Kingdom ambiguities
Commentary
Object:
So a person believes they have gotten a job or are active in a community that calls itself "Christian." Is this place a snapshot of the Kingdom of God (or Heaven as St. Matthew calls it), or are we all in process of becoming the "Kingdom of God?" Today's texts provide ambiguities of how God's kingdom comes together with varying personalities and concerns.
One can identify a joker, or trickster in a given organization. We wonder, "When will this person ever grow up?" But then we see God's hand at work when this same person reaps what he or she sows because of their tricks, white lies or secretive stunts comes to haunt them. This is the world of Jacob in Genesis 29. But there are other people at work within the organization also.
There might be a person who always seems to have bad luck in life. They might as well have Murphy's Law written above their desk, "If anything can go wrong it will go wrong -- at the worst possible time." To such a person Paul in Romans addresses folks who are one of the "elect." To be "elected" by God is not exclusively about "privilege," but about trials in life. So where is God? Romans 8:31-19 is read at tragic events. Yet, Romans 8:28 can be used in a flippant, dismissive way or a caring manner.
Then we have the person is who always on the search for something in life that is more fulfilling. This person might say, "I am sorry but I do not find my identity or fulfillment working in this organization... I need something more to feel my life has meaning." Such a person can take counsel from the Matthew 13: 31-33; 44-52 text. Which if these snapshots depicts the Kingdom of Heaven? Maybe all of them do. These texts describe the ambiguities of the kingdom.
Genesis 29:15-28
In every community I have served there are local stories of two brothers who are farmers, business owners or some sort of professional who are bitter rivals. It is said that their families have been in conflict from birth like Jacob and Esau fighting to see who leaves the mother's womb first. These two family persons have been in conflict before the pastor got there, and will continue in conflict after any pastor leaves! Genesis 29 picks up on larger story or journey of Jacob who has tricked and angered his brother on many occasions and is now in exile away from the elder brother's wrath. This is a very human story where family members play tricks and deceive one another in ways that appear to have a humorous tone them.
God uses scandal, deception, trickery, multiple wives, conflict, and playfulness to accomplish his will through these people. This narrative is claimed by both the Southern (Yahwist, "J") and Northern (Elohist, "E") traditions-combined in terms of and community stories and folklore.
In this text, Jacob the trickster now gets a dose of his own medicine as his Uncle Laban has Jacob work for seven years for the hand of daughter Rachel who is quite attractive. On the dark wedding night when all there are is late night, dimming campfires for lighting, Uncle Laban switches daughters and gives Jacob his elder and average looking daughter Leah. Is this a lesson to Jacob that the elder child deserves a break once in a while (as he deprived his brother Esau)? How did the sincere, good-hearted Leah get caught up in these two men's pranks? Is Rachel worth fighting for here?
When Jacob awakens the next morning, he finds out that he has been tricked in the switching of the women. So Laban allows Jacob to work another seven years so Jacob can have Rachel also, or two wives! Historically, Leah would produce the most children, and Rachel would have a difficult time having one child, whose name would be Joseph. Jacob would show preferential treatment to this son, while the others worked in the fields. This takes us into another story for another Sunday.
The point is that God works through all of these family stories, as humorous or bizarre as they may be. Possibly we know people in an office, place of study, community or yes church with some pretty "colorful" characters in their family that stir the pot up frequently. Also, there might some tragedy, as well as irony in how these people try to outwit one another and may or may not get caught-up in their own traps. To keep one's sanity with all of the shenanigans that goes on among certain families or tight-knit groups of people, the 12 Step groups have a tool of the "3 Cs." That is, "I did not Cause it, I cannot Control, nor can I Cure it." We have to ultimately "Let go and Let God." It is our job to care and love such people. It is Gods' job to actually change them. Such wisdom could apply to the family which Jacob lives in. Things are not as "cut and dry" or black and white in life. Ambiguities exist in families, but God's kingdom still comes to the surface.
For me, the telling of this family saga sort of preaches itself! Every family has some colorful characters or maybe "skeletons in the closet" they are hesitant to admit having in the family tree. The good news is God is still at work! God still has a plan for such people despite the schemes, and underhanded tricks they might pull on other people. One other direction I have heard preached well is to imagine one is Leah and her big night for her wedding day as bride is muddied by the pranks of Laban and Jacob. [source: Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Genesis (John Knox Press, 1982)]
Romans 8:26-39
If a person or community has gone through one cycle after another of tragedy, misfortune and loss, this text is a gold mine full of nuggets of: assurance, love, confidence and compassion. First, God hears the prayers of all believers who have the Holy Spirit within them (be the Christian's theology of sacramental or conversion method of receiving the Spirit). Rest assured that the Spirit does intercede in times of prayer, even if the Christian does not know the exact words to say. So God hears the prayers of believers in all situations are one piece of good news here (8:26-27).
Romans 8:28 is one of those passages that might be a good memory verse to take along life's journey, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." This text can be used inappropriately toward people who are currently in deep grief over the loss of a loved one. A time will come to apply this verse, but a caregiver needs to discern when the time of lament and grief is complete, then Romans 8:28 might be welcomed by those who experience loss. Another reading of this text might be, "all things work out for good for the one who endures suffering." So after endurance, an eventual positive outcome will occur. There is no timeline here. It may be in the long run that a person realizes, "I did not know it then, but I know it now, that God's hand was in the loss of a loved one." The key to using this verse is to seek a hopeful outcome to those who experience repeated losses, but not jump the gun in quoting Romans 8:28 amidst the lamenting process.
Romans 8:29-30, refers to God foreknowing and predestining people to be the "firstborn" in the family of faith. All commentators consulted agree that such election is comes with responsibilities well as privilege. Historically, it might entail suffering for one's faith. Also, this text could be used to argue the basic Calvinist "Predestination" view (alongside other texts in the New Testament). This would be an individualist reading of the text (God foreknew persons Fred, Cletus, Lars, Ashley and Hannah) to be the "elect." Equally valid is to read the text collectively, that being God has elected a "people" such as the Church as God elected the nation of Israel to be his family. This does not necessarily have the Calvinist accent to it. The bottom line is that God has embraced a people to be in his family and nothing can separate them from God's love.
Romans 8:31-39, is used at many funerals as an assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:36 does insert Psalm 44:22 into the text to show one might have to suffer for following a King or monarch. Preaching on Psalm 44 might be an interesting direction for this text, if we have preached on the Romans 8:31-39 texts in past years. Worldly powers come and go, but not that of the God of the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament.
The Romans 8 text itself contains eight parallel opposites as to areas where God's love is still found despite the forces of destruction: Death and life; angels and rulers; thing present and things to come; height and depth; and any other creature. It is God's power (Greek word, dunamis, where we get "dynamite") which is on our side as believers. No human or cosmic forces will separate believers in Christ from the love of God. The bond is too great to be broken.
Another strand running through this testing is that of, "Who is to condemn?" This is a court metaphor. It is present because it implies a day of reckoning before some sort of divine judge. However, for those who faith is in Christ, there is no accuser, only love and acceptance.
For the persons who have gone through many times of loss, crisis and tragedy, first God hears their prayers -- regardless of whether they can pray like a preacher or not. Second, after the struggles in life, God will work things out in some manner, though we might not know the details now. Third, there is a sense that the people of God are secure in his love, but tragedy and testing has been part of the history of the people of faith as Psalm 44:22 in this text indicates. Fourth, God continues to be active in the world through divine election in whatever form one is comfortable understanding. God is still sovereign. Fifth, no forces will separate believers from God's love. Human power empires come and go. Cosmic forces are also part of God's domain. Sixth, to those who feel guilty, they are comforted that Christ who died on the cross for the sins of humanity will not condemn them as their faith is in this Christ.
For a sermon, I might quote the words of the popular song by Dan Powter, "So You had a bad day," then plug this text into wherever I see people in the congregation have experienced setbacks in their lives. God is active in life's ambiguities! [source: Arland J. Hultgren, Arland J. Paul's Letter to the Romans: A Commentary (Wm B. Eerdmans, 2011)]
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
This text is part of a larger collection of teachings on the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew uses "Kingdom of Heaven" as other synoptic writers use "Kingdom of God"). How can God's kingdom emerge beside Satan's presence on earth? Since Matthew 4, when Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, this question persists throughout the gospel. How can the kingdom grow in such a world of evil and adversity? Again, there is a certain ambiguity in God's creation.
However, the smallest of seeds that being the mustard seed grows to become the largest of shrubs, so much so that birds make nests in its branches. The next metaphor is the leaven, which is usually a symbol of uncleanness can later feed up to one hundred people with bread. God works through the less obvious small and unclean elements to do great actions in Matthew 13:31-33.
What kind of treasures that are hidden are people willing to sacrifice much to obtain? We might see this in a parent or teacher who sees potential in a student who does not seem to be smartest child in the class. An artist could see a block of wood and see a sculpture in it, while a trash collector sees potential fire wood in the block of wood.
What will people sacrifice to find hidden treasures in their lives? This text illustrates the question with pearls and a great catching of fish. These parables suggest that people of faith have permission to break with old patterns of seeking out treasure and go down different paths. While evil and conflict exist, buried treasures also co-exist for those with the patience to seek them out.
There will come a time of reckoning and judgment according to this text. But for now "scribes of the kingdom" are like treasure hunters seeking out sings of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:49-52).
A "scribe" in the Kingdom of Heaven is not necessarily a trained expert, but an ongoing disciple who seeks signs of the kingdom through smaller, less significant elements in God's creation. Despite signs of evil all around people of faith the news, God's rule often appears hidden, but it is approaching in God's due time. The ambiguity of the kingdom is that it appears small and insignificant to the naked eye, but it is also very potent. This text is a collection of such metaphors of the Kingdom. [source: Robert Smith, Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew Augsburg Fortress, 1989)]
Application
A retail business, store or restaurant usually prefers to have public friendly faces to greet the customers during the daily business hours. The Corporate office recommends a sweet, well groomed, possibly energetic person creates a great first impression for any customers who come into the door. However, a certain supervisor has no such people working on the night shift of the business. The one person who was supposed to be the front office person called in "sick." However, an older, heavy set, single mother with some facial scars is more than willing to welcome the customers. This woman has a down-to-earth greeting, friendly personality and willingness to listen to customers. This more than makes up for her lack of the new, young looks of the preferred populist media image person. The supervisor has found a "treasure" or "pearl" in this worker. How many people come and go in the lives of businesses, communities and schools who may not "dress for success" or have the populist image, but are truly yeast that needs a little flour so they that can produce much for the community?
An Alternative Application
Is there an inner emptiness that people seem to have which materialism, more electronic devices, and more fancy meals and drinks cannot fulfill? If so, possibly the Kingdom of Heaven is where they need to look. Theologian Paul Tillich argues that a person's inner emptiness cannot be satisfied by false gods, concupiscence (more recreational vehicle purchases, sex, or entertainment) or escapism through drugs and alcohol. This emptiness can only be filled by the God who creates humans and realizes that the treasures mentioned in Matthew 13 point to the Kingdom of Heaven. For example a man is able to retire in his early fifties of age as he sees others in his generation who will work well into their late sixties of age. He decides to buy himself a new pick-up truck, boat, and fishing equipment. After one year, he grows bored with these adult toys. He drinks much alcohol at one of the local clubs and smokes heavily until he has a major a heart attack. Due to the medical insurance he had from the company he retired, he as a second chance at life. He has an opportunity to volunteer at the local church or Boy Scout troop or he can go back to the place where he drank and smoked for many years. How will he fill his inner emptiness in tough economic times? Matthew suggests there are treasure and pearls out there for those who seek the fulfillment of the Kingdom. [source: Paul Tillich, Courage to Be (Yale University Press, 1952)]
One can identify a joker, or trickster in a given organization. We wonder, "When will this person ever grow up?" But then we see God's hand at work when this same person reaps what he or she sows because of their tricks, white lies or secretive stunts comes to haunt them. This is the world of Jacob in Genesis 29. But there are other people at work within the organization also.
There might be a person who always seems to have bad luck in life. They might as well have Murphy's Law written above their desk, "If anything can go wrong it will go wrong -- at the worst possible time." To such a person Paul in Romans addresses folks who are one of the "elect." To be "elected" by God is not exclusively about "privilege," but about trials in life. So where is God? Romans 8:31-19 is read at tragic events. Yet, Romans 8:28 can be used in a flippant, dismissive way or a caring manner.
Then we have the person is who always on the search for something in life that is more fulfilling. This person might say, "I am sorry but I do not find my identity or fulfillment working in this organization... I need something more to feel my life has meaning." Such a person can take counsel from the Matthew 13: 31-33; 44-52 text. Which if these snapshots depicts the Kingdom of Heaven? Maybe all of them do. These texts describe the ambiguities of the kingdom.
Genesis 29:15-28
In every community I have served there are local stories of two brothers who are farmers, business owners or some sort of professional who are bitter rivals. It is said that their families have been in conflict from birth like Jacob and Esau fighting to see who leaves the mother's womb first. These two family persons have been in conflict before the pastor got there, and will continue in conflict after any pastor leaves! Genesis 29 picks up on larger story or journey of Jacob who has tricked and angered his brother on many occasions and is now in exile away from the elder brother's wrath. This is a very human story where family members play tricks and deceive one another in ways that appear to have a humorous tone them.
God uses scandal, deception, trickery, multiple wives, conflict, and playfulness to accomplish his will through these people. This narrative is claimed by both the Southern (Yahwist, "J") and Northern (Elohist, "E") traditions-combined in terms of and community stories and folklore.
In this text, Jacob the trickster now gets a dose of his own medicine as his Uncle Laban has Jacob work for seven years for the hand of daughter Rachel who is quite attractive. On the dark wedding night when all there are is late night, dimming campfires for lighting, Uncle Laban switches daughters and gives Jacob his elder and average looking daughter Leah. Is this a lesson to Jacob that the elder child deserves a break once in a while (as he deprived his brother Esau)? How did the sincere, good-hearted Leah get caught up in these two men's pranks? Is Rachel worth fighting for here?
When Jacob awakens the next morning, he finds out that he has been tricked in the switching of the women. So Laban allows Jacob to work another seven years so Jacob can have Rachel also, or two wives! Historically, Leah would produce the most children, and Rachel would have a difficult time having one child, whose name would be Joseph. Jacob would show preferential treatment to this son, while the others worked in the fields. This takes us into another story for another Sunday.
The point is that God works through all of these family stories, as humorous or bizarre as they may be. Possibly we know people in an office, place of study, community or yes church with some pretty "colorful" characters in their family that stir the pot up frequently. Also, there might some tragedy, as well as irony in how these people try to outwit one another and may or may not get caught-up in their own traps. To keep one's sanity with all of the shenanigans that goes on among certain families or tight-knit groups of people, the 12 Step groups have a tool of the "3 Cs." That is, "I did not Cause it, I cannot Control, nor can I Cure it." We have to ultimately "Let go and Let God." It is our job to care and love such people. It is Gods' job to actually change them. Such wisdom could apply to the family which Jacob lives in. Things are not as "cut and dry" or black and white in life. Ambiguities exist in families, but God's kingdom still comes to the surface.
For me, the telling of this family saga sort of preaches itself! Every family has some colorful characters or maybe "skeletons in the closet" they are hesitant to admit having in the family tree. The good news is God is still at work! God still has a plan for such people despite the schemes, and underhanded tricks they might pull on other people. One other direction I have heard preached well is to imagine one is Leah and her big night for her wedding day as bride is muddied by the pranks of Laban and Jacob. [source: Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Genesis (John Knox Press, 1982)]
Romans 8:26-39
If a person or community has gone through one cycle after another of tragedy, misfortune and loss, this text is a gold mine full of nuggets of: assurance, love, confidence and compassion. First, God hears the prayers of all believers who have the Holy Spirit within them (be the Christian's theology of sacramental or conversion method of receiving the Spirit). Rest assured that the Spirit does intercede in times of prayer, even if the Christian does not know the exact words to say. So God hears the prayers of believers in all situations are one piece of good news here (8:26-27).
Romans 8:28 is one of those passages that might be a good memory verse to take along life's journey, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." This text can be used inappropriately toward people who are currently in deep grief over the loss of a loved one. A time will come to apply this verse, but a caregiver needs to discern when the time of lament and grief is complete, then Romans 8:28 might be welcomed by those who experience loss. Another reading of this text might be, "all things work out for good for the one who endures suffering." So after endurance, an eventual positive outcome will occur. There is no timeline here. It may be in the long run that a person realizes, "I did not know it then, but I know it now, that God's hand was in the loss of a loved one." The key to using this verse is to seek a hopeful outcome to those who experience repeated losses, but not jump the gun in quoting Romans 8:28 amidst the lamenting process.
Romans 8:29-30, refers to God foreknowing and predestining people to be the "firstborn" in the family of faith. All commentators consulted agree that such election is comes with responsibilities well as privilege. Historically, it might entail suffering for one's faith. Also, this text could be used to argue the basic Calvinist "Predestination" view (alongside other texts in the New Testament). This would be an individualist reading of the text (God foreknew persons Fred, Cletus, Lars, Ashley and Hannah) to be the "elect." Equally valid is to read the text collectively, that being God has elected a "people" such as the Church as God elected the nation of Israel to be his family. This does not necessarily have the Calvinist accent to it. The bottom line is that God has embraced a people to be in his family and nothing can separate them from God's love.
Romans 8:31-39, is used at many funerals as an assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:36 does insert Psalm 44:22 into the text to show one might have to suffer for following a King or monarch. Preaching on Psalm 44 might be an interesting direction for this text, if we have preached on the Romans 8:31-39 texts in past years. Worldly powers come and go, but not that of the God of the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament.
The Romans 8 text itself contains eight parallel opposites as to areas where God's love is still found despite the forces of destruction: Death and life; angels and rulers; thing present and things to come; height and depth; and any other creature. It is God's power (Greek word, dunamis, where we get "dynamite") which is on our side as believers. No human or cosmic forces will separate believers in Christ from the love of God. The bond is too great to be broken.
Another strand running through this testing is that of, "Who is to condemn?" This is a court metaphor. It is present because it implies a day of reckoning before some sort of divine judge. However, for those who faith is in Christ, there is no accuser, only love and acceptance.
For the persons who have gone through many times of loss, crisis and tragedy, first God hears their prayers -- regardless of whether they can pray like a preacher or not. Second, after the struggles in life, God will work things out in some manner, though we might not know the details now. Third, there is a sense that the people of God are secure in his love, but tragedy and testing has been part of the history of the people of faith as Psalm 44:22 in this text indicates. Fourth, God continues to be active in the world through divine election in whatever form one is comfortable understanding. God is still sovereign. Fifth, no forces will separate believers from God's love. Human power empires come and go. Cosmic forces are also part of God's domain. Sixth, to those who feel guilty, they are comforted that Christ who died on the cross for the sins of humanity will not condemn them as their faith is in this Christ.
For a sermon, I might quote the words of the popular song by Dan Powter, "So You had a bad day," then plug this text into wherever I see people in the congregation have experienced setbacks in their lives. God is active in life's ambiguities! [source: Arland J. Hultgren, Arland J. Paul's Letter to the Romans: A Commentary (Wm B. Eerdmans, 2011)]
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
This text is part of a larger collection of teachings on the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew uses "Kingdom of Heaven" as other synoptic writers use "Kingdom of God"). How can God's kingdom emerge beside Satan's presence on earth? Since Matthew 4, when Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, this question persists throughout the gospel. How can the kingdom grow in such a world of evil and adversity? Again, there is a certain ambiguity in God's creation.
However, the smallest of seeds that being the mustard seed grows to become the largest of shrubs, so much so that birds make nests in its branches. The next metaphor is the leaven, which is usually a symbol of uncleanness can later feed up to one hundred people with bread. God works through the less obvious small and unclean elements to do great actions in Matthew 13:31-33.
What kind of treasures that are hidden are people willing to sacrifice much to obtain? We might see this in a parent or teacher who sees potential in a student who does not seem to be smartest child in the class. An artist could see a block of wood and see a sculpture in it, while a trash collector sees potential fire wood in the block of wood.
What will people sacrifice to find hidden treasures in their lives? This text illustrates the question with pearls and a great catching of fish. These parables suggest that people of faith have permission to break with old patterns of seeking out treasure and go down different paths. While evil and conflict exist, buried treasures also co-exist for those with the patience to seek them out.
There will come a time of reckoning and judgment according to this text. But for now "scribes of the kingdom" are like treasure hunters seeking out sings of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:49-52).
A "scribe" in the Kingdom of Heaven is not necessarily a trained expert, but an ongoing disciple who seeks signs of the kingdom through smaller, less significant elements in God's creation. Despite signs of evil all around people of faith the news, God's rule often appears hidden, but it is approaching in God's due time. The ambiguity of the kingdom is that it appears small and insignificant to the naked eye, but it is also very potent. This text is a collection of such metaphors of the Kingdom. [source: Robert Smith, Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew Augsburg Fortress, 1989)]
Application
A retail business, store or restaurant usually prefers to have public friendly faces to greet the customers during the daily business hours. The Corporate office recommends a sweet, well groomed, possibly energetic person creates a great first impression for any customers who come into the door. However, a certain supervisor has no such people working on the night shift of the business. The one person who was supposed to be the front office person called in "sick." However, an older, heavy set, single mother with some facial scars is more than willing to welcome the customers. This woman has a down-to-earth greeting, friendly personality and willingness to listen to customers. This more than makes up for her lack of the new, young looks of the preferred populist media image person. The supervisor has found a "treasure" or "pearl" in this worker. How many people come and go in the lives of businesses, communities and schools who may not "dress for success" or have the populist image, but are truly yeast that needs a little flour so they that can produce much for the community?
An Alternative Application
Is there an inner emptiness that people seem to have which materialism, more electronic devices, and more fancy meals and drinks cannot fulfill? If so, possibly the Kingdom of Heaven is where they need to look. Theologian Paul Tillich argues that a person's inner emptiness cannot be satisfied by false gods, concupiscence (more recreational vehicle purchases, sex, or entertainment) or escapism through drugs and alcohol. This emptiness can only be filled by the God who creates humans and realizes that the treasures mentioned in Matthew 13 point to the Kingdom of Heaven. For example a man is able to retire in his early fifties of age as he sees others in his generation who will work well into their late sixties of age. He decides to buy himself a new pick-up truck, boat, and fishing equipment. After one year, he grows bored with these adult toys. He drinks much alcohol at one of the local clubs and smokes heavily until he has a major a heart attack. Due to the medical insurance he had from the company he retired, he as a second chance at life. He has an opportunity to volunteer at the local church or Boy Scout troop or he can go back to the place where he drank and smoked for many years. How will he fill his inner emptiness in tough economic times? Matthew suggests there are treasure and pearls out there for those who seek the fulfillment of the Kingdom. [source: Paul Tillich, Courage to Be (Yale University Press, 1952)]
