The TRUTH is that Jesus commanded us to live Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially those who are most vulnerable (see Luke 10, Matthew 22, 25, etc.).
The TRUTH is that Jesus calls us not to purity and holiness, but to faithfulness to the living of that Agape Love in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
The TRUTH is that Jesus redeemed us and calls us not to focus on our personal salvation, but rather to offer our lives in the living of Agape Love to others, children of God, here and now.
The TRUTH is that tithing and praise do not save us. Our purity and holiness do not save us. Our adherence to the Law does not save us. God's Grace in Jesus saves us.
The TRUTH is that we are called to live Agape Love not in order to be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved and love God in Christ Jesus and want to live identified with Jesus and His teachings.
The TRUTH is that living in any other way is not sustainable in our lives together. When the values we exhibit are Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status (empire values), it causes divisions, inequities, strife, despair, poverty, war and a lack of Shalom (well-being, completeness, wholeness). When we live according to Jesus' teachings, commands and examples of Agape Love, Shalom is the result for all.
The TRUTH is that we are either people of Agape Love and Grace or we are not. "By their fruits you will know them."
The TRUTH is that Jesus did not promise wealth, but ENOUGH for all in the living of Agape Love. Jesus did not promise that our lives would be pain or struggle free, but that our struggles would be struggle toward the well-being of all. Jesus did not promise us position and power, status and control over others but control over ourselves and in humility the well-being that all around us need.
The TRUTH is that Jesus called us to deny our selves, pick up the Cross and follow Him - go where He went, live like He lived, give like He gave, affect lives in positive ways like He did - as we have witness in the Gospels.
The TRUTH is that there are folk who will strive to follow Jesus in how they live, there are folk who will overtly reject all things of what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled and there are people who will claim the name of Jesus but live empire values in order to promote themselves above others.'
The TRUTH is that we did not decide to believe. God gave us faith as a gift. The Holy Spirit of God leads, guides and drives me to Christ Jesus, relentlessly pointing to Christ Jesus in my life. The truth is that we either live in that faith or we actively reject it. The truth is that we either decide to follow Jesus or to walk away sad like the rich young man who wanted to be with God but could not give up the benefits of living empire values in the world.
The TRUTH is that God loves all and offers Agape Love and Grace to all. But the TRUTH is that there are sheep and goats. God takes sides. God sides with the most vulnerable, the stranger, the poor, the sick, the (mostly wrongly) imprisoned and those most humble. The teachings in parables, the commands of Jesus, the examples of loving that Jesus gave us lift these up in the Kingdom as examples of God's loved ones.
The TRUTH is that there is only one Judge - Jesus, the Christ. His judgment, according to the Judge, will be based on the criteria centered on Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as we have that in the Gospels (Matthew 25:31-46).
So, given the TRUTH - what side are YOU on? What actions do YOU take in the world around you to commit to the well-being of the most vulnerable who God loves, or to exploit, hurt or destroy their lives? How do you use your words? How do you use your money? How do you use your time? How do you use your abilities? Is it to benefit those around you in Agape Love or to only benefit yourself in greed, lust for power and desire for status?
Given the TRUTH, are you a follower of Jesus or are you not?
Given the TRUTH of your answer. What will you now do in your life?
Will you follow Jesus in the living of Agape Love in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, toward the Shalom of all people -
or will you live the empire values of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status that hurts others for your own gain?
Jesus said that His Word would divide people, even within families.
We have seen the divisions widen greatly in the past two years.
The question is - What side are you on?
Pastor Jamie
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