Growing in faith
Commentary
Object:
Growing in faith need not entail giving up chocolate, donuts, or red meat for Lent. All three of today’s texts present a challenge for spiritual growth. For those of us who run into well-intentioned people who declare “I am spiritual but not religious,” we need not look any further than this week’s texts for opportunities to plant some seeds that will indeed push one to grow in their faith.
Isaiah 55:1-9
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (v. 2). This text is a call to contrast God’s ways to those of the Babylonian (or any) empire for a people in exile, who may one day return home. Babylon’s gods have had conditions and lure people with false promises. The basic “empire” strategy of any era is to offer immediate gratification, good times, and pleasure in return for a goal which remains elusive to the average citizen peasant classes (with an occasional “lotto” winner to maintain the hype!). The empire still promises success, connections with the right people, and more good times -- with only one cost that is usually written in very small print: a person’s soul and/or spirit.
Isaiah calls the remnant of the faithful believers of any time to seek God in the temple, not in the world’s arenas of power and pleasure while in Babylon. He is asking that those who are settled in Babylon not accommodate to these values. God has a purpose for each person’s life. God’s ways are not the ways of humans (or their empires, v. 8).
This text is a challenge to rely on God for an alternative future than that offered by the empire or power-brokers of the times. During Lent, whose values does the average Christian internalize? Is it the values of him who offered his body and blood for us (Isaiah’s servant songs, Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52), or the values of the latest hockey or basketball playoff series? Growing in the faith is a constant choice between the God that has glorified his people (v. 5), or the false gods of any era that only welcome those with money.
The text suggests that people of faith remain mindful that God is a separate entity from the world’s political unrest, empire, or latest technology-driven power-brokers. Such false gods would wish humans be dependent on their android phones, computers, or latest “selfie” pictures. Where do we get our meaning for life? Which God of the age is the one who provides purpose for our lives when the money has ran out, health conditions are in peril, and the family is fighting over minutiae that will not matter in another year? Isaiah offers the promise “Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (v. 2). [Sources: Walter Brueggemann, Isaiah 40-66 (Westminster John Knox Press, 1998); Brevard Childs, Old Testament Library: Isaiah (Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)]
I Corinthians 10:1-13
“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (v. 13). The temptation to fall to idolatry ties this text together with the Isaiah 55 passage. This time, it is Christians in Corinth who struggle with the temptations of their times. Paul reminds the people that such was the case as early as the people (of Israel) who were under Moses. The text raises the point that sometimes simply getting baptized or becoming a member of the community is not enough to deal with challenges in the wilderness. Even if God does provide deliverance in the form of food and water, people often want more.
Do we learn lessons from the past? That might be one question to struggle with from this text. Also, the people of Israel learned that one can leave Egypt and its values, but these same values are still inside the people’s personal value and belief systems. Again, this ties the text to the Isaiah 55 challenge not to internalize the values of Babylon when an independent God has delivered the people from such bondage.
With references from Leviticus 25, Paul reminds Christians not to put God to the test as the people who wandered in the wilderness did. In the season of Lent, how do people “test” God? What kind of “bargains” do people make with God, that God must deliver on a promise to get their child onto a sports team or into a school, or achieve financial windfall in order to prove God is real?
In his book Pathways to Theodicy: An Introduction to the Problem of Evil, Mark S.M. Scott suggests that one response to unfair suffering is that suffering is necessary for spiritual and moral growth (p. 96). Not all people grow through times of testing and loss. Some people simply grow bitter and renounce their faith in any “almighty god.” Only a reward in the afterlife can alleviate such pain, as Scott cites British philosopher John Hick (pp. 97-102).
Lent is the season to weigh such questions of gain, loss, and testing, and which values of the times fully sustain a person for the long term. For example, a person loses their job right after they were elected to the church council in their congregation. Their job might go away, but their election to the church council might be seen as a calling from above (or as Isaiah 55 would put it, from an independent God). The good news remains to any Christian in the year 2016: “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (v. 13). [Sources: F.F. Bruce, The New Century Bible Commentary: I & II Corinthians (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1971); Mark S.M. Scott, Pathways in Theodicy: An Introduction to the Problem of Evil (Augsburg Fortress, 2015)]
Luke 13:1-9
In this season, what does it mean to bear fruit? That is, many church leaders will measure their ministries by both the quantity and quality of fruit that is being produced. The parable of the fig tree is a reminder that simply passively sitting in church and declaring “I am not getting nothing out of these sermons” is not enough. The text begins with tragic stories of Galileans whom Pilate had killed in a bloody manner. Historians such as Josephus have shown that such acts were consistent with the Roman governor’s character. Then there is another incident where the Towers of Siloam have fallen on innocent people. This might be a local tragedy of their time, possibly their tsunami, 9/11, or theatre/church shooting tragedy. There is no way to insulate ourselves or loved ones from such events.
The growing-in-faith dimension comes in that believers are called to a lifestyle of daily repentance. The Lucan version of the Lord’s Prayer is one tool for such a daily discipline: “And forgive our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial” (Luke 11:4).
While one has no power to prevent the evil inflicted by Pontus Pilates or the unexpected calamities of towers or other disasters falling upon our families or selves, the gospel of this text is that Jesus provides ample opportunities to grow by placing fertilizer (manure) upon the plant. What sort of fertilizer is needed for people to internalize the words in scripture and the teachings of the community of faith? There are second chances in the season of Lent. The killing and death by the fallen tower are not the final word -- but a call to turn one’s life around is one way to grow in the faith, according to Luke 13:1-9. [Sources: John T. Carroll, The New Testament Library: Luke (Westminster John Knox Press, 2015); David L. Tiede, Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: Luke (Augsburg Fortress, 1988)]
Application
An independent God who is not tied to the results on Wall Street, Nielsen ratings, or the latest cover magazine looks for the perfect body is what hold all three of these texts together. This God remains one (monotheism). God has something better in store for all of the faithful believers. During the long months of Lent, it is often a depressing and lagging time -- when only commercial interests can lure us with their mammon of sales, clearances, and parties to get our minds off the emptiness one feels in the Babylons of life. The promise of all of these texts is that God has something better and fulfilling.
A blizzard and ice storm has come upon a certain community. Power outages abound, and businesses try to remain operational with gasoline generators. It will be days before the power is back on for the citizens of this community. Then the local school opens its gymnasium where sports are usually played. Also the school cafeteria, which is usually restricted to students, welcomes all citizens in the community without power at home to live in and eat for the duration of the crisis. Such times of unforeseen calamity can be seen as opportunities to grow in faith or remain bitter that the gods of technology have dropped the ball (again!).
Alternative Application
If one wants to risk a bit of controversy, an alternative path might be to ask which tests really determine how much a person has grown and learned, and which tests only serve to irritate people. Many states are exploring the testing of students in high school. Does the SAT or ACT really determine how well a student does in higher education? Also, if a person flunks a test of any kind, how many chances do they receive? I knew a person who took the LSAT (law school admission test) as a hobby, when they actually worked in the medical industry. However, the LSAT test scores remind them whether they should remain in medicine or look toward law. It will never get them a pay raise in the medical industry -- it is simply a personal challenge.
Isaiah 55:1-9
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (v. 2). This text is a call to contrast God’s ways to those of the Babylonian (or any) empire for a people in exile, who may one day return home. Babylon’s gods have had conditions and lure people with false promises. The basic “empire” strategy of any era is to offer immediate gratification, good times, and pleasure in return for a goal which remains elusive to the average citizen peasant classes (with an occasional “lotto” winner to maintain the hype!). The empire still promises success, connections with the right people, and more good times -- with only one cost that is usually written in very small print: a person’s soul and/or spirit.
Isaiah calls the remnant of the faithful believers of any time to seek God in the temple, not in the world’s arenas of power and pleasure while in Babylon. He is asking that those who are settled in Babylon not accommodate to these values. God has a purpose for each person’s life. God’s ways are not the ways of humans (or their empires, v. 8).
This text is a challenge to rely on God for an alternative future than that offered by the empire or power-brokers of the times. During Lent, whose values does the average Christian internalize? Is it the values of him who offered his body and blood for us (Isaiah’s servant songs, Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52), or the values of the latest hockey or basketball playoff series? Growing in the faith is a constant choice between the God that has glorified his people (v. 5), or the false gods of any era that only welcome those with money.
The text suggests that people of faith remain mindful that God is a separate entity from the world’s political unrest, empire, or latest technology-driven power-brokers. Such false gods would wish humans be dependent on their android phones, computers, or latest “selfie” pictures. Where do we get our meaning for life? Which God of the age is the one who provides purpose for our lives when the money has ran out, health conditions are in peril, and the family is fighting over minutiae that will not matter in another year? Isaiah offers the promise “Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (v. 2). [Sources: Walter Brueggemann, Isaiah 40-66 (Westminster John Knox Press, 1998); Brevard Childs, Old Testament Library: Isaiah (Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)]
I Corinthians 10:1-13
“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (v. 13). The temptation to fall to idolatry ties this text together with the Isaiah 55 passage. This time, it is Christians in Corinth who struggle with the temptations of their times. Paul reminds the people that such was the case as early as the people (of Israel) who were under Moses. The text raises the point that sometimes simply getting baptized or becoming a member of the community is not enough to deal with challenges in the wilderness. Even if God does provide deliverance in the form of food and water, people often want more.
Do we learn lessons from the past? That might be one question to struggle with from this text. Also, the people of Israel learned that one can leave Egypt and its values, but these same values are still inside the people’s personal value and belief systems. Again, this ties the text to the Isaiah 55 challenge not to internalize the values of Babylon when an independent God has delivered the people from such bondage.
With references from Leviticus 25, Paul reminds Christians not to put God to the test as the people who wandered in the wilderness did. In the season of Lent, how do people “test” God? What kind of “bargains” do people make with God, that God must deliver on a promise to get their child onto a sports team or into a school, or achieve financial windfall in order to prove God is real?
In his book Pathways to Theodicy: An Introduction to the Problem of Evil, Mark S.M. Scott suggests that one response to unfair suffering is that suffering is necessary for spiritual and moral growth (p. 96). Not all people grow through times of testing and loss. Some people simply grow bitter and renounce their faith in any “almighty god.” Only a reward in the afterlife can alleviate such pain, as Scott cites British philosopher John Hick (pp. 97-102).
Lent is the season to weigh such questions of gain, loss, and testing, and which values of the times fully sustain a person for the long term. For example, a person loses their job right after they were elected to the church council in their congregation. Their job might go away, but their election to the church council might be seen as a calling from above (or as Isaiah 55 would put it, from an independent God). The good news remains to any Christian in the year 2016: “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (v. 13). [Sources: F.F. Bruce, The New Century Bible Commentary: I & II Corinthians (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1971); Mark S.M. Scott, Pathways in Theodicy: An Introduction to the Problem of Evil (Augsburg Fortress, 2015)]
Luke 13:1-9
In this season, what does it mean to bear fruit? That is, many church leaders will measure their ministries by both the quantity and quality of fruit that is being produced. The parable of the fig tree is a reminder that simply passively sitting in church and declaring “I am not getting nothing out of these sermons” is not enough. The text begins with tragic stories of Galileans whom Pilate had killed in a bloody manner. Historians such as Josephus have shown that such acts were consistent with the Roman governor’s character. Then there is another incident where the Towers of Siloam have fallen on innocent people. This might be a local tragedy of their time, possibly their tsunami, 9/11, or theatre/church shooting tragedy. There is no way to insulate ourselves or loved ones from such events.
The growing-in-faith dimension comes in that believers are called to a lifestyle of daily repentance. The Lucan version of the Lord’s Prayer is one tool for such a daily discipline: “And forgive our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial” (Luke 11:4).
While one has no power to prevent the evil inflicted by Pontus Pilates or the unexpected calamities of towers or other disasters falling upon our families or selves, the gospel of this text is that Jesus provides ample opportunities to grow by placing fertilizer (manure) upon the plant. What sort of fertilizer is needed for people to internalize the words in scripture and the teachings of the community of faith? There are second chances in the season of Lent. The killing and death by the fallen tower are not the final word -- but a call to turn one’s life around is one way to grow in the faith, according to Luke 13:1-9. [Sources: John T. Carroll, The New Testament Library: Luke (Westminster John Knox Press, 2015); David L. Tiede, Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament: Luke (Augsburg Fortress, 1988)]
Application
An independent God who is not tied to the results on Wall Street, Nielsen ratings, or the latest cover magazine looks for the perfect body is what hold all three of these texts together. This God remains one (monotheism). God has something better in store for all of the faithful believers. During the long months of Lent, it is often a depressing and lagging time -- when only commercial interests can lure us with their mammon of sales, clearances, and parties to get our minds off the emptiness one feels in the Babylons of life. The promise of all of these texts is that God has something better and fulfilling.
A blizzard and ice storm has come upon a certain community. Power outages abound, and businesses try to remain operational with gasoline generators. It will be days before the power is back on for the citizens of this community. Then the local school opens its gymnasium where sports are usually played. Also the school cafeteria, which is usually restricted to students, welcomes all citizens in the community without power at home to live in and eat for the duration of the crisis. Such times of unforeseen calamity can be seen as opportunities to grow in faith or remain bitter that the gods of technology have dropped the ball (again!).
Alternative Application
If one wants to risk a bit of controversy, an alternative path might be to ask which tests really determine how much a person has grown and learned, and which tests only serve to irritate people. Many states are exploring the testing of students in high school. Does the SAT or ACT really determine how well a student does in higher education? Also, if a person flunks a test of any kind, how many chances do they receive? I knew a person who took the LSAT (law school admission test) as a hobby, when they actually worked in the medical industry. However, the LSAT test scores remind them whether they should remain in medicine or look toward law. It will never get them a pay raise in the medical industry -- it is simply a personal challenge.
