I am regularly struck by how bad the TV and Radio news are. Some of it
is certainly because of one partisan network or another and their attempts to
make someone else look bad. Some of it is because "if it bleeds, it leads" and
how we DO respond most to the sensational. Some of it is because we eat the
stuff up and those who want to frighten us into doing what they want or who
want to sell us something like it that way.
Jesus' Good News is often ignored.
His Good News for the poor is that God loves them and does not want them
to be poor. That God calls others who live by the commandment of Agape
Love (Matthew 22:34-40) and mandate of (Matthew 25:31-46) are supposed
to BE Good News for them in how we live and care for them.
Jesus' Good News of social justice is that the greed, hatred, self-centeredness,
ruthlessness, apathy, complacency, mean-spiritedness and exclusivity of the
world will not last forever because it goes contrary to Kingdom Values. Jesus
is quite clear about that.
Jesus' Good News of economics is that God's Kingdom Values are for all to
have enough, and for those with more to share with those who have less.
Jesus' Good News of society is that God values kindness, gentleness and self-
control in a world of violence, victimization, exploitation and oppression.
Jesus' Good News calls for generosity, inclusion and compassion even for
a stranger or enemy.
Jesus' Good News calls for mercy instead of sacrifice for the guilty and grace
for those who do not deserve it... you know... like ALL of us.
Jesus' Good News calls for the transformation of individuals, communities and
society, so that all conform to Jesus' Way and submit to Jesus' will in how we
live with one another and with God.
Jesus' Good News may be ignored by many because it seems like bad news for
the perpetrators of hatreds, greed and self-indulgence... but it is Good News to
so many others who have been victims of it!
Jesus' first Imperative to His followers in the First Gospel written?
"Repent, and believe in the Good News." Mark 1:15
The time will be fulfilled, as Jesus said. The Kingdom of God is at hand!
How will Jesus' Good News affect how you think, speak, act, live and vote?
I will strive to follow what Jesus says is GOOD NEWS in all of it.
Pastor Jamie
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