"YOU, SWEAR?" #25 of 25 Blogging through the Articles of Religion

Article XXV - Of a Christian Man's Oath

As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and James his apostle, so we judge that the Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth.

In Matthew 5 while arguing with the Pharisees, Jesus went on a rant about people swearing by this and that all the doggone time.

 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37     But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.  (Matthew 5: 33-37)

“For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had said that the devil “is a liar and the father of it” (John 8: 44). 

Anything beyond the simple truth is lie.

Therefore “whatever is more than these” simple truths is from the devil.

So, Jesus ranted, don’t  swear by this or that.  Just tell the doggone truth.

Without the simple truth, an oath is just a ritualized lie--- bearing false witness.

Jesus didn’t prohibit Christians from taking oath and then telling the truth.  He condemned taking an oath and then telling a lie.  We know this because Jesus Himself testified under oath in a court of law.

Matthew 26 explains that after being betrayed by Judas, Jesus was put on trial before the Sanhedrin Council.  Initially, Jesus refused to speak but then He was “sworn in” by the high priest. 

But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” (Matthew 26: 63)

The tribunal Jesus faced was illegally assembled, improperly conducted, and corruptly concluded.  Jesus response wasn’t about the integrity of the court or the 1^st century Judean justice system. 

The official oath in that court didn’t compel Jesus to tell the truth; Jesus always told the truth.   The court couldn’t compel Jesus to violate God’s law; Jesus also always kept God’s law.  But, Jesus did answer when the high priest put him “under oath by the living God.”

Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26: 63-64)

Jesus’s actions demonstrate the application of His words.

Like Christ, Christians should speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth without embellishing our words with “I swear,” “I promise,” “I put that on my mama/daddy/grandma/life..”  Like Christ, Christians should just say what we mean and mean what we say.

Like Christ, Christians can also speak the truth under oath, in court, in response to a judge’s request.   Like Christ, our testimony doesn’t depend on the integrity of the legal system.  We tell the truth because that’s what Christ-followers are supposed to do. 

An oath itself isn’t necessary, but it also isn’t a sin.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

METHODISTS AND MONEY. #24, Blogging through the Articles of Religion

Article XXIV - Of Christian Men's Goods

The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.

In the early days of the Christian movement in Jerusalem, believers “had all things in common, sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” (Acts 2: 44, 45)

By the end of Acts 4, donating 100% had become the norm in church culture.  Lay people did it.  Even up and coming preachers like Barnabas liquidated their assets and handed the money over to the apostles (Acts 4: 34-37).  Once giving at that level became the tradition, it stopped being about God to some some church-folks.  Giving became about how holy they LOOKED to everybody else.   

In Acts 5, a Christian couple, Ananias and his wife Sapphira, sold some land, and contribute part of the proceeds to the church.  Only, Ananias and Saphhira lied.  They said that they were contributing all of the money---- just like Barnabas ‘n’em*.

*’n’em also ‘nem = unauthorized contraction for “and them”

Long story short, God was pissed.  He struck husband and wife dead.  D-E-A-D.   But not because they gave less than 100%.  God was angry abot the lie, not the amount of the gift.    Peter said, “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:4)

“While it remained, was it not your own?”   

Yes it was.

“And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?”

Also, yes.

Barnabas. Ananaias.  Sapphira. And let’s not forget Lydia. 

In Acts 16, a successful businesswoman named Lydia became a Christian convert.  She gave moral and material support to Paul’s missionary work, but she didn’t sell her business or sign the profits over to the church.

The moral of the stories is: A congregation can pool its financial resources up to and including every dime each person makes, but they don’t have to.  God’s fine with any one in any congregation who opts out of direct deposit.   You don’t forfeit your salvation by declining to forfeit your check. 

(That said, I can’t think of one example since Acts 4 of religious collective economics that’s worked long-term.  It usually ends with an investigation, or gunfire.)

The church doesn’t own your money. 

But then again, if you’re a Chrisitian, neither do you.

Stewardship

The key word for Christians and money is STEWARDSHIP.  Stewards exercise authority over their Master’s goods for purposes defined by their Master.  For followers of Jesus, money is a gift that God gives us to use for godly purposes.   

Based on Jesus’ parables on stewardship, John Wesley preached a sermon called “The Use of Money.” The message presented “three plain rules” for godly stewardship of money.  The three rules are inseparable.  They’re effective only when considered as one comprehensive rule:  Gain all you can; save all you can; give all you can.

Gain all you can gain but not at the expense of life, health, mind, or the good of our neighbors.

Save all you can by avoiding expense that feed gluttony, vanity, pride, the desire to impress others, and sensuality (indulgence of any senses: taste, smell, sight, etc.). 

Giving begins with the tithe.  Begins.  Wesley himself lived off close to 10% of his every increasing income and gave away the rest.    Giving begins with the church.  Begins.  Wesley didn’t give exclusively to his church. He probably gave more to the needy individuals who crossed his path than he formally contributed to Methodist or Anglican activities. 

Now go back to Acts 2.

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (verses 44, 45)

The first church’s budget was something like 100% charity and benevolence. 

The Biblical background of Article 24 calls on the church to minimize its overhead while maximizing our generosity.   

 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). After the Christian has provided for the family, the creditors, and the business, the next obligation is to use any money that is left to meet the needs of others. (Charles White, “What Wesley Practiced and Preached About Money” )

Wesley preached that every Christian should:

 First, provide things needful for yourself; food to eat, raiment to put on, whatever nature moderately requires for preserving the body in health and strength.

Secondly, provide these for your wife, your children, your servants, or any others who pertain to your household.

If when this is done there be an overplus left, then ‘do good to them that are of the household of faith.’

If there be an overplus still, ‘as you have opportunity, do good unto all men.’ In so doing, you give all you can; nay, in a sound sense, all you have.

All we have.

All I have.

All you have.

Let us pray.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

ORIGINAL POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: #23, Blogging Through the Articles of Religion

Article XXIII - Of the Rulers of the United States of America

The President, the Congress, the general assemblies, the governors, and the councils of state, as the delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to them by the Constitution of the United States and by the constitutions of their respective states. And the said states are a sovereign and independent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction.

For weeks, I searched the scriptures for an explanation of this Article.  I read scholarly and semi-scholarly interpretations of Jesus’ views on government.  I  examined the theology of the founding fathers.  I started and restarted this blog article at least 10 times.  But the Holy Spirit wouldn’t green-light any of it.  I couldn’t get peace over the Biblical justification for this doctrinal pronouncement.  

Then I realized:  there isn’t one.

Article 23 has nothing to do with the Bible.  This one is all about political correctness.

John Wesley (1703-1791) was the founder of Methodism and an ordained priest in the Anglican Church.  Legally, the Anglican Church, also known as the Church of England, was an extension of the government of Great Britain.   During the early days of Methodism in the American colonies, Wesley didn’t ordain any colonial preacher, so the sacraments were administered by British clergy who sailed over from England.  That worked well enough until the American colonies rebelled against Great Britain.

When the American Revolution ended in 1783, the British government, and therefore the  Church of England, no longer had any jurisdiction in the newly formed United States of America.  America needed a Methodist Church with its own ordained pastors.  So, despite the concerns of other British Methodists, including his own brother, Charles, John Wesley ordained Thomas Coke as superintendent to the United States, and sent him across the Atlantic with instructions to serve in America and to ordain Frances Asbury as co-superintendent. (The title superintendent was later changed to bishop.)  With Coke, Wesley also sent a Methodist hymnal and a revised version of the Anglican Articles of Religion.  Wesley had trimmed the 39 Articles of the Church of England down to a Methodist-friendly 24.   

On December 24, 1784, the Christmas Conference in Baltimore formally created the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.  This conference, the first Methodist General Conference, established the tradition of electing superintendents (bishops). It also adopted Wesley’s 24 articles of religion as the foundational doctrine of the Methodist Church in America.

Now, Baltimore one year after the American Revolution wasn’t exactly the ideal setting to launch a church whose clerical authority derived from a Englishman who held office in an extension of British government.  The delegates of the first General Conference knew that they had to do something to reassure the ultra-patriotic culture that Methodists hated the evil British Empire just as much as anybody else. 

So, the first General Conference in America added an additional item to the articles of religion.  The additional item was inserted as Article XXIII.  

Article 23 is true but it really shouldn’t be a doctrine. It isn’t anti-Biblical.  It’s just non-Biblical.  It’s not about freedom from Catholicism.  It’s not about a separation between church and state.  It’ not about anything spiritual or ecclesiastical. 

Article 23 is an acquiescence to socio-political pressure.  The words are the sound of the 18^th century church pleading, “Hey, America, please like us. We’re just like you.”

Article 23 is the sound of the Methodist church being politically correct.

I really wish we were over that, but we’re not.

America ca. 2015 is as politically volatile as America 1784.  If the CME Church removed Article 23 we’d be accused of everything from hating America to collaborating with foreign states.  So, #23, the least Biblical of the 25 Articles needs to stay---- for the same non-Biblical reasons it was written in the first place.

But knowing now what it looks like to our descendants when we manifest political correctness as non-Biblical statements of doctrine, perhaps future General Conference will find the courage to say NO to proclamations that please the present culture but ignore the Bible.

Perhaps. 

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

THE WAY TO HEAVEN: GOOD OLE-FASHIONED LOVE

I heard a televangelist say, “To get into Heaven, it doesn’t matter what you do. All that matters is that God loves you.”

That’s beautiful.

Wrong.

But beautiful.

We tend to superimpose our modern cultural views of “love” on God, but you have to remember that when it comes to love and relationships, God is old-fashioned.

In the old days of courtship, an unmarried couple would meet in a designated area belonging to the family and under elders’ supervision: the outside of the tent, the parlor of the home, the courtyard.  In the old-fashioned system, love got you into the house, but only marriage would get you into the bedroom.

Heaven is eternal, intimate cohabitation with God Himself.  Jesus described our place in Heaven as a personal mansion-sized room where we are at home with the Lord (John 14: 2). 

The world is the Lord’s footstool (Matthew 5:35).  The church is the house of God (1 Timothy 3: 15).  But Heaven--- Heaven is the bedroom. 

As a human institution operating in a fallen world, the church is made up of people who SAY that they love God, but “love” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone who uses it.

The love God wants with His church is the old-fashioned love between husband and wife. (2 Corinthians 11: 2; Ephesians 5: 25; Revelations 19: 7-9; Revelations 22: 10)

That old-fashioned marriage love is exclusive, submissive, better-or-worse, sickness-or-healing, prosperity-or-poverty, and explicitly committed.  

You can hang out in God’s presence and enjoy His company and “love” Him without being committed in the old-fashioned sense. But it won’t get you into the bedroom of Heaven.

God’s just old-fashioned like that.

I know we’re not old-fashioned anymore, but think about what you expect in a modern marriage.

Does the way the other person treats YOU matter?

If your spouse ignored your every request for time and attention, would it affect your relationship?

O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. (Micah 6: 3)

If your spouse regularly violated your marriage vows, and then came home saying they had no regrets because it would all work out for good anyway---- would it affect your relationship?

Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 3: 20)

If the wearer of your marriage ring praised you in public but demanded that you give them money every time they did so, would that wear on your heart?  Would it affect the prospects of your marriage?

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (Matthew 15: 7-9)

If your spouse treated you like this  while you spent your money building a new and bigger house, would you not reconsider whether or not this spouse was the other name you wanted to put on the deed?

I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.  And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.” (Ezekiel 6: 9, 10)

Modern or old-fashioned, our actions affect the nature and direction of the relationship.

God loves us.  He loves us all no matter what, but what we do affects the kind of relationship God will have with us.   

Ya’ll know Galatians 6: 7?  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. “

That verse isn’t about money.  It’s about whether we choose faithfulness in spirit or spiritual adultery through the flesh.

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6: 8)

In other words, God loves us, but unlike humans, love doesn’t make God stupid. God is not mocked.

Our actions/works cannot get us into Heaven.  All that matters is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  But in the context of that relationship, what we do matters A LOT.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14: 23, 24)

Our choices demonstrate whether our love and commitment is sincere in the old-fashioned sense or just some modern thing we profess so we can live in the new house not made with man’s hands.

God has old-fashioned expectations for our “love.”  So be as good to God as you’d want your spouse to be to you.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

A REASON FOR SHEEP TO SHOUT

We are the sheep of God’s flock, but being a sheep is not a very glamorous position.  In part 2 of the message about a Church that Makes Jesus Shout, we learn: A REASON FOR SHEEP TO SHOUT.

Listen well.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

The podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves  #Awordtothewise 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

WALKING THROUGH THE PROJECTS, HANGING BY THE WELL

In John chapter 4, Jesus sat beside a well in the Samaritan desert.  He was hot and thirsty so he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water.  Then Jesus talked to her.  They talked about worship, cultural conflicts, prophesy, the sin in her life, and His identity as the promised Messiah.  Ironically, as far as the Scriptures say, He never did get that drink of water but He didn't care.. When the disciples showed up with refreshments, Jesus told them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” (John 4: 32)

It was hot.  He hadn’t eaten.  He hadn’t even drunk from the well, but Jesus’ was refreshed.

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. “ (John 4: 32, 34)

I thought about Jesus in the Samaritan heat because I almost didn’t walk through the projects today.

The first part of my Saturday morning had been spent with visiting alumni in a well-appointed, air-conditioned upstairs reception room at Miles College.  After that I dutifully changed the wording on our church marquis because somebody had to do it and I am that somebody.  By then it was about 11 A.M.   I had paperwork to do, a sermon to polish, and at least another hour-and-a-half on I-65 before I made it home to my laptop, but most importantly:  IT WAS HOT.

My brain, feet, and sweat glands had 90 degrees of reasons not to walk back and forth across the asphalt of the Newton Gardens Housing Projects. 

Jesus had lots of reasons not to sit, drink-less by that well, chatting with a woman His closest buddies would’ve never talked to.  But if Jesus hadn’t stayed in the heat, talking, He would have missed the chance to turn a Samaritan into an evangelist. 

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4: 28, 29)

Jesus would’ve missed the chance to lead many people in that community to faith. 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

And many more believed because of His own word.

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”  (John 4: 39, 41-42)

If Jesus had done something more comfortable He wouldn’t have received the blessing of hospitality from the Samaritans and proven to the disciples that all the stereotypes about “those people” were wrong.

So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. (John 4: 40)

If I had skipped my rounds in the projects across the street from our church I would’ve missed the chance to pray with the sister who’d just gotten back from dialysis.  I wouldn’t have talked and prayed with the lady whose mother died yesterday. I wouldn’t have joked with the kids who were running through with their football.  (Did you know that kids still play outside with footballs and stuff?)  If I’d made today an inside air-conditioning only day, I wouldn’t have learned a few things from the lady who grows the pretty flowers on her porch.  I wouldn’t have talked with the brother who wasn’t doing alright even though he said he was.  I could have retreated to my air-conditioned office, but then I would’ve missed the chance to invite the mother and daughter who “were just saying that we need to go to church somewhere this Sunday.”  If I hadn’t taken my usual walk through the projects I wouldn’t have gotten that  Sprite--- the one that a resident went into her kitchen to get for me when she saw that my bottle of water was empty.

By the time I finished talking to folks and, praying with folks, and listening to folks my shirt was soaked with sweat, but I felt strangely refreshed. 

My air-conditioning was to do the will of My Father and to carry on His work.

A lot of the time, we feel like our evangelistic efforts are unwelcome and ineffective.  We stress over strategies and material and training for neighborhood outreach.  But sometimes, sometimes the simple pastoral act of being there, the act of talking with whomever’s at the well, or out on the block, or sitting on their stoop, or hanging on the corner; sometimes that’s enough to bring supernatural deliverance and refreshing to somebody.  Today, I was that somebody.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

BECOMING A CHURCH THAT MAKES JESUS SHOUT!

Let me tell you about the time Jesus started shoutin’.  Not raising His voice in anger, though that happened several times, but the time that Jesus was with the church rejoicing and and praising God because of what He saw.

With the ongoing controversies and challenges in the church, here is a Word of reminder of who we the church are, an invitation to what we can become.  Learn how we can once more be A CHURCH THAT MAKES JESUS SHOUT!

Listen well.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

The podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves  #Awordtothewise 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

Ends and Means: #22 Blogging through the Articles of Religion

Article XXII - Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches

It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike; for they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.

Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.

Does the end justify the means? 

In this case, yeah.

The first rite or ceremony recorded in scripture was Cain’s and Abel’s ritual sacrifice in Genesis 4.  The text of verses 3-7 indicates that the sacrifices were scheduled not spontaneous.  The selection of sacramental elements wasn’t arbitrary but based on clear principles.  Each brother brought something of personal value  that represented the best of their respective endeavors.  But we know very little of the particulars.

Was there an altar? What did it look like?  What did they say?  How did they deliver their offerings?  Did they start a fire or wait for fire to fall from Heaven?  Exactly how did both men know whose offering had been accepted and whose hadn’t?

The Bible doesn’t provide a script for the first religious ceremony in human history.  We don’t even get much of an outline.

We don’t know the means.  But we know that means didn’t matter.

God rejected Cain’s offering, but not because of Cain’s offering. Under the Mosaic law, offerings of grains and vegetables were acceptable (Leviticus 2; 23:10-14).  The problem wasn’t Cain’s offering. The problem was Cain. 

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?   If you do well, will you not be accepted?...” (Genesis 4:6,7)

The Lord didn’t rebuke Cain for the order of service or the contents of the offering.  Cain didn’t do the ritual wrong.  Cain was wrong when he did the ritual.

The issue was the end not the means.   And so it has been in every rite and ceremony since. 

Cain was so upset that his little brother seemed to have gotten more points for style than he did, that he never addressed the spiritual end to which God was pointing.

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4: 7)

The purpose of every ritual in church is to focus attention on an eternal truth, a spiritual transition that has or is supposed to take place.

By the time of Isaiah, the Jewish nations were experts at ritual.  In Judah they had the Temple and the Levitical priesthood.   In Samaria-Israel there was a competitively elaborate state-sponsored liturgy.  But in the first chapter of Isaiah, God rejected their rites. 

“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats… Bring no more futile sacrifices.  Incense is an abomination to Me, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies…” (Isaiah 1: 11, 13)

In verse 12, God asked basically, “Who told you to do all this stuff?”

If you were a duly-ordained priest listening to Isaiah, you probably would’ve replied, “God told us.”

Didn’t He? 

Isn’t the wording in our Book of Ritual based on the Word of God?  Aren’t the elaborations and simplifications of our order of worship Divinely inspired?

Maybe.  Maybe not.  But that’s not the point.   Those aren’t even the right questions.

Israel had the proper words, robes, and rituals. God rejected it all because their ceremonies weren’t bout with spiritual change.   They were performing religious rites but the rites didn’t make them get right. 

I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting… Your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:13, 15)

When it comes to rites and ceremonies, every church must ask what God asked in Isaiah 1: 11, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”

What is the purpose of this ritual?  What is the end?

God wanted Cain to leave the sacrifice service reflecting on himself.  God’s stated purpose was for Adam’s oldest boy to overcome (“rule over”) the sin lurking at the door of his heart.

God wanted the same for Israel.

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean.  Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil.  Learn to do good…” (Isaiah 1: 16, 17)

The same end applies to Christians today.

Ritual should make us consider ourselves and our relationship with God.

Article of Religion #22 says “Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.”

The Lord put it this way, “Come now, and let us reason together.  Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; (Isaiah 1:18)

If your church does communion with Kool-aid and animal crackers but it leads the congregation to consider their lives against the broken body and shed blood of  Jesus, then your ritual has fulfilled its purpose. 

If your congregation uses a 1200 year old baptismal liturgy handwritten by the original St. Francis and immerses every candidate in a pool of water drawn from the Jordan River itself, but all you think about is how pretty the program sounds, then you might as well be mud-wrestling.

The Lord says, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you.  Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1: 15)

“Maintaining our traditions” is an INVALID reason for continuing a ritual as it’s been done. “Cultural relevance” is an equally INVALID reason to change.

If the best way to achieve God’s given end is to change a ritual, change it.  If the best way to fulfill the spiritual purpose of a church ceremony is to keep saying the same thing, then hold onto it.

The end justifies the means.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

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