Matthew 14:22-33

In “super Bible” class in seminary, I was assigned John’s version of this story for our major New Testament exegetical paper. I was to write at least 20 pages on the theological significance of the story taking into account all of the latest Biblical research and scientific information on whether or not one could actually walk on water. We were trained to look at the miracles as stories told by ancient people who didn’t know the laws of science. We were to look for the “theological meaning” and disregard the portions of the story that seemed to go against natural laws. We were to even try to “explain away” what happened with scientific explanations – the water was shallow or Jesus knew where the stones were. I guess that is the way of the Age on Enlightenment. But what does the 21st century postmodern worldview say about stories like this one?
I would begin by suggesting that perhaps when we expect God to act within our current notions of science or theology, we are limiting both God and ourselves. If we must reduce God to fit our view, we may miss some vision for creation or the future that God envisions for us. In the same way we may be limiting God by deciding who is in or out of the story and realm of God.
If God is always present and always active in the world, are there deeper feats of healing or transformation than fit with our normal views of the order of things? If God is always present and always active in the world, are there ways in which we are limiting God’s ability to work in our midst?

Romans 10:5-15

While I try to be a good “Wesleyan” scholar and follower, I am not much into “fire and brimstone” preaching nor will I admonish you to “flee from the wrath to come” – a favorite Wesleyan phrase. Yet reading those verses in Romans causes me to consider what is our message to the world as we are moving through the 21st century.
I hear critics of more liberal or progressive theology saying those liberals don’t believe in anything. Actually that has been said to me on occasion. I can hear people saying to me after my sermon two weeks ago – “God decides who is in and who is out and everybody is in – “why do you even bother with Christianity or sharing a message?” If there is no hell to fear, everyone is eventually saved, and there is truth in other faiths, why tell the gospel story at all?
My response is that is the most amazing good news possible! Our world truly needs to hear of God’s radical hospitality that doesn’t leave anyone out and invites everyone to the table. The world that I see from my office window and my television is desperately in need of that kind of healing touch. Our world needs Christians who are partnering with God to bring grace, justice and healing.
Who has shared a word of grace and healing with you? How was it shared? Who have you seen working for justice? Where are the areas you see out your window or on your TV that need to hear of God’s grace, justice and healing?

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

After last week’s entry, I would guess that you are wondering what I will do with this week’s passage (Romans 10:5-15). If God decides who is in and who is out and everyone is in, then how or even why do we proclaim the gospel as Paul invites us to do in chapter 10? I will get to that conversation but remembering that this is a road trip, I just found a side trip that I would like to take. After all, road trips are all about the side trips. This side trip may take a couple of weeks.
The lectionary Old Testament passage from Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 caught my eye and I want to take sometime with it this week. It has much to say to us about morality in a postmodern world. Then next week I want to look at that passage from Romans and what it says to us about our message as Christians in a postmodern world. Finally, on August 24 I want to look at the gospel lesson about Jesus walking on water. How does a postmodern see the miracles in the gospels?
In Genesis 37, we find the very dysfunctional family of Jacob and his 12 sons. Jacob is very clear that Joseph is his favorite. Joseph with his dreams drives his brothers even further from him until they create a plot to kill him. There don’t really seem to be any heroes in the story. There seems to be little grace and no good news in the story. That makes it very easy to just skip right over it.
Where is God in that story of Joseph being sold by his brothers? What does it say to us about morality and making decisions?
Perhaps Ruben is the hero of the story. He seems to be listening to God’s voice in moving them from violence – at least sparing Joseph’s life. Is this not the way that God works in all our lives? God is always there nudging us in the direction of order, goodness, and beauty – helping is to make the best possible decision from among a variety of less than perfect choices. God is indeed present in the messiness of the world.
So for your reflection this week, where have you seen God working in your life or in the world guiding you to make life-giving choices in the midst of the pain and conflict?

Wrestling with God's Grace and Mercy

For our summer worship, we have said that we are on a “road trip” with Jesus into the 21st century. We have invited the apostle Paul to join us because he truly understands road trips.

While we are not really following the lectionary, I believe that the texts that go along with Romans 9:1-5 truly guide us into an important conversation for the 21st century. In Genesis 32:22-31, Jacob wrestles with a stranger and receives God’s blessing and a new name even though his life has been less than perfect. In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus withdraws from the controversy of his day for reflect and returns with an incredible sense of compassion for those who have come to hear him – so much so that he invited 5000 of them to the table with him. In Romans 9:1-5, Paul honestly grieves over his fellow Jews and struggles to understand what God is doing.

All three of these biblical characters are seeking to understand God’s grace and mercy. When we look at these stories through “modern” eyes, we see either/or struggles. One is either protected by God or not. One is either for Jesus or against Jesus. One is either part of God’s promises or not. If we can begin to look at these passages through “post-modern” eyes, we can begin to see another way of looking at them and God’s grace and mercy.

For a visual image of what I think this means, I am reminded of a favorite pastime of my husband and children. For many years we lived near the Puget Sound and enjoyed going to the beach to watch the sunset. The beach was covered with stones that were perfect for “skipping” across the water. While I am not very good at this, my husband is skilled at skipping stones and taught our children.

The idea is throw the stone at just the right angle so that it skims across the surface of the water. The goal is to see how many times the stone can touch the surface of the water before it sinks. Of course, each time it touches the water, the stone sets the water in motion with wavelets of small growing circles. As the wavelets move out, they begin to cross the wavelets made by the next group of wavelets. This creates a beautiful pattern on the surface of the water.

What if God’s grace and mercy are like that – not lines and boxes drawn to exclude people but gentle waves that move over us from many directions until all are included? Maybe God’s mercy and grace are at the very core of creation – inviting all of creation into a fuller relationship. Maybe God’s promises are for everyone. God decides who is in and who is out and everyone is in.

Or to use another image, what if God's grace and mercy are not about seeing things as black or white but instead in technicolor?