Biblical Role of the Go(d)-Between

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Biblical Role of the Go(d)-Between

• Biblical definition of mediator One who
  speaks to both, puts himself in the middle
• Greek krinei ana meson (middle), Isa 24 LXX.

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Definition Continued

• One who provides access to a just resolution
• thereby to Gods justice,
• where Gods justice is not a matter of
  punishment so much as of mercy.

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Definition Continued

• Paraclete (Holy Spirit) Mediator in role
  of helper, truth bearer, intervenor (Romans 8),
  intercessor
• Comforter is too limited to be sufficient
  translation.
• Judge also to restrictive.

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Why the Bible?

• Cultural and legal influence, for example
• Incest (Lev 19)
• Abandonment, ancient Rome vs. Bible people
• Divorce Contradiction between Jesus and Moses?
  Are you prepared to explain basis of, and
  misconceptions of, divorce and remarriage rules
  in the denominations, particularly the RCC?

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Mediation a Common Expectation

• Amos 510 the "judges" in the gate hated by the
  ones who lost.
• Gen 3137 let our kinsmen decide between us
  (Jacob and Laban, re who stole Laban's gods)
• Job 933 there is no umpire between us
  expectation of mediation as normative.
• Lev 1917 REALLY TRY to reason with your
  brother/neighbor.
• James 515 ordinary people intercede for the
  sick, expected to do so.
• Jesus as human Luke 1040, tell my sister to
  help me

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Examples

• God
• Sin of the world
• Romans 324-26 God creates a covering, a bridge
  to God
• Isaiah 1134 God mediates between the people
  and the poor
• Job 133 Job invokes God as mediator between
  himself and his friends.

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Examples 2

• God, continued
• Between persons, directly
• Isaiah 24 Micah 43 God mediates between the
  peoples of the earth swords into plowshares
• God mediates between Abraham and Sarah on the
  issue of banishing Hagar and Ishmael, Genesis 21.
• Genesis 2414, 44 re Rebekah God between
  Rebekah and Isaac
• Using others to do his mediation
• King Hezekiah (Isa 36) Isaiah (Isa 37) Jesus,
  Matthew 1815-20 gives formula for dispute
  resolution (out of court!).

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Examples 3

• People
• Isaiah 36, 37
• Acts 726f describes Moses attempt to mediate
  between fighting Israelites
• Jesus between Mary and Martha, Luke 1039-40
• Man to Jesus Lord, help my son Luke 938
  and other such passages
• The Word mediates between people and God, I
  Timothy 45

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How Can the Mediator Use This Information?

• Be more aware of universality and timelessness of
  dispute insights into systems like families
• Develop ones own spirituality
• Find models of mediation

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Models of Mediation

• Judging between
• Bestowing mercy upon all alike (be a catalyst
  provide opportunity for clients to see they can
  and want to bestow mercy upon one another)
• Being Spirit for them, a God(d)-Between! Make
  peace possible by calm presence, vulnerable, yet
  self assured.

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The Mediators Spirituality

• Matthew 1815-20 you are not alone
• Trust the process
• Assume more is occurring than you can accomplish
  humanly and solely by yourself.
• ? Suggestions?