Jason Micheli: No Salvation Outside the Church




Day1 Weekly Radio Broadcast - Day1 Feeds show

Summary:   According to my Facebook Timeline, I preached on this lectionary text from Colossians 3 exactly two years ago today. Actually, my Facebook Timeline reminded me that two former youth, Will and Becca, exchanged marriage vows, two years ago today. Will and Becca chose this passage from Paul about putting on Christ for their wedding service. Well, they didn't choose the part about fornication. And they didn't choose this text - just choose this text - they also chose a reading from the Song of Songs, an erotic love poem from the Old Testament that makes 50 Shades of Grey sound like a Cary Grant and Doris Day movie. It's probably for the best that the lectionary today only gives us one of those passages I preached for Will and Becca. I'd known them since Will was 8 and Becca was 7. And so, I wanted to do a good job with their wedding. I wanted to make sure I preached clearly this passage from Colossians 3 that they'd chosen and that through it I said something not only helpful but true. So, I started by asking them a question, a Colossians 3 sort of question, the question begged by every bridal magazine, rom-com, and wedding ceremony. I asked them this question: "If love is a feeling, how in the world can you promise to love someone forever? If love is a feeling, how can two people promise that to each other forever?" Of all the things in our lives, our feelings are the part of us we have the least control over. You can't promise to feel a certain feeling every day for the rest of your life. If love is a feeling, then it's no wonder the odds are better than even it won't last. Two years ago today, I'm not sure Will and Becca heard that as good news.