John 1:1-18 in anticipation of Sunday, Christmas II on January 5:
The Logos was with God. The Word was God.
God is the Word. Jesus is the Word made Flesh.
Full of Grace and Truth.
Giving Grace upon Grace to us all.
The result is that THE LIGHT OF THIS GRACE AND TRUTH SHINES IN THE DARKNESS,
AND THE DARKNESS DID (WILL) NOT OVERCOME IT.
While it is true that the world, those of empire in Jesus' time, did not know Him and ignored or refuted His truth, even His own people, those who claimed to love God and who should have followed Him, yet those who believed in His name (here Logos) - the Word - are children of God.
Jesus is my authority.
I believe that Jesus is the Word made Flesh, the fulfiller of Law and Prophets, Savior and Lord.
I believe that I must look at Jesus' Word as my authority in scripture.
I look at all scripture through the eyes of the Gospel of Jesus - what Jesus is witnessed in the Gospels as teaching, commanded and modeling as God's Will for us.
In this same Gospel, Jesus repeatedly OWNED the Word and commanded those who would be His disciples to abide in it, live it, heed it as how they fulfill the command to love (Agape) Him.
I believe that Jesus' Way, what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as God's Way for us, is the best way in order for humankind to sustain Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being toward peace) in life for all people.
I believe that Jesus' Way, is God's Way for us to live Kingdom Values instead of the empire values of the world that create the darkness that must be overcome.
I believe that Jesus' Way is the Way of God for us. It is all about living the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable - see Luke 10:25-37 and Matthew 25:31-46).
Grace and Truth expose the darkness for what it is - unsustainable as a way for all people to live.
The empire values of greed, lust for power and desire for status divide, create despair and thus destroy Shalom.
The Truth of Jesus' Way and the Grace that is shared in the living of it shed light that destroys the darkness.
It is a Truth, that when lived sustains life and Shalom in life, and the darkness does not overcome it because those who live in the Shalom of Agape Love and Grace spread its light.
This has NOTHING to do with personal salvation.
It has everything to do with sustaining life in Shalom for the most vulnerable, community and the world. What is saved is that Shalom by the living of Kingdom values in this part of the Kingdom of God, here and now.
In that, every valley is exalted, every mountain and hill made low, the uneven is leveled and the rough places made a plain.
In that, Kingdom Values are lived and it brings about Shalom for all.
The Word has been from the beginning. No manner of twisting or spinning, selective usage or ignorance of the Word will change it.
The question is, will we live within the Word?
Will we follow Jesus, the Logos made Flesh?
Will we live His Truth in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?
Or will we continue to be subject to, occupied by and oppressed by the false teachings of empire that lift up the wealthy, powerful and "statused" at the expense of God's children?
Will we continue to live in its darkness?
No. If we are people of the Word, the light of God's Truth shines in our lives. The darkness cannot overcome that. The darkness of greed, wealth, status and hatred cannot overcome the light of the Word, unless of course we desire to live in the darkness, rather than the light.
Pastor Jamie
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