Groanings

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
--Romans 8:18-25


12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
--Romans 5:12-17

Here I am again in Panera Bread, doing all I can to NOT study Greek. I usually do not do anything but have fun and sleep on Sundays. However, I find myself in a boat full of leaks that need plugging. So here I am.

I heard a moving and powerful sermon this morning from my pastor (Shawn Merithew). A lot of the thoughts in this entry have been stemmed from his sermon. My mind and my heart have been far from right in relation to the devastation on the Gulf coast. Stuart Swicegood posted a great blog entry on this a couple of days ago. It is so easy to get caught up in the "theology" of what is taking place in New Orleans. Sure, we have our answers. We know that God is sovereign.

We know that...But try telling that to the mother whose child just died of dehydration. Try telling that to the man who lost EVERYTHING but the clothes on his back. Try telling that to the audience that witnessed a man shoot one of his family members for a bottle of water. Try telling that to New Orleans, which no longer exists.

The question the world is trying to answer in various ways is this: WHOSE FAULT IS IT?

Who caused the evil of hurricane Katrina? Answer: YOU DID. I DID. WE ALL DID.

I posted the above Scripture passages for the purpose of pointing the finger at our individual hearts. My heart and my mind have been so far away from the empathy it should feel towards those people on the coast. As the groanings of nature were made horrifically manifest in the face of Katrina, I am left to place the blame on myself.

I challenge us all during this time to cease the seminary "theological" explanations, and to repent as Job did. This is not an abstract theory. This is REALITY. This is not a good folk tale that describes nature; this is REALITY. It is my fault that these people suffer.

EVEN SO, GRACE REIGNS...

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
--Romans 5:18-21

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said,  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
--Job 1:20-21