There is no sermon this week since I did not preach (Pastor Childress did and he can post his sermons on his blog... ha ha ha). But that will not stop me from some musings...
As I read the lesson from Numbers (first service) and then heard it read again (second service) I was struck by how much these words apply to ME... and I do not mean in a good way... Let me see if I can share what went through my mind when I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day...
The people of God are called a rabble. Miriam Webster said a rabble is a disorganized, disorderly, confused, and angry crowd of people. Have not checked the Hebrew but this is enough for now. What an eye opening view of the people of God. Disorganized, confused, and angry -- well, that sums it up too often. Reminds me of the old joke about people who don't believe in organized religion -- well then join the Lutheran church because it is the most disorganized religion I know.... Disorganized, yes, when compared to the sleek and savvy business models. Disorganized, yes, when compared to hierarchical structures like the military where somebody above snaps and everything else below jumps.
Disorderly... well, yes, even the Book of Acts describes a church meeting so disorderly that no one could hear others speaking anymore. Unfortunately, that sounds familiar. Confused... well, yes, we are often confused about what path to take, how to accomplish the mission, and easily tempted by the slick parachurch/business models the promise success in earthly terms... as well as often confused by the very things in Scripture we should be clear about... Angry... well, yes, we are often angry... at God, at the Church, at the Pastor, at other Christians...
Yes this is who we are but God is still with us, still among with His Word and Sacraments, still gracing us with His Spirit to teach, to lead, and to confirm us in His Truth. And I am reminded that these rabble words are most true of us when we forget and take our minds off of the Lord and think only of ourselves.
According to Numbers Moses heard about it and knew God was displeased and so Moses was upset too. And this is where it gets personal for me. Moses did not share the complaints of the people but lamented to God that he had to bear up the burden of this rabble all by himself. His whining sounded way too familiar. Moses insisted that these were not HIS people but GOD'S people and it was about time that God carried the weight for their needs. And he ended with a "better dead than how things are now" that was not exactly the model of Christian hope for the life to come.
Ouch. Sometimes Pastors... uh, let me rephrase that, THIS Pastor has been known to feel and even express out loud some of these same sentiments. But at the same time, I often choose my own misery rather than share the burden of this office with anyone else. So my misery is often self-imposed. Which sort of takes away my right to complain...
And what did God do? He raised up the seventy elders of Israel, put them in a circle around the church (tent of meeting), to stand in support of Moses, placed some of the Spirit He had given Moses upon these seventy, and they prophesied as the sign of the mantle of leadership which God had placed upon them (not Moses).
Instead of being threatened by all of this, Moses wished that all of God's people were prophets! Note to self -- don't be threatened when God raises up faithful and competent people to share with you the leadership mantle of God's people in this place.
As if this were not enough. In the Gospel lesson we heard Jesus calm the fearful disciples who thought that there competing leaders for the Church. "He who is not against us, is for us..." said Jesus.
So, all in all, it was a good Sunday for this Pastor NOT to talk but to do some listening. Wisdom! Attend! The Reading of the Word of God! Amen!
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