"One Brother and Another"

'ONE BROTHER AND ANOTHER'

a reflection on Matthew 21:28-32

They say a man's only as good as his word.  It's a trustworthy saying and it's all about trust.  It seems Jesus got into a little tangle with the Pharisees and chief priests of the Temple regarding the authority by which he taught.  So, he told them a story...

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” asked Jesus.  “The first,” they answered.   Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

Have you seen the TV commercials lately having to do with connection to "and" and "or" or is it... 'and' OR 'or'...?  You know... having the choice between "sweet AND sour chicken" vs. "sweet OR sour"... or the choice about "nuts AND bolts" vs. "nuts OR bolts" in putting up the swimming pool ... or the coach who uses the megaphone to be LOUD but his gibberish phrases makes for his not being very CLEAR... "loud AND clear" vs. "loud OR clear"!  Very clever… and yet this is the time of the year…  where so many sing... are you ready...

… he’s making a list and checking it twice…Going to find out who's 

___(naughty) _____  or ____(nice)___________

But, Jesus comes singing a different song… at least according to Matthew!  It seems one son is naughty after being nice and the other brother is nice before being naughty...

So, let me suggest something -- both sons are wrong!  

When we actually look back to the 1st Century, we frame this parable via a sense of honor -- a son who publicly says "no" to his father is shaming his father even if he does what his father asks and the other son shames his father by saying 'yes' and not following through.  Do you know anyone like this?  Have you looked in the mirror lately?

When the parable hearer is asked to choose between the two sons, a dilemma arises. Both sons have insulted the father, one by saying no, the other by saying yes but doing nothing. But one comes to the family's aid by going into the vineyard and upholding family solidarity, while the other maintains the family's good name by appearing on the surface to be a good son. Would the father choose to be publicly honored and privately shamed, or publicly shamed and privately honored? In the first century A.D. that is not much of a choice. The real question is... "which one he would be more angry?" But in being forced to choose, he must choose between the apparent and the real, between one who appears to be inside the family and one who appears to be outside. 

Bottom line, my brothers, this parable is about doing the will of God (v. 31). The question, "What is God's will for my life?" is one that Christians often ask. However, answering that question with "obeying God and working in the fields" too easily leads to a works righteousness, which we try to avoid.  And we take a language lesson from the Greek here...

For me, the key to this parable is the word metamelomai (pronounce it like it looks!). Although the NRSV translates it "to change one's mind," (vv. 29, 32) that is not the most literal understanding of this word. Usually the idea of "changing one's mind" or "repenting" is conveyed by the Greek word metanoeo (Again, pronounce it like it looks!).

The prefix meta = "change" begins both words.  The verb noeo is related to activities of the mind (nous)  The verb melo has the sense "to care for," so we might translate metamelomai as "changing what one cares about" or "to change what one is most concerned about."  And that is something worth considering here... as we approach Christmas and a new year... 

Pastor Ed Markquardt once wrote… 

“Repentance” means “changing your mind which leads to a change in behavior.” Jesus also stated this theme at the very beginning of the his earthly work, “Repent and believe the gospel.” Jesus first said, “Repent.” He said secondly, “Believe the gospel.” Nowadays, many Christians focus only on one half of Jesus’ teaching: “Believe the gospel.” They/we often ignore the first part of Jesus’ teaching. “Repent.”

The vineyard, the world, is always in a mess.  There are always earthquakes in the Turkeys and Taiwans of the world.  There are always wars in the Mideast and rumors of war in the Koreas of the world.  There are always divorces and families falling apart.  There are always poor families living down the street, with not enough money and emotional resources to make it. 

And what is the predictable reaction of the church to this pain and devastation in the world around us, far and near?  Too often, we merely hold our worship services in the middle of the vineyard.  We have our Bible studies and small group studies in the middle of our brokenness and follow it up with a pot-luck supper and forget to invite the stranger or to risk going out of the parking lot and do something good for someone who will never have the capacity to pay us back.   That's why Martin Luther reminded everyone we are both 'saint AND sinner!'

And so God, in the parable for any day we read it, in his disgust for our unwillingness to do the needed work in the vineyard says, “I will go and find somebody else who will do the work in this world of mine.”  In other words, this parable is an invitation for us not to be like the Pharisees. It is a challenge to go into God’s messed up world and do the necessary work.  It's the realizing that Jesus would rather have us be more like the prostitutes and the tax collectors... more like the whores and the crooks... because despite their unworthiness to part of the Kingdom of God via the rules of the Pharisees and chief priests in the temple... they said, 'yes' to Jesus and chose what was most important...

Now, some have asked me... "well, why didn't Jesus add a third brother?  Why didn't he include a brother who honored his father by saying 'yes' and presented himself as a man of integrity by actually doing what he said he would do?  What about that guy? Wouldn't the story have a different turn if there was a 3rd brother?"

Well, of course... Jesus told the parable... "A man had two sons..." ...two disrespectful sons... sons like us... sons like me... sons like my dad... sons like my dad's grandsons... disrespectful and selfish... sons like you... sons like your sons and grandsons... and ALL of us are guilty... not one OR the other... but both... AND that is why this story has so much power for us... as we are driven to the moment of grace  where we turn to the only son who was faithful in all things... Jesus ... son AND savior... Jesus ... brother AND friend... Jesus... teacher AND guide... Jesus.. Lord AND God.. now AND forever!

May the joy of this time of the year and the 12 days of Christmas do a good work in each of you!

One man at a time; no man left behind,

   Brian

"The Church as SHIP"

Men...        ...'it's time to go to work!"

St. Paul once wrote, "transformation comes via the renewal of your mind..." We all need that from time to time… and as Lent approaches… here’s a hope-filled transforming thought…

We all know the CHURCH is people...but we also refer to the ‘building’ as church… but whether it be people or structure… what if we considered church as ship?

One of the first images of the Jesus’ church is the "sailing ship". The Armenians adopted this image early on as they claimed themselves to be the first “Christian nation.” They sailed to the Holy Land to see where Jesus lived, taught, died and came back to life! Even today, they are the caretakers of the Chapel of St. Helen, Constantine’s mother, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Having the sailing ship as a Christian symbol points to the idea that the church is in "mission" and when we read the writings of St. Paul, we recall that the fulfillment of the "mission" often required a vessel… From the earliest days to spread the message of Jesus to Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, the British Isles, the New World of the Americas, the south Pacific islands and even back to the continent of Africa the sailing ship was an essential tool. Without a ship the message would have been passed on much more slowly…

Now, some church sociologists liken the modern 21st Century church to a ship... remaining ‘in mission' but some have suggested that there are now 2 kinds of churches...the Aircraft Carrier church and the Cruise Ship church… similar but not the same… How do you know?  Which is which?? What makes them different? What kind of ship is your congregation?

The Aircraft Carrier is prepared for battle. It goes to where the needs are greatest. The carrier is prepared to engage in battle and has provided "training" so that each person is equipped to enter the battle with confidence. The aircraft carrier is a 'launching' station for those who are ready for flight and now wanting to take on the battle face to face. Sacrifice is the theme of the day. It makes a noticeable difference. Right away. This is the kind of image of church that Martin Luther wrote of as he shared his thoughts about the "priesthood of all believers..."

The other kind of church is the Cruise Ship church. It's fun. It's easy. People just pay the fee and take a ride. It only makes fun stops and doesn't require anything except to pay for the ticket and show up! Everybody who rides the cruise ship church expects to be served...not to serve... Everybody who rides the cruise ship church is wanting to dock quickly when the waters get rough...Everyone who rides the cruise ship takes the journey that is equipped to meet their personal needs…

I could go on here about lights and glitter and sumptuous meals vs. blood, sweat, darkness and toil, etc...but by now you already see the difference. You get the point. You're smart people.

But, which one is your church? Are the members of your congregation on the Aircraft Carrier? Or are some of the members of your congregation wanting the church to be the Cruise ship? And what about Captain Pastor?  Where does he or she lean?  It all points to what Dietrich Bonheoffer (the German Lutheran pastor who plotted to kill Hitler) wrote about in his book, The Cost of Discipleship when he addressed "costly grace" vs. "cheap grace." Costly grace is just that. There is a price to discipleship--the total of one's own life. "Cheap grace" is the trust that God will bail me out of all my messes because that's God's job... God works... I cruise...

Taking stock of these distinctions can really be at the heart of the matter  where your mission is headed and as you look ahead to the season of Lent looming before us.... you may find value in having this kind of conversation with your ministy leaders and partners....

So, as you prepare yourself for worship each week and as you ponder what Lent might be for you… take a moment to look in the mirror and consider that...

• The time of the Lent is about knowing oneself, the renewing of spiritual disciplines and sacrifice;
• A life that does not take time for confession… is already dead… some suggest;
• There are men in your life… in your family, congregation, workplace and neighborhood are ‘wounded’ and are looking for an invitation to get things right with God and themselves;
• Getting on the ship and taking part in the battle DOES save lives;
• Your getting on the right ship reflects YOUR life!

Take comfort in the wisdom of St. Paul...as he wrote to his friends in Corinth...

"17 God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center - Christ on the Cross - be trivialized into mere words. 18 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hell bent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense." -Corinthians 1:17-18

Ok, it's time to load up the Aircraft Carrier...or would you prefer this Lent to take a cruise...????

One man at a time; no man left behind,

     Brian



NOTE We had a great time in Brenham for our Tri-synod Lutheran Men in Mission gathering last weekend... thanks to our Tri-Synod LMM Leader team for all the planning, Ps. Phil Fenton and the men of St. Paul's LC, Brenham for hosting and to all who attended...

AN OPEN LETTER TO COLLEAGUES AND MEN OF THE GULF COAST SYNOD...

CAUTION: Men @ Work

+MEN'S MINISTRY VALUE +     

UNDEREMPHASIZED & UNDERESTIMATED!

To All the KING'S men,

Put on your hard hat---it's time to go to work...so let me just say this out loud...not in anger nor with brashful boasting...just an honest announcement...

"Our synod's men's ministry is underemphasized & underestimated..."

There, now, I feel better and after reading this post, I hope you will too...laymen, clergy, AiMs and youth ministry network leaders alike...I really do beleive this---men's ministry in the Gulf Coast synod is underemphasized and underestimated... at best... and misunderstood at least...

A number of years ago, the Washington Post shared an article that stated (my paraphrase)

"even though our budget will present itself with more shortfalls equalling millions of dollars and the mayor has been arrested for posession of cocaine, everthing else in Washington D.C. is just fine." 

Some of you when reading this would say..."that does not pass the smell test!"  And you would be right.  There is not shalom in Washington D.C. and there is not shalom in the Gulf Coast synod when it comes to men's ministry.  Why do I suggest that?  Here are some symptoms...

• I read a lot of newsletters.  Most of our congregations have no visible sign of an attitude for men's ministry or seek to be engaging men in an intentional way by looking at their monthly calendar and in the body of the newsletter itself;
• After four years of seeking to reach out to all congregations to coonect with men, many of our congregations are still not in the KING'S MEN network;
• Only 3 pastors in the last 4 years have called to ask me about ramping up their men's ministry in their local setting;
• I don't always add a 'read receipt' to e-communications, but occassionally when I do, there are a couple of pastors who dump it..."unread;"  AND MOST RECENTLY...
• The Men's SpiritualityRetreat @ Camp Lutherhill with Campus Pastor Greg Ronning of TLU set as the presenter was cancelled due to lack of registrants...

Even though our bishop is a proactive voice for men's ministry and we have no worry of lack of funding for there is no budget, everything is not just fine...and again, I'm not angry, sad or being brashfully boastful...I am only sharing what I see...

Now, please understand... I cannot NOT do this work.  God's Holy Spirit has gripped my heart, mind, eyes, hands and feet and my attention to this ministry to, for and with men per all men's sake is a primary focus for me as a parish pastor.  We all have our passions and I have mine  ...ending global hunger in our life-time, tending to 21st century 'reformation' worship, and nurturing the family...especially 'blended' families to name my personal few and these do not take a back seat to all the other things that I find myself involved in pastoral ministry...preaching, teaching, coaching, ecumenical work, community service and being SEO (Second Executive Officer and subservient to Christ and his Gospel) tending to the visioning and administration of congregational life.  Understand---pastor or church staff or member...we are all busy... so that is why it is important to work and think and live 'smart' for the sake of the gospel we preach and the perfect and preferred kingdom work we are welcoming as we must all admit...this kingdom comes all by itself and thus OUR personal "busy-ness" should not get in the way of God's work...

Thus my point... men's ministry is NOT something 'extra' pastors and men and the church at large do...rather it is a way of seeing the ministry we do using the gifts of men and reaching out to all men with the good news of Jesus and inviting them to take their rightful place at the font and table and lead the church, their families and communities in lives of prayerful devotion to God and service to the world... let me try to say it again... a bit differently...

Men's ministry is NOT something extra... it is an attitude of faith that permeates the household of God and impacts the lives of men...one by one...two by two... and in small groups and large gatherings... men's ministry is not a program...with a goal to begin and a deadline to meet...men's ministry may very well be the ONE thing (beyond Word & sacraments) that every church in the ELCA can rally around for the sake of our work as God's people...

Said a bit more simple... it would seem obvious that if every man in every congregation were engaged fully into this ministry...the women and children would follow.  Men are called to lead.  So many don't and when asked...they don't know how... what kind of churches do we want?  That seems obvious, too!

Another way of lifting this up is to be a bit brash and confrontational... and that then comes with a challenge...simply stated... PROVE ME WRONG... there, I said it and I feel better now that I have... "prove me worong" and I say this with an honest understanding that if you try to do this..."prove me wrong"...I'm am confident  that God's Holy Spirit will prove this work to be of value to you and if you tend to this work over the next 2-3-5 years...your congregation and ministry will not be the same and will in fact be something I dare say you've not anticipated...

Four years ago, Bishop Paul Blom appointed me to serve in a volunteer position as Co-ordinator for Men's Ministry in the Gulf Coast synod. I have no real job description and yet I think I have a very big drum to beat and some of you have thanked me for beating that drum with passion and power.  You're welcome. Thank God, too..OK?  Because that's what I do when I hear from you that you appreciate that I keep this ministry out in the foreground of our collective synodical work...

Two years ago, our newly elected bishop, Mike Rinehart, asked me to continue in this position and do this work and that I would have his blessing for the next 2 years...and now at the end of September 2010 that time period has expired and the bishop has asked me to beat this drum for at least two more years...but as I said earlier...there is no deadline for men's ministry...so, I'm writing to you today to let you know...

1. I am honored and humbled to serve our synod and the ELCA in this role and will soon have a job description to present to synod council for affirmation and adoption;
2. Lutheran Men in Mission is a movement of the laity...they are called "KING's MEN" in the Gulf Coast Synod and some congregations are embracing this reality better than others.  Our best days remain the days to come;
3. The pastors, AiMs and Youth & Family Ministry network MUST get on board with this ministry attitude so that every man in every congregation gets the idea that they are LMM and have a ministry which is God given and intended to be shared.  You can find out about the importance of this ministry by simply reading the church newsletter, weekly bulletin, and listen for ongoing opporotunities to grow and serve.  Look.  Listen.  Respond.  Plan.  Act.  Review.  Look.  Listen, etc;
4. LMM serves the work of pastors and lay leaders in the church.  Thus, pastors, above all will benefit from this ongoing work...EX---teaching and coaching 5 men to make hospital visits IS an extension of pastoral care and also IS ministry by and for men...
5. Lutheran Men in Mission works to reach out to every man we know...those who are unchurched; those with a developing faith; those with a deep faith; those who are leading and coaching other men; AND men who are hurting...even their pastor who may be male OR female... Does your men's leadership team have a list of these men and a strategy to reach out to them?  Perhaps, that's the place to start...

Lastly, see it this way...men's ministry is NOT the best thing since sliced bread... It IS the bread...or at least one of the 5 loaves a young boy gave to Jesus to feed a multitude...5 loaves... worship...teaching...outreach...service AND men's ministry... and when congregations and pastors are tending to these five loaves...a couple of fish show up too... and you can call those whatever you like...but in the end a miracle occurs and their is great contentment on the plain (or mount!).

Please wander around this web-site for a bit... read some back posts...  check out some of the links... and so I invite the men in your church...including the pastors... to take time to gather at Peace LC in Pasadena on FRI-SAT  November 12 & 13... to hear David Dusek share 'hands on' ways that each congregation can use to amplify their ministry to men and for men...

Please know that you can call me anytime...832.858.4076... there I posted my cell number and I feel good about that...men's ministry may be undersestimated or at least misunderstood... but can never be under valued!!!.... and your call would never be taken as intrusive or considered an interruption... and when you call remind me to tell you the old story of the father who had little time for his son...and how the young boy set out to get the world together by first putting the man together...

One man at a time; no man left behind,

   Brian