Think About . . .

"Think About . . . "
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Think About. . . "

This Morning's Scripture reading is:
Colossians 3:1-11

All Things Considered

That’s the NPR news show for people who think, right? (I think I just gave myself away – I get most of my news from the radio and from the internet – Are people like me labeled "thinking people?") People who listen to "All Things Considered" are thought to have a desire to dig deeper into a story and to understand all the underlying meaning and all the complicated connections to other news. On All Things Considered – which is on at 3 pm weekdays and 4 pm weekends on our area NPR radio stations, listeners engage the news with analysis, commentary, interviews and other special features. They get to experience the news from different angles and different perspectives and then form their own opinions.

The people of Colossae (featured in this morning’s scripture reading) were thinking people too. Many Bible scholars would say, however, that because they thought so much, the church was having problems caused by group who claimed advanced knowledge (gnosis) but were attempting to fit Christianity into an old and empty philosophic system. Since Christianity was a new and life-giving movement, Paul was worried about this Gnostic movement – and said something about it. This week’s reading, I think, called the church to put aside the endless pursuit of complicated or hidden knowledge and discover (or was it re-discover?) some simple truth.

A few words in Colossians 3:1-11 have been abused over the centuries. "Fornication" and "impurity" continue to be abused as weapons when God’s love and acceptance of homosexual people comes up. It’s a misplaced weapon, however. The two words from our reading: porneia (fornication) and akatharsian (impurity) carry with them meanings that don’t come across correctly in the reading. Porneia is best translated "prostitution" instead of fornication. Akatharsian is best translated as "moral filthiness" as opposed to impurity. Both terms have every thing to do with illicit sexual practice and nothing to do with monogamous relationships. It’s comical to see parts of this profound and simple expression of advice used to do evil to God’s children. Avoid what is harmful – concentrate on what is helpful and realize that God’s love is for everyone – not just those we judge to be worthy.

I think I’m going to say that again.

Avoid what is harmful – concentrate on what is helpful and realize that God’s love is for everyone – not just those we judge to be worthy.

All things considered, I could leave it at that.

But there’s more simplicity to get to. In the re-discovery of simple truth, there is a deeper truth to address. It’s the last verse of our reading this morning:

In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Greeks thought highly of themselves and thought the Jews were hopelessly backwards
Jews thought highly of themselves and thought the Greeks were completely outside of "The God Club."
Jewish men were circumcised – evidence of God’s favor.
Greek men were not circumcised – and Jewish believers thought that all Greek male converts had to be circumcised to join "The God Club" (even though they were completely outside the club anyway.)
Barbarians were not at all well thought of.
Scythians were worse than Barbarians were
Slaves and free were as different as you could get as far as class went.

And Paul said that the dividing distinctions no longer mattered – Jesus is all that matters – and Jesus lives in all of us.

I think I’ll say that one again, too. (With a slight change)

The dividing distinctions we’ve used to keep people out don’t matter – Jesus is all that matters – and Jesus lives in all of us.

I wrote a song a couple a couple of years ago that calls attention to the barriers we place to keep people out of "The God Club." Ultimately it celebrates God’s love for all. And guess what – we get to sing it! (Teach people the shouting parts and the singing parts. Recruit one person to be the low voice. This should be fun!) (No -- this song is not recorded -- maybe it will be soon, though.)

Who Does God Love?

Words and music by Kirk Moore

CHORUS

Who does God love?

Everyone!

Who does God love?

Everyone!

Who does God love?

Everyone!

Everyone! (No exceptions)

Hate your enemies- Love your friends

God shows love for all

It’s my club and you don’t blend

God shows love for all

You don’t eat the right foods – no way!

God shows love for all

You’re not welcome if you dress that way

God shows love for all

CHORUS

We don’t agree – I’m right – not you

God shows love for all

Maybe we should show love too

God shows love for all

CHORUS

© 2005 Kirk Moore - CCLI 1497207

Who does God love?
Everyone!

Here’s just a little more to remind you what we’re learning today:

Avoid what is harmful – concentrate on what is helpful and realize that God’s love is for everyone – not just those we judge to be worthy.
The dividing distinctions we’ve used to keep people out don’t matter – Jesus is all that matters – and Jesus lives in all of us.
God loves everyone

Those are some great things to think about.