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| "Jeremiah" H. Vernet (French 1844) |
“Do
you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but
rather division!” (Luke 12:51)
One of my favorite Hebrew scriptures prophets is Jeremiah. I really admire his determination to talk sense to powerful people who—alas!—appear have their heads stuck so far up their lower GI track (metaphorically speaking, of course) that they’re incapable of hearing the wisdom the prophet is sharing. In the first lesson in the RCL for Pentecost 10 Year C (Jeremiah 12:49-56), we hear poor old Jerry railing again against popular preachers of his day who spout wacky, sci-fi-type images of the future but don’t seem to understand the peril of the present. The Joel Osteens of Jeremiah’s day are telling the powerful that everything they’re doing is groovy and God will deliver them from any unpleasantness that may arise.
Jeremiah is
telling them exactly the opposite. He warns them that they’re being idiots and
heading into a world of hurt. For his trouble he is ridiculed and imprisoned.
The poor guy can’t catch a break. Not only does he get into a mess of trouble
for his efforts, but he has the heartbreaking experience of witnessing
everything he warned about come to pass when the people who are supposed to be
shepherding the nation pursue their own interests and ignore God’s commands.
Bottom line? God’s word isn’t always welcome—and that’s assuming we really know what we’re proclaiming is God’s word. In the appointed gospel reading (Luke 12:49-56) we hear Jesus give us some of his most disquieting words (and Jesus is good at being disquieting, isn’t he?). The Prince of Peace isn’t always going to bring peace. No. He’s going to cause some trouble and division. Why? Because, just as in Jeremiah’s day, the times call for it. Jesus is going to get the family feuding with itself because it’s no time to just shut up and be nice.
Families fight. That’s an ugly truth. People who are supposed to love and protect each other can often be split apart. It always hurts.
Lutherans of all people are aware of how families can bicker. Our whole denomination was formed by a dust-up with our Roman brothers and sisters. Today I see a pretty humongous division over the very definition of what it means to be a Christian in America. I feel a little bit of barf coming up in my mouth at the very mention of the term “Christian Nationalism.” Some of our coreligionists use Christian identity as an excuse to promote intolerance, bigotry, and a reactionary mindset which, to my way of thinking, slanders the name of our Lord and Savior.
I don’t see how “Christian” it is to outlaw abortion while slashing aid to low-income families. I can’t understand how we solve the gun violence crisis by letting everyone carry a gun. And faith in God’s deliverance is one thing, but ignoring the crisis of climate change is putting the Lord Our God to the test—a test we’re not going to pass. No question about it: there are divisions within our family.
Whether we’re arguing public policy, church doctrine, or if it’s just a squabble between a parent and a child or a couple of in-laws, each of us thinks we’re arguing from the moral high ground. Our challenge should always be to discern if we’re arguing in obedience to Christ Jesus or from our own pride and stubbornness. Is our indignation born out of faith or a desire to maintain a tribal loyalty? Are we trying to help one another or cling to an ideal which no longer exists or even applies?
What would Jesus do? Can we find it in ourselves to speak and fight for truth but do it out of love? Can there be controversy without contempt? Can we be unyielding without dehumanizing the person with whom we disagree? And are we willing to accept divisions without being complacent about them?
Faith in Jesus has never guaranteed perfect harmony among believers. Just check out the New Testament if you don’t believe me—it’s full of family squabbles. But the beautiful thing is that in Christ, our squabbles can still be full of compassion.
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