[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #567, Pentecost 9, 7/29/07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 9 -- July 29, 2007


Hosea 1:2-10
Psalm 85
Colossians 2:6-19
Luke 11:1-13

Temporary Damnation

In Matthew we hear Jesus contrast eternal punishment and eternal life, 
but most of the time when Jesus or any other voice in the Bible talks 
in absolute terms it is not about God as the agent of damnation but 
rather of reconciliation. (Matthew 25:46)

Hosea proclaims God’s damnation of Israel for nine verses then 
marvelously shifts to God’s reconciliation with Israel. The Psalmist 
starts out talking about God’s salvation then switches to damnation and 
back again to salvation. Paul reminds the church at Colossae of their 
salvation through Christ but spends some time warning them about losing 
it. Jesus uses the image of a disinterested friend to teach us not to 
settle for damnation.

Sometimes life gets so wrong as to feel like damnation. The existential 
question then is whether this damnation is temporary or eternal. Some 
people imagine that Jesus’ “ask, seek, knock” encouragement is about 
heaping up blessings, but I think of it more in terms of overcoming 
damnation, the damned quality of one’s life. Is the damnation eternal? 
No! Ask. Seek. Knock.

A local photographer is confined to a wheelchair because of Multiple 
Sclerosis. She said that the disease can take her mobility but cannot 
take away her faith and love. She has become a writer now instead of a 
photographer.

Never settle for damnation. God doesn’t.


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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