mars Hill Church in Seattle and the Revolution in New York, if Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and Awakening Chapel in Long Beach, if St. Patricks Cathedral and Adullam in Colorado, all just changed it up once and a while and sent the real church out, instead of trying to call everyone in? What would happen if we unleashed the talent, the artists, the musicians that we bind up in our programatic Sunday mornings, into a world that thrives on the creative? Can you imagine people with the talent of Willow Creeks band, taking requests from a park full of homeless people, to just sing and play. Can you imagine a homeless guy coming up and singing an old song from his past with them?
I can imagine it. I can imagine experiencing Jesus in a Matthew 25 way.
I challenge Mark Driscoll, Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, John MacArthur, Greg Boyd, Hugh Halter, Phil Shepherd, Jay Baker, Doug Pagitt and countless others to reorder their budgets, to make some plans, to set their hype machines in motion, and do a Matthew 25 worship day, at least once a year.
Now for those of you that may have already done this, awesome, please don't let my ignorance, or arrogance offend you. I am just imagining this wonderful worship, and its effect on a world I am growing to love.
Please share this if you think its a good idea, or even if you think I am an idiot
rev
But I would like to issue a challenge of my own:
To every Church in the Western Christian world, take one Sunday a year (or twice a year, a month, heck every Sunday), and do not have a service. Take all of the money that would come in, and tell people to spread it around your city. Organize trash pick ups, car repair, free car washes, having lunch or breakfast with the homeless. Take one Sunday, and have a big party where you invite everyone that doesn't get invited to parties, in your homes, in the parks, on your block. On that Sunday visit prisons, and hospitals and old folks homes. Instead of singing songs for worship, sacrifice your time and money to care for those not cared for, the orphans, widows, or the mentally ill. Instead of listening to the word of God, go be the word of God realized, standing up for the marginalized, planting food gardens in public places, or doing a rally for better treatment of low income employees.
What would happen if Saddleback in Orange County, and the Eucatastrophe in Fort Worth, if Mars Hill Church in Seattle and the Revolution in New York, if Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and Awakening Chapel in Long Beach, if St. Patricks Cathedral and Adullam in Colorado, all just changed it up once and a while and sent the real church out, instead of trying to call everyone in? What would happen if we unleashed the talent, the artists, the musicians that we bind up in our programatic Sunday mornings, into a world that thrives on the creative? Can you imagine people with the talent of Willow Creeks band, taking requests from a park full of homeless people, to just sing and play. Can you imagine a homeless guy coming up and singing an old song from his past with them?
I can imagine it. I can imagine experiencing Jesus in a Matthew 25 way.
I challenge Mark Driscoll, Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, John MacArthur, Greg Boyd, Hugh Halter, Phil Shepherd, Jay Baker, Doug Pagitt and countless others to reorder their budgets, to make some plans, to set their hype machines in motion, and do a Matthew 25 worship day, at least once a year.
Now for those of you that may have already done this, awesome, please don't let my ignorance, or arrogance offend you. I am just imagining this wonderful worship, and its effect on a world I am growing to love.
Please share this if you think its a good idea, or even if you think I am an idiot
rev
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
