Sermon Video: "Do we not all have one Father" Malachi 2:10

The prophet Malachi reminds us that everyone who is in a relationship (covenant) with God has the same father.  One Father = One Family.  In addition, he then reminds us that all of humanity has one Creator.  One Creator = One Human Race.  The prophet's subsequent question, "Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?" reminds us that there is no place in the Church of Christ for racism or discrimination of any kind.  All those who are in Christ share the same Father, and all of humanity as a whole shares the image of God.  Therefore, the Church must be proactive in supporting and defenders our brothers and sisters in Christ who face racism or discrimination, who suffer injustice.  Additionally, the Church has no room for Nationalism or other false ways of dividing the world into groups of 'us' and 'them'.  Silence is not an option, inaction is not acceptable.  It is long past time for the entire worldwide Church to speak together against racism (for example) in ways that transcend politics, affect our own hearts and minds, and impact our family, friends, and neighbors.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

In defense of brotherly love - Samwise Gamgee and Hermione Granger

As is well known, my favorite book is The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.  In this masterpiece that launched the modern fantasy novel genre, the character of Samwise Gamgee follows his "master" Frodo on the journey to Mordor to destroy the one ring.  It is well known that Tolkien modeled the relationship between Frodo and Sam after the relationship between officers in the British army during WWI and their assistants, known as a "batman".  The relationship between Frodo and Sam is one of the greatest example in literature of brotherly love, loyalty, and friendship.  It should come as no surprise, then, that some would rather view this relationship through a sexual lense, wanting to see the Sam/Frodo relationship as a homosexual one.  Such a view would obviously ignore the intent of J.R.R. Tolkien, as the author, although for many this hurdle means nothing, but it would also destroy the nobility of the relationship for it would take away its most important quality: selflessness.  Sam is loyal to Frodo, and loves him like a friend, is there something wrong with leaving it at that?  Must every relationship have a sexual angle, can nothing be altruistic?
A similar thought occurs with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, it has been reported that the author considered having Harry fall for Hermoine, instead of what she actually wrote which had Harry's friends Ron and Hermione end up together.  What was written is far superior, however, for it makes the friendship between these three paramount, and their willingness to risk their lives to support Harry in his quest is more noble without the angle of sexual attraction and romance that would have made Hermione's choice to stay with Harry when Ron left temporarily in the Deathly Hollows a self-centered one instead of a self-sacrificial choice.
Romantic love is crucial to society, helping to hold marriages together, but there is something to be said for simple brotherly love, devoid of sexual connections, for love such as this has often changed the world.  "For God demonstrates his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Why must I as a Christian love all people?

The following quote from John Calvin (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 7, section 6) illustrates our duty as disciples of Jesus Christ.  In light of the anger and vitriol on social media by Christian who should not be acting in that way, this reminder of what our Lord requires from us is certainly needed.  Brotherly Kindness is not optional.

Moreover, that we may not weary in well-doing (as would otherwise forthwith and infallibly be the case), we must add the other quality in the Apostle’s enumeration, “Charity suffiereth long, and is kind, is not easily provoked,” (1 Cor. 13:4). The Lord enjoins us to do good to all without exception, though the greater part, if estimated by their own merit, are most unworthy of it. But Scripture subjoins a most excellent reason, when it tells us that we are not to look to what men in themselves deserve, but to attend to the image of God, which exists in all, and to which we owe all honour and love. But in those who are of the household of faith, the same rule is to be more carefully observed, inasmuch as that image is renewed and restored in them by the Spirit of Christ. Therefore, whoever be the man that is presented to you as needing your assistance, you have no ground for declining to give it to him. Say he is a stranger. The Lord has given him a mark which ought 
to be familiar to you: for which reason he forbids you to despise your own flesh (Gal. 6:10). Say he is mean and of no consideration. The Lord points him out as one whom he has distinguished by the lustre of his own image (Isaiah 58:7). Say that you are bound to him by no ties of duty. The Lord has substituted him as it were into his own place, that in him you may recognize the many great obligations under which the Lord has laid you to himself. Say that he is unworthy of your least exertion on his account; but the image of God, by which he is recommended to you, is worthy of yourself and all your exertions. But if he not only merits no good, but has provoked you by injury and mischief, still this is no good reason why you should not embrace him in love, and visit him with offices of love. He has deserved very differently from me, you will say. But what has the Lord deserved? Whatever injury he has done you, when he enjoins you to forgive him, he certainly means that it should be imputed to himself. In this way only we attain to what is not to say difficult but altogether against nature, to love those that hate us, render good for evil, and blessing for cursing, remembering that we are not to reflect on the wickedness of men, but look to the image of God in them, an image which, covering and obliterating their faults, should by its beauty and dignity allure us to love and embrace them. - John Calvin.

Sermon Video: "Who is my neighbor?" - Luke 10:29-37

As the conversation between Jesus and the expert in the Law continues, the lawyer and Jesus have agreed that the heart and soul of the Law is loving God with everything and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  At this point, the original question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” has been answered in that what is required by the Law has been clearly summed up.  The next part of the conversation should be a discussion of how we reconcile the Law’s demand with humanity’s failure to fully keep it, i.e. a discussion of repentance and forgiveness, of mercy and grace.  The lawyer, however, in an effort to justify himself turns the discussion in a new direction by asking Jesus, “and who is my neighbor?”  The lawyer’s question is focusing on the object of the Law, who it applies to, in the hopes that a narrow definition will make it easier to keep.  As Jesus typically does, he doesn’t answer the question he is asked but instead chooses to focus upon the subject of the Law, that is, us, by explaining what it means to be a good neighbor.

                The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most commented upon sections of the Bible, it has fascinated Christians down through the centuries with its powerful message.  In the story, the unnamed man who is robbed, beaten, and left for dead while journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho is only treated as a neighbor by one of the three people who pass by that way.  The first two that come along, both of whom are professional servants of God and thus in theory ideal representatives of the requirements of the Law to love your neighbor, yet they both walk by without even stopping to assess the situation.  Both of these men of God commit sins of omission by not helping a fellow human being in distress.  The lawyer who asked the question of Jesus about defining the term neighbor was hoping that the definition would end up being, “only people like us, our fellow Jews are your neighbors”.  Even by that narrow definition, the priest and Levite are in violation of the Law.  The broad definition of neighbor advocated by Jesus, everyone you meet is your neighbor, is embodied by the Samaritan who comes along next, takes pity on the wounded man, and goes far beyond the minimum to take care of his needs. 

                The twist of the story is of course that a hated Samaritan is the good guy and two respected religious leaders are the bad guys, that alone is a powerful enough message about prejudice and judging people based on outward appearances, but the parable also teaches us to not put limits on who we consider to be our neighbors.  The demand from God that we love our neighbors as ourselves has no boundary, there is no “us” and “them”.  Anytime that people start dividing the world up into groups of “us” and “them”, the process begins which allows racism, sexism, indifference, callousness, greed, and hatred to grow.  Why?  Because when we look at another human being as a “them” we allow ourselves to begin to minimize their suffering and treat it as somehow less than our own.  How was Hitler able to murder millions of innocent Jews, Gypsies, and other “undesirables”?  He had millions of willing men and women throughout Europe that also believed that those lives were less valuable, because it was “them” and not “us”, unspeakable horrors were unleashed. 

                What is the call of God for his people?  To love all, and treat all equally, to see everyone as your neighbor and imitate the love of God by loving them in turn.  The conversation between Jesus and the lawyer ends when the lawyer is forced to concede that the one who acted as a neighbor to the man in distress was “the one who had mercy on him”, it does not matter who he was, his actions spoke for him.  In response Jesus said, “Go and do likewise”.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video

Providential "coincidence"

I received a call in my office today from the local pregnancy outreach group, ABC (a group that does amazing work helping pregnant women and young mothers) about a need for a ride right now for someone from a hospital in Pittsburgh back to Oil City.  If someone from here were to leave not, it would take a little over an hour to get there.  I talked to the person in need, not thinking that any answer could be found on such short notice, until my brain remembered something I had heard earlier today.  My neighbor, and good friend of Nicole and I, Pastor Jeff Little (1st UMC), was in Pittsburgh today for a denominational meeting; could it be that he hadn't started to drive back yet??
I quickly called Jeff and found out that he had just stopped at a gas station prior to leaving to come back; yikes!  Talk about a God thing, I know that sometimes things don't work out no matter how hard we try, and yet there are times like this that a solution just seems to fall into our laps.  Of course, it required someone like Jeff to be willing to be the hands/feet of Christ.  How many times are we left stymied because nobody answers the call?  I guess it's a good thing I called Jeff this morning to see if he would join Nicole and I for a movie tonight; God is good.

Sermon Video: Are there limits to doing good? - Luke 6:6-11

As Jesus teaches from the Scriptures on the Sabbath he is confronted by the Pharisees over the issue of whether or not it is proper to heal someone on God's appointed day of rest. Jesus confronts their self-righteous and heartless attitude by asking if it is proper to do good or evil on the Sabbath? The question should have been rhetorical, but Jesus has to ask it because of the fear the people are experiencing at the hands of those who should have been representing God and teaching the people right from wrong. In the end, Jesus heals the man, demonstrates the compassion for others we should all have, and proves that it is always the right time to do the right thing.


What stops you from living according to the teaching of Jesus? How can social pressure be an excuse for not confronting evil?  It is not acceptable for the people of God to fail to take up their cross and follow Jesus, we must choose to do what is right.   To watch the video, click on the link below: Sermon Video

The progression of our faith - II Peter 1:5-7

In our Bible study today we talked about the list that Peter wrote when he was talking about our efforts to "participate in the divine nature" through God's power and our knowledge of his Son, and ultimately to "escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (vs. 4)  That sounds great, but how are we to make any progress from the fallen state which God saved us from through Christ to the elevated state that God has promised we will one day attain through his power?  Where do we begin such a journey?
There are several lists of virtues in the New Testament whose order would not seem to be overly significant.  The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, for example, are not listed in any ascending or descending order.  Here, however, in II Peter, the list is set up from the beginning of our journey, faith, to its eventual conclusion, love.  The journey must begin with faith.  We cannot approach God any other way because of our sinful rebellion against his holiness. 
Once someone becomes a believers in Jesus Christ, a Christian, where do they begin in the process of becoming Christ-like?  The first step is goodness; begin by doing that which is kind, generous, merciful, etc. and let your new found faith put down roots.  The next step is knowledge.  One needs to learn WHEN to do this or that, HOW to do it, and WHY.  Our motives become significant as well as our wisdom as we learn the difference between absolute truth and the freedom that we have in Christ to judge in debatable matters.  The attainment of knowledge leads to the realization that self-control is necessary as well.  Once we learn the depth of what it takes to act in goodness, we need to learn to control ourselves so that our progress is forward (and not 3 steps forward, 2 steps back) and doesn't self-destruct in fits of anger, jealousy, pride, anxiety, or fear.  Self-control is one of the hardest things to learn for any Christian, a difficult step to move beyond.  How can we possibly continue to have self-control when life throws curve balls at us?  Now we need perseverance.  We need the ability to do the right thing, in wisdom and self-control even when the circumstances of life are working against us.
When we have come this far, we can begin to glimpse the mind and heart of God, we can begin to understand what godliness is all about.  Why would God send his Son to die for our sins, why would God create us in the first place?  Understanding God's motives helps us to live in imitation of our savior.  It is only now, when we have made so much progress in fixing our own flaws (through the Holy Spirit's power and God's patience with us) that we can understand why we should care about other people.  Brotherly love costs us something.  It is easy to love those who love you back, but we are called to a higher standard.  We must show kindness to strangers, to those who can do nothing to repay us, and we must show kindness to our families, to those with whom we have a history.  And now, at the end of the list comes the word that our world places at the beginning: love.  We don't know what love really is in our culture.  We use love when we mean lust, we use love when we mean "a mutually beneficial arrangement", and we use love when we intend to toss it away when it now longer serves our purpose.  The Christian knows love because Christ died for our sins while we were still in rebellion against God.  The love at the top of Peter's list is a self-sacrificial love that puts others first at great cost to itself.  That this love is far removed when the kind people talk about every day is no surprise to any who observe the shallow and self-centered "love" that fails time and time again to stand in the face of adversity. 
How does the Christian advance in his or her faith and reach toward being like Christ?  By adding to faith with goodness, then knowledge, and then self-control, and perseverance, and godliness, then brotherly kindness, and finally love.