"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

FROM TIME TO TIME- 'Perspectives'

Every once in a while it's good to hold perspective.  Every once in a while we realize the compass gets dropped or we've turned the corner to a path unfamiliar and undesired or we've listened to the voice of one who does not have a our best interest at heart!  "From time to time"... the old saying goes... and it's biblical... part of the work and rest... the rhythm of being fruitful and experiencing 'sabbath/rest' ... from time to time to stop and change the oil... from time to time... to stop and smell the roses...and bring some to the one we love the most!  From time to time to review the highs and lows of life... from time to time to tend to the grace that is gift to us in order to continue on after that time of self-assessment... from time to time to consider the brevity of life and  the desire to be a partner in the community being built for us and around us and within us... from time to time... make a short list of the important matters of the mission and ministry of the men in the Gulf Coast synod... so, let me tend to some BIG rocks and let you know this...

 

 

 

1. All the men in all of our congregations are involved in this work!  How is your congregation's men's ministry keeping track of how this is going and who is tending to what? 

    2. The Vision: "that every man have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men's ministry in every congregation."

 

    3. National ELCA LMM web-link: http://www.lutheranmeninmission.org/.  This is a great place to begin when looking for ideas and opportunities for men's ministry in your corner of the kingdom.

 

    4.  The Gulf Coast connection: http://gulfcoastmen.blogspot.com/ to find information, inspiration, a place to connect and event calendar.  YOUR ON IT RIGHT NOW!

    5.  LMM Synod FACEBOOK page:
                         https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/322608116647/

    6. Synod Leaders:

• President: Mark Dentler (Advent/Houston) markdentler@sbcglobal.net
• 1st VP: EJ Hanhart (St. Paul's/ Baton Rouge) ejhanhart@gmail.com
• 2nd VP: Velon Burnett (Messiah/Cypress) mvburnett@sbcglobal.net
• Secretary: Doug Eaton (St. Martin's/Sugarland) doug_eaton@att.net
• Treasurer: Ps. Sam Brannon (St. Paul's / Columbus) sambrannon@gmail.com
• Synod Men's Ministry Coordinator: Rev. Dr. Brian Gigee (New Life/Pearland) brian@newlifelutheran.com

Please keep this information available as these men stand ready to help...

        7.  EVENTS:

• 2013 Synod Assembly Men's "Breakfast Break-Out" Saturday May 18 @ Camp Allen. Speaker: Mr. Rich White, LMM National President
• "Disciple Project" @ TLU June 24 - 28 "MEN @ WORK" (Leadership Training for Year-Round Men's Ministry)

• you can get started here:  http://gulfcoastsynod.org/events/the-disciple-project/

• Fall Men's Leadership Gathering @ Camp Lutherhill "One Year to Live" Retreat September 19-20-21, 2013
• Tri-Synod Men's Huddle: March 21,22 & 23, 2014 @ Briarwood Retreat Center (NTNL Synod hosts)  This is the PRE-Gathering to the National LMM event (see below!)

     8.  NEXT National LMM Gathering:

• The National LMM Gathering/Assembly will be held in Nashville, TN July18-19-20, 2014. The Pre-Assembly gathering is July 17 - 18, Assembly (Business Meeting).
• The theme is : "GUYS, GUTS AND GOD'S GLORY." This promises to be an exciting gathering in a fun city to visit. If you have not already done so at your synod LMM gatherings this year, please elect or chose delegates (voting members) to represent your synod to vote on issues and elections at the assembly.
• Hopefully, the 3 synods from TX and LA will have a significant contingent attend and return to our respective synods with renewed faith and energy to keep tending to this important work.

      9. SYNOD PROJECT:

• At this year's annual gathering in February our men voted to help complete a project at Principe' de Paz in Houston.  Doug McNaughton of Holy Comforter will take the point!
• Principe' de Paz's pastor, the Rev. Adriana Johnson-Rivas has a growing outreach to families via a 'soccer' ministry to families.  They have 1 good field but room for 3 fields including upgrading Field # 1 to a tournament a field and building some bleachers and a stand for refreshments.  This will take some planning and 'hands on' plus some financial support to complete.  Ps. Pedro Suarez, our synod's Director for Evangelical Mission will also assist us in this plan.  Pray.  Stand by.  Step up.  It's on !

    10.  GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

• Over the years, all congregations have been asked "from time to time" to share a financial gift to the ELCA's LMM national campaign but to also share a gift to support the 4 "LOVE PROJECTS" of our Gulf Coast Synod LMM  1) Camp Lutherhill; 2) TLU; 3) Synod LYO; and 4) the mission of LMM's support staff.  If your congregation has sent a gift this year...thank you... and if you have not will you please send a gift to Ps. Sam Brannon (mark "Gulf Coast LMM") at St. Paul's LC  PO Box 267  Columbus, Texas 78934.

From time to time it is good for us to stop and check our oil, check our compass and see that we are on a path that leads to life and listen to the voice of the one who calls us from darkness into his marvelous light!  It was no coincedence that Luther picked a 'rose' for his crest of faith!

 

One man @ a time; no man left behind,

 

     Brian

 

            Gulf Coast Men's Ministry Coordinator

"UP, IN and OUT --- the Power of Prepositions"

Prepositions. We use them all the time. Small words. Powerful words. Necessary words. Connectors. They are the critical part of our vocabulary honing the details of what we say, how we say it – directing our thoughts and manner by which we communicate. You know. Word of God; faith in Christ; with the Holy Spirit. See? Even the opening sentence of the Bible begins with a preposition… “IN the beginning..." and as we talk our faith and walk our faith we find a great lesson in the power of prepositions. Men in Mission. Let’s see how this works. After all, men's ministry reflects the power of God... no beginning and no end and the main point is to tend to part that is in between.

I'm always being asked, "what can I do... what can we do... what can our church do for the men in our church and in our community?" Is there a 'roadmap' to help them build and sustain faithful and purposeful living is another way to ask. It's an honest question and I have found the work of Ps. Walt Kallestad and Fr. Michael Breen very helpful here. Some of what you read next is from their books, "Passionate Life" and its sequel, "Passionate Church." We all get passion. We need it. Christ showed it. Mel Gibson made a movie about it. The passion of God... the passion of the Christ...the one who has come to us in the person of Jesus... God in the flesh... with a passion that is in our hearts before we even know it. This passion is a gift from God that when we seek it we find ourselves discovering the joy... a complete joy according to Jesus... that only God can give.

Breen and Kallestad offer up some 'geometric' shapes to help us tend to our faith. The semi-circle is used to demonstrate the pendulum swing and rhythm of work and rest; of work and prayer; of work and fun. It's a good rhythm. They use the image of the circle to show how confession, grace and absolution direct our path from week to week... from one Sunday to the next. We think, plan and act. Sometimes we get things done. Sometimes we've left them undone. And when our thoughts and plans and actions do not line up with God's will for our life (see Deuteronomy 6:5 ff as a model for God's will) then we gather as God's people to observe, reflect and discuss this same will and in acknowledging our missing the mark we have opportunity to think, plan and act again. The God of second chances shows up again and again and this passion of God for each of us gives us courage and hope to continue on... and that is the rhythm of our lives.

The third shape the authors present is the triangle. It's that equilateral kind with 3 equal sides and connected to each side are three instructions.

• UP with God
• IN with the Church
• OUT with the world

Up, In and Out... powerful prepositions for 21st Century Christians! And once again there is the rhythm of God to help us maintain the flow of work and rest living deeply in God's present and returning grace as our life in God is more than personal; it is communal, corporate and missional.

Like the 10 Commandments, with the first three defining our relationship with God, the initial work of "up with God" is critical to all the rest. We don't serve from and empty chalice. We don't give what we don't have. We can't. We offer what overflows from us and our life within the church and our living together in the world as church is fueled when we are connected and 'up with God." It is as ancient as breathing and as the ancients practiced a prayer posture that included not bowed heads and closed eyes, but arms spread open, heads raised and eyes wide open so that God could see deep in our hearts as the heart has always been the first access point for God with us! Our 'up with God' efforts include quiet time for prayer; a regular pattern of introspective meditation; taking advantage of moments of confession to welcome God's forgiveness and as St. Paul reminded the Colossians that our connectedness to God includes singing hymns and spiritual songs as these are all part of our 'worship.' The 'up-with-God-ness' within us is essential and remember that Martin Luther took time for 'worship' as Jesus did, each Sabbath, and did so daily via a time for prayer each morning... for an hour ... at least and on more difficult days... he prayed for 2 hours. Wow, what a world we would have if the world did that! UP with God!

As we read the Bible, we can see quickly that God is very into 'community.' God is always speaking out to and gathering groups of people... prophets, priests and kings, disciples, elders, deacons, etc. Jesus called 12 disciples, sent out 70 in pairs to teach, preach and heal, 120 another time and on the day of Pentecost, St. Luke notes that 3000 were baptized as a result of Peter's preaching. God is always about community and we really can't actualize our Christian-ness by trying to be Christian alone or in our way or image. Check it out... the Bible speaks of the children of God, the people of God, the family of faith, the body of Christ, those called from darkness into a marvelous light, the followers of the Way and on and on we see that being a follower of Jesus the Christ is about being in community! So, up with God leads to being "in with the Church."

How did Martin Luther describe the Church? He said in the catechism that the church is where a) the Word of God was preached; b) the sacraments were administered rightly; and sometimes c) where the mutual conversation and consolation of the people is experienced, Luther's way of talking about sharing one another's joys and struggles. Do you recognize that Church? There is nothing solitary about it! Preachers need people who can listen. The people need a preacher who can share the good news and teach. And while taking a bath or shower is a private act of cleanliness, no one likes to play in the pool or swim in the ocean alone. In fact, the latter is frowned upon and frankly dangerous! We can call Holy Communion by a couple of names... The Lord's Supper or the Eucharist, the New Testament word for "giving thanks." Who would want to have Thanksgiving dinner alone? That would be a very quiet and lonely meal.

Or think of it this way... when people join our churches they stand at the baptismal font and in front of the altar and say words like this... "it is my intention to:

• live among God's faithful people (vs hanging out with the un-faithful!)
• hear God's Word (vs devoting oneself to Stephen King novels, etc)
• share in the Lord's Supper (a meal that only Christ can offer)
• follow the example of Jesus (now that's a loaded request all by itself!)
• strive for peace and justice in all the world (who can do this alone?)

And at the same time, as a mostly hard-working nose to the grindstone parish pastor, I would like to add a couple of extra lines like, support the work of this ministry via generous gifts of money and time and for people to read their monthly newsletters and emails.... the response heard is ... "I do and I ask God to help and guide me!" And when we are all about this effort day after day, week after week, season after season and year after year, the Church remains strong and faithful. So, being "in with the Church" doesn't just bring benefit to my own life, others nearby are blessed, too.

But to what end? Is the church just for us? Luther was amazed with delight to wrap his head around the words of Jesus... "pro me"... the Latin words about the Lord's Supper... that the bread and wine and the body and blood of Christ was "for me!" --- that Jesus' body and blood comes to us in that wonderful prepositional way--- in, with and under the bread and the wine! But, he also read Jesus' clear command to "do this" as the way to remember him, and that, also, in this feeding, in this collective and mysterious remembering meal, there was the task to share this grace and message with the world. Thus, to be up with God and in with the Church has no other destination but to be 'out with the world.' Jesus was also 'sending' and telling his followers to "go!" And so we do... we are sent and we go with confidence and with a message that leads others to a life that is overflowing with the kind of joy and peace and purpose that only God's Holy Spirit can provide.

In the end, we are the 'real presence' of God's sacramental mystery in the world. This is what church is. This is what men's ministry is part of and designed for. It is the trinitarian model that just about any man you know or I know can internalize and live out. And finally, here's why this is such an important thing... it's our story...

Three men walk into a bar. They are strangers. They all sit down and make their order... Scotch on the rocks, Tequila straight up and a Kentucky bourbon with ice on the side. The bar tender notices that he's never seen them in his bar before. "You know each other?" he asks. "No," they all chime in together. "Oh," the barkeep says. "What brings you here?"

The first man says, "well I just got pink-slipped. The company I've had 27 years of loyalty and the place I thought I'd retire from just cut me loose," as he pulled the rosy colored paper out of his pocket. "It was embarrassing having a security officer walk me to my car."

The second man says, "hey, me too! My gringo boss was a real jerk. He said we have to cut back to save money. So, me, Juan and Pito got the boot."

And before Paulo finishes, the third story unfolds..."Yeah, I knew this was going to happen. The man always says my job is secure. He's said that to me and my friends for the last two years and every so often, the team gets smaller and smaller. Today, it's my turn."

So, the good listener behind the bar stood stunned. "Man, all three of you are out of work, huh?" But, that wasn't all there was to tell... in a matter of minutes all three men tell their version of how they called home to tell their spouses the news and all three men heard similar versions of "oh, well that's just great... I can't take this any more....that's the last straw... I'm done... when you get home I will be gone... and oh by the way... that 24 year old unemployed college drop-out son of yours is passed out on the living room couch and his 17 year old sister just told me she's pregnant and does not know who the father is."

Up with God, in with the Church, out with the world. You and I walk in that bar next... minutes later. What do we say? Do we care about these three men? Their spouses and children? The grandchild who may bear his name? What do they want to hear? What do they need to hear? Most likely, they will not care that we believe we are simul justus et peccator... at the same time saint and sinner... they won't care whether we use bread or wafers for Holy Communion or whether our sanctuary has a big screen or not. They won't care if our worship music features a pipe organ, a mariachi band or we have drums or not. They won't care that Luther was smarter than Calvin or that we're praying God lifts up a visionary man to be the next pope or whether our nursery has a volunteer staff of parents or a paid attendant during worship and Sunday School. The won't care if we pray the Lord's prayer with 'sins' or 'trespasses' or in King James or modern English or Swedish, German or Aramaic. They just won't. They will want to know the answers to questions like ... "How did this happen?" "How long is this going to last?" and "What can be done to bring some calm to this storm?" And without saying or asking out loud they will be asking the two questions Dr. Rollie Martinson says are the 2 most intimate questions any man has... "Will there be anyone here for me?" and "Will God be here for me?" "For me?" ... that powerful prepositional phrase that can make all the difference in the quality of any man's life...

Prepositions. We use them all the time. Small words. Powerful words. Necessary words. Connectors. How will you help the men in your congregation and your world remain "UP" with God, "IN" with the Church and "OUT" with the world? And are you ready to walk into that bar for Jesus' sake? He won't want you to go alone, but Jesus does want you to go!

One man at a time; no man left behind!  You will want to share this with a friend...

Brian

 

P.S.  Comments and reactions to these thoughts are always welcome!