[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #624, Pentecost 16, 8/31/08

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Pentecost 16 – August 31, 2008

Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c 
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28


The Lord and the Calendar

The Son of Man comes in his kingdom.  When God reigns, God is here.  Moses experienced the presence of God because he experienced the reign of God.  What would we have heard of the burning bush if Moses had not been obedient to God's reign?  What would we have heard of Moses if the Nile had not been obedient to God's command?  What would we have heard of the Nile's turning to blood, if the children of Israel had not been set free?  Would Jeremiah's voice be heard today, if the reign of God had not vindicated his words?  Jeremiah knew God's presence because he was obedient to God's rule.  There were those who heard Jesus say, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom," (Matthew 16:28) who did see Jesus return because they submitted themselves to his reign.  Those who wait for Jesus to return before submitting to his reign still wait -- still look for the apocalypse and hope for an easier time to be obedient.

So, the company of those who wait to see Jesus apart from being obedient to Jesus point fingers at signs “There’s the anti-Christ!”, a figment of human imagination, as if it might provoke the return of the Lord, like some mixture=2
0of bat bones and adder's tongue might conjure up spirits.  This thinking is both primitive and pagan.  The Son of Man comes in his reign, and there are those in reach of this message who will not taste death before they see him come in his kingdom, but will have nothing to do with fear of the end times.

Paul prescribes a formula for being ready to see the Son of Man come:   "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."  (Romans 12:9-12)  This is not to a conjurer's taste, but this is the way to see the return of the Lord -- the simple, moral, spiritual way.

We frighten people with dire predictions when we should be frightened by our failure to live under God's reign.  Believer and unbeliever alike have a sense of the wages of sin.  The world needs to hear a clear word about the real source of our anxiety.  The church is called to this prophetic role always, but especially now.  Never were the words of Jeremiah more penetrating than now: "Therefore thus says the LORD: ... If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. (Jeremiah 15:19) The Gospel is our message.  It is all we have to add to human discourse.  Faith in Christ=2
0and the reign of God turn sin into reconciliation, crisis into hope, apathy into power and groping for God into communion.


May these thoughts strengthen you. 
 
An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors 
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor 
(an e-mail service) 
 
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