This Sunday's readings present revisionist preachers with what I believe will be a pretty easy choice as to what they do not discuss in their sermons.
The Epistle reading from 1 John 4:7-21,
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love* because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters,* are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister* whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters* also.
or the Gospel reading from John 15:1-8,
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes* to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed* by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become* my disciples.
Any guess as to what the revisionist preacher in a dying denomination will avoid mentioning in his/her/it's sermon?
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I have often read TEC Bishop Curry's pronouncements to the effect that we are God's agents fulfilling "God's dream" in this world, and that without us, God can do nothing. As this Gospel reading shows, the opposite is true: "Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. "
ReplyDeleteToday's collect from the 1928 BCP says it this way: "O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly will and affections of sinful man; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise."
Oh yes, I got a recent e-mail from them that said, "I am writing to ask for a few minutes of your time, as a valued member of our community, to share your thoughts about the Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) of the Episcopal Church. We strive to adapt and improve our fundraising efforts so we can continue the work God has called us to do – build God’s kingdom on earth."
DeleteIf they are in charge of building God's kingdom on earth (and not the Earth), I would say that God should put bids out for a new contractor.
God has put out a bid for contractors who trust in Him and try to follow his commandments.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that from Bishop Curry in person. In his view, the essence of the faith is to return this earth to its condition in the Garden of Eden. This work is to be done through "social justice" type efforts.