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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-09-02, Page 32By Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-NyandePastor, Walton and BluevaleUnited Churches “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it was already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in- law.”(Luke 12:49-53) This passage presents some of the hardest sayings in the Gospels. If Jesus did not come to “bring peace” then what about the beginning of Luke’s gospel, when the heralds of Jesus’ birth proclaim peace to all (2:4), or the instruction for the 70 to bring peace to every house they enter. It directly confronts the image of Jesus as “Prince of Peace.” Clearly something has changed in Jesus’ attitude or approach. The challenge of this passage is to understand the entire picture. The beginning of Luke’s Gospel proclaims that Jesus will “guide our feet into way of peace” (1:79). Near the end of the Gospel, the resurrected Jesus appears among his followers and offers a benediction of peace (24:36). With these texts in mind, how might we understand Jesus’ statement that he brings “fire to the earth” (12:49), division and not peace? In light of Jesus’ own example and the testimony of his preaching, these are not very inviting words for recruiting new church members! We would much rather picture a Jesus who is a peacemaker rather than a home wrecker. The question arises immediatelyas to whether or not Jesus actuallyspoke in these terms. Luke’seschatology tended to emphasize a delay in the Parousia, but this passage has a much greater sense of immediacy about it. Is Luke here thinking ahead to Jesus’Gethsemane experience (22:39-46) and thereby presenting his readers 50 years later with a similar warning of severe trials to come? What can Jesus’ words of division possibly mean? Is it not also true that Christian faith and behaviour do at times create conflict such as this passage describes? Theologians over the centuries are themselves divided about the pericope’s message of separation and conflict. Some have used Jesus’ words as a warrant to justify war in the face of real clashes among nations. Others have seen in the juxtaposition of parent and child, a description of the division that occurs between believers and nonbelievers when these are confronted by the blinding light of the gospel. John Dominic Crossan, for example, presents a novel approach in limiting the actual words of Jesus to the aphorism about a divided household. He notes that the division is not dependent on faith in the reign of God or on Jesus himself. He also points to the emphasis on generations rather than gender. He suggests that the reign of God’s love tears families apart along the axis of power, particularly power that is abused as parental power has often done. Another progressive scholar, Bruce Chilton, frequently presents Jesus as very abrasive in his teaching style. If this is what the anticipatedmessianic kingdom would be like,this teaching would inevitably raiseconsiderable controversy in his audience. Ever ready for an argument on some fine point of the Torah or its implications for daily life, the Jews were notorious for the fervour with which they debated and re-debated each issue a new rabbi defined. Not only is the central theological message of the pericope difficult to pin down, but so too are some of its details. Is the fire that Jesus brings a baptism of fire like the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, burning in the hearts and upon the heads of numerous believers, enflaming them to mighty deeds of faithfulness (cf.3:16)? Jesus was teaching that the end of the age would involve harsh judgment and division. Is it, rather, the fire of judgment, raining down from heaven upon the heads of God’s enemies? Perhaps the dilemma and tensions of Jesus’ saying cannot, and should not, be completely resolved. Instead the pericope is best understood in the light of totality of the gospel story and the interplay between the ways of God and the realities of human history. In that light one could say that the passage is descriptive rather than prescriptive. That is it not Jesus’ purpose to set children against their parents, or parents against their children. According to the commentary, it was not that Jesus sought to subvert families as such. It was rather that he espoused a vision of God and God’s agenda for change which often stood in direct conflict with other absolute claims, like wealth, possessions, land, culture, religion and family. He appears to havedeliberately encouraged some todislocate by leaving behind theclaims of their local communities, clan and family. Like him they travelled with him as a kind of entourage of protest against the prevailing systems. But he also encouraged others who stayed where they were to put the kingdom first. Everything else has its place but falls into proper perspective when the “God part” is taken care of. That is not a guarantee of peace and harmony, but an involvement in change which will have its own rewards. It will encounter resistance and rejection from the powerbrokers of the gods of family and tradition. In conclusion, the real purpose ofselecting this passage is to invite your comments from allinterested believers, including teachers and fellow ministerial colleagues. PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010. Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth A farewell evening for Pastor John Kuperus will be on Friday, September 10th at 7:30 pm at the Blyth Public School. All are welcome!! ............................ Teen Challenge Choir will be coming to the Blyth CRC on Sunday, September 14th at 10:00 am. Everyone is invited to be inspired by their music and testimonies! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, September 5 Brussels Arena at 10:30 a.m. and various homes at 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com Sunday, September 5 Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-2664 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared Sept. 5: Eccles 7:1-4 Lessons Learned in the House of Mourning Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, September 5 Emergency Services Remembrance Day at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 12 No service. Join us at the Thresher’s Service Sunday, September 19 Sunday School Kick-off YOU ARE WELCOME 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship Mid-week Bible Study C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A Timeless Truths For Today 308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590 Blyth Community Church of God THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Sunday, September 5 119 John’s Ave.,Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service Guest Speaker: Tim Whately No Sunday School for summer months SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Begins the 28 day Spiritual Housecleaning From the Minister’s StudyHearing the call can happen to anyone ON $6.00 THURSDAYS Drop into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $6.00 + HST (paid in advance). That’s $1.00 off regular rates. The Citizen BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED