Using Forced Labor to Build the Temple

Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, ‘You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to my father David, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.”….. King Solomon conscripted forced labor out of all Israel; the levy numbered thirty thousand men. He sent them to the Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they would be a month in the Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

1 Kings 5:2-5, 13-14 (NRSV)

I came across this story in my scripture reading last week. I am sure I have read it before, but it hit me quite differently this time. King Solomon used forced labor to build the long-awaited temple, the symbol of Gods presence amidst the people of Israel. From the context it is apparent that Solomon had at least a couple of different motives in building the temple. One motive was a passion for the worship of who Solomon perceived as the one true God. Mixed in with that, I imagine, was the desire to create an awesome spectacle that would be the shrines and altars to other gods to shame. Another motive appears to be loyalty to his father David’s memory.

Whatever his motives, Solomon had an awesome ministry vision. It was a vision so big that it required him to force the people of Israel to work on it. I cannot for a moment imagine God, as I understand and experience God, being pleased with such a situation. It is the height of irony to use forced labor to build a shrine to a God who delivered those very laborers’ ancestors from slavery.

As I pursue my vision for ministry it is imperative that I constantly check my motives, constantly seek to be aware of why I am doing what I am doing. However, even when motives are right, it is so very easy to use people in pursuit of a great vision. Between King Solomon and now, institutional religion has been expert in using people to accomplish its purpose. Religion, at its best, can inspire one to become a part of something bigger than oneself. At its worst, it manipulates through dogma and fear, forcing people to labor for the good of the institution.

As I grow in my ministry, may I be ever mindful that my calling is to serve God by facilitating connection between God and individuals, inviting them into their adventure of life with God, not conscripting their labor for my vision alone.

In and Out of Gratitude

Trish and Emerson and I are at my parent's house in Lake Lure, NC for Thanksgiving. As I was laying in bed last night, I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

I have a wonderful wife and a precious son. I have incredible, supportive parents that provided an awesome foundation and start for me. Trish and I have great jobs and the time off to come up here on vacation. We have a car that got us up here. God has provided a place of ministry for me, laying a path in front of me. I get to minister with and to incredible people. God has not only forgiven my mistakes, but in God's incredible grace, has even minimized the consequences and effects of many of those mistakes.

It is out of that gratitude that I live my life. Trying to be "spiritual," trying to "be good," to please God, for me anyway, just doesn't work. But when I think of the blessings I have, when I think of how good God has been to me, I just naturally want to live in relationship with the One to whom I am so grateful.

You Have Found Favor With God!

This morning in my scripture reading I was in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where the angel visits Mary. There is lots of theology and a lot at stake for many in the story of the virgin birth which creates a lot of tension. Setting that aside, a phrase jumped out at me:

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30)

"Do not be afraid" is a typical (and, I  imagine, necessary!) salutation when someone is approached by God or an angel of God in scripture. However, I love the way it is followed up: "for you have found favor with God."

From the context, there is nothing that indicates a reason why she found this favor. It seems that God just chose to bestow it it--and she found it. It was such an encouraging word to me this morning. I have found favor with God. I have found favor with God! There is nothing I have to do to earn it. There is nothing I can do to lose it.

The same is true for you. You have found favor with God. "God," as The Shack  author William Paul Young puts it, "is especially fond of you." So you don't have to be afraid. No matter what happens today, no matter how bad you screw up, no matter what your coworkers say about you, never forget:

Do not be afraid, because you have found favor with God!

How would the world be different today if every child of God chose to live in that truth? What if each of us lived as if we had nothing to prove, nothing to grasp, no mask to hide behind? Therein lies the power of the Gospel.

The Forty-Year-Old Box of Jell-o

A couple of weeks ago, two of our fantastic volunteers at church, Miriam and Pat, were cleaning out our food pantry in the office. Church food pantries require cleaning out periodically or else you end up with a closet full of canned beets. I don't believe anybody actually eats canned beats, so they get donated quite often. After all, the thinking goes, if the people that come to the pantry are hungry enough, they should eat what they get. At one point, Miriam asked me if Jell-O goes bad. She showed me a box of Jell-O that was in the pantry. There wasn't a date on it , but the box looked awfully old. Then we found the offer on the back. Ge $.50 if you buy 12 boxes. Must be postmarked by April 22, 1968!

Now I don't know if that box has been in our pantry for the past 40 years or if someone donated a forty-year-old box of Jell-O. I do know that I plan on keeping this box of Jell-O on my desk for as long as I stay in church ministry. It's a great reminder that we are not ministering in the 1960's anymore. It sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget, especially in a hundred-year old church that had its heydays in the 60's and 70's. We long to go back to there. Heck, I wasn't even around then and sometimes I even long for it! But what we did in the 60's does not touch people of the 21st century with the power of the gospel. 1960's strategies will not transform society and culture in 2009.

It's easy to say "We have some beets and Jell-O (it doesn't go bad does it?) Let's mix it up and serve it. If they're hungry enough, they'll take it." But we're finding out the hard way that they won't and our message of hop is being lost on those that are turning up their nose at our Jell-O and beet salad. May I always be reminded by my 1968 box of Jell-O.