Notes From Jon

This is the second part in my series on Romans, and it was a difficult sermon to preach.  Several people have told me how much they enjoyed it – I just hope it comes across as well on blog as it did out loud!

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Casting the First Stone

Romans 1:24 – 2:16

Catching Up…

Two weeks ago, we started looking at Paul’s letter to the Romans.  Here are some of the things we learned about the book:

• Paul is writing to the church in Rome, which he did not start and which he had not visited.
• He is writing mostly to non-Jews, so he is forced to explain his arguments in ways that non-Jews (like us) can understand.
• Paul is also taking this chance to outline his understanding of the Gospel – our need for salvation and how God provided for that need.

Paul is using an argument that he has carefully thought out.  Paul is a highly educated man, and he is skilled at putting together arguments that are persuasive.  Here is the beginning of the outline of Paul’s argument.

• God’s anger is stirred up against ALL human beings:
  • No human being has an excuse – whether we have heard directly or only perceived in nature and in others, EVERYONE has some sense that there is a God.
  • So it is not IGNORANCE that stirs God’s wrath, but our deliberate rejection of him – especially when we know the Truth and ignore it.

We found encouragement in Paul’s outline of the Good News that God has done something about this already.  But we also found a challenge – especially for those of us who have HEARD the Truth and KNOW what it means to obey… but we CHOOSE to disobey anyway.

Moving Ahead – The Wickedness of “Them”

Now we’ll read 1:24-32.  It’s not an easy passage for us to hear: Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve decided to do something kind of crazy, I think… I’m going to preach through Romans.  Those of you who use the lectionary know that the RCL is moving through Romans in this year’s Ordinary time, and I’ve got a late start.  Plus, I’m interested in some of the parts that the RCL doesn’t touch.  So I started off last Sunday with chapter 1.

The following doesn’t read the same as it came out in the sermon – this is basically an expanded commentary on the text.  I’d love to hear your thoughts…

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Through the Book of Romans
(Hopping, Skipping and Jumping)

When & Why

Paul likely wrote this letter near the end of his third missionary journey, during his long stay in Corinth.  Paul had never been to Rome, even though he had hoped to for many years.  His work in the East had kept him so busy that he had not made it to Italy yet.  But now he considers his work in Asia Minor to be complete, so he hopes to stop by Rome on his way to Spain – which at that time was the Western edge of the civilized world.  It’s almost as if Paul was working to spread the Gospel to the “corners” of the earth. So Paul hoped the church in Rome would be a kind of headquarters for his mission work in the West.

Read the rest of this entry »

As I sat in the coffee house a couple of days ago working on my sermon, a man came in who was obviously the delivery man from Sysco or some-such. The TV caught his attention as he came across the room – coverage of upcoming primaries happened to be on at the time, particularly a look at Hillary Clinton’s recent campaign ads. With a big sigh, he went to the counter and began unloading his things, then started broadcasting his political views to everyone.  Since it was impossible to work or to carry on a conversation while he loudly ranted, everyone listened – though most of us pretended not to. The unfortunate woman behind the counter had no choice but to acknowledge his tirade.

“Can you believe we might have to choose between some woman for president and this athiest guy?”

“Hmmm,” she said, looking down at the order form she was filling out and keeping her thoughts about his comment to herself.

“I mean, she’s some kind of communist, and he doesn’t believe in God. Wouldn’t even take his oath on the Bible, can you BELIEVE that?” he asked, though he wasn’t really asking. And no one answered. He then proceeded to unfold his theory on how Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton (or both) are somehow the Antichrist, using references to the book of Revelation.  His prediction for the November elections – Obama will be President and Clinton the VP, and the world will come to an end sometime in 2009.

I seemed to recall getting both “Obama the Atheist” and “Obama the Muslim” emails forwarded to me, and figuring from the sources of those emails that their claims were false. But just for fun, since the Coffee Shop Pundit wouldn’t allow me to work, I decided to check out the stories for myself. Turns out this guy knows a lot more about Revelation than he does about the candidates.

I was reminded of the little fliers that the Christian Coalition of Alabama used to send to all the state churches every voting season – a “Candidate Report Card,” covering only issues which they deemed “important to Christian voters,” and sometimes smudging the truth a bit. Those made me chuckle, too – until I started seeing editorials and talking to friends at seminary who were using arguments and language that was all too familiar. It was upsetting to know that lots of folks – even my educated seminary friends – let “Christian experts” do their election research for them.

Silly as the coffee house episode was – and I did chuckle while he ranted for a few minutes – it ended up leaving me thoughtful and, honestly, a little scared. I take facts from email about as seriously as I take facts from cartoons. But if the number of these emails I get a week are any indication, someone out there obviously believes this stuff.

What else would these kinds of people believe if you sent it over email? All you have to do to convince some people is use big words and say you know someone at the CIA who confirms it. I’ve read (and heard with my own ears) people IN THE PULPIT make statements that they obviously got from these kinds of sources. And you know that if you hear it from the preacher AND you saw it on the internet, it might as well be written in the Bible.

The reporters and pundits say that religion and the internet will be big factors in the outcomes of this election, and I think they’re right. I’m just not so sure it’s a good thing…