Freedom Voluntarily Limited

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 1,

Proper 21, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th,D.

Key phrases for reflection in today’s readings:

18What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings: (BCP, 986)

AM Psalm 102; PM Psalm 107:1-32

2 Kings 19:1-20; 1 Cor. 9:16-27; Matt. 8:1-17

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Epistle, 1 Corinthians 9:16-27

16If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 26So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

David's Reflections

Paul, the premier church starter and letter writer in the New Testament canon, here shares with the Corinthians, a faith community he launched, his approach to reaching people for Christ. He uses two metaphors, one of a slave and the other of an athlete. His approach--making himself like a slave for the sake of those without faith and disciplining himself spiritually like an athlete, disciplining his body to share the good news of Jesus' saving love.

His clarity about his core values stands out to me. He obviously did not place kosher living or circumcision, Jewish distinctives, at the top of that list. He would not allow Jewish ritual reservations to prevent him from sharing a table with nonJews. But, he also would not allow his freedom from kosher living to ensnare him either. He would go kosher in a moment if it meant sharing the table with Jewish people without faith in Christ.

He refers to the "weak.," possibly Christians who continue to be preoccupied with rules and regulations, with Christianity as do's and don'ts. Paul's main concern was to identify with the other person and live as fully as possible into their situation with them. He would not allow what he regarded as secondary concerns to deter him from that. He avoided elitism and feelings of superiority about those who might not be as "enlightened" and free as he felt.

The various church groups of today might find some light in Paul. What are our core values? What will we allow to create barriers between us and outsiders? Between us and other believers? If we found our central passion and organizing principle in the mission of the church in the world to those without faith and to those captive and oppressed and abandoned, how would we be behaving differently? (See Galatians 2:1-10 for an example of a conflict resolved with mission as a core value.)

So long as our core values lie in other places--a certain theological perspective, a certain view of human sexuality, a certain way of reading disputed texts--we will be much more vulnerable to divisive debate and to the erecting of walls of anger and distance among brothers and sisters.

I wonder how those outside organized Christianity, those who desperately need our message and our attention, view the way we are relating to one another in the Episcopal Church? What are your friends and relatives who live apart from a Christian community saying to you?

COLLECT OF THE DAY, Proper 21, the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 234)

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (BCP, 123)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of

our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 816-817)