“The Way Forward”
Micah 6:1-8; Mark 12:28-31
This is the first sermon I have written in three months, which felt weird as I began writing it this past Friday. Thankfully, it didn’t take too long to get back in the sermon saddle, however. I thought about what message I wanted to give you to ponder after all of this time apart from each other.
First, WHY did I go on sabbatical? Why so much time away? In the book of Exodus, God speaks at length to Moses about how to put an early struggling band of God’s people together. While setting up ways for people to worship and how to treat one another, God speaks of how to farm effectively, and how to care for all of the people. In Exodus 23:10-11, God says to Moses, 10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.” As God rested on the seventh day of creation, as the farmland was to rest after six years of farming, pastors in congregations need to be unplowed and unused for a time. Let me just say, my dirt was tired! I sought rest, recovery, and renewal- seeking God’s wisdom.
I received all three of those things, which I’ll share with you this morning. In April, primarily I rested- sleeping well, hiking, walking the dog, playing some golf, and going on some long quests, playing the hero in video games. In addition, once I felt my energy returning, without work to focus those energies, let me just say that the closets in our home have been fully cleared of all clutter, for the first time since we were married 37 years ago! In addition, Paula and I focused our efforts on the outside of our home. We did a big cleanup and gardening weekend. I put a border all around the back garden area plots. I sanded the back deck and we repainted, all over three days’ time. I got into the rhythm of being the meal provider most days and got creative with cooking dinner. And let me just say I think my wife is in a bit of mourning now, as in my going back to work she has lost her live-in house servant.
I worshipped regularly on Sundays, not in a formal congregation, but from home instead, that was, until we got to the Abbey on the island of Iona. I felt an initial nudge from the Spirit not to do anything too formal at first with my worship time. So I listened to some of my favorite preachers on YouTube, read scripture, and prayed at home.
I read a few of the pile of books I’ve received from many well-meaning souls in this congregation and finished two of them. My regular reading times allowed me to ponder and consider God’s wisdom on the pages, some of which I’ll share over the next few Sundays.
I also had some adventures, especially as Paula and I had the privilege of traveling to Iceland and Scotland, thanks in great part for granting me extended time away and your gracious additional financial support. I’ll share one of those adventures with you this morning, and look forward to sharing others over coffee, a meal, or a pint.
When we were in Iceland, we traveled to a geothermal marvel that the Icelanders call the 8th wonder of the world- the Blue Lagoon. This lagoon is made by human hands and is heated by the geothermal activities beneath it. The water looks milky, light blue, and stays hot. It just so happens that the location of the Blue Lagoon is very close to the most active volcano in Iceland, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The nearby town of Grindavik has been evacuated until further notice, due to it being surrounded by lava. As we drove to the lagoon, on either side of the road, there was hot steaming lava that spewed from the volcano just four days prior. And, on the near horizon just on the other side of a nearby mountain, we could see the steamy plume of the volcano.
Then as we got closer to the Blue Lagoon, our driver began to very casually tell us about the volcano alarm, and that, only if needed, we were to get out of the lagoon and walk orderly and without panic back to the bus. A few thoughts crossed my mind at that moment:
- Is this safe?
- Is this wise?
- Is this a long-term sustainable form of eco-tourism?
The answers were all “NO!” by the way. I will add that, while we were in Scotland a week or so later, one of the access roads to the Blue Lagoon was closed because MORE fresh lava spewed out of the volcano and covered said road. Yikes!
Now, as to finding some renewal and God’s wisdom. I prayed consistently for a sense of purpose, focus, and direction for my ministry in the years I have left before retirement- which won’t be for a few years- don’t worry! You’ll hear more about our time in Scotland and the wonderful week of worship, the study of Celtic spirituality, and renewal from the island of Iona over the coming weeks.
One of my larger prayer focuses was on the state of the Christian church in America. I’ve been quite troubled for the last few months about the Christian Nationalist movement, particularly in the evangelical church in America. I know many of you took part in viewing the film, God and Country while I was away. The idea that America has been set apart from the rest of the world, specially blessed by God, and meant solely to be a Christian (hence not Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other religion) nation heads us right into the trap of the worship of a nation, which is idolatry. One of the books I read dealt specifically with the sin of Christian Nationalism and was written by a conservative evangelical son of a Baptist minister. Tim Alberta, the author of the book, The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory characterizes much of the evangelical church in America he grew up in as combative, sharing a message of hate and seeking power over others. He talks of them calling Jesus’ teachings woke talking points rather than our Lord’s wisdom on how to live and be. The basic teachings of Jesus to love one another, to share his compassion, to care for the poor, and to welcome strangers are replaced by messages of the end of America if action isn’t taken, fighting the liberal agenda, fear and anger over losing political power and who to vote for as approved by God.
Evangelical theologian Miroslav Volf is quoted in the book as saying, “I’ve come to believe…that the Christ of the gospel has become a moral stranger to us. If you read the gospels, the things that profoundly mattered to Christ, they marginally matter to most evangelical Christians. And the things that matter profoundly to us, marginally mattered to Christ.”
Recent polls by the Pew Research Institute among others have noted that, due to this movement, as well as the embracing of a presidential candidate who is far from Christian or moral in his personal behavior, many Americans have developed a negative view of the big C church. In light of the global as well as national decline in Christendom, the decline in trusting organized religion in all of its forms, and scandals of abuse in congregations, this is not good news for us on the corner of Walker and Siskiyou.
My prayers to God after reading The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory were about us as a congregation. How are we called to be in all we see happening to some of our kindred in Christ? What are we to do? My first response from God’s Spirit was this- “The only response to a church that doesn’t follow my Son is to be a congregation that does just the opposite.” The passages of scripture for this morning popped into my head as that message came my way. So, one of the sources of God’s wisdom I received is to call us to focus on God through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Those teachings are echoed in our first passage for this morning, Micah 6:1-8. You’ll find versions of this passage in the Administration room bathroom as well as on the wall in Calvin Hall.
The first 7 verses of chapter 8 read a bit like a court drama. All of nature is the jury- the mountains and foundations of the earth. God asks what case the people have against God. Why have they stopped following God’s ways? God says, “What have I done to you? Have I wearied you in some way? Answer me!” (v.3) Then God proceeds to remind them of all God has done for Israel- freed them from captivity in Egypt, provided 3 great leaders in Moses, Arron, and Miriam to lead them through the wilderness into the promised land, and helped them defeat their enemies twice on the field of battle.
The people (perhaps in the courtroom seats) respond, “What then shall we do? Should we come before God and bow before God on high? Should we come before God and offer burnt offerings, of young calves, with thousands of rams, or 10,000 rivers of oil? Should we even sacrifice our firstborn children for all God has done?” God’s concern with the people is in their relationship with their Creator and their practice of faith out in the world. Sacrifice isn’t the answer. God has told them what is good- give of yourself on behalf of others, particularly those who are in need by doing two things: Mishpat- justice, and Chesed- translated as kindness. God requires us to show our faith by DOING. When we do acts of justice, when we perform kind deeds to others, we show our faith in God. But, Micah says, there is more to the picture. We are to walk humbly WITH God. God’s call for action for those in need is coupled with our relationship with God. The relationship with God will strengthen our actions in the world. Or, as Episcopalian theologian, bishop and author Michael Curry wrote, “Faith is about both a personal relationship with God and a social one that can motivate change for the greater good.”
Some theologians have suggested this passage is a summation of the Hebrew scriptures. If this idea – of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly can be a guide for us as a church- a cornerstone of the foundation of this congregation as we move into whatever comes next, then we will be faithful, positive examples of what the church is called to be in the world.
Yet there is another passage to hold onto, memorize, and place at the very core of our souls, and it comes from Jesus.
Jesus quoted this section from Leviticus 19:18 to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, to give us the message that love to others is connected deeply with our own self-image. If we don’t love ourselves much, we won’t do a very good job of loving our neighbor. Jesus himself could not have done his ministry on earth had he not understood that he was the beloved son of God, a cherished creation. God’s love for him was unconditional and constant. Love that we have for ourselves is imperfect and inconsistent- we need to see the source of this love, just as Jesus did, for it is a love that never ends.
Theologian Henri Nouwen said, “The great spiritual task facing me is to so fully trust that I belong to God that I can be free in the world- free to speak even when my words are not received; free to act even when my actions are criticized, ridiculed, or even considered useless; free also to receive love from people and to be grateful for all the signs of God’s presence in the world. I am convinced that I will be able to love the world when I fully believe that I am loved far beyond its boundaries.”
I encourage you over the coming weeks to spend time with these two passages of scripture. Work on memorizing them and planting them deep into your souls. And, if you happen to be a quick study, then move on to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. That should keep you busy spiritually for the rest of your earthly lives. His teachings in that sermon certainly challenge me, and that section of the Gospels in particular is so foundational and important.
So, friends and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, even as we ponder our own congregation’s future, with an aging facility in need of repair, an older and smaller congregation amid a post-Christendom culture, I hope you’ll join me over the coming years in modeling a loving, caring community. Those concerns we have over our future will remain and we will take time through prayer, study, and guidance to come to good conclusions. But those worries, those concerns are secondary. May we first and foremost embrace our mission as followers of Jesus Christ; led by God’s justice and mercy, walking humbly, following the teachings of our Savior as we share God’s love with those nearby as well as in the world around us. Alleluia! Amen.
