This Sunday I am preaching from Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18. It is a fun and scary text. Here are some thoughts that I have as I work on the sermon
MAIN IDEA – I have to be honest, I don’t think about the end, i.e. the final coming of Christ. I would rather think about my children growing old, about my own dreams and successes. It is probably out of a sense of fear that I don’t consider the end. If I embrace the idea that Jesus is coming any time, then shouldn’t I live life much differently? I suppose that depends how I view the end. If it is something that we should be working towards, then I need to get more involved in the world and do what I can to prepare the world for the coming of Christ. If it is something that we just need to wait for, that I should be working to strengthen my faith and the faith of my family. It is something that I think about, regardless of my approach or theological understanding, it is something that affects the way I live out my faith.
Yet I need to have the idea of the return of Christ; it is important and essential to my faith. I need to know that some day things will get better. Actually I need to know that some day things will be the way that God intends, that things will reach perfection. This is because there are days when I struggle and struggle and look for something to claim as a source of hope. I need to believe that some day there will be a return of Christ.
I think it is something that I need to consider more often. It is something that I should take more seriously because it does challenge the way I live my faith. It may not always be easy, but it is the support that I need and the grace that I can receive.
I want to believe that some day things will change. I do believe that some day things will change. I know this can convict me of my laziness in my faith, but it also can inspire me in living out my faith. Let that truth of Christ’s return stir on my heart so that I may follow those who lived out this faith and find that glory land. Amen
THEOLOGICAL IDEA – Eschatology, eschatology, eschatology. There are two approaches that I am considering in this sermon: dispensational premillennialism – the idea that the millennial kingdom will be ushered in by divine manifestation at the second coming which will happen when the conditions of life have reached their greatest tribulation; postmillennialism – the idea that the last things are being extended in the world through preaching, works, and the like, and that Christ will return at the end of a long period of righteousness and peace.
I lean towards a realized eschatology, which in some ways is similar to postmillennialism except for the belief that our good works can usher the Kingdom of God. Our good works can usher in an experience of the Kingdom in the here and now, but will not hasten or slow down the second coming of Christ. We do not know the time or the place, so we do what we can now for the now. The saints that have gone before us, I believe, have embraced this approach to living out their faith.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Thirsty?
Here are some thoughts for my next sermon from my series on service. The scripture, such as it is, is Matthew 25:34-35.
MAIN IDEA – There is a thirst that we are told we are supposed to have. This is a thirst to look a certain way, to act a certain way, and to live according to a set of values. This is a thirst that I have when I think about my work with the church. When there is a low attendance, when the numbers don’t grow, I feel as if I am failing in some way and I thirst for more. I thirst for more glory and recognition. This is a thirst that is not fulfilled by controlling the environment, but by letting go. The real, the true thirst is about my desire to be recognized, affirmed, and loved. No matter how “successful” I may be, no matter how “great” I may be, my thirst will never be satiated. The truth is that it is only from God that I will find thirst quenched. Christ is the life-giving water, and in Christ I find that I am loved, redeemed and accepted for who I am. With Christ I am reminded that when I show love to one person then I am successful in Christ’s eyes. What is it that I thirst for? It is for salvation in the here and now. Where do I find that? I find that salvation with Christ.
Holy God, help me to trust your salvation, not just the salvation you have promised, but the salvation that you are promising. Help me to trust that when I work for your glory then I am doing what you have called me to do. Help me to embrace the grace and the glory you have offered me, and then to offer that to others so that our thirst will be fulfilled.
Amen
THEOLOGICAL IDEA – part of this is the reality of helping the thirsty by working for clean water in the world. Part of this is showing that the grace of God is a reality in the here and now. It is showing people that there is sanctification, salvation, and redemption. The redemption is what we want to embrace in this instance – a redemption of who we are and a glorification of who we are in Christ.
Walter Wink and Rene Girard speak of this redemption on a social level. With Girard we are freed from the desire to look again and again for a scapegoat to our violent actions. With Wink we are to look for redemption to the powers and principalities of which we are all a part.
There is also the personal aspect – salvation as being freed from the human condition. I do not view the human condition as just being sinful or fallen, but along with this as desiring something that cannot be met through humanity but only with God. This includes the desire to be loved and accepted.
MAIN IDEA – There is a thirst that we are told we are supposed to have. This is a thirst to look a certain way, to act a certain way, and to live according to a set of values. This is a thirst that I have when I think about my work with the church. When there is a low attendance, when the numbers don’t grow, I feel as if I am failing in some way and I thirst for more. I thirst for more glory and recognition. This is a thirst that is not fulfilled by controlling the environment, but by letting go. The real, the true thirst is about my desire to be recognized, affirmed, and loved. No matter how “successful” I may be, no matter how “great” I may be, my thirst will never be satiated. The truth is that it is only from God that I will find thirst quenched. Christ is the life-giving water, and in Christ I find that I am loved, redeemed and accepted for who I am. With Christ I am reminded that when I show love to one person then I am successful in Christ’s eyes. What is it that I thirst for? It is for salvation in the here and now. Where do I find that? I find that salvation with Christ.
Holy God, help me to trust your salvation, not just the salvation you have promised, but the salvation that you are promising. Help me to trust that when I work for your glory then I am doing what you have called me to do. Help me to embrace the grace and the glory you have offered me, and then to offer that to others so that our thirst will be fulfilled.
Amen
THEOLOGICAL IDEA – part of this is the reality of helping the thirsty by working for clean water in the world. Part of this is showing that the grace of God is a reality in the here and now. It is showing people that there is sanctification, salvation, and redemption. The redemption is what we want to embrace in this instance – a redemption of who we are and a glorification of who we are in Christ.
Walter Wink and Rene Girard speak of this redemption on a social level. With Girard we are freed from the desire to look again and again for a scapegoat to our violent actions. With Wink we are to look for redemption to the powers and principalities of which we are all a part.
There is also the personal aspect – salvation as being freed from the human condition. I do not view the human condition as just being sinful or fallen, but along with this as desiring something that cannot be met through humanity but only with God. This includes the desire to be loved and accepted.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Say what you Mean
Inconsistent.
Language is important in that it reflects not only our beliefs but through shared convictions and speech reflects the beliefs and values of our community. Yet this only happens if language is consistent. Recently Paladino made a number of anti-gay remarks and then said that he was not homophobic or even anti-gay. He even issued an apology saying that his words were not well chosen and he has many gay friends.
This is a great example of inconstancy. When Paladino makes strong anti-gay statements and then says that he is not anti-gay all we can surmise that at some point he is being disingenuous. He is no longer speaking of truth as he understands it or embraces it.
Wittgenstein, Lindbeck, McClendon, Austin, and many others look at language as a key way to understand faith, doctrine, beliefs, and truth(s) in a community. Yet they all rely on consistence and depth in the statements. When people speak of things they do not fully embrace truth is lost. When someone says one thing and then says another thing truth is lost. We need to be consistent.
Language is important in that it reflects not only our beliefs but through shared convictions and speech reflects the beliefs and values of our community. Yet this only happens if language is consistent. Recently Paladino made a number of anti-gay remarks and then said that he was not homophobic or even anti-gay. He even issued an apology saying that his words were not well chosen and he has many gay friends.
This is a great example of inconstancy. When Paladino makes strong anti-gay statements and then says that he is not anti-gay all we can surmise that at some point he is being disingenuous. He is no longer speaking of truth as he understands it or embraces it.
Wittgenstein, Lindbeck, McClendon, Austin, and many others look at language as a key way to understand faith, doctrine, beliefs, and truth(s) in a community. Yet they all rely on consistence and depth in the statements. When people speak of things they do not fully embrace truth is lost. When someone says one thing and then says another thing truth is lost. We need to be consistent.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Fairness
As a father I often hear the mantra “that’s not fair!” Of course the response is, “life isn’t fair.” It is a standard parenting liturgy similar to the moment when the priest says, “the peace of Christ be with you.” If I ever start a church dedicated to parenting, this would be the liturgy (imagine this said in a monotone drone):
L – You must share
P – That’s not fair
L – Life isn’t fair
P – I hate you
L – then I’m doing my job – let us sulk in prayer
I was thinking about this the other day, and from my point of view, I’m happy that life isn’t fair. If life was fair than all of the resources I have, all of the opportunities that I am afforded would have to be shared with others. I would have to share sections of my yard with others, as well as rooms in my house (and I don’t have that many to share). It isn’t fair that some people are born in a part of the world that is ravaged with violence and others are born in places like Sweden. It isn’t fair that some people are more talented than others. See Vonnegut’s story Harrison Bergeron for a great look at a “fair” life. Life isn’t fair.
There are times when we should step in and protest the unfairness. For example the disparity of wages in many companies between the highest paid and the lowest paid is unfair and unjust. The fact that I have a number of opportunities because I am white and male and straight is unjust. Tax breaks for the wealthiest of America while the middle class struggles to make ends meet is not fair (that’s right, I got political on your a-s). Life isn’t fair and often times this is wrong.
Now we would like to think that God loves everyone the same, and that is true. Yet there is this great concept – preferential option for the poor. You’ll find this in Catholic literature including a number of writings from the liberation theology camp. The idea is that God loves everyone, but just like a parent will go to the child who is sick first, God will go to the people who are hurting first. Perhaps this is why we often say that God is found with the least of society.
Now you may say, “that’s not fair, I have problems and issues to.” You’re right, that isn’t fair, but it is just. If you still don’t like it, you can take it up with God. That has always worked well in the past.
L – You must share
P – That’s not fair
L – Life isn’t fair
P – I hate you
L – then I’m doing my job – let us sulk in prayer
I was thinking about this the other day, and from my point of view, I’m happy that life isn’t fair. If life was fair than all of the resources I have, all of the opportunities that I am afforded would have to be shared with others. I would have to share sections of my yard with others, as well as rooms in my house (and I don’t have that many to share). It isn’t fair that some people are born in a part of the world that is ravaged with violence and others are born in places like Sweden. It isn’t fair that some people are more talented than others. See Vonnegut’s story Harrison Bergeron for a great look at a “fair” life. Life isn’t fair.
There are times when we should step in and protest the unfairness. For example the disparity of wages in many companies between the highest paid and the lowest paid is unfair and unjust. The fact that I have a number of opportunities because I am white and male and straight is unjust. Tax breaks for the wealthiest of America while the middle class struggles to make ends meet is not fair (that’s right, I got political on your a-s). Life isn’t fair and often times this is wrong.
Now we would like to think that God loves everyone the same, and that is true. Yet there is this great concept – preferential option for the poor. You’ll find this in Catholic literature including a number of writings from the liberation theology camp. The idea is that God loves everyone, but just like a parent will go to the child who is sick first, God will go to the people who are hurting first. Perhaps this is why we often say that God is found with the least of society.
Now you may say, “that’s not fair, I have problems and issues to.” You’re right, that isn’t fair, but it is just. If you still don’t like it, you can take it up with God. That has always worked well in the past.
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