Caeserea Philippi & The Playboy Mansion

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."

(Matthew 16:18)

It begins innocently enough.  "Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi..." Just another town in the Middle East, right?  We're not from that region of the world, so it doesn't mean anything to us.  That's how I used to feel.  But then I read something by Pastor Rob Bell that changed my perspective.

Caesarea Philippi was the home of the 'goat god,' Pan (yah, the one with the flute!).  And one of the geographic anomalies about the areas was that it housed a big cliff of rocks, with a giant crack in it.  Followers of Pan believed that the spirits from Hell would come and go through that crack.  In fact, it gained the nickname, "The Gates of Hell."  (Always a great name to ensure it's popularity as a tourist attraction!)

Worshippers of Pan built a temple next to that giant crack in the rock.  During the festivals to Pan, followers (amongst other things) engaged in sexual acts with goats, as a sign of their devotion.  Thus, Caesarea Philippii had quite a reputation, as you can imagine!  Few good Jews would even venture  into the outskirts of the city because of that reputation.   Then along comes Jesus and his disciples.

Many of us know the story of Simon... getting renamed "Peter" by Jesus.  "The Rock" (long before Duane Johnson was alive!).  Jesus told Peter that he'd be the rock on which he would build his church (Mt. 16:18)... and even "the gates of Hell" could not prevail against it.  I'd always thought that was just a cool promise that good triumphs over evil, in general.

I was thinking that it would be like Jesus today taking a group of followers to the Playboy Mansion (and not to picket/protest either!).  Can you imagine what those followers would be thinking when Jesus said, "Hey, let's go over to the Playboy Mansion... I want to show you folks something."  And then he gathers the group  around the infamous "grotto" area at the pool... and says something like, "My Father's mansion has many rooms - there's a place for everyone!"  Then he renames one of he disciples "Hugh" (or something).  "Hugh, you'll be the one to reach out to those on the fringes of society."

Jesus was (is!) very contemporary!  He's not worried aobut "social conventions" on what others think.  He's called by God to share the life-giving gift of the Kingdom of God.  Available to al!  Even the ones the rest of us have written off as sinners beyond grace (with our without bunny ears!).

From East to West...

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities... as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us."

(Psalm 103:8-10, 12)

I'm going to prison today.  I'm starting a new once-a-month Bible study with some of the inmates at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu.  We'll be journeying through Matthew together.  I'm both excited and a little nervous.  I'm not at all worried about the environment... but rather, will this study be "real" to the men who will come?  Will it make a difference in their lives?  If it was purely up to my "brilliance" (or lack thereof), then who knows.  But the true power of Bible Study comes from the Spirit of God that speaks through the pages of Scripture - not the qualification/preparation of the leader.

Today's passage from Psalm 103 is a great message to keep in mind as I engage in this new ministry: Mercy.  Forgiveness.  Grace.  I'm reminded that this is Good News for me!  God doesn't ultimately deal with me according to my sin.  My sin has been removed, hallelujah!  As I begin to work with the men at the Detention Center, I go as a fellow sinner.  I go as one who needs God's grace just as much as anyone inside the facility.  I don't go to "impart wisdom" or morality or even faith.  I go to help connect others to God in new ways.

There's power in Scripture.  I can't wait to see how God shows up in prison... and teaches me new things about His amazing grace!

Mercy Three

"And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies."

(Jude 22-23)

The author of Jude is seeking to encourage the believers to keep the faith, hold fast to the truth, and resist those seeking to divide their community. The very last instructions (in this short, 25-verse letter) deal with having mercy and saving 3 groups of people. The first two are 1) those who are wavering (in faith)... and 2) those "in the fire" (ie. caught up in trouble). As for the 3rd group, it's not clear exactly who they are (the NRSV notes that the Greek text itself here is unclear!). I think it's referring to those that some may feel are already "too far gone" - yet, we're called to have mercy on them, though hating their actions.

To me, this is a huge dose of GRACE at the end of a short but foreboding letter. We all know folks who are "wavering" in their faith. Rather than being disappointed or frustrated by their state, have mercy! From youth (who are searching for what role faith may play in their life)... to young adults (who are often questioning & challenging the faith they grew up with)... to adults dealing with children, "empty nesters," retirees, and those in their "golden years" (or is it "silver years?!")... they all have issues that affect their faith. Be patient with them all, our author says.

We're called not to "mind our own business" when we see those in trouble, but may indeed be called to "snatch them out of the fire." To me that literally means intervening in their lives to get them out of destructive behavior/situations. Sometimes we may feel inclined not to get involved... but it could be a tremendous act of love & mercy to snatch someone out of the fire!

Finally, there are those other folks that everyone knows are "no good." The ones we all hate/despise. Those who live as though they're allergic to goodness & kindness. We can also have mercy on them, without supporting/encouraging their behavior ("hate the tunic defiled by their bodies"). Too often even the most dedicated disciples separate themselves from those kinds of people. Could it be there are other ways to engage them? How can we show mercy even when we completely disagree with their choices and/or way of life?

PRAYER: We love retribution, Lord... for others (not us, of course)! Give us a heart of love and mercy... a passion to see GRACE recklessly & abundantly spread to all! Thank you for the patience & courage we need to live out this passage from Jude, showering mercy to those who need it most. AMEN.