"United Methodist Schism or 'Amicable Separation'?"
"Do I dare lend my voice, thoughts, experiences, understanding of scripture to the clouding dialogue taking up space on the internet and behind closed doors about the possibility of a split within the United Methodist Church denomination?" "Do I dare not to?" The two questions are a fairly accurate summary of the turmoil I've been going through recently, like many of the rest of you.
There are few things I detest more than the thought of the further breaking apart of the physical Body of Christ (yes, I mean the individual and corporate that make up the institutional community of faith). Most have to do with the ministry we are neglecting because of the energy we are expending fighting/arguing/debating/chastising/condemning and annoying one another over this supposedly one issue. To be sure, I believe it's really a much broader issue than our views on homosexuality that divides us, but it is the one that has brought that broader issue we have never quite been able to see eye-to-eye with each other about into clearer and pronounced focus. The poor and disadvantaged are crying in our streets and around the world for us to get our act together! Children are abused and neglected and wonder where our voices and bodies are! People are being left out and bullied and we are too much in strife to notice and in fact are partially to blame because of some of our voices and actions!
The real issue that faces us is not an unfamiliar one. It's been with us throughout the whole of church history. How is it we are going to regard the scriptures? Are we going to accept them literally? Are they infallible? Do we understand them as the inspired word of God? Are they a guide for our living as Christians? What do we do with the work that our biblical scholars have accomplished and the biblical criticism tools they have used and refined to help us understand much that we have better? When are we going to be honest/truthful with the whole body of believers about how the Bible came to be and the people leaders of the early church killed, had excommunicated, branded heretics, because they believed and taught something different than the world rulers our bishops went to bed with wanted to be the accepted and taught interpretation? What are we going to do with the secular Western Civilization writings and studies and the religious History of the Church interpretations of what has brought us to where we are? Are we really in favor of not allowing scientific inquiry and discovery to have any influence on our beliefs, our understanding of the world and God, our interpretation and understanding and study of the holy texts?
O. K., before I succumb to the temptation to become overly academic in this post, I want to focus now on the thoughts I've been having these last few weeks about my journey with the schism issue. To be honest, it's not the first time in my life I've wrestled with this concern and the range of times is the story that's been having a field day in my head and heart.
I was born and lived most of the first 18 years of my life in Ottawa, Ohio - the small (5,000+) county seat of Putnam County in the northwestern part of the state. Ft. Jennings, Ottoville, Kalida, and Glandorf were almost 100% Catholic. Pandora was mostly Mennonite. Leipsic, Columbus Grove, Vaughnsville, Continental, Dupont, Cloverdale, and Gilboa were generally regarded as having a fair number of Catholics but also had a sizeable number of protestants. Ottawa was about 90% Catholic. (This may not be statistically 100% accurate but it's my memory of the make-up of the communities and county.) I remember early in my life wondering about all these churches acknowledging Jesus as the Christ but not having much to do with one another.
Now, because of the public school I attended, the scouting program, Little League baseball and the opening of the local swimming pool I became acquainted with others who did not attend the Methodist Sunday School and worship service. Hmmm...., they seemed to dress the same as me and have feelings like mine and we even talked comfortably with one another, sometimes even about God and other religious stuff. There were some things we believed differently but they hardly seemed enough to be meeting in separate buildings. Oh, how naive I was I finally was informed - they as well, probably. We learned a little surface church history and the worst about each other from our own denomination's bias. Mine came from Sunday School, confirmation class, and working on the God and Country award. We were advised against dating teens of a different denomination - (oh, let's be honest) if you were a Protestant, it was don't date a Catholic; and if you were a Catholic, it was don't date a Protestant. We still dated one another you understand, it was just we weren't supposed to and the longer it went on the more fearful/concerned adults in the community became. My high school girlfriend was Catholic and I dated her off and on for almost 5 years, mostly because of parental pressure - er, the pressure was for us not to date.
Admittedly, that was a minor bigoted education compared to the indoctrination I later received from a popular para-church youth organization after a "born-again" experience at the Defiance District Senior High Youth Institute at Lakeside, Ohio. Now, while I still reference the experience as a significant one on my journey of faith, today it's one of many confirming moments and not even the most important one. I reference it here because of the organization I joined as a result.
The organization trained us to be evangelists in our communities. We were to target our Catholic friends because they weren't born again and didn't believe in the Bible. They probably filled our minds with other falsehoods and bigotry but those are the ones that seem relevant to this discussion. (Notice that I am not naming the organization or a specific leader. That's because they also helped me deal with a lot of stuff in a good way and the leader was a good guy despite some of his teaching that I find so distasteful today.)
I can't thank my friends enough for putting up with my armed attacks to make them "real" Christians. I also owe a lot to Rev. John Brown for his calmness and sensitivity while I was dealing with the narrow Biblical interpretation that was being fed me. And I continue to appreciate my parents for encouraging me to question as well as to grow in my faith.
Then came college. The para-church group encouraged me to consider a Bible college, which I did. I finally decided on Ohio Northern University though. While there were numerous reasons I've shared over the years, the ones relevant to this reflection were there was no dancing or card playing at the Bible college or while at home and, more importantly, I sensed that ONU was going to allow me more opportunity to think for myself. That doesn't mean I did, but I could. After switching my major from math to religion, I spent most of my religion, Bible, and philosophy classroom time being paranoid and defensive. Because though of Dr. James Udy, a visit by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to ONU, Dr. Thomas Hoffman, the Student Religious Council, Rev. Ford Hoff, a Western Civilization course, The License to Preach course of study, several friends, especially Dorothy, some of the rougher edges of my narrow view of Christianity and the world were filed down.
Shortly after I left for ONU, my high school girlfriend broke up with me. It took me several months to recover but I began to date different female friends that helped me through the transition. Dorothy and I ran in the same circle at ONU and were both math majors but we didn't start dating until we returned to our Putnam County homes the summer after our freshman year. (I'll not rehearse here that whole story as it is in an earlier blog post.) Dorothy was Catholic and I was United Methodist. We became serious fairly quickly. We were attracted to each other physically, emotionally, intellectually, culturally, and spiritually. In fact, it is our common belief that it was our similar depth of spiritual commitments that created our strong bond. We spent hours together talking about our beliefs, our wants and needs, our hopes and dreams. We went to at least two worship services a week off-campus - one United Methodist and one Catholic. And we struggled with our differences and argued with our denominational loyalties and what kept denominations from coming together with one voice.
I remember at least one ecumenical service on campus where we were able to commune together - one received from the priest and the other from the UM pastor, but it was a sign of hope. Shortly after our engagement I was interviewed by the District Committee on Ordained Ministry. I was asked about my engagement to a Catholic woman and how I would handle it in the local church when it came up or was an issue with some members. I don't remember all I said but I know I replied that I would be upfront and share in the introduction meeting so it was out in the open because there was nothing to hide. Well, they must have bought it because they passed me on to the conference.
When I shared with Dorothy the details of the interview, she cried. Then, she took her engagement ring off and tried to hand it to me. She didn't want to stand in the way of my being able to pursue being a UM pastor. While I was a bit offended and defensive by the line of questioning of the committee, there was no way I had anticipated Dorothy's reaction! Despite my shock I had enough presence of mind to immediately refuse her offer to return the ring. I tried to assure her that I loved her and we were getting married and if it impacted my being able to be a minister, well that was too bad! (Now, I later realized that every candidate had to go through the interview process - that I hadn't been singled out because of our situation! Pretty naive, huh!) The confusion in my head for why denominations had to be continued to grow despite what I learned in college, the local church and the License to Preach up to that point.
So, we continued to make our wedding plans. We went to see the priest of the Catholic Church Dorothy had been active in growing up and shared our story. We expressed our concern about not being able to receive the elements of communion together on our wedding day. He seemed to understand and expressed a willingness to send a letter to the Bishop of the Diocese for special permission for me to receive the sacrament along with her.
Another issue we raised was that because of my working at a YMCA camp near Akron, Ohio it would be impossible for me to attend the Pre-Cana meetings. We worked out an arrangement where the priest would send me the tapes of the sessions and he would meet with Dorothy. I would write a short piece reflecting on the input. It wasn't bad material - more helpful and insightful than I thought it would be.
Sometime before the wedding Dorothy's beloved priest was assigned to a different parish and Continental received a new priest. (That's right, the itinerant system is at least one of the things we have in common!) Guess what? He'd never heard of such a thing as a letter from a bishop giving permission for a non-Catholic to receive the sacraments. Dorothy decided not to receive the elements so that we wouldn't be doing something different during the mass to highlight our reality. Despite the uncomfortableness while half our family and friends remained seated as the rest came forward to receive the eucharist, it was a beautiful and holy service. But, for the purpose of this post it's another of those times when we wanted to cry out "Why?" "Why do we treat each other this way?" "Why can't we just get along?" "Why can't we believe and let believe?" (Don't misunderstand. We know the historical and theological reasons but it seems like such an embarrassing reality/result/way to solve differences of opinion/deal with the secular rulers.)
Well, then followed our honeymoon at Lake Hope, the return to Ada for our senior year at ONU, the move into our first home (a trailer in Brown's Trailer Court), some part-time work as a janitor in the Science building and as a youth minister at Lima Grace, the finishing touches on my football and track careers, and much growth in our relationship as we continued to learn more and more about one another - the good, the bad and the ugly. We continued to attend together both of our denominational worship services and grow in our understanding and appreciation of each other's faith journeys. It still bewildered us that there was a need for multiple denominations of Christianity, despite our knowledge of the history that had caused it to be a reality.
By this time I had become increasingly disillusioned with the concept that as a Christian all I had to do was to pray about something and God would direct my steps - lay an obvious path out for me - speak to me. One of the young people at Grace was helpful in my contemplating what God's will was and how one heard it when she painfully challenged me one day as to how exactly one "hears" God since she never had. That probably was the beginning of my considering more carefully the words I used when I spoke of and thought about God, etc.
So, the big question I had been considering for several years was whether God was calling me into the full-time ordained ministry. I knew I felt called to work with young people, but my early thoughts were as a basketball coach, math teacher, and Youth Fellowship volunteer. The decision to go on and attend seminary was basically about simply opening the next door and see what happened. That became my modus operandi - pray (converse with God the best I knew how), take stock of urgings or desires, and open a door. I never heard the clear voice of God via my ears - it was more a sensing in my heart and mind - still is.
After we decided that I would attend United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, Dorothy was hired to teach business and math at West Carrollton Junior High School. We found an apartment in Miamisburg and started the next phase of our lives. The next three years were a time of tremendous growth for us both faith and marriage wise. After a couple short-term field education positions I was hired as the first Director of the Burg Center which several downtown Miamisburg churches started to meet the needs of that area - a unique combination of a suburban inner-city and an appalachian neighborhood.
During the last two years of seminary I was the student associate minister at Miamisburg Parkview UMC. The church owned a duplex next to the church and that's where we lived. They were both directly across the street from Library Park. The Catholic Church was one block west, across the tracks and closer yet to downtown. I experienced one of the more intimate clergy monthly fellowships in that community.
We visited the church several times before I became a member of the staff. On one of those Sunday visits, when it was time to recite the Apostles Creed together, we opened a hymnal like we always did despite our both knowing it by heart, and lo and behold the word catholic was crossed out! We looked at each other in shock. During one of my sermons near the end of my time there I mentioned that experience, but assured the congregation that it didn't reflect how they treated us at all. The church had a picnic at the end of my ministry there to celebrate our time together. One of our friends presented us a framed copy of that page from the hymnal! They included a note in the gift box informing us that they had removed the hymnal from the sanctuary! It was one of our most memorable moments in ministry. Everyone had a good laugh.
We endured several of the more traumatic situations of our lives during those seminary days. We suffered two miscarriages and my brother's mental health issues began. The seminary, local church, and district communities of faith were all very supportive. Now, some of the meant to be helpfulness soon lost its appeal and became further fuel for the continuing shift of where I fell on the biblical and theological spectrum. My narrow, judgmental, literal take on the scriptures, and understanding of God changed drastically during that time. Great strides toward being a more open, accepting, encouraging, and inclusive pastor were taken as I experienced life those three years. I began to appreciate and intentionally utilize biblical scholarship/criticism. It happened for a variety of reasons, one of them being the faith of others that allowed them to say such intended to be comforting words as: "God doesn't make mistakes." "Miscarriages are God's / nature's way of saying things aren't quite right." "Mental illness can be cured if your brother believed more in God." "God's trying to teach you something by doing these things." "It's all a part of God's wonderful plan and God will bring good out of it." These weren't all, but you get the picture. Oh, did I mention that both the supportive actions and the meant to be supportive comments came from family and friends. Hmmm...possible to believe differently, see things differently despite being raised in the same family and same denomination?! Imagine that!
You might wonder how we remained believers during those days. We were blessed with family, friends and a seminary community who listened rather than spoke, and who helped us to say "No, that's not how we sense God in our lives." We also continued attending together worship services at both United Methodist and Catholic churches every week, even though some of those not so helpful comments came from people in each.
After seminary I was appointed as the associate pastor of the Urbana United Methodist Church. Both of our children were born while we lived in Urbana. Both of our children were also baptized while we lived in Urbana - in two different churches. I was again a member of a particularly active and open clergy fellowship there, and we were as involved and known in the Catholic Church there as anywhere we lived. Dorothy and I had often talked of having a baptism where both denominations were represented. We had agreed to raise our children Christian. Our idea was that we would hold the baptismal ceremony in a Catholic Church and I would do the actual baptism.
When Jeremy was born we made our proposal to our friend, Fr. Bob Schutte. He was very kind and understanding. His thought was that he would send a letter to the diocesan office to get the Bishop's thoughts. (Truthfully, I don't think he wanted to be the one to burst our bubble.) We received a very kind and supportive response from the Bishop's office. Basically, the letter expressed regret that what we proposed couldn't be done because in the Catholic Church when one is baptized they become a member of the denomination and thus it needed to be by a Catholic priest.
Bob Schutte received the same letter and called us to invite us to come and see him again. He said he had an idea he wanted to run by us. During our visit he suggested that he attend a morning worship service at the UM Church and use the Catholic liturgy during the service. Since our primary desire was to express our oneness in Christ rather than my actually doing the baptism, we felt it was a generous suggestion on his part.
I shared the idea with the Sr. Pastor, Carl Robinson, and he recommended we seek the Staff-Parish Relations Committee's thoughts. They were enthusiastic and thus it happened! It was a wonderful day. The story was reported in both UM and Catholic news blurbs - "an encouraging sign of ecumenism," the reporters observed! It sure sparked hope in us! Since then, a few other small baby-like steps, but not much has changed in our relationship at the institutional level.
Our second child was a daughter, Megan. We decided that we wanted Carl, who had been my mentor and close friend while we were in Urbana, to baptize her. It was just as big a celebration in our hearts and minds as Jeremy's baptism and the congregation and family felt the same. For awhile we were referred to as the family with a baptized UM Christian and a baptized Catholic Christian. We soon decided to start correcting people and provide our perspective. We had two baptized Christian children!
Our intent was still to raise them as much as possible in both denominations. We planned on having them go through confirmation and then let them decide if and where they wanted to join. We continued to attend both churches together taking with us both children. It got more and more difficult because of the amount of time I was involved in ministry at the UM Churches, weddings, behavior of children, etc. I know we had a mixture of emotions when we attended masses where other children were receiving their first communion and when the kids decided to be confirmed in the UM Church, but we weren't surprised either. After all, most of our time was spent in the UM Church. The kids were more familiar with what was going on and comfortable.
I could go on and on, but I think this makes the point I want to make about our "mixed" marriage - Dorothy and I have long been committed to the ecumenical movement. We wanted everyone to get along - in the church and in the community. Oh, we've lost some of our naivety. We realize that people were killed, died, declared heretics, and excommunicated because of some of the differences. We know also that not all of the decisions made by the early councils were the result of good theology but because of the desire and pressure of some secular rulers who wanted uniformity of belief. It's been difficult but we've also come to the place where we realize that everyone does not belong under the same roof - that there are some people we would really rather not be around because of how differently we believe and/or come to belief or faith. Mostly, it's around one's ability to be tolerant and civil rather than particular beliefs. Although even differences of beliefs can be extreme enough to make me accept that it would be best if we not get into a theological discussion with one another. (Westboro Baptist church flashes through my mind. So does the Left-foot Baptist Church in Kentucky. It named itself that because it split off from the main Baptist Church in town because they believed that a person hadn't been baptized correctly unless they entered the water with the left foot first! I don't even care to be near people who believe like that, let alone try to talk theology or about the Bible with them.)
Until the closing days of the last three General Conferences I wouldn't allow the thought of going through a split in the United Methodist Church - amicable or nasty! What caused me to begin to entertain the possibility is the reality, from my point of view, that the line in the sand has been drawn by most of us and we are destroying our ability to witness of the unconditional love of God and God's grace. People have left our denomination and others continue to contemplate it in this day as well because of a variety of positions on the homosexuality issue and the overriding concern about how we're going to regard the holy scriptures. Are they the inspired Word of God that provide us a guide for thought and behavior, or do we perceive them as the inerrant and infallible Word of God?
Frankly, I think the larger issue is the one that is more likely the true litmus test despite how we've made the homosexuality issue central to determining whether we are faithful or not. I just cannot fathom how an "amicable separation" or "local choice" option will ever work in the local church! (And, believe me when I say I have the utmost respect for Mike Slaughter and Adam Hamilton and their attempt to help us see a third way! If I'm still alive when and if separation happens and nothing new has been proposed, I will stand beside them even in this incapacity leave reality.) I know some of us (pastors and lay leaders) believe that all of the people who belong to our local church think just like us, but I know that's not been the reality in any local church I've ever served! Nor, would I want it that way. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I suppose some do have that kind of power and related authority. But I think it's dangerous. I think if people end up having to choose between being a member of a denomination that believes homosexuality is incompatible with the scriptures or one that is accepting and willing to ordain persons or marry them based on the couple's faith perspective and sexuality, we're going to have to start at least three churches to handle the different positions. There are people of all persuasions in most of our local churches. If that becomes the dividing line, we are going to have a mess on our hands.
If the dividing line, however, is how we regard the scriptures, I think it's past time to resolve that one! I believe most congregations could have a majority position about how the scriptures are regarded - literally & infallible, or inspired and able to use all of the biblical scholarships tools available to us in our day as well as science and history and our own experiences to come to a deeper understanding of faith and related biblical themes. I'm just having trouble with the idea that the denomination that raised me to be open, accepting, gracious, kind, compassionate, inclusive, and generous - that taught me to love and learn the inspired Word of God and encouraged me to question and challenge utilizing a variety of disciplines - that lifted up concepts like unconditional love and prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace - that lived out that the scriptures were supremely important as an avenue to understand and experience God, but not something to be worshipped more than God, would potentially morph into something else.
Well, I think I've written enough. I'd like to write more but this one took me a full two weeks. It probably is more appropriate in a book than a blog, but I'm not writing a book.
Peace to all!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
SERMON: "Pentecost: What Really Happened?"
"Pentecost: What Really Happened?"
Acts 2:1-21
It's that Sunday when it's time to reflect on another one of the remarkable days remembered by the church and provided a special day on the Christian calendar. A few years ago I began one such sermons with a brief synopsis about that particular local church's history because it had been some time since it was brought to the minds and hearts of the congregation. It's something every local church should do once in awhile - to remember, not to worship the past.
Some people were concerned that there wasn’t any church between the northern limits of Columbus (then Glenmont Avenue) and the southern boundary of the village of Worthington. Because of this, they contacted the heirs of Roswell Cooke and convinced them to deed the old school property to the trustees of Como Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (the current North Broadway UMC when they still ministered out of the Como Avenue UMC site). On December 31, 1920 the Como Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church’s Board of Trustees deeded the property to the trustees of the newly organized Maple Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. "The rest is history,” as they say. (1)
Now, there’s really much more to the story than this thumbnail sketch; but, it’s not a particular local church’s birth I want to consider. Rather, it’s the events around a certain Jewish holiday, Pentecost, almost 2,000 years ago on which I want to focus. For, it's what happened that day that has caused it to be referred to on the Christian calendar as “the birthday of the church.”
The first part of the book of Acts has Jesus instructing his disciples to stay put – to stay in Jerusalem – to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The disciples asked Jesus if he was going to give the Kingdom back to Israel when he left and he told them to quit worrying about that. He told them that only God knew when that would happen. He also told them that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would be full of power and would be witnesses for him throughout the world.
The rest of the 1st chapter described Jesus’ ascension, the disciples journey back to Jerusalem, their persevering in prayer along with certain women followers, and the selection of Matthias as Judas’ replacement. That brings us to the account of the Day of Pentecost.
Because Pentecost was one of the three Jewish holy days when all male Jews living within twenty miles of Jerusalem were legally bound to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and that it was late in the spring, a very large international crowd was present that day in Jerusalem. The streets were especially crowded.
The faithful followers of Jesus were staying in the same house together waiting as Jesus had told them to. Suddenly, there was this loud noise – a noise similar to that made when a strong wind passes by. Not a corner of the house in which they were staying missed hearing it. And then they noticed what appeared to be “tongues of fire” landing on everyone. And then, what Jesus had told them would happen, happened – they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to.
The sound was heard by people on the outside of the house as well. As a result, a crowd of curiosity seekers gathered around the house in which the followers were staying. When the disciples went out, everyone got excited because they could understand what the disciples were saying in their own languages.
They began to talk about their experience. They were astonished – they questioned – they wondered what was going on – what to make of it. Some thought the disciples were drunk and mocked them. Most knew that something unusual was taking place and they gathered around hoping that someone would explain it.
Not surprisingly, Peter got up and began to address the crowd. Yes, this is the same Peter who just a few days before had denied even knowing Jesus - the same Peter who had hid behind locked doors after Jesus’ death, afraid for his very life. Peter was a new man – a new person. No longer was he afraid for his life. No longer did he have any doubts about who he was to follow. It no longer mattered who heard him say it – who saw him acknowledge his being a follower of Christ. Peter was being led by a new spirit – a new attitude – a new confidence – a new power.
What happened at Pentecost was much more than a mighty windstorm or some strange vision of some things that looked like tongues of fire. What really happened was that the disciples finally got it – finally understood – that what Jesus had been saying and doing was now, theirs to share and do. They got it – that God desires what Jesus had been saying and doing to be shared – to be communicated – to be understood – to be made intelligible.
The disciples were given the power, the ability, to speak in other languages so that everyone could understand it. The gift of communication wasn’t given to impress fellow Christians – it wasn’t given in order for us to measure who is the most committed and most devoted – it wasn’t intended to be used to determine in whom the spirit was. One of the primary results of Pentecost is the burning desire on the part of followers of Jesus Christ to communicate the story of God’s activity to others. It’s what makes us look at ourselves in the local church and who is around us and seek to discover how we can better live out – communicate – the gospel to those around us.
Another thing that happened as a result of the events on that Day of Pentecost is somewhat related to this first idea. Do you remember that Jesus chose all Jews as his first disciples and that he told them not to go to anyone other than fellow Israelites? Basically, this implies that prior to Pentecost, discipleship was racially exclusive. Mission and evangelism were narrowly understood, defined and carried out.
At Pentecost the message and mission field got a whole lot bigger. Prior to Pentecost the disciples saw Jesus as a Jewish political messiah who had come to restore the kingdom of Israel. That’s why they were disappointed at the crucifixion. After Pentecost people began to understand that his message was something available to everyone. Now, it was a slow evolution to be sure – one that’s still evolving - but it's roots were planted in the soil of that Pentecost almost 2,000 years ago.
One of the ways they began to discover this was that when they went outside and began to talk to passers-by they detected that persons were stopping and listening and understanding. They discovered that the Christian gospel was a message for which all people were waiting and that it was a message which made sense to people no matter where they came from or what language they spoke or the color of their skin. There are no barriers of race or language or color or culture over which the Good News of God’s grace and forgiveness cannot leap.
There’s one more thing that happened on that first Christian Pentecost I’d like to mention. It changed the disciples’ concept of themselves. They were no longer frightened, pessimistic, jobless individuals; but, rather a community - a community infused with the living presence of their Lord – the Holy Spirit. Thus, the new era began.
In becoming universal, Christianity was set free from those things which confined it. Religion was loosed from the temple and the synagogues and unleashed onto the streets and into homes. Believers went from house to house breaking bread and establishing a new and viable community – a kind of modern day progressive dinner. Religion was loosed from special social classes and found its place with ordinary folk. Religion broke loose from male domination and became the common experience of all people – male and female – bond and free – Jew and Gentile – old and young – conservative and radical – zealot and tax collector. The miracle of inclusion had occurred – gone was exclusion (sadly it took a long time for some of us to wake up to all this means and some denominations and individual Christians continue to try and box it in, but its roots were planted on the day of Pentecost).
The Christian faith is a communal faith. “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am also.” The purpose of the Pentecost event was not simply the saving of the individual souls, but the creation of a new community. The significance of Pentecost was not simply its rushing wind – its tongues of fire – its emotionalism. If that’s what we are looking for when we pray for another Pentecost, then we’re going to be grossly disappointed. The significance of Pentecost is that it transformed what was exclusively Jewish into the all-inclusive and universal and placed within Christ’s followers a burning desire to communicate it – to share the good news.
So, what’s the message of Pentecost for us in our day? Are we so on fire with the desire to communicate the story of God’s love that we’re willing to come clean about the barriers we’ve built around our religious experience and seek out ways to tear down the barriers to make the message accessible to those around us in need of hearing and experiencing it? Do we care for others enough not to let our prejudices stop us from helping them?
What really happened at Pentecost? Lots of things – 3,000 people were baptized – the Holy Spirit was recognized – the disciples spoke in other languages – everyone understood in their own language – the disciples gained new hope – a new community of faith was established – participants were given a mission to witness – the message became available to everyone. A new consciousness of our partnership with God was ushered in – barriers of sacred languages, cultures and races were broken – it ushered in a new understanding of compassion, nobodies became somebodies – a lot more, you see, than just a loud wind, tongues of fire and speaking in tongues.
Communication – inclusiveness – compassion – that’s what really happened at Pentecost and it needs to continue to happen through the people that make up the church today.
CLOSING PRAYER: O God, break through the images we have built up about the Holy Spirit and allow us to experience the new life possible through its activity in our lives. Free us from the temptation to share the Good News only with those “like us.” fill us with such compassion that the awareness that others are your children is all we can use to measure whether we should help. And so thank you, O God, for your living presence in that which we label and know as the Holy Spirit. In Christ’s name. Amen.
1 Richard C. Knopf, Maple Grove United Methodist Church: A Study in Faith, (Columbus, Ohio, 1980) p. 1.
1
Acts 2:1-21
It's that Sunday when it's time to reflect on another one of the remarkable days remembered by the church and provided a special day on the Christian calendar. A few years ago I began one such sermons with a brief synopsis about that particular local church's history because it had been some time since it was brought to the minds and hearts of the congregation. It's something every local church should do once in awhile - to remember, not to worship the past.
Some people were concerned that there wasn’t any church between the northern limits of Columbus (then Glenmont Avenue) and the southern boundary of the village of Worthington. Because of this, they contacted the heirs of Roswell Cooke and convinced them to deed the old school property to the trustees of Como Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (the current North Broadway UMC when they still ministered out of the Como Avenue UMC site). On December 31, 1920 the Como Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church’s Board of Trustees deeded the property to the trustees of the newly organized Maple Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. "The rest is history,” as they say. (1)
Now, there’s really much more to the story than this thumbnail sketch; but, it’s not a particular local church’s birth I want to consider. Rather, it’s the events around a certain Jewish holiday, Pentecost, almost 2,000 years ago on which I want to focus. For, it's what happened that day that has caused it to be referred to on the Christian calendar as “the birthday of the church.”
The first part of the book of Acts has Jesus instructing his disciples to stay put – to stay in Jerusalem – to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The disciples asked Jesus if he was going to give the Kingdom back to Israel when he left and he told them to quit worrying about that. He told them that only God knew when that would happen. He also told them that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would be full of power and would be witnesses for him throughout the world.
The rest of the 1st chapter described Jesus’ ascension, the disciples journey back to Jerusalem, their persevering in prayer along with certain women followers, and the selection of Matthias as Judas’ replacement. That brings us to the account of the Day of Pentecost.
Because Pentecost was one of the three Jewish holy days when all male Jews living within twenty miles of Jerusalem were legally bound to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and that it was late in the spring, a very large international crowd was present that day in Jerusalem. The streets were especially crowded.
The faithful followers of Jesus were staying in the same house together waiting as Jesus had told them to. Suddenly, there was this loud noise – a noise similar to that made when a strong wind passes by. Not a corner of the house in which they were staying missed hearing it. And then they noticed what appeared to be “tongues of fire” landing on everyone. And then, what Jesus had told them would happen, happened – they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to.
The sound was heard by people on the outside of the house as well. As a result, a crowd of curiosity seekers gathered around the house in which the followers were staying. When the disciples went out, everyone got excited because they could understand what the disciples were saying in their own languages.
They began to talk about their experience. They were astonished – they questioned – they wondered what was going on – what to make of it. Some thought the disciples were drunk and mocked them. Most knew that something unusual was taking place and they gathered around hoping that someone would explain it.
Not surprisingly, Peter got up and began to address the crowd. Yes, this is the same Peter who just a few days before had denied even knowing Jesus - the same Peter who had hid behind locked doors after Jesus’ death, afraid for his very life. Peter was a new man – a new person. No longer was he afraid for his life. No longer did he have any doubts about who he was to follow. It no longer mattered who heard him say it – who saw him acknowledge his being a follower of Christ. Peter was being led by a new spirit – a new attitude – a new confidence – a new power.
What happened at Pentecost was much more than a mighty windstorm or some strange vision of some things that looked like tongues of fire. What really happened was that the disciples finally got it – finally understood – that what Jesus had been saying and doing was now, theirs to share and do. They got it – that God desires what Jesus had been saying and doing to be shared – to be communicated – to be understood – to be made intelligible.
The disciples were given the power, the ability, to speak in other languages so that everyone could understand it. The gift of communication wasn’t given to impress fellow Christians – it wasn’t given in order for us to measure who is the most committed and most devoted – it wasn’t intended to be used to determine in whom the spirit was. One of the primary results of Pentecost is the burning desire on the part of followers of Jesus Christ to communicate the story of God’s activity to others. It’s what makes us look at ourselves in the local church and who is around us and seek to discover how we can better live out – communicate – the gospel to those around us.
Another thing that happened as a result of the events on that Day of Pentecost is somewhat related to this first idea. Do you remember that Jesus chose all Jews as his first disciples and that he told them not to go to anyone other than fellow Israelites? Basically, this implies that prior to Pentecost, discipleship was racially exclusive. Mission and evangelism were narrowly understood, defined and carried out.
At Pentecost the message and mission field got a whole lot bigger. Prior to Pentecost the disciples saw Jesus as a Jewish political messiah who had come to restore the kingdom of Israel. That’s why they were disappointed at the crucifixion. After Pentecost people began to understand that his message was something available to everyone. Now, it was a slow evolution to be sure – one that’s still evolving - but it's roots were planted in the soil of that Pentecost almost 2,000 years ago.
One of the ways they began to discover this was that when they went outside and began to talk to passers-by they detected that persons were stopping and listening and understanding. They discovered that the Christian gospel was a message for which all people were waiting and that it was a message which made sense to people no matter where they came from or what language they spoke or the color of their skin. There are no barriers of race or language or color or culture over which the Good News of God’s grace and forgiveness cannot leap.
There’s one more thing that happened on that first Christian Pentecost I’d like to mention. It changed the disciples’ concept of themselves. They were no longer frightened, pessimistic, jobless individuals; but, rather a community - a community infused with the living presence of their Lord – the Holy Spirit. Thus, the new era began.
In becoming universal, Christianity was set free from those things which confined it. Religion was loosed from the temple and the synagogues and unleashed onto the streets and into homes. Believers went from house to house breaking bread and establishing a new and viable community – a kind of modern day progressive dinner. Religion was loosed from special social classes and found its place with ordinary folk. Religion broke loose from male domination and became the common experience of all people – male and female – bond and free – Jew and Gentile – old and young – conservative and radical – zealot and tax collector. The miracle of inclusion had occurred – gone was exclusion (sadly it took a long time for some of us to wake up to all this means and some denominations and individual Christians continue to try and box it in, but its roots were planted on the day of Pentecost).
The Christian faith is a communal faith. “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am also.” The purpose of the Pentecost event was not simply the saving of the individual souls, but the creation of a new community. The significance of Pentecost was not simply its rushing wind – its tongues of fire – its emotionalism. If that’s what we are looking for when we pray for another Pentecost, then we’re going to be grossly disappointed. The significance of Pentecost is that it transformed what was exclusively Jewish into the all-inclusive and universal and placed within Christ’s followers a burning desire to communicate it – to share the good news.
So, what’s the message of Pentecost for us in our day? Are we so on fire with the desire to communicate the story of God’s love that we’re willing to come clean about the barriers we’ve built around our religious experience and seek out ways to tear down the barriers to make the message accessible to those around us in need of hearing and experiencing it? Do we care for others enough not to let our prejudices stop us from helping them?
What really happened at Pentecost? Lots of things – 3,000 people were baptized – the Holy Spirit was recognized – the disciples spoke in other languages – everyone understood in their own language – the disciples gained new hope – a new community of faith was established – participants were given a mission to witness – the message became available to everyone. A new consciousness of our partnership with God was ushered in – barriers of sacred languages, cultures and races were broken – it ushered in a new understanding of compassion, nobodies became somebodies – a lot more, you see, than just a loud wind, tongues of fire and speaking in tongues.
Communication – inclusiveness – compassion – that’s what really happened at Pentecost and it needs to continue to happen through the people that make up the church today.
CLOSING PRAYER: O God, break through the images we have built up about the Holy Spirit and allow us to experience the new life possible through its activity in our lives. Free us from the temptation to share the Good News only with those “like us.” fill us with such compassion that the awareness that others are your children is all we can use to measure whether we should help. And so thank you, O God, for your living presence in that which we label and know as the Holy Spirit. In Christ’s name. Amen.
1 Richard C. Knopf, Maple Grove United Methodist Church: A Study in Faith, (Columbus, Ohio, 1980) p. 1.
1
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
"Being Remembered"
"Being Remembered"
Does anyone else ever ponder how they're going to be remembered? I don't think about it all the time - but, it's crossed my mind a few times over the years. Yea, I'll admit more often these last few. I suppose, would hope, that in some ways the reflecting on it has guided decisions I've made about how I've lived my life.
So, as I began to contemplate putting something down on paper, the first thoughts that crowded into my mind and heart were some things for which I hope I'm not remembered. I really don't want to be remembered as a complainer. Sometimes it seems like most of my posts, especially when commenting on the ALS, is negative, pessimistic, lamenting. While I know I have a right and it's OK to be upset for the situation I am enduring, I just hope it doesn't cloud out the rest of my life and the experience others have had with me.
I also do not want to be remembered as someone who hurt with his tongue by being short and rude to others. I'm painfully aware that has become more and more of an issue, especially to those I love the most. I watched my dad do it to my mom the last few years of his life and never thought I could be capable of such a thing. I can rationalize it as my long-attempted controlling of my lack of patience and anger and the challenge of trying to be heard as my voice continues to weaken, but still the reality is I am failing on this score.
The final one I'll be public with in this post is my hope that I'll not be remembered as a one-issue person. Despite how much time I spend on raising awareness about ALS and raising funds for the fighting of it and research (and I greatly appreciate your generous and kind support in this endeavors!), I hope people remember other issues I addressed and concerns I had. I recognize I'm going through these days with blinders on which allows little distraction and is all-consuming as all of my energy is focused on this living and trying to make a difference while facing death's more imminent reality.
I'm not sure these are things I want people to remember about me, but I hope I created space for people to examine their life/faith/goals and allowed them the freedom to come to their own beliefs or non-belief. I hope I paid attention to the lonely, disheartened, disadvantaged, and used the strengths/skills/aptitudes/gifts/time/finances for the improvement of the space around me. I hope those I've offended have seen me change from a person who tended to be quick to judge and exclude those who were different from me to a person committed to inclusiveness, acceptance, tolerance, unconditional love, grace, and a reconciler.
Now, I haven't written this blog post to get a bunch of pats on the back or words of encouragement. I think what I would propose is an invitation for readers to consider their own reflections on how you want to be remembered or not. Post those if you want or feel free to personal message me if you prefer.
Peace!
Does anyone else ever ponder how they're going to be remembered? I don't think about it all the time - but, it's crossed my mind a few times over the years. Yea, I'll admit more often these last few. I suppose, would hope, that in some ways the reflecting on it has guided decisions I've made about how I've lived my life.
So, as I began to contemplate putting something down on paper, the first thoughts that crowded into my mind and heart were some things for which I hope I'm not remembered. I really don't want to be remembered as a complainer. Sometimes it seems like most of my posts, especially when commenting on the ALS, is negative, pessimistic, lamenting. While I know I have a right and it's OK to be upset for the situation I am enduring, I just hope it doesn't cloud out the rest of my life and the experience others have had with me.
I also do not want to be remembered as someone who hurt with his tongue by being short and rude to others. I'm painfully aware that has become more and more of an issue, especially to those I love the most. I watched my dad do it to my mom the last few years of his life and never thought I could be capable of such a thing. I can rationalize it as my long-attempted controlling of my lack of patience and anger and the challenge of trying to be heard as my voice continues to weaken, but still the reality is I am failing on this score.
The final one I'll be public with in this post is my hope that I'll not be remembered as a one-issue person. Despite how much time I spend on raising awareness about ALS and raising funds for the fighting of it and research (and I greatly appreciate your generous and kind support in this endeavors!), I hope people remember other issues I addressed and concerns I had. I recognize I'm going through these days with blinders on which allows little distraction and is all-consuming as all of my energy is focused on this living and trying to make a difference while facing death's more imminent reality.
I'm not sure these are things I want people to remember about me, but I hope I created space for people to examine their life/faith/goals and allowed them the freedom to come to their own beliefs or non-belief. I hope I paid attention to the lonely, disheartened, disadvantaged, and used the strengths/skills/aptitudes/gifts/time/finances for the improvement of the space around me. I hope those I've offended have seen me change from a person who tended to be quick to judge and exclude those who were different from me to a person committed to inclusiveness, acceptance, tolerance, unconditional love, grace, and a reconciler.
Now, I haven't written this blog post to get a bunch of pats on the back or words of encouragement. I think what I would propose is an invitation for readers to consider their own reflections on how you want to be remembered or not. Post those if you want or feel free to personal message me if you prefer.
Peace!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
SERMON: "When, Jesus, When?"
"When, Jesus, When?"
Acts 1:1-11
What to do with the Ascension? That used to be something I pondered. Actually, I suppose if I was honest I would have to admit that I didn’t even ponder it all that much. And I suppose that’s partially because it wasn’t dealt with much in the church I grew up in. I suppose it’s also because of my tendency not to put too much stock in taking stories in the bible too literally if they conflict with my way of perceiving the world through the lenses of modern science. That hasn’t always been the attitude of the church though.
In the Middle Ages, Ascension Day was considered one of the most important Christian holidays. It was a day celebrated with much pageantry. Churches in the Middle Ages were known for presenting the biblical stories on stained glass windows and with ornate altar carvings. It was that visual tradition that birthed the pageantry associated with Ascension Day.
The pageantry often featured a “mannequin representing the Rising Christ, hoisted by rope either up to the ceiling or through an opening in the roof. At times, the rising was followed by a basketful of rose petals poured back down to symbolize the later descent of the Spirit on Pentecost." (1)
In more recent years I’ve come to accept that there is more to the Ascension story than what happened physically to Jesus. If we spend too much time trying to reconcile the Ascension with our modern scientific way of viewing things, we miss the story’s real importance for the church historically and for us practically. The truth of the matter is that we have to reconcile ourselves with the fact that many of our theological positions were arrived at because at some point in history the church was dealing with a controversy that it felt needed a story/an event/an image to reflect how it was going to see its way forward - what was going to be the accepted belief - some have gone so far as to describe it as "correct" theology.
I’ve come to accept that the point of the Ascension story is that the early church had to come to grips with their future – that is, they had to come to the point where they understood that it was up to them to share the message, live out the faith, and that the message Jesus had shared and lived among them was for everyone. Basically, the Ascension jump-started the spread of Christianity. It prepared the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Ascension needed to happen in order for God’s plan for eternity, the rest of time, to be revealed and continued.
The physician Luke is credited with writing both the book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke. Both books were written to Theophilus. Now, Theophilus can also be translated “friend of God” which Bible scholars suggest means that it could have been Luke’s intention to share these things with either an individual named Theophilus or he could have intended to write them to anyone who was or is a friend of God’s. The point remains the same: there was a body of people who were eager to hear more about this Christian faith – its origin – its history
– its meaning. (2)
Basically, the Gospel of Luke is about the story of Jesus’ life upon the earth and his teachings. It is Volume One, if you will, of the story of Christianity. The Book of Acts is Volume Two and it’s the story of the birth of the church and its early growth. The two books are connected so that the one (Luke) ends with the same story with which the other (Acts) begins. And that story is the story of the Ascension.
One of the underlying biases surfacing in the early church was an awareness that the faith Jesus had proclaimed was meant for more than a remnant of Judaism – that it was a religion for everyone. In Barclay’s commentary he notes Luke’s including the story of Philip preaching to the Samaritans, Stephen being killed for attempting to make Christianity a universal thing, Peter accepting Cornelius into the church and being killed for his action, Paul traveling far and wide to win all kinds of people for Christ, and the report in Acts 15 of the church making
the great decision to accept Gentiles on equal terms with the Jews. (3) There is little doubt that one of the reasons Luke wrote Acts was to make a case for his belief that Christianity is a faith for all no matter what ethnic group or social group or economic group we are apart of.
However, it is the opinion of many that the primary reason Luke wrote Acts was to highlight the rapid growth of the Christian movement and the contributing factors that aided that mega-growth. In just thirty years the young religion and its message about Jesus Christ spread from the humble beginning in a tiny little corner of Palestine to the far reaches of the Roman empire and the most influential and most powerful city of that day – Rome. And it was the Ascension, as far as Luke was concerned, that changed that small disillusioned band of followers into an enthusiastic, empowered, energized, alive, hopeful, community of faith. (4)
According to the scriptural accounts Jesus appeared several times to the disciples during those forty days between his resurrection and the ascension trying to get them to understand the meaning of his life, death, and resurrection. He tried to introduce them to a proper understanding of the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Luke reported that the disciples were still confused even on this final day of Christ’s presence on earth, the day of Ascension, by his recording of the question they asked Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” Despite all he had said to them, they still had in their minds that there was going to be a blood-bath – that there was going to be a military return of Jesus so that the ship would be righted and they would be saved from themselves and the Romans.
A number of years ago a red cow was born on a farm in northern Israel. The cow was named Melody. Some orthodox Jews went absolutely berserk over this because they claimed that it was the first red heifer born in Israel in 2000 years. They took her birth to be a “divine sign that the time is right for Yahweh’s intervention, for the destruction of the Dome of the Rock and the mosques that now occupy the Temple Mount, and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.” They note the biblical appearance of the red heifer in the 19th chapter of Numbers which describes ritual cleansing using the ashes of a slaughtered red heifer. (5) The text reads: “A red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish and on which no yoke has been laid.”
“Lord, we see this red heifer. Is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” they ask. “When, Jesus, When?” “Now, Jesus?” “Is this the time, Jesus?”
Preacher Steven Mosley recalls in one of his books of a time when something strange happened to his grandmother. “A loud rumbling noise erupted throughout her neighborhood, and the night sky filled with a green and purple light. Steven’s grandmother was convinced that aliens were landing in her yard. And what was her first thought? That she needed to fix her hair. If she was receiving a visitation from anyone, human or alien, then she needed to look her best. But the aliens never knocked on her door. The noises and the green and purple lights came from an explosion at a nearby natural gas plant." (6)
There’s no question hers was a foolish reaction, but no more foolish really than our Christian brothers and sisters through the centuries that have acted upon their perceived date for Christ’s return. When will we take Jesus at his word: “Not even I am privy to such information. Only God knows such things.” “When, Jesus, When?” is not a question Jesus wants us to bother our minds with. Jesus wants his followers to get ready for the Holy Spirit and the ministry of witnessing instead of worrying about some future life or time of power or influence or relief.
To emphasize what he really wanted to have happen from then on, Jesus ascended – he went away in a real way. He dramatically, completely and emphatically answered their question. “It’s time for you to spread out – to go your separate ways and share the good news about the loving and forgiving God I have revealed to you. It’s time for you to go and do – go and share – go. And, in order for you to spread out and for me to remain with you, I have to get up in the press box and I have to put someone else in charge down here so that I can communicate with all of you wherever you go. And you will know what I want you to do and say because I will communicate it through the Holy Spirit God is sending to replace me. I will be able to fulfill my ministry of ruling over the whole world by going to be with God. You are now to move into the world to continue doing my work in my physical absence." (7) That’s the way Bishop William Willimon put it in his sermon “God Has Gone Up.”
Willimon went on in that sermon to make the point that the Ascension is about Jesus Christ changing locations of influence. He went in order to continue and to expand his influence and effectiveness. He’s still in charge – he still rules – he still calls the shots – only in a new way – from a new perspective. (8)
Perhaps the most important idea I want us to consider is the way the text ends. The disciples were described as looking skyward – towards where they last saw Jesus. And two men in white robes approached them and asked them a question: “Uh, why are you standing here looking out in space?” “Why are you lamenting his departure?” “Why are you spending time looking where he no longer is?" “Why are you standing around waiting?” And then they tried to both comfort and, I think by doing so, to prod the followers out of their lethargy. “It’s time for you to go and trust what he has told you and to do what he has instructed you to do.” “Trust him when he says that God is sending someone to be with you and go.”
I’m afraid it’s still a problem for us Christians – this feeling that we can’t do it on our own – this feeling frightened, confused, helpless, disappointed – this feeling that only when Christ returns will life be worth anything – this gazing off into space and waiting for something to happen in heaven – this being so heavenly bound that we’re no earthly good!
Erskine White, in his sermon Pie in the Sky, referred to such an understanding of the Christian faith as “pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye” religion. He said, “When Jesus went to the cross on Calvary’s hill, He took our sins upon Himself, but not our responsibilities. He is asking us, ‘Why are you standing around looking at heaven?’ He is saying to us, ‘You’ve got a life to lead here on earth, so get busy with it!’ The problem with walking through life looking up at the heavens is that you can fall into a ditch and never see it coming." (9)
The problem with “pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye” Christianity is that it often results in a Christianity that uses faith as a reason not to do anything about personal or world problems – it is used as an excuse for churches and Christians not to do anything. A standing around, gawking up at the sky church isn’t good for anything except taking up space. A church made up of star-gazers and heaven-watchers (as I referenced them in another sermon on this text) is a church destined to die or destined for at least irrelevance.
The Ascension is about challenging us to understand that the work of Jesus Christ is now ours to do – it’s about getting our eyes off the glories of the resurrection, the heavenly Jesus and refocusing our eyes on where Jesus is in our lives and in our world in our day – it’s about letting the Holy Spirit work within us and among us – it’s about getting us to not be so absorbed about life after death that we are no earthly good! God will take care of the future in God’s time – we need to be about ministering, living, sharing the good news today.
The purpose of the church, according to this portion of Acts, is to scatter – to share outside the walls – to recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence and help wherever we are. We are every one of us ministers and we are ministers wherever we are. That’s the reason the early church needed to emphasize the Ascension event.
The Clergy Journal, January, 2008, p. 34.
Homiletics, “No Way Jesus,” p. 43.
William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series: The Acts of the Apostles (Edinburgh, Scotland: The St. Andrew Press, 1955), p. xvi.
Ibid.
King Duncan, “On Telling Time With Computers and (holy Red) Cows,” Collected Sermons Dynamic Preaching, 2005, 0-000-0000-20.
Steven Mosley, Secrets of the Mustard Seed (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002), pp. 75-76.
William H. Willimon, “God Has Gone Up,” Pulpit Resource, April – June, 2002, p. 26.
Ibid.
Erskine White, Pie in the Sky.
Acts 1:1-11
What to do with the Ascension? That used to be something I pondered. Actually, I suppose if I was honest I would have to admit that I didn’t even ponder it all that much. And I suppose that’s partially because it wasn’t dealt with much in the church I grew up in. I suppose it’s also because of my tendency not to put too much stock in taking stories in the bible too literally if they conflict with my way of perceiving the world through the lenses of modern science. That hasn’t always been the attitude of the church though.
In the Middle Ages, Ascension Day was considered one of the most important Christian holidays. It was a day celebrated with much pageantry. Churches in the Middle Ages were known for presenting the biblical stories on stained glass windows and with ornate altar carvings. It was that visual tradition that birthed the pageantry associated with Ascension Day.
The pageantry often featured a “mannequin representing the Rising Christ, hoisted by rope either up to the ceiling or through an opening in the roof. At times, the rising was followed by a basketful of rose petals poured back down to symbolize the later descent of the Spirit on Pentecost." (1)
In more recent years I’ve come to accept that there is more to the Ascension story than what happened physically to Jesus. If we spend too much time trying to reconcile the Ascension with our modern scientific way of viewing things, we miss the story’s real importance for the church historically and for us practically. The truth of the matter is that we have to reconcile ourselves with the fact that many of our theological positions were arrived at because at some point in history the church was dealing with a controversy that it felt needed a story/an event/an image to reflect how it was going to see its way forward - what was going to be the accepted belief - some have gone so far as to describe it as "correct" theology.
I’ve come to accept that the point of the Ascension story is that the early church had to come to grips with their future – that is, they had to come to the point where they understood that it was up to them to share the message, live out the faith, and that the message Jesus had shared and lived among them was for everyone. Basically, the Ascension jump-started the spread of Christianity. It prepared the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Ascension needed to happen in order for God’s plan for eternity, the rest of time, to be revealed and continued.
The physician Luke is credited with writing both the book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke. Both books were written to Theophilus. Now, Theophilus can also be translated “friend of God” which Bible scholars suggest means that it could have been Luke’s intention to share these things with either an individual named Theophilus or he could have intended to write them to anyone who was or is a friend of God’s. The point remains the same: there was a body of people who were eager to hear more about this Christian faith – its origin – its history
– its meaning. (2)
Basically, the Gospel of Luke is about the story of Jesus’ life upon the earth and his teachings. It is Volume One, if you will, of the story of Christianity. The Book of Acts is Volume Two and it’s the story of the birth of the church and its early growth. The two books are connected so that the one (Luke) ends with the same story with which the other (Acts) begins. And that story is the story of the Ascension.
One of the underlying biases surfacing in the early church was an awareness that the faith Jesus had proclaimed was meant for more than a remnant of Judaism – that it was a religion for everyone. In Barclay’s commentary he notes Luke’s including the story of Philip preaching to the Samaritans, Stephen being killed for attempting to make Christianity a universal thing, Peter accepting Cornelius into the church and being killed for his action, Paul traveling far and wide to win all kinds of people for Christ, and the report in Acts 15 of the church making
the great decision to accept Gentiles on equal terms with the Jews. (3) There is little doubt that one of the reasons Luke wrote Acts was to make a case for his belief that Christianity is a faith for all no matter what ethnic group or social group or economic group we are apart of.
However, it is the opinion of many that the primary reason Luke wrote Acts was to highlight the rapid growth of the Christian movement and the contributing factors that aided that mega-growth. In just thirty years the young religion and its message about Jesus Christ spread from the humble beginning in a tiny little corner of Palestine to the far reaches of the Roman empire and the most influential and most powerful city of that day – Rome. And it was the Ascension, as far as Luke was concerned, that changed that small disillusioned band of followers into an enthusiastic, empowered, energized, alive, hopeful, community of faith. (4)
According to the scriptural accounts Jesus appeared several times to the disciples during those forty days between his resurrection and the ascension trying to get them to understand the meaning of his life, death, and resurrection. He tried to introduce them to a proper understanding of the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Luke reported that the disciples were still confused even on this final day of Christ’s presence on earth, the day of Ascension, by his recording of the question they asked Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” Despite all he had said to them, they still had in their minds that there was going to be a blood-bath – that there was going to be a military return of Jesus so that the ship would be righted and they would be saved from themselves and the Romans.
A number of years ago a red cow was born on a farm in northern Israel. The cow was named Melody. Some orthodox Jews went absolutely berserk over this because they claimed that it was the first red heifer born in Israel in 2000 years. They took her birth to be a “divine sign that the time is right for Yahweh’s intervention, for the destruction of the Dome of the Rock and the mosques that now occupy the Temple Mount, and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.” They note the biblical appearance of the red heifer in the 19th chapter of Numbers which describes ritual cleansing using the ashes of a slaughtered red heifer. (5) The text reads: “A red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish and on which no yoke has been laid.”
“Lord, we see this red heifer. Is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” they ask. “When, Jesus, When?” “Now, Jesus?” “Is this the time, Jesus?”
Preacher Steven Mosley recalls in one of his books of a time when something strange happened to his grandmother. “A loud rumbling noise erupted throughout her neighborhood, and the night sky filled with a green and purple light. Steven’s grandmother was convinced that aliens were landing in her yard. And what was her first thought? That she needed to fix her hair. If she was receiving a visitation from anyone, human or alien, then she needed to look her best. But the aliens never knocked on her door. The noises and the green and purple lights came from an explosion at a nearby natural gas plant." (6)
There’s no question hers was a foolish reaction, but no more foolish really than our Christian brothers and sisters through the centuries that have acted upon their perceived date for Christ’s return. When will we take Jesus at his word: “Not even I am privy to such information. Only God knows such things.” “When, Jesus, When?” is not a question Jesus wants us to bother our minds with. Jesus wants his followers to get ready for the Holy Spirit and the ministry of witnessing instead of worrying about some future life or time of power or influence or relief.
To emphasize what he really wanted to have happen from then on, Jesus ascended – he went away in a real way. He dramatically, completely and emphatically answered their question. “It’s time for you to spread out – to go your separate ways and share the good news about the loving and forgiving God I have revealed to you. It’s time for you to go and do – go and share – go. And, in order for you to spread out and for me to remain with you, I have to get up in the press box and I have to put someone else in charge down here so that I can communicate with all of you wherever you go. And you will know what I want you to do and say because I will communicate it through the Holy Spirit God is sending to replace me. I will be able to fulfill my ministry of ruling over the whole world by going to be with God. You are now to move into the world to continue doing my work in my physical absence." (7) That’s the way Bishop William Willimon put it in his sermon “God Has Gone Up.”
Willimon went on in that sermon to make the point that the Ascension is about Jesus Christ changing locations of influence. He went in order to continue and to expand his influence and effectiveness. He’s still in charge – he still rules – he still calls the shots – only in a new way – from a new perspective. (8)
Perhaps the most important idea I want us to consider is the way the text ends. The disciples were described as looking skyward – towards where they last saw Jesus. And two men in white robes approached them and asked them a question: “Uh, why are you standing here looking out in space?” “Why are you lamenting his departure?” “Why are you spending time looking where he no longer is?" “Why are you standing around waiting?” And then they tried to both comfort and, I think by doing so, to prod the followers out of their lethargy. “It’s time for you to go and trust what he has told you and to do what he has instructed you to do.” “Trust him when he says that God is sending someone to be with you and go.”
I’m afraid it’s still a problem for us Christians – this feeling that we can’t do it on our own – this feeling frightened, confused, helpless, disappointed – this feeling that only when Christ returns will life be worth anything – this gazing off into space and waiting for something to happen in heaven – this being so heavenly bound that we’re no earthly good!
Erskine White, in his sermon Pie in the Sky, referred to such an understanding of the Christian faith as “pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye” religion. He said, “When Jesus went to the cross on Calvary’s hill, He took our sins upon Himself, but not our responsibilities. He is asking us, ‘Why are you standing around looking at heaven?’ He is saying to us, ‘You’ve got a life to lead here on earth, so get busy with it!’ The problem with walking through life looking up at the heavens is that you can fall into a ditch and never see it coming." (9)
The problem with “pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye” Christianity is that it often results in a Christianity that uses faith as a reason not to do anything about personal or world problems – it is used as an excuse for churches and Christians not to do anything. A standing around, gawking up at the sky church isn’t good for anything except taking up space. A church made up of star-gazers and heaven-watchers (as I referenced them in another sermon on this text) is a church destined to die or destined for at least irrelevance.
The Ascension is about challenging us to understand that the work of Jesus Christ is now ours to do – it’s about getting our eyes off the glories of the resurrection, the heavenly Jesus and refocusing our eyes on where Jesus is in our lives and in our world in our day – it’s about letting the Holy Spirit work within us and among us – it’s about getting us to not be so absorbed about life after death that we are no earthly good! God will take care of the future in God’s time – we need to be about ministering, living, sharing the good news today.
The purpose of the church, according to this portion of Acts, is to scatter – to share outside the walls – to recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence and help wherever we are. We are every one of us ministers and we are ministers wherever we are. That’s the reason the early church needed to emphasize the Ascension event.
The Clergy Journal, January, 2008, p. 34.
Homiletics, “No Way Jesus,” p. 43.
William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series: The Acts of the Apostles (Edinburgh, Scotland: The St. Andrew Press, 1955), p. xvi.
Ibid.
King Duncan, “On Telling Time With Computers and (holy Red) Cows,” Collected Sermons Dynamic Preaching, 2005, 0-000-0000-20.
Steven Mosley, Secrets of the Mustard Seed (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002), pp. 75-76.
William H. Willimon, “God Has Gone Up,” Pulpit Resource, April – June, 2002, p. 26.
Ibid.
Erskine White, Pie in the Sky.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
MEMORIAL DAY/ALS/HANDICAPPED MILITARY
MEMORIAL DAY/ALS/HANDICAPPED MILITARY
A day close to Memorial Day weekend seems like an appropriate time to share an uncomfortable, albeit intriguing, experience I've had on several occasions these last few years. Once in awhile when a person opens a door or steps out of the way to let me by or in some way attempts to recognize my being in a wheelchair, I've been left with the distinct impression they've done so because they believe I'm the way I am because of military service.
Now, it's not that it offends me or anything like that. It's just I feel a little uncomfortable, embarrassed that I'm being recognized for something that's not the situation. While I've been tempted on those occasions to wave them off or to carry on a conversation with them, I rationalize they mean well and I probably couldn't make myself be understood anyhow. Rest assured I appreciate the help no matter how it was intended!
The observation and reflection provides me the opportunity to share something interesting about this ALS and the military though. It's not really good news but it's helpful information. Persons who have served in the military are twice as likely to have ALS as persons in the general population! This statistic probably has a lot to do with the Department of Defense being the agency entrusted with the funds to share with ALS researchers and those responsible for the ALS National Registry.
A day close to Memorial Day weekend seems like an appropriate time to share an uncomfortable, albeit intriguing, experience I've had on several occasions these last few years. Once in awhile when a person opens a door or steps out of the way to let me by or in some way attempts to recognize my being in a wheelchair, I've been left with the distinct impression they've done so because they believe I'm the way I am because of military service.
Now, it's not that it offends me or anything like that. It's just I feel a little uncomfortable, embarrassed that I'm being recognized for something that's not the situation. While I've been tempted on those occasions to wave them off or to carry on a conversation with them, I rationalize they mean well and I probably couldn't make myself be understood anyhow. Rest assured I appreciate the help no matter how it was intended!
The observation and reflection provides me the opportunity to share something interesting about this ALS and the military though. It's not really good news but it's helpful information. Persons who have served in the military are twice as likely to have ALS as persons in the general population! This statistic probably has a lot to do with the Department of Defense being the agency entrusted with the funds to share with ALS researchers and those responsible for the ALS National Registry.
Monday, May 19, 2014
"ALS Advocacy and an Inside Look in DC"
"ALS Advocacy: An Inside Look at D.C."
We returned from the 2014 ALS Advocacy Conference a little over a week ago. In some ways it seems like a lot of time has passed since we were there; but because of how vivid and meaningful the experience was it sometimes feels like we're just returning.
Most of you know the story of our planning on going in 2013 but having to cancel at the last minute because of a drug reaction. We are so appreciative of being given a second chance to attend this significant advocacy event. Our son and daughter, Jeremy and Megan, helped with the driving which helped make it more manageable.
Jeremy drew the short straw and drove the first leg of the trip. We left on Tuesday, May 6 at 9:15 a.m. after a hospice aide gave me my morning shower - my last until the morning after our return on Saturday, May 10. (Good thing I don't do enough to sweat and my family loves me, but we were in DC!)
We arrived safely at the JW Marriott in DC around 6:00 p.m. after two short stops and one major restroom stop which included our first on-the-road transfer to the collapsable shower/commode wheelchair purchased for us for our trip to Florida by the PHAALS (Playing Hardball Against ALS) organization. We were also slowed somewhat by the DC rush hour challenge.
When we got to our room we were amazed! It was a corner room which allowed us to see a broad area of DC and a bonus view of the Washington Monument! Oh, and it was unbelievably spacious. Since I now sleep in my power wheelchair and we had two double beds Jeremy was able to stay with us.
Since the conference didn't begin until Wednesday afternoon we contacted my cousin, Suse, who spends a majority of her time in DC helping with her grandchildren, about her meeting us at the hotel for lunch. We had a wonderful visit! I love my cousins even though I don't get to see them near as often as I'd like.
Megan and her son, Evan, flew to DC and arrived mid afternoon in time for the session and have a brief visit with her brother. Jeremy handed us off to Megan and headed to the airport for his flight home. (Starting to sound like a travelogue, right!?)
O.K., ready for some info about the conference itself? Well, the first session was really an interesting and informative time with the presenters sharing about the important work of the Department of Defense getting out information about the National ALS Registry and the information they are gathering and the way that potentially will make future research more successful. I am a strong advocate of the National Registry as one of the most hopeful tools for determining if there are causes and thus ways we might structure our lives and research to better develop a cure or treatment or preventive measures! If you are a PALS and have not registered, please, please, PLEASE, register!!!!!
Then, we started our preparation for our visits on Thursday to the hill. The emphasis was on how important it was that we were there and that we told ouur first person stories. There were 130 PALS at the conference and about 800 others - caregivers, staff, family members, etc. We received our final instructions over a fantastically delicious dinner with the others from area ALS Association Chapters. Part of the highlight of this time was meeting fellow PALS I've been friends with on Facebook. Being face-to-face with my PALS both tugged at my heartstrings and strengthened my resolve to continue the fight as best I can! Our physical realities are so different and yet what it takes inside to do the dance is amazingly similar! If any of you are reading this, I am so impressed with you!
Thursday morning we were shuttled to the hill where we met with three representatives and two senators. In most cases we met with aides. It was interesting though. We were told in some ways they are who you want to talk with because they are the knowledgeable ones on the staffs. There was no question they were attentive and interested in what we had to say. They had tears in their eyes as I also did as I listened to the stories of others. Seeing all the people meeting with the members of congress and all the meetings they had on their agenda it's pretty impressive what all has to happen in order for legislation to get through. There's plenty of inertia to help things move slow.
There was one visit that stood out that I simply must comment on. Representative Steve Stivers left another meeting to meet with us personally and spent almost 45 minutes with us. He was obviously quite knowledgeable about the disease and stated his support of our agenda. It was quite uplifting to really feel like we were heard.
By the end of the day we were pretty exhausted. We even missed one of our scheduled appointments because I simply could not go anymore. After a good night's rest we were back at it on Friday for sessions dealing with what's going on with research - still no breakthroughs but plenty of discoveries and new methodology to provide hope - not for us but future generations.
After lunch and a fantastic speech by a woman unable to move any part of her body but who had been involved in a project where she was able to move a robotic arm with her mind, the conference ended with an Expo. Wheelchair companies, speech device companies, breathing machines, etc. all had their most recent products on display. I was especially impressed with an assistive device ALS staffer who showed me some possible other solutions to my iPad and losing the ability to type issues.
After the Expo we enjoyed a visit with one of my grown YFers from my Worthington Youth Ministry days. Courtney brought her two daughters with her and we spent a delightful hour together.
Thank you all for your continued support!
We returned from the 2014 ALS Advocacy Conference a little over a week ago. In some ways it seems like a lot of time has passed since we were there; but because of how vivid and meaningful the experience was it sometimes feels like we're just returning.
Most of you know the story of our planning on going in 2013 but having to cancel at the last minute because of a drug reaction. We are so appreciative of being given a second chance to attend this significant advocacy event. Our son and daughter, Jeremy and Megan, helped with the driving which helped make it more manageable.
Jeremy drew the short straw and drove the first leg of the trip. We left on Tuesday, May 6 at 9:15 a.m. after a hospice aide gave me my morning shower - my last until the morning after our return on Saturday, May 10. (Good thing I don't do enough to sweat and my family loves me, but we were in DC!)
We arrived safely at the JW Marriott in DC around 6:00 p.m. after two short stops and one major restroom stop which included our first on-the-road transfer to the collapsable shower/commode wheelchair purchased for us for our trip to Florida by the PHAALS (Playing Hardball Against ALS) organization. We were also slowed somewhat by the DC rush hour challenge.
When we got to our room we were amazed! It was a corner room which allowed us to see a broad area of DC and a bonus view of the Washington Monument! Oh, and it was unbelievably spacious. Since I now sleep in my power wheelchair and we had two double beds Jeremy was able to stay with us.
Since the conference didn't begin until Wednesday afternoon we contacted my cousin, Suse, who spends a majority of her time in DC helping with her grandchildren, about her meeting us at the hotel for lunch. We had a wonderful visit! I love my cousins even though I don't get to see them near as often as I'd like.
Megan and her son, Evan, flew to DC and arrived mid afternoon in time for the session and have a brief visit with her brother. Jeremy handed us off to Megan and headed to the airport for his flight home. (Starting to sound like a travelogue, right!?)
O.K., ready for some info about the conference itself? Well, the first session was really an interesting and informative time with the presenters sharing about the important work of the Department of Defense getting out information about the National ALS Registry and the information they are gathering and the way that potentially will make future research more successful. I am a strong advocate of the National Registry as one of the most hopeful tools for determining if there are causes and thus ways we might structure our lives and research to better develop a cure or treatment or preventive measures! If you are a PALS and have not registered, please, please, PLEASE, register!!!!!
Then, we started our preparation for our visits on Thursday to the hill. The emphasis was on how important it was that we were there and that we told ouur first person stories. There were 130 PALS at the conference and about 800 others - caregivers, staff, family members, etc. We received our final instructions over a fantastically delicious dinner with the others from area ALS Association Chapters. Part of the highlight of this time was meeting fellow PALS I've been friends with on Facebook. Being face-to-face with my PALS both tugged at my heartstrings and strengthened my resolve to continue the fight as best I can! Our physical realities are so different and yet what it takes inside to do the dance is amazingly similar! If any of you are reading this, I am so impressed with you!
Thursday morning we were shuttled to the hill where we met with three representatives and two senators. In most cases we met with aides. It was interesting though. We were told in some ways they are who you want to talk with because they are the knowledgeable ones on the staffs. There was no question they were attentive and interested in what we had to say. They had tears in their eyes as I also did as I listened to the stories of others. Seeing all the people meeting with the members of congress and all the meetings they had on their agenda it's pretty impressive what all has to happen in order for legislation to get through. There's plenty of inertia to help things move slow.
There was one visit that stood out that I simply must comment on. Representative Steve Stivers left another meeting to meet with us personally and spent almost 45 minutes with us. He was obviously quite knowledgeable about the disease and stated his support of our agenda. It was quite uplifting to really feel like we were heard.
By the end of the day we were pretty exhausted. We even missed one of our scheduled appointments because I simply could not go anymore. After a good night's rest we were back at it on Friday for sessions dealing with what's going on with research - still no breakthroughs but plenty of discoveries and new methodology to provide hope - not for us but future generations.
After lunch and a fantastic speech by a woman unable to move any part of her body but who had been involved in a project where she was able to move a robotic arm with her mind, the conference ended with an Expo. Wheelchair companies, speech device companies, breathing machines, etc. all had their most recent products on display. I was especially impressed with an assistive device ALS staffer who showed me some possible other solutions to my iPad and losing the ability to type issues.
After the Expo we enjoyed a visit with one of my grown YFers from my Worthington Youth Ministry days. Courtney brought her two daughters with her and we spent a delightful hour together.
Thank you all for your continued support!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
SERMON: "Doubters are Believers"
"DOUBTERS ARE BELIEVERS"
JOHN 20:19-31
HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE REFER TO YOU AS A "DOUBTING THOMAS" OR HAVE THEM CHALLENGE SOMETHING YOU ARE TELLING ABOUT BY REQUESTING THAT YOU "SHOW ME"? BOTH PHRASES HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THIS GOSPEL STORY ACCORDING TO JOHN. THE DISCIPLE THOMAS WASN'T GOING TO ACCEPT SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE SAID IT WAS SO.
YEARS AGO I HAD TO MEMORIZE FOR THE GOD AND COUNTRY AWARD ANOTHER PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WHICH HAD THOMAS AS ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS. IN JOHN 14 JOHN HAS JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES HAVING ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR SUPPERS. "IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO ... " - YOU ALL REMEMBER THE STORY? AND JESUS WENT ON WITH: "AND YOU KNOW THE WAY THAT I AM GOING." THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN I APPRECIATE THOMAS - WHEN I SENSE HOW MUCH LIKE THOMAS I AM.
NOBODY ELSE BREATHED A WORD - THOMAS SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS JUST BEEN SAID, "UH, EXCUSE ME, LORD. WOULD YOU GO OVER THAT AGAIN FOR ME? I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS TALK ABOUT YOUR GOING SOMEWHERE. I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND I CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW THE WAY."
IF THOMAS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, HE WASN'T GOING TO PRETEND HE DID. HE WASN'T AFRAID OF APPEARING DUMB. HE HAD NO INKLING THAT HIS QUESTIONING/DOUBTING/CHALLENGING MIGHT REFLECT THE NOTION OF FAITHLESS. HE WASN'T GOING TO ACCEPT SOMETHING AS TRUTH JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE - EVEN PEOPLE HE ADMIRED AND RESPECTED - TOLD HIM IT WAS. "IT MAY BE YOUR TRUTH BUT I'VE GOT TO FIND OUT FOR MYSELF IF IT'S MINE." IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOUGH THAT HIS PURPOSE FOR DOUBTING WAS NOT TO DENY THE TRUTH OR THE FAITH, BUT TO GROW IN THE FAITH - TO UNDERSTAND IT SO THAT HE COULD CLAIM IT AS HIS OWN.
WELL, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE STORY. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAT HAPPENS IN THIS STORY LEADING UP TO THOMAS' EXPRESSION OF DOUBT AND FAITH.
SOMETIME BACK, FORMER TALK SHOW HOST JOHNNY CARSON VISITED HARVARD UNIVERSITY TO RECEIVE AN AWARD. AFTER THE CEREMONY HE AGREED TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PRESS. ONE REPORTER ASKED, "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE INSCRIBED ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?" CARSON THOUGHT FOR JUST A SECOND, THEN HE ANSWERED WITH THE WORDS HE USED BEFORE EVERY COMMERCIAL BREAK ON HIS TELEVISION SHOW. "I'LL BE RIGHT BACK." (1)
JESUS HAD BEEN TRYING TO TELL THE DISCIPLES THAT HIS DEATH WASN'T GOING TO BE THE END OF THE WORLD - THAT HE WAS GOING TO ".. BE RIGHT BACK .. " - BUT THEY NEVER QUITE GOT IT. AND SO ON THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY - ON THE EVENING OF EASTER SUNDAY - DESPITE WHAT MARY MAGDALENE HAD REPORTED TO THEM ABOUT HER ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN JESUS - THE DISCIPLES ARE IN HIDING - THEY ARE BEHIND LOCKED DOORS - PERHAPS THE SHADES ARE EVEN DRAWN - THEY HAVE HEARD THE REPORTS AND THEY ARE AFRAID - THEY FEARED THE HATRED AND HOSTILITY OF THOSE WHO DESTROYED JESUS - EVEN IF THEY BELIEVED MARY'S TESTIMONY, THEY STILL BELIEVED THAT "LYING LOW" WAS THEIR BEST STRATEGY. THEY WERE PROBABLY SPEAKING IN MUFFLED TONES TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. EVERY TIME THEY HEARD A NOISE THEY THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WAS COMING TO TAKE THEM AWAY TO PRISON OR WORSE.
IT REMINDS ME OF A FOOTBALL STORY. PENN STATE AND MIAMI WERE COMPETING FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE IN THE FIESTA BOWL. SOME MAY REMEMBER THAT PENN STATE EKED OUT A 14-10 VICTORY THAT INCLUDED A NAIL-BITING GOAL-LINE STAND IN THE CLOSING MINUTES OF THE GAME. SOMEHOW, PENN STATE'S STUBBORN DEFENSE MANAGED TO HOLD OFF MIAMI'S TALENTED QUARTERBACK, VINNY TESTAVERDE, ONE LAST TIME TO THWART THE HURRICANES' FINAL DESPERATE EFFORT TO PULL OUT THE VICTORY.
IN THE FRENZIED JUBILATION FOLLOWING THE FINAL GUN, TV CAMERAS ZEROED IN ON VARIOUS PLAYERS, INCLUDING ONE OF PENN STATE'S ALL-AMERICAN LINEBACKERS. HE CREDITED PENN STATE'S HARD-HITTING DEFENSIVE BACKS WITH THE VICTORY. "MIAMI'S RECEIVERS JUST DIDN'T WANT TO CATCH THE BALL," HE SAID. "THEY HEARD FOOTSTEPS ALL NIGHT LONG, AND THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET HIT." (2)
I GUESS WE COULD SAY THE DISCIPLES WERE HEARING FOOTSTEPS. THEY WERE FRIGHTENED. BUT THEN, SUDDENLY, OUT OF NOWHERE - DEMONSTRATING THAT HIS RESURRECTED FORM WAS NOT SIMPLY HIS OLD HUMAN BODY REANIMATED - JESUS SUDDENLY APPEARS IN THEIR MIDST - HE STOOD AMONG THEM - AND HE SAID "PEACE BE WITH YOU."
NOW, MY GUESS IS THAT THEIR RESPONSE WAS ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL - NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHERE THEY WERE HIDING - HOW DID JESUS FIND THEM? AND HOW DID HE ENTER WITHOUT USING THE DOOR? THE DISCIPLES WERE ANXIOUS - THEY WERE AFRAID - THEY WERE UNCERTAIN - YET, HERE WAS THE MASTER RIGHT IN THEIR MIDST - ECHOING HIS WORDS AT THE LAST SUPPER - OFFERING THEM THE GREETING THEY LONGED TO HEAR: "PEACE BE WITH YOU." AND THEN HE SHOWED THEM HIS HANDS AND SIDE - THE PLACES WHERE THEY HAD LET HIM HAVE IT - AND THEY FINALLY KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE MASTER. AND THEY REJOICED BECAUSE NOW THEY TOO BELIEVED THAT THEIR MASTER WAS ALIVE AND THEY NEED NOT FEAR ANYMORE!
THEIR REJOICING WAS SHORT LIVED HOWEVER, BECAUSE WHEN JESUS AGAIN SAID TO THEM, "PEACE BE WITH YOU" HE ADDED, "AS MY FATHER SENT ME, EVEN SO I SEND YOU." HE WAS COMMISSIONING THEM TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING. JOHN GOES ON IN HIS ACCOUNT AND TELLS HOW HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID, "RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT." "I KNOW THAT WHAT I AM TELLING YOU TO DO WILL TAKE MORE THAN THE PEACE I HAVE OFFERED YOU. HERE THEN IS ALSO THE POWER I PROMISED YOU - THE HOLY SPIRIT." AND HE BREATHED ON THEM - HE UNLEASHED THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THEIR LIVES. HE ENDS THIS EMPOWERMENT TRAINING SESSION BY TELLING THEM WHAT THIS BEING SENT AND RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT MEANS. "YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS."
YOU SEE, THE PURPOSE OF THE RESURRECTION WASN'T JUST TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR FEARS OR TO ASSURE THEM OF THEIR ETERNAL LIFE BUT TO EMPOWER THEM FOR THE CONTINUATION OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY - TO SEND THEM INTO THE WORLD TO UNLOCK THE DOORS OF FAITH FOR OTHERS - AND HOW WERE THEY TO DO THAT? - BY FORGIVING SINS - BY LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THERE WAS RELIEF FROM THE GUILT THAT ENSLAVED THEM TO THEIR PAST MISTAKES - FORGIVENESS - IT IS OURS TO HAVE BUT IT IS ALSO OURS TO GIVE. OUR RESURRECTION INSTRUCTIONS ARE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABOUT THE TASK OF OFFERING TO GOD'S PEOPLE THE HEALING POWER - THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS. JESUS IS LIKE A COACH - "NOW GET OUT THERE AND FORGIVE THOSE SINS!"
NOW, THOMAS WAS NOT WITH THEM WHEN ALL THIS REVEALING AND INSTRUCTING WAS TAKING PLACE. WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHERE HE WAS - ONE COMMENTATOR, WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK I'M SURE, SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE HE WAS OUT HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE OR STROLLING THROUGH A NEARBY PARK WATCHING PIGEONS.
THE EXPLANATION I LIKE THE MOST IS THAT THOMAS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE PERSONS WHO FELT MORE COMFORTABLE DEALING WITH STRESS - WITH DIFFICULTIES - ALONE. ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO REMIND FAMILIES OF DURING THEIR DAYS OF GRIEF IS THAT ALL OF US HANDLE GRIEF DIFFERENTLY. SOME NEED TO BE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, SOME NEED TO CRY MORE TEARS, SOME NEED A TIME OF ANGER, SOME NEED TO LAUGH - BUT SOME NEED TO BE OFF ALONE - AND THAT'S OK TOO. THOMAS COULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A PERSON - HE COULD HAVE BEEN SO BROKEN UP THAT HE COULD NOT FACE THE EYES OF ANYONE ELSE.
NOW, DESPITE WHAT I HAVE JUST SAID, THAT IT IS OK AT TIMES TO SUFFER ALONE - THAT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO GRIEVE IN THEIR OWN WAY - I DO THINK THERE IS A SPECIAL KIND OF HEALING TAKES PLACE WHEN WE SHARE OUR GRIEF - OUR SORROW - WITH THOSE WE LOVE AND WHO LOVE US. WHEN WE WITHDRAW FROM THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP WE CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM ONE OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF SUPPORT AND THUS HEALING. ONE COMMENTATOR DESCRIBED IT THIS WAY: "WE MISS A GREAT DEAL WHEN WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, AND WHEN WE TRY TO BE ALONE. WHEN SORROW COMES TO US, AND WHEN SADNESS ENVELOPES US, WE OFTEN TEND TO SHUT OURSELVES UP AND REFUSE TO MEET PEOPLE. THAT IS THE VERY TIME WHEN, IN SPITE OF OUR SORROW, WE SHOULD SEEK THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST'S PEOPLE, FOR IT IS THERE THAT WE ARE LIKELIEST OF ALL TO MEET HIM FACE TO FACE." (3) FOR WHATEVER REASON, THOMAS WASN'T WITH HIS FRIENDS THAT FIRST EASTER EVENING WHEN JESUS APPEARED AND HE MISSED OUT ON THE HEALING THEIR BEING TOGETHER WITH THE RISEN LORD PROVIDED.
WHEN HE RETURNED THEY ALL TOLD HIM WHAT HE MISSED. ON THE ONE HAND, THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED BY HIS REACTION. "UNLESS JESUS COMES BACK AGAIN AND SHOWS ME THE NAIL MARKS AND LETS ME TOUCH THEM, I'M AFRAID I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU. I THINK YOUR VISION IS THE PRODUCT OF WISHFUL THINKING OR SOME OPTICAL ILLUSION."
ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY HAD TO BE A LITTLE DISCOURAGED THAT EVEN WITH THEIR NEW INSTRUCTIONS AND POWER THEY FAIL AT THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT AT WITNESSING ABOUT THE RISEN CHRIST. THOMAS IS EVEN MORE STUBBORN THAN THEY EXPECTED. SOME SUGGEST THAT HIS RESPONSE IS ACTUALLY EVEN MORE NEGATIVE THAN MOST OF THE TRANSLATIONS PRESENT IT. THEY SUGGEST THE MORE ACCURATE AND ABRASIVE PHRASES MIGHT BE MORE LIKE: FOR "PUT MY FINGER" WE MIGHT WANT TO PICTURE SOMETHING MORE LIKE "JAB". AND WHEN HE INSISTS THAT HE "WILL NOT BELIEVE" - IT ACTUALLY MIGHT HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE EMPHATIC, LIKE - "I WILL NEVER BELIEVE".
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS PASSAGE'S INCLUSION IN OUR HOLY SCRIPTURES IS THAT OUR EARLY GATHERERS OF THE STORIES OF THE FAITH FELT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT ACCOUNT. I THINK THEY KNEW THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE WOULD BE OTHERS WHO WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCEPTING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RESURRECTION AND THEY WANTED TO SAY THAT THAT WAS OK - THAT THERE WAS A PLACE IN THE KINGDOM FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLED - THOSE WHO NEEDED MORE THAN SOMEONE ELSE'S ACCOUNTING - THOSE WHO DOUBTED. I HAD ONE PROFESSOR PHRASE IT THIS WAY: "DOUBTS ARE THE ANTS IN THE PANTS OF FAITH." WHAT HE MEANT WAS THAT OUR DOUBTS - OUR QUESTIONS - OUR CHALLENGES HELP KEEP OUR FAITH ALIVE AND MOVING AND VITAL. FAITH IS BELIEVING IN THE MIDST OF OUR DOUBTING. WHEN THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBT, OF QUESTIONING, OF SEARCHING IS GONE - WE ARE NOT LEFT WITH FAITH BUT WITH THE RISK OF STAGNATION.
THERE'S A MOVEMENT IN SOME RELIGIOUS CIRCLES TO ALLOW A SELECT FEW TO DO THE THINKING FOR THE GROUP. "DON'T GIVE DOUBT ANY ROOM IN YOUR LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGIOUS MATTERS - DOUBTS ARE THE WORK OF THE DEVIL - LISTEN TO ME." BELIEVING SOMETHING TO BE TRUE JUST BECAUSE GRANDMA RUTH OR AUNT JANE OR REV. MICAH SAYS IT IS SO IS DANGEROUS. THE DANGER OF CULTS, OF TV PREACHERS AND MANY OF THE REST OF US PREACHERS - IS THAT WE THINK OUR ANSWERS SHOULD BE EVERYONE ELSE'S ANSWERS. "THE WAY TO GOD IS FOR YOU TO ACCEPT WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY TO YOU AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT IS GOD IS SAYING. LET ME INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOU." WE NEED TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO THINK CRITICALLY - TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES - TO THEOLOGIZE - TO QUESTION - NOT TO BECOME DEVOTEES OF THE LATEST POPULAR BUZZ RELIGIOUS PHENOMENON. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE ALL NEED SOME EARLY GUIDANCE - SOME PARAMETERS OF THE FAITH - BUT WE DO OURSELVES A GREAT DISSERVICE IF WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME GIVING PEOPLE ANSWERS AND ASKING THEM TO REGURGITATE THEM RATHER THAN TEACHING THEM TO THINK AND TO SEARCH.
MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT FUNDAMENTALIST CHURCHES AND PARA CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS AND TV EVANGELISTS DRAW AND THEIR CLAIM THAT IT'S BECAUSE THESE GROUPS ARE RIGHT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE AT ALL. I THINK THEY ARE PROVIDING ANSWERS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO EXAMINE RELIGIOUS ISSUES. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE MISREADING CONFIDENCE IN ONE'S BELIEF AS AUTHENTIC FAITH. AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT HISTORICALLY TRUE.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE ARE TO THE ADVANCES OF THE CULTS? ACCORDING TO JOHNCOOPER, A PROFESSOR AT WINEBRENNER SEMINARY BACK IN THE SEVENTIES AND AUTHOR OF "NOT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS," IT IS THOSE WHO WERE RAISED IN DOGMATIC CHURCHES AND HOMES WHERE THEY WERE TAUGHT (DARE WE IMPLY DOGMATICALLY) WHAT TO BELIEVE. (4) WHAT HAPPENS, ACCORDING TO HIS RESEARCH, IS WHEN THEY GET AWAY FROM PREACHER BOB OR MOM AND DAD AND THEY ARE ASKED WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR SOMEONE CHALLENGES ONE OF THEIR BELIEFS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR SAY AND SO THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE COMES UP TO THEM AND REASSURES THEM THAT THEY ARE A PART OF A CHRISTIAN GROUP THAT BELIEVES IN THE BIBLE AND THE TRUTH AND OFFERS THEM A LOT OF ANSWERS AND LOVE - THEY ARE HOOKED. THEY HAVE REPLACED ONE DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP FOR ANOTHER AND THEY THINK THAT THE NARROWER THEY BECOME - THE SAFER THEY ARE - AND THE CLOSER TO THE TRUTH THEY MUST BE.
NOT THOMAS. THOMAS ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO SAY THAT HE BELIEVES WHEN HE DOES NOT BELIEVE. HE WOULD NEVER SAY THAT HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND. THOMAS WOULD NEVER STILL HIS DOUBTS BY PRETENDING THAT THEY DON'T EXIST. THOMAS WAS NOT THE KIND OF MAN WHO WOULD RATTLE OFF A CREED WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. TENNYSON ONCE WROTE:
"THERE LIVES MORE FAITH IN HONEST DOUBT,
BELIEVE ME THAN IN HALF THE CREEDS."
THERE IS GREATER POTENTIAL FOR FAITH IN PERSONS WHO INSIST ON BEING SURE THAN IN PERSONS WHO GLIBLY REPEAT THINGS WHICH THEY HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OUT AND WHICH THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THEY BELIEVE OR NOT.
SO, A WHOLE WEEK GOES BY WITH THOMAS STRUGGLING WITH THE STORIES OF HIS FRIENDS. NOTICE THAT THEY MUST HAVE STAYED IN TOUCH WITH ONE ANOTHER - THEY DIDN'T RUN OFF AND START A NEW CONGREGATION OR AVOID ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE AT DIFFERENT PLACES IN THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAITH. JUST BECAUSE THOMAS DIDN'T BELIEVE EXACTLY AS THEY DID, THE OTHER DISCIPLES DIDN'T EXCLUDE HIM FROM THEIR FELLOWSHIP. RATHER, HE WAS ALLOWED TO VOICE HIS DOUBTS WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID JESUS HANDLE THOSE WHO DOUBTED? CAST THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH? CHARGE THEM WITH HERESY? EXCOMMUNICATION? DID HE GIVE UP ON HIM? NO! HE CAME AGAIN AND HE STOOD AMONG THE DISCIPLES AND HE GREETED THEM WITH "PEACE BE WITH YOU". THEN HE TURNED TO THE DOUBTER AND HE SAID: "THOMAS, PUT YOUR FINGER HERE; SEE MY HANDS. REACH OUT YOUR HAND AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE."
THOUGH IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, THERE APPEARS NOT TO BE ANY ATTEMPT ON THOMAS' PART TO TAKE JESUS UP ON HIS INVITATION TO FINGER HIS WOUNDS. INSTEAD, HE PROCLAIMS THIS UNQUALIFIED CONFESSION OF FAITH: "MY LORD AND MY GOD!"
THOMAS CAME TO BELIEF - TO FAITH - THROUGH HIS DOUBTS. FAITH AND DOUBTS ARE NOT OPPOSITES - BUT DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE SAME COIN OF BELIEF. CHRIST INVITED THOMAS TO HAVE THE VERY EXPERIENCE WHICH IN HIS DOUBT HE DEMANDED. THOMAS' DOUBTS PREPARED THE WAY FOR HIS RECOGNITION THAT JESUS IS GOD. BUT JOHN PUSHES US EVEN FURTHER BY SPEAKING OF THE BLESSEDNESS OF FAITH WITHOUT SEEING.
PRAYER: O LORD OF US ALL, WE KNOW WE ARE RELATED TO THOMAS - THANK YOU FOR GIVING US SPACE TO GROW. USE OUR QUESTIONS LORD TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH. REVEAL UNTO US THAT WHICH WE NEED TO BELIEVE YOU ARE RISEN FOR US. AMEN.
1. King Duncan, "Unlocking the Doors," sermons.com.
2. Being the Best, (New York: Pocket Books, 1987). p. 157.
3. William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of John, Volume Two (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 2001), ebooks.
4.. John Cooper, Not For a Million Dollars (Impact Books, 1980).
JOHN 20:19-31
HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE REFER TO YOU AS A "DOUBTING THOMAS" OR HAVE THEM CHALLENGE SOMETHING YOU ARE TELLING ABOUT BY REQUESTING THAT YOU "SHOW ME"? BOTH PHRASES HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THIS GOSPEL STORY ACCORDING TO JOHN. THE DISCIPLE THOMAS WASN'T GOING TO ACCEPT SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE SAID IT WAS SO.
YEARS AGO I HAD TO MEMORIZE FOR THE GOD AND COUNTRY AWARD ANOTHER PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WHICH HAD THOMAS AS ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS. IN JOHN 14 JOHN HAS JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES HAVING ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR SUPPERS. "IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO ... " - YOU ALL REMEMBER THE STORY? AND JESUS WENT ON WITH: "AND YOU KNOW THE WAY THAT I AM GOING." THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN I APPRECIATE THOMAS - WHEN I SENSE HOW MUCH LIKE THOMAS I AM.
NOBODY ELSE BREATHED A WORD - THOMAS SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS JUST BEEN SAID, "UH, EXCUSE ME, LORD. WOULD YOU GO OVER THAT AGAIN FOR ME? I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS TALK ABOUT YOUR GOING SOMEWHERE. I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND I CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW THE WAY."
IF THOMAS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, HE WASN'T GOING TO PRETEND HE DID. HE WASN'T AFRAID OF APPEARING DUMB. HE HAD NO INKLING THAT HIS QUESTIONING/DOUBTING/CHALLENGING MIGHT REFLECT THE NOTION OF FAITHLESS. HE WASN'T GOING TO ACCEPT SOMETHING AS TRUTH JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE - EVEN PEOPLE HE ADMIRED AND RESPECTED - TOLD HIM IT WAS. "IT MAY BE YOUR TRUTH BUT I'VE GOT TO FIND OUT FOR MYSELF IF IT'S MINE." IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOUGH THAT HIS PURPOSE FOR DOUBTING WAS NOT TO DENY THE TRUTH OR THE FAITH, BUT TO GROW IN THE FAITH - TO UNDERSTAND IT SO THAT HE COULD CLAIM IT AS HIS OWN.
WELL, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE STORY. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAT HAPPENS IN THIS STORY LEADING UP TO THOMAS' EXPRESSION OF DOUBT AND FAITH.
SOMETIME BACK, FORMER TALK SHOW HOST JOHNNY CARSON VISITED HARVARD UNIVERSITY TO RECEIVE AN AWARD. AFTER THE CEREMONY HE AGREED TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PRESS. ONE REPORTER ASKED, "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE INSCRIBED ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?" CARSON THOUGHT FOR JUST A SECOND, THEN HE ANSWERED WITH THE WORDS HE USED BEFORE EVERY COMMERCIAL BREAK ON HIS TELEVISION SHOW. "I'LL BE RIGHT BACK." (1)
JESUS HAD BEEN TRYING TO TELL THE DISCIPLES THAT HIS DEATH WASN'T GOING TO BE THE END OF THE WORLD - THAT HE WAS GOING TO ".. BE RIGHT BACK .. " - BUT THEY NEVER QUITE GOT IT. AND SO ON THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY - ON THE EVENING OF EASTER SUNDAY - DESPITE WHAT MARY MAGDALENE HAD REPORTED TO THEM ABOUT HER ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN JESUS - THE DISCIPLES ARE IN HIDING - THEY ARE BEHIND LOCKED DOORS - PERHAPS THE SHADES ARE EVEN DRAWN - THEY HAVE HEARD THE REPORTS AND THEY ARE AFRAID - THEY FEARED THE HATRED AND HOSTILITY OF THOSE WHO DESTROYED JESUS - EVEN IF THEY BELIEVED MARY'S TESTIMONY, THEY STILL BELIEVED THAT "LYING LOW" WAS THEIR BEST STRATEGY. THEY WERE PROBABLY SPEAKING IN MUFFLED TONES TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. EVERY TIME THEY HEARD A NOISE THEY THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WAS COMING TO TAKE THEM AWAY TO PRISON OR WORSE.
IT REMINDS ME OF A FOOTBALL STORY. PENN STATE AND MIAMI WERE COMPETING FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE IN THE FIESTA BOWL. SOME MAY REMEMBER THAT PENN STATE EKED OUT A 14-10 VICTORY THAT INCLUDED A NAIL-BITING GOAL-LINE STAND IN THE CLOSING MINUTES OF THE GAME. SOMEHOW, PENN STATE'S STUBBORN DEFENSE MANAGED TO HOLD OFF MIAMI'S TALENTED QUARTERBACK, VINNY TESTAVERDE, ONE LAST TIME TO THWART THE HURRICANES' FINAL DESPERATE EFFORT TO PULL OUT THE VICTORY.
IN THE FRENZIED JUBILATION FOLLOWING THE FINAL GUN, TV CAMERAS ZEROED IN ON VARIOUS PLAYERS, INCLUDING ONE OF PENN STATE'S ALL-AMERICAN LINEBACKERS. HE CREDITED PENN STATE'S HARD-HITTING DEFENSIVE BACKS WITH THE VICTORY. "MIAMI'S RECEIVERS JUST DIDN'T WANT TO CATCH THE BALL," HE SAID. "THEY HEARD FOOTSTEPS ALL NIGHT LONG, AND THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET HIT." (2)
I GUESS WE COULD SAY THE DISCIPLES WERE HEARING FOOTSTEPS. THEY WERE FRIGHTENED. BUT THEN, SUDDENLY, OUT OF NOWHERE - DEMONSTRATING THAT HIS RESURRECTED FORM WAS NOT SIMPLY HIS OLD HUMAN BODY REANIMATED - JESUS SUDDENLY APPEARS IN THEIR MIDST - HE STOOD AMONG THEM - AND HE SAID "PEACE BE WITH YOU."
NOW, MY GUESS IS THAT THEIR RESPONSE WAS ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL - NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHERE THEY WERE HIDING - HOW DID JESUS FIND THEM? AND HOW DID HE ENTER WITHOUT USING THE DOOR? THE DISCIPLES WERE ANXIOUS - THEY WERE AFRAID - THEY WERE UNCERTAIN - YET, HERE WAS THE MASTER RIGHT IN THEIR MIDST - ECHOING HIS WORDS AT THE LAST SUPPER - OFFERING THEM THE GREETING THEY LONGED TO HEAR: "PEACE BE WITH YOU." AND THEN HE SHOWED THEM HIS HANDS AND SIDE - THE PLACES WHERE THEY HAD LET HIM HAVE IT - AND THEY FINALLY KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE MASTER. AND THEY REJOICED BECAUSE NOW THEY TOO BELIEVED THAT THEIR MASTER WAS ALIVE AND THEY NEED NOT FEAR ANYMORE!
THEIR REJOICING WAS SHORT LIVED HOWEVER, BECAUSE WHEN JESUS AGAIN SAID TO THEM, "PEACE BE WITH YOU" HE ADDED, "AS MY FATHER SENT ME, EVEN SO I SEND YOU." HE WAS COMMISSIONING THEM TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING. JOHN GOES ON IN HIS ACCOUNT AND TELLS HOW HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID, "RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT." "I KNOW THAT WHAT I AM TELLING YOU TO DO WILL TAKE MORE THAN THE PEACE I HAVE OFFERED YOU. HERE THEN IS ALSO THE POWER I PROMISED YOU - THE HOLY SPIRIT." AND HE BREATHED ON THEM - HE UNLEASHED THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THEIR LIVES. HE ENDS THIS EMPOWERMENT TRAINING SESSION BY TELLING THEM WHAT THIS BEING SENT AND RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT MEANS. "YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS."
YOU SEE, THE PURPOSE OF THE RESURRECTION WASN'T JUST TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR FEARS OR TO ASSURE THEM OF THEIR ETERNAL LIFE BUT TO EMPOWER THEM FOR THE CONTINUATION OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY - TO SEND THEM INTO THE WORLD TO UNLOCK THE DOORS OF FAITH FOR OTHERS - AND HOW WERE THEY TO DO THAT? - BY FORGIVING SINS - BY LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THERE WAS RELIEF FROM THE GUILT THAT ENSLAVED THEM TO THEIR PAST MISTAKES - FORGIVENESS - IT IS OURS TO HAVE BUT IT IS ALSO OURS TO GIVE. OUR RESURRECTION INSTRUCTIONS ARE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABOUT THE TASK OF OFFERING TO GOD'S PEOPLE THE HEALING POWER - THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS. JESUS IS LIKE A COACH - "NOW GET OUT THERE AND FORGIVE THOSE SINS!"
NOW, THOMAS WAS NOT WITH THEM WHEN ALL THIS REVEALING AND INSTRUCTING WAS TAKING PLACE. WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHERE HE WAS - ONE COMMENTATOR, WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK I'M SURE, SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE HE WAS OUT HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE OR STROLLING THROUGH A NEARBY PARK WATCHING PIGEONS.
THE EXPLANATION I LIKE THE MOST IS THAT THOMAS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE PERSONS WHO FELT MORE COMFORTABLE DEALING WITH STRESS - WITH DIFFICULTIES - ALONE. ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO REMIND FAMILIES OF DURING THEIR DAYS OF GRIEF IS THAT ALL OF US HANDLE GRIEF DIFFERENTLY. SOME NEED TO BE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, SOME NEED TO CRY MORE TEARS, SOME NEED A TIME OF ANGER, SOME NEED TO LAUGH - BUT SOME NEED TO BE OFF ALONE - AND THAT'S OK TOO. THOMAS COULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A PERSON - HE COULD HAVE BEEN SO BROKEN UP THAT HE COULD NOT FACE THE EYES OF ANYONE ELSE.
NOW, DESPITE WHAT I HAVE JUST SAID, THAT IT IS OK AT TIMES TO SUFFER ALONE - THAT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO GRIEVE IN THEIR OWN WAY - I DO THINK THERE IS A SPECIAL KIND OF HEALING TAKES PLACE WHEN WE SHARE OUR GRIEF - OUR SORROW - WITH THOSE WE LOVE AND WHO LOVE US. WHEN WE WITHDRAW FROM THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP WE CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM ONE OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF SUPPORT AND THUS HEALING. ONE COMMENTATOR DESCRIBED IT THIS WAY: "WE MISS A GREAT DEAL WHEN WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, AND WHEN WE TRY TO BE ALONE. WHEN SORROW COMES TO US, AND WHEN SADNESS ENVELOPES US, WE OFTEN TEND TO SHUT OURSELVES UP AND REFUSE TO MEET PEOPLE. THAT IS THE VERY TIME WHEN, IN SPITE OF OUR SORROW, WE SHOULD SEEK THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST'S PEOPLE, FOR IT IS THERE THAT WE ARE LIKELIEST OF ALL TO MEET HIM FACE TO FACE." (3) FOR WHATEVER REASON, THOMAS WASN'T WITH HIS FRIENDS THAT FIRST EASTER EVENING WHEN JESUS APPEARED AND HE MISSED OUT ON THE HEALING THEIR BEING TOGETHER WITH THE RISEN LORD PROVIDED.
WHEN HE RETURNED THEY ALL TOLD HIM WHAT HE MISSED. ON THE ONE HAND, THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED BY HIS REACTION. "UNLESS JESUS COMES BACK AGAIN AND SHOWS ME THE NAIL MARKS AND LETS ME TOUCH THEM, I'M AFRAID I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU. I THINK YOUR VISION IS THE PRODUCT OF WISHFUL THINKING OR SOME OPTICAL ILLUSION."
ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY HAD TO BE A LITTLE DISCOURAGED THAT EVEN WITH THEIR NEW INSTRUCTIONS AND POWER THEY FAIL AT THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT AT WITNESSING ABOUT THE RISEN CHRIST. THOMAS IS EVEN MORE STUBBORN THAN THEY EXPECTED. SOME SUGGEST THAT HIS RESPONSE IS ACTUALLY EVEN MORE NEGATIVE THAN MOST OF THE TRANSLATIONS PRESENT IT. THEY SUGGEST THE MORE ACCURATE AND ABRASIVE PHRASES MIGHT BE MORE LIKE: FOR "PUT MY FINGER" WE MIGHT WANT TO PICTURE SOMETHING MORE LIKE "JAB". AND WHEN HE INSISTS THAT HE "WILL NOT BELIEVE" - IT ACTUALLY MIGHT HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE EMPHATIC, LIKE - "I WILL NEVER BELIEVE".
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS PASSAGE'S INCLUSION IN OUR HOLY SCRIPTURES IS THAT OUR EARLY GATHERERS OF THE STORIES OF THE FAITH FELT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT ACCOUNT. I THINK THEY KNEW THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE WOULD BE OTHERS WHO WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCEPTING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RESURRECTION AND THEY WANTED TO SAY THAT THAT WAS OK - THAT THERE WAS A PLACE IN THE KINGDOM FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLED - THOSE WHO NEEDED MORE THAN SOMEONE ELSE'S ACCOUNTING - THOSE WHO DOUBTED. I HAD ONE PROFESSOR PHRASE IT THIS WAY: "DOUBTS ARE THE ANTS IN THE PANTS OF FAITH." WHAT HE MEANT WAS THAT OUR DOUBTS - OUR QUESTIONS - OUR CHALLENGES HELP KEEP OUR FAITH ALIVE AND MOVING AND VITAL. FAITH IS BELIEVING IN THE MIDST OF OUR DOUBTING. WHEN THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBT, OF QUESTIONING, OF SEARCHING IS GONE - WE ARE NOT LEFT WITH FAITH BUT WITH THE RISK OF STAGNATION.
THERE'S A MOVEMENT IN SOME RELIGIOUS CIRCLES TO ALLOW A SELECT FEW TO DO THE THINKING FOR THE GROUP. "DON'T GIVE DOUBT ANY ROOM IN YOUR LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGIOUS MATTERS - DOUBTS ARE THE WORK OF THE DEVIL - LISTEN TO ME." BELIEVING SOMETHING TO BE TRUE JUST BECAUSE GRANDMA RUTH OR AUNT JANE OR REV. MICAH SAYS IT IS SO IS DANGEROUS. THE DANGER OF CULTS, OF TV PREACHERS AND MANY OF THE REST OF US PREACHERS - IS THAT WE THINK OUR ANSWERS SHOULD BE EVERYONE ELSE'S ANSWERS. "THE WAY TO GOD IS FOR YOU TO ACCEPT WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY TO YOU AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT IS GOD IS SAYING. LET ME INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOU." WE NEED TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO THINK CRITICALLY - TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES - TO THEOLOGIZE - TO QUESTION - NOT TO BECOME DEVOTEES OF THE LATEST POPULAR BUZZ RELIGIOUS PHENOMENON. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE ALL NEED SOME EARLY GUIDANCE - SOME PARAMETERS OF THE FAITH - BUT WE DO OURSELVES A GREAT DISSERVICE IF WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME GIVING PEOPLE ANSWERS AND ASKING THEM TO REGURGITATE THEM RATHER THAN TEACHING THEM TO THINK AND TO SEARCH.
MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT FUNDAMENTALIST CHURCHES AND PARA CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS AND TV EVANGELISTS DRAW AND THEIR CLAIM THAT IT'S BECAUSE THESE GROUPS ARE RIGHT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE AT ALL. I THINK THEY ARE PROVIDING ANSWERS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO EXAMINE RELIGIOUS ISSUES. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE MISREADING CONFIDENCE IN ONE'S BELIEF AS AUTHENTIC FAITH. AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT HISTORICALLY TRUE.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE ARE TO THE ADVANCES OF THE CULTS? ACCORDING TO JOHNCOOPER, A PROFESSOR AT WINEBRENNER SEMINARY BACK IN THE SEVENTIES AND AUTHOR OF "NOT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS," IT IS THOSE WHO WERE RAISED IN DOGMATIC CHURCHES AND HOMES WHERE THEY WERE TAUGHT (DARE WE IMPLY DOGMATICALLY) WHAT TO BELIEVE. (4) WHAT HAPPENS, ACCORDING TO HIS RESEARCH, IS WHEN THEY GET AWAY FROM PREACHER BOB OR MOM AND DAD AND THEY ARE ASKED WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR SOMEONE CHALLENGES ONE OF THEIR BELIEFS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR SAY AND SO THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE COMES UP TO THEM AND REASSURES THEM THAT THEY ARE A PART OF A CHRISTIAN GROUP THAT BELIEVES IN THE BIBLE AND THE TRUTH AND OFFERS THEM A LOT OF ANSWERS AND LOVE - THEY ARE HOOKED. THEY HAVE REPLACED ONE DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP FOR ANOTHER AND THEY THINK THAT THE NARROWER THEY BECOME - THE SAFER THEY ARE - AND THE CLOSER TO THE TRUTH THEY MUST BE.
NOT THOMAS. THOMAS ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO SAY THAT HE BELIEVES WHEN HE DOES NOT BELIEVE. HE WOULD NEVER SAY THAT HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND. THOMAS WOULD NEVER STILL HIS DOUBTS BY PRETENDING THAT THEY DON'T EXIST. THOMAS WAS NOT THE KIND OF MAN WHO WOULD RATTLE OFF A CREED WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. TENNYSON ONCE WROTE:
"THERE LIVES MORE FAITH IN HONEST DOUBT,
BELIEVE ME THAN IN HALF THE CREEDS."
THERE IS GREATER POTENTIAL FOR FAITH IN PERSONS WHO INSIST ON BEING SURE THAN IN PERSONS WHO GLIBLY REPEAT THINGS WHICH THEY HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OUT AND WHICH THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THEY BELIEVE OR NOT.
SO, A WHOLE WEEK GOES BY WITH THOMAS STRUGGLING WITH THE STORIES OF HIS FRIENDS. NOTICE THAT THEY MUST HAVE STAYED IN TOUCH WITH ONE ANOTHER - THEY DIDN'T RUN OFF AND START A NEW CONGREGATION OR AVOID ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE AT DIFFERENT PLACES IN THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAITH. JUST BECAUSE THOMAS DIDN'T BELIEVE EXACTLY AS THEY DID, THE OTHER DISCIPLES DIDN'T EXCLUDE HIM FROM THEIR FELLOWSHIP. RATHER, HE WAS ALLOWED TO VOICE HIS DOUBTS WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID JESUS HANDLE THOSE WHO DOUBTED? CAST THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH? CHARGE THEM WITH HERESY? EXCOMMUNICATION? DID HE GIVE UP ON HIM? NO! HE CAME AGAIN AND HE STOOD AMONG THE DISCIPLES AND HE GREETED THEM WITH "PEACE BE WITH YOU". THEN HE TURNED TO THE DOUBTER AND HE SAID: "THOMAS, PUT YOUR FINGER HERE; SEE MY HANDS. REACH OUT YOUR HAND AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE."
THOUGH IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, THERE APPEARS NOT TO BE ANY ATTEMPT ON THOMAS' PART TO TAKE JESUS UP ON HIS INVITATION TO FINGER HIS WOUNDS. INSTEAD, HE PROCLAIMS THIS UNQUALIFIED CONFESSION OF FAITH: "MY LORD AND MY GOD!"
THOMAS CAME TO BELIEF - TO FAITH - THROUGH HIS DOUBTS. FAITH AND DOUBTS ARE NOT OPPOSITES - BUT DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE SAME COIN OF BELIEF. CHRIST INVITED THOMAS TO HAVE THE VERY EXPERIENCE WHICH IN HIS DOUBT HE DEMANDED. THOMAS' DOUBTS PREPARED THE WAY FOR HIS RECOGNITION THAT JESUS IS GOD. BUT JOHN PUSHES US EVEN FURTHER BY SPEAKING OF THE BLESSEDNESS OF FAITH WITHOUT SEEING.
PRAYER: O LORD OF US ALL, WE KNOW WE ARE RELATED TO THOMAS - THANK YOU FOR GIVING US SPACE TO GROW. USE OUR QUESTIONS LORD TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH. REVEAL UNTO US THAT WHICH WE NEED TO BELIEVE YOU ARE RISEN FOR US. AMEN.
1. King Duncan, "Unlocking the Doors," sermons.com.
2. Being the Best, (New York: Pocket Books, 1987). p. 157.
3. William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of John, Volume Two (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 2001), ebooks.
4.. John Cooper, Not For a Million Dollars (Impact Books, 1980).
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