March 11, 2024 – Sin Lurks at the Door

“Listen to the words of Jesus: And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts…”

Mark 7:14ff

Jesus is making a very important point about the nature of humanity. You don’t defeat sin simply by separating yourself from sinful people. That may feel good, and feel profitable, but that does not keep sin out of your heart. Jesus would never have needed to come and die on the cross if it was that simple. In his words, Jesus calls us to humbly admit that the biggest danger to each one of us is not the sin that lurks outside – but the sin that still infects our hearts. Once you admit this, you begin to get excited about G-d’s grace in Jesus Christ. You see, if you convince yourself that the biggest influx of sin comes from the others in your life, other people, other things, then you can convince yourself that you have no need for change. But once you realize that sin not only lurks at the door, but resides in the heart, they you know you need the grace of Jesus Christ.

Let us remember the words of the prophet Joel 2:12-13:

“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment.”

Our G-d is an amazing G-d.

Pastor Dave

March 10, 2024 – Lent 4B

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” John 3:14-21

It is easy, is it not, to become jaded and whiny about the blessings we have. It is always easier to look across the fence and covet your neighbors greener lawn – or cover that car that is fancier than yours – or wish your children were as bright, or athletic, or adorable as your neighbor’s children. Truth be told, if we always detest, or envy or covet the blessings the advantages, the commodities or the consumables others have – or if we just detest our own meager fare in life – we will always be miserable. We may think we have so much to detest – but I wonder what G-d detests? I believe G-d detests miserable attitudes – G-d does not detest people – G-d detests our miserable attitudes toward one another – or our jealousness – envy, greed, and hate for one another. These are all attitudes – ways of thinking and behaving toward one another. And G-d detests them…

Where did we ever develop this attitude that we deserve things in life? I guess we could say it began in the Garden of Eden, right? With Eve’s desire to have what is not rightly hers – in her disobedience what is born are the sins of envy, coveting and narcissism. We can think of people we envy – those for whom we have some feelings of discontent because they have advantages we think we do not have. We can also think of some people for whom we covet their possessions, wealth or privilege. And with all of the envying and coveting, we can begin to develop some narcissistic tendencies. Often what is at the heart of our own disobedience is narcissism – not caring for others, not caring how our behavior might impact others – and of course that constant need to be told we are special.

It is hard to always live remembering the blessings and the gifts G-d has gifted each one of us – but in this season of Lent we can spend some time reflecting upon the cross – and the one who hangs upon the cross – the one who not only heals us, but gives us new life. Perhaps then we will not detest what G-d has given us.

Pastor Dave