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“Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me so my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:35-36 Last Thursday I wrote about the bill signed by Governor Mike Pence. I was fairly heated, and I wish I had given the moment some time. I feel everyone has reacted too soon. One of the comments I made was about consumers and producers: I love how conservatives can get all up in arms because a musician doesn't want their music played by a specific Conservative personality. They make the valid point, that it is legal for them to play that music with or without the band's permission. As long as they pay the proper fees, the song is theirs to use. Meanwhile, they can't see how two-sided it is that a wedding cake (Produced by a baker) can be purchased by anyone (the consumer.) The baker doesn't like it? That's not how goods and services work. A product is put out into the world to be purchased by whatever consumer wishes to consume it. So the very next day I'm listening to Glenn Beck. (Yes, I listen to Glenn Beck. Yes, I have moments where I strongly disagree with him. Like I said before, I'm tired of boycotting things.) The point is, he said something that almost sounded like it was a direct response to my argument. Let me sum it up for you: When a gay person comes into a bakery and wants to buy a cupcake, you have to sell that person a cupcake. You have to sell anyone a cupcake. It is discrimination if you don't. When someone wants to purchase a product to use in a religious ceremony, and that person is doing something counter to your religious beliefs, you have the right to say no. He also said, if the baker was part of the PCUSA, they don't have the right to say no, because their religion has said yes. Now, I'm not going to be so arrogant as to believe Glenn Beck, a man who has millions in his audience, takes the time to read here, where we have hundreds in our audience. What I am saying, is this has to be the best argument against my initial argument. I'm going to use this to expand on the argument: I think the Christian witch hunt is reprehensible. While I believe there are same sex couples who just want their favorite bakery or flower shop to make a good for their event, I think there are others that personally seek out Christians to set them up and destroy them. This is wrong. As someone who believes in radical love, these kind of actions are not loving. I feel Indiana (and dozens of other states) signed their own versions of religious freedom laws because they were reacting to these witch hunts. Going to the parable of the North Wind and the Sun. A story is told about the North Wind and the Sun. I seems that each claimed to have the greater power over mortals and a dispute arose. I feel both the Left and the Right, are so beaten and hurt. We are strong arming on both sides. We are being the North Wind, instead of the gentle Sun. This is my greater problem with boycotting. Honestly, if you tell me not to do something, I'm more likely to engage it or them to learn. I'm far more interested in learning how to disarm our enemies, and invite them to the same table to share the Lord's Supper. In fact, to stop calling them enemies, because they are not our enemies. They are our brother's and sisters in Christ. (And yes, our brothers and sisters can still make us pull our hair out.)
A secular store has to live within the secular rules. If a church were to open a bakery for their congregants and those who were getting married within the church, we would have an argument. A bakery, outside of the institution of church, is selling a product to a customer. Yes, I get it. It's more than just a cake. Yes, I get it. Personal love is put into the product. So are many products. Books. Music. Movies. Paintings. It sometimes sucks to be a creator. You never know who is going to want your creation. My view on gay marriage. If Fig Tree loses people over this, then they haven't really been following what has been going on here. You can disagree with what I am about to write. This is about stitching the Body of Christ back together. We are not all going to think the same. We are not all going to agree. This isn't about what I believe, this is about getting to your belief using education and faith. I believe the scripture against gay relationships were written with two understandings in mind: "Be fruitful and multiply," and the health issues surrounding these kind of relationships. Today, we don't really have an issue with population. In fact, we might need to slow down on the multiplication. Secondly, there are ways to have sexually safe relationships. Therefore, I believe the biblical mandates were written for a specific time and place, not now. If two males or two females love one another, good for them. I'd officiate a marriage for a gay couple. 32 Jesus and his disciples came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him. He began to feel despair and was anxious. 34 He said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert.” 35 Then he went a short distance farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, he might be spared the time of suffering. Mark 14:32-50 CEB  David M. Schell If you watch much Christian television, it's easy to arrive at the conclusion that the Christian life is supposed to be all victories and roses and lollipops. Joel Osteen says God made us to thrive. Jeremiah 29:11, the verse about the plans God has to prosper you, can be found on media of all kinds in Christian bookstores. The quote from the book of Joshua about “Be strong and courageous,” connected with the ever-popular Pauline admonition to “Rejoice in the Lord always!” can make a Christian feel downright guilty for feeling bad – which only compounds the bad feelings. With this emphasis on joy and happiness and celebrating Jesus, it's difficult to be sad in the church. There isn't much space for despair or anxiety, so we are often tempted to hide them from our fellow churchgoers, wearing a plastic smile, for fear they will remind us to “rejoice evermore!” not understanding how difficult or painful our situation is. But this is not the way of Jesus. With words that would scandalize many uber-happy Christians, Jesus, the God-man, the great teacher, talks to his trusted friends about his hurt. He does not mask his true feelings: “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying.” Jesus is not living the “victorious Christian life.” The disciples, to their credit, don't tell Jesus that God wants him to be happy. Then Jesus went a short distance further and fell to the ground. He needed to be alone, and he knew it. He physically collapsed under the weight of the awfulness he knew was coming. And then he prayed. If Jesus was so human, why should we, his followers, try so hard not to be? - - - God who joins our suffering, Thank you for participating in despair and anxiety with us, and for showing us that it's okay not to be okay, and for giving us an example of talking to trusted friends, then being alone, collapsing, and praying. Amen. If you need to collapse and pray, you are welcome to do so now. David is a former English teacher, former computer repairman, former delivery driver, Film major graduate, future seminarian, and current blogger at davidmschell.com. David is husband to a wonderful and supportive wife. He likes hiking, camping in national parks, and reading almost anything he can find. He didn't grow up around large bodies of water, but after two long walks beside the Pacific Ocean, he decided he very much likes long walks on the beach. We would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Following Easter come back every Thursday for Meditations. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:12-25 CEB  Rev. Ashley Sherard There is a lady in our church, we’ll call her Jane, who lost her husband very unexpectedly early one Sunday morning as he was out for a jog. I can’t imagine how that must have changed her life, her faith. She was sharing with me one Sunday after church how much she wished, when I gave the Words of Institution before The Lord’s Supper, I would not stop short of the part in which Jesus tells us He will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until He drinks it in the Kingdom. I had always just used the Words in our book of worship so I asked her, “Why would that be important to you Jane?” I was very interested to know as Ms. Jane has some really interesting views on things, (like me). Her answer had never even crossed my mind prior to this moment. Ms. Jane said to me, “When I lost my husband I searched the Bible for proof that he was ‘alive’ in some way, that I would meet him again someday and it was these words that Jesus spoke on the night He was betrayed that proved to me I would, in fact, be with my husband again and share a “meal” with him.” It had never crossed my mind, like I said. I had never thought to look at it these words in such a way. I had never even thought to search the Bible for proof of life after death, it was always just an assumption for me. As a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we meet at the Lord’s Table every time we get together and are often asked if it gets “common”….never. Sometimes the Bible can seem that way too, it’s “common” for those of us who have studied it, absorbed it, heard it preached for years but it’s when we share it with each other, as Jesus shared himself with us, that we find it anew. Don’t be afraid to talk about God’s Word and your view of it. It’s your relationship! Don’t be afraid to experience it, at the Table, in the sanctuary, in the coffee house! - - - Amazing God, thank you for sharing your Son with us, thank you for giving us a mind that thinks, that interprets, that uses our experiences to make your Word new with every new situation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen! Ashley is a Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Senior Minister of Jerusalem Christian Church, a new church plant in Lafayette, LA. She is the mom of three beautiful, exceptional, daughters who couldn’t be more different from each other if they all had different parents. She has been with her husband for over ten years and multiple deployments and mobilizations with the U.S. Navy which is how they ended up in southern Louisiana. Above all else, Ashley values her very personal relationship with Christ knowing that in all of her strangeness, radical ideas, and sometimes hostile faith, she is loved. You can find Rev. Ashley at, facebook.com/jerusalemchristianchurch, and @jerusalemccdoc We would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Following Easter come back every Thursday for Meditations. “I tell you the truth that, wherever in the whole world the good news is announced, what she’s done will also be told in memory of her.” Mark 14:1-9 CEB  Jonathan Balmer A nameless woman with an alabaster jar served King Jesus. Her memory is synonymous with her act which proclaimed “Jesus is Lord.” Her anointing of Jesus’ head echoes Old Testament prophets, like Samuel, whom anointed Kings of Israel. We know nothing else about this woman at Bethany besides this act. Still, her name travels at the soles of missionaries’ feet. The message of what she did for Jesus arrives, to her memory, whenever we tell the story of what Jesus has done for all of us in His lordship, in His death, and in His life. It is fitting that this anointing is one of few stories told, in some form, in all four Gospels. The disciples scoffed at the “wasted” luxury she poured upon Jesus, because they did not understand either His death or His Lordship. Jesus rebuked His disciples for their scathing practicality, after they asked if the money could be better used to help the poor. He did not belittle giving to the poor, but rather denied that an act of service to Him must be at odds with generosity in other people. Our own actions, our attempts to serve Jesus in the Lenten season, may seem wasteful. The sacrifices we make in devotion to Christ can seem futile and meaningless to those outside. Our gifts may be ignored, even by fellow believers, but they are always treasured by Jesus. Lenten meditation, self-reflection, waiting on Easter resurrection, can itself feel like an exercise in futility. Fasting and introspection loses its romantic glamor. Are there not more productive things to do with our energy, time, and money than living simply or praying? Jesus’ answer is no: the love we devote to Christ, our reflection, is not just (or primarily) to benefit us. Focusing on the “benefits” of our Lenten fasting can invert the purpose of our devotion. We may ignore the steep price Christian discipleship entails and underestimate how much Jesus treasures our gifts. Those of us deep into years of life as Christians can face doubt which makes us wonder, “What has really been gained by all this?” The apostles doubted the wisdom this woman’s act and missed who Jesus is. Jesus is a strange King. He is anointed King by a nameless woman. Jesus is an extravagant God in what he expects (our all) and what he gives: hope eternal, life everlasting. - - - O Holy God: You treasure my gifts, as I doubt their effectiveness. You love my gifts beyond their visible uses. You remember the forgotten and nameless. Show me the heavenly worth in my life. Show me the Kingdom, especially when it flees from my senses and my thoughts about what is best. In Christ Jesus, Amen. Jonathan is an English and Journalism teacher in Kentucky. He has a B.A. in English and History form Georgetown College. Jonathan has a Mom and Dad who live in Ohio and a brother attending Georgetown College. He lives with two roommates in a townhouse with décor accurately described as “bachelor pad auction house chic”. Jonathan is a member of Georgetown Baptist church. He studies Church history and plays Super Smash Bros. in his free time. We would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Following Easter come back every Thursday for Meditations. 8 Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. 9 Those in front of him and those following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:1-11 CEB  Rev. Melissa Fain “Hosanna” is an interesting word. It is rooted in an old definition, but the meaning had changed by the time Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the Donkey(s). By Palm Sunday the word basically meant “Praise him!” This later understanding is how many of us play out Palm Sunday in our churches. We gleefully have our children march up to the front of the sanctuary and lay palms at the communion table. It is a celebration. It is a joyous day, which seems completely out of place with the Lenten season. That is, unless you understand the earlier definition of the word. Initially Hosanna meant, “Save us.” I couldn’t imagine how it must have felt to come into Jerusalem with coats waving, exuberant cheers, and glorious smiles. Then, to hear them cheerfully shout, “Save us!” I think it would make me cry. They were saying the right thing in completely the wrong way. Did they even realize what they were saying? If they knew, it was a cold and callous thing to say to Jesus. If they didn’t… how we can scream for help and not even know we are doing it. If Lent were a play, Ash Wednesday would be our opening act, and Palm Sunday becomes the cliff hanger to end Act I. It should leave us going to intermission with chills running down our spine. This crowd was either clueless or hostile. Either of those choices were really bad news for Jesus. Either hostility or cluelessness were clear signs of Jesus’ potential to living beyond the week. The New Testament shows what hostile crowds were capable of. Just look at the story of Stephen. It didn’t end well for him. Also, a clueless crowd could be pushed by more sinister forces: the religious leaders. - - - Elohim, You are creator of heaven and earth. You know each and every hair on our head. You understand us. We want to celebrate. We want to wave palms and shout, “Praise Him!” It is difficult, but help us call for help. Amen. Click here to work through the communal Lenten meditation. Melissa is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She has a BA in Music from Kennesaw State University and a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is currently the senior minister at Fig Tree Christian. Melissa is the mother of two wonderful children, and wife to a great and supportive husband. In her spare time she loves arts and crafts which includes making costumes from scratch, and knotted bracelets.
 This post is the opinion of Rev. Melissa Fain. It is written outside the general ideal of Fig Tree Christian, the focus of which is biblical education over and above current events. I've been making Disciples uncomfortable over the past twenty-four hours. No big names. Just personal friends who are cheering the General Church on. What happened? Well, a bill happened. Darnit Indiana! Look what I've been reduced to! For the first time, and hopefully the last time, you got me talking about politics on a page that is supposed to be void of politics. Governor Mike Pence signed SB 101, or Religious Freedom Restoration Act, (RFRA). It all came to a head yesterday when the General Church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) sent a strongly worded letter to Gov. Pence saying they would consider a location other than Indianapolis for the 2017 General Assembly if he signed the bill. Well, he signed the bill. Mother of Mary and all that is sacred! Now I feel the need to share why I made others uncomfortable, and maybe expand it a little further. For me, this all started with Chick-Fil-A, or rather, the boycott of Chick-Fil-A. This was possibly the first huge moment of religious beliefs going up against LGBT issues. Truett Cathy said some things I don't exactly agree with, and among other groups, the Disciples of Christ announced a boycott of all Chick-Fil-As. It backfired. In response, people came in droves to support Chick-Fil-A, and some people ate there for the very first time. The backfiring isn't my point. During the whole fiasco Rev. Julie Richardson-Brown posted to her blog, talking about someone named Hollie. Hollie was pleading people not to boycott Chick-Fil-A. Why? Because she was a lesbian who managed one of the many restaurants. Basically, standing up for LGBT rights by boycotting would hurt a Lesbian small business owner. Reading the post, written in 2012, I was done. I swore to God and my husband. "I am done boycotting things. From now on I'm going to be a supporter!" So far, I've been true to my word. I changed my coffee to Fair Trade and Conservation International. I try to support farms that treat their animals decently while they are alive. I raise up great voices when I hear them. Now this. Are we believing this will bring wholeness in a fragmented world? (For you non-DoC this is our most recent war cry.) Or, are we at the point that the Body of Christ is so irreparably broken, we just need to cut ourselves free. Yay! Something else to boycott. Let's remember how good this is while businesses that accept everyone loses the income for being located in Indiana. No, you're right. Everyone should be punished for the actions of a room full of lawmakers. [Breathe Melissa. Deep breathes.] Let me make two points. Take them or leave them. Producers Choosing Consumers is WrongI love how conservatives can get all up in arms because a musician doesn't want their music played by a specific Conservative personality. They make the valid point, that it is legal for them to play that music with or without the band's permission. As long as they pay the proper fees, the song is theirs to use. Meanwhile, they can't see how two-sided it is that a wedding cake (Produced by a baker) can be purchased by anyone (the consumer.) The baker doesn't like it? That's not how goods and services work. A product is put out into the world to be purchased by whatever consumer wishes to consume it. Let's take Fig Tree, for example. What comes out of Fig Tree is a product. The product are meditations, prayers, images, and songs. If I said, "This site is not for Catholics, and Catholics don't have permission to look at it," that would be silly. (Full disclosure, we've had a guest meditation written by a Catholic. It's just a silly example.) The point it, the product of Fig Tree can be consumed by anyone as long as the product lasts. Wedding cakes and songs are products that can be used by anyone who wishes to purchase them. You are not supporting a person's marriage by allowing them to purchase your product. You are selling them a cake. Period. Instead of Boycotting Indiana...To the General Church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
Please, can we stop separating and drawing apart. Consider our call, "Wholeness in a fragmenting world." Instead of jumping straight to running away, how can we find wholeness in this fragmented situation? Perhaps we stay in Indianapolis, and make goods and services come exclusively from "open to all" businesses. Perhaps we can educate the area on why the bill is not appropriate. There is so much potential for healing, especially when the DoC is headquartered in Indianapolis. Please don't do this. Give me something to support. 20 from Bamoth to the valley in the Moabite countryside, to the top of Pisgah overlooking Jeshimon. 21 Then the Israelites sent messengers to Sihon the Amorite king: 22 “Let us pass through your land. We won’t turn aside into a field or vineyard. We won’t drink water from a well. We will walk on the King’s Highway until we cross your border.” 23 But Sihon wouldn’t allow the Israelites to cross his border. Sihon gathered all his people and went out to meet the Israelites in the desert. When he came to Jahaz, he attacked the Israelites. 24 The Israelites struck him down with their swords and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was fortified. 25 The Israelites took all these cities. Then the Israelites settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and all its villages. 26 Now Heshbon was the city of Sihon the Amorite king who had fought against the former king of Moab. He had taken all his land from him as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore, the poets say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be built. Let the city of Sihon be established. 28 Fire went out from Heshbon, flame from Sihon’s city. It consumed Ar of Moab and swallowed up the shrines of the Arnon. 29 You are doomed, Moab! You are destroyed, people of Chemosh! He gave his sons as fugitives, and his daughters as captives to the Amorite king Sihon. 30 Yet we have thrown them down, destroying them from Heshbon to Dibon. We brought ruin until Nophah, which is by Medeba.” 31 Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. 32 Moses sent spies to Jazer. They captured its villages and took possession of the Amorites who were there.33 Then they turned and ascended the road of Bashan. Og, Bashan’s king, came out at Edrei to meet them in battle, he and all his people. Numbers 21:20-33 CEB  Bec Cranford-Smith, MDiv Some passages. Wow. I mean do we really even want to talk about the violence that is displayed here? Remember, in Joshua, the seven nations that were destroyed? Remember how these foreign people who sought to oppress Israel were taken out? Yet there remained a Canaanite woman in the New Testament. So the seven nations weren’t truly destroyed. And fire is a metaphor for cleansing in Hebrew literature. Often times Hebrew Poetry reads like a taunt song. It’s used as story and metaphor to embellish, to cheer on, and to weave a big lesson. The Israelites have a flair for poetry. Even the Piel tense of Hebrew is “intensive” or demonstrates a real dramatic edge. (For instance that sweet little Psalm23 isn’t best translated goodness and mercy follow us. RATHER, Covenant Loyalty and faithful love SHALL militarily pursue us to overcome us all the days of our lives. Yeah, Jesus is your stalker.) And although a literal reading upsets our stomachs, a literary reading shows how it makes God feel when we neglect hospitality to others. This hospitality thing is one of the reasons Sodom had such a bad rap. (Ez. 16:49-50) How can we love people more? How can we care about those who need a cup of sugar, or a box of macaroni? We can care about the foreigner, the alien, those who are experiencing homelessness, and for others in our world! Help us. - - - Liberator God, Help us to hear these taunt songs. Wake us up to our own complacency. Help us to be hospitable. Open our eyes to those in need. Amen Click here to engage our communal Lenten Meditation Bec is the volunteer coordinator for Gateway Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to end homelessness in Metro-Atlanta through therapeutic programs and community collaboration. She is the minister of the Church of the Misfits, a safe place for spiritual tourists to rest a while. She considers herself an advocate of the Marginalized in Atlanta, lover of whores and drunkards, and a Bapticostal Misfit.
16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. John 3:14-21 CEB  Rev. Frank Sherard When I was a kid, things were a LOT different than today. BOY do I sound like my parents! Argh!!!! Well, anyway, it’s true (they said that as well!). I remember staying out playing ALL THE TIME. I just had to be home for supper, usually signaled by a very loud whistle from my dad and him hollering, “Frank, supper!” and then home again for bed when the street lights came on. Today, I literally get into arguments with my 9 year old who feels like she should have the run of the apartment complex when she wants, where she wants, and however long she wants. But, like I said earlier, “Things were a lot different when I was a kid.” This is the reality our scripture shows us here today. Jesus is pointing out the emphasis isn’t on the how, but the what of the message. Things always seem different when we look at them from the perspective of God’s truth and not with “worldly eyes.” I came home when I was supposed to NOT because I wanted to be safe & sound in my home or give my parents the peace of knowing I was safe and being respectful, NO, I came home because I KNEW I would be in deep doo doo if I didn’t. For me the message was personal (and potentially painful) if it wasn’t adhered to. But, the “truth” or message of scripture is WAY different. Just as God “claimed” Jesus at the river Jordan, so he (Jesus) is claiming us all in vs 17. We are not Master or Servant (Slave), Messenger or Author, we are B-L-E-S-S-E-D or as God put it “The Beloved with whom God is well-pleased.” To “know” something is intimate. To “know these things” is to understand “intimately” that we are more than the sum of our parts and we have a message of hope, love, and eternity to share with all of your children. - - - Complete and Sovereign God, help me to share the “truth” of the message of the love of Christ from the cross. Help me to be the truth at the root of the message and not the face or voice of the message. For it is in your holy name I pray. Amen. Click here to work through the Communal Lenten Prayer. Frank has been a Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for over 20 years having served churches in Northwest Missouri and Louisiana. He currently serves as the Senior Minister for First Christian Church of Lafayette, LA and the Mentor Minister at Jerusalem Christian Church in Lafayette, LA. He has been married to his wife, Ashley, for 8 years and they have three beautiful little girls who keep them very busy. Rev. Frank is an alumni of Texas Christian University and is a very proud Horned Frog, the Sherard’s bleed purple! On top of TCU athletics Rev. Frank enjoys movies, he especially enjoys Star Wars and Star Trek.
Pray to the Lord so that he will send the snakes away from us. So Moses prayed for the people. Numbers 21:4-9 
Rev. Evan Dolive When we come across this passage in the Bible, especially in Lent, it is jarring. Why would God send snakes to the people of Israel for complaining about the food? Sounds like a bit of an overreaction. I'm not going to ask God to rain down snakes on my children if they complain about having to eat vegetables. It's easy to get bogged down in the details of these snakes that bite people and the sobering fact that some people actually die. While this isn't unimportant we could be missing another important detail: Moses heard the cries of the people and prayed for them. As followers of Christ we can follow in the footsteps of not only Christ but of the people of Israel especially. Moses. Moses had a tough job, not only did he have led people from slavery to Promised Land but they weren't happy about it. They complained and complained a bunch. The food wasn't good, the water tasted bad, they were lost and things seemed better in Egypt under an oppressive dictator where they were slaves for the good of Empire. Had God called me to led the people of Israel I would have left them wandering in the desert after about a month of complaining. But therein lies a problem, I would have abandoned the people. People. They can be the thorn in our side or the safety net to catch us when we fall. People at their best can show the wonderment of God's mercy and goodness, at their worst they make us hang our head in shame. People are vitally important in all of our lives; we are inherently social creatures. Being a hospital chaplain I have the opportunity to be with people in the best and worst times of their lives. The world around us does not stop because someone close to us has a heart attack or is involved in a car accident. Some days I have to remember that I'm am there to serve, talk and be with people and nothing else. People are at the heart of the gospel, the other. Moses had more than likely hundreds of thousands of people to guide and lead and he still remembered them even when they gave him every opportunity to. Instead of saying "well you shouldn't have complained," or "serves you right," Moses prayed for the people; he called on God for mercy and God answered. This Lent the scandal of the cross is that while Christ might have been crucified to settle a first century judicial system penalty it is so much more than that. This entire Lenten journey is not solely about us and our needs, but for all of humanity, you know... the people. - - - God help to remember the people around us. Guide us through our wilderness. Remind us of your grace and presence this Lent. In Christ Holy Name, Amen. Evan is Staff Chaplain Christus at Saint Elizabeth Hospital. He is the father of 3 and Husband. He is an author, with a book being published this year through Pilgrim’s Press. He is also a blogger at EvanDolive.com. Evan is a connoisseur of coffee and loves pretty much anything root beer flavored.
16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son. John 3:13-21 CEB 
David M. Schell John 3:16 is probably the most well-known verse in all of Christian scripture. I've certainly memorized it numerous times, but I have not often heard verse 17 quoted. In the Christian fundamentalist world from which I come, the hammer of the judgment of God was a sermon staple. God was going to judge America, or churches, or states, or entire denominations, for some slight or another. The scandal I see in verse seventeen is that God did not send Jesus to judge the world. God sent Jesus to save the world. All of it. Not just Christians. Not just people like us, who vote for the right political candidates and share the right pictures and stories on Facebook. The dual statements here, that God did not send Jesus to judge, but did send Jesus to save, create a dichotomy between judgment and salvation, one that many Christians, me especially, are loathe to acknowledge. If we don't judge that those people are wrong, how can we save them from being wrong? Jesus responds in a fascinating way: “Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged.” The judgment has already happened. Men (and women) loved darkness rather than light. “I'm not here to judge,” Jesus says. “The judgment already came down. I'm here to save.” Jesus' salvation looks different from the salvation to which I am accustomed. Jesus doesn't judge people to cajole them into asking for salvation. Jesus sees that they are judged already and offers salvation, without any further judgment piled on top. - - - God of salvation, I am quick to criticize and speedy to judge, but this is not the way of Jesus. When I encounter a world in need of your grace, please teach me to extend the hand of salvation instead of the hammer of judgment. Amen. Click here to work through our Lenten Communal Prayer David is a former English teacher, former computer repairman, former delivery driver, Film major graduate, future seminarian, and current blogger at davidmschell.com. David is husband to a wonderful and supportive wife. He likes hiking, camping in national parks, and reading almost anything he can find. He didn't grow up around large bodies of water, but after two long walks beside the Pacific Ocean, he decided he very much likes long walks on the beach.
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