You know the story about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10, and two features of the story have stood the test of time: he was short, and he gave his money away.
Finally - finally - finally someone is listening to Jesus and the apostles about what God counts as the right response to God's gift of salvation. It's not just saying a prayer and telling others to say that prayer without any reference to the drumbeat throughout Scripture (from Mt Sinai onward) to our responsibility to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned. 150 years ago many Christians were getting it right until a British "theologian" scrapped biblical truth in favor of "evangelism." Concern for the needy was labeled as "liberalism." And the strong emphasis of Jesus and the apostles was sidetracked, even placed outside what was "biblical." SIGH.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Light bulb moment! Not only did God not want me to give testimony at The Chapel due to its toxic culture, He told me to leave in leading me to "keep oneself from polluted by the world." I prayed for years before He answered "Go". That was all He said, but I obeyed..... Praise Him!
It seems we are unable to allow the radical call of Jesus to mercy and justice and holiness overwhelm us for fear of where it might take us. So we try and make Jesus and the Bible manageable. It reminds me of the conversation in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe when Lucy and Susan are wondering if Aslan is tame and safe and Mr. Beaver has to admonish them that 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you". What would it mean to let go of the reins? What would happen if I wasn't in control (like I ever truly was)? I think this gets at least partially at the heart of all the toxicity in the church. We are fearful of abandoning ourselves completely into the hands of our God. So, instead of losing our grip, we cling ever tighter to our sense of control instead of clinging tighter to the Savior.
I love your thoughtful comments on this well known story. Recently I found a couple of verses in Exodus 22:1, 5 that talk about restitution, even mentioning the four fold amount. I have always wished we knew exactly what Jesus said to Zacchaeus. But it probably wouldn't make much difference. We know what he said in so many other places and don't always do what he said.
Finally - finally - finally someone is listening to Jesus and the apostles about what God counts as the right response to God's gift of salvation. It's not just saying a prayer and telling others to say that prayer without any reference to the drumbeat throughout Scripture (from Mt Sinai onward) to our responsibility to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned. 150 years ago many Christians were getting it right until a British "theologian" scrapped biblical truth in favor of "evangelism." Concern for the needy was labeled as "liberalism." And the strong emphasis of Jesus and the apostles was sidetracked, even placed outside what was "biblical." SIGH.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Light bulb moment! Not only did God not want me to give testimony at The Chapel due to its toxic culture, He told me to leave in leading me to "keep oneself from polluted by the world." I prayed for years before He answered "Go". That was all He said, but I obeyed..... Praise Him!
It seems we are unable to allow the radical call of Jesus to mercy and justice and holiness overwhelm us for fear of where it might take us. So we try and make Jesus and the Bible manageable. It reminds me of the conversation in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe when Lucy and Susan are wondering if Aslan is tame and safe and Mr. Beaver has to admonish them that 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you". What would it mean to let go of the reins? What would happen if I wasn't in control (like I ever truly was)? I think this gets at least partially at the heart of all the toxicity in the church. We are fearful of abandoning ourselves completely into the hands of our God. So, instead of losing our grip, we cling ever tighter to our sense of control instead of clinging tighter to the Savior.
I love your thoughtful comments on this well known story. Recently I found a couple of verses in Exodus 22:1, 5 that talk about restitution, even mentioning the four fold amount. I have always wished we knew exactly what Jesus said to Zacchaeus. But it probably wouldn't make much difference. We know what he said in so many other places and don't always do what he said.
Jesus came close. Proximity and presence. Geography in the Kingdom does not allow a privileged distance.
Suburban flight or continued comfort away from the City- the needy, disenfranchised, orphan, widow, elderly.
I think the privileged- theological institutions that have left for comfort or numbers, need to wake up and return.