What Were Those Commandments Anyway?

This Sunday's reading is from John 14:15-21, and all too often I have listened to a sermon in which the focus is on the "Spirit of truth", and I have been left wondering where Jesus' commandments went.

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’

I think the danger in ignoring Jesus' commandments is that we can be misled by other spirits like the Spirit of the Age, the Spirit of "my truth", or the Devil himself into believing that we are following the Holy Spirit. 

So what where those commandments anyway? 

To love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.

To love your neighbor as yourself.

And everything that flows from that.

I think that means that if I am doing something that endangers my soul, I should appreciate it if my neighbor lovingly tries to correct me. 

And that also means that I might hear something that modern people don't seem to want to hear.

I might feel offended.

I might even call my neighbor a "hater" and shame him on social media.

Those commandments cause such difficulty.

That's probably why most revisionist sermons will probably continue to ignore the commandments referenced in John 14 and focus on something that can be more easily bent to the preacher's and his or her congregation's will like  "a more nebulous Spirit of truth".  In this day and age, when the prevailing teaching is that there is no universal objective truth, and you hear someone ignore the objective commandments, beware of any claims that they preach to the "truths".

 

Masks and the Church

As we prepare to resume worship services this week, with masks being required in our small parish, I am undecided about which mask to wear. My N-95 masks will be stuffy, but they are probably the most effective. The church will have some masks that the church ladies sewed sitting by the door, so I guess that if my N-95 got too uncomfortable, I could get up and switch to one of those. 

I can't wait to see if people who choose our church made masks pick ones that go with their outfits. 

The Exclusive Jesus?

In this Sunday's reading from John 14:1-14, Jesus shoots holes in the "all streams lead to the same ocean" theology.

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

These are strong words, "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" 

There are streams that deny Jesus as Lord. Those streams take you not to the ocean but instead lead to the desert of despair. 

The argument that I have heard against the exclusivity seen in John 14:1-14 is that the writer of the Gospel of John put these words into Jesus' mouth. If one follows that argument, one might as well reject the whole New Testament and not just the parts one disagrees with because the same argument could be applied throughout.

I have always hoped that after we die, all will have the opportunity to recognize Jesus and to follow him, but I worry that some will continue to deny him and be lost forever. 

And I Was hoping Pride Parades Would Go Away.

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. 

Pride parades celebrate sin.

I hoped Pride parades would go away during the coronavirus pandemic.

But no, they are moving to a more dangerous place: the internet.

From the Denver Post,

Don’t you dare put those Pride flags away just yet.
The Center on Colfax said Denver’s annual PrideFest is still on for June 20 and 21 — parade, 5K, DJ parties and all — despite the coronavirus outbreak. But this year, it’ll be online.
“Instead we will work on creating a virtual Pride Event including the 5k, marketplace, and parade. A more full plan is expected in the coming weeks. We will reach out to those that have paid for pride booth’s and the parade to discuss the new plans and impacts with those companies and individuals.”
Parade: Parade floats will submit “fun-filled” videos that The Center will live stream. And don’t worry, the stream will still include lively commentary from queens and the like. 

5K: You won’t get the same colorful community of runners and spectators in front of the Capitol, but you still may see rainbows in the streets. Participants will run a 5K nearby their homes and submit their times independently. The Center will send commemorative t-shirts. 

Dance parties: DJs from clubs around Denver will host parties via Twitch. Unfortunately, you will have to provide your own Vodka Red Bulls. 

Drag shows and other main stage entertainment: Performers who were already scheduled will shift their shows online. 

Showing your pride: The Center is encouraging people to decorate their homes and apartment balconies. Share your photos online to spread Pride. 

Exhibitors and job fair: The Center will set up an online marketplace so you can check out the various “booths.” There will also be an online job board for people to find LGBTQ-friendly employment opportunities. 

Rally and other events: The Center said details on the rally and other Pride events are still to come. You can find the latest updates on The Center’s website.

Who is the gatekeeper?

This Sunday's Gospel reading is from John 10:1-10 in which Jesus uses a "figure of speech" to make a point.

‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ 

Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 

So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

So Jesus is shepherd and gate, but who is the gatekeeper?   

The Post-Shutdown Church

We are making plans to resume church services in the next few weeks as the death rate the corona virus appears to have stabilized and the stay at home order from our government may be eased by then. People will be leery of gathering in crowds, so church will be different until we get a vaccine for this disease. Here are a few things we are considering doing during the first phase of re-opening. Realize that ours is a small congregation, so we have a few advantages over our larger neighbors.

• Start an early service for our members with co-morbidities or who are uneasy being around children.
• Everyone entering the building must wear a mask. This will be enforced by an usher.
• Masks made by members will be available at the door.
• Seating will be such that a 6 foot distance will be kept unless one is in a family group.
• Pews will be reserved ahead of time.
• A visitor pew will be maintained near the back.
• Prayer books and Hymnals will not be used, a service bulletin will be printed.
• No singing.
• No passing of the peace except for a wave or Vulcan salute done prior to the service.
• Between services a disinfection process will be done.
• The consecrated host to which a drop of wine has been applied are prepared ahead of time, toasted, and placed in individual plastic bags on the rail. 
• No coffee hour.
• Continue live-streaming. 

I do not know how long these changes will last because no one knows when a vaccine or miracle drug will come out.

In the meantime, if you have not seen or spoken to your church friends in several weeks, give them a call and ask them how they are doing. 

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his servants."

This Sunday's Psalm (116:1-3, 10-17) when read in its entirety is fitting for the present pandemic stricken world.

116 Dilexi, quoniam

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of
my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever
I called upon him.

2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.

3 Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *
"O Lord, I pray you, save my life."

4 Gracious is the Lord and righteous; *
our God is full of compassion.

5 The Lord watches over the innocent; *
I was brought very low, and he helped me.

6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul. *
for the Lord has treated you well.

7 For you have rescued my life from death, *
my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.

8 I will walk in the presence of the Lord *
in the land of the living.

9 I believed, even when I said,
"I have been brought very low." *
In my distress I said, "No one can be trusted."

10 How shall I repay the Lord *
for all the good things he has done for me?

11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.

12 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.

13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *
is the death of his servants.

14 O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.

15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.

16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people,

17 In the courts of the Lord's house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!

Our deaths are inevitable, but we may find comfort that every death is precious to the Lord.