A Letter from a Concerned Citizen

Dear editor,

It has come to my attention that one of your writers misspelled “anemone.” He added the wrong vowel thus creating cognitive dissonance in my behavior. In fact, when he misspelled that word it offended me to the core of my being, thus leading me to cause damage to my neighbor’s property. I couldn’t help it; I had no other choice but to destroy the furniture in his front yard because of the great offense done to me.

As a result, I call for the termination of the contract from such writer expecting that he never be allowed to take up the pen or the keyboard again. He is worse than an infidel; yes, worse than J.K.Rowling, that Voldermort of a creature who dares challenge the status quo of trans-sexual orthodoxy.

I am tired of the universal abuse of the doctrine of toleration upheld by all those who share my cause in the house of grammatical excellence, and I am shocked that you have allowed this scoundrel to get away for so long. There is no atonement for his sins.

I trust you will punish accordingly this vagabond and see to it that his life ends, professionally, of course. There is so much more I could say, including an offensive tweet from 1974, or something like that. Either way, it doesn’t matter. Deal with him appropriately, or else.

Tolerantly yours,
a concerned citizen

P.S. Make him suffer.

UB Podcast, episode 9, Are we wrong to criticize Chick-Fil-a’s decision? / The rise of Fundamentalist Catholics / and a Letter for the Anxious Soul

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Resources:

The Rise of Fundamentalist Catholics

Conservative Boycotting of Chick-Fil-a is Silly

A Letter to an Anxious Soul

Keep Yourselves from Idols

In one of the most lovely letters written in the Bible, I John– which we will be studying during Sunday School in July–the apostle encourages us by the example of Christ that our joy may be full. And then in chapter 5:21, which is the last verse of John’s first letter, we read this remarkable little exhortation: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

We will consider this in the sermon more fully, but before we bow down to the only true God, what idols are we carrying along with us, even this morning?

All those virtues that we treasure: love, trust, hope; all of them can be turned on their head. What do we truly love, hope, and trust in during times of pain? Who do we seek when our lives are turned upside down? If any of these answers do not find their joy ultimately in the God who is righteous and just (I Jn. 1:9), then we have not heeded John’s warnings.

Brothers and sisters, as we come and confess our sins this morning, confess that you have not loved, trusted, and hoped in God as you ought. Confess that you have sought other gods before him. Confess them, and be still, and know that He is God, and there is none other before him.

Prayer: God Almighty, Father, Son, and Spirit, strengthen us today by your great mercy and transform us into the image of your own beloved Son, whom we love, trust, and hope. Amen.