Jul 13, 2016
The photos tell heartrending stories of a nation and a world in great pain. In America, racial division and violence; elsewhere, religious persecution, economic chaos, political intrigue—you cannot read about or listen to the daily reportage without thinking for a moment: "The world is a mess." For a template of this unrest, one need only look to the Mideast—whether in Lebanon, Syria, or Israel. Powder kegs are ready to explode at any given moment—anywhere. No one should be surprised at our collective anxiety and heightened alertness.
One Body
We are all members of the Body of Christ, the metaphor used by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. We are all members of the same Body with different ministries to build up the Body; when one member hurts, we all hurt. No greater harm can be done than to hate or harm another member of the Body. Similarly, no greater support can be given than to fulfill the precept of patient love for every member. How many times have we listened to these words in Sunday sermons?
One House
In 1945, Frank Sinatra made famous the song, “The House I Live In,” an image of the American dream. Originally intended to combat racial prejudice and anti-Semitism at the end of World War II, the song pays tribute to all Americans. The lyrics for “The House I Live In” were written two years before by Abel Meeropol who used the pseudonym, Lewis Allen. The music was composed by Earl Robinson. Sadly in this very same house, it is easy to learn hatred of others through fear. Last week, so much blood was spilled, and we are “blind with weeping,” to quote Shakespeare.