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The Lord and the Law (October 11) 2009-10-06 by J Winckler Submit a Question | Submit an Article Is Jesus trying to tell the young man that we can't be saved by the law? The young man said I have kept all of these commandments, but Jesus found what was really holding him back. Jesus said get rid of it and follow me. Will pastors dare tell us what to get rid of? Is There No Hope? (October 11) 2009-10-07 by Marilyn Kendrix Submit a Question | Submit an Article This scripture is, for me, the most difficult of any of the teachings of Jesus. Millions are starving in the famine in Africa and other places around the world while here in the US, we argue about the cost of providing healthcare to everyone. It makes those arguments seem supremely selfish in light of what Jesus is telling us here. He seems to be saying that Christians in America who give generously to a variety of charities, who give to the church, who offer micro-loans, who serve in soup kitchens, who advocate for healthcare for all Americans, still have no hope of salvation if they are left with any possessions at all. That the first shall be last and the last first is not a problem is we can all hope to get there. Is there no hope? 'Jesus loved him' (Oct 11) 2009-10-07 by Amy Malick Submit a Question | Submit an Article The day after the pledge-drive kickoff at church, our newspaper ran a story on the front page about the growing divide between rich and poor in Connecticut. I see the line that reflects my income somewhere in the middle, and it's flat. The story explains that a good number of people fall well below even the lowest, declining line: Their annual income is less than $10,000. So when I read this story about the man seeking eternal life, I am especially attuned to what Jesus is saying to me. I think Jesus has this man's number. The clue is in the first exchange, when the man kneels, in apparent reverence, and calls Jesus "Good Teacher." Jesus sees right through the man's pious pretense. In great love, Jesus tells the man to get rid of the things that get in the way, and give him his whole heart. And as the passage goes on to illuminate, it's not just material possessions that get in the heart's way. Jesus tells us that following him means loving him first – even before our families. I can empathize with the man kneeling before Jesus. I have given away a great deal of money and time to the poor (and receive from them much more than I give). Yet I have four grandsons and another grandchild on the way, all of whom live long airplane flights away. What if I commit too much and don’t have enough left over to see them? I get stuck here at the eye of the needle in this scarcity mindset, hearing Jesus, in great love, calling me to the abundance of his heart. Yet I’m afraid to trust completely that when I seek God’s poverty in Jesus – and in the poor God brings into my life - I will have family a hundredfold. Can you help us understand this exactlng call of Jesus to abundant life? Shocked and grieving (Oct 11) 2009-10-06 by Tim Norton Submit a Question | Submit an Article When I read this passage I find myself identifying with the man who addresses Jesus. I live comfortably, am recently retired, and have some good assets to lean on. Compared to many I have seen, especially in light of our dismal economy, housing crisis, unemployment, health care and hunger concerns, I would be considered rich. So here's the problem: there is a duality to my faith (or is it ambiguity?) I call myself Christian and trust in God, but I also trust in my "possessions":home, intellect, wealth and other false gods. Like the man in the story, I'm not sure I could survive without my customary support system. And because of this I realize I cannot fully dedicate myself 100% to my Lord who sacrificed everything for me. I try to live life serving the Lord and caring for his people as much as I can manage, but I never have to let go of that "lifeline" that tethers me to my "riches". Could I exist without that help? Could I sell all I had, give it to the poor, and then follow Christ with my whole being? I don't know. Does my trust in God need to be unequivocal and absolute, so that I rely on him for all my support, all my help? If I believe all that I possess is a gift from God, then how I use those gifts (the stewardship question) enters the equation. Good stewardship tells me to use the gifts of God for the benefit of all - and I know I'm not there yet. This issue comes up at our session meetings at church, too. We tackle, with gusto and imagination, concerns about our finances, stretching an operating budget, looking for new income sources, preserving our building and future plans while offering what we can "afford" toward mission, community outreach, and providing for others less fortunate. And it's not like we don't know what the Lord would say about it; Jesus lays it out very plainly here in this passage. Someday I hope not to be the one who "was shocked and went away grieving." Jesus Can't Be Talking To Me, Can He? (October 11) 2009-10-04 by John Roberts Submit a Question | Submit an Article Western culture English speaking Christians have always been very good at rationalizing conduct that is contrary to scripture. The scripture for today is a classic example. Jesus talks more about money than any other subject. Our preachers like to talk about any subject other than money. This week's scripture contains two verses that have had this rationalizing treatment by professional and lay people for centuries. (Mark 10: 21-22) The logic goes like this. We don't argue with what Jesus said, but we know he is speaking only to this rich man and not to us. After all, we're good people who tithe and keep the law and go to church every Sunday and do good things for other people. We have responsibilities and businesses to take care of, What would happen if we just gave it all away? Jesus knows that as long as we have great possessions we will never depend on God the way He wants us to. Suppose he is really speaking to all of us and not just this rich man. We know this can't be true - can it? [First Page] [Prev] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 [Next] [Last Page] Login - (This login is for administrators and bloggers. Usernames and passwords for GoodPreacher subscribers will not work here.) |
