Keeping the Basics Basic

[HKHaugan]

Keeping the Basics Basic

      “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”  He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”  Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mk.2:23-28).””

       If Jesus said this about the Sabbath, the holiest of all human days, then would it not apply to the Sacraments, the Church and the Scripture?  The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sacraments, the Church and the Scripture.  Do we really believe what He said?  But in reality, in practice, do we venerate these above the Lord thinking we are serving the Lord?  What do people feel when they come through the doors (both regulars and new folks)? 

       If we start with the last and move to the first, in each case the Lord precedes.  Jesus is the One who gives Scripture its meaning and purpose (2Tim.3:16, Rom.10:17).  The Church was formed to focus on Jesus’ relationally (1Cor.12:27, Rom.7:4).  The Sacraments were meant to help us personally connect with Jesus (Jn.3:5, Acts 2:38).  But are they presented that way?

       Take the Church first.  Are we more concerned with the structure, its hierarchy, its physical appearance, its protocol?  Religious attitudes. Scripture takes a different approach.  It is small group oriented to generate spiritual intimacy with God and others (John 13-17, Paul’s Epistles).  Then there are the Sacraments.  Consider the two most important ones, Baptism (John 3;5) and the Lord’s Supper (Lk.22:18-20, 1Cor.10:16) and how they are handled.  The roadblock to intimacy here is ‘churchiness’ with its church law, ‘how-to’ rules, elevated clerical authority, properly done liturgy, the unwritten religious etiquette maintained. While they are needed their minimal use is essential. Are we too stiff and regimented?  Do we hide behind ‘reverence’ and ‘tradition?’  If we talk about Scripture, is it really our guide, the fundamental shared revelation that defines and determines what the first two are all about?  Do we allow denominational and non-denominational bias, historical experience, church history and ecclesiastical politics to rule the day rationalizing those for our reasoning?

       If those issues are elevated above the Lord, His Word and the Holy Spirit, why open the doors?  The age we live in is dotted with alienation, division, disease and their fear bundled anti-everything hostility.  Media exploitation incites people to feeling more alone, depressed and angry about issues over which they have no control.  The real and underlying issue is hunger is for God, for relational hope, for individual meaning and purpose in the rush and flush of society’s push for the instant acquiring of rights and security.  The proliferating maelstrom of rights movements boils down to one basic human hunger, personal recognition and its survival.  “I want everything now. I deserve it now because I am here now.”  Three I’s that replace the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

       But we have Jesus’ message, “Come unto me all who are troubled and heavy laden and I will refresh you (Mt.11:28),” “Come follow me (Mt.4:19).” He is the only “I” who can make the ‘I’s in us function the way they are supposed to.  That includes everyone, believer and unbeliever alike.  Now this is God’s call to us, extend Jesus into every situation in which we find ourselves.  When we gather, the need is for worship that centers on the preaching of the Word, prayer and Spirit-filled music.  From there flows small group sharing with the Lord’s Supper, developing spiritual gift awareness, men’s and women’s Bible sessions.  This is what brings spiritual growth.