To stand or sit still seems to be the question
Wasn’t it the tradition?
So I’ve been in Israel and Jordan the last two weeks. I can’t help but return home with at least one good Jewish joke. This one is especially good for pastors and church elders who have been on the church scene for awhile. It is a Jewish story, but it could just as well be yours or mine in the church world. Or with sports figures making their viewpoint felt during the pledge of allegiance; that may be another story, then again, maybe not. This one is perhaps good for all of us.
To stand or sit, that is the question
The half who stand say, “Of course we stand for the Shema. It’s the credo of Judaism. Throughout history, thousands of Jews have died with the words of the Shema on their lips.” The half who remain seated say, “No. According to the Shulchan Aruch (the code of Jewish law), if you are seated when you get to the Shema you remain seated.” The people who are standing yell at the people who are sitting, “Stand up!” while the people who are sitting yell at the people who are standing, “Sit down!” It’s destroying the whole decorum of the service, and driving the new rabbi crazy. The wisdom of elders Finally, it’s brought to the rabbi’s attention that at a nearby home for the aged is a 98-year-old man who was a founding member of the congregation. So, in accordance with Talmudic tradition, the rabbi appoints a delegation of three, one who stands for the Shema, one who sits, and the rabbi himself, to go interview the man. They enter his room, and the man who stands for the Shema rushes over to the old man and says, “Wasn’t it the tradition in our synagogue to stand for the Shema?” “No,” the old man answers in a weak voice. “That wasn’t the tradition.” The other man jumps in excitedly. “Wasn’t it the tradition in our synagogue to sit for the Shema?” “No,” the old man says. “That wasn’t the tradition.” At this point, the rabbi cannot control himself. He cuts in angrily. “I don’t care what the tradition was! Just tell them one or the other. Do you know what goes on in services every week — the people who are standing yell at the people who are sitting, the people who are sitting yell at the people who are standing—” “That was the tradition,” the old man says. Help solve problems, don’t be one This story may or may not reflect a reality of Jewish life in recent history; that’s something I cannot attest to. I do know arguing and disputation, an unwillingness to work through difficult seasons in the life of a church has been at the root of more than a few breakaway Christian congregations. The same is true for neighborhoods and nations. Less yelling thoughtlessly. More listening thoughtfully. Coming together purposefully. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. ~ Psalm133.1-3 ESV More oil on the head … more dew on the mountains … more blessing from the Lord … more life forevermore. More brothers and sisters in Christ dwelling in unity. Now this is a tradition worth fighting for. Are you reading this on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? Why not take a moment and subscribe to Perspective? It’s written especially to followers of Jesus in the second half of life, and it’s FREE. When you subscribe, Perspective comes directly to your email address. You won’t miss a one and you can read it at your leisure: www.wardtanneberg.com/blog/.
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