Spark Cast

The elements in Matthew 25 are not mere materials. They speak to a bigger reality in which we are invited to live as we serve the least of these.

Service. Fealty. Loyalty. These are the characteristics of subjects to a king. And even though this common code looks different in social, religious, and political arenas, the idea is essentially the same. The top of the hierarchy demands allegiance, and proper honor to a “master” requires it. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that while faithfulness to God requires the same level of commitment, the purpose and focus are radically different.

Matthew 25 uses the sheep and goats to describe Jesus' calling. And which one we are, Jesus teaches, is determined by how we treat others.

Every Sunday, we recite the number one commandment Jesus gave us: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your might, and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12) What does it truly mean to love God with "all" and why do we so easily separate our faith into different aspects?

We conclude our series on Peter, reflecting on what we've discovered through our study and considering what it means to live a life forever changed by Jesus.

Jesus offers Peter a (naive? impractical? optional?) vision of a kingdom through which God defeats violence without violence. And it’s hard to see ourselves as violent anyway…maybe because our privileges allow many of us to distance ourselves from the people and processes that do our violence for us (see: what you ate for dinner last night). Peter’s audacious allegation, learned the hard way, is that our love is solely and sufficiently able to end evil, perhaps one of the most offensive things ever taught.

One of the most challenging verses in the Bible is where Peter tells his readers that slaves are to submit to their masters. We'll navigate the historical context of slavery and biblical teachings, seeking a deeper understanding of how we can approach problematic passages while upholding modern ethical values. Ultimately, we will explore three questions: What does the Bible say about slavery?, What does the Bible say about racism?, What does this mean for you and for us? Together we will take this opportunity to grapple with the complexities of ancient texts and their impact on our lives today.

Christian identity and fidelity culminates in a critical question. “Now what?” How do we live out this kind of life—a life of love, grace, mercy, and salvation—in an overwhelmingly powerful culture that mocks Christianity, and a political complex that murdered the founder of this faith? How shall we now live when there is slavery, economic disparity, social inequality, corrupt government, and more? The secret, no surprise, is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Far from “blind faith,” however, this Way empowers a sense of agency and autonomy. No matter how challenging the systems of power are, nothing can strip you of the ability to have meaning and purpose. This kind of spirituality uses the end goal (the “telos”) as a means of transforming the world, beginning with us.

To be a follower of Jesus in a foreign land is to be part of a long history of people staying true in attitude, actions, behaviors, and beliefs. This kind of devotion is spoken of by the prophets and modeled by Jesus. And the metaphor used to illustrate this kind of life is the image of “living stones being built into a spiritual house.” Just as rocks were memorials to God’s power and action, so too shall we be living reminders in our current communities.

The letters of Peter to the scattered Christians in Asia Minor are a shepherd’s encouragement and exhortation to remain fiercely faithful to Jesus while living in a foreign land. The social, political, and economic realities that cause suffering and tragedy will continue to be harsh and difficult. Nevertheless, followers of Jesus can and should embrace a “living hope” that is found in the identity, fidelity, and teleology of the people of God. (Don't worry. We'll explain it all!) To understand this, we must be reminded of the context of these early Christians and the identities that so transformed their worldview.