LifeBuilders

English Bible Study. Let's just say I was skeptical. Skeptical because I am not sure I'm qualified to lead a Bible study, and skeptical because, well, it just didn't sound appealing. That is, until last night. Last night was the official kick-off of the English Bible Study at the newest Episcopal Campus Ministry, the combined Episcopal/Anglican College Fellowship (Taipei).

In preparation for leading this study, I was given a wonderful resource by Catherine Lee, a long-term missionary to Taiwan from the Church of England. In her years in Taiwan she has used the LifeBuilder Bible Studies in groups ranging from youth to veteran diocesan clergy. These Bible studies are wonderfully compiled, some around particular topics such as "Women of the Old Testament" and others around books of the Bible. Check out Scripture Union UK if you are interested in ordering or using any of these studies.

Anyway, I decided to use the Bible study titled "Introducing Jesus." I chose this study because of my desire to seek the middle road. Having no idea who would attend, I wanted to choose something that would introduce the central figure of Christianity while not boring the folks who are already Christians and know more about this stuff than I do. The first study in the book is titled "the Unexpected Jesus." As promised, it had some unexpected results. . .

We begin with Mark 2:1-12. In my Chinese-English NIV translation, this is titled "Jesus heals a paralytic." In this story, Jesus is preaching in a crowded room. In order to get an audience with Jesus, the friends of a paralyzed man dig a whole through the roof(!) and lower the paralyzed man down in the middle of the crowd. Of course, Jesus notices and "seeing their faith" tells the man "son, your sins are forgiven."

At this point, the author of the Bible study points out that 2000 years ago in Jewish culture, disabilities and calamities were directly linked with a person's sins. I asked what people thought about this way of thought, and it turns out most people in the "traditional religions" of Taiwan also hold this way of thinking. The beliefs in karma and ancestor worship are quite strong. Many holidays and ceremonies are devoted to praying to and offering gifts to ones ancestors so they will be in turn cared for by their descendants. If a person does not honor their ancestors or sins, they will be punished by not being cared for in their old age and in the afterlife.

All of the students at the Bible study adamantly rejected this way of thinking. But it made me think. . . karmic thinking certainly is not limited to Taiwan. Just think of all the Christian spirituality, self-help, American dream writing that is devoted to living a righteous life in order to be rewarded by riches, popularity, fame, "happiness." Isn't it tempting to think that if we are just a little bit "better" that things will turn around, we won't get sick, our investments will be safe, we wouldn't be paralyzed (physically or emotionally)?

But then Jesus continues, "which is easier, to 'say your sins are forgiven', or to say 'stand up and take your mat and walk'? So that you may now the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins - he said to the paralytic - 'I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.'"

Unexpected! Remember, Jesus had already forgiven the man's sins. Jesus turns our karmic thinking upside down. The removal of sins did not remove the paralysis. The healing was done so that others might believe. Isn't this radical?

What Jesus is offering is not just physical healing, but the complete restoration of relationship with God through forgiveness of sins.

The Bible study began with this question: Think of a time you have been offended by someone. What needed to happen for the relationship to be reconciled?

Our group came to the conclusion that forgiveness by the offended was necessary for true reconciliation. This does not change the fact that the offense was done, or even wipe away the consequences of the offense. But through forgiveness, the relationship can be made whole.

All in all, this was an extremely humbling conclusion. And a great motivator. Consider me a slightly less skeptical skeptic. This English Bible study thing doesn't seem so bad after all. . .

In Christ's Love,

Seth

p.s. for all of you cuteness lovers out there, the featured pictures this week are from the Good Shepherd Kindergarten where Elizabeth is working each Monday. We have also included a picture of our first attempt at Chinese calligraphy! It reads up and down. My name is on the left and Elizabeth's name is on the right. Please be kind in your appraisal, doing calligraphy is like learning to write in cursive with your weak hand.