November 17, 2020

Two Masters - God and Mammon Julius Bobbert

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25: 41-45

Having just celebrated the 1517 Reformation which created the Protestant Church, I believe each one of us should make our own list of 95 Theses. Just as Martin Luther angered the Roman Church with his 95 critiques and calls for needed reform, so our list should challenge us to be more faithful to the gospel and challenge our church to engage in the real world to make a difference for good.   One on my list will be a way to separate the business church from the Church of Jesus the Christ. Also, as APC is on a Matthew 25 journey, below are some challenging items. I can imagine voices making me uncomfortable by speaking their truths. I have to remind myself daily not to dismiss them, but listen and be open to what God might be saying to me through them: I was earning a minimum wage equal to 1960 buying power but you were fighting to get an increase on your salary that was already above $100k. I was incarcerated because I could not pay my bail and you did nothing. My low-income housing in Alpharetta was demolished and replaced by high end housing and you did nothing. I was a veteran with mental conditions living on the streets but you did nothing. I was treated unjustly because of the poor neighborhood I live in and the color of my skin but you did nothing. I was displaced due to the war on drugs but you did nothing. I have to choose between buying food and medicine by you did nothing. I have to work on Sundays so you can shop and eat out 7 days a week. You spend more on taking care of animals than on taking care of your neighbors. You spend more on buying the latest model car, latest fashion clothes and latest trend in home improvements than on taking care of your neighbors.

Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscience, Omnibenevolent God, grant us the wisdom and courage to make our church more like the Church you would like us to be. Help each of us to love our neighbors by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with You. Amen.

Alpharetta Presbyterian Church 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-751-0033 www.alpharettapres.com

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