Giving Ourselves to the Greater Good

Liturgy of the Passion-
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56

All scripture can be looked up at http://www.biblegateway.com/ for those who may not have immediate access to a Bible.

Analysis- I don't know how many times the story of Christ's death has been told to me, but it is often told with the same meaning implied: That Jesus died for me so that all my sins would be washed away. Often when I heard this story (either in Sunday School or a sermon) the analogy of dirty linen being washed clean would be used. It's amazing to me how the story of the cross has also been made into a success story revolving around our individual salvation. While I don't think this is necessarily always the intent of the person interpreting the story, often times I got the impression that all I had to do was believe in Jesus and that was enough to ensure that I would live forever in heaven. I was told that this decision to believe was easily accomplished with a simple prayer, and often it was implied that I would be set for life, or rather more correctly, beyond life.
While I have no doubts that the many people who present Jesus' death in this way have nothing but the best in mind, I believe that personally many of these spiritual topics were, in fact, not simple or easy to grasp and that they held implications that transcended my youthful understanding of the world. I also believe that looking at the story of Jesus and summarizing it in this way minimizes the gospel and can also stunt our spiritual growth. Keep in mind that I'm not at all saying that Christ didn't die for our sins, or that he didn't die so that he could have an individual relationship with those who are willing, but I'm just saying that we need to ask what that all means for us beyond individual salvation.
For instance, some questions that grew on me from the time I was baptized at a prepubescent age were: What do I do now that I'm a Christian? What does it mean to have a relationship with Christ? If I'm going to heaven anyway, what more should I do? Etc.
Too often, people become Christians and their whole understanding of their relationship is that they are "safe" and their lives become a mission to "save" other people before they die. Obviously I'm leaving out a lot of the steps and theological understandings, but for some, the Christian faith is an ultimatum between choosing God/Jesus/heaven and hell.
While I certainly believe that we are called to invite others into the faith, I don't think Jesus intended for people to make the faith about abstract states of being outside of the realm of this world (heaven or hell). In fact, I think that Christ wanted his people doing his work and accomplishing his will in this world. Why do some Christians try to convert people with limited understandings of the consequences of this life, acting as if we have the final say and not God? Wouldn't our energy be better spent teaching what Christ did in this world and how, as his followers, we wish to act similarly to the best of our ability to honor his sacrifice? In my experience an invitation is more appealing than an ultimatum, especially an ultimatum human beings have no control over and have, at best, a limited understanding of.
I want to close my analysis with a thought about how our faith could be different, a thought that some will likely think extreme if not heretical, but hopefully a thought that will at least prompt others to re-think how they look at their faith.
How would we appear differently to others if we were willing to go to hell for others so that they could taste heaven? I don't necessarily mean beyond our earthly existence, but to gently rephrase the question: What ways can we better give ourselves for others regardless of what others believe, and regardless of the consequences to ourselves?
Didn't Jesus go to hell so we wouldn't have to? Didn't he, as God, experience death so it wouldn't be our ending? I know some have answered the very questions I've asked better than I have and maybe ever will. I don't believe that Jesus walked the path of suffering so I could be comfortable. I like to look at Christ's life and death more as an example of holiness that I can't reach or imitate, and because of that, a relationship with Christ is not only vital, but compels me to imitate that example to the best of my ability within the context of my surroundings. Because of this I invite you to join me however you feel you can.

I'd just like to add that I don't have all the answers (insert obvious joke), and the passages and stories that I analyze are often hard to organize my thoughts in. My intention is never to step on anyone's toes or insult their individual interpretations or understandings. I am perfectly comfortable with the idea that I could be wrong. I have, however, thought very deeply about the things I post or write about, so don't think I do this casually.

If you'd like to write something about a topic that comes up on this blog and would like your thoughts posted here, just let me know via e-mail: jsquiggles23@hotmail.com I will review and make a decision about what gets posted, but I will not decide to not post something if the said piece is in disagreement with something I've written. I actually invite discussion, and since it's my blog I reserve the right to respond and have the last word (HAHAHA {evil laugh} HAHAHA).

Sorry about posting the passion analysis a day later, but it didn't feel right before Palm Sunday.

God bless,

Jason

Trusting Jesus

St. Paul

3rd Lectionary Verse

Philippians 3:4b-14

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Analysis- In this lectionary passage out of Philippians we are able to get a glimpse of what it was like in the time Paul was writing this. People were making salvation about the law and also about timeless Jewish customs (namely circumcision). Paul explains how faultlessly he adhered to these laws and also how he persecuted the church. In fact, he says that all he gained or profited from the law is considered a loss for the sake of Christ. As we see in reading this, Paul thinks true righteousness comes from God and wishes to know Christ and the power of resurrection, moving forward and not looking back.
When reading this passage as well as Paul's other writings it brings a couple thoughts to mind:

1) Nothing we do to ourselves or in ceremony matters much in terms of our salvation, but these things are often emphasized. Not only are these things emphasized, but they are constantly being argued about. Each denomination has their own way of doing things, but I believe those things have their place.
Now, please don't mishear me; Ceremonies and sacraments are important as an outward expression of what's inside. I'm just saying that these things shouldn't be placed over the priority of loving God and loving people or working for the betterment of the community, etc. We shouldn't judge others for how they express their inner faith in ways different than we may express the same faith.

2) Though what we do may not impact our salvation, our salvation compels us to keep doing God's work. Ultimately our relationship with Christ is work. Many people have pointed out to me throughout my life that we're saved by grace, not works. While there is truth in this, I have never felt God's grace more than when I'm doing what I would consider to be God's work. No matter where we are spiritually, we can all contribute to the greater good within the body of Christ and there is no better way to put your trust in Christ than by "putting your money where your mouth is."

I may have gotten a bit off topic with those thoughts, but Paul brings that out of me. Nothing drains me more or rubs me the wrong way more than when petty ceremonial things get in the way of the communal relationship with Christ. In Paul's day it was Jewish Christians emphasizing circumcision among other things to newly converted Gentiles. Today, the list could be endless:

Arrangement of the sanctuary, music, order of worship, baptism, scriptural translation, preaching style, etc., etc., etc.

Is it wrong for certain things to prick our individual hearts? No. Is it wrong to prefer a certain worship style? No. These things only become barriers when they are the standard we hold everyone to, and in doing so we limit the endless ways God speaks to people. When something happens that we don't prefer in a worship setting, let's take comfort that God can use the same thing that may irk us to speak profoundly to someone else.

That's all for today. I'll try to post the last lectionary analysis tomorrow. As always, I appreciate any feedback or questions you might have.

God bless,

Jason