SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
TEXT: THEME: Love God, Love Your Body INTRODUCTION I didn’t make any resolutions this New Years, but I still want to lose weight. I haven’t been doing that well at it. I want to exercise this year too and this is going about the same as my losing weight. Being fit for God is an ongoing process. This body that God has given us is wonderful. It is good, it is made in the image of God. Our bodies host our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual selves. It is a marvel. It is the container for my soul, in much the same way it is a temple for God’s Spirit. Our identity with God is intricately intertwined as part of our makeup in which God sees as good. Salvation is found in our relationship with God and how this relationship in informs us of how we live with others. SCRIPTURE Hurting our body hurts our relationships; drunkenness, substance abuse, exhaustion, poor nourishment, illness, poor hygiene, starvation, STDs, inactivity, not getting enough sleep, too much food, too much sleep… When our bodies hurt it changes the dynamics of our relationship with those around us. Some things are unavoidable, while others are a choice of our stewardship of our heath. With our freedoms and marvelous bodies, with have choices and responsibilities of how we chose to create, imagine, do, and use our bodies for God, for ourselves and for the community of believers. Our actions have consequences good and not so good. What we do affect others as well our ourselves and our relationships. Paul uses the ‘one bad apple spoils the barrel’ example to the body of Christ. When we behave well Our actions, effect the reputation. But all it takes is for one of us to behave poorly for the reputation of the church to be soiled. Our actions, good and bad add to the continuing story of who we are. We are a lens for the world to get a glimpse of who God is. God’s Holy Spirit is there to help us exhibit the goodness of God as we participate in the activity of God. This is glory to God. APPLICATION If salvation is found in having a relationship with God and others, then how is God glorified in our bodies? Our bodies are good and are to be enjoyed but just their enjoyment is not the goal. Taking care of ‘our bodies’ needs', can be a distraction from doing what God wants us to do. Not that it’s bad but that is not all that they are for. We use our Bodies to bring the presence of God’s Holy Spirit into the world. In a protest we stand for justice, while Drumming, dancing, and singing our culture’s forms and expressions, we rally against separatist whose narrow ideology divides instead of embraces, we use our body to help, to vote, to distribute food, to give a shot, to stand guard, to be counted as part of the number for what is right, we proclaim the gospel with our body, we bring confront to the sick, we celebrate others accomplishments with cheers and applaud the righteous in joyful appreciation. We are willing to use our bodies for love’s sake. On this eve of Martin Luther King Jr’s Day, we remember this great civil rights leader whose dream was for an America that treated all people fairly with equality. He was present in body, spirt and soul to proclaim this non-violent message of liberation, freedom and equality. On Friday evening, I got an email from our Hawaiian Conference saying how the events of January 6, the insurrection at our capital, could be localized by those who are fearful of the changes that will be brought by the Biden administration. So liberal Churches, are being targeted by groups, on Sunday the 17th, and the 20th, the day of the inauguration of our new President. We were cautioned by our Conference not to meet in person. As a shepherd, I want to keep my flock safe so I emailed those who usually come that they should stay home, But I, as one who has the Holy Spirit in me, am not letting fear dictate what Gospel of Jesus to preach. So, I am using my body to bring the message of God, from this site, as a statement of a loving God, over fear. I’m not alone, Damira is here, and any of you watching on Facebook, if need be, can make the appropriate phone calls for us. This is our non-violent protest. CONCLUSION This sermon was going to be about the stewardship of our bodies; eating wisely, exercise, and getting enough rest. But the events of the ending presidency have threatened our peaceful existence here. What if the threat is true and these, who are trying to determine the future or our country through fear and terrorism are targeting churches that are “Liberal” but they don’t single us out? Because they don’t see us as a threat to their kind of community. That we are not doing anything that they should, “pay us no mind.” Then the Gospel we preach does not have an edge to it. The church we are a part of doesn’t make a difference. The Love of God does not have a bite. That there is nothing radical about what we are doing or saying. Then maybe we are not a temple of the Holy Spirit, but just an empty container. Or worst, a temple of fear, self-righteousness, of false hopes and lies. If so, we have missed the mark. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a treat to the kind of thinking that thinks that fear can get us to do what they want. Jesus shows us that Love is more powerful than fear. The Holy Spirit creates bridges not wall. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit shows us that Love is not afraid to share what we have with others. The Community of God is colorful with a love that embraces, calls, accepts, and changes society by overcoming fear with meaningful relationships with God and each other.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Pastor robbSermons Archives
May 2024
|