Feeding One Another
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:26-27
Friends,
People who study and teach theology for a living know many Latin Phrases. One Latin Phrase is “Incurvatis In Se”. It is translated: “Turned (Curved) In On Yourself”. Many of these theologians see this as the basis of sin. We become self-absorbed with ourselves that we see things only in terms of the self. One pastor I knew phrased it in more contemporary phrasing: “What’s in it for me?”.
In anxious times this phrasing may especially be true. We are concerned about survival and that tends to narrow our view to the self. Will I run out of TP? What do I do now that most of the hand sanitizer is gone? What about the water supply? I should buy canned and dry goods in case the stores close for any length of time.
Another element of these anxious times is the blame game. The hoarders have taken everything. Now what do I do? Why didn’t the government warn us earlier!? They seem so disorganized. Is it necessary for them to issue a “shelter in place” for the entire state? Don’t they realize what that will do to the entire economy?
We become turned in on ourselves blaming others for our situation.
Theologians believe the cure for being turned in on ourselves is to be born from outside ourselves. Jesus called it in John 3, being born “from above”. God, through his incredible love, re-births us into a new community. We see others and help them with their needs.
I once heard a description of the difference between heaven and hell.
In hell, there is a long table with people sitting down to dinner. On the table is the greatest feast ever put together. Around the neck of each person at the table is a large fork with a short cord holding the fork around the person’s neck. Unfortunately, the people slowly starve as they can not turn the fork around to feed themselves.
In heaven, there is a long table with people sitting down to dinner. On the table is the greatest feast ever put together. Around the neck of each person at the table is a large fork with a short cord holding the fork around the person’s neck. However, instead of the people starving they are well fed. Why? Because the people are using the forks to feed one another.
In this anxious time, may we feed one another.
Peace,
Ricky Adams
Pastor
Peace Lutheran Church
Mill Valley, California.