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ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about my difficulty reading through the Old Testament because of the violent and brutal actions people believed God wanted them to do. Over and over again, the people of God believed that God gave them not only permission, but instruction, to kill others with God’s blessing and guidance. This theme begins in Genesis. The book of Joshua (chapter 12) actually lists 31 kingdoms that were defeated in battle by Joshua alone. The first verse of the next chapter states: “and very much of the land still remains to be possessed.” In other words, in terms of slaughtering people of different kingdoms, ethnicities, cultures and religions, the Israelites were just getting started!

The people of ancient Israel were not all that different from others, who believed that their gods rewarded them for appropriate sacrifices, prayers and worship by giving them success in battle over their enemies. The main difference was that the Israelites believed in one God (who also rewarded for the same things in the same way). Throughout history, the Christian Church has also continued this pattern of belief and action. I am opposed to killing others in general; I am also opposed to killing others because “our country, culture and religion” are believed to be superior to others and more dear to God.

I am encouraged that there is another perspective in the Scriptures regarding why we worship and what makes God really happy with our worship. In the opening pages of Isaiah, we read that God is not pleased with sacrifices, offerings, festivals and prayers if they are not accompanied by justice and compassion. When our worship leads to the opening of our eyes and hearts to people in the world who need justice and compassion, then God is truly pleased!

May we open our eyes and hearts this week to people all around us and show them justice and compassion—regardless of their citizenship, ethnicity, culture or religion…or anything else that might make them different from us!

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana

To see a video of Kahu Akana’s sermon from this past Sunday, click HERE.

You are invited to join us for worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!

“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.