When Christ died and was raised on Resurrection morning, the first witnesses were afraid and confused.  They didn’t know what to make of it.  And in some ways, I think many of us continue to struggle with the significance of what occurred.

Since Christ died and was raised again, what does it mean? 

We hear the preacher say, ‘death lost its sting, and the grave lost its power!’ But what does this mean?

If death is our greatest fear, we no longer need to fear it.  It is no longer our end. We have a new, abundant, and everlasting life through Jesus Christ!   But what does this mean?

I think it means we can go on, not just courageously in the face of death, but we can live fearlessly as God’s children. Since we are God’s children, we live as confident heirs to His promises – even His provisions, protection, peace, presence, and patience!

God loves us and owns us as His dear children, so we no longer worry about being abandoned or disowned.  We never have to fear lack.  We are no longer gripped by anxieties and insecurities about the future.  God cares for His children and will not leave us begging for bread!  (Psalm 37:25)

Like the hymn says:

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

‘From life’s first Christ to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny!’   We have nothing at all to fear!  

But don’t take my word for it!

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 

Romans 8:15

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

In the United States, food, clean air and water, affordable housing, a livable wage, medical care, education, protection against violence, the possibility of progress, and the potential to flourish – these are well within the purview of the opportunities that our government should be providing for its citizens.

These are not radical ideas.  This is why we pay taxes.  Are there other things that we may include? Perhaps, but these are the basics. I contend that at least every Christian who pays taxes should insist that these basics be provided for as many as possible.  This is just and fair.  This is compassion.

Some say that charity is the Church’s responsibility.  I say, two things can be true at the same time!  And I further contend that if our goal is justice, then true justice and equity will make charity, in the narrowest sense, less necessary.  Do you follow? 

Caring for the poor, advocating for the least, protecting the marginalized, providing for the sick, these are all part of the Christian mission, but in our type of government this demands collaboration with the government that taxes us.  Which means that the political choices we make must be consistent with the foundations of our professed faith!  Our votes and our lobbying must be to this end or we contradict ourselves!

True Christians should desire and thus demand these basics for everyone or else admit that command to love one’s neighbors is not essential to our faith.  But this, in the end, is decidedly un-Christian.   When we allow the Golden Rule to become nothing more than a suggestion, we cannot be who we say we are!  We become the self-justifying hypocrite who smugly asks, ‘Who is my neighbor?’

³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”  

Luke 10:36–37

“You go, and do likewise…” Jesus says.

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When our faith becomes a tool that we employ for our personal gains and glory, it ceases to serve its intended purpose. 

When our victories incite arrogance, and someone else’s losses inspire schadenfreude, we need to take care.  We are in a precarious predicament. High places are slippery! 

When our prayers for God’s blessings upon us, do not include prayers for God’s blessings on others – we need to examine our hearts.

While our economy is rooted in the idea of scarcity – the myth that there aren’t enough resources for everyone – the false notion that if God blesses one, God cannot bless us all – the whole idea that there must be winners and losers- the haves and the have nots – this is not according to who God is!  This is capitalism not Christianity.

God is loving and compassionate. God’s grace flows from God’s rich, abundant, and loving character. One’s success and another’s failure are not contingent.  In fact true success for one means blessings for another.

We are blessed to be a blessing.  How is it that so many of us professed Christians are so out of step with God’s Spirit?

There are at least two possibilities. Either we knew God and turned away, or we never knew God at all!  

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’  

Matthew 7:21–23

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

A small stone can feel like a boulder when you carry it too long. Minor offenses become major rifts when they go unaddressed.  

Molehills become mountains when we don’t deal with them appropriately.  

An offense, a grudge, a little bitterness, a reoffense, a sleight, some abuse, neglect, unrepentance, hatred, violence – and the cycle continues…

So here we are. Generations confronted with repackaged versions of the same issues, refusing history’s lessons, because we give into apathy that keeps us drowsy and makes us numb. We’d rather be entertained than educated- amused rather than inspired…

And now the only thing that rouses us is the most intense pain and the overwhelming fear of mutual destruction.  

Why do things have to get so bad before we decide we need to pay attention?  

Why do we ignore the sages and prophets that warn us against selfishness, greed, and malice in our hearts? 

In times like these, I admit it, I have to guard my heart against the rage and bitterness that will only make things worse.  LORD, deal with my heart! 

Will you pray with me today? 

“ ^…Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of us speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 

Let no corrupting talk come out of our mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  

Ephesians 4:25–32

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

Treating people the way you want to be treated is called the Golden Rule.  Regardless of how you feel about them, whether or not you understand them, whether or not they look or talk like you, whether or not you share common heritage or interests, or whether or not you even ‘like’ them.

The Golden Rule is the firewall against revenge, pettiness, slander, greed, vindictiveness, prejudice, or partiality.  And it is the only rule that inclines us toward a peaceful and compassionate community. But each time we transgress this Golden Rule, we devolve bit by bit towards inhumanity.  

Such a simple phrase with such intense weight levels us all.  The Golden Rule is an equalizer that erases categories of privilege and oppressed, and places the ability to change the world squarely in the hands of each individual regardless of the corrupt and unjust systems that deceive us into thinking we have no power or control. We still get to choose.  It is not always an easy choice but it is a choice nonetheless.

The Golden Rule demands integrity.  The Golden Rule demands tenacity and faithfulness that proves itself especially when one possesses great power or when one is under intense pressure.  And, it is impossible to obey without intentional humility and intense spiritual fortitude. God help us!

Perhaps this is why we abandon it so quickly.  It’s much easier and quite understandable to want to match energy, to retaliate, to return evil for evil.  But the cost becomes our own humanity along with the possibility of any real peace within or without.

So what will we choose?  While the lines that separate us become deep grooves and ruts – who among us will choose to be and to do differently?  

Jesus expects that anyone who follows Him would attempt to live by His rule – this Golden Rule.  Are you, are we among these?  

A tree is told by the fruit it bears, yes?  

God help us all to possess such integrity.  It is the only hope for our humanity.  

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Luke 6:31

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

The greatest challenge to the Church’s witness is not some extraordinary external enemy but an internal erosion of the ethics that should exemplify who we are.

In a courtroom, if a witness lies under an oath, they can be charged with perjury. To be a credible witness (per Brenda Salter McNeil), one need not be perfect – but at least be honest. To willfully lie under oath is a crime, and depending on the conditions, can carry jail time and fines.

The christian church in the West and in America is under a heavy indictment. Repeatedly landing on the wrong side of history by promoting oppressive forces or being silently complicit to abuse and bigotry, it’s a wonder that anyone would call themselves christian. It’s a wonder that anyone would trust such an unreliable witness.  

Thank God for those Christian communities that refuse to cede their witness to the powerful.  Thank God for those who advocate for those who’ve been shoved to the margins.  Thank God for those who value all human beings as precious and beloved!  Thank God for those who don’t separate their love for God from those made in God’s image.  Thank God for those working publicly to preserve and protect the dignity and rights of every human – every single one! 

History will be our judge.  Will we be found faithful or at fault? The jury is out, but the clock is ticking…

Does that seem way beyond us? Perhaps.  But what kind of witness are you? 

Good Morning, I love you all.

ihs,

just adam