Show Notes
In this eighth week of ordinary time, we are reminded from Paul’s letter to the Colossians to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature.
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Episode Transcript
In this eighth week after Pentecost, we pause to consider just one of the ways we are called to swim against the tide of popular culture by seeking the renewing of our minds, allowing God’s Holy Spirit to shape and inform our thinking and in turn our actions that we may better reflect Him to a watching world.
Paul’s letter to the Colossians, chapter 3, verses 1 through 11.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
It’s popular to describe hot button political and cultural issues, whether that’s gun control, immigration, or human sexuality, to describe them as much needed national conversations. But let’s be honest, most of the time there’s not a lot of discussing going on. They’re more like shouting matches, especially on social media, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language. Aren’t these the hallmarks of much of what we see online? It’s sobering to consider these are the old ways Paul exhorted the Colossians to throw off. And he went on to warn that they were among the subjects of God’s impending wrath. Serious business, indeed. So it behooves us to engage thoughtfully and cautiously with social media. Here are three things to consider. First, be aware of the limitations of immediacy. News used to be what had happened and why. These days, events are relayed in real time before they are complete with no great sense of context. The first reports from breaking news situations are partial at best, if not often downright inaccurate. Don’t rush to judgment on something you don’t know all about. Next, be aware of the limitations of time and space. So much news is reported in short form videos and messages. If you’re basing your understanding of the world on a TikTok video or a Facebook meme, you’re ill-informed at best. Finally, consider the perspective. As the old saying goes, where there is fruit, there is a root. Where does the news you are consuming come from? What is the worldview of its producers? Don’t rely on any single source. In Deuteronomy, God’s people were told that if they heard of others turning away to other gods, they should, quote, inquire and make search and ask diligently about the rumor. Why such thoroughness? Because if they were true, they were to kill the apostates. There are serious consequences to the things we pass on. We should not consume or propagate news and opinions casually.
The 49th Psalm, verses one through 12.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—
so that they should live on forever
and not see decay.
For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
Their tombs will remain their houses forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves.
People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
Let us pray with the CWC Life Women’s Group.
Heavenly Father, in a world saturated with information, we seek your wisdom to guide our understanding. Grant us the perspective to discern truth from noise, to see beyond the headlines and into the heart of matters. But bless the media, Lord, that it might be a tool for enlightenment rather than division. Let those who communicate through various platforms be inspired by your truth, speaking with integrity and seeking to inform rather than to mislead or to sway. Help us to engage with media, with a critical yet open mind, teaching us to listen with empathy and to speak with clarity. May we use communication to build bridges rather than walls, fostering dialogue that leads to understanding and peace. Grant us the patience to wait for your perspective in our fast-paced world where information flies swiftly, but wisdom often lags behind. In our consumption of news, stories, and messages, may we also seek your guidance, asking for clarity and truth in what we see, hear, and share. Lord, let our interactions in this digital age be filled with your loving grace. Teach us to communicate in ways that reflect your compassion and justice, using our voices and platforms to uplift, educate, and unite in all our endeavors, whether we are creators or consumers of media, let us remember our role in your grand narrative, striving to be ambassadors of your peace and truth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
A reading from the Gospel of Luke chapter 12 beginning in verse 13.
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
