Miscellany

SERMON RECAP: Last Sunday morning we took a look at Luke 4:14-21 with its story of Jesus, on the front end of His ministry, visiting the synagogue in his boyhood hometown of Nazareth(I think it's important to "go back home" sooner or later, both literally and figuratively).

Jesus participated in the synagogue service by reading an Old Testament passage and commenting on it. He really valued the scriptures, as evidenced by His going where they were honored and knowing where to find the text he wanted to read. Apparently it was not only His custom to "go to church" but to spend time in God's word. The Bible is God's authoritative revelation to us(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) and should be treasured. How valuable are the scriptures in your life?

It's obvious that Jesus saw himself in the text. He interprets the Isaiah passage as referring to Him personally in His Messianic role(vss. 18, 21). Sometimes when we read the Bible we're tempted to think it's just a history lesson or that it's for somebody else. But scripture is our instruction manual and a love letter to us from God. Our marching orders.There are warnings, promises, comforts, directions, and challenges there for us. Today. It is equally clear that Jesus saw Jesus in those Old Testament portions. That sounds redundant, but what I mean is that our Lord understood that the ancient scriptures unfold and predict and picture and present Him. In some way He shows up in every Bible book! In the types and ceremonies and tabernacle and prophecies He is foreshadowed and announced. His post-resurrection dialogue with some followers on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:27 puts it all together for His listeners.

Most importantly, Jesus saw us in the scriptures. In verses 18-19 he uses the text to offer His personal mission statement and strategy for ministry. It's all about people. It has to do with meeting needs. Certainly He viewed His task as that of compassionate social, physical outreach(helping the poor, the hurting, the jailed, the sick). Also, though, He took His assignment as encompassing a far deeper work, that of inner, spiritual transformation(sinners are poor in spirit, soul-blinded, captive to sin, and needing deliverance). Contemporary believers, too, have a dual task. We must endeavor to relieve human suffering but also witness to grace and salvation and life change in Christ.

AT THE MOVIES: The new film, "Avatar" has been a box office smash since it opened about 6 weeks ago. It has lots of action, gorgeous scenery, thrilling music, an intriguing plot, and creative special effects. This sci-fi flick spins the narrative of soldiers and scientists from Earth who travel to a distant moon, Pandora, to try to extract a precious mineral desperately needed on our by then deteriorating planet. They are ultimately and decisively thwarted by the defensive actions of the natives who reside there.

This motion picture is quite interesting and entertaining, but regrettably is a thinly veiled Hollywood protest against perceived Western greed and exploitation and environmental plundering. It comes across as anti-American and anti-military. It portrays essentially a pantheistic, New Age, Wiccan, Earth-worshipping spirituality wrapped in an attractive, appealing garb. There seems to be a blending of Eastern religion and African animism here.

What to tell the kids: yes, Christians are to take care of the environment. That's a mandate from God(Genesis 1:26-31;2:15). No, we are not to worship nature. Our God is personal and transcendant, greater than, and above and beyond, all that He has made. He is not in flowers and trees and grass and stars but rather fashioned them for His glory and our enjoyment. He reveals Himself in His creation(Psalm 19:1-6) but more significantly in His scriptures(Psalm 19:7-14) and most perfectly in His Son, Jesus(Hebrews 1:1-3). No, when we die we are not absorbed into some kind of vague, cosmic force but instead will have distinct, personal identities.