Sour Grapes
“In those days they will no longer say “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”
Jeremiah 18:29
This proverb about sour grapes was popular among the people of Israel at the time of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The idea that the children pay the price for the poor choices of their parents was common at the time, and has some scriptural basis in the passage from Exodus which talks about subsequent generations being punished for their forebears’ sin.
Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah reject this idea, looking forward to a new covenant of grace where humanity’s failings are forgiven and forgotten. For Christians, the redemption of humanity through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ represents the ultimate fulfilment of this.
However, whilst we can all be confident that subsequent generations will not be punished for our moral failings, it is clearer and clearer to all of us that when it comes to the climate crisis, they will nevertheless be living with ever more serious consequences of our choices and actions.
The UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, taking place in Glasgow at the end of October is our generation's opportunity to mitigate some of the worst effects of our actions, if we choose to take that opportunity.
At St Peter’s we are really keen to explore together how we can constructively, prayerfully and effectively respond to this greatest of all challenges, and at our 10am services in September and October we will be exploring themes of sustainability and asking what we can do.
We’ll also be exploring those themes together at 8pm on Thursday evenings from 16th September to 21st October using “Plenty”, a new course by Green Christian. Join us in the Octagon in person, or join in via Zoom - everyone welcome. To find out more and sign up to join us, check out:
God of love,
As many of us have delighted in being outdoors with family in your creation this summer, we ask that you would open our minds and our hearts to our role in keeping this beautiful planet safe for our children.
May we your church bring your compassion, your justice and your hope.
In Jesus' name,
Amen