When we listen to the news, one word comes up over and
over. There are many things that make
us uneasy, even afraid: SECURITY!
World Political Security
This week we held our breath afraid that North Korea would
so something to threaten world security.
We have been praying for months that Syria would find a way to a new
beginning. Iran also continues to
threaten a new beginning of nuclear war.
Internet threats also pose a danger to all of us.
Often the pounding at Ft. Riley rattles our house and tells
me that we have much left to do to bring the world to where God wants.
Global Financial
Security
Financial stability continues to be keep worries on the
table as some banks and big companies have problems and even nations worry
about debt collapsing their countries structure.
National Security
So we spend billions on defense and security. What is about human beings that we have to
lock everything and spend so much of our abundance on defense when the whole
world could be about ending hunger, poverty, oppression, and war.
Personal Security
Americans frequently put security systems in their
homes. Our own nation is a giant debate
over whether guns provide security or make things more dangerous. More in news
all the time are the possible theft of our personal identity. One member of our church has been targeted
with identity theft and I hope they find the man using his name.
In the midst of fear people do some strange things, even
corporations. The slides shown during
the reading of the scripture were from The
Brick Bible, a new book by Brendan Powell Smith. His book pictures the Bible scenes with
Legos. He wanted to present the Bible in
a new way in tune with the world. That
is what Jesus did: he told stories about
seeds and flowers and birds and a camel going through the eye of a needle. That is what John Wesley did. When people were not coming to the churches,
he took the gospel out to the people. He
preached in the open spaces. Our
denomination began that way. We need to
continue that for us to live our faith.
Wal-Mart was very interested in stocking them until they
learned that parts of the Bible were left in, even the parts about violence and
sexuality. So Smith took out a bunch of
the images out and Wal-Mart still won’t stock it. There is nothing in the book that was not in
the Bible.
Fear was what drove the death of Jesus on the cross. Rome feared that Jesus would cause a
rebellion. And now the disciples were
afraid that what happened to Jesus would happen to them and they were not yet
ready for that. Being crucified as a
political and religious threat was not something they signed up for being
disciples. They were also afraid at what Jesus would say. They had disappointed Jesus and
themselves. When Jesus needed them most
they deserted him. One of the miracles
of Easter is that he did not blame or shame them. Jesus did not blame Thomas for doubting. He came back to clarify the truth. Doubting is how we determine things are true
or not.
Thomas shows us that doubting can be a path to bold faith. We don’t often remember but Thomas is also the
man who said: Then let us go so that we
may die with him!” His confession of
Jesus as My Lord and My God is one of the strongest of the whole New
Testament.
Retracing this journey of Thomas encourages regular
attendance and involvement. If you are
not in attendance you might miss something.
Regular attendance at worship and Sunday school for all ages, gives you
a front row seat to what God is doing through us. Often a small group is the place where you
experience the presence of Christ.
Regular attendance gives you a family of support. Regular attendance helps you discover the
possibilities of human friendship so valued by God. Regular attendance puts you in places where
your gifts and your talents can make a difference in other’s lives.
The disciples had up their best defenses and Jesus came
right through. Locked doors, closed
minds, and hard hearts are not something that will block God’s work. Intense worry, fear, and guilt don’t keep God
out…that is when God can enter in. There
is no set of human security measures that are stronger or better than Christ’s
presence bringing peace, gratitude, and renewal.
And now here is one more thing that is amazing about
Easter. “He gave the earliest disciples
an assignment. “As the Father sent me,
so I send you.” We are all sent to show
the world how hospitality works, how community works, and how compassion
changes the world. We are to leave our
locked rooms and leave behind our fears.
We are to do all the good we can.
Living and telling the Easter story changes the world. The assignment is to make become disciples
and then make disciples for the transformation of the world.
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