Relinqishment and Succession

As my church and  I move into the twilight zone of relinquishment of a two-decade ministry and preparation for a yet unknown successor, the story of Elijah passing his mantle on to Elishah is instructive.

Change of leadership simultaneously raises levels of anxiety and hope. Succession must be carefully managed. I am no Elijah and, as yet, we do not know who our Elisha is. One thing we do know is that change is often necessary if our effectiveness is to be the “double measure.”

This is true of any human community – be it family, church, sporting club or business enterprise. There is a reason Swiss-made luxury watches lost leadership in the world market – by deciding not to embrace the digital revolution.  And now most people use their smartphones for even more accurate time-keeping!

Change is most positively effective when managed through a proactive plan of relinquishment and succession. I am thankful that my church has had the foresight to have begun succession planning in a timely fashion.

No sweet chariot yet, but let’s enjoy Etta James as she sings:

All things to all people – look for the motive!

all things
from http://www.hipsterscripture.com/page/2

“I have become all things to all people” – this phrase speaks of election campaigns! Suddenly politicians, normally hiding from public view, enter the catwalk,  glad-handing everywhere. Previous “no-go” districts in their electorates become the target of media focused sortees, where solutions are offered to longstanding unsolvable problems. In order to win the maximum number of votes, it is important to, as far as politically possible, “be all  to all.”

The phrase is borrowed from St Paul who is before the Corinthian church leaders defending his stance and vigour in spreading the Christian message.
Click on 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.

Paul has already set aside his right to compensation as he works amongst them. So passionate and urgent is he about spreading the message as far as possible that he will break stringent social class boundaries, becoming a slave to the slave, a Jew to the Jew, a Gentile to the Gentile, in order to succeed.

“How does this make Paul different to a campaigning electoral candidate?” one might ask.  Look for the motive. Control and love are strong and powerful motivators. But they are mutually exclusive. One manipulates; the other serves.

(Disclaimer: this, of course, is not a slur on those excellent politicians who enter public life in order to serve)

Tall poppy rights

tall poppiesVisitors to Australia are sometimes mystified by the Australian egalitarian penchant for “lopping the tall poppies,” i.e. ridiculing those who, by virtue of excellence in their field, may be at risk of showing a tendency to rise above the crowd either in attitude, eccentric behaviour or even failure to meet popular expectation. We quickly cut them down to size! This may not be as prevalent as multicultural diversity has had several generations now to exert its influence.

Do tall poppies have rights? The average Aussie would say “Of course!” and quickly spring to the defence of those being unfairly maligned in the media. After all, everything must pass the “pub test” (consensus arrived at in a crowd discussion at a public bar as the days’ politics are reviewed.)

In today’s text from 1 Corinthians 9:1-15, the apostle Paul vigorously defends himself against charges that his leadership is wanting and that he is not worthy of any benefit he is receiving due to his role. It looks like a pay dispute! He appeals not so much for his rights but lays out the evidence of his experience and motivation for spending his life in service to the church. For this, he is prepared to lay aside his rights lest they become an obstacle. He makes no claim except for his human need to eat. I think most Aussies would say “Fair enough!” and also rise to his defence.

Action Man Jesus?

Action Man Jesus

One can feel quite exhausted following a reading of the Gospel of Mark’s account of a day in the life of Jesus – today’s text Mark1: 29-39. There is a lot packed into the day so described. It is typical of Mark’s story-telling style – rapid, clipped, urgent, sparing of detail.

It gives a picture of a Jesus who is in total command. For Mark’s original community under heavy persecution and the threat of annihilation under Nero, it was strengthening to know that, even as they felt the breath of the hungry arena lion or the heat of the first flicker of flames at the stake, that the One in whom they had invested their total trust would hold them tight.

Recent times have seen an increase in awareness of many who still suffer religious persecution as Christians and other minority groups flee the Middle East and also the current Rohingya crisis bridging Myanmar and Bangladesh. One almost wishes for an Action Man or superhero to descend and sort it all out.  The big picture in Mark’s Gospel, however, is focused on the urge for Jesus’ followers to exercise perseverance and focus on the message to which they are called, no matter what threatens to destroy them. I have often been inspired by stories of such faith emerging from the witness of the Coptic and Syrian Orthodox communities here in Perth

Mark tells us of no easy fix, no plastic action figure to save the day, but the trustworthy authority of Jesus who is also the Christ.

 

We think we’re in charge…

chess-pieces-1463642955dfk.jpgSure we have agency for good or ill, wise or foolish. Some will think it a great idea for the Australian government to invest heavily in the military industrial complex and become one of the world’s major exporters of military equipment. As a strategy for long-term economic growth and employment, it is a winner!

For those who believe the world is already over-militarized and under-resourced in health, education and strategic peace resolution, yesterday’s announcement is disastrous. They do not buy the argot of “defensive weapons only” and “careful vetting of clients.” They know that wealthy arms manufacturers have a lot more clout when lobbying politicians than do aid agencies such as World Vision and Act for Peace. Cartoonists are wised up to the tension, as was George Bernard Shaw when he wrote the hard-hitting Major Barbara.

Today’s text from Isaiah 40:21-31 puts all in perspective, especially for those who believe they are ultimately in charge, but also for those who grow weary striving for peace in its many manifestations.

Not much to inspire here!

008-jobI open the sacred text in anticipation of inspiring insight.

Today the set passage is Job 7:1-7.

It lands us right in the midst of Job’s despair and he is giving full vent. He has lost everything – home, wealth, health. He has every right to his pity party and who could grudge him that.

So why is my first impulse impatience? Is it that my expectation of this daily time set aside to meditate and contemplate my tradition’s sacred text falls short? Does it remind me too much of my own stresses and challenges for which these short oasis times should offer relief? Is this text too depressing to be of any value?

Yet promise is present.

In the Hebrew context of confidence in G-d’s provision and Job’s experience of its total absence, Job is still free to express himself. And here’s the rub. Job is still addressing his complaint to the G-d that seems to be not there. He is still oriented to the Author and Completer of his faith.

The Via Negativa is a strong strand in Christian tradition and experience, forging hope and life and service out of things that “are not.” Once everything we believe we have and are stripped away, what is left?

So this passage that has nothing within itself to inspire can lead to a deeper place with a stronger foundation.

Is dispossession biblically sanctioned?

Convicts_at_Botany_Bay

The conqueror will always say “Yes!” and, for support, misappropriate passages like the one set for today (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).

There is a big difference, however, between the cultural and historical context of nation-forging from a horde of liberated Hebrew slaves preserving their fragile identity and colonial expansionism.

It is ironic that such a text emerges on a contentious day that Australia commemorates and celebrates the day the Union Jack was planted on the beach at Botany Bay (oops! Sydney Cove, actually) signalling the commencement of Britain’s new penal settlement. The overseers and convicts arriving on the First Fleet possibly did not see themselves as conquerors – neither did the unrecognised original inhabitants and stewards of the land. The language, attitudes and conflicts of conquest emerged as the needs of the settlement and its economy grew.

Back to Deuteronomy, the need to protect Hebrew identity and possession of land. Here also is a seed of wisdom for multicultural co-existence. The burden of the text is that the Hebrews do not adopt practices that are alien to their identity. The Deuteronomic code continues at length to describe the duty of hospitality and receptivity to those who are “other.” Multiculturalism is not about “making us like them” or “assimilating” the other to be like us. We are to be as comfortable and as confident in our own skin to know that our identity is uniquely formed. From such a base, there is no need for anxiety or defensiveness when faced with the other. We can move beyond tolerance to receptivity, differences and all.

Australia’s new six classes

465px-Lambert_Farbenpyramide_1772Aussies have long said, “Jack is as good as his master” – we are the land where equal status is championed and where we eschew the class consciousness that separated the lower convict class and their gentrified overseers at the outset of European settlement.

Sociologist Jill Sheppard, in a recent report, suggests there are six identifiable classes in Australian society.  Jettisoning the usual single streamed occupation marker exploring working, management and executive roles and, nodding to generational changes that have taken place, Sheppard adds social, recreational and aspirational factors that separate distinct groupings and their perceived standing in the community.

There are probably no surprises here. It has long been established that Western society fueled by a Christian Reformation work ethic has been inherently upwardly mobile and that the goal in life has been perceived as reaching the next rung on the ladder.  The transported convict aspired to become the freeman who aspired to lease an allotment who then aspired to outright ownership and some measure of control over those following behind.

It is an ancient phenomenon. In a kind of a coach’s pep talk, G-d tells the Israelites who have benefited from resettlement in their promised land not to forget the core values upon which their nation is being built. Deuteronomy 6:10-18. Their forebears were freed from tyranny to forge a new society that would be an attractive model for all nations. How easy it is to forget!

Presenting one’s credentials …

Healing_of_the_demon-possessedFirst impressions are paramount, our life coaches tell us. Suit up, look confident and practice that opening line if you want to succeed in love, finance and influence.

What if your goal is to begin a process that transforms the world from one beholden to despotic violence to one that exhibits the wholesome fullness of a paradise based on selfless care for the environment, one another and relationship with the Ground of all Being? How does one present one’s credentials?

Jesus went to his community’s regular gathering place to teach and expand a collective vision of shalom – a marination in the peace of the reign of G-d. (Mark 1:21-28) On cue, the darkest manifestation of the tyranny that opposes this vision arises in a troubled villager and challenges him. Jesus summarily dismisses the demon and the man is healed. The crowd is amazed and Jesus has established his bona fide before the end of the first chapter in Mark’s story.

Contemporary commentary on this story tends to focus on the phenomenon of “demon possession” and “mental illness.” This misses the point. Mark’s gospel sets the stage for understanding the nature of our engagement in a conflict of cosmic proportions. Jesus is presented as the one anointed with the influence and authority to overcome all that threatens to overwhelm and destroy.