New mind in Christ

Jonah 3:10-4:11   Psalm 145:1-8   Philippians 1:21-30   Matthew 20:1-16

I remember the first time I put on glasses. After months and months of squinting, I walked down Maple Avenue able to see leaves in the trees. I did not know I couldn't see clearly, until I could. I think the same is true of our souls.

Paul uses the word nous 21x (Luke 1x, Revelation2x). It is from the root of gnisko which means to know, understand, perceive, feel and is a Jewish euphemism (used by Mary) for sexual intercourse. It implies an experiential, deep way of seeing and knowing. Unfortunately, since the  Fall our mind--the nous--is darkened, and our heart is damaged and wounded. We struggle to perceive reality because our feelings are in chaos and we don't understand, we misjudge and make poor decisions. These bad choices are sins, which increase the inner darkness! Paul also uses another term, psyche, today. It is often translated as "soul" or "life," but it also has the same meaning as nous. Our mind is the door to our heart and Paul makes clear, we must all be of one mind, united in Jesus Christ. The one Mind means His mind. This union is both the path to salvation and a fruit of redemption. When our Mind and Heart are one in Jesus, then Jesus, who is one with the Father, sends the Holy Spirit to heal and purify our mind and heart and we are made one with God.

Paul also challenges us to "live our life in a manner worthy of Christ." This is one of three similar exhortations by Paul [The other two are Ephesians 4:1 "live a life worthy of the calling you have received" and Colossians 1:10 "live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."] The Greek word literally means to act in accordance with citizenship. Paul tells the Christians (citizens of God's Kingdom) that their corporate (and by extension individual) behavior should be in accord with the covenant each citizen makes with his/her community. Faith is a way of life. In this instance, Paul illustrates the worthy life as "standing firm." Paul likes this expression, using it on five different occasions. This expression first appears in Exodus 14:13; when the Hebrew slaves, terrified of the approaching chariots of Pharaohs lose faith and lose heart, but God says "fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of God," Daniel 11:32 (in an apocalyptic exhortation to those facing persecution and martyrdom, warning that those who break covenant will be seduced by the evil one) "...but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." To stand firm is to have faith. To stand firm is to be faithful. To stand firm requires all our strength and courage. To stand firm depends on God's hand to uphold us.

The parable story of Jonah illustrates the fallen mind. Jonah is the most unfaithful prophet in the Bible, he resists God's call and flees, he reluctantly preaches God's message because he is forced to but then he throws a tantrum when he becomes the most successful prophet ever and the pagans repent. Jonah says that he 'knows' that God is slow to anger and rich in mercy, but his knowledge is superficial. He does not understand God's mercy, nor does he feel the mercy or choose to embrace it. Rather, for reasons not stated, but assumed, he pines for death in response to God's gift of life. Jonah is the icon of us all--our darkened minds and hearts unable to embrace the extent of God's saving love. The book of Jonah is designed to confronts us with a hard question.

For the Jew, "do the pagan matter to God?"
For the Christian, "do non-Christians matter to God?"
For all of us, "does God love people so different from us?
The answer in the Book of Jonah is, "yes, He does."

But there is a caveat, the missing piece left out of the false-gospels of inclusion. Nineveh repents. All of them, even the animals. Sackcloth and ashes repentance. Yes, God desires that all persons be saved. God has forgiven everyone of everything, but His forgiveness can only be received through repentance. It is His gift of Himself, but until we return to Him we can not be with Him."

Jesus' parable illustrates this tenacious, generous God. Now, I have found that many of you do not like this parable, because it seems unfair. Perhaps we see ourselves as hard at is all day? Jesus' original audience included righteous Jews, some who felt that same anger. They were mad that Jesus welcomed sinners to repent. They were even madder that Jesus included Gentiles. It is the Gentile who came at the last hour, long after the Jewish people had begun their labor. Does it make you mad that you, a late arriving Gentile get treated mercifully?

Also, remember that in the Jewish Bible the vineyard is a symbol of the Kingdom of God. Work in the vineyard is the work of becoming holy and righteous--it is the work of repentance, faith, love and community. If you labored long and hard in the heat of the day, then you love God, totally, and you  love your neighbor as one like yourself--and you are happy to see the Heavenly Father's joy at each new, later arrival. And you understand, they have just begun the long hard process of purifying mind and heart, and however late they start, they won't get away with anything!

Let us pray
Father God. Yeshuah! save and heal us. Purify our mind with holy fire and fill our hearts with Your light. Grant us the mind of Jesus. Grant us the Holy Spirit. Set us free and unite us to Yourself!