Greetings,
Among some of the congregation’s leadership we discovered the little-known
story of Nadab and Abihu. The story is folded into the tenth chapter of Leviticus. While many Christians ignore
the fourth and possibly most boring book of the Bible, a small group of minds were stoked by this bizarre story
involving two of Aaron’s eldest sons. Reading Leviticus may cure insomnia; for us it inspires this year’s Stewardship
Campaign. Leviticus is about fanning into flame a commitment to live holy and faithful lives before a holy and
faithful God.
The dry material of Leviticus provides the kindling we might use to illuminate Nabad and Abibhu’s story and the
back story for Holy Smoke! our Stewardship Campaign. Nabad and Abibhu, brand-new priests in the tabernacle,
“took their censors, put fire on them and added incense” (Lev. 10:1). As we yawn, watching them strike a match
and the smoke diffuse throughout the tabernacle, we overhear the biblical narrator accuse the two priests of offering
“strange fire before the LORD” – that is fire “contrary to the LORD’s command” (10:1). We are not meant to copy
the actions of most characters in the biblical drama, as demonstrated in Leviticus 10:1-3. Instead, we can learn from
Nadab and Abibhu’s tragic story a lesson or two of what not to do.
In Leviticus, the “strange fire” is considered unauthorized. Today, as in biblical times it is dangerous to traffic in
places or in things where we are unauthorized. The consequences of playing with strange fire can be severe.
In the case of Nabad and Abibhu, fatal. As our Stewardship team wrestled with this odd passage, someone used
the expression, “Where there’s smoke there’s fire.” We began to poke at the story, as if it were a log on a fire.
Sparks lifted along with our wondering. If strange fire leads to Nabad and Abibhu’s death, is there an “authentic fire”
—one that the LORD authorizes and commands of us where life flourishes? Does the smoke from a strange fire smell like
burning sulfur? Is it odorless? On the flip side might the smoke from an authentic fire be considered holy? Does it
have a pleasing fragrance? Might this be in the back of Paul’s mind when declaring to the Corinthians, “We are the
aroma of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15)?
During the month of October, the Stewardship Team will conduct its annual Stewardship Campaign entitled Holy
Smoke! Our goal is simple. Using the framework of our Baptismal vows, “To faithfully participate in [Kenmore
United Methodist Church’s] ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness”
we invite you to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. What authentic fire is the LORD authorizing you to
burn? How might you be set free for holy and faithful living? To kneel at the Communion rail in prayer? To become more
vocal at the injustices of the world? Visitation of our homebound? Attending a Sunday school? Greeting
guests in the church parking lot? Answering the call into ministry? Repacking meatballs? Attending a recovery
group? Tending to the garden? Offering hospitality? Serving on a work team? Supporting the church financially?
Leading a mission trip? Telling someone about Jesus?
My interest is not with Nabad and Abibhu; I may never mention their names again. However, as a follower of
Christ, I care about you. My hope is that the authentic fire of the Holy Spirit will be set ablaze within your heart.
My task, along with every person in our church is to help fan the flame. My prayer is that the aroma of your Holy
Smoke! will be pleasing to God and noticeable to others.
Blessings,
Pastor Nick
