The Theological Stimulus Program, October 25, 2009

Job 42: 1-10
Mark 10:46-52

This is REFORMATION SUNDAY, and this the 500th birthday of John Calvin, from whom the theology of the Presbyterian Church was articulated. I debated what we could do. I am told Calvin wore a wide brimmed hat while preaching, but chiefly this was because they had broken all the stained glass windows as icons, and the pigeons would bomb him while preaching. I had thought of nailing 95 Thesis papers to the doors as Martin Luther had done in 1517, but the problems of the church today are not the same as in the era of Luther and Calvin. Luther's 95 Theses dealt with whether the Bible should be available to common people, and today we all have Bibles that few have ever read or used. The 95 Theses dealt with whether the worship service should be in the common language or only in Latin. The 95 These dealt with the Sale of Indulgences, lucky Charms and trinkets that you could purchase to take away your sins and make you feel better...and we still use shopping this way, don't we?

I am convinced we need a fresh Reformation Day, where we are called to examine and recommit to our faith in God, but not based on the old principles, so much as to use as a Theological Stimulus Package! If I understand the idea of the Federal Stimulus Package it is that by giving $3000 to a person for a car, or $8000 to new Home Buyers, not only would this spur consumer spending, but putting more money in the economy the car dealers would pay their employees who would buy DVD players or Computers. The New Home Buyers would use that $8000 to purchase furniture or appliances. So like the idea of a Tax Rebate that actually was an advance of Taxable Income, the point was not where it was taken from or how we got into this mess, but to be present and future thinking to use this experience to foster something new.

Throughout the last month we have been reflecting upon the Book of Job. Most often when we think of Job it is the Contest between Satan and God and the Issue of Human Suffering, or the Complaint of Job for a hearing, or the response of God from the whirlwind.
Regarding Human Suffering: Years ago, I took part in a panel discussion at University Hospital, that starts off like a bad joke, but was a true circumstance. The Medical College gathered A Jewish Rabbi, a Catholic Priest, a Muslim Emmam and a Presbyterian Pastor to debate human Suffering. The Medical Students understood that today we could virtually eliminate and control suffering, but should we? The Rabbi described that suffering of one could never compare to the suffering of 6 million in the Holocaust. The Priest named the Suffering of Jesus for all humanity and that in reciting the Rosary we atone for the guilt of our sins. The Emmam described the importance of the individual suffering, in order to work through their wrongs to be purified. The Pastor stated belief in a loving God, who would never punish individuals with circumstances for their sins, but that we can reflect and use our suffering to forgive and change.
Regarding the Complaint of Job, wanting a date and time to plead for Righteousness before God, as we reflected that week, Pleading Righteousness is more our speaking to ourselves than to God, proving to ourselves, convincing ourselves we were right.
The Response of God, I am convinced is not a rebuke of who do you think you are questioning God, so much as a reassessment that if Humanity is Co-Creator with God, if the Creature formed from Dust of the Earth and gifted with the Spirit of God had been there at Creation with God, then in the response from the whirlwind God is Calling Job to step up to a new and fresh responsibility. God is calling Job to understand the balance of Chaos and Grace, that God did not make chaos and suffering as a balance to grace and prosperity, but the reverse, that God created Grace and Order and Prosperity to balance the Chaos, Darkness and Nothingness that existed before God began to create.
But the point of the Book of Job, is not only Suffering, or Guilt, or Complaint, or Righteousness, or Redemption, but SO WHAT? After the contest was over, after all the Suffering, did Job go back to life as normal? I think not. But that the Wisdom of Job was that he reflected the remainder of his days upon this experience and what it taught him about life and value.
Previously, Job was a wealthy man, who would offer sacrifices after his children partied to make up for what they may have done. Now he has three daughters who he prizes above al else, and in whom he sees great joy. The story ends too quickly and neatly. I wonder what the Sequel to Job would be? When something happens to the Daughters of Job, what wisdom does he offer? How would a father respond?

This passage from Mark's Gospel too seems too nice and neat, entering into the City of Jericho a blind beggar, the Son of Timaeus cries out to Jesus “Son of David, have mercy on me” and Jesus heals the man, who then follows him.. What if this story were the conclusion to the earlier story of this chapter? The Rich Young Man had greeted Jesus on the Road by falling to his knees and declaring “Good Teacher what must I do to inherit Eternal Life?” And Jesus instructs him to follow the Commandments which he has done, and to go sell all he has and follow Jesus, to which the man went away sorrowful for he had many possessions. What if, this rich young man reflected on what was asked and did give away all that he had. He might then be a beggar on the street, as Jesus entered Jericho, and as one who likes to use titles for Jesus “Good Teacher” he has come to the new awareness that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah, LORD and Savior. Though he had given away all he had, he would have recognized his spiritual blindness and need for Jesus' mercy. After which he truly could follow Jesus.

The Theological Stimulus Package is to ask of ourselves in every circumstance, SO WHAT SHALL I DO? Do I approach life as a Victim of Cancer? As one is is Divorced? As one grieving loss? Do we focus on the Chaos and Loss and Suffering, or can we see ourselves as using these experiences to attain the wisdom of Job to see life differently because of what we has happened?