Gospel Fare
Worship in Sorrow: The Forgotten Power of Lament
Is lament an act of faith? It turns grief into connection, embracing sorrow as a form of worship and devotion.
M. David Huston
June 10, 2024
Is lament an act of faith? It turns grief into connection, embracing sorrow as a form of worship and devotion.
We like to identify with the hero, but in the Gospels, this can blind us to our flaws. Perhaps we could identify with those Jesus corrected, instead.
The Sermon on the Plain emphasizes Jesus’ call to mercy and compassion. Explore how this sermon complements the Sermon on the Mount’s lessons.
Our inclination in a conflicted America is to see any significant difference as a potential threat. The New Testament can remind us not to overlook the value of competing views on even the most important question of all.
It wasn’t just apathy or failure to perform religious ceremonies for which ancient Israel faced God’s judgments. It was also what they failed to do for each other.
It’s easy to get fixated on our own actions—or failure to act—in a life of discipleship. The teachings of ancient prophet Ezekial show a God more than ready to act on our behalf—and eager to help us know exactly that.
In our eagerness to explore imagery pointing to Christ in ancient text, let’s not overlook the value of other readings, including earlier meanings for ancient peoples and sacred meanings held by Jewish brothers and sisters still today
It’s easy to sometimes think God only wants to hear “nice” feelings and positive sentiments in our prayers. Thank goodness the Book of Psalms demonstrates otherwise.
In addition to the clear violations against chastity, David’s behavior towards Uriah and Bathsheba reflects an ancient warning against the very exploitation of the powerless we continue to see around us today.
God offered the children of Israel a direct encounter. That was too much. They wanted something safer. Do we sometimes do the same?
To those who are quick to assume that God’s loving support comes mostly to families without problems, I would recommend the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Arguably more than any other Christian church, the Old Testament weaves its way through the foundations of Latter-day Saint teaching far more than even members of the Church of Jesus Christ might appreciate.