Out Our Way: The Gospel According to Goliath:  Throwing a rope

Mark 7:1-13

Out our way, nearly every cowboy carries a rope on his saddle. Those who follow this column know I do, and it has come in handy ... especially the time I left my boot in the mud and had to have Goliath help me haul it out. Tying my rope to the boot, taking a few turns around the horn, and then backing up "old Doc" in my stocking feet while my pard Charlie watched and laughed, I got that boot out and eventually back on.

But cowboys carry ropes for other reasons and, of course, who hasn't been amazed at the art of the calf roper at the rodeo? I have spent a good deal of time getting my technique down - learning to shake out a loop, how to hold the rope and hondo properly so the loop can spread and not close up too quickly, and then the toss. A few ropers have watched me practice and offered some tips here and there - but because they are my friends and don't want to hurt my feelings, uusally just say "Good throw! You're getting the hang of it!" Except I can't rope anything except a chair in the backyard!

You may recall the time Goliath got loose from me and started playing "keep away" - letting me get close and then throwing his head and kicking out his hind quarters in his show of delight of having eluded me. So I went to my rig and got my rope. I shook out a fair-sized loop - my skill is limited - got the rope swinging into a nice loop, the loop aimed perfectly and let go. And Doc moved! I had done everything right according to what I read online and my buddies had tried to teach me, except I didn't take into account Goliath is not a stationary chair but a living moving and mischievious horse. He was having a great time - as were the neighbors who enjoyed the show from across the street.

"Brother John, you ought to sell tickets next time you try to rope a critter!"

Well, for all my "expertise" in technical roping procedure, I never did get the loop around his neck. Despite all the things I did right, I still failed in the main objective of roping Goliath. And no matter how pretty your form or how nice your toss, if you don't get the rope on him, everything else is meaningless.

In Mark's Gospel is the story of the Pharisees who were experts in the proper techniques of prayer and worship - but often failed to connect with God. They criticized Jesus' disciples for not going through the elaborate washing rituals the really "good, religious people" did before meals.

Fishermen and carpenters often did not have the time nor the luxury of all the ceremonial niceties that the Biblical scholars and lawyers had decided were proper manners. While Peter and Andrew were hauling nets and pulling their fragile boat through the waves as they practiced their trade, these scribes spent their leisure time coming up with new rules and regulations, like the proper way to set the table and the rituals to be performed before eating. God didn't make up these rules, these were the invention of the Pharisees.

On the other hand, there were rules God DID make up. Like "honor your father and mother." In the days before pension plans and social security, it was understood that just as the parents were to care for the children when they were young, so the children were expected to care for their parents when they were old. But some of these Bible pounders had come up with a new rule. With the encouragement of greedy rabbis and priests, the Bible lawyers decreed you could make a vow that all your wealth would go to the synagogue or the temple upon your death, and therefore could not be given to anyone else while you lived, not even your own mom and dad. But YOU still had access to it and could use it yourself.

 So mom and dad are hurting and need help, but you really want that new model ox cart ... well, just declare all your wealth will be going to God - make the local synagogue and Rabbi Billy Bob your benficieries - and that money stays in your bank account as long as you live. Get your "Posieden 33AD" chariot with the chrome wheels. God gets what you have left over. Neat deal, huh? Except where does "thou shall honor thy father and mother" come in to the mix? To what purpose does God command care of family? Love! What purpose does Rabbi Billy Bob's new interpretation that allows you to ignore your family and live for yourself serve? Greed.

Which do you think is of God?

There is nothing wrong with ritual and tradition when it honors God and is done because of love. But when tradition and ritual become God, and like any other idol - a god made in our own image - lets us ignore what really matters - that is just not acceptable. You can shake out a nice loop, twirl it over your head and make a great toss - but if the rope doesn't catch the horse, you haven't accomplished a thing!

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John Bruington, Scout and Goliath share their stories at http://www.havrepres.org every week. Sermons, children stories, cartoons and news of the church are also available. Check it out and become a Goliath fan.