“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” You’ve probably heard, and even said, this expression before. “Heaven” is the polite substitute for the original, blasphemous expression “For G-d’s sake…,” because sake means “on behalf of.” It’s blasphemous because we’re saying, “Speaking on God’s behalf, God and I are not pleased.” However, if the tone of voice is changed and offered without the undercurrent of annoyance, “For God’s sake” is a prayer uttered on God’s behalf. “For God’s sake” is God’s plea of yearning that tomorrow will be different from today: tomorrow we will be reunited as one.

When something disintegrates it falls apart. It splits the integrity, divides the whole, fragments the unity. The completed is reverse-engineered: It is un-completed. Once parted, the pieces cannot accomplish what only the whole can. What has been torn asunder cannot fulfill the same purpose as the One.

Christians are called to be one body in Christ, but separating ourselves from or shunning others dis-integrates us. When we refuse to forgive, offer grace, listen, or uphold the inherent dignity of another we separate ourselves from God. Dis-integration is the very nature of sin. Lent is the time when we face our sin unflinchingly because God yearns for us to be re-integrated into our original wholeness, so that we love completely.

Christians serve others on God’s behalf, but our individualistic mindset is redefining our faith as self-serving—and even then, only when it suits. This Lenten series seeks to reintegrate us from self-glorifying individuals to our true selves as the one body of Christ who serves. Each sermon reveals a point of disintegration and a call to be re-integrated—for God’s sake.

Join us!

We invite you to join us for worship March 5 – April 6 for this series.