Sun. Sept. 23 (Kevin Hiebert)

Kevin Hiebert spoke to the Prophet Amos’s injunctions to the people of Israel about their greed and oppressive activities against the poor. He tied Amos’ proscriptions to many modern practices, such as banking fees (higher fees for those who are least able to pay them),payday loans, pet food with toxins used as fillers, the niche filled by scrap-metal binners and bottle collectors. Kevin then quoted from Paul’s injunction to Timothy to pray for those in authority as God’s servants, so that our lives may be undisturbed by turmoil, that inwardly we may be able to meditate on the fruits of the spirit, and thus all might be saved. Kevin noted how Paul contrasts this desired lifestyle with those promoted on Desperate Housewives or Sex and the City, and further takes to task those relatives who fail to provide for the poor in their own families, thus forcing the church to care for them. Everywhere Paul contrasts those with money to those without, and notes that those who fail to steward their money properly for the benefit of others, to not share in God’s grace. Kevin links the ancient dictum “the love of money is the root of all evils” to many modern practices, such as the lottery with its ridiculous advertisements, fraud in the lottery system, and the general idolatry of gambling. Kevin contrasted society’s selfish aims with those of MEDA and makepovertyhistory.ca and asked us to consider on whose side God’s justice will lie. [AP] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Sept. 23rd using your browser's preferred media player.