SermonStudio

Thespian Theological Thoughts
Sincere apologies, first off, to a certain television commentator who is lightly parodied herein, and to anyone who has a special fondness for him. I do not mean to comment one way or the other about the gentleman's knowledge and love of God -- he was just a handy device to begin wondering about unconditional offers.

God's offer to us is extravagant, and of course it is unconditional. And, as we acknowledge especially during the season of Epiphany, this offer is available to all people. We can all have the unfathomable riches of God's love -- and it's not for what we do, but for who we are, all of us.

The world may not see it that way -- but our job is to help them see, by opening their hearts and minds to the knowledge and love of Christ.

May this silly little homily/drama help someone to do just that.

Cast
TV Announcer #1
TV Announcer #2
Andy Looney
Narrator
Isaiah
David
Paul

Props
Isaiah -- scroll
David -- scroll

__________

(Narrator is stationed stage right; TV Announcer #1 and TV Announcer #2 enter stage left)

TV #1: (Shouts) Get your Eureka Handy-Dandy cordless kiwi-fruit-slicer now, for only $29.95, plus shipping and handling. Don't delay -- do it today!

TV #2: (Rapidly, in a monotone) Some assembly required, batteries not included, until supplies last, this offer good only in the Continental United States, offer expires December 31st. (TV #1 and TV #2 exit stage left)

(Andy Looney enters stage right)

Andy Looney: Ya know, what the world needs today is just a good unconditional offer.

Narrator: You think so, huh?

Andy: What? Who's that?

Narrator: It's just me: your friendly Narrator. Who are you?

Andy: I'm Andy Looney ... and I'm just wondering about these infomercials we see on TV all the time. Did ya ever wonder how many lawyers it takes to write all the conditions they stick on the end of every offer they make? Why, sometimes all the qualifiers at the end take more air time than promoting the product! Like I said, what this world needs is a good ol' unconditional offer!

Narrator: I can think of lots of good old unconditional offers, Andy.

Andy: Yeah? Like what?

Narrator: Like the one my man Isaiah made, centuries ago: This offer still stands.

(Isaiah enters stage left, carrying a scroll)

Isaiah: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. For behold, darkness covers the land; deep gloom enshrouds the peoples. But over you the Lord will rise, and his glory will appear upon you. Nations will stream to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning.

Andy: What kind of unconditional offer is that?

Isaiah: It's the best kind: God himself is promising his people Israel that his glory will appear upon them, and that nations will come to their light!

Andy: Hmmm ... well, ya know, God's glory and all that is very nice, but that's kinda vague. I was hoping for something a little more specific.

Narrator: You want specific? We'll give you specific! Listen up, Andy: Here's our boy David.

(David enters stage right, carrying a scroll)

David: He shall defend the needy among the people; he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor ... In his time shall the righteous flourish; there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more ... He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; he shall preserve the lives of the needy. He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight. (Looks at Andy and points to scroll) Is that specific enough for you?

Andy: Yeah, that's pretty specific ... but it must be a conditional offer, huh?

Narrator: Why do you say that?

Andy: Because all that good stuff hasn't happened yet: There's no abundance of peace ... and, for sure, the righteous aren't flourishing! So this offer must have some conditions, and obviously we're not fulfilling the conditions!

(Paul enters stage right)

Paul: I've got the answer for that one, guys!

Andy: And who might you be?

Paul: I am Paul ... and you might want to listen to me, friend.

Andy: You may fire when ready, Gridley.

Paul/David/Isaiah: (Together) Huh? Whazzat?

Andy: Admiral Dewey at the battle of Manila Bay ... I just meant to say: "Get on with it, bubba!"

Paul: Oh. You're confusing me! Now, where was I? Oh, yes: Andy, you had a question about conditions on God's promises. Nothing could be further from the truth: God's offer of redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus is absolutely unconditional. And do you know what the real good news is?

Andy: No, what?

Paul: The read good news -- which I've been called to shout from the rooftops -- is that God is an equal opportunity promiser and fulfiller! Everybody -- people like you who've never paid any attention to God, and people like Isaiah and David here who've devoted their whole lives to God -- we all stand in the same place before God. He loves us all equally, and he gives us all the same unconditional offer of rescue.

Andy: But what about my earlier question? Dave, you said that the righteous are gonna flourish, and that there's gonna be peace everlasting, and that the poor will be saved, and on and on. Hey, guy, it's not happenin'! What's up here? Is this not a conditional promise, and we're not fulfilling the conditions, so God's not fulfilling his promise?

David: Not at all, Andy. What God is talking about here are spiritual -- not material -- matters. In a spiritual sense, the righteous (those who please and honor God) do flourish, although materially their lives may not show it.

Paul: And "peace" doesn't simply mean the absence of wars among nations. It means the inner "peace of God, which passes all understanding," which can rule in an individual's heart when he or she is yielded to God.

Isaiah: And God has had pity on the lowly and poor: He has redeemed their lives ... in a spiritual sense, and that's the most important sense.

Narrator: That is what we mean by "unfathomable riches," Andy: the spiritual richness of communion with God. And it's all yours, unconditionally: no assembly required; everyone included; supplies will last forever; no expiration date.

Andy: Well, I don't know. You've given me something to think about. But I still think the world needs a good unconditional offer of a kiwi-fruit-slicer! Did ya ever notice how hard it is to make a real clean slice of a kiwi fruit?

(Andy wanders off, stage left; Isaiah, David, and Paul shrug their shoulders)

Isaiah/David/Paul: (Together) Oh, well ... praise the Lord, anyway!