What I learned today - Preaching My Way to Faith

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Sermon - Living Our Prayers (Proper 21B)

18th Sunday After Pentecost - Year B September 26, 2021

Mark 9:38‑50, James 5:13-20 Panzer Liturgical Congregation

Preaching the Lectionary is helpful in so many ways. We can read through most of the major stories of scripture in a three-year cycle and like today, exposes us to passages that we might be tempted to pass over as too hard or controversial. But it can also give us a false sense that these short passages can be read and contemplated in isolation from one another. Nothing could be farther from the truth. All the parts and pieces stand together like a complicated, beautifully woven tapestry of what it means to be a member of the Kingdom of God.

Today’s lessons weave together a coherent theme that reflects both the challenges and joy of ministry in the world and our own spiritual lives. The gospel reading from Mark gives us a picture of dissatisfaction and misunderstanding of God’s plan – the disciples got way in front of their skis on this day. And the reading from James reminds us of the solution to our problems, prayer for and service to those in need.

For the past several weeks we have watched the disciples follow Jesus around as they try to figure out what it means to be a disciple. And it’s evident they still have a narrow view of what the Kingdom of God is all about. They have missed the major message of Jesus' coming... everything they thought they knew has been redefined, again.

This passage from Mark is a nightmare for preachers. It contains enough material for at least four normal-length sermons, or one rip-rousing revival message, where everyone would expect to be here for a while. I have restrained myself today. But it’s worth summarizing the main points of conflict in Jesus' encounter with disciples, and why they (and we) struggle with what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Last week's controversy in Mark involved the disciples' need to be "number one." This week, they encounter followers who are healing in the name of Jesus, and the disciples want it stopped because these people were not given the authority to be doing such things. But Jesus explains to them why this is backward thinking. "These people are not our enemies, nor are they God's enemies, for whoever is not against us is for us,” and I think implied in that is “And we need all the help we can get."

How many times have we encountered someone who "stepped in on our territory"? It feels like they are not only stealing our service opportunity, but also the glory that goes along with it. In essence, the disciples were saying, "You are not an authorized dealer of Jesus’ message, so go away." Here Jesus reminds them that they do not control the ministry of God. They do not get to define what is a good deed and what is not. Jesus declares that the work done in his name is to be honored, not scrutinized for credentials. Jesus' principle is to include, not exclude."[i] Every simple act of kindness matters.

And then comes that tricky “stumbling block” part of the passage. In short: the penalty is high if we get in the way of someone’s journey in the Kingdom. Jesus says our first concern must be keeping the path clear for anyone and everyone to get to him. Our job is not just serving Christ, but keeping others on the path, as well.

This is Jesus helping the disciples make a course correction. Jesus calls us to see and welcome and love others, even if they are not like us, even if they are not part of our particular tribe or denomination or flavor of Christianity. He reminds us that our saltiness – the contribution we make to the world that gives it flavor and brings a word of grace – is a gift we can only bring if we are willing to live at peace with one another.[ii]

Mired in their fear of change, the disciples struggled with the constant change that seemed to surround Jesus. Every time they thought they understood what following Jesus would look like, something else came up. Even though others were doing good things in Jesus’ name, giving those people control felt precarious, at best.

As I look at our lives today, I see that same kind of fear. We are often afraid or distrustful of people we don’t know… we allow the difference between us to define our relationships with others, rather than celebrating or collaborating on the things we have in common. I wonder if we are also afraid that being in the presence of people who are different will change us, or make our part of the story less than what we have imagined it to be. Like the disciples, we want stability and control – And like them, we are slow to pick up on the fact that Jesus’ will use whoever he wants to pitch in to bring people into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus reminds us that we share the same story – the same calling – the same responsibilities. We cannot forget that the Christian story, in fact, the whole story of God, is about people on the run – people who find it necessary to adapt to changing conditions and understandings about how the world works. From the Hebrew Bible stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ruth, and Moses, to the New Testament and the ministry of Jesus, the early church, and Paul, we see solid evidence that God’s people have always been on the move.

The disciples are fully invested in following Jesus, yes, but their focus is on their experience alone. Without taking care, we can be just like them, defining what it means to be Christian as a prescriptive for everyone and casting away anyone who doesn’t agree with us. If we’re not careful, we can make the Church nothing more than an exclusive club with elaborate initiation rituals and codes of behavior. But that is not the gospel.[iii]

This is where the book of James offers us help. Once again, we are confronted with a clear synopsis of how we are called to live in community with one another. Our reading this week skips to the second half of chapter 5, but I encourage you to go back and read chapter 4 and the first half of chapter 5 for yourself. Here James gives us great advice on how to live our faith authentically. in everything, let love be your guide.

Today’s reading picks up at verse 13. Here we find a model for what it means to really live in Christian community. He lists three activities that the church is called to live out if we are to be faithful stewards of God’s love.

First, we are called to prayer and worship. Prayer isn’t just about our private conversations with God. We are also called to pray with and for one another. We are called to sing our praises together as evidence that our joy cannot be contained.

And yet, I’m willing to bet that many of us sitting here don’t think of ourselves as people who understand or do prayer very well. I did a search on Amazon.com for books on prayer. There were lots. Many of them were books of instruction and prayer journals:

Prayer: 40 Days of Practice –

Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God –

The 7 Most Powerful Prayers That Wil Change Your Life Forever – and one of my favorites –

Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference?

Don’t get me wrong - I am 100% positive that each of those books has helped many people grow in faith.

But as I looked at the descriptions, I was struck that these books were mostly about individuals developing their personal skills in prayer. James is talking about something deeper. It’s not about the words themselves. It’s about the activity of praying with people who have needs. The same is true with praise – our songs of praise are not about celebrating individual accomplishments. They are about giving thanks to the God we worship – celebrating together the things that are important to us and to God.

Second, and related to #1 – we are called to care for the sick. James calls for a hands-on approach. The discipline of anointing the sick with oil brings a physical reminder to those who are being prayed for… often, the oil is scented with myrrh or lavender to heighten the senses… remember in the Old Testament the worship of God is often accompanied by the use of aromatic spices to represent the presence of God. Prayer – that’s important – but add to that the physical component – anointing with oil, holding hands, even just sharing the same space – all of these are a reminder to the one being prayed for that they are not alone.

And lastly, our prayers should also contain our prayers of confession and affirmation of the need for forgiveness… not just being forgiven by God, but our need to both give and receive forgiveness with others. And that’s hard stuff. I hate having to confess to other people my mistakes – and I am often reluctant to forgive easily. That’s why having a prayer of confession and affirmation of pardon are such an important part of our worship service. I’ve been in congregations where this is only an occasional part of the service, but for me, it feels like a necessary reset. I think about the different phrases of the confession and think not only of the places where I have made mistakes, but I also try to figure out how to make amends… to own up not just to God, but to those I have sinned against.

I’ll be honest – our reading of James this fall has reminded me what a great primer it is for people of faith. It shows us a great balance between the personal and communal expressions of faith. It reminds us that we as individuals are called to live out our faith … but we are also called to do that within a community of faith. And James emphasizes the nature of lived-out faith… our faith journeys are not an intellectual or emotional exercise. We are called to pray, not just with our minds and our tongues, but also with our hands and feet as we bring the message of Jesus’ love, not just to our little worlds, but to the whole wide world, in every way we can.

Many people with better words than mine have summed up these two scriptures in memorable ways. Henri Nouwen was a Catholic priest and theologian who left behind a great legacy in some of the most beloved books on Christian living of our time. I found two quotes this week that encapsulate the message I wanted to convey this week.

You don’t think your way into a new way of living… you live yourself into a new kind of thinking.”

And in terms of experiential faith, that makes total sense. But how do we do it? Nouwen gives us a clue: What will we learn about our faith and ourselves if we ask ourselves these questions at the end of every day…

Did I offer peace today?

Did I bring a smile to someone’s face?

Did I say words of healing?

Did I let go of my anger and resentment?

Did I forgive?

Did I love?

These are the real questions.

I am more convinced than ever that our belief in the power of prayer is directly tied to our relationship, individual and corporate, with the who is everything – he is the God whose own name is “I AM.” Our prayers are not a list of wants and needs to be checked off as if we were shopping at a nearby store. They are a reflection of how much we are willing to orient ourselves to that God and live out the life that Jesus calls us to live, even when it doesn’t make any sense at the time.

Ultimately, we are called to trust God enough to pray, and love God enough to serve…

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… Amen.

Peace, Deb

[i] Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary ‑ Year B ‑ After Pentecost 2, 1993, pages 65‑66.

[ii] Dawn Chesser, Discipleship Ministries of the UMC, September 27, 2015, http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship/lectionary-calendar/eighteenth-sunday-after-pentecost3#preaching

[iii] Robb McCoy & Eric Fistler, Pupit Fiction Podcast #134. Show Notes for Proper 21B http://www.pulpitfiction.us/show-notes (2015)

[iv] https://www.pulpitfiction.com/notes/proper21b/#James5%3A13-20= (2021)

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Sermon - Living a Proverbs 31 Life (Proper 20B)

17^th Sunday after Pentecost (20B) September 19, 2021

Proverbs 31:10-31 Panzer Liturgical Service

Story 1: When I was growing up, my grandfather Theo Luther told me two things that I had total confidence in… that eating chicken wings would make me pretty and that I was Little Debbie. Wings are still my favorite part of the chicken, but I was crushed to find out on the first day of first grade that I, in truth, am NOT Little Debbie – my hopes and dreams crushed on the playground after school. And I was mad. I cried all the way home and made my mom call him so I could yell at him for telling me a “story.” His reply, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings… but you’ll always be My Little Debbie.” And that’s what I wanted all along. But I did look at myself differently after that day.

Story 2: We got a new Oldsmobile station wagon when I was in junior high school and it came with – wait for it – an 8-track tape player and a nifty demo tape with about 10 songs on it. We all had our favorites and we practically wore the tape out, even after we bought new ones. And on the cassette was the famous Frankie Valli ballad, “My Eyes Adored You.” But what I heard was, “my eyes of Georgia…” I couldn’t figure out what that meant, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I realized my mistake, and am in fact, confessing my error for the first time today. I listened to it this week, and I do still hear the wrong words, but I know that the truth is something else.

There are some things you just believe – at least until you find out differently.

There are lots of Bible passages that have this problem. People have heard them taught and preached on many occasions and are led to believe that they mean something specific when they actually mean something general. John 3:16 is one of those passages – You know it… “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” In this verse, most people focus on the idea of belief – you are saved if you believe in Jesus. But when you add in verse 17, everything changes. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Once you put them together, you see a whole new emphasis… Jesus was sent to save the whole world.

And today’s Hebrew Bible passage from Proverbs 31 certainly falls into the same category. There is a whole flavor of Christianity that uses this passage to instruct women of their “rightful place”. And I suppose, if you interpret these verses on their own, that argument could be made. And what a woman she would be… a superwoman… an uber-talented, multi-dimensional, tired, overworked, overwrought woman. But what if we knew things about this passage, in its literary and historical context, that taught us something different… something less specific and more general – applicable to all of us, no matter our gender or family status? Would it be helpful? I think that answer is YES. But it would also be scary because it would challenge the assumptions we create to live an orderly life.

I’ve read a lot of really good exegesis on the book of Proverbs, but perhaps the most helpful was a blog post by Rachel Held Evans. It became the premise for one book and a chapter in another. She learned a lot from taking a deep dive into Proverbs 31, and I want to share three lessons she took away, because they were very helpful to me, too.

She starts with the quote…

…for women like me who grew up thinking of the domestic super-heroine of Proverbs 31 as just another impossible standard by which to mark my shortcomings as a woman, the passage can come with some…baggage. That’s because, too often, we focus on the Proverbs 31 Woman’s roles as a way of reducing womanhood to marriage, motherhood, and domesticity, when really, this passage is about a character that transcends both gender and circumstance.[i]

We do that a lot – we read scripture, compare ourselves to the portrait of people declared virtuous, and see ourselves lacking. But what if that’s not what the writer of Proverbs is trying to do? What if this passage is about encouraging and engaging people to become strong in and for the Lord, not setting them up for a seemingly impossible way of life?

I love the Olympics – I see those amazing swimmers and gymnasts and track and field athletes and think, “I could never do that.” But there are all these people – kids and even adults who see these people perform at the highest levels and think, “I can do that – or at least I can try.” Many of today’s best and brightest were introduced to their sport by watching someone compete, inspiring them to start their own journey.

This year’s silver medal-winning Women’s Gymnastics team all saw Kerry Strug make that heroic vault in the 1996 Olympics, winning the US their first US team gold medal. “I want to do that,” they said. Do you know Megan Seidel? She was a college cross country runner who qualified for the US Marathon team in February 2020, running her very first marathon, then going on to win the bronze medal in only her 3rd marathon ever![ii] Inspired by runners who came before her, she is now an inspiration for a whole new generation of people who dream of accomplishing goals that once felt out of reach. These stories remind us that the way we live can inspire others to new challenges and ways of life.

So, what are these 3 things that we should know? First, Proverbs 31 is a poem. Its purpose is to personify the theme of Wisdom that runs through the whole book. Wisdom is not just knowledge – it’s how knowledge is put into action. With practice, it should be displayed in all the parts of our lives… as we relate to our families, and as we contribute to the needs of society.

And it’s not just any ordinary, run-of-the-mill poem. It’s an acrostic. Now if that sounds like it’s related to a crossword puzzle, there’s a reason for that. Every line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order. From A-Z, this symbolizes the wholeness of what it’s describing. Get annoyed at someone who posts on Facebook or Instagram the seemingly mundane occurrences of their day? Don’t be so quick to judge. Those posts can highlight what the Proverbs writer is teaching us… everything we do is an offering to and a gift from God.

We want to remember the best days as the definition of who we are. Proverbs 31 reminds us that our best days are often the ones remember the least about – those days tell us something about who we really are. This passage isn’t an exhaustive job description for women – instead, it celebrates how wisdom is to be lived out in everyday life – by everyone.

Second, this audience for this passage is not women, it’s men. In the Jewish culture, it’s not the women that memorize Proverbs 31, it’s the men. And they do it not to remind women of their place in the family, but in praise of everything they do to keep the family moving forward. Many Jewish husbands sing the words of Proverbs 31 to their wives at their Friday evening Sabbath meal as a thanksgiving for all they have done during the week. They sing it because they are grateful.

We think of the entire chapter as a prescription for women to follow to be considered valuable. But in reality, the only verse that tells someone to do something is in verse 31. The husband is instructed to praise her, not just in words, but in giving her a share in what she has accomplished. The writer says, “Praise her for all her hands have done.” And yet, a whole religious media empire has grown up with resources galore instructing women on how they can accomplish this vast and varied list of tasks and accolades. This stresses the mistaken belief that we can work or earn our way into the Kingdom of God.

Third, Proverbs 31 isn’t really about celebrating women at all. It’s about celebrating valor. The first line is best translated, “a woman of valor who can find?” (The Hebrew is eshet chayil, “woman of valor”; the male equivalent is gibor chayil, “man of valor.”) Rachel’s friend Ahava explained that Jewish women often celebrate the victories of their lives, large and small, with that greeting – ESHET CHAYIL – it reminds them - you excelled, you survived, you were a witness and blessing to everyone. It was the last word spoken at Rachel’s funeral in 2019. She was definitely a woman of valor.

Everyone knew what a man of valor looked like – it’s right there in the Torah, explained in the laws of the Jewish covenant and described in the heroes we remember. Proverbs 31 reminds us that there were just as many women of valor, but they go unnamed. This passage reminds us that VALOR isn’t just about what we do, but how we do it.

These days, we can be tricked into a “black-or-white” “either-or” view of people and their choices. People, mostly women – but also men, who choose to stay at home to focus on the home and family are often questioned or ridiculed for giving up their careers or settling for a second-rate place in society. Women who choose to use their gifts and graces to concentrate on their professions – CEOs, medical professionals, academic leaders, pastors – they are questioned about their dedication to their families. They are condemned for making choices that some see as counter to traditional roles of women.

Proverbs 31 asks us to consider these things as we look for guidance on good living. What really matters? Is it charm or beauty? Is it the size of our bank accounts or our membership in clubs or professional organizations? Is it perfection as judged by others? No – what really matters is our faithfulness to God, lived out every day.

So, what does that faithfulness look like? Maybe these questions will help.

Are we trustworthy?

Do we look out for the needs of the people?

Are we good stewards of resources that we have at our disposal?

Do we share what we have with others?

Are we prepared for the bad times?

Do our lives reflect God’s presence and purposes?

Is our faith evident to others?

Do we keep working for good, even if we have already accomplished more than we expected?

Are we in awe of God?[iii]

Both our other readings reinforce this call to valor. Jesus reminds us that all people have worth. Everyone gets an audience with Jesus. Everyone is called to listen and follow. And when we do so, it’s not just about following Jesus, but about following God. Welcoming children would have been offensive to many gathered there… children were a burden until they could contribute to the needs of the family. Welcoming children was the embodiment of welcoming the “least of these”.[iv]

As for James, he starts this passage with, “Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13). Yes, there are two kinds of wisdom – godly wisdom and earthly wisdom. One bridges the gap between us and God. The other seeks to place the importance of the individual over that of God – it’s a trap that is easy to fall into. But clearly, James is reminding us that we are called to resist that temptation and live as women, men, and children of valor in all that we do.[v]

A couple of months ago, my younger sister, the CHRO of the company ranked 14^th on the Fortune 500 list, was interviewed on a national news outlet for Women’s History Month. When asked about the barriers she had experienced along the way, she talked about the need for truth tellers in our lives and shared a story about how she was able to achieve success. Four years earlier, as she facilitated a merger with an international healthcare company, she was required to travel to Europe and Asia for over 30 days, meeting with the workers' councils and other executives in 12 countries. Her bosses had complete confidence in her ability to get the job done.

But more than once, she was asked, “Are you sure you want to be gone for this long? What will happen if one of your kids gets sick or something else goes wrong at home while you’re gone?” Very gently she reminded them, “I am not their only parent. They have a dad who stays at home to help me put my energy into your company. If I’m needed, I’ll come home, just like anyone else on this trip would… we can be where we are needed when we are needed, and right now, I am needed on this team to accomplish this task.”[vi] And whether she knew it or not, she was talking about exactly what Proverbs 31 & James and Jesus ask of us.

Proverbs 31 tells us: Be a person of valor. Put your whole self into everything you do. Do it, not just for the rewards that will come to you, but as your way of living the life you were created to live. This is our calling… to live a Proverbs 31 life and to be persons of valor.

Thanks be to God.

Peace, Deb

[i] Rachel Held Evans, 3 Things You Might Not Know about Proverbs 31, May 12, 2014, www.rachelheldevans.com/blog/3-things-you-might-not-know-about-proverbs-31

[ii] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/molly-seidel-wins-bronze-olympic-marathon-after-battle-through-heat-n1276240

[iii] Robb McCoy and Erik Fistler, https://www.pulpitfiction.com/notes/proper20b/#Proverbs31=

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] https://cheddar.com/media/women-need-truth-tellers-along-with-mentors-says-cardinal-health-executive

Monday, September 13, 2021

Sermon - Who Do You Say I Am? (Proper 19B)

16^th Sunday after Pentecost (19B) September 12, 2021

James 3:1‑12, Mark 8:27‑38
Panzer Liturgical Service

There is no shortage in the number of ways we describe or talk about Jesus. Roget's Thesaurus lists 45 different words or phrases to describe how we as Christians, through Scripture, tradition, and experience, would talk about who Jesus is to us.

Savior, Redeemer, Teacher,
Son of God, Son of Mary, God the Son, second person of the Trinity, Word, Logos, the Only Begotten, Word made Flesh, Incarnate Son
Messiah, Son of David, rod of Jesse‑ the Lord's Anointed, Christ
Immanuel, Lamb of God, Son of Man, Man of Sorrows
Jesus, Jesu, Jesus Christ
Holy Infant, Christ Child, Child of Bethlehem
Jesus of Nazareth, the Nazarene, the Galilean
The Good Shepherd, Savior, Redeemer, Friend
Lord, Master
Rock of Ages, Bread of Life, True Vine, The Way, the Truth, the Life
Light of the World, Sun of Righteousness
King of Kings, King of Heaven, King of Glory, Prince of Peace [i]

The people following Jesus around talked about him, too. Some of them thought that maybe Jesus was the One who was promised to come. But it was probably whispered among the believers or said with scorn or disdain by those who knew he could not possibly be the one. I imagine it was something no one wanted to talk about – after all, the Roman Emperor saw himself as the One – and talk of someone else as the fulfillment of prophecy could spell the end of life for anyone speaking such sedition.

Jesus knew that people were talking about him – seeing him as the reincarnation or embodiment of past and previous prophets. But when asked by Jesus, "Who do people say that I am?" Peter didn’t hesitate - His response was unequivocal and unwavering - Peter replied, "You are the Messiah."

The word messiah had great meaning for the Jews. The Messiah was believed to be a man who would be sent by God to restore Israel and reign righteously over all humanity. The idea developed among the Jews especially in times of adversity. Jewish Messianic expectations generally focused on a kingly figure of the house of David who would be born in Bethlehem. The name Christ is Greek for "Messiah," and its definition is also described by the word Savior.[ii]

Jewish writer Elie Weisel wrote, "I think the messianic concept, which is the Jewish offering to mankind, is a great victory. What does it mean? It means that history has a sense, a meaning, a direction; it goes somewhere, and necessarily in a good direction‑the Messiah".[iii]

People were expecting a Messiah ‑ a savior. They expected that God would reveal to them the identity of this person in holy and clear events. They believed that the Hebrew Bible prophecies laid out a particular path. I’m sure the thing that held many learned people back was the obvious revelation, as we read through Mark's gospel, that Jesus did not fit the bill.

We have seen again and again that Peter isn’t always the smartest disciple in the group, but when he gets it right, he does it in a big way. Somehow, in all his bumbling and unbelief, Peter spoke the truth. "You are the Messiah,” encompassing many things. Jesus was the hope of Israel and their chance for the future God promised."

Remember, the Jews were expecting a hero Messiah who would come to save them from slavery and tyranny. Imagine their surprise when before Peter can draw a good breath, Jesus starts telling them of a future that sounds the opposite of what they expect… for the Messiah, their Savior, that Jesus talks about came to be rejected, to suffer, to die, and then be raised to new life.

And when Peter rejects that idea out of hand, Jesus rebukes him, and we begin to realize the problem that Jesus faced at that moment... that it is easier to believe in a Messiah who will come in the near or distant future because this Messiah makes no demands on our lives... but Messiah as present reality means that we have to make a decision. This is the conflict that faith-following often brings to our lives. The choice to follow Jesus is just that – a choice. And more often than not, the journey isn’t the one we expected.

Such a ragtag crew surrounding Jesus those days – yes, he was undoubtedly charismatic, healing and feeding people, and changing their lives. But more than that, he reordered life so that all of their expectations were turned upside-down. And in the shadow of his passion and resurrection, they understood life in ways that they had before. The early church grew, not because they had a great capital funds campaign or building plan. It grew because people were willing to go far and wide to share what they had experienced with Chris. They told people through their stories and writings, which were handed down to us, a picture of a messiah, a savior, who always meets our needs, but seldom meets our expectations.

After all, what kind of savior dies to gain eternal life? What kind of savior goes to that kind of death without a fight? It is the same savior who took back life after three days, redefining what it means to have new life. It is the same savior who is alive today, breathing new life into each of us. This messiah, this savior, allows us to share in his kingdom, to live in him and with him, in this life and in the life to come.

The historic definition alone cannot fully grasp our understanding of who Jesus is. We describe him as Messiah and Christ in part because we have been informed by centuries of thought from the bible itself and through the writings of thousands of people of faith who have shared their thoughts and experiences of Christ. But our personal experience of faith through our life in the church and our life in Christ must also be a part of the equation.

What a difficult concept to grasp, until we allow it to shape who we are. As children, we accept the idea of Jesus we hear from our parents and teachers. We see faith gets lived out, and it becomes something tangible, not just an idea. But eventually, at some time in our lives, we are asked to set aside our expectations of who Jesus is, and just experience him.

This happens when we participate in the work of Christ, in being his hands and feet to those in need. This happens in prayer and worship ‑‑ laughing, sharing, confessing, and listening for God's word to penetrate our hearts and lives. And because Christ asks us to follow, not just with our hearts or our minds, but with our whole lives, whatever work we take on can become the work of Christ.

The writer of James offers some of the most practical advice about how to live our faith in Christ. He reminds us that it’s all about how we treat one another – just another affirmation of the primary goal to love God and neighbor in all that we do.

People aren’t just listening to what we say – they are also watching what we do. And while many are uncomfortable with James’ emphasis on works – he is not telling us that we can work our way into heaven. But he does say that faith without works – without living in out in our daily lives – that kind of faith is not the faith that Jesus is calling us to have.[iv]

And the writer of the Proverbs begins with a plea for us to receive the Wisdom of God’s promises available to all – no barriers or pre-requisites exist. This wisdom is not just about knowledge, it is about making a conscious choice to use the gifts God has given us to care for everyone. And if we choose not to, there are consequences, not just for us, but also for those in our care.[v]

One of the reasons that people give for not following Jesus is that it will just cause too much of a change in their lives… it feels like giving up control, and that’s just too scary to contemplate most days. And they have a point. Jesus asks up to take up our cross and follow him – that seems scary at best with the potential for a fair bit of unpleasantness. But we have to remember that Jesus wasn’t left at the cross – that wasn’t the end of his story, and it’s not the end of ours.

In following Jesus to the cross, we are also following him to the resurrection, and while our lives may not look like what we expected, they will often be filled with many joys, relationships, and experiences that we never imagined. This journey is not just about faith – it is also about obedience. As we follow Christ, we not only learn more about who he is, but also who we are, and who we were created to be. Ironically, we actually become more ourselves when we think less about ourselves and more about Jesus.[vi]

As we worship in the shadow of the 20^th anniversary of the September 11^th tragedies, we remember many people who put others’ lives before their own… police and firefights who ran into the burning buildings, workers who helped their office mates to safety, passengers who fought back while knowing there was no way out for them, military personnel and their families who sacrificed for decades in an attempt to bring sanity to unimaginable situations.

We never know what events will make the question and answer real for us, but it’s a good bet that somewhere, every day, Jesus is asking us, “Who do you say that I am?” What will our answer be? And how will anyone know if we’re not willing to put it all out there in response?

Amen!

Peace, Deb

[iii] iii‑ from Interview in Writers at Work (Eighth Series, ed. by George Plimpton, 1988) The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright 0 1993, 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

[iv] Pulpit Fiction Podcast – Proper 19B 9/12/21 www.pulpitfiction.com/notes/proper19b

[v] Ibid

[vi] Alicia McClintic, A Plain Account, Mark 8:27-39, aplainaccount.org/mark-827-38/

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Sermon - Heads, Hands, Hearts - Be Doers of the Word (17B)

16th Sunday After Pentecost August 29. 2021
Mark 7:31-37, James 1:17-27 Panzer Liturgical Service

Martin Luther, church theologian of 16th century Germany interpreted one of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. The split of the Catholic Church in the 1500s came partially as a result of Luther's increasing dissatisfaction with how the Catholic Church dealt with sin. The selling of indulgences or pardons to people in their congregations, for themselves and their already departed loved ones, had become common practice. Giving money or service to the church would supposedly lessen the time that they had to spend in purgatory, a kind of holding place where people paid for their sins before they got to heaven. Luther hated what he saw the church doing, stressing what people could do to gain salvation rather than God's grace as salvation. He was a Catholic priest, but when he could take it no longer, he tacked on the front door of his church in Wittenburg his "95 Thesis," his understandings and interpretations of God, Christ, Church, Sin, Grace, Faith, etc. And at least part of the Protestant Reformation was born.

In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus runs into a similar problem. Some of the Pharisees have been following Jesus and his disciples around, and they take this opportunity to police their behavior in regards to Jewish purity laws. They were accused of not following the letter of the law – yes, they wash the dishes properly, but not everyone was good at washing their hands before they ate. The argument wasn’t “Hey, wash your hands so you don’t get sick.” From this reading, we can’t be sure if this was an honest inquiry or not. At this point in the relationship, we haven’t seen a lot of animosity between Jesus and the leaders of the Temple. But the question here seems to be – why are you ignoring the rules that are an important part of our tradition?

Jesus’ response is equally adversarial… he calls them hypocrites. He calls them out for their worship of the rules and traditions that have been passed down through the generations rather than the intent of God’s commandments, which are grounded in the love of God and neighbor. We forget, or maybe we never knew, that Torah was a gift to humanity so that people could get close to God, but eventually, people began to worship the law rather than God. Jesus does not dismiss their concerns, he redirects them. He intensifies the demands of the law by reminding them of its framework for helping people live out inward, deep obedience to God. Jesus warns the crowd not to fixated on the externals of religion but to focus on the internals. Are we authentically representing the gospel with our lives, not just our words?

From now on in Mark’s gospel, Jesus’ arguments with the Pharisees will be about these kinds of things… Jesus is preaching and teaching about a kind of faith that unites beliefs, actions, and the transformation of the human heart in ways that allow the Holy Spirit to work within us. This Spirit work enables us to internalize the faith so that what we say we believe about God and Jesus it is reflected in the ways we act, but also in the ways they are active in our hearts. Our faith is three-fold in nature – held in tension together - heads, hearts, and hands.

Today’s lesson from James echoes Jesus’ point. We are called to be “doers of the word.” Now, it’s a well-known fact that our friend and scholar Martin Luther was not a fan of the book of James. He didn’t go so far as to lobby to have it removed from the canon, but he didn’t think we should spend much time with it… too much works-righteousness for his tastes.

The book of James is not written to any community in particular but is instead a collection of helpful teachings and reminders about how being a follower of Jesus is different living any other way. It comes close to being a New Testament version of Wisdom literature, much like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. When I read the book of James, it helps me in my understanding of the Christian faith and what it means to be the church.

Living our faith authentically means remembering who God is and who God calls us to be. In verse 17, James begins by saying, "Every gift comes from above." This is who God is, loving provider, constant companion... at our lowest moments and the times when we experience the most joy. God is with us and provides for us, whether we feel close to him in our joy or far away in our despair.

In verse, 18, he reminds us that we are God’s creation, born in truth and love. And in that light, we are called to bear that same truth and love to the world. How do we do that? In verses 19-21, James reminds us to "Be quick to listen, slow to anger slow to speak”, setting aside anger and wickedness, and ends his directions with this direction “be doers of the word" in verse 22.

This is who God calls us to be. People who care for others as God has cared for us, and who are cared for when they are most in need. Yes, our inner journey is important. God wants us to pray and read the scripture and learn about the faith. But we are also given gifts that God wants us to use in serving the Kingdom – in serving one another. God calls us to active lives. Living out faithfully means holding the inner journey and the outward living in balance – having them inform and form each other. We are called to be doers of the word. So, what does that look like?

It looks like people building housing for other people, or sitting with the new kid at lunch or on the bus.

It looks like farmers and volunteers gleaning a second harvest from a field of tomatoes or potatoes, or an orchard of apples so that those who live with food insecurity can have more than canned foods on their table as often as possible.

It looks like Emergency Response Teams from all over the US sitting on standby, waiting for Hurricane Ida to pass through Louisiana and Mississippi to help people start rebuilding their lives, or volunteer firefighters or paramedics who answer a call day or night.

It looks like people who wear masks even though they are vaccinated to protect others who aren’t and folks who go through their closets to collect clothing and blankets and coats for refugees who leave home with nothing, and have little expectation of ever seeing their homeland again.

It looks like communities all over the world donating baby items and craft supplies and holding furniture drives to fill donated apartments to welcome these same refugees to their new homes.

It looks like making casseroles for a sick friend, or taking a friend to the doctor, or playing with your neighbor’s kids so that she or he can make a quick trip to the store or take a shower, all alone.

It turns out that everything we do fits the bill if it is done in love.

And putting ourselves out there – using our gifts – discovering new gifts – pushing our boundaries and sometimes even coloring outside the lines – these things will not only help us grow in faith but change our lives in ways we never imagined before.

Before I went to seminary, I went to Salkehatchie. It was a youth mission camp sponsored by our Annual Conference. Youth and adults went into rural communities and repaired houses for a week. In 2019, there were 36 camps set up all over SC, with over 3000 volunteer workers. It’s a big part of who I am today. It’s why I drive a truck – because you can’t fit a sheet of plywood into the trunk of a 69 Cutlass. Most families appreciated that we had been there. It wasn’t just that their roof didn’t leak anymore, but that people came and said, “I care.”

But there was an even deeper benefit. Salkehatchie’s ministry says to its volunteers, "You count. You make a difference." And once youth and adults have begun to live that way for a week, they want to keep on doing it. They go back to their churches saying, "I met Christ there. I saw him at work. I felt him in my heart. He's real to me in a way I never knew before." I think that’s what we all desire from our relationship with God and Jesus… we want to matter and make a difference, however, we can.

People who claim the name of Jesus are called to be doers of the word.... to be intentional in their witness, to learn to count on one another, to learn that they are returning a portion of God's love to the world. As we start a new year of ministry together, let us each be willing to use our gifts so that we can grow together in faith, and work together to make God’s Word, Jesus Christ, real in the world. Never forget that the Word is within you waiting to come forth in abundant love, mercy, and grace. And it is lived out in everything we do.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Peace, Deb

Sermon - Gear Up (16B)

13th Sunday after Pentecost – 16B August 22, 2021

Ephesians 6:10-20

Gear Up

I’m absolutely positive that many of us have heard this phrase more times than we can count… “Gear up” - we’re heading out – make sure you have everything you need. “Gear up” – get ready to face a challenge. Seven weeks ago when I started this series, I envisioned the title, “Gear Up” for this sermon – but now I realize it’s in a different way than I had imagined.

It’s surprising the number of times this passage from Ephesians is quoted to justify the use of force against people who have different religious beliefs than ours… the Crusades would be one historic example, but look at the world - it’s still a problem today.

In my experience, there are multiple ways to study the bible. One way is to open the bible, read the words, and figure out how they relate to our lives. This is why Martin Luther and other Reformation leaders believed that the scripture should be made available to people in the languages they spoke and read – no pastoral intermediary required. And this works well a lot of the time, but there are often contradictory passages, and some things are hard to make sense of if we don’t know the context in which they were written.

That’s why another necessary dimension of bible study asks us to study ABOUT the bible. Who wrote it? When? Where? What was going on at the time? How does translating from its original languages change the meaning from a plan reading in our own contexts? How has the meaning of this passage changed throughout time? These questions are just as important as the words themselves.

That’s a place where many preachers start. We look at the words, pay attention to their historical context, and try to be faithful to everything we know about them. This is really important where there are competing directives or narratives. For instance, in 1 Corinthians, Paul tells women to sit down and be quiet, but in Romans 16, he lists a host of women leaders and deacons who have faithfully led the community in worship and ministry. With good historical biblical criticism, we can see that both of those things can be true at the same time. Situational awareness is as appropriate when reading the bible as it is when driving a car or crossing the street.

So, as we finish out our series on Ephesians, let’s do a recap of who the writer was addressing and why it was so important that we’re still reading this letter 2000 years later.

Ephesus was a community in Asia Minor (now part of Turkey) and part of the Roman Empire, where Christianity was illegal until 313 CE. It was a seaport and a crossroads between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. That meant that it was a diverse community, so while there may not have been direct persecution by Roman officials, there is evidence that Christianity was not the only or most important game in town. There was a temple built to honor and worship Emperor Domitian and Ephesus was the cultic center of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the moon, of chastity and childbirth. Paul’s words and our understanding of history tell us it was very challenging to live as a Christian in this time and place.[i]

Written or approved by Paul, it is done from prison in Rome, dictated to a disciple or maybe a Roman prison guard – it’s pretty edgy stuff… “put on the whole armor of God…” - those are fighting words. But they are not written to incite a riot. They are written to encourage the faithful in a time of deep despair, reminding them they have not been abandoned by God. When the writer talks about “the cosmic powers of the present darkness,” it’s not just about the people being physically in danger, although the risks were real. No, this fledgling church is attacked by the minutia of governmental interference – diminishing their position in society as a way of taking away their hope and robbing them of their peace, in hopes that they will abandon their little cult so everyone can return to the supposed peace of fear and anarchy.[ii]

Using these gifts, this armor of God, they were not just called to be strong, but to be strong in the Lord – which redefines what strength really looks like. This message holds true today. Like faith, hope, and love, the strength we need to survive and flourish comes from outside ourselves – gifts that we receive from God. Through our relationship with him, we share in his strength. Instead of thinking that we can bear the burdens of the world on our own shoulders, we are called to move forward with the Lord, who like the song says, has the whole world in his hands.[iii]

Too often, we are led to believe that the Christian life will keep us safe… that it will protect us from being hurt, or give us a moral superiority to clear conflicting ideas from our space. That is not what Paul is talking about here. The armor of God is something much different. It isn’t about keeping us safe or making us happy. It is given to us so that we can stand fast in our faith, despite the battles that rage around us.

The truth that we are called to proclaim is not what we believe about the world, but the truth about who God is and how God is calling us to live. Righteousness – being upright – sticking to the principles of love and unity, this is our breastplate, protecting our hearts from the attacks that will inevitably come our way. We are called to live out our faith, proclaiming the gospel of peace. Paul promises that we will be protected by the steadfastness of our witness. And then we are to pray… at all times and for everything. Pray for our situations, for those who need to hear about God’s love, and for those who share in our faith and our struggles.

This kind of living requires practice. It requires equipment and discipline. That means using this armor regularly – an hour of worship a week isn’t enough. A good first step: read the bible. Now many of us would start with Genesis 1, but when we get to the monotony of Leviticus, many people give up. So do something different than that. Follow the daily lectionary, or make a habit of reading a devotional, like Our Daily Bread or Guideposts that the Chapel gives out each month. Bible apps for your phone or tablet often offer monthly reading plans and prayer journal resources – use those. Set a reminder. Write it on your task list. It doesn’t really matter how small you start – it just matters that you do something.

Second, make a practice of letting love be your guide. That feels like a daunting task. Here’s a simple way to begin – remember the golden rule – do to others as you would have them do to you. This is a good guide: before we act ask the question, “Is this how I would want to be treated?” Love will steer us in the right direction, even if it’s not the easiest.

Third, faith is best lived out in community – that’s why we worship together each week, hearing God’s story in scripture and song, in prayer, and around a common table. It is why we want to offer discipleship opportunities for all ages. It helps us to grow in knowledge and in friendship. As we broaden our experiences, we embrace new understandings of truth and discard old ideas that no longer fit our experience of who God is.

We are not just on the same journey with other Christians – we are in the same battle. In this passage, Paul is telling us that faith is not gained by our belief alone. Faith is not just a noun. It is also a verb. It is active. It is lived out. It is alive.

Every year we plant a garden - herbs, vegetables, flowers – we love it all. We spend the months of January and February making plans, and March and April preparing the soil, planting seeds, buying young plants, making our garden dreams come to life. By May, the planting is done. But that is not the end of the story. Every day, we check to see if our plants need water if there are slugs or bugs or birds munching in our garden buffet. We look for disease, and treat it or remove the plants before the infection spreads. Most years the plan works - but even in our failures, we learn something useful for the future.

The same holds true for a life of faith. In the beginning, faith may seem separate or different from everyday life. Paul is telling us that to be able to survive and thrive, we have to merge those worlds together. We are called to put on the armor of God just the same way that we get dressed to face the world. The good news is that God’s dress code only has one rule… do everything in love. If we do that, if we ALL do that, then we can transform the world in Jesus’ name…not by rejecting people who believe differently from us or beating people into theological submission, but by loving them in all the ways we can. Being vulnerable enough to live out God’s love every day, well, some people will think that’s lame or weak. But it’s not – because, in our willingness to love, we are made strong.

In 1998, Tom Junod wrote an article for Esquire magazine that became the basis for the book and movie, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. In this article, Junod shares this: “Once upon a time, a little boy with a big sword went into battle against Mister Rogers. Or maybe, if the truth be told, Mister Rogers went into battle against a little boy with a big sword.” Mister Rogers encountered a boy with a big plastic sword, knelt down in front of him, and said “Oh my, that’s a big sword you have.” The boy replied, “It's not a sword; it's a death ray.” Mister Rogers whispered in the boy’s ear, who at first shook his head no, then nodded Yes.

Later, Junod asked him what he’d whispered. “Oh, I just knew that whenever you see a little boy carrying something like that, it means that he wants to show people that he’s strong on the outside. I just wanted to let him know that he was strong on the inside, too. And so that’s what I told him. I said, ‘Do you know that you're strong on the inside, too?’ Maybe it was something he needed to hear.” [iv]

We need to hear that, too. Paul writes to encourage the Ephesians during difficult times – that message is just as important today. God has given us tools for the battle, different from the weapons of the world. We are not called to lash out in anger. Instead, we are called to stand firm and know that we have the perfect armament we need to hold our position, and even gain ground, by demonstrating our love for God and God’s love for the world.

These are the tools of our defense: truth, steadfastness, peace, prayer, faith. Without our reliance on these, we will surely fail at living out the life to which Jesus calls us.[v]

In the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Peace, Deb

[i] Pulpit Fiction Podcast, Proper 16B https://www.pulpitfiction.com/notes/proper16b/#Ephesians6%3A10-20=

[ii] Will Willimon, Pulpit Resource, Equipped for the Fight, Proper 16B, 8/2//21

[iii] James Howell, Weekly Preaching, August, 22, 2021, www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/10915/weekly-preaching-august-22-2021

[iv] Tom Junod, http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/publications/press/esquire/index.html

[v] Willimon, Ibid.