Last Sunday’s sermon could be taken as a withdraw-from-the-world message. So Paul’s observation comes to mind: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1 Cor 5:9-10). Paul’s view is that the real danger comes from the morally compromised within the visible church (v.12) and his final word is “you must purge the evil from among you” (v.13). The immoral outside the Church remain those to whom we offer “good news of a great joy.” Conservative churches often get this backwards: we easily become defensive about our own and hostile toward everyone outside. Paul is not quite the opposite, but you can see he expects the worldly to act worldly, for us to bear faithful, loving witness in their midst, and to deal sharply with our own who are hypocritical.
• There have been questions about the men’s night of prayer — why flog ourselves through the night when the Lord hears us just as well in the daytime by virtue of the blood of Christ? Think of it this way: it’s not a striving for merit but a kind of declaration. Sleep is an absolute necessity for us. By setting it aside to pray, just as fasting sets aside food, we declare our desire and need for God to be literally transcendent: greater than our physical desires and needs.
• You might say in response, “well, I already know that, and God already knows that.” Do you? Does he? As physical creatures living in a material world, I’m not sure we know the state of our own hearts until our loves are materially tested. Some people really do love sleep (or comfort) more than God. Besides, would you say the same to your wife regarding her Christmas gift: “hey, honey, I know I love you, and you know I love you, so I just decided to skip the whole gift thing.” Think of the act of love itself, a kind of gift, and how it has the power to soften and inform our hearts toward our spouses. There is real content in speaking to God through your actions, saying, in effect: “you are of greater value to me than the nurture of my own body.” (Read Mark 7:1-13 to see this idea in relation to the material care of parents.)
• More personally: I am currently failing to do my work and contact or visit all those with injuries, surgeries, and hospitalizations. We’re working together as elders and deacons to try to make sure all with needs are visited and prayed for, but several of you have not had either. My apologies for this. Lately our number of people needing care has grown, so we are working to make the necessary adjustments. Thank you for your patience and pray for us as ministers of the gospel and shepherds of the flock.
• Lisa and I send our love to all of you this Christmas. It is a joy to know you and an honor to serve you. One of my great pleasures in ministry is to celebrate Advent together. Looking forward to the next few weeks!