Cosmic Geography

so, my church in New Jersey, Memorial Presbyterian Church. It was called there was a couple there who it was interesting. Like, many couples in our time, the wife, she would come to church all the time she was just there, right? The husband I rarely soft and when I did see him he like to talk to me about why he felt disconnected from the church. He likes to tell me, I don't understand if this is all real and we should believe this and I should participate in religion and come to church. If that is what I should do. Why should I do this particular shirt? Why should I do Christianity? What about all these? Different religions all over the world globalization and communication has made us aware of all these different cultures and religions. And it's created this conundrum for some who, you know, he was kind of try not to come to church and in some ways. But it's created this legitimate issue that we have to face in our Christian walk. Why are there different religions and what are we supposed to do about that? Why is Christianity better than some other type of religion? Why should we be Christians and not Buddhist is just because of where we live? Well, yeah, to some degree but now we have access to all these different religions. Well, it's not just us in North America and our time asking this question, About my parishioner asking this question. What about all these other religions? We've been talking about this series that were investigating. It is really strange parts of the Bible and we're talking about and trying to understand how it is that these parts of the Bible were even there. And what do they mean for the ancient Israelite people? What is it that they're trying to say? What is it that they how do they contribute to the story? And I've been suggesting to you in this series that if you don't understand this part, right? If we don't really get what's going on here, if we don't start with the premise that there's a unseen realm, will then we're not going to understand the Bible, especially these really strange parts of the Bible because there are things that go all throughout scripture and you see them from page, one of the Bible to the very last page and so what we did is we started off Saying that there's an Unseen World and I tried to help you connect with that idea. By suggesting there's been an Unseen World like for a really long time, it was until recently that we had a microscope and we could see all these creatures and their fascinating and I'd I teach these kids in my science class and teach him about these little different organisms. And there's this weird Kingdom call Kingdom Protista, where we have these very strange things that scientists really don't know. How do I classify? Its like the other category of of of life and its single cell organisms, and other things that are complete in and of themselves oneself, And I suggested to you that it's not too far of a stretch for us, given not especially to understand, there are parts of creation that we don't see. The people, the ancient people of Israel, they believed and an unseen realm. They believe that God created both the scene, like, what we experienced a today and the Unseen it's becoming easier. I think as modern people now, especially as we discover more and more, especially those really strange science is called physicist to understand. And even I guess, you know, kind of think about this may be a possibility that there is just stuff here that we don't really get it. So that was the very first thing that I wanted us to understand as we talk about these weird texts of the Bible that and I'm inviting you to do the same. What if, what if you don't have to necessarily like by Intuit whole self? But what if it's true this vision? Of the world. These ancient Israelites hard. What if there's this unseen realm? What we have to understand that if we buy into that then we can understand some other parts of the Bible like strange parts. And I talked about Psalm 82 where in the first verse it is these two words which are exactly the same, the Elohim said to the Elohim. I will. He means god, it's actually the plural of tambi, plural Elohim such a godsend to the God. Right? What are we supposed to do with that? And then we looked at Genesis 1:26, let us, we have seen this over and over again, let us and it's this idea that there's a Heavenly Host. This is divine Council, this place that is the headquarters for the project of creation. A God, speak to them. Let us make humans in our image. So God created and then we talked about other places that we see that like in the fall which is what we focused on last week where there was these two rebellions and we have this amazing thing called choice. And I'm not trying to suggest that there has to be this this this actually emphasizes and it's really important that you don't try to read the Bible as a science. Textbook, you get into really weird things if you do that, like the Earth is flat. Know the ancient people were using their understanding of the world to stay some really important stuff about their experience of God. And if we don't take that serious, the kids and we can't really understand what this Bible thing is all about. And I think it loses its power. I think it just becomes the ancient texts and you know the whole and actually in the history of the church there have been attempts to just get rid of the Old Testament like just to like take it away. And that was determined to be a heresy because it is a heresy because you can't understand what Jesus is doing. Or why Jesus's even there. If you don't have that Old Testament that view of the world that the Ancients had about what was going on about the scene, and the Unseen who you are your identity and what you're supposed to do your perfect. How you fit into this bridge story? I so explaining why there are other religions back to my little story about the guy who didn't want to come to church. So he just brought up all kinds of things that he really just didn't want to come to church, but it's a legitimate question. Because the Hebrew people, the Ancients, understood this problem. Why should we follow this guy? Why? As the God would later be named Yahweh why y'all way and not ball for example. And so understanding that they had an explanation for the religions of other people around them. Is important for us to understand what Jesus eventually was all about. I want to suggest to you that this idea that there are at the host of heaven and

They were monotheists, right? You can stay both things that there is no, God, the Creator and there are the rest of the Elohim these. They're called sons of God vanilla. I was seeing as how you see it in the Hebrew text over and over again. These sons of God, these, these Spiritual Beings, if you will that populate, the Unseen World. They were given a portion. This story of Babel is a story that is trying to explain the other nations. Right before Genesis chapter 11, where Bible is there is the table of nations in Genesis chapter 10 We're seventy different nations from the defendants are are named and it's not a coincidence that in Luke chapter 10, Jesus sent out the disciples. How many disciples does it? My now. 70. It's not a coincidence that Jesus is sending out the 70 in order to spread the kingdom of God, to spread this message because it is Jesus understanding. What is this ancient Hebrew? Understanding of the world. He was Jewish thoughts unknown to you. And he saw the world the way they did. There's this like parable. Being about the Bible, that's very hard in the Old Testament, which is again, why some people wanted to get rid of it. and the Very terrible thing is, when you get to Joshua When you get the Joshua and the conquest of Cana where they cross the Jordan, and they basically engagement all of these battles. And it's not just like, we're going to take over the city, but they're instructed to destroy. Everyone and everything.

Anybody else have any problems with us? Night, taking over this land. Destroy everyone and everything. Well, it's problematic for us. As more as a modern people are least. It is for me, I struggle a lot with that, but from their perspective, what's going on here? Is that they are taking back territory of God. They are taking back the nation's. They are claiming their inheritance. They are claiming that it is the portion that God has chosen. It is their land. The Promised Land. Have you ever noticed how destructive and violence parts of the Old Testament are?

Maybe you haven't read it in a while. I want to suggest to you, that it's really violent. And it can be hard for us as modern people to even understand why would God ask them to do such a thing. And the reason is because of how they thought about the world. One of the texts that I want us to understand is to Toronto me, 32, 7 and 9. I don't think I have it up there. This is a passage Moses's song, right? That he is singing without he is given to the people. He does not cross into the promised land, but it's like instructions. Deuteronomy is basically a replay of the greatest hits of the Torah. It is where the 10 commandments are restated, it is where the prayer, the Shema, which is pretty today. By faithful Jews every single day. Hear o Israel. And it is, the thing that is the book is so important in the mindset, in the history of Israel. The Deuteronomy 32 in this part of the Palms, does this 47? Remember the days of long ago, think about the generations past Ask your father and he will inform you inquire of your elders and they will tell you when the most high assigned lands. To the nation's. When he divided up the human race, this is looking back to the Tower of Babel story, he established the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of his in. This is New Living Translation Heavenly Court. This is one of those places where there is great Divergence between the oldest manuscripts. So the Dead Sea. Scrolls has there not Heavenly Court although the high court is getting out this idea. But but sons of God, Play Elohim in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the earliest manuscripts that we have of these Old Testament Acts. Later and the Septuagint when it was translated and the second century BC. It's the Greek version of it. They say. Sons of God. The masoretic text, which we use and most modern Bibles will use our Bible translations use. Well, that was developed later. The 9th century late 19th century and the full written test was the late 15th century, They say sons of Israel. So if you read this verse 32 a don't get mad at me okay? Because you'll see and your translations sons of Israel but that doesn't make sense because Israel did not exist as a nation. And so sons of God is the translation the earliest understanding of this text and what's going on here is, they are saying they're giving us the world view, that was what they understood. About how and why there are other religions? And don't miss it. Don't miss it. God is dividing up the Nations giving and assigning each Nation. One of the sons of God. One of these allow him to rule over them. And that greatly affected, how ancient Jewish people understood themselves. Why were they trying to destroy everything and take over that land? That nation was declared to be yahweh's Nation? They were declared to be yahweh's people. And why do we keep seeing these Giants all over the Old Testament? The most famous of, which is who what's his name again? Goliath, why are they there? Well, there's a whole explanation for that and that's another really weird text that maybe we'll talk about sometime. But why was all this struggle happening? This conflict between the Other Nation. Why was Israel called again? And again, by the prophet to stop worshipping,

which is one of those sons of God. Why, when they did, did they have so many problems? All the conflict that you see. Again, and again in the Old Testament, is this conflict that arises from the different nation that have been turned over to these different sons of God. And so we get David when he's forced out of Israel, when he's forced out of the land that had been given to them a portion to them. He says a strange thing he says, now he's forced to worship a different God. Or when we get to King's name, and who is this century, and who is healed of leprosy, and Elisha would not accept payment for what he did. He said, can I take dirt?

From the lands with me to my lands. Dirt. You really want to like load up your donkey with dirt? But it makes sense. Given this backgrounds this world view this understanding that this place is sacred. This is Holy Ground, the people of Israel standing there. Worshipping, Yahweh makes. Holy Ground. So you begin to understand that deep connection and that deep understanding at other people, not just people who follow the ten commandments, not just people of the Covenant. What what makes their identity is that land? And it was true of other people other nations around them. So that it's interesting, that's chapter 10. The nation's chapter 11, the Tower of Babel, scattering of the nation's assigning. The nation's you want to be 32 in other places to a son of God. The what happens in the story is that the god y'all way in, for example, Psalm 82 the god judges, these other sons of God and the judgment is a result of the other God's not doing what they're supposed to do. It seems like what is going on here is that they're supposed to be just and wise. They're supposed to make these other nations around Israel just and wise. but they're not and so judgement is given to them and given up on them and all of a sudden the Nations around Israel or forsaken chapter 12 of Genesis Who is called, who starts? The Jewish people who is the source of this people that were taken out of Egypt.

Abram later call Abraham. And what is the mission that he's given? It's just to be insular. It just like put up walls around it's real and keep everybody out and be like I'm so glad I'm not, you know, the Philistines. No, his call was to be a blessing. The whole world. Now fast-forward to Jesus. We get to Jesus. and Jesus has, he's very important and symbolic act like sending out the 70 To the nation, sending out the 72, the nation's to reclaim, the nation. Jesus has his this way about him, and he reminds us where I sleep. All reminds us. And this is later on, we'll look at that. Is Ephesians 6:12 that the battle for Jesus was not against what. Flash and blood. Not about me. A elevating my nation over somebody else's. Jesus understands the bottle is against what Paul will call the powers, the principalities these forces of darkness and evil, that permeates the world around the community that God has called and so what Jesus is doing and then what happens in this season of the liturgical year is called after Pentecost What happens in Acts after Jesus is raised, he tells the disciples to go to the mountains. The Mount of Olives what mountain is really important idea here. The go there. And what do they receive?

On that mountain after his resurrection. A Great Commission. This is chapter 28 of Matthew, 18 and 20, this is called the Great Commission, and what is Jesus doing there? He saying, Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven. Unseen and Earth scene. I will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

I have been given Authority and have it on Earth there for disciples go and make disciples of all the nations. Baptizing them in the name of the father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because what you're going to face when you go out, you're going to go and try to teach these disciples to obey the command that I have given to you. And remember, the commands are not our reinterpreted. These Ten Commandments are reinterpreted by Jesus there, a third way to go out and confront the Nations. And to spread this message, this gospel, this announcement that you ain't Dolly on. Be sure of this. I am with you always to the End of the Age. Why do you need to be reassured? Because as Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, we are not fighting against flesh and blood. we're not, that's not our in it, those are not our enemies, but we're fighting against evil rulers and authorities of the Unseen World. It's not that person that I dislike. It's not Johnny. That is the problem. No, it is the Unseen World, the evil rulers and authorities of the Unseen World. We're fighting against Mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirit, or these other things that are populating Heaven. We're fighting against these evil spirits, in the Heavenly places.

You probably read that verse before.

And now, you understand what it means. Jesus is telling his disciples to go out into the nation's. He is reinterpretation reformulating who is real is Israel Iz when Believers are gathered together. The people of the Covenant are when you and I gather here. We have reclaimed this little, as I say, corner of the Kingdom on 4th and Chestnut Street by gathering here. 110 years, the people of Zion Congregational Church, have gathered together, not necessarily care, but have gathered together, To reclaim this corner. Four.

Do you understand your purpose better? Given the stands, what? Paul? And Jesus are trying to communicate to you. And so, you have been given power after Pentecost Pentecost Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit comes down and gives the disciples. What Gibberish. No languages, actual languages to empower them to go out to these nations around them. To proclaim the gospel.

We have lost that term gospel, it's been used so many times and so many songs that it loses its meeting. At least, I don't know if you've ever felt that way, it just as this word that is said, over and over again. And as it is, the meaning is lost the word, the Greek word, you ain't Dolly, on is an announcement in particular, it's an announcement about a victim, usually, a military victory,

And the announcement here is not conquering with swords, but conquering. And this Third Way, Armed with love and peace making. Enjoy. And patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness, and self-control the fruits of the spirit. You were called to this battle. And it's really problematic in the history of the church. Anytime we're talkin about these militaristic kind of images, right, languages armies Onward, Christian Soldier. Given the history of the church. We have to be careful, don't we? The Crusades were not a good pain. They've actually kept a lot of people out of the church. And so we're not trying to say that you are in the military a spiritual military. It started. We're trying to say that you are part of the new creation people. You are the spirit empowered people and you're going to need that Spirit empowerment as you confront for the powers and principalities and rulers of this world because you can't defeat them with a tank. You can't defeat them with a bong. You can't blow things up and defeat the powers. No. Jesus eyes. You defeat them by loving your enemy.

By praying for them. By wishing them the best by helping them going, an extra mile by living as people who are representing a new kind of way of being in this world. Not about a tribe and tribalism, it's not about being suspicious of other people. It's not about being trying to maintain control and maintain our no privilege in the world. No. Jesus way. It's about loving the other. Being kind. Touching the untouchable.

Healing. Both spiritually. Emotionally, physically. Mentally It's about being called to this brand vision. Of taking this message to the nation's. So fundamentally Christians have read the fines, this whole idea of the Nations and what it means to have these other religions in the world and what it means to be a people of God Christians through Jesus. And the love that he showed and modeled for us our gathering together. Reclaiming this spot, not as some way of keeping people out, but inviting people and in some way. Now I'm saying that Jesus is King. Jesus has the victory. For some reason, that announcement saying that the king, the new king is actually King over all of these powers and all of this stuff and all of this difficulty and bad stuff in the world somehow that is releasing. Bonds that people find themselves in. People that are addicted. Find Freedom. People that are broken find wholeness. And so we gather and we claim this little portion of this world. To advance this kingdom of God. That's what it means to be Kingdom people. That's what it means to be resident, aliens, use our terms, you've heard before, that's what it means to be part of the Great resistance. I told my invitation to you isn't imitation to own this identity. It's an invitation to think about your life, the people that you encounter It's not an invitation for you to a price. People are make your will there will it's an invitation, instead to be open to God's spirit and how you're supposed to love your enemy. How you're supposed to pray for those who persecute you. You can help bring healing and wholeness, how you can invite people from this out there, where they're suffering and darkness and Evil. To the end here. Where people can find a different way of life, a different way of being. So this series, this part right here, I called Cosmic geography because a lot of those strange passages that you see in scripture actually unified, there's a grand cement art that runs all throughout scripture and to understand this Cosmic geography is first understand that there are the Nations that God has in some way allowed the division to happen, but not as a way of just leaving it as division. Instead, there has been this call and the rest of the Old Testament. Starting with Abraham is this people God's people Gathering Together trying to find ways to be a blessing to the nation's struggling. Not getting it, right? And then ultimately this person Jesus shows up on the scene and shows us how we can be a blessing to the nation's invites. You invites me each day to claim that identity and to go out from our little house to the rest of the world to show and teach about this third way. The other way of being in the world to God be all the glory now and forever. Amen.