Swearing
Matthew 5:33-27
Today, sadly, it is a surprise for many that a given person would actually do something that they said they would do. We exclaim with gratitude, awe, and wonder when a politician accomplishes this feat. Then, we are convinced that (on the basis of that astonishingly low bar alone) they are automatically worthy of re-election!
One thing I have been really proud of here at Lakewood UMC are the number of people in our neighborhood who make it a point to tell us, "you guys are doing what churches should do." And "Lakewood UMC walks the talk," and grateful statements like that. It is really cool to hear that after seeing all of the work and time that so many in our congregation have shared.
In generaI, think we are starving for stories where what someone says lines up with what someone does. There is a trust deficit in our society!
President Biden just signed a really significant bill into law that unlocks funding for climate change initiatives, expands Medicare's ability to negotiate drug prices, and adds funding to the federal government's efforts to chase after tax fraud. And whether or not you agree with this bill, I think its worth noting just how much surprise exists in the media.
"Biden delivered on his promise" is what I found myself seeing written, almost in surprise all over the place. We have become convinced, perhaps, that progress is impossible these days because people generally don't do what they say they will do.
Mistrust is massive in our denomination, too. Political messaging flies back and forth between the camps who are squabbling in our church as it divides. Bloggers blog, Bishops sign statements that are well crafted by PR professionals, caucus groups spin the outcomes of decisions that get made to benefit the outcomes they hope will happen in our denomination.
I think that, in our society AND our denomination, that there isn't a lot of "yes" that simply means "yes," or "no" that simply means "no!"
On Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" one of his famous teachings ends recognizably: "Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No.'" This week we are going to explore what that means.
Is it a call to complete an absolute honesty? Is it a gut check for us to be more sincere and to expect more sincerity from our neighbor? In what places do you wish more sincerity could be found? Where are you finding that people lead with integrity?
