AfterWords: “Seven (Deadly Sins) Life-Giving Virtues”

 

John 6:35

We continue this week with the “Seven Deadly Sins”—that list of attitudes and behaviors that our Christian ancestors began developing in the 3rd Century, those attitudes and behaviors that rob us of life, and separate us from God and one another.

Gluttony is taking an excess of food or drink…more than we need. We find gluttony mentioned and condemned in the Old and New Testaments. In the 21st Century, we continue to wrestle with gluttony. We tend to celebrate every good thing with excess food and drink, and we tend to respond to every set-back with excess food and drink. Our culture glorifies food, promotes excess, and generally encourages us to throw off restraint. To make it worse, our food manufacturers today desig addictive ultra processed foods.

But, food and drink are no longer the only excesses of our lives. We have hundreds of channels and dozens of streaming services that tickle our desire to be entertained. So, we watch more and more and more. We live in a capitalist culture that encourages us to buy more and more and more. We now binge on potato chips, binge on alcohol, binge-watch shows, and binge-shop at the mall. We eat, drink, watch, and buy more, and these excesses are robbing us of life.

Paul writes that people have becomes “enemies of the cross” and that “their god is their stomach” (Phil. 3:18-19). In short, people are trying to fill the spiritual hole in their lives in the same way they fill their stomach—with food and drink. All of our excess is our attempt to deal with the emotional and spiritual issues of our lives with physical, earthly stuff. We eat too much, drink too much, watch too much, and buy too much as we deal with personal emptiness, strive to handle the pain of life, or attempt to fell something instead of nothing.

Jesus knows this is true, and we find it in John 6. Over 5000 people are fed. Jesus leaves and travels to another part of the lake. The people follow him and want more food. Jesus tells them that what they need is not more baked bread but the “bread of life”—himself.

As with bad habits, we need to replace sinful attitudes and behaviors with virtuous ones. Just as I replaced bread, butter, and honey (deadly) with cucumbers, hummus, and whole-wheat crackers (life-giving), we replace gluttony (excess for self) with generosity towards others. We say ‘no’ to the sin, ask God to show us what we’re avoiding or not dealing with well, and instead of feeding ourselves, getting drunk, watching the screen until we fall asleep, or buying yet another blouse or another tool, we help feed others, we do chores that await us, we serve others, we get outside of ourselves. In short, we recognize that Jesus is what we lack, and we stop trying to fill ourselves and our time with food, drink, and stuff. We turn to God to help us redirect our lives towards Jesus—the bread of life—and his Kingdom.

Sunday, June 22, 2025
“Seven Deadly Sins Life-Giving Virtues”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: “Seven (Deadly Sins) Life-Giving Virtues”

 

Philippians 2:1-4

I had the habit of eating two pieces of toast with a generous helping of butter and honey every night before bed. I realized that this was literally killing me, that I had to stop. Stopping was not enough—I needed to do something else at that time…or I would just fall back into the bad behavior. So, I started eating a sliced tomato with olive oil. Better, right? (I hope!) Just as it is with habits, we need to replace our sins with virtues, our sinful attitudes and behaviors with godly attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, while we identify these deadly sins in our lives, we also need to practice life-giving virtues.

The “Seven Deadly Sins” are not found in the Bible, per se—no Old Testament list, no list in Jesus’ sermons, and no list in Paul’s writing. Rather, these sins were first identified by 2nd and 3rd Century Christians who were escaping the evil cities and going out to live in the desert. They soon learned what we know today: Wherever you go, there you are. They took their sins with them. Over time, they began to identify the sins that were most damaging, most life-sucking…the sins that took their eyes and attention off of God. That list evolved into the Seven Deadly Sins.

Our first sin is lust, a sin Jesus highlights in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:27-30). Jesus points out that the sin behind adultery is lust…and that we need to root out this and other sins the seek to destroy us and others. Other writers of the New Testament also point to the sin of lust (Col.3:5; 1 Thess. 4:5; 1 Peter 4:3).

What is lust? “Lust is the strong, passionate desire for something…a disordered and inappropriately strong desire…a desire that leads us to act against our best interests…When directed at a person, lust makes us unconcerned about the object of lust.”^[1]

While we can lust for power, for wealth, for popularity…Jesus and Scripture focuses on our lust for others. When we do, when give all that energy to the object of our lusts, we take our eyes off of God, and we rob ourselves of real life. We say, “the object of our lust,” and that indicates exactly what happens when we lust for another person—we objectify them. They lose their humanity. When we catch ourselves in the sin of lust, we find a way of escape by recalling and holding on to the person’s humanity. We remember this is a daughter or son of someone…a brother or sister…a person with dreams and hopes and aspirations—and those do not include being the object of our lust. That person is also created by God, loved by God, and embodies the “image of God” (Gen. 1:27).

The other side of this same coin is loathing. When we see someone that we loathe, we have done the same thing—we have objectified them, robbed them of their humanity. We are able to think less of them because we have conveniently forgotten that they, too, are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, made in the image of God and deeply loved of God.

We respond to lust and loathing in the same way—we remember that they are human beings. Paul tells us, “… in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil. 2:3-4). When we see another person that we feel tempted to objectify (whether lusting or loathing), let us hold on to this Scripture and remember their very real humanity. If doing this, we walk away from death and embrace life.

Sunday, June 15, 2025
“Seven Deadly Sins Life-Giving Virtues”
Watch/Listen: HERE

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[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201408/the-philosophy-of-lust#:~:text=Lust%20is%20the%20strong%2C%20passionate,fame%2C%20power%2C%20or%20knowledge .

AfterWords: “What Does This Mean?”

 

Acts 2:1-21

Every year we celebrate, we remember, Pentecost Sunday. And we should! This was the beginning of something entirely new that God was doing in the world, something that Jesus proclaimed and promised: The coming of God’s Spirit to us.

On that first Pentecost Sunday as recorded in Acts 2, we find two responses to this event—this appearance of “something like tongues of fire” and everyone “hearing their own language.” The fiery tongues go largely unnoticed, but that language thing? THAT was noticed. One response was, “They’re drunk!” Well, that’s an interesting response…but not without its merit. In 2017, Time magazine published an article, “Alcohol Helps You Speak a Foreign Language Better,” but Peter assures folks it’s way too early for that. The second response is where we want to go: “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12). Rather than wrestling with the details that may explain what happened, like those early observers/participants, we want to dive into the meaning—what does Pentecost mean?

What does this mean? When we see the people from across the Mediterranean world assembled in this scene, we realize that Pentecost means there is no room in God’s Church, in God’s family, for racism, culturalism, nationalism, or any other -ism that serves to divide or separate people. While the Church has often dropped the ball on this (see the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s), Pentecost means that all people and all peoples are welcome.

What does this mean? When Jesus was still with the disciples, he promised them the Holy Spirit who would “help you and be with you forever” (Jn 14:17). After the resurrection, Jesus told his followers they would receive the Spirit. In Acts, just before Pentecost, Jesus tells them to remain in Jerusalem to await the Spirit. And then the Spirit falls…and God’s presence is now forever with us to help us and be with us. This means we are never alone—in the very best sense. When we as congregation engage in ministry, God is with us. When we feed the hungry, build ramps, cook for the homeless, meet for Sunday School, gather for Bible study, God is with us. When we are “alone” in our homes, riding in our cars, walking in the morning, God is with us. Pentecost extends the reality that Jesus began: Immanuel—God with us.

What does this mean? Peter’s sermon begins with a quotation from the prophet Joel about men and women, young and old, slave and free…all of them speaking God’s word, God’s will. Pentecost means that God longs to use everyone in ministry. No one is excluded—all who are willing are included in God’s mission to the world.

Pentecost—this is God’s GREAT news for us: All are welcome; we are never alone; God longs for us to join in the mission to the world.

Sunday, June 8, 2025
“What Does This Mean?”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: Who is Matthias?

 

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

When we think of the disciples, Peter is often the first who jumps to mind. Then, there’s James and John. Almost immediately after these, we think of Matthias, right? Matthias? Wait. Who is Matthias?

He is mentioned exactly two times in Scripture—and both mentions are in today’s reading. The disciples-now-apostles (apostle means “sent”) decide they need to fill the place left by Judas who died in some 'we’re-not-sure' fashion. The requirements of the one who could take his place?
“…One of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us…” (Acts 1:21-22). So, we know that Matthias has been a faithful disciple all this time. And, we confirm here that more than just the Twelve were with Jesus during his ministry.

But, Matthias is not mentioned in the Gospels…and neither Paul, James, Peter, nor John mention him in the rest of the New Testament writings. Matthias lives and serves as one of the “quiet witnesses”—those who do not stand in the spotlight, those who do not call the attention of the world. In fact, Matthias comes to represent the vast majority of the Christians in the world, the disciples through the centuries.

Between the 1^st Century AD and the 4^th Century AD, the Christian faith grew from the “120 believers” mentioned in today’s reading to over 25,000,000. That is staggering, phenomenal, unimaginable. How did it grow like that? Well, it wasn’t because of those Twelve disciples—they were gone in a single generation. So, we realize that the “quiet witnesses” of the ages continued and continue today to tell the story, to invite others to know Jesus, to share with others what they had found in this thing called the Christian faith.

Matthias is us--you and me. We are not in the spotlight. No one will ever talk about us in seminaries. We won’t show up in the church history books. We are the quiet witnesses who befriend, invite, pray, share, encourage, and spend time with others.

Think about your own life: Who was the quiet witness that brought you to faith, invited you to a Bible study, prayed with you in your time of need, first told you about Jesus? Was it a Sunday School teacher, a youth leader, a children’s director…a neighbor…a grade-school teacher…a VBS leader…a parent…a relative? Someone, somewhere along the way quietly lived and witnessed to the faith that impacted your life.

And now, for whom are you a quiet witness? Who will come to faith because of your quiet witness to the Good News of God in Christ Jesus? Who life will be changed because you listened, prayed, helped, sat with, invited, taught, shared with...?

Sunday, June 1, 2025
“Who is Matthias?”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "On your Mark. Get Set. Go!"

 

Acts 1:1-8

As children, so many of us participated in those neighborhood footraces. Someone would say, “Hey, let’s race to Richard’s house!” Then someone would yell, “Line on the sidewalk is the starting line!” After everyone was there, someone else would say those important words: "On your mark. Get set. Go!" Of course, that person would have a foot in motion as he was saying ‘Go!,’ and we’d all take off flying down the sidewalk. We did not know at that time the importance of those steps of finding the mark, getting set, and then going. Our reading today helps us see their importance.

On your mark. Get your toe on the line, make sure you’re facing the right direction, make sure you’re starting in the right place. For the disciples, Jerusalem is the right place. Jesus has them all in the right place. In fact, when they gather here, Jesus tells them where the finish line is: the ends of the earth, the whole world. They are on their mark.

Get set. This is more than being in the right place. This is about getting our form, setting in, tensing the right muscles, leaning the body forward to add momentum to the start. This is about making sure your body is able to start this race well. The Holy Spirit was what the disciples need to get set. Jesus says that the Spirit will give them power. In the Greek that Luke writes this in, the word is dunamis, a word that indicates conveying ability. The Holy Spirit will get the disciples ready, make them able, for something that has never happened before, for a task no one has had before. By God’s Spirit, they’ll be set.

Now would be the time to say, Go!, but the disciples have to wait. Wait. Wait. We despise waiting in this world. I used to hate it, but then I went to Venezuela where I had to wait in line to pay the water bill, the power bill, the cell phone bill, the cable bill, to make a bank deposit. Lines were everywhere—a way of life. Most of the time, I would be in line from one to two hours at each place I had to do business. In the beginning, I was incredulous. Then, I watched the people around me. They talked with one another. They took care of other business on their phones. Some would read magazines and a very few books. I learned to make the most of the wait…and I have a feeling that our 1st Century disciples did the same. In fact, when we see how they spread throughout the known world after Pentecost, I’m guessing they used their waiting time to plan how they would reach “the finish line.”

Perhaps you are in a time of waiting—you feel called to something, you have sensed God nudging you towards something, but you feel the need to wait. You may even be frustrated. If you are in the waiting season, you have heard the “On your mark” and the “Get set!,” and all you need is the “Go!,” use this waiting time to plan, pray, prepare. You’ll know when it’s time to go…and you’ll have God’s Spirit making you able to do it all.

On your mark. Get set. Wait….

Sunday, May 25, 2025
“On your Mark. Get set. Go!”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "God is All about Comedy"

 

Luke 24: 44-53

Since December, we have been following the Gospel of Luke, hearing again (or for the first time) the stories of Jesus’ life, miracles, and teachings. As we come to the end of this journey through the Gospel, as we read the last verses of the last chapter, we learn something new about God: God is all about comedy!

Now, remember that “comedy” in the dramatic sense isn’t the same thing we think about today when we hear the word. We think “funny,” and there are times when God seems funny—just check out the blobfish (a real thing!)…or your in-laws (just kidding). Comedy in the classical sense refers to a drama in which the protagonist or main character is in a better place at the end than at the beginning. Tragedy is the opposite. Shakespeare’s Hamlet (the character) is a tragic figure. He begins the play in a sad and dark place…and he ends the play dead--yeah, that’s ending in a worse place than he began. Mary Poppins is a comedy in the real sense that almost everyone in the play/movie is in a better, brighter, happier place at the end than at the beginning. You get the idea….

So, in Luke 24, we see our disciples move from shattered, abandoned, hopeless, directionless (at least, that’s how they feel after the crucifixion even though God never abandoned them) to people once again filled with hope and purpose and direction. Jesus reminds them in today’s reading that he had to go through all he went through—it was prophesied in the Old Testament. But, now—alive again and with his disciples—he gives them their “marching orders”: preach, proclaim, tell the world about the gift of forgiveness and fresh-starts. (Luke uses the word “repentance,” a word that means to turn in a new or different direction, so we can say new direction or fresh start.)

For us today in the 21st Century, the “marching orders” have not changed. We, too, have the joy of sharing with others about God’s amazing gift of forgiveness (something we desperately need whether we’re conscious of this or not) and the opportunity we all have to make a fresh start of things, to change the direction of our lives by God’s grace. Jesus calls his disciples “witnesses”—people who tell what they’ve seen. You and I have seen the changes in our own lives as we have both accepted and extended forgiveness. You and I have relished the chance to start over, to go in a new direction in our lives…by God’s grace.

God does not force these gifts on us. We can reject God’s forgiveness and hold on to the fear and self-loathing of our lives, our bad decisions. We can reject God’s gift of fresh starts and new directions and just keep going forward in our own self-destructive, closed-minded journey. And our lives will be tragedies. God invites us to be a part of his grand comedy…and for us to share with others this life of forgiveness and fresh starts.

Sunday, May 18, 2025
“End of a Journey”
Watch/Listen: HERE

 

AfterWords: "Jesus in ... Community"

 

Luke 24:36-43

Today’s reading provides Luke’s third Resurrection Story. First, the women find the empty tomb, hear the Easter declaration—Christ is Risen!, and run back to tell the others. Then, we join Cleopas and “Unknown” as they journey towards Emmaus—Jesus joins them (unrecognized), reminds them of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, and then reveals himself in the breaking of the bread during supper. Today’s third story finds all of the disciples (the Eleven and many others) gathered (probably in the Upper Room) talking about these events and Peter’s encounter with the Risen Jesus (not recorded in the Gospels).

As they discuss all of these things, Jesus suddenly appears…right there in the room with them. He challenges them to touch him, to see that he is “flesh and bone.” Then, he takes things a step further and eats some broiled fish with them. Luke wants us to know that Jesus is real—a flesh and blood human being and not merely an apparition or ghost or something.

We as 21st Century disciples need to keep an eye on the 1st Century disciples. We learn from them—in their actions and reactions. Their reactions to Jesus’ appearance are three-fold: startled, frightened and troubled, and amazed and joyful. We can understand these. Startled because they didn’t expect Jesus to suddenly appear in their midst. They probably were still ‘laying low’ after all that had happened to Jesus. Frightened and troubled…well, because they probably had not been faithful friends. If Peter was any indication to how disciples would react, we can imagine most of them stayed hidden over the last few days, and they may have even “denied” their association with the Galilean rabbi. Amazed and joyful…and that one is expected. Their master, friend, teacher who was dead is now alive…with them.

While Jesus doesn’t appear “flesh and bone” when we gather today, his Spirit is with us. Matthew relates Jesus’ words in his Gospel: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (18:20). So, when we gather, Jesus is here. And, we may respond to his presence just like the disciples in the 1st Century. We may be startled by something Jesus reveals about us or about himself to us through Scripture, song, or prayer. We may be frightened or troubled when Jesus brings to our minds something about our lives we had overlooked or ignored or tried to hide. We may find ourselves amazed or filled with joy when Jesus shows us God’s love and grace.

Likewise, today Jesus comes to us as he came to the first disciples…saying, “Peace be with you”…may all be well with you…may you know God’s rest and consolation. Today, Jesus says to us…to you, “Peace be with you.” This peace is real and sure for us because “Christ is Risen!”

Sunday, May 11, 2025
“Jesus in … Community”
Watch/Listen: HERE