The Kingdom of Heaven Parables

 

This Sunday's lectionary selection of Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 was made to highlight the parables about the kingdom of heaven,

He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’

He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’

So the kingdom of heaven starts small and grows, and grows, is precious, is good and righteous. The last bit about the scribes has always needed more explanation. I take it to mean that Jesus intends his future scribes to report both the Old and the New Testaments because they are both precious, good, and are seeds that should be sown.

 

Creeping to "Ethical non-monogamous relationships"

On July 1, 2023, delegates to the 2023 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) Special Convention approved an amended report and recommendations from the ELCIC Task Force Addressing Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

Among the recommendations, the ELCIC is called to: appoint a taskforce to continue the work of addressing Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in the ELCIC; increase usage of pronouns; increase the ELCIC’s visibility as an affirming church; issue a public statement of apology to 2SLGBTQIA+ folx that have been harmed by the ELCIC; create a naming liturgy service to publicly affirm and celebrate transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse members of the ELCIC; ongoing sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) training; a national office staff person with dedicated responsibilities for diversity, equity and inclusion; encourage congregations in the ELCIC to begin a “Reconciling in Christ” process; and create national resources which would support listening, safe conversations, and discernment at all levels of the church around healthy, consensual relationships, including ethical non-monogamous relationships.

Wait a second, "ethical non-monogamous relationships" (ENM)! What does that mean? 

I read the committee's report (link here), and I can't find a definition for that, but that may be intentional. 

Other sources on the web describe it this way, 

"What separates ethical non-monogamy from cheating is that no matter what type of ethical non-monogamy you practice in your relationship, both people in the relationship consent to it."

"With cheating, the partner does not consent. ENM isn't cheating because both you and your partner have agreed in advance that you'll be practicing non-monogamy."

Now that we've straightened that out, the question remains, "is ENM Christian, and is it moral?

Let's ask Jesus, 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  Matthew 5:27-28 English Standard Version

That seems clear enough. 

Am I the only one who has a problem with the creep towards ENM? 

 

Mary Magdalene

 This Sunday our church celebrated the Feast of Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of our parish. Four few years ago while on a choral tour of Italy, Pewsterspouse and I visited the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence, and were surprised by the appearance of Donatello's statue of Mary Magdalene which he made in 1440 A.D. or so.

We used to call that "rode hard and put up wet." Perhaps this was Mary just before or just after Jesus chased the seven demons out of her. It is so unlike most renditions of her that I had to stop and give this one more time than I was spending with the rest of the incredible collection of art in the Duomo.

The assigned Gospel reading is John 20:11-18,

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

I have heard several explanations as to why Mary did not recognize Jesus. I found a good summary at Cold-Case Christianity, 

The women came to the tomb very early, before it was light outside. They first viewed Jesus in this darkness.

The women were not looking for a resurrected man; they were looking for a dead man. They did not think it possible someone standing behind them could be Jesus.

They were afraid and scared, bewildered and wondering. Why? Because they had just experienced an earthquake. This is their state of mind as Jesus approaches.

Mary is crying; sobbing more likely. This is clear from the account we have, and her sobbing clearly affected her ability to see.

Mary was standing outside the tomb in the garden when she first viewed Jesus. In this setting, she would expect to see a gardener rather than Jesus.

Mary turned away from Jesus. She must have turned away quickly and stayed turned from Him for most of the contact and conversation, because the Scripture tells us she turns back toward Him when He mentions her name.

Mary was standing in the garden. She looked at Jesus for only an instant, in poor lighting, through her tears, thinking all along Jesus should be dead. She was terrified and bewildered from the earthquake. Do you think it is reasonable she first took him for a gardener (considering she was, after all, in a garden)? I think it is, and this is certainly not something that worries me as a believer. I actually love the honesty of the Gospels. Each writer reports the event without concern for apparent contradiction. As investigators, we simply need to do our homework to read through the varied accounts, consider all the perspectives and assemble the details. Once we’ve done this, it’s really not hard to understand why Mary didn’t immediately recognize the resurrected Jesus.

Yes Pride is a sin, but just don't say it, Tweet it, or Blog it

When I was a child, I learned about seven "deadly" sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. I had a schoolyard bully who tried tagging me with the nickname "sloth" because I could often be found hanging upside down on the "monkey bars" or "jungle gym" as the playground equipment used to be called. The nickname didn't stick, and it was an early lesson on how to ignore minor offenses. 

These days people are easily offended, especially the LGBTqrsetc crowd. If I were to dare reiterate in public my childhood lessons about the deadly sins, I would be quickly condemned, cancelled, fired, "doxed", and become a social outcast. In some places it is a crime to share Biblical teachings. Take Finland for example where they apparently do not have a double jeopardy rule,

From The Christian Institute,

A Christian politician in Finland who faces a second trial for alleged “hate speech” after sharing the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality has likened her experience to a “modern-day inquisition”.

Last year, Helsinki District Court dismissed all charges against former Government minister Dr Päivi Räsänen, stating that it could find no justification to censor her exercise of free speech. But following an appeal, she has been summoned to attend a new trial next month.

Dr Räsänen was charged with three so-called hate crimes for expressing her biblically based views on sexual ethics: in a 2019 tweet, during a 2019 radio debate, and via a 2004 pamphlet.

The politician stated: “I have been subjected to a legal process that has already lasted for more than four years for the alleged ‘crime’ of sharing my Christian beliefs in public.”

She branded it “a modern-day inquisition and a theological examination of my beliefs”, which churches have taught “for two thousand years”.

“Sexual relations outside marriage are against God’s will, as are same-sex relationships. I will not back off from this viewpoint. At the same time, I have emphasised that every one of us is sinful in front of God. The solution to sin is not denying its reality but accepting God’s grace through Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice.”

Dr Räsänen warned that, if required, she will take her case to the Supreme Court of Finland and the European Court of Human Rights.

In 2019, the politician shared a picture of her Bible open at Romans 1:24-27 in response to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland’s decision to sponsor a local LGBT pride event.

She wrote: “How can the church’s doctrinal foundation, the Bible, be compatible with the lifting up of shame and sin as a subject of pride?”

Dr Räsänen was placed under investigation for the comments the same year, but a formal prosecution was not made until April 2021.

In a statement, Finland’s Prosecutor General claimed her actions were derogatory and discriminatory, and suggested her comments violated the dignity of gay people.

Meanwhile in  England (Premier Christian News),

A Christian Conservative councillor has been dropped by six companies after tweeting that Pride is a sin.

Cllr King Lawal, who has been a councillor at Northamptonshire Unitary Council for two years, claims he was banned from holding surgeries at the local library.

He was suspended for 21 days, pending an investigation. He also claims he was forced to resign from his own company, which he had built and grown.

When did Pride become a thing to celebrate. Because of Pride Satan fell as an arch Angel. Pride is not a virtue but a Sin. Those who have Pride should Repent of their sins and return to Jesus Christ. He can save you. #PrideMonth #Pride23 #PrideParade.”

The post included an image with a verse from Isaiah 3 verse 9 which said: ‘Whatever God calls “Sin” is nothing to be Proud of.’

Cllr Lawal later provided further clarification in a more detailed statement:  

“When I referred to Pride as a sin in my previous post, it may have been misinterpreted as hateful. Let me explain why it is not.

“When Christians refer to ‘sin’ or ‘sinners’ we are speaking of ourselves. We are not singling out specific people or groups of people as sinners.

“Sin according to the Bible includes lying, stealing, gossip and hatred - not just things like homosexuality, adultery and sex outside of marriage.

“Jesus said that even to have unholy thoughts that we never act on is sinful.  Therefore every single one of us is sinful by this standard, including myself.”

Speaking to Premier Christian News, he said: “I would do it again. First, I am a Christian, and a believer in Jesus Christ and a soldier of his army, so I am a councillor second.

Actually, my political life works better with me being a Christian because I believe in truth, being honest and loving people. They don't work against each other.

I should be able to share my beliefs. Legally I can hold and share my religious beliefs without being persecuted for it.”

I fear that these forms of persecution will only get worse as Christians become a smaller and smaller minority in western "civilization".

 

Read all the red letters please

 The Revised Common Lectionary used in many churches once again cuts Jesus' words out of a Gospel reading. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 is their recommendation. I ignore that advice and supply you with the missing text in red letters.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’

 Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

“You will indeed listen, but never understand,

   and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

 For this people’s heart has grown dull,

   and their ears are hard of hearing,

     and they have shut their eyes;

     so that they might not look with their eyes,

   and listen with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn—

   and I would heal them.”

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

I can only speculate that the missing verses were cut because they go against the image of Jesus that the editors want people to see. 

But blessed are your eyes, for they see

 

Liturgies for "gender transition" approved in Canada's Anglican organization

I am certain that this will be done in the Episcopal organization tout de suite.

From Sue Careless (that must be a pen name) at The Living Church,

"The Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod authorized 'Pastoral Liturgies for Journeys of Gender Transition and Affirmation' June 30, but added the provision 'where authorized by the ordinary.'

All liturgies must first be authorized by General Synod, but ordinaries (diocesan bishops) have authority over the liturgical practices in their dioceses.

So, while Resolution A122 passed easily with the amendment, those theologically conservative diocesan bishops who do not support such liturgies need not approve their use..."

 Remember the rule: "Where orthodoxy becomes optional, it will eventually be proscribed."

"The texts for the liturgies were available in the synod’s Convening Circular, a thorough guide to the scheduled discussions and advance resolutions. Many delegates already were familiar with the rites, as they had been used on a trial basis in a few parishes over the past year. They have also been online for some time."

Using something on a trial basis in a church always seems to lead to its adoption. 

"It was not clear from the debate whether these rites would be offered to minors, or whether they would require parental permission."

Yikes! 

Looking at the numbers, the Anglican Church of Canada is dying. This will surely kill it off.

 

 

"My Jesus wouldn't say that"

 In this Sunday's reading from the Revised Common Lectionary, Matthew 11:16-19,25-30, the editors must have decided that their Jesus would never say the things he does in verses 20-24. I have put them back (in red letters) to prove the editors wrong.

16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,

17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

   we wailed, and you did not mourn.”

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’

20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.

For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’

 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Pewsitters who are fed an expurgated Gospel will be the ones who say, "My Jesus would never say that!" 

 

The "De-banking" of Christians in the U.S. and the U.K.

Did you ever think that banks would go radically woke and start turning depositors away because of those customers' orthodox religious beliefs? 

From Crisis Magazine, 

"...nineteen Republican Attorneys General and fourteen Republican state treasurers have sent letters to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, alleging that the banking giant “has persistently discriminated against certain customers due to their religious or political affiliation.”

"They cite the National Committee for Religious Freedom (NCRF) being de-banked last year. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the highest-profile Catholic who sits on the board of NCRF, is not known for being an especially conservative cleric, but he has been fairly vocal on issues like the protection of the unborn. That JPMorgan would de-bank even a centrist, pluralist religious organization shows how far they are willing to go."

"This is not the first time JPMorgan has de-banked a Christian organization. In 2021, a credit card processor owned by JPMorgan terminated the account of the Family Council, a Christian pro-life organization, because it was deemed 'High Risk'. It will not surprise those of us who know how this works to hear that the Family Council met none of the processor’s written standards for that category. "

"This year, due to the controversial nature of actions like these, a resolution was placed before JPMorgan shareholders to require the bank to evaluate how it quantifies risks associated with religious views. JPMorgan advocated that its shareholders vote against the resolution, going so far as to file a motion with the Securities and Exchange Commission to prevent this resolution from appearing on the ballot. The SEC denied this motion in March."

I am glad that I don't own any shares in or bank with J. P. Morgan. 

In the U.K., the same process of de-banking is going on, but they are targeting individuals as well as organizations. This from Premier Christian News,

"An Anglican minister has had his bank account closed after raising concerns over Yorkshire Building Society's promotion of transgenderism.

Rev Richard Fothergill, who leads the Filling Station network, sent an online message to YBS in response to a request for feedback.

In it, the 62-year-old, who's had an account for 17 years, complained that the company shouldn't be promoting a transgender ideology.

Four days later, he received a letter stating his account would be closed. 

Responding to his claims, a spokesperson said: 

'We never close savings accounts based on different opinions regarding beliefs or feedback provided by our customers.'

'We only ever make the difficult decision to close a savings account if a customer is rude, abusive, violent or discriminates in any way, based on the specific facts, comments and behaviour in each case.'

"The story comes just days after Christian charity Core Issues Trust received a payout from Barclays over the closure of its bank account as part of a settlement to avoid a court case.

The Core Issues Trust offers support to men and women who have unwanted same-sex attraction."

I recently took over the duties of Treasurer of our small Anglican church, and I have made numerous trips to our local bank to complete paperwork and straighten out the details of the transition. Not once was I asked about my opinions on hot button issues. 

I just hope they don't go woke on us because we would surely be de-banked.. 

If they do that, we will have to start keeping what little money we have in a mattress.

 

For the wages of sin is...

 This Sunday's reading is from Romans 6:12-23. I hope Paul's words have special meaning to listeners who partook in the numerous "Pride" events of the past month. 

"Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Oh dear. How will revisionist priests handle this one. I suspect most will let it go unmentioned in their sermons. Perhaps some will, as one priest I knew, attack it head on and say (I quote), "I am so sick and tired of the Southern obsession with sin." 

One has to deal with the problem of sin if one is to be a Christian because it is written all over the Bible. The way that revisionists have dealt with it is be re-imagining just what constitutes a sin. Homosexual acts become a blessing, Pride becomes a parade, adultery becomes polyamory, and stealing becomes okay if it is a church building.

That's how the Episcopal organization earned the wages of sin, as evidenced by its rapid decline in membership, average Sunday attendance, and baptisms.

All I have to say is Paul was and is still right, and thank God it's July.