MF08 Lent: Road to the Cross

Science and religion, interpreting scripture, contemporary challenges to faith linked to Jesus’ three temptations. Quotations from Rewi Alley, Jonathan Sacks and Michael Curry.

Thomas Hardy ‘God’s Funeral (c.1910, look up online) – a chilling poem then – as science and reason undermined traditional religion, and now – the same forces compounded by materialism and self-serving attitudes.

Archbishop (of Armagh) James Ussher in 17C calculated from scripture that the world was created around 6pm on 22 October 4004 BC  (see AV bible timeline).

Contrast Charles Darwin (Galapagos – NZ 1835) whose Origin of Species (1857) suggested not only an earlier date (13.7b years ago), but whose theory of evolution undermined a divine creation.

Three responses:

• Reject religion and adopttheism/ humanism
• Hold the line: Bible right!
• Weave religious truth with science

Those same responses today.  We need to weave faith within the context of 21C life.

KEY POINT: we must distinguish literal from symbolic interpretations. If we don’t:

• We become irrelevant (NB:Genesis 1 is not science or history)
• We miss the critical meaning -Gen 1 speaks of wholeness of creation, God at centre, our role as stewards

Gospel, Luke 4.1-13: Temptations of Jesus. A familiar story: you could argue whether there is really a devil, or whether the devil could put Jesus on top of the temple, and in the process miss the whole point. For the record:

• Spirit of evil, not evil spirits
• Story clearly symbolic, not literal

The three temptations: v. relevant today

• Stones/bread – materialism
• Kingdoms of world – power
• Jump from temple – fame by spectacular but superficial feats, rather than obedience to God.

Note Jesus’ responses: Not by bread alone; worship/serve only God

Relevance today

• 25% children live in poverty
• Foodbanks see growing demand
• Parents in despair – work hard
• 2^nd highest prison rate
• Majority of people generous as indivs but not for policy change
• “what’s in it for me?”
• Tweak round edges, no major change to make a difference

Rewi Alley (1973): Weekend, and comes the sound of motor-mowers clipping neat lawns street after street. And in gardens fig trees, lemons and grapefruit bear richly, a myriad flowers throw out their fragrance… And people speak of world problems as though such were no pressing concern of theirs; go on thinking that more and more prosperity is just around the corner and that the end of life is just to be comfortable and happy, protecting their children from hardship.

Politics driven by these attitudes – power wealth and fame. Supported by radio/TV hosts who pander to the superficial attractions of the Good Life to the superficial populist majority. In the 2020 USA presidential election only Bernie Sanders named clearly the priorities of poverty and the inequality between the wealthy few and the struggling masses on the margins.             

A quotation from Not in God’s Name: Confronting Religious Violence, a book by Britain’s former Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks. “The old marriage of religion and culture has ended in divorce. Today the secular West has largely lost the values that used to be called Judeo-Christian. Instead it has chosen to worship the idols of the self: the market, consumerism, individualism, autonomy, my rights, and whatever works for you. The golden calf of the self has been raised by the Children of Israel in the wilderness again.”

Bishop Michael Curry Presiding Bishop TEC, USA) added: “I think he’s right. And that golden calf, that idol of the self, may well be the most destructive reality in human society. Self-centeredness, selfishness, call it what you will, frankly is a cancer that can destroy us all and that left unchecked will destroy the planet.”

Road to the Cross: in popular speak we say ‘many are being crucified in society today’ – meaning many are suffering through poverty generated by a self-centred majority.

But true crucifixion, theologically, is the suffering experienced by the prophets who speak truth to power, by those who give of themselves in compassion for others, who name injustice, who give of their substance to help those in need – all who walk the path of Jesus and pay the price of rejection, unpopularity, loss of job or career, hatred and even death. This is the true road to the Cross: taking costly steps that make a difference in the lives of others. Bishop Michael Curry again: “Religion is completely and totally about the love of God and love of neighbour. And if it is not about love, it is not about God. “Love, the love of God, is about the sacrifice of self-centred interest for the good of the other, for the good and the well-being of others, for the common good. That’s the love of God.”