This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news:

CHINESE STUDENTS SCREENED FOR RADICAL THOUGHTS AND INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLES 

JEREMIAH 29: 13-15

13 In the prophets of Samaria

I saw a disgusting thing:

they prophesied by Baal

and led my people Israel astray.

14 But in the prophets of Jerusalem

I have seen a more shocking thing:

they commit adultery and walk in lies;

they strengthen the hands of evildoers,

so that no one turns from wickedness;

all of them have become like Sodom to me,

and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.

15 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:

‘I am going to make them eat wormwood,

and give them poisoned water to drink;

for from the prophets of Jerusalem

ungodliness has spread throughout the land.’

The prophets were originally the holy ones who could speak God’s word to the semi-nomadic tribes of Hebrews. Now says Jeremiah they have lost their independence and have become religious hacks, saying what the pubic wants to hear. They might speak in the name of the gods of the land (Baals) or adopt the easy life-style of the Jerusalem upper classes, forgetting their duty to denounce injustice. Jeremiah judges that the prophets are the touchstone of true faith but if they have become corrupt they will spread ungodliness.

persecution

Clergy at not prophets but they are called to announce God’s word. I can certainly look back on times when personal waywardness or careful moderation led me to conceal the truth. There is always pressure on clergy of any religious system to set their allegiance to the system above their allegiance to God. Clergy and people should be more aware of this danger than they often are. How good it would be if the people actively encouraged independent thinking amongst their clergy rather than denigrating it. My church, the Church of Scotland, is considering the issue of homosexual persons in its ministry. During the time of consultation our General Assembly has instructed us not to debate the issue openly. Eh? Just at the time when we should be fighting for God’s truth we are told to shut up. If our Assembly decides to continue its persecution of homosexual people (no pious excuse can alter the fact that it has persecuted them and still does. Yes, the Bible may say they should be persecuted but that’s still persecution) if it continues persecution many prejudiced people will be glad but I will think that from the “prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” I will be in a minority (as Jeremiah was) and of course I may be wrong, but I will still think so, because that is the Word I have heard and tried to obey.

John 6:60-71

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ 68Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ 70Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ 71He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

Jesus had taught that true disciples must eat his flesh and drink his blood. The literally minded amongst them found this offensive. Jesus told them that the words should be understood spiritually: that is, they were to be nourished by his words which are spirit and life even if they bring about his broken body and spilt blood. Some disciples leave, but when Jesus asks the twelve, Peter replies, “Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life.”

Flossenburg Camp-where Bonhoeffer kept the words of eternal life

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose day this is, had nourished himself with the teachings of Jesus and asked his Church in 1930’s Germany to take them more seriously, writing of the “cost of discipleship.” He knew Jesus’ words would bring spirit and life, but also that they might lead to suffering at the hands of the Nazi regime. With the Declaration of Barmen (1934) the German Church came to the crossroads. Those who were offended by Jesus’ teaching abandoned discipleship, leaving the “Confessing Church” to acknowledge “Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death.”  They were saying, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” With them Bonhoeffer opposed Hitler and paid the penalty in 1945 when he was executed in prison camp. When I was at college Bonhoeffer was still remembered as a disturbingly radical thinker. He was also of course an orthodox and utterly faithful witness against terror and lies.

The simplicity of the Barmen confession of Jesus has been and continues to be the guiding principle of my own theological journey. Whatever the issue, I start with Jesus Christ as he is attested for us in Scripture, the One Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death. The keen critic will note that this leaves plenty of room for error.