Where am I and how did I get in this handbasket?! Some days when I wake up and look at our nation I ask that question.
What we’re seeing played out in our world right now, at a greater magnitude than I’ve seen in my 51 years, is a battle of kingdoms. It isn’t new, I guess. Isaiah prophesied: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20, CSB) Or, we might paraphrase today: “Woe to you who call Cardi B good and the Muppets and Dr. Seuss bad.”
We’re watching Orwell’s 1984 play out in real life: War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. Our language is Newspeak. Our history is being re-written. It is wearying. What do we believe? Who can we believe? Politicians? The media? Science? Or the NEW science which is a politicized weapon. It’s like Pilate asked Jesus: “What is truth?”
This Sunday I’ll attempt to answer two important questions for the ekklesia: “Where are we today?” and “Where do we go from here?” In this sermon series, we’ve talked a lot about the Kingdom of God…and how God has chosen his church – his ekklesia – as the means of kingdom expansion. Is the church perfect? Of course not – it’s filled with people! I might add that the heavenly idea and design of the church is perfect – but our implementation isn’t always. Like I say, if you find a perfect church, don’t join it…you’ll ruin it!
Think of the church like Noah’s Ark. Perfect, divine design. Created for the sole purpose of rescuing people (and animals). But once the gangplank dropped and all those critters got on board, it got a little stinky; poop everywhere, lions licking their chops every time the sheep walk by. But, it got the job done, right? Likewise, the church may not be perfect, it may sometimes stink, but it is uniquely equipped for its rescue mission. It’s our job to carry forward the Kingdom of God – and we can get the job done! “…The gates of Hades will not overpower it!”
See you Sunday!
