COSTLY RECONCILIATION (26)
Scripture: Colossians 1:15-28
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Costly Reconciliation (26)
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 11
Christopher B. Harbin
Colossians 1:15-28
Society tells us we can’t get something for nothing. Then it tells us to pay as little as possible for what we want. Then it tells us the best things in life are free. Then it tells us we get what we pay for. Somewhere along the line we apply those mixed signals to faith. On one hand, we don’t really believe grace should extend to all persons equally. On the other hand, we want the greatest personal benefit at the least possible cost to ourselves. Then we want to find the most comfortable ride to heaven we are willing to pay for, all the while managing the cost or pretending there is no cost at all. How do we make an adequate cost-benefit analysis of following Jesus, or is that a completely wrong-headed way of looking at life, eternity, and being in community with God?
I remember my parents being somewhat torn about my call to missions and ministry. They were proud I was answering God’s call upon my life, following their footsteps in service to God and humanity. They also understood the economic struggle that a life in ministry had been for them. They had seen churches and mission agencies quick to spend money on buildings and programs while keeping their ministers in relative poverty. They saw incomes increase drastically among people sitting in church pews, while their income barely changed. They were glad I was headed into ministry, but they were concerned about my welfare. They struggled between competing desires for their son-faithfulness to God and economic comfort. They wanted both, but considered the two at odds.
They were conflicted between competing values, competing desires. They struggled to find balance between seeking financial security and faithfulness in their own lives. I know their story better than that of others, but more than one parishioner has told me they were called to ministry, but they’d had enough of being poor as a minister’s ...
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 11
Christopher B. Harbin
Colossians 1:15-28
Society tells us we can’t get something for nothing. Then it tells us to pay as little as possible for what we want. Then it tells us the best things in life are free. Then it tells us we get what we pay for. Somewhere along the line we apply those mixed signals to faith. On one hand, we don’t really believe grace should extend to all persons equally. On the other hand, we want the greatest personal benefit at the least possible cost to ourselves. Then we want to find the most comfortable ride to heaven we are willing to pay for, all the while managing the cost or pretending there is no cost at all. How do we make an adequate cost-benefit analysis of following Jesus, or is that a completely wrong-headed way of looking at life, eternity, and being in community with God?
I remember my parents being somewhat torn about my call to missions and ministry. They were proud I was answering God’s call upon my life, following their footsteps in service to God and humanity. They also understood the economic struggle that a life in ministry had been for them. They had seen churches and mission agencies quick to spend money on buildings and programs while keeping their ministers in relative poverty. They saw incomes increase drastically among people sitting in church pews, while their income barely changed. They were glad I was headed into ministry, but they were concerned about my welfare. They struggled between competing desires for their son-faithfulness to God and economic comfort. They wanted both, but considered the two at odds.
They were conflicted between competing values, competing desires. They struggled to find balance between seeking financial security and faithfulness in their own lives. I know their story better than that of others, but more than one parishioner has told me they were called to ministry, but they’d had enough of being poor as a minister’s ...
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