Crisis in the Canon
September 9, 2012 | Patrick Preheim | Psalm 1; Luke 24

I am about to do something which may cause some of you concern.  Brace yourselves, in the next few minutes I will thin out the Bible.  I will explain myself in a bit, but bear with me for now.  To ease your concern I will be conducting surgery on a wounded Bible whose spine has broken and whose pages are already falling out.  While I set about this grizzly task I will share with you some of the background of Marcion. 

Marcion was a second century church leader—some think bishop—who had real issues with the God of the Old Testament [tear out a section Judges].   Yes, Judges must go—too much violence and not enough love.  At this time in history there was no Christian Bible as we know it.  For their sacred readings at worship the Christian congregations used the Hebrew Bible, circulated letters from church leaders, and manuscripts of various gospels.  As Marcion considered his own experience of the risen Christ in light of the Old Testament he became convinced that much of the Hebrew Bible needed to go [tear out Obadiah].  Poor Obadiah—too much about vengeance and the day of the Lord.  Marcion created the first Christian canon which consisted of one gospel and ten epistles of Paul.   Contemporaries of his (like Justin Martyr and Tertullian) didn’t agree with Marcion’s efforts, but it did inspire them to set about the work of forming a Christian canon.

Many of us are not much different than Marcion.   The God described in the Old Testament hardly resembles the Christ we follow, and we don’t know what to do about this.  When people bring up the violence of the Old Testament or a judgemental Jesus we are embarrassed.  We don’t usually go so far as to tear out the Biblical sections that trouble us, but neither do we read them.  We behold what Marcion did to the Bible and we shudder, and yet we resist aspects of the biblical testimony.  What is the way forward?  Jesus is the way forward. 

As far as I can tell Jesus was a Jew who attended synagogue regularly.   He knew his scriptures well enough to debate the interpretations of his peers as well as the Devil.  And while he rejected the Devil’s application of the Psalms during his wilderness temptation, the Psalms strengthened him as he faced death.  He valued his scripture and yet did not give equal weight to all parts of it.   This is how our Lord and Saviour approached the Old Testament.  Like good disciples we too are called to roll up our sleeves and engage the text.  While this may seem daunting I have some good news for us.  The good news is that Jesus is walking alongside us and willing to teach us.

This is, in fact, the Emmaus Road account of Luke 24.  Cleopas and his companion are faithful disciples.  They knew Jesus firsthand.  They knew about concepts like prophets and messiahs.  But they didn’t know how to understand the scriptures in a way consistent with Jesus.  And even in the midst of his brilliant lecture they still did not get that it is Jesus who is speaking.  Yes, their hearts were burning within them but they still couldn’t make sense of it.  Jesus lovingly journeys with these two until they finally understand.   This is a message of grace.  Well, it is time for another history lesson. [As I give the history make a paper snow flake with a page from the gospels]

Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States, a principle author of the Declaration of Independence, and erstwhile theologian.  “Done with his official work for the day, Thomas Jefferson sat in the new presidential mansion in Washington in 1803 and opened his Bible--not to pray, but to cut. He scoured the text for Jesus' greatest teachings, sliced out his favorite portions, and glued them into an empty volume...[it came to be called ] the Jefferson Bible... Jefferson cut out miracles and signs or declarations of Jesus' divinity” (www.beliefnet.com).   He dissected out the miracles and signs a bit like I am cutting out this paper snow flake from the gospel section of this poor Bible.  It makes a lovely ornament, but somehow seems a bit thin.

A modern religious tragedy is that in today’s spiritual economy thin is acceptable.  In his book Bad Religion:  How We Became a Nation of Heretics author Ross Douthat writes, “A choose-your-own Jesus mentality... encourages spiritual seekers to screen out discomfiting parts of the New Testament and focus only on whichever Christ they find most congenial.  And our religious culture is now dominated by figures who flatter this impulse, in all its myriad forms” (quoted in G. Jeffrey MacDonald’s “Where have all the churches gone? in The Christian Science Monitor Weekly (July 23, 2012), p. 38).  When we are not shopping for a compatible expression of faith we go shopping for services that cater to our perceived needs.  A few years ago a young pastor reported in to The Christian Century describing the challenges of his initial pastorate.  Adam J. Copeland wrote, “My generation tends to be leery of any large institution and cares more about “what you can do for me today” than about the denominational label on the sign out front.  Historical considerations... matter less than the availability of compelling programs, fresh worship and free-trade coffee” (Adam J. Copeland, “Generational ties” in The Christian Century (Feb 9, 2010), p. 11).  Whether we like it or not, these are two strong influences affecting the church more broadly and this congregation specifically.  And we are seeking to be responsive.

On the topic of programming I have been deeply impressed by the willingness of congregational members to step up and offer themselves to make it happen.  Parents asked about having Sunday School during the worship hour, so we will give it a try.   Parents have asked about help teaching in the Sunday School classes and watching over their babies in the nursery, and we have had a tremendous response from non-parents to aid in the raising of children.  We don’t have pagers as some of the larger more fancy churches do, but we have love and commitment.

As regards this other business, the Marcionian and Jeffersonian stripping down of scripture, we are charting an ambitious course.  The way forward, we believe, is not away from tradition but rather more deeply into it.  There are paradoxes within scripture that speak to complexities of our souls.  We need to hear that we are “saved by grace, but that faith must be accompanied by works.  We need to hear that God loves everyone, yet Judgement Day is coming” (MacDonald paraphrasing Douthat, ibid).  We need to hear that we are a chosen people, but that God chooses everyone.  To hear these beautiful and necessary paradoxes we have to take in the breadth of the canon.  What does this mean for us in practical terms?

Well, it means Anita and I will preach the Bible—book by book and blow by blow.  Before we preach about any given book of the Bible we promise to read it in its entirety and study it.  In preaching each book of the Bible we will attend to several tasks.  We will tell the story.  We will share the good-news of what this story meant for those who wrote it, first heard it, and for us.  And finally, consider the discipleship of the text.

There will be no short cuts for us and we hope no short cuts for you.  That is right—each of you is invited along on this project.  We hope you and your families take us up on this offer to read the Bible.  When I shared with Patty the grand prospects of reading 50 chapters from Genesis, and more painfully yet 66 chapters in Isaiah, she scoffed at me.  (She apparently knows human nature better than I do).  My response was “happiness”.  In Psalm 1 we hear that those who delight in the Lord’s story will find happiness.  For most of this world life is not happy, but the scriptures do bring happiness.  How?  We meet God and Christ in these stories.  They are in here waiting to meet us.  And in the story of reconciliation between Jacob and Esau after 21 years apart I may be drawn into reconciliation with my own brothers.  And in the Exodus story of a golden calf I may be confronted with the golden calves I make.  In the stories I will find both grace and judgement, and in the end happiness in knowing that God is there with me.   Do people have i-pods?  Do people have CD players in their vehicles?  If so you can listen to the Bible during your workout, during your commute, while cooking, while cleaning, etc..,..  You get the idea.

Reading the books of the Bible, however, is only part of the study.  Psalm 1 makes clear that those meditating on God’s story will bear leaves and fruit.  These leaves are for the healing of the nations (Rev 2) and the fruit is for the world.  Study of scripture finds its fulfillment in action.  Action, in fact, sometimes helps clarify scripture.  Last week’s text from James hits it on the nose:  be doers of the word, and not merely hearers (Jas 1.22).  We will facilitate biblical action in at least three ways.
On the first Sunday of the month we will be asking an additional denotation from each household.  We are looking for supplemental food bank offerings, not more cash for the church budget.  Food Bank usage in Saskatoon is on the rise.  I have several theories on why this is, but from the perspective of Exodus, Leviticus, and Jesus my theories just don’t matter.  We are called to remember the poor and hungry.   So put that additional box of Kraft dinner or case of soup on your shopping list.  When we remember the poor we are made more divine.

We are also looking to establish forms of collective service.  I know that many of us already volunteer in meaningful ways and I am not diminishing this one bit.  Collective service is different than individual service and important in several ways.  Service outings from the church offer a common experience which informs our biblical reading.  Without a doubt our time at the Salvation Army or Station 20W will inform our reading of Leviticus or the prophets.  It would be good to serve and then reflect on scripture in light of our experiences.  Service outings are a safe place for new people to enter our congregation.  Many these days hedge on doctrine, but most everyone coming back to church would agree that helping others is good.  Service is a place a person can meet others, form friendships, and sort through questions of God and Jesus.  Service outings are also a witness to our faith.  When we go out as Nutana Park Mennonite Church we are promoting this congregation and the God underneath us.  It is safe evangelism.  At least until people start coming to worship and serve with us.

This may actually happen.  So a final action we are promoting is hospitality.  We once again will have care group lunches and church potlucks.  Simply put, visitors need to be welcomed into these gatherings.  This is everyone’s job.  I know many come on Sundays to re-connecting with friends.  This is no longer sufficient.  Priority must be given to those God has brought into our midst.  When we do not recognize someone among us we must be courageous and introduce ourselves, welcome them gladly to this space, and offer them a meal.  This is just what Cleopas and his friend do.   Had they kept to themselves or not invited Jesus to dine with them how diminished their lives would have been.

This will be a good year.  We will not shy from the Biblical story.  We will read it, even the confusing and troubling parts.  In our private and public reading of scripture we will meet the living God.  We will enact the biblical story in our service.  And in our serving we will meet the risen Christ and in turn be transformed.  May God’s blessing be upon our endeavours.  Amen.

- Patrick Preheim, co-pastor Nutana Park Mennonite Church

Prayer Before Sermon

O God whose letters are written on our hearts,
too often we do not perceive your word.
Forgive us and let your words once more issue forth.
Let your spoken word of creation heal the wounds of materialism.
Let your inner word calm our anxieties and disquiet.
Let your Word made flesh free us from all that is destructive in our lives.
We pray this because at our core we trust all your words.  Amen.

Children’s Time

Good morning to each of you.  When I was your age I was hungry most of the time.  Once I reached a certain age my parents no longer brought snacks for me.  Going to church was hard enough, but sit through church hungry is truly no fun.  For that reason I try to bring you little treats whenever I can.  Today I have a Bible snack for you.  [pull out my small Gideon’s Bible].  Who wants a taste???   No one?   Hmmm.    Well, maybe I have something different in here.  [pull out a Psalm book]  Anyone want a taste??

I don’t get it.  Psalm 19 (v.10) suggests that this is sweeter than honey and yet you guys digging into it.  And the prophet Ezekiel gets this scroll from God with words on it, is told to eat, and it tastes sweeter than honey (Ezekiel 3:1-3).  Help me understand why don’t want to taste and see. (wait for a response or two)

As I thought this I decided that maybe these writers were not really saying that the words of God actually tasted like honey.  Maybe they meant that pondering and acting out the scriptures would bring sweetness to life.  To give you some idea about how sweet these words can be I actually brought along some bread covered honey for you to sample.  (pass around treat)

The honey and bread taste good in the mouth, your bodies will digest it, and then you will have energy to play / study / work.  I think the words of God are like that too.  The words of God taste good, and they are designed to help us play well, or study well, or work well.  If we just eat but do not act there will be problems.  But I don’t think you guys have to worry about that just yet.

Benediction

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.  Amen.