SCRIPTURE: John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10 & Numbers 21:4-9
THIS IS THE KIND OF SCRIPTURE THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO STOP READING THE BIBLE.
THE ISRAELITES ARE WHINING – AGAIN. GOD IS HURT AND ANGRY – AGAIN. THE PEOPLE, AFTER DIEING FROM THE BITES OF POISONOUS SNAKES, ARE BEGGING FOR MERCY – AGAIN.
AND THE SAME GOD THAT GAVE THE COMMANDMENT ABOUT NOT HAVING ANY GRAVEN IMAGES HAS TOLD MOSES TO MAKE A GRAVEN IMAGE OF A SNAKE USING BRONZE AS THE MEDIUM TO BE GRAVEN. SO WHAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AN IDOL IS TO BE LIFTED UP ON A POLE IN ORDER THAT ALL SNAKE-BITTEN ISRAELITES MIGHT LOOK TO THE FIERY BRONZE IMAGE AND BE HEALED.
GO FIGURE!
I THINK I’M GETTING TIRED OF STUDYING THE GOD OF THE HEBREWS. HE DOESN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. DON’T YOU THINK THE WORLD MIGHT BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF GOD HAD JUST BANISHED THE SNAKES AND MADE NICE WITH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE?
NOW I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT WHENEVER I START TO THINK THIS WAY I KNOW I’M IN TROUBLE.
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME AND MY INTERPRETATION. IT REMINDS ME OF A PEANUTS COMIC STRIP.
LUCY SAYS TO CHARLIE BROWN, “DISCOURAGED AGAIN, EH, CHARLIE BROWN?”
“YOU KNOW WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS?
THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS THAT YOU’RE YOU!”
TO WHICH CHARLIE BROWN RESPONDS, “WELL, WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN I DO ABOUT THAT?”
LUCY ANSWERS, “I DON’T PRETEND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ADVICE…I MERELY POINT OUT THE TROUBLE!”
THE TROUBLE IN THE NUMBERS STORY IS NOT GOD. THE TROUBLE IS THE PEOPLE AND THE PROBLEM IS THE POISONOUS SNAKES. SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM?
IF SNAKES ON THE GROUND ARE THE PROBLEM, THEN IT SEEMS THAT LIFTING UP A SNAKE ON A POLE IS THE SOLUTION. AND WHETHER OR NOT WE THINK IT IS A GOOD SOLUTION, GOD IS IN CONTROL. GOD IS GOING TO DO WHATEVER GOD CAN TO STEER THE ISRAELITES AWAY FROM FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN PETTY LITTLE PROBLEMS. TIRED OF YOUR DAILY BREAD? THEN LOOK UP, O WANDERING ISRAELITES AND REMEMBER WHO IS GOD.
AND EVEN AS WE REMEMBER THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL, LET US NOT FORGET, THE INCARNATION TAUGHT US THAT GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD AND GRACIOUS. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NUMBERS SCRIPTURE HAS TO DO WITH HEALING MORE THAN SNAKES. ONE MORE TIME, GOD DID NOT ABANDON THE ISRAELITES. ONE MORE TIME GOD IS THERE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE. ONE MORE TIME, THE PEOPLE ARE TO TURN THEIR EYES UPON GOD. IF WE COULD ONLY REMEMBER TO DO THIS BEFORE THE SNAKES COME ALONG AND BITE US, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD MAKE!
DID YOU NOTICE THAT THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY BEGAN WITH A REFERENCE TO THE NUMBERS STORY? JESUS SAYS, “AND JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS, SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP.” THIS MAKES ME THINK THERE MUST BE SOME SIMILAR KIND OF PROBLEM HERE. THE PROBLEM IN THE STORY OF THE ISRAELITES WAS SNAKES ON THE GROUND. WHAT COULD THE PROBLEM FOR THE EARLY CHRISTIANS BE?
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN THE CHRISTIANS ARE IN THEIR OWN KIND OF EXODUS AND WILDERNESS WANDERINGS. NEARLY TWO GENERATIONS AFTER JESUS WAS ALIVE, HIS FOLLOWERS FIND THEMSELVES THE TARGET OF HATRED AND VIOLENT VENTING. CHRISTIANS WERE MAKING VERY GOOD “LION FOOD” FOR THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THOSE DAYS. IT SEEMS THAT THE SNAKES ON THE GROUND HAD BECOME HUMAN BEINGS, READY TO BITE AND KILL. GOD, IN JESUS CHRIST, DID NOT SEEM AS NEAR TO THEM AS THEY EXPECTED, AND THE CHRISTIANS WERE AFRAID.
SO THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS NOT SNAKES ON THE GROUND. THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS HUMAN BEINGS ON THE GROUND. AND IN WHAT BRIAN STOFFREGEN CALLS A “POLE-ISH” THEOLOGY, WE SEE THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN BEINGS SOLVED AS JESUS, THE DIVINE HUMAN BEING, IS LIFTED UP ON A POLE SO THAT ALL OF HUMANITY CAN TURN TO HIM AND BE HEALED. THE ULTIMATE HEALING OF THE HUMAN CONDITION COMES WHEN WE LOOK UP TO THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST.
THIS REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER PEANUTS COMIC STRIP. IN THIS ONE LUCY IS FIRST TO SPEAK AGAIN, “YOU KNOW WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS, CHARLIE BROWN?” CHARLIE ANSWERS, “NO, AND I DON’T WANT TO KNOW! LEAVE ME ALONE!” HE WALKS AWAY.
LUCY SHOUTS AFTER HIM, “THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS YOU WON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS!”
MY FRIENDS, THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH US IS WE WON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH US IS. AND I WOULD DARE TO SAY THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH US IS THAT WHEN WE ARE BITTEN WITH ANY KIND OF POISON, BE IT HUMAN OR REPTILIAN, WE THINK WE ARE IN CONTROL AND WE CAN FIX IT ON OUR OWN. WE THINK WE CAN HEAL OURSELVES UNTIL THE POISON BEGINS TO WORK. WE PRAY TO GOD WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT GOD WILL HEED OUR EVERY WORD.
BUT THE FACT IS WE CANNOT HEAL OURSELVES OF THE POISONOUS BITE BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL. THEREFORE, WE NEED TO LIFT OUR EYES TO GOD IN JESUS CHRIST.
A MINOR EXAMPLE OF THIS MIGHT BE MY PROBLEM WITH MY EAR. I TRY NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, BUT THE NOISE IN MY EAR IS NO BETTER. THERE IS STILL THIS INCESSANT ROARING THAT GOES ON DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I HAVE PRAYED AND PRAYED FOR GOD TO TAKE THE NOISE AWAY. I HAVE EXPECTED THAT GOD WILL ANSWER MY PRAYERS BY DOING EXACTLY WHAT I ASK.
IT SEEMS GOD HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND. AND INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT THE ROARING WILL NOT GO AWAY ANY TIME SOON, I FIND MYSELF WHINING AT GOD. I DON’T LIKE THE MANNA GOD IS SERVING UP TO ME THESE DAYS. IT IS MISERABLE FOOD AND I AM FEELING AS IF GOD HAS ABANDONED ME!
BUT WHEN I MULL OVER SCRIPTURE LIKE WE HEARD TODAY, I CAN SEE THAT THE PROBLEM IS REALLY ME AND NOT GOD, BECAUSE I AM MORE FOCUSED ON MY PROBLEM RATHER THAN ON MY GOD. I EXPECT THE ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS TO BE MY ANSWER AND NOT GOD’S ANSWER.
I AM NOT IN CONTROL HERE. AND THE ONLY TIME I FEEL ANY KIND OF HEALING IS WHEN I LET GO, AND LET GOD BE IN CHARGE OF MY LIFE.
NOW ON A MUCH GRANDER SCALE, WE SEEM TO BE FEELING THE SAME KIND OF AGONY ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAQ. WE PRAY FOR PEACE, EVEN AS OUR COUNTRY GOES TO WAR. WE PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR ARMED FORCES EVEN AS WE LISTEN TO THE DEATH COUNT INCREASE ON A DAILY BASIS. WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS? IS GOD EVEN LISTENING? HAS GOD FINALLY AND FOREVER GIVEN UP ON THE HUMAN CREATURE?
FRIENDS, I AM SURE GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON US, BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT WE ARE CLEARLY THE PROBLEM HERE. JESUS CHRIST WAS SENT BY GOD, NOT TO CONDEMN THE WORLD BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE “HUMAN BEING ON THE POLE” SO TO SPEAK. JESUS CHRIST, THE ONE WHO WAS LIFTED HIGH ON A CROSS, CAME AS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. AND WE NEED TO STRUGGLE TOWARDS PEACE EVEN AS WE ARE A NATION AT WAR.
NOW I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM DISTURBED BY THE PEACE RALLIES GOING ON AT THIS TIME.
AND I DIDN’T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHY I WAS DISTURBED UNTIL I READ THIS STATEMENT FROM DEEPAK CHOPRA. IN HIS ARTICLE ON 10 WAYS TO AVOID WAR CHOPRA SAYS, “EVEN ANTI-WAR PROTESTS CAN INFLAME THE WAR MENTALITY BY INCITING MORE STUBBORNNESS AND RESOLVE ON THE OTHER SIDE. TO BE BELLIGERENT IN THE NAME OF PEACE IS A FORM OF WAR.”
TO ME THIS IS THE SAME MENTALITY AS A “PRO-LIFE” DEMONSTRATOR TAKING THE LIFE OF AN ABORTION DOCTOR. I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
CHOPRA GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT HIS CONCEPT OF A WAR MENTALITY. HE SAYS, “THE WAR MENTALITY IS BLINDED BY FEAR, WHICH FUELS AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE TO MAKE THE FEAR GO AWAY. THAT IS WAR IN A NUTSHELL. THE OTHER RATIONALES ARE POINTLESS, AND WHEN WE OBSESS OVER THEM, ARGUING WHETHER THE U.S. IS ACTING AS SAVIOR, AGGRESSOR, IMPERIALIST, PEACEKEEPER, WORLD POLICEMAN, OR CYNICAL OIL POWER, THE NET EFFECT IS TO FORGET THAT WAR IS ABOUT FEAR AND USING VIOLENCE TO ‘SOLVE’ IT.”
EARLIER THIS WEEK I RECEIVED A MOST UNUSUAL EMAIL THAT ADDRESSES THE FEAR OF NOT DEFENDING ONESELF. IN THIS EMAIL SOMEONE SEEMED TO BE MAKING A CASE ABOUT THE NEED FOR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS. HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO KNOCK THEM FLAT WITH THE BLOW OF A FIST AND THEN HELP THEM UP WHILE REMINDING THEM OF THEIR OWN NON-VIOLENT APPROACH TO SUCH SITUATIONS. HE SAID THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL YOU “KNOCKED SOME SENSE” INTO THE ANTI-VIOLENCE PERSON.
THE WAR MENTALITY OF WHOEVER CREATED THAT EMAIL IS CLEAR. VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE, WHETHER YOU ARE DEFENDING WAR OR PEACE. WE FEAR THE PERSON WITH AN OPINION DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN. AND IN OUR FEAR WE TRY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION BY AGGRESSIVELY GETTING OUR POINT ACROSS. WE ARE THE POISONOUS SNAKES ON THE GROUND OF THE WILDERNESS.
THE PROBLEM IS US. IN OUR FEAR, WE THINK WE ARE IN CHARGE. WE THINK WE OWN GOD WHEN WE PRAY TO GOD, AND WE DON’T FRIENDS, GOD WILL ANSWER THE PLEAS OF THE PEOPLE IN WHATEVER WAY GOD FINDS FAITHFUL. AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO US GOES WAY BEYOND ANYTHING WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE.
AFTER THE ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE THIS YEAR, MY GOOD FRIEND RUTH TOLD ME SHE HAD BEEN OVERCOME BY A VERY REAL SENSE THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE.
AND THAT THOUGHT HAS BROUGHT ME A LOT OF COMFORT EVER SINCE SHE TOLD ME.
AS WE LOOK AT THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD OF US, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE, WHETHER OUR ANXIETIES ARE VERY PERSONAL OR RELATED TO THE WORLD SITUATION. WE NEED TO “LET GO AND LET GOD” AS THEY SAY IN THE TWELVE STEP PROGRAM.
JUST AS NICODEMUS CAME TO JESUS IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT IN ORDER TO FIND THE LIGHT OF REBIRTH, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT DURING THIS TIME OF DARKNESS AND UNCERTAINLY WE CAN ONLY FIND THE LIGHT BY LOOKING UP TO JESUS AND WAITING FOR GOD’S PRESENCE TO BE MADE KNOWN TO US IN GOD’S OWN TIME.
MY FRIENDS, LET GO AND LET GOD!
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: John 2:13-22, I Corinthians 1:18-25 & Exodus 20:1-17
INTO HIS PLAY CORIOLANUS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WRITES AN INTERESTING STATEMENT ABOUT WAR. HE SAYS: "LET ME HAVE A WAR, SAY I: IT EXCEEDS PEACE AS FAR AS DAY DOES NIGHT; IT'S SPRITELY, WAKING, AUDIBLE, FULL OF VENT, PEACE IS A VERY APOPLEXY, LETHARGY, MULL'D, DEAF, SLEEPY, INSENSIBLE; A GETTER OF MORE BASTARD CHILDREN THAN WAR IS A DESTROYER OF MEN." (ACT IV, SCENE V)
SHAKESPEARE WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT AT EXPRESSING THE VERY DARKEST PARTS OF HUMAN NATURE, DON'T YOU THINK?
AND SO WE FIND OURSELVES AT WAR THIS WEEK. IT IS A DARK TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU FIND YOURSELF A BIT DEPRESSED OR ON EDGE. BECAUSE THOSE OF US GATHERED IN THIS SANCTUARY ARE MOST LIKELY DEALING WITH A CERTAIN KIND OF RENDING OF OUR SOULS. THE REALITY OF THE TENSION BETWEEN BEING A LOYAL CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN AND BEING A DEEPLY FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN IS ALL AROUND US, CREEPING INTO OUR COMPLACENCY IN WAYS WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE.
OUR SOULS ARE TORN BY THIS QUESTION. HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN LIVE OUT HIS/HER FAITH WHEN WE LIVE IN, AND LOVE A COUNTRY THAT IS RAINING DESTRUCTION UPON INNOCENT CITIZENS IN ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MODERN WAR REALLY IS. IT IS VIOLENCE DIRECTED AGAINST CIVILIANS. AND I TAKE THIS FACT FROM CHRIS HEDGES' BOOK ENTITLED WAR IS THE FORCE THAT GIVES US MEANING.
HEDGES HAS BEEN A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR FIFTEEN YEARS AND IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. READING HIS CAREFUL STUDY OF THE REALITY OF WAR HAS CAUSED A PROFOUND AWAKENING IN ME. I AM READING ABOUT THINGS I HAVE INTUITIVELY KNOWN ALMOST ALL MY LIFE, BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GIVE WORDS TO. NOW THAT I SEE THIS TRUTH IN PRINT, IT TERRIFIES ME TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE DARKEST SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE.
HEDGES IS RIGHT. "MODERN WAR IS DIRECTED PRIMARILY AGAINST CIVILIANS." (PG. 28) THIS IS WHAT THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACK WAS. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BAGHDAD, AS WE SPEAK. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 AND MARCH 20, 2003 IS THAT WE WILL NEVER HEAR THE NAMES, SEE THE FACES, KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DIED THIS PAST WEEK IN BAGHDAD, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW IN THE DEEPER RECESSES OF OUR MINDS THAT THEY DID DIE.
YES, OUR SOULS ARE TORN. THEY ARE TORN IN MANY DIRECTIONS.OUR SOULS ARE TORN BETWEEN DEEP PRIDE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE MILITARY AND TOTAL AMBIVALENCE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CALLED TO DO. WE HAVE OUR OWN GINNY YEATON SERVING IN THE AIR FORCE. AND ANDRE' STEWART IS NOW BEING TRAINED AS A SOLDIER IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. DOUG VERBLAAUW IS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY TRAINING TO BE AN OFFICER. AND I WAS TALKING TO DAVID FISHER OF WYMAN-FISHER FUNERAL HOME LAST THURSDAY. HIS SON ANDREW IS A MARINE WHO IS STATIONED IN KUWAIT AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH NOW. DAVID ASKED FOR MY PRAYERS FOR ANDREW. I TOLD HIM I COULD DO BETTER THAN THAT. ANDREW NEEDS THE PRAYERS OF OUR ENTIRE CONGREGATION. ANDREW IS A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN AND I PRAY FOR HIS SAFE RETURN, EVEN AS I TAKE PRIDE IN HIS COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
YOU SEE, I AM VERY CLEAR THAT WE CAN NEVER LET ANOTHER VIETNAM SITUATION HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY. WE CAN NEVER AGAIN VENT OUR FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT ANY GIVEN WAR ON THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT THE WAR FOR US. EVEN IF WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE THERE, THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR US. I CAN TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT WE WILL BE SAFE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF OUR MILITARY, AND BECAUSE OF AN ARMY AND AN AIR FORCE AND A NAVY AND THE MARINES WHO TRUST THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY AND DO AS THEY ARE TOLD, EVEN IN TERRIFYING SITUATIONS.
YES, THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES. BUT LIKE ANY DIFFICULT SITUATION THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED, A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION LONGING TO BE DEEPENED, A GOD OF GRACE AND LOVE PREVAILING OVER ALL THE DARKNESS.
MY FRIENDS, AS WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MIDST OF THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, WE DO WELL TO TURN TO THE GOD OF COVENANT; THE GOD WHO PROMISED TO NEVER AGAIN DESTROY CREATION AND THE GOD WHO PROMISED MANY GENERATIONS TO A PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED THEMSELVES IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GRACIOUS CREATOR. THIS LENT WE HAVE BEEN TURNING BACK TO THIS COVENANTAL DEITY. AND TODAY WE LOOK AT ANOTHER PIECE OF HOW OUR COVENANT WITH GOD IS STRUCTURED. TODAY WE FOCUS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND HOPEFULLY LEAVE THIS PLACE WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF HOW THESE ANCIENT LAWS, THAT CREATED THE BACKBONE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM FOR ALL OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, ARE TRULY GUIDELINES FOR COVENANTAL LIVING AND FINDING SOME PEACE WITHIN THE MIDST OF WAR.
A FEW YEARS AGO JULI SCHAEFER GAVE ME THIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF A SLATE PLAQUE THAT SAYS, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE" AND IT IS SIGNED FROM GOD. THIS IS A GREAT THOUGHT FOR US AS WE LOOK AT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN LIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES WAGING WAR. FOR INSTANCE, WHAT DOES A PERSON OF FAITH DO WITH THE COMMANDMENT "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER" EVEN AS WE WATCH MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON - BOTTOM LINE - THAT WHICH KILLS?
WELL, WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF A "JUST WAR." ST. AUGUSTINE OF THE ANCIENT CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS THE FIRST TO VERBALIZE THIS PHILOSOPHY. HE BASICALLY SAID THERE MAY ULTIMATELY BE A TIME AND A PLACE IN WHICH A NATION NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF. THAT DOES TAKE A BIT OF THE EDGE OFF THE WORD "MURDER" FOR SOME. BUT THEN OUR PAST PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER MADE A VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THIS WAR IS NOT A JUST WAR IN HIS OPINION EDITORIAL IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ON SUNDAY MARCH 9TH.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING, THE CONCEPT OF "JUST WAR" DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY PEACE OF MIND. READING CHRIS HEDGES DOESN'T ALLOW ME THE ILLUSIONS OF WAR THAT SOOTHE THE RAW DESTRUCTION INTO A FOGGY KIND OF JUSTICE.
SO, AND I LIKE THIS IDEA EVEN BETTER, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS OF THE DAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SPECIFIC AND HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE HEBREW WORD THAT WE TRANSLATE INTO "MURDER/KILL." MAYBE GOD MEANT DON'T KILL ANYONE ACCEPT YOUR ENEMIES! WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL FIND WHEN YOU TURN TO THE HEBREW. THIS COMMANDMENT WAS MEANT TO DEAL WITH KILLING THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS AUTHORIZED KILLING FOR THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. WAR AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WERE AUTHORIZED KILLINGS, SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. IF YOU ARE AN OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLAR THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVE NO ANGST OR RENDING OF YOUR SOUL REGARDING THIS WAR OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS HAVE INVOLVED US IN. SADDAM HUSSEIN IS THE ENEMY. BECAUSE OF THIS IT IS OK TO KILL HIM AND ANYONE AROUND HIM.
BUT I'M GOING TO DARE TO SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLARS SITTING HERE TODAY. I THINK MOST OF US ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. AND IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE SEE THAT JESUS IS ANGRY WHEN WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE HOLY IS USED FOR HUMAN COMFORT AND EASE.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE HOLY LAWS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE SEEN AS ONE WHOLE PIECE. JESUS SAW THE COMMANDMENTS IN A HOLISTIC WAY. HE GAVE US A KIND OF "CLIFF NOTES" RENDITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WHEN HE CONDENSED THE TEN INTO TWO.
JESUS SAID, FIRST, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." AND SECOND, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS DIDN'T NEGATE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM. JESUS WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS. EVEN JESUS DIDN'T MAKE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS MULTIPLE CHOICE! AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE JESUS WOULD ALSO BE ANGRY IF THESE HOLY LAWS WERE USED IN A LESS THAN HOLY WAY. WHEN WE GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE ABOUT TRUTH, HONESTY AND HONOR.
THERE IS ONE GOD, WORSHIP HIM. WORSHIP IS OUR GIFT TO GOD, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US GREAT JOY WHEN WE ENTER INTO WORSHIP WITH AN OPEN HEART.
DON'T WORSHIP IDOLS. IDOLS, BE THEY SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL OR MATERIAL, ONLY BECOME ADDICTIONS THAT DRAIN US OF LIFE'S GREAT JOY.
DON'T USE GOD'S NAME IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE LOSE THE NECESSARY AWE INVOLVED IN THE SPEAKING OF IT. JUST SPEAKING THE WORD "GOD" SHOULD BRING US INTO A WARM EMBRACE.
REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY. GOD IS OUR MOST FAITHFUL LOVER. WE NEED TO PLAN OUR DATE WITH GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT GOD AND WE ARE DRAWN CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER.
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER. THE GREATEST JOY OF MATURITY IS REACHING THE POINT WHERE WE CAN FORGIVE OUR PARENTS THEIR HUMAN FRAILTY AND ACCEPT THEM AS COLLEGIALLY AS WE WOULD ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING. WHEN WE LEARN TO NEITHER FEAR NOR WORSHIP OUR PARENTS, THEN GOD IS OUR GOD AND OUR PARENTS ARE OUR FRIENDS.
DON'T MURDER. THAT IS, DON'T FOCUS ON DEATH AND FEAR, BUT RATHER FOCUS ON LIFE AND LIVING.
DON'T COMMIT ADULTERY. BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES ABOUT OUR SEXUAL NEEDS. TREAT THE GIFT OF SEXUALITY WITH RESPECT AND FIND DELIGHT IN ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS OF CREATION!
DON'T STEAL. WE WON'T TRULY ENJOY WHAT DOESN'T BELONG TO US ANYWAY.
DON'T TELL LIES. THE TRUTH IS THE BEST SPIRITUAL FOOD THERE IS. LIVING ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN TRUTH IS POISON TO OUR SOUL.
DON'T FOCUS ON WHAT THE OTHER PERSON HAS. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE AND MAYBE EVEN ON WHAT THE OTHER PERSON DOESN'T HAVE, LIKE GOOD FOOD OR CLOTHING OR SHELTER. THIS IS WHERE WE FIND TRUE JOY AND MEANING, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR OWN LIVES AND SAY "THIS LIFE IS MY PERSONAL GIFT FROM GOD AND I WILL LIVE IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY."
SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE FIND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMFORT, OR MAYBE CLARITY, FOR THE MUDDY RAWNESS OF OUR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WAR BY FOCUSING ON THE WHOLENESS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS RATHER THAN JUST "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER."
THE WHOLE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS REMIND US THAT IN DIFFICULT TIMES IT IS WISE AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO MOVE EVER CLOSER TO GOD AND TO SEEK THE TRUTH ON WHATEVER LEVEL WE CAN.
CHRIS HEDGES SAYS THAT WAR IS ADDICTIVE, THAT THE EXCITEMENT OF IT MAKES US FEEL AS IF WE ARE ALIVE AND WE HAVE A PURPOSE. AND HE SAYS WAR IS PERPETUATED BY SEVERAL GREAT UNIVERSAL LIES, ONE OF THEM BEING THE IDEA THAT AS SOON AS WE GO TO WAR THAT OTHER COUNTRY IS NO LONGER INHABITED WITH REAL HUMAN BEINGS. IN A WAR THE ENEMY LOSES THE TRUTH OF THEIR HUMANITY EVEN AS WE LOSE THE TRUTH OF OUR OWN SINFULNESS. AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE EITHER ONE OF THESE TRUTHS. IF WE DO, WE ARE NOT KEEPING OUR PART OF THE PROMISE WITHIN THE DIVINE COVENANT.
GOD IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US. CAN WE BE THERE FOR GOD IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME? CAN WE HELP MOVE OUR SOCIETY ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE WAY GOD WOULD HAVE IT BE? YOU SEE, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS THAN THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE. WHETHER OUR COUNTRY IS FIGHTING A WAR OR LIVING IN RELATIVE PEACE, WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
SO LET'S NOT GET ADDICTED TO WAR. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO TURN OFF THE TV. WE DON'T HAVE TO WATCH THE WAR! PUT THE NEWSPAPER INTO THE RECYCLING BIN AFTER YOU'VE READ IT. DON'T LEAVE THE DESTRUCTIVE IMAGES SITTING AROUND WHERE WE CAN DWELL ON THEM. DON'T GET HOOKED INTO THE GREAT UNIVERSAL LIES THAT PERPETUATE WAR. EVEN THOUGH THE STOCK MARKET SEEMS TO BE ON ITS WAY UP, THIS IS NOT A FAITHFUL VIBRANCY WE ARE SEEING. THIS IS NOT THE WAY GOD WANTS LIFE TO BE. SO LET'S ALL FIND A WAY TO SEE LIFE IN OUR WORLD AND TO GIVE LIFE AND SAVE LIFE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
I HAVE JUST RECENTLY BECOME AWARE OF A PRIVATELY FUNDED ORGANIZATION CALLED "OXFAM." THEY ARE AN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED TO BRING RELIEF AND PROGRESS TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS. I FOUND THIS STATEMENT ON THEIR WEBSITE. "OXFAM, A WORLD LEADER IN EMERGENCY WATER AND SANITATION SYSTEMS, HAS ALREADY CREATED EMERGENCY FACILITIES FOR REFUGEES ALONG THE IRAQI BORDER AND IS POISED TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS THESE FAST-EVOLVING CONDITIONS PERMIT. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF, OXFAM IS COMMITTED TO HELPING THE IRAQI PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OVER THE LONG TERM."
SO INSTEAD OF BEING DEPRESSED OR ANGRY OR CONFUSED ABOUT THIS WAR, I AM GOING TO THINK IN TERMS OF GIVING AND BRINGING LIFE. I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO OXFAM, AND CONSIDER JOINING THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS. I'M GOING TO WRITE A COUPLE OF LETTERS TO OUR SOLDIERS, ENCOURAGING THEM AND OFFERING PRAYERS FOR THEM.
I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO WRAP MY MIND AROUND THE TRUTH OF WAR, THE TRUTH OF OUR CORPORATE SINFULNESS, AND THE TRUTH OF GOD'S ABIDING COVENANTAL LOVE THAT DOES NOT LET US GO. AND I'M GOING TO DO THESE THINGS BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHAT HENRI NOUWEN BELIEVES. "JOY IS THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING THAT YOU ARE UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED AND THAT NOTHING-SICKNESS, FAILURE, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OPPRESSION, WAR, OR EVEN DEATH-CAN TAKE THAT LOVE WAY. BELIEVE IT MY FRIENDS!
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:31-38, Romans 4:13-25 & Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
THE WORD "COVENANT" HAS SUCH A COMFORTABLE FEEL TO IT, DON'T YOU THINK? WE CALL OURSELVES COVENANT PEOPLE AND I GET A SENSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE ON THE JOURNEY. WE TALK ABOUT A MARRIAGE COVENANT AND I THINK OF THE ONGOING PROMISE OF A LOVING RELATIONSHIP. WHEN TWO ANGRY COUNTRIES MOVE TOWARDS A COVENANT OF AGREEMENT THE WORD "COVENANT" CARRIES THE HOPE OF PEACE, SIMPLY WITHIN THE SPEAKING OF IT. COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CARRIES IMAGES OF A WARM AND WELCOMING CONGREGATION IN MY MIND.
LAST WEEK WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD'S UNIVERSAL AND UNILATERAL COVENANT WITH ALL OF CREATION, THE RAINBOW. NO MATTER WHERE WE SEE A RAINBOW, THE FEELING LEVEL IS DEFINITELY FOUND SOMEWHERE AROUND WARM AND FUZZY. SO I HESITATE TO MOVE US OUT OF THE WARM AND FUZZY EMBRACE INTO THE SHARP EDGE OF RESPONSIBILITY, BUT TODAY'S STORY OF COVENANT DEMANDS THAT I DO SO. IN THE COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW GOD INITIATES ONLY THE PROMISE, BUT NOT SO TODAY.
TODAY WE HEAR THE STORY OF GOD SETTING UP ANOTHER COVENANT, BUT ONE A BIT DIFFERENT FROM AND A BIT SIMILAR TO THE LAST. UNLIKE THE COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW, THE COVENANT INVOLVING MANY DESCENDENTS TO AN AGING COUPLE IS A COVENANT DIRECTED ONLY TO ABRAHAM AND SARAH. THESE TWO PEOPLE WILL BE THE PATRIARCH AND MATRIARCH OF "A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS." IF ABRAHAM AND SARAH CAN SEE TODAY'S WORLD FROM HEAVEN THEY MUST BE INCREDIBLY AMAZED AT JUST HOW LARGE THE MULTITUDE IS, BECAUSE OUT OF THE SEEDS OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH HAVE SPRUNG THE NATIONS OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM. WHAT BEGAN AS A NARROWLY FOCUSED COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND TWO PEOPLE UNFOLDED, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, TO ULTIMATELY BECOME A COVENANT OF NAMING TO "AN EXCEEDINGLY NUMEROUS" PEOPLES. NAMES ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS COVENANT.
IF WE WERE READING THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES IN HEBREW, THE NAME FOR GOD IN THIS PASSAGE WOULD BE "EL SHADDAI," SOMETHING GOD HAS NOT YET BEEN CALLED IN THESE FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE. EL SHADDAI TRANSLATES LOOSELY INTO ENGLISH AS "GOD ALMIGHTY." GOD HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN KNOWN AS THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, AS WELL AS EL ELYON, "GOD MOST HIGH." BUT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, IN THE TELLING OF THIS COVENANT STORY, GOD BECOMES EL SHADDAI, MEANING LITERALLY "GOD, THE ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS."
IN THIS NAMING PROCESS I SEE GOD MOVING CLOSER TO THE HUMAN CREATURE. IN THE GARDEN OF CREATION GOD WAS A VOICE AMONG THE TREES. IN THE STORY OF NOAH GOD WAS THE LORD, ANGRY AND IMPATIENT UNTIL AFTER THE FLOOD. AFTER THE FLOOD GOD WAS THE MOST HIGH ARTIST, PAINTING BRIGHT COLORS AGAINST THE SKY AND MAKING PROMISES OF CONSTANT PRESENCE. BUT HERE, IN THE STORY OF THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, GOD BECOMES, FOR THE FIRST TIME, EL SHADDAI. GOD IS WILLING TO GET AS CLOSE AS THE MOUNTAINS THIS TIME, WITH ONE OF MY COMMENTARIES ACTUALLY SUGGESTING THAT THE REFERENCE TO MOUNTAINS MIGHT JUST BE A REFERENCE TO BREASTS AND THE GROWING SENSE OF GOD AS NURTURING AND NOURISHING IN RELATIONSHIP TO HUMAN BEINGS. BUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR US TO GLEAN FROM THIS SCRIPTURE IS THAT GOD GIVES GOD'S SELF A NEW NAME TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE CLOSER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEGINNING IN THIS NEW COVENANT.
BUT GOD IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A NEW NAME. A NEW NAME IS GIVEN TO ABRAHAM AND SARAH AS WELL. THEY ARE NO LONGER TO BE CALLED ABRAM AND SARAI. NOW THEY WILL BE KNOWN AS ABRAHAM, MEANING "ANCESTOR OR FATHER OF A MULTITUDE" AND SARAH, MEANING OF ALL THINGS, "PRINCESS." BUT "PRINCESS" FITS WITH THE ROYAL NATION THAT WILL RISE UP OUT OF GOD'S MANY BLESSINGS ON SARAH. SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO KINGS OF NATIONS - TO ISRAEL!
NOW A NEW NAME DOESN'T MEAN A NEW PERSON IN THE BIBLE. A NEW NAME MEANS A NEW MISSION. ABRAM, WHICH MEANS SOMETHING CLOSE TO "EXALTED FATHER", IS GIVEN A NEW MISSION THROUGH HIS NEW NAME. THE NAME "EXALTED FATHER" GIVES REFERENCE TO INWARD THINKING. ABRAM IS FOCUSED INWARDLY, UPON HIMSELF. BUT THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE NO LONGER FOCUSES UPON HIMSELF. THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE IS REACHING OUTWARD, GIVING LIFE TO A NEW NATION, FOCUSING ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
ABRAHAM IS A MAN WITH A MISSION TO OTHERS.
SO LET ME STOP AND REVIEW FOR A MOMENT. TODAY'S COVENANT IS DIFFERENT THAN LAST WEEK'S COVENANT BECAUSE IT IS A COVENANT GIVEN TO TWO PEOPLE RATHER THAN TO ALL OF CREATION. BUT TODAY'S COVENANT IS THE SAME AS LAST WEEK'S COVENANT BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND HUMAN BEINGS. WHAT WE HAVE NOT YET CONSIDERED IS THE SECOND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO COVENANTS. AND THIS IS THE SHARP EDGE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT DEEPENS THE MEANING OF A DIVINE COVENANT.
IN THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH GOD PROMISES THEM A SON. BUT IN RESPONSE GOD WANTS GOD'S PEOPLE TO CARRY THE MARK OF THE COVENANT. AND THAT MARK WOULD BE THE MARK OF CIRCUMCISION. NOW I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS WAS A RATHER UNUSUAL SYMBOL OF COVENANT. IT IS A SYMBOL THAT CAN ONLY BE MADE UPON A MAN. IT IS A PAINFUL PROCEDURE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AN OLD MAN, NEARLY ONE-HUNDRED YEARS! AND IT IS A MARK THAT HOPEFULLY NO ONE CAN SEE! BUT WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD HERE IS "KEEP" RATHER THAN "CUT" IT HELPS US TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE MEANING.
CIRCUMCISION IS A SIGN OF HAVING FAITH IN GOD. WHEN WE KEEP THE COVENANT WE KEEP THE FAITH, SO TO SPEAK. SO IT IS THE SOLIDARITY OF FAITH THAT GOD IS CONCERNED WITH MORE THAN THE ACTUAL MARK.
KEEPING THE FAITH IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY THING. IT CAN BE HIDDEN AND PAINFUL, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A "MALE ONLY" PHENOMENON. AND EVEN IF WOMEN ARE NOT CIRCUMCISED KEEPING THE FAITH IS, INDEED, THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE COVENANT. GOD OBVIOUSLY CREATED, THROUGH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, THE MULTITUDE OF NATIONS. BUT DO WE KEEP OUR SIDE OF THE COVENANT? DO WE KEEP THE FAITH IN GOD? I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF CIRCUMCISED MEN RUNNING AROUND, BUT DO THE PEOPLE OF GOD KEEP THE FAITH?
HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN CHURCH I BELIEVE WE DO. AND MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE EVEN RECEIVED A NEW NAME THAT WILL GIVE RECOGNITION TO OUR NEW MISSION. LIKE THE COVENANT GOD MADE WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, WE REMAIN THE SAME COMMUNITY.
WE SIMPLY HAVE A NEW MISSION. WE ARE NOW A "MORE LIGHT" CONGREGATION. MAYBE YOU NOTICED THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN TODAY WHERE WE HAVE ADDED THIS TO OUR NAME. GOD IS DEEPENING GOD'S COVENANT WITH THE WORLD THROUGH US. AND OUR PART OF THE COVENANT IS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD'S CALL.
YOU SEE; EVEN THOUGH THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ABRAHAM AND SARAH SEEMS RATHER PERSONAL, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IT ULTIMATELY BECAME A COVENANT WITH THE COMMUNITY. GOD WILL GIVE LIFE AND BREATH AND NUMBERS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE COMMUNITY WILL STAY FAITHFUL TO GOD. MAY GOD GIVE LIFE AND BREATH AND NUMBERS TO THE NAURAUSHAUN COMMUNITY. AND MAY THIS COMMUNITY ALWAYS REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD!
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE TODAY'S PASSAGE FROM THE BOOK OF ROMANS IS ACTUALLY PAUL'S EXEGESIS OF THE GENESIS STORY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT. IF WE WERE TO USE ROMANS 4:13-25 AS A COMMENTARY ON THE COVENANT OF GENESIS 17 WHAT WOULD WE LEARN?
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WOULD LEARN THAT THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM CAME TO HIM, NOT THROUGH THE LAW BUT THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH. PAUL LIFTS UP THIS WONDERFUL TENSION BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE. AND HE SEES THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION AS A COVENANT OF GRACE THAT SUPERCEDES THE LAWS YET TO BE ESTABLISHED. REMEMBER THIS FOR NEXT WEEK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!
BUT THE OTHER VERY IMPRESSIVE COMMENT PAUL MAKES ABOUT THE GENESIS STORY IS ABOUT ABRAHAM'S FAITHFULNESS. PAUL SAYS, "NO DISTRUST MADE [ABRAHAM] WAVER CONCERNING THE PROMISE OF GOD, BUT HE GREW STRONG IN HIS FAITH AS HE GAVE GLORY TO GOD, BEING FULLY CONVINCED THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE HAD PROMISED." ARE WE FULLY CONVINCED OF GOD'S PROMISE? DO WE LIVE OUR LIVES WITH THE KIND OF FREEDOM THAT ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ONLY ON THE GOD OF THE COVENANT?
THE GOSPEL OF MARK WAS OUR THIRD READING FOR TODAY. AND THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER REALLY MEETS THE ROAD FOR A CHRISTIAN. ARE WE WILLING TO DENY A PART OF OUR HUMAN NATURE IN ORDER TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST IN OUR JOURNEY OF FAITH?
I CAN ONLY BELIEVE THAT ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG BECAUSE OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S PRESENCE TO HIM. GOD WAS NOT INCARNATED WHEN COMING TO ABRAHAM. THE PROGRESSION OF GOD'S MOVEMENT TO BE CLOSE TO HUMANKIND HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE HOLY PRESENCE WAS AS CLOSE AS THE MOUNTAINTOPS, BUT NOT THE SAME AS WALKING RIGHT BESIDE US. MY FRIENDS, WE CHRISTIANS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SHOULDER TO SHOULDER CONTACT WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. SHOULDN'T OUR FAITH BE STRONGER?
MAYBE NOT. MAYBE SEEING THE LOVE OF GOD EMBODIED IN JESUS IS WHAT SCARES US OFF. THERE IS NO MISTAKING THE KIND OF LIFE WE ARE MEANT TO LIVE WHEN WE KNOW OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST. AND THIS IS THE NAME THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING FOR US.
AT THE END OF LAST WEEK I ATTENDED AN OVERNIGHT PRESBYTERY MEETING OUT IN WARWICK, NY. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PRESBYTERY MEETINGS I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS GROWING SENSE OF COMMUNITY I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE.
AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AFTER A LENGTHY STRUGGLE WITH FINANCIAL ISSUES AND AN OVERTURE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF WAR, WE GATHERED TOGETHER FOR A SERVICE OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS. WE PRAYED TOGETHER. WE SANG TOGETHER. LEADERS OF THE PRESBYTERY OFFERED PRAYERS OF HEALING TO ALL WHO WANTED TO BE PRAYED FOR. WE SHARED THE LORD'S SUPPER AND THEN WE SANG. AND WHAT WE SANG WAS "GIVE ME JESUS." I WANT TO SHARE THE WORDS WITH YOU, BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT JESUS IS THE MYSTICAL AND PROFOUNDLY REAL PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES THAT BRINGS ALL OF THE COVENANTS AND THE LAWS AND THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS INTO A PERFECT FOCUS CALLED GRACE. SO IN THE END, THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NAME FOR THOSE OF US GATHERED IN THIS SANCTUARY. AND JESUS EXPERIENCED A NAME CHANGE IN HIS MINISTRY AS WELL.
AT THE RESURRECTION THE MAN "JESUS" BECAME THE SAVIOR "JESUS CHRIST." ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION THE MISSION OF JESUS MOVED BEYOND TEACHER AND HEALER AND PREACHER TO CHRIST - MESSIAH - THE ONE WHO HAD EMBODIED THE GIFT OF GRACE THAT AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FAITH LIKE, AND MAYBE EVEN GREATER THAN THAT OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH. SO LISTEN TO THESE WORDS AND KNOW THE DEPTH OF WHAT IS IN A NAME. BECAUSE ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES, GIVE ME JESUS!
IN THE MORNING WHEN I RISE, DARK MIDNIGHT WAS MY CRY, JUST ABOUT THE BREAK OF DAY, OH, WHEN I COME TO DIE, AND WHEN I WANT TO SING, GIVE ME JESUS. GIVE ME JESUS, GIVE ME JESUS,YOU MAY HAVE ALL THE REST, GIVE ME JESUS.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:9-15, I Peter 3:18-22 & Genesis 9:8-17
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT RAINED THE FIRST WEEK I WAS IN MAUI. IT RAINED AND THE TEMPERATURE HOVERED AROUND SIXTY DEGREES FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS. I WAS COLD IN HAWAII! SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.
I HAVE COME TO REALIZE, WHEN IT COMES TO VACATION SPOTS, I HAVE AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION OF WHAT THE WEATHER WILL DO. LOGIC WOULD TELL ONE THAT THE LUSH FOLIAGE ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI DEMANDS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MOISTURE FROM SOMEWHERE. DUH! BUT I THINK I HAVE THIS MENTAL BLOCK BECAUSE THE TRAVEL BROCHURES NEVER SHOW A PICTURE OF PEOPLE HUDDLED AROUND A TABLE, JUST AT THE EDGE OF THE AWNING TO AN OUTDOOR RESTAURANT, AS THE RAIN POURS DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO THEM. THE SOGGY PICTURE I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED TELLS YOU HOW I SPENT MY VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER IN THE HULA GRILL AT KAANAPALI BEACH. SOMEHOW I DON'T THINK YOU ARE FEELING TOO SORRY FOR ME.
ANYWAY, THE DAY AFTER THE RAIN THE CLOUDS BEGAN TO BREAK UP OVER THE OCEAN WHILE HANGING ON OVER THE MOUNTAINS FURTHER INLAND. THE RESULT OF THE CLEARING WAS THE MOST GORGEOUS FULL RAINBOW I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN. WE COULD ALMOST SEE IT FROM END TO END. IT WAS LARGER AND MORE TENACIOUS THAN ANY RAINBOW I CAN REMEMBER. AND WE COULD VIEW THAT SPLENDID SIGHT FROM OUR BALCONY FOR NEARLY A FULL HOUR THAT MORNING. THAT RAINBOW MADE THE DAMP DARKNESS OF THE DAYS BEFORE A DIM MEMORY AS MY MIND WANDERED, ONE MORE TIME, TO THE PROMISE GOD MADE TO GOD'S PEOPLE WHEN HE FIRST SET UP A COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL CREATION.
AND GOD SAID TO NOAH, "THIS [RAINBOW] IS THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT THAT I HAVE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ME AND ALL FLESH THAT IS ON THE EARTH.
NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS STORY COMES TO US FROM THE ANCIENT PAST. BUT WHAT WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ANCIENT PAST IS THAT IT WAS A TIME WHEN NATURE AND THE ELEMENTS WERE OFTEN SEEN AS THE TOYS OR THE TOOLS OF ALL THE GODS.
WHEN DROUGHT OR FLOOD THREATENED SURVIVAL IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THAT FOR SOME REASON THE GODS WERE ANGRY, OR MAYBE EVEN JUST BEING CAPRICIOUS. SO INTO THIS WORLD VIEW COMES TODAY'S EXTRAORDINARY STORY. NOT ONLY IS THERE ONE GOD, A RATHER SHOCKING IDEA TO BEGIN WITH, BUT THIS ONE GOD IS NOT GOING TO USE THE NATURAL ELEMENTS TO MANIPULATE HUMANITY.
INSTEAD OF PLAYING GAMES WITH THE HUMAN CREATURES, GOD SPEAKS. GOD DOES NOT MAKE A PRONOUNCEMENT TO THE AIR, LIKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OVER A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM AT A TRAIN STATION, TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAPPEN TO BE LISTENING. GOD ADDRESSES IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS; NOAH AND HIS FAMILY. GOD ACKNOWLEDGES AND COMMUNICATES WITH HUMANITY IN A PERSONAL AND INTIMATE WAY.
AND NOT ONLY DOES GOD SPEAK, BUT GOD EXPLAINS. THIS GOD IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM A GOD WHO IS ALOOF FROM THE WORLD AND WHO SENDS LIGHTNING AND RAIN AND WIND FOR REASONS THAT MERE MORTALS CAN ONLY GUESS. GOD GIVES HUMANITY AND ALL OF CREATION A REASON FOR THE DEVASTATION OF THE FLOOD. HUMAN BEINGS HAD MOVED SO FAR AWAY FROM GOD'S ORIGINAL VISION OF CREATIVITY THAT GOD NEEDED TO START OVER AGAIN. THIS ONE GOD ACTS, NOT ON A CAPRICIOUS WHIM, BUT FOR IDENTIFIABLE AND COMMUNICATED REASONS.
THIS ONE GOD ALSO COMMITS. GOD, WHO IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THAT IS, COMMITS TO BEING IN RELATION TO AND IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF GOD'S CREATION. GOD BIND'S GOD'S SELF TO AN EVERLASTING RELATIONSHIP OF CARE FOR THE EARTH AND ALL OF ITS INHABITANTS. HOWEVER UNPREDICTABLE LIFE REMAINS, BENEATH IT ALL IS THE PROMISE THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT CONSTANCY AND CERTAINTY TO LIFE. IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, CHAPTER EIGHT OF GENESIS, GOD SAYS, "AS LONG AS THE EARTH ENDURES, SEEDTIME AND HARVEST, COLD AND HEAT. SUMMER AND WINTER, DAY AND NIGHT SHALL NOT CEASE." "NEVER AGAIN," SAYS GOD.
I GET THE FEELING THAT GOD TRIED A TEMPORARY SEPARATION AND DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY IT FELT. NOW GOD IS WILLING TO DEEPEN THE COMMITMENT AND HAS PROMISED TO STAY FOREVER.
YOU KNOW, MOST COVENANTS AN EQUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES. THERE IS USUALLY A CLEAR AMOUNT OF "I'LL DO THIS FOR YOU IF YOU DO THAT FOR ME." BUT THE COVENANT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS A BIT DIFFERENT.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS COVENANT IS UNIVERSAL. THE COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW IS FOR ALL OF CREATION FOR ALL OF TIME. AND THE SECOND WONDROUS DETAIL OF THIS COVENANT IS THAT IT IS UNILATERAL. THIS COVENANT IS AN ACT OF FAITH ON THE PART OF GOD. THERE IS ONLY THE GREAT PROMISE OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS WITHOUT ANY RECIPROCAL ACTION NEEDED ON THE PART OF ALL CREATION.
I WONDER IF WE TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FIRST COVENANTAL AGREEMENT GOD SETS UP WITH THE WHOLE OF THE UNIVERSE.
IN THIS COVENANT CAUSE AND EFFECT HAVE BEEN FOREVER DISASSOCIATED. GOD IS MAKING THE PROMISE INDEPENDENT OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR. DO WE GET IT? THE PROMISE OF THE RAINBOW WILL STAND WHETHER OR NOT CREATION IS OBEDIENT.
I FIND THIS A VERY COMFORTING THOUGHT AS WE STAND ON THE BRINK OF WAR, WHILE THE POSSIBILITY OF TERRORIST ATTACK LURKS AROUND EVERY CORNER. A BENEVOLENT GOD HAS BEEN IN CHARGE RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THE SAME GOD THAT CREATED THIS EARTH PROMISED TO NEVER AGAIN DESTROY IT. AND THE PROMISE HOLDS TRUE TODAY.
DURING THIS LENTEN SEASON WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE MANY COVENANT AGREEMENTS GOD MADE WITH GOD'S PEOPLE. WE WILL LOOK AT GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH. WE WILL REMEMBER THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. WE WILL EXPLORE THAT AMAZING STORY OF THE BRONZE SERPENT MADE AND LIFTED UP BY MOSES TO SAVE THE ISRAELITES FROM DIEING IN THE WILDERNESS. AND THEN WE WILL REMEMBER THE COVENANT TAUGHT BY JEREMIAH, THE ONE WHERE GOD PROMISES TO WRITE HIS LOVE UPON OUR HEARTS. EVERY OTHER COVENANT CARRIES A RESPONSIBILITY FOR US AS WELL AS A PROMISE FROM GOD. BUT EACH OF THESE COVENANTS IS DEEPLY GROUNDED IN THE UNILATERAL PROMISE OF GOD TO NEVER DESTROY THE EARTH AGAIN. MY FRIENDS, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GROUND OURSELVES IN THIS BLESSED UNILATERAL PROMISE ONE MORE TIME, ESPECIALLY AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
LET ME EXPLAIN BY TELLING YOU THE STORY OF A SMALL SEQUESTERED FRENCH MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY IS LE CHAMBON. THE TIME FRAME OF THE STORY IS A FOUR YEAR PERIOD FROM 1940 TO 1944 WHEN FRANCE WAS BEING OCCUPIED BY NAZI GERMANY. DURING THE FOUR YEARS OF THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF FRANCE, THE VILLAGE OF LE CHAMBON, WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT THREE THOUSAND IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE, SAVED THE LIVES OF ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND REFUGEES, MOST OF THEM BEING CHILDREN. IN LE CHAMBON THE VILLAGERS LIVED FAITHFULLY WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE ETHIC OF LIFE AND DEATH, THE VILLAGERS ALWAYS CHOOSING ON THE SIDE OF LIFE. VERY SIMPLY PUT, THE INDIVIDUALS OF THIS LITTLE VILLAGE WERE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING HUMAN LIVES INSTEAD OF DESTROYING THEM IN WHATEVER WAY THEY COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEY WERE A TINY LITTLE LIGHT OF DECENCY WITHIN A DARK AND EVIL STORM DETERMINED TO DESTROY LIFE AT ALL COSTS. AND THE MIRACLE OF LE CHAMBON IS THAT THE GESTAPO KNEW ABOUT THIS PROTESTANT RESISTANCE TO THE DARK EVIL OF THE HOLOCAUST, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO THE VILLAGERS OR THEIR REFUGEES, SAVE ONE MINOR INVASION IN 1943 THAT PUT TWO PASTORS AND A SCHOOL TEACHER INTO A CONCENTRATION CAMP FOR A YEAR.
THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT THIS VILLAGE, CALLED LEST INNOCENT BLOOD BE SHED HAS A THEORY ABOUT WHY THIS VILLAGE WAS LEFT VIRTUALLY UNSCATHED IN THOSE CRITICAL YEARS, PHILIP HALLIE, AN AMERICAN JEWISH MAN WHO SERVED AS A COMBAT ARTILLERYMAN IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF WORLD WAR II CAME ACROSS THE STORY OF LE CHAMBON, A COUPLE OF DECADES AFTER THE WAR, WHILE DOING RESEARCH AS AN ETHICS PROFESSOR AT A CONNECTICUT COLLEGE. HALLIE WAS STUDYING CRUELTY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ETHICS. HE HAD IMMERSED HIMSELF IN THE HORROR OF THE STRONG TORTURING THE WEAK FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHEN HE FIRST READ ABOUT THE MIRACLE OF LE CHAMBON. WITHIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MR. HALLIE AND THE STORY OF LE CHAMBON, WHICH BEGAN TO GROW THAT VERY MOMENT, HALLIE WAS LIFTED OUT OF HIS SELF-CONSTRUCTED HELL THAT CAME FROM STUDYING EVIL, INTO THE LIGHT OF SHEAR GOODNESS. HE HARDLY KNEW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT ALL UNTIL ONE DAY, WELL AFTER THE WRITING OF HIS BOOK; HE MET UP WITH A WOMAN IN MINNEAPOLIS. HALLIE WAS THE SPEAKER AT A DINNER AND THE WOMAN ULTIMATELY RECOGNIZED THE VILLAGE HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT AS THE PLACE WHERE HER THREE DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN PROTECTED AND CARED FOR DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF FRANCE. THE WOMAN STOOD BEFORE THE GATHERING THAT EVENING AND SAID,
"THE HOLOCAUST WAS STORM, LIGHTNING, THUNDER, WIND, RAIN, YES. AND LE CHAMBON WAS THE RAINBOW."
AS HALLIE WRITES ABOUT THE POWER OF HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING THAT NIGHT HE SAYS, "…THE RAINBOW IS ONE OF THE RICHEST IMAGES IN THE BIBLE. THE RAINBOW IS THE SIGN GOD PUT UP IN THE HEAVEN AFTER THE GREAT FLOOD. THE SIGN MEANT: '…NEVER AGAIN SHALL ALL FLESH BE CUT OFF.' IN HIS EXPLANATION OF THE RAINBOW, GOD REPEATED THE PHRASE 'NEVER AGAIN,' AND EVER SINCE THE HOLOCAUST, JEWS HAVE BEEN REPEATING THAT PHRASE." HALLIE GOES ON TO SAY, "THE RAINBOW REMINDS GOD AND MAN THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS TO GOD, THAT GOD OFFERS NOT ONLY SENTIMENTAL HOPE, BUT A PROMISE THAT LIVING WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD, NOT KILLING. THE RAINBOW MEANS REALISTIC HOPE." (PG. XVII OF LEST INNOCENT BLOOD BE SHED)
FRIENDS, IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RAINBOW IN OUR LIVES RIGHT HERE AND NOW. WE MAY, AS A NATION, BE GOING TO WAR. SOME OF US BELIEVE THE WAR IS JUSTIFIED, SOME OF US BELIEVE IT IS NOT. BUT AT THE CORE OF OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN FAITH IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PRESERVING LIFE IS BETTER THAN TAKING IT AWAY. ALONG WITH THIS CORE FAITH COMES THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS BETTER TO HELP THAN TO HURT. HOW CAN WE BE THE RAINBOW IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM? HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN A MINDSET THAT WOULD KEEP US HELPFUL INSTEAD OF HURTFUL IN THESE DESPERATE TIMES?
THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE WE ARE, INDEED, INDIVIDUAL PERSONS WITH OUR OWN PECULIARITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE RAINBOW IS A UNIVERSAL AND UNILATERAL PROMISE THAT LIFE WILL ALWAYS WIN, ALWAYS GO FORWARD. IN THE ETHIC OF LIFE AND DEATH, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT A WAR IS JUSTIFIED, WILL WE CHOOSE TO PRESERVE LIFE IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN? OR WILL WE CHOOSE TO DESTROY IT? IN THE DAYS AHEAD MAY WE ALL REMEMBER THE WORDS OF MAHATMA GANDHI WHO SAID, "WHEN IN DESPAIR, I REMEMBER THAT ALL THROUGH HISTORY THE WAY OF TRUTH AND LOVE HAS ALWAYS WON; THERE HAVE BEEN TYRANTS AND MURDERERS, AND FOR A TIME THEY CAN SEEM INVINCIBLE, BUT IN THE END THEY ALWAYS FALL."
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: II Corinthians 4:3-6 & Mark 9:2-9
ON THURSDAY OF THIS PAST WEEK THE REVEREND FRED McNEELY ROGERS DIED AT THE AGE OF 74 OF STOMACH CANCER. REV. ROGERS WAS THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE FAMOUS CHILDREN'S SHOW, MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD. I SHALL ALWAYS CARRY WARM MEMORIES OF WATCHING MISTER ROGERS WITH DANA AND RUSSELL WHEN THEY WERE SMALL CHILDREN.
ALL THREE OF US WOULD SIT THERE MESMERIZED BY THIS KIND AND GENTLE MAN WHOSE VERY PRESENCE COULD SOOTH A SAVAGE SOUL.
MANY OF MY FRIENDS AT THE TIME COULD NOT STAND TO WATCH MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY CLAIMED HE WAS FAR TOO SLOW AND BORING AND REPETITIVE.
I'M NOT SURE THEY EVEN ENCOURAGED THEIR CHILDREN TO WATCH HIS SHOW.
BUT I AM CONVINCED, EVEN MORE NOW THAN I WAS THEN, THAT MISTER ROGERS WAS A CERTAIN PERSONIFICATION OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTY-FIRST CENTURIES.
REV. ROGERS FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST WITH A DEPTH OF INTEGRITY THAT FEW OF US CAN KNOW. HE WAS A WONDERFUL DISCIPLE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
NOW IN LOOKING AT THE GOSPEL OF MARK TODAY, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE GOSPEL HAS TO DO WITH REVEALING WHO JESUS IS, TO HIS DISCIPLES AS WELL AS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. AND THE TRANSFIGURATION STORY IS A SIGNIFICANT HIGH POINT IN THIS PROCESS OF REVELATION.
IN MARK THE PROCESS OF REVELATION BEGINS WITH THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. THE VOICE OF GOD COMES FROM THE HEAVENS TELLING JESUS THAT HE IS BORN OF GOD AS A BLESSING. GOD SAYS DIRECTLY TO JESUS, "YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED." IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT ANYONE BUT JESUS HEARS THIS STATEMENT.
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT JESUS IS REVEALED TO HIMSELF.
AND FROM THAT INTRODUCTION JESUS GOES OUT TO TEACH AND HEAL, TO PREACH AND CAST OUT EVIL SPIRITS, TO CALL OTHERS TO FOLLOW HIM, EVEN AS HE CALLS ATTENTION TO THE BASTARDIZATION OF THE LAWS OF GOD. BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE TRANSFIGURATION WE HAVE SEEN JESUS RAISE A LITTLE GIRL FROM THE DEAD AND FEED FIVE THOUSAND MEN WITH ONLY FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD AND TWO FISHES.
WE HAVE SEEN JESUS WALK ON WATER AND STILL THE STORMY WINDS EVEN AS HE TAKES ON THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. AND AFTER SEEING ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE DISCIPLES THEMSELVES DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHO JESUS IS. ALONG WITH THAT THOUGHT I GUESS I HAVE TO ASK, DO WE KNOW WHO JESUS IS? SOME THINK HE IS JOHN THE BAPTIST, OTHERS BELIEVE HE IS ELIJAH. PETER CALLS JESUS THE MESSIAH, BUT ARGUES WITH HIM WHEN JESUS SPEAKS OF THE SUFFERING THAT LIES AHEAD OF HIM. THE DISCIPLES HAVE NOT YET MADE A CONNECTION TO THE DEPTH OF THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST. AND THE TRANSFIGURATION EXPRESSES THAT DEPTH IN A WONDROUS AND MYSTERIOUS WAY.
DO WE GET THE POINT?
JESUS TAKES THE INNER CIRCLE OF DISCIPLES WITH HIM TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN. PETER AND JAMES AND JOHN ARE WITH HIM WHEN JESUS' APPEARANCE IS TRANSFORMED INTO A DAZZLING WHITE - A BRIGHTNESS BRIGHTER THAN ANY BLEACH COULD ACCOMPLISH. AND THEN HE IS STANDING THERE WITH ELIJAH AND MOSES. AND AGAIN, THE VOICE OF GOD COMES FROM THE HEAVENS, WITH A CLEARER REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS, AND THIS TIME THE VOICE OF GOD IS HEARD BY MORE THAT JUST JESUS. THIS TIME PETER AND JAMES AND JOHN ALSO HEAR THE VOICE SAYING, "THIS IS MY SON, THE BELOVED, LISTEN TO HIM!"
LISTEN TO THE NEW LIFE AND THE NEW LOVE HE BRINGS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THE DISCIPLES ARE NOT HEARING IN JESUS. THERE IS SOMETHING GOD WANTS TO BE REVEALED TO THEM AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
EVEN AFTER THE TRANSFIGURATION THE DISCIPLES DON'T TRULY UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS EXPRESSED IN JESUS. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS IS BRIGHTER THAN BOTH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. THEY DON'T FULLY REALIZE THAT THE LAW AND THE PROPHECIES ARE ALL REVEALED IN JESUS AND HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH IS NOT MEANT TO EVER BE THE SAME.
PETER'S DESIRE TO BUILD THREE DWELLINGS MOST PROBABLY SPEAKS TO OUR HUMAN NEED TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. WHICH ONE OF US WOULD NOT WANT TO HANG ONTO WHAT IS FAMILIAR IN LIGHT OF SOMETHING AS SPECTACULARLY FRIGHTENING AS THE TRANSFIGURATION?
PETER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY, AND SO HE WANTS TO CONTAIN THE MYSTERY IN A PERMANENT DWELLING PLACE.
ACTUALLY, JESUS SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCIPLES CAN'T UNDERSTAND ON THE "PRE" SIDE OF THE RESURRECTION. JESUS TELLS THE DISCIPLES TO TELL NO ONE WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN UNTIL AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF THE SON OF MAN. THE DISCIPLES ARE MEANT TO LISTEN TO JESUS AND WATCH HIM AS HE HEADS FOR JERUSALEM. THEY ARE TO HOLD ALL OF THE MEMORIES IN THEIR HEARTS SO THAT THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF CHRIST CAN BE REVEALED FOLLOWING THE RESURRECTION. THEY ARE TO EMBRACE THE MYSTERY OF JESUS AND LIVE WITH IT FOREVER AND ALWAYS.
I BELIEVE FRED ROGERS WAS A MAN WHO LIVED THE MYSTERY OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST BETTER THAN MOST. HE UNDERSTOOD THE REVELATION OF JESUS THAT BEGAN WITH THE BAPTISM AND PEAKED WITH THE TRANSFIGURATION, ONLY TO BE TOTALLY FULFILLED WITH THE RESURRECTION.
JESUS BROUGHT A RADICAL NEW WAY OF LIVING AND LOVING INTO THE WORLD, AND IT IS A PRECIOUS FEW PEOPLE WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I CANNOT HELP BUT TO THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF DISCIPLESHIP I EXPERIENCE IN FRED ROGERS AS APPOSED TO THE DISCIPLESHIP I SEE IN GEORGE W. BUSH. REV. ROGERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MOST PROFOUND AND ONGOING MESSAGE OF THE SON OF GOD WAS THAT WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY WORK AT CHANGING OUR HUMAN WAYS. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST UNTIL WE TRULY HEAR IT. TEACHING CHILDREN TO LISTEN CAREFULLY AND TALK OPENLY WITH ONE ANOTHER WAS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING QUALITIES OF MISTER ROGER'S TV MINISTRY. HE WAS A PEACEMAKER THROUGH AND THROUGH.
HE LIVED HIS LIFE AS AN UNDENIABLE PEACEKEEPER AND HE TAUGHT THOSE AROUND HIM, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, TO BE PEACEMAKERS AND PEACEKEEPERS AS WELL. HE UNDERSTOOD THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF GOD'S LOVE THAT WAS GIVEN TO US THROUGH JESUS.
I AM AFRAID OUR PRESIDENT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP.
OR MAYBE IT JUST SEEMS TOO DIFFICULT TO HIM AND THE PEOPLE WHO ADVISE HIM.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE ASKING FOR OUR COUNTRY TO NOT GO TO WAR RIGHT NOW ARE ASKING FOR A TREMENDOUS TRANSFORMATION OF HUMAN NATURE.
FOR US TO NOT GO TO WAR AND NOT MAINTAIN OUR POSITION AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST POWER FORCE WOULD BE AKIN TO THE MENTAL DISGRACE OF WALKING SLOWLY INTO THE ROOM, REMOVING A SPORT COAT TO DON A CARDIGAN SWEATER AND SITTING DOWN IN A ROCKING CHAIR TO REPLACE THE UNCOMFORTABLE SHOES WITH SNEAKERS. AND THE WHOLE TIME THIS IS BEING DONE, OF COURSE ONE HAS TO SING:
"IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A NEIGHBOR.
WOULD YOU BE MINE?
COULD YOU BE MINE?"
I HOPE THIS CORRELATION HELPS US ALL TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT THE TASK OF TRULY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST IS FOR US IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
IT IS NOT COOL TO BE A CHRISTIAN. IT IS NOT EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND THE TRANSFORMATION WE ARE CALLING FOR LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE DEEPEST PART OF HIS/HER HEART OF HEARTS THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN GOD IS IN CHARGE.
FRIENDS, WE HOLD THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD IN OUR HANDS. WE ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO CONTINUE TO HOPE FOR A LOVING HUMANITY WHERE THE WORLD CAN BE NEIGHBOR, ONE TO ANOTHER. WE KNOW THAT THE TRANSFIGURATION WAS A PART OF THE REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS. WE KNOW WE NEED TO LISTEN TO HIM AND ALLOW OUR LIVES TO BE TRANSFORMED.
AND WHO JESUS IS, IS THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED THE HUMAN CREATURE SO VERY MUCH THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GO TO HIS DEATH ON A CROSS TO SHOW US THE REALITY OF THAT LOVE.
THE MOST REVEREND ROWAN WILLIAMS WAS ENTHRONED AS THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY THIS WEEK AT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL IN GREAT BRITAIN. YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE SOME OF HIS 103 PREDECESSORS. THEY INCLUDE ST. AUGUSTINE OF THE SIXTH CENTURY AND THOMAS A' BECKET OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY. DR. WILLIAMS IS A BIT OF A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE TO BE IN THIS POSITION, WHICH IS WHY I LIKE THE MAN WITHOUT EVEN MEETING HIM. HE FAVORS THE ORDINATION OF HOMOSEXUALS AND BELIEVES IT TO BE NECESSARY TO WORK TOWARDS THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN GREAT BRITAIN. DR. WILLIAMS HAS PUBLICLY CHALLENGED TONY BLAIR'S ASSERTION OF MORAL LEGITIMACY FOR WAR IN IRAQ AND CALLED THE AMERICAN-LED BOMBING OF AFGHANISTAN "MORALLY TAINTED." IN HIS SERMON ON THE DAY OF HIS ENTHRONEMENT (AN UNFORTUNATE TERM) DR. WILLIAMS SAID THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD "GRIEVE AND PROTEST OVER" SUCH THINGS AS WAR, POVERTY, PREJUDICE, ABUSE OF CHILDREN, NEGLECT OF THE ELDERLY, WORKPLACE HUMILIATION AND SEXUAL GREED.
AND THEN THIS ONE QUOTE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, WHICH, I THINK, SAYS IT ALL.
HE SAID, "THIS IS WHY THE CHRISTIANS WILL ENGAGE WITH PASSION IN THE WORLD OF OUR SOCIETY AND POLITICS, AND-IT MUST BE SAID-OUT OF A REAL GRIEF AND FEAR OF WHAT THE HUMAN FUTURE WILL BE IF THIS DOES NOT COME TO LIGHT."
THESE ARE DARK TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR WORLD. THE LIGHT OF THE TRANSFIGURATION HAS SHINED ON US AS WE LIVE IN THIS POST-RESURRECTION WORLD. AND I DO FEAR WHAT THE HUMAN FUTURE WILL BE IF THE LOVE OF CHRIST DOES NOT COME TO LIGHT. GIVE ME MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD ANY DAY. IT MAY NOT BE AS EXCITING AS GOING TO WAR, BUT IT IS THE WAY OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST. IT IS THE WAY OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP. AND IT IS THE MYSTERY OF WHO CHRIST IS REVEALED TO BE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN