Reflections on "Texting and Driving" Genesis 3: 1-13; Romans 7: 14-20

I picked the Romans text because of Paul's point that he does the things that he hates, which feels a lot like how many of us sin -- we know that we should not do it; we don't particularly want to do it if we think about it (sometimes we profess to be opposed to doing it); but then we do it anyway.

It was a fairly straight-forward sermon.  I had several good comments from people, so maybe straight-forward works well for some people.

I tried a different conclusion in both the Chapel and Sanctuary services.  Neither worked particularly well.  I tried to go back to the texting example, but it felt like the conclusion was that texting while driving was a sin, rather than the hope that the texting reference would draw the listener back to their thoughts on sinning.

“Texting and Driving” September 27, 2015; FPC, Troy; iPhone theology series; Genesis 3: 1-13; Romans 7: 14-20

Introduction: Texting while driving makes it 23X more likely to have an accident;

To put that in perspective, dialing your cell phone makes it 2.8X more likely;

reaching for device makes it 1.4X;

listening or talking makes it 1.3X (http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats)

Even without the statistics, we know the truth that texting and driving is wrong – we know because we have fiddled with the phone ourselves, or seen other weaving down the road or staying stopped on a green light, and then looked over to see the driver texting.

Move 1: As I think about texting and driving, I am reminded of sin – that is, doing what we know we should not do.

a. WE know we should not text and drive.

1. 95% of people know that texting and driving is a serious

2. 35% have texted while driving in the last 30 days.

3. I suspect that on more than one occasion, drivers are committed to not texting while driving, until their phone buzzes. They cannot resist the temptation.

5.  We know better; we condemn others for doing it; and then we do it ourselves.

b. I am reminded of Paul's words to the Romans: "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate.” (Romans 7:14)  

1. Sin is like that.  We generally know better.

2. In a quiet, rational moment, we tell ourselves we will not do it.  

      3. And then we do it.

     4. we know that internal conflict that Paul describes – both the temptation and our seeming inability to do anything about it.

c. When we turn to what Jesus has to say about sin, we find that Jesus ratchets up our understanding of sin.

       1. It is not just committing adultery, but thinking of committing adultery.

       2. Not just killing people, it is having contempt for any human being.

3. not just texting while driving, but thinking about texting while driving!

It seems hard to avoid sin.

Move 2: Sin is about me.

a. I remember way back in confirmation class the minister defining sin for us in a very simple way – little s, big I, little n.

1. sin is when I become more important than anything else.

2. Lots of other conversations about sin, but that is a good a summary as I know.

b. Texting – why would you do what you know is dangerous.

1. because we cannot resist the buzzing phone on the seat next to us.

2. We know the message has information for us, or is about us, or somehow impacts us, and we decide that the message about us is more important than anyone else.

b. That's the Genesis story isn't it?

1. Adam and Eve become so focused on themselves and their desires, that forget, ignore, willfully disobey God's instruction that they not eat of the tree.'

2. Easy to blame the serpent.

3. we always find a serpent somehow, don't we?

4. someone else to blame for our sinfulness. Some circumstance that makes our actions necessary, instead of sinful.

5. Adam and Eve would have found something else to blame if not the serpent because they were focused on what they wanted to do, not what God wanted them to do.

b. Adam and Eve cannot resist the temptation to be like God.

1. To have the same knowledge as God.

2. To elevate themselves (there's that capital I) to the God's level

c. think about examples of sin.

      1. We can start with the sins of others (it's easier to see what other are doing wrong!).

       2.  People who perpetrate violence on others.

       3. Peel back the sin enough to get to the root cause, and I suspect you will find someone putting their understandings, or their desires, or their anger above annoying and anything else.

        4. Or think about your own sins.  

         5. Peel back the layers and you will discover, I bet, that you will find that your sin occurs when you place yourself and what you desire above anyone or anything else.

d.  Irony, that when we forget about God and others and think only about ourselves, we miss the opportunity to become the person God calls us to be.

1. The one who created us has this vision for us; a vision for how we are to relate to one another; a vision for how we are to relate to our Maker.

2. And God calls it good.

3. But we turn away from that right relationship when we sin.

Move 3: Sin separates us from each other and from God.

a. Genesis story

1. How quickly does Adam turn on Eve? “She is the one.”

2. And then Adam and Eve find themselves both out of right relationship with God.

3. When Adam and Eve decide they are more concerned about elevating themselves to God's level than living in the relationship they have with God, they disrupt that connection.

b. Back to sin is when we make it all about ourselves.

1. when we do, there is not room for others.

2. We harms someone else.

3. We harm our relationships.

4. We separate ourselves from them

c. The breaking of those relationship is ultimately a separation from God as well.

1. The Psalmist writes: “Against you, you alone have I sinned.”

                  2. the truth is – All sin is against God.

    3.  Presbyterians Today, “At the head of the table in the cafeteria of the church-operated elementary school was a large pile of apples. Next to the apples one of the cafeteria workers had placed a sign that said, “Take only one. God is watching.” Farther down the lunch line was a large bowl of chocolate chip cookies. Next to it was another sign, this one obviously written by one of the children: Take all you want. God is watching the apples.” 

4. as if God only cared about the apples!

4. God desires right relationship with God and with each other.

Move 4: Sin is not the final answer

a. Remember that Eve said if they ate of the tree they would die.

              1.  But by the grace of God another day awaits despite their sinfulness.

             2.  We also remember that after Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden God provided them with garments. 

             3. God's grace abounds, despite our sinfulness.

b. Eugene Peterson in Leap over a Wall notes that in Psalm 51 there are only four names for sin. Sin is boring because it is all reruns. What is fresh and new are the varied ways in which god's grace is seen.

100. One of those ways is God coming in Christ.

            1. Christian Century, 6/27/2012; “A Hopeful Universalism,” Paul Jones (27): “My point is this: in light of Christ's person and work, sin no longer sets the terms for our relationship with God and God's relationship with us.”

2. Christ takes on our sin and offers us a clean slate with God and with one another.

3. Paul goes on to describe how only because of Christ and by living in the spirit can we stop doing the things that we hate.

Conclusion: There's the phone on the seat next to you. It buzzes. You have a text message. You know you should not pick it up.

But it could be important to you.

It probably won't take too long to read.

Will you reach for it?