04/30

> scripture reading: #672            

The Adult's Sunday School Class - Proverbs 20:14

> Vespers @ 5:00 tonight! Come as you are - for an hour of our continuing study of the life of Christ.

Catechism class - Wednesday evening @ 7:00 - The church's Catechism. Class is in the fellowship hall from 7-8 p.m. Come as you are...notebooks provided.         

> Women in the lineage of Jesus

> Matthew 1:1. A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2.  Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3. Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4. Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

> 5. Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6. and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,

When was the last time you read some genealogy for encouragement?

There's an 'X-rated' story in Genesis chapter 38. When I was 11 years old our church engaged in a Bible reading program "Read the Bible through in '62." That was when I read this chapter for the first time - wow that can traumatize a kid. 

> Everything about that chapter was really, really 'wrong' and yet God chose that 'happening' to be part of the lineage/ancestry of Jesus!

I grew up in the 'Bible Belt' of America . Sociologically, it has been the hotbed of 'perfectionist' religions such as has shaped western society and culture since the revivalism of the mid-1800's. Within the context of a 'perfectionist' fundamentalist church there is more hope for a drunken man who beats his wife and abuses his children than there is for a woman who has suffered a perceived indiscretion at any point in her past.

And, even if a woman has never had a blemish on her reputation, she doesn't stand a chance of ever having any role of leadership significance in one of those fundamentalist religions. 

I hear lots of negative things being said these days about fundamentalist Muslims…there really isn't any sociological difference, of significance, between fundamentalist Christianity and fundamentalist Muslimism.

The intolerance, bigotry and arrogant discrimination found in each of these cloistered societies is quite reflective of the inadequacies and dysfunctional social systems that are inherent within, and driving each, fundamentalist system. I do not see anything representative of the grace of God in fundamentalist Christianity or in fundamentalist Muslimism.

The proof of that is the continuing hotbed of bigotry and discrimination that defines the way they treat their own women - and their propensity toward exclusionary groupings. It has historically been out of such extreme right-wing philosophy that the atrocities of fascism, nazi-ism, and American K.K.K. cultism have arisen.

> I find it very instructive that Matthew lists only four women in the ancestry of Jesus. > Each of those four was an 'outsider.'  > Three of those four had very blemished reputations!  > Why were they the only women mentioned by Matthew in this genealogy?

Let’s talk about Tamar (Genesis 38), Rahab (Joshua 2 & 6), and Bathsheba (II Samuel 11). 

> Tamar- Genesis 38:1-30; Ge 46.12; Ru 4.12; Mt 1.3  

               > a) God is concerned about those dealt inequity - even within a cultural context

> Rahab – Joshua 2:1-21; 6:16 -17, 24-25

               > b) God honors those who deal justly and risk for the sake of His children

> Bathsheba – II Samuel 11:1-27  

            > This is really the story of David’s repentance…but God chose to give the promise of restoration through the union that was the result of David’s sin. Ladies, God will not hold you responsible for your husband's stupidity! This blessing of Solomon was to Bathsheba. God can bless you regardless of your husband's mistakes and failures.

    c) God restores the repentant 

Finally, just a thought about the other woman mentioned in this passage – Ruth.

               d) God rewards dedication.

> God sees fit to elevate to the highest status and purpose many people whom 'righteous' folks disdain and throw away. Many folks feel discarded…worthless. Sometimes it doesn’t have so much to do with what they have done – but what they haven’t done. God understands!

Before you discount your value to God…before you ignore or disdain someone else today, understand this: God is deeply touched with humility of heart and the humiliation of circumstances. God opposes the proud and brings low the mighty.

Be careful in which camp you pitch your tent. Are you quick to criticize a young woman who 'gets in trouble?' Do you believe there probably isn't anything that you need to learn from women who don't have the best of reputations? Would you prefer to not have to deal with women who aren't very accomplished? Are you suspicious of women who are very accomplished?

Perhaps we ought to start with an attitude check. Peter wrote > I Peter 5:6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Ladies, do you think God can't or wouldn't use you for anything great? Perhaps you need to get reacquainted with the God of Matthew chapter one. He's the same - yesterday, today and forever! God has a place and a plan for you in His Divine scheme.