Hypothetical Question

What if Adam and Eve decided not to eat from any of the trees in the garden? Would they have starved to death?

The question is not as dumb as you think.

The Parable of the Urban Housing Developer

God's culture is like an urban housing developer working along the Gold Coast. He makes plans to build a low rent housing project as the prominent feature of the neighborhood. And as the project became a reality using hard-earned tax dollars, it overshadowed the multi-million dollar condos and attracted gangsters, drug dealers, and prostitutes as tenants.

Mark 4:30-32

Blown Away

I've taught for years that Jesus blew away his contemporaries with what he taught and did. His Kingdom is certainly an upside-down one and it rocked the world of those who were within earshot of Jesus' activities. I still think this is true, and even as recently as today I preached that Jesus shocked and amazed the people with whom he came into contact. Today's example was Nicodemus.

After worship today I was struck with a thought that crossed my mind. It went something like this:

Jesus blew away his contemporaries. So what? Does he blow us away?

And that, my friends, is the big question. What good does it do to know that Jesus shocked people in the 1st century? As far as I can tell, not much. Does he shock people in the 21st century? Ponder that one for a few moments, and do it honestly.

What we lack today in Christendom is the element of surprise. Twenty centuries removed, we are a people who know how the Biblical stories end. In one of Jesus' most beloved parables we already know that the prodigal son returns to his father and is accepted. Can you imagine how this story fell on the ears of the original audience. Surprise!! How does it fall on our ears?

"Ho hum."

"I already knew that."

"Hmm...is it time for lunch yet."

As I can tell there are only two solutions to this. One is to dismantle the system we've built piece by piece. The other is to tell a different story, a story that amazes and surprises people. One that fills people with awe and wonder, taking what I would call "universal knowledge" and sacrelizing it. God continues to reveal truth to our world. He didn't quit with the writing and compilation of the Bible.

What do you think? I'd really like to know your thoughts!!