God Has Given No Alternative

There’s a growing perception that the Church is “losing” members because too much is being asked.  One solution, as proposed by some mega-churches, is to dumb-down expectations and faith–directions.  “Everybody come, we’re here to have fun, doesn’t matter what you believe (if anything).”  Doesn’t work for me.  I’m heartily in favor of leaner congregations, united in common ministry and mission, validated by knowing what  they stand for.  This weekend’s readings remind us that discipleship isn’t for wimps.

One definition of the Prophetic role is to speak FOR God AGAINST idols.  (An idol is a rival “god” which dilutes worship of the True God.)  Jeremiah speaks of his weariness and burn-out as he contends with a steady stream of popular and patriotic idols:  “O Lord, you have seduced me, you have wrestled me to the ground and pinned me there…whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, ‘Violence and destruction’.”
(20:7-8)  And I’m sick of being the sole voice in a corrupt society.  Yet when I remain silent, a fire rages…”the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail.” (vv.7-12)  “Prophets go after everyone indiscriminately…[and] turn on us…they lay our lives bare, down to the bone, marrow & soul.  They break through our well-planned worlds to say that we are the problem.”  (Megan McKenna, PROPHETS: WORDS OF FIRE)  “Bidden or not bidden, God is present.”

Psalm 69:7 ff carries this even further.

Paul, writing to the Roman churches,  has some back-door Good News: “The death [Jesus] died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (6:10-11)  So, then, once we’ve admitted that we live in God and that God lives in us, there’s no going back?  Not even for a Summer holiday?  Every once in a while I’ve tried to vacation from Discipleship–and a persistent God tells me to “rest, enjoy, but stay close ’cause I’ll be expecting to speak through you again shortly”.

Matthew’s Gospel remembers a whole lot of Jesus’ teachings, many of which are scary in their intensity.  (10:24-39)  My paranoia really clings to v.26: “nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.”  And it gets worse:  he brings a sword, not peace, and will set family members against one another.  (My disappointment for the week is a White Supremacy/anti-immigrant email forwarded by a dear friend.  Do I tell her she’s a bigot?)  AND, “whoever does not take up my/the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”  Not much wiggle-room here, God…

I’ve often mentioned the statue which is on the campus of the University of Scranton.  Two figures interlocked represent Jacob wrestling with the Angel.  It’s hard to see which is which.  Only at dawn after the dark night of struggle does holiness win, the story says.  Personally, my entire life has been driven by this sort of struggle: how much shall I give to God, and how much am I allowed to keep for myself??  “An idol mind is the devil’s playground.”  God has given no alternative…

God Bless Us, Every One                        Horace Brown King

My wrestling with Scripture for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com