The Bungee Cord 2-24-25

Hello,

In worship yesterday, we heard “The Golden Rule”. It is a rule that is often quoted. There is even a handyman that has given the rule’s name to his company and has it written on the side of his truck underlined by a yardstick, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The reason that we heard it in worship yesterday is that this rule comes from the Bible, actually from the mouth of Jesus.

Notice that “The Golden Rule”, when given by Jesus, did not say, “Do unto others with kindness so they would be kind to you.” If that was the rule that Jesus gave, it would be better named “The Rusty Pipe Rule”, because it wouldn’t be a rule full of leaks. Life teaches us all, at least it has taught me, that kindness is not always returned. Some people view kindness as weakness and return kindness with increased abuse. Some people view kindness as foolish naivete and mock those who practice it. Some people view kindness as craziness, and they dismiss those who call for it. Kindness fuels an enemy’s bravado. Kindness leads people to hate you and curse you. Kindness has brought people to slap someone on the cheek and say, “Wake up! You fool!” Kindness can even lead people to take advantage of you and take the shirt right off your back. Jesus did not say, “Do unto others with kindness so they would be kind to you.”

No, Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” He never mentions any expectation of similar reciprocation. As a matter of fact, Jesus makes it clear that any such expectation misses his point. Right before saying “The Golden Rule”, Jesus says, “if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again,” and a few verses later, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.”

So, if Jesus says that there is to be no expectation of kindness in return, why would anyone want to follow “His Golden Rule”? Here’s the answer: fish swim, birds fly, Christians love. Love is in our genes as children of God. Grace, love that comes from no merit to be given and with no strings attached, is the dominant gene in God’s genetic code. How do we know that? Because it was the driving force in Jesus, his Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not die, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16,17)

Kindness runs in the family, God’s family. Scripture tells us that God loves us so much that he makes his home in our hearts, and God stakes his eternal claim there. “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are.” (1 John 3:1). Consider how foolish it would be for a family of seven-foot-tall people to walk through doors as if they stood only five foot tall. A lot of bruised foreheads, and one would wonder how long a person would continue to beat their head against the wall before they got it through their head that seven-foot people need to duck to go through a six-and-a-half-foot door. (Read Romans 5,6). When God moves into our lives, God doesn’t just do a renovation of our lives, God does a recreation of our lives. “So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5.17). Figuratively, no longer five foot. We are seven feet tall!

Jesus gave us “The Golden Rule”, not so that we might expect others to be kind to us, but rather to give us the power to change the world with God’s love. Jesus puts “The Golden Rule” in our hands to be a saltshaker, spicing up this blandness of people’s lives who are yearning for the taste of purpose and meaning. Jesus puts “The Golden Rule” in our hands to be a spotlight for us to shine into the darkness of people’s pain and suffering. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world,”, what an adventure lies ahead as we shake up the world and light up the world with God’s love!

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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 The Bungee Cord. 2-17-25

Hello,

In the early 2000’s I was interviewing at a church that was interested in me to be their pastor. In the denomination to which I belong, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, interested churches form what is called a “call” committee to interview potential pastors. This committee ranges from six to twelve members is usually comprised of various ages, vocations, and interests in hopes that the questions that it might ask would cover the breadth of the congregation. I have found these interviews to be a wonderful time for the sharing of minds and lives.

As this particular interview went along, they asked me all sorts of questions about my previous congregations, how I might address the issues their congregation was struggling with, and some things about myself. Then I was asked a question which I had never been asked before, “What do you think about this gay issue?”

Actually, it was a timely question, because the denomination to which I belong was doing a study on human sexuality, which included things like living out one’s sexual life with respect for the other, the importance of family (in whatever configuration that family might have), the place that abortion might or might not have in pregnancy, and many other things of this sort…..including the “gay issue.”

Having not been asked this question before, I paused a bit before I answer it, and then I said, “Well, I believe they are people.”

I don’t remember what the committee’s response was. It seems to me that there was a brief silence. I don’t think it was the kind of answer that they were expecting. I think they were expecting me to express my opinion on the rightness/wrongness of being gay and my opinion on how the church should treat gays. I don’t think they were expecting me to say, “Well, I believe they are people.”

Unfortunately, at least in my mind, the world tries to label people and put them in categories. Sometimes that is helpful like “infected with covid” so that others do not get infected, but in addition to any helpfulness when a person is put into a labeled category the tendency is to forget that when we deal with a category or label, we are not dealing with statistics, or amorphous blobs. Instead, we are dealing with people. People who feel pain and sorrow. People who are trying to be counted as somebody. People who are loved and who love.

It is far easier to be callous to a category. It is far easier to put up fences around categories. It is far easier to feel no connection to a category. It is far easier to look upon a category as the enemy, or a bunch of freeloaders, or a just a number.

But when I read the Bible, I see Jesus breaking down categories into what comprises them, people. Consider how Jesus responded to the woman caught in adultery (John , or blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10), or the un-named leper (Luke 5). When Jesus encountered someone, Jesus saw a person. Someone who was the object of God’s divine love. Someone for whom he had come to die. And when Jesus saw each one as a person, he treated each one with the compassion that came from his heart being linked to each one of their hearts. Person-ally.

It is easier to deal with categories. It is messy when one deals with persons, but that is who Jesus was and is, someone who involves himself in the messiness of life. You and I have been categorized by the world, but know this; when Jesus looks upon you, Jesus sees only one thing: a person for whom he died and rose. And in seeing you that way, Jesus treats you with the compassion in his heart for you. Jesus forgives the sin that is ripping your life apart and makes you whole. Jesus lifts you out of the pit of your failures and stands you on your feet to live anew. Jesus embraces you when life is falling apart and carries you in his arms like a Good Shepherd. Jesus stands between you and anything that would try and take you from him and says, “This one is mine. A person that I won’t let you have!”

What do I believe about this “gay issue”? I believe that they are people. What do I believe about you….whether I know you or not? I believe….no, I know….you are a person, a person for whom Jesus died and rose!

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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 The Bungee Cord 2-3-25

Hello,

A couple of weeks ago we heard the story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding feast where the wine had run out. (John 2). Wedding feasts in Jesus’ day were often a multiple day event, so it is not hard to imagine the case where the wine could run out. For some reason, Mary, Jesus’ mother, brought the party killing dilemma to Jesus, who asked out loud, “What has that to do with you or me?” After all, they were guests, not the hosts.

Nevertheless, when the servants, who were urged by Mary to involve Jesus in this problem came up to Jesus, Jesus told them to fill the six 25-gallon, stone jars that held the water for ritual cleansing (I guess the people needed a lot of cleansing!) to the brim with water. After doing so, they drew out some of the liquid, and brought it to the “wedding coordinator” (the steward) to be tasted, and to his amazement he found himself tasting wine much better than the expensive stuff that the groom had provided at the start of the celebration, which for a variety of reasons seemed odd to the “wedding coordinator”.

I’ve heard this story more times than I can count, and as with things familiar, sometimes one finds ones self missing something very important. And here’s the very important thing that I realized this time in hearing the story: no one commented on the jars. No one said anything about how beautiful they were. No one said anything about how sturdy they were, after all they were stone, not clay. No one said anything about how well they held the liquid inside them. Crickets about the jars. Amazement about the wine.

Obviously, they were necessary to hold the wine, but it was the wine that they held that was of most importance.

As I experience the Christian faith from the inside and listen to those who experience it from the outside, it seems to me that many Christians….maybe even most Christians…concern themselves more with the jars than the wine. We find ourselves focusing on styles of worship, which might be akin to the painting on the jars. We get all bound up with rules and regulations, which might be akin to the material of the jars. We find ourselves worried about budgets and empty seats, which might be akin to the size of the jars. When I hear many people outside of the Christian faith speak about this faith, I hear a lot of “jar” talk. “All the church wants me for is my money. The church is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. The church is out of touch with the world.”

Looking back on my several decades of being a pastor, I confess that I, too, have done a lot of “jar” gazing. I, too, have been caught up with budget and attendance concerns, traditions and congregational habits, administration and leadership proficiency, and rules and regulations. Of course, none of these things are bad. As a matter of fact, one might rule them important….just like jars are important.

But as Jesus’ “sign” (that is what the Bible calls what Jesus did at that wedding) points us to what is essential. It is the wine. The wine! The wine that fills those jars is better than the best wine that the world can offer. Beyond its quality, is its quantity. More than we could ever drink dry. And its cost: FREE!

And what is the wine that fills the “jar”, the church? It is the mercy of God. Mercy so powerful that its stain in our lives is unremovable. Mercy so robust in hope that no plate that the world gives us can overwhelm its taste. Mercy so exquisite with peace that once you taste it, you won’t want any other. Mercy so abundant that it will never run out in this life or when this life is over. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he vinted the best wine of all eternity…and he offers it to you to drink it. For free!

So, if you are one who has found the church to be rather “jar” obsessed, let me invite you to dip your glass into the jar and taste what it holds…the mercy of God for you…and I think that you will find….it tastes REALLY good!

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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