Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

What Does God Require of You?

As a personal policy, I am against “bumper sticker” theology. However, if I was to summarize my theology on a bumper sticker and place it on my car, Micah 6:8 would certainly fit:

“What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God”

In my opinion, no better ethical summary is provided by the prophets, codified by the Old Testament commandments, and incarnated by Jesus. Following that one timeless admonition alone changes our Christian talk into a walk, and our doctrinal IQ into a kingdom demonstrative I DO.

The setting of this poetic passage in Micah is a courtroom between God and his holy people. The passage is a series of sentiments by God, the injured plaintiff, toward his people wondering what happened to their relationship. Through the prophet Micah, God is expressing His heartfelt bewilderment while pleading with the people to come back into that intimate relationship. The Lord’s case against his people is convincing and of course, convicting.

In a world where “feelings” seem to justify behavior, God says your behavior demonstrates your feelings about me and my creation. What does God want?

The three requirements are:

1.  Do Justice: Of course, it means to be a voice and a vote for the unprotected and oppressed, the handicapped and the poor, and the child and the elderly. It also means to be a voice for what is truthful and honest regardless of personal preference, pigmentation, politics, position, or power. The virtue of justice is within the character of God (Is. 30:18) and an active concern of God’s (Gen. 18:25; Ps. 9:4).

2.  Love kindness: The word, kindness, is a Hebrew word (hesed) which occurs 250 times in the Bible. It is often translated as mercy, lovingkindness, and sometimes faithfulness. Again, it reflects the character of God (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 23:23). It involves both an affection and ethical love of neighbor as well as faithfulness to the covenant of God.

3.  Walk humbly: Humility is an unselfish concern for the welfare of others. It provides a proper modesty and an accurate assessment of one’s relationship to the power of God. With humility, there is an absence of arrogance, conceit, and haughtiness. Christ incarnated it (Phil.2:3); Moses lead with it (Numbers 12:3), Paul developed it (Acts 20:19) and Peter wanted all Christians to be covered by it (I Peter 5:5).

God certainly has made it plain on how to live life in any culture, in any century, and in any circumstances: Be fair and just, be compassionate and loyal, and take God more seriously than yourself. Yep, I can put that bumper sticker on the back of my car!

- Fr. Tony Baron, Senior Pastor

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Monday, January 17th, 2011

“God Calling—Anyone Home?”, John 1:29-42; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

The often neglected truth about a call, be it a phone call, a shout down the street or a call for help, is twofold.  When making a call we expect to reach someone and we expect a response.    When we fail to achieve the desired outcome the more tenacious of us often call, call again.

Thus, a call may be described as something that allows us to connect with another with the intention of moving the other to a response. 

God has used the idea of calling, in form of burning bushes, dreams, or outright words, for millennia. 

The call in the Old Testament:

            Exodus 3:1-4:17 (Moses and the burning bush):  a call, an argument, an action

            Jeremiah 1:4-2:2:  a call, an argument, an action

The call in the Gospel:

            John 1:43:  “Follow me.”

The idea of invitation or summons to salvation is a common one in rabbinic writings.  An ordinary word thus acquires special significance through the fact God is the subject and that salvation is the goal (Kittel, 1985). 

The call in the Epistles:

1 Corinthians 1:1-9:  Paul, called to be an apostle (gr:  sent one) to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints….

-for in every way you have been enriched by him, in speech and knowledge of every kind

-testimony has been strengthened among you, not lacking in any spiritual gift

The two-fold nature of the call: personal response (pick up the phone!!!) and global outlook (action taken). 

January 16, 2011.  The Way Christian Fellowship, Vista, CA.  The Rev. Dcn. Kirsten Gardner.

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Monday, January 17th, 2011

Understanding Holy Communion, John 6:41-59

I.                The Names of the Eucharist

A.              The Lord’s Supper, I Cor. 11:19

The Lord’s Supper was the meal where the Lord is the host, setting the             tone and behavior of the meal.  The Lord’s Supper was in direct contrast             to your own supper, v. 21.

B.               Breaking Bread, Luke-Acts

                        Used repeatedly by Luke to describe the opening blessing of a meal, the                                                 corporate meal, and references the ‘bread and the cup.’

C.              Communion, I Cor. 10:16

      “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood        of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body     of Christ?

D.              Eucharist, Jesus action at last Supper

This term is mainly used in Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions.  It is adopted because “eucharist” is the Greek word for “thanksgiving” and   is taken from Jesus’ actions at the last supper:  “Jesus took bread and     gave thanks.”

II.              The Different Views of the Eucharist in Churches Through History

Views                           Christian Body Is Christ present?                    How?              

 

Trannsubstantiation      Roman Catholic               Real Presence             The substance changes

                                                                                                                                         The accidents remain

Pious Silence                   Anglican, Orthodox       Real Presence                 Do not know the meta-

                                                                                                                                           Physical mechanics

 Consubstantiation       Lutherans (Luther)        Real Presence                 Substance remains;

                                                                                                                                          Body /Blood present

Spiritual Presence         Calvin, Presby.             Real Presence                   Substance remains

                                                                                                                                         Spiritual feed on Christ

Mere Symbolism           Zwingli                            Christ not present           Symbols, memorial

                                             Baptist, evangelical    Physically or spiritually

Non-literal celebration   Quakers/Salv. Army      Christ not present           Live by values; don’t

                                                                                                  Phy. or spiritually          need to celebrate

III.            The Setting of the Eucharist in the Day of Jesus

A.  The Eucharist was set within a Passover Framework

1. Passover was the Jewish Festival that celebrated the Exodus from Egypt and freedom from slavery to the Egyptians, Exodus 12

2. Jesus was redefining the feast around himself, and seeing as his actions as their ultimate fulfillment.

a)   Meal, death of Jesus: new exodus from slavery to sin to salvation (new covenant enjoy fellowship with God)

b)  Jesus as the Passover Lamb: God’s judgment has “passed over” us.

                             c)  The new community in fellowship with Jesus.  Jesus dealing with issues of forgiveness, love, and  servanthood. A Calling of discipleship and mission.

                                       d)         Eschatological meal: Celebrates the effect of past action in dying on the present (Lk. 24:13-35), while awaiting the ultimate fulfillment, Luke 22:16.  It points forwardto the future banquet we will enjoy with Christ in His                                                               Kingdom.

B. The Eucharist in the Early Church:  The early church had a common meal as a central part of their gatherings.  Luke’s references to the breaking of  bread seem to correlate with Paul’s references to the ‘the Lord’s Supper’ in Corinthians and the evidence of the celebration of ‘love feasts’ in Jude and later church fathers.  The common meal, celebrated house to house and ‘on the first day of the week’, served as a time of joyful thanksgiving to God for their new life in Christ. 

 

1. It was a counter-cultural statement (Corporate identity)

  • Lord the Host versus idols or guest
  • Welcoming People vs. status of People (bias)
  • Peace with God and one another vs. Conflict
  • Celebrate their formation as a new people of God under a new covenant in their Lord Jesus

2. It is a “rememberance through re-enactment” (Corporate memory) 

  • Not re-sacrificing Jesus
  • Bringing the past to the present moment

3.  It is an active participation in the life of Jesus(the body and blood, Lev 17; Jn 6; I Cor. 10-11)

January 9, 2011; The Way Christian Fellowship, Fr. Tony Baron, teaching pastor.  To learn more about The Way, see our website, www.findtheway.com.

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