People Praying

People Watching is a past time many of us engage in at the mall and while we are waiting in other public places, and since I spend a lot of time at the mall, (love you Heather) it something I do a lot.

The problem is, I have to confess, that people watching often turns into people judging. The loud group of teenagers, the homeless-looking middle aged man, the mother with a child throwing a temper tantrum, are all potential objects of my judgmentalism. Never mind that I was once a loud teen, that I was once homeless, that I have had my own children throw temper tantrums in public and I probably threw some of my own in my day. Yes, judgementalism is a persistent sin.

So, today I suddenly had an idea, "What if I prayed for the people as I watched them?" So I did. I began to pray silently for each person or group I saw.

• For the immigrant family 
• For the family with the special needs child. 
• For the man with the "Vietnam Veteran" hat. (It was Veterans' Day.) 
• For the mother with two small boys, one of whom is in a full blown meltdown. 

Often all I could really do is pray, "God bless them," as they passed by. As I engaged in this new hobby of "people praying," praying for people rather than just "watching" or worse still "judging" them, I found my heart more open and full of joy. Don't tell Heather, but I can't wait to go to the mall again.

Why I Don't Preach Tithing

1. Tithing is giving 10% of one's income to church and/or charity.  (Whether that means 10% of net or gross is still up for debate.)  
1. Tithing of agricultural products, not necessarily money, was required in the Old Testament. (eg Leviticus 27:30)  Later an exemption was made for farmers who lived at a distance from Jerusalem who could sell their tithe portion and then bring the money to Jerusalem and buy products to tithe. (Deuteronomy 14:24-26)
2. Some churches and pastors teach that a tithe of cash income is required for Christians, some calling it, "the minimum standard for Christian giving."  Some churches even require members to provide a copy of their income tax return so that they can prove that they are tithing.
3. In my experience the modern practice of tithing leads to pride on one hand and guilt on the other.  There are those who can give 10% and not even feel it, while there are many others who cannot give 10% without depriving themselves and their families.  Tithing has become a form of religious extortion which victimize the most faithful and spiritually and financially vulnerable.  Stories abound of lonely widows sending their life's savings to radio and TV preachers.  I think Jesus said something about religious leaders who extort money from widows in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
2. However, the New Testament does not teach tithing.  The New Testament only mentions tithing three times.  
1. Two of those comes from Jesus in the gospels, and both cast tithing and tithers in a negative light.  
1. The first comes from Matthew 23:23, and has a parallel in Luke 11:42, here Jesus is condemning the Pharisees, "You give a tithe of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness."  
2. The second from Jesus comes from Luke 18:12, The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  Both go to the Temple to pray, the tax collectors begs for mercy, the Pharisee brags about his righteousness saying, among other things, "I give a tithe of all I get."  
2. The other mention of tithing in the New Testament comes from Hebrews 7, but in that chapter the author uses the tithe merely as an illustration in the allegory relating the priesthood of Melchizedek in Genesis to the High Priesthood of Christ.  
3. So we have three mentions of tithing in the New Testament, two refer to tithing and tithers negatively , and the other merely uses tithing as an illustration in an allegory.
4. My conclusion, then, is that, because of the very specific way in which the tithe is treated in the Old Testament, and because of the lack of a  positive requirement in the New Testament, tithing is part of the Jewish ceremonial law and is NOT a requirement for Christians.  
3. Having said that, I need to say that that tithing does offer us the principle of proportional giving; we should all give in proportion to our income.  Also, I need to say that tithing is a wonderful spiritual and stewardship discipline.  If you are able to tithe, and feel called to do so, you should.
4. But, if the New Testament, Christian, standard of giving is not tithing, then what is it?  The Apostle Paul gives us some guidance in 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  There are three principles for giving that are outlined in this passage.
1. First, the giving should be intentional.  We should pray about, and think about, and decide beforehand what we are going to give,  It should not be just whatever we happen to have at the time or whatever we feel like at the time.  Paul also reminds us in 1 Corinthians 16:2 that our giving should be proportional to our income (10% may work for some people)  The point is that we have to plan our giving and be intentional   Decide to give a certain amount every week or every month and follow through.
2. Second, our gift must be voluntary.  It cannot be a requirement.  It is not a fee.  It is not dues.  It is a gift.  To make tithing, or any other gift, a requirement means that is is not a gift anymore, and the giver will lose God's promised blessing.
3. Third, our gifts must be given given cheerfully.  Everybody likes receiving gifts, but nobody likes receiving gifts from a grumpy person with an attitude, and neither does God.  If you cannot give it willingly and cheerfully, keep it in your pocket!
5. As a Methodist and a Wesleyan, I practice Wesleyan stewardship which is outlined by John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, in his sermon, "On the Use of Money."  
1. Wesley said that we are to earn all we can, save all we can, and give all we can.
1. First, we are to earn all we can though honest and hard work that is healthy and safe for our selves, our neighbors, and our environment.
2. Second, we are to save all that we can by being careful with our money and by avoiding unnecessary expense and luxury.
3. Third, we give all that we can, after we have met our needs and the needs of our families, short and long term, we give  the rest, all of it, away.
2. In Wesleyan stewardship we do not give God 10% and then do as we please with the other 90%.  No, in Wesleyan stewardship we do what God wants with 100% of the money that God has given us.  So, what does God want us to do with God's money?  I'm glad you asked.
1. Wesley taught that the the first thing God would have us do is to provide for our selves and our families and meet their needs.  The key word is needs.  Of course, that would include reasonable entertainment and recreation because these are needs.  
1. If we give away money without first meeting our own family's needs we cannot say that we have done God's will.  Remember when Jesus condemned the Pharisees for "giving a gift to God" rather than supporting their elderly parents in Mark 7:11.
2. Once we have met the needs of our selves and our families, we then give the rest of God's money to meet the needs of others and the church.
3. In Wesleyan stewardship every dollar belongs to God and every purchase and every financial decision is subject to the will of God.  We are invited to ask ourselves whether or not each and every purchase or decision we make is God's will, whether we can honestly say that this is something that is good and necessary for our selves and our family, or if this money can be given away or used for a more God-pleasing purpose.  In this way we give God 100%, not 10%.  To me this seems like a more difficult, more rewarding, and more God-pleasing method of stewardship.
6. In closing I would like to offer a modern parable that helps me understand Wesleyan stewardship.
1. When I was a kid my mom used to send me to the store.  I was sent with a list and money.  When I returned I had better have the items on the list, no more, no less, a receipt, and correct change.  (Once in awhile I would be allowed to get something for myself though; moms, and God, are good like that.)
2. In Wesleyan stewardship God gives us money to meet our needs, to do God's will, and, occasionally, to have a little fun.  Once we have met our needs we give God back God's change, and, trust me, God will look at the receipt.       

God Was Not in the Wind

On July 11th Tama County experienced what officials are calling a "wind event." However, for many who experienced damage, including the loss of houses, the nuance of distinction between a tornado and a "wind event" may be lost.

It seems that July 11th was Tama County's taste of the extreme weather that has taken place all over the country this year and in recent years, from droughts to floods, from tornadoes to hurricanes, and from blizzards to heat waves.

I have had more than one person tell me over the last few years, "I think Someone is trying to get our attention," that "Someone" being God.  So, assuming God is trying to get our attention, what is God trying to tell us?  I have a few suggestions.

1. The weather reminds us that we need to learn to take better care of the planet God has given us.  There is little doubt now that our climate is changing as a result of the burning of fossil fuels.  Every ounce of gas, coal, or oil we save can make a difference.
2. The weather reminds us of the awe and humility in which our ancestors stood before God and nature.  The weather reminds us that, no matter how big we build it, the weather can knock it down.  The weather reminds us that we are not in charge.  (Consider the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11:1-9.)
3. The weather reminds of what is truly important.  In the aftermath of these weather events we see neighbors helping each other, and communities and families brought together.  The weather can destroy our houses, but it cannot destroy our homes, because a home is not a building and a building is not a home.

While all of these things are true and are lesson we should take to heart, that still leaves us with the nagging question, "Is God really up in heaven pulling the strings, contorting the weather, trying to teach us a lesson."  To answer that question I turn to 1 Kings 19:11-13a 

"The LORD said [to Elijah], 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his faceand went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." (TNIV)  

God was not in the wind but in the gentle whisper. God can and sometimes does use the weather, and other natural events, to speak to us, but he prefers to speak to us in the gentle whisper of the Word and the Holy Spirit and the wise advice of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The 4 D's of Death

I preached a sermon this past Sunday, that would have been April 10, 2011, on John chapter eleven, the raising of Lazarus.  I that sermon I said that in the Resurrection, his on Easter Sunday and ours at the end of time, Jesus does not delay death he defeats death.  That got me to thinking about some other D's about death.  I came up with four: death defied, death denied, death delayed, and death defeated.


Death Defied  We have all seen or heard of what are called "death defying stunts."  Think about Evel Knievel, Harry Houdini, or David Blane.  Think about sky diving or bungee jumping.  Extreme sports, as they are called, are gaining in popularity.  I must confess that I also engage in what is considered an extreme sport in the form of mountain biking, but I must also confess that I am a coward and what I do is really pretty tame!  These things are exiting to watch and to do, especially for the young, and perhaps not to smart, males among us.  Danger is fun, but we all know it comes with a price.


Death Denied  We don not like to think about death and we do not like to talk about death.  We don't like to use the word "death," we use euphemisms like, "passed away," "or bought the farm," "or kicked the bucket."  We we do confront death, like when we go to a funeral, we want the body to be all made up nice in a nice casket surrounded by flowers.  Few of us, except for those of us who work on the dark side, pastors, emergency and medical personnel, and funeral directors, have ever seen a dead body before it has been prepared unless it is someone we were very close to.  We like to keep death and the dead at a safe distance.


Death Delayed As I said in the sermon I preached, medical science can do many things to delay death.  Of course now many are beginning to ask if delaying death always a good thing, especially in the case of the seriously ill and injured when delaying death will only mean more pain and suffering.  I am thankful for the Hospice movement and all those who work in for helping to show us a different way, for showing us how death can be accepted and embraced.  The Christian should not be morbid and certainly should not be in any particular hurry to die, but the Christian should not be afraid of death.  The Apostle Paul says that to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)


Death Defeated Jesus defeated death by dying on the cross and rising again.  Jesus will also defeat death for all of us who believe in him and who have accepted him as our Lord and Savior.  Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life, everyone who believes in me, even though they die, will live. (John 11:25)  We will all experience physical death, whether we live to a ripe old age or whether our deaths are tragic and untimely, we are all going to die.  The good news is that our dying is only the first step in Christ defeating our death.  Like Christ, in order to defeat death, we have to die.  The second step in Christ defeating our death is heaven.  When our spirit is separated from our body, our spirit goes to heaven.  But heaven, as wonderful as it is, is not even the end of the story.  The final step in Christ defeating our death is the resurrection of our bodies.  One day Jesus is coming back to establish his new and perfect kingdom on earth once and for all.  On that day our spirits will be rejoined to out resurrected, perfected, glorified, and immortal bodies, bodies that will be in the likeness of our current bodies but will also be very different (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58).  In our new bodies we will live with Jesus and with one another in his perfect kingdom forever.  Death will be completely defeated once and for all.

In a world that tries to defy death, deny death, and delay death.  We can joyfully proclaim the good news of Easter, that Jesus Christ has defeated death!  Christ is risen!  Christ risen indeed!  Alleluia!      

Paganism and the New Testament

The rejection of the idea that God somehow directly punishes people through natural phenomenon comes clearly into focus in the New Testament.

In John chapter 9 Jesus and his disciples came upon a man who was born blind.  The disciples asked Jesus whether it was his own sin or the sin of his parents that caused the man to be born blind.  This revealed the assumption among Jews at the time and which is also common among pagan, and often, sad to say, among Christians, that sickness is a punishment for sin and bad things only happen to bad people.  Jesus responded that neither the man's own sin nor that of his parents cause his blindness, and proceeded to restore his sight.

When it comes to sin the New Testament is clear that we are all sinners.  James 2:10-11 says that we break one of God's laws we are guilty of breaking them all.
Jesus in Luke chapter 13 is very clear that the victims of various tragedies are no worse than anyone else.

1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." (Luke 13:1-5 NRSV)

The Bible is also very clear that God does not bring these things on people.

 13 No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; (James 1:13-14 NRSV)

Throughout the New Testament there runs the idea that while God does not cause the difficulties in our lives he allows them and will use them to help us grow.  God will not allow us more than we can handle and will provide the way through.  Of course sometimes we wonder why God has some much faith in us and we can always choose ignore the lesson God is teaching and the help God is offering.

2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 NRSV)

13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NRSV)