Oh Judas!!

I've been reading through Mark and I recently read through Mark 14 which records the account of Judas of Iscariot agreeing to betray Jesus. In the Life Application Bible I own and use for devotions (I'm thankful to my parents who gave me this bible for Christmas. It's been in 5 different countries numerous states and provinces and God has revealed himself to me and drawn me closer to me many times through this Bible) the commentary on Judas is primarily negative. Probably the most positive thing I've read is that Judas thought he was helping Jesus out in order to bring about a political reign (depending on one's theology one might agree that Judas was "helping" Jesus out").

As I read this commentary, I reflected on the information we have available about Judas and it baffled me that Jesus would choose him to be one of his Apostles, one of those in his "inner circle" of followers. I racked my brain over why Jesus would choose Judas, knowing he would betray him. If Jesus emptied himself of, or limited, his divine rights to omniscience or "foreknowledge" then perhaps he was not aware that Judas would betray him. By the time of the Last Supper though, it appears Jesus is aware that someone will betray him.

When we read about all the other disciples there always seems to be some quality about them that despite their failures they have attributes that we can appreciate. When I thought about this in regards to Judas I could not come up with a single attribute. In frustration, I finally said to God, "why did you choose him?!", "What did you see in him?!" Shortly after asking this what happened after the betrayal came to mind. I remembered Judas being so grieved that he had betrayed Jesus that he went out and hung himself and that he only did that after trying to undo what he had done. When I thought of this I realized that Judas betrayed Jesus publicly, and he was the only one who stood up for him when in the darkest hour. Peter swore to follow Jesus even to death. He cut off a soldiers ear in the garden when he was surrounded by the J-Crew, then denied Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial. After Jesus' resurrection Peter did eventually die for Jesus. We know that John and Mary were at the cross, but we know of no action they took to stop the crucifixion (perhaps they caught on).

Amongst all the followers and the disciples, Judas was the only one who went to the Priests and tried to stop the ball that he had started rolling. In the darkest hour, when everyone was against Jesus, Judas was the only one to stand up for Jesus. I do not want to minimize what Judas did, Jesus considered it so serious that he said on the Day of Judgment it would have been better that he had never been born.

Luther once said something to the effect of : If you remove the promise of heaven and the threat of hell, the way people act is who they really are (if someone knows the actual quote I'd appreciate having that). In the darkest hour, with nothing to gain, we see the redeeming quality of Judas. We see possibly what Jesus saw in him.

Why I am Moving Beyond Missional

To be missional, as I understand it, is to say: the heart of God is to be restored to his creation. We are told that from the beginning of Scripture God has been on a mission to be in relationship with his creation. Abraham has been cited as demonstrating this when God initiates a conversation with Abraham in Genesis 12. God creating the universe and humanity in order to be in relationship, God seeking out "Adam and Eve" in the garden, and his speaking to Noah to warn about the flood, do not always get the attention they deserve, even though they support the concept of God on mission because some family members hold that Genesis 1-11 are not historical (by any means). They hold that these chapters, as well as others, are similar to the parables Jesus told, or allegories that prophets used. Thus, in order to appeal to a large audience, the missional camp often begins with Genesis 12. For this those who wave the missional banner should be applauded. Furthermore they should be applauded for bringing to light that God wishes for the Church (some may cringe at using such an "institutional word") to participate and be a means through which God restores himself to the rest of creation.

Where I break with the missional camp is in the assertion that God's most primary desire is to be restored to his creation. I would argue that God's primary desire is to express love through relationship. Before God formed the universe (however, you feel that happened) the triune God (3 persons, 1 being) was in relationship with himself. Before God sought "Adam & Eve" in the garden God was in relationship with them. More than I am missional, I am Love-oriented.

As I look at scripture I see a God who is driven by a fundamental love, which is foundationally relational. It is this desire that motivated God to create, and motivated God to pursue his creation. I would contend that creating and pursuing stem out of God's love which is expressed in relationship. Thereby, God being missional is merely a bi-product of God's love.

Perhaps, the missional camp would agree with me on this, if this is true then there title is rather misleading, as it puts mission in the forefront and love in the background. Missional also puts the emphasis on action what we are to do, rather than who we are to be. From what I know about Missionals love is to be the primary means by which the mission is progressed, yet making mission the focus leaves Missionals open to the same critique many express regarding the church. The critique of being focused on doing Christianity and not being Christians. Consequently, I would rather focus on God's foundational love and let mission be its outpouring.

Living a Dream

Growing up, every summer I would spend two weeks at Beulah Camp in Brownsflat, N.B. (even though I grew up Baptist). When I was 11 years old, instead of going to the Children's tabernacle for the DVBS, I snuck up the Hill to the Baptist church where the teen services were held. Most of my friends were already going to youth so I forsook the cookies and juice for my Teen service. The next 8 years of camp I would go up the hill, some times on foot, some times by bike, some times in the trunk of a car. Each year we would have a speaker & as I listened some times I would think about how cool it would be to have the chance to speak at Beulah camp.

As I went off to Bible college and began life in ministry this dream became a distant memory. Whenever Beulah would come around I would occasionally help out with the youth service, and running errands or games. Periodically. the dream of speaking would come back, but it was never something I pursued.

This past spring I was talking to the Kool-Aid Kid and I asked about Beulah and just on a whim offered to speak for the week. They ended up needing a speaker so they gave me the gig. This past week I spoke to the teens about God's Epic and how God is writing a story throughout history that we each get to play a part in and it's up to us what role we play. I had a blast, it was quite literally everything I thought it would be and more!!!!

For giving me this chance to live a dream, to the Kool-Aid Kid and the rest of the District I say an EPIC:

THANK YOU!