Sermon Video: What do you have that you did not receive? - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

What is the source of human pride if not ignorance?  All pride is built upon a false premise, that we have earned what we have.  In reality, what we have, we have received from God.  This is a truth that ought to be apparent in the way that the people of God live, for would know the kindness of God better than those saved by grace?

In an effort to bring the people of the church of Corinth to their senses, Paul utilizes biting sarcasm to compare their feeling of self-assurance to his own experience of the harsh reality of being persecuted for the sake of the Gospel.

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The Intolerance of the Gospel

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is intolerant, as a matter of fact, the whole Bible is intolerant, on purpose.  When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai, the first commandment was straightforward in its exclusive claim, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3).  In a similar vein, the prophet Isaiah wrote, "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth." (Isaiah 37:16)  The fundamental understanding of who God is, clearly stated throughout the Hebrew scriptures, is that there is only one God, that no other gods exist.
The New Testament takes up this refrain and amplifies it even further with the exclusive "I Am" statements of Jesus, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)  There is absolutely no way to honor the words of Jesus other than admitting that this is an exclusive claim, one that is by its very nature, intolerant of other attempts to bridge the gap between the human and the divine.  Jesus exclusively claimed that he was the path to God, the only true God, and that all other paths must fail.  This is intolerant, it does not embrace the notion that people can believe whatever they want, for in that same sentence Jesus also declared himself to be "the truth".
Racism, hatred, cruelty, and unkindness have nothing to do with the Gospel, the people of God must always oppose them, vigorously, the exclusivity of the Gospel and such immoral behaviors have nothing in common.  The Gospel is indeed intolerant of false hope and false promises, it must be, for there is only one truth, to pretend otherwise would only harm those who do not yet believe.

Sermon Video: May we be found faithful by God - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

We have been entrusted with the Gospel by God.  Individual Christians, working collectively as the Church, have been given the awesome responsibility of being the guardians of the Gospel's message to a world which desperately needs it.  The question for us is simple: Will we be proven faithful in this task by God?
Our judgment of each other in this matter, is not accurate, our judgment of ourselves in this matter, can be misleading, but God's judgment will be both accurate and entirely thorough.  God will reward those who faithfully serve his kingdom, as only a righteous and holy judge could.

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Sermon Video: You are God's Temple - 1 Corinthians 3:16-23

What value do the people of God have in the sight of God?  In addition to our value as those created in his image, an inherent value we share with all of humanity, the people of God are also valued as the metaphorical temple of God.  From the creation of the Tabernacle until the Temple of Solomon was destroyed in 586 B.C., the glory of God dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.  The prophet Ezekiel saw that glory leave the temple prior to its destruction, but it did not return when the temple was rebuilt by Ezra, instead, God sent his Spirit to dwell within his people after Pentecost.  The glory of God began to dwell within his people instead of within a physical temple.
The implications of this blessing include a heightened sense of the purpose of God's people as his servants, and an increase in the seriousness of any who might harm or even destroy this temple of God by attacking individual Christians and/or the Church.

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Not a dime for politics, not ever.

There is talk in the air of changing or eliminating the 1954 Johnson Amendment, a provision in the U.S. tax code which bars non-profits (including churches) from engaging in partisan political activity, either for or against a candidate or party.  Although rarely enforced, the code calls for the 501(c)3 status of the charity to be revoked if they violate it.  In other words, if a non-profit wanted to engage in politics, it need only give up its tax-exempt status.  Some of those proposing to change or eliminate the amendment are saying that they are doing so in the name of religious freedom, that their action will "unshackle" churches and allow them a voice in the political arena.  The reality, however, could not  be further from the truth.
If the Johnson Amendment is eliminated, some churches/denominations will be tempted to use their funds to support or denounce political candidates/parties, they will in essence become just another PAC through whom money is funneled.  If the amendment is modified to allow such activity, while retaining the ability of those making donations to do so as a tax-deductible "charitable" gift, it will be an unmitigated disaster.  How would the average church or pastor avoid the corrupting influence of money and power if millions of dollars suddenly appear in the collection plate earmarked for politics?  How successful will the average church or pastor be at remaining true to the calling to preach the Word of God, without modification, if millions of dollars are suddenly at stake as the message of the politicians is supposed to be echoed in order to fulfill the obligation that always comes with the flow of power and money?  Does anyone really expect that the churches will be an independent voice, free of the horse trading and principle compromises of politics?
My calling, and that of my church, is to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ and train disciples to follow him.  In addition, we are to be a beacon of hope to the poor and oppressed, in imitation of the actions of Jesus.  I will not allow one dime of the funds given to this church to be diverted to any other cause, and I will not accept any donation, no matter how large, that is not intended solely for the purpose of fulfilling the mission that God has given us.  We are not a PAC, and we will never be one.
If the Johnson Amendment is repealed or modified to allow churches to become political actors, it will be the most hostile thing done to the Church in America in many years.  This proposed action is being sold as a way to "free" churches, it will end up laying a chain of money and power on them, and it will destroy the Gospel witness of many.
Do we really need to be reminded of the words of Lord Acton?  "Power corrupts, absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely."