John's Beheading

For RCF this week we are discussing the beheading of John the Baptist, Mark 6:14-29

It's an odd thing to consider that some of the most disturbing things that occur in the Bible often happen in the context of what we might consider to be opulent, or even beautiful. I think we so often wish to cast these episodes in dimly light corridors and alley ways because we don't want to feel that tug. The pull on our heart that would draw us into the room, into the party, and ultimately into Herod's very harrowing sin. But, Mark makes the setting of Herod's party very explicit for us doesn't he?

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests.

There we have it. Herod's party was quite the spectacle. We actually meet Herod surrounded by the cultural elite of the day. As Mark continues the picture of Herod in the midst of this opulence comes into stark focus. While his step-daughter (also former niece) dances for his entertainment, Herod and the rest of the men are so stirred that Herod promised to give her anything she wanted. But now we see, that for all of his wealth Herod was actually quite out of control.

"And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison."

Interesting....having been made a huge, and quite public vow Herod's stepdaughter ran to ask her mother what to ask for. This is where this passage gets really nasty, notice the literary context preceding Herod's party. Mark goes into detail about why John was in prison, and how Herodias felt about his presence. She was not happy that Herod listened to John, and sought opportunity to be rid of him, and then we see the fatal "but" in v. 21. "BUT an opportunity came when..."There was a plot here! Herodias knew her husband well, and desired John's death so much that she used her own daughter for leverage! 

John was in jail because his conviction of God righteousness angered Herod and his ill-gotten wife. Prior to this we encounter John living simply in the wilderness. John was beheaded because Herod, though mystified by him, couldn't even muster the slightest conviction in lieu of a request that was reprehensible to him. What an odd pairing of characters! Herod shows us that repentance is the only thing that will spare us when judgement arrives. Throughout this passage Herod is portrayed as a man conflicted by diverging desires, what he ought to do, and what he wants to do. His opulent party was fertile soil for his betrayal of John, and likewise, if we live solely according to our whims and desires, will do violence against our conscience, the Lord, and his Kingdom!

Thankfully we have the historical perspective of the cross, and resurrection of Jesus to hold us steady. We are not victims, but reconciled enemies!

To remind us that God used our evil by drawing it upon himself for our salvation. Praise God that his Word, and Holy Spirit whisper truth into our hearts, transforming them. Because, apart from those, none of us are any better than Herod.

When Pigs Swim

So, the RCF text tonight is the first several verses of Mark chapter 5. The famous story of Jesus' encounter with the demon-possessed man known as "Legion", and I honestly have to say that every time I come across this passage I scratch my head and ponder "What the heck just happened." Honestly, it's weird. Jesus just made it across the sea, and is apparently traipsing through a graveyard when he encounters this poor guy that is possessed by a whole bunch of demons.

Interesting tidbit #1
The demoniac ran up to Jesus and fell at his feet and this is where the conversation between the demons and Jesus occurs. Jesus apparently doesn't skip a beat about what needs to happen because Mark says in v. 8-9 "For he {Jesus} was saying to him {Legion}" the verb saying is in the present tense, thus indicating Jesus in the midst of casting the demons out.

Interesting tidbit #2
The demons negotiate with Jesus. This just freaks me right the heck out. Former heavenly beings in the presence of the Son of God, while fully recognizing who he is do not repent but desire to be delivered into another vessel to continue their destruction of the area. On that note, Gerasenes (the town outside of which this event occured) might not be the best place to invest in real estate.....or livestock as the story goes. Anywho, of all created things equipped to recognize and submit to the glory of Jesus Christ one would think that those who prior to their rebellion lived in the daily presence of the Trinity might relent from evil....but no. This "Legion" had once existed in God's infinite presence and now occupies their time by inhabiting some poor Gentile, forcing him to live in a graveyard and torture himself. They're frightened by Jesus, but not so much that they stop being jerks. When it was becoming clear that they couldn't resist the authority of Jesus they pull the sour grapes move of possessing a herd of pigs which they promptly drive crazy....making the herd (some 2000) run into the sea and drown.

Say what????

I've been thinking about this a lot today because I'm "teaching" on it tonight....one of the things I've realized is that the oddness of this passage stems a lot from my "post-modern/post-enlightenment" perspective of the world. I admit that the bartering of the demons frankly confounds me, and I'm not too sure what they hoped to achieve. But even more odd than that is the mere existence of these creatures. I go through my life happily ignorant of what is happening around me unless I can see, and quantify what I experience. But Kant was wrong about our situation. The lack of visible evidence of something does not automatically relegate that thing into the realms of abstraction and thought. Western thought tends to move in straight lines, with a linear beginning and end (which is nice to think about). But I wonder if the world is more complex than we think it. I wonder if eternity is pressing in all around us as people. I wonder what is really behind the choices I make. Who is really whispering in my ear.

The age old cartoon image of angels and devils on each shoulder seems childish at first, but upon reading this passage I sit here in my office with the hair on the back of my neck standing up. I find myself wondering what a guy would have to do to become tenement housing for a multitude of demons. My gut instinct is that one would have to be quite the piece of work to attract that kind of attention, but as I think about it more and more the adage "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions" keeps coming to the forefront of my mind.

Interesting tidbit #3
 The demons confess Christ's lordship....with stunning insight and accuracy. Yet they are not saved....at least they aren't if being cast out by Jesus is any indicator. We read in epistles like Romans and Ephesians that we are saved by grace through faith. But as we go about our days our faith sometimes looks more and more like a work we perform rather than an inheritance we've received. The most frightening thing about this passage perhaps is the sheer understanding that there is some veiled entity that only desires to torture and destroy us, and the world around us. I don't know what to do with people not liking me, much less am I comfortable with some invisible force bent on my destruction. Even though the handiwork of such a creature is evident all the time in the worst things we read in the news or see as we travel to work and to our homes. But I would rather see those things as the consequence of people's actions....because I can do something about that. I would rather think of those things as social ills, and consequences of polity....or even sin in the church. Because I vote, and preach. But, if Mark 5 is true, salvation through faith only comes by Jesus' personal intervention in something.....so, I have to sit.....and pray with great vulnerability. Knowing that Christ is far more powerful than this evil that masks itself in our headlines and relationships....this observed, but itself unseen, will bent on destroying all of us.


Maybe I should have taught this last week before Halloween...

Good Friday?

This is going to be difficult to read (it has already proven difficult to write) because in it, I have to acknowledge the presence of sin, and the corresponding displeasure of God. In a culture of moral relativism, and self-reflective justification Good Friday is an inconvenient burst of light. I say light, because of how it illuminates two very important truths. One, that God is so determined to redeem his creation that he would suffer a horribly unjust, insulting, painful, and isolating death to see it's deliverance. Two: that we, as a mass of humanity, were, and are so bent on living in the darkness of our own righteousness that we were willing to kill God himself because the light of his perfection illuminated the thoughts and motives of our hearts.  You see, what we have at the cross is the Lord taking on the sum of our offenses against him, and turning his own judgment upon himself. Thankfully Jesus righteousness was fully able to preserve him from abject destruction at that moment. Thankfully, God in his goodness had set that plan in motion at the Garden of Eden. Since we have then such a great sacrifice on our behalf, should we not then (since we are free from sin's bondage) take that energy with which we previously pursued sin and pursue Christ's righteousness at our disposal?

Sad, but Sadly Not Surprised

  I was sitting in my office yesterday, arranging music for Sunday when I heard about the shooting in Connecticut; when I came home my wife informed me of the stabbing in China. Earlier this week the Eugene Register Guard ran the following headline "Horror in Clackamas" in regards to a shooting in a Portland area shopping center. Thinking about it now I can't help but notice that the one thing lacking in my response to these events was surprise. I don't think I've been desensitized by television, or video games, nor am I apathetic to the suffering of these people. So that being the case, why am I not surprised about gunmen opening fire in Colorado movie theatres, or Portland shopping centers.

  I am not surprised at these things because the Church in America has, by and large, ceased to talk of things like sin, and redemption. In our attempts to "live in peace with our neighbor" we have denied them the promise of the Gospel by not showing them their need for Jesus Christ. In our culture of indulgence we have denied the truth of Scripture by avoiding passages and texts that confront our social and cultural understandings of faith, and morality. In short, we have left the religion of Jesus, and pursued the religion of Self. I think this has happened in two major, and vary insidious ways.

 We, instead of looking into the moral implication of our faith, have been tickled and drawn after causes of social justice, and matters of economical equality. Rather than speaking of the crucifixion, resurrection  and ascension of Jesus Christ we banter over wells in Africa, or low cost huts for the American Homeless. Don't get me wrong, the Church ought to be concerned with these things. But, they are a means to an end. Not an end in and of themselves

  On the other hand, when we do tend to speak of sin we do so in some pretty interesting ways. We're quick to speak of cultural sins, but we balk and defend ourselves when confronted with our own issues. Rather than engaging our neighbors with the promise of the Gospel many of us have retreated. Taking a faith that is durable, and meant to be used and wrapping it in bubble wrap and cellophane to protect it from outside corruption. We have retreated into blind political allegiances, into home schooling, into self-gratifying displays of the Pentecostal gifts, into theological obfuscations of a simple Gospel, into denominational pissing matches, and the prosperity Gospel. When it comes down to the brass tacks of our faith (our sin and deliverance in Jesus Christ) we would rather stay silent and give somebody a latte with a pretty design in it. We would rather extol the benefits of classical education. We would rather hand out a bowl of soup; warming a stomach, and ignoring hearts full of sin and shame.

  These horrifying events have happened because we (you, and I...the Church) have used these things to avoid our own sin. While we sit back, bemoaning the sinful state of our culture, Jesus sits before the Father bemoaning our sin, and interceding for our reconciliation. God is near to the lowly, and contrite of heart because they acknowledge their need for him. It is tempting to swiftly condemn these individuals, and their actions without seeing their reflection in us, and our reflection in them. But that is no solution.

[23] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. [24] You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

[25] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

[26] You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

(Matthew 23:23-26 ESV)

Well, fall is officially here. It's not because the foliage is turning brilliant shades of red and yellow, nor is it due to that familiar crisp turn in the morning air. I can tell fall is here because I am insanely busy! RCF starts up again on Tuesday night and I have to say that I am quite excited for this year's group and what will occur at the UO because of it, and my plan for this year's teaching seems quite apropos. All of this year's RCF teaching will echo this refrain: "Why are you a Christian?" and "How would the people around you know you're a Christian?"

We'll be starting the year off reviewing 4 fundamental truths about Christianity
  1. The Inspiration, and Authority of Scripture.
      With this subject we'll look at some passages out of 2nd. Timothy, and Peter's letters to examine if our  
       is truly biblical in it's nature, or if we negotiate with the Word...embracing what makes us feel good, and
       denying those things that challenge our complacency.

  2. God's Plan, and means of Salvation
      If we truly believe that we receive our faith through the grace of Jesus Christ, how does that effect our
      attitudes towards the world, and our own merit?

  3.The Church, and God's plan for worship
     I have this hunch...that God ordained the church to grant believers a designated space in time where they
     relate to God rightly through his word and sacraments. That being so, believers sealed in the Holy Spirit
     ought to have an increasing affection and desire for organized worship with the saints. I also suspect that
     the Church's role in the the world is analogous to the Holy Spirit's role in the lives of individual believers.

  4. How to live with Christian Integrity
      All believers should be engaged in the redemptive pursuit of all those around them. Because God is our
      Creator, his word applies universally to all people, at all times, and in all places. That being the case we
      should not be ashamed, or afraid to call people to apply God's truth to their lives in whatever way we
      can.

After those four teachings RCF will be studying the book of Jonah to see how God's grace extends past the boundaries we expect him to establish.

So, that's the plan. Please pray for me as I study and preach the word on the campus of the University of Oregon. That I would be faithfully repentant of my error, and leading RCF in a like manner. Also please be praying for Becky and I as we tackle a whole lot of stuff at once. Becky is doing a medical transcription program online while working from home. I wont go into everything, but just say that we're busy! Please pray for our marriage and communication as we endeavor to be faithful in the areas that God has called us to serve.

~Matt, Becky, and Scout
   

A brief update

Hi everybody,

   This is just a brief little snapshot of our rather busy lives. Case in  point, the picture above was taken at Easter....and I'm just now using it. RCF is officially "out of session" but we are about to meet and discuss C.S Lewis's "The Great Divorce" here pretty soon. I know one major thing that stood out to me on this latest reading of that book was the disposition of the people in the bus queue, and on the bus. If we look at the church as a vehicle that leads to Glory, the first few chapters are very humiliating for us (or they were for me at least). Considering the backbiting, gossip, and power plays I've found myself wonder where I've contributed to such an illustration. Ultimately I think I was surprised by my surprise. The Church is a community of broken people working out their salvation (and some who aren't working it out). That being the case it's no wonder there are factions, and strife. Let's just thank God that Christ is our Head, and that his plan for us will never be thwarted!

  Personal updates:
     The Perrets are heading back to Louisiana, which leaves me to sort out Sunday morning worship. So please be praying for Becky and I as we pursue that aspect of leadership. We're sad to see our friends move on, but excited to hear about what God has planned for them.

  School is in the works, although I feel like I'm going down the rabbit hole to get there. LCC is not very forthcoming about how to apply to classes....which makes me frustrated. But on a good note; after working at the Red Barn for three months I've been promoted! In about two weeks I'll be taking over management of the Deli and coffee bar.
   Busy, busy, busy!

~Matt

So, elephant in the room. It's been ages since a lot of you have heard from me. Rest assured, Becky, Scout and I are all well (although Scout gets a little emotional from time to time). Many of you have probably already heard that I starting working a part-time job on top of doing RCF. The Red Barn is a great place to work, and I'm already starting to settle in and see the Gospel effect my co-workers. On that note, I have a greater appreciation for what zoo animals endure every day. The first two weeks of my job there felt a little like a "pick the conservative Protestant's brain" session. But, I made it through, and retained my job...which is obviously a bonus!
  So, we've been trucking through 1st. John in RCF this quarter, which I must say has been incredible. I owe a lot of observations to Martyn Lloyd Jones..(his commentary series is called "Life in Christ"). It's a lot of work to read but well worth the time. The one thing that has stood out above everything else has been John's fundamental concept of the Gospel. Most of us, if asked what the Gospel was about, would likely speak of eternal life, justification by faith, Reformed theology buffs would no doubt extol the virtues of Christs expiating sacrifice on Calvary...with a dash of chatter regarding the active, and passive obedience of Jesus. John brushes all that aside. According to John. The Gospel is about having fellowship with God....now. Bearing that in mind, our Christian life no longer falls into academic or hypothetical elements regarding some sort of cold doctrine, or theological treatise. It shifts the premise to a more relational position. Everything from what we do with our day, how we think about our neighbors, to how we engage in politics becomes wrapped in that greater theme of preserving, and enjoying our fellowship with the Father.