September 16. 2024
Define, “Love”?
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”
1 John 4:20
Nobody likes being called a “liar” do they? But when faced with these words from 1 John we are forced to reckon whether we are liars? (present, past, or future tense). There are some questions to be asked as we wrestle with these words. How one defines, “brother” is one question. Based on what we read in 1 John, and other writings from that period, I would surmise that brother is not a reference to a blood relative. It implies a sibling in faith at least. Perhaps it can be expanded to include everyone, in the same manner that Jesus uses the word, “neighbor.” If that is the case we may be in trouble.
At last evening’s gathering at the beach, we discussed people’s concerns. This was a very general topic that could include issues both large and small. One of the items raised was the rise of anger and hate in our society. Several people observed that they had been raised not to even use the word, “hate.” Yet, as we look around us, we see signs of hate becoming more obvious. This was cited by some as a source of angst about the future in general.
John, the son of Zebedee, the disciple, apostle, and author of the Gospel of John as well as the Epistle the above quote comes from would counsel us that love is the antidote for the scourge of hate. Not a romantic, hearts and flowers, Valentine’s Day card platitudes type of love. Instead, it is a love that is defined by caring, compassion, tolerance, and a deep desire to find common ground. Too often the tendency is to focus on the issues that divide us instead of defining and centering on what should unite us.
The realist in me forces me to acknowledge that I, alone, cannot change the world. But perhaps, if each of us seek to work together to foster the positive and reject the negative, we might be able to inspire others to do the same. Much like evil, hate will always exist. May it be our goal to use the power of Christian love to face down hate and create space in which divisions can be healed and humanity might live in peace!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 12, 2024
Habits!
“Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25
Whenever I come across a reading from Hebrews, I am reminded of a lady who was a member of the church I served in Berkley before I came to West Yarmouth. On more than one occasion she told me that in the Bible there was an instruction that men were supposed to make the coffee in the morning. She would say, “It says that in Hebrews, get it, he brews!” There is some debate about who the author of Hebrews was. For many years it was attributed to Paul. Later scholarship suggests it may have been one of Paul’s disciples, perhaps Apollos or Barnabus. Regardless of the name of the author, it is probably not intended to be a directive about the gender of the person who prepares the morning coffee.
It was, instead, written as a message to Jewish Christians who were contemplating renouncing their belief in Christ and reverting to Judaism. This treatise was intended to encourage them to not turn away due to the challenges they faced. Instead, the author’s sought to remind them of what inspired them to come to Christ in the first place. In the case of this morning’s devotional verse, the people were called on to persevere. To do this, it is suggested that they needed to be diligent in meeting together regularly. It seems that some of them has begun to be lax when it came to gathering for worship and fellowship.
As we delve further this coming Sunday in the subject of community, it is important to consider how individual and family participation affects the communal spirit. Whether you attend worship weekly, view via the Live Stream, attend on occasion, or are a semi-annual attendee, you should know that your participation is important to the health of our church. Now you may not consider yourself all that significant, regardless of the role you play in the larger body of the church. But each person needs to know that they are equally vital in the eyes of the Lord and the congregation.
No matter how you give of your time, talent, or treasure, you should know that it is your presence that is your greatest gift. In his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds them that, as part of the Body of Christ, each member belongs to the other. That is a powerful and sobering image. Each of us, whether we are actively involved in the liturgy, or participate quietly in prayer, add our spirit to the fullness of the worship experience. There is always room for more in the Lord’s sanctuary. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 11, 2024
Hating Evil!
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Romans 12:9
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21
Today is the twenty-third anniversary of one of the most infamous days in our country’s history. The attacks on our country that occurred on September 11, 2001, have their roots very much in religious misunderstanding and hate. For centuries countless conflicts have been fought around the globe that had their origins based in religious fervor. So often, people whose beliefs exist on the outer edges of their faith act out of hate for those who worship in a different manner than they. The basis of that hate can often be found in the evil that exists in the soul of so many.
It is not for us to seek revenge or to react to hate with hate. As Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Rome, we should strive to overcome evil with good. That is not always successful, and it sometimes leaves us vulnerable. However, the alternatives are unthinkable if we are to continue to live our lives in a manner that honors the Lord. When we feel discouraged when we encounter evil in the world, we must pray that the Lord might give us the strength to face down evil and hate in all its forms. I would like to close this devotional with a prayer that we shared at this morning’s remembrance ceremony at the 9/11 memorial outside Yarmouth Fire Department Station 3.
God of all creation, this morning we gather once again in remembrance. The passage of time has brought us to this place to fulfill our vows to never forget the events of September 11 or lives that were taken on that day and those who have died since then, in the many ways that the effects these senseless attacks have rippled across our history. Generations have been born and grown into adulthood since that day. Yet neither the difficulty of these years, or the shadows of time, have dimmed our memory of that fateful morning twenty-three years ago. We remember the lives that were lost that day and those that have been lost in the years since as part of the events that found their genesis in the tragedy of that day. We remember how those loses have affected each and every one of us. We remember the pain, anger, frustration, and fear that was evident on that day and that many still feel to this day. We beseech you, Most Holy One, to help us to continue to heal even as we remember. Heal our wounds of heart and soul and psyche. Heal the divisions in our society and in our world. Guide those people who exist on the fringes of all faiths, to put down their tools of war and their words of hate. Strengthen us, the people of this earth, so that we may be the voices of reason, the hands of compassion, and the artists of reconciliation that our world so desperately needs. Lord, we know that out of every tragedy in human history comes learning. What we can learn from the events of Sept. 11, 2001, is that hate begets hate. Nothing good, nothing powerful, nothing pure arises from a foundation of hate. As such, it is up to us to be the voices that speak out against hate, the voices that shout out WE WILL NOT TOLERATE HATE ANY LONGER. It is up to us, each and every one of us, no matter where we worship, regardless of what name we use to describe our higher power, to stand up to hate wherever we find it. May we prove through our words and actions that there is hope in this world and that hope begins with us. Amen!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 10, 2024
Rescue Me!
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4
The words of this morning’s devotion come from the prophet Isaiah. The Lord spoke these words to the people of Israel through Isaiah. The Lord sought to remind those who were in exile in Babylon that the Lord will not abandon them. The gods of Babylon are of no value and cannot liberate anyone. However, the God of Israel, who created them and sustained them will come to their rescue if they remain faithful. For some the salvation may be of their spirit, not their mortal bodies. However, the Lord will be faithful and will save the remnant of the people of Israel.
What drew me to this passage was the reference to old age and gray hairs. Much of the conversations I have with people, both within and outside of the congregation, have some relationship to aging. It is no secret that our church, like many mainline churches, is made up of people who would be considered to be elderly when measured against society. Yet, despite the challenges of stiff muscles and uncooperative joints we continue to move forward.
As we consider this fact, we can ponder the words in Isaiah that remind us that even as we grow old, the Lord will be there with us. That is a good thing, because we certainly all need to be rescued every now and then. Whether it is from a physical condition, or the drain that aging puts upon on psyche, we can all use a little help now and then.
The interesting fact around all this is we not only can find hope in these words, but we can also find direction here as well. Often, when someone is struggling physically or emotionally, relief can be found in fellowship. The comforting and uplifting words of a friend are often the tonic people need when dealing with the issues we all face in the world. May we all seek to share the energy of the Spirit that is within us with each other as each has need!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck