Breaking the Rules

I am among those who too easily judge others, especially if they break the rules. Matthew 12:1-14 is a classic passage pitting humans against God, rules and laws against mercy and needs. Jesus responds to the Pharisees' protest of the disciples plucking grains to eat on the sabbath by countering with examples of David eating the bread of Presence and the temple priests guiltlessly breaking the sabbath.

"...something greater than the temple is here." God was among them in Christ and they didn't recognize him. He who is "Lord of the sabbath" was greater than the sabbath, greater than the temple, greater than the rules of men.

Verse 7, lying right in the middle of the passage, holds the key to that which should motivate our relationships, that which motivated Christ--mercy! This is further illustrated by Jesus healing on the sabbath.

He just never learned did he? He kept obeying his heavenly father despite the religious hierarchy's opposition. Just look at what this brought him--God's pleasure, but via the way of the cross-- just as it does for us. No cross, no crown. Are we willing to take the risk, to break the rules, to please our Lord?


Photo from flickr.

This Rocked Me

You ever read something and you know you've been nailed--those thoughts, actions, feelings that we don't like to admit to, well...we have to own up to them. Please read this article at Gifted for Leadership and you too may be rocked. What do you think? My husband's reaction was that person should not even be considering ministry. I don't know, I think she was just being very honest about those things we'd like to pretend we wouldn't feel or do.

Picture from klikr.

More on good shepherds

Ezekiel 34 hit very close to home for me. A few weeks ago, we heard of a pastor friend, who had married us, and a situation he was involved in. What the repercussions will be, only God knows, but it brought me up short, reminding me of the need for faithfulness in fellowship with Christ so I can be a faithful shepherd to whatever flock I am responsible for now and in future ministry. Good and godly leadership comes from the inside out. Leaders can only lead based on their values and who they are. I do not want to be as the shepherds Ezekiel addresses, indicted by God as faithless, careless shepherds.

Blenkinsopp aptly notes, “Pastoral office is a response to needs that call out for selfless dedication and unremitting solicitude,”[1] leadership being a sacred trust. Leaders must be concerned for the “least of these” (Mt 25). The issue is not orthodoxy or orthopraxy, but compassionate care, as modeled throughout Jesus’ ministry. It is all about God and his people, not about us.

We hear echoes of Ezek 34:16 in Luke 19:10’s Jesus seeking and saving the lost and John 10’s good shepherd passage. Christ’s compassion and love is evident throughout his ministry. May that be the earmark of our ministry as well.

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[1] Joseph Blenkinsopp, Ezekiel, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, ed. Patrick D. Miller, Jr. (Louisville, John Knox Press, 1990), 157.

Picture from geocities.

Good Shepherd Sunday

For those of us that worship at liturgical churches that use the lectionary, today is Good Shepherd Sunday. This seems especially apropos since in my undergrad Prophets class, my exegesis was on Ezekiel 34 which addresses shepherds who did not look after the sheep, but only cared for themselves. Today's scripture readings were Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10.

God certainly delights in driving a point home to us, doesn't he? The passages from Ps 23 and John 10 went through my mind frequently while studying Ezekiel 34 and reading others' posts. As always, the Lord models the way for us and enables us to follow.

Here are some contrasts.

Bad Shepherds	Good Shepherd
Like having no shepherd at all.	God the shepherd.
Feed selves.	Feed sheep with good pasture.
Did not strengthen the weak.	Strengthens weak.
Did not heal the sick.	Heals sick.
Did not bind up injured	Binds up injured
Did not bring back strays.	Searches for/brings back strays.
Did not seek the lost.	God will rescue them.
Ruled with force and harshness.	Provide place to lie down and rest.
Caused them to be scattered and exposed to wild animals.	Gathers them.
Caused them to wander.	Brings them home.

This is just from Ezekiel 34.

It is written of more poetically in Psalm 23.

In John 10, Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd who protects and cares for the sheep. Now the issue is not one regarding shepherds and sheep, but leaders and their constituents, pastors and people. What kind of shepherds are we? By the way, the shepherd in this picture is female!

Picture from Bible Places.

Rich and Poor

Take a look at Bob Robinson's article, "Inequity between the Rich and the Poor" on http://vanguardchurch.blogspot.com/.
It's very thought provoking, calling the church to task regarding the rich and poor. Peace

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