Lawless (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

"A gripping and sinister tale."

That's the reviewer's comment on the cover of the very first Rebus novel, Knots & Crosses. And it's true. Already, as the story opens, two young girls have been abducted and murdered, and a third is missing. Detective Sergeant John Rebus of the Edinburgh Police is one of many hunting the killer. But only he has begun to receive bizarre messages --- knotted string and matchstick crosses --- taunting him to try to solve the puzzle before it's too late.

For those who love crime novels, hard boiled detectives, and other noir fiction, Ian Rankin's Rebus is absolutely magnetic. Like his noir brothers and sisters, he has a superficial toughness masking a somewhat broken interior. Like them, as well, he tends to work outside the established protocols to accomplish his objectives. Make no mistake, Rebus does not brook lawlessness; he's a copper, after all. He just may bend a rule here and there to ensure justice.

But, at least for some of us, there is a big difference between Rebus and most other noir anti-heroes.

John Rebus is a believer.

Oh, he's rejected his Presbyterian roots; and though he's tried several churches, he just cannot find one that really works for him. Nevertheless, Rebus believes in God and continues to seek Him in his own, broken way. Still, his beliefs form the core of his moral code and that's what drives him to pursue the lawless.

I can't help but wonder if John Rebus, like most of us, would benefit from a better understanding of this week's Lectionary selection from Galatians 5. No doubt he would recognize the list of problem behaviors seen in verses 19-21 as root causes for much of the lawlessness infecting his beloved Edinburgh: “The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual immorality, impurity and wild living, worshiping false gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, having envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not be in God’s kingdom.” (‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭ICB, ‬‬http://bible.com/1359/gal.5.19-21.icb)

But I wonder if Rebus would recognize that it is his desire for the qualities in verses 22-23 that drive him in his pursuit of the criminals: “But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬a ‭ICB, ‬‬http://bible.com/1359/gal.5.22-23.icb) *

All of us could do well to focus our time and energy on that second list. The more we can rest in the Spirit, the more we can have those "fruit" in our lives. All of these are outside the Law; that is, the Law of Moses. And while to relax and enjoy them may have the uncomfortable feel of lawlessness, none of us would have to worry that Detective Rebus, or any like him, would be coming for us. Because, as has been made plain in Galatians:

"Against such things there is no law.” ‭
(‭Galatians‬ ‭5:23‬b ‭NIV‬‬, http://bible.com/111/gal.5.23.niv.")
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Proper 8 (13) (June 26, 2016)
First reading and Psalm
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Alternate First reading and Psalm
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Psalm 16
Second reading
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Gospel
Luke 9:51-62
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I hope you can join us Friday morning for Lectionary Breakfast. We still meet at the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant at 8:00 for an hour that surprises and enriches. It's "lawlessness" in the very best sense of the word! :-)

Enjoy!
Steve
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** An alternative reading of the "Fruits of the Spirit"

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.” (Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭MSG‬‬, http://bible.com/97/gal.5.22-23.msg)