|
October 4, 2009 A Two Edged SwordA few months ago my second cousin married an Englishman. He is a wonderful, caring, lovely man... a real gentleman interested in family and community. The more I got to know him the more I realized he is not how I envision some atheists to be. Generally, Europe is a much more secular culture than America. Oh... there are plenty of people we need to invite here... there are plenty of people who could benefit from a stronger connection or any connection to a community of faith like this. Yet, a lot of people still know a church when they see one... and have some idea of what a person like me does. Not so in England, at least not the people who were at this wedding. Brad and I were a bit of curiosity. In fact, Brad spent a good 20 minutes explaining to one woman what it is we do outside of Sunday morning. Most of you are here often enough to know that being a pastor is more than a one-day-a-week kind of thing. But how would you explain it to someone who asked? As Brad was talking to this woman about what we do, I turned to my sister (who grew up in a clergy home) and said, "Some days I wonder the same thing. I get to the end of a day and wonder how I'd ever explain it. I tried a few weeks ago when a friend asked what I was doing that day... my response was something like 'What I do every day... proof bulletins, write stuff, talk to people, put out fires, go to meetings...'" It was said rather tongue in cheek, of course, but there is truth to what I said. Occasionally people think I have the greatest job (especially if they think I only work one day a week!). Some days I think I do, too. There are other days... as with everyone... when things aren't very comfortable. That's not just me and what I do in the church... I think that being a Christian in general is both comforting and discomforting... at least, it should be. Look at today's Gospel. As Sundays and Seasons says, "Today's gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting." Yet, they come right after one another in the 10th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark. In terms of today's Gospel, for those who have been divorced or, like I, am married to someone who has, the first part of today's reading is a bit uncomfortable. As we have talked about in relation to other biblical passages dealing with other social issues, those Christians of a more traditional bent who subscribe to a "plain-sense" reading of the verses will be even more uncomfortable than those who, like I, counter a plain-sense reading with a bit of history and in light of other biblical texts. In terms of history, at the time of Jesus women had no rights. Here Jesus is sticking up for the least once again by saying that women are not to be simply cast aside. In terms of other biblical texts, I think Jesus is speaking strongly here (as he does in other places) to make the point that divorce is not something to be taken lightly. It is not what God intends for us; but, because of human sin, it can be the way back to the "abundant life" that God does intend. I suppose the second part of today's reading could also cause some discomfort; Jesus does challenge the disciples' view of children... elevating children as Jesus elevated women in the first 11 verses. Yet, most of us already value children, such that this part of the reading is apt to make up for the first... it's apt to give us the warm fuzzies that we need particularly if we felt the heat of admonishment in today's earlier verses. Again, as Sundays and Seasons says, "Today's gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting." The tenth chapter of Mark's Gospel is certainly not alone in creating such a paradox. There are many places in which the biblical witness and the words of Jesus both comfort and convict. The book of Revelation says that the message of Christ comes "like a two-edged sword" because the Gospel (or the good news or our faith) is a comfort to those in need; it is also a challenge to those who are comfortable. Although this two-edged nature of the Gospel might seem strange at first, it does allow God's Word to meet us where we are. The Gospel always speaks an applicable word into our daily lives: when we're in a place of deep need, it comforts us; when we are comfortable, it challenges us. As we are talking about the comfort and discomfort of the Gospel in light of (our fall emphasis of) doing God's work with our hands, we realize that doing God's work falls into these same categories. There are some things we are called to do as Christian people that can be flat out uncomfortable. On the other hand, there are also glimpses of hope and peace and joy that only come with moving through the discomfort and doing the work of God in our world today. For example, (in case you were wondering) here are a few things I do regularly that make me uncomfortable:
Those are just a few of the things that cause me some measure of discomfort. What is it about Christianity or the Christian life or the words of Jesus that make you uncomfortable? Then, of course, the next question is the real kicker. Is God calling you to stretch yourself in that way? Two weeks ago 7 of the saints of St. Paul's went to a workshop on something that makes Lutheran Christians extremely uncomfortable. We went to a workshop on evangelism... or sharing our faith. Even though I've made it clear that evangelism Lutheran-style doesn't mean standing on the street corner with a microphone, but simply being bold enough to tell our story and to invite people to a place like this... the average Lutheran still invites someone to worship once every 27 years. Yet, I really think that God is calling us to stretch ourselves to tell our story and to invite. What happens here is awesome! I want other people to experience this... to experience you! I know it's out of our comfort zone... but the Gospel is a two-edged sword; when we are comfortable, it challenges us. There are some things we are called to do as Christian people that can be flat out uncomfortable. On the other hand, there are also glimpses of hope and peace and joy that only come with moving through the discomfort and doing the work of God in our world today. I've told you a few things about my Christian journey that make me uncomfortable. Now here's where I find a good bit of comfort, particularly in relation to "God's work, our hands." Before our daughter, Ellie, gets old enough to protest, we're using all the Ellie stories we can. Here's one of my favorite Ellie stories... Ellie is adopted; yet... I'll never get over this miracle... she fits in perfectly with our family. One of the reasons she fit in immediately is that... like the two of us... she likes food. I fed her within 15 minutes of holding her and haven't stopped since... except during worship. Even before she was 2... when she came to the communion rail, she saw me... doing what? In the mind of a toddler, she saw me passing out food. I'm sure she couldn't figure out why I, her mother, would give it to everyone except her. So after leaving empty-handed a few times, she got smart. As soon as her feet hit the cushion, she looked around, saw what everyone else was doing, and put out her hands like this. I still put my hands on her head and gave her blessing and she still left empty-handed. It wasn't long after Ellie started putting out her hands and still walking away with nothing that she decided to try something else. One day she's at the rail and, as I'm approaching, I see her pushing up her sleeves... because that's what we do before we eat. We pray and then we push up our sleeves. Now what do I do? We invite parents to bring their children to a class whenever they are ready to take communion. Our larger church encourages children to have a basic understanding of what's happening before they begin taking the bread and the wine. Here's my daughter with her hands outstretched and her sleeves rolled up. I think, "Who am I to ban her from the Lord's table?" Some traditions say that the pastor or priest has to make sure people are "worthy" or "prepared" for Holy Communion. I love the fact that our tradition says that it's not up to me. I'm only the vessel. It's my hands, but it's God's work. Remembering that gives me great comfort. So I break off a piece of wafer and gave it to her. Later I realize that, in some way, she does get it. In her own 2-year-old way she understands that Communion is a meal shared among family... a meal at which everyone is welcome... a meal that is given not because we've earned it or deserve it or even understand it... but because of God's grace. Today we did hear Jesus say, "Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." That gives me great comfort, too. "Today's Gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting." Then again, the word of God is a "two-edged sword"-a comfort to those in need and a challenge to those who are comfortable-so that it meets us where we are. And so I ask all of you, "Where are you today? What did you hear? Do you feel comforted, or challenged?" After all... God's word and God's work done by our hands causes both... or at least, they should. |
St. Paul's Lutheran Church § 824 N. Lewis § Waukegan IL |
