Feb 5 Readings: 1 Cor. 9:19-23, Mark 1:29-39
Sermon: The Bottom Line.
- Paul’s charge to be all things to all people is a call for diversity and flexibility.
- The scene at Peter’s house is dramatic and memorable.
- The bottom line for Christian ministry is proclaiming the Gospel to all who will listen.
LB – it starts when I turn the key and gets me where I want to go – and its paid for.
I apologize easily, genuinely, and frequently – my personal pride isn’t my bottom line; my BL is the church’s life and ministry. I’m seldom interested in expending energy trying to justify or explain my innocence; my BL is learning from a mistake, leaving it behind, and moving forward.
Paul the apostle had similar clarity on the BL for himself, for the church, and for Christian ministry – and the BL was always and only Jesus Christ. And that gift could come in ANY number of wrappings. (Read passage)
Dad – Uncle Ted’s funeral – where does incense come from? /I still think its pagan.
Sometimes Paul’s injunction is seen as dreaming the impossible dream: HOW can ANYONE be all things to all men? How can he be like a Jew to the Jews who live by the law, AND be like the Gentiles who have no use for it. – how can WEAK be good??
What Paul seriously means is 1) we must respect different approaches and traditions, and the people who participate in them. TRULY respect, not just put up with or tolerate. and 2) CHRIST is the bottom line.// these were among the major themes of the Cyberspace and Sacred Space seminar we attended yesterday.
Example:
8:30 - 1st Methodist Church, Kung Du// guide me o thou great Jehovah//took decades to incorporate African music
(10am boogity amen – what do we think of that?)
For myself, I find all things to all people a tremendously important, liberating concept.//Greek orthodox ritual, Roman Catholic mass, Pentecostal screaming, Quaker prayer circle, mainline prot worship – they are all valid if they work for YOU. It’s joyfully, happily NOT my job to judge and evaluate/by their fruits you will know them //Linda Allanson – yes, go and be Catholic – NOT, what’s wrong with you that you want to be left alone on a Sunday?!
Our natural tendency, as Americans, is to let people alone in their religious convictions – so its good for us to understand from 1 Cor 9 that we respect others spiritual paths not because we’re indifferent, or unmotivated 2 bring people to Christ, but because we respect and accept what 1 Cor 9 is saying.
Bringing people to Christ is also exactly what’s happening in our Gospel reading from Mark 1.
Like the call of the apostles, this too is a dramatic, memorable scene in Mark’s gospel.
they went …to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law (Miriam) was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. /jesus makes house calls – they bring him to her – a good story for lay communion ministers /31 So he went to (Miriam), took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her (no thermometers) and she began to wait on them.// Psychosomatic? Sometimes folks just want a little attention – or a PURPOSE.
32 That evening after sunset (heat)the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.(even when the ministry was brand-new, people needed help to get to Jesus – they didn’t come on their own) 33 The whole town gathered at the door, /a wonderful literary visual/and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.(not everyone apparently – echoes Mark 6, rejection at Nazareth – couldn’t heal everyone)
Drove out demons – literal demons, sure – but also symbolic of problems and situations that the people themselves could not deal with. Us: depression, despair, alcohol, illness, loss, loneliness – all sorts of things we cannot handle by ourselves. And Mark 1 assures us that we don’t HAVE to deal with it by ourselves.// solitary confinement, maybe – but none of us are in that situation. Help is as close as the phone, our church’s ministry, and comes from a myriad of sources. And it seldom has to do with fitting into a prescribed, one size fits all spiritual pigeonhole – some folks just need a friend, some need steph min, some need professional counseling, some folks need medication. All things to all people.
Speaking of solitary confinement, Next morning Jesus gets up and goes to a lonely place to pray by himself// reinforces all things to all people: our societal prejudice is that anyone who wants alone time better not want too much of it – Jesus didn’t mind it; except for Gethsemane, Jesus even sought it. But the apostles show up and say: everyone is looking for you. core of Jesus calling is: let’s get to work, and tell the world that there’s a loving God.
Making a phone call for service/ how annoying when the person at the other end politely insists that there’s only one way to jump through the hoops – you have to fill out this form, wait this long, appeal to this person. How much more our hearts/loyalty are won when they say instead: Let’s make this work – let’s see what we can do about this.
If we expect that, and respond to that, when a credit card or appliance or phone company behaves that second way, how MUCH more we should expect Jesus to be like that. In John 14:6 Jesus says I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. but he never says that there is only one way to HIM. Let’s rejoice in all the ways people find their way to Christ, from Bach and choir robes to Chris Tomlin and rock n roll. We celebrate the ways and the people that have brought us to Christ, and we ask for the discernment to know and the drive to do what works toward that same bottom line, in this early 21st century.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Mark 1:29-39
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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Jan 29 Both services Readings: 1 Cor 8:1-13, Mat. 5:1-12
Sermon: Winning Really Isn’t Everything.
- The Beatitudes uphold values other than intimidating others and getting our own way.
- Paul became a vegetarian for the sake of his less knowledgeable brothers in Christ.
- The Gospel call to respect those who are weaker must be followed with strength and conviction.
Superbowl and Primaries – who will WIN?!
- Winning isn’t everything – winning is the ONLY thing – vince lombardi
Gym meet – should get 140 points just for getting on that beam and doing a backflip.
Officially one team won and one team lost
Confirmands - serious life choice – winning vs other values – cooperation, consideration, compassion. And of course, that’s the ethic put forth by the sermon on the mount. We want to hear it, ponder it, and ACT on it, not just because Jesus said it, but because it makes sense.
Years ago: Going from one end of Sweden to the other – one car cutting corners, driving fast and dangerous, breaking laws – other driver obeyed the laws, took their time.
The first driver DID arrive first – but arrived frazzled, tense, and exhausted. The 2nd driver arrived about a half hour later, calm and relaxed.
Lee Stroebel - willow creek got to me because the sermons made sense.
I want to stress that the Beatitudes are NOT a defense of the sloppy and careless. Moneyball – what does losing sound like? //Billy Beane – his rage is justifiable because the team sought refuge in their poor playing, by feigning indifference
But they ARE a defense of a position that, contra Vince L, there are valid values other than winning. Cooperation, and mercy, and finding the middle way – the beatitudes frankly say that THESE are more important than simply getting our own way and being on top of the heap. .//(moneyball: we won 20 games in a row/but didn’t win WS, so doesn’t count. Pete Brand says no - We showed the worth of players that everyone else was putting in the dumpster.
Jesus’ beatitudes do the same thing, only with values – the beatitudes take attitudes and values that ordinarily are avoided or devalued, and proclaims their worth.
Esp. true in the Roman pagan world in which the Gospel was first proclaimed –ecclipsing empire/ power, ruthlessness, every man for himself (plagues). Things have changed 2k years later, but not that much. Poverty, mourning, and hunger are still things we ordinarily try to avoid. Compassion, peacemaking, and gentleness have more of a mixed record – many people DO instinctively value these, but many others tend to shove them aside – as when, when push comes to shove, you gotta be tough. But Jesus says no, taking the road of mercy and mutual cooperation isn’t just nice, but a path of sacred worth.
We get a concrete NT illustration of this in our reading from 1 Cor 8.
- Paul says even if you’re right, that is NOT the most important thing.
- Minor scale: Personal relationships – I’m often guilty of this – correcting people on their facts. I forget, the relationship is more important than showing that I know more than they do. Knowledge puffs up, but love BUILDS up. Ouch!
But it goes far beyond trivia. / in the Roman world, most meat available in a marketplace had first been offered at a pagan altar./ Paul says this is all just a bad joke, because there is only one God – you cannot offer something to something that doesn’t exist./however, for a less sophisticated Xtian, there ARE other gods that they are trying to turn away from – and so eating meat becomes then an indirect way to participate in worshipping that false god. And Paul says, this is all stupid, to be honest; the worship and service of God has nothing to do what kind of food we eat, or thinking there are other gods. But not everyone is this smart; so what’s more important than educating them, is respecting them.
Let’s say/ I wear a Ronald Regan button to make a kid happy/ what a plethora of assumptions would be made, controversy, people upset, confused - so I don’t wear any political buttons. Nor do any of us – because our unity as a Christian family is more important, in this place, than expressing our individual political preferences.
Similar thing here – paul says he will become a vegetarian for the sake of those who aren’t as smart and strong in Christ as he is. So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 And When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
We still may not understand why, for the sake of the Body of Christ, Paul can never have a steak. But the bottom line, what’s important in any century, is respecting our sister and brother Xtian. – the more sophisticated, more informed Xtian, has an obligation, not to show other xtians how smart they are, but how gentle, strong, and supportive they can be.
END: guy in VA – retired lobbyist (Thomas Bailey) – look how important I was –
I’m not sure why that was so memorable for me – that Max Factor and Helene Curtiss were real people, I guess. /also sic transit Gloria mundi /
Jesus and the Beatitudes uphold a completely different measure of importance and value/Lois Quantock/ thousands of hymns, all the comfort and inspiration she gave to people for the better part of a century // if we were to hold a dinner to honor Lois, I don’t suppose that the titans of industry would come. But WE would be there – and so would Jesus.
1 Corinthians 8
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
Matthew 5
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Jan 22 Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Matthew 4:12-23
Sermon: Re-Called
- We hear the call best, not when we’re in the middle of things, but on the edge.
- Jesus has little use for religious specialists.
- We may hear the call better now than we ever have before.
In all the Gospels, the setting for the apostle’s call is clear and cheerful. Contrast: Xmas, pushed to the stable – Easter, fear – Good Friday and Maundy Thursday, all dark and dreary and bloody.
But THIS day – beautiful and clear, like a summer morning next to a lake in WI, the waves washing on the shore – bright with promise, hope, and new beginnings. The ancient prophecy from Isaiah is coming true at last: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the shadow of death, light has dawned.” Mt 4:16
The call comes by the waters edge – significant. That’s when we can often hear it best – not when we’re in the middle of something, but when we’re on the edge.
Last week: spirit hovering over the waters/ today parallels the Call on the edge of the sea – accurate/poetic/symbolic – Tu has venido: Buscare otro mar
Edge of the internal sea: loss, unemployment, retirement, moving, a significant birthday, children growing up
WHY does he call the apostles? Why not snap his fingers or reach into his Godliness -and do it himself?
-the temptation just rejected in the desert
-1) the 12 disciples parralell the 12 tribes/sons of Jacob - a tie to the OT - BUT
2) in group, in crowd approach of OT Judaism vs a world wide reach
-3) even Jesus needs help – even Jesus had to delegate
And why does Jesus call THESE people? They’re very deliberately NOT religious specialists. Jesus didn’t waste his time going to the temple or to a yeshiva – jesus had no credentials, and they were too full of vested interests already.
Parallel: League of their own LOTO – choosing players – they had heart, but no experience or credentials./starting from scratch.
Another LOTO parallel: called from security to adventure.
Wonderful irony: Church: security/GS founded to stabilize community/clergy pension/habit of weekly attendance
Vs the true call of Christ requires a completely different definition of security –/ LOTO the game/ – in our case, GOD is our security, not wealth or walls - //the true call of Christ fosters adventure, not routine.
Jesus and those he calls are giving up their security: carpentry shop, fishing nets, family – their fellow disciples and their shared ministry will be their new family.// LOTO – the team
- Chicago temple wed – grant presentation – 32 – almost all of them talked about their ministry, not about themselves.
In Matthew 4, the call of Christ is made and heard for the first time. In our own cases, we have probably heard it many, many times.
- When I taught JJC – the older students were the best ones – they had set aside their education for job, family, whatever – and they were new students again, better students, because they really wanted to learn.
- Retiree – how many things they get involved in that they always WANTED to get involved in and never had the time for.
Themes reinforced by r reading from Jonah
- Religious specialist flees from God! And finds adventure – a monumental storm, then riding inside a whale.
- The PAGANS – not the official religious specialist - hear and obey God’s call!
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Today we get our Re-Call notice. Usually a bad thing – got one this week about my Toyota – but this is a good Re-call – we are called again – and we may actually hear it clearly for the first time.
GS is hearing Jesus call with wonderful clarity this past year: Youth group leadership/adult ed effort/GfS/ GM / Jail Min/ pledges up and its not just church activities. James 4: 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow... 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Speckman rehab/ Roberts auto service/ my sisters doughnut shop – enriching the downtown community.
In our hearts, we are on the edge of the sea, the waves lapping our feet, on a bright, clear day – someone we haven’t really met before is asking us to leave behind what we have known, and take a chance on him. Methodists aren’t supposed to gamble - but this time, the Master himself says to go ahead and do it! So let us do just that, In JN Amen.
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Jan. 15: Listen to God's Call Julia Jones, Church World ServiceReadings: Psalm 139 1-12, 1Samuel 3:1-10, Matthew 25:31-40ON THIS HUMAN RELATIONS SUNDAY, we welcome Julia Jones to out pulpit. Ms. Jones is the Associate Director of the Church World Service Illinois Region. She works with some 60 volunteer teams across Illinois, assisting them with their planning of CROP HUNGER WALK events. Julia’s Master’s degree is from Ohio University and is in International Affairs. Julia has worked on policy issues in Washington D.C., and on international issues at the Presbyterian United Nations office in New York City. In 2009 she travelled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic t see CROP Hunger Walk monies at work, she recently traveled with 48 volunteers to the CWS Kit warehouse in New Windsor, MD. Julia is married to Rev. Michael Mann, Associate Director for Mission and Advocacy in the Northern Illinois Conference.
Jan 8 : Baptism of our Lord Readings: Gen 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11
Sermon: Formless and Shapeless - Not a Problem.
- If we are bored, drifting, or uncertain – God can work with that.
- God shapes chaos into Creation – and gives direction to Jesus’ life.
- It’s not enough to go through rituals – we need the Spirit’s fire!
Even casual Chaos bothers most of us – it certainly bothers ME. – potato peeler must be in THIS section of the drawer – two sections over I don’t see it.
And fully raging Chaos in society or in our lives is even more disturbing.
- I get upset when there’s water in my basement //Flood damage – Katrina – still haven’t fully recovered.
- College grads drifting – jobs hard to find – go back to school, don’t know what else to do.
Home lives – church life – like things regular – we get into ruts because we are comfortable in our ruts – and we don’t like becoming UN comfortable.
But God isn’t threatened by chaos or uncertainty – God can work with that.
- Moses – crossing the red sea – other side, where do we go from here?
- Royal line – Saul didn’t work out, go with David./ (2 Samuel & 1 Kings – Solomon’s selection)
- Pentecost – NOT an ordered experience.
Today, when we mark Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, our readings focus on God dealing with chaos or uncertainty and making something of it – or even God the Spirit, in Acts 19, CAUSING excitement, causing something dull and settled to go out of control or at least get edgier. And so we begin at the beginning – with the first verses from Genesis 1.
we always say creation out of nothing but that is not literally true. Read text carefully –2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Something is there – but its formless, shapeless, and depressing.
We miss the significance of this because we focus on the geophysical meaning – WHERE is this formless water? What’s it sitting in? what’s underneath it? and we could have an interesting discussion about ancient Jewish cosmological beliefs. But as Augustine said, Scripture always has a symbolic, metaphorical meaning that applies to our lives and our hearts.
WE may have, we may BE, a formless void: caused by the loss of someone through death, divorce, or moving– loss of a job – retirement. Riedels dad – died 6 months after retirement.
In such a circumstance, we need to feel the Spirit of God moving over our waters, giving us the promise of a new creation – of a new, life giving order born from the chaos of our present situation.
We feel like a messy house, cluttered with dirty dishes and broken furniture – but the Spirit sees a blank canvas, ready to be painted on.
And God said, Let there be Light – a common theme in most religious traditions – the touch of God brings clarity, enlightenment/IJ and last crusade: illumination/– mission efforts - volunteer at library, hospitals - more active at church, food pantry, and so on. And travel, and learning, and recreation too. A richer life, not a diminished one. And sometimes even romantic love : Marion Farnsworth // oldest woman in KC to get a marriage license: 92
I’d like to think of Jesus in that way. Hebrews 4:15 says he was like us in all things but sin – and its not sinful to struggle to find and discern one’s purpose, or to find a different purpose as one gets older and life changes. In Matthew 3, Jesus comes to his baptism fully cognizant of its significance, he is almost just going by the script. (no no YOU should baptize ME).
In Mark we are freer to see a more human Jesus, one who is NOT following a script. / Joseph die? Tired of carpentry shop? A restless yearning in his soul, wondering what his full purpose really was.
And: HE saw heaven torn open – the voice said YOU are my beloved Son. Matthew – more of a group experience : Heaven was opened– THIS is my beloved Son. So Mark reassures us: When we feel God calling us and the Spirit coming on us, it may not be obvious to everyone – we may experience it just ourselves. And the FIRST thing that happens to Jesus after his baptism is he goes into the wilderness. He does not return to the carpenter shop; he does not start calling disciples; he first has to be in the wilderness. /Lent gets us confused on this; moves the 40 days to just before Good Friday – but actually, they begin NOW. //So if WE have had a major change in our lives, if WE feel we are in the wilderness – we’re in good company.
And if we’re NOT in the Wilderness, we may need to go there – that’s what happened to some of the folks in Ephesus in Acts 19. (READ) Note:
Baptism of repentance – being sorry – ain’t enough. Need new direction, new energy.
Acts wants us to understand that WE are to have the same experience as Jesus - and “about” 12 men. (so probably 3 dozen women) Acts is underscoring that the story of Jesus, the apostles, and the vibrant, energetic church born at Pentecost is NOT to be a one shot deal – it is to be repeated and experienced thru the centuries and across the globe – including here in Oswego, here at GS, in the 21st century.
We want to renew our baptism today with a sense of the Spirit’s power – with understanding that we are one with Jesus of Nazareth, who came to the Jordan that day without knowing what would happen next, only knowing that he was an empty cup who needed something more to fill it – and it wouldn’t be more stuff, or more distractions. He’d settle for nothing less than the very Spirit of God filling his heart to overflowing – and we dare to claim that same need for ourselves, here and now.
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.Acts 19
1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Mark 1:4-11
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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New Years Day 2012 9am
Readings: Ephesians 3: 1-12, Matthew 6:31-34
Sermon: Taking the Long View
There’s going to be a lot of anxiety afoot this year – economic problems not gone away; general conference
Dec 21 2012 - but for many Americans, world will have ended already nov 6
We need to be braced for lots of hate and division on our TV and in our media this year – and if I’m wrong that’d be wonderful. One critically important role of the church in such an atmosphere is to maintain a space, and programs, where mutual respect and care for one another is going to continue to be the order of the day – not because we fear political discourse, or because the church has nothing to say to the world about the issues, but too often such talk generates far more heat than light –
So – how do we do that? How do avoid giving in to such divisiveness; how do we avoid just going numb, or keeping our ears covered?
Our scriptures today would put our focus on two places – the long term, and each day.
Letter to eliana - 22nd cent – remember your old grandpa, who was born 150 years earlier.
The theme of the long term is seen in Ephesians 3. generations/ages past/eternal purpose
Paul and the early church were able to endure and prevail because they were convinced that they were serving God’s eternal purposes – and that they take more than just an hour or a weekend to come to fruition.
This particular purpose: that the Gentiles are as good as Jews / Jews defined themselves against Gentiles - so this is truly mind boggling in a way that we happily don’t understand.
One way in which the world has improved – mostly mutual respect among religions – March 2 visit to synagogue – we will receive a warm welcome from the Rabbi – centuries past not the case.
In the short term, Israel needed to survive – and segregated itself without apology – but in the long term, God needed that mindset to change.
We are reminded of Eccles 3 – an alternate reading for today – to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven – cynical or calming and centering? Depends on one’s attitude.
Equally needful with the long term focus is the immediate one – to focus on the job, the day at hand – to not put off the opportunities for wonder and care and work provided by THIS day.
READ Matthew 6 // seek first the Kingdom and the rest will be given you – that is, first try to discern God’s will for us for this day.
Been reading What If – if a mongol general had not suddenly died on his march into Europe – if the weather had been better, or worse, when a battle had to be fought – or put off. /and all for the want of a Horseshoe nail/ Arguably, this is saying that the long term is all that matters – but the long term is often decided by the short term – by that immediate decision.
So on Nov 6 – the biggest single voting bloc will be those who don’t vote at all. And by NOT voting, they will allow the next biggest bloc of voters to decide the election – the majority of those who DO vote.
Matthew 6 could be taken as a hippy creed – but I think Jesus’ real intent is to have us see and focus on a caring Father – to know that God and the universe CAN be trusted.
Star trek VI the undiscovered country – peace with the klingons/ have faith: faith that the universe will unfold as it should. And if a secular screen writer can proclaim that kind of faith, surely we can too, and with a lot more reason.
Sometimes, things ARE that bad, and we DO need to act faster than we want – William T Dodd, US ambassador to Germany in the 30s – he tried to warn the US about Nazi Germany and most of the US did not want to listen. But much of the time, when someone is trying to panic us about an issue, there is more time to consider it than there might seem. /call now! Operators are standing by!/ And in this election year, there will certainly be people trying to pressure our judgment – and worse, making us feel cynical and depressed about the whole process, and about the human race.
We are United Methodist Christians – we focus on the work that God calls us to do today, the fruit we are called to bear today – John Wesley excelled at that. AND he excelled on the long view as well – when the Methodists were involved with education and prison reform and the abolition of slavery, they did not expect results in a day.
As UMs, we don’t just stand aside with arms folded and say that everything is God’s will OR that there’s nothing we can do. We do what we can today, and persist in that course for the long term. And so in these first hours of 2012, we look to the new year not with fear but with hope, and set forth into the new year sharing in God’s work, and confident of God’s purposes for us and for all.
Ephesians 3
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Matthew 6:31-34
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.