Journey to Soteria

October 10: Pastor Robin Stelzer

In first world countries leprosy has largely disappeared; modern medicine has allowed us to treat the illness so that the social stigma of the disease no longer exists. Yet, like many bygone issues, the language remains and we are familiar with the idea of being ‘treated like a leper’. To be a leper was and is to be an outcast from the rest of society. Robin used this idea of the leper in his message but also took it further: to be a leper is to be faced with your own sense of ‘inadequacy and doom’. This can only be overcome with God’s intervention as we see in the readings. This then leads to “soteria” or as Robin described it as ‘full health, full safety, well being and rescue from every harm.’

Reflection

• Without unnecessary dwelling, to what extent do you connect with the sense of being a leper; of feeling that an affliction was/is the defining aspect of your identity from which you could/cannot escape?
• Robin mentioned a number of scenarios that were equivalents to leprosy: financial difficulty, career collapse, addiction, depression, broken families and relationships, chronic ill-health were just some of the sufferings he mentioned. How might this comparison be useful in breaking the chains of these particular problems?

Readings: 2 Kings 51-17; Luke 17: 11-21

The Kings reading is lengthy and interesting. Sometimes reading the Old Testament is very difficult, emerging as it does from ancient times and ancient people in a culture entirely different from our own. At other times, though, one is struck by the reality of the encounters between these people and we become aware that their human experience is just like ours. As you read the Old Testament passage, you might like to consider the following and think about which aspects stand out to you as a reader. You could then explain why they stand out.

• The starkness of the ending of verse 1: He was a valiant soldier but he had leprosy.
• The remarkable compassion of the servant girl and her faith
• The hope the Naaman must have had as he set out
• The misunderstanding of the ‘King of Israel’ – note how ironic this passage becomes in light of the King of Israel – as he asks how he can possibly kill and raise the dead
• Elisha’s exasperation – this section is quite funny – as he explains to the king that he, Elisha is the prophet, not the king
• Namaan’s anger and disappointment at the process of healing – it’s not what he expected
• Namaan’s statement of faith: Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.
• Elisha doesn’t accept Namaan’s gift – he doesn’t require it.

The second part of the story is also interesting as Gehazi sees an opportunity for gain and effectively misappropriates God’s gift for personal gain. Elisha recognises Gehazi’s sin and Gehazi, in Old Testament fashion, now pays a much greater price. The long term cost of living for yourself far outweighs the short term gain.

In the Luke reading, we see that Jesus is able to heal 10 lepers and one of them returns to express gratitude. In the text, one of the interesting aspects is (in the NIV) the use of the hyphen to describe the leper “- and he was a Samaritan’.

Robin suggested in his message that this gratitude, this thankfulness is ‘full health’ or Soteria. He spoke again about a community (there will be another message on this topic coming soon!) that is ‘healing, thankful, and generous.’

Reflection

• The implication is that full healing is a healing that includes thankfulness. How might we show thankfulness for healing?
• It might be useful, even important, for your group to share what they understand by healing. What are the hopes that we have about healing? What uncertainties, doubts and misgivings do we have about healing?
• In the Luke reading, the story says that Jesus healed 10 lepers and one returned to thank him. Can we read any significance into that number for the church today?
• What application can we make to each of the words Robin used to describe a community of Soteria: healing, thankful and generous?

Prayer

Once having identified the practical application, commit to it in prayer, taking time to be thankful for what God has done.

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