ࡱ> @B?q` !bjbjqPqP 74::xxxxxxxP P P 8 , "  """""""#hH&"x "xx "___x x "_"__xx_ 2P _""0"_&e&_&x_4 _v% ""d "P P xxxxxx Keawalai Congregational Church United Church of Christ (USA) Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, October 19, 2008 The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika Living Messages 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 & Matthew 22:15-22 When Macedonia became a Roman province in 148 BCE, Thessalonica became an important city and center of Roman administration in the province. The city was shaped not only by Roman culture but by Greek and Jewish cultures. There were numerous religious cults and groups throughout the city. This was also true of the city of Philippi that we talked about last Sunday. Philippi, like Thessalonica, was also located in Macedonia. It had also become a Roman colony shaped not only by Roman culture but by Greek and Jewish cultures. Around 50 AD or 50 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Apostle Paul along with Timothy and Silvanus wrote their first letter to the church at Thessalonica. Their affection for those in the church was evident. But it is also evident that they were deeply concerned about the daily struggles and challenges many faced as they attempted to maintain their faith, hope, and love in an environment hostile to their presence. It is said that when the letter was written, those who were a part of the church may have been together for only a year or less. Paul as well as Silvanus and Timothy were aware that those who were in the church had done something remarkable. From all that would have claimed their allegiance, they turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God. (1 Thessalonians 1:9) The heart of their letter takes this into account and the focus of our reading this morning celebrates this turning. The Thessalonians were able to remain faithful in the midst of the surrounding influences of Roman, Greek and Jewish cultures and in doing so, they became an embodiment of the good news of Jesus Christ. The message of the letter is centered on the importance of the lordship of Jesus Christ, rather than the lordship of the emperor. It may seem that the story of the church in Thessalonica is ancient history and that it is of little significance to us today. But nothing could be further from the truth. When Paul, Silvanus and Timothy affirm the work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3) of the Thessalonians, it becomes clear that this tiny community in Christ is a testament for us today. Turning to God from idols to serve a living and true God makes for a good storyline for a Hollywood movie or for those in the early missionary movement of the 19th century who were convinced that our Hawaiian ancestors were destined for eternal damnation. I have heard more than my share of stories about how terrible our Hawaiian ancestors were because they worshiped idols; that they did not believe in God. Many point to kii or carved images of the ancient temples and declare, See, how they worshiped idols. We would do well to not be so quick to condemn others of their idols without first recognizing our own. Paul, Silvanus and Timothy remind us that we are called each day to choose God over many other idols that seek our allegiance. If it is true that our allegiance of faith is not to any culture whether Jewish, Greek, or Roman then it is also true that our allegiance of faith is not to any particular culture whether Hawaiian or even American but to God alone. If it is true as Jesus points out to the Pharisees that they must give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperors and to God the things that are Gods (Matthew 22:21) then it is also true our allegiance of faith must be - not to the image of any emperor or president or prime minister or king or dictator that may appear on a coin - but to God alone. The challenge we face even in our own day and time is the challenge faced by those in the early church in Thessalonica to whom Paul, Silvanus and Timothy wrote their letter and to the community in Antioch who were the first to hear Matthews gospel. We must be careful not to assume that patriotism to a nation state is synonymous with our allegiance of faith to God. We must be careful not to equate our allegiance to a flag as synonymous with our allegiance of faith to the one who gave his life not for a nation shaped by human endeavor but for a kingdom or realm shaped by Gods mercy and grace. It may be that when the words In God We Trust were pressed onto our coins and currency in the United States that someone had in mind that this would be a good thing. But the question Jesus asked the Pharisees wasnt Whats written on the coin? It was Whose head is this, and whose title? Perhaps it is time that we ask ourselves the question once more. Given all the discussion these days of raising taxes or not raising taxes; given the fluctuation of global financial markets; given all the idols that seek our allegiance; we are called to serve a living and true God. We are called to be faithful in work and to remain steadfast in the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ. Joe the plumber is someone that has been getting a considerable amount of attention over the last week. It was reported that at first he was amused by all of the media attention but as the attention grew his amusement turned into annoyance. It turns out that Joe the plumber is not a licensed plumber and that it is highly unlikely he will be able to buy a plumbing business that he believes will generate over $250,000 each year. So whether or not he has to pay more or less taxes, it appears that Joe the plumber doesnt want to pay any taxes at all at least for the moment. Apparently he owes a little over $1,800 in back taxes. We would like to think that we are not like the Pharisees who plotted to entrap Jesus when they raised the question of his allegiance. We would like to think that we are not like Joe the plumber who hasnt been honest with his taxes. But we know that in some ways we are like them. If we are to learn anything from the Thessalonians it is to claim our place in the story of Jesus Christ and to trust in God alone when other voices call for our allegiance. We are called to become living messages of Gods good news of faith, love and hope. We are called to be partners in Christs service. Amen.     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