Sunday, August 23, 2009

Twelfth Sunday After

Today's Saying

Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ… It is a joy and token of His grace. …Dietrich Bonhoffer


It is Sunday in Pigeon Falls and Pastor Joan is putting the finishing touches on her sermon.

Here is a part of that sermon:


I was at a Wedding reception a few weeks ago and a man , who had had a little too much to drink came up to me. He stuck his finger in my face and said “ What about dead babies, huh? What do you have to say about them”

How do you answer that?

I said “ That’s a good question come to my office during the week and we’ll talk about it.”

He walked away muttering “ Stupid Pastors never give you a straight answer.”

I assume the question behind his finger was “ How can you believe in a good and loving God in a world that is not good, not loving, and certainly not kind.

How can you believe when babies die?”

Usually I am asked that question by people who don’t want to believe.

They always have that smug , now I’ve got ya, look.

And they do.

I don’t know why babies die. I don’t.

I don’t know why the poor suffer. I really don’t.

I don’t know why God gave us free will. I really don’t.

I could spend this entire sermon telling you the things I don’t know.

But this I do know.

When the guy with the smug look walks away having stuck it to the preacher I hear a voice saying “ Will you too go away?”

Will I throw it in and become a teacher or a social worker?

In this age of unbelief walking away is far easier than staying.

But I suppose it always has been.

But then I hear myself joining Peter and saying “ Lord where shall I go. You have the words of eternal life.”

I don’t follow Jesus because of proofs.

I follow Him because he is for me the Truth and the Way.

He gives me joy and peace. He sets me free.

In Him I am alive.

Lord where else can I go. Your it.

You’re the One.

3 comments:

  1. Death came into this world because of human sin. That's what about the dead babies. God didn't do it. Man did.

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  2. I always question that "free will" thing! That one has me going in circles. If God MADE everyone, and God LOVES everyone, and we can ONLY come to Him through Jesus, but you can only get to Jesus if God enables you... WHY doesn't He just ENABLE everyone??? We hear it over and over and over that God wants EVERYONE in heaven in the end... but EVERYONE won't be there? Why not? HE has the power!!! He is a MIGHTY God. Shouldn't He GET what HE wants???

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  3. Another good sermon. :)

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