Small Faith

When they came to the crowd, a man met Jesus. He knelt before him, saying, “Lord, show mercy to my son. He is epileptic and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire or the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and crooked generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Then Jesus spoke harshly to the demon. And it came out of the child, who was healed from that time on. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and said, “Why couldn’t we throw the demon out?” “Because you have little faith,” he said. “I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Go from here to there,’ and it will go. There will be nothing that you can’t do.” (Matthew 17:14-21, CEB)

I have gone back and forth on this verse.

Jesus answered the man after the disciples couldn’t cast out the demon by saying, “You faithless and crooked generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you?” Was this about all people or the disciples being faithless? Because later Jesus tells the disciples, “I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Go from here to there,’ and it will go. There will be nothing that you can’t do.” Which we usually hear as they don’t have enough faith. But is that what Jesus is saying?

If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, which is a very little bit you could move mountains, but do we really need to move mountains by telling them to move? Plus that would be a little strange to see mountains moving all the time because I know if I could make mountains move, I would be doing it.

The faith we have is enough to do what we need to do.

Don’t look for more. Trust and believe God is always with you.

Loving People. Loving God.

struggle

Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. In your struggle against sin, you haven’t resisted yet to the point of shedding blood, and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters: My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline or give up when you are corrected by him, because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves, and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts. Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn’t disciplined by his or her father? But if you don’t experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters. What’s more, we had human parents who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live? Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness. No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees! Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously. (Hebrews 12:3-13, CEB)

We all struggle in life. Humans are selfish and we look out for ourselves. That means we all must be diligent in following after Jesus and loving like he does.

Think about the one who endured such opposition. Jesus came to show us how to live and love and those in power felt threatened and worked against love. We all want to maintain our status quo because change is scary. But when we let go of the status quo and live into the fear of the unknown, we will see it was better than what we had.

None of us want to give up comfort or status. But our status or our comfort is not the place God wants us.

Move with God and let go.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

faith’s pioneer and perfecter

By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if they were on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.

By faith Jericho’s walls fell after the people marched around them for seven days.

By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn’t killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace. What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection. But others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison. They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered with swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy, oppressed, and mistreated. The world didn’t deserve them. They wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. God provided something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us. So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. (Hebrews 11:29—12:2, CEB)

This is the end of the Faith hall of fame chapter, Hebrews 11. It names people who we see as pillars of the faith and what they did in trusting God.

It also includes the beginning of chapter 12 which names Jesus as the one to truly focus our lives on and follow when we want to live a life of love and being where and who God put us here to be.

Jesus is the pioneer and perfected of faith.

We should fix our eyes upon Jesus and know that following him will lead us to love like God loved us.

And that will show the world God.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

What?

Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. In fact, a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him right away. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was Greek, Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to throw the demon out of her daughter. He responded, “The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” But she answered, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” “Good answer!” he said. “Go on home. The demon has already left your daughter.” When she returned to her house, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

After leaving the region of Tyre, Jesus went through Sidon toward the Galilee Sea through the region of the Ten Cities. Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged him to place his hand on the man for healing. Jesus took him away from the crowd by himself and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. Looking into heaven, Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Open up.” At once, his ears opened, his twisted tongue was released, and he began to speak clearly. Jesus gave the people strict orders not to tell anyone. But the more he tried to silence them, the more eagerly they shared the news. People were overcome with wonder, saying, “He does everything well! He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who can’t speak.” (Mark 7:24-37, CEB)

Here is the same story from yesterday that we read in Matthew (Matthew 15:21-31) only now we get it in Mark. And here we get a second healing where in the story from Matthew Jesus goes about healing.

In both of these versions, the woman is unnamed and the daughter is unnamed. Also in Mark, the group that is seeking healing of the deaf man is unnamed, they are referred to as they, and the deaf man is also unnamed. The one being healed is not asking for the healing but someone else who cares for them is asking.

There is also another pointed difference in the Matthew and Mark story. In Matthew Jesus says, “You have great faith.” And that is why her daughter is healed. But here in Mark, the daughter is healed because the woman spoke up for herself and for her daughter. It is like she said, “Hey just a minute. Your God created me too, and I deserve whatever you think your people deserve. I am no different.”

How do we keep people who are God’s children from being a part?

And this text troubles me, just like the Matthew one. Jesus is just human, way too human here. And I wonder why this is included in the Bible, not once, but twice. It shows us that everyone is included. Period.

Cultural boundaries or learning mean nothing in the kindom of God.

Love like Jesus. Just don’t talk like him here.

Loving People. Loving God.

What?

From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” But he didn’t respond to her at all. His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.” Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.” But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.” He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.” Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed. Jesus moved on from there along the shore of the Galilee Sea. He went up a mountain and sat down. Large crowds came to him, including those who were paralyzed, blind, injured, and unable to speak, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. So the crowd was amazed when they saw those who had been unable to speak talking, and the paralyzed cured, and the injured walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:21-31, CEB)

I have always had issues with this text. Jesus calls this woman a dog. She was not from where Jesus was and culturally it was acceptable for people where Jesus was from to call Canaanites dogs. But that is really out of character for Jesus. He spoke with the Samaritan woman and ate with sinners, tax collectors, and adulterers. Why this woman?

She shows great faith and shows that Jesus can be more open than his people. Maybe that is the reason. Jesus shows that all people even those who we have been culturally taught to say are bad or not acceptable are actually part of God’s creation. All humanity deserves what we get.

Love like Jesus and freely share God’s gifts with all.

Loving People. Loving God.

The Law.

Those who have sinned outside the Law will also die outside the Law, and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. It isn’t the ones who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s eyes. It is the ones who do what the Law says who will be treated as righteous. Gentiles don’t have the Law. But when they instinctively do what the Law requires they are a Law in themselves, though they don’t have the Law. They show the proof of the Law written on their hearts, and their consciences affirm it. Their conflicting thoughts will accuse them, or even make a defense for them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden truth about human beings through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:12-16, CEB)

If you have not lived under the law you do not sin against the law, but if you live instinct fully under the law then you show proof the law was written on your heart.

The law given by God is a way to live in relationship with God and others that allows mutual love and understanding to be the basis for all interactions.

It really is innate. Something we do because it is just right.

Love like Jesus.

Show that the love of God lives in you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Judge…

So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. We know that God’s judgment agrees with the truth, and his judgment is against those who do these kinds of things. If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life? You are storing up wrath for yourself because of your stubbornness and your heart that refuses to change. God’s just judgment will be revealed on the day of wrath. God will repay everyone based on their works. On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work. But on the other hand, there will be wrath and anger for those who obey wickedness instead of the truth because they are acting out of selfishness and disobedience. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. God does not have favorites. (Romans 2:1-11, CEB)

Anyone who judges another human is without excuse. They condemn themselves when they judge someone else for the very thing they judge the other for. We are storing up hatred and wrath for ourselves when we judge others.

We are called to love. Period. Not to look at others and see how they are not living according to how we think they should live, but loving them as they are and worrying about our own troubles and how we are living.

God’s loving kindness is supposed to lead us to change our lives and be loving to everyone.

God created us and loves us all. Therefore we should not judge anyone but love as God loves, unconditionally.

Love like God.

Loving People. Loving God.

contaminate

Jesus continued, “Clearly, you are experts at rejecting God’s commandment in order to establish these rules. Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death. But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you is corban(that is, a gift I’m giving to God),” then you are no longer required to care for your father or mother.’ In this way you do away with God’s word in favor of the rules handed down to you, which you pass on to others. And you do a lot of other things just like that.” Then Jesus called the crowd again and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing outside of a person can enter and contaminate a person in God’s sight; rather, the things that come out of a person contaminate the person.” After leaving the crowd, he entered a house where his disciples asked him about that riddle. He said to them, “Don’t you understand either? Don’t you know that nothing from the outside that enters a person has the power to contaminate? That’s because it doesn’t enter into the heart but into the stomach, and it goes out into the sewer.” By saying this, Jesus declared that no food could contaminate a person in God’s sight. “It’s what comes out of a person that contaminates someone in God’s sight,” he said. “It’s from the inside, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come: sexual sins, thefts, murders, adultery, greed, evil actions, deceit, unrestrained immorality, envy, insults, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evil things come from the inside and contaminate a person in God’s sight.” (Mark 7:9-23, CEB)

“the things that come out of a person contaminate the person”

It isn’t what goes in that contaminates. It is what is already there that comes out.

If you look closely at the list at the end of the reading, I am sure you will see some things you can say, I have not done, but if you are honest, there will be some you are guilty of having done.

sexual sins, thefts, murders, adultery, greed, evil actions, deceit, unrestrained immorality, envy, insults, arrogance, and foolishness

Sexual sins is fornication or sexual activity outside of being married and is not to be confused with adultery which is sex when one or both of the members doing the act are married to a different person.

Maybe you can say you never stole anything. Maybe you didn’t murder anyone, but is it murder or kill, and yes there is a difference, and is this only about other humans, or any of God’s creation?

Have you ever been greedy? Not sharing what you had more than enough of for someone who needed it. I have if we are being honest. I am not proud of it, but honestly, I have.

Evil actions is doing something we know is wrong but we do it anyway.

Have you ever been deceitful? Again, if I am being honest I would have to say yes. Not that I’m proud of this either, but honestly, I have.

I have been envious of others. I have insulted others. I have been arrogant and foolish.

I made the world worse by focusing on myself and not being loving. Hate comes from within and we need to focus on others and let love flow and not contaminate our lives or the world.

So love like Jesus.

Focus on others and don’t let selfishness or any evil thoughts contaminate you or the world around you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Stand up

Now, it is commendable if, because of one’s understanding of God, someone should endure pain through suffering unjustly. But what praise comes from enduring patiently when you have sinned and are beaten for it? But if you endure steadfastly when you’ve done good and suffer for it, this is commendable before God. You were called to this kind of endurance, because Christ suffered on your behalf. He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, nor did he ever speak in ways meant to deceive. When he was insulted, he did not reply with insults. When he suffered, he did not threaten revenge. Instead, he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He carried in his own body on the cross the sins we committed. He did this so that we might live in righteousness, having nothing to do with sin. By his wounds you were healed. Though you were like straying sheep, you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your lives. (1 Peter 2:19-25, CEB)

We need to stand up for what we know is the way of God. Not follow the crowd and do what society or evangelical Christians say is right.

We will suffer for saying that God’s love is for all and all humanity is included just as they are but that is what we need to do.

Our suffering for standing up and fighting for the rights of God’s children will not compare to Christ’s or to that of the people we are fighting for.

Love like Jesus and help the world see all means all.

Loving People. Loving God.

These things…

If you point these things out to the believers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus who has been trained by the words of faith and the good teaching that you’ve carefully followed. But stay away from the godless myths that are passed down from the older women. Train yourself for a holy life! While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come. This saying is reliable and deserves complete acceptance. We work and struggle for this: “Our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe.” Command these things. Teach them. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure. Until I arrive, pay attention to public reading, preaching, and teaching. Don’t neglect the spiritual gift in you that was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you. Practice these things, and live by them so that your progress will be visible to all. Focus on working on your own development and on what you teach. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:6-16, CEB)

I love it when the lectionary gives us readings like this. That obviously starts in the middle of a thought. Today’s reading starts, “If you point these things out to the believers,” What are these things?

Here is 1 Timothy 4:1-5:

The Spirit clearly says that in latter times some people will turn away from the faith. They will pay attention to spirits that deceive and to the teaching of demons. They will be controlled by the pretense of lying, and their own consciences will be seared. They will prohibit marriage and eating foods that God created—and he intended them to be accepted with thanksgiving by those who are faithful and have come to know the truth. Everything that has been created by God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected. These things are made holy by God’s word and prayer.

People will turn away from faith and be deceived. They will be controlled by their own pretenses. They will prohibit marriage and eating foods. They will turn from God and not see what is holy.

Now we can read this in many different ways, and different groups do. You will read it and say that those who do not agree with your understanding are the ones who have drifted away from God and those who don’t agree with you will say you and those who agree with you are the ones who have drifted from God. But who has drifted from God? Maybe them, maybe you, maybe all of us?

In moments like these, I want to err on the side of grace and love and love like Jesus. Unconditionally.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.