Egalitarian or Meritocratic?

Okay, Colossians 3:21 - "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord." Then add 4:1 - "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a master in heaven."

But I also remember Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

If there is neither slave nor free why give counsel to slaves and masters about how to treat each other? Clearly, Paul was not recommending that masters set their slaves free so that they would all be equal. Some Christians today cite Galatians 3:28 as support for a more just and equitable society - good things. But HOW equitable? How equal? What is just? Paul in Galatians is raising the issue of our true value and standing with God - that our socio-economic status (or gender) do not matter in His eyes, but (especially in light of Colossians 3:22 and 4:1) he is not recommending an egalitarian society or he wouldn't just give advise about how to treat each other, he would tell Christian masters to set their slaves free.

I guess I'm just thinking and beginning to articulate some things I need to talk about with my Christian friends who are Democrats ... and I'm just basically rambling tonight anyway.

Back to Colossians

2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Chapter 3 I understand pretty well, and love to read. Chapter 2 – not so much.
Uncircumcision of my sinful nature? Cancelled the written code?

I’ll have to keep working on that, but for some reason it reminds me of this song:

There are ghosts from my past who own more of my soul
Than I thought I had given away
They linger in closets and under my bed and in pictures less proudly displayed
A great fool in my life I have been, have squandered till pallid and thin
Hung my head in shame and refused to take blame for the darkness I know I let win

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid to bare all my weakness
Knowing in meeknes I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
I am not afraid to let your light shine bright in my life, in my life

Jennifer Knapp, Martyrs and Theives

Yes, I think that does help me understand Colossians 2 a little bit better.

Old Friend

I picked up a book this week that I first read over twenty years ago, and as I read I saw much of what has been a part of my psyche ... well, probably for over twenty years. Here's a taste:

• "It's time we let go of some of our insipid images of leisure to include those experiences that push us to our limits."
• "Memorable leisure - the kind that has gravity and substance - often requires an inventive kind of boldness that is eager to take on new experiences, a desire to be a participant rather than a spectator."
• "Did you ever have to build a fire in a rainstorm?"
• "Have you ever slept on top of a ridge without a sleeping bag - and awakened in the morning feeling a little taller just because you had?"
• "Historically, God's people have been uninhibited risk takers, unafraid to dive right into the heart of life.... there's more to life than riding the glass elevators at (the mall)."
• Gratitude is not an option for Christians. Possibly the greatest principle of leisure I know is the principle of insistent, consistent, persistent gratitude.

When I Relax I Feel Guilty, by Tim Hansel. Now as I sit here arching my back to ease the pain in my hip from sleeping on the ground this weekend, I am reminded of how grateful I am- even for long, rocky, terrible, 5 mile-per-hour dirt roads that take you to wonderful places.

Recent Praying

P.T. Forsyth
The Soul of Prayer
"A faith which is based chiefly on impetration might become more of a faith in prayer than a faith in God. If we got all we asked for we should soon come to treat Him as a convenience, or the request as a magic. The reason of much bewilderment about prayer is that we are less occupied about faith in God than about faith in prayer. "

Jesus
John 16:23-24
I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete

What am I doing when I pray for ... for anything? I think it's more about fellowship with God than anything else, but I deeply believe He hears, listens and answers our prayers. What do I do with the fact that many things we pray for we are not granted? I don't know, Lord, but here I come. "Prayer changes things." NOT. May my faith be in YOU, Lord, not in prayer, and let me not use any uncertainty as an excuse to ask for nothing.

Like this...

Thee-AHD-uh-mus
How's your grasp of etymology?
Remember the SAT's?

Messin' with our Minds

Maybe it’s just the work and faith community that I live in, but I’m hearing a maelstrom of Christian voices these days from liberals and conservatives alike, on everything from abortion to church growth, eschatology to hymnology – and they are all absolutely positive that theirs is the true Christian way.

That’s been on my mind this week as I read Colossians, a letter to Christians besieged by teachers telling them that various rituals and practices were essential in keeping the faith. 'Not so,' says the apostle Paul. Then he simply points to Christ – well, maybe not so simply, because he gets pretty complex along the way. But 'Here’s what's right,' he says. 'Here’s what’s good and true about following Christ.' All of chapter three is beautiful, but 12-17 brings me back to who I want and need to be.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Thank you, Lord, for holding my hand on this road.

What's up?

I need a place. Maybe a forum. Maybe some accountability.
I think and pray and study (not enough Scripture study - and too much alone instead of with family and friends), without some kind of connection or closure or ... something...that allows me to think that I'm actually growing in Christ. What does it take to get to that point?

I don't know, but all the preaching and teaching at church recently about small groups and the pleasant aside that some of you have found in blogging has made me think. We really have our own "small group" - albeit without as much purposeful spiritual connection as I'm sure all of us would like. Maybe this blogging thing can be good for my own spiritual focus... and possibly at the same time connect us to each other on a deeper spiritual level too.

So here I go. Scripture, prayers, quotes, miscelleaneous thoughts on growing in Christ. Really like my own spiritual journal (which I did once for a whole 3 years - LONG time ago) - but public too, with an open invite for you all to peek in - or participate in the digging and connecting with any comments you might like to add.