Remember the Woman
There is a spiritual numbness in my soul these days.
Fed, perhaps by loneliness or resentment.
There is this restlessness.
I went to the water Monday. They call it a lake here in New Mexico, but I grew up on the shore of the "Great" Lake Ontario. This lake was very quiet, small and quiet. I wanted to hear the heart beat of the waves. Perhaps, I'll go to the river today. But it's not my river. I don't want to intrude. I could walk to the bridge, the one underwhich live the trolls. I need to go to the store and the post office. It's a nice day for a walk. But from the bridge I could not hear the river.
And the trolls under the bridge make me nervous.
It is a beautiful morning here in New Mexico. It rained yesterday. It snowed in the mountains.
The birds are in full chorus. I sat on my porch, in the warmth of the newly risen sun, and read Matthew 25 and 26, up to the garden scene. Worship. Fasting. Matthew 25 compared to Isaiah 58 and what Jesus really wants from His followers. There are three sections of Scripture I really like to teach. Three lessons in which I lead my students in a comparive study. Compare Matt. 25 with Isaiah 58. Compare Ezekial 34 with John 10. Compare I Cor. 13 with Galiations 5. I havent' taught a Sunday School class in a long time.
Then I read Matt. 26:8 -13
Thus the title of this rambling...Remember the Woman.
A simple act of Worship. A woman, bold enough to push through a group of men, bold enough to approach a rabbi. The most important events of all time were unfolding, and some nameless woman approached Him. She annointed his head with expensive ointment from an alabaster jar.
The disciples rebuked her, the waste of it. Jesus said when ever the Gospel was preached, she would be remembered and honored. The same story is in Mark 14. And the same words. "She has done an excellent thing for me." I couldn't find her in Luke or John. And I haven't heard many sermons preached about her. Her part isn't in the Passion Play we've done for so many years. Yet, Jesus said she was to be remembered.
I suppose Mary was the first woman to annoint Jesus. I carry a little bottle of annointing oil that smells like Frankincense and I've told Sunday School kids that that is how Baby Jesus smelled.
That his mother would annoint him with the Frankincense the Magi brought, after his baths.
I also like to tell them that Fig Newtons were his favorite cookie.
Grey Owl is doing some posts on Predestination. I found the first one very distrubing. His computer ate his second one. (a predestined act?). I like Grey Owl and will continue to read his pieces as he posts them. So far most of his commentors seem to be coming from the Free Will camp. I brought this up because one of the things that has been feeding my spritual numbness is the realization, that if God is the God that Grey Owl's friend from "Bible College" said he was, and if God is the God of Election and Predestination, I'd feel really bad teaching kids about that God. I'd feel as if I was giving them some sort of false hope. To look into those sweet faces and know that some of them were destined for the fires of hell, and nothing I could say or do would make the least bit of difference. That God had a perfect plan for each of their lives, and that for some of them that perfect plan of a Perfect God was that they would spend eternity in hell.
But then, when I start getting that "What does it matter what I do" mind set, Jesus speaks gently to my heart and says "Remember the Cross". The cross does matter. The cross is what it's really all about. It is the deciding factor. Jesus died on the cross. And His ressurection is the exclaimation point (!) that changed the whole world. Nothing else really matters. Jesus.
but we shouldn't forget that woman.
30 comments:
This is the danger of such teachings. The message in the bible was about hope and salvation. If you are going to believe in the predestined-I am condemned or saved whatever I do line, you may as well stick with the Torah. If that is the case, then Jesus really did nothing. If he came only to save the predestined few, this is no big deal. God could have issued his pardons from on high. If Jesus' sacrifice meant anything, it would have to mean that he did so for everyone. That he gave everyone the opportunity, even if it was a hard one. If he did not sever everyone's predestination to be damned, then why are people still talking about him? If he didn't do this, then he did nothing.
wow, that is exactly where I am coming from. Except I believe that in essance, we are supposed to stick with the Torah, Jesus did not come to abolish but to fulfill. See Pastor Art's recent post...
I understand this, I meant stick with it as in exclusion of all else, New Testament included.
Thanks for the plug, maryellen. And I think that maybe we have vastly different views on predestination... I'm starting to wonder if I should've kept my big mouth shut...
BTW, I don't think George's God is how God really is... far from it.
no no grey owl, don't keep your blog mouth shut, i like what you say though i may not ultimately agree with all of it...
I know it's been awhile, I just wanted to say hi and that I am enjoying what you're writing. It's conference week, so things are a bit crazy. How are you doing?
I agree with MaryEllen, Grey Owl. I too am enjoying the conversation, despite disagreement, and thus far you have fleshed it out well enough.
hey stephanie, as i write this our spring break is coming to an end, and we only have 8 weeks of school left, one of which i will be spending in South Dakota, i will be sad to say good bye to my eighth graders, but this was the hardest school year i've ever had and will be glad for summer vacation.
Wanderer, I just found a picture of you and martha from way back when, not at all like the face that stares at me from your comments.
I bet not. I imagine she and I both look quite different. I imagine that would have to be from either when she graduated from high school or at my wedding.
I remember even after five years I got interesting, and frequently flattering comments. The most memorable being a close friend of mine during school who actually walked by me, stopped and turned dramatically, staring and literally yelling a slightly profane exclamation of surprise. (Granted that at the time I had a very full beard, rather than what you see in these pictures now. My hair was also down. (For those of you who don't know, it is very thick and wavy, inspiring some jealousy from my female friends, and rather long.) The service also didn't hurt my physical shape, other than tearing my knee up.
This rambling actually has a point. I look back now at pictures of my friends and family, or even myself from years back. I have done a five and a ten year reunion, (I can imagine MaryEllen counting off on her fingers. The ten year was my wife's the five year mine. But more of her classmates were in my classes than my own graduating class) and am constantly surprised at how significantly some people change, and how little others do.
"To look into those sweet faces and know that some of them were destined for the fires of hell, and nothing I could say or do would make the least bit of difference. That God had a perfect plan for each of their lives, and that for some of them that perfect plan of a Perfect God was that they would spend eternity in hell."
So, since we were all fresh faced babes at one time, and now we are adults who freely choose to go to the fire, that's better?? Of course if you believe that God does not know, prior to our choice, which choice you will make, then your argument works. My position has always been that Biblically, it is a fact that God has complete prescient knowledge, if He doesn't, then all He is doing is putting out fires. So according to some ,
He is about 400 years behind in His efforts to correct things. What a God He must be.
Believing that God is completely omniscient/prescient is not calvinism btw, it is biblical. The anti-calvinist/open theism broadbrush is a disingenuous effort to dismiss the argument.
Even Arminius did not believe in open theist theology. Yahweh knows everything before it will happen, period.
The Scriptures are the only reliable source of revelation, so our feelings and thoughts are subordinate to the Spirit. When did God ever ask a man what he thinks about the plan?
last week our priest preached on Numbers 15 and the concept of intentional sin and unintentional sin. There was a "ceremony" or "ritual" to cover the unintentional sins, but the punishment for person who "does anything defiantly" (verse 30)was swift and without mercy. Chris P. poses the question
"So, since we were all fresh faced babes at one time, and now we are adults who freely choose to go to the fire, that's better?"
if there is a hell, than that would be better indeed. To be punished because of ones own evil choices, because of ones defiant sins would be far more just.
And we mustn't forget the once and for all blood sacrifice offered to God by God for the forgiveness of sins.
Ah anonymous. You get it.
We think God's justice is only taking care of the widows and orphans, the poor and the needy ala Isaiah 58.
God's justice is also the recompense for every action and deed done, whether good or bad.
See Deut 32:35-43;Rev 22:10-16
Did not the Lord say we would answer even for every idle word? (I suggest all bloggers take that to heart. Especially those who enjoy the "conversation")
The Lord already knows what rewards will be given and who will receive them, as He is the offspring and the "root" of David.
I never forget the once and for all sacrifice.
Did not the Lord say we would answer even for every idle word? (I suggest all bloggers take that to heart. Especially those who enjoy the "conversation")
The Lord already knows what rewards will be given and who will receive them, as He is the offspring and the "root" of David.
Again incongruent, on several levels. First, I ask again why you warn us to take it to heart if God already knows what will happen. If what will happen will happen, what good does your warning do. Surely you don't think you can change the pattern by giving this warning to us?
Secondly, in your warning to bloggers, I must think of your favored quote that blogging isn't the real world. If it is not real, but its counterpart, the imaginary, why watch what we say? Does God also punish us for imagined offenses?
You are definitely good at painting a picture of a God that I wouldn't back in a spitting contest, let alone something more important. Do you really want us to believe God is as irrational, contradictory and weak as you keep portraying him to be?
Chris P - "Quit confusing prescient knowledge with predestinated action, (a favorite past-time around here)
There is simple logic here. (Perhaps that is why you fail to understand.) If God knows what the end will be, that means a particular end will be. If that end will be, that means predestination. It isn't rocket science. If A=B and B=C, then A=C. Open a math book, you'll find it there.
"God is transcendant and all knowing. Hardly fitting the weak God you falsely accuse me of portraying."
A poor sample to argue. You speak of a jealous God, or a wrathful one. One of these has to exist for this nitpicking with such a severe punishment as you would have me fear. Both wrath and jealousy are weak and petulant. I don't see God that way, but you seem to be working hard to try and get me to.
"God already knows who will heed the warning and who will not. I however do not know this. Therefore I must give the warning"
Why must you give this warning? Surely you realize that the predestination that would be necessary in accordance with the total omniscience of which you speak means that your warning is irrelevant. Your argument fails, perhaps because you didn't actually provide one. You would have been better to hide behind predestination and say you had no choice but to warn, or better cop out with it being a mystery of God.
Keep telling me that I don't know the bible, keep telling me that I don't care. Where in the bible do you see the authority to chase me away from learning about Jesus? Where do you see that you have the right to declare me lost? Or do you just pick and choose what is important in what the bible says and make the rest up as you go along?
MaryEllen - I am surprised. Where did I threaten him? The warning I referenced that I gave before was that if he attacked you I would respond, until you told me not to. That was no threat, just a reminder of a promise.
I was rude, and a bit harsh as you said, but I did not threaten anyone.
Chris P. - If you truly mean what you say about me having your forgiveness, I am impressed, though puzzled since I know not what I should be forgiven for. In truth, from my position, there is nothing I should be forgiven for. That is one area where I differ from the rest of you. I don't believe in forgiveness. I think the whole concept is foolish. Still, if you truly meant it and weren't just giving lip service to it, I thank you. Despite the fact that it changes nothing.
i'm deleting my last comment, it's probably all ready been read by concerned parties and i sent a long personal message Chris' way...
no, i didn't really see you threatening him Wanderer, just a knee jerk reaction to his comment.
lets just move on, ok?
Oh yeah, and I think forgiveness is very important. As a mom and a wife, I think forgivness, to forgive and be forgiven is very important. As a Christian I think it is the most vital part of our faith, outside the whole Who is Jesus question. Are you of the old "Love is never having to say your sorry" from LOVE STORY, mind set?
i think if id have had someone like chris p at my church id be an atheist now
MaryEllen - No, I am not necessarily of that mindset. My problem with the concept of forgiveness goes with a well worn saying. "Forgive and forget." This is almost a redundant phrase. To forgive is to, effectively, strike the offense from the record. If you forgive an offense of mine against you, it is as if it never happened. First of all, humans aren't even capable of doing this. Secondly, if we were it would be asinine.
I am not saying I hold a grudge for all of those who have in some way offended me. That is not the case at all. I don't tend to hold onto grudges, but I will remember history. If someone who was problematic before shows an effort to change, I will acknowledge that effort. As they prove they have, they color my perception of them in the process. That doesn't mean that I will forget the offense, just that in a detached way, it doesn't matter, much.
On the divine level, consider this as well. If your mistakes are forgiven of you, they are treated as though they never existed, what happens to all that you learned as a result of that mistake? Is that erased as well?
God would forgive us, as far as the east is from the west
but the lessons would be with in us, we would not forget...
God forgives, we remember
This makes no sense. Think of what might be out there that this forgiveness could be for? Could God forgive you for being responsible for the death of another man? If you were truly repentant? It seems to me that these teachings would tend to indicate that the answer is yes. However, here it would not just be for us to remember. The man is still dead. The fabric has still been changed irrevocably.
And what purpose could this forgiveness serve if it was offered? It leads to a theology of lessened responsibility. If I fail God, and I am sorry I did so, he will forgive me for it. It opens the door up to plan for multiple failures. It leads to planning to do things and seek forgiveness later.
No, I can't accept this concept of forgiveness. Everything we do has consequences. Far reaching ones that impact many around us. God isn't wandering around wiping the slate clean. He is merely taking into account that we are human when he weighs our actions and our repentance.
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