Pastor John Wright

We live currently in a nation-state that is at war and promoting rumors of wars. Forty-four percent of United States citizens support the use of torture. While persons speak of the “success” of the US attack on Iraq, particular “the surge”, on Sunday June 22, 2008 Dr. Juan Cole at juancole.com blogged a very different picture, with links to reports on what the mainstream press’ use of the data obscures. It is not a pretty picture.

The Scriptures this week speak images of conflict which makes us uncomfortable in light of the conflict such those in which modern nation-states, whether the United States, or Russian in Georgia, or Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Yet the cause of this conflict, and how disciples of Jesus participate in it, differs greatly. We can see this by moving from Isaiah to the Gospel. Then our Romans reading can give us insight on how we endure and persevere amid such conflict.

Isaiah 2:10-17
Who executes judgment in Isaiah? To whom and for what end? What is the offense of the people? In the context of this passage, what is “pride”?
Matthew 10:34-42
In looking through the passage as a whole, how is it that Jesus brings a sword to earth, not peace? What does this presuppose about the state of the “world”? Why would Jesus especially mention family-relationships?
Why would not be worthy of Jesus if you move a family member, more than Jesus? It is important not to abstract what a cross is; it is not any suffering, but the horrible, violent sponsor that the Roman governors and emperor imposed on persons who would not recognize their absolute and final authority and made this non-conformity evident.
Why would one lose one’s life when one finds it? How does the second part of the saying, how one loses a life for Jesus sake, really find their life? What is “life” here?
Why would it follow in this context about hospitality toward others? Who is the “you” that is welcomed when you are welcomed? Why would it the cup of cold water to a “little one” in the name of a follower of Jesus, not lose their reward? How can such hospitality and mercy toward others bring about the situation described at the beginning of this reading? How is it that Jesus is the issue in this passage?
Romans 6:3-11

The Romans passage speaks about death and life as well. How does this passage describe what it is to follow Jesus? Why is baptism important? How does death lead to life? What is the “newness” of life? What does it look like in our culture? Why is “sin” singular throughout this passage? What is it to “lose one’s life” for Christ’s sake in this passage? Why is it “okay” to lose one’s life? What is it to “find it”? What is it to be “dead to sin and alive to God?

Given these passages, how does one distinguish between conflict that arises out of sin and conflict that is a sign of holiness or taking up one's cross? What is the difference between the two in how one responds when one experiences either? How do we avoid self-deception? How does a return to reading the Isaiah passage help us?

Have a wonderful evening!
Have a wonderful evening!