(Steve gets up to read the morning scripture. Galatians 5:22-23)
22But (A)the fruit of the Spirit is (B)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, (C)self-control; against such things (D)there is no law.
24Now those who belong to (E)Christ Jesus have (F)crucified the flesh with its passions and (G)desires.
Josh: I hope you choke on your fruit of the Spirit!
Steve: Do you think it’s was an apple? This fruit of the Spirit, do you think it was an apple?
Josh: What do you mean do I think it was an apple?!? I get up in the middle of the Sunday morning meeting while you are reading from the Bible and throw a piece of fruit at your head and you ask me what I think?
Steve: While I assume you have your reasons for doing just that and picked an apple for some symbolic reason so, do you think it is really an apple?
Josh: You see that’s my point! I throw an apple at you for no reason and you are just as cool and calm as ever. I can’t understand you! Or anyone else!
Steve: Well there you go I knew you must have had a reason and there it is. My reason for being so calm is that I. …well…. I don’t honestly know but I don’t really have a reason to be upset.
Josh: HEY MORON! I THREW AN APPLE AT YOUR HEAD! That’s reason enough.
Steve: No it’s really not.
Josh: (trying a different approach) OK so maybe you are Mrs. Cool when someone throws an apple at your head but what about this: You are sitting in a plane on your way to California when four guys bust in claiming to have a bomb and take the plane hostage. Or you are sitting in your office, doing your job when that plane crashes into the building where you work and that building begins to collapse around you. Remain so cool in the face of reality. Tell me why a God who is so good and so loving allows such pointless evil to take place.
(Chris begins to walk out and almost gets to the back as Carrie who is seriously hit by those examples searches for the words to say)
Steve: You don’t think I’m afraid? Josh, I am so afraid of all that has happened. There are you happy? Mr. Hallelujah Preacher man isn’t so cool now is he? Josh, I’m scared out of my mind over all these things. I don’t know why these things happen. But all things work out according to God’s plan.
Josh: Don’t feed me that junk. Are you going to tell the victims of this tragedy and the families of those lives which have been lost that this was in God’s plan? When men and women go off to war to defend the honor of this country are you going to tell them that it’s all in God’s plan? Come on, you just said that there are pointless evils in this world. So why does a God who is so good and so loving allow them to happen. I’m a Christian Steve; you know that I love God with my whole heart. I just can’t understand why these things happen. Where am I suppose to find peace in this world or with God knowing that He allows these things to happen?
(Josh pauses as Steve stares at the Bible searching for answers. Steve closes his eyes and prays silently. Josh is certain he is right and begins to walk out again. Steve slowly and quietly starts to speak with her eyes still closed.)
Steve: “You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule. You are blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One who you are most dear to.” What a friend we have in Jesus, Josh. Jesus, God’s only begotten son who suffered and died for us. That is where I find my peace. The peace that we forfeit, you and I both, is because we don’t take to the Lord in prayer. Praying will not change God it will change you. Get to know your savior. Jesus Josh Jesus
To the Congregation “Let’s Pray”.
(Josh has been listening to all that Carrie has to say and has made his way back up front.)
Steve: What a friend we have in Jesus Josh. (steve looks up to see josh back up front. he tosses him the apple)
Josh: Yeah what a friend I have. (both pause and josh returns slowly looking intently at the apple in his hand.)
This has been a long couple of weeks. I am grateful to Captain Delia For preaching let me rephrase fascinating such an amazing worship service. I preach Captain Delia creates something beautiful for God!!! However I am grateful for having a second week to process everything that has been going through my mind. Although I have to confess one week hasn’t been enough The Questions Josh asked a few minutes ago are Questions we have been asking each other for over 10 years now. And they are as honest today as they we when they were first asked.
Where is God in the midst tragedy? Where is God when someone storms into a one room school house and slaughters a handful of peace loving Amish children. And do you want to know the honest truth?
I still don’t know. But… After 10+ years of asking the, other day I was watching a video with Torchbearers and I heard a question that upset me even more. The speaker said I used to ask where Was God in the midst of Tragedy now I ask where are God’s People!
Do you want Peace I am not talking about and end to war I am talking about something much bigger when the bible talks about peace the word used is Shalom is deeper and richer then just peace shalom implies blessing and flourishing. Do you want Shalom!!!
If God’s People looked more like God and less like this world than we would see a lot more Shalom in our world and a lot less Chaos!
If this is true than we have to ask how can we look like God. Let me start by saying it isn’t easy!!!
Lets read Luke 6:20-30 (New American Standard Bible)
20And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "(A)Blessed are you who are poor, for (B)yours is the kingdom of God.
21"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22"(C)Blessed are you when men hate you, and (D)ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
23"Be glad in that day and (E)leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven For (F)in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
24"But woe to (G)you who are rich, for (H)you are receiving your comfort in full.
25"Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the (I)false prophets in the same way.
27"But I say to you who hear, (J)love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28bless those who curse you, (K)pray for those who mistreat you.
29"(L)Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
30"Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
There is a historic cycle of oppression. As the oppressed all around us people are being held down. Its life that’s world we live in and that’s the way its been since Cain killed able because able made him look bad. But when someone finds freedom from oppression what do they do with it? Once the oppressed gain power they become the oppressor. That is the only way humanity has seen power modeled.
So here Jesus comes along and preaches something truly new and radical. Turn the other cheek give your clothes away.
And when we read this we quickly ask well he didn’t mean that literally.
"If some one hits me I am gonna hit him back. I am nobodies stepping stool I am no footmat”
And you know what You can hit your oppressor back (or whatever form the retaliation takes) and no one is going to fault you for it. But when you model truly and yes literally the teachings of Christ you you’ll change the world
When. Dr. King organized non violent resistance he succeeded where others had failed he he modeled Jesus to his world
When the 13 year old Amish girl called out kill me kill me hoping to save some of her classmates she modeled Jesus to her world.
When Jesus prayed father don’t hold this against them they don’t have a clue what they are doing for the very people who butchered and murdered him he was being a living example of his own words. And he changed the world the world.
Did he mean it literally? Yes! Does it sound impossible? yes!!!
If anybody ever told being a Christian was easy they were lying to you. "Becoming" a Christian is easy. Living the Christian life the way it was meant to be lived... There is a reason Jesus talked about dying to self and bearing ones Cross.
28bless those who curse you, (A)pray for those who mistreat you.
29"(B)Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
30"Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
Lets Pray.
