Financial Crisis & Faith

The current economic downturn has been tough on many people. Our churches and members of our community are all hurting. Our government is doing what it can to help fix the situation. Now, I don't know if they have all the right answers or not - I'm not an economist or a financial wizard. What I do know is that Wall Street and corporate greed got us into this mess and someone has got to step up and make some sacrifices to get us out of it.

I read an article today about banks who now want to return the bailout money because they are being held accountable for how they spend it and that the government is putting too many restrictions on it. All I have to say is: "Tough!" Send the money back. It isn't yours anyway...it belongs to the tax payers and if you don't want to be held accountable, if you don't want to lose your perks, if you don't want to truly try to fix the mess you created, then give the money back and go bankrupt. That's what should happen anyway. We are not responsible for bailing you out.

With all of that out of my system, let me go on to say that this financial crisis is like every other financial crisis in history. Many factors caused it and many things will be needed to fix it. We all need to recognize that we have become so dependent on money and our over-stuffed lifestyles that we have lost sight of what is truly important. God has given us everything we need to live well and happy. We have simply forgotten what it means to be "well and happy." Greed has overtaken need and our culture is glutted with excessive consumption and wants that exceed reason. Pray more, desire less. God will take care of us.

It is finished

Dear friends in Christ,

As I write this article, Ash Wednesday is still on the horizon and I am preparing my sermon series for Lent. As you read it, Lent has already begun and I hope you are following our “Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ” series. In the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death on the cross, we listen to Jesus speak to us as he takes his final breath. In these precious words, we find not only anguish but also hope that can only be realized in the death and resurrection of the perfect sacrifice – Jesus Christ, the Son of God. What Jesus says has been the topic of countless books and the inspiration for numerous musical works. What Jesus says to us has captivated Christians for centuries as we seek to better understand the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

This morning I was thinking about what to write for the newsletter and I kept coming back to “it is finished.” It occurs to me that these three words hold the key to our understanding of what Calvary means and where we stand at the foot of the cross. Jesus is not simply stating that his life is nearly over, nor is he commenting on the fact that his earthly ministry is through; I believe that he is telling us that the work of salvation – “it” – is now complete in His death on the cross. Jesus really is saying that the whole point of his life has been achieved in this sacrifice. This is the new covenant we talk about when we celebrate Holy Communion. Jesus’ blood is poured out for the forgiveness of sins. “It is finished” marks an ending of one thing and the beginning of another, better thing. God’s will is that Jesus takes all our sin on himself and that his death ends our life of sin and begins our new life as the Body of Christ.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of leading a Bible study group at New Hope treatment center, as well as our church’s study group on the subject of our covenant with God. In both of these settings I find the recurring theme of God’s forgiveness playing a vital role in our lives. We humans tend to be a self-centered bunch and we frequently step off the path that God has laid out for us. Too often we don’t recognize our missteps until they cause us or someone else a lot of pain. Suddenly we realize that we need God’s forgiveness and we seek it. Our humanness also tends to lead us to believe that there comes a point in our lives when we are no longer deserving of God’s forgiveness; we begin to believe that we have done too much, we have gone too far, or we are simply too bad to even ask for or expect God to welcome us back with open arms. “It is finished,” tells us that this simply is not the case.

The work of saving us from ourselves – from our sin – has already been accomplished in Jesus Christ; nothing we do can separate us from the love of God. We don’t need to earn our way back into God’s good graces – Jesus has already done it for us. We don’t need to fear that God will refuse to forgive us – Jesus has already guaranteed our forgiveness. “It is finished” may be the most hope-filled sentence in history. Because Jesus went to the cross, suffered, died, and rose again, we can go to God knowing that we are able to turn our backs on whatever sin we may have committed and receive God’s forgiveness, love, and grace. We don’t have to keep beating ourselves up for whatever we may have done to hurt ourselves or another person; that work has already been accomplished. Do we need to turn away from our sin? – Yes. Do we need to forgive ourselves? – Yes. Do we need to live our lives with the intention of doing better? – Yes. Do we need to be sorry for what we’ve done? – Yes. Do we need to keep beating our breasts and bemoaning our sinfulness and avoiding being in a healthy relationship with God and with the church? – Absolutely not! The work of salvation is accomplished in Christ Jesus; we need to accept the grace provided in that accomplishment and continue to move forward into a stronger relationship with God and with one another.

The hardest part is finished, but our part isn’t a “walk in the park” either. It takes effort and humility to turn away from our desire and turn toward God’s will. It means releasing our self-centered focus in exchange for eternal life.

Are They Kidding?

Dear friends,

I just read a most disturbing article about recetn changes in the Roman Catholic Church. (This article is posted at this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/nyregion/10indulgence.html?_r=1)

It is disturbing on so many levels. As many of you know, I was raised as a Roman Catholic and I am greatly blessed by the high quality education I received. However, there are many reasons why I am now separated from the church...This article is a prime example. The "Church" in Rome has decided to re-institute the practice of giving indulgences to mitigate a person's time spent in Purgatory. Granted, they are not "selling" these outright (a practice outlawed in 1567), they are "giving" them away in exchange for charitable donations and other good deeds. You must read the entire article to fully appreciate what's going on here.

There is no place in the Bible that speaks of purgatory or indulgences. We cannot earn or buy our salvation and we cannot mitigate our punishment through the actions of some priest, pope, or any other human being. Jesus Christ is the only Savior and The Vatican can't change that. This is a ridiculous way to get attention and create income. This Pope has set ecumenical relationships back 100 years!

Hope

Recently I've had the privilege to lead a Bible study group for clients of a local drug treatment facility. I am touched by the hunger for Jesus that I find in these individuals; it seems to indicate a yearning for true hope in their lives. I am struck by their desire for forgiveness that is hampered by a belief that forgiveness is not available to them. Many of these people have been severely damaged by "religion" and "church" during their lives. They have suffered judgement from other people who have no right to judge. Our study of Scripture tells us over and over that judgement is reserved for God - it is not something that humans are entitled to exercise. Rather, we are called to love, support, care, and forgive. It breaks my heart to hear their stories of the damage done to them by pastors who don't seem to understand their role. Have we forgotten the message that God is about relationships and healing? Have we missed the point that Jesus came to reconcile people to God? Where did we ever get the idea that we were in any position to judge another human being? We are all so imperfect; we are all in need of forgiveness; we are all sinners..."Love God...love one another..." Are these not the two greatest commandments given us by God? Where in these commands do we hear "judge," "reject," or "condemn?"

I pray that the followers of Christ can return to an attitude of love for God and others that looks beyond our human sinfulness to the image of God from which we come. I pray we can offer each other a fraction of the grace God offers us every day. I pray that people can be healed from the damage done in the name of "religion." In Jesus' name. Amen.

Kudos!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Mangum First United Methodist Church is very proud of their Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Iris Deurmyer. Her original skit “Fast” Food was ranked as #7 in the Top 10 best of 2008 by Youth Ministry.com, a resource of Group Publishing. This skit is a humorous teaching on the subject of fasting. More than 100 scripts were submitted from throughout the country. The skit may be downloaded from the Youth Ministry website at: http://www.youthministry.com/?q=node/5853 This is a wonderful resource for youth ministry ideas and projects. Good job, Iris!

Yes, we can!

Yesterday Barack Obama became the first African-American President in history. This event was encased in the usual pomp and circumstance befitting the inauguration of the president of the most powerful democracy on the planet. It was a beautiful day in Washington D.C., albeit a little chilly to be outside. It didn't appear that the nearly two million people in town cared much about the weather; they were there to witness history. In a small way I envy their close proximity to this momentous event.

This morning, as the first day of a new administration dawns, I can't help but think that all the excitement of yesterday pales in comparison to the enthusiasm of this president for what lies ahead. Our country faces enormous challenges and Mr. Obama has taken the helm at an impossible time in our history. I believe that it now matters not how you voted in November; it matters not how you personally feel about our new President; it matters not what political party or religious affiliation you claim; what truly matters is that we are all in this together. We must put aside our petty bickering, our party loyalties, and our culturally-induced differences. Now is the time to pray for our nation and its leadership. Now is the time to pray for our planet and all its inhabitants. Now is the time to seek the face of God in everything we do so that we can overcome our humanity and begin to realize the power of God in our lives. Truly, it is only with God's guidance and help that we will be able to stand up and say: "Yes, we can! Yes, we will!"

Let us pray together...
Good and gracious God, we come to you humbly this day to acknowledge that we are your creation, not our own. We recognize that all we have and all we are comes from you and belongs to you. We confess that we are too often ready to claim credit for your blessings and to afix blame for our shortcomings. We are too self-centered to see you as the center of our lives. Forgive us, God, for these misguided thoughts. Guide us to see you everywhere and give us the courage to greet you every day.

God of all nations and people, we come to you this day to ask that you bless Mr. Obama, his family, and his administration. Hold them all carefully in the warmth and safety of your embrace. Protect them from the dangers that most certainly await them and protect them from their own weakness. We lift them into your care today because we know that you alone have the power to place your will upon their hearts and to give them the grace they need to accept your will. Open their hearts and minds to your leadership as they do their best to lead us.

God of peace and love, we come to you this day to ask for your help as we try to find better ways to live with one another in this world. We have done so much damage to your creation and to each other; help us to find ways to redeem our mistakes and move forward with love for one another. Remind us every day that all we are charged to do is love you and love one another; give us the courage to do both boldly and unashamedly.

God of mercy, we come to you this day with our heads bowed and our knees bent to honor and glorify you. Accept our praise and worship; accept our pleas for forgiveness; accept our gratitude; and accept us as your children. We come to you, God, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

It's a New Year!

We are already into the third week of the New Year. I'm still amazed at how fast time slips by me these days. I am looking forward to the coming year for many reasons. One of the most exciting is my ordination into full connection with the UMC, set for Wednesday, May 27, 2009. This is a great day for which I have prepared and waited a long time.

I am also looking forward to a new focus on mission and ministry outside the walls of our church. We are poised to answer God's call to look beyond our selves and look instead to the needs of God's people. This is the work for which we pray and study. This is the work God truly wants us to do in His holy name. Church isn't about me, or you, or the people in the pews; church is all about God and what God wants us to do in this life to bring His reality to a broken and hurting world. Church is about who we are and how we can demonstrate God's love to all people. And I truly mean ALL people...without regard to our differences, but only with regard to our similarities as human beings created by God, for God. It's not about what we think of another person; it's only about what God thinks...And, the thing is, we can't know what God thinks, so we ought to assume that God loves everyone - and we should love likewise.

Happy New Year - even if I'm a few days late - enjoy your life in the Lord and have fun doing God's work. Amen