Something is wrong with the world.
We live in a violent
world. War is raging on every continent. In fact, thirteen major wars are being
fought right now, including the civil war in Myanmar that forcibly
displaced over a million people. As the military was seizing power, my niece evacuated
on one of the last planes out of the country.
We live in an
asylum-seeking world. Thousands of Mexican migrants with their belongings
stuffed into one bag are bussed to “sanctuary cities” in the U.S and simply
dropped off. In a major city just a few hours from my home they fill a third of
the already overwhelmed family homeless shelters.
We live in a
world battling over orthodoxy. In a neighboring state, an education law
resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from public schools, classic works
of fiction, nonfiction history books, even Pulitzer Prize winning contemporary
novels!
The apostle
Paul explains the root of the problem in the New Testament book of Romans.
Three
songs from Romans
1.
The Mind of God
We originated in the mind of God. We are created by,
through, and for a triune God to reflect his unity and diversity.[1]
2.
Bad
News! Good News!
The problem is
personal. We don’t reflect God’s unity and diversity. We have fallen short of
the glory of God. We are sinners. God’s solution to the problem was personal. God
sent his Son, Jesus, to demonstrate that he loves us. We are forgiven and made
right with God through Jesus’ death.[2]
3. The Love of God
Surrounded by violence?
Forcibly displaced? Seeking asylum? On the wrong side of orthodoxy? For those
who have accepted God’s solution, nothing can separate them from the love of God.[3]
Kathy
[1]
Romans 11:33-36
[2] Romans 1:2-6, 3:10-18, 5:1-11, 10:5-13
[3] Romans 8:31-39
