January 21, 2015: Living In But Not Of

Prayer: Dear God, help us as we live in this world to try our best to not be of this world. Amen

Reading: I Corinthians 7: 29-31 (Click to read text)

Stop and GROW:  After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers.

QUESTION 1:  What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text?
QUESTION 2:  What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story?
QUESTION 3:  What stories or memories does this text stir in me? 
QUESTION 4:  What is God up to in this text? 
 
Reflection:  Have you ever felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole?  It doesn’t work.  I remember when the dig, “You are so square” was the mean way to say a person just did not fit in.  Or maybe you aren’t even trying to fit in but there is still that problem of being something that just doesn’t jive with the way things are.  I have definitely felt that at times.  How about you?

Well, Paul, in his writing to the Corinthians, certainly discusses many thorny issues some of which are part of our reading and I am simply not sure how to explain.  But verse 31 simply states: …(Let) those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.  I think he is saying live in this world but not of this world.  He does not quite get us to the coolness of the popular song a while back, “It’s Hip to be Square,” but at least we know it is what we are called to be.  His encouragement is in the second half of the verse, For the present form of this world is passing away.

Square pegs and round holes or round pegs in square holes…all will fit in God’s Kingdom.  --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper