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God Is Our Environment. Rick Wright Church of the Nations 13 th Sunday of Pentecost (C) August 18, 2013. Macedonia 2000. Mission trip Teach English classes Ejup -> imam Albanian culture Muslim religion Faith > Culture Respect ancestors and culture <-> way of life in Christ. Luke 12.
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God Is Our Environment Rick Wright Church of the Nations 13th Sunday of Pentecost (C) August 18, 2013
Macedonia 2000 • Mission trip • Teach English classes • Ejup -> imam • Albanian culture • Muslim religion • Faith > Culture • Respect ancestors and culture <-> way of life in Christ
Luke 12 • Jesus says, I came to throw fire upon the earth. And how I wish it is already burning. Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No – I tell you – but instead division. Because from now on in one house there will be five divided – three against two and two against three. They will be divided – father against son against father and mother against daughter against mother. • One of ten(?) most difficult teachings of Jesus
Jesus = Crisis • Crisis = moment of truth we must make decision • Jesus = crisis of the world • Jesus brings truth / Jesus is the Truth • We must decide about Jesus • Some say yes – some say no • Jesus brings division • Some believe – some do not
What about us? • Sometimes others do not believe in Jesus • Parents and family • Co-workers and supervisors • Friends and society • Many say they want to believe and become Christians • Respect + love parents and culture as much as we can • God and Father of Jesus Christ created them!
Dee Pennock • God’s Path to Sanity • Everyone = a little bit insane • Latin insanus = not healthy • Minds broken and damaged by sin • Spiritually sick • How do we become healthy in Christ?
Who do we blame? • Our environment • Parents! Society! People hurt us! • We do not want to admit we have sin • We blame everyone + everything else • Yes – our environment influences us
God is our (new) environment • “Enough of this pretense that we are emotionally and spiritually always going to be at the mercy of our earthly background, says Christianity” (105) • Pretense = lie that pretends to be true • Yes we learn bad things from environment • Jesus overcame the world (~ environment)! • “God becomes your environment through baptism. When we use our own free will and desire him. And when God responds to our desire by his love and his grace” (105)