Don't Give God A Dime

Reflections
June 28, 2009

Talking about money is dicey at best, though it may be easier during the summer, because part of the congregation is away on vacation and the rest are distracted by the heat. The difference between money and stewardship of course is great. Money is the currency of daily existence; the printed-paper and minted coins sustaining each household with the necessities of food and shelter.

Stewardship is the currency of faith. Through prayer for each other and our shared ministry, by worship attendance, in the giving of money, gift in kind donations, and in service to God through mission and ministry, one's spirit is sustained, nurtured and grows.

In 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 the Apostle Paul invites the people of Corinth to grow spiritually by an act of stewardship. The Church at Jerusalem, headed by James and consisting mostly of Jewish Christians, has fallen on hard times financially because of its boundless generosity. So Paul sends Titus (one of his spiritual offspring) to Corinth for an offering to help the Jerusalem folk. The Church at Corinth consists mostly of Gentiles and by comparison is quite well off. Earlier in the letter, by way of illustrating his expectations, he reminds them how the Macedonian Church, though poor, had been extremely generous in their giving.

In this passage he tells them the reference was not a command but an illustration of what is possible. In verse 12, Paul gets to the heart of any offering, "For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has--not according to what one does not have." It is not the size of the gift, but the eagerness of the giver to respond gratefully to God with the gift..

All too often we become lost in the dollars and cents of stewardship. Any time an offering is taken there is an implicit invitation to faithfulness. The truth is that for some of us, it is easier to commit our wallets than it is to give our lives to God. The fact remains, there will always be a natural tension between financial security and spiritual poverty. Perhaps we're afraid the offering plates are too small or the ushers are too weak to carry the weight of our hearts and souls.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Vintage Christian Whine

Reflections
June 21, 2009

There is a wonderful old joke where some friends are sharing dinner and the host says, “Would you care for some Southern California Wine?” and the guests say, “Why yes, thank you.” The host then says, “Oh Daddy, I need a new BMW and a 52 inch flat screen television, and I will simply die if I don’t get this new phone. Please, please, I must have them.” It really is not much of a stretch to say in some manner this is what the Apostle Paul is dealing with in his letter to the people of Corinth.

He is writing to a group of effete elitists operating under the mistaken notion that they could follow Jesus and still practice their particular pagan, hedonistic ways. Paul, however, knew that encountering Christ was a “game changer.” After half a life of following the narrow way of judgment as the highest calling in life, Paul met Jesus on that dusty Damascus road and experienced what navigators call a course correction. He knew he could not continue on the same path in the same manner because he was no longer the same person. Before knowing Jesus and choosing to follow him, Paul had been the prince of judgment, afterward he became the emperor of grace. Little wonder he would try to explain to the Corinthians who’s who and what’s what with regard to their understanding of what constitutes high and holy behavior. Their usual response to Paul was complaining, questioning why they could not simply incorporate their old practices in their new life of faith, and failing all else they would challenge his spiritual authority.

We know this is not a new story. The account in Exodus with Moses leading the chosen out of bondage in Egypt relates. Remember God called Moses to lead, the people did not hire, or elect him. As they journeyed, the people began to question Moses ability to lead, and even his relationship with God. So they ‘murmured’ against him the text records. In modern parlance, we would say they were recreational gripers, perhaps even professional whiners. We know people like this. Heck, if we are not careful, we become such people. How much better then would it be to focus on the love and grace we know in faith? The choice we have each day is to drink from the bitter cup of whine, or partake of the grape of grace given by our model and mentor, Jesus. I’ll raise my glass in a toast to the latter.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Where Pride Resides

Reflections
June 14, 2009

According to scholars Psalm 20 is attributed to David. It was most probably a sacrifice liturgy offered in hope for strength and vitality in battle. The opening is a clear indication of prayer. “May the Lord answer you in your day of trouble. May God grant your hearts desire and fulfill all your plans.” Rather than enter into a misguided argument over who God favors in war, I would prefer to consider the spiritual grounding of one who prepares for conflict with a song and prayer. There is an adage which says, “If you don’t have a plan for success, then plan on failure.” Of course there is an equally powerful statement about the futility of over planning attributed to the late singer John Lennon which reads, “We make plans and God laughs.” Whether we fall on one side or the other in this equation or somewhere in between this much is clear. The reality of life is effective human existence requiring a certain amount of discipline order and preparation to accomplish most any task great or small.

What we seek to accomplish is, more often than not tied in some manner or measure, to what some call core values. Elements of life we hold in high regard and value as extraordinary. When we talk about family, education, faith, sustainable living, financial security or meaningful work, we are naming our core values. Thoughts and elements to live toward, because they stir in us something high and hopeful.

My favorite line of Psalm 20 is verse seven.”Some take pride in chariots, and some in their horses; but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.” While we may not be entering battle in the same way David was, still each day we must go forth into life knowing that there are those who will oppose us simply because it is the desire of their heart. How much more essential it is to seek the High and Holy presence which guides and girds us.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Is Faith A Tool Or A Weapon?

Reflections
June 7, 2009

John 3:1-17 deals with the topic of spiritual birth or rather rebirth. Nicodemus comes to Jesus seeking the true way of faith and is told one "must be born from above." The conversation becomes more of a debate than dialogue when Nicodemus begins to question what this might mean in literal terms.

In his book Whistling In The Dark An ABC Theologized, the Reverend Frederick Buechner makes some interesting observations on this passage and the meaning of the term born again. "Somewhat testily prodded by Nicodemus to make himself clearer, Jesus says 'that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' In other words, spiritual rebirth by the power of the Holy Spirit is what Jesus is talking about. The implication seems to be that the kind of rebirth Jesus has in mind is (a) elusive and mysterious and (b) entirely God's doing. There's no telling when it will happen or to whom."

Buechner goes on to write how difficult the term has become for modern witnesses to the word. "Some of those who refer to themselves as 'Born Again Christians,' however seem to use the term in a different sense. You get the feeling that to them it means Super Christians. They are apt to have the relentless cheerfulness of car salesmen. They tend to be a little too friendly a little too soon and the women to wear more make-up than they need. They speak about 'the Lord' as if they have him in their hip pocket and seem to feel that it's no harder to figure out what he wants them to do in any given situation than to look up in Fanny Farmer how to make brownies. The whole shadow side of human existence appears as absent from their view as litter from the streets of Disneyland."

The point that Reverend Buechner makes is quite straight forward. The truth of the Spirit of God is that it moves into lives and in love and forgiveness and in ways untold changes lives, creating new poeple of faith. The difficult part is that it can't be bought at a store, learned like a poem or made like a cake. The problem is who do we think we are when we begin to act as if we can create or command it when the absolute truth is we don't.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Ave., No. Hollywood, CA 91601

Waiting For The Wonder

REFLECTIONS
May 31, 2009

Jesus was frequently placed in the position of doing what was accepted and legal, or doing what He was called to do. He lived within a religious culture which had laws and rules. Mosaic Law forbade work of any kind on the Sabbath, yet Mark 1:23-28 and 3:1-6 record Jesus breaking the law. When questioned about His behavior, He answers with the question of whether the law was made for people or people for the law? What may seem a capricious reply was a valid retort then and still merits consideration today.

His point was simple, people are more important than rules. The law of love takes precedent over Mosaic Law. There is no place for legalism among a body of believers. Jesus modeled as much in His ministry to those outcast and marginalized by His religious community. Mark and the other Gospels record religious leaders questioning Him as to why He would break the rules and at some level we identify with Jesus and see His need expand the measure and meaning of law within His tradition. In truth more often than we care to admit, we more closely resemble His detractors.

How often do we in the faith community say to someone with a new or different idea, we’ve never done it that way before. Worse yet, if something new is implemented, we are quick to ask the question; who gave approval? Worse still, we take our most sacred document, the Bible, and make it a legal document. Those who accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath cited the Levitical codes. For them, the Word of God was law.

Life is not a game and the Bible is not a rule book which determines who is in or out of the game. Jesus lived in real time and showed that ultimately all time belongs to God. Jesus was certainly aware of rules, law and judgments both secular and holy. However, the reign of Jesus was and remains a state of grace.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601