Revolution!
You hear a lot of people complaining about our culture. They complain about how they wish our culture were more Christian, or that at least it didn't embrace everything anti Christian and mock those things that are Christian. But the thing is, we Christians have sat back for so long, or been on the defensive, that that is the only way the world could actually be!
What we need is a revolution. They say that art does not imitate life nearly so much as life imitates art. How many of you would agree with that statement? Somehow a few years ago trucker hats suddenly came in, and out, of fashion. And some people would trace this fact to Brad Pitt wearing a trucker hat. How did that happen?
Of course, trucker hats are not the greatest evil that we are presently combating. We are combating an entire culture. In the past, art has always been used to praise virtue. Consider for example any book by Charles Dickens. There's the virtuous hero characters, and then there's the Characters who are full of vice. If you read these books, you feel inspired to be a better person.
But what does art praise now? Remember that art includes journalism, books, photos, movies, music...
How is chastity generally presented? What about 'prudence'- which means making wise decisions? What about temperance, which means having self control and not getting drunk or doing drugs? What about Christianity in general? How are Christians depicted in art? Take Ned Flanders as an example- this is what people think Christians are like!
John Paul II always said that we were living in a culture of death. But, he spoke about a new springtime, when our culture would become a culture of life. Think about this analogy. In the winter, everything is cold and dead- but then spring comes, and life begins to push forth through the frozen ground, animals come out of hibernation, birds come back...
This is the new springtime- we are living in it! We are seeing the world start to change, start to accept life again.
Deut. 30
15"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;
So, we have to choose life. In every little choice we make, every time we are confronted with sin, we make a choice, to live more, or to die more. For some things it is obvious. It's obvious how choosing to do drugs is choosing to die. Or choosing to sleep around. Or even when you're married, if you choose to use contraception, what are you choosing? Is it life, or death? What about when you choose not to forgive someone who has hurt you? People will literally choose to let their relationships die. But God wants us to choose life.
We live in a world now where abortion is common, where divorce is expected, where sex is meaningless pleasure....
But it is starting to change!
This is the Revolution! We are a part of it! What kind of teenager gives up a week of their summer to teach 10 year olds about Jesus?
Every revolution that ever happened started with the youth. When Communists took over Russia, it started in the universities. Hitler knew this principle- he wanted to start a revolution, so he started the HJ- the Hitler Youth. Even our present culture knows this. Every time there is a new trend or a new train of thought, it starts with the youth. The hippies were youth, and look at what they did to our world!
Jesus was 30. His Apostle John was probably about 20. Mary was 14. These people started a Huge Revolution! Christianity was never a 'safe' religion. It was never a 'sell out' religion. The Jewish Authorities knew this, and persecuted the early Christians. Rome knew this, and did everything in their power to stop Christianity. And where is Rome today? Sure the city still exists... But Caesar is nothing more than a type of salad, and Zeus is a cartoon character.
Unlike the communists, the Nazis, or the hippies, the revolution that we are a part of is a revolution of life. The media is shocked when they go to a prolife rally and see that half the people there are youth. They can't believe it when the Pope throws a party called "World Youth Day", and 1 million youth from around the world get together in one city. The world is not ready for the revolution, but it is time!
Romans 12
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
A lot of people are frustrated with the Catholic Church, because the Catholic Church won't "get with the times", but you know what? It never will. It is time for the 'times' to get with the Catholic Church!
We are not going to be 'conformed' to this world. We're not gonna become a bunch of little icons of worldly values which do not last and mean nothing. We need to take a stand, and to be different. We need to rise up!
At World Youth Day in Toronto a few years ago, the theme was "Salt of the earth, Light of the world." And most people would probably look at that and wonder what the heck it means. Here's the passage it comes from.
Matthew 5
13"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Why would Jesus call us salt? What are some good things that Salt does?
Gives flavor. Preserves meat. Melts Ice! (Jesus probably wasn't thinking about the 'melts ice' idea.)
As the "salt of the Earth" we are called to make a difference! But how can we make a difference if we are not "salty"- in other words, if we are not different? How can we preserve the world from moral decay if we don't respect sex, if we abuse drugs and alcohol, if we don't love our enemies, or put our reputations on the line to stand up for what is true....
What difference are we making? What difference does a light make if you turn it on and then put it under a bucket? We know that light casts out darkness. We know that our world is spiritually dark, and that some light has to be shone into it. But God chose us to be the means to do this. Are we ready?
This is the challenge I want to leave you with- To be people who make a difference.
To be revolutionaries!
(Close in prayer)
What we need is a revolution. They say that art does not imitate life nearly so much as life imitates art. How many of you would agree with that statement? Somehow a few years ago trucker hats suddenly came in, and out, of fashion. And some people would trace this fact to Brad Pitt wearing a trucker hat. How did that happen?
Of course, trucker hats are not the greatest evil that we are presently combating. We are combating an entire culture. In the past, art has always been used to praise virtue. Consider for example any book by Charles Dickens. There's the virtuous hero characters, and then there's the Characters who are full of vice. If you read these books, you feel inspired to be a better person.
But what does art praise now? Remember that art includes journalism, books, photos, movies, music...
How is chastity generally presented? What about 'prudence'- which means making wise decisions? What about temperance, which means having self control and not getting drunk or doing drugs? What about Christianity in general? How are Christians depicted in art? Take Ned Flanders as an example- this is what people think Christians are like!
John Paul II always said that we were living in a culture of death. But, he spoke about a new springtime, when our culture would become a culture of life. Think about this analogy. In the winter, everything is cold and dead- but then spring comes, and life begins to push forth through the frozen ground, animals come out of hibernation, birds come back...
This is the new springtime- we are living in it! We are seeing the world start to change, start to accept life again.
Deut. 30
15"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;
So, we have to choose life. In every little choice we make, every time we are confronted with sin, we make a choice, to live more, or to die more. For some things it is obvious. It's obvious how choosing to do drugs is choosing to die. Or choosing to sleep around. Or even when you're married, if you choose to use contraception, what are you choosing? Is it life, or death? What about when you choose not to forgive someone who has hurt you? People will literally choose to let their relationships die. But God wants us to choose life.
We live in a world now where abortion is common, where divorce is expected, where sex is meaningless pleasure....
But it is starting to change!
This is the Revolution! We are a part of it! What kind of teenager gives up a week of their summer to teach 10 year olds about Jesus?
Every revolution that ever happened started with the youth. When Communists took over Russia, it started in the universities. Hitler knew this principle- he wanted to start a revolution, so he started the HJ- the Hitler Youth. Even our present culture knows this. Every time there is a new trend or a new train of thought, it starts with the youth. The hippies were youth, and look at what they did to our world!
Jesus was 30. His Apostle John was probably about 20. Mary was 14. These people started a Huge Revolution! Christianity was never a 'safe' religion. It was never a 'sell out' religion. The Jewish Authorities knew this, and persecuted the early Christians. Rome knew this, and did everything in their power to stop Christianity. And where is Rome today? Sure the city still exists... But Caesar is nothing more than a type of salad, and Zeus is a cartoon character.
Unlike the communists, the Nazis, or the hippies, the revolution that we are a part of is a revolution of life. The media is shocked when they go to a prolife rally and see that half the people there are youth. They can't believe it when the Pope throws a party called "World Youth Day", and 1 million youth from around the world get together in one city. The world is not ready for the revolution, but it is time!
Romans 12
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
A lot of people are frustrated with the Catholic Church, because the Catholic Church won't "get with the times", but you know what? It never will. It is time for the 'times' to get with the Catholic Church!
We are not going to be 'conformed' to this world. We're not gonna become a bunch of little icons of worldly values which do not last and mean nothing. We need to take a stand, and to be different. We need to rise up!
At World Youth Day in Toronto a few years ago, the theme was "Salt of the earth, Light of the world." And most people would probably look at that and wonder what the heck it means. Here's the passage it comes from.
Matthew 5
13"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Why would Jesus call us salt? What are some good things that Salt does?
Gives flavor. Preserves meat. Melts Ice! (Jesus probably wasn't thinking about the 'melts ice' idea.)
As the "salt of the Earth" we are called to make a difference! But how can we make a difference if we are not "salty"- in other words, if we are not different? How can we preserve the world from moral decay if we don't respect sex, if we abuse drugs and alcohol, if we don't love our enemies, or put our reputations on the line to stand up for what is true....
What difference are we making? What difference does a light make if you turn it on and then put it under a bucket? We know that light casts out darkness. We know that our world is spiritually dark, and that some light has to be shone into it. But God chose us to be the means to do this. Are we ready?
This is the challenge I want to leave you with- To be people who make a difference.
To be revolutionaries!
(Close in prayer)
posted by Peter van Kampen at 9:19 AM
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