July 3, 2016 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - Part 1: Christian Authenticity and a "Motley" Seventy

This week was a reminder that Creator can be the body of Christ beyond our gathering on Sunday.  There were conversations and email threads all last week inspired by last Sunday's Adult Forum.

Debi's words in particular struck me when she wrote:  My personal passion is to find a more authentic community of Jesus' followers who would be emboldened in active resistance to the inhumane laws of Empire/Powers That Be, and work toward restoring relationship across all peoples

I'm sure these words deeply resonate with many at Creator.  For others her passion may well read as an implicit criticism of what Creator currently does (or does not do) as a church today.   I have held her heartfelt sentiment in prayer since I read it, together with today's Gospel reading: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.

Debi's language is charged and challenging.  Vocabulary like passion, authentic, emboldened, active resistance, inhumane, Empire/Powers That Be is not passive.  This is a call to action for a group to move from a current spiritual identity.

So what is this current identity?  Let's substitute some antonyms into the sentence.  Perhaps this is a move from an inauthentic community of Jesus' followers who are discouraged in their passive acceptance of many inhumane laws of Empire.

First I wonder if inauthentic applies to community (not a true community) or Jesus' followers (not truly following Jesus).  Matthew 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them suggests community authenticity is not of primary concern.  The latter possibility is likely of more ultimate concern anyway.

Next, where are some examples of authentic communities of "Jesus' followers"?  Here are followers that spring to mind:

1. The original disciples described in the gospels
2. Christian martyrs
   
   and let's add,
3. Communities who work towards restoring relationships across all people 

Strong answers, however an argument can be made that the disciples physically followed Jesus yet were not "authentic" followers until after his death.  Christian martyrs lived in, and died with, strong Christian conviction but must a Christian do something, like becoming a martyr, to be an "authentic" follower?  There are many who work toward restoring relationships across all people yet not all of them are "authentic" followers of Jesus.

Is the search for a more authentic community of Jesus' followers a prayer to be more authentic in our daily life and the choices we make?  And what does that look like?

Reading 1 Corinthians 12:27: Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it, is a less restrictive way to identify a Christian that I find I prefer.

Fighting for social justice is a passion of many, including me, in our time and place.  This fight and "active resistance", when heartfelt, can inspire and engage what is best in us.  It is important, worthwhile work that may help to change daily life and yet I am wary of associating this with my Christian beliefs.

Social justice is primarily a political fight.  Since politics play a central role in the story of Jesus it is sometimes argued he was political. As I read the gospels I personally disagree.  Jesus resisted the temptation of transforming the world through government power.  He escapes crowds that would make him king and did not advocate any of the political factions of the time.  The response of Jesus before Pilate was not an example of active political resistance.

I don't read in the gospels that Jesus commanded his disciples to engage with the world in this way, nor does he engage with those he encounters by changing their social environment or world.  Jesus doesn't "work" towards restoring relationships.  The transformation in people lives happen with words and actions at their moment of contact with Jesus.

I understand Jesus' ministry through Luke.  In the Nazareth synagogue Jesus reads from Isaiah.  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.

Then Jesus simply says "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing".

Politically speaking this is nonsense.  The fight for social justice had not won that day, nor is it now. In my heart Jesus is always proclaiming God's Kingdom through the good news, just like the writer of Isaiah.  This is a kingdom that does not come to earth like those the world has known.  God's kingdom comes through the spirit of the Lord. 

Pastor Michelle highlighted a few things today.  One that our normal worship attendance is about seventy which matches the number in today's reading.  This is close to the average of most ELCA congregations.  We are one the of the "motley" crews as Pastor Michelle put it.  I like that adjective to describe those who worship at Creator.  We are not very homogenous and that is all to the good. 

The last verse of today's gospel is his followers reaction to being able to overcome evil in his name and Jesus' response.  He says "Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice your names are written in heaven."  Jesus directs us to be happy about something larger, more universal and eternal than the temporary victories made possible by God.