On My Mind...
What a crazy week! As you know, we postponed our annual “Souper-Bowl Chili Challenge” due to so many being sick. We had a number of people out Sunday due to sickness and many who were here Sunday morning who said they were not coming Sunday evening because of sickness. So, in a couple of weeks we will reschedule an evening of fun, food and fellowship.
No doubt you are aware of the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show. I did not watch it nor the alternative show provided on streaming services. I only mention it because it is reflective of the ever-widening gap in our culture. Lines of division are becoming increasingly clear. Those lines are increasingly thick and dark. Everyone is being forced to choose a side. I knew, before the game was ever played, what the reviews were going to be and who would be saying what. I knew those who would be praising it and those who would despise it. We are a polarized people. This has always been true to an extent. There is, and always has been, right and wrong, truth and error. The problem is a complete lax of civility, restraint and respect. We’ve lost the ability to agree to disagree. This is true in culture, in politics, and in the church. No, I’m setting things up to call for a “Rodney King” moment and cry, “Can’t we all just get along?” I’m not suggesting these things do not matter. I’m not calling on anyone to keep their opinions to themselves. I’m certainly not saying Christians should stay out of such things and just preach the gospel. For one thing, to preach the biblical gospel in this culture is to invite hostile fire! No, I simply want to remind you that as we speak to the issues of our day, and to the truth of eternity, we are to speak the truth in love. We are to be filled with both truth and grace. Whenever we focus on one to the exclusion of the other, we demage the cause of Christ and betray the truth of the gospel. Truth and grace matter. Truth and grace are essential. Our king demands that we speak truth to our culture. That means, at times, we must speak that which is offensive to the culture, contradicts the spirit of the age, and and tears down sacred cows. But, we are to be marked by grace. We speak those truths with humility and compassion, often through tears. The same Lord who flipped over those tables and drove the money changers out of the temple with a whip, cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” By all means speak up and speak out. By all means stand for the truth. But maybe, before you post – take a breathe, say a prayer and then respond. It’s worth thinking about.
I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day. Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod
No doubt you are aware of the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show. I did not watch it nor the alternative show provided on streaming services. I only mention it because it is reflective of the ever-widening gap in our culture. Lines of division are becoming increasingly clear. Those lines are increasingly thick and dark. Everyone is being forced to choose a side. I knew, before the game was ever played, what the reviews were going to be and who would be saying what. I knew those who would be praising it and those who would despise it. We are a polarized people. This has always been true to an extent. There is, and always has been, right and wrong, truth and error. The problem is a complete lax of civility, restraint and respect. We’ve lost the ability to agree to disagree. This is true in culture, in politics, and in the church. No, I’m setting things up to call for a “Rodney King” moment and cry, “Can’t we all just get along?” I’m not suggesting these things do not matter. I’m not calling on anyone to keep their opinions to themselves. I’m certainly not saying Christians should stay out of such things and just preach the gospel. For one thing, to preach the biblical gospel in this culture is to invite hostile fire! No, I simply want to remind you that as we speak to the issues of our day, and to the truth of eternity, we are to speak the truth in love. We are to be filled with both truth and grace. Whenever we focus on one to the exclusion of the other, we demage the cause of Christ and betray the truth of the gospel. Truth and grace matter. Truth and grace are essential. Our king demands that we speak truth to our culture. That means, at times, we must speak that which is offensive to the culture, contradicts the spirit of the age, and and tears down sacred cows. But, we are to be marked by grace. We speak those truths with humility and compassion, often through tears. The same Lord who flipped over those tables and drove the money changers out of the temple with a whip, cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” By all means speak up and speak out. By all means stand for the truth. But maybe, before you post – take a breathe, say a prayer and then respond. It’s worth thinking about.
I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day. Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod