blog-maryBlog - Joyful Curmudgeon - Blog
A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


Resurrection Day – 23 March 2008
By Mary T. Hoffman

Today, Churches adhering to the Gregorian calendar celebrate Resurrection Day (Easter). For Orthodox Christians, who use the Julian calendar, April 27th will be Resurrection Day (Easter Sunday) this year.

Regardless of when this event is celebrated, it marks the completion, or culmination, of Jesus’ purpose for His appearance in this fallen world: to offer salvation – spiritual rebirth – to anyone who chooses to believe in Him.

As I’ve mentioned before, this salvation is not the “cheap grace” that is so popular with many “believers.” What is the difference? True salvation is manifested by repentance which results in positive change in the believer’s life. Remember how Jesus would heal a person and then say “go and sin no more”? Change is the key.

There are many who claim to be “born again” because they said the sinner’s prayer at some time; but their actions make you wonder. For example, I will never forget one such family that was very active in Christian endeavors – and how they would leave their dog tied outside with no water or food. Such lack of empathy is far from Christ-like; it has more in common with sociopathic behavior. One would expect those who are truly born again to experience an increase in empathy and compassion for all of God’s creation, including, but not limited to, the farmed animals whose suffering is enormous.

God has been trying to bring about positive change in humans, to whom He granted free will, since the fall. The following passage from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is an example of God’s desire to rescue humans from their destructive behavior. However, it’s obvious that it continues to be a long, hard struggle.

Ezekiel 36:26 (New American Standard Bible)

26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Other relevant Bible verses follow:

John 3:3 (New King James Version)

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Matthew 7:20 (New American Standard Bible)

20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits."

Matthew 7:21 (New American Standard Bible)

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven."

John 14:12 (New American Standard Bible)

12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."

Go on to: Sidney Lanier – 24 March 2008
Return to: COMMUNION – 22 March 2008
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