SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
TEXT: THEME: INTRODUCTION SCRIPTURE This is the turning point in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Before this he has been outlining the difficulties this community of faith has been having with each other. The reality is that we cannot believe in Jesus and remain the same, as they are doing. The love God has for us, changes the way we understand ourselves, and changes our relationships with others and changes the way we live. Corinth is a city of commerce. Shipping lanes and trade routes conversed on this sea port with goods, people, ideas and theologies. So, the idea of Jesus of Nazareth, being the Jewish Messiah was just one of the many followings that have erupted in this cosmopolitan City. No wonder they liked the idea of Jesus, but did not fully committed to it, just in case something better came about. After all this Good news came to them from Apollos, then Cephas or Peter and now Paul formerly known as Saul. Their allegiance to the messenger of the Good News of Jesus, has clouded their focus of the message of the Good News, as if there is prestige in hearing about Jesus from a priest, a disciple or a tent maker. This sounds like the beginning of denominations. In essence, Paul is saying, “Stop futting around and live into this season of Jesus being the incarnation of God’s love for us.” Paul uses the establishment of marriage as an analogy of a time tested and true covenantal relationship challenged by the light of an urgency to live into this new relationship with God. It is almost like how newly inaugurated President Biden begins his presidency with executive orders that resends the values of the previous administration with the Stewardship of Creation, Health for all people, inclusion of those different from ourselves to benefit from what we have and the forming respectful relationships with our partners in the world to accomplish good for all. He was not waiting to live into a way, but took full advantage of the season of his presidency. Paul’s call is to operate at a higher level of consciousness, awareness, maturity, compassion, and cognition in following God’s designs. What we are living into with God is more important than what we have lost, and is more important than any acquisition. It is on a different time line from any time we have been. The present form of this world is passing away, giving way to a new future. APPLICATION When change comes about, like in a new season, somethings need to be left behind, like winter clothes, so that we can move into the season of summer. The revelation of God’s love revealed to us by Jesus’ life, teaching, death and resurrection, moves us to live into a new reality (season) with love and resurrection. In this changing season, what do we leave behind so we can move forward? We take what we are used to doing, where our comfort is, what we know how to do and ask if it has a place in this new season. Bernie Sanders was dressed for winter on the Capital’s step for the inauguration of president Biden, but his only sign of moving into the new administration this spring, was the absence of a hat. He is beginning to make the transition from winter to summer. Our specialness is not based on who introduced us to Jesus, because we all can know God for ourselves. So, we leave name dropping behind and focus on the love of God through Jesus. We are dearly loved by God, just the way we are, but that does not mean that we just stay the way we are, so we leave superstition, appeasement, fear and prejudice behind for a confident relationship with God that enables us to engage in where God is moving. Our identity/value/meaning is found in being a child of God, so we can leave behind the titles and prestige from our careers and be humble, let go of our ego’s appetite, and find satisfaction in what God is able to accomplish through us. God calls us to be in community, as family belonging to God. We put aside the majority rules and win-lose scenarios for consensus models of decision making. Listening and respecting each other as we make decisions for the future. God’s love creates new rules for us to play by and new results as the measures of success. When evangelism was the goal of our mission, then we measured success by how many people we had in church. When we shifted to be missional, success was gauged by how faithful we are. It is harder to measure the depth and maturity of faith. But what we can see is our helping others, and unselfishly planning to create housing for those who have none as signs of our faith. In this season, we are open to change. We have used our Rummage Sale not only as a means for us to raise funds, but to the option of being a blessing to those who were camping, in need of clothes, school supplies, a Christmas gift or moving into a new home and in need of household items. Your donations have raised money for the church but also have been a blessing to so many in need during this pandemic, because we were able to see what we have and use it beyond fund raising to blessing. The rummage has now been boxed up and Makawao Union will take it for their thrift store. So, don’t bring anymore donations. We will relax for a while and let you know when the next rummage sale will be. CONCLUSION Krista Tippett interviewed Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the U.S. and Russel Moore, the president of the ethics and Religious Liberty Commission - essentially the chief ethicist of the Southern Baptist Convention. They have formed a friendship over conversations on the poetry of Wendell Berry. They don’t agree on everything about the Christian life, but they have come to understand why the other believes the way that they do, and does the things that they do with respect for each other and have forged a friendship despite their different perspective. They have stirring conversations, listening and speaking with each other that enriches their lives. They are not trying to convert the other, but to understand from the other’s perspective, as human beings. The bottom line, summed up by Dr. Moore, “The question is not, why do you believe so much? The question is, why are you not living up to what you say you believe?” The rest of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth is about living up to what we say we believe. If we have faith but treat each other with prejudice, hate, inequity, and privilege, then there is more for us to leave behind as we the move into this new season with Jesus.
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May 2024
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