Serve

ByHal Hammons

Whenever I hear about a restaurant or other establishment that refuses to serve police officers, I always want to ask, “Do you expect them to serve you?”  After all, their service requires them to (at least potentially) put their very lives on the line for you.  The worst that can happen to you by serving them is getting a rotten tip.

It just seems reasonable.  When people put themselves out for you, you should be inclined to do the same for them.  But as logical as that may seem to me in the abovementioned scenario, it was not quite so obvious for the Christians in Galatia.  It had been the apostle Paul who had first brought the gospel to them, who had imparted the Holy Spirit to them, who had been left for dead in their streets at least once.  (The “brand-marks of Jesus” in Galatians 6:17 were not figurative.)

This is the meaning of Galatians 6:6 — “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.”  It is not saying preachers deserve to be paid — although I am on the record as being in favor of that.  The word “share” in the New American Standard Bible is related to the word for communion or fellowship — concepts that are almost exclusively spiritual, not carnal.  Paul is saying, as he did throughout the book of Galatians, that he deserved their love and support — not those who opposed him and his teaching.  Such ones were accursed of God (Galatians 1:8-9).

Given all Paul had done for them, it was reasonable for him to expect a little respect.   

Similar Posts

Appropriating Jesus

ByHal Hammons

It seems to me that “cultural appropriation” only becomes problematical if the “culture” being appropriated is associated generally with people of color.  (White, by the way, is a color.  The Crayola people say so, anyway.  And the pale orange-peach tone that accurately defines the skin of this “white person” is a color, too.  But I digress.)

The Rules for Mercy

ByHal Hammons

Those who follow women’s professional golf (and there’s bound to be one of you out there somewhere) are no doubt already acquainted with events regarding Lexi Thompson earlier this month.  She was two strokes up on the 12th hole of the final round at the ANA Inspiration tournament, which is a “major” for the ladies.  A rules official approached her and said she had incorrectly replaced her ball on the 17th hole the day before.  She placed her marker.  She picked up the ball.  She placed it about an inch away from its previous location.  That’s a two stroke penalty.  And it meant she signed an incorrect scorecard.  That’s another two strokes.  Suddenly she was two strokes behind, not two ahead.

You are what you eat

ByHal Hammons

Perhaps you have heard of “food deserts.”  The term refers to places where people have limited (or less) access to grocery stores and other sources of healthy food.  Now there are “food swamps” — that is, where food is plentiful, just not nourishing.  Food swamps feature lots of gas stations, fast-food joints, and other places that promote obesity and bad eating habits.  No farmer’s markets or kale smoothie shops, though.

Studies differ with regard to whether proximity to grocery stores is actually an indicator of general health.  (They sell Snickers bars at Publix, you know.)  But there’s certainly a case to be made that the food’s quality may be as much a factor as its availability.

“Food” is relative — whether the food is carnal or spiritual.  We can pat ourselves on the back all we want for “going to church” or even “reading the Bible.”  But if we are not nourishing our spirits, what good is any of it?  A preacher who does not “preach the word” (2 Timothy 2:2), substituting human philosophy and personal opinions, may be doing more harm than good.  Reading for five minutes just to say you did it, without an eye for application or contextual understanding, may be feed a sense of “fullness” that is completely misleading.

With that in mind, consider the following spiritual nutrition tips:

Niksen: The art of doing your best work by doing nothing at all

ByHal Hammons

Doing something is not always the right choice.  Sometimes it is better to do nothing.  Nothing at all.  It’s a concept the Dutch call niksen.  It encourages people to deliberately take time every day — especially the busiest days — to sit motionless, gaze out a window at nothing in particular, whatever it takes to disengage your mind and body.

American workers, always with the go-go-go mentality, tend to view this approach with disdain.  It’s lazy.  It’s wasteful.  The only proper way to work is full throttle, full time.  On a related note, American workers suffer greatly from depression, stress, high blood pressure, and divorce.  A connection, perhaps?

Beyoncé

ByHal Hammons

They held a “Beyoncé Mass” in San Francisco a few weeks ago.  It was what it sounds like — a religious service centered around the music, politics, and general awesomeness of Beyoncé Knowles West.  A good time was had by all.

Faith healing (the real kind)

Faith healing (the real kind)

ByHal Hammons

So-called faith healers insist that the faith of the one being healed is essential for the success of the healing.  The Bible does not support that assertion.  In fact, Luke 9:38-42 indicates that it is the healer’s faith, not the faith of the one healed, that is essential.  The disciples did not have sufficient faith to cast out the demon; the faith of the demoniac and/or his father is not discussed.