We have so many things to do, we forget why we are doing them; we have so many things, we forget why they matter.
Christians can't be pessimists because we know the future and its connection to the character of God. Moreover, the future aeon has already broken into this present age, and God's kingly reign has already begun. On the other hand, however, Christians cannot be optimists either, because we know that this aeon is still in severe trouble. This time and this world are still characterized by sinfulness, brokenness, evil, idolatries, overwhelming fetters. Instead of being either pessimists or optimists Christians are hopeful realists.
What is desperately needed and seldom found in the church is an adequate theology of the family of faithful. Paul believes that being brothers and sisters in Christ and sons and daughters of God transcends all other loyalties and should transform all other social relationships Blood should not be thicker than the baptismal waters in the church. Rather Paul calls for a "relativized" view of all this-worldly institutes, including marriage. His idea of a family "church" is actualized where God's people treat each other as their primary family, not just as some secondary social gathering that happens once a week and that promotes the agenda of the nuclear family.
Order of Worship, February 3 2013
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