Scripture/Sermon of the Day

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

II. Notice when you read the Bible how often race is an issue. Even Jesus told the Canaanite woman that he won’t take the children’s (Jews) food and give it to the dogs (gentiles).

But even when it wasn’t an issue — in the early pages of the Bible when there was still ONLY ONE FAMILY — then there was still the issue of the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEOPLE. The first person born, Cain, was a farmer and the second born, his brother Abel, was a shepherd. So the farmer envied the shepherd because he was jealous of the shepherd’s produce compared to his — his idea that meat had a higher value than grain. So the farmer killed the shepherd. The first child born envied -- and killed -- the second-born. The human race barely started and already there was conflict from the differences between people.

III. Even before Cain and Able — there was a envy between Adam and Eve and — GOD! The serpent convinced Eve that if she ate the forbidden fruit — she’d be like God.

It would make her and Adam wise — like God. So in the first pages of the Bible — there’s the idea of conflict and envy because of differences. Adam and Eve were given everything — Eden was paradise. But it wasn’t enough. They wanted to be like God.

AND PUTIN ENVIES ZELENSKY. Do you know how big Russia is? Almost twice the size of the United States. Ukraine is about the size of Texas. Putin wants it. Russia is the largest country in the world, with more than 6.5 million square miles of land. You know what country comes in second — Canada, with about 3.5 million square miles, and then China. The U.S. comes in 4th place.

V. The National Security Document just released by the White House — last week — says the real problem, in our country and Europe — is “CIVILIZATIONAL ERASURE.” In 30 pages, it says that is is our real threat, and it’s caused by dark-skinned people who are replacing the white race. In 20 years, this document says, Europe (meaning white Europeans) will be “erased.”

If you read this document, you can see similarities with the idea that’s called “THE GREAT REPLACEMENT THEORY” which claims that white populations are being replaced by immigrants from majority nonwhite nations, especially from Africa. According to this document, our problem is caused by racial differences between people.

VI. More recently, the large Somali population in Minnesota has been told by the administration in Washington to “GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM.”

VII. The readings for today from the Bible address these various racial problems of Somali’s in Minnesota, and White Nationalists in Washington, and the migration of dark-skinned people into formerly-mostly-white Europe and the Untied States. The Bible has an answer to these racial problems.

Paul says Jesus Christ came to serve the circumcised and the Gentiles, the white and the dark-skinned, the male and the female and the transgender. In Christ there is no east or west or north or south. But all are one in him. And THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE to another, whether they are like us or different — IS TO SERVE them. GOD CALLS US TO BE SERVANTS TO OTHERS. In Christ, race is no longer an issue.

VIII. And that’s what John the Baptist means today, the second Sunday of Advent, when he says “REPENT!” He means put down our weapons, our anger -- and pick up our serving tray, and put on our aprons, and get busy loving one another as Jesus loves us.