O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – from Psalm 139
You are wonderfully made. God knit you together in your mother’s womb. God meant for you to be here, right now, today, in this moment. God knows you through and through…and God loves you.
I don’t want to be a wishy-washy Christian. You know the type? The type where “anything goes”, where I don’t stand for anything. However, I also don’t want to be one of those cheesy, in-your-face, judgmental Christians who thinks it’s my business to tell you how to live your life.
One of the (many) things I love about Jesus is that he knows what he stands for and he calls people out for misbehaving, yet he does so with a mix of wisdom, compassion, and my personal favorite; sarcasm. Last night in worship we read Luke 14. In this scripture Jesus calls out the selfishness and pettiness of the Pharisees and the others trying to catch him in the act of being…loving. Yes, I did mean to say loving. Jesus was invited to a Sabbath meal at the home of one of the top Pharisaic leaders (a “very important” religious leader) and while he was at dinner he noticed a man who was hugely swollen in his joints (probably a very painful condition). Knowing that these religious leaders frowned upon “working” on the Sabbath, Jesus decided to challenge their beliefs and posed the question: “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath? Yes or No?”
I read somewhere that while “emergency healings” were permitted on the Sabbath (i.e. the person will die if they aren’t taken care of that day), if someone had a long-term illness, the religious leaders preferred that they wait until the next business day to be healed. So, the religious leaders now find themselves in a difficult situation. They know what Jewish Law states, yet they’ve got a willing “healer” and a sick person in their presence – so what is the right thing to do?
Have you ever found yourself in this kind of situation? You know what your parents, your church, your friends, or school would say is the “right” thing to do, but deep inside you, you know that the “right” thing to do is something completely different?
The Pharisees were in this situation. They knew that Jewish religious law stated that they were not to allow healing to take place on the Sabbath, yet Jesus was here, willing to heal, and asking them if it was permitted. (Note: I do not think Jesus was asking their permission. He was being sarcastic. Trying to teach them a lesson. Trying to make them think outside the box, or outside their religious law.)
The Pharisees are silent. They didn’t have an answer for Jesus.
So Jesus heals the man…on the Sabbath! God forbid!
It seems to me that Jesus chooses to live and work according to the Law of Love – not the religious law. He knows the Law, he is a rabbi after all, but he also sees the hurting man, and chooses to work according to mercy, healing, grace, redemption, and love. I like that about Jesus.
I LOVED being back in worship with you all!!! I forget, over the summer, how much you all encourage my faith. Hearing everyone sing – all the harmonies, Jason playing the piano, Karissa on the congas , helped me remember WHY I’m in ministry! Thank you for coming to worship last night and singing LOUDLY! I loved it!
Sometimes I worry that the PC will become a social club, a fraternity/sorority here on campus instead of being the community of faith that we are called to be. We run this danger when we forget why we are called together – to worship and love and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ.
Last night we talked about what we are all about here at the PC. The message was based on Acts 2:42-47 in which we get a description of the early church. This early church was able to reach out to the larger community and share the love of God in Christ because of how they lived out their life of faith together (with the help of the Holy Spirit)!!! The people of the early church were “committed” and/or “devoted” to four things. These four things were…
1. the teaching of the apostles
2. the life together / fellowship
3. the common meal
4. prayer
By living within the rhythm of these four things, the early church lived the Good News of God in Christ to each other and to the greater community.
I know it’s difficult sometimes to love (or even like) some of the people in God puts in your path. It’s easier with friends – we get to choose them. The community of faith can be a lot like family. We are called to love them, yet we don’t get to choose them! We’re all here because we’ve been called by God into this community of faith; and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can respect, honor, love, and yes…even, possibly LIKE each person who comes through our doors.
I want to challenge each of us this year to be open to all kinds of different people, to be committed to one another, and to devote ourselves to showing each person we meet the amazing love God has for each person!
I hope you are enjoying your summer…but most of all I hope you are getting excited about the upcoming school year here at the PC! Incoming students: we are looking forward to getting to know you and pray you’ll find your home at the PC. Please feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email if you have any questions. Also, you can join our facebook page. Just search for “Presbyterian Center campus ministry”. We’ll have a lot going on in the fall, including a retreat, mission opportunities, bible studies, small groups, worship, etc. Thanks for checking out the site! Hope to see you in person…SOON!
In Christ,
Kally
Contact
Presbyterian Center
1831 Melrose Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37916
