Proper 17 (A)
September 1, 2002
After the Shouting
Romans 12:9-21
September is such a lovely time to get married. The weather often so perfect. There are always lots of anniversaries to celebrate in this month. I have a vivid memory of a stunning September wedding some years ago now. It was a Jewish-Protestant wedding in a synagogue. Everything about it was beautiful. The people, the setting, the words, music -- all reminded me of Snow White and her prince on their wedding day.
The groom even crushed anything that might mar the beauty of their marriage by stomping on the wine glass. Then the final Hebrew blessing and English blessing and they were coming down the aisle beaming. Someone whispered quietly to me, "Well, it's all over now, but the shouting!"
His sarcastic play on words started me out of my story book spell, back into the reality that we had just witnessed the last scene in Snow White's tale. Our fairy tales never begin with the wedding. They always end there. Perhaps because people have felt for centuries that in a sense the most beautiful and exciting days of their lives end at that point. After that comes "the shouting", or so they say.
When things get rough we say, "Well, the honeymoon's over." The time when love comes easily is passed. Then what? Then the story fades out. The movies and magazines just replay the story up to that point, again and again. We repeat over and over in our books and films and dramas the beautiful beginning of a love story and when the hero and heroine finally get together the love story ends!
Oh, some other story may go on, like the classic "I Love Lucy" shows or TV soap operas in which we see mainly struggles between the men and women; they're trying to trick each other, be one up on the other, fighting, hurting, shouting at each other. Somehow all that shouting between Lucy and Ricky never seemed very funny to me. I always wondered why they couldn't just get together and live in peace.
Paul said, in so far as it is in your control, live peaceably with all. As a child, I often wondered why married couples and the closest relatives and friends always seemed to be the ones on TV who were fighting with each other. I remember being amazed to learn as a child that most murders are committed within families. This is still true today. The people who are closest to each other have the strongest feelings about each other, both good and bad. We have wonderful ceremonies to celebrate the good feelings. But not a lot of help dealing with the bad ones. The divorce court is a lonely place.
I like weddings because they're so full of hope. But the hope has to be in the kind of "working" love, that goes into action when the easy love's prelude stops and the more "advanced" music comes on, for which we must labor to learn the difficult dance of patience, perseverence and prayer. The harmony of this more and more sophisticated music demands humility, nobility and grace under pressure. It requires that if someone steps on your foot, you don't kick them; rather, you help them to learn the steps by continuing steadfast in them yourself. You teach them a lesson by reaching for the Spirit power of "second wind" and get your inspiration to act in grace, rather than in kind.
On the rare occasions when people ask me to do a reaffirmation of their wedding vows, after some years of marriage, I like that even more than weddings because I know that those people deserve a celebration much more than the so-easily loveable newlyweds.
The man and woman who stood before me recently to reaffirm their marriage of 10 years had literally been through hell together. They and their three children were all in tears of joy because they had made it through, with hope and grace still on their team, and they had too much of an investment in it now to ever turn back. Hallmark didn't even know what to tell the couple celebrating their 70th Anniversary here last year. They were off the charts to make their witness in holding fast to what is good!
The time "after the shouting" is the time of maturity and true testing and best possibilities ... in all relationships. Whatever persons we hold dearest should get the best of us, not the worst.
The wine glass broken in the Jewish wedding originally symbolized the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. It's there in the ceremony as a reminder that if the temple is to be rebuilt, it must happen now in temples of human beings, in our own lives, as we constantly pick up the pieces and make them stronger by letting grace find ways to fit them back together and build each other up again.
Everyone has troubles and some shouting. But may people envy us even our troubles, for how we face them. When Robert Browning whisked his beloved Elizabeth Barrett out of her troubled seclusion into marriage with him he began one of the greatest love stories of all time.
Inspired by the vision of their mature love, begun in the fullness of their years, he wrote: "Grow old along with me!/ The best is yet to be,/ The last of life, for which the first was made./ Our times are in his hand/ Who said, 'A whole I planned.'/ Trust God, see all, nor be afraid." The kind of love Paul calls us to is just this kind, sturdily grown up into the rich harvest of love's labors fulfilled. (Kathy Peterson)
Proper 18 (A)
September 8, 2002
Working It Out
Matthew 18:15-20
Matthew is teaching us today that much more is required in committed relationships than passivity and endurance. He's talking specifically about relationships in the church. But his advice applies to all significant, close relationships. He's showing us that we cannot back away from problems, tiptoe around them or pretend they're not there. We have to deal with them and work them out and in that process there is great possibility for positive growth and change.
This is one of two passages in the Gospels (both in Matthew, cf. 16:18) where the word "church" is used. Jesus had told them to shake the sand of any village that rejected them off of their sandals. Walk away.
But after His death, when His people gathered together in the church, how were they to deal with rejection and trouble makers then? Unrepentant sins against God and other church members could not be left behind in the dust then. The early church had to find a way to deal with this, something that the church has been struggling with ever since, with little attention to the process suggested here.
Did Matthew suggest that if a member of the church sinned against someone, they were to just quietly forgive them in their heart and say nothing? Not hardly! He gives a detailed process for actively coping with the problem. First go to the person and talk to them about it, one on one. If that doesn't work, then (2) take one or two others with you, so that there can be witnesses. If the member still will not listen, (3) tell the whole church. If they still refuse, (4) exclude them from the church community. Shun that person.
1Corinthians 5:3-5, 9-13 and 2 Corinthians 13:1-3 show that Paul used excommunication with this process. The Ananaias/Sapphira incident in Acts 5:1-11 also shows this to be standard in many early churches.
Jesus, of course, sought out "Gentiles and tax collectors." But the early church was trying to establish its identiy and keep that definition of itself clear. Jesus was seeking lost sheep. Paul was dealing with wolves mutilating his sheep "in house" and he took aggressive action to prevent that.
The second half of the passage is the powerful rationale for this aggressive action againt people who remain outside the defining identiy of Christians. If that were allowed to continue, the result would destroy the harmony and unity that makes the community of Christians so powerful. "If they agree, they can ask anything and God will grant it. If they gather in Christ's Spirit, He will be there with them. The whole point of the church was to create and maintain harmony in love -- to learn to love one another very well, indeed. So it was essential not to gloss over, but to deal with and work through problems in relationships because the harmony of right relationships was the basis for the new order.
To avoid any misunderstanding, in the very next verse Matthew records the 7 times 7 admoniton from Jesus on forgiveness. Forgiveness is not optional for the Christian. But forgiving someone does not mean that they can retain their church membership if they are not repentent. This is our eye into the early church realizing that not anyone or everyone will be able to be in their group, without creating chaos or even destroying its identity.
The modern church is allergic generally to confrontation. Everyone should just "be nice." Ignore problems. The courage required to follow Matthew's 4 Step program has the potential though to resolve the problem, one way or another. It's goal is to bring the person back into harmony with the group. He doesn't suggest forbearance, endurance, patience in accepting bad behavior. Quite the contrary.
I read recently that most people carry about 10 lbs. of waste material around that has gotten trapped in their colons, where it ferments and eventually causes serious illness. They wash on the outside, but are filthy on the inside, the author said.
This is just as true on the spiritual plane, where silent martyrdom can cause an accumulation of festering sores. But speaking the truth to each other in love clears the atmosphere for forgiveness and change. It wishes well to the offender by giving opportunity for better behavior, rather than passive observation of denigration of the self and the group.
Notice it's the victim who is to initiate the action toward reconciliation. In Luke 17:3 Jesus says: "Be on your guard! If thy brother sins against you, you must rebuke the offender. This takes courage and enough good will to want the offender to do better.
Three of the four ways to deal with altering behavior that needs to change, involve people besides the victim. In native societies, whenever there is a dispute, a third person always appears on the scene as a witness and mediator. Often because of the balance of power, things cannot be worked out between just two people. Others or a whole community may well be needed to give the wisdom and counterbalance for a just and promising solution.
The present-day church is in much need of the advice here that could save it from the often rampant abuse of offenders in its midst who have free reign among its other members, who know no other resources for blatant unchristian behavior in their midst than niceness. This gives incredible power to those willing to resort to the worst behavior. There is an urgent need in our churches to reclaim the power offered to us in this passage. Our internal accountability and external identity depend upon it. (Kathy Peterson)
Proper 19 (A)
September 15, 2002
Disputable Matters
Romans 14:1-12
Did you hear about the church that achieved perfect harmony among their congregation? The church that was always 100% in tune with God's will? The church that never experienced problems or controversy of any kind while carrying out a vibrant successful ministry for the Lord? If you would like to read their story, you can find it at any Christian bookstore on the fiction shelf!
I. Accepting the weaker brother
The "perfect" congregation doesn't exist. Therefore, each of us needs to hear from the Apostle Paul this morning as he writes, "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."
There are three things worth noting in this opening verse: 1) Some may have weaker faith than others. It might be demonstrated in how they handle what Paul calls "disputable matters." How mature are you in your faith? Mature enough that you don't always have to get your way?
2) There is a time to make or pass judgment. The injunction is not against ever passing judgment but simply against passing judgment about "disputable matters" which brings us to this: 3) Just as there are disputable matters, it follows that there are indisputable matters.
II. Disputable vs. Indisputable
For us, an indisputable matter is any matter on which the Bible clearly speaks. There is a bumper sticker that reads, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." A little boy pointed out that the middle line was unnecessary. In other words, it could actually read, "God said it, that settles it."
It is of interest to note those matters which Paul described as the "disputable matters" of his day -- what foods you can eat, specifically meat. While this probably is not an issue we deal with today within the church, there were those who felt it sinful to partake of meat. This vegetarian diet (definitely not for me!) may have been some distortion of the teaching in Acts 15 against partaking of blood or meat that still had its lifeblood within.
Paul brands this as weak faith yet with the next pen stroke says that those who partake are not to look down on those who do not (v. 3). Maturity in faith is just seen in how you view a particular issue, it's how you view those who see it differently.
Certain days being considered holy versus those who see every day as alike. The surprising fact is that the New Testament never clearly spells this out for us. It is still a "disputable matter." Some will say that every day is sacred to the Lord, every day is a day we are to live in his service. Sometimes we sing, "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."
We can sing that of each and every day, yet some view certain days, even this one (Sunday), as special to the Lord. Christmas, Good Friday, Easter are special days to some, and Paul says that each one should be fully convinced in his own mind (v. 5). The crux of the matter is this: How do you view those who see things a bit different?
III. Reactions within the pew
Don't pass judgment, look down upon, criticize, attack or demean those who see "disputable matters" in a different light.
Ever hear of a church embroiled in controversy over the introduction of a new style of worship, the introduction of a "contemporary" service? A disputable matter!
Ever hear of those within a church who were unforgiving of one another? Who refused to follow the directive of "forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you" (Eph. 4:32)? A church where love for one another was lacking despite Jesus telling us that all men would know we are His disciples if we loved one another (John 13:34, 35)?
How tragic when because of some disputable matters, we fail to live up to the indisputable teachings of our faith!
Earlier in this same letter, Paul has said that we are to, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law" (Rom. 13:8). And that is something that's indisputable! (Dan Nicksich)
Proper 20 (A)
September 22, 2002
Lest We Complain
Exodus 16:2-15
Bill had not been feeling well so he made an appointment with his Doctor. After the examination, the doctor asked to speak to Bill's wife. He said something like this, "Mary, your husband has a rare, potentially terminal stress related disorder, and the cure will have to come from you. If Bill is to recover, you'll have to create for him a totally stress free environment.
You need to be a loving, encouraging, affectionate wife. You should send him off to work each day with a hug and kiss. While he's away, you should use your time to clean your house and make the atmosphere of your home as pleasant as you can. When Bill returns from work, greet him at the door with an affectionate kiss and have a hearty meal of his favorite dishes prepared. You must do everything possible to soothe and show affection to Bill. His life depends on it."
As they were driving home, Bill asked Mary what the doctor said to her in their lengthy meeting. Mary was quiet for a moment and then said: "He says you're going to die." Isn't it surprising how often God's people will complain and discourage rather than praise and encourage?
I. Doubters in the desert (vv. 2-3)
These were people who had seen miracles but now they doubt. They watched as the Nile was turned to blood, as hailstones selectively singled out and killed Egyptian cattle.
They watched as frogs, gnats, boils and darkness infested the land of Egypt. God had struck down the firstborn of Egypt to free His people, yet now they doubt.
They've been saved from slavery, yet death as slaves seems preferable to freedom in the desert. And why? Because of food! Just imagine throwing away lasting freedom for a change in diet!
Isn't it surprising how often we seek temporary pleasure at the expense of faith in the God who never fails to provide?
II. The God who is ever-present (vv. 4-10)
The people grumble, yet God gives His promise. There is no one like God when it comes to a gracious response to people who have failed Him. The God who is ever-present proves to be one who is also ever patient.
After strong words of rebuke through His prophet Malachi, pointing out that the people were robbing Him by their failure to tithe and give appropriate offerings, God gives this promise: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test Me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it" (Mal. 3:10).
Just bring the full tithe in, and you will be blessed. To those who were robbing Him, God gives His promise. Why would we ever doubt such a gracious, forgiving God?
You too can reap the blessings of the God who is ever-present.
III. Manna in the dew (vv. 11-15)
Did you know the word manna literally means, "What is it?" It was bread from heaven, yet their question was, "What is it?"
What is it? It was, for them, the continuing evidence of God's providential care -- manna in the dew and quail in the desert.
What is it? For us it can be blessings in yet unrecognizable form. Ephesians 1:3 says we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. We come to God seeking His blessings. At times, we grumble or complain. Perhaps our faith begins to waver.
What is it? A time of trial, yet God's Word says to consider it a time of joy for He is working for our good.
What is it? Perhaps a time of need, yet God says to have faith, and He will provide.
What is it? It's a time of challenge; a time to serve and work; a time to don the servants robe. The challenge is to do so without complaining or arguing lest we too seem to be doubters in the desert.
Philippians 2:14 puts it quite simply, "Do everything without complaining or arguing." We each have a calling to fulfill, a means by which we serve the God who is ever-present. Will you do so without complaining or arguing? (Dan Nicksich)
Proper 21 (A)
October 6, 2002
The Magnificence of Humility
Philippians 2:1-13
"It's a big wide and wonderful world. I am going to get all I can out of it." She had just finished college, and her ambition was only limited by her imagination. Religion had always been a part of her life, and yet it was really more "user friendly" than anything else. People were expendable, especially if they could help her get where she wanted to go.
Just before she graduated she would go one last time to her Bible study, where her friends were nice. She might even gain some tips on how to achieve her fortune. Well, things didn't go as she had planned. In fact, the verses under study had to do with humility. The great success story was slowed down and, you might say, spiritually throttled. Saint Paul and Jesus got in the way -- big time. The more they studied Philippians 2:1-13 the more she began to question her motives.
I. Consider others better than myself? (vv. 1-4)
"Don't I have right to be me? How dare anyone even suggest I shouldn't exercise my ambition. Isn't it God-given, and doesn't He expect us to use our time, talent and energy? Of course I am going to look after my own interests, and that's my business. Excuse me, it's my life, and I will take charge of it! But wait, this is Holy Scripture. Christ died for my sins and arose from the dead for everyone. Better do some adjusted thinking. Maybe a little revision here and there and I can still have it all! Don't remember reading these verses before. Well, maybe God is trying to tell me something."
The question had really become very sobering. The "talking back" made her feel guilty because, after all, the Bible was the Bible. A healing chain reaction had begun. It was like watching dominoes slowly fall over and with little effort on anyone's part. Those about her that evening could sense a major struggle was at hand. While they had some of her feelings of "having it all," it wasn't really to the extent she had. Deep down all were cheering for the healing chain reaction to complete itself, so all could benefit. She was visibly moved, and frustration was apparent. She had doubts about selfish self-realization.
II. Did Jesus really do that? (vv. 5-11)
Aren't we Easter Christians, and don't we put all the emphasis on Him conquering death? Jesus made Himself nothing? Yes, He was humble, and that's fine but so what? He became victorious and nothing else matters all that much.
I get so sick and tired of all those pious people walking around like they are sick! Jesus was a servant. In a way we are supposed to be, too. But whoever said we were to be doormats? He was obedient to death. Yes, and we are told it was a terrible death on a cross. Maybe we had better place in our memory the permanence of all of this.
Now, they came to the passages they all wanted to take and hold dear. Emotions ran high, including hers, as they pondered that His name was above all names. It sounded like sooner or later all would bow before Him. God would see to that. Oh that was thrilling! Many tears were shed as the Holy Spirit moved among them.
Imagine every tongue confessing Jesus Christ is Lord. It had begun to dawn in a very forceful way that Jesus had done so much for all and especially everyone there that evening. Just maybe His self-realization was a lot more important to imitate than hers.
III. How practical is all of this? (vv. 12-13)
Good, fine and lovely! Now where do we go with all of this? Now that we have come down off cloud nine, it's time for a reality check. Will this attitude toward life work in the every day world? That's debatable, and common sense says we had better get the stars our of our eyes.
On the other hand, would the inspired Apostle Paul write to us about something that won't work? I don't think so. There has to be some common sense value in this. He speaks I about continuing to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Better move from theory to practice.
By now most everyone had moved to consensus, including Ms. Jones or Smith. She, more than anyone else, was having her thinking revised. In fact, her heart was growing warmer to the prospect of a genuine humility that was truly magnificent.
It began to be a great feeling for her to know that there was, in fact, much beneficial power in all of this, and she could share in it. To live the Christian life at deeper levels was possible and a lot of it has to do with humbling oneself. The group traveled through serious but precious waters. Peace abided.
For all who call themselves Christians and have walked at deeper levels, we know about this magnificence. Only the Cross and the Crown working simultaneously in our souls can produce the spiritual formation that is the "pearl of great price." Our Savior and Lord not only points the way, He shows us the way. Yes, He lived, died and lived again that we have no doubts about His ongoing and eternal supremacy. To be crucified with Him is to arise with Him. (Donald C. Lacy)
Proper 22 (A)
October 13, 2002
Judgment Comes
Matthew 21:33-46
He was a young man that God was wooing into the ordained ministry. Over the months different persons just seemed to happen into his life. All of them felt a sense of mission and his calling. None betrayed the spirit of Christ by trying to force the issue.
First this one and that one brought up the idea with him. There was always kindness and an attitude of thanksgiving. But he kept refusing, and in time his heart was hardened against it so completely that those about him became worried. He was at war with God and every messenger that was sent.
It is said Jesus came to him in a dream and invited him to become a member of the clergy. As the story goes, Jesus spoke of his strong sense of morality and the fact so much was right in his life. But that wasn't enough. A place had been made for him among the ordained. Sadly -- even tragically -- his response was so negative and blunt that he no longer made a place for Jesus at all.
I. Consistent and persistent rejection is deadly (vv. 33-39)
Church history is punctuated by great men and women who sought to bring Christ to precious human beings. Some of them gave their lives. We cannot know their numbers in this life, but we may very well know in the next. They have worn various labels, as denominations go, and seem to have been treated the same. We cannot help wondering, for example, what might have happened had both Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin been obedient to early callings from the Spirit.
More pointed, what does this have to do with you and me. Frankly, I believe there is nothing by coincidence. Certain persons are placed in our paths and often for spiritual purposes. Most of us can cite experiences when the death angel came and there had been no indication of receiving Christ as Savior and Lord. We, too, can practice a kind of an approved rejection that seems harmless but over a period of time becomes deadly. May God be merciful!
II. Eventually God will not be denied (vv. 40-44)
Isn't it amazing how stupid, in a spiritual sense, some people can be? At first that sounds like mere human judgment. Yet, read the signs and make careful observations. Our Bibles call upon us to do that. The stupidity comes about because there is a frame of mind that chooses to believe either God doesn't care how we live, or He is not a God of justice. In both cases the Christian Faith from the beginning has said this is false. In our depths we know that God sooner or later has His way.
It is easy some days for us to question God's will, especially in our own lives. We seem to believe that just maybe God is forgetful or amenable to our wills.
While He hears all prayers, that doesn't mean we can sway what He ultimately has in mind. "Not my will but Thy will be done" is as true now as it was when Jesus prayed it centuries ago. Repentance and a strong desire for Him to have His way always helps and even may prevent a catastrophe.
III. Religious power structures can be demonic (vv. 45-46)
Some key leaders in Judaism had things the way they wanted them, so they bolted the door shut that led to revitalized religious practice. It seemed one breath of fresh air was entirely too many. A man like Jesus was beyond toleration. It's like saying "it's either him or us." We need to keep in mind not all Jews wanted to get rid of Him. Actually, not only was our Lord a Jew, but so were most all of the earliest followers. But power was very important to some, and they insisted on keeping it.
You and I know about power, don't we? There seems to be no corruption like the corruption found in some institutions. The finest of religious ideas and feelings are twisted and turned by the few until the Devil has a field day. Clergy who have been in the vineyards over the years know the temptations that come to us. Even exemplar clergy can become evil in a turf war. It is as though Jesus is no longer in their midst. He is standing to the side weeping.
Yes, long-standing rejection is deadly. In time God will not be denied, and demons can infiltrate even the churches. Judgment does come, but why bring it deliberately on ourselves? Pray humbly and sincerely; read the oly Scriptures with open minds, and live the Christian life clinging to Jesus the Christ. Then, if judgment comes, it will not be of our doing.
Our day and time cries out for those who kneel before whatever judgment God brings, to pray that it will lead to repentance and decisively changed lives. Judgment can bring reconciliation and purification. At all costs, we must never forsake our Savior and Lord. (Donald C. Lacy)
Proper 23 (A)
October 13, 2002
A Black Tie Affair
Matthew 22:1-14
Gerald Kennedy remembered when the students at Yale Divinity School were fussing with the faculty about what was appropriate clothing for ministerial students in classrooms. The faculty was on the side of dignified, business attire, and the students were pushing for more informal. The method of debate was proof texting from scriptures. The faculty would post on the bulletin board, "Awake, awake, put on your strength, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem." and the students would reply with "Therefore, be not anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on." So we have to wonder why the man who said not to be anxious about what you put on would turn around and tell this story.
This parable of the King who gives a party, drags in the people off the street and then condemns one to eternal fire and brimstone because he does not have on the right clothes is a pretty strange story. When you take it apart and look at the pieces of it, it sounds very much like the plot of a very bad Stephen Segal movie: an opportunity for a lot of violence and bloodshed, but finding the meaning or the socially redemptive features are not very easy.
Maybe if we tried to tell this story with a more contemporary cast of characters and a possible time line, we might be able to get into it a little bitter. The number one mover and shaker in this whole town has a son who is talking about getting married. But he is very busy jetting back and forth all over the world, and he is not sure when he will have time to get married.
The place where they have talked about getting married has been damaged by the hurricanes, and the band they want has a couple of members who are sick, and they are not sure when they will be well enough to play, but the son and his girl friend would like to get married when they can work it in. So the number one mover and shaker just sends out invitations to all the other mover and shakers in the town and says, "Hey, get ready, I want you to know we are going to have a wedding."
Suddenly, unexpectedly the carpenters get the place repaired and the band is well, and the two people discover that they have a whole week free, and so they decide to get married. The number one shaker and mover sends out announcements that the wedding is on Saturday. But all the other movers and shakers already have things to do, places to be, business to conduct, trips they have planned, ball games to go to.
They talk among themselves about how silly Mr. Big is to think that they sit around waiting, holding open a their social calendar just on the possibility that his family might be doing something. They smile and laugh at the arrogance of such a man. Some even beat on the messenger pretty good. One pushed a messenger down the stairs and he broke his neck. Another shot one of the messengers thinking he was an intruder. It was not a pretty picture for a beginning of a wedding feast.
So by Tuesday morning the Number one mover and shaker has rounded up an armed band of mercenaries, and he sends them out to show his outrage at the snub of his family. These thugs kill the people who have refused to come to the party and destroy the business and property of these people.
But what kind of party can you have with no guests? Wednesday the messengers are sent out into the community, walking up and down main street telling the people at the Little Hotel, telling the people at the Smoking Pit, telling the people at the court house, the people at the jail, wedding on Saturday. Number One mover and Shaker is having a party, and he has already killed about forty or fifty people who said no, so you all had better come.
Saturday dawns clear and mild, and the wedding has taken place and the reception is in high gear. All of the people who were told to come have come -- the good and bad, the high and the low. The number one shaker and mover is moving through the crowd greeting his guests. And then there is that one man over there in his work clothes from Winn-Dixie. There is one man who is not dressed for a party.
How in the world could anybody, would anybody, be so stupid or so cocky or so out of it not to put on wedding clothes after all that has happened? The number one mover and shaker becomes so enraged that he grabs the man, and yells at him.
"How did you get in here without wedding clothes on?"
The man is speechless. He hasn't an answer. He doesn't even try to explain or defend himself. The Number One has him cast out of the party forever into eternal darkness.
There was a time I wondered how the Number one mover and shaker could expect the people to be ready for a wedding if they had been pulled in off the street, but somehow all the others managed to get appropriately attired. They found wedding garments. There is only one man who had not bothered with changing. "If he wants me there, he can take me like I am." Not to have put on the black tie must have been an intentional decision. All the others off the street managed to come appropriately attired.
That is the flavor of this story and Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is like that. Can you imagine the tension, I the apprehension, the fear that would hang over that party? If you were at that party you would be very much aware that what you did there and how you acted was serious business?
Jesus is talking about the coming Kingdom of God and the people hearing His preaching are debating the matter as if the kingdom of God is some small matter like whether or not the Feds are going to raise or lower the prime interest rate. So Jesus tells us a story to remind us that the Kingdom of God is the central question of our lives.
We are invited to the party of the Kingdom of God and that invitation is the most important invitation, a life or death decision, a central question.
The story is right in reminding us that in the presence of the Holy God, fear is the beginning of all wisdom. And what we do with what we have been given is part of how we participate in the party. This story of the Kingdom of God has a way of bringing fear back as part of that kingdom to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to awaken the sense of obligation and responsibility for what we do and how we act in the kingdom, to be made aware that what we do matters at the party. (Rick Brand)
Proper 24 (A)
October 20, 2002
Our Spiritual Duty
Matthew 22:34-46
What is our spiritual responsibility as Christian believers? What are our two most important attitudes and loyalties?
Jesus answered these requests as recorded by Saint Matthew in this Gospel passage. We will discover an interesting spiritual insight when we hear this passage of scripture.
I. What Is Our Greatest Law Command from God?
This great commandment passage tells us that a lawyer questioned Jesus. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" verse 36.
Jesus gave a dramatic answer to his question. We must love the Lord our God. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 a basic statement of the Jewish faith text. 1) We are to love the Lord God with all our heart. 2) We are to love Him with all our soul. 3) We are to love Him with all our mind.
We are to give the Lord our complete first loyalty in our thoughts, emotions, spirit and activities. We must give God our total love and faith commitment.
II. What Is The Second Commandment?
Jesus' answer to this passage is based on Leviticus 19:18. We must love People. We are not to look down on them or to hate them. We will recognize them as a part of the Father's creation and those for whom Christ died on the cross, for their redemption and for ours. Loving people for whom Christ died is an indication of our devotion to God. We are to love God first and people second. Our devotion to God causes us to serve our fellowmen and women and children, including our faith sharing and missions.
I was converted when I was twelve years old, and baptized. When I was sixteen I was called to preach and licensed by my church. Fifty years ago I was ordained to the Gospel Ministry when I was a student at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. I have served ten churches in five states: Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina. I preached in seventeen states and in seven foreign countries in South America, Europe and Africa. This way I served people. I shared the Gospel, visited, baptized, conducted marriages and funerals for several hundred. I love the Lord and people, in obedience to Jesus' command. My continued ministry is preaching, Bible study and visitation of the sick and shutins.
III. Who Is the Anointed One, the Christ, and God's Messiah?
Verse 41, Jesus asked the Pharisees, "What do you think of the Christ?" They said "The son of David." They thought that King David's descendent would be a political leader (a prince or King of Israel) who would fight and defeat their enemies. They wanted him to drive the Roman rulers out of Israel. They thought the Messiah would be a national political and military leader.
Jesus was called the Son of David when He healed a blind man. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, not simply a descendent of King David. He was not an earthly conqueror but a person of sacrificial divine love.
You will recall His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed "Not My will, but Thy will be done" prior to His arrest and crucifixion on the cross north of Jerusalem.
This golden text teaches us that we are to love God first, and then we are to love people for whom Christ died. This is our spiritual focus. (Alton H. McEachern)
Proper 25a
October 27, 2002
Our Life's Highest Level
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
St. Paul made a missionary journey to Macedonia. This was the first Gospel introduction to Europe. Macedonia was the capital of the kingdom of King Alexander the Great. He conquered many areas and spread the Greek language and culture into a lot of nations. That must be why we got our New Testament written first in Greek, not in Hebrew or Latin.
Paul left Philippi with Silas and Timothy with him as Christian missionaries to Thessalonica the capital of Macedonia. It had a population of 2A000 people. St. Paul preached in the synagogue three times proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and telling about His death and resurrection. Paul and his fellow missionaries converted some Jews and Greeks to Christianity, mainly Gentiles. Then he went to Athens and Corinth in Greece. Paul was there three weeks when Timothy came to visit him in Athens. Paul sent him back to Thessalonica.
St. Paul wrote two letters from Corinth to the new Christian congregation in the early 50s. This was his earliest letter in our New Testament. He expressed his joy and gratitude at their conversion and encouraged them in their faith.
I. Lead a Life Worthy of God.
Look at St. Paul's introduction to his letter to the new church: "Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father."
He established this new congregation and had a continuing ministry with them when he was no longer there. He and his two fellow missionaries were righteous, blameless and faithful witnesses of Christ, encouraging the new Christian congregation.
II. Lead your fellow believers to be worthy in God.
The quality of our Christian life is Christ like. He told us "Follow Me" Matthew 4:19. We are to accept the Lord's tasks for us, including calling us to ministry. We are also to live in fellowship with the Lord.
Like St Paul, we are to convert people to faith in Christ and encourage them in their new faith and quality of life. We are to inspire our fellow believers. We are to lead a life worthy of God who calls us into His kingdom and glory. Christian behavior makes us holy and righteous believers.
In Matthew 28:19-20 we receive Jesus' Great Commission, to His eleven disciples and to us. He told us to "Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We are also to teach them what Jesus taught us to observe and believe. We have Christian Churches in 130 nations of the world today, so we have been obedient to Jesus' commission. He promised to be with us always, and promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit with spiritual power from on High. This is the revelation of God's will, our calling and our task. We are to worship and share our faith with the unsaved. We witness to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are 150,000,000 Christian believers in the United States today. In 2000 they gave $30 billion to Christian ministry and missions.
III. Thank God.
In verse 13 Paul thanked God that they received the Word. It is not just the word of men, but it's truth is the Word of God. Paul was grateful for their new faith in Christ the Messiah of God. They received the Gospel with their hearts. The word comes from God in the Holy Bible and through the witness and faith sharing of Christian believers to the unsaved. This passage reflects gratitude for the success of the Gospel ministry in Thessalonica, where they received the Word of God in a spiritual tansformation. Many scholars think those new Christians wrote St Paul a letter of gratitude earlier.
Lets share our faith with the unsaved and unchurched in our community and in missions in the world, as St Paul, Timothy and Silas did almost 2,000 years ago. (Alton H. McEachern)
Sermon briefs in this issue are provided by: Kathy Peterson, Pastor, Palos United Methodist Church, Palos Heights, IL; Dan Nicksich, Pastor, First Christian Church, Somerset, PA; Donald C. Lacy, Pastor, Yorktown United Methodist Church, Yorktown, IN; Rick Brand, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Henderson, NC; Alton H. McEachern, Retired Pastor, Sharpsburg, GA.