I’m just not hip enough to keep this blog going?

Who cares what I’m thinking or saying?

Do my sermons proclaim Christ or do they turn people away?

Made in God’s Image

http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=matthew+22 

Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars and God the things that are God’s! I wonder what Joe the plumber would say about that. I got that joke from another Lutheran minister. Today’s gospel and the lessons of the past week may sound familiar to you.  There is no doubt that you are sick and tired of all the political attack ads from both sides and all of the political surrogates, reporters and pundits that are out there to try to trap either candidate with a question to trip them up. Don’t worry I’m not endorsing a candidate from the pulpit. What I am saying is that the human condition has not changed much since the time of Jesus. Two commandments are violated one is the eighth commandment of “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” This election is an illustration of bearing false witness! Today’s gospel deals directly with the first commandment of “You shall have no other gods before me.”

In the past couple of weeks Jesus was confronting and condemning the religious-Chief priests and elders of the people. This conflict includes the Pharisees and Herodians. The Herodians were political factions that were loyal to King Herod. King Herod known as the great only ruled by consent of the Romans and by being loyal, obedient to Rome which included paying taxes. The Pharisees were so devoted to the Torah 613 commandments that they build a hedge around it to make sure they were really pleasing God. They added more rules and regulations so they would be opposed to the Herodians idolatry. So why did the Herodians and Pharisees teamed up against Jesus? They both considered Jesus a threat to their religious and economic security.

They start out using flattery to catch Jesus off guard. Oh, Teacher you are true and teach the way of God and don’t regard the position of men and then they try to trap him with a question. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? All those under Roman control were required to pay taxes(a denarius-a day’s wage). This was Roman currency that was engraved with the image of Tiberius Caesar with the inscription of “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus.”

This was a big problem. The image of Augustus and his claim to divinity would be offensive to Jews. A graven image and claim to divinity is idolatrous! The Pharisees and Herodians were trying to put Jesus in a no-win situation. If Jesus would of said no to the payment of taxes then the Herodians would accuse him of being a zealot supporting rebellion and treason and if he would of said yes then the Pharisees would accuse him of being a collaborator of Rome and acknowledging Caesar as God. It is interesting that Jesus had to ask for the offensive coin. He did not have it but his accusers did.

Jesus says that the coin already belongs to Caesar, Rome made it so give it back but Jesus continues with Give to God the things that are Gods. This is the real issue. Are we giving God the things that are God? The Herodians and Pharisees were not giving everything to God. Jesus points out their hypocrisy. Just paying the tax is getting off cheaply because God is owner of everything. Everything belongs to God! Psalm 24 says that the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it. We were created and made in the image and likeness of God. Give Caesar his coins but God wants you. You have been bought with a price so glorify God with all that you have because everything is a gift from God to us.

God is a loving, generous friend(an amigo) who wants to be with you. God truly accepts and forgives you for the sake of Christ who lived, died and rose for you!

Instead of seeing people and the goods of this life as answers to your own selfish desires, look upon them with appreciation as gifts from the hands of God. You will begin to see people through God’s eyes-made in the image of God. Yes it is lawful to pay taxes but rendering to Caesar will not solve the world’s problems. Governments will not solve the world any more than capitalism will. Governments are not generous but people made in the image of God who are called and claimed by God are. We see this during times of disasters like the recent hurricanes in Texas and Louisiana. The October 7^th edition of USA today says that faith based groups have been the vanguard of rebuilding post-Katrina and Rita that includes Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and many others who have mobilized over 200 thousand volunteers and raised over 200 million dollars. The work of people who know whose they are. We are made in God’s image and all we have is God’s work and God uses our hands.

Don’t give your whole life to the things of the world just give over those things that belong there. Remember everything belongs to God regardless.

There is a poem that goes Caesar did not create the stars, does not rule the heavens or give us life no Caesar and the State can keep their own coins. They can’t buy what we really need.

God,

It is your face we see

In our world, our very selves, our breath and love.

We owe every single thing to you alone.

Claim it all. Claim us as you promise in our baptism

Please take us as your own in Jesus name.

Amen.

http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mastthew+22%3A1-14

Tony Campolo, a Baptist minister came out with a book a couple of years ago called “The kingdom of God is a party” which raised a lot of eyebrows among those who think church and religion should be serious-all work, no fun, no joy just boring. Tony points out that the kingdom is not only a party but it is open for all especially for those on the streets and considered the least in society.

Tony tells one story of a trip to a corner bar and grill where a lonely woman named Agnes would come everyday and she was sad because tomorrow was her birthday and she had no family, no friends to celebrate it with. Tony got the bright idea to get everybody in the bar to throw her a big party and invite everyone. The next day the whole bar and grill was decorated with party favors and happy birthday signs plus there was a big birthday cake for Agnes. The whole place was filled with not only the patrons but the door was wide open to everybody walking through even prostitutes in the area to celebrate with Agnes. Agnes was so overcome with shock and surprise that she did not want to eat her cake but keep it to remind her of this great celebration in her honor. Tony ended the time with prayer, which shocked the bartender who asked you are a preacher in which he responds, yes the kind that celebrates birthdays in bars along with prostitutes.” The bartender replied “I would like to join that church but there is no such thing.” According to Jesus and today’s parable -Yes there Is!!! The kingdom is a party open for all even prostitutes.

In today’s gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a wedding feast! A big celebration! The Jewish people like other peoples of the ancient Near East were big on social feasting. There were feasts on birthdays, marriages, and funerals not unlike us Lutherans who have our German dinners and potlucks! We love to eat and celebrate like other cultures. The Latino/Hispanic/Mexican cultures love to fiesta and we do too. Here in San Antonio, we have a 10-day celebration featuring 100 events with music, food, and sports, dancing, with all the parades and pageantry. The kingdom of God is like a great fiesta!

In these Middle Eastern banquets there was always wine drinking and a huge meal. We heard the prophet Isaiah talk about a promised feast of rich foods, wines and where death and sorrow will be no more and when we partake of Holy Communion which is the bodily presence of Christ with the bread and wine- we are forgiven, strengthen because God is with us and Revelation tells us of a final victorious banquet with the lamb-There is an Hispanic creed taken from the Apostles that speak of the day of the great fiesta when Christ will come back and all cultures will live equally together in him

Meals in the Roman-Greco and middle-eastern era represent who can associate with whom in the larger society. They lived in an honor-shame society where the rich ate with the rich and the poor ate with the poor. We see this somewhat today but in Jesus day there was no middle class. Who you ate with determines who you are. In today’s narrative a king is arranging a banquet for his son. The king sent out an invitation from his servants to the expected guests (the religious-political-economic elites, royalty­). You would think that they would mark down the event on their calendar and be there at all costs! I mean this is the King’s invitation-this is very special but what happens? They insult the king. Snubbed him. They were too busy for the king. The king keeps inviting but they still refused and even mocked him and then others do harm and killed the King’s messengers.

Finally, the King does something that is totally against the culture. He invites everyone-those considered good and bad by going out to the streets and the highways to the poor, outcasts, riff-raffs-even prostitutes those considered least in society to come, to party, to fiesta! There are no strings attached when God calls you to the great fiesta-God’s kingdom. Everyone is called, invited but what’s this about being chosen and the guest without a wedding garment? Being kicked out for not wearing the right garment. Doesn’t sound very inclusive! I don’t see any grace in that.

So I grabbed a whole bunch of commentaries to try to find out why was this guest kicked out after arriving? This is what I got:

Saint Augustine says the wedding gown represents charity-Love (of course God’s love that only God can give-without it we are nothing)

Luther said it was faith-right faith is a gift of God trusting Christ alone for our salvation.

Other commentaries said good works well yes God creates faith in us so we can do good works but there is something more- baptismal robe- we are baptized into Christ-his life, death and resurrection.

In middle-eastern culture when you attend a big banquet. They are provided with a festive gown to put on. To refuse this gift would be an insult to the host.

This is not about putting on your Sunday’s best and only those in nice clothing are invited. All are invited even those who can’t afford the finest of clothes even those who are considered dirty and naked -hidden to society. They are given a gift of fine clothing to wear at the fiesta. A colorful poncho!

Ponchos are popular clothing worn by the poor and peoples of Mexico and Latin America and it is popular in the Southwestern parts of the United States as well.

God gives you the clothing like a poncho. How can you refuse such a gift? Do you think you were invited because you were a good religious holy person? Are you relying on your own filthy rags of righteousness or your own social standing in society? Or are you participating in the feast by wearing your baptismal poncho given to you by God?

Baptism is a gift to you! God has chosen you in Christ, God claims you as his child! When you are baptized as a baby you don’t bring nothing-you come helpless-even if you were baptized as an adult you don’t make God choose you-baptism is a promise, command a gift. We don’t come in our Sunday’s best but God gives us Christ. We are clothed with Christ and all his benefits. We remember our baptism by daily dying and rising with Christ. Yes all are invited to come but there is a catch-you are invited to come and die. Die to your own selfish ways and being Christ to our neighbors. We have received Christ and are to walk in him. Trusting in Christ alone. We are to put on Christ like a poncho that keeps us warm or from the effects of the storms. Don’t be caught without it!

You are invited to the great fiesta but don’t forget God has given you the poncho-

You don’t have to work for it, you don’t have to pay for it or bring your own. God gives it to you freely-it’s a gift for you. Now wear it and don’t forget it. Amen.

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matthew+21%3A23-32

Jesus biggest problem was not with the sinners, unbelievers and the outcasts but with the good temple going folks mainly the religious establishment. Jesus’ biggest opposition came from the religious leaders-the clergy of his day and those who had power and authority over religious matters. Things have not changed over two thousand years. Religion gets in the way of the good news of God’s love for all people. Some of the most meanest, controlling and manipulative people have claimed to be religious from the pastor down to the most self-proclaimed holiest of member. There are many pastors and religious people who like to control and abuse many people. God help us all.

The background of today’s narrative is what happens when his followers take Jesus seriously. Just like Jesus they become a threat to religious establishments, they shake up traditions that are not biblical or helpful and challenge the authority of those who are in control of those religious institutions. The religious leaders of Jesus day were ignoring the Jewish Law and the words of the Hebrew prophets to follow the way of justice and mercy. To help the widows, orphans, poor, foreigners and not to be in bed with the State (Rome). The lame, the blind, deaf, mute and women were forbidden to full temple access and women and children were looked upon as mere property. Gentiles were known as dogs.

However, before we point the finger to the particular Jewish establishment of Jesus day it would be wise to look at our churches and see how we treat and welcome others.

In the chapters before, Jesus turned the merchant tables over in the temple with a whip of cords declaring that God’s house should be a house of prayer and not one where you had to pay for your salvation and then he healed the blind and the lame and we come to today’s lesson where the religious leaders are trying to trap Jesus with a question. This all happens in the court of the gentiles where the people are. Jesus comes to the people. They do not have to go into the holy of holies to meet God. God comes to them and this threatens those in position of leadership! God comes to the outsiders-the Gentiles, sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes! Who does Jesus think he is? They try to trap him with a question of where his authority comes from so they can charge him with blasphemy of claiming to have God on his side. What does Jesus do?

Jesus throws those self-righteous pompous religious leaders a fastball with one question. He mentions John the Baptist! All the people considered John a prophet sent by God. He says what authority was John’s baptism? Was it from heaven(from God) or not? They all criticized John and were not baptized by him but he baptized the outcasts, sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes. They were trapped because if they say God then they would be asked why didn’t you believe and if they said it was not of God then the people would rise up against them. They pleaded ignorance because John was a prophet sent by God and Jesus was more than a prophet sent by God. The God-man in flesh-Jesus the Lord and savior of the world was in their community and they rejected him.

Jesus then tells the parable of the two sons in the vineyard to drive home his point. One son when asked to work in the vineyard said No I won’t. He was very rebellious and stubborn but later he changed his mind. The Greek word is Metanoia where we get the word repent or to turn around, turn back from where you are going. The other son was very agreeable and seemed to be faithful and declared Yes I’ll go but he didn’t go. Jesus asked which of the two did the father’s will and the answer was obvious. The first!

Remember Matthew was a tax collector. The Jews hated tax collectors because they were considered traitors to their race, employed by Rome and were known to pocket a lot of the money for themselves. Tax collectors were in the same league as gentiles, sinners, and prostitutes. John the Baptist followers included these outcasts. They got baptized, turn from their ways and followed God. Matthew the tax collector like all of the disciples left everything and followed Jesus. They are like the first son.

The religious leaders claimed to be living in obedience to God. They wanted to be known as respectable and religious to all but they did not follow God, they scoffed at John the Baptist and did not get baptized and they did not follow Jesus. They are the second son. Jesus ate with the sinners because they know they need God but those who cling to their religious authority and self-righteousness are blind.

My question is which son or daughter are you? If you are the first then look to the cross where Christ has given his all for you(he lived, died and rose for you), welcome to God’s kingdom! If you are the second one I pray that your eyes will be open and you look only to the Son who will set you free. Amen.

I was ordained on Saturday, August 16th at Messiah Lutheran in Austin, Texas and I have accepted a call to Gethsemane Lutheran in San Antonio, Texas.

I have just accepted a call to a church in San Antonio. This blog will be on vacation until further notice.

I was raised in the deep south of Louisiana and I remember the racial tensions up until the seventies and eighties and I know it is still somewhat there today. Recently, the noose incident and racial violence was the story in Jena, Louisiana. I remember my good friend Calvin who was an italian from New Jersey being picked on and called “wetback” because they thought he looked like a mexican or the racist slang term “Wop” for Italian.

Maybe this has changed some and I’m in “Liberal” Austin where there is not much open racism but I get flooded with e-mails from relatives about Obama which has a “racist” slant to them.  Racism has always bother me and I don’t understand people that think because they did not paticipate in it that it is not their problem. It is like saying in the time of the Halocaust that because you did not participate in the killing of the jews then why bother or speak out against it.

This is what I don’t understand and this is coming from my family geneaology:

1. Why was my Father and Mother silent during the heydey of the Civil Right struggles of the 50s and 60s when it was obvious that blacks were being treated as inferior and less human?

2. Were my grandparents and great grandparents involve in aiding this racism?

I hear the cries of others why am I responsible for what my forefathers did or what my relatives think? Maybe you are not responsible but you should be damn mad about it.

I know its not popular to talk about heresies but here are some evident today in Christendom:

1. Prosperity Gospel-God wants you rich and happy

2.Megachurch Growth movement-Its all about purpose driven numbers and how to get them. God only moves in big hip churches because of what we have done. Thank you Pelagius!

3.Pastor as Celebrity, guru or cult- Turn on TBN or your local Christian bookstore. He’s a motivational speaker-healer-politician or more. This can happen to leaders in the emergent movement or missional movement as well.

4. We are relevant or more spiritual than the organized church- Well Yes theres some truth there(hypocrites abound in churches) but this can lead to self-righteousness and throwing the Baby out with the bathwater.

5. John Shelby Spong- nuff said. If you don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus please do not call yourself a Christian.

Enjoy!

http://www.markfiore.com/what_if_0

http://www.jesusforpresident.org/

My friend Josh and I had a good time having coffee and talking to Nadia of “The Sarcastic Lutheran.” We talked about House for all. postmodernity, liberals, neo-cons, Minnesota Lutherans, theology, Jesus and her new book on TBN: