There are a lot of things to be afraid of in this world…but I wonder how many of the things we perceive as dangers are really a threat at all? Remember Y2K? How about the ruination of our beaches here, the apocalyptic forecasts of how life would never return to normal after the spill? I know some people still insist that the danger isn’t over…and maybe not, but the devastation certainly hasn’t panned out like so many people predicted. One guy wrote a book about the culture of fear we’ve been cultivating here in our country. We certainly do seem to be motivated a lot by what can only be described as fear mongering.

And you know what? I think the evangelical church leads the pack of culprits in this arena. After all, we latch on to any evidence we can find that things are going to hell in a handbasket in order to drive home the point that its time to repent. The problem with that is, we tend to throw around false statistics and unfounded rumors right along with those who are making a lot of money by keeping an audience glued to the latest threat to our cozy lifestyle. I think we need to amend our ways.

But what about the threats we perceive in this broken world? Our passage this Sunday will be Luke 13:31-35, and we’ll be looking at how Jesus responded to a threat posed to his well being. How does he respond…and why does he respond the way he does? Jesus launches into his lament over Jerusalem. How does he describe himself/God? How can this image of God’s behavior toward rebellious people help resolve our own feelings of insecurity or fear?

Hope to see you Sunday!  Peace!