28.3.07

a jarring note

'jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated'

'for God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'


I once heard a sermon where the first of these verses was used to illustrate that God had predestined some to be saved. That God loves some and, well, doesn't love others.

I'm not sure how those who would use this verse in this way, deal with all the other verses in the Bible that speak of God's overwhelming love for everything that he has made, humankind and Creation.

to the first I want to say 'hyperbole!', where an extreme is used to illustrate the other extreme - Love me, Jesus says, and to make the point hit home.... 'whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.'

God loves Jacob and chooses Jacob, where he does not choose Esau. However, the 'chosen' are not chosen in order to say to themselves 'what a lucky thing I am', but in order to serve and bless the community that they are in.

Abraham was chosen in order to bring blessing to all nations, Israel to be a light among the nations, Jesus the anointed to be a light in the darkness and...you (and me)...to walk with your community, you are blessed to be a blessing.

Woe to those who say 'I am loved and you are hated'. Being 'chosen' bears responsibility.....always.



Farli on her blog reminds of the lenten prayer which starts:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made

http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/farli/read.php?22226

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for linking Jody.

I'll drop by again another time.