One of the greater tragedies of our perspective on history is the way we often condemn what we perceive as retrogressive in the past without acknowledging we only have the gains we have because of how transformative the history was.
This is especially true of the Bible.
One example: Sunday’s lessons include a reading of the 10 commandments. One could react to this ancient code with derision, focusing on how it’s all about what not to do, and it’s (admittedly problematic) notions of not only what but “who” can be owned. Also you can just make jokes about coveting ox.
But a wider look at legal codes in the ancient world would illustrate how unique these commandments are because this God, the God making this covenant with Israel, was focused only a little on ”worship.” All the other gods were primarily focused on how THEY were to be honored.
The God of Israel is carefully, expansively, attentively concerned about how their people treated their neighbors.
Right down to the oxen.
So when we hear the 10 commandments, we can choose to take a superior posture, ignore what a mess some of our legal codes are today, or we can hear them as a very early clarion call from this God to focus extravagantly on protecting our neighbors.
Jesus at the temple with the whip is another example. Here the religious leaders had allowed things to get out of whack to such a degree that religious rites had become extractive financial instruments.
But Jesus does not bust out the whips against religion in general. Rather he is angry precisely in line with the very legal codes of which the 10 commandments are a part.
If your religion burdens the poor you are doing it wrong.
If your religion IS solidarity with the poor you are doing it right.
And, and this is the most important part: many things are a religion the supposedly not-religious live in obeisance to. The religions of capitalism, nationalism, racism, sexism, and planet plundering, to name a few.
The choice isn’t between religion and no religion. The choice is which religion, and the trajectory of faith outlined in Scripture shows a way with a God radically on the side of the poor and for neighbor love and against all the Caesars and Caesar wanna bes.
Although I will call out problems in ancient texts we read today, I truly believe the best posture toward those old old Biblical texts is not condescension but wonder. That we have the laws and opportunities we do today has a lot to do with how communities have stewarded texts recording a relationship to a God who sees love of God and love of neighbor as being the same thing.
That’s an incredible level of divine vulnerability illustrated then in bodily form in the story of Jesus.
I enjoy reading and hearing your thoughts on different Bible passages, books, and authors of those. Mind expanding for me because I’m sort of set in my ways about what I believe because of what I was taught over the years from confirmation to numerous Bible Studies as I’ve aged which were given by lay leaders, Pastors and some friends who considered themselves experts. Some times pretty heated discussions with the later. Change is inevitable, that’s life but the way we treat our neighbors should remain loving and caring, something I aspire to. Thanks for reminding us of that with each sermon.