What If?

March 15, 2011

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

In 1952, acclaimed science fiction writer Issac Asimov published a short story titled, “What If,” about a married couple named Norman and Olivia. Traveling by train one day from Boston to New York, they encountered a mysterious stranger known only as Mr. If (his first name, What, is implied.) The stranger showed them a small black box with a glass screen on the front, resembling a little television set. Norman and Olivia watched as the “television” traced an alternative history to their lives, a series of parallel developments that could have unfolded had miniscule events not occurred. What if Norman had missed making the train where they first met? When the train took a sharp curve, what if Olivia had grabbed the hand strap on the overhead rail instead of falling into Norman’s lap? What if her friend Georgette had caught his attention on that train, instead of her? Norman and Olivia watched, with a mixture of apprehension, shock, and dismay, at how their lives would have unraveled if that singular moment on the train had played out differently.

We don’t have the luxury of an alternative history television, but we still ask lots of “What if?” questions. What if you had been born in some other country than here? What if your parents had never met? What if you had chosen a different career, or found someone else to marry? What if, what if, what if?

Our uncertainty rises when we turn our little black box toward the world of theology, especially in regards to Jesus and the cross. What if, for example, Jesus had died a natural death, rather than on a cross, and rose again in three days? Would he still have been the Messiah? What if, instead of dying at age 33, he had died on the cross at 20, before he had performed any public ministry? Would he have still been our savior? What if Jesus were born in Southeast Asia, or Latin America? Did he have to be a Middle Eastern Jew in order to be our Lord? What if, what if, what if?

Unlike the little mental games that Asimov’s story prompts, the questions of the cross are critically important; they demand serious answers that cut right to the core of our faith. Why the cross? Why did Jesus have to die in the way that he did? And exactly how did his death and resurrection bring us salvation?

For centuries, the church’s greatest thinkers have wrestled with these questions, and lumped all of their conclusions into a theological category called atonement: that action that God performed to bring humanity back into a relationship with God. While there is no universally accepted theory of how the cross saves us – each one is grounded in scripture and supported by tradition – they all agree that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is absolutely crucial in providing salvation for the world.

For the next several weeks, our Lenten journey will investigate each of the most prevalent atonement theories, evaluating their pros and cons, and inviting us to see which theories we prefer. By the end of each sermon, we’ll take a look at how each theory provides a comprehensive answer to a given definition of sin. For in order for any atonement theory to work, it has to directly address the problem of sin. It’s captured in the question one of my theology professors always asked his students: “If Jesus is the answer, then what was the question?” If Jesus saves us, then from what exactly did we need saving to begin with?

We started our series last Sunday, with an in-depth look at substitutionary atonement, perhaps the most prevalent theory in the church, first advocated by early church theologian Anselm and then made popular by the great reformer John Calvin. This Sunday, we’ll take a look at the ransom theory, built on the image of a God who comes to set us free. You won’t want to miss a single Sunday in this informative, inspiring sermon series:

Why the Cross?
Reasons Jesus Died for Us

March 13
Substitution: To Take Our Place
1 Peter 2:20-24

March 20
Ransom: To Release Us from Captivity
Luke 4:16-30

March 27
Moral Example: To Show Us How to Live
1 John 3:1-24

April 3
Appeasement: To Save Us from Wrath
Romans 5:1-11

April 10
Expiation: To Cleanse Us from Sin
Hebrews 9:11-14

April 17
Reconciliation: To Make Up a Break-Up
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Colossians 1:15-23

April 24
Christus Victor: Victory at the Grave
Colossians 2:6-15

Join us as we continue our journey toward Jerusalem and experience, once again, the week that changed the world. And let’s give thanks for the work of the cross, in all its wonder, mystery, and splendor.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org



PANCAKE RACE THANK-YOU
Thanks again for all of you who did an amazing job supporting last Tuesday’s successful Pancake Race, Shrove Tuesday Service, and Pancake Supper. We had 27 runners, served 171 people, and raised about $1,000 for the two local food pantries. Next year’s race will be February 21, 2012. Mark you calendars!

CONGRATULATIONS, PHYLLIS!
We celebrate our own Phyllis Parrot, who was named Cherokee “Citizen of the Year” at last Saturday night’s Cherokee Area Recognition Banquet. We are thankful for the many ways she continues to impact this church and our community. You will want to attend a reception in her honor this Sunday afternoon, from 2:00-4:00.

JUDI AND DAVID KLEE CONCERT AT ST. PAUL’S
Mark your calendars for a special concert featuring Judi and David Klee on Sunday afternoon, March 27, at 4:00. It will be a time of wonderful music and testimony, and a free-will offering will be taken to support the St. Paul’s Building Renovation Fund. Bring a friend!

BESTSELLING AUTHOR AT MORNINGSIDE THIS THURSDAY
Author A.J. Jacobs will present a lecture based on his best-selling book “The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in the Yockey Family Community Room in Morningside College’s Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave. Jacobs is editor-at-large for Esquire magazine and author of three New York Times bestsellers, including The Year of Living Biblically, a chronicle of his yearlong effort to obey all the rules and guidelines he found in the Bible. In addition to his books, Jacobs has written for The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and New York magazine. He also is a periodic commentator on National Public Radio. Jacobs will be speaking as part of Morningside’s annual Goldstein Lecture, organized by Dr. Jessica deVega. The lecture is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at Morningside College, the Jewish Federation of Sioux City, and Congregation Beth Shalom.