THIS ODD FAITH

Dr. Richard J. Henderson March 20, 2005

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Matthew 21:1-11

Introduction

It's strange being a Christian. In some ways, it's like being from a foreign land. The authors of a recent book about being Christian titled their book, Resident Aliens. We live here, but we aren't like most of the people here. If we take our faith seriously - really live it out - we are bound to be considered odd. Look at the strange things about our faith.

I

We follow a kind, innocent, moral person who gave his life for us. Jesus lived by the highest standards, but he suffered, was tortured and nailed to a cross because he loved us. We showed the worst in us as humans, and God responded with the best for us. We treated Jesus horribly, inhumanely, and he reacted with love. Can you imagine, even from the cross Jesus cried out, "Forgive them; they don't know what they are doing."

Jesus answered hate with love, death with life, brutality with forgiveness. He taught us to do the same. In our world, that's crazy!

II

In a world that emphasizes feeling good, where everyday we hear from commercials about what luxury items we deserve, our faith talks about sacrificing for others.

In a world that denies sin and pretends death isn't a reality, we follow a God who names sin and faces death without fear.

Where our world teaches, "get as much as you can for yourself," our faith teaches that it is in giving that we receive. The one we follow sacrificed everything for us in an act of love. God sacrificed for us at the very time when we least deserved it. That's crazy!

Conclusion

Dr. Tom Long, who was our Faith Enrichment speaker a couple of years ago, was on a talk show shortly after the 9/11 tragedy. He was asked, "As a Christian pastor, what does your faith say about these terrible acts."

Tom said he responded with words about how in every situation God's will leads us to search for reconciliation and redemption. We can understand evil because our faith teaches us that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness.

The talk show host turned to the next guest, who was of another faith. That guest said, "Let me just say that I think what the Reverend said was the worst thing I have ever heard. The people who did this were inhuman and evil. We need to find them and punish them, without any of this redemption business."

Tom said, "At that moment, it struck him how very strange it is to be somebody trying to follow Jesus."

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2005