Second of Three Warnings

Link to the sermon page at Trinity: http://www.trinitysanpedro.org/sermons

The first warning in this parable of warning (Matthew 25.14-30-Parable of the Talents) was that your theology matters.  Your good theology won't save you, but your bad theology will severly mess you up.

The second warning has to do with the truncated Christian life.  "Will you go to heaven when you die?"  That is a really important question, but it is not the only question.  The servant who was generously given 1/8th of the Master's property (20 years wages), all but forgot about that Master until He returned.  He buried the treasure.  He received generous favor, and then pushed PAUSE.   He is not unique.  This is the truncated life.  

The temptation to live the truncated Christian life goes with nearly any theology.  Perseverance of the saints (once saved-always saved or eternal security) has brought much encouragement, but also much confusion.  I went forward at a crusade or a Bible camp.  Yes, but then you pushed PAUSE.  The promised grace connected to the sacraments have relieved millions, but again, has brought much confusion.  Gracia Grindal reminded us of Luther's battle with the devil and his using baptismal grace as a weapon against the enemy's assault, "Back off--I am baptized!"  She said today many of us use the same words, but pit them against the Lord who calls us to follow Him, and we reply, "Back off--I am baptized!"  I am baptized!  Yes, but then you pushed PAUSE.  I am confirmed.  Yes, but then you pushed PAUSE.  This is the truncated Christian life.  But calling it "life" would be too generous.  

When the Master finds the servant He says, "You wicked and slothful servant!"  Sloth, carelessness, apathy, acedia all describe the life that has been truncated by PAUSE.  And the old church is correct that this one is a deadly sin.  It ends in weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25.30)

So what do you do with this ailment that truncates?  Elizabeth Scalia writes powerfully about this experience at her blog: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2013/07/11/acedia-and-the-help-of-saint-benedict/

I'll give you a hint.  St Benedict says to take it and dash it against the cross.  St Paul says to take every thought captive, every lofty opinion, every argument that gets raised against the knowledge of God, and punish them.  Take them to the place of punishment, which is a more sensitive way of saying, take it to the Person of punishment, the man of sorrows who bears away your slothfulness and puts an end to it by killing it.  Jesus is the end of the truncated life, because He is the beginning of abundant life.  Super-abundant!