THURSDAY, July 29 (Mary and Martha of Bethany)

Matthew 27:55-66. "After three days I will rise again."

Jesus was crucified, his body laid in the tomb, but still the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to seal the sepulchre so that the body of Jesus could not be carried away and the disciples mislead the people.

Ever since, people have tried to lock up Christ lest he upset the state of things as they are. They have asked his disciples not to preach, for fear they might carry further the disturbance Jesus had begun.

Yet people cannot seal off the spirit of Christ. There is no human-made tomb strong enough to contain him. The history of the Christian centuries has shown the explosive power of the resurrection. The risen Christ broke through the shackles of the Roman Empire and in four centuries it was in ruins. When people tried to confine him in the thought forms of the Middle Ages, he broke through once more in the Reformation.

Today the spirit of Christ is bursting the sepulchre once again. Wherever Christians bring their faith to bear on the political, economic, and social tensions of the day, the stone is rolled away and Christ lives again, often surprising even those who bear his name. Let us not join the obscurantists who in every age have tried to seal the tomb and confine Christ there. (1971)

PRAY for the Diocese of Embu (Kenya)

Ps [70], 71 * 74; Judges 4:4-23; Acts 1:15-26

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...bring their faith to bear on the political, economic, and social tensions of the day

Jul 29, 2010 at 9:27 am

Written by Eric,

I wonder though, in these instances, to what degree are we able to discern exactly how Christ would feel or want us to bring our faith to bear, on issues and policies that are not clearly enumerated in scripture? In other words, we are not Paul writing to churches, able to parse out through God's providential hand the right and wrongs of every rule; in fact, I submit that bringing my faith to bear might look very different than someone else bringing their faith to bear. In other words, within the Christian world there are relatively few hard and fast agreements (just look to the varied denominational splits and shifts over the years) so how is it that Christians bringing their faith to bear will do so uniformly?

...

Jul 29, 2010 at 9:27 am

Written by Eric,

Beyond the lack of consensus though, I wonder exactly how much we should try to control the politics of our world, the economics of our world, or the social tensions of our world? I could easily see, in 1971 for example, a Christian applying scripture, properly in their own faith, that would call for expanded war in Vietnam, or the reinstitution of segregation, or economic policy that does not restore hope in the minds of the poor. Just as I could see a Christian applying his faith to the exact opposite of those propositions....

...

Jul 29, 2010 at 9:31 am

Written by Tim Holsonback,

But today, with so many factions, who is REALLY speaking for the Lord?

...

Jul 29, 2010 at 10:14 am

Written by Andrea,

In response to the previous posters: What should we do as Christians, then? It sounds like you're advocating paralysis, or at least a very safe and tame personal spirituality that doesn't extend beyond our own very private and never shared or acted-upon beliefs. Jesus said love one another, and it seems to me if we act with that in mind, even if we make mistakes, we are trying to live as he taught us. He left us the Holy Spirit to continue his work in the world, not to keep it safely locked away in our church buildings. I can agree with staying out of political and theological debates, but I can't imagine, for myself, avoiding action to help people just because I might be wrong about the leading of the Holy Spirit.

...

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:55 am

Written by Ann D.,

All that I do is formed and guided by my faith in Jesus Christ. That said, I know that I am often wrong in my initial assessments of people and situations. I'm not worried, however, because despite my ignorance, wrong-headedness and rush to judgment; when I stay in God's word and remain bound to him in prayer and community, I'm redirected and rescued. I am very leery of those who are always so sure about everything. As a citizen, a Christian and one who tries to honor and recognize the truth, I am active in politics and have opinions about economic, social and justice issues. The only conflict occurs when the Truth seems counter to my long-held beliefs and prejudices.

july 29, 2010

Jul 29, 2010 at 12:51 pm

Written by elizabeth austin,

This reading says to me that we should not lock Christ up or hide Him-as we are often moved by fear to do. That said, in light of the discussion-we all have different roles in the body of Christ-not all can be the eye or the ear. Each has been given a gift and following God's will through being in the Word, we will achieve His uniform purpose of loving our neighbors and sharing the Gospel.

False Dilemma

Jul 29, 2010 at 5:03 pm

Written by Eric,

I think perhaps it is a false dilemma. Is it necessarily an all-out assault or a hidden faith? For me, living faith involves far more than, "avoiding action to help people just because I might be wrong about the leading of the Holy Spirit." In fact, avoiding action wasn't my point really. My point was that, as citizens we have a political duty, and as Christians we have a spiritual duty. The two are not separate entirely, nor are they one and the same. As a Christian, I see no reason to think that my political duty should infringe on another citizen's spiritual life. I think we'd all agree. If there is a balance to be struck, let it be, for me, that I am a faithful believer doing my best to spread the word, but I am also a citizen doing my best not to insist on everyone accepting it against their will.

-1

more...sorry....

Jul 29, 2010 at 5:07 pm

Written by Eric,

To the idea of locking Christ away and being afraid, no,that was not my idea at all. The great commission calls for us to go out and spread the word, but nowhere do I find a Great Political Commission. It is far more personal for me. I've been to Mardi Gras, the KY Derby and other such parties and seen Christians thinking that they are going to convert people by insults, fear and shocking them into sobriety. I completely disagree with that tact. I also liken that sort of effort to legislating Christianity. I'm convinced that I can do more for God's service by having a conversation than by voting, by being compassionate than by inciting anger in a political mob. I don't agree with, nor do I see a call in the Bible, to insinuate Christianity with politics. God never intended or expected a Christian government, he doesn't need to play in the much of our politics. Neither do I want my faith playing in it either.

-1

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