Piet's Page November 26, 2006

Oh - For Goodness' sake!

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lords and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sakes O Lord!
-Psalm 25:4-7

We've all heard it: religious fotks are just a bunch of hypocrites. After all, those Christians are no better than the rest of us, they just act like they are! You've heard that, right? Perhaps -if you're like me -you may have even said those words at some time or another. With that comes the assumption that church-folks are supposed to be somehow superior to non-church folks. Given that Jesus teaches us to become servants, that assumption doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Which is not to say, however, that there aren't Christians who behave as if they have all the answers. Let's face it, there are brothers and sisters who merely adopt the label "Christian", hang a cross around their necks and carry a floppy Bible with which to remind others of just how good they really are!

I can only come at things out of my own experience and my own journey of faith, which is still ongoing - I have many more miles to go before I can sleep, if you know what I mean. My own take is that Christians are seekers, working at finding answers, doing what we can with what we've been given by God to live a life of love, a life of faith. Along the way we all falter and fall short of perfection - by a long way. That's what really touches me about this passage from Psalm 25. The Psalmist asks God to please keep on teaching, for there is much to learn. The writer knows that God's way is right, and wonderful, but also recognizes that it will not always be easy to stick to God's teachings. Please God, I know I did some stupid, and maybe even evil things in my past -please God, I know better, and ask you to forgive me. Remember the good things I've done, when I was successful in walking on your path, when I was able to be a follower of Jesus. Would you do that, God - for your goodness' sake?

The Psalm becomes much like a prayer for me, and perhaps for you as well. No, I don't think us Christians are better than others. We simply give of ourselves in looking for answers, struggling together to live out our faith. All the while, we know that we have God's love and God's grace. Together, as one body, we enter into Advent, when we begin anew the cycle of our Christian year. Together, we anticipate the coming of the Christ child. Together, we give thanks to God for teaching us: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. Come, thou long expected Jesus.

- Pastor Piet -
December 3, 2006
First Sunday of Advent