Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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The first Bible
verse that I ever memorized was John 3:16.
In his most
famous Christmas sermon, Martin Luther referred to it as "the Gospel in a
nutshell."
Even the guy with
the funny rainbow-colored hair in the end zone with the John 3:16 poster knows
that.
My guess is even
mainline churchgoers don't have to look it up.
It's the
good/great/best news of every season.
God loves everybody - you, me, and
even them.
No color, class,
or cultural distinctions/discriminations.
That's the
Christmas message.
God loves everybody.
Jesus proved it.
And people who
love Jesus keep proving it.
That's why the
second Bible verse that I ever memorized was John 3:17.
My guess is...
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If Jesus is for
everybody, why do so many churches pretend He came just for them?
If Jesus loves
everybody no more nor no less than anybody, why do so many posers in religious
confession/conduct/countenance keep separating, segregating, and otherwise
distancing/divorcing themselves from other posers in religious
confession/conduct/countenance who keep...?
If Jesus loves
everybody and says everybody who loves Him loves everybody like He loves
everybody, isn't somebody lying?
If Jesus came to
heal, forgive, bridge, reconcile, and save, who are people following when
they're so cranky, contentious, irregular, irascible, irreconcilable, and
my-way-or-the-highway-pick-up-my-marbles-and...?
If Jesus loves
everybody and said don't forbid anyone from getting close to Him, why are there
so many religious restrictions, rules, rubrics, rituals, ceremonies, and other
human inventions that keep people from getting close to Him?
Is it really that
hard to distinguish the posers from the...?
I don't pretend
to have all of the answers to any of those questions.
I'm just scratching the surface of my relationship with Jesus by spending more and more and
more time in the book than reading books about the book.
Buuuuuuut I am discovering
too many churches have made up excluding
religions about Him that are only coincidental to Him as attested
in the book that's our best source of information about Him.
That's why I keep
rethinking stuff like how we approach His sacraments (see below).
I'm really tired
of religions about Jesus.
They're so
arrogant and condescending and...human.
I like the One in
the Bible.
He's so
invitational, welcoming, including, and loving.
I like the really
holy Christmas so much more than the holly one.
Even Plato helps
me to distinguish those who get Him from those who don't: "Be kinder than
necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Getting back to
John 3:16-17...
Yeah, I think
it's time to put Christ back into Christmas and...lots of churches.
@#$%
Jesus came,
remains, and will come again!
Advenio.
Let's make room
for Him in our inn(s).
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Blessings and Love!
Scratching
the Surface
of
Sacraments
(A Brief and Incomplete Guide to Baptism and
Holy Communion)
Baptism
The method –
dipped, dripped, dabbed, or dunked – is irrelevant.
The meaning
matters; being marked off – dyed or changing the colors of allegiance –
for God from here to eternity.
Adults are
baptized when they are ready/eager to acknowledge Jesus as personal Lord and
Savior with the pledge to pray and labor to be His in all things at all times
in all places with all people.
Children are
baptized or marked off for God because they belong to God whether they
know it or not as parents and congregational family of faith agree to provide
examples, education, and environments of loving Jesus by loving like Jesus with
the prayer/hope that the child will eventually confirm the truth of
belonging to God through Jesus as enabled by the Holy Spirit.
We baptize
anyone at any time of/in worship when the preceding is embraced with humble
joy.
Holy Communion
The Table of
Holy Communion on the corner of Lincoln and Main is not fenced or
restricted to members of our particular church because no one but Jesus owns
it; and He invites, welcomes, and includes anyone to/in it who acknowledges Him
as Lord and Savior with the pledge to pray and labor to be His in all things at
all times in all places with all people.
We are
praying/trying to be obedient and not interfere with His invitation, welcome,
inclusion, and unconditional favor: “Come to Me, all and everyone who are
weary and burdened, and I will take care of you and give you…”
Anyone who
has invited Jesus into her/his heart as Lord and Savior is invited, welcomed,
and included to/at His Table of Holy Communion with no restrictions,
prejudices, or inhibiting self-righteousness or denominational/sectarian/cultic
pride.
Because
everyone who believes in Him and tries to behave like they believe in Him are
part of His family, we welcome all family members to His table with us.
Constantly,
we pray to keep our pledge not to inhibit His invitation, welcome, and inclusion
that we are honored to herald.
We go to the
Table of HC every Sunday at 7:20 a.m. (chapel) and 10:00 a.m. (sanctuary) and
look forward to inviting, welcoming, and including everyone and anyone to join
us!
Are you still looking for a different way to do church?
Are you tired of the SOSO Religion?
Are you put off by posers in pews, politics,
and pulpits?
Are you searching for something/Someone
real, honest, timely, and true to…?
Try our family of faith on the corner of
Lincoln and Main!
(Belvidere, Illinois)
Sundays
at
7:20 a.m
10:00 a.m.
And so much…
