Sermon - 10-3-21

<p>I’ve really been struggling with these texts since I learned I’d be preaching today</p> <p>The scripture selections this week have been used in harmful ways</p> <p>They’ve been used to promote women’s subservience to men</p> <p>They’ve been used to shame our beloved LGBTQ community members</p> <p>They’ve been used to restrict and regulate the institution of marriage</p> <p>They’ve been used by the church to deny people’s access to God</p> <p>So, I’ve really been struggling</p> <p>Trying to find meaning within these texts</p> <p>Wondering why these messages are Holy</p> <p>Seeking the good news not only for myself</p> <p>But for my friends…</p> <p>My friends who are divorced, gay, transgender or in abusive marriages</p> <p>As I floundered in this place of uncertainty</p> <p>I looked for something solid to hold on to</p> <p>I followed my roots to not only these selected scripture readings</p> <p>But also out and around them</p> <p>I grabbed onto the root of the larger biblical narrative</p> <p>I remembered the root of Lutheranism</p> <p>I heard wisdom from the root of our ancestors</p> <p>My friends have been hurt by these readings</p> <p>I love my friends</p> <p>So I began with love </p> <p>Augustine, one of the earliest Christian theologians, offered this root:</p> <p>“Whoever thinks that he understands the divine Scriptures or any part of them so that it does not build the double love of God and of our neighbor does not understand it at all.” </p> <p>Augustine offers the wisdom of building <strong>double</strong> love</p> <p>I held onto double love as the foundation of our understanding </p> <p>Martin Luther began growing the root of paradox back in 1520 with “The Freedom of a Christian”</p> <p>Paradox is evident in the main themes of his work as he declares:</p> <p>“The Christian individual is a completely free lord of all, subject to none”</p> <p>And</p> <p>“The Christian individual is a completely dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”</p> <p>Paradox is a strong root that runs through the ground of our L