News

I have this feature on my phone called “notes”. Actually it is an app. It is one of the few apps that came with my phone that I actually ever use. I put things like the church alarm code there, reminders of things to do, and occasional witty or funny sayings I have come across.

The main jots in my phone notes are sermon ideas or ideas for weekly writings and such that pop into my head while reading, watching TV, driving, walking, or trying to fall asleep. Many make it into sermons or writings. Most just sit there, perhaps for some future inspiration.  Still many others sit there for me to review many months later and wonder what they mean or why I had typed them into the “notes.”

Last night I was looking for a passcode to something not very secret. As I searched for this I even surprised myself about the various notes I wrote to myself. I was surprised by the range of topics. Here are some of the headlines or, in some cases, opening lines: Not all sacrifices are equal, Deconstructing heroes, We are not invited to judge but to change, Like me, does it take you forever to decide which OJ to pick (some pulp, no pulp, lots of pulp)?, Thinking about good and evil, Improved means to an unimproved end, Sphygmomanometer, Are we working at home or living at work?, We never know if we are happy when we are in the middle of something, and, to just list one more, Is Guilt necessary to being a Christian?”

There are more; plenty more. Plenty!  Perhaps some of the above will make it into something I say, teach, or write. Most likely not. Many not mentioned are social justice issues and issues of equality. Some of the above may have or possibly will morph into such issues. What strikes me is the range of topics.  Personal, theological, philosophical, whimsical, pragmatic, comforting and challenging are among the various topic possibilities. 

What this all says to me is that no topic is off limits for church and faith.  If faith is more than a ticket to heaven after life’s end; if faith is for living in this world, in this life, now and for living into the future, then any and all topics of this world are fair game for God and therefore fair game for faith and church. Really, would you like some part of your life where God would be absent? 

I have never understood those who say, for instance, the church ought to stay out of politics. That would mean a major arena of life that affects how people live is off limits for God? No wonder our politics is such a mess. Maybe we all ought to think a bit more about God before we fill out our ballots or take our positions.