Gospel North Gospel South

My wife and I are increasingly dependent upon morning devotional reading, or at least a morning ritual which we know is good for us - and interestingly also for our children. Although they live their lives elsewhere, it seems to us that they like to know "this is what mom and dad do." Also, we continue to appreciate our reading material (Rejoice!, MennoMedia.org) which continues to be both inspiration and guidance coming from none other than the good old Bible and thematically organized on theme of Revised Common Lectionary which guides worship services in most mainline denominations of the Christian Church. I am a Mennonite, neither catholic nor protestant, low-church and including a huge range of theological vantages from ultra-liberal to ultra-fundamentalist. We do not have a pope nor denominational authorities of high office to define unified belief systems or practices, which is why even us (yes die stillen im lande – the quiet peaceable ones) are splintered into divisions and denominational structures almost exactly like political allegiances of the various provinces, states, or nations we live in. We probably don’t like it, but we are quite blended into the world! So a little organizing principle as in lectionary guidance from the larger church does not hurt us a bit.

It is within an increasingly non-denominational evangelical, ecumenical, interfaith, liberal, conservative, secular, sacred environment that we read on and we go on, a movement that began as the 16^th Century historical Anabaptists. Today we are among hundreds of other Christian denominations and also among many other faith practices and traditions! 

Fortunately the Bible is still available to us all. Today’s reading is from Acts 8:26-40. Acts is one among 66 books in the Protestant canon of scriptures (yes we’ve leaned toward the Protestants on this, designating another 15 books into a section labeled Apocrypha, which the Catholics include in their canon). This book, sometimes subtitled “The Acts of the Holy Spirit,” is a very formative document, as close as we get to a play-by-play of the beginning of the Church after the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1) and outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).  

Acts 8 pushes in all directions as the early church becomes a force. Onward and outward! Yes, it’s Philip the apostle who is protagonist in this chapter. Although Jerusalem has been the scene of the confrontation (as in death and resurrection of Jesus and early outpouring of the Holy Spirit), Philip the freshly spirit-enabled apostle has already been up in Samaria, mixed race territory just above Jerusalem. Doing what? Taking some orientation classes? Nope! He's already doing it; proclaiming the Messiah, and crowds paying close attention because there were healings and shrieks as impure spirits came out of people (:5-7). The crowds of this territory were a hodgepodge of those Hebrews who had not been exiled to Babylon in 722 BC and promptly got into misunderstandings with 'family' when the exiled ones returned 70 years later to try and rebuild Temple in Jerusalem. In intervening years mixed in with locals (labeled Pagan in Google!), they believed the Temple belonged on Mt Gerizim (not Jerusalem). Many differences! Into all of this comes Philip doing visitation 😇 and dealing with all that comes up. Then it's southward to some more adventure. 

Down the road to Gaza - as per angel dispatch (:26). To this very day a trip in that southerly direction may still be dangerous and at least always interesting. [My memory still testifies to that as I recall a trip to that part of the world some thirty years ago!] Who does Philip meet on the desert highway but an envoy, an important official from even further down. Two things about this important person from Ethiopia. Firstly he is a eunuch, and secondly he’s enroute to Jerusalem to worship – an official in charge of the treasury (yes) of an African country already knowledgeable about Christianity and wanting to learn more! All this in today's devotional reading!! A person of high responsibility physically altered to help him to be focused on his job? And not only that, but he is totally interested in what he’s been reading about.

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The old and the new is still strangely mixed. Even as today we hear about civil war wreaking havoc on the citizens of that early Christian nation, Ethiopia. Even as Palestine-Israel remains a hotbed of world sabre-rattling, one may wonder what was accomplished back there.  So what was? I'm thinking it was perfect illustration of ongoing world history, ongoing work of God. Did I also mention, just prior to these encounters there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? In today's intercultural interfaith environment it is still so very important. No amount of historical explanation or even religious and political dialogue or diplomacy is adequate if there not be a recognition of ongoing spirit of God. Not all things were definitively solved but all things totally moved forward in Acts 8. How can one speak with impact in Samaria among Jews and Arabs trying to understand each other? Philip was the man. How might one address a strange official from another country come up to Jerusalem seeking answers to his query? Philip was the man. Philip was the man, but it was a work of the Spirit of God blowing in and among this new movement taking hold – as promised. This is quite in keeping with Jesus’ explanation to his disciples of upcoming things even before he was crucified, ^7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. … if I go, I will send [the Advocate] to you” (John 16:7). There are so many ways yet to learn and experience the ongoing everlasting intercultural Holy Spirit empowered presence of Jesus the Messiah. 

This north-south Acts 8 story ironically reminds me of quite a few years back. Once upon a time when I was a longhaul trucker I walked into a coffee shop in Estevan, SK, just before border crossing and on to some way-down-south U.S. destination. Sitting at a corner table was a young man reading his Bible. On impulse (and perhaps a holy hunch) I asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He looked up at me with a smile, “How can I unless someone explains it to me.” Needless to say that became occasion for two pastors, one young and eager and the other slightly shopworn, to immediately engage in animated conversation. Our shop-talk (or work of God), was really a celebration of the occasion, really many occasions, when it is a privilege to speak with one another as the spirit urges us to. I enjoyed his hospitable heart, understanding and possibly even envying this older preacher and his truck out there in ‘the world’. With a knowing smile and almost in code I asked him if he had already been baptized. He assured me he had, also with a knowing smile (see Acts 8:36 😏). We did not get into intricacies of mode, pouring or immersion! Then we blessed each other in our ongoing ministry, me the Mennonite going to be among the Americans, and he the American Baptist to preach to the needy Canadians. 

Across the Great Divide

I cannot help but notice the growing number of gender identity pronouns appearing after people’s names these days, especially in professional profiles or email signoffs.  To see a longtime friend, male or female, or someone in a long familiar position like church pastor or teacher or other professional suddenly show up with – he/him, she/her, she/they, etc. is kind of new, to say the least. Google tells me this is not self identification; it is a tool to assist in communication with others. "These pronouns may or may not match their gender expression (how the person dresses, behaves, or looks)." The pronoun help can be a good clarification when introducing oneself to another. So far this new awareness - new courtesy - still gets me a little skittish. So this guy in front of me; is s/he maybe a woman? Also I'm nervous about some humor that might slip out my tongue one of these days. Dare I ever say …/it? Oops, I just did. 😏 Hope I won’t receive a tongue lashing from a few acquaintances who come to mind. It’s a new touchy subject.

Touchy. So is the recent upsurge of freedom convoys, vaxers/antivaxers, rednecks/bluenecks, binary/woke, etc. alongside longtime standbys on the great divide like conservative/liberal in the political realm, political rallies, and of course noisier versions like picket lines, demonstrations, pride parades, black lives matter, idle no more, anti war protests, etc. etc. etc. Very likely all of these will be well documented in the media again in next several weeks, to wit: National Indigenous Day June 21 and Canada Day July 1. Most of the strong opinions (polar opposites actually) are the ones that show up among people almost the same, within same churches, same neighborhoods, same families. It used to be said that the two topics to avoid at family meals are religion or politics. The Christian truism, “Sometimes it’s hardest to show Jesus’ love to those who are closest,” rings true here also, even for those who don’t much care about reference to Jesus’ love.

The ‘touchies’ seem to be expanding. Ironically, as we become ever more educated and aware or awake (woke as per latest slang), new possibilities of social angst come along. I feel it especially in the foyers or lobbies going into or coming out of churches and assemblies now that post-corona meetings are resuming in-person format again. We are now in a cautionary social search, worse than before the pandemic; seems to be a fearfulness to speak without becoming inappropriate or perhaps even hitting the offense button or maybe violating a confidence somewhere. At the beginning of covid-19 way back two and a half years ago, I remember posting some blogs with a clear hope that we might recognize the cause(s) of pandemics like this and learn some lifestyle lessons, make a few adjustments and emerge a wiser and better socialized people. That was a bit idealistic!

So, a new day, new communication challenges, new anxieties. Even as I raise a slightly cynical eyebrow at new requirements of ‘talking right’ I try not to be simplistic or narrow-minded. [In fact, as per a book I am presently reading I am humbled to learn that some Indigenous languages are committed to a recognition of the "spirit" in a word rather than merely male - female designation. Very important awareness. The linguist in me has more things to learn. 😋 #ftn1] Evenso, on with topic at hand. Even if I try not to be offensive like use wrong pronoun, what if I get it wrong? Google has the solution. Just offer a quick apology and move along. I appreciate the pointer. However, my thinker, my inner spirit, knows there is more, something unavoidable for all of us - even pre-inclusivity and certainly more than two and a half years ago! It has been there forever, and it is well addressed in the Bible. Romans 3:23 says it like this, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and also in same chapter  "There is no one righteous, not even one" (:10). This may appear a bit gloomy here (sin is not a woke topic any more), but I take it as totally good news for all of us, with no straight, homo, bi or queer, colonialist, indigenous, eastern or western conditionals or excuses. While latest efforts are made to help us be more civilized and accommodating of one another in interpersonal relationships, this reminder of our basic equality in the sight of God is quite reassuring, adding good perspective to topic at hand. 

How important is it that we signal non-binary messages in email sign-offs? Is it an impression we give or is it a signal of presence? Really we are just threescore and ten (plus or minus a few) years of the lifecycle and why the scarey preoccupation with self?  I remember as a seminary student in the 1970s, women's lib came upon us. It appeared something like a new 'discovery' by some scholarly students and academics and suddenly my essay bibliographies needed to include names like Schoeffler-Fiorenza, Ruether and other notables in order to appear credible. It became not only required reading, but a required awareness as my education moved on into clinical settings both in congregations and health care institutions. Even as some fresh theology was being developed a new appreciation for ‘the feminine’ in pastoral ministry became a new and a positive discovery (See my recent Easter blog about women at the empty tomb and women in ministry, “Through Those Doors,” April 30).

Among it all, now from this my later vantage, as even more pronouns are needed to self identify and as I read about and participate in ongoing faith fellowship and ceremonies, I cannot but make reference to a magazine I have received free of charge forever - one of those freebies I signed up for when I was a young pastor and it just keeps on coming, PTL! 😌 Ministry: International Journal for Pastors (Silver Springs, MD: Seventh Day Adventist Church, May 2022) latest issue just appeared in my mailbox yesterday. Lead article entitled “No Limits” written with absolute inattention to gender neutral pronouns and very masculine God language, Jerry N. Page writes about what has been non-negotiable in his 50 years of ministry - humility. Citing illustration after illustration of seemingly no-winner impasses within his career, he testifies to the need to tend first and foremost to Jesus. Not only the example of Jesus, but the experience of Jesus. “If you would be a gospel minister,” says he, “tend first to your relationship with the One whose allegiance you claim.”  He quotes from James, one of the disciples of Jesus become apostle, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (4:6-10).  Interestingly - providentially? - my devotional reading on this day also was from same chapter of James, just a few verses prior. It leans right into it, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us…. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (:5-6). Something very soothing and contemporary about the invitation to be connected with the Eternal. No, this magazine does not yet read or appear as an outdated publication.

Enough said, for this day at least. New days and new trends may be upon us. Even as we seek to be appropriate and contemporary in all our pronouns, I am thankful for the One who has known me and continues to know me just as I am. 🎝♪ ♫

1. Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 2013, p.56).

 

Kids With Manners

I had an interesting learning experience this weekend. My wife’s sister and husband were in Calgary to watch some kids’ hockey. Their son and his young eleven year-old were coming together with a whole hockey team to compete in a weekend round robin tournament. It was kind of a rare occasion for us, especially with our grandchildren heavily involved in all things Ontario, so ... promise of a unique special weekend for us. We were happy to spectate my very longtime favorite sport even if only at kids level. 

Now here was the surprise, the unanticipated pleasure. Although my almost daily hockey diet includes some of the world’s best like Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche, I immediately became fascinated by the very good hockey being played right before our eyes. These kids know how to skate! They have had some coaching, know where to pass the puck and occasionally score goals! I began to enthuse, verbalizing my appreciation for the quality of play I was watching; not so big a deal seemingly to my brother-in-law and the spectators around me, obviously parents and/or other relatives of other players more interested in whether son or daughter was playing to capacity and whether their team was winning or not! Right, I remember that too. My dad always had a few suggestions after my hockey games too!

My fascination with the tournament nonetheless continued into next day; we watched two games and then participated with some of the families in some evening swimming pool fun at the team hotel. My good opinion of these players continued. They spoke politely to adults, answered questions clearly and of course appreciated comments coming from this old grandpa-type. They were so eager to talk about their game. One boy shared his sadness about his goal not having counted, which I remembered seeing too, apparently one of their players in goal crease. It was an error of the referee, and I so sympathized with him 😌. 

Now my learning experience. As most of my readers know by now my thinker usually kicks in. I was impressed not only by the quality of on-ice hockey, but the clear eyes and respectful conversation of the whole group. I confess I have become a bit inattentive to kids sports in the last number of years, a bit dismissive possibly because these activities are accessible only for kids with rich parents. That is true, but full credit must go to these parents of means who invest in the required discipline of early bedtimes, early get-ups, practicing, listening to coaches, and the huge miracle of teamwork. These are valuable life lessons so important these days. If they do not learn it in organized sports their wonderful energy can waste away in front of televisions or video games. These are probably the only ones who make it to professional sport (unfortunately).

Needless to say the age of these kids was a bit of a gimme. Eleven year-olds are in that prepubescent age where the comments and opinion of adults are still quite important to them. It was such a pleasure to be in presence of kids and parents (and grandparents) obviously on same page on that one. Looking back at a considerable stretch of parenting I am under no illusions of course - and neither are the readers here - but there is a sizable Life lesson available for us all. Once upon a time many years ago I was a Bible School student, and one of the Bible verses assigned and duly memorized comes to mind. My brain has it in the old King James Version, but the New International Version puts it like this. Even with slightly changed linguistics I like it a lot.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6).

And about those professional teams referenced above. Sigh! The better team won and will go on to Stanley Cup finals. Sigh again. 

Death the Omnipresent

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

  

There are several posts in my short history of blogging already addressing the subject of death. I have an inclination to 'talk plain' about inevitable things; better than avoiding what's right before us anyway.  At this point of the life-cycle it's kind of natural, although not everyone agrees - too morbid or negative, or something like that. I come by it honestly. My dad, when he was about my current age, started every conversation with an obituary report. This would be followed by a lineage explanation or anecdotes from that person's life - often quite interesting (he was a good story-teller) but often me wondering is there anything else to talk about? Even beyond the physical reporting, I maintain it's good for body, mind, and spirit to breathe and speak freely about death. Recent readings and retirement experiences for me have also provided some new discoveries from the teachings of Jesus, displaying his attitude to his own imminent death and that followed by advice to followers, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). Death therefore is undeniable even for Jesus' followers (John 10:10). Ironically the death of Jesus for me of late has become a lively talking point with some of my friends outside the Christian faith. Why would our ultimate teacher (prophet?) go down to death? That's a tough concept not only for Muslims but also for modern spiritually woke type Christians. This is on my mind as I attend or participate in funerals and celebrations of life these days. It's an essential topic as today's generations deal with end-of-life service preferences.

Celebrations of Life are the latest thing. I have just emerged from another one, this a very heartfelt occasion of grief and tribute to an ever so loving wife, mother, friend, suddenly taken by cancer. It was a grand occasion full of love and tears, her family having given excellent attention to details of the event, and very grateful for all who showed on a beautiful afternoon in the backyard of the home she and her husband had built not only for their family but a haven for their church and community. The children, obviously in grief and somewhat bamboozled and confused by us all, hosted a lovely celebration climaxed by a balloon release. They tried hard to incorporate the spirit, the life and the friends and relatives which they knew must be included here. Fascinating to me was an undeniable ‘religion awareness’ which permeated the celebration even though the organizers had not planned for it. It came out in the laughter, the amens, and the spontaneous sing-alongs to some folksy gospel singers. This was, however, not a funeral.

About two years ago I attended a 'different but similar' celebration, this for a relative of mine who was ‘guaranteed’ a place in heaven, so his children put on a “Going to Heaven” party, they also slightly strange to the faith part of the party they were hosting, complete with A&W Buddy Burgers carefully Corona-wrapped for us all! Some of the sounds and images both cheesy and quite touching, especially the ones delineating the remarkable grandpa personality. This occasion, even with many references to God and some good guidance from another relative who happens to be a funeral director, also was party! It is the day - kind of reminded me of my children singing “This is the Day” for my wife and I and many guests at our 50^th wedding anniversary. Party on!

In my previous writings about death, I have come out making a case for funeral rather than these 'celebrations.' Even as many are excusing funerals as ‘old fashioned’ because they do not adequately represent the deceased nor the people grieving, my point has been that this new option - these celebrations of life - are so accommodating of all faith or nonfaith vantages that they can easily become dependent on the celebrators, the performers moreso than the life just lived and her in presence of almighty God. So it becomes a party. I have no problem with parties, but there is a time and a place for everything. Seems to me the occasion of death requires attention to that which is beyond - and indeed can be a life-generating occasion of faith, celebrating both death and life. I wrote a blog about that a few years ago as I was beginning to observe the emerging trend. I offer a piece from that earlier post.  

Obituaries [often] contain paragraph after paragraph of the deceased's career and personality and worldwide travels and hobbies, but hardly a reference to God, to faith commitment or possibly church or other spiritual information even if committed or at least nominal Christians.  In years gone by this religious info was the template of an obituary.  If today's celebrations of life ignore the reality of the spiritual or the afterlife when physical death has just occurred, it is a telling omission. So, this is my case for funerals, not because I am old fashioned or afraid of change. Especially as a pandemic scares the living dickens out of those afraid to die, I posit that the funeral gives better attention to that larger possibility for anyone "with ears to hear" (Matthew 11:15). Funerals of course do not need to be merely a churchy heaven or hell litany. No, regardless of faith or unfaith of the deceased, funerals are the right way to acknowledge life, ahem, especially because the end has just been reached! When I die I hope it will not just be about me.  I will already be "Safe in the arms of Jesus" and that is best represented by a ritual of scriptures, prayers and hymns. AND if deemed desirable there may also be pictures and stories and party at the fellowship lunch (if Corona permits). A funeral is a holy celebration of life (“The need for Funerals,” November 22, 2020).

That was my thoughts taking shape a couple years back. Turns out I said it as I still sees it! Death awareness offers the best perspective for funerals or celebrations of life. Death awareness also is the best way to live life. I remember a conversation once upon a time in the southern U.S. during my trucking years. A driver was speaking with bravado about his approach to life and death. "I have a gun in my truck," said he. "I don't carry a gun," said I, "and I feel safer going about my business without a gun." His initial skepticism turned into agreement as this Canadian trucker explained to him (and a roomful of listeners) that my unarmed truck may make me vulnerable to die, but less likelihood of initiating or perpetuating threatening incidents, and therefore a better and safer way to live my life! It was a good conversation. Nobody took offense.