Scripture for Sunday, July 4th: Luke 10:25-28

Sermon Title: O America, can you see?

"One day an expert on Moses' laws came to test Jesus' orthodoxy by asking Him this question: 'Teacher, what does a man need to do to live forever in heaven?' Jesus replied, ' What does Moses' law say about it?' 'It says,' he replied, 'that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all you mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.' 'Right!' Jesus told him. "Do this and you shall live!'" Lk. 10:25-28 (Living Bible Translation)

The man in this story probably heard Jesus give this answer before (see Mt. 12:33-40 and Mk. 12:28-34). Notice the response Jesus gave to this man: "Do this and you shall live!" (v. 28). I thought about this story when I read William Bennett's writings recently. Among his writings is the following:

"Right now Americans are playing a rhetorical game in which we say one thing and we do another. Consider this - We say that we desire from our children more civility and responsibility, but in many of our schools we steadfastly refuse to teach right and wrong. We say that we want law and order in the streets, but we allow violent criminals to return to those same streets. We say we want to stop illegitmacy, but we continue to subsidize the kind of behavior that virtually guarantees high rates of illegitimacy. We say we want to encourage virtue and honor among the young, but it has become a mark of sophistication to shun the language of morality. We say we want goodness in the land but instead of according religion its proper place, much of society riducles and disdains it and mocks those who are serious about their faith." (William Bennett, "Redeeming Our Time," Imprimis, pp. 6-7).

What would Jesus response be to this? It may very well be the same response he gave to the man in this story - Love God and others. Do this and you shall live! In other words, don't just say you want America to be a place where God is respected. Love God with all your heart and let your love for God be reflected in the way you treat and relate to others. Do this and bless our country, your community and your family.

May God bless America and your family this 4th of July weekend. See you at church on Sunday.

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This is our blog for First Baptist, Girard. I will post the scripture text for the upcoming Sunday's sermon each week along with some thoughts. Please feel free to post your own thoughts and reflections on the Scripture. My hope is that the blog will be used by each of you to reflect on the Scripture that will be used on upcoming Sunday every week.