Fasten your seat belts!

I’ve shared previously postings from FAITH MATTERS by The Rev. Dr. Jim Harnish – the senior pastor of the historical Hyde Park United Methodist Church in downtown Tampa and one of the continual spiritual resources for my thinking. Today I share a portion of the one that he wrote his congregation on December 30, 2010. I hope that you agree that it is thought provoking.

I have no idea what All About Eve was all about, but I know one of the most memorable lines in movie history, delivered with knife-like precision by Bette Davis, comes from it: “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”

Strangely enough, I remembered that line as I stepped into Matthew’s gospel. The shift from Luke’s birth narrative, which we read on Christmas Eve, to Matthew’s story is about as abrupt as the way department store Christmas decorations are replaced by “After Christmas Sale” signs. Suddenly, the candle glow is gone. We are thrust into the harsh light of a cold, brutal world. We are torn out of the fantasy of a “Winter Wonderland” and thrown into Herod’s world; a dark, eerily familiar world of political power based on violence and maintained by fear.

The tension in the story centers around Herod’s fear of the Magi’s search for an upstart king who would threaten his reign. That tension works its way throughout the entire gospel. From beginning to end, Matthew forces the question upon us: Which will you choose? The kingdoms of Herod’s world or the Kingdom of God? Under whose reign will you live? Herod and Pilate or Jesus? Which way will you follow? The way of force and violence that leads to death or the way of love and peace that leads to life?
It’s as if Matthew is warning us at the very beginning, “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

What Difference Does Jesus Make?

What real, tangible difference does Jesus make in our world and in our lives? Start wrestling with that question and things can get bumpy very quickly.

Let’s face it. Like political power players in every generation, Herod could not have cared less about a “spiritual” Savior/King who would prepare people to go to Heaven when they die. But like the power people in every generation, Herod was scared stiff by the presence of a Savior/King who starts changing the way people live right now. After all, pre-Emancipation slave masters were perfectly content for slaves to sing, “When I get to Heaven, gonna put on my shoes and walk all over God’s Heaven.” What terrified them was when slaves started talking about having shoes right here, right now.

Herod could see that Jesus had come to plant an alternative Kingdom that would undermine his authority and control; a kingdom that would be based on love rather than fear; a vision of biblical social justice rather than ruthless force; the way of peace rather than violence.

Quote for today: Heaven is more than a destination; it is a motivation. Knowing that we shall dwell in the heavenly city ought to make a difference in our lives here and now. ~Warren W. Wiersbe

NOTE: There will be no postings on this blog January 9-16, 2010 because I will be enjoying a Caribbean Cruise with my spouse of 45-years and some friends.