Let's see. Two weeks ago we introduced our "Good Samaritan" theme to the congregation and told them that we're going to be addressing the plight of some of the world's most needy people. This was not going to be small task. These were going to be big issues. A week ago we talked openly and honestly about AIDS and pandemic disease. We threw out facts and figures with the hopes that persons in the congregation would get a sense of just how many people are dying of diseases that we can actually do something about. Yesterday we dove head first into issues of justice, highlighting the growing world slave trade, including sex trafficking. As I look to next week, I'm excited to be looking at poverty. That's something that hits a little closer to home for our folks and for me as well. Here is something that we've actually seen in some of its forms...a more familiar enemy.
These are big issues.
These are bad issues.
These are issues that are clearly not what God wants for the world.
However, their size and their scope can make us feel so very small. In fact, I think the issues are so big that we have this natural flight response that makes us want to run away from them as fast as we can so that we can deal about those issues which are more personal to our own situations. Give us something smaller. How about talking about trying to be Godly spouses or our need to read the Bible more frequently? Tell us some nice stories of Jesus and the coming Kingdom of God. When's Christmas? At least these are issues we feel like we can do something about.
These are big issues.
These are bad issues.
These are issues that are clearly not what God wants for the world.
However, their size and their scope can make us feel so very small. In fact, I think the issues are so big that we have this natural flight response that makes us want to run away from them as fast as we can so that we can deal about those issues which are more personal to our own situations. Give us something smaller. How about talking about trying to be Godly spouses or our need to read the Bible more frequently? Tell us some nice stories of Jesus and the coming Kingdom of God. When's Christmas? At least these are issues we feel like we can do something about.
