lower case god

As bible study goes, it was crowded last night in the basement of St. Mark's Coffee House, and the verses for the week were an interesting lot.

Some overarching big themes like Elijah ascending in a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11)and then appearing at the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:4). I did find the reference to bleaching ("...such as no one on earth could bleach them") in the transfiguration just a little bit odd. Curious. Humorous. A Clorox moment. That was the big stuff.

But it was a small thing that got my attention - the lower case god of 2 Corinthians 4:4 (my emphasis):

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

The god of this world. That's not God. That there's a small "g" lower case god. Who is that? And this small god has "blinded the minds of unbelievers." How is does that work? What can keep people from seeing the "light of the gospel"? That's amazingly powerful for a lower case dude, isn't it?

I'm not sure what exactly was going on in Paul's world in terms of diversions, amusements and follies, but these are endless in our world. The lower case gods of our world are everywhere. The toughest meanest lower case god is the "god of not good enough" who offers all sorts of blandishments and nostrums to assist you in becoming "good enough" through his disciples: Success! Fame! Popularity! McMansions! This year's model! Thin! Beauty! And of course Addiction! Alienation! Cynicism! Fear of failure! And, last but not least, Greed.

The god of not good enough always needs one more tithe. One more drink. One more new car. One more bulimic episode. He seems to have a pulpit on every corner, magazine cover, and TV show. Maybe your mother or father was a follower, a priest even, and laid the gospel of "not enough" at your bedside every single day.

It is very hard to see the light of the Gospel when following the god of not good enough. I lost a lot of years to the lower case god. So many. Because if you are blind to your own worth and value, you cannot understand how God could love you. His high priests tell you that you are worthless but that there is a new drug/iPod/Mac/car/job/liquor that will help you to finally be good enough, smart enough, lovable. But of course it doesn't, it won't and it can't. There is always one more thing you have to do to earn your worth in the Church of Not Enough.

If you have been raised in the Church of Not Enough, it is hard to believe the Gospel. You don't understand that you are fine and that you can come to the Gospel just as you are. You don't have to do anything at all to earn this amazing love. In fact, you can't earn it at all.

It just is.

Namaste.

This Week's Readings

2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6 (2)
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

I just read them and I have no clue whatsoever. So, I guess I'll learn something at bible study on Tuesday night - as usual.

Namaste.

Missing BYOB Tonight...

I had to skip Bring Your Own Brain bible study tonight due to the trial I've got in federal court this week. Sad. But I did look up the readings for the week from the Lextionary: 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30 (2), 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, and Mark 1:40-45.

I love the images of Kings, where Naaman is healed of leprosy by the prophet in Israel. But Elisha does not come out to cure Naaman, nope, he sends a messenger who says "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and you flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." And the high and mighty Naaman is offended. Yes, offended, Well, actually the bible says, angry, but he was sorely put out. That much is clear. So, anyway, he went away saying "I thought for me that he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God and would wave his hand over the spot and cure the leprosy." Ultimately, Naaman's servants (what's that about) convince the idiot to go take a bath in the Jordan and get cured.

The point to me is simply that sometimes God grants our wishes but just not in the way we expect. Perhaps we don't even notice that our deepest desire has been granted because we asked for a red Mercedes and damned if we didn't get a green one which really is not what we wanted at all.

Perhaps Janis said it best:

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.

Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,

So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

Namaste.

Today I Am Thinking About ... Prayer

Today we read Isaiah 40:21-31; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; and Mark 1:29-39. Nice. The cookie and coffee were nice too.

I always leave bible study elated that I had the chance to discuss this Book with others also searching. But mostly I am amazed by the prayer that our pastor weaves each time from the prayer requests we give her.

I don't understand prayer. I don't know if god does anything with our prayers in the sense that I understand "doing." I am trying to learn. I don't know how to pray but listening to our pastor may be the best lesson. Still, when the pastor's voice fills the basement of the coffee house where we meet, something else fills the room too. something holy. something deeply present.

Listening.

Namaste.

Thinking About ... Last Night

Cell phone picture of St. Mark's Coffee House where the BYOB bible study group for the House For All Sinners and Saints meets every Tuesday at 7 PM. Just thought y'all'd like to see how it looks. The meeting room we use is in the basement.

Some folks are interested why I chose this group, but I still cannot figure out how I stumbled into this church or this study group, and I don't really feel like I chose them. Maybe its like Pastor Nadia told me in an email: "Sometimes God just hunts our ass down and there's nothing we can do about it."

Here's a photo of Pastor Nadia from the all-knowing all-seeing web:

Now, on to bible study. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 which is all about food sacrificed for idols (no, not Randy, Paula, Simon or that new one, which reminds me they are on tonight). I found it a little confusing but after thinking and discussing I really think it is all about "setting a good example for others" and showing our beliefs by our actions. And perhaps about using knowledge responsibly.

We also read Mark 1:21-28 about Jesus casting out demons and so the conversation naturally turned to Bush leaving DC and Obama arriving. Funny, that.

Namaste.

Tags: Jesus Corinthians Mark Christ Christianity