08-09-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 9, 2024
This coming Sunday, we will conclude the series on Jesus and his Ancestors. The sermon will specifically focus on Tamar (there are actually three of them mentioned in scripture), but I will play around with the notion of righteousness. It is one of those Bible words that gets tossed around a lot but is not defined well. And though I just wrote about eight sentences trying to express the nuanced differences and then erased them, I believe the more important point is to simply express righteousness as doing what is right in the eyes of God. Of course, a dozen people are going to express fourteen opinions on what is right in the eyes of God, and that is a fair discussion. But I think we need to move our understanding of righteousness from some sort of moral superiority to the tough conversations around what it means to live in right relationship with those around us. Take a moment to think about a situation that is very personal and a daily challenge for you, and then ask the question, “What might doing right look like in this situation?” And not just right for you, but for God’s Kin(g)dom here on earth?

As I continue to strive toward a life of faithfulness that represents your righteousness, O God, I pause long enough to listen to you and to get more deeply in touch with what is right in your eyes. Amen.