Oct 16, 2011 "What Are We Going to Do"

Exodus 33: 12-23
Matthew 22:15-22
Last time, we spoke of the Golden Calf, how like Adam and Eve ate of the Apple when given the Law not to, that even before Moses could come down the Mountain with the 10 Commandments, the Nation had already violated at least three; more than breaking laws, both the eating of the Apple and worship of the idol, were violations of trust breaking the heart of God. For Adam and Eve, taking the apple did not mean death, but it was an end to life in the Garden of Eden and beginning to live with the curse of human actions. So also for this people who were not yet a people, what is to happen, who are they to be to God once they broke trust, violated the commandment to be God's people?

There is a tension in Scripture, between humanity being created good, very good and blessed to be; versus having sinned, being corrupt. How can we ever forgive broken trust? Forgiveness of trust broken is basic to all our circumstance. The act of redemption, the assurance of forgiveness are foundational to Christian faith. It is not that the SECULAR WORLD is SELFISH, and the SACRED is TRUSTING, there are times when the most sacred thing is to be private, to claim what is precious to you; and there are times when as a society we can act on behalf of others in need. There is a correlation between belief that God was Dead, that God Grew Tired of Us, and the “ME Generation” of the last several decades. Not causation, but correlation, that on Christmas and Easter, and at Funerals, Marriages and Births, people seek a relationship with something beyond themselves. But the reality that we are easily seduced, if given the chance we will choose for our desires rather than for commitment, the truth there are broken hopes and dreams and trusts, is foundational to human life. So what are going to do?

On the first day of Seminary, we had a class on Preaching. The professor read the story of the Golden Calf, then separated us into three groups, almost half the group as the Hebrew Nation, an equal number were to take the role of God, and three of us were to play the part of Moses.

Those who were the people, were admiring one another's clothes and earrings, their houses and cars, and worshipping the celebrities in the tabloids, they took great pride in being One Nation Under God. Over a loudspeaker came the voice of God, saying “I have given you all the Laws and the Prophets, everything needed to be faithful, Don't Mess up!” and they dropped the Bible on the floor.

And the professor turned to those of us who were taking the part of Moses and asked “Now, having heard the Word, and witnessed reality, what are you gonna do?”

Moses gathered the Nation and preached “So who do you want to be?” ...possessing a few moments of fame, having the largest pile of belongings of anyone you know, to claim to be a Nation under God ...or to be a people in relationship with the Creator, Judge, Redeemer and Sustainer of all that is and will ever be?

Moses left them to work on that and knelt down before God, preaching differently. How often we think “preaching” is only when the minister stands in the pulpit on Sunday morning and talks to us... But the other half of preaching is being in relationship with God. Can God be vengeful? Yes. Can God forgive? Yes. Can we act, seeking redemption, humbly sincerely asking God for hope, and believe God could change circumstance, either by expanding possibilities beyond our knowing, or by changing our hearts? Again the answer is YES.

But part of this passage in Exodus, is recognizing what WHIMPY BELIEVERS we have been.
Moses does not mumble, and mutter under his breath: I guess I should be sorry, I want You to fix things give me another chance God. NO. Moses stands toe to toe with God. Moses' prayer has CHUTZPAH! “Hey God, Just what do you think you are doing? You have said I have found favor in your sight. You have said you know me, you know my name and trust me. How do I know you are with me? Please do NOT destroy this people unnecessarily, because that would not look good on God or on me as a believer! If the people return and are faithful, forgive them, be their God. But also, if I have found favor, if you do know me and trust me, then I need to be able to know you and trust you, and see your presence with us.”

Moses is not giving a list of demands or frivolities. But his prayer takes God seriously... takes himself seriously ...takes faith seriously, as sincere, honest communication of what we believe and stand for. That is the greatest flaw of our world today... our word does not stand for anything. The news reports are filled with video of defendants, even world leaders lying, covering up the truth. There is a seeming assumption, that on our wedding day we repeat the words given us, and if something else comes along, if our lives change, we can divorce. Increasingly, I think that before a couple divorce, they need to gather those who were witnesses and explain to them, and explain to God, seeking not just to get out of the contract, but to redeem the relationship.

Evaluating the contract, parsing words, these are what the Herodians and Pharisees were trying to do. Just like in the political debates of our times, they posed a “Gotch Question.” A legal debate that either makes you for us or for them. Like the 18 yr old blonde MTV Reporter asking of the President: “Boxers or Briefs”, not only is it an affront to ask this kind of question of a person in this position; but it is not a question, it is a political trap. We pay Federal and State Income Taxes, County, Town and Village Property Taxes, School Taxes, Vice Taxes on Alcohol and Cigarettes, Child Care Taxes, Social Security taxes... There was Roman Law that the Taxes paid to the Empire had to be paid in Roman Currency with an image of Caesar and inscription “Our loyalty to our Emperor and Priest Caesar, son of the August Caesar.” Judaism being practiced at Jerusalem, was within a Roman province, so one of the few claims to religious loyalty was that animals bought for sacrifice at the Temple at Jerusalem had to be bought with Jewish currency, and just as we have a currency exchange at borders, it would be a profanity to bring Roman currency into the Jewish Temple. As King Herod was a political appointee of the Roman Emperor, the Herodians were in favor of paying Taxes to Caesar. Pharisees who spent their lives debating nuances of Jewish Law were against paying any tax to the Government, in favor of giving buying sacrifices at the Temple. So Jesus, are you a Republican or Democrat? Conservative or Liberal? But instead of being concerned about political parties, or which Tax loopholes to reform, Jesus speaks to the Faith of the issue saying I do not have on me any of the coins used to pay Roman taxes, show me whose image and inscription are upon what is given. And the Pharisees reach into their purse and take out Roman Coins... To which Jesus responds “RENDER to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” Therefore, not only, give silver and gold to governments who manipulate and control the printing of currency, and as you are in the image of God give yourself and all you have to the service of God; but also, if you have come into the Sanctuary with currency of the Emperor in your purse, it would be profane to claim that you belong to God.

Interestingly, the word for the Roman Coin with the image of the Caesar was called an Eichon, which in English is where we acquire the word ICON. And Jesus word “RENDER” literally meant “Give what is obligated” so not as a free will offering or a pledge or tithe, but purchase for what you receive. And what Moses demanded of the People and God was that they Give to God what is Owed in being Faithful, and that God give to the people what is owed of one who knows them/us by name, knows our actions and has seen us.

Generations later, when Elijah was running away from Jezebel for having killed al the prophets of Baal, this is the cave that Elijah sought, where he might profess that he had been very Zealous for the LORD and he, he alone was left who was faithful, where Elijah saw Earthquake, Whirlwind, Fire and Flood, but God was in none of these, and a Still Small Voice asked what are you doing here? What Moses sought was to see God, but there was no description of Earthquake, Whirlwind, Fire or Flood, but that Moses was able to witness the GLORY of God with him, to witness where God's presence had been. We are a jaded people who have seen miraculous things. It is hard for us who have witnessed people walking on the moon, video links around the world, the ability to split the atom and splice genes, to look for the GLORY of God... but in the end what else are we going to do?