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Podcast: 7 September 2020
NEW SERIES!
Welcome to Monday’s podcast. My name is Tom Finnemore and I’m the Interim Leader of STC.
This term we’re thinking about what it means to embrace the so called ‘New Normal’ – this new moment we find ourselves in 2020 during this global pandemic and as a church as we navigate season of leadership transition. Each Sunday and each week day we’ll be searching the scriptures to see what we can mine and learn throughout this season.
Today we’re starting right at the start of the gospel of Matthew. Matthew 1: 1-25. Today I’ll focus on verses 17:
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
REFLECTION:
Last month we needed to get our washing machine fixed – it had sprung a leak. We found an engineer. He was great and sorted the issue quickly. He was really friendly – super chatty – quite funny and reminded me of the TV presenter Paddy McGuiness. As he was getting ready to go the conversation turned to the subject of moment: the blockbuster year that 2020 has become. Things took an unexpected turn. This happy-go-lucky funny washing machine repairman takes the view that COVID-19 is part of a much wider conspiracy in which the government is using to take our money. We listened and said nothing. His parting advice was for us to remove our money from the banks (so it couldn’t be ‘got’) and instead invest in jewels and gold. We thanked him for his time, for fixing the washing machine and, of course, his sound financial advice.
The thing is he isn’t alone holding those views.
As lockdown has eased it seems to me that whatever cultural unity there may have been back in March and April –as we all clapped for the NHS – has eviscerated to such a degree in some quarters of culture that a deep distrust has emerged towards any medical advice shared by scientists & the government.
For example, I learned a new term recently – a Sheeple. I’ll say it again – a Sheeple. It’s a term for somebody who is so called easily led. A friend was called one for wearing a mask!
My point is that there are multiple competing voices right now that are causing among some people a real sense of confusion – often, in my view – the sign of a real spiritual struggle and battle. Division & distrust are the hallmarks of the enemy of God.
Jon Tyson, a pastor in New York City, attributes this ‘cultural confusion’ – this disbelief whether we’re actually receiving medical advice or the victims of a major hoax – to the many and multiple narratives that have become part of our every day existence. This has become a major issue in the pressure cooker that is 2020. When I was a kid – there were 5 channels on the telly… it felt a much simpler way of life. Nostalgia aside, it meant that when there was major events, there were only a few major cultural voices helping navigate the season and interpret the times.
Today there are literally thousands of voices broadcasting their views on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.
If you’re heading to work today or just going about your daily life what can you do – what can we do – to be a presence of Jesus in this tumultuous time?
Today’s passage has something to say to us. Matthew’s infamous genealogy – a bit like a condensed version of the TV show ‘who do you think you are’ confirms Jesus’ identity – it lines him up perfectly with the Jewish greats like Abraham – which affirms his pedigree and then the icing on the cake is the direct claim to the descent of King David and Solomon. Nothing could scream louder from the rooftops ‘Son of David’ than a list of names like this confirming his royal identity.
In this culture – who you are and your place in the world was totally dependent on your family line and here’s the thing… Rome had already placed a king over the Jewish people – H...
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By STC SheffieldNEW SERIES!
Welcome to Monday’s podcast. My name is Tom Finnemore and I’m the Interim Leader of STC.
This term we’re thinking about what it means to embrace the so called ‘New Normal’ – this new moment we find ourselves in 2020 during this global pandemic and as a church as we navigate season of leadership transition. Each Sunday and each week day we’ll be searching the scriptures to see what we can mine and learn throughout this season.
Today we’re starting right at the start of the gospel of Matthew. Matthew 1: 1-25. Today I’ll focus on verses 17:
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
REFLECTION:
Last month we needed to get our washing machine fixed – it had sprung a leak. We found an engineer. He was great and sorted the issue quickly. He was really friendly – super chatty – quite funny and reminded me of the TV presenter Paddy McGuiness. As he was getting ready to go the conversation turned to the subject of moment: the blockbuster year that 2020 has become. Things took an unexpected turn. This happy-go-lucky funny washing machine repairman takes the view that COVID-19 is part of a much wider conspiracy in which the government is using to take our money. We listened and said nothing. His parting advice was for us to remove our money from the banks (so it couldn’t be ‘got’) and instead invest in jewels and gold. We thanked him for his time, for fixing the washing machine and, of course, his sound financial advice.
The thing is he isn’t alone holding those views.
As lockdown has eased it seems to me that whatever cultural unity there may have been back in March and April –as we all clapped for the NHS – has eviscerated to such a degree in some quarters of culture that a deep distrust has emerged towards any medical advice shared by scientists & the government.
For example, I learned a new term recently – a Sheeple. I’ll say it again – a Sheeple. It’s a term for somebody who is so called easily led. A friend was called one for wearing a mask!
My point is that there are multiple competing voices right now that are causing among some people a real sense of confusion – often, in my view – the sign of a real spiritual struggle and battle. Division & distrust are the hallmarks of the enemy of God.
Jon Tyson, a pastor in New York City, attributes this ‘cultural confusion’ – this disbelief whether we’re actually receiving medical advice or the victims of a major hoax – to the many and multiple narratives that have become part of our every day existence. This has become a major issue in the pressure cooker that is 2020. When I was a kid – there were 5 channels on the telly… it felt a much simpler way of life. Nostalgia aside, it meant that when there was major events, there were only a few major cultural voices helping navigate the season and interpret the times.
Today there are literally thousands of voices broadcasting their views on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.
If you’re heading to work today or just going about your daily life what can you do – what can we do – to be a presence of Jesus in this tumultuous time?
Today’s passage has something to say to us. Matthew’s infamous genealogy – a bit like a condensed version of the TV show ‘who do you think you are’ confirms Jesus’ identity – it lines him up perfectly with the Jewish greats like Abraham – which affirms his pedigree and then the icing on the cake is the direct claim to the descent of King David and Solomon. Nothing could scream louder from the rooftops ‘Son of David’ than a list of names like this confirming his royal identity.
In this culture – who you are and your place in the world was totally dependent on your family line and here’s the thing… Rome had already placed a king over the Jewish people – H...