08/31/2014 ~ Proper 17 ~ Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 ~ Labor Day Weekend on the Secular Calendar.
Holy Ground
“God said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!’” — Exodus 3:5.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a child of the church— a P.K., a preacher’s kid, the child of a pastor. And, in part because of the leadership offered by King in the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and the 1960s, we sometimes forget he was also a pastor. He served the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
Two years before his untimely death at the hands of an assassin, Dr. King offered a sermon at Ebenezer which started with this sentiment (quote:) “I would like to preach on the subject: ‘Guidelines for a Constructive Church.’”
Then King said— and to be clear I am editing and paraphrasing this; I wouldn’t think of myself as standing in King’s shoes— then King said, he would like to submit since it is we who are followers of Christ it is we who must keep the church going and keep it alive. Therefore, somewhere behind the dim mist of eternity, God has set forth guidelines.
Through the prophets, and above all through Christ, God said that, “There are some things my church must do, some guidelines my church must follow.” The guidelines are clearly set before us, said King, in some words uttered by Jesus, who went to the synagogue one day, and quoted Isaiah.
“The Spirit of God is upon me, because I am anointed to preach the gospel— Good News— to the poor. God has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of God’s favor.” These are the guidelines of the church.
You see, insisted King, the church is not a social club, although some people think it is. Those who think it’s a social club are the ones who get caught up in exclusive-ism and feel it’s a club with a thin veneer of religiosity. But the church is not a social club.
And the church is not an entertainment center, said King, although some people think it is. Through their own actions people in some churches demonstrate they think it’s an entertainment center. Movies are meant to entertain, not church members, not preachers. The church is not an entertainment center.
Having said that, King turned to the work the church needs to do in the world by addressing what Jesus said. When following its guidelines, he continued, the church first seeks to heal the broken-hearted.
Next, when it is true to its guidelines, the church sets out to preach deliverance to those who are captive— to free people. Why? We need to remember some people are slaves, captives, to prejudice and to fear and to their own possessions.
Then King came to what I think was the real point of the sermon by addressing what the acceptable year of God’s favor is about. The acceptable year of God’s favor can be this year, said King. This year is the year— and the church is called to preach it.
Pastor King then started to reel off in a rhythmic rhetoric so often associated with preaching this litany. (Slight pause.) The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we decide to do right. The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we stop lying and cheating. The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we refuse to spread malicious gossip, false rumors.
The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we stop throwing away the precious lives God has given in riotous living. The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we stop killing people engaged in the process of seeking their constitutional rights.
The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we learn to live together as sisters and brothers. The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year all the leaders of the world sit down at a conference table and realize unless humankind puts an end to war, war will put an end to humankind.
The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we beat our swords into plowshares, our spears into pruning hooks and nations do not rise up against nations or study war. The acceptable year of God’s favor is when we allow justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we send to the Congress and to the state houses of our nation people who will do justice, people who will love mercy, who will walk humbly with God. The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we work on making the rough places plain, the crooked places straight.
The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we do onto others as we would have others do onto us. The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we love our enemies and bless them that curse us.
The acceptable year of God’s favor is any year we discover that we are one race made by God to dwell upon the face of the earth. This— this— is the acceptable year of God’s favor. [1] (Slight pause.)
“God said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!’” (Slight pause.)
First, I probably need to apologize because I am sure I have not done the words of Dr. King justice. The original sermon is one of great power. When this sermon is posted online there will be a footnote where you can go find that sermon.
Next, I need to recognize the truth of what King had to say about the church. We have guidelines. Last, I need to say I believe the guidelines do come from a singular place: we— each of us— needs to realize the reality of the presence of God. We need to realize we constantly stand on holy ground.
And when I say we stand on holy ground I want to emphasize I am not addressing location. You have heard me say dozens if not hundreds of times this building is not a church.
In our congregational tradition this building is called a meeting house. Why? We, you and I— the congregation— we are the church.
And rumor to the contrary that word— congregation— does not only mean a method of governing ourselves— bottom up. The word contains a larger idea than that.
The term congregation has its roots in the Hebrew Scriptures. The words for assembly, company and congregation in the Hebrew Scriptures all become one word in the Greek — ekklesia. And that word is commonly translated in the New Testament as church.
But what does ekklesia mean? In one sense it means what was actually indicated in the Hebrew. It means a gathering of citizens called out from their homes to some public place— a public place.
You see, we— the church— like it or not— are here for a public purpose. We are here to serve. We are here to love. We are here to, in the words of Dr. King, “learn to live together as sisters and brothers.” (Slight pause.)
All of which is to say I once again agree with Dr. King. We, the church, we do have guidelines. You’ve heard me repeat the simple version of those guidelines over and over and over. Love God; love neighbor.
But yes— a version which is both more complex and more subtle has to do with Dr. King’s proclamation: the acceptable year of God’s favor is now— right now. That we stand on holy ground means that we are not a social club or an entertainment center.
That we stand on holy ground means God calls us to action right now. That we stand on holy ground means God’s realm is right now.
That we stand on holy ground means God’s is present with us right now. And we do stand on holy ground now. We do stand on holy ground now because the church is not the building. That is not the holy ground.
We— you and I together are holy ground. And we— you and I— the church together— we have guidelines. And the prime guideline is to realize and to understand the fact that now— right now— is holy; holy— set apart to do God’s will. And now— right now— is a time for action. Amen.
08/31/2014
United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, New York
ENDPIECE— It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Congregational Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “In the famous I Have a Dream speech, Dr. King reminded people of (quote:) “...the fierce urgency of Now.” I think too often we, the church, do not understand that it is we who need to act. And I think too often we, the church, do not understand now is when we need to act. Why? We are the holy ground.”
BENEDICTION: Through God’s grace, by being attentive to God’s will, our deeds and our words will change our world for we will discover ways to proclaim release from the bondage or narrowness. Let us seek the God of Joy whose wisdom is our God. Let us go in peace to love and serve God. Amen.
[1] This sermon “Guidelines for a Constructive Church” (5 June 1966), Delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia can be found here:
http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/documentsentry/doc_guidelines_for_a_constructive_church/
To reiterate, I have edited this somewhat and paraphrased this somewhat. I do not believe I have done severe damage to the message Dr. King offered in what I have done and I am clear in my text that this is not a direct quote. If I have done damage to the text of Dr. King, I beg forgiveness.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
08/24/2014 ~ SERMON (At the First Baptist Church) “Mythology and Theology”
08/24/2014 ~ Proper 16 ~ Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost ~ Exodus 1:8-2:10 ~ Psalm 124 ~ Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8 ~ Matthew 16:13-20 ~ At the Baptist Church ~ Pastor Joe Shares the Word.
Mythology and Theology [1]
The Apostle to the Gentiles says this in the work known as Romans: “...be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may discern, that you may judge what the will of God is— that which is good and acceptable and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) And the writer of Matthew pictures Jesus as asking this question: “What do people say about who the Chosen One is?” (Matthew 16:13)
Those who study popular culture will tell you the industry commonly known as Hollywood changed in 1975. The summer blockbuster movie was invented. And every year since then each studio tries to present a new Summer blockbuster.
That first Summer blockbuster was Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. (We all remember Jaws, right?) Once released, it went on to be— at that point in time, at least— the highest-grossing film in history. Two years later Star Wars, directed by Spielberg’s friend George Lucas, burst on the scene and became the new money making record holder for a film in its initial release.
Now, many people point to the reason for the success of these blockbusters as being everything from the direction to special effects to likeable stars— although I’m not sure a shark is very likeable. I want to suggest the real reason these films were successful is they went back to a very old fashioned way of telling a story.
Both Spielberg and Lucas admit the way they tell stories is by using the old fashioned method called myth. Contrary to popular belief a myth is not a lie. But the details of a myth are not about engaging reality, either. Rather, a myth employs story telling in an effort to engage larger truths, big ideas.
Indeed, a myth is not meant to relate mere facts but meant to expresses deep truth— the kind of truth facts sometimes hide. Put differently, a myth addresses a bigger truth than the mere facts can represent. Indeed, the opening words of Star Wars crawl across the screen and effectively insist the story we are about to see is fabricated.
(Quote:) “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....” That’s a clear message: this is fiction— made up. But it’s the final words in that introduction, words to which we might not even pay attention, which tell us what the myth we are about to see will be about.
It says the purpose of voyage on which Princess Leia now travels is to (Quote:) “...restore freedom to the galaxy...” “...restore freedom to the galaxy...” This is a big idea: restore freedom.
This type of big idea is an idea that can only be described with the kind of story we call myth. Let me emphasize this again: a myth is a story which addresses a bigger truth— a bigger truth— than mere facts can represent.
That leads to something important about mythology we need to understand and we need to remember. When it comes to the stories we call myths this is a question the stories, themselves, never ask: “Did the story happen?” ‘Did it happen?’ is a moot point.
Please note: in saying that the question “Did it happen?” is a moot point I am neither denying the story happened or the details happened or the facts happened nor affirming the story happened or the details happened or the facts happened. I am saying the story, itself, insists the particular details of the story have little traction.
When it comes to myth, the only valid question to ask is this: “What does the story mean?” What does the story mean? (Slight pause.)
The Apostle to the Gentiles says this in the work known as Romans: “...be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may discern, that you may judge what the will of God is— that which is good and acceptable and pleasing and perfect.” And the writer of Matthew pictures Jesus as asking this question: “What do people say about who the Chosen One is?” (Slight pause.)
Biblical scholars insist there is little question about this timetable: the Resurrection of Jesus happened about what we would call the year 30 of the Common Era. They also tell us all the true letters of the Apostle Paul are written before any Gospel is recorded. The earliest work in the New Testament is likely to have been First Thessalonians, written around the year 54 of the Common Era, or about 24 years after the Resurrection.
Further, while fourteen letters are attributed to Paul, the Apostle probably only wrote seven of them. And we are fairly confident Paul did not write after the year 64 of the Common Era because we are fairly confident Paul died about the year 64 of the Common Era. So Paul’s starts writing in the year 54 and is done in the year 64.
When it comes to the Gospels, the sequence we find in the Bible is Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However scholars, also with great confidence, say Mark was written first. It’s unlikely Mark was recorded before the year 70 of the Common Era, about 40 years after the Resurrection. Matthew is often dated as being composed about 15 years after Mark or the year 85 of the Common Era, 55 years after the Resurrection.
Luke and Acts are written together, at the same time and by the same author. In short, Luke and Acts are simply two volumes of one work. It is, therefore, never appropriate to think of Acts as being separate from Luke. They are one.
Some scholars date the writings attributed to Luke as being written about the same time as Matthew. Others say it was at least five years later, or about the year 90 of the Common Era.
Among the Gospels, John is the last one written, probably recorded around the year 100, 70 years after the Resurrection, 46 years after Paul first writes, 36 years after Paul is done writing. Put differently, the Gospels are written over a thirty year span from the year 70 of the Common Era to the year 100 of the Common Era. (Slight pause.)
Paul, that first writer, gives us very little in terms of story. There is theological information, but it’s not an organized theology. Rather, these are sporadic writings over the course of 10 years, mostly to places Paul has visited. These words are not well organized because they are written in response to those who have asked for specific guidance about specific things going on in their community. This circumstance produces the haphazardness in Paul’s theological writings.
And, indeed, we need to realize and to understand something important about what we call the New Testament. For those who first heard these words or first read these words the Epistles and the Gospels were not Scripture.
What those who first heard or read the words of the Epistles and the Gospels saw and identified as Scripture is what we, today, call the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures. The church does designate what we call the New Testament as Scripture only a couple hundred years after the First Century. So the New Testament is not Scripture for several hundred years into the history of the church. (Slight pause.)
Well, that was a bunch of facts. Why are all these facts important? Why is this information vital? I think it’s vital because the first thing that gets written in the New Testament is not story. It’s theology. And like all theology Paul’s writings tends to be thick— hard to understand at times.
However, when the followers of Jesus turn to story, they do something very, very, very important. They delve into myth. Now, let me say this again: myth addresses a bigger truth, a deeper truth than the mere facts can represent. And what is the truth all the Gospels address?
The Gospels tells us God is with us. The Gospels tell us God walks among us. The Gospels tell us God is present to us.
Let me elaborate on that in just one way. In the modern myth known as Star Wars it’s clear the name Luke Skywalker is a mythological name— a name that tells us something.
In the Gospels Jesus is given two names. One is Emmanuel, which means God is with us. The other name is Jesus. Jesus is only what the name sounds like in Greek. The Hebrew version of the name is Joshua— Yehôshúa in the Hebrew. And that name means God saves.
So, the two names Christ is given in the Gospels mean ‘God is with us’ and ‘God saves.’ Just the names tell us something. The names tells us is Jesus is the Chosen One, Christ, the Messiah.
There is one last important fact to consider here. It concerns those who first heard or read the words of the Gospels. If you asked them if the details in the Gospels were true, they would not have understood the question.
Why? They understood the point of the Gospels is not wrapped up in factual detail. They understood the point of the Gospels is to declare large truth, a big idea, deep truth. And those who first heard or read these words were much more concerned with large truth, the big idea, deep truth than factual details.
And this is the large truth, the big idea, the deep truth these words address: God is with us; God walks among us; God is present to us. Jesus is the Chosen One, Messiah, the Christ. And that is not the kind of myth we would label as a lie. That is the kind of myth which reveals a deep, world changing truth. Jesus is the Christ. Amen.
08/24/2014
First Baptist Church, Norwich, NY
[1] It needs to be noted that there were visuals accompanying projected on a screen this sermon from pictures concerning the movie Star Wars to charts with the dates which references the writing of the Epistles of Paul and the Gospels.
Mythology and Theology [1]
The Apostle to the Gentiles says this in the work known as Romans: “...be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may discern, that you may judge what the will of God is— that which is good and acceptable and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) And the writer of Matthew pictures Jesus as asking this question: “What do people say about who the Chosen One is?” (Matthew 16:13)
Those who study popular culture will tell you the industry commonly known as Hollywood changed in 1975. The summer blockbuster movie was invented. And every year since then each studio tries to present a new Summer blockbuster.
That first Summer blockbuster was Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. (We all remember Jaws, right?) Once released, it went on to be— at that point in time, at least— the highest-grossing film in history. Two years later Star Wars, directed by Spielberg’s friend George Lucas, burst on the scene and became the new money making record holder for a film in its initial release.
Now, many people point to the reason for the success of these blockbusters as being everything from the direction to special effects to likeable stars— although I’m not sure a shark is very likeable. I want to suggest the real reason these films were successful is they went back to a very old fashioned way of telling a story.
Both Spielberg and Lucas admit the way they tell stories is by using the old fashioned method called myth. Contrary to popular belief a myth is not a lie. But the details of a myth are not about engaging reality, either. Rather, a myth employs story telling in an effort to engage larger truths, big ideas.
Indeed, a myth is not meant to relate mere facts but meant to expresses deep truth— the kind of truth facts sometimes hide. Put differently, a myth addresses a bigger truth than the mere facts can represent. Indeed, the opening words of Star Wars crawl across the screen and effectively insist the story we are about to see is fabricated.
(Quote:) “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....” That’s a clear message: this is fiction— made up. But it’s the final words in that introduction, words to which we might not even pay attention, which tell us what the myth we are about to see will be about.
It says the purpose of voyage on which Princess Leia now travels is to (Quote:) “...restore freedom to the galaxy...” “...restore freedom to the galaxy...” This is a big idea: restore freedom.
This type of big idea is an idea that can only be described with the kind of story we call myth. Let me emphasize this again: a myth is a story which addresses a bigger truth— a bigger truth— than mere facts can represent.
That leads to something important about mythology we need to understand and we need to remember. When it comes to the stories we call myths this is a question the stories, themselves, never ask: “Did the story happen?” ‘Did it happen?’ is a moot point.
Please note: in saying that the question “Did it happen?” is a moot point I am neither denying the story happened or the details happened or the facts happened nor affirming the story happened or the details happened or the facts happened. I am saying the story, itself, insists the particular details of the story have little traction.
When it comes to myth, the only valid question to ask is this: “What does the story mean?” What does the story mean? (Slight pause.)
The Apostle to the Gentiles says this in the work known as Romans: “...be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may discern, that you may judge what the will of God is— that which is good and acceptable and pleasing and perfect.” And the writer of Matthew pictures Jesus as asking this question: “What do people say about who the Chosen One is?” (Slight pause.)
Biblical scholars insist there is little question about this timetable: the Resurrection of Jesus happened about what we would call the year 30 of the Common Era. They also tell us all the true letters of the Apostle Paul are written before any Gospel is recorded. The earliest work in the New Testament is likely to have been First Thessalonians, written around the year 54 of the Common Era, or about 24 years after the Resurrection.
Further, while fourteen letters are attributed to Paul, the Apostle probably only wrote seven of them. And we are fairly confident Paul did not write after the year 64 of the Common Era because we are fairly confident Paul died about the year 64 of the Common Era. So Paul’s starts writing in the year 54 and is done in the year 64.
When it comes to the Gospels, the sequence we find in the Bible is Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However scholars, also with great confidence, say Mark was written first. It’s unlikely Mark was recorded before the year 70 of the Common Era, about 40 years after the Resurrection. Matthew is often dated as being composed about 15 years after Mark or the year 85 of the Common Era, 55 years after the Resurrection.
Luke and Acts are written together, at the same time and by the same author. In short, Luke and Acts are simply two volumes of one work. It is, therefore, never appropriate to think of Acts as being separate from Luke. They are one.
Some scholars date the writings attributed to Luke as being written about the same time as Matthew. Others say it was at least five years later, or about the year 90 of the Common Era.
Among the Gospels, John is the last one written, probably recorded around the year 100, 70 years after the Resurrection, 46 years after Paul first writes, 36 years after Paul is done writing. Put differently, the Gospels are written over a thirty year span from the year 70 of the Common Era to the year 100 of the Common Era. (Slight pause.)
Paul, that first writer, gives us very little in terms of story. There is theological information, but it’s not an organized theology. Rather, these are sporadic writings over the course of 10 years, mostly to places Paul has visited. These words are not well organized because they are written in response to those who have asked for specific guidance about specific things going on in their community. This circumstance produces the haphazardness in Paul’s theological writings.
And, indeed, we need to realize and to understand something important about what we call the New Testament. For those who first heard these words or first read these words the Epistles and the Gospels were not Scripture.
What those who first heard or read the words of the Epistles and the Gospels saw and identified as Scripture is what we, today, call the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures. The church does designate what we call the New Testament as Scripture only a couple hundred years after the First Century. So the New Testament is not Scripture for several hundred years into the history of the church. (Slight pause.)
Well, that was a bunch of facts. Why are all these facts important? Why is this information vital? I think it’s vital because the first thing that gets written in the New Testament is not story. It’s theology. And like all theology Paul’s writings tends to be thick— hard to understand at times.
However, when the followers of Jesus turn to story, they do something very, very, very important. They delve into myth. Now, let me say this again: myth addresses a bigger truth, a deeper truth than the mere facts can represent. And what is the truth all the Gospels address?
The Gospels tells us God is with us. The Gospels tell us God walks among us. The Gospels tell us God is present to us.
Let me elaborate on that in just one way. In the modern myth known as Star Wars it’s clear the name Luke Skywalker is a mythological name— a name that tells us something.
In the Gospels Jesus is given two names. One is Emmanuel, which means God is with us. The other name is Jesus. Jesus is only what the name sounds like in Greek. The Hebrew version of the name is Joshua— Yehôshúa in the Hebrew. And that name means God saves.
So, the two names Christ is given in the Gospels mean ‘God is with us’ and ‘God saves.’ Just the names tell us something. The names tells us is Jesus is the Chosen One, Christ, the Messiah.
There is one last important fact to consider here. It concerns those who first heard or read the words of the Gospels. If you asked them if the details in the Gospels were true, they would not have understood the question.
Why? They understood the point of the Gospels is not wrapped up in factual detail. They understood the point of the Gospels is to declare large truth, a big idea, deep truth. And those who first heard or read these words were much more concerned with large truth, the big idea, deep truth than factual details.
And this is the large truth, the big idea, the deep truth these words address: God is with us; God walks among us; God is present to us. Jesus is the Chosen One, Messiah, the Christ. And that is not the kind of myth we would label as a lie. That is the kind of myth which reveals a deep, world changing truth. Jesus is the Christ. Amen.
08/24/2014
First Baptist Church, Norwich, NY
[1] It needs to be noted that there were visuals accompanying projected on a screen this sermon from pictures concerning the movie Star Wars to charts with the dates which references the writing of the Epistles of Paul and the Gospels.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
SERMON ~ 08/10/2014 ~ “Baseball, the Bible and Trinitarianism: A Tri-logue” - A Dialogue for Three People
08/10/2014 ~ Proper 14 ~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Ninth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 ~ At the First Baptist Church ~ David Spiegel and Joe and Bob Oehme Share the Word ~ The Baseball Sermon ~ Used: Exodus 3:1-16; Romans 8:14-17a; John 3:1-17.
READINGS:
A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE TORAH — Exodus 3:1-16 [ILV]
JOE:
In part because we read these words in translation certainly one of the things we miss is that God names God’s own self by using a form of the verb “to be.” But perhaps of equal interest is that God uses three different forms of the verb in stating that name. Hear now this reading as it is found in the work known as Exodus in the Third Chapter.
[1] Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, who was the father-in-law of Moses and was the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the beaten path, deep into the wilderness, Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
[2] There a messenger of God appeared in a flame of fire from the midst of a thornbush. Moses saw this— a bush ablaze with fire and yet not consumed— [3] and Moses said, “Let me go closer and look at this remarkable sight and see why the bush does not burn up.”
[4] God saw Moses coming closer and called out from the midst of the bush: “Moses, Moses!”
Moses answered, “I am here.”
[5] God said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!”
[6] Then God said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel.”
Moses looked away, afraid to look at the Holy One.
[7] Then God said, I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt; I have heard their cries as they suffer because of those who oppress them. I have, indeed, felt their sufferings. [8] Now I have come to deliver them, to rescue them from the hand of Egypt out of their place of their suffering and to bring them to a place out of that land, a place that is wild and fertile, a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey— the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. [9] The cry of the children of Israel has reached me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. [10] Now Go! I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
[11] But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
[12] God answered, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign by which you shall know that it is I who sent you: after you bring my people out of Egypt, you will all worship at this very mountain.”
[13] “But” Moses said, “when I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ if they ask, ‘What is the name of God?’ what shall I say to them?”
[14] God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” God also said, I AM AS I AM. Then God further said, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
[15] God spoke further to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the I AM of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has sent me to you’:
This is my name forever;
This is the name
you are to remember
for all generations.
[16] Now go and gather the elders of Israelites and tell them, ‘I AM, the God of your ancestors, ancestors the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has appeared to me and sent me to you. Say to them I have heard you, I have heard your cries and I have seen the way you are being treated in Egypt.
Here ends this reading from Scripture.
A READING FROM THE EPISTLES — Romans 8:14-17a [ILV]
BOB:
This passage makes it clear: through Jesus we are adopted by God as children of God. Hear now this reading as it is found in that section of Scripture known as the Letter to the Church in Rome, commonly referred to as Romans.
[14] ...all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. [15] You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. You have received a spirit of adoption, adopted by God. When we cry, “Abba! Daddy!”— for we think of God on intimate terms so we call God ‘Daddy’— [16] it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit which proclaims we are children of God. [17a] And if children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ....
Here ends this reading from Scripture.
A READING FROM THE GOSPELS — John 3:1-17 [ILV]
DAVID:
The writer of John is clear: the Spirit of God has and is acting in Jesus, who is the Christ. Hear now this reading as it is found in the Gospel According to the School of John.
Now, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin— Sanhedrin - a Greek term which means ‘assembly’ or ‘council’— [2] Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus one night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can perform these signs and wonders you do apart from the presence of God.”
[3] Jesus gave Nicodemus this answer:
“The truth of the matter is:
no one can see
the dominion of God,
the realm of God
without being born from above.”
[4] Nicodemus said, “How can anyone be born a second time, after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
[5] Jesus replied, “The truth of the matter is:
no one can enter the dominion of God
without being born of water and Spirit.
[6] What is born of the flesh is flesh,
and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
[7] So, do not be surprised when I said to you,
‘You must be born from above.’”
[8] “The wind blows where it chooses.
You hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from
or where it goes.
So it is with everyone
who is born of the Spirit.”
[9] “How can these things be possible?” asked Nicodemus.
“How can these things be?”
[10] Jesus answered, “Are you a teacher of Israel,
and you still do not understand these matters?”
[11] “The truth of the matter is:
we talk about what we know
and testify to what we have seen;
yet you do not accept our testimony.
[12] If you do not believe
when I have told you about earthly things,
how will you believe
when I tell you about heavenly things?
[13] No one has gone to heaven
except the one who
comes from heaven— the Chosen One.
[14] As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness,
so must the Chosen One be lifted up,
[15] so that whoever believes
in the Chosen One may have eternal life.”
[16] “For God so loved the world
as to give the Only Begotten One,
so that whoever believes
may not die but may have eternal life.”
[17] “Indeed, God did not send
the Only Begotten into the world
to condemn the world,
but that through the Only Begotten
the world might be saved.”
This is the Gospel of Jesus, Who is the Christ, the Messiah.
***********************************************************************
Baseball, the Bible and Trinitarianism:
A Tri-logue
(A Dialogue for Three People)
JOE:
Well, I am here to offer a serious academic lecture about the connection between sports and the Bible. I see some doubting looks out there. But I do need everyone to know that there is a definite connection between athletics and the Bible. In fact, did you know that strange as it may seem, the Bible is about Baseball.
DAVID:
(At the start of this David is sitting among the members of the congregation.) Wait! Wait! Wait just a cotton picking minute. Hold your horses! Baseball? How can the Bible be about Baseball? As you know, I am a really, really big Baseball fan. And if I know anything, I know Baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday. Abner invented Baseball in Cooperstown, New York, just over the hills from where we are right now. Now, on the other hand, Abraham is in the Bible and lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East. But Abraham probably lived about four thousand years ago. And, Moses is in the Bible. But Moses probably lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East but about three thousand years ago. And Jesus is in the Bible. And Jesus lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East but about two thousand years ago. So, they all lived in what we today call the Middle East. The Middle East— that’s thousands and thousands and thousands of miles away from here. Even by jet, that would take better than a half a day to get there. But Abner Doubleday— Abner Doubleday lived in Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown— it just ain’t that far from here. And legend has it that Doubleday invented Baseball right there... in Cooperstown, in 1839. I know because I’ve been in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and that’s what it says, right there in the Hall of Fame. And if there is anything I know, it’s that 1839 is not thousands of years ago. 1839 is only about... 175 years ago, not 4,000 years ago and not 3,000 years ago and not 2,000 years ago.
BOB:
(Bob has been sitting in the congregation also, on the opposite side from David.) David— I am sorry to say you’re wrong. Baseball is in the Bible. After all, don’t the first words in Genesis say: “In the Big Inning...”
DAVID:
Oh, yeah?
JOE:
Yeah. You see? There is a connection between Baseball and the Bible.
DAVID:
Yeah? Well... well... who’s on First?
BOB:
What do you mean, who’s on First?
DAVID:
I just want to know the name of the player in the field, the position we call First Base. Who’s on First? After all, a lot of Baseball players have funny or a funny names. I mean, in the past Baseball players have had names like Dizzy Dean who played for the Saint Louis team. Or Mookie Wilson who played for the Mets. (I love the Mets.) Or Moose Skowron— he played for the Yankees. Moose— you’d think he’d be from Maine and play on the Red Sox. But no. He played for the Yankees. And today there’s a pitcher named Joba Chamberlain— Joba Chamberlain— that name doesn’t even sound like the name of a Baseball player. That sounds like a character out of Star Wars. But a guy named Joba Chamberlain plays for the Detroit Tigers. At least when he’s not on the disabled list. Anyway, there was this guy named Charles Dillon Stengel— speaking of funny names— Charles Dillon Stengel— Charles Dillon Stengel is known to most people as Casey Stengel. Casey— he should have been managing a locomotive, not a Baseball team. But Casey said you can’t have a Baseball team without a catcher— so let’s forget about a catcher and start on First Base. I’ll say it again. If the Bible is about Baseball, who’s on First?
BOB:
I still don’t quite know what you mean by who’s on First? What happened to the catcher.
DAVID:
Never mind about the catcher. Here’s what I want to know: if the Bible is about Baseball, what’s the name of the player who plays First Base in the Bible?
JOE:
What is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.
DAVID:
I know that! Who’s on First?
BOB:
Who is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.
DAVID:
Look. Do either of you know the name of the one playing First Base on the Bible Baseball team?
JOE:
I think we both know the name.
DAVID:
Great. So can either one of you please tell me the name of the one playing the position of First Base on this Bible Baseball team?
BOB:
I AM.
DAVID:
You play First Base?
BOB:
No.
DAVID:
I didn’t think you were playing First Base. So, the name of the one playing First is...?
BOB :
I AM.
DAVID
Look, you just said you are not the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team. And then I ask you the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team and what do you say? You say, “I AM.” No you are not. You said you are not. (Turns to Joe.) O.K. You— maybe you Mr. know it all about the Bible and Baseball can tell me. What is the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team.
JOE:
What is not the name of the one who plays First.
DAVID:
I think we’ve already established that. So, let’s try this again: the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team is...?
JOE:
I AM.
DAVID:
You play First Base? (Points to Bob.) First he said he’s playing First. Then you say you’re playing First. Who’s playing First.
JOE:
No. I am not a good enough player to play First and who is not playing First, either.
DAVID:
O.K. We got that straight now. (Points to Joe.) You’re not the one playing First. (Points to Bob.) And you’re not playing First. So, who is playing First?
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
No. Wait! You can’t both be playing First!
JOE:
No. We’re not.
DAVID:
So, who is playing First?
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
All right. You’ve got two people playing First Base.
BOB:
No, no, no. You don’t understand. When Moses asked God to tell Moses what the name of God is so Moses could tell the people of Israel that name, the word God used to identify God’s own self was the Hebrew word Yahweh.
JOE:
And the Hebrew word Yahweh is, in Hebrew, a form of the verb to be. Hence, the name of God is...
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
No. That can’t possibly be right. No one can be named ‘I AM.’ It’s just... just too strange.
JOE:
Hey! If someone can be named Dizzy or Moose or Joba, how can you say ‘I AM’ is a strange name?
DAVID:
Well, I guess you have a point. But I’ve heard people call God by a lot of names. I’ve heard God called Creator. I’ve heard God called the Light. I’ve heard God called Rock— now that name sounds like a Baseball player— Rock. I’ve even heard God called Father.
BOB:
Yes. God is called by a lot of names in the Bible. But of all those names you mentioned, Father is the one you will never find in the Bible.
DAVID:
What do you mean Father is not in the Bible? Didn’t Jesus teach the disciples to start a basic prayer to God with the words “Our Father...”?
BOB:
No.
DAVID:
What do you mean no? We say a prayer that starts with the words “Our Father...” at nearly every service on a Sunday. And I know Jesus taught that prayer to the disciples.
BOB:
No. The prayer Jesus taught the disciples was more personal and more intimate than that. Jesus told the disciples to pray saying “Our Daddy...”
DAVID:
But this is God we’re talking about! That sounds way too...too... too... informal— “Our Daddy...”
BOB:
But that’s what it really says in Scripture when we read it in the original language— “Our Daddy.”
DAVID:
All right, so where did we get Father?
JOE:
We got it from the Romans. They called their chief God ‘Father.’ So you see, the term ‘Father’ is not in the Bible. It just started being used because the Romans were using it for their god.
DAVID:
But the Romans worshiped a lot of gods; the Romans were pagans.
JOE:
I think you’ve made my point. They were pagans.
BOB:
And since God is not called Father in the Bible, maybe we should just stick with the name Yahweh— “I AM.”
JOE:
And you know what we just said: who’s on First? I AM is on First.
DAVID:
I AM is on First?
JOE:
I AM is on First.
DAVID:
O.K. Who’s on second? Bet I got you with that one. Who plays second Base on this Bible team? It ain’t ‘I AM’ is it?
BOB:
No. It ain’t I AM.
JOE:
Jesus is on second.
BOB:
One of the basic Christian beliefs is the one many people label as Trinity. And in Trinity Jesus is known as the Second Person— Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity— Jesus is on second.
DAVID:
Oh, yeah? Think you’re smart with that one, do you? (Mocking.) Jesus is known as the Second Person of the Trinity. So, Jesus is on Second. Well, I know my theology too. And Jesus had two natures. Jesus is fully human and Jesus is fully divine. You can’t pin Jesus down that easily. So, maybe Jesus is not just on second. Nah, nah, na, na, na!
JOE:
Shortstop.
DAVID:
What?
JOE:
Shortstop.
DAVID:
Jesus plays shortstop?
JOE:
You are right on that one, O grand inquisitor of all things Baseball and Bible. Our Christian claim is that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. So, Jesus gets to play second.
BOB:
And Jesus gets to play shortstop too. Fully human and fully divine.
DAVID:
Who’s on second?
JOE:
Jesus.
DAVID:
Who plays short?
BOB:
Jesus.
DAVID:
But how can someone play two positions?
BOB:
David... it’s Jesus.
DAVID:
(Resigned.) Yeah.... right... fully human; fully divine.
BOB:
Right.
DAVID:
O.K. Explain that. Explain how someone can play two positions.
JOE:
David... it’s Jesus.
DAVID:
(Resigned again.) Right. O.K. It’s Jesus. But you still have the hot corner! You haven’t got to the hot corner covered yet!
BOB:
The hot corner?
DAVID:
Third Base! Where you have to be ready for someone dropping down a bunt. Where you have to be ready when the batters hit wicked shots down the line and you’ve got to dive for the ball and make a backhanded catch! And you don’t have third covered on the Bible Baseball team, do you?! Wham! Crack! And there goes a line drive over the bag...
JOE:
David. David. David. David. Slow down. You know who covers the hot corner.
DAVID:
I do?
JOE:
You do.
DAVID:
(Long pause. Quietly:) Third Base... the Spirit of God?
JOE:
See? You do know your theology. The Spirit of God is sometimes called the Holy Spirit. And, speaking of funny names, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete...
DAVID:
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Nothing you’ve said so far proves the Bible is about Baseball until now! That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball!
JOE:
That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball?
DAVID:
Of course it does! The Holy Spirit must be wearing a pair of cleats.
JOE:
Right. Well, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete, sometimes called the Spirit which is present to us, sometimes called the Spirit in our midst... the point is the Holy Spirit is here with us. The Holy Spirit can handle all our situations, anything anyone hits to us... all those bunts which might catch us unaware and all the hot shots down the line. The Holy Spirit helps us with everything.
BOB:
Yes, the Spirit of God is always with us. The gifts of the Spirit, sometimes called the fruits of the Spirit, these are gifts that God gives us and they are many: wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, discernment, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, joy, peace and love. The Spirit of God is at work in our lives. And we can rely on the Spirit to guide us through life.
JOE:
And when we consider our experience of God which takes in the faithfulness of the one called I AM, the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Spirit— that is the real reason we say Baseball is mirrored in the Bible.
DAVID:
Why do you say that?
JOE:
David, what’s the object of the game of Baseball?
DAVID:
To score runs?
BOB:
Close!
DAVID:
Oh, I know! The object of the game is to avoid three strikes and you’re out!
JOE:
Not quite right, either, although I think part of the point is to stay at bat until you realize that you can walk with God.
BOB:
So, yes, besides a walk with God, the real object of the game is to be safe at home.
JOE:
And if we pay attention to the fact that God, the Great I AM, is on First...
BOB:
And Jesus plays both second and short...
JOE:
And the Spirit covers third...
BOB:
And that God, Jesus and the Spirit is what Christians through the centuries have called Trinity and that God, Jesus and the Spirit are Trinity...
JOE:
When we pay attention to all that...
DAVID:
I know. I know. We will be safe at home with God.
JOE:
Safe at home...
BOB:
Safe at home...
ALL 3:
Safe... at... home...
JOE:
And you know, there are only two places people sing together in public any more. One is in Church. And one is in the ballpark for the seventh inning stretch. It would not be church and it would not be a Baseball game if there was not community singing. So, let’s all sing the song in the bulletin, Send Us Out. Marcia! Hit it!
LYRIC:
Send us out, God, in Your Name
God be there in the crowd!
By You we live and we play and run.
We are a part of Your Three in One!
And it’s root, root, root, for the One God—
Maker, Redeemer and Flame!
And it’s one, two, three ways to know:
God’s beyond all Names!
BOB:
Baseball and the Bible!
JOE:
That’s a real Home Run!
DAVID:
Amen, and again, Amen!
ALL 3:
Amen, and again, Amen!
READINGS:
A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE TORAH — Exodus 3:1-16 [ILV]
JOE:
In part because we read these words in translation certainly one of the things we miss is that God names God’s own self by using a form of the verb “to be.” But perhaps of equal interest is that God uses three different forms of the verb in stating that name. Hear now this reading as it is found in the work known as Exodus in the Third Chapter.
[1] Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, who was the father-in-law of Moses and was the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the beaten path, deep into the wilderness, Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
[2] There a messenger of God appeared in a flame of fire from the midst of a thornbush. Moses saw this— a bush ablaze with fire and yet not consumed— [3] and Moses said, “Let me go closer and look at this remarkable sight and see why the bush does not burn up.”
[4] God saw Moses coming closer and called out from the midst of the bush: “Moses, Moses!”
Moses answered, “I am here.”
[5] God said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!”
[6] Then God said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel.”
Moses looked away, afraid to look at the Holy One.
[7] Then God said, I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt; I have heard their cries as they suffer because of those who oppress them. I have, indeed, felt their sufferings. [8] Now I have come to deliver them, to rescue them from the hand of Egypt out of their place of their suffering and to bring them to a place out of that land, a place that is wild and fertile, a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey— the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. [9] The cry of the children of Israel has reached me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. [10] Now Go! I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
[11] But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
[12] God answered, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign by which you shall know that it is I who sent you: after you bring my people out of Egypt, you will all worship at this very mountain.”
[13] “But” Moses said, “when I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ if they ask, ‘What is the name of God?’ what shall I say to them?”
[14] God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” God also said, I AM AS I AM. Then God further said, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
[15] God spoke further to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the I AM of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has sent me to you’:
This is my name forever;
This is the name
you are to remember
for all generations.
[16] Now go and gather the elders of Israelites and tell them, ‘I AM, the God of your ancestors, ancestors the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has appeared to me and sent me to you. Say to them I have heard you, I have heard your cries and I have seen the way you are being treated in Egypt.
Here ends this reading from Scripture.
A READING FROM THE EPISTLES — Romans 8:14-17a [ILV]
BOB:
This passage makes it clear: through Jesus we are adopted by God as children of God. Hear now this reading as it is found in that section of Scripture known as the Letter to the Church in Rome, commonly referred to as Romans.
[14] ...all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. [15] You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. You have received a spirit of adoption, adopted by God. When we cry, “Abba! Daddy!”— for we think of God on intimate terms so we call God ‘Daddy’— [16] it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit which proclaims we are children of God. [17a] And if children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ....
Here ends this reading from Scripture.
A READING FROM THE GOSPELS — John 3:1-17 [ILV]
DAVID:
The writer of John is clear: the Spirit of God has and is acting in Jesus, who is the Christ. Hear now this reading as it is found in the Gospel According to the School of John.
Now, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin— Sanhedrin - a Greek term which means ‘assembly’ or ‘council’— [2] Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus one night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can perform these signs and wonders you do apart from the presence of God.”
[3] Jesus gave Nicodemus this answer:
“The truth of the matter is:
no one can see
the dominion of God,
the realm of God
without being born from above.”
[4] Nicodemus said, “How can anyone be born a second time, after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
[5] Jesus replied, “The truth of the matter is:
no one can enter the dominion of God
without being born of water and Spirit.
[6] What is born of the flesh is flesh,
and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
[7] So, do not be surprised when I said to you,
‘You must be born from above.’”
[8] “The wind blows where it chooses.
You hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from
or where it goes.
So it is with everyone
who is born of the Spirit.”
[9] “How can these things be possible?” asked Nicodemus.
“How can these things be?”
[10] Jesus answered, “Are you a teacher of Israel,
and you still do not understand these matters?”
[11] “The truth of the matter is:
we talk about what we know
and testify to what we have seen;
yet you do not accept our testimony.
[12] If you do not believe
when I have told you about earthly things,
how will you believe
when I tell you about heavenly things?
[13] No one has gone to heaven
except the one who
comes from heaven— the Chosen One.
[14] As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness,
so must the Chosen One be lifted up,
[15] so that whoever believes
in the Chosen One may have eternal life.”
[16] “For God so loved the world
as to give the Only Begotten One,
so that whoever believes
may not die but may have eternal life.”
[17] “Indeed, God did not send
the Only Begotten into the world
to condemn the world,
but that through the Only Begotten
the world might be saved.”
This is the Gospel of Jesus, Who is the Christ, the Messiah.
***********************************************************************
Baseball, the Bible and Trinitarianism:
A Tri-logue
(A Dialogue for Three People)
JOE:
Well, I am here to offer a serious academic lecture about the connection between sports and the Bible. I see some doubting looks out there. But I do need everyone to know that there is a definite connection between athletics and the Bible. In fact, did you know that strange as it may seem, the Bible is about Baseball.
DAVID:
(At the start of this David is sitting among the members of the congregation.) Wait! Wait! Wait just a cotton picking minute. Hold your horses! Baseball? How can the Bible be about Baseball? As you know, I am a really, really big Baseball fan. And if I know anything, I know Baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday. Abner invented Baseball in Cooperstown, New York, just over the hills from where we are right now. Now, on the other hand, Abraham is in the Bible and lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East. But Abraham probably lived about four thousand years ago. And, Moses is in the Bible. But Moses probably lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East but about three thousand years ago. And Jesus is in the Bible. And Jesus lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East but about two thousand years ago. So, they all lived in what we today call the Middle East. The Middle East— that’s thousands and thousands and thousands of miles away from here. Even by jet, that would take better than a half a day to get there. But Abner Doubleday— Abner Doubleday lived in Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown— it just ain’t that far from here. And legend has it that Doubleday invented Baseball right there... in Cooperstown, in 1839. I know because I’ve been in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and that’s what it says, right there in the Hall of Fame. And if there is anything I know, it’s that 1839 is not thousands of years ago. 1839 is only about... 175 years ago, not 4,000 years ago and not 3,000 years ago and not 2,000 years ago.
BOB:
(Bob has been sitting in the congregation also, on the opposite side from David.) David— I am sorry to say you’re wrong. Baseball is in the Bible. After all, don’t the first words in Genesis say: “In the Big Inning...”
DAVID:
Oh, yeah?
JOE:
Yeah. You see? There is a connection between Baseball and the Bible.
DAVID:
Yeah? Well... well... who’s on First?
BOB:
What do you mean, who’s on First?
DAVID:
I just want to know the name of the player in the field, the position we call First Base. Who’s on First? After all, a lot of Baseball players have funny or a funny names. I mean, in the past Baseball players have had names like Dizzy Dean who played for the Saint Louis team. Or Mookie Wilson who played for the Mets. (I love the Mets.) Or Moose Skowron— he played for the Yankees. Moose— you’d think he’d be from Maine and play on the Red Sox. But no. He played for the Yankees. And today there’s a pitcher named Joba Chamberlain— Joba Chamberlain— that name doesn’t even sound like the name of a Baseball player. That sounds like a character out of Star Wars. But a guy named Joba Chamberlain plays for the Detroit Tigers. At least when he’s not on the disabled list. Anyway, there was this guy named Charles Dillon Stengel— speaking of funny names— Charles Dillon Stengel— Charles Dillon Stengel is known to most people as Casey Stengel. Casey— he should have been managing a locomotive, not a Baseball team. But Casey said you can’t have a Baseball team without a catcher— so let’s forget about a catcher and start on First Base. I’ll say it again. If the Bible is about Baseball, who’s on First?
BOB:
I still don’t quite know what you mean by who’s on First? What happened to the catcher.
DAVID:
Never mind about the catcher. Here’s what I want to know: if the Bible is about Baseball, what’s the name of the player who plays First Base in the Bible?
JOE:
What is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.
DAVID:
I know that! Who’s on First?
BOB:
Who is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.
DAVID:
Look. Do either of you know the name of the one playing First Base on the Bible Baseball team?
JOE:
I think we both know the name.
DAVID:
Great. So can either one of you please tell me the name of the one playing the position of First Base on this Bible Baseball team?
BOB:
I AM.
DAVID:
You play First Base?
BOB:
No.
DAVID:
I didn’t think you were playing First Base. So, the name of the one playing First is...?
BOB :
I AM.
DAVID
Look, you just said you are not the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team. And then I ask you the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team and what do you say? You say, “I AM.” No you are not. You said you are not. (Turns to Joe.) O.K. You— maybe you Mr. know it all about the Bible and Baseball can tell me. What is the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team.
JOE:
What is not the name of the one who plays First.
DAVID:
I think we’ve already established that. So, let’s try this again: the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team is...?
JOE:
I AM.
DAVID:
You play First Base? (Points to Bob.) First he said he’s playing First. Then you say you’re playing First. Who’s playing First.
JOE:
No. I am not a good enough player to play First and who is not playing First, either.
DAVID:
O.K. We got that straight now. (Points to Joe.) You’re not the one playing First. (Points to Bob.) And you’re not playing First. So, who is playing First?
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
No. Wait! You can’t both be playing First!
JOE:
No. We’re not.
DAVID:
So, who is playing First?
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
All right. You’ve got two people playing First Base.
BOB:
No, no, no. You don’t understand. When Moses asked God to tell Moses what the name of God is so Moses could tell the people of Israel that name, the word God used to identify God’s own self was the Hebrew word Yahweh.
JOE:
And the Hebrew word Yahweh is, in Hebrew, a form of the verb to be. Hence, the name of God is...
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
No. That can’t possibly be right. No one can be named ‘I AM.’ It’s just... just too strange.
JOE:
Hey! If someone can be named Dizzy or Moose or Joba, how can you say ‘I AM’ is a strange name?
DAVID:
Well, I guess you have a point. But I’ve heard people call God by a lot of names. I’ve heard God called Creator. I’ve heard God called the Light. I’ve heard God called Rock— now that name sounds like a Baseball player— Rock. I’ve even heard God called Father.
BOB:
Yes. God is called by a lot of names in the Bible. But of all those names you mentioned, Father is the one you will never find in the Bible.
DAVID:
What do you mean Father is not in the Bible? Didn’t Jesus teach the disciples to start a basic prayer to God with the words “Our Father...”?
BOB:
No.
DAVID:
What do you mean no? We say a prayer that starts with the words “Our Father...” at nearly every service on a Sunday. And I know Jesus taught that prayer to the disciples.
BOB:
No. The prayer Jesus taught the disciples was more personal and more intimate than that. Jesus told the disciples to pray saying “Our Daddy...”
DAVID:
But this is God we’re talking about! That sounds way too...too... too... informal— “Our Daddy...”
BOB:
But that’s what it really says in Scripture when we read it in the original language— “Our Daddy.”
DAVID:
All right, so where did we get Father?
JOE:
We got it from the Romans. They called their chief God ‘Father.’ So you see, the term ‘Father’ is not in the Bible. It just started being used because the Romans were using it for their god.
DAVID:
But the Romans worshiped a lot of gods; the Romans were pagans.
JOE:
I think you’ve made my point. They were pagans.
BOB:
And since God is not called Father in the Bible, maybe we should just stick with the name Yahweh— “I AM.”
JOE:
And you know what we just said: who’s on First? I AM is on First.
DAVID:
I AM is on First?
JOE:
I AM is on First.
DAVID:
O.K. Who’s on second? Bet I got you with that one. Who plays second Base on this Bible team? It ain’t ‘I AM’ is it?
BOB:
No. It ain’t I AM.
JOE:
Jesus is on second.
BOB:
One of the basic Christian beliefs is the one many people label as Trinity. And in Trinity Jesus is known as the Second Person— Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity— Jesus is on second.
DAVID:
Oh, yeah? Think you’re smart with that one, do you? (Mocking.) Jesus is known as the Second Person of the Trinity. So, Jesus is on Second. Well, I know my theology too. And Jesus had two natures. Jesus is fully human and Jesus is fully divine. You can’t pin Jesus down that easily. So, maybe Jesus is not just on second. Nah, nah, na, na, na!
JOE:
Shortstop.
DAVID:
What?
JOE:
Shortstop.
DAVID:
Jesus plays shortstop?
JOE:
You are right on that one, O grand inquisitor of all things Baseball and Bible. Our Christian claim is that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. So, Jesus gets to play second.
BOB:
And Jesus gets to play shortstop too. Fully human and fully divine.
DAVID:
Who’s on second?
JOE:
Jesus.
DAVID:
Who plays short?
BOB:
Jesus.
DAVID:
But how can someone play two positions?
BOB:
David... it’s Jesus.
DAVID:
(Resigned.) Yeah.... right... fully human; fully divine.
BOB:
Right.
DAVID:
O.K. Explain that. Explain how someone can play two positions.
JOE:
David... it’s Jesus.
DAVID:
(Resigned again.) Right. O.K. It’s Jesus. But you still have the hot corner! You haven’t got to the hot corner covered yet!
BOB:
The hot corner?
DAVID:
Third Base! Where you have to be ready for someone dropping down a bunt. Where you have to be ready when the batters hit wicked shots down the line and you’ve got to dive for the ball and make a backhanded catch! And you don’t have third covered on the Bible Baseball team, do you?! Wham! Crack! And there goes a line drive over the bag...
JOE:
David. David. David. David. Slow down. You know who covers the hot corner.
DAVID:
I do?
JOE:
You do.
DAVID:
(Long pause. Quietly:) Third Base... the Spirit of God?
JOE:
See? You do know your theology. The Spirit of God is sometimes called the Holy Spirit. And, speaking of funny names, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete...
DAVID:
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Nothing you’ve said so far proves the Bible is about Baseball until now! That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball!
JOE:
That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball?
DAVID:
Of course it does! The Holy Spirit must be wearing a pair of cleats.
JOE:
Right. Well, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete, sometimes called the Spirit which is present to us, sometimes called the Spirit in our midst... the point is the Holy Spirit is here with us. The Holy Spirit can handle all our situations, anything anyone hits to us... all those bunts which might catch us unaware and all the hot shots down the line. The Holy Spirit helps us with everything.
BOB:
Yes, the Spirit of God is always with us. The gifts of the Spirit, sometimes called the fruits of the Spirit, these are gifts that God gives us and they are many: wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, discernment, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, joy, peace and love. The Spirit of God is at work in our lives. And we can rely on the Spirit to guide us through life.
JOE:
And when we consider our experience of God which takes in the faithfulness of the one called I AM, the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Spirit— that is the real reason we say Baseball is mirrored in the Bible.
DAVID:
Why do you say that?
JOE:
David, what’s the object of the game of Baseball?
DAVID:
To score runs?
BOB:
Close!
DAVID:
Oh, I know! The object of the game is to avoid three strikes and you’re out!
JOE:
Not quite right, either, although I think part of the point is to stay at bat until you realize that you can walk with God.
BOB:
So, yes, besides a walk with God, the real object of the game is to be safe at home.
JOE:
And if we pay attention to the fact that God, the Great I AM, is on First...
BOB:
And Jesus plays both second and short...
JOE:
And the Spirit covers third...
BOB:
And that God, Jesus and the Spirit is what Christians through the centuries have called Trinity and that God, Jesus and the Spirit are Trinity...
JOE:
When we pay attention to all that...
DAVID:
I know. I know. We will be safe at home with God.
JOE:
Safe at home...
BOB:
Safe at home...
ALL 3:
Safe... at... home...
JOE:
And you know, there are only two places people sing together in public any more. One is in Church. And one is in the ballpark for the seventh inning stretch. It would not be church and it would not be a Baseball game if there was not community singing. So, let’s all sing the song in the bulletin, Send Us Out. Marcia! Hit it!
LYRIC:
Send us out, God, in Your Name
God be there in the crowd!
By You we live and we play and run.
We are a part of Your Three in One!
And it’s root, root, root, for the One God—
Maker, Redeemer and Flame!
And it’s one, two, three ways to know:
God’s beyond all Names!
BOB:
Baseball and the Bible!
JOE:
That’s a real Home Run!
DAVID:
Amen, and again, Amen!
ALL 3:
Amen, and again, Amen!
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