by Michael Danner
Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1 - 13
For Sunday, March 3, 2013; Year C—Lent 3
Two observations and an initial question…
Observation #1: Good things happen and bad things happen.
Observation #2: Some people are good and some people are bad.
How are these two observations connected, if at all? Well, according to today’s epistle text, sometimes God crushes people who are doing the wrong thing.
Ouch!
Paul speaks of his Jewish forefathers. They followed God through the hardship and trials of the Exodus and came out victors with Moses. They all had the same spiritual food and drink and drank from the same spiritual rock which was Christ. Unfortunately, it didn’t take in the same way. Paul says, “God was not pleased with most of them and their bodies were scattered over the desert.”
Apparently, some of the people set their hearts on evil things. Pagan revelry and sexual immorality led to 23,000 dead in one day (that is a lot). Some tested the Lord and were killed by poisonous snakes. Others grumbled - grumbled! - and were killed by the destroying angel.
Huh?
I immediately scramble to try to make sense of Paul’s words here. Perhaps he was talking about behaviors and consequences? Maybe this is a throwback to Paul’s pre-Jesus days and he is using the stories as they were used on him? Maybe we can write this off as the Old Testament God who hadn’t went to therapy yet? Maybe these stories are just that, stories. Maybe they are morality tales meant to steer people in one direction and not the other? Maybe this is simply how the people interpreted what happened through their primitive theological lenses?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that I like Jesus’ response to the people’s question about those killed by Herod better. It’s straight forward, clear and fits with my understanding. I don’t like Paul’s contention that God was actively involved in killing those who did evil things. It doesn’t seem to square with God the Father as described by his Son, Jesus.
Personal Preference?
Why do I like Jesus in the gospel reading better than Paul in the epistle reading?
On one hand, we live in a world where good things and bad things happen to good people and bad people, alike. We reap what we sow. Our actions have consequences. This happens without any direct intervention by God.
On the other hand, according to Paul, God’s anger and wrath towards those that corrupt God’s world. God does intervene directly to judge what is evil. Therefore, let the stories from the past be a warning to you. Stand firm in the present and do what is right (or else).
Are these two ideas mutually exclusive? Can both be operative in the world at the same time? If so, how can we tell the difference?
The Hardest Question
Could it be that what I really want is a world where good things happen to me, no matter what I do?
Michael Danner is an ordained pastor of the Mennonite Church USA. He serves as Lead Pastor at Metamora Mennonite Church, a rural community on the outskirts of the empire (easy to miss unless you live nearby). When he is not actively engaged in husbanding, fathering, pastoring and blogging he confesses to spending far too much time trying to move objects with his mind...a practice he picked up at church as a kid. To date, it has not worked...but he isn’t giving up. His blog can be found at http://provokelove.net and he can be followed on Twitter @michaeldanner
