Politics and grace

Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29

Politics and grace

Though people tell us not to talk about politics in church, it is today’s partisan politics we need to avoid. By definition, “politics” refers to the activities involved in governing a country or other area. Partisan politics involves taking sides. The Bible is filled with stories of politics.

In the Old Testament, it’s usually the kings and the priests who are on opposite sides, making for partisan politics in the ancient world. In the New Testament, it’s the Jews and the Christians against the Romans, and it’s the Christians and the Jews against each other. When we consider that the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, the Zealots are all parties within Judaism, it’s easier to see the various pressures on Jesus to please everyone, or no one. Politics is always a present force in our lives.

… In Amos, it’s about 750 BCE, and the Israelite people who were once united under King David have split into two kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The two kingdoms don’t get along at all. History shows that none of the Israelite kings were faithful to God, to YHWH. They have set up worship centers other than Jerusalem and they worship other gods there. God is not happy.

So God tells Amos to go from Judah to Israel and tell King Jereboam and the prophet Amaziah that they need to change their ways. They should measure up to God’s plumb line – the Commandments. Of course, Amaziah and Jereboam are not happy with this news and want Amos to go back to where he came from. Amos protests. “God sent me here. I’ll go home when God tells me my work here is done.”

… It takes a genealogy chart to keep track of all the people named Herod in the Bible.  I’ll try to keep it simple. Herod the Great was the Herod who sent soldiers to kill all the babies in Bethlehem. He died soon after Jesus was born. He had lots of wives and lots of sons, many of whom he had killed. One of the sons who grew up was called Herod Antipas.

The relationship between Herod Antipas and his wife Herodias reads like a soap opera. Herodias was married to Herod II, one of Herod Antipas’ half-brothers, but she was ambitious and left her husband to marry Herod Antipas. According to Jewish law, she was still married to Herod II because he was still alive. John the Baptist criticized her for this, and Herodias wanted to shut him up.

The problem was that Herod Antipas liked listening to John. But Herodias forced Herod to arrest John, then waited for her chance to get rid of him. Her opportunity came the night of a party. Herodias’ little daughter danced for a group of rulers at a party and Herod was so delighted, he told her she could choose anything for a gift and he would give it to her.

Little Herodias, who is also called Salome,  asked her mom what she should ask for and Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Herod was stuck. In the political game of honor and shame, if he refused to honor his pledge to give whatever Little Herodias asked for, he lost face. In the political battle over John the Baptist, Herodias won, and Herod Antipas lost.

… John the Baptist and Amos are both called prophets. In the Bible, a prophet is someone who speaks God’s words to God’s people in a specific time and place.

Amos was one of several prophets God sent to Israel to call the people to return to faithful trust in YHWH. Unfortunately, the political leaders refused to listen to them, and the kingdom was conquered and the people dispersed.

John the Baptist spoke God’s words to the people of Galilee and Judea. Many regular people liked him, but Herod refused to protect him. John was executed for speaking God’s words to God’s people. So was Jesus.

… Let me ask: How far are you willing to go to follow Jesus? Are you willing to speak publicly about Jesus and your faith in him? Are you willing to die for your faith?

Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber started a church for society’s cast-offs. The first members were drug addicts, prostitutes, and gay and lesbian people who had been rejected by their families. She tells this story:

Someone once asked her, “Do you think the church you planted will, you know, get really big?” Nadia replied, “Um, well, no. There’s just not a huge market for the message, ‘Jesus bids you come and die.’ People don’t exactly line up around the block for that. But, ‘Jesus wants to make you rich!’ seems to be doing really well right now.”

These stories about Amos and John the Baptist are included in Scripture because God still wants us to hear the message, “Return to the Lord.” These stories about prophets are included in Scripture because they reflect real life. These stories remind us that people don’t always listen to us, even if we are telling them God’s truth.

And, these stories allow us to compare life with Jesus with what is happening all around us. We know that Jesus wants a better life for us, a life filled with love and peace and justice. Jesus wants us to know eternal life, life in relationship with God.

Mark, the storyteller, has woven together several stories that make this point. In the last two weeks, we have heard about Jesus’ rejection by his family and hometown. He sent the disciples out with the knowledge that they may very well be rejected, too.

Today, we have heard of the death of John the Baptist, an event which Jesus knows will be his own future. It sounds dire. Who wants to follow someone who wants you to come and die?

Yet, the very next story is a miracle story – the feeding of thousands of people, all sorts of people. No politics involved!

The promise of a good life while following Jesus is ours for the asking. When we follow Jesus’ way of living in relationship with God, we discover an abundance that fills us and that is well beyond the risk of losing our lives in the process. We discover the riches of God’s grace lavished upon us. Open your hands to receive them. Amen