An old man's chuckle

I'll get back to Zacchaeus but this week I chuckled over one of those surprises life throws up. One of our new church deacons asked me to accompany him to interview a couple seeking church membership. He emailed me the two forms outlining the areas to be covered in the interview, and the key responsibilities of church members. On the appointed afternoon, it was a delight to meet up since the new members are neighbours whom I already know well. They brewed coffee and with baked cakes made it a real occasion! 

As we started the deacon commented that he was glad I was there because I had done this before. And I had a flash back to the heady days of ministry in the 1970's when the Baptist Union produced leaflets to help churches in every aspect of their life called Baptist Basics.  Several different leaflets were packaged in an attractive envelope. I can picture the design.

And this was the flashback! Because (having not thought about it for 50 years) I wrote the leaflet entitled Visiting prospective church members. Did I really? That's another lifetime.  The Baptist Basics series has since been re-written by a younger generation of Baptist leaders. 

Of course, I didn't mention this at the time. This is just an old man's private chuckle about the dimming past that I can jot down in my blog. Yet, don't we feel pleasure when we are still involved in something 50 years later with another generation? I certainly do.  And what made it even more of a joy was this couple's story about how Carol's insistent invitation to come to our church led them eventually to trying it and now wanting to belong.  Now, that's encouragement!

Too small?

I was challenged about how my blog never engages with big issue world politics etc., especially when there is so much tumult as at present. Of course I have my views, but I believe that my only business in this blog (and I know it's so tiny and oddly personal in the big scheme of things) is to  reflect devotionally on happenings in my little world, which accounts for its often journal-like structure. It seems particularly small, however, to write that I have to engage with a man called Zacchaeus. But that's my immediate task and you are welcome to read along!

My pastor has designed a short sermon series in Lent focusing on some of the people Jesus encountered. These stories are one of my favourite parts of Scripture. Don't get me wrong, the story of Jesus is central, teaching is vital and learning great doctrines and history is important. But these stories about real people, all kinds of people, meeting Jesus face-to-face, bring Christian faith into human sized action. If we are willing to spend time entering each narrative, picturing the scene and sensing its emotions you can share in personal connection.  Zacchaeus is my story of encounter (Luke 19:1-10).  Vividly weird, this short man climbing a tree to see Jesus passing by, I have read and re-read these few verses attempting to visualize its eventfulness and sense what God is saying and doing to me.  That's important if I am to convey God's truth for today.

But I have had a tough time trying to get a read on this Zacchaeus' character. I have preached on him once before and remember how negative I was in my assessment. Much was to do with his wealth, or rather his manner of making money. As Jesus was entering Jericho he is introduced: A man was there by the name Zacchaeus. He was chief tax collector and was wealthy (Luke 19:1). That's enough to poison the mind. Dig into the background about how Romans extracted taxes as occupiers from inhabitants and you can easily see Zacchaeus as the most hated man in Jericho. A walking (waddling - was he fat as well as short?) contradiction of all that was fair and just in the world.

I think I need to justify that negative reaction with a little more detail........