Mark 7:1-23: Obeying God for the Right Reasons

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the market-place they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, ‘Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?’

He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘“These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.’

And he continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, “Honor your father and mother,” and, “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) – then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.’ 

After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ‘Are you so dull?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.’ (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’ - Mark 7:1-23

There are a lot of ways to become unclean in the Torah. It was important that the people of God retain a uniqueness--a holiness--as the people of Yahweh in the face of the other nations. This included the way they dressed and the foods they ate. This was reinforced by the stories that came later in the histories and prophets. For example, Daniel rejected the diet offered to all the foreign-born servants in the palace of the king of Babylon, preferring a vegetable diet over the "rich diet" of the king. 

In these verses, Jesus as rabbi gives one of his keys to interpreting the Torah: focusing on the core laws (the 2 and the 10 commandments) that deal with other people and focusing on heart intent. He says that the core laws focus on the "why" of what we do over the "what" of what we do. He then says that the food laws don't have anything to do with the core laws. He then elaborates again in these verses, saying that laws about being "corban" (dedicated to God) don't have anything to do with (and certainly don't invalidate!) the core laws. 

Why does Jesus say that the other laws are not necessary? This is a big topic, but short answer: because God intended that the laws help his people, not hurt them. Most of the dietary and lifestyle laws were not related to "health" (some people have struggled to find some great benefits, but none are convincing) but more about maintaining Israel's distinctiveness among the nations as Yahweh's special people. That is, they were about honoring the God whose people they were. But what if their obedience became more about their feeling of uniqueness and less about Yahweh? What if God said, ultimately, "your hearts are far from me."? Then they were doing the right thing but for the wrong reasons.  

One of the wrong reasons is: using laws so you can feel "right" and justified in feeling they were "wrong" We can see this when the Pharisees questioned Jesus about his disciple's behavior. A whole host of rules and regulations had been built around the food cleanliness laws to make sure that there was no chance of ingesting something that might possibly (in the remotest sense) become unclean. This web of regulations governed every meal and every journey. But saying "yes" to tracking these "might not be bad but still good to avoid" ticky-tack rules while allowing the bulldozer of parental neglect (part of one of the core laws) pass through was pretty infuriating. 

Jesus called it a heart issue. In a related passage in Matthew 12, Jesus says: "If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent..” (Matthew 12:7) Is God really concerned about the food you eat? Or about remembering that he is holy and unique and the center of my life? 

Obeying God's law means giving proper respect to him and the people whom he made. I want to obey God for the right reasons. 

James 1:17-27: The Incompleteness of One Birth

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:17-27

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (James 1:18) The language of birth still seems strange me to be applied to someone who is in his mid-50s. I am strongly tempted to repeat the words of Nicodemus in the gospel of John, “How can someone be born when they are old?” (John 3:4) But James says it here, and then again, "humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:21)

I think his point here is that something has to completely die in order to make way for the new life that Jesus offers. Just before this, he says, "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent." (James 1:20-21a) We seem to try to hold on to two things at once: what we want to do and what God is trying to do. We see that Jesus is offering something that we want, but we don't want to give up what we have "obtained" (James calls it moral filth and evil) and we don't want to give up the way that we have obtained it ("human anger"). 

Why is it so hard to take this "good and perfect gift"? We don't trust. New birth means new chances but it also means giving up what we've already got. As Rich Mullins once said, "Surrender don't come natural to me/I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want/Than to take what You give that I need." (Hold Me Jesus)

What if babies got to vote on birth? They might decide that the womb is a better bet. I mean its warm, there's food, medical care and transportation with shock absorbers

What if caterpillars got to vote on metamorphosis? They might decide that the chrysalis is a better bet. I mean they are living on some plant leaves pre-selected for its ability for them to chomp down on.

What if, in each case, they chose the selfish existence of the first birth and never moved on? To reach who God intended for us to be means leaving the first birth behind, dying to that sub-existence, that subsistence. As Goethe said, "And so long as you haven’t experienced this: to die and so to grow, you are only a troubled guest on the dark earth. (The Holy Longing, Goethe) We are so enamored with the wonders of our temporary accommodation and the little toys we have accumulated and the small imaginations that we have conjured up in our minds that we neglect what God has planned for us. I wonder what it is?

Song of Solomon 2:8-13: Delight Without Worry

Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves  is heard in our land. The fig-tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.’ - Song of Solomon 2:8-13

I'm not sure how to write about this passage, but one thing that I see here is the virtue of discovery and delight. The girl asks her friends to delight with her at his joyful approach and curiosity. The boy asks her to join him in enjoying the day and the new season. Sometimes I wonder if this is what God wants to do:  to delight in introducing us to his children (again?) as if this is our first introduction, to delight in our approach and to delight in the beautiful details of the the new day and season.  Maybe that is what heaven is like: being able to delight without worry.

Ephesians 5:15-20: Increasing Returns of Joy

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:15-20

The first part of these verses sounds very serious. "Make the most of every opportunity" and "don't be foolish" and "understand what the Lord's will is" and "Don't get drunk" It reminds me of the stern side of my upbringing: focus on what God wants and don't get distracted because "the days are evil." As if we're in a state of war.

The second part of these verses sounds very joyful. "Be filled with the Spirit" and "Sing and make music from your heart..." and "Always giving thanks to God the Father" It reminds me of the Sunday school part of my upbringing: celebrate how good God has been to you "for everything". As if we're in a state of blessing.

How to reconcile these different moods? They all hinge, strangely, on the central verse, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead..." Paul is telling us that life can be tough and discouraging but. When we leave childhood and get a glimpse of how depressing and wearying the world is, either personally or from what we can see around us, we still want that joy. 

One way to recover that joy is to drink and lose the cares of the world. It works and it remains wildly popular. But it is subject to the law of diminishing returns. That is, as it is used to recover that joy, it slowly loses its effectiveness and more is required. But "more" with wine has side effects--bad ones.

So Paul recommends instead the Spirit. Like wine, it leads to singing and joy, but it doesn't lose its effectiveness. It leads to the joy that is sourced in the Spirit. Therefore I'll take another helping of the Spirit please.

Psalm 34:9-14: The Lord of Peace

Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. - Psalm 34:9-14

There is a strategy for winning at life. Let's call it the "lion" strategy. It revolves around staying at the peak of the food pyramid--taking what you want and intimidating all who get in your way. Lions roam in "prides", show off their strength and drown out opposition. That's the way that they win. 

But the writer of this psalm says that there is a time when "lions grow weak and hungry" That is, there is a time when the "lion" strategy doesn't work anymore. Why? Because circumstances and physical ailment and overwhelming enemy majorities make lions lose, retreat and struggle. People who have adopted the "lion" strategy may have a period of dominance, but that is because they do not have proper respect to the one who is truly at the apex--the Lord.

While the lions dwindle into weakness, those who have taken shelter with the Lord find true strength and resilience. While the "lion" strategy requires evil and rough words, lies, tracking with evil, creating chaos and taking advantage, the Lord's strategy requires telling the truth, doing good and seeking and pursuing peace. The lions can tear apart those who follow the Lord's strategy except for one thing: the Lord can defeat lions and restore peace. 

The lion's strategy is ultimately a losing one because it is short-sighted. Circumstances go in cycles and will sometimes bring us low for whatever reason, but following the Lord is following the Lord of the cycles. He can bring us through them.

1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14: Is God The Checkbox To My Dreams?

Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned for forty years over Israel – seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established. - 1 Kings 2:10-12

Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

‘Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for – both wealth and honor – so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.’ - 1 Kings 3:3-14

Solomon came to the throne of Israel as a child. It wasn't a certainty as to who would take David's place as the king. Just prior to David's death, another son, Adonijah, had put himself forward as the heir and was throwing a big party to celebrate his ascension to the throne and David and his Mom (Bathsheba) and Zadok the priest throw together a coronation (1 Kings 1). This follows an incident a few years earlier, when another of David's sons, Absalom, openly rebelled and forced David to flee to the wilderness. So Solomon, young and inexperienced and isolated from his own siblings, with only the promise that David had made to his mother, Bathsheba, ascended the throne. 

God appears to him in a dream and asks him what he wants. If it was me, I might have asked for a different job. But Solomon chooses to ask for help. The situation in Israel was complicated. David had been Israel's first king and this was the first time that power was being handed from one king to the next. There was no tradition of this and others had tried inserting themselves into the equation. God was "pleased" with Solomon's request. Why was God pleased? All of the requests were somewhat selfish. Either that he would do well or that he would come off well. Solomon asked for God's help, not just the results of God's help. 

We can be tempted to bypass God in our prayers--that he is simply the means to get what we want. When we do that, we ignore God as a person and instead treat God as a checkbox to be ticked in order to get the desired result. Solomon instead focused on God the person and, as a person whom he greatly respected, asked for help and advice. 

I, too, in searching for help for my family or in my job or in my groups of friends, can make the mistake of focusing on God as the means to my own goals, instead of the source of my blessings and the source of my direction.

Haiku: July 21 - August 18

Going walking soon. 

How will my legs are treat me

In the summer heat?

A little cool air

Makes walking a lot more fun

I feel I can breathe.

Will she make it home

Or even on time this time?

Nothing is easy.

Summer grass is brown.

Not golden-just boring brown.

Green grass? Promises.

Back from the airport.

Headlights across the driveway.

Moon is up, but home.

The plants droop their heads.

The back covered in debris.

Waiting for Helen.

Lights on and pills out.

Chicken out and coffee smell.

Pen out and waiting. 

Descending spiral.

Hurtful words and throwing things.

Seldom ends 'all smiles'

Blue jays jeer around.

Chicken yells back fighting words.

The back door opens..

Angry words spoken

Words like concussive grenades.

Then weary retreat.

Neighbors car rumbling.

The coffee maker grinding. 

Lights on. Chicken out.

Sprinklers watering. 

Sunlight through the top window.

A summer morning.

Many a man's plans

But fall or rise is from God.

Enjoy the doing.

When the days are long. 

Everything can get done.

When they're short, we sleep.

Cut down the tall grass.

Trim back the dying branches.

It's not like Versailles.

Lazy summer days. 

Nothing moves under the sun.

Hammocks in the shade.

No more kids' lunches.

Or breakfasts, for that matter.

Recalling voices. 

Trickle of water

In the wrong place and too strong.

Irrigation leak.

Little-tail chicken

Follows me around the yard.

Eats insects and grubs.

Unexpected alarm.

Did not know why it started

Can't sleep when it stops.

Enemy at peace?

If we are at peace with God

Is that difficult?

Middle of the night.

Hasty farewell and long drive.

Musty smell of home.

Summer fades in weeks. 

Once vibrant, now dusty green.

Does not last too long.

God allows us plans.

But he decides where we go.

Redrawing the map.

Tomorrow begins

Already I feel behind.

Rushing to keep up.

You hear the prayers

Of each one through so many.

But can you answer?

What does the chicken

Think of us who come and go?

Not understanding.

Can I call early

Days seemed empty without you. 

But now they're too full.

Horizon's night glow.

Day is now getting started.

Morning still brings light. 

The morning cycle

Starts with sprinklers and the sun

Ends with journaling.

Impatient chicken

Waits for me next to her cage door.

"What were you doing?"

The grass looks greener

But brown tinge for borders and trees

When will summer end?

Flipping journal pages

Glancing through recent events

Thinking of time spent.

When looking forward, 

Don't use it as an excuse

For being present.  

Matthew 20:20-28: Can't Give Away My Future Because It Is Not Mine

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

“What is it you want?” he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:20-28

It is a story that has often been told where the servant who overthrows their cruel master ends up being just as cruel as the master that they have replaced. While they may vow to do things differently, they find that the same pressures which formed their former master also tend to shape them into the same type of person. The ones who they formerly classed as comrades in the great struggle to obtain freedom are re-cast as rivals or subordinates once that freedom has been obtained. 

Why is that? I think it is because we actually don't know what to do with freedom. We've only seen power handled a certain way and, try as we might, we respond the same way when power is ours. The powerless are envious while those with power believe that it is rightly theirs.

But Jesus showed a different way. Power was within his easy grasp. But he chose instead to become a servant, putting his own interests after those of other people, even the other people who would not even appreciate what he did. Jesus recognized that having power also means having power to choose a different path. He did not feel diminished by what he gave away.

I find it difficult to follow in the same path. I reason to myself, "I am not Jesus. He could give it away, because after he gave power away, he was still God."  But the truth is, that being one of God's children, I also am not diminished by what I give away--not because I am God, but because God has my back. Giving away control leaves me without power but still leaves me exactly where God said he would put me. I can't give that away because my future is not mine, it is his.