Beware of the scribes...
-Mark 12:38

The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 12, is a particularly contentious section of the Gospel. Here we have Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees and other religious leaders trying to entrap Jesus. Jesus is not very gentle with them, but continues to teach them about the Kingdom of God.

What is the issue with the Scribes that Jesus has to warn us about them, telling us to beware of them? There seem to be several symptoms of their wrongdoing, but, I believe, the root cause is that instead of glorifying God, they have glorified themselves. And instead of loving their neighbors and caring for the most vulnerable in their society, they have, in Jesus' words, "devoured widow's houses and have recited long prayers for the sake of appearances."

It is easy for us in 21st Century America to commend Jesus for his words and to dislike these Scribes. But we need to step back for a moment and ask, "Why did they become Scribes in the first place?" Certainly a few may have entered into the vocation for the wrong reasons, but the majority, I would assume, probably wanted to faithfully serve God with all of their hearts. So what went so badly wrong in their lives that Jesus specifically denounces them? I believe it is this, and it is a problem with political and religious leadership throughout the ages: The Scribes began with a desire to do good, but they were swept away by power, praise, lobbyists and possessions, and slowly turned away from their first love. The Scribes had fallen into the same trap that so many fall into--the one where we begin by wanting to serve God and do good for the world, and end up desiring only that the world does good for us. All of their studies, prayers and actions had not been able to penetrate their hearts, or if at one point their hearts were penetrated, they have now become hardened.

Are our hearts open, recognizing with The Little Prince that "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly?"

They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
-Isaiah 61:4

My passion and hope resides in the belief that persons and institutions do not have to settle for the way things are, but can strive to become the life changing, world changing instruments of vitality and renewal that I believe God is calling us to be.

There are many elements associated with vitality and renewal. Two of the most important are Joy and Hope.

Joy is an inward quality which finds outward expression in the love and care we share with one another. This is why at the close of worship we ask if there are joys that people would like to share with others. It is in times of worship that this joy becomes most apparent, although it is quietly present in all forms of ministry. Contagious joy blesses the individual who possesses it and is the source from which our witness to those we come in contact springs. People, who do not have it, want it, and people who have it want to share it.

Hope is another essential aspect of renewed vitality. Persons of faith live in the hope that whatever happens outside cannot destroy what is within us. Periodically we all get the feeling that the random experiences and sensations and events that we call living, do not really add up to anything. We are always on the brink of this chasm of meaninglessness where, with just a nudge, we might tumble into despair. "Why am I here?" What has my life meant?" Enduring hope is about the stories we tell that help us make meaning out of our lives...The stories that restore to us our sense of purpose and worth, and make our lives worth living.

Joy and Hope. It is what George Fox experienced when he testified that he saw that there was "...an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of life and love which flowed over the ocean of darkness."

What gives you joy and hope?

When Jim originally asked me to bring the message today, I thought the 1652 group would still be in England, following in the footsteps of George Fox and the early Quakers.

So my thinking was that we would also follow in Fox’s footsteps, from his journals. Turns out they got home last night, but are probably too jet-lagged to be here today.

On our website we quote Fox saying, “...walk cheerfully over the world answering that of God in everyone.” It is also common to hear Quakers refer to “the Light within.”

What do we mean by this language? What is “that of God in everyone” or “the Light within”?

~ Jeff Arnold

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.
-First Thessalonians 5:11

On each New Member Sunday or First Day, I like to speak about one of our Quaker Testimonies, the Testimony on Community. As most of you know, this is a favorite theme of mine, and one that needs our constant attention. What does it mean to be a beloved community after the manner of Friends?

Community is formed when we gather together and feel the power of a Spirit beyond our finitude...When we experience the Living God together in a gathered meeting. Secondly, community is formed within our Meeting when we support one another through the pain we all experience. When we cry with one another and when we feel one another's suffering, intimacy develops and community is formed.

Third, community is formed when we consciously work to encourage one another and build one another up. Within a beloved community there is no room for hurtful criticism. A good query to ask before we speak is, "Will what I say be harmful and wound the hearts of others?"

Fourth, community is formed when we live in a spirit of expectant hope. Hope is central to our life together...Hope that we can end injustice...Hope that we can stop global warming, and hope that we can find peace in a world filled with war.

Fifth, community is formed when we find reassurance in one another that for all of our shortcomings we are still loved unconditionally by our fellow spiritual pilgrims.

We are an imperfect people banding together in an imperfect way to create an imperfect institution. It is here, however, where love should always be central to who we are and what we share.

Are you able to love one another unconditionally?