Colossians 1:11-20
There is a very powerful movie currently in theaters about a free man who is enslaved for 11 years. I would like to see it, by all accounts it is a riveting story on many levels. I can't fathom being a free man and being sold into slavery. He must have protested almost unceasingly that he was in fact a free man only to be beaten and abused.
I am sure the movie highlights what every slave must have felt, knowing they have dignity and were children of God, but being denied their due dignity and being told they were less than equal by slave owners and even churches alike.
The idea of being captive is not new to us. Modern interpretations would have us being slaves to our desires, slaves to material goods. All of this could be very true. It is difficult to break free when the paradigm is repeated over and over and we are bombarded with media that supports that paradigm.
This passage speaks of hope for the oppressed and inner strength that is derived from the Lord. If you are gay this can be a very troubling time of year. You certainly are bombarded by certain media that portrays you as evil, less than human perhaps and outright sinners. If you have not come out for one reason or another, you have an added level of captivity in your life. While this could be a troubling lonely time of year, it really offers you a level of hope that cannot be matched by anything else the world has to offer. No matter what situation you are in, there is peace and strength in God, in his glorious power. Our self worth and dignity are not determined by the world at large, by media or even by institutional churches. We have hope and dignity as unique creations of God. At this time of year, whether free or held in any kind of captivity, we have the added strength we can take from the fact that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus life is an offer from our creator where He shares in our humanity so he knows what captivity and suffering are first hand. God enters into our humanity, our captivity and stands tall as we should no matter what or who we are. As a human and as God, Jesus walked the earth and opened up his love to everyone and perhaps especially the outcasts, the marginalized and the sinners showing them the dignity and love they deserved. What a glorious time to celebrate and be reminded how wonderful we all are.
There is dignity and power from God that shall set us free no matter what our situation. Gay bashers, churches and governments cannot take away our dignity that is inherent from God. At this time of year we take comfort and strength from God and his abundant love for each one of us. An we celebrate.
This passage speaks of hope for the oppressed and inner strength that is derived from the Lord. If you are gay this can be a very troubling time of year. You certainly are bombarded by certain media that portrays you as evil, less than human perhaps and outright sinners. If you have not come out for one reason or another, you have an added level of captivity in your life. While this could be a troubling lonely time of year, it really offers you a level of hope that cannot be matched by anything else the world has to offer. No matter what situation you are in, there is peace and strength in God, in his glorious power. Our self worth and dignity are not determined by the world at large, by media or even by institutional churches. We have hope and dignity as unique creations of God. At this time of year, whether free or held in any kind of captivity, we have the added strength we can take from the fact that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus life is an offer from our creator where He shares in our humanity so he knows what captivity and suffering are first hand. God enters into our humanity, our captivity and stands tall as we should no matter what or who we are. As a human and as God, Jesus walked the earth and opened up his love to everyone and perhaps especially the outcasts, the marginalized and the sinners showing them the dignity and love they deserved. What a glorious time to celebrate and be reminded how wonderful we all are.
There is dignity and power from God that shall set us free no matter what our situation. Gay bashers, churches and governments cannot take away our dignity that is inherent from God. At this time of year we take comfort and strength from God and his abundant love for each one of us. An we celebrate.
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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