FATAL ATTRACTION!
South African Oscar Pistorius’ name was in the news last summer as he competed in the London Olympics as a double amputee. Without doubt, history was in the making then. But then for the past two days, albeit for a different reason, Pistorius made it into the media spotlight again. This time it was because he was charged with murdering his girlfriend. After winning the sympathy and admiration of the world, Pistorius now finds himself facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. It’s as though he went from being a hero to a villain overnight. How could what would have started as a normal ATTRACTION in their relationship turn and now become a FATAL ATTRACTION? That’s a question that only Pistorius can answer. But it leads us to consider today’s FF which is just that – FATAL ATTRACTION!
When we hear of FATAL ATTRACTION it brings back to our memory a 1987 Hollywood thriller that was a major success receiving several Academy awards nominations. The plot of that movie was interesting in that it showed what happened when an extra marital affair becomes deadly. Usually a typical male/female ATTRACTION doesnÂ’t normally result in death. I donÂ’t think any right thinking person would pursue a relationship if he/she knew that this ATTRACTION would eventually be deadly. We donÂ’t expect that to happen. Rather it is expected that the ATTRACTION leads to persons feeling better about him/herself. And yet as PistoriusÂ’ case shows a normal ATTRACTION that should not lead to death especially on valentineÂ’s day when we celebrate love can also become a FATAL ATTRACTION.
But there’s a sense in which the call to discipleship is something of a FATAL ATTRACTION. German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer echoes this when he reminds us that “when Christ calls a man he bids him come and die.” Let’s not fool ourselves. An ATTRACTION to Christ is a FATAL ATTRACTION. If you doubt me listen to what Christ himself declared “anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) It seems as though there’s a shortage of sermons these days that challenge us to die to ourselves. But as we journey through this Lenten season, we are reminded of the truth that following Christ means dying to self. Hear Jesus again saying that, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” (Luke 9:24) Lent reminds us that the Christian path is a journey which demands following the example of our Lord. Christ bore his cross and we too have ours to carry. Christianity is a FATAL ATTRACTION!
But it is when we are drawn into this FATAL ATTRACTION that our lives become avenues through which others are richly blessed. So let’s not be scared of the death of self. Instead let’s embrace it. When we do then we can say like the Apostle Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Phil. 1: 21). Might our journey over the next 40 days during Lent be one that allows to experience a divine FATAL ATTRACTION.
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
But there’s a sense in which the call to discipleship is something of a FATAL ATTRACTION. German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer echoes this when he reminds us that “when Christ calls a man he bids him come and die.” Let’s not fool ourselves. An ATTRACTION to Christ is a FATAL ATTRACTION. If you doubt me listen to what Christ himself declared “anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) It seems as though there’s a shortage of sermons these days that challenge us to die to ourselves. But as we journey through this Lenten season, we are reminded of the truth that following Christ means dying to self. Hear Jesus again saying that, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” (Luke 9:24) Lent reminds us that the Christian path is a journey which demands following the example of our Lord. Christ bore his cross and we too have ours to carry. Christianity is a FATAL ATTRACTION!
But it is when we are drawn into this FATAL ATTRACTION that our lives become avenues through which others are richly blessed. So let’s not be scared of the death of self. Instead let’s embrace it. When we do then we can say like the Apostle Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Phil. 1: 21). Might our journey over the next 40 days during Lent be one that allows to experience a divine FATAL ATTRACTION.
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
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