Facing Idols

The prophet Daniel was probably a teenager when he was taken from his home in Jerusalem to Babylon, about 400 years before Jesus was born. Babylonian leaders saw that Daniel was a gifted young man, and sent him and some other young Jews to school to become leaders in the government. This meant going to school, being trained, and working with people who worshipped other gods. When they ate a meal, some of the food was sacrificed to a god like Marduk. When they started the day at school, they prayed to gods like Tiamat for blessing. As a part of their job, they were asked to bow to the king as a god! They lived with idols and idolatry all around them, while trusting only the one true God’s promises and responding in prayer, worship, and service. (Read Daniel chapters 1-6 for the full story.)

But there was also the idolatry inside: the pressure they felt to be comfortable. It would have been easier to eat the food sacrificed to Marduk. It would have tasted better too! They likely felt frustrated and anger that people wouldn’t just let them worship their God—and the temptation was to be disrespectful and lash out in anger. Plus, self-righteousness always lurks inside: the feeling that it was up to them to save themselves instead of trusting God and following God’s direction. Comfort, anger, and self-righteousness were idols hidden in their hearts.

Our idols are even more seductive because they don’t look like idols. We aren’t asked to sacrifice to Marduk before every meal or pray to Tiamat for guidance. Money, possessions, social media, political parties, ideologies, alcohol, drugs, sexual and all kinds of pleasurable activities can all be idols that we “bend the knee” with our time and energy, trusting them to save and guide us more than God. They are seductive because they do offer some power, security, and pleasure. They may be good and helpful until they become idols that we can’t live without.

When something becomes an idol, it is ultimately destructive to self and others because they cannot save or guide us out of the mess humanity is in. Once we start to turn to an idol, it is never enough. Idols say, “if there’s only a little bit more money” or “you can’t live without the drugs” or “if our party was more pure,” but they always demand more a little at a time until they consume our attention, our time, our energy, and our relationships.

Jesus didn’t remove the idols; they are still inside and out. He exposed them as frauds, he died because humans are willing to kill for them, and he was raised to show us that the One True God is the only one worthy of our highest love and trust. He gives us the power like Daniel to resist them even while we live with them.

I suggest that one of the crucial jobs of the Church is to expose the idols inside us and outside us and to point to Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Weekly worship, Bible study, prayer, and Christian conversation are all ways that God helps strengthen us against the pressure to submit to the idolatry inside and out. Idols always look so powerful and comforting up close; together in the Holy Spirit we see them as a sham, like the statue of the King of Babylon that Daniel and his friends were commanded to worship. God gave them strength and protection to resist. How much more in Christ are we strengthened to resist the idols we face!

Facing our idols together with Christ,

Pastor Peter

What is Essential?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

We’re living in a time of human history when things we thought were essential are being examined: are they really essential? What is essential for this time? The changes are not small, from the mundane to the profound. For example, do we need physical money or will digital money suffice? More profoundly, what is gender? We thought these were eternal, settled questions only to discover they are temporary and contested!

For Christians, Phyllis Tickle calls it an “every 500-year rummage sale” (The Great Emergence¸ Baker, 2008) in which we are looking at ideas and practices, throwing away some that aren’t useful anymore and discovering old gems in the attic that are helpful now. Tickle and others have said historic creeds (like the Apostles’ and Nicene) should be set out for trash pickup while lectio divina (the practice of slow, rhythmic repetition of scripture to better know God) should be dusted off and put to use.

What is your list of essential Christian ideas and practices? (Here's one Christian's list.) Is Christianity still Christianity if one of them is removed from your list? What is maybe not essential but an obstacle or an unnecessary burden for doing God’s work in this time and place? What is not essential but helpful to St John’s specific mission of celebrating God’s love, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus, and serving our neighbors?

In April, we met for Civil Dialogues about gun safety, immigration, and Christian nationalism. Thank you to everyone who participated! We had people from 13 to 92 years old present and willing to listen to each other. Listening to each other deeply around contested issues is critical to this “rummage sale” time and to St. John’s vision of deepening relationships.

What we have learned is that we can discuss issues that we become passionate and upset about and it doesn’t break our relationships. Too often, people think, “Oh, if they don’t agree with me, I can’t have a relationship with them.” We have learned that isn’t true. Our relationships are more than our agreements, even on issues that we feel very passionate about.

I suggest that for Christians, our relationships are definitely NOT based on our agreement on issues. Our relationships are based SOLELY on our relationship through Christ. If you’ve never read it, I urge you to consider Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, who writes, “Christian community is only this: We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ” (p. 21). The desire to agree on social issues is a dream, “[b]ut God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams” (p. 26). Human efforts and human agreements will ultimately shatter, and Bonhoeffer encourages them to shatter quickly so we can be grasped by the radical grace of God in Christ. It is by grace alone we are saved (Eph 2:8-9), not our agreement on the issues of the day, no matter how emotionally powerful or urgent.

We should not and must not break off Christian relationships because we disagree, for example, on gun safety or immigration. We should argue, listen, even get upset with each other and have to go cool off for awhile, but not break off our fundamental relationship with each other through Christ. The living Christ is the only true basis for our relationships.

Christian nationalism, however, is a different problem because it claims importance above our common identity in Christ. By “Christian nationalism,” I mean “a cultural framework that blurs distinctions between Christian identity and American identity, viewing the two as closely related and seeking to enhance and preserve their union” (see A. Whitehead and S. L. Perry, Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, Oxford, 2020). By blurring Christian identity with American identity, Christian nationalists demand agreement on a set of social issues in order to be considered “Christian.” This puts, for example, an idea about guns above the Gospel, and says that we can’t have a Christian relationship with someone unless they agree on guns. Insisting that agreement on any social issue is necessary for Christian relationship pushes Christ out of the center and makes our relationship about something other than Christ.

In the midst of the “500-year rummage sale,” I suspect we will be tempted many times to move something else into the central place of Christ, claiming some kind of agreement is essential. My prayer is that we will reject anything but Christ as the only sufficient and essential basis of our unity, life, and hope as Christian community.

Grateful to be rummaging with you,

Pastor Peter

Hope not Despair in the Face of Decline and Death

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

This is not a cry of naïve optimism, but hope founded on the reality of Christ’s resurrection. A new life is possible out of death, as Paul writes, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Rom 6:4). However, there must be dying before new life.

It is easy to predict decline—look around: the post-WWII international order has disintegrated as Russia resorts to imperial wars for land and power. The social contract is broken as voters seem to tolerate the most outrageous lies from leaders seeking their votes. The Christian church that Jesus said would stand even against the gates of hell seems dying and impotent as congregations shrink and close. A Sept 2022 study by Pew Research describe 4 scenarios for the next 50 years—and 3 of the 4 predicts that Christians will be a minority and that “no affiliation” will be the majority (ir)religious identity. Looking at even the rosiest scenario is pretty depressing.

Where do Christians find hope in this midst of dying? The Risen Christ, of course! Because he lives, “we too may live a new life.” Tim Keller, retired pastor from the Presbyterian Redeemer Church in New York City, points us to the resurrection of Jesus so we will not despair. (Read the full article).

While many observers of Christianity wring their hands about the forces that are beyond our control, Keller is helpful in pointing out the things we can do, that historically have been things Christians have been good at doing. I would add that Lutheran Christians have experience in balancing the both/and’s, and so each of his points fits the ways we juxtapose both Law and Gospel as God’s Word.

• speak compellingly to non-Christians by both affirming their best longings and challenging the inadequate ways of achieving those hopes
• unite both justice and righteousness, which means standing against all forms of oppression while emphasizing the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives
• embrace both global and multi-ethnic character of the church
• balance both innovation and conservation; and
• offer both grace and covenant, the no-strings-attached love of God in Christ and humbly sacrificing self-interest for the sake of the other.

Each of these is worth discussion—I hope you will take some time to talk with others what that may look like at St. John’s and in the Phoenix-area.

Yet these alone will not trigger renewal, Keller argues. Before that can happen, he suggests that three things must happen:

1. Churches must escape from political captivity. Congregations that identify with one political party or ideology will “not be relevant,” he writes.
2. A union of “extraordinary prayer.” Renewal movements of the past began with the movement of the Holy Spirit in people who waited on the Lord in prayer, people across denominational, theological, and ideological boundaries. I heard from a member of St. John’s recently who said she wasn’t sure she knew how to pray. We will need to (re-)learn to pray so that we are open to the renewal of the Spirit.
3. Distinguishing the Gospel from moral absolutes. The “Gospel” is that “we are saved by Christ alone through faith, not by our works.” By definition, we are not saved by having or hewing to some moral standard but by Christ, his death and resurrection. This cuts off legalism on one side and “anything goes” on the other side to reveal a middle road for Christians (see Romans 6).

St. John’s may not feel like it is declining, but it is cold comfort when we recognize that the Christian Church around the world is going through a epic, era-defining, historic dying. What we and every Christian can trust is that there is new life in Christ in this age and forever.

Trusting in Christ and his resurrection, 

Pastor Peter

The Good Life

I’m privileged to sit with people and their families as they die. I sometimes have people ask me if it’s depressing. “No,” I’ll say. “I’m sad, but I’m honored to bring Christ’s death and resurrection to people who are scared and hurting. When you face death, Christ is the only hope we have.”
    Facing death also means putting life in perspective. Is it worth getting upset about being overcharged $1.50 at the grocery store or getting cut off in traffic? Does it matter if our rabbit ears don’t get all the TV channels or the internet is slow? How important is that somebody never apologized? Death puts all these in perspective and raises the question: how do we live a good life?
    Lent—the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not counting Sundays—is a time to face death (Christ’s and our own), which leads us to focus on what’s really important: relationships with God and each other. This is the point when we read Bible passages such as “one does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut 8:3). When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replies with the double-sided commandment of loving God and loving neighbor (Matt 22:37-39). Caring relationships are what humanity needs. Simplifying life helps focus on that.
    Harvard University has been tracking a group of people and their descendants for the last 84 years and just published a book called The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. They found, “[I]t's not career achievement, or exercise, or a healthy diet. Don't get us wrong; these things matter (a lot). But one thing continuously demonstrates its broad and enduring importance: ... Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period" (p. 10).
    A life that invests time and energy into relationships isn’t easy. As the researchers point out, “it includes turmoil, calm, lightness, burdens, struggles, achievements, setbacks, leaps forward, and terrible falls. And the good life always ends in death” (p. 3)
    It’s a bit funny to read sentences that Jews and Christians have been saying since the author of Leviticus wrote what Jesus quoted: “love your neighbor.” “[S]cience tells us that your choice should be to cultivate warm relationships. Of all kinds [including friends, family, co-workers, neighbors].... it’s not a choice that you make only once, but over and over again, second by second, week by week, and year by year...” (p. 10). The authors ask: why not start today prioritizing listening and caring for the people around you?
    Humanity faces many enormous problems, including the rise of authoritarianism, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, water shortages, climate disasters, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, $31 trillion in national debt, and whatever may be coming next. What these researchers have found, and we have long known, is that what gets is through those tough, even terrible, times is quality relationships.
    Focusing on relationships is what Lent is all about. This season, you’re invited to the 40-40-40 challenge, which is to daily try to do three of four things for the 40 days before Easter: (a) devote, (b) donate, (c) de-clutter, and (d) discipline. Register and find out more at https://communications9676.wixsite.com/synodlentchallenge
    Whatever you, do it freely knowing that God has sent Jesus so you have an eternal relationship with the Creator of the Universe!

Glad to be in relationship with you,
Pastor Peter

Growing Relationships

The stores are filled with hearts and gifts for Valentine’s Day. What better time to reflect on what it means to deepen relationships, part of our vision as a congregation!

Relationships go through predictable stages, but every stage takes time. (I modified research by Robin Dunbar at Oxford University):

1. Know names stage: Know someone’s name, but little else.
2. Acquaintance: Know something about the other, perhaps work together, but wouldn’t meet them for coffee or share a medical diagnosis.
3. Casual: Meeting more frequently around common interests and activities, sharing joys and sorrows. Dunbar finds each of us can maintain a maximum of 150 casual stable relationships.
4. Close: Connected emotionally; shared values, ideals and worldviews bring people together to achieve common goals. Dunbar finds most people have a maximum of 5 close friends.
5. Intimate: Mutual responsibility, committed to each other’s development. Even fewer relationships reach here or stay here. Dunbar finds each person has an average of 1.5 intimates.

During “Casual,” “Close,” and “Intimate” there are usually periods of deteriorating relationships, sometimes conflict, as people have to break through resistance to deeper commitment to a person who is truly different.

With whom do you have casual, close, or intimate relationships in your life? What are you doing to help move a relationship to deeper commitment? Relationships take time together and a willingness to share and learn from each other. Dunbar finds that 200 hours of time together are necessary to move from being a stranger to a good friend.

At least theoretically, Christians should find it easier to have close relationships with other Christians. We share values, ideals and the worldview of following Christ, who forgives the sinner, loves the unlovable, and gathers the lost.

But the reality is that Christians, just like everybody else, are limited by time and energy. We just won’t always have one close friend let alone five at church! But if we want to be deepening relationships with others in the Christian community, it will simply take time spent together, doing things together, caring for each other. Some of us will want close Christian relationships, but won’t be able to do it for a variety of reasons—most of which is that our relational energy is already going to those close and intimate relationships we already have.

Yet, some don’t have one person they can share their deepest fears and dreams. You may assume they have someone because on the outside they seem to be happy and stable, but inside the loneliness consumes them. One of the great ironies of our time is that we are more connected than ever through texting and social media, but our relationships rarely move beyond acquaintance stage. Each of us need casual, close, and intimate relationships that help us to grow to become what God made us to be.

The good news is that we all have a relationship with God not because of the time we put into it (although that makes it more of a two-way relationship!) but because God has put everything into the relationship: God became flesh in Jesus. God sends Jesus to love you and lead you even now as you are reading this! God puts infinite time into a relationship with humanity! As Christians, we help others know that God has an eternal relationship with them because Jesus lived, died, was raised, and is right there with you now!

Think through your relationships. What’s one relationship you can deepen this week just by consciously planning to spend a little time in person or on the phone?

Grateful for relationships with you,

Pastor Peter

Outreach is Building Relationships

A blessed New Year! Despite the lingering problems of last year, the change of the calendar suggests the possibility of new growth rather than more of the same.

One of the new opportunities for St. John’s in 2023 is to call Dan Potaznick to be our quarter-time Associate Pastor for Outreach. Dan is being called to the Grand Canyon Synod office for ¾ time as the Director for Development & Strategic Development (telling about the good work God is doing through the Synod and encouraging support). St. John’s has the opportunity to call him to help us develop and implement a plan for outreach, especially to people who don’t identify with any religious tradition. Dan has a wealth of experience communicating and building relationships with people who are not involved in congregations.

We will have a congregational meeting to consider a call to Dan on January 29 at 9:45am in the Sanctuary.

What is “outreach” anyway? Sometimes people have a vision of going door-to-door, knocking and asking if people know Jesus and if they are a part of a community of faith. Other people may think of caring for the needs of neighbors as “outreach,” such as the Food Pantry, Family Promise, or the Shower Ministry. Both door knocking and providing needs for neighbors are outreach only if they help build relationships.

Following Jesus is all about relationships: with God and with others. If we are knocking on doors and getting to know a person’s name, their dreams and fears, then we are building a relationship that will help us introduce them to Jesus, the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins.

But if we aren’t building relationships, then it’s not outreach. We can offer showers to people struggling with homelessness, but unless we take the time to get to know them and help them know us, to build trust and demonstrate care, it’s not outreach. We become service providers, like a truck stop that provides showers for truckers passing through.

If we aren’t helping build relationships with Jesus, then it’s not outreach. Before introducing people to Jesus, we first need to have a relationship of trust and care with someone. If someone doesn’t think we care about who they really are, they won’t think Jesus cares about them either. But once there is a relationship, then we can introduce them to Jesus. This is not optional for Christians or the Church: Jesus said “Go, make disciples” (Matt 28:19-20), not “Go, make a club or service group.”

In what ways are you building relationships with others? Are you taking time to ask people’s name and share your own name? Are you talking about your dreams and asking about others? Are you willing to share your fears with another person and listen to what keeps them up at night? What can you share about your experience with God?

It’s a good way to start a new year: focusing on building relationships. That’s outreach!

Trusting God makes all things new,

Pastor Peter

Longing for Healing

Christmas doesn’t make sense without Advent. Or, to put it another way: without Advent, Jesus born in the manger becomes another Hallmark movie that makes us feel good for a moment but doesn’t address the deep longing in our souls.

Advent is the season of longing for healing: physical healing of chronic pain and weakness, emotional healing of words and experiences, social healing of relationships that are strained or completely broken. With the Psalmist, we cry out, “How long, O Lord?” (13:1), “my soul is full of troubles” (88:3), and “lead me, O Lord!” (5:8)

In the time that Jesus was born, the Romans ruled the Mediterranean and believed that the only way to keep the peace was to kill those who disagreed with their way. They expected people to help move commodities like wine and grain as well as luxury items to Rome and to participate in festivals to the emperor and Roman gods. To feed their families and to keep a position in society, some of God’s people, the Jews, collaborated with the Romans. Some of their families hated them for it. Imagine not being invited to Thanksgiving dinner because you worked at the dock helping load wheat to Rome! Words were spoken that left precious relationships damaged and even broken; families with deep hurts and anger.

In our time, we can thank God that we don’t have an emperor that uses violence or threats of violence to suppress dissent. We have a democracy that helps us to express our values and to sort out our differences, no matter how messy. Political advertisements may be extreme, but they shouldn’t kill. Elections take time to count ballots, but leaders can be changed without crucifixions.

Our social disagreements are deep, however, and they have caused wounds in precious relationships. I suspect that each of our families has topics we tip-toe around because we’ve had explosive arguments. In the heat of emotion, we have said or heard insults that left an emotional scar. These aren’t simple disagreements, either. The fire burns hotter because in today’s social climate, a position on a candidate or sexuality, immigration, policing, or education (to name a few) is given ultimate worth and sometimes put in language of a cosmic battle. It is as if to disagree is to oppose God. To disagree is to personally attack my very identity.

How long, O Lord, until the heat is turned down, and we listen to each other? Our souls are full of troubles and griefs over our broken relationships! Lead us, O Lord, to forgive one another and value each other as you, our Creator, value us!

Christmas doesn’t make sense unless we feel the deep longing of humanity for forgiveness to heal our bodies and relationships, a forgiveness that releases us from the prison of our past words and hurts, a forgiveness that is beyond our power. The birth of the king of kings in poverty is no sentimental and unreal movie that makes us feel good for a moment; it is the answer of God to the deep cries of humanity.

Come Lord Jesus!

Pastor Peter