Another Pharisee -- Mario: Part III

Mario was a Pharisee, one who pressed works, works, works.

"If you do not work, you do not eat," he loved to quote at me:

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3: 10)

Of course, like many verses in the "Celebrate Recovery" program, this verse was taken out of context. Here's the concern that was getting Paul's attention:

"11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." (2 Thessalonians 3: 11-13)

The problem for Paul was not that the members of the Body of Christ in Thessalonica were shiftless layabouts, but that certain people were minding other people's business, not doing anything that was edifying or meaningful which served the Body of Christ. Paul even exhorts these people to do their work in "quietness". Work is not about stress and strain, not about hurting oneself so that individuals can pride themselves on all that they are doing for others.

The Bible teaches differently about the works that He has supplied for us to do:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2: 10)

The works that He wants us to do, He has already supplied for us! He made us, He fashioned us, He makes the works within us, and He grants us the will and the ability to do these things (Philippians 2: 13)

The verse that we need to give to people who are down on the luck should not be more demands and shame, but the truth that sets them free:

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

Like many people who find themselves down on their luck, they feel that God is angry with them, or they feel that they are enduring poverty or privation because they deserve it, and therefore they must keep "doing something" in order to break free. We need to rest and relish our righteousness, which is Christ's, or anything that we do will be marred by our sense of unworthiness, by our constant frustrations to make ourselves right with God, and thus inadvertently bring ourselves under the Curse of the Law instead of the Cross of the Lord.

 We must learn to be skillful in righteousness, resting in His perfect approval paid for us at the Cross, then God's grace can flow in our lives and bless us in all our doings. We need to prosper in our mind, will, and emotions first, then our finances and our health will follow. All of this is a matter of faith from beginning to end.

This kind of petty politicking goes on all too often in "Little C" Churches. Old bitties and businessmen who want to pass out their cards rather than receive, rejoice, and release the grace of God in their lives.

Mario was another of these Pharisees, running about being really busy, doing things for the church, but refusing to rest and believe on Him whom God the Father sent for us (John 6: 29). He prided himself on singing in the choir in Church, attending the Celebrate Recovery meetings two or three days a week.

He also volunteered at a Soup Kitchen in Bellflower. This soup kitchen had started out with two or three people showing up. At the time that Mario told me about the soup kitchen - "The King's Table" it was called, but "Beggars Banquet" would have been more appropriate. The beggars, of course, were not the poor men and women who had no jobs and could not afford any food, but rather the men  like Mario from the wealth Beach Cities who wanted to feel good about themselves for about three or four hours dishing out food to people less fortunate themselves.

He was a fussy man during these times, so caught up in making himself feel good about doing something good for someone else. Once again, he reminded me of my Dad, who would get very picky and haughty with me when he wanted me to pass the collection plate in church, I guess in part because he wanted to impress other parishioners in Church.

 I have to wonder -- are we really doing poor people any favors just giving them good, when they need to hear the Good News of Christ Jesus, that all of their sins have been forgiven, and that if they rest in His grace and truth, he will cause them to prosper. Instead of just giving them physical bread, let us give them the Bread of Life, that eating they may find the greater Strength of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit, who has freed us from the cursed bondage of the law and has given us the gifts of righteousness and grace.

But the men who would congregate in this beaten down church had nothing to give those men and women looking for help, except a lot of food and sense of arrogance self-righteousness as the result of doing something good for someone else. What greater good is there than what Jesus has done on the Cross?

I really hated how they would cut and spread the food all around, how they gave me nothing to do but watch. They scolded and lectured me while I was standing around waiting for something to do. I have never liked these churchy charities which spend more time provoking others and promoting themselves. Mario and his band of "merry men" would also crack crude jokes about their love lives, as if that kind of talk was becoming in a church.  I was appalled at what I was hearing.

When I decided to grab something to eat, Mario scolded me for eating near the counter, so worried was he that the health department would "shut them down" -- Oh my goodness!

I hated it. I could not wait to leave. And the second, the last time, that I went to "The King's Table", I was outraged once again that I showed up, and there was nothing for me to do. I stormed off, receiving a call about an hour later from Mario "apologizing" for the misunderstanding. Then again, this guy just shamed me once again for walking away from "fellowship" at the soup kitchen.

I hated it, and the whole thing smacked of making these "rich people" feel better about themselves rather than helping the poor find real power to overcome in their lives.

Much like all Twelve Step programs, which make a fuss about making oneself feel good by finding lower companions to "care for".