Yesterday, our country experienced the 250th mass shooting in 2019. It is our responsibility for fellow human beings, to be the voice of reason, the voice of the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to stand up and respond, not stay silent and allow the the worldly ways to be the norm, rather than the heavenly ways being the norm.
On Sunday, our reading for worship was: Luke 12:13–21 (NRSV)
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Lk 12:13–21.
Storing up our stuff, rather than sharing what God has given us, breaks relationships between each other and with God. Our storing, not sharing is not limited to dollars, although this is part of it. It also includes our response to God in service and mission to the world. It is the sharing of the Word of God, the Son who came into the world to save the world. John 17-18 (NRSV):
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Jn 3:17–18.
It is in sharing of our spiritual gifts of service to God’s children that can help, with the Word, to change the world. If we are unwilling to go into the world to serve, we allow the world to continue to downslide as it has been for years and years. We are called to be insulated from the effects of the world by coming into community in the Body of Christ, so that we can be sent into the world to teach of the Gospel, and carrying out the Great Commission: Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 28:19–Mk.
This is not an issue of Left or Right, Liberal or Conservative. It is an issue that all sides of any political isle are guilty of not walking with God. Christian or not, there is no excuse for what is going on in the world. We need to speak truth, and stand up.
Allowing the same rhetoric to keep on happening, allows the world to be taken over by the devil. Sure, as Christians, we have hope that in the end, Jesus Christ is the victor and the devil will be defeated. Do we want to live in the world as it is now or as it could and should be? The Kingdom of heaven has broken through. It is time to respond and live into the Kingdom today, not later.
Love one-another. Care for one-another. Respect one-another. Live into the kingdom. Bring others the Word. Preach the gospel. When necessary, use words. Let others see what God in Jesus Christ has done for you and them.
Let us not store up our stuff by share it all. Starting by responding to the commandment that Jesus gave us: John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Jn 13:34–35.
Love will change the world towards the Kingdom of Heaven.