Many people across the country uttered

Transcription

1 EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED JANUARY 13, 2013 V O L U M E 1 9 N U M B E R 0 2 I N THIS ISSUE OF LINC we ll talk about responding to violence with love and compassion. Bible Talk An Old Problem Genesis 4:1-16, A New Way 2 Corinthians 5:13-21 Loving Everyone Matthew 5:38-48 Program A Because He First Loved Us Purpose: To help youth spread God s love as a response to violence in their communities. Youth Page 4 Program B Love Covers a Multitude of Sins Question of the Day: When is it most difficult to show love? Devotion Page 6 Top Ten List Next in LinC What Do You Think? In the Bible Inherit the Mirth Many people across the country uttered the words above after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed the lives of twenty children and six adults. Never before had so many, so young been taken from their families in a school that had security measures in place. As those who lost loved ones lived through the shock and grief, unable to comprehend the scope of all that had occurred, the country also struggled with the questions that follow any tragedy of this magnitude: Why? and How? Images of the grieving parents moved parents everywhere to hold their children closer and to seek comfort and certainty anywhere they could find it through their faith, clergy, family, friends, churches, and the Scriptures. In the days following, it was as if the wind had been kicked out of our nation and few people knew what to say or do. Discussions about gun control were rampant: Should we enforce greater restrictions on guns? Should we ban firearms altogether? Is increased security at schools the answer, or even feasible? The topic of mental health also surfaced: How can we improve access to mental health services to prevent future tragedies? At the same time pundits tried to assign blame other factors, including violent videogames, television shows, and movies. The Question of Violence Now, nearly a month later, has anything truly changed? Every day, in cities, towns, and rural areas throughout the United States, people are killed in violent ways. While it seems as though violence is increasing, the FBI s October 2011 Crime Statistics report that in 2011 the number of violent crimes declined for the fifth consecutive year. Still, there were more than 1,200,000 violent crimes. That s almost 3,300 per day. One tough question for many Christians is: How can a loving God allow such violence to continue? A better question (and perhaps the question that God asks us) is: How can we allow such violence to continue? God grants us free will. And while there is no shortage of examples of humans using that freedom to serve God and others, we also have often used our free will in sinful ways, bringing evil, violence, suffering, and death to our world. Though all of us have sinned and fall short of God s glory (Romans 3:23), we are accountable for our actions and we don t have to let sin define us. As Christians we are called to follow Christ s example. This means, among other things, not advocating violence and standing with those who are victims of violence. The Answer of Love We do not understand why some people choose evil over good. We can react to violence with anger and point fingers at all the things that are wrong with our society; but that will not change anything. In a letter to believers in the Greek city of Corinth Paul wrote, Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:12b-13, NRSV). We do not know and we cannot know anything fully while we are on this earth, but we can hold onto and live as people of love, faith, and hope. Shortly after the Newtown tragedy a movement began on Twitter called #26ActsofKindness. Individuals have tweeted 26 acts of kindness, one for each person killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, encouraging others to do the same, paying it forward. We can respond to the fact that everything has changed in our world by changing ourselves, taking responsibility for our sins and seeking repentance, God s forgiveness, and guidance. We can be a positive presence in other peoples lives, offering love, faith, and hope to those who are alone, bullied, ignored, or who suffer or grieve. Responding to violence with love and compassion spreads the light of God s grace and changes everything.

2 Bible Talk Permission granted to photocopy this page for use in groups studying LINC. 2 An Old Problem Genesis 4:1-16, Cain said to his brother Abel, Let s go out to the field. When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis 4:8 Commentary: Adam and Eve have the distinction of being the Bible s first people as well as the Bible s first sinners. After God expelled them from paradise, the couple had two sons, Cain and Abel. (They would later have other children.) Cain farmed the land, and Abel tended the animals. When they made offerings to God, Abel s was accepted but Cain s was not. Cain was very angry (verse 5) and God confronted him about his anger, warning him not to sin. But Cain could not contain his anger and killed his brother Abel. God punished Cain by taking away his livelihood (farming). But God did not kill Cain; instead he protected him by giving him a divine marking as he went out into the world. Abel s murder by Cain is the Bible s first violent act. The second involves one of Cain s descendants, Lamech, who killed a man and a boy (verse 23) in some sort of altercation. Disobedience, lies, and violence entered the human story early and spread almost immediately. We do not know why Cain s offering to God was not acceptable, as Abel s was, but we can imagine that Cain felt slighted, mistreated, and jealous in addition to angry. We live in a broken world where temptation, sin, and evil surround us. But feeling wronged, hurt, or angry does not give us license to hurt others. Questions to talk about: Why do you think God spared Cain s life? What does that tell you about God? When have you been so angry or frustrated that you wanted to do something violent? How do you resist the urge to act out in violence? A New Way 2 Corinthians 5:13-21 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Commentary: In this letter to the believers at Corinth, the apostle Paul explains that anyone who chooses to believe in Christ dies to his or her self and is resurrected as a new creation. As a new creation, we will see everything and everyone differently. Our lives become about more than simply following the rules and become reflections of God. Instead of living by human standards (verse 16), we live as people who have experienced God s love and grace and who want to demonstrate that love and grace to the world. Living as a new creation should affect all aspects of our lives, including how we respond to violence. Questions to talk about: What makes a person a follower of Christ? What does a life transformed by Christ look like? * Scriptures marked (NRSV) are from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Attention LINC Users: It looks like we got ahead of ourselves. The Next in LINC preview on Page 6 of last week s issue was actually a preview of the January 20 issue of LINC. So if you were surprised by the topic of this week s LINC, we apologize for the confusion. Loving Everyone Matthew 5:38-48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete. Matthew 5:48 Commentary: There is a lot packed into these few verses about evil and love. First, Jesus brought up the idea, recorded in Old Testament law, that punishment for a crime should not exceed the crime itself. Exodus 21:23-25 prescribes a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. Jesus takes this idea even further, instructing us to have the strength to refrain from answering violence with more violence. He then adds a related commandment: Love your enemies and pray for those who harass you (Matthew 5:44). Jesus calls us to a life that is often difficult and sometimes painful. But it is the love that God requires and that Jesus showed even to those who killed him. As followers of Christ we turn away from sin and evil, but we turn toward a life of loving acts inspired by God s unending love for us. Questions to talk about: What are some things that get in the way of us showing love to everyone? What are some examples of showing love in response to violence? LINC: LIVING IN CHRIST is an official resource for The United Methodist Church approved by the General Board of Discipleship and published by Cokesbury: The United Methodist Publishing House 201 Eighth Avenue, South P.O. Box 801; Nashville, TN Scripture quotations unless noted otherwise are from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www. CommonEnglishBible.com) Available by subscription by calling toll free: Also available for download from aspx?subsection=15&typeid=linc The purpose of LINC is to help youth develop Christian identity and live the Christian faith in their contemporary culture. Writer: Melissa Slocum Editor: Josh Tinley Production Editor: Pam Shepherd Template Designer: Ken Strickland Inherit the Mirth by Cuyler Black

3 A BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US 3 Program PURPOSE: To help youth spread God s love as a response to violence in their communities. GETTING READY: You will need Bibles, copies of Youth Pages, pens or pencils, large sheets of paper, an old set of dominoes you can write on and give away or a cheap dollar store set, and markers. Also, prepare a dozen or more signs with an act of kindness/meanness written on each one. For example, you might write on one sign, Pass along gossip even though you know it s not true and, Offer to help a struggling classmate with a homework assignment on another. Top Ten Acts of Kindness (10 minutes) As the youth arrive, ask them if they are familiar with the #26ActsofKindness hashtag on Twitter. The 26 refers to the number of victims in the recent massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Say: While no response to such a tragedy can ever be adequate, many people have committed to performing 26 acts of kindness, one to honor each of the victims of the shooting in Connecticut. Hand out copies of Youth Page 6. Ask youth to read the Top Ten Acts of Kindness. Challenge them to think of additional acts and compile a class list (at least 10 acts, but try to add 26) on a large sheet of paper. Send your list to LINC or post it to LINC S Facebook page. Violence Is (15 minutes) Divide the youth into two teams: boys in one team, girls in the other. If you have more than six people in one or both teams, divide any of these large teams in half. Give each team a large sheet of paper and ask each to create a list of violent behaviors. Behaviors can include anything from slamming a door to murder. (Refer the youth to the definition of violence on Youth Page 4.) Give the teams a few minutes to work, then ask each one to present its list and talk about its reasons for including or not including certain actions. How do we decide what counts as violent? Why, do you think, do people act violently? Call on volunteers to read aloud Genesis 4:1-16. If some youth are familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, encourage them to pay close attention and listen for things they may not have noticed before. Discuss the Scripture using the questions and commentary in An Old Problem on Page 2. Talk about how God held Cain accountable for killing Abel. Where I See Violence (15 minutes) Say: The topic of violence can prompt anxious feelings and bring up tough issues that are difficult to discuss. But keeping quiet will not make it go away. We must identify violence if we are to overcome it. Instruct the youth, individually or in small teams, to complete Where I See Violence on Youth Page 4. Invite volunteers to talk about what they wrote. Say: Thinking about the violence that occurs in so many places near and far may trigger feelings of fear, sadness, and even anger. These feelings are valid, but we must be careful not to act out in response to these feelings. Reacting out of anger, especially seeking revenge or trying to harm someone else, only continues the cycle of violence and makes the problem worse. Now ask the youth to find and read some of the recommended Scriptures, on Youth Page 4, that deal with love overcoming evil. Based on what you ve read, what does the Bible say about how we should respond to evil and violence? Finally, read aloud 1 Peter 4:8: Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins. Turn Around (10 minutes) Say: We often talk about the problem of violence following horrific acts such as the shooting in Connecticut last month. But violence occurs every day in much less obvious ways. Even small acts of meanness can have damaging and lasting effects. Call on a volunteer to read aloud Matthew 5:21-26, then ask: What does Jesus tell us about violence in this Scripture? Say: Jesus teaches us that it s not enough to simply follow the do not kill commandment (Exodus 20:13). What we hold in our hearts and minds also matters. We need to do the hard work of loving others like Jesus did. Invite students to stand and line up on the opposite side of the room from you. Then, as you hold up a sign showing an act of kindness (prepared earlier), youth should take a step toward you. When you hold up a sign showing an act of meanness, they should turn around and return to the starting point. Continue until you have shown all signs, then ask students how this activity is similar to following Jesus. Love Dominoes (10 minutes) Ask volunteers to read aloud Matthew 5: Discuss the Scripture using the questions and commentary in Loving Everyone on Page 2. Give each person one or two dominoes. Challenge the youth to think of one or two acts of love and kindness. Then invite each person to hold up his or her domino (or dominoes) and name the act (or acts) of kindness. Finally, ask the class to set up the dominoes. Then tap the front domino, causing the rest to fall. Say: God s love is like these dominoes. When it touches just one person, it can quickly spread to many others. Close in prayer, remembering all people affected by violence, including the families in Newtown, Connecticut. Pray for the courage to respond to violence with God s love.

4 Definition of Violence 4 1 use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, or inflict damage 2 intense, furious, and/or destructive force Where I See Violence Where have you seen or heard about violence elsewhere in the country or world? Where have you seen or heard about violence in your state or community? Where have you seen or heard about violence in your neighborhood or school? RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURES TO READ: MATTHEW 5:21-26; 5:38-48; 26:51-56; ROMANS 12:17-21; 2 TIMOTHY 3:10-17 Names and ages of the 26 people gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history: Charlotte Bacon, 6 Daniel Barden, 7 Rachel D Avino, 29 Olivia Engel, 6 Josephine Gay, 7 Ana Marquez-Greene, 6 Dylan Hockley, 6 Dawn Hochsprung, 47 Madeleine Hsu, 6 Catherine Hubbard, 6 Chase Kowalski, 7 Jesse Lewis, 6 James Mattioli, 6 Grace McDonnell, 7 Anne Marie Murphy, 52 Emilie Parker, 6 Jack Pinto, 6 Noah Pozner, 6 Caroline Previdi, 6 Jessica Rekos, 6 Avielle Richman, 6 Lauren Rousseau, 30 Mary Sherlach, 56 Victoria Soto, 27 Benjamin Wheeler, 6 Allison Wyatt, 6 Read more at Permission is granted to photocopy this page for use in groups studying LINC.

5 Program B LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS 5 QUESTION OF THE DAY: When is it most difficult to show love? CULTURAL CONNECTION: Shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut TOPIC: Responding to Violence Use the information on Page 1 to relate the cultural connection to the topic of responding to violence and to introduce the individual talk topics you choose. Questions to Get You Started: What were some of your initial reactions when you first heard about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut? What information have you heard about why this tragedy happened or how similar incidents could be prevented? Which of these reasons and suggested solutions do you find convincing? Which do you find lacking? For what reasons, do you think, are humans violent? For each Talk Topic, ask: How do the Read More Scriptures add to this discussion? Talk Topic 1: Fear No Evil KEY POINT: DARKNESS AND EVIL EXIST IN OUR BROKEN WORLD. FEELINGS OF ANGER, JEALOUSY, HURT, AND FRUSTRATION ARE PART OF BEING HUMAN. BUT EACH OF US IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE FEELINGS IN HEALTHY AND GODLY WAYS. What are some common ways in which people respond to violence? What sorts of reactions to violence can make things worse? How? It is normal to react to tragedy with fear and anger. How should we deal with those feelings when they arise? Where should and shouldn t we turn for help when we re experiencing fear and anger? How should we respond when others are feeling rage? Humans have the freedom to act as we choose. What does this freedom tell us about God? What difference does it make for us? Read More: Genesis 4:1-16, 23-24; Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 12:17-21; 13:8-10; Galatians 5: Talk Topic 2: Love Instead of Retaliation KEY POINT: FOLLOWERS OF JESUS COMMIT TO LIVING A NEW LIFE THAT INCLUDES TURNING AWAY FROM SIN AND STRIVING TO LOVE GOD AND OTHERS. Read Exodus 20:13 and Matthew 5: What is the difference between following the rules and following Jesus? How does Jesus call us to a higher standard? Read Matthew 26: What was Jesus response when one of his followers resorted to violence? How should we, as Christ s followers, respond to violence? Read More: Matthew 5:21-26; 26:47-56; 2 Corinthians 5:13-21; Ephesians 4:26; 2 Timothy 3: Talk Topic 3: Love Is a Verb KEY POINT: THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN SPREAD GOD S LOVE IN RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE. WE CAN SET AN EXAMPLE BY REFUSING TO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE; WE CAN COUNTER ACTS OF VIOLENCE WITH ACTS OF KINDNESS; AND WE CAN PRAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND PLACES MARRED BY VIOLENCE. Love is not just a feeling; it is an action. What are some specific ways that we can put Christian love into action? Whom do you know from history who has changed his or her world without resorting to violence? How can your group or community respond to violence in your community? Read More: Matthew 5:14-16, 38-48; James 1:17-27; 2:8-13; 1 John 4: Gather for Devotion Love Never Ends (10 minutes) Getting Ready: You will need Bibles, votive candles or tea lights, a butane lighter, and a safe place to light them (or use flameless votive candles). Options: Provide 26 candles (one for each person killed at Sandy Hook) or, if violence has affected your community, you may want to light candles to remember those lost in your local area. Consider reading aloud the name of a victim (see Youth Page 4) as you light each candle. Invite the youth to find a comfortable place to sit. Call on volunteers to read aloud Lamentations 3: Say: Sometimes we feel powerless in the wake of tragedy or violence. While we can t change what has happened, we don t have to stand by and do nothing. We can: go to God in prayer; remember God s goodness in the past; wait for God s guidance; praise God for how God s love is revealed through us; be a loving presence with everyone, everywhere. Now dim the lights and light the candles, one by one. If you are reading aloud names, allow each student to light a candle when a name is read, then pass the lighter to the next person (or turn on the flameless votive) until all the candles are lit. If you are not reading aloud names, ask students to silently remember victims of violence in general as they each light a candle. After the candles are lit, spend a moment in silence, read aloud the Scripture again, and close in prayer asking for God s guidance this week in spreading acts of love.

6 Page 6 The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for work. Oscar Romero, former archbishop of San Salvador 6 In the Bible MONDAY: Read Ephesians 4:26. If anything has made you angry today, take it to God in prayer. TUESDAY: Read John 8:3-11. Love is merciful not judgmental. WEDNESDAY: Read Romans 6:1-11. What are you doing with your new life in Christ? THURSDAY: Read 1 Peter 3:8-17. Meet everyone with a tender heart, and a humble mind. FRIDAY: Read Matthew 5: How can you shine your light brighter today? SATURDAY: Read Proverbs 10:12. How will your love bring healing? Next in LinC In November eighth-grader McKenna Pope launched a campaign urging Hasbro to make an Easy-Bake Oven that could be marketed to boys. Her younger brother had asked for the popular toy, but Pope couldn t find an Easy-Bake with boyfriendly packaging and design. Her campaign paid off. Hasbro brought Pope and her family to its Rhode Island headquarters and unveiled a Easy-Bake prototype designed to appeal to boys. The story raises all sorts of interesting questions about boys and girls and their tastes and interests. Through the years the church has made its share of assumptions about gender roles, some of which have been hurtful. Next week we ll look at what the gospel tells us about gender roles and discuss what it means to live with integrity as the people God calls us to be. Inherit the Mirth Top Ten List Top Ten Acts of Love and Kindness (inspired by #26Acts on Twitter and Facebook) 10. Buy a meal for the person behind you in the drive through or fast-food line. 9. When you see a veteran or military service person, thank them for their service and give them a gift card. 8. Volunteer at your local animal shelter, food bank, or nursing home. 7. Leave a roll of quarters on a machine in a laundrymat with a note asking users to pay it forward. 6. Donate new or gently used, warm clothes for use at a homeless shelter. 5. Donate money to your favorite charity in honor of one of the victims. 4. If you live where there is snow and are digging out from a storm, help your neighbors to dig out also. 3. Leave flowers or a gift card on someone s windshield with a note asking them to pay it forward. 2. Pay for someone else s gas at a gas station and ask them to pay it forward. 1. Find out what your local hospital s pediatric wing needs and donate the items. Also, ask if you can visit and spend time with some of the kids. LINC on Facebook and Twitter Like LINC at and follow LINC (@LinC_AY) on Twitter to get LINC updates, links to articles and videos related to your ministry or the week s cultural connection, and ideas for incorporating each week s lectionary readings into your LINC study. What Do You Think? What are the Top Ten acts of love and kindness? Please your response to us at pshepherd@umpublishing.org or snail mail us at: LinC P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN