Nothing

A list of things that can never separate you from the love of God.

About a decade ago, I gave a sermon on Romans 8:31-39. At the end of the sermon, I rattled off a list of things that can never separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. Some of it was intentionally comical, some of it was intentionally provocative, some of it was trivial, and some of it was dead serious. I hope by this list (and by so much else) that those afflicted with the thought or feeling that God’s love is fickle or discriminating will come to trust that they are safe in God’s unchanging regard and care. I hope the list will challenge those who are certain God’s love excludes anyone. The list is edited here and there to fit the present moment. It could of course contain so many others things, perhaps more poignant, more pertinent, more encouraging, more converting. You are invited to list better ones in the comments. The list begins just below this justly-famous icon of Christ our God with his arm around his friend.

Anonymous Egyptian, Christ and His Friend (Abba Menas), eighth century

completing suicide

being LGBTQ

letting your kids eat junk food

smoking cigarettes

voting for Kamala

voting for Donald

drinking whiskey

living on death row

being an ISIS fighter

driving an SUV

driving a Prius

denying climate change

believing that Black Lives Matter

listening to smooth jazz

wearing fur

eating swine

having sex before marriage

doubting

believing in climate change

being a white supremacist

bearing a tattoo

eating too much

listening to Nickleback

being human

having cancer, any illness

alcoholism

promoting sex trafficking by viewing porn

celebrating Halloween

being addicted to anything

being in prison

being anxious, depressed, fearful

being a “helicopter” parent

being a “slacker” parent

being an atheist

abortion

being a blasphemer

being hopeless

reading Harry Potter novels

denying the moon landing

failure

believing that something can separate you from the love of God

poverty

wealth

being angry at God

following too closely

putting ketchup on a hotdog

being a space cadet

being a televangelist

believing in evolution

being divorced

underestimating God’s mercy

ignoring the homeless

being stupid

dancing

driving under the speed limit

inadequacy at life, at anything

hating God

betraying God

denying God

murdering God

nothing … not even ourselves.