In the World But not of the World May 12, 2013

Back in 1963 during a Time magazine interview, theologian Karl Barth made the comment that when crafting a sermon, one should take the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Those kinds of sermons are usually challenging sermons - and I am not sure people really like those kinds of sermons much. Surveys indicate that people prefer light-hearted sermons - sermons that promise - like so many television preachers - that if we just think good thoughts - good things will come to us. It is believed --- that the reason many people want to here only happy thoughts from the pulpit is that in this political and economic climate, just living life one day to another is challenging enough. But sometimes- an unending list of happy thoughts are not on the preacher’s dance card. Because...it is my thought - that if Christians are uninformed about what is going on in the world - then we won’t be able to do anything about the injustices that occur every minute of every day. There is so much stuff - way too much – stuff going on in the world. More than enough to overwhelm you if you think about it for too long...more than enough to break your heart a thousand times over...more than enough to make you wonder how we’re even allowed to go on. There are the unsettling controversies about the war we are fighting in Afghanistan; nuclear bombs in North Korea; gun laws, immigration laws, Ben-Ghazi, the daily pillaging and rapes that have taken place for years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even when we start to feel a little bit good about our world - something puts the brakes on - the possible use of chemicals on the people in Syria, a school shooting in Newtown, a slick hustler of hedge funds, the government that allows scientists to make and fill our tables with genetically modified food, tent cities in Washington, Michigan, Oregon, California, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Nevada. Tent cities filled with homeless - not because every one of them is derelict and on drugs, but because the many of them have lost their jobs due to the economy. And now we learn about the sick and horrible ten-year ordeal that has taken place in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Here at home...Last week another person came into the office asking for help to get to their doctor in Beckley; last week a man who I never saw before pulled into our parking lot looking for someone to talk to about his disintegrating marriage; last week we helped feed about 80 people, last week another meth lab was discovered in the county. And we read Revelation - something about a new heaven and new earth...something about tears being wiped away - and mourning, crying, pain and death being no more. And we wait for this first earth, we wait for this old broken earth to pass away, and the new one to come. In our waiting, it seems that things get progressively worse, that humanity hits new lows. And though every vile act committed in every corner of the world, diminishes the whole of humanity, it seems that we have become desensitized and disengaged. With so much of the world seemingly out of control, and out of our control - our feelings of powerless allows us to be only momentarily surprised, shaking our heads, and moving on into the next day. If we have a conscience - if we have a Christian conscience - moving on into the next day - somehow doesn’t seem like it’s the right thing to do. So as ---the whole creation groans and as we all suffer together right up to the present time....is there something...anything we can do? Yes> Christ’s disciples have much to offer. We have a mission of service; a ministry of welcome, hospitality, and civility to offer. As recipients of the Holy Spirit - we have gifts to offer. Gifts to be shared with our church, our community, our world, all for the building up of the kingdom. Now we may think our gifts are not so grand as to save a world, or build a kingdom. We may think our God-given gifts aren’t enough, or not good enough to make a difference. To be sure there are those who are gifted with the money and ability to build a hospital in El Salvador, open a school in Mali, or start a community center in Camden, New Jersey. Others have gifts to work with wounded soldiers, or spend time doing prison ministry, or work overseas as a missionary, or march on Washington. We need their gifts - they are not my gifts - maybe not your gifts, still, not possessing the grander gifts does not allow us the excuse to just move on into the next day. We are reminded that we are not of the world --- not conformed to the world, not in line with its values, principles or its powers. We are however in the world - called by God to be a blessing, to be a light, to be the ones who point to something different, to be present and standing and strong - when others are not - when others cannot. There is only one place to learn how to be in the world, but not of the world -- and that is here in church. Worship is important; membership is important, preaching and teaching and singing and baptizing and confirming and bread and juice are all important. But what in this present time what may very well be the most important and what the church teaches best -- is how to be in community with one another. In church, we learn what it means to be a blessing to others, by recognizing that God has blessed us - and by acknowledging that we have been blessed by other members. In church, we learn how to be the light by hearing about Jesus Christ - the light of the world. In church, we learn how to be the ones who point to something different - by living out Christ’s teachings, so that as we exhibit Christ - others will see that we are different, that we do represent something different, that we can be a beacon of light that shows a more perfect way. Here in church we learn how to be present and standing and strong - because - on a day when we could barely muster the energy to get out of bed - someone was present and standing and strong for us. Here is where we learn to share with one another’s joys and sorrows, to laugh and to cry together, so that - we can do that out there. You know, Christ didn’t bring us together in community for no good reason. Paul didn’t give his life to founding and nurturing churches because he had nothing better to do. For Christians, church is where community begins. This is where we learn to accept one another, love one another (even if we don’t like one another.) This is where we learn about human nature, and conversation, and sharing a meal, and sharing a life, and bestowing grace, and forgiving, and growing together, growing old together - and yes, here is where we learn how to loose and let go of one another. Jesus prayed: I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. Yes, the creation groans, yes, the world can be a very ugly place. But this place - this church place - unlike any other place - must be a safe place. A refuge in the storm of life; a rock in the stormy sea of the world’s reality. Here in this place is where - like babies we are cared for and nurtured, loved and protected. Here in this place - like babies we are fed the milk of our faith - so that when we are out there - we will know who we are; know who we are called to be, know what we are called to do.

Undeserving May 5, 2013

I am not sure exactly what speaks to us when we read this story. Is it the image of a helpless paralyzed man longing to be healed? Or the image of him laying by the side of the pool for 38 years Is it because he was alone for all those years Maybe the sad tug at our heart is imagining how miserable and disenfranchised that man must have felt – when we learn that every time he dragged or scooted his broken body to the side of the pool – others more able-bodied got in front of him and made it into the water before him. Then again, when Jesus cures the man – perhaps what speaks to us is a sense of joy – as we hear yet again and in yet another way – the good news of Jesus Christ. Previous readings of this story, found me admiring- or at least respecting-- on some level -- the paralytic’s tenacity. It seemed that no matter the weather, the severity of his affliction, or the continual disappointment at never making it to the water’s edge, this man’s spirit of hope prevailed. By the end of the story I was convinced that he possessed what could only be a genuine faith. This time however, and for some unknown reason, the story spoke to me in a different voice. After another careful reading of the words without making any assumptions, without jumping to conclusion, I am convinced that faith had nothing at all to do with this healing. Mainly because there is not one word about faith in these verses. Unlike other stories where people hear about Jesus, or show up in the crowds, or call him the Son of God, or go directly to him and ask for help, the man by the pool didn’t open his mouth to ask, only opened his mouth to tell Jesus why he couldn’t be healed. The paralytic had no belief or faith in Jesus. Truth is the paralytic didn’t even know who Jesus was. The only belief or faith that man did have – was in the magic of the bubbling waters. Furthermore, after the man was up and walking around, he didn’t promise to follow Jesus the rest of his days, or confess his faith in him,,,why he didn’t even have the decency to say thank you! One commentator wrote: Who is this guy? Well, he’s a real bum, that’s who he is! He had no gratitude, no faith, no humility, no nothin’....he didn’t deserve to be healed. That’s not a totally unheard of attitude. We hear it all the time. I worked harder than he did, I deserved that raise – not him /// I’m better than she is at this – I deserve the recognition /// Hey, I’ve been living by the rules, how come she’s got made and I don’t...How come he gets all the breaks when he hasn’t done anything to deserve them? That deserving thing is a slippery slope. I’m pretty sure there are lots of people who probably deserve more and better than the hand they have been dealt. And by the same token I’m pretty sure there a lots of people who perhaps maybe don’t deserve all the goodies they have. But then who’s to say who deserves what—and whose to say how much of what any of us deserve? Which brings us back to the crux of this story. Who among us deserves God’s love – a love so strong and eternal that Jesus came to live among us, die for us – so that we – undeserving people – would be found righteous in God’s sight and given life everlasting. Who among us deserves all that? Which is why we don’t look to the man at the pool. You see, Jesus didn’t heal the man because of who he was, or what he deserved. Jesus healed the man because of who Jesus is. Jesus didn’t die for us because he thought we were such a good and sweet and kind bunch – let alone a deserving bunch – Jesus died for us because of who he is. Yes this is a healing story – but more than that -it is a story about God’s mercy and grace. This is a story about the enormous, unparalleled, unexplainable ...undeserved and unmerited love of God – which is given freely to each and every one of us. I leave you with a few final thoughts. The pool – in this gospel called - Bethzatha – is in the shadow of the Temple. Scripture tells us that it is located right outside the Sheep Gate. Why is it - do you think- that the man chose not to go to the Temple for healing – but chose instead to remain away and outside of the Temple? It is because he would be considered unclean and so undeserving of even entering the Temple. The question for us to ponder is --how many people out there feel and fear that they would not be welcome in the church because they believe they are unclean or undeserving to share the pew with us. How many are desperate for healing and wholeness, but instead of being in here are out there - looking for acceptance --- looking for a soft place to land – and people to care about them....how many are not in here with us, but out there looking desperately for love - in all the wrong places because they believe we will not welcome them..or because they believe we have nothing in the way of healing to offer them. Finally, How much grace has God shown you? Think about that one for a minute...how much grace has God shown you? How many times have you gotten side-tracked, veered completely off the path, ignored the signs, found yourself lost. How many times have you done that which is totally against what you know in your heart to be wrong? How many times have you done absolutely nothing. Then consider the grace God has shown you. The number of times cannot even begun to be counted. And if that is the case – who are any of us to deny that kind of love, mercy and grace to any other human being. Who are any of us – that we have the ability to decide who is deserving of God’s love and healing...and who is not. As we go back out there into the world, remember -- Jesus – as revealed in this story --is the only one who heals us not because we who we are, not because we are worthy or deserving or better than anyone else - but for no other reason than he loves us.

Living on the Edge April 28, 2013

Life is filled with difficult lessons. Whether we are on the teaching side of the lesson or sitting on the learning side of the lesson – it might be - that one of life’s first lessons is the hardest. It is the lesson about sharing. My mother made a mean chicken wings and rice dish. It was a cheap meal and one that got her and her family through the depression. But for me – my mom’s chicken wings and rice was a meal fit for a king. My boyfriend through high school and college ate many a meal with us and one of his favorites was – chicken wings and rice. Like any good mom and cook she loved it when we showed our appreciation for her culinary delights – and so the small pan of chicken wings and rice grew larger and larger until it was made in a good sized soup pot. One evening my boyfriend was on his third helping and since he was in the living room with my dad eating at a TV table – I offered to refill his plate. Not because I was the doting girlfriend, but because I wanted to limit his rice intake – because you see I love the rice best and if he ate it all – or most of it- there would be less for me. Well right as I spooned a measly portion of rice on his plate – here comes my mother around the corner. And she was appalled at her stingy daughter and told me so in so many scolding whispers. But I held out – NO I said in my only child brat voice. And then quick as a blink the dish was out of my hands and in hers – and the measly rice portion grew to take over half the plate. I think she was trying to teach me a lesson... At any age...Perhaps the hardest of life’s lessons is the one about sharing. The question the religious authorities in Jerusalem asked Peter was Why did you eat with the uncircumcised? Translated --why did you eat with unclean Gentiles? More to the point – Peter, what possessed you to eat with people who are not like us? Bottom line - Peter, why would you even consider eating with people like them? It would appear that Peter’s back is up against a wall. He has broken the law in more than one way: It’s bad that Peter has eaten food that has been forbidden for generations; bad that he knowingly violated the dietary laws of his faith; It’s bad that he has knowingly associated with the unclean; but put them together – an actual sit down meal with heathens – done voluntarily..and perhaps even (oh say it isn’t so) enjoyed his evening with people who were different....Oh yes, Peter is in big trouble. It’s a funny thing about sharing a meal, isn’t it? When in the school cafeteria we sit with people we like; when thinking about having a dinner party, we invite people we like; at fellowship, at picnic in the park we tend to sit with people with whom we have things in common; even at family holiday dinners, we avoid crazy Aunt Clare and cousin Herman who beat us up when we were ten ---and hope all the way to Granma’s house that we don’t get stuck sitting next to them at the table. In its own way eating has an intimacy about it, and it is rare – if ever – that we share a meal with strangers, or people whose ideas are different than ours, rare that we would willingly share meal with enemies – or in Peter’s case, unclean heathens. Why was Peter willing to break rules that he had been taught all of his life? Why willing to be hauled in front of the religious authorities in Jerusalem? What could have compelled Peter to go against doctrine and be so sinfully reckless? Blame it on trances, and visions and dreams...blame it on seeking God’s will in prayer and hearing it in voices and angel’s messages. Blame it on the Holy Spirit at work. The Holy Spirit! Not the Holy Spirit. Peter, Peter....First eating with Gentiles – now you’re telling us that the Holy Spirit (excuse me, OUR HOLY SPIRIT) spoke to them...and yikes – fell upon them...you mean just like it fell upon us? Us, God’s chosen people? It’s a funny thing about sharing the Holy Spirit, isn’t it? When we THINK we’ve got it...(BUT WE PROBABLY DON’T) but no matter - we take ownership – belongs to me, not you – in our church, not yours, for certain kinds of people, but not those kinds of people. Since Jesus was a Jew and the Jewish Messiah...and we are talking gentiles here (that’s us by the way)...the question with which those in Jerusalem were faced was this: Who is in and who is out? Should anyone be out...is this what Jesus meant when he told us to Make disciples of all nations? If that was what Jesus meant – then lots of long held beliefs and ideas, long held religious doctrine and cultural norms were gonna have to change. Today’s reading records a time in our church history when that realization was just starting to sink in. Living Jesus’ teachings was counter-cultural, stepping into his footprints was radical behavior, being the church in a Jewish, pagan, Roman world was more than risky – it was life changing. It mean a change in thinking, in attitude, in behavior...it meant living on the edge. Though we try, we cannot imagine the very early church - breaking away from Judaism – scorned, humiliated, ridiculed, persecuted - diverse in a world that was segregated, inclusive in a world of prejudice and rules. In ways that the present day church is not – be assured that the early church was progressive and was a progressive force to be reckoned with. Way back in the first century, it was the church who was exploring a risky, radical, never-heard-before idea of accepting those considered unclean – the Gentiles – in the church. It was the church of the first century who looked back and remembered how lovingly Christ treated every unclean oddball reject...and then looked forward into an unknown future and trusted the leadings of the Holy Spirit. It was the church led by the Holy Spirit - who welcomed those who had always been excluded (gentiles/us) from keeping company with God’s covenant people. It was the church who --with Peter’s help, brought believers together by the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup, the church who – looking to Christ - encouraged hospitality and table fellowship. It was the church --who with Peter’s help, recognized that the Holy Spirit was a free agent, without human-imposed limits, human prejudices, human arrogance. It was the church who knew there was no stifling the Holy Spirit; no keeping it from going where it would, or keep it from falling on all kinds of people. Let me paraphrase the closing words of one of the commentaries I read: : When today’s church seriously considers the truth about the inclusive and diverse nature of the first century church...when today’s church truly sees Christ and actually listens to Peter...when today’s church is embarrassed by whom we have chosen to exclude...and chooses instead to include...when we share both the nourishment of the body and that which nourishes our spirit with those who are not like us - then we too will be living on the edge.