July 9 Update from Scott Lumsden: Living in Tension

Living with Tension 

Over the past few months I’ve been reading 1 and 2 Samuel. It’s been a while since I’ve read how Israel transitioned from tribes and judges to kings and kingdoms, and I’m struck by how insightful these stories are for understanding church life today.  

For starters, we often forget that Israel is more a family of tribes than one, unified nation. These tribes are a unique expression of Israel, each one with its own distinctive qualities and differences. They work together, but not always; in fact, at times the tribes fight each other. (Judges 19-21) This tribal tension is more the norm, than the exception. Case in point, Israel is only “united” for about 100 years (David and Solomon) -- for most of its existence, its tribal characteristics dominate its collective identity. Further, the bible has no problem acknowledging the fact that after David and Solomon, Israel is divided into North and South. (Yet God’s purposes continue despite their division).  

Another interesting insight comes from the whole idea of kingship in general. We’re told early in 1 Samuel that Israel’s request for a king is a rejection of God:  

“But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.’” (8:6-7) 

But in Deuteronomy there is no judgment against kingship, in fact it very clearly lays out how kingship is to be established.  

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, ‘Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,’ be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses.” (Deut 17:14-15) 

My point here is not to debate whether kingship is a good thing or a bad thing, it’s to point out that even within the bible there are unresolved tensions. Another way to say this is that the bible sometimes clearly shows how there are (at least) two different, yet faithful, ways to look at a particular issue. (Think of the two creation accounts and how each one gives lifts up important aspects about God, creation, and humankind.) 

I often hear people say, “we’re not all in agreement about this,” or, “we’re not yet of one mind on that issue,” or, “we’re praying for unity on this.” On the one hand, I understand how hard it is to be in a place of disagreement as a leadership body -- so prayer is definitely an integral part of any discernment process. But on the other hand, so is acknowledging and allowing for difference.  

Wrestling with the realities of life and how that life is lived in community is at the heart of faithful, biblical, spirit-filled discipleship. And we would do well in times of disagreement to pause and ponder how the scriptures sometimes preserve differences of thought rather than cover them over. Might we ask ourselves, “Could this be an issue in which there is more than one faithful response?” I think the scriptures say, Yes.  

There is a lot we’re wrestling with as we ponder life in this new phase of the pandemic. Some of the issues we’re wrestling with are old, and some are new. Whatever the question may be for you, I pray that your “faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” (1 Cor 2:5) 

Grace and peace, 

Rev. Scott Lumsden
Co-Executive Presbyter