Earthly powers

I believe we Christians have a problem

This problem is not unique to us as a people of faith and nor it is at its most extreme

The problem is this we live in a society which no longer shares our beliefs

We are still blessed that they are sympathetic to are core beliefs

But we are now a people of faith in a sea of at best indifference

So the problem is this how can we preserve our faith?

How can we maintain the covenant we have made in the blood of Christ?

Jesus in Mark 14:24 refers to his crucifixion as forming a covenant with believers

In the first reading God reminds us of the covenant and of the cost of breaking it

The main part of this covenant we still share – “have no other Gods”

The Jews had assimilated foreign Gods

They has submitted to alien influence and ease

But God had maintained his covenant with them and demands reciprocation

In are second readings of Luke we hear about the cost of following Jesus.

On the face of is this passage is about physically following Jesus

But it can also be read as the cost of accepting Jesus

“No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God”

When we accept Jesus we agree to the cost in other words;

In this passage people ask to follow Jesus

And Jesus warns the of the cost

He warns the first about personal privation (no home, no rest)

He warns the Second that if he chooses to follow him he must forsake any human concern

Even the burial of his farther

And to the last man he warns:  that once he embarks on this path there is no turning back

This is the cost of following Jesus

A cost anyone who choose to follow him must pay

I think this should be taken as a warning

Often people follow Christ and talk only of the rewards

Only of the joys

But I can testify to the cost

Of the sacrifices

All I accept as my part of the covenant formed on the cross

As in Luke though Jesus I was warned and accepted.

So far so good and then the third reading

Well – cripes

Where to start?

Well first the lectionary is supposed to be Romans 13:1-10

But to me Peter 1 make similar point and better.

Peter’s words have direct implications for us today.

As I said at the start like peter we live in a society which does not share our beliefs

And in which the government which allows actions which run contrary to are beliefs

So how can we react?

Shall we shut the doors of are temple?

Shall we kneel before the might of the state?

Shall we adopt the norms of our society like those in the first reading?

Or shall we react in violent revolution?

No we must stay the course.

We must preserve the conversant with God

And we must maintain the law of the land

We are not called to take power for ourselves or to revolt against the powers that be

Indeed both Peter and Paul tell us to submit to earthly power

Peter extols the virtues of suffering for doing good

He predicts the glory of the martyrs whose power came not at the sword but on the cross.

As odd as some of you may find these teachings they do give us a model of living in this world

It accept that powerful people may not always be good or believers

It accept man’s law shapes the world we live in and that we may not like it

But people will not hear good news from a violent man

A man with blood on his hands cannot proclaim love

No Peter and Paul call us to show the ways though our silent suffering

Buy living as Christ wants us we will show the follow of the foolish man

By living by Gods laws first and man’s second the follies of these as well

So whilst we must accept we live in a world of laws we do not like

The oath to altering this is not violence or revolution

But silent resolve, good deeds and following Gods laws above all

Whatever the cost may be