ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 27, 2024 Today is the Assembly of the Disciple Churches in the Greater Houston area. We have five people (maybe a sixth) from Cypress Creek Christian Church headed to Taylor Lake Christian Church for this gathering, and last I heard, there were well over 120 registered. I am looking forward to hearing Rev. Dawn Weaks speak on her book, Break Through: Trusting God For Big Change in Your Church. Dawn and her husband, Joe, are the Co-Pastors of Connection Christian Church in Odessa, a church that made the difficult decision to do something dramatically different. On the back of the book, there is a line: “This is the story of what happened when a little Texas church’s ministers and lay leaders dared to place their desperate, dying selves into the radically loving hands of God.” Maybe it’s not a church community, but I wonder how often we as individuals dare to place our desperate, dying selves into the radically loving hands of God. There are a couple of challenges in doing so. First, there is the relinquishing of control, suggesting that maybe God can see something that we cannot. Second, and somewhat related, is trusting God to walk with us even when that journey is uncomfortable and not where we would have chosen to go. And third, when we offer some dying part of ourselves to the radically loving hands of God, there is usually resurrection, but resurrection often challenges us to love with the same kind of love that gave us new life. Where in your individual life or where in our collective life is there something dying that might need to be placed in the tomb and declared dead? Are we willing to trust God to do what God does in those moments? Though it causes great discomfort to face what is dying, O Merciful God, we pray for the capacity to trust the story of Jesus. There, we find new and unexpected life emerging from despair and hopelessness. Give us the courage to trust you and the gift of new life. Amen.
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 26, 2024 This Sunday, I am preaching on the second half of Psalm 22, though it is difficult to understand the second half without knowing the opening words. Of course, those were words Jesus borrowed as he hung upon the cross, “‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” It is a statement of utter despair. Actually, despair seems to fall short in expressing the anguish and emotional torment of betrayal, a feeling as if he has been forgotten by both his disciples and God. Though the cross might present to us an extreme example, there is something very real about the experience of feeling as if one has been forgotten, with no hope. Many of us have cried out in one form or another, “Why God! Why have you turned your back on me?” Perception is reality, even though our faith tells us that God’s presence is eternal. Psalm 139 provides an extensive list of the places we find ourselves, and though we might assume God is not present in some of the more difficult or shadowy places, our faith tells us that God is fully present in every moment and every place. Life is often lived in this tension between what we experience in the moment and what the story of faith tells us. Even Jesus seemed to have his moment. Thanks for remaining faithful, Gracious and Everlasting God, even when things are rough on my side and I am questioning everything. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 25, 2024 I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately, specifically reflecting on the back and forth between Peter and Jesus found in Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.’” Peter lived in a world where things were defined based on their limits. For Peter, he understood forgiveness by giving it a structure—a beginning and ending. There was a place where forgiveness started and a place where forgiveness concluded, and I believe his question to Jesus, “As many as seven times?” was a rather liberal and expansive understanding of forgiveness in his mind. I can almost hear him saying it with pride and expecting Jesus to praise him. The response of Jesus, “seventy-seven times,” or it could be translated as “seventy times seven,” is the merger of perfection. The number seven symbolized perfection, completeness, or could be understood as representing God. Forgiveness, in Jesus’ response, was seeking to remove the measurements by which Peter and others attempted to define forgiveness. Instead, Jesus provided a picture of God’s forgiveness that had absolutely no boundaries. That’s sort of unnerving because we want limits and structures by which we can more easily explain and understand forgiveness, but Jesus wants us to glimpse God’s capacity to forgive, and once every limitation we have imposed on forgiveness is dismantled, then we are invited to match it in our own lives. Yes, that is unnerving. In Jesus, you have given us a picture and a model for forgiveness. Holy God, give us the courage to dismantle the limitations we have placed upon your gracious mercy—limitations we have too often enjoyed in our own lives. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 24, 2024 Fred Rogers from Mr. Rogers fame said, “I don’t think that the basics that kids need have changed in 10,000 years.” In a world where new scientific discoveries are happening on a daily basis and new technology is coming into our lives as fast as we are willing to spend the money, Mr. Rogers is once again correct in his analysis. Children need the essentials of life, and along with food, water, shelter, healthcare, clean air, and regular sleep, there is a need for security and unconditional love that build self-worth, friendships, self-differentiation, self-determination, and creativity. When Jesus said, “Let the children come unto me,” I do not believe he was suggesting that children 20 feet from him be allowed to step forward and be within six inches of him. It was an invitation for the world to make sure every child had access to the fullness of life. This begins with the basics. Otherwise, the Jesus those children would be meeting would be more of a mascot for a worldview that says children (or certain children) are not as valuable in actuality as they are in the hypothetical. Today is the day to make children an absolute priority, whether those children are playing in the neighbor’s yard, trying to get adequate healthcare in rural Georgia, seeking shelter along our southern border, going about daily tasks just inside the border of Israel, or searching for a place that won’t be bombed in Gaza. Not one of these children, Merciful God, should ever be collateral damage in the political struggles of adults. And if we think we can excuse one, then no child is safe. Give us the courage to find a way that may not yet be visible to us—a way that you have been revealing to us for at least 10,000 years. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 23, 2024 This one is a long one… my apologies. Have you ever noticed that when someone summarizes what they’ve heard, what they offer as a summary is what they heard through their personal filters? Like many of you, I have gone to hear a speaker with some friends, and then afterward, we grabbed some dinner or coffee. The conversation around the table has often been fascinating as what I heard and what others didn’t hear said a lot about the filters through which we were listening. Something said early by the speaker might have struck me profoundly, and everything after that moment did not influence me enough to get me past those opening words. This is where I find the closing words of Luke’s Gospel to be a fascinating experiment in what people heard and what they assumed was being said. In Luke 24:44, Jesus said: ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ The only words of the resurrected Jesus that we have spoken to the disciples in Luke’s Gospel are words of peace, an invitation to look at his hands and feet, and then a statement of expectation that his disciples focus on the words of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, specifically those words written about Jesus. Here is where one’s summary is extraordinarily important. What words from Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms are we to focus upon? What words was Jesus referencing? I could provide a quick summary based on passages I like from Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, but was Jesus referring to Bruce’s favorite Biblical hits? How a person summarizes what Jesus was specifically referencing will dramatically shape what a person thinks the church’s purpose and witness are. Now many will probably disagree, but I believe Jesus, as it is told in Luke’s Gospel, is wanting us to reflect on the clearest purpose statement Jesus would provide his followers. In Luke 4, Jesus referenced the Prophet Isaiah, while also giving a nod to the Jubilee teachings of Moses and the community’s remembrances of God’s librating power in the Exodus story as shared in the Psalm. Jesus does this in Luke 4:18-19, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” How might someone seeking the fulfillment of those words from Luke 4 differ from someone who focused on, perhaps, the “woe” statements by Jesus in Luke 6? But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. You can see how those would be very different. It sure would have been nice had Jesus said during his resurrection appearance, “Let me summarize for you the top six items found in the words of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms that you need to know. Start with these…” But he did not. For that reason, we are left struggling and arguing over where to begin. In this, I will offer another idea. In Luke 9, Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Maybe a measuring stick in determining the specific words of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms that Jesus was referencing might be, “‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24). If your summary of the key words from Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms requires nothing of you in any sort of profound or challenging way, then maybe your summary of the key words is off a little? But if your summary pushes you, even with some trepidation, to pick up the symbol of self-sacrificing love, then maybe your summary is on the right path. There is always room to grow, but this following Jesus will include some unpleasant and some not so easy-going moments. Help me, Gracious God, to filter the key teachings and challenging instructions through a lens that honors your self-giving upon the cross. I could easily filter out anything that is demanding or might cause me discomfort, but I’m pretty sure such a life would not reflect Jesus or the life he was hoping his followers would live. Continue to put before me his life-witness as a way of measuring my own life of faith. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 22, 2024 A Sort of Prayer Based on Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. I’ve never technically had a shepherd, but the image is comforting to my soul. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. The amount of exhaustion and spiritual fatigue leaves me yearning for just such a place. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. To do something that genuinely honors the name of the One who is the Source of life and love requires me to get out of my self-serving lane and into a lane that respects the self-giving character of God. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. Sometimes I think being left alone will bring joy, but there is something ever-affirming in that holy nudge that reminds me of how precious I am. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Though I did not return the RSVP for this meal, it is good for me to step outside the echo chamber of the self-admiration society. you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Too often, I forget to pause long enough and with enough awareness to see those parts of my life where abundance is truly present, reminding me of who is at the Source. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. We find a dwelling just beyond a door left wide open, and we hear a joyous invitation beckoning us to enter and enjoy your hospitality and kindness, O Gracious God of All. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 21, 2024 In yesterday’s Etching, I referenced the opening words of Psalm 19, but many people know the closing words much better: Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. This section speaks of our words and thoughts as being “pleasing” or “acceptable” to God, though I also like another translation that suggests it is not just about pleasing God but “aligning” with God. Those might sound the same, but what is the motivation? Aligning, in my opinion, has a different starting place. If I am trying to please someone, I am often trying to get something from that person. Is that the way God works? Do I please God so God loves me? Or, am I seeking to align myself with God as a joyful response to the belief that God already loves me beyond measure? My concern with words like “pleasing” or “acceptable” is how they are often used in manipulative ways, suggesting that someone is not pleasing or acceptable to God. And that tends to be followed by a list of things that one must do if one wants to be pleasing or acceptable. But notice the last line: “Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Those are not the results of good words and good thoughts, but they are the starting point from which we are able to get a strong footing in our joyful desire to align our lives more fully with the ways of God. My gratitude is my beginning place, Gracious and Loving God, for I do not need to earn or obtain your favor. It is a gift of divine generosity, and in a spirit of thankfulness, I seek to align my life as one who is embracing and celebrating that glorious news. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 20, 2024 Psalm 19 has an extraordinary opening, Heaven is declaring God’s glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork. Like many of you, I have witnessed an explosion of colors in the sky that has left me overwhelmed with awe, but I’m pretty sure no matter how spectacular a sunrise or a sunset, it does not even begin to declare God’s glory or proclaim God’s handiwork. We try our absolute best to grasp at the essence of God, the fullness of divine love, and the transformative power of merciful kindness. And because every attempt falls shamefully short, we invite poets, artists, songwriters, and choreographers to capture our imaginations and take us to the apex. And thank God that God remains so much more. In no way am I suggesting that we should stop. Absolutely not! But the moment we have convinced ourselves that we have comprehended the fullness of God is the moment we are sitting in front of an empty idol. This is why we continue to invite poets, artists, songwriters, and choreographers to capture our imaginations and take us to the apex of what can be dreamed in this moment, and there we give thanks. Thank you, God, for meeting us in Jesus, and thank you for always pushing us beyond what we claimed to have known and believed yesterday. There is such joy in a never-ending journey of discovery. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 19, 2024 Sometimes choosing to set a healthy boundary can look to others like you are holding a grudge. Though the two could not be further apart, I can understand how smart boundary setting could be mistaken for a mean-spirited grudge. Part of this has to do with our poor understanding of forgiveness, along with the belief that self-care is selfish. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” though I think he could have said, “Until you truly love yourself and can show yourself a little bit of grace, you won’t be able to love your neighbor in a way that honors God’s love.” There is also a community component in that there can be situations where we know that loving that “neighbor” is going to be extraordinarily challenging in the short-term and maybe in the long-term. But as I continue to work on my capacity to love, being mindful of healthy and smart boundaries, I can both honor and celebrate the love others are displaying. It requires a maturity in one’s faith, along with a big-picture understanding of the Christian life. I remember hearing a mother of a murder victim speak with appreciation for the prison chaplain who was looking after the young man who had committed the murder. She said something like, “I want that young man to hear of God’s love, but I’m not the person who can do it.” I think that’s fair, for even forgiveness in a situation like that does not necessarily mean friendship. I know I need to work on forgiveness, and I know I need your help, Merciful Spirit. Let me honor the process along with honoring my own spiritual and mental health. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 18, 2024 James Seymour, the Chair of our Elders, will see a book at a used book sale and send me a text asking if I would be interested. One of those books is written by David Gushee, entitled Still Christian: Following Jesus Out of American Evangelicalism. It has been an interesting read, basically an autobiography within the historical takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention and Seminaries by Fundamentalism and the Radical Religious Right. In the middle of the book, I came across a name I knew well, Dr. Molly Marshall. When I was in Kansas City, I did a lot of work with Central Baptist Seminary, a moderate American Baptist Seminary. When Molly was named president in the mid-90s, it was quite controversial, yet she was celebrated by many of us in more progressive circles. In the book, Gushee writes about his time at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where Marshall had been a professor for eleven years but was forced out in 1994 by those who were opposed to women in ministry or any sort of leadership. Gushee writes in his book, My journals reveal that I knew from the very beginning that the women’s issue could be a deal-breaker for me and that my integrity would be tested on it. Before I even taught my first class, I wrote: “Women in pastoral roles. That issue—if I won’t change and if Mohler (the president of the seminary) won’t accept a difference on it—will sink my future at SBTS” (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY). And then one week after starting my teaching at Southern, I wrote this: “What is the issue today that needs a clear, biblical, prophetic word, just like racism needed in 1953 or 1963 or 1863? I think that issue is the full equality of women. Help me, Lord, to lie prostrate before you and speak the truth in good conscience, consequences be damned.” When later that year Molly Marshall was forced out of Southern, I did nothing to stand up for her besides complain to my journal. How many of us, when the risk is low, can make pretty dramatic statements of our faith and think to ourselves just how far we would be willing to go, but then when the risk is real and the threat has implications in regard to our standing in society, our bank account, or certain friendships, are quick to complain ever-so-quietly to our journal or to God in prayer? Yet no one else knows our opinion on the topic. At Cypress Creek Christian Church, we have moved beyond the question of women in ministry, though sadly, we are confronted on a fairly regular basis by those who want to tell us why we are wrong. Putting that aside, where are those places of faithfulness today where we are decrying the injustice in the privacy of our journal or in a safe group of like-minded people? Where are our life choices suggesting some insecurity around the unconditional and unrelenting love of God? Where are we choosing silence, even though we know that silence is choosing to be complicit with the very thing we find to be in opposition to the love, compassion, and justice in the life and teachings of Jesus? Later in the chapter, Gushee referenced another journal entry, a sort of prayer… I realize… how much of a hit my integrity—and my joy—have taken under the oppression of this place (SBTS). I have bent to make it work. But your Word speaks words of simple truth—maintain justice, tell the truth, do what is right. Maybe that’s our prayer today… Holy God, may the Living Word continue to challenge me to maintain justice, tell the truth, and do what is right. Amen. |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2024
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