In recent days we’ve been remembering the catastrophe in New York on 11^th September 2001. A terrible scene, such destruction. Burning Towers and dying people. If you read Genesis, you find many disasters, and two great catastrophes. A warning about Genesis: printed at the bottom of every page should be the sentence ‘this story is true, only the facts have been altered’.

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But first a word about geology. Geology before theology. The ancient sagas that find their way into Genesis occur in ancient Mesopotamia and the Jordan Valley. This is the locality of the Dead Sea which is more than 400 metres below sea level. Floods are to be expected. And the area was volcanic, with considerable asphalt pits, tar and Sulphur deposits. Fire and brimstone can be expected.

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The first catastrophe is recorded in Genesis  chapters 6-8. It is an awful story of a righteous god who commits murder against his own creation by means of a flood. This is the season of creation, the time of spring, of primavera, of early buds and flowers. The Flood story is the opposite of this, and the theology is appalling. I guess that’s what you get when you view a natural event, a flood, through the eyes of zealous righteousness. Noah and his family survive. And the rainbow survives; as a reminder of how not to view natural events.

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The second catastrophe is recorded in Genesis chapters 18-19. It’s part of the Abraham story. Abraham is the man Yahweh chooses to father a nation that will be faithful and a witness to righteousness. Yahweh appears to Abraham by means of human visitors. Abraham has a nephew called Lot. They decided to go separate ways years earlier. Lot ends up living in Sodom. And Sodom is apparently an evil city. So evil that Yahweh decides it must be destroyed.

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We can’t be sure what was so evil about Sodom. It’s traditional to suppose sexual misconduct and perversity. But other writers in the Hebrew Bible suggest it was corrupt laws, that benefitted the powerful andleft most at a disadvantage, that offended Yahweh. Whatever it was, our zealous Yahweh decides that destruction is the only cure.

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But now comes a unique unparalleled scene in the whole Hebrew Bible. Abraham intercedes for the city. He haggles with Yahweh, he pushes his luck with his requests, he intercedes for the whole city. His nephew Lot must have been on his mind, but it is not for him Abraham pleads. Abraham is not asking that Lot and a righteous few should be spared. He is asking that the whole city should be spared for the sake of the righteous few. In this whole saga, Abraham comes out as the one who loves creation, hates destruction, has pity for the stupid, and wants to save even the sinners.

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We have an election in less than seven weeks. Our democratic system will give us, eventually, after much negotiation, the government we deserve. Churchill told us that democracy is the worst political system possible, but the only one worth having. The story about Abraham and Yahweh and Sodom is not about democracy. The people of Sodom don’t get a vote. It’s a story about righteousness and evil, and interceding for others who can’t plead for themselves. Which is what our election should be about, but won’t. Our elect ion will be largely about self-interest, looking after ourselves, paying the least tax, getting the best deal for me.

Everyday in the news we hear how bad things are. Health and education, infrastructure and debt, the cost of living and law and order: everywhere there are problems. A while ago, I came to an evening here at St Luke’s where the economist Shamubeel Eaqub spoke to us about these things . If you missed the evening, I can give you my simple summary. If we all stopped being selfish there would be very few problems. It’s as simple as that, and as difficult as that. Love your neighbour, as you love yourself.

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Of course, the man who said that didn’t last long. A powerful political system quickly got rid of him. But he had a way of influencing people who followed on with his ideas and truth. One of these was called Paul. In writing to the church at Rome, Paul had a lot to say about politics. In Romans 13 Paul reveals himself as a law and order man. Obey your rulers. Pay your taxes. Accept your punishment if you break the law. Then in Romans 14 Paul writes in another way, about how to treat people who think differently to you. Now he’s a liberal, an inclusive man.. Rather than despising people who are on the other political or social spectrum, opposing and ridiculing them, Paul suggests a radical approach: we might just love and tolerate them. I find this passage personally one of the hardest to   I, who have thought out my own position through hard experience and long consideration, have any respect for people who think the opposite? Yet I know he’s right. Hating others is bad for everyone. And what our country and world needs more than anything is cooperation, respect, common overall goals, decency and charity. So Paul, I hear you, and I will try.

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I’m guessing most of you will be in broad agreement with what I’ve said so far. It’s fairly obvious. Where we find ourselves disagreeing with others is in the particular, the actual concrete instances where we have to make moral choices. Which is why I talked about those three situations earlier in the service. I want to tell you my ranking of those three incidents. You may well rank them differently, as is your right, but here’s what I think.

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Let’s take the second one first. The elder who verbally abused the other elder, not in her hearing. It’s a victimless crime. It’s a ‘try harder’, but no one gets hurt, except his pride. And sometimes we all have to let off steam.

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Next, the Muslim radical Hass. He’s a deeply misled young man who makes wrong choices but sincerely, then a right choice that meant bad consequences for his friends. He is more like a natural disaster than an evil man. Sadly, such things happen. Think flood. Think eruption. I’d encourage him to forgive himself and get on with life.

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Lastly, the father in the restaurant. He’s self centered and neglectful. Then he uses his size and role and power to hurt the people he’s been given to love. He spoils a fun occasion for his kids and his wife. His religion is a sham – it doesn’t exhibit as kindness, care or consideration, to those closest to him. And even if his behaviour comes from how he was treated himself, he ought to know better. This man needs help.

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I look forward to being told how wrong I am. Fortunately none of us has been gifted with the power of fire and brimstone!