Why A Samaritan?

Sometimes Christians' partial understanding of historical and cultural settings in which Biblical events happen limits our understanding of things done and said. The story of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37) is one such instance. The general point of the story is clear – we should care about and for those hurting around us. That Jesus chose the characters of the story so as to attack contemporary Jewish cultural prejudices while emphasizing the extremity of the obligation to one's neighbors is less obvious. Consider the protagonists who had opportunity to aid the man who had been robbed, beaten and left to die.

Priests were regarded as being among the most spiritual members of Jewish society, among and leading the best of the best. Levites were likewise in the upper echelon of Jewish religious culture. No doubt Jesus' hearers understood that there were bad apples among priests and Levites, but using a priest and a Levite as examples of lack of love and mercy had to have set some listeners' teeth on edge. Worse was yet to come, in Jesus' chosen example of love and mercy … a Samaritan. This had to have stuck in the collective craw of Jesus' hearers!

Jewish contempt and hatred for Samaritans went back multiple centuries, starting soon after Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. As Babylon would later do to the people of the southern kingdom, Judah, Assyria forced most of the people of Israel into exile far from their home (people struggling for bare survival aren't going to have the energy to rebel!). Assyria also exiled other peoples into the land of the northern kingdom, which came to be called Samaria. Over time, these people intermarried with the remaining people of Israel. Their religion likewise became a mix of paganism and Israelite worship of God. The account of this is found in 2 Kings 17:24-41. Then, a couple of centuries later, when the people of Judah returned from Babylonian exile, the people of Samaria tried political subterfuge and intimidation to try to sabotage the returnees' efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and their culture. The story of this can be found in Nehemiah chapters 4 and 6.

So, in the eyes of the Jews of Jesus' day, Samaritans were of mixed race (Strike 1!), practiced a religion that incorporated pagan gods and practices (Strike 2!), and had opposed Jews' at a critical time in their history (Strike 3!). This was no neighborly squabble! It was utter, bitter, hatred, simmered and concentrated over centuries! And Jesus had made a Samaritan the exemplar of love and mercy in His parable! Worse, by implication Jesus had instructed his listeners that they should extend just such love and mercy to their contemned and bitterly hated enemies!

Dare I ask? Who do I hate or dislike? Who do I hold in contempt or think of as beneath me? Do I extend to them Jesus' love? Understanding better what Jesus was saying to His listeners is good, but doesn't have much significance unless I see that He challenged people of all time. And me particularly!

Christian Leadership - Scary Stuff!

This is going to be off the top of my head, so I hope I don't ramble into unintelligibility. And while the timing of this is related to Harold Camping's most recent prophecy failure, these thoughts have been developing in my mind for 30 and more years.

Just stating what Christian ministry and leadership is should inspire reverent (and sometimes, abject) fear, and be more than a bit intimidating. God is fully good, knows all and God's power is limited by God and nothing else. The very best human is flawed, not fully good and limited in knowledge and power. The flawed, limited, human being who ministers or leads, in that capacity represents and acts for God. And God chose to work through such flawed, limited, human beings!

Thus, Christian leaders and Christians who minister need to remember who they are. They need to remember - constantly - their utter insufficiency for what they are doing. Christian leaders need to rely on God to give them the power to do what they do, whether pastoring a church, leading a teaching ministry, leading a ministry that helps the needy, or cleaning the bathrooms of the church building. And such Christian leaders need to rely on God, not their own skills, for the fruit of their ministry. Ultimately, it is God working through the one who ministers and bringing results. In other words, while those who minister represent God in what they do, there is absolutely no room for pride or independence. Many Christian leaders who go astray do so stumbling into the traps of pride and/or independence. My guess - I could be wrong - is that Harold Camping fell into one or both of those traps 2 or 3 or 4 decades ago, and his false prophecies are just the most recent and visible expressions of a much older and deeper problem in his soul.

The Sadness of, "He Should Know better"

Is there anyone in the US who hasn't heard of Harold Camping's prediction that the rapture (of his followers) and the beginning of Judgment start today? This is his second try at setting that date, and I expect his record will be unblemished by success. We aren't cancelling our plans for tomorrow.

What is sad, to me, is that Camping should know better! Thirty years ago and more, he was a mainstream Protestant/Evangelical leader of a Christian radio ministry. What happened? I wish I knew! Somewhere along the line his pride and self-importance somehow got the better of him and his understanding of scripture and he got off into supposed direct "revelations", such as his previous prediction of Jesus' return in 1994, or his "revelation" that the church is no more and only his followers are following Jesus. Ironically, 3 or 4 decades ago he would have heaped scorn on such direct special "revelations". Now, he's doing what he scorned, is the butt of jokes by those who reject God and Christianity, and has Christians trying to communicate that Camping is far afield from the Christian mainstream.

I'm just an ordinary Christian whose voice would be easily drowned out by just one of the zillions of billboard ads Camping has all over Silicon Valley and the US. Harold Camping is wa-a-a-a-ay beyond the reach of my voice, maybe beyond that of any purely human voice. Please join me in praying that the Holy Spirit would speak to and be heard by Harold Camping.

Prayer "In My Name"

This past week the lesson for our church home group was about prayer. Part of the lesson was reading several selected Bible passages. While reading one of the passages I realized a bad habit I had fallen into. The passage was John 15:16 (NAS):

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."

In context it's not the blank prayer-check it might seem to be. Anyway, what struck me was those "simple" words, "ask of the Father in My name". "In My name". I had fallen into the habit of letting that phrase be a formality, something appended automatically - and almost unthinkingly - in my prayers.

Well, Jesus didn't say that for the sake of hearing His own voice, nor to provide a verbal formula for ritual prayer! What does it mean to pray, "In My name"? Doing something in another person's name means to act as their agent, with their authority, as if you are that person for certain situations. "Somebody say 'Amen!,' or 'Oh my'!" More to the point, Ouch! In prayer, Jesus, the Creator of the universe, has given Christians permission to pray as His agent in this world, with His authority! Ouch! And, Wow! Jesus commanded us to pray for things we need and want, personally, but our focus should be on being His agent in this world (which includes things we need and sometimes what we want).When Christians pray, we are asking with authority Jesus gave us to act on His behalf. Praying, "In My name," isn't some obligatory magic formula to be appended ritualistically  to our prayers. It's the basis for, the ultimate purpose of, our prayers! We should honor God by respecting and using, wisely, the authority He gave us in prayer. I should and will so honor God!

About Prayer Again

Echoing my post on May 4th ...

How well will I trust God in prayer for "big" things if I haven't learned to rely on Him for "little" things?

Prayer may or may not "change things" (you can really mentally pretzelate yourself if you think of that saying in light of God's omniscience!). But it certainly could and should change the one praying!

How would and should it change the way you pray if you really realized that God is your Father? Your Dad?

Are you more tempted to think of God as a vending machine? (“Welcome to God In A Box! May I take your order please?”) Or as unconcerned and aloof? (“Don't bother Me!”)
 

Relying on God in prayer isn't a "crutch", it's acknowledging a reality some try to pretend isn't.

Spouting aphorisms is easier than living the wisdom and truth in the aphorisms (is that an aphorism?).

Law & Gospel

In some ways, it's felt weird, posting so much about The Law. I think Christians tend to be focused more on the New Testament, with fairly frequent excursions into the Psalms and Proverbs, with bits and pieces here and there throughout the rest of the Old Testament. I cannot possibly be the first and only Christian to notice that God chose to have ~3/4 of scripture written before Jesus was born! I'm not suggesting rigidly dividing one reading, study and attention to scripture in that exact proportion, but maybe a little realignment is in order for some of us? Just a thought ...

Law and Gospel ... It isn't easy to find a proper place of balance, especially in daily life, between legalism and the opposite error, antinomianism (rejection of the Law). Guess What, Part 1: Jesus affirmed the validity of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20). Right and wrong didn't change with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Guess What, Part 2: Christians' salvation doesn't depend on obedience to the Law or being "good enough" (Titus 3:4-6). So, where does the Law fit in Christians' lives - free from legalism and not ensnared in license?

Growing up, I heard John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life," described as "The Gospel in a Nutshell". It's rather apt, if homely, capturing the essence of what God did and the basis of believers' salvation. Ephesians 2:8-10 captures a more complete picture of salvation and the Christian life:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not as a result of works, so that no one may boast For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Good works can't save us, we can't be perfect. But, as we love God, the good things are there for us to do and be. It isn't just a bunch of do's and do-not's, it's reaching out to our fellow believers and to non-believers, offering Jesus' love for the needs and joys of their daily lives. And it gets better! God custom-prepared things for each of us to do, and gifted us through the Holy Spirit in special, individual, ways (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31; Ephesians 4:11-16).

Wrapping Up the Ten Commandments and a few Freebie Goodies

It's easy, among the history stories, laws and detailed descriptions of furniture and such to miss how remarkable the Pentateuch really is. Written by Moses (except for the last chapter of Deuteronomy), it made Israel, a bunch of former slaves, a nation. Moses gave Israel its history, from creation up to their standing on the threshold of entering its soon-to-be national territory. Moses gave Israel its legal framework (these Ten Commandments), a legal code based thereon, its culture and its religious system.

Many Christians regard the Law of Moses as something scary and draconian. It is strict, but Christians would do well to spend some time learning about and understanding it. It reflects the character of the Creator and His care for His human creatures as much as does any New Testament Gospel or Epistle. Instant Nation, just add Scripture!

Two interesting aspects of the Law were mentioned in the Reflections on the Eight and Ninth Commandments. While humans are tempted to favor either wealthy people – to get favors from them – or, out of sympathy, poor people, God forbade favoring either in matters of the law and justice. In forbidding perjury, God set the penalty for perjury at whatever penalty would be exacted for the crime in the false accusation. The more serious the crime, the more serious the penalty for perjury.

God built provision for the poor into the Law: “Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:9-10); “When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 23:22). What makes this interesting is that this was not a hand-out. The grain and fruit were available to the poor, but they had to work to get it. Picking fruit, picking up fallen ears of grain, reaping from the corners of fields and threshing the reaped and gleaned grain were all hard work. It was also work that might be seen by field owners. Who needs a resume' when a prospective employer has seen you work?

Besides forbidding perjury, God built further protections for persons accused of a crime into the Law: “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:6) “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.” (Deuteronomy 19:15). There are two important things here, one of which is easy to miss. The obvious element is that no criminal case could be decided based on a single witness. But underlying this is the fact that the one accusing had the obligation to prove the accusation – in modern parlance, the accused was to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Consider those exacting dietary and hygiene laws that tend to cross modern non-Jewish eyes. While you're at it, throw in the laws forbidding what we call incest. We know now that following these laws would cause Israelites to avoid unhealthy things and practices – food sources susceptible to parasites, sources and means of spreading of disease, inbreeding that preserves and spreads genetic defects. 3400 years ago, they couldn't know all that. So, was Moses a busybody with incredible luck in his control-freakiness? A crypto-biologist who knew things that wouldn't be discovered for 34 centuries but let his knowledge die with him? Or did the Creator build into His Law wisdom than wouldn't be discovered for several millennia?

I hope these Reflections this couple of weeks will whet readers' appetites to learn a bit more about this expression of God's character and love. Paul said this of the Israelites' experience during the Exodus: “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. … Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” And when Paul wrote this, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work,”  he was referring especially to what we call the “Old Testament”!

Reflecting on the Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17)

We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

And

We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty. (Martin Luther)

Everyone together now, “OUCH!” Here is the root of so much evil today! Greed! Envy! Jealousy! They all spring from desiring, coveting, lusting for something we don't have (or the fear that others want something we do have). This commandment gets at the heart-root of theft, forbidden by the Eighth Commandment. And of the 6 commandments that have to do with our relationships with other people, it's one of just two that speak to heart attitudes rather than outward behavior.

Let me make some distinctions clear. This commandment doesn't forbid wanting something – a nice car, a nice house, a good job – and working to obtain or achieve it. Nor does this commandment say that having such things or successes is wrong. What is wrong is envy: fixating on a thing; being willing to “cut corners” to get it; resenting or even sabotaging a person who has the desired thing.

Covetousness – envy, greed – is destructive, in society and personally. Socially, envious people aren't going to be doing the “extra” things (e.g. charity, kindness, politeness) that make a community pleasant. In the envious person, envy does scary things. Envy, like anger and hatred, embitter the character. Who wants to be around such a person?! Envy, like anger and hatred, also injures a person's health.

Getting practical where the personal meshes with society, Luther speaks to something very interesting and scary: “... not craftily seek to get our neighbor's (things) … by a show of [justice and] right”. This could take a couple of forms, in Luther's time and ours. It could mean trying to take something by means of a fraudulent lawsuit – using false evidence against another person, asserting dubious (or worse) claims against a company or a “rich” person “because they can afford it” or using the threat of an expensive lawsuit to extort money. Using government as Robin Hood – taking from “the rich” to give to “the poor” – might feel good, but it's still wrong. Fraud and theft committed using government as a proxy are still fraud and theft. It might be “legal”, but God isn't fooled – by the smokescreen of legality or by the fake, supposedly charitable, purpose. If you want to help someone, use your own money, use your own time, get your own hands “dirty”, work with like-minded friends. Personal charity is far more efficient in resource usage and far more effective than government, and will inspire others to work on things they care about.

On a personal level, envy is incompatible with a relationship with God. Envy is an expression of disbelief in God's love! Envy says that God does not and will not provide and care for you. Envy expresses ingratitude to God and contempt for the things He has provided. The thing(s) on which an envious person fixates and pursues becomes that person's god.

Today is a good day to start keeping our focus on God, rather than things or social status. Today is a good day to start replacing covetousness and envy with thoughts about how we can help our neighbor enhance their lives … and put those thoughts into action.

Reflecting on the Ninth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)

We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything. (Martin Luther)

Want a gauge of how serious God was about this commandment? Deuteronomy 19:18-19: “The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.” Let that sink in. If some one falsely accused another in court of theft, the false accuser paid the penalty for theft. If some one falsely accused another in court of murder or some other capital crime, the penalty would have been death. The penalty for perjury was proportional to the seriousness of the perjury. This provided several protections against perjury to Israel's society: it was a heavy deterrent against corrupting justice in its courts with perjury; it made vindication of the falsely accused very public; it enabled a put-up-or-shut-up challenge for victims of gossip or slander.

The positive duty Luther adds in his explanation is both meant to prevent perjury, slander and gossip and to improve society generally. Being kind and polite may sometimes seem irksome and phony, but it also makes neighborhoods and cities more pleasant places to dwell and do one's daily business. Personally, I find these positive duties quite challenging. Defending someone from gossip is not usually a way to popularity, especially with the gossiper (BTDTGTTS!). On the other hand, it takes small stuff like that, by many, frequently and over time, to encourage civility in society. And “put(ting) the best construction on everything,” not being suspicious, not assuming the worst about things I don't understand? Even with people I dislike? That is tough for me to do! Then there's the question of what I permit around me. Do I let others tickle my curiosity through gossip? Or do I remind gossipers that their gossip is none of my business and of doubtful veracity? Do I encourage this social poison by listening to it? Or do I do my very small part to make my community a slightly better place (remembering the effect of hundreds or thousands of others doing that same very small thing).

Reflecting on the Eighth Commandment

You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)

We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business [that his means are preserved and his condition is improved]. (Martin Luther)

No theft, check. No fraud, check. Done? Well, let's slow down. We'll get to the “heart” of theft in a couple of days, but let's think about this a bit more.

With this commandment, God recognized and ratified property, private property, as valid in society. Elsewhere in the Law of Moses, various types of property are recognized – things and what we would now call real estate (i.e, land) – with consequences specified for the theft thereof.

Further, in applying this commandment, the Law of Moses also ratifies the validity of private business. Under the rubric of forbidding false weights and measures, businesses are forbidden to deal fraudulently. Honest trade and dealing are thereby validated. And what should be made of God not limiting prices or profits from trade? Did God forget something? Or was God leaving such matters – other than where fraud is involved – to the vagaries of conditions such as people's desires and scarcity?

Let's take this in another, possibly scary, direction. This commandment, this law, comes from God. Human beings are subject to it – individual, businesses and institutions … including ... governments. What would theft by a government look like? Uncompensated taking of property would obviously be theft by government. As would forbidding usage of property without compensation. What about taxes? Well, taxes pay for services government provides, so taxation would not intrinsically be theft. But, here's where it gets scary and even more political – acknowledging the validity of private property and private business is already political, given modern political thinking. What about taxing “the rich” at a higher rate, because the rich “can afford it”? The Law of Moses mandated equality in justice for “the poor” and “the rich” alike – Exodus 23:3 and Leviticus 19:15. If a “rich” person uses government services more than does a “poor” person, that “rich” person should pay more, in proportion to their usage of those services. But for government to tax a “rich” person at a higher rate because “the rich” “can afford it” is to hide government theft behind euphemistic smokescreen.

What about that part in Luther's explanation, “... but help him to improve and protect his property and business ...”? In this, Luther was applying Exodus 23:4-5, “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him”. This commandment, like others, has a positive upside. However much we might dislike a person we help in this manner, the benefit such kindness brings to society – kindness begetting kindness – is incredible. And who knows what relationship changes that might bring between the two enemies? Getting back to actual theft and fraud, honesty – personal and in business – is a necessity for society to function.

Reflecting on the Seventh Commandment

You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)

We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in words and deeds, and each love and honor his spouse. (Martin Luther)

This is probably the commandment “modern” folks would most like to toss out! It's so repressive! So out-of-touch! God is such a Kosmic Killjoy busybody! Who does God think He is?!

Well, Who is God, and what is He to human beings? Much of my life I've worked in and around engineering circles, so maybe that gives me a good perspective. God is our Creator, of course, but more than that – or deeper than that – He designed us. He knows how He designed us to live, as humans, within society, within His creation. Not only does God have the right to tell us what is right or wrong, He is telling us what manner of life is most healthy for us personally, and in our relationships with others.

It isn't popular these days to say it or to say it this directly, but God designed sex to be between …

… one man and one woman …

… within …

… a faithful …

… marriage.

Whoa! Wait! What happened to monogamous?! The Bible does not expressly forbid polygamy, not in the Old Testament, not in the New Testament. However, the Old Testament shows polygamous marriages to be fraught with trouble (e.g. those of Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon). And in 1 Timothy 3:2, monogamy is a qualification for Christian leadership. Early in the Christian church the realities the Bible shows of polygamous marriage and the desire (and in times of persecution, need) for all Christians to be potential leaders lead to forbidding polygamy. In the centuries of the late Roman Empire through Medieval times the church's definition of marriage became the definition of marriage in Europe (and was carried into European colonies in the Americas, Africa and Asia).

One of the nasty secrets of the sexual “liberation” of the past 5 decades or so is its putrid fruit. When I was in school, there were two common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), gonorrhea and syphilis. Now, courtesy of “modern” “liberated” sexual practices and promiscuity, there are probably a half dozen common STDs, and they are much more common. Children are growing up: with multiple male adults in their houses, but no Dad; multiple houses, but no home; disposable – sometimes abused by their mothers' boyfriends-of-the-moment, sometimes with one or two would-have-been older or younger brothers or sisters having been killed by abortion. Supposedly “liberated” adults have become enslaved: to court decrees (divorce decrees, child support decrees and judgments arising from no-commitments relationships); to children and formerly “significant others” spread all over the city, state or even country; most of all, to their own passions. And it only takes one spouse getting “liberated” to drag the other spouse and their children into the maw of this mini-hell of illusory“liberation”.

Can we set aside our pride – our personal pride and our pride in “progress” – and acknowledge what we have done to ourselves in our selfishness and lust? Can we acknowledge what we have done to our children, who had no choice or input into what WE have dragged them?

As with murder, Jesus took this commandment to the next level: “You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” As with murder, Jesus got to the heart – our hearts – of adultery. God designed humans to be special – made in His image. When we let ourselves be ruled by our passions – hatred, lust, selfishness, envy (we'll get there soon!) – we are less than human. And even as animals, rather ugly ones! So, Who is God? Our designer Who loves us enough to let us know what manner of life is necessary for us to be the best humans He made us to be!

Reflecting on the Sixth Commandment

You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)

We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body]. (Martin Luther)

First a note about “murder”. The King James rendering of “kill” is still quite familiar, but “murder” is the actual meaning of the Hebrew word in the original (and “kill” probably conveyed that meaning accurately for 17th Century English). Self defense was permitted in the Law of Moses, as were capital punishment and war.

“I haven't murdered anyone, and don't intend to, so, commandment obeyed, right?” Not so fast! Jesus, in His famous Sermon on the Mount (specifically, Matthew 5:21-22), showed what fulfilling this commandment really entails. And once again (and not for the last time!), real obedience extends to our heart. Jesus said that even anger and hurling insults is wrong. Ouch! Now that is tough! Does that sound unrealistically sensitive? Murder doesn't arise from love or joy! While not entirely alone, anger and hatred are principal roots of murder. And even if one doesn't actually take violent action, anger, bitterness and hatred do harmful, ugly, things to the one who hates!

But, what about what Luther said, about helping and befriending our neighbor? Luther simply echoed Jesus' command, based on this command in Matthew 5:43-44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” While it is so easy (and tempting!) to view commandments such as this one as caprices of a controlling busybody (and guess what commandment comes next!), God created human beings. God designed human beings and designed us to live socially. God isn't a Kosmic Killjoy! God knows better than we do what behaviors are healthy for us individually and will foster a healthy (pleasant and safe) society.

Life, Death & Control

As I write this, two friends are, separately, going through a birth and the death of a loved one. Life reminds us that we are not as in control of our lives as we might wish we were. Times like these should also drive us to the One Who is in control. We won't find any magic wands with Him, just One Who bring us through life, growing rather than growing twisted and embittered.

Reflecting on the Fifth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. (Exodus 20:12)

We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem. (Martin Luther)

First, the thing that might strike modern ears as odd. “Masters” in Luther's historical context principally referred to masters of apprentices. Since apprentices would have been youth, their masters would have been acting in loco parentis, using modern terms.

This commandment seems pretty straight forward, right? Obey your parents? Well, not exactly. “Honor” means much more than that, and the meaning also changes as the child moves into adulthood, marriage and becoming a parent. Straightforward obedience applies mainly during when the child is dependent on the parent, entirely or partly. It's the “honor” part that gets so sticky. It gets down into your heart - your attitudes, respect, affections. That's really challenging, especially during the teen years and early twenties, when young people think they know and understand more than they really do. I remember, when I was age 19 or so, how smart my parents “suddenly” became! Even as adults, parents should be respected, for advice, generally, and especially in raising one's own children.

This assumes, of course, that obeying one's parents is appropriate. God's is the higher authority and parents' authority derives from God, therefore obeying a parental command to commit or cover up a crime or a fraud would be wrong. It also assumes that one's parents are worthy of honor. A parent who beats or verbally degrades their spouse or children has made himself or herself unworthy of honor.

Just a Brief Thought on Prayer

If we haven't learned to trust God in "little" things, how will we trust Him with the "big" things? If, "Prayer changes things," the "biggest," most important, "thing" prayer changes is us - our priorities and our trust.

Reflecting on the Fourth Commandment

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8)

We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it. (Martin Luther)

I think in this explanation Luther focused narrowly on a particular problem of his day (also a problem now, IMO) and thereby captured only part of what this commandment means. I see two purposes in this commandment.

One is that humans, over time, do more, better, if they get regular days and times of rest. God programmed times of rest into ancient Israel's religion and culture, including the weekly Sabbath. “Rest” sounds so formal and sterile! What do you, reader, find restful or, dare I say it, fun? Taking a nap? Reading a book? Playing tennis? Taking a hike? Writing an article like this? “Rest” is as individual as we are! God really did and does care about His people, including their/our physical and mental well-being!

The second is that God knows that we need regular times devoted to our relationship with God. If we are busy with our subsistence 24x7x52 – work, eating, family, sleeping - that consumes all of our time, physically and mentally. Our relationship with God will shrivel to almost nothing.

Jesus and Paul changed the focus for Christian believers from observing a specific day to every day belonging to God. Most Christians observe and have their church worship services on Sunday, but the New Testament does not command this. Christians need to reflect on the state of their relationship with God and ways of growing it. Regular worship services are good, IF one is truly engaged in what is being done – the praise and worship, the prayers, the preaching and teaching (Luther's concern). But that is just a start! The kind of fellowship Christians need in their lives goes far beyond sitting next to a fellow Christian once a week or 20 minutes of chatting over coffee and cookies or a potluck supper, milling around and eating with scores or hundreds of people. Real fellowship - in which lives and concerns are shared and people's spiritual gifts can be discovered, developed and exercised – happens in small, stable, groups that meet regularly. And our relationship with God needs alone time – with God's word, in prayer, listening to Him. Take time for rest; take time for your relationship with God and your fellow Christians.

Reflecting on the Third Commandment

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. (Martin Luther)

In this explanation, Luther begins two patterns that are found in the rest of his explanations of the commandments. First, he frames our reason for obedience as our love and fear (awed respect) for God, not for earning/maintaining salvation. Francis Schaeffer echoes this thought in his True Spirituality, calling it the “Law of Love”. The second pattern is that Luther identifies both negative duties (do not's) and positive duties (do's). This takes believers from formal outward obedience to re-forming the believer's manner of life and character.

In the most narrow sense, this commandment forbids invoking God's Name as the authority to affirm something for the purpose of deception or to promise something one will not do (whether as deception or from carelessness). Luther took this further with examples of ways in which God's name could be used deceptively, abusively or trivialized. In Matthew 23:16-23, Jesus illustrated how this commandment is violated by showing how hair-splitting word games and traditions trivialized God, His authority and the value of people's words. And in Ephesians 5:4, Paul took this commandment in another direction, forbidding coarse speech.

Does that sound complicated or burdensome? It shouldn't be. As Jesus points out in Matthew 5:37, just be truthful, let your “authority” be your own character. And as Paul points out in Colossians 4:6, our speech should be gracious, seeking to help others. As for God's name, Luther got it right: seek Him in time of trouble, praise and worship Him and thank Him. If we focus on these “simple” things, we will have less opportunity for foul-mouthing or for befouling our own or God's character.

Quickie Miscellany

Had a couple of interesting experiences this weekend. I've always hated shopping for clothes, pants especially. For whatever reason, growing up, my Mom always had me try on several pair that didn't fit before "discovering" some that did fit. Maybe she was trying to "teach" me something. Maybe she just wasn't being realistic. Anyway, Friday my wife brought home a pair that were a waist size smaller than the size that has been getting really baggy ... and they fit. I'm not used to it being that easy! Then, Saturday, we went to the store to get a couple more pair - the price was good and I do need more - and found that the next waist size smaller fit! Two waist sizes smaller than what I've been wearing!

Friday I also learned that I have lost >25 lbs. in the past couple months. I haven't been this side of 300 lbs. this century, possibly not since before my youngest was born!

A thought ... God didn't settle for working through imperfect, forgiven, human beings, he chose to work through us!

Reflecting on the Second Commandment

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them ... (Exodus 20:4-5A)

Because he regarded these verses to be explanatory of verse 3 rather than a separate commandment, Luther provided no explanation of these verses as such. In this Commandment we are forbidden to worship things – statues, pictures – as either gods or as representations of gods. Not even as representations of the true God or His heavenly creatures! God understands His creatures and our tendency to reduce our devotion to focus on tangible things, which are just created things. God doesn't want us worshiping false gods we have fashioned from things He created. If it's an insult to Him, it's all the more silly for us to be worshiping a creature as if it were the Creator. Nor does God want us reducing Him, in our minds, to something smaller that we ourselves are.

What does it mean to, “worship them or serve them”? The easy answer would be anything of our heart that should go to God. And that would be true, though not really all that useful as an explanation. Expressions acknowledging supreme worth (praise) belong to God. Expressions acknowledging sovereign power and authority (worship) belong to God. Expressions of total trust and reliance (prayer) should only be addressed to God. The unqualified loyalty of our whole being belongs only to God. Our things, our career, our family, even ministries we might work in are subsidiary to and have their validity in God. Even things such as “lucky (name of item)s” are expressions of a trust that belongs to God.

Reflecting on the First Commandment

You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3)

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. (Martin Luther)

As simple as this commandment and Luther's explanation sounds, there's a lot here. What are we pursuing and treasuring? Material things? Pleasures? Philosophical or political ideals (other than God)? In what are we placing our trust and reliance? Our bank accounts and investments? Our retirement plan? Government and its laws and programs? Ourselves? Some spiritual leader? Some human concept of god? Stars or planets? Are we trying to do or control things that we should leave in God's hands (Hello? Husbands?!)?

None of these things are, of themselves, evil, and each can have a valid place in our lives. But they are all created things or the works of created beings. They (we!) are all subsidiary to the ultimate Creator, God. God belongs at the center of our life, not things He Created. We owe our existence and being - all of us - to God, in particular our love, trust, praise and worship, and reliance for things in life bigger than us.