dave dack

Last week when the California Supreme Court declared laws banning same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional, I posted some of my initial thoughts.  I quickly took the post down, though, because I was nervous about how people might react.  I decided to wait a few days.

It seems to me that the court made the right decision.  Some have said that the court overstepped its bounds by trying to set social policy.  Technically speaking, they didn’t set or approve anything; they simply declared existing laws banning gay marriage to be unconstitutional.  Others have said that the decision to allow or prohibit gay marriage is up to the people.  I agree, but again, the decision to declare a law as unconstitutional or not is up to the court.

Homosexual behavior and marriage goes against God’s word.  You can’t read the Bible and not be aware of that.  But let’s remember, the United States is not God’s chosen nation.  We’re not Israel.  And speaking strictly from an American standpoint, the government cannot tell people whom they are or are not allowed to marry, on any basis.  Same-sex marriage is a moral issue, and asking the government to ban it is asking the government to legislate morality.  It’s asking for a high level of government influence over private behavior.  If you put that on the conservative-liberal spectrum, it falls way over on the left (which is interesting, because it’s people on the right who are asking for the ban).

As a Christian, I don’t support same-sex marriage.  But I think the court’s decision was the right one from an American standpoint.  That doesn’t mean that I’m approaching this as an American first and as a Christian second.  It means that I expect the court to operate by America’s standards and not necessarily my Christian standards (which is exactly its job).  And I don’t see any precedent in scripture leading me to think that it’s my Christian duty to change our constitution (state or federal) and make it agree with Biblical morals and values.  Jesus never bothered to try and change Rome’s laws.  It just didn’t seem to be the top priority.

These are my thoughts, and they might be a bit sloppy - please, no angry comments.

You know, the Constitution and the Bible are not the same thing.

That’s why I don’t think the U.S. is a “Christian Nation.”  It never really was.

I’d make a terrible President.  I would either try and uphold the Constitution and feel like a sell-out, or I’d try and make things look like the Bible’s picture of good government (the way Israel was supposed to work; or the way God’s kingdom will work someday) and ruin the country.

Because the Constitution and the Bible are not the same thing.  I just don’t think you can uphold both.  Not very often, anyway.

I read something the other day that I’ve been pondering…

“…the main purpose of miracles throughout Scripture was to authenticate each fresh stage of revelation, especially the prophets in the Old Testament and the apostles in the New.”

Miracles have always been problematic for me, and I’m sure many other Christians feel the same.  I found that quote helpful.

I came across a question in a book today: “Why is the common meal regarded as the place where Jesus’ death is proclaimed?”

Paul spoke about how the cross made a spectacle of the existing powers and authorities, how it stripped them bare and revealed them as the really are - powers of violence and death. Quoting from the book again, and speaking about the early Christian community after the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection, “Their common meal became a place to remember Jesus’ death. As often as the meal was celebrated, Rome’s vicious deed was named as such. The remembrance of Jesus’ death gave Rome’s imperial oppression the name that unmasked it.”

Jesus’ death and resurrection unmasked the powers, ended the charade. The powers offered one script, one version of how things really were, and the work of Christ trounced it and revealed the truth. And every time people remembered Christ’s death at their common meals they further loosened the grip of the powers of death.

Then it hit me - of course the common meal is the place of remembering! What human practice could be more basic, more fundamental, more influential than eating a meal? Even aside from the scriptural significance of meals in Jewish culture, eating traditions (even mundane, every-day ones) form one of the largest, strongest and most necessary threads in the fabric of any society. Placing the remembrance of Christ’s death at people’s tables offers the most potent resistance to powers that would deny Christ and his work. Everyone eats, and if people proclaim Christ’s death every time they are at table then the oppressive story of the powers is quickly unwritten.

Of course the meal is the place of remembrance. Where else would it be?

As usual, these are just thoughts. I’m not trying to make the Eucharist more complicated than it needs to be.

Heth 57-64

You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey Christ.
I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways and have turned my steps toward Christ.
I will hasten and not delay to obey your Son.
Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget Christ.
At midnight I rise to give you thanks for my Savior.
I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow Christ.
The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me Christ’s love.

Teth 65-72

Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD.
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust in Christ.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your Son.
You are good, and what you do is good; teach me Christ’s love.
Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I cling to Christ with all my heart.
Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in Christ.
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Christ’s love.
Christ is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Yodh 73-80 

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn from Christ.
May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your Son.
I know, LORD, that Christ is righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to me.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for Christ is my delight.
May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on Christ.
May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand Christ’s ways.
May my heart be blameless toward Christ, that I may not be put to shame.

This week I realized for the first time how big of a deal the transfiguration of Jesus was.

It was a really big deal.

In February I’m going to start hosting a twice-monthly seminar series on understanding the Bible.  I’ll be using a great book by John Stott (called “Understanding The Bible”) as a guide. The series will explore the purpose, setting, geography, and story of the Bible. It will also explain how to read and approach scripture so that we may better grasp the fullness of Christ Himself.

I’m excited about it. I’d like to have it on Sunday mornings when lots of people from UPC could attend, but I don’t think that’s going to work out at the moment.

I’ve been studying for the Bible Content Exam for the last two weeks.  It’s part of the process of becoming ordained in the PC (USA), as several of you already know too well.  This website has all the exams going back to 1988, and I’ve been taking them for practice.  They’re actually great learning tools.

You should try taking one, just for fun.  It’s 100 questions.  70% is passing, from what I understand.

Daleth 25-32

I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to Christ.
I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me about Christ.
Cause me to understand the way Christ, that I may meditate on his wonderful deeds.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Christ.
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me Christ’s ways.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Christ.
I hold fast to Christ, LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your Son, for you have set my heart free. 

He 33-40

Teach me, LORD, the way of Christ, that I may follow Him to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep His teachings and obey them with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of Christ, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward my Savior, and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Christ.
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread, for Christ is good.
How I long for Christ! In your righteousness preserve my life.

Waw 41-48

May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in Christ.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in Christ.
I will always obey your Son, for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out my Savior.
I will speak of Christ before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in Christ because I love Him.
I reach out for Christ, whom I love, that I may meditate on Him.

Zayin 49-56

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this: Christ preserves my life.
The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your Son.
I remember, LORD, your Holy One, and I find comfort in Him.
Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken Christ.
Christ is the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may cling to Christ.
This has been my practice: I obey Christ, your Word.

Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey Christ.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Him.
I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Christ from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for Christ at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from Christ.
Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep Christ’s teachings.
Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on Christ.
Christ is my delight, he is my counselor.