Tag: Redemption

Ruth

Published on by Karolee LarsonLeave a comment
Camping at the rodeo grounds

For the third year in a row, our church has done something we call “Camping in July.” We do it for all those who don’t have the luxury of disappearing into the land of summer vacation. To make it feel like we are kids at camp, we set up a camp ground in our narthex, make some fun crafts, and sing a lot of camp songs. We also do a fun sermon series.

This year, we focused on the book of Ruth, and specifically on four Hebrew words.

(Shuv) שוב which means ״to return” was repeated several times in chapter one as Naomi and her daughters-in-law debated about returning to Bethlehem. Because Ruth was a Moabite, and because she is know as someone who “returned” (even though she had not been there before), I began to understand her return as a return to God. The history between the Israelites and the Moabites is filled with deep meaning which lends itself to this idea of a return to faith. I heartily recommend you read the following:

Genesis 19: Moab’s origin story

Numbers 21-25: Moab’s treachery in the wilderness

Deuteronomy 23:1-8: Moabites not allowed in the temple

The second Hebrew word that we studied was (la.qat) לקת which means “to glean. Chapter two was all about Ruth gleaning in Boaz’s field. As I pondered on this word, I thought of all the blessings we glean from God.

Our third word for the month was (hesed) חסד which is a difficult word to translate since it represents more of an idea than an action. English translators use words like steadfast love, loyalty, and faithfulness, but those words fall short and can change the act based on which word was used. It’s best to think of the word as a relationship between someone in need and someone qualified to provide, like a child with power of attorney who cares for an elderly parent.

Our final word from Ruth, (ga.al) גאל, meaning “to redeem,” plays an important role in chapter four as Boaz barters for the right to redeem Naomi’s land. But the word doesn’t just appear in the book of Ruth. The entire Old Testament is the story of a God who loves and desires to redeem. It’s a story that points to Jesus, his death and resurrection, and a story that continues to show God’s redeeming work through Christ’s church.

Ruth is not just a love story between a man and a woman, but a love story between God and God’s created people. I encourage you to give it a fresh read.

Grace and peace,

Parson Larson (2026)

Kingdom People

Published on by Karolee LarsonLeave a comment

While I am not surprised to see how divided our country has become, I am sad when I see Christians participate in the division.

Our political climate has become a war between two gods who demand total allegiance from their worshippers. Battle lines are drawn on every political front. No longer can people travel safely between positions for fear of being called a traitor. We are compelled to choose a side.

But there is a third option. As Christians, we are not called to be republicans or democrats, but to be Kingdom people who follow the commands of our king. We are to live as ambassadors in this land as we wait for our king to return.

As ambassadors, our role is to show the world a better way to live – a way that is rooted in King Jesus’ commands to love God and love our neighbors, including our enemies. We are to look for signs of the Kingdom and then participate in Christ’s redemptive work, which unites instead of divides. But instead, I see Christians staunchly supporting the political positions of their preferred party without any thought to how those positions may or may not further God’s Kingdom of love.

Unfortunately, division among Christians is nothing new. When asked if he was the devil, Jesus responded, “A house divided cannot stand.” Have Christians become their own devil by fighting against one another? Is it any wonder why people want nothing to do with the Church?

Let’s put aside our false gods and rally around our king! Let’s look for signs of love and unity which point toward the Kingdom of God. Let’s follow King Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbors – all of our neighbors. Let’s participate in Christ’s work of reconciliation and redemption for the glory of God.

Let’s be Kingdom People.

Grace and Peace

Parson Larson 2025

Grand Canyon – Grand Creation

Published on by Karolee LarsonLeave a comment

I used to believe that people who did not subscribe to a literal six-day creation theory were at best misguided Christians, and at worst unbelievers. My tendency to read scripture literally led me to believe scientific explanations of how creation aligned with the first two chapters of Genesis. This creationist explanation made more sense to me than an evolutionary idea where a large explosion could produce an ordered creation.

What I failed to notice was that the same people who asked the evolutionists how they could be so certain in their defense of an evolutionary theory of creation were the same people who defended their creation theory with absolute certainty. While criticizing the evolutionists tendency to make theories sound like facts, creationists did not waver from their own notions of how God created the universe. A grand chasm was formed between intelligent people on both sides of an unwinnable argument.

The intention of the original author of Genesis never entered my mind prior to my seminary studies. The ancient readers cared less about how creation was formed and more about who formed creation. Genesis was written to defend the Creator God of the Israelite nation against the pagan gods of other tribes. In essence, they were saying, “Your god is lord over water? Oh, that’s cute. Our God created the sea out of the deep chaos and placed the untamable beasts which you fear in it.” The Genesis narrative teaches us who is responsible for creation and the psalmists teach us how to worship the God of creation. “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1).

I no longer ascribe to any theory of how God created the heavens and the earth. How could any of us possibly know for certainty what happened? Instead, I look around and see the beauty of creation and am led to praise God. I am also led to care more about what happens to creation.

The tranquil beauty of the Grand Canyon gives me hope. The God of creation is also the God of redemption. All things will be made new (Revelation 21:5), and we are called to participate in this redeeming work while awaiting Christ’s return. With this understanding, I have learned to care a little more deeply about the earth and I try to make choices which reflect that care. I can’t do much on my own, but thankfully, God’s idea of participation is one which involves community. Small choices made by many people do make an impact.

The Grand Canyon is definitely a place of wonder which inspires awe and worship of God, but creation is all around us. Do we see God’s hand in the places where we live? Do we notice the small wonders around us? Are we inspired to care more about the ecosystems which surround us?

Embracing the who of creation over the how of creation gives me hope. I no longer need to ascribe to a specific theory to justify my faith. I can simply believe that the God who freely creates such a beautiful place is also the God who freely bestows grace and redeems brokenness.

Grace and peace,

Parson Larson, 2023