Be honest.
Do you ever get the feeling that Jesus would never choose to hang out in the places we’ve built for him? Do you ever feel like Jesus’ message of radical love, mercy and forgiveness has been drowned out by the voices of judgment, condemnation, and stagnant ritualistic religion? Do you ever get the sense that the church was never meant to be about helping itself, but about helping the world? Do you ever get the nagging feeling that Jesus never intended the church to be comfortable and controlled, but instead an untamable movement that challenges the way things have always been done? Have you ever longed to be a part of a community that isn’t afraid to experience God in new and creative ways? (Yeah, us too.)
17 comments:
Ok, so I listened to Mark 2 online while sitting at my desk this morning. The sun was shining in through my windows and there was a sense of peace lingering in my room. As I began to listen, I was quickly reminded of Ecuador when we "performed" the play for the children at the orphanage. I remember us lifting someone through the window at the orphanage to resemble the paralytic being lowered through the opening in the roof. I don't believe during the time of Ecuador I truly understood the importance of what the play resembled; one of Jesus' miracles. Ok, so I know I haven't answered any of the questions you asked Scott but I'm running out of time as my students are about to come running down the halls. :) I'll be back to comment more and to really dig into Mark 2.
Becky
Oh yeah...by the way I can't view your video here at school so I have no idea what it says...so my comment is just made in general to Mark 2. :) I'll have to listen to it at home tonight. :)
"The Superhero Stirs the Pot."
First of all, I find it amazing how the gospels have within them deeper meanings behind everything. Not just the parables and similes that Jesus uses, but within the actual events themselves. Case in point, "busting through the roof" to get to Jesus. It made me think about how I, too, should be willing to "blow the roof off" my own little world bubble to get inside the Home, inside the Heart of Jesus. Moving on: To me, I read Mark 2 and I'm like, wow, Jesus was a bad-ass! The author introduces us to a kind of revolutionary, law-breaking lifestyle that SHOULD make people uncomfortable. People are breaking and entering, and He's rewarding them for it! That's a law being broken that we can understand, because it's still around today. But there are all these other laws and customs specific to that time that Jesus is overturning. It makes me wonder, how many social "norms" in todays society should be overturned if we truly want to live the revolution of Jesus? When is it necessary to set asides "Man's Law" to fulfill the Mission of Jesus Christ? In response to the "invasion" question, (btw, that's the second alien reference...I see a creepy pattern emerging...)To me this book, standing alone, says something very different than what we hear in modern day churches. Jesus ISN'T for everybody. He wants NEW wineskins, NEW garments. Sinners, not Saints. Now, don't get me wrong, I think we're all sick. We all need, "a doctor," but You cannot sit down and break bread, literally and figuratively, and share His story with someone who thinks they're healthy. Someone who believes themselves to be "righteous" or even just to be "right." It's hard to tell someone about Jesus if they are already convinced that they know who He is and what He stands for. So as I start to think about what all this means for the greenroom, I think about what art has the power to do. Stella Adler once said, "The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation." And I know that all art forms have the same potential to do just that: show us the truth about life. I think that might be one of the best ways to Follow Him and His mission. By first showing people, not telling, the truth that none of us are healthy, and then pointing the way to the "Great Physician.
Becky, I also think of Ecuador every time I read or hear the story of the men breaking through the roof to bring their friend to Jesus. That time in my life was such a redefining time for me (and I know it was for you and Ben as well). It's funny how that story parallels our life since we returned home; willing to do whatever it takes to find a way to bring broken, hurting and forgotten people into the presence of God - Even if it means doing the unconventional.
Aral, sometimes when you talk I swear you've been listening to the conversations I've been having in my head.(does that make me crazy?)
Not long ago, I was listening to a religious teacher and he was commenting on the story of Jesus healing the paralytic. He said something to this effect, "I know many of you are thinking 'How could these men ruin this person’s home? Why didn't Jesus say anything about this deliberate destruction of property?' Well, don't worry, in those days the roofs were made in a way that enabled people open it up and close it again without causing any permanent damage." And at that moment I thought "You've completely missed the point!" The whole point of Mark telling this story is to show that the Christian faith is a dangerous faith that is willing to break through any barrier that stands in the way of showing our friends the love of God. Like you, I also wonder what earthly values we place above the values of heaven (namely, the value of love). This is a question I’ve been asking of myself for a while now.
Aral, your way with words. (minus the ones I usually sensor) is amazing. really, you have to take that! more to comment later.
Can I please say that Aral took the words right out of my mouth? First, let me just say how pretty flippin amazing Christ is. Who wouldn't see this passage and go "hello, can I be his friend?"
If someone were to bust through the roof of one of our modern day churches or came screaming through the doors like a crazy person, security would be called. I would honestly think to myself, "OMG what a hot tranny mess." Cool thing is, Christ wouldn't. He would welcome the crazy person with open arms, and if that crazy person had a gun, Christ would probably ask if he could go outside and target shoot with the man. This would all happen while we the "church" would be screaming and ducking for cover. Something similar happened yesterday in my improv class. We were all standing in a circle playing a game called "Big booty", when a man with felt antlers came through the door, holding the hand of a man who was mentally handicapped. A hush of silence fell over the room, and my first thought was, "This is extremely awkward. Are they homeless? Why is that man wearing Christmas antlers." I was honestly a little nervous. Let me tell you one thing. I don't know if my improv instructor is a Christian or not, but he handled the situation in the way that Christ would. He had a look of confusion on his face at first, but he welcomed the man in, asking if he was there for the class. The man with the antler began to explain that he was supposed to take the higher level class but it was cancelled. Our class was obviously full, but my instructor invited him to stay anyway. He never spoke to the man with an attitude and didn't make the man feel uncomfortable. I felt horrible for the thoughts that went on through my head. The man decided that he would take Saturday's class, but regardless, my instructor acted just like Christ did in Mark 2. WOW MOM!
Also, can we talk about how Christ hung out with the tax collectors? It makes me feel so much better about hanging out with people that our church society has condemned aka homosexuals. My boys need me more than ever, and I am here to be their shoulder.
I love you, Taylor, you hot tranny mess...oh, and btw, I LOVE big booty. I'm thinking that's how we should open the next gathering. Aw, yeah!
OMG I SECOND THAT, ARAL!!!!!!!!! Jesus would LOVE that game!
Sweet conversations guys...
Keep 'em coming.
Were only on Mark 2 and I think we're all realizing that Jesus is way more radical that we (the church in general) have made him out to be. To Jesus there is no moral code, no value system, and no religious regulation that is above the value of all out love for those in need. In the book of Mark, whenever a value system (even one commanded by God himself) comes up against the value of Love, love always wins. Always.
Hey Guys sorry I am late to the party. Nothing but sun and 70 degrees and it is only 9am. woohoo!! I am sitting at a different table out of the sun than Christy. An older italian gentleman has struck a curious conversation with her. He has approached her a few times. He swears like a sailor, I'll let her tell you more. I Love it. I do love random conversation though.
Becky although I wasn't in Ecuador my mind went to south africa and I was the paralytic being dropped in from the roof while Ron Gelaude told the story. Thankfully I wasn't dropped. Haha.
Taylor I love it when when Jesus talks about the tax collectors as well. You took the words from my mouth, it gives me a confidence that I am where God has placed me for a reason; and to do it well! Aral I love the passion in which you speak and that God has given to you. I love the way you put Jesus doesn't do Bullshit!
One thing in 2:1 that popped out was Jesus came back to Capernaum and was at his home. When I think of home I think of my house, the place sleep, shave, rest. The main stay place I do life. Was this a particular building, or a generality of location? Making me think a little bit about where I call home. Is home where the heart is. Sounds cliche doesn't it.
Actually this is where I camped out. The story of the paralytic and the 4 men. He says 4 men, and it hit me that the entirety of the story sounds like they were friends with the paralytic; but it doesn't say 4 friends it says 4 men. Was this man a stranger to them? I don't know. How far did they come from to bring this man to Jesus. And it doesn't stop there, they couldn't get into see Jesus by ordinary means. I picture them brainstorming together to comeup with a plan on how can they get to Him, as they may not have seen this obstacle coming. Then I think of the effort of getting a paralytic man on a roof on a pallet. Or maybe one of the guys was a burly fellow and slung him on his shoulder and huffed him uup to the roof. I don't know how it went down, how high it was but I feel comfortable saying it wasn't an elevator. After the got him on the roof they probably knew the roof was enclosed. Back to the plan; they thought they needed digging tools to dig a hole large enough to drop a pallett with a man on it. The tools used may have been small. I feel safe in assuming it wasn't a crane or something though. Here is were I thought of africa. I was priveleged enough to be able to see the process a bit on how they made bricks to build houses. These bricks consisted of many things, a few being dung, mud, hay, stones, clay and often times other things. A side note it was the wealthier in the town whom had houses made this way. Then I thought about digging. more to come...
I love digging in sand, it's easy. When I have to dig through clay or in rocky dirt it is very difficult and often times discouraging. Then when they were done digging in the plan someone needed to be in charge of bringing the ropes or some kind of device to lower a man on a pallet into the house. Talk about discouraging. I was outside and typing for a good hour and my computer died. Thank God Christy knew exactly what to do. We came inside the coffee shop and there were no seats to sit at by a place to plug into. Then she looked behind the couch we fired it up and my hour of typing was still there. Thank you Lord and Christy. Sorry for the digression.
Or was everthing done on a whim, without a plan. Like while they were on the roof was someone the gopher to get digging tools. Then realize how are we going to get him down there. What are the going to say to the man, well we did all of this for you and got you this far, is it ok if we just throw you down to him. Surely Jesus could heal a broken neck if he can heal you as you are now. No, they would have to go and find something to lower him down.
Either way I look at it from hurdles are there and can often discourage us, even to the point of giving up. While doing all of this they simply believed that Jesus would do what he said he could do, nothing more and nothing less. This begs questions of my life. If I take a step back and look at my words as well as my actions, and are they synonymous. Or do I have some consistencies? Am I willing to follow through to the end, these 4 men had to not just climb a wall, but to tear down a wall. The tools in which I have today, am I using to help someone climb a wall or tear a wall down? God gave us tools(gifts) and that is a whole other conversation, which is one area I am not very knowledgable in, but I see in the impact in all of you I see at the greenroom. So thank you for your inspiration.
I am not sure if this makes sense to anyone else, sometimes things that make sense in my head dont to anyone else. Let me know what you think.
One other thing I saw was when Jesus healed the paralytic he called him son.
Sorry for the long windedness, probably why I don't talk much sometimes.
Greg, I LOVE your writing style. When I read your stuff I feel I know where you're going at the beginning, and then all of a sudden you seem to veer off track and I feel somewhat lost, and then all of a sudden, somehow, you take everything you've said and wrap it together to make perfect sense. Then I read it again and I'm like "man, that guy’s deep!" I love how you use your own experiences to put yourself in the shoes of the guys that lower the paralytic to Jesus; the obstacles they must have faced, and how we too must be courageous and determined even when it seems like everything's getting in our way.
"The tools in which I have today, am I using to help someone climb a wall or tear a wall down?" Awesome. Thinking about our gifts as tools. Wow. Gifts are cherished, held on to...but tools are USED. Nice. Thank YOU for the inspiration, my man. Maybe you should talk more sometimes. I like a long-winded group if this is what we're spittin'.
Hey, late to the party but here :)
Kind of adding to what Aral already said in the "superhero stirs the pot" post, in Mark 2 you see Jesus's actions beginning to conflict with the religious authorities, as well as Jesus beginning to reveal himself publicly as the Son of God. It's kind of a lame analogy, but as I was reading Mark 2, the tagline from the truly dreadful Sly Stallone vehicle Judge Dredd came to mind; "I AM the Law". Jesus directly confronts powerful religious leaders and controverts their understanding of what they understood to be just and right behavior - but is grounded more in law than the truth of God's love. It reminds me how bold Jesus was and is in His way, and how as followers we also are called on to be bold in His name.
I also heard a wonderful insight from a visiting pastor at First Presbyterian this past weekend, who pointed out that the paralytic had to be lifted to Jesus to be healed - much in same way, we often need the prayers and support of those around us to lift us to Jesus.
Cool stuff - love the discussion!
Jesus doesn't ever break God's law. If he did, he wouldn't have been sinless, and therefore, he would not have been an acceptable sacrifice for our sin. God is not against organized religion, he institutes one of the most complicated, ritualistic religions in the world. Jesus is God. He's not against his father about anything.
Jesus is, however, emphatically against man-made rituals. In the first five books of the bible, God gives Moses 613 laws for the Israelite to live by. There is nothing wrong with these laws. There is nothing wrong with the pharisees and chief priests following these laws.
The Jewish people, however, have added extra laws, what they call the Oral Torah, that they believed were just as binding as the laws in the bible. This is what Jesus had a beef about.
Does anybody here know if it really was against the civil law to break into somebody's roof, especially when considering the roofs of the day needed to be rebuilt every year after the rainy season? Doesn't Romans 13 say we should follow the law of the land?
I hope it won’t be considered rude of me to just uninvitedly jump into an already over conversation, but I have really enjoyed thinking, and rethinking about Jesus, the book of Mark and all of these comments. My first post was just my gut reaction, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it! So, here are some more of my thoughts.
The thing I think is most often missed by Christians about the radical claims Jesus makes about compassion and justice is that they were not unique. This aspect of Jesus' ministry lines up with most of the statements made by the Prophets in the Old Testament. And both Jesus and the Prophets were not about changing up what was in the Torah, but reminding people of their obligation in this covenant they had with God to look after the disenfranchised. Much of the most polemical language we attribute to Jesus was actually said by other rabbis before him, and the style of Jesus’ critique was common within the Pharisee party. Ultimately, when it comes to radical ideas of equality, justice and compassion, you have to trace it all the way back to Mt. Sinai. In the Torah, you’ll find Israelites were required to return land to the original tribes every fifty years, ensuring there could never be a spiral into poverty handed down generation after generation. Many provisions were made for distributing food to orphans and widows, and systems were established to not only give hand outs, but allow the poor to participate in gathering for themselves. I could go on and on. It’s true that Jesus even points out that human life does trump ceremonial laws, but this notion is not unique to him if David understood it one thousand years before Jesus.
Jesus was calling people to return to the law.
It’s true that opening a guys roof was probably pretty extreme, and showed the men’s faith that God would heal their friend through Jesus. But, not only does Jesus not comment on them breaking in, but non of these law-obsessed rabbis around seem to have a problem with it either, which brings me to the real radical side of Jesus.
What did get the Pharisees riled up in this passage was not the actions of the men on the roof. It was Jesus’ claim that he could forgive sin. No one but God can do that. None of the prophets, no rabbis, ever claimed they could do that. That is really the thing that is radical about him.
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