Remember "opposite day" at school? Maybe they don't do that anymore, but we dressed in opposite colors, said opposite words, walked opposite ways…all day long we were hyper-aware of opposites.
Todays readings include a passage from Revelation. The Revelation of John at the end of the New Testament is one weird book. On the surface, it doesn't make much sense. But if you go deeper into biblical tradition, it becomes in some ways, the opposite of what you expect. At the beginning of the book, seven churches are praised and challenged. Most get a bit of praise, then a mighty challenge to unfaithful behavior. A couple receive only praise. The church at Laodicea gets no praise at all, only rebuke using a slew of opposites…neither cold nor hot, poor not rich, blind not seeing, needy not self-sufficient.
The author of Revelation is brilliant in his use of metaphor and scriptural tradition. Many, many verses reference another biblical text or image. And as we today are constantly challenged to "make the message accessible," this author nails accessibility for his original audience. For example, the water supply of Laodicea had to be piped in from the hot mineral springs of Hierapolis. By the time the water got into the city, it had cooled. Between the lukewarm temperature and the mineral content, people who tried to drink the lukewarm water often spewed the nasty stuff out of their mouths. (And, BTW, the better translation than "spit" is "vomit." Think about that one…)
The issue of the day was whether or not the congregations would hold to their commitment to Jesus Christ, their commitment to witness to his Lordship in light of Rome's power and the inevitable persecution they would face. The church at Laodicea says, "No problem here. We are rich, we've done well. We don't need anything." So grace is offered, but not needed? We're fine. We don't have to commit either way. No opposites here…we'll just live in the betweens. We like being Christian, but we also like being rich and the benefits of being connected to Rome. So, we'll just do what fits at the moment with our personal needs and benefits. Compared with the Smyrna church which is totally poor, but rich with witness, the church at Laodicea gets blasted.
You are not fine, Jesus insists to the church at Laodicea. You just don't know it. "You don't realize you are wretched and pitiable--poor, blind, and naked." OK…that goes over well. Most of us stop reading after "wretched." No one wants to be told they are wretched. The people of Laodicea trust in the wealth of Rome, their comfortable lives, their nice clothes, their prosperity, their individual needs met regardless of others. Jesus hits them where they live. This city of wealthy bankers would be horrified at being labeled poor. This city of medical schools that pioneered medicines to improve sight would scoff at having their entire community pronounced blind. This city known for the finest textiles would laugh if called naked. (Thanks to Brian Blount's commentary on Revelation for the fascinating education.)
Jesus offers instead "gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so you may see." Refined gold symbolizes a purified life, and the refinement by fire suggests suffering, persecution. The dazzling/white garments that cloth those willing to sacrifice themselves to witness to the Lordship of Christ are offered to the congregation to replace the garments that tie them to Rome. And, the salve is the witness to Christ that opens eyes to the Spirit's work in and around us.
Anytime someone in scripture challenges the wealthy, the comfortable, the satisfied, I squirm. I know not everyone in this country is well-off, but we live like the Laodiceans in so many ways. We have science, we don't need God. We have family and friends, we don't need worship or Christian community. We have money, power, position, we don't need sacrifice. Except, we do like to be spiritual, a church member, a good citizen. Being connected to "Christianity" gets us places in this culture. We just can't be "too connected."
OK, now I've called us wretched and you've probably stopped reading. So, I'll just say this. We often think of Advent as a season of opposites, light and dark, sin and goodness, despair and hope. But maybe the danger we face in the season of Advent is not about the opposites at all. Maybe it is about the betweens where we so easily live.
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