"Heir Through God" (December 29, 2024)
Sermon Title: Heir Through God
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Date: December 29, 2024 (First Sunday after
Christmas)
Location: United Church of Hyde Park
Opening Prayer:
Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my
strength and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
1. The Debate in the
Galatian Church
The context of
today's scripture centers around a debate within the Galatian Church. In Paul’s
time, the congregation was no longer solely composed of Jews but also included
individuals from various cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, languages, races,
and religions. This diversity sparked a debate between Jews by birth and
Gentiles.
For centuries,
Israelites, based on their reading of the Hebrew Bible and Torah, believed they
were the only chosen people deserving of God’s salvation. In their context, the
term “people of God” exclusively referred to them. This mindset extended
into the early church, where some believed that only Jews—or those who adopted
Jewish practices—could receive redemption through Jesus Christ. It seemed
reasonable at the time that believers in Jesus should fulfill traditional
Jewish requirements, such as circumcision, as even Jesus' parents adhered to
these customs.
This debate raised a
critical question: Is righteousness attained through adherence to the law, or
is it justified by faith in Christ? In Galatians 1:6-7, Paul expresses his
astonishment, saying, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the
one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different
gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing
you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.”
This strong rebuke,
uncommon in Paul’s letters, highlights his frustration. He emphatically states
in Galatians 3:11, “Now it is evident that no one is reckoned as righteous
before God by the law, for ‘the one who is righteous will live by faith.’”
Paul concludes in 3:14, “In order that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of
Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the
Spirit through faith.”
Paul’s frustration
resonates with us when we see our efforts seemingly undone, as he faced
pushback from the very people he sought to guide. This experience is a reminder
of how we too may feel when the world seems to move backward despite our best
efforts.
2. Strange Things in
This World
Earlier this year,
Louisiana nearly passed a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments
in every public-school classroom starting in 2025.[1]
The regulation specified a poster-sized display with readable text, from
kindergarten to state-funded universities. Governor Jeff Landry argued that “the
Ten Commandments are foundational documents of our state and national
government.” However, the federal judge ruled the proposal impermissible in
November, citing violations of the First Amendment and the separation of church
and state.[2]
This incident is
reminiscent of the 1980 Supreme Court ruling in Stone v. Graham, which
found that posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms served no educational
purpose unless integrated into the curriculum.
Curiously, the
proposed display specified the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments from
the King James Bible. This raises questions: Why that particular version? Would
it be from Exodus (20:2-17) or Deuteronomy (5:6-21)? The governor likely did
not consider these nuances.
In our pew Bible, we
use the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version), published by the National Council
of Churches in 1989. If you visit the Seminary Co-Op Bookstore—a haven for
serious readers like us—you’ll find it priced at $10.99 for a hard copy. You can
also pick up the Oxford Annotated Apocrypha for $19.99 or the XL (extra-large
print) edition for $37.99.
Meanwhile, there’s
someone still selling the “God Bless the USA Bible.” If you’re
unfamiliar, let me explain: it comes in three limited editions: (1) The Day God
Intervened During the Assassination Attempt Edition for $69.99, (2)
Inauguration Day Edition for $69.99, and (3) the exclusive President’s
Signature Limited Edition for a whopping $1,000. All three are softcover
editions, not hard copies, and they use the King James Version. I searched for
this Bible on the Seminary Co-Op website and, thankfully, found no trace of it.
If you’re a fan of
the Fantastic Beasts series from Harry Potter, you might feel a
sense of déjà vu here. History repeats itself—not just in fantasy or
cinema, but also in Paul’s time and our own. Faith and religion often become
commodities for profit, turning the message of unconditional love into
spiritual prisons and instruments of cultural oppression. If you’re angry about
the direction our country is heading, know that you are not alone in this.
History repeats
itself. The prophets of the Hebrew Bible consistently called out corrupt
leadership and religious hypocrisy, condemning those who abandoned God for
personal gain, neglected the poor to protect their privileges, or offered
hollow lip service while engaging in unjust practices. Paul, too, was
bewildered by how people continued to follow such leaders and misguided paths.
Perhaps we find ourselves asking the same questions today and wonder why.
Although Dictionary.com
has chosen "demure" as the word of 2024,[3] I
have a different preference. The Oxford Word of the Year for 2024 is “brain
rot,”[4] a
term used to express concerns about the effects of consuming excessive amounts
of low-quality online content, particularly on social media. Usage of the term
increased by 230% between 2023 and 2024. While its first recorded use dates
back to 1854, "brain rot" has taken on new significance in the
digital age.
Lately, I’ve had the
unsettling illusion that the White House or the President’s Office is no longer
in D.C. but in Florida. The fragmentation of information and the proliferation
of alternative worldviews—even in public affairs—have fueled a sense of madness
and chaos in our country.
History often
repeats itself. Faith and religion, intended as paths to unconditional love and
spiritual liberation, are too often exploited for profit or cultural
oppression. Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, as well as Paul, condemned such
practices, challenging leaders who prioritized personal gain over genuine
faith. Their rebukes remind us to question leadership that strays from God’s
path.
3. Uncertainty and
Rising Anxiety
Today, fewer people
follow political news. More than 70% of Democratic supporters and 60% of
Republican supporters have stopped watching news since November. Traditional
news channels like CNN and MSNBC have lost significant viewership, while Fox
News has seen a 13% increase.
In contrast,
podcasts and social media platforms like YouTube are gaining traction. Podcasts
now attract over 504 million listeners worldwide, with many saying political
ads on these platforms influence their opinions. The number is from 35% to 55%.
Similarly, Paul faced competition from others who promoted what he described as
“false teachings” or “worldly knowledge.” His frustration with these challenges
mirrors our struggles in today’s fragmented media landscape.
Even as distractions
grow, our church has made strides in this space. Our podcast channel saw a 5%
increase in followers, while our YouTube channel experienced a 34% growth in
viewership and an 87-subscriber increase this year. These achievements are signs
of hope and resilience. You can learn more about how our church as a whole is
responding to the world at the Congregational Meeting.
We just celebrated
Christmas with a good crowd of people this year, the new born king reminds us
that “those who live in darkness, shall see lights.” History repeats irself,
but Jesus is now with us.
4. Salvation for
Everyone
Galatians 3:22
states, “What was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ might be given
to those who believe.” Some ancient manuscripts phrase this as “through
faith in Jesus Christ.” This subtle difference shifts the emphasis from
human faith to the faithfulness of Christ himself, underscoring that salvation
is God’s work, not ours. What we do on earth is to represent the salvation is
now here, for all.
Paul argues that
righteousness is no longer confined to adherence to the Torah. Through God’s
promise to Abraham, salvation extends to all nations. In Galatians 3:28-29,
Paul proclaims, “There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave
or free; there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ
Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs
according to the promise.”
This radical
inclusivity redefines God’s children, no longer determined by ancestry but by the
faithfulness in Jesus Christ. Paul’s counter-cultural proclamation challenges
us to embrace God’s promise of freedom for everyone.
From Paul's example,
we can learn to approach our context with greater patience and gain a deeper
understanding of those affected by "brain rot" or those who exploit
the gospel and faith for profit. Don’t give them up now. It is essential to
remind everyone that the promise of freedom is for all—everyone is an heir and
a beloved child of God through Jesus Christ. We shall keep working individually
and together in our contexts till the good news is well received and practiced.
Amen.
Closing Benediction:
Now may the God of
peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the
sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good
that you may do his/her/their will, working in us that which is pleasing in
his/her/their sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen. (Adapted from Hebrews 13:20-21)
[1] https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-ten-commandments-displayed-classrooms-571a2447906f7bbd5a166d53db005a62
[2] https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/ten-commandments-law-for-public-schools-is-impermissible-judge-rules/2024/11
[3] https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year-2024/
[4] https://corp.oup.com/word-of-the-year/
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