There is a problem with the PCUSA lectionary. It tends to remove the specific, the crunchy. It allows people to abstract, and approve and stroke each other over social media, thinking that they are being caring. And forgetting or rejecting basic theology.

Dinesh D’Souza on Social Justice debunking the theory of restitution and exposing the hypocrisy of the activists who support this theory. First practice what you preach then you may impress us to listen to you. Otherwise, if you are not willing to practice what your preach how can you expect to others onboard?

You say whites have white privilege. As a white man, would you give up your position here at this college to an underprivileged person of color to take your place and for you to bow out?

The answer is no, he won’t. But this white student wants everyone else to do it. Is he demonstrating what he preaches? Social liberals rarely do.

The intersectionality idea is a fail. It sees all things as some form of racism, plays virtue signalling, and never refers back to the gospel but as metaphor.

Anyway, this is the lectionary.

John 1:1-7, 19-20, 29-34

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”

²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ³¹I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³²And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Let’s look at the full text: This is the RSV.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God;

3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

9 The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.

11 He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.

12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

15 (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'”)

16 And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22 They said to him then, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,

27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’

31 I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.

33 I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

What was missing? The Law.

The Law matters. It was sent to us as a means to keep Israel righteous and allow for people to attain salvation. Because people failed, there were means for atonement. But the people of Israel wanted to be relevant. They began to worship the Ba’al and Asteroth and worse. They neglected their duty to the poor. They did not allow gleaning. They did not celebrate the jubilee. The poor cried out, and God listened.

Yes, I’m paraphrasing. The prophets were sent to bring people to God, and so that the elite would do their duty, to care and to guide.

I have a hypotheses. Intersectionality is the modern form of syncretic apostasy. It leads to convergence, worshipping the idols of this age: tolerance, inclusiveness, and hating whitey.

It is better that we look to scripture and measure where we are wanting, confessing our sins, owning our guilt and reforming ourselves. For the Law leads to knowing that you are depraved, this leads to godly sorrow, and sorrow leads to repentance, and repentance to Christ.

Without the hard road to Christ the joy of following Christ — which is not easy — is not there. For you forget that you are guilty, and if justice reigned you would be damned.

Christ came to save us. Follow him.

The intersectionalists want to pander to the elite. Do not be them, and do not be like them.