Jeremiah 7:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah, you that enter these gates to worship the Lord. 3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place. 4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”
It is easy to say what the Blazer guard should have done in last night's game, what the quarterback should have done in that big fourth and one play Sunday afternoon, and especially what we should have done in our own life. There are just too many 'should have dones.'
Looking back I see I have struggled with the real danger of needing to be talked to the way Jeremiah spoke to these people. I must be truly stiff necked because I continue to need this reminder.
Do you see who God is talking to through Jeremiah? He is talking to those who think they are the God seekers.
Look closely and see who God is not talking to. God is not talking to those who have chosen not to seek and worship the Lord. He is not talking to those who worship technology, those who call a monkey papa, or those who are thoroughly disgusted with the whole idea of religion. It seems to me that God respects the gift God gave each one of us 'to choose.'
God also tells us what the consequences of our choice will be. It saddens me and probably upsets many of my friends, but I can understand why so many people make the wrong choice. How many have made the wrong choice because of me, because of my lack of compassion, inability to do the right thing or failure to sacrifice when sacrifice would have defined the integrity of what I say I believe?
Jeremiah is talking to those who enter the gates to worship Him. He is talking to me. Only you can know if he is talking to you.
Some Biblical scholars say that Jeremiah 7:1-8:3 is a composite unit probably written around 609 B.C.E., centuries before the incarnation of Christ. So what you may ask? I just find it interesting that a non-believing world scoffs at the Bible, but one of the main themes of the Bible is the apostasy, the empty, superficial and hypocritical worship of those who claim to be God-seekers. Isn't this the main complaint of non-believers, especially those who examine history?
Genocide and cruelty rarely happen in a vacuum. Many times the church has been aware of what was happening, but for the most part it has ignored the situation. To be sure, there have always been the few who have stood up and let their voice be heard. There are those who give their all to fight injustice, wherever it is. Maybe they were shouted down, but at least their voice was heard. It would be inspiring to see more movies about this remnant, these people who allow compassion for others to play such a large role in their life. The Bible says the path is narrow and few find it. There are about six billion people on earth right now. What does few mean?
I find the last part of this passage the most troubling. Jeremiah calls these words deceptive. “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.” Would it be wrong to equate this with the church? Do we somehow think because we have more and more churches we have created some sort of buffer zone between us and accountability to God?
Often I hear folks say church is the people, not the building. Really? When was the last time the ninety-nine were set aside to find the one? Who is more important than the church agenda? Am I reading this wrong? Maybe I am writing from my own conviction. It seems to me Jeremiah is saying God is more concerned with the integrity of his people's hearts than their temple, than our church, than our agendas, yes, even more than our worship.
In a technological world function is everything, but technology is outside of who we are. Were we born to be functional or relational? Is God not speaking through Jeremiah and telling the people their trust in functions, in this case worship, is deceptive?
Why do we think because we go to church, read our Bibles, pray, and maybe faithfully follow Ignatian spirituality, we have some higher call, some higher function than those who don't? With all my heart I know that I know if the motivation for doing these things is not to draw closer to God, and yes, to draw closer to one another, than we are deceived.
There is a splendid beauty and peacefulness in Taize worship. It is a beautiful invitation to worship God, but if this contemplative process does not draw you closer to God, and others, then it benefits you little.
A few months ago I experienced a three day retreat on the coast. The people and our conversations were wonderful. We walked a labyrinth that Ann drew in the sand. We all took turns walking prayerfully between the lines. Before he left, Jason left a short, powerful note in my Bible. It talked about looking up from the lines draw in the sand. Is that not the heart of the matter? Praising and worshiping God is wonderful, but God has an expectation that we will look up from the way we do our religion, and freely share God's love with others.
It is great that Lily can call me on her cell phone and let me know she is OK, but it is no substitute for holding her in my arms. Looking back I see that many times my relationship with God, and others, could best be described as a cell phone call. Were we created to say, "God bless you," on a cell phone?" Were we created to text someone a scripture to help them through a difficult time? Do you understand these are not what scripture teaches?
Martin Luther was upset with the book of James because its author stressed application. Here's a hypothetical scenario. Wouldn't it be nice to live next door to a wonderful Christian family who always invited you to church on Sunday?
What would you think of living next to a Moslem family who shared the responsibility of driving the kids to school in bad weather, took turns with you watching the children waiting for the school bus, invited you to the bar-b-q they were having in their back yard, helped you find your lost dog, and yes, invited you to a Blazer game? Am I a bad Christian because I would not think twice about who I would want to be neighbors with?
I think Martin Luther missed it and I think the author of James got it. So, as we drive to church this Sunday is God talking to us through Jeremiah? Are we deceived?
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