Last Monday, the family and I went to a funeral. It was the funeral of a young mum. 37 years old, 4 small children, cancer claims another victim. Death truly is the last great enemy. But that night I noticed that I was supposed to preach on Resurrection this sunday, and the bringing of the two things together made a point that I simply must not miss. So I’ll write it down here.
If there is no resurrection death wins. Perhaps in some constructions a soul escapes, in which case Deaths’ victory is only partial, but if there is no resurrection, ultimately death has won. If there is no resurrection, then our beautiful yet fractured world is doomed, either to annihiliation, or abandonment, and then what becomes of the eyes we’ve met, the voices we’ve heard, the hands we’ve held, the life we’ve loved?
When Jesus rose from the dead, he achieved the only victory that could restore hope in such dark days: he achieved victory over death for all its victims. Those who die in the Lord will be restored, and this fragile creation, so bloodied by death and its sidekick decay, will be restored with us, and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
This is the only truly good news for funerals. Or for any other day for that matter.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
No Little People
There is a gentle wisdom in the bible that never fails to both confront me and restore me. Every time I open an old passage of Scripture, something comes home to me with a weight and newness I hadn’t felt before. As I was beginning to prepare for this week’s sermon, and was looking at Paul’s assessment of how a church should function, I noticed a line in the passage that stood out with a blessed force: “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1Corinthians 12.22) How profoundly true is that statement? What would a church be if it was only made up of those people who like the limelight, who enjoy the powerful public roles in church life, who speak with confidence?
How balancing to a church community are those people who labour quietly, with deep love, in the shadows, away from the glare of the Pulpit or the Committee? How precious are those who make the unsung phone call to the person in grief; who cook biscuits for the discouraged; who provide the smile at the door; who wash the dishes at morning tea? The weaker are indeed indispensable. As you ponder God’s view of how the body of Christ works together, be encouraged: in the body of Christ; the church, everyone has a place. In Christ, all are precious, and not only that, indispensable, we can only do this, if we do it together.
May God bless you this morning,
Your fellow body part,
Rev. Doug.
How balancing to a church community are those people who labour quietly, with deep love, in the shadows, away from the glare of the Pulpit or the Committee? How precious are those who make the unsung phone call to the person in grief; who cook biscuits for the discouraged; who provide the smile at the door; who wash the dishes at morning tea? The weaker are indeed indispensable. As you ponder God’s view of how the body of Christ works together, be encouraged: in the body of Christ; the church, everyone has a place. In Christ, all are precious, and not only that, indispensable, we can only do this, if we do it together.
May God bless you this morning,
Your fellow body part,
Rev. Doug.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Still Plenty left to do
I’m not sure how often I come back to that verse in Galatians: “Let us not become weary in doing good.” And every time I do I’m struck by the wisdom of it. He wouldn’t need to remind us to persevere and not grow weary unless that were exactly our danger. And it is a danger and a real one, particularly in the Christian life; that we would strive and struggle against evil for a time, but then begin to get worn down by it. Our struggle against sin seems too hard, our struggle against the injustice and suffering around us in our world seems too long and for many, that means either falling away, or retreating into a sterile Christianity of observation without engagment. Unfortunately, for all honest Christians that is not a legitimate option.
When we die to ourselves, so that we might live to Christ, we die to the option of disengagement, we die to the option of apathy, we die to the option of selfish self-preservation, and instead our whole lives and hearts and wills are dedicated to the cause of God’s glory and the establishment of His Kingdom with all its aspects of mercy, justice and charity.
When Jesus returns he will heal the world of all that so breaks its heart, but in the mean time, until that day, we labour. And we labour though we may be tired, disheartened and sometimes weary.
May you know God’s strengthening today, his gracious filling with hope and strength to continue with our task, that we might resist evil wherever it raises its ugly head. There’s still plenty left to do.
When we die to ourselves, so that we might live to Christ, we die to the option of disengagement, we die to the option of apathy, we die to the option of selfish self-preservation, and instead our whole lives and hearts and wills are dedicated to the cause of God’s glory and the establishment of His Kingdom with all its aspects of mercy, justice and charity.
When Jesus returns he will heal the world of all that so breaks its heart, but in the mean time, until that day, we labour. And we labour though we may be tired, disheartened and sometimes weary.
May you know God’s strengthening today, his gracious filling with hope and strength to continue with our task, that we might resist evil wherever it raises its ugly head. There’s still plenty left to do.
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