The vision of Christ for the world is that we live "in peace with one another." And yet, we live in a world that too often judges one another harshly and promotes hostility among peoples, classes, races and groups of people. We are yet a long way from the vision of Christ.
During World War II, the suspicion of the Japanese people led to thousands of American citizens who were of Japanese descent, being rounded up and being placed in concentration camps in the West. Mary McMillian came back from Japan and rather than coming home, went to one of the camps to continue her work as a teacher and a minister of reconciliation.
Today, many suspect that the imprisonment of Win Ho Lee, an American nuclear scientist of Asian descent, for the mishandling of Nuclear secrets and the unsubstantiated charges that he gave those secrets to Red China, is but the tip of the dragon's head of racism and politicism that is just beginning to build in our country toward Red China. Could this be but a new form of Joe McCarthy in a new age? If so, I pray for newly elected leaders in America who will promote a sense of one world rather than, "America, Love it or Leave it."
Such limited and limiting attitudes are not new for the human race, as we see much of this in Jesus' time as revealed through the scripture read in our hearing this morning.
The disciples come to Jesus with this problem: "Someone is helping people in your name and doing good work and we don't know who he is." And Jesus says: "Well, if he is doing good work and is not against us, then leave him alone." This openness to the work of others is remarkable, coming from one who John recalls saying "I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except by me." Jesus' attitude seems to be "We need all the help we can get." "Whoever is not against us, is for us." Here is an attitude that condemns judgementalness or exclusiveness or prejudices in any form.
Our Lord's vision of unity is most clearly seen in the High Priestly Prayer of John 17, where Jesus prays that, "They may all be one."
You find a hint of this attitude in the Old Testament when you encounter the fact that in ancient Hebraic tradition there was the belief that God would sometimes use unbelievers to accomplish divine tasks. For example, in announcing God's intent to bring Israel out of exile and back to their homeland, Isaiah speaks of the Persian general, Cyrus, who will overthrow Israel's conquerors of Babylon, as "God's Shepherd" and in Isaiah 45:1 as "God's anointed." So also here in the scripture read today, we see Jesus claim that the Kingdom's work can be done by those who are not necessarily a card-carrying disciple. Here is a remarkable point of view, especially when some Christians condemn those who hold different beliefs regardless of their deeds of justice and mercy.
I hope that you don't participate in any kind of ill-informed judgmental behavior or actions.
Let me suggest the following:
1. First, let us repent of our participation in the problem of disunity among the peoples of the earth. There are a number of things which perpetuate the problems of brokenness in the human family:
Our impatience with one another.
Our tendency to believe rumor and innuendo (negative political ads.)
Our lack of love.
Our lack of trust in God and one another.
Our ignorance of each other's trials and tribulations.
Our lack of humility concerning our own knowledge and wisdom.
So, let us repent today, this very moment, by saying to God, "I am sorry that I have been a part of the problem."
2. Let us this week censor every negative thought or judgmental word before they hit the airways coming out of your mouth.
Paul said: "Bridle your tongue."
Restraint is necessary because it may very well be that the supposed "enemy" is a disguised agent of God's kingdom. Put aside an attitude of exclusiveness.
Let us in the spirit of the Jungle Books' song: "Accentuate the Positive," "Believe the Best."
3. Find some specific ways to affirm someone who is different from you. A person of a different church, a different religion, a different race. Rather than being just non-judgmental, let us be proactive to affirm persons who are different from us. It would not be bad to be nice even to a Florida fan, or an Auburn supporter, although you may wonder about wisdom.
Reach across the barrier - eat at a different table. Learn something about what they are doing for the cause of justice or community and share with them what we are doing as God's people called Methodist.
The movie The Life and Times of Hank Greenburg, is a story about the first Jewish baseball player who helped the Detroit Tigers become World Series Champions. Greenburg, because of his experience, became proactive in extending a helping hand to Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player.
Our racial exclusive attitude of only a few short years ago was so limiting. I can become very embarrassed about my heritage if I think about it for very long, and my participation in it through racial bias and ethnic jokes.
In summary, let us promote togetherness in action and attitude.
We do this in small ways when our Church observes on the first Sunday that the communion table is not the Church's table, but it is the Lord's table and every one is active. We become stronger when we are not of the same socio-economic class, or the same race, or the same political part.
We will do well to seek to change any organization to which we belong -- a Fraternity, or Sorority, or Country Club, or Civic Organization - any grouping of people which is exclusive of anyone in the human race.
We are privileged to have a great diversity in our congregation and yet enjoy the gift of unity. We are united in our search for truth, love and justice. Our work on behalf of the elderly and the children unites us and challenges us. We cherish and celebrate our unity and honor our diversity. But this precious gift of unity, which has been given to us, is ever a calling and a challenge.
There is yet much to do till we become as Christ envisioned all the peoples of the earth. We yearn, pray and resolve to work together for the time when we are truly one in Christ so that the whole world may believe.
Summary: Sports, although having the potential to divide also has the potential to unite. The Twenty-seventh Olympiad in Australia has been, as it always is, remarkable. Cathy Freeman, free Aborigines of Australia, lit the Olympic Torch, won a gold metal, and has become a symbol of achievement, unity, peace and beauty. There was a time when the likes of Cathy Freeman would not have been welcomed in the restaurants and hotels of Sydney, and yet now she is the darling of the nation. Let us build together such a world that the Cathy Freeman's yet to be born, will be welcome in our cities of tomorrow.
God's Word in Holy Scripture has been given to us for instruction and inspiration, into the desires of Almighty God, into the will of the Creator. This morning, let me lift for our consideration, God's powerful word recorded in Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
This past July, I participated in one of five Jurisdictional conferences of our denomination, who elected 13 new Bishops for the Church. There are 50 bishops who serve our denomination in the U.S. and another 17 in foreign countries. In an interesting article about these newly elected Bishops, it was noted that 15 out of the 50 are African American. 11 of the 50 are women. One of these newly elected Bishops was appointed to serve for the next four years in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. His name is Larry Goodpaster--A nice name for a Bishop in the church. He is 52 years old and comes from Tupelo, Miss. He conducted the memorial service for Lynn Johnston in her home church in Tupelo.
Each of these newly elected leaders were asked a number of common questions, one of which was what is your "favorite scripture". Their responses were revealing as you would expect.
Bishop Goodpaster quoted from Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
Violet Fisher, 61, African American assigned to serve the New York West Area, and Bill Hutchinson, 58 assigned to the Louisiana Area, both chose: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" Philippians 4:3
Gregory Palmer, 46, assigned to serve in the Iowa Area, cited I John 3:2 "Beloved, we are God's children now, what we will be has not yet been revealed."
Probably at any one time in our lives, we might cite different verses, for God's word comes to us to comfort and instruct, but as I read in Hebrews the fourth chapter, this one jumped out at me: "Let us then with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
1. "Let us with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace
2. "that we may receive mercy
3. And find grace in time of need."
1. With confidence. . .
A. So many of the Biblical characters lacked confidence but lived in fear. The disciples feared going to Jerusalem, "For it will be the death of us." Moses' early story in Exodus III is the story of his lack of confidence…God said to him, "okay I will send your brother Aaron as your spokesman." But so far as I have found, Aaron never spoke to Pharo. God was trying to teach Moses that "His strength was sufficient." The call of Moses was not about Moses, it was about God and God's sufficient strength. Moses had to learn this, a lesson some of us have yet to learn.
In Paul's letter to young Timothy: "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and love and self-control." (1:Timothy 1:7)
B. And in Mark 10 you have the sad tale of the so called "rich man" … The whole issue of the tithe is the issue of trusting God and living with confidence.
C. John Wesley's mother told her young son to "avoid whatever dulled the edge of his appetite for spiritual things." This kept Wesley's mind free to pursue spiritual things, and it will keep you free as well.
We can have the "inner assurance" a confidence, that we are God's children. It is a pearl of great price. You can live and die in confidence, when you place your faith in God.
Oh God Our Help in Ages Past, Our Hope for Years to Come...
Summary: One of the many creative individuals in our congregation is Carolyn Fleming. She and Jack, since his retirement travel a great deal and they are away this weekend, which is why I have chosen today to share this story with you. She is much too modest to sit still while I brag.
A few years ago, Carolyn and Jack traveled with Jane and me and others through the Middle East. On a day off from traveling, I rested to get over a cold which was in its early stages, only to discover when we gathered in the evening, that Jack and Carolyn had rented a taxi and traveled across "no man's land" south of Bethlehem into a virtual war zone. They just wanted to see it. They traveled without fear. Recently you have seen the same area on TV where a number of Palestinians have died due to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
Carolyn, a native of the Deep South, after a number of years of working on a novel of the life and times of a small, Southern town will see the publication of her book within a few short weeks. The title of the book is "Journey Proud". To be "journey proud" is a Southern expression which describes "being confident" and "being happy" in spite of the circumstances which may occur in one's life. As Carolyn in the voice of one of the characters says: "You are thankful jus' 'cause it's a new day. You trust in de Lawd and hold yo' head up and keep movin' on."
Journey Proud…Journey Confidently.
"Let us with confidence, draw near to the throne of Grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need."
In a recent survey of the congregation, 69% of the 435 persons who turned in the questionnaire, indicated a desire to hear more about Spiritual Disciplines and how they can grow spiritually. Well, let me share with you that one of the most important spiritual disciplines is "Stewardship, Giving, Sharing". In the vernacular of a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire culture, one of the key lifelines is "Giving". "If you want to receive, you must give. If you want to find your life, you must give your life away." "It will not produce fruits for us to ask God to bless what we do or what we want - we must do what God blesses."
We live in an interesting time and we have been born on the right side of the tracks. We are citizens of the U.S., the land of the free and the home of the affluent. Sure there are times when most of us have more month than money, but for the most part it is not because of the need for basic necessities, but rather due to a high cable bill, a cell phone, orthodontic expenses, or a credit card bill. Even the poorest among us, in America, live better than the richest of the rich a century ago. And many have experienced unbelievable financial gifts. It is interesting to note that Merrill Lynch announced last spring that the numbers of millionaires in the U.S has risen almost 40% since 1997. Two and one half million people living in America today are millionaires. That's about 40,000 families for every state in the US and every providence in Canada. But while our wealth has increased in exploding proportions, we have begun to discover a down side. There is even a new illness referred to as "sudden wealth syndrome" and the symptoms are "excessive guilt" and "identity confusion."
The very night that the Maryland lottery made Robert Bronson a multi-millionaire, his wife told him it would be the end of their marriage. Seventeen months later they were divorced. Money cannot buy happiness nor marital bliss. As a matter of fact, our prosperity which has soared since I graduated from High School, has produced not only millionaires, it has also resulted in:
We have money, but also more bankruptcy.
We have bigger houses and smaller families
More conveniences, but less time
More medicine, but less wellness
We have steeper profits but shallow relationships.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
Out of all the magazines, which flood the mailbox at our house, there is an interesting one that came recently from a man's shoe company. It dealt with built up or elevated shoes, so that you could be taller than ever before. Well these are the times of taller men, who have a shorter character. And the Problem: We Have Learned How To Make More Money But Not Manage It. We Have Neglected The Spiritual Discipline Of Giving, We Are In Trouble, Serious Trouble.
As a nation of people, we find ourselves locked in a struggle between morality and economics. Robert Fogel, a Nobel Prize winning economist, has released a new book entitled: The Fourth Great Awakening & the Future of Egalitarianism. It deals with the conflict with current economic conditions brought about through technology and the moral values of a growing wealthy elite. The point is, we are in trouble at a time when we have more, we are not managing it very well.
Let me suggest the following:
1. The Biblical tithe is a way to start
managing our monies and our life. Here's a formula for Christian Money
Management that will work: Save 10%, Give 10% and spend
the rest with joy and thanksgiving.
Pay yourself, Pay God and then start living.
2. Jesus invites us in the management of our life to give, not a tip or a tithe, but all. This is not a matter of money, it is a matter of values.
In last week's scripture, the rich young ruler who is worried about receiving eternal life, is invited to sale all his possessions and give it all to the poor. And he goes away in deep sadness. Here, in the reading today, Jesus, observing the gifts of the people to the treasury of the Temple in Jerusalem, he commends the gift of the widow lady who gives as he says: "all she possesses."
If this passage doesn't make you nervous, then you are not listening. As a matter of fact, much of the scripture read today, makes me nervous. For one thing, Jesus begins by criticizing the religious leaders who receive public acclaim, who offer "long prayers." I wear a "long robe," and have been known to go longer than necessary. Then the one who is praised is not the one who gave a significant tip or a Biblical tithe, but the one who gave all she had, Jesus says: "All of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed."
Jesus has a bias toward the poor and a criticism of the powerful and influential and wealthy, which should as we read it, now 2000 years later, un-nerve us. Listen to him: "It will be harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, than for Camel to pass through the eye of a needle."
Jesus was one who was born in a stable, introduced to the agony of refugees as a child, raised in the economic backwater of Galilee, and as a wandering teacher, had no house of his own. When he taught about the Kingdom, he very clearly said: "Blessed are you who are poor." When John the Baptist asked if he was the Messiah, Jesus pointed to the facts that he "healed the sick and preached good news to the poor." It is not a matter how much or how little one possesses. Understand this: it is a matter of what and whom you trust. Our trust is in God from whom we come and unto whom we shall return.
Perhaps the great awakening for us will come when we finally wise up, and I hope it will not be to late, when we finally wake-up and see that we cannot take it with us, cannot hold on to our possessions, when we figure out when enough is enough, and begin to look for ways to creatively use our limited time and unlimited resources for good.
3. Thirdly, Seek out and Find causes to believe in and plunge in. Turn from craving success and go for significance. Make a difference with your fortunate blessings.
Give your time and your monies and your energies and your prayers to make a difference before your day is over. God has entrusted to us resources, which can do great things and make you proud, but if you don't claim giving as your lifeline, you will die with regrets.
Leo Buscaglia has written a powerful book in which he identified three life tasks in the title, "Living, Loving and Learning." To live, to love and to leave a legacy. Through giving we make love visible and we live our life to its fullest and we leave a legacy.
Summary: Let me summarize: Now that we have solved the question of how to make a living, we are confronted with the more important issue of how to make a life. And God's Word this morning is that the lifeline of Giving, is a starting point.
Give Of Your Best To The Master
Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth; Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor Into the battle for truth. Jesus has set the example; Dauntless was He, young and brave; Give Him your loyal devotion, Give Him the best that you have. (Refrain)
Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service, Consecrate every part. Give, and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have. (Refrain)
Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love; He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above: Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin's ruin to save; Give Him your heart's adoration, Give Him the best that you have. (Refrain)
Refrain: Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth; Clad in salvation's full armor, Join in the battle for truth.
There are a number of times in most of our lives when we finally see things clearly.
That day in class--Oh, one plus one is always two.
That night under a starry night with our first love, when the words
formed on our lips before we knew it and we heard ourselves saying something
stupid like: "I love you, more than life itself".
And that dark night when we woke up in a hospital room, alive and
it dawned on us that "Life is a gift, precious and precarious at
best"...
In the New Testament there are a number of recorded instances when Jesus heals the blind and they see. The man who from birth had been blind, who when the Pharisees tried to get him to help them incriminate Jesus, said to them: "I do not know about the man. I only know that whereas I once was blind, now I see."
And in the scripture read today, there is the very clear message that
1. When we call to Jesus, he will hear
2. When he hears our call, he will heal our hurt
3. When we are healed, we must leave the past and claim a new future.
There was a time when I wanted to be older than I was--when I was 14 and wanted to drive a car. When I first started in my profession and wanted a touch of gray hair, for I thought it would gain more respect. Now all I want is a touch of hair. But now, I am beginning to achieve an age when I look back as much as I look forward and the joy of looking back is that I can identify great spiritual moments which at some unique time in my life, dawned on me and revealed great truth.
For example:
This story of Jesus healing the blind man, is a great story. It is Every Person's story. It is my Story. And time and time again, it can be your story. Jesus has the power to heal our blindness as we are open to his healing presence.