Cut from the Sermon: Better than Everyone Else

Last updated on: October 22, 2014 at 2:14 am by Coleman Glenn

Cut from the Sermon: Better than Everyone Else 2014-10-22T02:14:30-07:00 Coleman Glenn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This week I preached on the final chapter of the Book of Amos. From the first draft to the final draft I cut the sermon in half, so there was plenty to choose from for this week’s “Cut from the Sermon” entry, but I was saddest to cut a passage from Arcana Coelestia that I love (mostly because it convicts me every time I read it). In the original sermon I spent more time focusing on the primary sin that Amos was calling out: an attitude of superiority, both in Israel’s attitude toward the nations around her, and in the attitude of the rich toward the poor. The passage that I ended up cutting is one where Swedenborg describes seeing “societies of interior friendship” in the life after death, which sound like a nice thing until you find out what they are:

There are societies of interior friendship which take away a person’s internal delight or blessedness, arising from the affection of spiritual things. I have several times conversed [with some of them]. In the life of the body their nature was such that they loved from the heart those who were within their common fellowship, and also embraced one another with brotherly affection. They had believed that they only were living and in the light, and that those who were outside of their society were comparatively not living and not in the light; and because they were of such a quality they also thought that the Lord’s heaven consists solely of those few. But it was given to tell them that the Lord’s heaven is immense, and that it consists of every people and tongue, and that all are there who have been in the good of love and of faith; and it was shown that there are those in heaven who relate to all the provinces of the body both as to its exteriors and as to its interiors; but that if they aspired beyond the things which correspond to their life, especially if they condemned others who were outside of their society, they could not have heaven; and that in this case their society is a society of interior friendship, which as before said is of such a nature that when they approach others they deprive them of the blessedness of spiritual affection; for they regard them as not being the elect, and as not living; and when this thought is communicated, it induces sadness, which however according to the law of order in the other life returns to themselves. (Arcana Coelestia §4805)

I hope I’m getting better, but whew – that passage still makes me squirm.

Image: Amos-prophet” by 18 cen. icon painter – Iconostasis of Kizhi Monastery, Russia. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Religion

Amos

cut from the sermon

Previous Post

October 17, 2014

Cut from the Sermon: The Grief of Caring

Next Post

November 13, 2014 Cut from the Sermon: Indiana Jones and the Leap of Faith

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Books Culture Humor Miscellany Morality Movies Music Personal Politics Religion Science Sermons The Best Things Theatre Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2019 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 September 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 November 2014 October 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 October 2012 September 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city did Paul write his first letter to the Corinthians from?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ephesus Rome Athens Corinth