SERMON: "A Valentine Community"

OPENING PRAYER:  GUIDE NOW OUR THINKING, O GOD, THAT YOUR WORD MAY FILL THE VOID IN OUR LIVES - BRING THE MESSAGE HOME TO OUR HEARTS. IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.

"A VALENTINE COMMUNITY"
I CORINTHIANS 3:1-9    

SINCE I'M REWORKING THIS SERMON NEAR VALENTINE’S DAY, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A FEW ONE-LINERS ABOUT LOVE FOR YOUR REFLECTION:

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO BE TOLD THAT YOU LOVE ME -- PLEASE SUPPLY MORE DETAILS.” “IF YOU CAN’T SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME, TRY TO MAKE A ROUGH ESTIMATE.” “LOVE IS THE ONLY PAINT THAT WILL COVER THE FAULTS OF OTHERS.” “BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE WHAT LOVE CAN DO, THE DAMAGE HAS USUALLY ALREADY BEEN DONE.” “LOVE...IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF LIFE.” “I DON’T WANT EVERYONE TO LIKE ME; I SHOULD THINK LESS OF MYSELF IF SOME PEOPLE DID.” “SOME FOLKS BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT; OTHERS BELIEVE IN TAKING ANOTHER LOOK.” “LOVE IS A GROSS EXAGGERATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE PERSON AND EVERYBODY ELSE.”

HERE’S A LITTLE LONGER ONE: “A THREE YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WERE STUDYING A PLASTIC MODEL OF THE HUMAN HEART. THEY LOCATED ALL THE CHAMBERS AND ARTERIES. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED THE LITTLE BOY ASKED INNOCENTLY OF HIS GRANDMOTHER, ‘WHERE’S THE LOVE, GRANDMA?’”

“WHERE’S THE LOVE?” HMMMM. “WHERE’S THE LOVE?” I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE PLACES IT SHOULD BE - IN THE CHURCH. IT SHOULD BE PRESENT AMONG THE PEOPLE CALLED CHRISTIANS. THE COMMUNITIES OF FAITH OUGHT TO BE VALENTINE COMMUNITIES - PLACES WHERE LOVE IS EXCHANGED - EXPERIENCED - SHARED - RECEIVED - GIVEN.

THERE'S A STORY TOLD ABOUT THREE PROTESTANT MINISTERS AND A PRIEST WHO PLAYED GOLF TOGETHER. THE PROTESTANT MINISTERS DECIDED TO VISIT THEIR FRIEND AT AN EARLY MORNING MASS ONE DAY. THE CHURCH WAS SO CROWDED THAT THEY HAD TO STAND BACK. THE PRIEST SAW THEM AND WHISPERED TO A NEARBY ACOLYTE, "GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS!" THE YOUNG ACOLYTE GAVE THE PRIEST A SORT OF STUNNED LOOKED AND SAT DOWN.

AGAIN, THE PRIEST WHISPERED, "GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS." THERE WAS THE SAME STUNNED LOOK AND NO RESPONSE.

FINALLY, IN EXASPERATION HE SAID, "THIS IS THE LAST TIME I AM GOING TO TELL YOU. GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS."

THE ACOLYTE WENT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANCEL AREA AND ANNOUNCED, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUT LET'S ALL STAND AND GIVE THREE CHEERS FOR THE PROTESTANTS!"

CAN YOU PICTURE IT - A CHURCH FULL OF CATHOLICS STANDING AND CHEERING FOR PROTESTANTS? HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHEERING FOR A NEIGHBORING BAPTIST CHURCH? OR, EVEN MORE UNREALISTIC, A LIBERAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHEERING FOR A SISTER CONSERVATIVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AFTER THE LOSS OF SOME MEMBERS TO THE OTHER? THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE WHERE LOVE IS EXPRESSED - WE OUGHT TO BE VALENTINE COMMUNITIES WHERE CHEERING FOR ONE ANOTHER IS THE NORM RATHER THAN CRITICISM AND JEALOUSY.

ONE MONDAY A LITTLE BOY SAID TO A FRIEND, "YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE BAPTIST CHURCH. WHAT ABOMINATION DO YOU BELONG TO?"

I'M NOT SURE THE LITTLE GUY USED AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE IRRATIONAL SITUATION WE HAVE IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH - IT IS AN ABOMINATION - THIS THING WE CALL DENOMINATIONS. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME, I'M FULLY AWARE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR HISTORY THAT NEEDED RADICAL SURGERY TO CORRECT. PERIODICALLY, WE HAVE NEEDED RENEWAL IN THE CHURCH. THERE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VARIETY OF WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING GOD - A VARIETY OF WAYS OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE - A VARIETY OF WAYS TO BE RELIGIOUS - TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH - TO SENSE GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES. BUT THE DIVIDEDNESS THAT OUR DIFFERENCES HAVE CREATED IS AN ABOMINATION OF THE LIFE CHRIST CALLS US TO. DESPITE THE IMPORTANT EMPHASIS DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN LEADERS HAVE CALLED TO OUR ATTENTION OVER THE CENTURIES, OUR DECISIONS TO DEVELOP SEPARATE HOUSES OF WORSHIP - TO PLEDGE LOYALTIES TO CERTAIN CREEDS - OUR CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWERS OF THESE GREAT CHRISTIAN MINDS OVER AND AGAINST OTHER GREAT CHRISTIAN MINDS IS AN ABOMINATION - IT IS MAKING GODS OUT OF OUR BELIEFS INSTEAD OF THE BELIEFS BEING AVENUES TO GOD. WE ARE NOT LUTHER'S OR CALVIN'S - WE ARE NOT WESLEY'S OR OTTERBEIN'S - WE ARE JESUS CHRIST'S - AND CHRIST CALLS US TO COMMUNITY, NOT DISUNITY.

OUR PROBLEM IS CERTAINLY NOT A NEW ONE THOUGH - PAUL WAS ADDRESSING A SIMILAR SITUATION IN HIS LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS. IT SEEMS THE CHRISTIANS IN CORINTH WERE QUARRELING ABOUT WHO THEY BELONGED TO - THAT IS, THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE ONE OF PAUL'S FOLLOWERS OR ONE OF CEPHAS', OR ONE OF APOLLOS', ETC. AND PAUL TRIED TO LIFT UP FOR THEM THE IDEA THAT THEY WERE CHRIST'S. SURE OTHERS HAD HELPED ALONG THE WAY - BUT THEIR LOYALTY NEEDED TO BE TO JESUS CHRIST.

PERIODICALLY IN MY MINISTRY I LIVED THROUGH MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PASSAGE. YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MY YOUTH GROUPS IN PREVIOUS COMMUNITIES WHO HAD SETTLED IN THE AREA, WOULD STOP IN FOR A VISIT - SOME OF THEM PLAYED ON THE CHURCH'S SOFTBALL TEAM - AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THEM CALLED OR STOPPED BY I FOUND MYSELF HOPING THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO RENEW OLD RELATIONSHIPS AND GET INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH I WAS THEN SERVING. WE WOULD REMINISCE AND LAUGH AND THEN THEY WOULD MOVE ON AND GET INVOLVED ELSEWHERE.

THANKS TO SOME DEAR FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE DOROTHY, I BEGAN TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE CHURCH I WAS SERVING OR EVEN ME, BUT THE NECESSARY LIFE AND FAITH JOURNEY OF EACH OF THEM. THIS I CORINTHIAN PASSAGE WAS ANOTHER CLARION CALL TO REALITY - "THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT BILL CROY'S, THEY ARE JESUS CHRIST'S - THEY NEED TO GO AND SERVE WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED, THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN MINISTRY, NOT YOURS." IT TOOK SOME TIME BUT THERE DID COME A DAY WHEN I COULD REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN LIFE JOURNEYS - SOME INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH - SINGING IN CHOIRS, LEADING OTHER YOUTH GROUPS, COACHING, ASSUMING OFFICES IN THEIR NEW CHURCH HOMES - AND THAT DOES GIVE ME GREAT JOY. I REJOICE FOR THOSE WHO'VE CHOSEN NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS WELL AND APPRECIATE THEIR CONTINUED CONNECTION AND HONEST REFLECTION ABOUT HOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORLD.

MOST OF US HAVE HAD A FAVORITE PAST MINISTER - MAYBE ONE WHO WAS YOUR MINISTER WHEN YOU WERE A TEEN, OR ONE WHO WAS A COUNSELOR AT CAMP, OR ONE WHO TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TITHING, OR ONE WHO MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ATTEND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR ONE WHOSE PREACHING WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL, OR ONE WHO MADE THE BIBLE COME ALIVE, OR ONE WHO CHALLENGED US IN A CERTAIN AREA OF OUR RELIGIOUS GROWTH, OR ONE WHO RELATED TO US IN A PERSONAL WAY. SOME OF US HAVE HAD A FAVORITE CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHER OR YF LEADER NURTURE US ALONG THE WAY AND WE FEEL A TREMENDOUS LOYALTY TO THEM.

THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US ALL TO HEAR IN THIS PASSAGE IS WE ARE ALL PLANTERS OR WATERERS, BUT IT IS GOD WHO GIVES THE GROWTH. (1) WE ARE NOT CROY'S OR ANY OTHER PASTOR'S OR CHURCH LEADER'S - WE ARE JESUS CHRIST'S. OF COURSE IT'S TEMPTING - IT’S NATURAL - TO REMEMBER WITH FONDNESS THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR US ALONG THE JOURNEY OF FAITH. BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LIFT UP ONE PERSON'S TEACHINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO US AS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE AND FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS. THAT SORT OF STANCE LEADS TO DIVISIVENESS, QUARRELING, AND YES, EVEN AT TIMES, NEW DENOMINATIONS. (I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE ARE TIMES IN THE CURRENT DAY WHEN I WONDER IF IN FACT IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR ANOTHER TAKING A BREAK FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE REGARD THE SCRIPTURES SO DIFFERENTLY. IT'S NOT THAT I NO LONGER LOVE OTHERS OF THE FAITH WHO REGARD THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO. RATHER, IT'S A WONDERING IF WE ARE TURNING MORE PEOPLE OFF BY OUR ARGUING AND POSTURING.)

A FEW YEARS AGO SNOOPY, THE LOVEABLE BEAGLE IN THE PEANUTS CARTOON STRIP, BROKE HIS LEFT LEG. HUNDREDS WROTE LETTERS TO SNOOPY OR SENT SYMPATHY CARDS. SNOOPY HIMSELF PHILOSOPHIZED ABOUT HIS PLIGHT ONE DAY WHILE PERCHED ON TOP OF HIS DOGHOUSE AND WHILE LOOKING AT THE HUGE WHITE CAST ON HIS LEG. "MY BODY BLAMES MY FOOT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GO PLACES. MY FOOT SAYS IT WAS MY HEAD'S FAULT, AND MY HEAD BLAMED MY EYES ... MY EYES SAY MY FEET ARE CLUMSY, AND MY RIGHT FOOT SAYS NOT TO BLAME HIM FOR WHAT MY LEFT FOOT DID..." SNOOPY LOOKS OUT AT HIS AUDIENCE THROUGH THE COMIC STRIP PAGE AND CONFESSES, "I DON'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED."

SO IT OFTEN IS IN THE CHURCH - BLAMING THIS PART OF THE BODY OR THAT ONE: "IF THOSE FOLLOWERS OF X’S HAD" - "IF THOSE FRIENDS OF Y’S HAD." - “IF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM WOULD...” “IF THOSE TRUSTEES WOULD...” “IF THE STAFF WOULD ONLY ..."

PAUL TELLS THE PEOPLE OF CORINTH "THIS ARGUING ABOUT BEING PAUL'S, BEING APOLLOS', BEING PETER'S - IS PROOF THAT YOU ARE OF THE FLESH - YOU ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE. AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BE EXTRAORDINARY.  AND BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL OF THE FLESH, I AM BEING VERY CAREFUL WHAT I FEED YOU. LIKE A SMALL BABY, YOU CAN ONLY HANDLE MILK. SOLID FOOD IS TOO MUCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE JEALOUS OF ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO QUARREL, THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH. YOU ARE OF THE FLESH AND I MUST ONLY GIVE YOU WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE."

PAUL WAS TRYING TO TELL THE CORINTHIANS THAT THEIR QUARRELING, THEIR DIVISIONS, THEIR JEALOUSIES WERE PROOF POSITIVE THAT THEY WERE NOT SPIRITUAL PEOPLE. THIS IS A TREMENDOUSLY SIGNIFICANT REFLECTION BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE CAN TELL WHAT A PERSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS LIKE BY LOOKING AT THEIR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS AND OTHERS CAN TELL WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS LIKE BY OBSERVING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS AS WELL. (2) IF WE ARE AT VARIANCE WITH OTHERS, IF WE ARE QUARRELSOME, IF WE ARE COMPETITIVE, IF WE ARE ARGUMENTATIVE, IF WE MAKE TROUBLE - IT MATTERS NOT HOW DILIGENT A CHURCH ATTENDER WE ARE, OR WHAT OFFICE WE HOLD, GOD IS NOT LIVING IN US. BUT IF WE ARE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IF OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS ARE MARKED BY LOVE AND UNITY THEN WE ARE ON THE WAY TO BEING A PERSON OF GOD. IF WE ARE DISTANT FROM OTHERS IT IS GOOD PROOF THAT WE ARE DISTANT FROM GOD; IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL ALSO LOVE OTHERS.

IN DR. JOE HARDING'S SERMON "THE HOUSE THAT STOOD THE STORM" HE TALKED ABOUT THE "HEAR AND CHEER" MENTALITY THAT RUNS RAMPANT IN SOME CHRISTIAN CIRCLES: "WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND HERE AND THERE SEEKING A BLESSING, TRYING TO BE FED BY THE LATEST SPEAKER WITHOUT EVER REALLY COMING TO TERMS WITH THE RADICAL CLAIMS OF THE GOSPEL. THERE IS A LINE IN THE MUSICAL 'TRUTH OF TRUTHS' IN WHICH THE CROWD SINGS ON PALM SUNDAY, 'SAY, JESUS CHRIST, DID YOU SEE THAT I WAVED - SO TELL ME THAT I AM SAVED!' HEAR AND CHEER - FEEL GOOD - FORGET IT FOR A MONTH OR SO, COME BACK AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER FOR A NODDING ACQUAINTANCE THROUGH A RESPECTABLE ORGANIZATION.

"THERE WAS A CARTOON THAT APPEARED IN A RECENT JOURNAL WHICH SHOWED A CHURCH CALLED THE 'LITE - L-I-T-E  - CHURCH'; IT HAD A SIGN OUT FRONT WHICH SAID: 'ALL YOU EVER WANTED IN A CHURCH AND A LITTLE LESS. 24% FEWER COMMITMENTS REQUIRED. HOME OF THE 7.5% TITHE. 45 MINUTE WORSHIP SERVICES. WE HAVE ONLY EIGHT COMMANDMENTS - YOUR CHOICE. WE USE JUST THREE SPIRITUAL LAWS AND HAVE ONLY AN EIGHT HUNDRED YEAR MILLENNIUM! EVERYTHING YOU WANTED IN A CHURCH AND LESS! HOME OF THE GREAT HEAR AND CHEER SPECTATORS.'" (3)

FRIENDS, JESUS CHRIST DOESN'T NEED ANYMORE "HEAR AND CHEER" CHRISTIANS - HE DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE MINISTER OR THE CHURCH THAT IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM - HE DOESN’T NEED PEOPLE WHO FEEL LOYALTY TO BILLY GRAHAM OR BILL CROY OR.... HE NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNED ON TO HIM AND WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A PEOPLE TO BE IN MINISTRY WITH. IF THE CHURCH IS TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE FLAT OUT WILLING TO LOVE - TO LOVE OTHERS, TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND TO LOVE THEMSELVES. IT’S THE GREATEST WITNESS WE HAVE. PAUL SAYS IT'S THE MEASURE OF OUR SPIRITUALITY - CHRIST IS CALLING US TO BE A VALENTINE COMMUNITY - TO BE A COMMUNITY WHERE LOVE REIGNS SUPREME - HE'S CALLING US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER - IT’S WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS AND IS LOOKING FOR - A PLACE WHERE - A PEOPLE WHO - LOVE - WHO ACCEPT - AND WHEN THE WORLD SEES THAT HAPPENING - THEY SAY - “GOD IS AT WORK IN THAT PEOPLE”.

I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT DEFINES A LOVING CHURCH THIS WAY: “A LOVING CHURCH IS DEFINED BY THE QUALITY OF CARING, NOT THE AGE OF THE CHURCH. IS A “HOME” WHERE ONE’S FEARS, JOYS, YEARNINGS AND ASPIRATIONS CAN BE SHARED WITHOUT FEAR OF CONDEMNATION AND REJECTION. IS A PLACE TO FIND STRENGTH FOR DAILY BATTLES AND A PLACE TO FIND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR THAT STRUGGLE. IS A PLACE FOR FRIENDS WHO CAN BE TRUSTED, DEPENDED UPON, ENJOYED, AND WHO SHARE THE SAME GOALS. IS WHERE GOD’S LOVE IS EXPERIENCED IN A CONCRETE WAY THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. IS WHERE PEOPLE’S IMPERFECTIONS ARE ACCEPTED; WHERE THEY DISCOVER THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL, WHERE THEY FEEL LOVED. IS WHERE PEOPLE ARE OPEN AND HONEST WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED. IS WHERE MEMBERS GROW AS INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES ARE ACCEPTED, AND WHERE DISTINCTIONS OF PERSONAL RIGHTS, POSSESSIONS, THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, AND ACTIONS ARE SUBMERGED IN COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IS UNCONDITIONAL IN ITS ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS -- AND PROVIDES A PLACE WHERE THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND MINISTRY. IS WHERE PEOPLE LAUGH WITH OTHERS, NOT AT OTHERS; CRY WITH OTHERS, NOT BECAUSE OF OTHERS; FORGIVE OTHERS AND ARE FORGIVEN BY OTHERS; LOVE OTHERS AND ARE LOVED BY OTHERS.”  (4)

WHEN LOVE REIGNS IN A CHURCH, EVERYTHING BEGINS TO TAKE OFF. IT IS LIKE WHEN THE SUN SHINES IN A GARDEN -- EVERYTHING STARTS TO GROW!   WHEN THERE IS LOVE, MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WILL BE PREPARED TO RISK MAKING MISTAKES, KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT MATTER, AND THAT THEY WILL BE LOVED ALL THE SAME. LOVE LIKE THAT WILL BECOME INFECTIOUS. IT CANNOT BE HELD BACK BY CHURCH DOORS. IT WILL FLOW OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.” (MARK 12:30) THAT IS WORSHIP.

“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (MARK 12:31) THAT IS EVANGELISM. AND IT IS BEST EMBODIED IN THE LOCAL CHURCH, WARTS AND ALL. (5)

WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE GOD TOUCH OUR LIVES SO THAT WE MIGHT MORE TRULY REFLECT THE VALENTINE COMMUNITY THIS WORLD NEEDS. THE CHALLENGE IS TO STAY THE COURSE AND KEEP ON GROWING IN FAITH - AS LOVERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER.

LET US PRAY.

CLOSING PRAYER:  O, GOD OF LOVE AND MERCY - FORGIVE US FOR OUR PAST LOYALTIES THAT HAVE CAUSED DISSENSION IN YOUR CHURCH. HELP US TO BE FENCE-MENDERS - HELP US TO SEE ONE ANOTHER - THOSE WITHIN THE  FELLOWSHIP WE ARE PART OF AND THOSE IN OTHER CHURCHES AS FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND NOT ENEMIES OR RIVALS. HELP US TO SEE OUR SEPARATENESS AS A STRENGTHENING, AS THE INABILITY OF US ALL TO GET UNDER ONE ROOF, AS A SOURCE OF NEW INFORMATION RATHER THAN AS THE HOME OF THOSE WE DISAGREE WITH. HEAL US, O LORD, AND SHOW US WHERE OUR LOVE IS NEEDED. IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.

1. William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible: Letters to the Corinthians (London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), p. 36 (e-edition).
2. Ibid.,p. 35.
3. Dr. Joe Harding, "The House That Stood the Storm."
4. Lost
5. Michael Green, EVANGELISM THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH (Thomas  Nelson Inc., 1992).

''Approaching Valentine's Day"

"Approaching Valentine's Day"

This is not going to be an easy blog post to write and especially to share on my site. It's not going to make me look very nice and involve some personal apologizing made public. But it's enough of a side effect of the ALS journey to let others in on its presence in my life. It's probably not unique to those battling ALS. People with other troubles probably are guilty/succumb to this negative behavior as well.

Those who know Dorothy, my wife, and me know we've a pretty awesome relationship and marriage. We've enjoyed our life together and like one another as well as love one another. Now, that doesn't mean things have always been perfect - that we haven't had our moments of disagreement and times when we've been upset with one another. We've at times been living proof of the cliche about hurting the ones you love the most. We wholeheartedly affirm the adage that "good marriages don't just happen - they take work, lots of work!" But, we've had a good marriage. We love and respect one another immensely!

Well, two of the strengths of our marriage have been communication and role sharing. We committed ourselves to sharing what was going on inside us - what we were thinking as well as feeling. We didn't want a marriage where we only shared physical space. We both were involved in the caring for and raising of our children, the duties around the home, the pursuing of careers and the understanding that all resources - financial, skills, personalities, decisions - were ours, not mine and yours. Perfectly divided down the middle? 50/50? No, we changed who was responsible for different things on occasion and I definitely didn't do much cooking and neither one of us did many home or car repairs.

So, things have changed as the effect of ALS on my body has had its way with my muscles. I've had to give up doing things for myself - no more sharing of responsibilities. I have had to succumb to being helped. I've never accepted the help of others very well. But ALS doesn't give me a choice. Making the effort isn't even possible anymore.

Here's what's bothering me even more though: even though Dorothy is doing a super job trying to meet my every need/want, she's not always successful and as a result I don't always let her know how much I appreciate her effort caring for me. Instead, her efforts are too often met with a shortness of speech which sounds very much like disgust or anger on my part. I hate it when that's what comes out of me! Sometimes it's because she doesn't do something the way I think or want it done (imagine that!) - sometimes it's because I'm getting harder to understand and she has to inform me she didn't. Repeating myself is hard/frustrating/discouraging.

I guess I just want others to know that I am aware of my misbehavior and for you to understand another unwanted and unsolicited aspect of this cruel disease. I'm not seeking sympathy with this confession for myself as much as I am for my unbelievable Valentine, Dorothy! Really, honey, (and family and friends) this is not the way I want to be remembered. I'll keep trying to control it and ask for you to continue your awesome patience, care, and love.

Happy Valentine's Day, Dorothy! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

 

SERMON: "Let's Go to the Mountains"

"Let's Go to the Mountains"
Micah 6:1-8 Matthew 5:1-12

"Maker of mountains -
Creator of their beauty and their might,
I lift my small and human heart to thee.
Fill it, I pray, with something of their might,
Their steadfastness, their high serenity;
Sweep it with canyon winds, and wash it clean
With clear cold water from the eternal snow.
Let these bright torrents purge it, let all mean
Desires and passions leave it - let me go
Back to the lowlands, back to crowded days,
Poised and sustained, and ready for my part.
Let me go back, schooled in the mountains' ways.
Bearing their old vast secrets in my heart." (1)

So reflects Grace Noll Crowell in one of my favorite devotional/reflection books "Prayer at the Feet of the Mountains." What is it about mountains that beckons us to come to them? What is it about them that creates in us a desire to climb to the top of them? What is it about them that has us poking our children and exclaiming, "Look over there - have you ever seen anything so beautiful?" What is it about them that causes us to behold them with awe?

There surely is something sacred/spiritual about mountains. I grew up in the flatlands of northwestern Ohio - I only knew mountains from pictures; they were pretty, but I really had no appreciation for what they really were. I remember my first drive through the Smokies on our way to Florida on a family vacation after my graduation from high school (a trip with its own set of memorable moments) – wow! Being in the midst of the mountains was a whole lot more impressive and different than looking at them in a book. They were so big – so beautiful – how? Who?

Over the years I’ve returned to the mountains again and again. And each time I’ve found myself in more of a reflective mood than in my daily living. I pay attention to the nature that surrounds me. I sense another aspect of me, something deep inside and I wonder about the existence of it all.  Sometimes it happens as I walk the trails deep within the mountain or along its ridges; sometimes it happens as I reach the top and look out over what it gets to look at every day of its existence. No matter where it happens, there is this reality that there is something more to life than what I normally perceive and I’ve come to believe/ponder at least, that it is the awareness that God/something more powerful than me is present that is different.

There is something about the mountains that elevates our spirits/souls: their stillness, their permanence, their majesty. Our senses are stimulated by them. Whether we are climbers or not, there seems to be an awareness that there is something from beyond ourselves, something mystical that pulls at us when we are in the vicinity of mountains.

The two scripture readings I'm considering happen on or around mountains. The situation in Micah is that Yahweh is upset with his people because they have forgotten the blessings in the past and they have forgotten what God requires of them. The scene Micah describes has Yahweh taking his people to court for their unfaithfulness and it has God inviting the people to “…plead their case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.” God gives to the mountains power; God makes them witnesses, to not only hear the charges but to hear the peoples’ case - sort of a cosmic court session. God invites us to come to the mountain; to shout our complaints where no one but God can hear; to cry where no one but God can see; to scream and laugh and shout for joy and pray at a level we do not normally allow ourselves.

And then God says in Micah, “Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord.” God not only invites us to express ourselves before the mountain, God also entreats the mountain to listen. Micah leaves no doubt that he believes God has set the mountain up to play a key role in the communication between the creator of the universe and humanity.

In the well-known Matthew passage reading we hear about Jesus and His disciples also on a mountain. And Jesus is teaching: teaching about the New Life. Teaching about being poor in spirit, about mourning, and being meek, and hungering and thirsting, of being merciful, of being a peacemaker – and the basic idea is that we are blessed for identifying our walk in the faith in these ways. Now there’s a lot more that can be gleaned from each of these Beatitudes but what I suggest we think about is the idea that Jesus chose the mountain setting because there is a receptiveness to the things of the Spirit upon a mountain. Nowhere else in all creation would the disciples – would we – be able to understand the uniqueness of the teachings of Christ. On the mountain – in the mountains – we can be taught; we can learn; God can get through to us.

In the book "Meditations in the Mountains", the author writes about a scientist who was trying to band birds on the crest of a mountain in the Allegheny range of West Virginia. She later reflected on the annual ten thousand mile migration of these little creatures – wintering on the shores of the Caribbean and then unerringly retracing their flight back to the mountains for the rest of the year. And the author writes, “Sometimes I feel a great affinity for my friends the birds, who fly so unerringly to their mountain habitations in spite of the vagaries of the weather or the interference of bird-banding humans. The tiny winged beings seem to know that beyond these present distractions lies a place of refuse.”

“I have distractions, too,” she writes. “There are deadlines to be met, household tasks to be completed, and duties to be performed with family and friends. If these come along in orderly procession, they are pleasures. If they all occur at the same time, it is easy to become distraught. It is then that I think of the Psalmist’s remark, “Flee as a bird to your mountain.”

“We cannot always literally escape to the mountains, for the nearest are more than one hundred fifty miles away. However, having been there, I can recreate their quietness and strength within my heart. I can find a quiet corner in my home, shut my eyes, and recall the sense of peace and serenity found among the mountains. I can see once again the mountain streams dashing joyously downward over granite rocks. I can smell the tall pines in the thick forest. I can hear the twittering of birds in the branches and recall the vastness of the view from the crest.”

“From some source, I cannot define, but which never fails, a sense of peace and quiet descends, and I am thankful that I too, like my feathered friends, can flee to the mountains.” (2)

Many of us, like the author, are a long way from the mountains – even for those of us in central Ohio, the Hocking Hills (hills) are a little too far away to bring immediate contact with our God. But we do have the ability to recreate the setting within our own hearts, not just the mountains, but any place where we have especially noted a healing presence.

I’d like to end this blog post by suggesting an experience you might want to use when you're in need of a mountain-type experience but no such place is nearby. It’s a short meditation designed to allow us to flee to the mountains or wherever our private place is, wherever we are. (This is another one of those times during worship when I won’t suspect you are falling asleep if you close your eyes.) I’m going to give you some ideas to help you in the meditation and after each you might to pause and reflect.

Begin by thinking of a mountain you have visited; recall a place on the mountain where you found yourself resting; it may have been along a trail; it may have been in a picnic area, or on top of the mountain. Wherever it was imagine yourself there again; see if you can recall the smells. Is it hot or cold? Is it raining or is the sun shining? Are you leaning against a tree or sitting on a rock? What are you thinking about? Are there things you would like to share with God? Are there hurts? Joys? Wants? Needs?  ..you have that you would like to let God know about? While you are thinking about what you want to share with God, you notice someone is approaching, and as he gets closer you recognize him as Jesus or a friend who has been especially supportive or encouraging in your life. When he/she arrives, he/she sits down beside you and invites you to share with him/her what’s on your mind. And as you talk, he/she listens…

After a long while, you pause; Jesus places his hands on yours and says, “I am with you. Peace be with you.” And you sense the burdens of your life being lifted off of you. After a little while longer Jesus stands, places His hands on your head and says, “The Lord be with you.” And then He turns and slowly walks away. You stand and begin to follow Him and as you do you find yourself returning to your place of sanctuary, confident that Jesus/God is with you. Let us pray.

PRAYER:  O Creator of the mountains, and Creator of us, we know that You are more ready to give guidance and direction than we are to receive it. Help us to understand that mountain vastness, both present and remembered, can aid us in finding your will for us and in charting life’s course; we give You thanks for the mountain respites in our lives and seek your guidance in making use of them in our daily living.

O God, whose vastness is incomprehensible, our faith, as a dormant seed, awaits your nourishing strength. In the outpouring of your truth, transform our thinking into action. Then we can continue to grow and to live with purpose. In Christ's name. Amen. (3)

1. Grace Noll Crowell, "Prayer at the Feet of the Mountains."
2. Martha Vullemeier, "Meditations on the Mountain."
3. Unknown. I used this the first time many years ago before I was properly footnoting. My suspicion is it comes from either Crowell's or Vullemer's books.

SERMON: "Blessed to Bless"

"Blessed to Bless"
Matthew 5:1-12

“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, . . .”

That’s how Matthew introduces the Sermon on the Mount in the 5th chapter of his book. And by doing so he was attempting to share with his readers some significant things about the meaning of this time in Jesus’ life.

First, Matthew’s references to Jesus departing from the crowd and the disciples going to him after he sat down are signals that what Jesus was going to share was for the ears of the faithful few - for the ears of his hand-picked associates. These words weren’t meant for those still trying to decide if they were on board or not.  They weren’t meant for those who were curious, wondering, searching. They weren’t meant for those simply seeking to be healed. They were meant for those who had already signed on - those who had committed to following him. They were meant for those he was going to entrust with the responsibility of carrying on his work. It was for those who had already said “yes” to his invitation to be his followers.
 
Some have referred to the Sermon on the Mount as a sort of “ordination address” to the inside crew - a challenging word about what their ministry would be like. In the Sermon we have the essence, an outline if you will, of all that Jesus ever taught. Jesus was sharing with his closest admirers, his friends, what he thought were the really important lifestyle choices. Some have labeled this group of sayings by Jesus “a mini-discipleship manual” - a blueprint about how he expected those who followed him to live their lives.

Now, it’s very unlikely, most Bible scholars believe, that the words we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount were actually delivered by Jesus during one sermon on a mountain. They point out it’s length - there’s just too much in it - too many different ideas that don’t just logically connect with one another for them to have been presented during a one-time inspirational message. They also note that the author of Luke recorded many of the same teachings in his work but that they are scattered throughout his way of telling the story of Jesus’ life. What seems to be the case then is simply that Matthew thought it was important for the audience he was writing to to have it all laid out in one place, that what he thought was necessary was a teaching manual. The point still being that what we have here is a summary of the important things Jesus said and taught. (1)

Another thing the way Matthew chose to introduce these sayings reveals is that what Jesus was going to share was going to be very important. The reference to the disciples coming to him after he sat down is what clues us in on Matthew’s intent. When rabbis, Jewish teachers, in Matthew’s day wanted to make a point, wanted their followers to understand that what they were saying was a central point, an important insight, a significant interpretation, an original thought of the rabbi’s, they sat down. When they were reading from the scriptures or providing general information about what was being studied, they would stroll around or stand. When Matthew referenced that Jesus sat down, he did so in order to key his readers into his belief that what Jesus was now going to say were his official teachings - the true word - words to live by and repeat - words he expected his followers to share with others. Matthew was setting the stage for us to understand that what we read and hear here are the words Jesus perhaps repeatedly shared with his inner circle and they are therefore vitally important for any of us in our day who are on the journey of faith and desirous of being his followers.

Then Matthew wrote: “And he began to teach them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’” And then six more traits that they didn't probably think then and we assuredly don't think now of as traits of a blessed people (radically and unique, to be sure): “Blessed are the meek . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, . . . Blessed are the merciful, . . . Blessed are the pure in heart, . . . Blessed are the peacemakers, . . . Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, . . .”

We call them “The Beatitudes” - eight powerfully graphic, image producing short sayings that introduces the whole of Jesus’ message to his followers in that generation and ours. We’ve become so used to reading and hearing them that they at times feel almost comforting to us. It’s as if they birth in our minds and hearts images of flowers and birds and love and everyone getting along and peace and all that’s nice when it happens.

But, when we get over the beautiful and poetic sound of them being read, we are left with feelings of discomfort because we know they aren’t our reality and that they suggest things that aren’t the way the world understands blessedness. The truth of the matter is, they probably weren’t said or written to make us feel comfortable. They certainly, probably, weren’t for the disciples prior to the resurrection. But, I’ll come back to that in a few minutes. First, let me note something about the word “blessed.”  

As most of you are probably already aware, a number of translators replace the word “blessed” with the word “happy.” Their list reads: “Happy are the poor in spirit . . . Happy are those who mourn . . . Happy are the meek . . .”, etc. What they are correctly trying to say is that this blessedness Jesus is referencing is something more than what our English word “blessed” conveys. Their point is that the Greek word attempting to be translated involves a special quality of joy - something with more of a note of exclamation - something more like: “Oh, how wonderful it is . . . O the bliss of it.” The Beatitudes are not simply these wonderfully idealistic, sentimental wishes, but rather they are these exclamations of a present reality far beyond, far different, than what most experience.

Now, my sense is that what makes the Beatitudes so hard to match up with our reality is that most of us, if not all of us, do not experience the kind of blessedness, the kind of happiness, Jesus was talking about here because we have rather skewed understandings about the true nature of happiness. The preacher in another sermon on the Beatitudes wrote: “. . . we think happiness deals with our outer circumstances. We think that the truly happy man is the one who has achieved outer success. Thus our beatitudes read: 1) Blessed is the man who makes a fortune. 2) Blessed is he who earns six figures. 3) Happy is the man who has a palace in the city and a summer home in the mountains. 4) Blessed is he who has won the applause of his peers. 5) Blessed is the woman who is recognized as a darling of society.”

“But on this special day Jesus shared with his disciples and, indeed, with all of history, that that concept of happiness is a foundation built on sand. Happiness is not at all based upon what we have. True happiness is based upon who we are. Happiness is not based upon the kind of house that we live in; it depends on the kind of people who live in the house. It is not the kind of clothes that we wear, but the person who wears the clothes.” (2)

The reason Jesus shared these ideas with his disciples and not with the crowd is that it’s necessary for persons to know, to accept, Jesus Christ as savior of their lives before it’s possible for them to know him, to accept him as their teacher.  Until we have a relationship with Jesus the Beatitudes seem ridiculous - out of touch with reality. The Beatitudes are strange and complex, they make us uncomfortable, until we recognize that Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection were for us and that light bulb turns on inside us that allows us to find comfort in being uncomfortable, that allows us to feel blessed when we’re being made fun of, that allows us to feel rich when we’re poor spiritually because of being poor emotionally, financially or physically.

As I noted earlier, the Beatitudes were not words necessarily understood, perceived to be true, by the disciples when they heard them on the mountain that day. They turned the social norms of that day upside down just as they do the norms in our own day. It was, is, indeed a different kingdom Jesus was describing - a kingdom just the opposite of the one perceived through the eyes of the society we live in as a whole. It’s a tough way to view things - it’s contrary to what is going on all around us. It’s only possible once Jesus Christ has taken over the reigns of our lives - once Jesus Christ gets inside us and gets to meddling, gets to massaging our hearts and minds and eyes and ears.

Now, get this - we are not only blessed in the midst of being poor in spirit - in the midst of our mourning - in the midst of our being meek - in the midst of our hungering and thirsting for righteousness - in the midst of our showing mercy - in the midst of our being pure in our hearts - in the midst of our making peace - in the midst of our being persecuted because of our being righteous; we are not only blessed while we are experiencing, guilty of doing those things - but, again, get this, we are blessed to bless. We are blessed with the things mentioned in Jesus’ sermons when we mourn, are poor, suffer, make peace, are persecuted, so that others might take note of the fact that the evil that befalls us does not trip us up, does not win, but rather that we are able to endure, to overcome, to make something good out of the difficult circumstances that come our way - that we are able with God’s help to transform tragedies into triumphs - that we are able to sense ourselves a part of the kingdom of heaven despite our poverty of body, mind or spirit - that we are able to sense ourselves comforted despite our mourning - that we are able to sense ourselves inheritors of the earth because of our meekness - that we are able to sense ourselves filled because of our hungering and thirsting after righteousness - that we are able to sense ourselves being shown mercy because of our providing mercy - that we are able to sense ourselves able to see God because of the purity of our hearts - that we are able to sense ourselves as children of God because of our commitment to making peace - that we are able to sense ourselves righteous because we are able to stand up to the persecutions and mocking and teasing that accompanies the causes we feel we have to take up as a result of our claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to bless - to be a blessing - as a result of what happens to us, what God does with our obedience and the trials that come our way as a result. The world needs our witness, friends.



1   William Barclay, The Daily Bible Studies: the Gospel of Matthew.
2   Brett Blair, “The True Nature of Happiness”, e-sermons.

SERMON: "To All the Saints"

"To All You Saints"
Matthew 5:1-12

The basis for this sermon was the continuation of a two-part sermon I shared with a congregation my final two weeks as their pastor. The first of this two-part sermon series was titled Some Things I Hope You Heard Me Say. While in the first sermon I shared with them that I hoped they heard me say that we should love God, others and ourselves and that God is a God of grace, forgiveness and love; and that we are all called by God to share our gifts, talents, skills and resources to sow for Jesus Christ and thus that we are all ministers; the emphasis in the second week's sermon was what I hoped they heard me say about what it means to be the church, the Body of Christ, the community of faith. They are ideas I hope every church community of faith I was privileged to be a part of heard me say as well. The truth of the matter is they each helped formulate//birth in me what I have come to believe and hopefully live out.

One of my favorite stories to use when I talk about the church is the story of the Life-Saving Station. I know, I know, I just one similar to it last week in a sermon post! But, it's another one that is too spot-on for contemporary images of what today's church often morphs into or, if not careful, can. The story is about a little life-saving station on a very dangerous part of the seacoast. It started out in this very primitive building with only one boat. The members of the little life-saving station became well-known for their commitment and unselfish service. They saved many, many people.

As a result of their success, many others supported their efforts with time, talent and money. New boats were purchased, new crews recruited and training sessions held. One day some of the members became concerned about how out-of-date some of their equipment and building was. And so they launched a successful campaign to build a new building with much nicer furniture.

Things began to change. Not necessarily bad things - members began to get together more often at the new facilities and it was obvious they loved and cared for one another. But, many lost interest in going out into the dangerous waters. And so, a specially trained crew was hired to do that.

Well, one day this terrible wreck happened and the hired crew brought boatload after boatload of cold, wet, dirty, sick and half-drowned people into the station. It was chaotic - mud was everywhere - some furniture got damaged.

As a result, the property committee built a shower on the outside of the building so that future victims could be cleaned up before they were brought inside. Well, this created quite a rift among the members. Some wanted to totally discontinue rescuing others and others insisted that that was the primary purpose of their existence. A vote was taken and those who wanted to continue saving lives were told they would have to do so elsewhere - which they did.

It wasn’t long before history repeated itself and another church . . . whoops! . . . life-saving station was started just up the beach from the first two. And the story ends with this: “And if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of adequate meeting places with ample parking and plush carpeting. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.” (1)

I hope you have heard me say when I shared stories like that one with you that the church exists to rescue, to save, to heal, to mend, to comfort, to give itself away. The church exists to minister to those beyond its walls. Its reason for existence isn’t to be a safe and comfortable fellowship that exists only for itself. I hope you have heard me say, if we don’t go and sow - if we don’t reach out beyond the walls of our beautiful buildings to those who are hurting, lonely, afraid, sick, poor and needy - if we are not the Body of Christ for those in need of Him, there’s a good chance we’ll go the same way of the life-saving stations along the coast that lost their sense of mission. And friends, that’s not what I believe any church’s future should be. God has a plan for every church, just keep being faithful, keep praying for direction and keep doing, hoping that you are in step with God’s work.

Another thing I hope people in the churches I served heard me say about the church, the community of faith, I introduced with stories like the one about the old monastery that had fallen on hard times. It had once been a vibrant place with young monks filling its buildings and wonderfully beautiful chanting bouncing off the walls of the church. But, there came a day when only a handful of old monks shuffled through its cloisters and hardly anyone went there to be nourished by prayer.


An old rabbi lived in a little hut on the edge of the monastery woods. From time to time the old rabbi would go there to fast and pray and the monks would whisper to one another, “The rabbi walks in the woods.” And they would feel better, feel supported, by news of his prayerful presence.

One day after the morning Eucharist, the abbot of the monastery decided to visit the old rabbi and share with him the things that were on his mind and heart. As the abbot approached the rabbi, he saw the rabbi standing in the doorway with his arms outstretched as if he was waiting for him. The two embraced like long-lost brothers. Then they stepped back and just stood there, smiling at one another with smiles their faces could hardly contain.

Finally, the rabbi motioned for the abbot to enter. In the middle of the room was a wooden table with the scriptures open on it. They sat there for a moment in the presence of the book. Then the rabbi began to cry and soon after the abbot did as well. They sobbed together like children lost on a beach for a long time.

And then their tears stopped and they got very quiet. Finally the rabbi lifted his head and said, “You and your brothers are serving God with heavy hearts. You have come to ask a teaching of me. I will give you this teaching, but you can only repeat it once.  After that, no one else must say it aloud again.”

The rabbi than looked straight into the eyes of the abbot and said, “The Messiah is among you.” Silence followed. Then the rabbi said, “Now you must go.” And the abbot did.

The next morning, the abbot called all the monks together and told them that he had received a teaching from “the rabbi who walks in the woods” and that once he told them it they could never mention it again. Then he looked at his brothers and said, “The rabbi said that one of us is the Messiah!”

The message startled the monks. They asked among themselves, “What could this mean?” “Is brother John the Messiah? How about Father Matthew? Or, brother Thomas? Am I the Messiah? What could this mean?”

The monks began to treat one another with special reverence. They didn’t talk about it - they just did it. It was as if they had found something. Word spread and visitors came and were moved by what they experienced. People began to come again to be nourished by the prayer life of the monks. Young people began again to join the community. (2)

I hope people have heard me say with such stories that the community of faith most effectively lives as the Body of Christ, witnesses to itself and others when we look upon one another, think of one another, as Jesus Christ himself. Brothers and sisters in Christ, others will come to believe and to know Jesus Christ when they experience us living out this truth that Jesus Christ, the messiah, lives among us. If the resurrection means nothing else, it at least means that Jesus Christ is alive and at work through his living body, the church.

While there are many other things I hope people heard me say, there’s one more I want to share in this blog post. While it’s not necessarily the best news, and while it’s not as good of news as some of the other things I have already mentioned, it’s something that makes the message of Jesus Christ different, unique, as I see it. The idea is simply this: Discipleship - following Jesus Christ - involves sacrifice, suffering, service. Cross-like living is a reality for Christians because it involves making some tough choices - it involves taking unpopular stands - it involves serving even if it involves suffering.

I suppose my favorite illustration for emphasizing this idea is the one about the wannabe follower that exists in everyone of us who goes to Jesus to get a cross.  Now, it’s a rather sarcastic piece but I think it makes the point very well while chastising the popular view of Christianity that it’s all about Christ making us comfortable and doing things for us.

“Well, here I am, Lord. You said, ‘Take up your cross,’ and I’m here to do it. It’s not easy you know, this self-denial thing. I mean to go through with it though, yes, sir. I’ll bet you wish more people were willing to be disciples like me. I’ve counted the cost and surrendered my life and . . . well, it’s not an easy road . . .”

“Do you mind, Lord, if I look over these crosses? I’d kind of like a new one. I’m not fussy, you understand, but a disciple has to be relevant these days. And I was wondering . . . are there any that are vinyl padded? I’m thinking of attracting others, you see. And if I could show them comfortable crosses I am sure I could win a lot more. Got to keep up with the population explosion and all, you know.  And I need something durable so I can always cherish it. Oh, and is there one that’s sort of flat so it would fit under my coat? One should not be too obvious in this day and age, you know.”

“Funny, Lord, there doesn’t seem to be much choice here. Just that coarse, rough wooden one. That would hurt, wouldn’t it, Lord? Don’t you have something a bit more distinctive, Lord? I can tell you right now, none of my friends are going to be impressed by this shoddy workmanship! They’ll think I’m a nut or something! And my family would be mortified!”

“What’s that, Lord? It is either one of these or forget the whole thing? But, Lord, I want to be your disciple! I mean, just being with you, that’s all that counts, isn’t it?   Life has to be have a balance too, Lord . . . But, you don’t understand, Lord, nobody lives that way today! Who is going to be attracted by this self-denial bit? I mean, I want to, but, let’s not overdo it. Start getting radical like this Jesus and there will be talk of locking me up . . . know what I mean, Jesus?”

“Being a disciple is challenging and exciting, Lord, and I want to do it, but I have some rights and concerns you know! Now, let’s see, Lord, another thing: no blood, O.K.? I just can’t stand the thought of that Lord . . . Lord? Lord? Lord?” (3)

Yes, I hope people have heard me say that following Jesus most of the time involves suffering - ours. It involves identifying with those who suffer in this world - it involves sacrificing and serving. The world of today - the community we live in is in desperate need of a church, a community of believers who understands this and is willing to put everything they have and are on the line. Being successful as a church is not always measured by numerical growth but by the way the people who make it up live their faith.

Well, that brings me to the final thing I hope people have heard me say about being a faith community - we are sinners, sure, but, we are also saints. We are saints because we are people through whom others see the light of Jesus Christ shine.

The day I originally shared these thoughts was an All Saints Sunday so I also noted that the day is for more than just remembering those who’ve exemplified the Christian life in special and unique ways down through the ages - it’s more than remembering those who’ve stood out in our local churches or in our own faith journeys - it’s more than a day when we remember those related to our congregations who are no longer with us because of their deaths in the past year which of course is central to what we do in the service. All-Saints Sunday is also a day for us to remember that just as we are all ministers because of our saying yes to Jesus Christ, we are also all saints as a result of what Jesus Christ has done for us and in us. We are saints who occasionally sin.

And I ended it with the following which I've expanded for this blog sermon to include other communities and communities of faith it was our privilege to be part of: I could go on and on about this, but sense I better end and say what I want to say with some simple words of affirmation: “You, the people of Ottawa Trinity, Ada First, Lima Grace, Miamisburg Parkview, Urbana, Lima Trinity, Linden Heights, Worthington, Maple Grove United Methodist Churches and you, the people of the Ottawa, Ada, Miamisburg, Urbana, Lima, Linden, Worthington, and Clintonville areas are wonderful, wonderful people. You are indeed saints to us. Not because you never do/did anything wrong, but because you are people through whom we have seen Jesus Christ, who have made Jesus Christ visible to us. Dorothy and I and our adult children, Jeremy and Megan, love you all very much. We are so thankful to God for you. We wish you our very best. We will never, ever forget what you have done for us - how you’ve touched our lives - influenced our lives - and made our lives better. God bless you and keep you! Amen."

1. Source long ago dropped. Some illustrators give credit to Mike Yaconelli writing for The Wittenberg Door. Here's a recent source using it: http://sermonideas.net/view/The- Story-of-the-Lifesaving-Station.
2. ChristianGlobe Illustrations, Adapted from "The Rabbi's Gift" in Stories for the Journey by William White, ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc.
3. "Drama: Crosses" I've also posted a similar drama on the blog that was shared by the Maple Grove Players. We are still looking the original source of these two humorous looks at our sometimes perverted ways of thinking of the cross.

DRAMA: "Designer Crosses"

DESIGNER CROSSES                      
       3 Commentators, and 5 models carrying crosses:
      “Comfy Cross”………………….
      “Holiday Cross”…………………
      “Upwardly Mobile Cross”……………….
      “Crisis Cross…………………………….
      “Original Cross”………………………..

1st Commentator: Ladies and gentlemen, admirers of high fashion  -  we want to welcome you to the first showing of this year’s line of designer crosses. We understand that some of you are new to our line of specialty crosses, so permit us to describe our product. We want you to share our enthusiasm for how we clothe the Christian community in America.

2nd Commentator:  Designer crosses are specially designed crosses for the Christian who wants to make a faith statement……….

3rd Commentator:  ….without, of course, offending anyone or giving neighbors reason to think we’re too fanatical or radical.

2nd Commentator:  We’re an old company – we opened our first outlet back in the first century in that wild, crazy, fun town of Corinth.  Our business has flourished ever since.

3rd Commentator:  Except for those occasional recessions when Christians are called back to spiritual renewal based on living out their faith in word and deed. Sales do suffer at such times, but only temporarily.

2nd Commentator:  We have always quickly rebounded from such setbacks, and we are currently doing a booming business, especially with the present generation.

1st Commentator:  But enough of our history. Let’s get to this year’s fashionable line of designer crosses. Our first cross today was a top seller during the eighties, and is still our most popular – our Upwardly Mobile Cross. Modeling our cross today is Gloria Van Shallow of Las Vegas. The Upwardly Mobile Cross appeals to the trendy Christian in all of us. If the church is the best place to be seen in town, then this cross is for you. It’s tastefully decorated with symbols of power and control – a cross that lets your worldly friends know that you’re really okay after all.

3rd Commentator:  With this cross you’ll never have to think about your faith or be bothered by the needs of others around you.

2nd Commentator: Thank you, Gloria. Our second cross is the ever-popular Comfy Cross. Modeling the Comfy Cross is Wendy Y. Risk. Wendy shows us a cross for the Christian who is looking for a comfortable faith.

 1st  Commentator: If you’re longing for no challenges, no disappointments, the Comfy Cross is for you. Pretty and fluffy, this cross comforts and protects its owner from all the troubles of the world.

 3rd Commentator: …..Especially those tensions that are part of being a Christian in a fallen world. Want to live out your faith in a continually pleasant and protective bubble? Order this cross today.

 2nd Commentator: Thanks Wendy. Now here is (Ms./Mr.) Scarcely B. Seen modeling our traditional Holiday Cross. Although the market segment that traditionally purchases this designer cross is not here tonight, we thought we’d give you a sneak preview anyway. Notice the seasonal touches (mention items on the cross, to be determined by designer). Thank you Scarcely B. Seen.

1st Commentator: Now we introduce the new pocket-size or necklace size Crisis Cross, modeled by Tina C. Trouble. The Crisis Cross is exceptionally popular among students at exam time, among motorists in fender benders, soldiers in foxholes, white water canoeists who lose their paddles in class five rapids, and lost children at malls.

3rd Commentator: The popularity of this cross is due to its size – it can be hidden until a crisis arrives, until you need divine intervention. Until then – while your life is running smoothly – the pocket or necklace cross can remain safely out of sight. No one will even suspect you have one.

2nd Commentator: Thanks, Tina. And now, our final designer cross today, that doesn’t sell well, doesn’t look hot- – but we thought we’d pull it out to give you a look at the prototype for all our designer crosses,…. the Original Cross. Of course, as you’ve seen today, we’ve improved on it immensely through the years!

1st Commentator: We don’t get a lot of calls for this one anymore. As a matter of fact, our advertising firm is pushing us to drop this cross. After exhaustive market research, they have concluded that this cross simply doesn’t suit an individualistic culture.

3rd Commentator: Not to mention the demands this cross makes on its owners. This cross requires that its owners deny themselves, sacrifice themselves, serve others and their needs, love their enemies, speak and love nothing but the truth, walk the extra mile for others, be fiercely loyal and faithful at all costs to the One who first carried this cross.

2nd Commentator: Yet some fashion critics have pointed out that, though it’s not as flashy as our designer crosses, it does have simple lines and carries a clear statement.
 
1st Commentator: And we cannot deny that, however poorly it sells, its customer-satisfaction rating is phenomenal.

2nd commentator: The few who own one tell us of a deep contentment that this cross &its demands brought to their lives

1st Commentator:  In the opinion of some, the warranty more than compensates for its plain looks.

2nd  Commentator: Although most of our best selling crosses come with one-year guarantees ……….

1st Commentator:….and a few with lifetime guarantees…

3rd Commentator:…the original cross comes with an eternal guarantee. (pause) So which one will you take up today?

1st and 2nd Commentators in unison:  We hope you consider purchasing from the prestigious line of designer crosses! (1)

1. Performed by the Maple Grove Players. We are still looking for the original source and will add when we find it.

SERMON: "Let's Go Fishin'"

"Let’s Go Fishin’"
Matthew 4:12-23

Tom and Stuart McLean were brothers. When they graduated from college they went into business with their father who was an electronic genius. The three of them were a good team and were very successful.

The two brothers decided one day that they weren’t getting enough exercise and so they took up jogging. They quickly worked themselves up to three miles a day. They also began to strike up conversations with others with whom they shared the jogging path. They hit it off particularly well with a young African-American who just seemed to arrive at the track about the same time as them each day and run at their pace.

Well, one day while they were talking with one another after showering at the clubhouse, this new jogging partner asked them if they’d be interested in helping him with a project he’d been thinking about doing. Stuart asked him what he had in mind.

The young man told them about his growing up in a bad part of the community, having been a good enough athlete to receive a scholarship to attend college and his desire now to go back to his old neighborhood to help others.

It was Tom who then asked, “Well, O.K., but what are you going to do? This kind of thing usually takes money. Who’s going to sponsor you?”

After explaining his plan and his belief of what it would do for the children, he said, “No one is sponsoring me. I just think the need is so great that it has to work. I’m quitting my job to get into the project . . . how would you guys like to join me?” The brothers didn’t say much, but they did promise to think about it.

Tom was the first to speak on the way home, “Craziest thing I ever heard of.” Stuart’s response suggested only partial agreement. “Yeah, perhaps so. You know, we were raised in a pretty privileged home and don’t really know what poverty means.”

Tom just looked at him as he said, “What are you trying to say?”

Stuart blurted out, “Let’s do it. Let’s help him.”


They talked the rest of the way home and even for awhile in their parents’ driveway before they went in to tell their dad about their decision.

Their dad was sitting on the living room couch watching the evening news when Tom hesitantly tried to inform him of their decision. “Ddad, StStuart and I are leaving the company.”

Their dad sat straight up, not quite believing what he’d heard, and asked, “What did you say?”1

Merle Franke wrote this modern parable based upon Matthew’s story of those who were first called by Jesus in order for us to get a better glimpse of the truly radical nature of the call and response.

James and John were the sons of Zebedee. The three of them, along with Simon and Andrew, made their living fishing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came upon the two sets of brothers when he was out walking along the sea after hearing that Cousin John had been arrested, thus signaling that it was time for him to fulfill his mission. The brothers were fishing and Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The four of them bit on the bait Jesus offered them, left the occupation they had trained their whole lives for and followed a man who had been raised a carpenter but who was traveling around the country preaching, teaching and healing. It had to have been especially hard for James and John because not only were they leaving their fishing, but the business they had built up with their dad as well. Matthew doesn’t share with us ol’ Zeb’s reaction, but it doesn’t take much to imagine that it was similar to Tom and Stuart McLean’s dad’s in Merle Frank’s parable: “What did you say?”

I don’t think Matthew neglected to share with us Zebedee’s response for any other reason than it wasn’t germane to the point he wanted to make with this story: that being, when Jesus Christ invites persons to follow him, it doesn’t matter what they’re doing or who they are, but only that Jesus Christ sees something in them, believes in their potential and has need of them.

There’s no question that the first four disciples of Jesus were pretty ordinary guys. They had no formal education. They probably weren’t particularly attractive. No doubt, they smelled a bit now and then. They probably weren’t very influential in their community. My guess is they weren’t wealthy, nor did they run with the socially elite. While they probably weren’t dirt poor, they surely came from the simple working class.

One of the greatest mistakes we make in the church is assuming that God wants or is able to work through those with extraordinary talents or education or resources. But the truth of the matter, according to the accounts we read in the bible, the truth of the matter is that God is able to work through any one of us despite the inadequate beliefs or feelings we have about ourselves. Whenever we’re tempted to reject the urgings in our souls, our minds, our guts that we sense are God telling us to do something because we don’t feel we’re qualified, we need to remind ourselves of God’s going to Moses and telling him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to “let my people go.” Remember Moses' response? “No, no, God, not me. I’m a nobody and I don’t talk too well.”  It's important that we remember that God was able to use him despite his feelings of inadequacy. We need to remember Gideon claiming that he was the weakest link of a weak family when God wanted to use him. And remember David’s reaction when he sensed God calling him? Do you remember how shocked he was? Do you remember how he argued that he was poor and unknown?

God will use us for what God needs to have done and will equip us to serve, to follow, to minister, to evangelize. It's a waste of our time arguing with God about our inadequacies. Our only choice is to respond and follow and let God do God’s thing in and through us.

There’s something else this story causes me to think about and that is what Jesus said he was going to equip those who follow him to do: fish – fish for others. “I have invited you to follow me because I want you to invite others. I want you to fish and catch others for the kingdom of God.”2 One writer coined what I think is a really challenging and convicting phrase: “If you are not fishing, you are not following.”3

The role of seeking others who need or want Jesus Christ in their lives is the role of all followers of Jesus Christ – all of us are disciples – all of us are ministers – all of us are missionaries – all of us are evangelists. There’s no question that some of us are better at, are more gifted for it, will spend more time at it, but, all of us are responsible at whatever level we’re capable of to reach out to others with the good news of God’s grace, forgiveness, joy, hope, peace, eternal life. All of us are evangelists – called to go and share the good news.

I know, I know, the word evangelism conjures up all kinds of ugly images in some of us because of some of the awful things that have been done by some in the name of evangelism down through the years. But, frankly, I think we need to reclaim the word and rid it of some of those misguided practices and images.

I read a negative images sermon a few years ago entitled “God’s Missionary People.” The preacher began by naming some of the negative evangelistic attempts from which we need to be freed. You know, like the evangelistic method of beating up on people with Jesus – the trying to guilt people into proper behavior in order for them to be loved by Jesus or that makes a conversation into a battle in which arguing a question becomes more important than communicating the love and grace of Jesus Christ - the using the Bible as a weapon of destruction and hatred rather than one of love building bridges.

Then there’s the evangelistic effort that holds out for people a comfortable, “everyone’s like me here, isn’t this cool,” sort of fellowship where we only take care of one another and only let others in like us. Or, like the evangelistic method that tries to win people to Jesus by promising that Jesus will make everything in life alright – that following Jesus will result in being rich, famous, successful and life will be problem free.

The preacher ended the sermon with some comments then about the kind of understanding about evangelism he thinks are more like what Jesus had in mind when he said that he was going to have us, his followers, fish for people.

First, he talked about lifestyle evangelism – letting our actions speak about the difference Jesus Christ makes in our lives. This involves things like putting your hand on a person at work’s shoulder when he or she is slumped over following the news that one of their parents just died or they’ve been let go. It might involve saying something like, “Is there anything I can do?” Or, “I’ll stay with you as long as you need me.” Lifestyle evangelism is like when you know a classmate has flunked a test and you call them and invite them to go out for a pizza or for an ice cream cone on you, and you’re letting them know that you care by listening to them or offering to help them prepare for the next test.

Lifestyle evangelism is about sorting clothes at an area thrift shop, serving coffee at a food pantry, visiting the elderly, living in such a way that others become curious about what it is that causes us to choose to do for others.

The preacher then talked about relational evangelism – a sharing of ourselves beyond the safe zones we’ve established for ourselves. It’s doing things like inviting a new friend, not only to dinner but to church. It’s listening to a colleague’s problems and offering sympathy and to pray with them. “Relational evangelism always involves some risks, for it requires actively involving a friend, a co-worker, or a client in one’s own life of faith.”3

Probably the most challenging form of evangelism this preacher described in his sermon is something he labeled membership evangelism. He describes it as, “witnessing to those who have fallen away from the snug centers of acceptable society and have been flung to the corners of existence, either economically, emotionally or physically. Membership evangelists witness to the drug addicts, the homeless, the mentally ill, all the despairing and hopeless of our society.”4  Membership evangelism remembers the disposed of. They try to reknit them into the fabric of society.

Any takers? Anyone wish to go fishing for Jesus among the least and forgotten? Anyone willing to offer good news of God’s love and forgiveness to those who are desperately in need of it?

Jesus Christ calls and Jesus Christ equips. Jesus Christ supplies what we need to fish and goes with us as the bait those in need crave, hunger for, will risk everything in order to obtain it. The difference in this bait is that it satisfies, it fills up, it heals, it comforts. We’re not out to hook others with Jesus but to feed them what he has to offer - to satisfy their hunger, their loneliness, their lack of purpose for living, their feelings of inferiority, their sense of being unacceptable.

The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are called to follow – to be his disciples – to be an open community that loves God and serves our neighbors. We’re called to fish and we have much to offer. So, let’s go fishin’.

Let’s pray.
“O God, you know our reluctance to fish on your behalf – you know how unsure we are of the bait – the words we should use, how uncomfortable we are with overzealous religious types and our fear that others might perceive us that way. We don’t handle rejection, failure too well, Lord, and so much fishing for people is like fishing itself – not many get caught. We need your working on our hearts – we need a new shot of confidence – guide us, Lord, to the people in need of your message and help us to be the vessels in which they will see you. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Merle Frank, "Invitation From a Jogger," Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit: Cycle A (Lima: CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 1995), 0-7880-0527-8.
Leonard Sweet, “God’s Missionary People,” Homiletics,  May 30, 1993.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ben Patterson, “The Great Fish Controversy,” The Wittenburg Door.


EXTRA ILLUSTRATION OR CHALLENGING THOUGHT
Several years ago a Ben Patterson wrote a little satire lifting up this danger and reality in many churches of his day and it’s still true in our day. It was reprinted in The Wittenburg Door and I think it might be helpful as a prophetic warning as we go about attempting to live out our journeys of faith. He entitled the piece The Great Fish Controversy.
“For months, the Fishers Society had been wracked with dissension. They had built a new meeting hall which they called their Aquarium and had even called a world renowned Fisherman’s Manual scholar to lecture them on the art of fishing. But still no fish were caught.  Several times each week they would gather in their ornate Aquarium Hall, recite portions of the Fisherman’s Manual and then listen to their scholar expound on the intricacies and mysteries of the Manual. The meeting would usually end with the scholar dramatically casting his net into the large tank in the center of the hall and the members rushing excitedly to its edges to see if any fish would bite. None ever did, of course, since there were no fish in the tank. Which brings up the reason for the controversy. Why? The temperature of the tank was carefully regulated to be just right for ocean perch. Indeed, oceanography experts had been consulted to make the environment of the tank nearly indistinguishable from the ocean. But still no fish. Some blamed it on poor attendance to the Society’s meetings. Others were convinced that specialization was the answer: perhaps several smaller tanks geared especially for different fish age groups. There was even division over which was more important: casting or providing optimum tank conditions. Eventually a solution was reached. A few members of the Society were commissioned to become professional fishermen and were sent to live a few blocks away on the edge of the sea and do nothing but catch fish. It was a lonely existence because most other members of the Society were terrified of the ocean. So the professions would send back pictures of themselves holding some of their catches and letters describing the joys and tribulations of real live fishing and periodically they would return to Aquarium Hall to show slides. After such meetings, people of the Society would return to their homes thankful that their Hall had not been built in vain.”5

Here's another version of it:

Fishers of Persons

“Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishers. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
“Week after week, month after month, and year after year, these who called themselves fishers, met in meetings and talked about their call to go fishing. Continually, they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. They sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and hear about all the ways of fishing, such as new fishing equipment, fish calls, and whether any new bait was discovered.
“These fishers built large, beautiful buildings called ‘Fishing Headquarters.’ The plea was that everyone should be a fisher and every fisher should fish. However, there was one thing they didn’t do. They didn’t fish!
“All of the fishers seemed to agree that what was needed was a committee which could challenge fishers to be faithful in fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in far-away streams and lakes where many other fish of difference colors lived.
“Large, elaborate, and expensive training centers were built whose purpose was to teach fishers how to fish.  Those who taught fishing had doctorates in fishology. But the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing.
“Some spent much study and travel to learn the history of fishing and to go to far away places where the founding mothers and fathers did great fishing in centuries past. They lauded the faithful fishers of years before who handed down the idea of fishing.
“Many who felt the call to be fishers responded. They were commissioned and sent to fish. And they went off to foreign lands . . . to teach fishing.
“Now it’s true that many of the fishers sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishing clubs. They anguished over those who were not committed enough to attend weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After all, weren’t they following the Master who said, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of persons?’
“Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don’t catch fish were really not fishers, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct.
“Is a person a fisher if year after year he/she never catches a fish? Is one following if he/she isn’t fishing?"  (5)