[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage # 570, Pentecost 12, 8/19/07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 12, August 19, 2007

Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:1-2; 8-19
Hebrews 11:29 12:2
Luke 12:49 56


The Threat of Faith

The preacher to the Hebrews exhorts his readers to faith, but at the 
same time he tells them how threatening they can become by having 
faith.  Why were those heroes of faith "stoned to death... sawn in 
two...  killed by the sword"?  Why did they go "about in skins of sheep 
and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented"? (Hebrews 11:37)  Because 
the rulers of this world perceived the faithful to be a threat.  Even 
if the faithful prosper -- especially if the faithful prosper -- the 
rulers of this world are threatened.  [...who through faith conquered 
kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of 
lions,  quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won 
strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to 
flight.]  (Hebrews 11:33-34)  These too are a threat and will draw 
hostile reaction.

Isaiah tells us of a time when the burden of faith was too much even 
for those to whom it was given. They traded the protection of faith for 
the security of this world. They left the gift for which they had been 
called and sought the power for which they were unfit. ”For the 
vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of 
Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw 
bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!” (Isaiah 5:7) There are many 
in the present nation of Israel who think this time has come again.

The rulers of this world cannot control people whose trust is in God 
and thus they are threatened.
Faith is a threat to the rulers of this world, clerical or secular.  
Faith in God means that you cannot be manipulated by the rewards and 
punishments of this world.  You cannot be bought with the world's 
comforts because you have been bought by the sacrifice of Christ.  You 
cannot be controlled by the threat of death because you have already 
died with Christ.  Because you have given yourself to God, you are 
uncontrollable by the world; therefore you are a threat and you always 
will be.

This doesn’t mean that you are called to be troublemakers for your own 
sake, however. You are to use this immunity for the sake of the world. 
Though a threat to the rulers of this world you are a part of the 
world’s hope.


May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

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