Six dead chickens and a glimpse of redemption

(Thomas Iverson / Unsplash)

Matters of Faith

Dr. Bascom Ratliff, pastor

Beagle, Fontana, Parker United Methodist Churches

Scripture (NRSV): Colossians 1: 13-14. “He had delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

One of the more powerful memories I have of my mother was her protecting me from a neighbor when I was three years old. I vividly remember being yelled at and spanked because I had killed six of my neighbor’s chickens. The story, as I remember it, was my adult neighbor was criticizing my mother because I was three years old and had not been potty trained. On this one occasion our neighbor removed my soiled diaper and spanked me. I remember crying, feeling ignored, and being upset and angry.

To this day, I still don’t like dirty diapers or spankings. I was embarrassed and suffered a mild temper tantrum, went into the yard, and began to catch our neighbor’s prized chickens. I’m not sure how many I caught (I was told six), but the ones I did catch I proceeded to put into the hole in the outhouse which was our toilet at the time. Long story short, a number of her prized chickens were drowned in a large pool of poop.

What makes this story memorable, other than my getting a second spanking, was my mother offering my neighbor several books of S&H Green stamps to cover the damages. For several years following that incident, whenever I saw S&H Green stamps, I vividly remembered my mother’s paying my debt (i.e. my redemption) for the loss of those chickens. 

This message is about our having redemption through the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. I worry sometimes that we have become too soft on the notion of sin and the importance of forgiveness through Christ. Yet, the Bible is very clear that God does not like sin in any form or shape and that we are fully dependent upon Christ for our forgiveness and redemption from sin. It is important to remember that our redemption was costly, paid for by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and was a powerful gift to us by a loving God.

When I think about the sacrifice of Christ and our redemption from sin, I believe that I am catching but a glimpse of the great love of God and the workings of God’s Holy Spirit within my heart. I grieve my inability to more fully grasp the great love that God has for us and his desire that we enjoy life as fully validated members of his holy family.

When I think about my mother redeeming my sin when I was three years old for a few books of S&H Green stamps, I can only imagine the tremendous cost that Christ paid for my current redemption from sin. It is very sobering and wonderful to know that God loves us so much that he is willing to pay the high price required to redeem us from slavery to sin.

It is also very gratifying to know that God wants a life with us. I believe God’s message is clear. God wants to be an intricate, vital, part of our lives. God wants to be part of our families. God wants to be intimately involved in what we say, do, and think. 

During these next few weeks, I challenge you to pray about God’s redemption and God’s actively and intimately living with you. We are so loved and cared for. We are God’s amazing offspring and we have a great deal to celebrate and appreciate in our relationship with God and others.

Think about how God has redeemed you and forgiven you and called you from sin and wrongdoing. Think about your forgiveness and debts having been fully paid by Jesus. God loves you. God loves us. And through Jesus Christ, God will continue to forgive us, redeem us, and fill us to overflowing. 

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We will have Sunday morning services during the month of September at 10 a.m. at the Beagle United Methodist Church.

We will have Sunday morning services during the month of October at 10 a.m. at the Fontana UMC.

We will have Sunday morning services during the month of November  at 10 a.m. at the Parker UMC.

We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of each month.

All are welcome in God’s House.  Come and celebrate the risen Christ.

Dr. Bascom Ratliff  (913-710-5748)

Pastor: Parker/Beagle/Fontana 

United Methodist Churches