My sermon, preached on Sunday, September 30th. Readings for this week: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29; James 5:13-20; and, Mark 9:38-50.
To me, it seems like another sad and frustrating story about our inability to respect each other as people and as people who have differing faiths. The talk about it in the newspapers and on radio shows is riddled with back and forth arguments about who and what is right and who or what is wrong. It even made its way into the presidential campaigns and has become a point of contention for both sides.
In response to all of this I’ve heard so many people try to define where they stand over-against someone or something else. So many Americans are attacking the man who made the movie saying he does not represent all of the American people. Many Muslims are chastising the rioting groups saying their actions don’t represent all Muslims. Christian religious leaders are distancing themselves from Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who seems to have played a large part in fanning the flames of this controversy by planning to show the video, by claiming his actions are un-Christian or that he is not representing the true Christian faith.
My goodness, what a mess!
The tough part is, this isn’t a unique situation – is it?
As a society we’re actually very comfortable setting up dividing walls, not because we necessarily want to exclude other people, but we feel a need to define ourselves, who we are and what we believe.
And, I get it, as I’m sure many of you do, because, let’s be honest, some of what people say and believe is hurtful, really hurtful. It may not be hurtful to us personally, but it is hurtful to others and that is hurtful to us.
Our readings for today tell us that this is not a 21st Century problem – our reading from Numbers tells us that even Moses struggled with questions of who was outside – literally, who was outside the tent – and who was in. Jesus’ disciples are very concerned that another person is performing deeds in Jesus’ name – and he isn’t even in their inner circle.
Both groups question the authority of others’ actions – what right do they have to do and say such things in the name of our faith? Sounds vaguely familiar doesn’t it?
And the crazy things is, both Moses and Jesus have very similar answers: do not stop them. Or as Dr. John Fairless writes: Jesus’ reaction is like saying “chillax.”
Dr. Fairless and Dr. Delmer Chilton are two Lutheran pastors who write a blog entitled “Two Bubbas and a Bible” – it’s great!
Dr. Fairless links this word “chillax” in his post to an urban dictionary website that defines chillax as: a combination of “chill out” and “relax,” to loosen or reduce the level of stress by employing a more relaxed and groovy (such a California word) outlook.
So, Dr. Fairless says that Jesus says “chillax disciples.” Moses goes on to say something similar: “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them.” Chillax.
Many of the gospels tell of Jesus reaching out to others; he has always cast the net fairly wide in terms of who is in and who isn’t – wider than his disciples were comfortable with and, let’s be honest, wider than many of us are willing or able to acknowledge. But Moses has always been a by the books – or should we say “by the stone tablets” – kind of person. To find such a similarity between these two prominent figures in our Bible is no small thing. This must be pretty important.
Jesus and Moses tell their followers that authority doesn’t lie with who is in the inner circle – the disciples circle or the elders in the tent – but there is a greater authority.
In the Lutheran tradition we often speak of the idea of the priesthood of all believers – meaning we all have gifts that can be used to praise and glorify God: this ability is not exclusive!
But, what about that pastor in Florida? Or, the pastor in North Carolina who encouraged parents to “beat the gay” out of their kids? What about the people who say horrible things?
Jesus, you said “whoever is not against us is for us” – but what about the people who really seem like their against us, against me, against each of you, against your friend, against your brother or sister? What about them? With all due respect, Christ, “chillax” might not do it for me.
For me…for me…where have I heard that…for me…for you…
This is the body of Christ, given for you. This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.
Luther thought that the whole gospel could be summed up in those two words: for you. Our words of institution that are spoken during worship remind us that Christ died for me, for you, and for all people – even those people I disagree with.
We spend so much time defining ourselves over-against others, we forget that there is a huge similarity that we all share regardless of our politics, regardless of our taste in music, regardless of the car we drive or the clothes we wear, regardless of whether or not we’re nice to other people! Christ died for all of us. We are all first and foremost children of God and that is a powerful thing.
In our baptisms, the power of the Holy Spirit was stirred up in our worlds so that we may journey with others on a path towards Christ - whatever that may look like for each of us. Along that journey, we are going to meet a lot of people who we agree with and seemingly more with whom we disagree.
I suppose, trusting in my faith, every once in a while, I could chillax.
One of my favorite psalm petitions is – “be still, and know that I am God.”
My heart may not be big enough sometimes for the people I disagree with or the people who hurt me. But, man, am I glad Christ’s is – because, Christ knows, that to some, I don’t fit in their hearts. We don’t fit in their hearts. Christ’s love, God’s love is so great. And when our hearts and souls are filled with that much love, our hearts and souls overflow, and we are called to love back.
Dr. Chilton – of Two Bubbas and a Bible – writes: “in community we are called to let go of power and embrace the spirit of God speaking in the community – even sometimes speaking to us through voices outside the community.
In community we are called to heal and be healed by reaching out to one another in humility and compassion, loving the community and trusting the community to love us back.
In community we are called to take the welfare of others, their faith and their life, so seriously that we are willing to sacrifice things that are good for us rather than injure or harm them.”
This can be so hard – but in Christ we can, and in community we can.
Charlie Brown once said (yes, the comic character) – “The greatest burden in life is to have a great potential.”
Christ has given us the great potential to be good disciples and at times it may feel like the greatest burden – to be nice to those who aren’t nice, to love those who seem not to love you back, to stand up for the love of God even when others will tell you you’re wrong – but, maybe you can remember that psalm I mentioned earlier but with a slight modification: “Chillax, and know that I am God.”
Amen.
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