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Hebrews 11:1-22:
We conclude this study of shalom and eirene throughout the scripture by looking at the very nature of faith as presented in Hebrews 11:1—12:29. We’ll reflect on this passage over the next four days. The passage begins with a profound and even classic definition of faith:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understood that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. (Heb. 11:1-3)
To live as a person of faith means to trust God that what is currently neither present nor visible will someday come to be. It is trusting that shalom is not an unrealizable figment of one’s imagination, but rather is God’s intention for the universe that someday will actually and authentically come to be. Our world will, someday, become the shalom community God intends it to be. It really will happen!
The words specifically used by the writer of Hebrews for the realization of shalom is “assurance” and “conviction”. We live and minister in the “assurance” and “conviction” that someday, this will be a shalom universe! The Greek word translated “assurance” is hypostasis, and is best translated “gives substance to”. The Greek word for “conviction” is elenchus and means “a proving of “. In other words, to be “faith-filled” and thus “faithful”, we Christians who embrace the shalom dream experience that dream being made substantive in our lives and ministries as we work for shalom. It is the little examples of “shalom” and of the shalom community that surface in our lives and work and relationships with others that provide proof to us that our faith in an eventually shalom-filled world is not irrational or unsubstantial, but is from God!
“Our ancestors” lived out shalom before us and thus became examples to us. Hebrews presents 18 instances of how our ancestors “borne witness to” or “attested” God’s shalom community as the “truly true” society God is shaping into being. Whether it was Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Joseph – all of them lived their lives with the vision of God’s shalom reality before them and sought to realize that vision in their respective worlds in some specific way. But what was also true of every one of them is that
all of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. . . . But they desired a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them! (Heb. 11:13-16)
Hebrews 11:23-40:
The list continues in Heb. 11:23-40, examining the faithfulness of Moses (vss. 23-29), Rahab the prostitute (vs. 30), Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets (vs. 32):
Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises (David – I Sam. 16-30 & II Sam.), shut the mouths of lions (Samson – Judges 14:6, Daniel – Dan. 6:22), quenced raging fire (Dan. 3:1-30), escaped the edge of the sword (Elijah – I Kings 19:2-8; Jeremiah – Jer. 36:19, 26), won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight (David – II Sam.). Women received their dead by resurrection (I Kings 17:17-24; II Ki. 4:25-37). Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death (II Ch. 24:21), they were sawn in two (an allusion to the apocryphal death of Isaiah), they were killed by the sword (I Ki. 19:10; Jer. 26:23). They went about in shins of sheep and goats (II Macc. 5:27), destitute, persecuted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy!” (Heb. 11:33-38)
The point of this recital, however, is that all of these truly great people of faith who held to the dream of the shalom community never realized it. They lived their entire lives, often under intense persecution, without ever experiencing the fulfillment of God’s plan for which they yearned. But they did not waver! They went on believing that God would make this world right – and they were willing to face great humiliation for a dream that they never realized!
But they will be rewarded for their faithfulness. For “God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect” (11:40). They are to join with the Christians in someday realizing God’s new covenant – the shalom community -- in its fulfillment in the “eschaton”!
Hebrews 12:1-17:
Today’s scripture continues the Hebrews 11-12 catalog of the saints. Today’s passage is 12:1-17. The author of Hebrews has just reviewed the history of Israel’s “saints” who held to the dream of the shalom community but never realized it. They continued to hold on in faith, believing and working towards that which never came in their lifetime.
In the light of their unrewarded faithfulness, how should we who have met Jesus now live?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2)
The author of Hebrews is likening the Christian life to that of a race (cf. I Cor. 9:24; II Tim. 4:7) – most likely, an Olympic marathon (c. “run with perseverance”). One has been running this marathon for hours; he has no idea if his fellow contestants are in front of him or behind him, for they are out of his sight. He has been plodding along, simply putting one foot in front of the other, as he is running this race.
But suddenly, there is the Olympic stadium before him, and running the course, he now enters that stadium. The crowd rises to its feet, cheering him on, and he recognizes some of those in the crowd – Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David – but also Rahab the prostitute, Gideon and Barak. They who have previously run this race now cheer him on from the stands, as it is his task to now run the race.
But she he be diverted by his encouraging ancestors, cheering him on from the stands? Should he allow the exhaustion of miles of running slow him down? No, instead he is to run, keeping “his eyes on the prize”, undiverted in his race toward the finish line. For at that finish line stands Jesus, holding the victor’s garland crown in his hands. So the runner looks at “Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” who also ran this race, “endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God”, the sponsor of this race. Jesus had run it previously. Despite his crucifixion and torment, he had won the race. He had received the victor’s garland. And how he is writing for you to arrive for him to place it on your head.
So run, keeping “your eyes on the prize”. Endure whatever suffering this race of life brings. All those who ran it before you endured such pain, as well. That pain only disciplines and strengthens you more, as you run through that pain. So, surrounded by the grandstand cheers of the faithful urging you on, run the race. Run it for Jesus! Run it to win “the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day – and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” ((I Tim. 4:8)!
Hebrews 12:18-29
This passage is the conclusion of this portion of Hebrews – 12:18-29!
The author of Hebrews changes his metaphor from a race to an audience before a great king. You have been invited for an audience with God Himself, and with his Son, Jesus. You enter the holy city and walk down the main avenue to the palace, lined with a welcoming angel host. You enter the palace and then its great throne room. You are greeted by thousands of courtiers – Old Testament heroes, New Testament saints, and the faithful followers of Christ, both great and small, down through the centuries. And there, seated on their thrones at the far end of the assembly hall is God the Father and Son. You walk to them. But instead of them welcoming you, you fall to your knees, giving thanks, praising God, and offering to him the gift of your life as praise, “an acceptable worship with reverence and awe.” Thus, for the first time in your life, you know fully the community of shalom!
James 2:1-17:
The scripture for today is James 2:1-17. This entire passage, of course, deals with the relationship of faith to works, using as the primary example a church leader’s or Christian’s approach to both the rich and the poor. No deference is to be given to the rich, James says, because of their wealth. If favoritism is to be given to anyone, it should be to the poor who are “rich in faith and . . . heirs of the kingdom” (2:5).
James cuts the issue on “faith versus works” in a significant way. His primary question (although not directly asked but only implied) is “What is faith?” If one perceives faith as an intellectual assent to propositions, then faith (i.e., right belief) can be put over against works (i.e., right deeds). And such deeds won’t save you.
But what if faith is something else? What if faith is actually the continuing embrace of God – a right relationship with God – a response to what God is doing in our lives? If that is what faith is (and of course, James implies, it is), then the inevitable result of such a response to God is a comparable response to our neighbor – especially our poor neighbor. Our works are a natural extension of our newly-embraced relationship with God to a comparable relationship with God’s creation – our neighbor. Therefore, acting in a socially just manner is but a natural extension of our relationship with God and is the evidence that such faith is authentic (2:14-26).
What is of particular significance to us in our study of “shalom”, however, is what James has to say in 2:15-16. We say to the “brother or sister (who) is naked and lacks daily food,” “Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill”! To say such a thing to a poor person and not follow it with actions that will create warmth and a full stomach is to be the biggest of hypocrites. Why?
Well just think what you have done. You have wished a person in need “shalom”. You have in essence said to him or her, “God’s intentions for you is to have justice practiced toward you, your poverty relieved, wealth redistributed to you and your relationship with God nurtured through the church.” That is what you have extended toward that person when you have wished him “Peace”. And that is because “peace”, to Jewish and Gentile Christians of the first century, did not mean “well-being” as it would today, but rather the full spectrum of the Hebrew word, “shalom”.
Thus, you have extended to that person with your words the political, economic and spiritual revolution of shalom. And then you don’t follow it up with actions that will help transform that person’s condition? Why, you have just given the lie to all that Christianity proclaims! You have denied in your actions what you have proclaimed in your words! And by so doing, you have made a mockery of the Christian faith and the God of that faith. The only thing any of us – including that poor person – can determine as a result of such inaction on your part is that “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (2:17)!
James 3:13-18:
The scripture for today is James 3:13-18. In this passage, James compares two kinds of “wisdom”.
First, there is that “wisdom” that comes wholly from humanity – what we might better call “sophistry” (vss. 14-16). That is a “wisdom” that is only concerned with personal well-being at the expense of the well-being of the community. It is a “wisdom” that is the direct opposite of the biblical concept of “shalom”. Instead, it is totally caught up in the building of one’s own power, prestige and possessions at the expense of the other. It is “earthly, unspiritual and devilish”. Consequently, it will only result in “disorder and wickedness of every kind”
The second kind of wisdom is that that comes as a free gift from God (vs. 13). That wisdom is discerned by the results it inevitably creates in a person who embraces that wisdom (vss. 17-18). The central mark of such Godly wisdom is shalom – a person who is living in shalom because he has worked for shalom – that is, has worked for justice, elimination of poverty, the building of an economically equitable society and has fostered dynamic personal and corporate relationship with God. These are the fruits of wisdom.
1 Peter 3:8-22:
Today’s scripture is I Peter 3:8-22. The use of the word “peace” in this passage is in a quotation from Psalm 34:13-17 that includes the phrase, “Let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it”.
Basically, what Peter is doing in 3:8-22 is preparing the church for persecution and suffering. As both he and Paul approach execution, he knows their death will be only the beginning of an extended persecution of the church. What will make that persecution particularly insidious, however, is that it will not be systematic persecution of the state; such intentional persecution – though severe – can be stopped by a single command from the emperor. Rather, the persecution the Christians will face will be uncoordinated and sporadic harassment that will come about in many different ways and places and forms by the surrounding culture that will not only be opposed to Christianity, but will see its ethics as “chipping away” at the structures, systems, public and private ethics and lifestyle of the Greco-Roman (that is, pagan) culture (3:16).
How Peter advises the church to combat such persecution is instructive. He states:
· Don’t let the powers of the world intimidate you (3:14);
· Always be ready to defend yourself and the gospel through argument and logic, but do so “with gentleness and reverence” (vs. 16);
· Act under persecution in a way that shames your opponents (vs. 16);
· Accept the consequences of the public ethical stand you take, rather than trying to “get out” of persecution (vs. 17);
· Take as your model the example of Jesus under Jewish and Roman persecution, who used the occasion of his trial and crucifixion to “turn the tables” on the establishment, so that it was Pilate who ended up on trial and the Jewish authorities who were exposed for the manipulative and power-crazed people they truly were (vss. 18-22).
The conventional wisdom is that Peter counseled acquiescence (“Why can’t we all just get along?”) to the authorities. But when one looks at this list from I Peter 3, one must conclude that, rather than acquiescence, what Peter was actually counseling was civil disobedience. He advised using the parameters of Roman law by the Christian to make his case and to call the systems to accountability. The Christians, were persecuted by the pagans because their ethics, lifestyle and insistence on just systems were disruptive to the empire. Thus, they were being challenged by Peter to remain disruptive to their final dying breath. They were being called by Peter to resist to the very end!