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How worldly can a congregation get without losing its Christian flavor? More to the point, how secular can I get without losing my name as “Christian”? Lent is a season for thinking especially about these things which usually creep in by degrees, as dictated by the surrounding culture. Scriptural texts to be heard on the upcoming weekend address this conundrum of how we’re supposed to proceed without totally giving ourselves over to the gratifying power of Everybody Does It.

We begin by hearing the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, from EXODUS 20:1-17. To begin with, these are not restrictions but rather assurances that if we as a community, as individuals, follow these directions, then we shall live fully and wholly within the affections of those around us. The first four speak of our relationship to God, the second six have to do with our lives within the community. God has called these recently enslaved HABIRU into an arid place of beginning again: will they again flourish and fulfill YHWH’s original purpose of the People of God? Ignoring these commandments is tantamount to falling back into slavery.

We also hear from St. Paul in his First Letter to the CORINTHIANS 1:18-25. Difficult to understand, it is the Apostle’s meeting of the diversity of Corinth–Jews & Greeks–about the significance of the Cross of Christ, already becoming a symbol of the Church. He says that some folks are just too darn wise for their own good and that a “foolish” receptivity to divine mystery is in order. Jeff Paschal tells us, “Day by day, we are a people being saved from cramped little lives of selfishness and saved for the broad, roomy, loving discipleship of the cross.” (FEASTING on the WORD, B 2:89) Again we’re called away from the transitory glitter of the World into a counter-cultural sphere of allegiance to Christ alone.

The Gospel of JOHN is a compendium of stories about Jesus’ meeting with those who just don’t get it yet. This week in 2:13-22 is the familiar tale of Jesus driving the money-changers and the sacrifice salesmen from the Temple precinct. The Synoptic writers–Matthew, Mark & Luke–place this story at the very end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, during Holy Week. But here John tells it at the start-up of his ministry, probably to tell the surrounding culture, “Hey, here I am!” Don’t be too hard on the Temple leaders and merchants: they probably thought that they were making worship more convenient. Sacrifices needed to be bought, Roman coins exchanged for Jewish ones. Like most secularities in congregations, these folks wandered in a step at a time until the tail wagged the dog. What tables does Jesus turn over in our mutual lives? Or does he just turn a blind eye with a wink at humanity?

Truth to tell, we all could do with a good dose of Temple Cleansing. My own idols are legion. How many of them can I accept without becoming a total hermit? The roller-coaster of Lent sometimes thwacks me with how far I’ve drifted from God’s creative word into my oh-so-human practices.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come along every Tuesday as we wrestle with scripture to be read on the upcoming weekend–at horacebrownking.com

It’s Lent, a Season for thinking about sin and brokenness, about turning life around and healing. Sometimes this can be especially painful as we contemplate how far we’ve been from the Holiness to which we were created. Lessons to be read during worship on the upcoming weekend deal with how far the average pew-sitter has strayed; and of the Great Expectations of God.

We begin with a reading of Beginnings, GENESIS 17:1-7. Here is Abram, an old man yet willing to learn. God tells him, “I am God almighty; walk before me and be blameless”. Blameless! What does God expect, a miracle? So far Abram & Sarai have done a pretty good job of trusting YHWH, moving to and putting down roots in an unknown land. And this ultimate promise of descendants and Doing Right by neighbor and sojourner has influenced the Jewish/Islamic/Christian people to this day. Hasn’t it? Do we trust this covenant as the source of our lives?

Paul’s Letter to the ROMANS takes a while to digest, especially vv. 4:13-25. After recognizing Abraham’s faith, the Apostle says, “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God…” As disciples, we’re encouraged to believe that God can perfect us–and that God WILL perfect us! Our brokenness–sinfulness–can be and will be healed as we remember this covenant given to our trusting ancestor. Our faith can be more than trying not to make mistakes…

MARK 8:31-38 pictures Jesus instructing his disciples that his death and suffering are to be expected in order for the Resurrection to take place. Peter tries to dissuade him–and here we get a definition of sin: “You are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things”. We regularly find ourselves broken by “human things” which have become our idols–arrogance and self-centeredness are mine, what about you? Is this Lenten Season one in which we acknowledge and then try to overcome those human things which would keep us from the divine?

Lent can and should be a roller-coaster. Wooed by human things, we give only lip-service to divine matters. But whose side are we on? At times, holiness seems just around the corner; but then our actions of acquiring and hoarding Stuff bring our full idolatry into view… My prayer is that we all will put aside the human things which distract us in order to fully bask in a loving covenant.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come join us every Tuesday in unpacking scriptural passages which will be read during worship on the upcoming weekend–at horacebrownking.com

The congregation with which I usually worship knows itself as a “Reconciling Church” because we accept the LGBTQ members–and other marginalized persons–more openly than other denominational groups. Scriptures read today for this First Sunday within Lent have to do with the relationship of God with The People, and God’s persistent attempts to make a holy presence known.

GENESIS 9:8-17 continues the story of Noah’s Ark, when the flood waters have receded and the doors are blessedly open for the chosen animals inside. Here is the covenant of YHWH, that the waters will never again flood Creation; and here is the inverted bow of the Warrior, presented to all humanity and fauna, which reminds Creator and Creatures with its sign. As the People of Israel moved from crisis to crisis, they were reminded of the holy presence that embraces Red & Yellow, Black & White, all precious in God’s sight. 

I PETER 3:18-22 can be a challenge. It’s here to remind us that our relationship with God is intensified through the person of Jesus. The passage, according to scholars, was written to Christians in Asia Minor (the community of John of Revelation?) who were undergoing their own flood of persecution. It’s included in Scripture because it may speak to ALL who “suffer”, to give these pains a theological basis. Jesus “was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” So then we in chaos of various kinds are to consider the Old Selves dead and the New Selves alive.

The Gospel is a quick three paragraphs by MARK, 1:9-15, which rushes us through the Baptism, Temptations and early ministry of Jesus. Jesus picks up the mantle of his imprisoned cousin, John the Baptizer, to announce throughout Galilee that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” God continues to chase us down, to pursue us with the vigor of a swooping dove, even to the barren parts of our lives where the wild things are.

And so the Rainbow prevails, in flags, in lanyards, and especially in a new awareness of how special we are as opposed to the rest of Creation. Are “we” really special, or is it that most of Creation has yet to discover/be discovered by an awareness of the breadth of God’s Love? Our ministry, our mission, is to keep pointing to the rainbow in the clouds.

In the process of unfolding,   Horace Brown King

Join us every Tuesday as we consider the texts to be presented during the upcoming weekend; at horacebrownking.com