Adult Bible Study Online

Finding stability and permanence today

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Lesson text: Hebrews 13:1-16
By: Omar Eby
Email: ebyo@emu.edu

Where in these Hebrews passages does one find an “image,” picture, likeness, icon, reflection, or semblance of Christ? In this closing chapter, the writer turns to listing practical exhortations on a dozen topics in as many verses. The exceptions are the verses about Christ “suffering outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood” (13:11-14). Yet, even these end with an exhortation—go with him and bear his shame.

Curiously, we find the lesson titled “Finding Stability and Permanence Today.” Are these honest Christian virtues for radical Anabaptist-Mennonites to embrace? Or are they the pursuits of the middle-class bourgeoisie? We don’t want to suffer; we want insurance against all conceivable physical and psychic fractures. Or is something to be said in defense of being “content with what you have” (13:5)? So with Paul we can declare, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11 KJV)?

Are contentment, stability, and permanence applicable to sex and money (13:4-5)? Surely the Christian’s connections and habits with these are touchstones of character. Love of money is as detrimental to one’s spiritual life as is the feverish itch of sex. Surfing the channels, we glance at “Sex and the City” and the arrogant Donald Trump’s “You’re fired!” The hidden writer of Hebrews warns against sexual immorality and gluttons of money. But have we not been more forgiving of the adulterers while honoring the clever entrepreneurs? Is it because we need their money to help prop up our important institutions? And don’t we want to be known for our savvy civic involvement?

Preoccupied with sex and money, are we impotent to exercise the virtuous exhortations of the other verses? Don’t have time to practice hospitality (13:2) or visit prisoners (13:3)? Remain too busy to educate ourselves about the abuse of the indigenous, the first peoples of our countries (13:3)? Blindly repeat the rants of TV’s talking heads against the new immigrant or illegal aliens who harvest our beets and slaughter our beef cattle?

How do we 21st-century middle-class North Americans “bear the disgrace he [Jesus] bore” (13:13)? Is there any disgrace for being a Christian?

This message relates to the Adult Bible Study. For additional information on Adult Bible Study or Adult Bible Study Teacher, send email to info@mpn.net. To order either publication call Mennonite Publishing Network at 1 800 245-7894.