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Mar 1 2017

As I write this on Thursday, some are wondering how “presidential” Donald Trump will appear at his inauguration. Others question if a dignified appearance matters. One Bible story suggests God liked it when the national leader stripped to his underwear and started dancing at a parade.

2 Samuel chapter 6 relates that King David brought the Ark of the Covenant (yep, it’s a real thing and not just a face-melting prop from Raiders of the Lost Ark) into the capital city of Jerusalem. David led the procession. He made two animal sacrifices along the way. He danced “with all his might.” And 2 Samuel 6:14 notes, “David was girded with a linen ephod.” A little research in the New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible reveals that “girded with a linen ephod” means David was dancing while wearing a ceremonial loincloth – and nothing else.

At least one person found this inappropriate for the national leader. When David got home his wife said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!” (2 Samuel 6:20). David replied, “It was before the Lord… I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Samuel 6:21-22 NIV). A postscript to the story says that David’s wife had no children, which is likely meant to communicate that God took David’s side.

I don’t know how “presidential” Donald Trump will appear at his inauguration or how important that is. I do hope and pray that with God’s help he, our other leaders, you, and I will lead without regard for ourselves but for the sake of others from God to our families to employees to volunteers to the American people.

In Christ,
Rich

Rich Rindfuss
Access Pastor
First United Methodist Church Richardson

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Mar 1 2017

I love our church for many reasons including the diversity of politics represented in our congregation. The Sunday after the president’s executive order banning travel from certain countries I had memorable conversations with two church members about what had happened. One member was filled with excitement and optimism, another with frustration and dread. Yet they both came to worship God together at our church. I find great hope in that, and it got me thinking about practical advice for how to passionately disagree yet maintain our unity as Christians.

At the core of doing this well is maintaining a deep value for people even when we deeply disagree with their ideas. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” God loved the whole world. God certainly didn’t agree with the ideas or actions of many people, yet God deeply valued those people.

With that in mind I’ll suggest three principles for passionately disagreeing, Christian-style:

• Acknowledge the other person’s good qualities. In the heat of passionate disagreement, it’s tempting only to notice the negative qualities of people on the other side. I’m confident we’re all a mix of better and worse qualities and acknowledging the good in people I disagree with helps me value them.
• Seek to understand the other person’s position. James 1:19b-20 says, “let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” If I can listen to another person’s position and understand where they’re coming from, I find it easier to value them as a person even if I still passionately disagree with them. James suggests listening also leads me away from anger, which helps me avoid acting in ways displeasing to God.
• Practice non-violence. Revolutionaries in Jesus’ time tried to instigate change by meeting violence with violence. Jesus met violence with peace. His non-violence demonstrated his value of others’ lives even over his own and ended up changing the world far more than the violence of his contemporaries.

Whether we see eye to eye on politics or passionately disagree I value you, I’m grateful we belong to the same community of faith, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

In Christ,
Rich

Rich Rindfuss
Access Pastor
First United Methodist Church Richardson

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Mar 1 2017

photo by miguelb (CC BY 2.0)

I received an e-mail recently seeking stories of sudden realizations that prompted a major life change. The e-mail came from Chip and Dan Heath, authors of many leadership and communications books I have read. They shared the story of Julie, an office worker, who saw a co-worker really enjoying her job. Julie realized that the co-worker held a position she would likely hold in a few years. Julie also realized that she would never enjoy it like her co-worker did. In a flash of insight Julie realized that many of the annoyances she experienced at work were actually all connected. They were part of the job, a job that was a poor fit for Julie’s personality. Julie had experienced a “crystallization of discontent” that led her to seek a career change.

Reading about the concept of a crystallization of discontent reminded me of a speech I heard years ago by pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church   outside Chicago. He talked about “holy discontents” or things he would see that bugged him, things he just couldn’t shake. For example, he noticed that some customers at a local car wash treated the employees poorly. He noticed the same thing at other places of business and in other situations. In a spiritual crystallization of discontent, he realized that wealth differences underlay what he saw: some wealthy people valued or de-valued others based on how much money they made. He saw this as a spiritual issue, a “holy” discontent, and began looking for ways his church could respond.

I encourage you to take some time in prayer to consider the things that annoy you. Ask God if they may be connected in a way you’ve not realized before. Perhaps God will give you a new insight. Perhaps you’ll experience a crystallization of discontent. Maybe God will prompt you to action.

Next week I’ll write about a related but opposite experience, the crystallization of contentment. Sometimes one realizes that many positive things in life actually have a common link, and that realization prompts a response.

I hope to see you for worship Sunday! Have a great weekend!

Rich

Rich Rindfuss
Access Pastor
First United Methodist Church Richardson