David Bahn – Reflections

Yellow Hibiscus | Arbor Gate Nursery, Tomball, Texas | May 2024

As best I can tell, the Sadducees did not believe in angels, spirits, or the resurrection for because they didn’t want to upset the status quo between the Jews and Romans in their day. They purport to reject these things because they are not taught in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). But Abraham is visited by three angels, and Jesus spoke of how “even Moses” taught the resurrection. He says to the Sadducees: “But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31-32)

Years ago a pastor preached at a pastors conference and made some truly terrible and un-Lutheran assertions about the way the church should be run. I was distressed that his sermon(!) topic was essentially a lecture in an attempt to prove his point. Never mind that it wasn’t really a sermon. It was truly not orthodox. But his buddies refused to call him out on it. He was their guy, afterall. They were protecting their turf.

This is what is happening here between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Each was protecting their turf. And when the Sadducees saw that their ideas and beliefs were being challenged, they went at Paul. But the Pharisees saw Paul as a sudden ally. He was their guy, talking about the resurrection.

The Sadducees were the elite. They trumpeted a conservative cause because it protected their status and power. They knew Paul wasn’t their guy, for he like no other would turn their world upside down if given the chance to speak about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Paul was definitely not their guy.

What’s it all about Alfie is a song connected to the movie, Alphie. Alphie is a young, womanising man leading a self-centred life, focused on his own enjoyment until events force him to question his uncaring behaviour, his loneliness, and his priorities. The song asks some good questions:

What’s it all about Alfie
Is it just for the moment we live

What’s it all about
When you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?

And if, if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?

It’s not quite the same, but it certainly is reflective of an even more profound question of life and death.  The song, however, does not ask the more ultimate question. That is what is at stake here in this encounter between Paul and the Council. It is the ultimate question about life and death and more – the life and death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and Lord.

The row was initially about Paul’s claim to have been sent by Jesus to the Gentiles. That’s what got things started (cf. Acts 22:21-22). But the singular claim that Jesus is Lord of all, that he rose from the dead, and that he truly does have all authority in heaven and on earth (cf. Matthew 28:18). Every knee will one day bow to Jesus. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We live under Christ in his kingdom by faith, for these realities are visible now only by faith.

This is a constant struggle for the faithful Jesus follower. We see so much evidence to the contrary. It does not appear to us that Jesus is reigning and ruling in the world today. Nevermind that Jesus himself called Satan the prince or ruler of this world (cf. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). We would rather Jesus show up now and put things right. We would love not to have to face temptation, struggle with sin, or need to repent. It’s hard to live as though the tomb is actually empty.

But the tomb is empty. And Paul and thousands since his time have given their lives – literally and figuratively – for the sake of Jesus’ message of life and salvation. Because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we know that he has been vindicated, our sins have been forgiven, and salvation has been won.

There are those who violently object to this message. Whether it takes the form of blasphemous kitsch and gaudy perversions or group executions of Christians by the Islamic State, Jesus has some serious enemies. And so do we. We battle against not only the world, but also the devil and our own sinful flesh. Thank God Jesus has overcome the world, died for our sins, conquered the devil and been raised from the dead.

It’s all about Jesus, Alphie. It’s all about Jesus, and Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth. Come, Lord Jesus! Come!

Canna Lilies | Arbor Gate Nursery, Tomball, Texas | May 2024

Hanlon’s Razor is a philosophical rule of thumb. It says, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” I’m not certain where we are to fall in regard to the situation being played out between Paul and the Council on this occasion. Did Ananias not know that it was completely improper and unlawful to strike Paul? Did Paul know it was Ananias, the high priest to whom he spoke, invoking God’s vengeance upon him? Did perhaps Ananias know who Paul was, and was playing it off, only to have Paul who knew him mock Ananias, saying, “I didn’t know he was the High Priest.” Were each trying to pull the wool over each other’s eyes?

Then comes Paul’s quick-witted proclamation: This is an issue about the resurrection! There is so much going on here.

The Sadducees were the more conservative of the Jewish sects in Paul’s day. They were known for their strict adherence to the written law of Moses, denial of the resurrection and supernatural beings, and their aristocratic status and cooperation with Roman authorities. The Pharisees, on the other hand  were very dedicated believers. They were responsible for preserving the faith through the synagogue system, and their high regard for all of Scripture, the Law and the Prophets, history and wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

The Sadducees and Pharisees were not friendly. They tolerated each other. But they had some significant disagreements. So Paul knew that he would get a row out of the people there when he claimed his Pharisaical roots and claimed, “It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” The ensuing riot took him out of this fray but into a more dire place. I don’t think I’d want to be a guest in the barracks of the Roman soldiers if I had just made a point of my Jewish heritage. 

Yellow Hibiscus | Arbor Gate Nursery, Tomball, Texas | May 2024

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. -Ecclesiastes 1:9. Whether it’s controversy over the Olympics opening ceremony or political attacks, sexual immorality or vicious acts of violence and war. Everything new is old again. I recall the quote about Abraham Lincoln:

“The conduct of the Republican party in this nomination is a remarkable indication of a small intellect growing smaller. They pass over statesmen, and able men, and they take up a fourth-rate lecturer, who cannot speak good grammar.” – Chicago Times, 1860.

We have political intrigue and disrespectful talk and action right here. The High Priest won’t do it himself, but he’ll have someone else strike Paul. I wonder, frankly, whether Paul knew or not it was the High Priest to whom he spoke. We’ll allow that he did not know who it was, but his speech was clear: God would strike that whitewashed wall. His retribution would come against the one who had ordered Paul struck because there was no cause for it; it was unprovoked. Why would someone be offended at this comment? “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” The reason: they thought it was blasphemous. But even so, is that cause for such a violent response?

Paul’s retort was pointed but not violent. “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” His whitewashed wall comment reminds me of Jesus’ words “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27-28) 

I wish it were not so. I wish we never had to engage in political debates, or that such debates remained civil. But there is nothing new under the sun. God is never surprised by it. He is not powerless in the face of the most blatant attack on Jesus or his Church. There is another thing to remember in the face of the most vivid displays of godlessness and immorality. God is on his throne. There will be a day of reckoning. Jesus will receive his due honor by all. The ancient truth of God’s glorious grace is never old news – even though it is from the foundations of creation. God’s mercies are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. That’s the kind of nothing new I want to recall every day.

Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is singularly unique. (I do work for the department of redundancy department, after all.) It was like no other. Maybe Job comes close, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6) The Philippian Jailer comes to mind, “What must I do to be saved?” Perhaps one of the disciples’ conversion was nearly as dramatic – though I don’t know of any. But Saul was dramatically and decisively converted.

Not only was Saul’s conversion decisive, unique, and singularly so, it offers us a view into what God wants to do with and for each of us – though not in nearly as dramatic a fashion. After all, we’re not persecuting the church, and taking prisoners to squash the gospel message of Jesus.

But we are all in need of conversion. I love the question Dr. Dale Meier asked several years ago at a church convention. Dale is the former president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He also served as the speaker of the Lutheran Hour radio program. Highly respected and quite insightful, he asked the group of us, “How many of you are life-long Lutherans?” Many folks held up their hands. He then said, “No you’re not. We’ re all converts.” Yes we are. All of us. No one is born a Lutheran, much less a Christian. We are born sinners in need of God’s grace and forgiveness even before we open our eyes. Before our conversion we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).

For many like me, we have no memory of a time before we believed in Jesus. Our need for conversion is not as obvious as Philippian jailers, Roman Tax Collectors, or violent persecutors. But we need to be brought back to life, made friends with God, and have our eyes opened to the grace and truth of God in Jesus.

That three-fold conversion puts us on a different path with God and one another. And the fullness of it isn’t just a change of mind. It’s more than confessing that we believe in God. James reminds us of that, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19)

The fullness of our conversion is to receive forgiveness, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and live under Christ’s reign and rule now and forever. We’ll never do this fully and perfectly. But that is still the call. And as we turn again and again to Jesus for forgiveness, confessing him as Lord, we are set again on the path of obedient love and faithful living. All by his grace. All by the Holy Spirit’s power. All for the glory of Jesus’ name.

Cana Lily | Arbor Gate Nursery, Tomball, Texas | May 2024

Diane and I have traveled on mission trips to Africa 6 times. It is a daunting trip – 26 hours of flights and layovers. We believe we have made our last trip there.

Don’t get me wrong, our experiences there have been remarkable. From amazing wildlife we’ve seen on our two short safaris, to the roads which are sometimes smooth and straight, and other times only passable in a 4WD vehicle, to the people we have taught and learned from: these have all been incredible adventures.

Our hope is to help provide funds for a fence around the Mwanza Lutheran Secondary School. Their campus is not secure or safe, and many parents fear to send their children there because of that. But we have decided that six trips is enough – at least at this time.

I believe Africa qualifies as far away, in like manner to Jesus’ words to Paul, “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” Even though arduous, our travels are no where nearly as challenging and difficult as those which Paul experienced. 

The idea that all Christians are sent may be challenging. Sent is the word behind the word apostle. An apostle is a sent-one. Jesus said to his disciples upon confronting them in the Upper Room, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He tells them just before his ascension into heaven, “You will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth. And Paul reports that Jesus said he was to be sent far away to the Gentiles. But are we also sent? In that same way? Far away?

Many years ago a pastor shared with me what I used as the title for this post: The world begins at the end of your skin. In other words, you don’t have to go far to engage in God’s mission. It might be across town. Or even another state. But mission trips can also take us to downtown Houston. Your neighbor may be in a place that allows you to bring the love of Christ and the news of his reign and rule to her. Your husband may need the assurance of Christ’s forgiveness.

We are all sent to do whatever we are able to do to share God’s love and seek his reign and rule. And that journey into the world starts at the end of your skin.

I’ve never done scuba or diving with a helmet and air hose. The latter is called either helmet or surface supplied diving. In this type of diving, the diver wears a helmet connected to a surface air supply via a hose, allowing them to breathe underwater while remaining tethered to the surface. (Thanks, ChatGTP for that explanation.) But I’ve had my metaphorical air hose stepped on with predictable results: I get anxious or angry. Maybe you can identify with that.

A sudden financial turn to the bad: Anxiety flares up.

A criticism that you fear will stick and cost you friends or career: Fear takes over.

A credible threat to your family or yourself: Panic clouds your view.

Your worldview is tested: Fight or flight?

It is this latter thing that has happened to the Jews in Jerusalem. Paul had experienced the reaction of others when he stepped on the financial air hose of the silversmiths in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). He had lost friends because of his missionary activities such as Demas who forsook Paul while he was in prison in Rome (2 Timothy 4:10). Here Paul’s very life is threatened because he had undercut the worldview of the Jews in Jerusalem. They chose to fight him.

The degree of their anger and the intensity of their wrath is turned all the way up. Their shouts echo those hurled at Jesus. They call, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” This is worse than current political figures claiming that their opponents will destroy democracy. This is more than trying to deface the Mona Lisa as a statement about climate change. This is like the Houthi rebels from Yemen launching ballistic missiles at ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 

Incited by others, or home grown from our own visceral responses to threats real or perceived, when our air hose is stepped on, we must react. In this case the reaction to Paul by the Jews in Jerusalem will not accomplish what they desire. Nor will anger ever truly serve God’s purposes. James says it well, “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:20).

Next time someone steps on your metaphorical air hose, take a breath (it’s still possible), and seek peace and pursue righteousness. God had Paul. He has you.

My first experience of so-called friendly fire was distressing. It sent me away from fellowship that I had previously treasured. It scurried me into a defensive posture. It engendered a guardedness about my true beliefs and convictions. It was within the church, and specifically from fellow classmates and former allies in the good fight of faith. And, saddest of all, it came from all sides. I was convinced that the liberals were going to destroy the church, and the conservatives were on a self-assigned mission to save it by whatever means they could. Friends became adversaries. Allies became foes. I stood alone – or so I thought. Today – though I can still identify with these ideas – I may have overreacted a bit. There may have been a better way to have handled it. I didn’t really need to cut myself off from all sides.

Today people face such situations in the political realm (a slam dunk of an example!), in regard to medical practices and treatments, as you talk about ICE or EV cars, or questions about immigration, LBGTQ+ or minus. It’s easy to consider withdrawing.

Paul shows us a better way to deal with such situations. He speaks about it in 1 Corinthians 13, by the way: the way of love. 1 Corinthians 13 is often used at weddings. It is called the Love Chapter and conveys powerful truths about love. It is essential. It is impactful. It is eternal. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians shortly before heading to Jerusalem – just months before the events recorded here. And it seems to me that he is truly applying the teachings of the Love Chapter.

Paul’s demeanor throughout this ordeal is not anxious or overly-defensive. He is not keeping a record of wrongs. He does not take his eye off the prize of the call of Jesus which he even recounts here. He will continue to witness faithfully to the love of God and the resurrection of Jesus, the call to repent and the promise of forgiveness.

Paul will defend himself. He must, lest he be killed. But he will also share things about his conversion and the challenges he had in gaining a standing with the believers in Jerusalem. He is taking shots from all sides. The Romans want to flog him. The Jews want to kill him. There is no place to go – except to Jesus and his claim on his life, his mission, and his promises.

A Harvard MBA student once described the mission of a prominent church as being that of turning pagans into missionaries. Paul wasn’t a pagan. But in some ways he was worse. He had been a sworn enemy of the Christian faith. What turned him around? What made the difference in his life? What was he seeking to display?

Now these three remain, faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

I’m listening to a John Grisham novel about a lawyer (surprise!) who is in jail for his very indirect involvement in a major money-laundering scheme. A federal judge has been murdered and the lawyer knows who did the murder. He’s working on a deal to be released from jail if he fingers the killer. And he has laid out a number of conditions for naming the guilty man. The deal won’t go forward in this legal saga unless he has an ironclad agreement signed by the Attorney General of the United States. Only that will seal the deal for revealing the killer’s name.

There is a minor legal drama going on here between Paul and the Roman soldiers into whose custody he has been remanded. It has to do with Paul’s near brush with flogging, and his seeming offhanded question, to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” That sets in motion a whole different chain of events. He will not be flogged. Luke tell us that “those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.” 

So much for the legal drama.

This is a subset of a greater drama being played out as Paul makes his defense before the crowds of people who want to do away with him. And as Paul makes his defense, he is also part of an even greater drama of God’s call and claim on his life. For Paul isn’t just defending himself. He is witnessing to God’s work in his life and offering the people the opportunity to rethink their own place in the divine drama of God’s redemption and our salvation. 

As Paul describes the events around his conversion, he tells the people about Ananias, who is sent to the then-blinded Paul. He describes Ananias’ conversation with him and includes this call to be baptized.  It’s one thing to be struck down and blinded. It’s another to learn that it is Jesus who has done this to you. It is even more important to be healed of your blindness. But the deal isn’t sealed until Paul agrees to Ananias’ urging: “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” 

There are those who wish to call people to faith, and believe that the key to confirming one’s conversion is to say a Sinner’s Prayer. While it may be a good thing to say such a prayer, it’s clear that baptism is the manner in which one’s conversion is completed and salvation has been received. Baptism seals the deal.

We who have been baptized have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and connected with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our salvation has been secured. Thanks be to God!