Me/Also Me

Thus says the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. …Multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. – Jeremiah 29: 4-5, 6b-7 (NRSV) 

There’s an old meme: Me/Also me. (Like ancient, maybe 10 years.) It goes something like this: 

Me: I’m gonna get to bed early tonight. 
Also me: immediately clicks next episode

Or 

Me: Who am I to judge? 
Also me: <picture of Judge Judy>

It’s an efficient vehicle for pointing to our inconsistencies, the ways we contradict ourselves, the multitudes we contain. I am the me who longs to walk the entire Appalachian Trail and also the me who complains about getting to the train stop three-quarters of a mile from my house. 

Likewise, Jeremiah’s prophecy offers the people God and Also God. 

God: That’s it! I’ve had it! I’m exiling you to Babylon! 
Also God: Why not plant a garden and meet someone cute while you’re there? 

God: You’re not coming back to Jerusalem for 70 years! 
Also God: Meanwhile, I’m making plans for a hopeful and prosperous future!

In The Prophetic Imagination, Walter Brueggemann points out the ultimate paradox of Jeremiah: that God banishes the people … and then joins them in their banishment. Divine judgment sends Israel to Babylon. But divine love sends God to welcome them when they get there. 

An ancient meme that shows up in every book of the Bible. That our God is wildly inconsistent, contradictory, paradoxical. Thank God. 

Prayer
Merciful judge, you contain multitudes.

About the Author
Vince Amlin is co-pastor of Bethany UCC, Chicago, and co-planter of Gilead Church Chicago, forming now.