Intimidation Or Imitation
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
This week's Gospel text depicts a traumatic scene, as Jesus prophesies the destruction of the temple. For many of his listeners, this is both terrifying and unimaginable -- yet Jesus points out that we should not be afraid because it is actually a sign of God at work in the world. Indeed, within the ruins of the temple lies not catastrophe, but rather hope for the future. This is the same hope that the prophet Isaiah speaks to when he rhapsodizes about the new thing God is creating. That could well serve as a lesson for us today, for it seems our daily headlines are full of the "great earthquakes, famines and plagues, and dreadful portents and great signs from heaven" that Jesus tells us are a necessary part of the process. But despite Jesus' warning of the persecution that believers will experience, the key to Jesus' optimism lies in his observation that "this will give you an opportunity to testify." And, of course, there is no greater testimony than the examples of our lives -- a point which Paul underlines in our epistle passage when he reminds us that we are given "an example to imitate." In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Ron Love discusses a phenomenon that has received a great deal of media attention recently -- bullying -- and contrasts it with Paul's exhortation to demonstrate the hope that Isaiah speaks of. It seems that the world often respects the law of the jungle, where raw power is the coin of the realm and bullies are rewarded. While the fear and trepidation experienced by the victims of bullying are very real, the hope we have in the resurrection and the power of God are much more powerful and lasting. Ron notes that we have a choice: we can opt for the short-term benefits of the bully by intimidating others, or we can provide a shining example to them by sharing the Gospel message through the words and actions of our lives. Team member Mary Austin offers some additional thoughts on the demonizing language that characterizes our political discourse, and suggests that the language of faith offers a very different vision -- most notably by Isaiah's image of the wolf and the lamb eating together.
Intimidation or Imitation
by Ron Love
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
THE WORLD
An issue frequently discussed in the news today is bullying. Most of the stories and commentaries have centered on bullying in school, where 30% of students have experienced this form of abuse. Unlike previous years, bullying now extends beyond the school grounds with "cyber-bullying," which is using Facebook and similar social networking sites to continue the process of degradation. But our focus must move beyond the public schools. Seldom discussed, but of equal trauma, is workplace bullying. It is reported that 16% of workers are bullied by other employees and managers. Other categories that could be reviewed are military bullying, political bullying, and domestic bullying. Bullies most often do achieve their objective of demeaning another individual or getting their own way. This is at the cost of the recipient who suffers from depression, low self-esteem, health problems, and suicidal thoughts. Bullies themselves do not emerge cost-free, as 40% of schoolyard bullies are incarcerated for one crime or another later in life. Bullying is an ineffective and detrimental way of intimidation.
Having emerged from the midterm elections, another form of intimidation has arisen, and that is demonizing our political opponents. Political mudslinging may not be as detrimental as actual bullying, but the intent is often the same. It is to secure one's own way while degrading the ideas and character of an opponent. During the season of campaigning, demonizing a political opponent is more opportunistic than discussing the issues. After the elections, we read of how the victors are going to be engaged in an uncompromising political process of enforcing their agenda. They will do so by disregarding the notion that others have legitimate points of view that must be entertained.
Intimidation is an effective means to the end. Intimidation does assure someone of getting his/her own way. Intimidation does establish supremacy. Though intimidation is effective, does the bully have the respect of the community? The answer, of course, is that they are not respected, but feared.
There is a better way, and it is the Christian way. It is called imitation. Christians seek to persuade individuals because the respect and love displayed towards them creates a desire to follow. It is a conscious process, for it requires the Christian to live the godliest life humanly possible. It is a slower process, for it requires building trust. It is a difficult process, for it requires compromise. It is an open process, for it requires that we must overcome all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Unlike intimidation, the results of imitation are permanent for one has won the hearts and souls of the converts. A convert follows out of devotion, not fear. A convert participates, rather than seeking avenues of escape.
Several decades ago, Relational Evangelism was the centerpiece of the church. The premise was to witness and bring people to Christ by first building a meaningful relationship with them. Once friendship and acceptance have been established, the patron would be receptive to the Christian message that was shared. Relational Evangelism was a counterpoint to the more aggressive forms of evangelism of the day, such as cornering someone with a religious track on the Four Spiritual Laws or The Roman Road. The church was criticized, for many outsiders considered the lapel-grabbing approach of prepared pamphlets as intimidating. The church gained approval when evangelism promoted the building of relationships, which were rested upon the imitation of sincere beliefs and loving behavior.
So the question becomes in our Christian witness: are we going to be intimidators or imitators?
THE WORD
If we study the Bible as a biography of Christians who personally knew Jesus or learned of his ministry within decades of his resurrection, we cannot help but be awe-inspired by their faith and courage. Each individual reported in the gospels and epistles has a unique personality, was placed in a unique situation, and had a unique message to share. Both in word and deed, each stands before us as a testimony to a personal faith in a living God. Dedicated to God, they became a witness and inspiration unto others. As leaders in the church, they became examples for others to follow. This is why the Apostle Paul instructs that we ought to "imitate" their conduct. Paul realized that as a church leader and missionary he was an example to others. This is why he wrote, "For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us." This does mean that we are to lose ourselves in Paul's and the other writer's shadow, but we are to let the light of their Christian living illuminate the way we conduct ourselves as Christians and involve ourselves in the lives of other individuals.
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Dedicated and faithful Christians are not confined between the covers of the Bible; but they are present today sitting beside you in the pew. Thus, we are inspired by both those who have gone onto the Church Triumphant and those who still reside in the Church Militant. This, then, sets the precedent that we are to be examples onto others.
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Dedicated and faithful Christians are not confined between the covers of the Bible; they are also present today sitting beside you in the pew. Thus, we are inspired by both those who have gone onto the Church Triumphant and those who still reside in the Church Militant. We are to imitate the behavior and actions of the good and faithful Christians who surround us on a daily basis. This, then, sets the precedent that we must also be examples to others.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
You may want to follow or adapt the following sermon outline:
I. Discuss the social problems associated with intimidation, often displayed as bullying and uncompromising politics. Dialogue about how we demean and demonize other individuals, either because we do not like them or they hold beliefs contrary to our own. Share the detrimental social ramifications caused by this abusive behavior. Share how we can be a part of this process, often unknowingly.
II. Discuss how intimidation is not the Christian way, but imitation is. Dialogue on how Paul based his ministry on the importance of imitating faithful and authentic Christian living that was displayed by other believers. Support the writings of Paul with other biblical examples.
III. Caution the congregation on how the church can become an intimidating institution if we become too exuberant, uncompromising, or refuse to tolerate opposing points of view. Point out how it is not possible for all Christians to hold the same ethical and moral and political positions. Emphasize that though we may disagree on certain social issues, the foundation of our fellowship is centered on the love we have for Jesus and our desire to serve.
ANOTHER VIEW
by Mary Austin
Isaiah 65:17-25
"I am not a witch." "Man up." "Taliban Dan." Calling the Speaker of the House "Nazi Pelosi" and the candidate for governor in California "a whore."
The language of this recent election season was sharply personal, with candidates attacking one another and defending themselves in language that would get school-age children sent to the principal's office. Candidates took heat for how they looked, for unsubstantiated affiliations, or for long-past activities and statements. The campaign ads of the season reflected the anger that shaped the election itself, spilling over from the issues into harsh personal attacks.
Paid ads on television, radio, and in social media reflected the same level of nastiness. "The 2010 election ads have not been pretty," noted columnist Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto on The Huffington Post, adding that "the prolific use of negative ads is the one thing that both sides of the aisle have been able to agree on this year."
In addition to the personal attacks, voters also heard attacks on the status quo in Washington or in their state, generally minus specifics about how change would be accomplished. Politicians of all parties used negative ads this campaign season, and some commentators believe that the ads were more negative in tone than in previous years. It's hard to tell exactly what the effect was because so many voters just stopped listening altogether in the final weeks of the campaign.
However, as Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto continues: "Negative ads are a constant in politics because they work. Negative ads elicit strong emotional responses of anger, fear, and anxiety."
For all who are weary of this election's attacks, the venom, the disgust and disdain, and the cynical politics behind them, Isaiah offers a counterpoint.
The language of politics may be most effective when it's negative, but the language of faith has its own qualities. In contrast to the negative, apocalyptic language of the election, Isaiah offers the opposite -- a vision of the positive, come fully and abundantly to life. Speaking with holy vision, Isaiah promises "a new heaven and a new earth," so different from the past that the former things won't even be remembered. This new creation is a place of joy, with the fullness of God's shalom for all people. Unlike the world of politics, where politicians are promising the changes they can make, this prophetic word reveals that God is the creator of true change.
This is also revealed to be a world within our world, not just in the life to come. If we are weary of politics, we can join with God in bringing about this whole new creation. As Mary Eleanor Johns notes in Feasting on the Word, out of our relationship with God "we are able to actively engage in God's reordering of creation. We step out with hope in the God who creates, reconciles, and sustains us." As we follow the example of Jesus, she comments, we share with the Creator God in the creation of this new heaven and new earth in our midst.
There is still pain, sorrow, and suffering in the world as we know it, but also the certainty of God's new heaven and new earth breaking in. The fierce lion eats the same straw as the ox in this new world, and the wolf and the lamb eat together -- not each other. For all who are weary, we can look away from the news and toward the living God. Politics may not offer true change, but God does.
ILLUSTRATIONS
There's a clear example of bullying behavior -- and the steep price that is often paid by those whose actions are deemed to "cross the line" -- in the headlines this week. It seems that Andrew Shirvell, who served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, was greatly offended by one Chris Armstrong, an openly gay University of Michigan student who was president of the university's Student Assembly. Shirvell attempted to demonize Armstrong through a pattern of harassment that involved using his blog to call Armstrong ?ga radical homosexual, a Nazi, and Satan's representative on the assembly," trying to pressure Armstrong's employer to fire him, and engaging in "borderline stalking behavior."
Shirvell's boss, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, initially resisted calls to discipline Shirvell, maintaining that Shirvell was merely exercising his First Amendment rights to free speech. But after a further investigation revealed the extreme nature of Shirvell's actions, Cox fired Shirvell for "conduct unbecoming of a state employee." In addition, Shirvell faces the prospect of further disciplinary hearings that could potentially lead to his disbarment. It seems a pretty hefty price to pay -- and one has to ask: Was it really worth it just to intimidate a university student who one saw as a political opponent?
*****
Christmas carols do not fit into the liturgical calendar for this time -- but even if you shy away from signing them "out of season," the lyrics can be useful for this week's topic. "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly," "What Child Is This?" and "Away in a Manger" are thought-provoking possibilities, among others.
*****
Christmas shopping, which most of our people are already doing, can be a call to live out the message of imitation vs. intimidation. Are we going to act like Jesus in the mall, or are we going to attack our shopping like a demon? Will we use self-restraint in our spending so that we can also help the poor, or will we build up debt that will bind us for years to come? Will we push and jostle and curse the clerk who is too slow, or will we be a smiling, kind, and helpful presence?
*****
As we try to live like Jesus and not just claim his Name, it might be helpful to remember the words of Mother Teresa:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
*****
Written by Stephen Foster in 1854, the melancholy tune "Hard Times Come Again No More" was famous in its day and popular on both sides during the Civil War. Some excellent performances of it can be found on YouTube for inclusion in the worship service. The lyrics and tune are both in the public domain, and can be copied from the internet free and without penalty.
Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh, hard times come again no more.
Chorus:
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard times, hard times come again no more.
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh, hard times come again no more.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh, hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh, hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
'Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
'Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore,
'Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave,
Oh, hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
*****
Pfc. Desmond Doss served as a medical corpsman in the Pacific theatre of World War II and was awarded three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, and the Medal of Honor. More amazingly, he never carried a gun or fired a shot -- for Desmond Doss, a Seventh Day Adventist, was a pacifist and a conscientious objector. Unwilling to take a life, he nevertheless was willing to serve as a medic. In the battle of Okinawa he was wounded three times while rescuing and treating other wounded servicemen, putting his own life at risk literally scores of times. Doss objected to violence and war and the horrors they perpetrated on human souls, but rather than flee from those horrors, he embraced them as an opportunity to witness to his faith. A complete description of his heroics can be found on Wikipedia, and they have been depicted in documentary film about his life titled The Conscientious Objector
.
*****
On October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts IV took ten Amish schoolgirls hostage at the West Nickel Mines School, a one-room schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. While police tried to negotiate with Roberts for their release, he shot all ten of the girls, killing five, and finally himself. Roberts left several suicide notes and people who knew him later suggested motives for the killings, but none was ever definitively established.
But what stunned America even more than the senseless and brutal killings was the response of the Amish community. Even as they grieved the deaths of their children, they were speaking words of forgiveness and love for the family of the assailant, reaching out to Roberts' widow and daughters to include them and uphold them through the painful days and weeks after the attack.
The witness of love and forgiveness is never more powerful than when it is expressed by those who have every reason to hate and revile.
Writing in the Washington Post, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, co-authors of the book Amish Grace, said this: "The Amish people didn't go there to express rage or sling blame. They visited the Roberts family because of their compassion for his kin -- victims of the tragedy who were also suffering immense emotional pain. One Amish neighbor consoled Charles Roberts' father with a hand on his shoulder and four simple words: 'We love you, Roberts.' A few days later, at Roberts' burial, parents of some of the Amish girls he had killed showed up and hugged his widow. It was, said one Amish man, 'simply the right thing to do.' "
*****
My Church
(original song lyrics by Dean Feldmeyer)
Well, the service of worship's a train wreck
And the choir, they sing out of key.
And the organ will play if you stay far away
From the chords that require "F" and "G."
And the preacher's so frightfully boring
Our attention will often times roam.
But we love one another like sister and brother
At the church that my family calls home.
Yes, we love one another like sister and brother
At the church that my family calls home.
Oh, the roof leaks whenever it's raining
And the nave's rather drafty and cold.
And the janitor's mean and refuses to clean,
But the poor guy is ninety years old.
We have nary a pew with a cushion
And there's plenty of things that we lack,
But we love one another like sister and brother,
And that's why we keep coming back.
The parking lot's paved with some cinders
And it's all covered over with weeds.
We raised all the money to fix it, but funny
How there's always a family with needs,
Like the guy who's laid off from the factory
And the folks with the autistic son;
When you love one another like sister and brother
There's always more work to be done.
I went to the church house last Sunday
And arrived just a few minutes late.
I made for to move to my favorite pew,
But the usher, he told me to wait.
The chapel was all full of strangers,
There wasn't a place to sit down;
When you love one another like sister and brother
I guess that the word gets around.
*****
It is the heart always that sees before the head can see.
-- Thomas Carlyle
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Surely God is our salvation.
People: We will trust and not be afraid.
Leader: God is our strength and our might.
People: God has become our salvation.
Leader: With joy let us draw water from the wells of salvation.
People: Great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel.
OR
Leader: Come, for Jesus calls us.
People: We come because of Christ's gracious invitation.
Leader: Bring others with you to the fount of living waters.
People: We will bring them by hook or by crook.
Leader: Bring them as Jesus brought you.
People: We will love them into the presence of God.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"Hope of the World"
found in:
UMH: 178
H82: 472
PH: 360
NCH: 46
CH: 538
LBW: 493
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
found in:
UMH: 189
H82: 383, 384
PH: 306
NNBH: 75
NCH: 44
CH: 97
Renew: 166
"There's a Spirit in the Air"
found in:
UMH: 192
PH: 433
NCH: 294
CH: 257
Renew: 282
"I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"
found in:
UMH: 206
H82: 490
Renew: 152
"I Surrender All"
found in:
UMH: 354
AAHH: 396
NNBH: 198
"Pues Si Vivimos" ("When We Are Living")
found in:
UMH: 356
PH: 400
NCH: 499
CH: 536
"Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"
found in:
UMH: 381
H82: 708
PH: 387
AAHH: 424
NNBH: 54
NCH: 252
CH: 558
LBW: 481
"Jesus Calls Us"
found in:
UMH: 398
H82: 549, 550
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171, 172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
"I Will Call Upon the Lord" (this fits very well with the Psalm)
found in:
CCB: 9
Renew: 15
"Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life"
found in:
CCB: 26
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who gave us Jesus as the perfect example: Grant us the grace to trust him enough to imitate his lifestyle of love; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We come to worship you, the God who brings us salvation not by forcing us into submission but by wooing us into a relationship. So fill us with your Spirit this day that we may live out of the abundance of your Spirit as our Savior Jesus has done. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the ways in which we forsake our ideals to convert others to them.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have called ourselves by the Name of the Son of God, but we have acted like the sons and daughters of evil. We have been arrogant and proud, and we have tried to bring others to our side more to confirm that we are right than because we believe the Way of Jesus is right. Where Jesus loved and invited, we have tried to conquer and defeat others. Instead of drawing others to the Christ, we have pushed them away because we do not act like him. Forgive us and empower us with your Spirit to live fully into the likeness of the Christ so that we may bear his Name in truth. Amen.
Leader: God is patient and kind and waits for his children to come home. God welcomes you so that you may welcome others.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and adore you, O God, for you are the Mighty One, and yet you are gracious and loving towards us, full of gentle kindness.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have called ourselves by the Name of the Son of God, but we have acted like the sons and daughters of evil. We have been arrogant and proud, and we have tried to bring others to our side more to confirm that we are right than because we believe the Way of Jesus is right. Where Jesus loved and invited, we have tried to conquer and defeat others. Instead of drawing others to the Christ, we have pushed them away because we do not act like him. Forgive us and empower us with your Spirit to live fully into the likeness of the Christ so that we may bear his Name in truth.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you have tenderly called us to yourself. You have drawn us with bands of love, and you have wooed us to your way of life, eternal and abundant. You have always acted for our good and the good of all your creation.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our needs, and especially for our need to be open to your gentle calling. The forces of evil speak so loudly and powerfully that many are trapped in their lies. We know how persuasive those voices can be at times. As you continue to call your children home, empower us with your loving Spirit, that we may also be part of your call and not part of the shouting of evil.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father . . . Amen.
(or if the Lord's Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Visuals
Random quotes from people who turned out to not mean what they were saying. Quotes from those who were obviously lying is best -- but even ones from those who made a turnaround can be illustrative. A good example is Hitler saying "I just want peace." (As my 7th grade history teacher said, "A piece of Poland, a piece of...") There are so many from modern politicians that they defy listing. Unless everyone in your congregation belongs to the same political party, be careful here. Make the list representative of all sides.
Children's Sermon Starter
Set up an easel with paper on it. Explain to the children that you have discovered the best way to color is with light pressure and gentle strokes. Then attack the paper with a crayon or marker and make big, bold marks. Continue to talk about how important it is to use light pressure. The children may comment to you that you are not being gentle; if not, invite their observation on your technique.
Then put up a new sheet of paper and demonstrate the "proper" technique. Ask them if you were more convincing the first time or the second. Share how it is important that we not just talk about Jesus, but that the way we act and talk should reflect his loving nature.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Be an Example
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Object: a loaf of bread
I am going to the store today. When I go to the store I buy all kinds of things I need for my family. I get milk, cereal, fruit, and bread, like this. (hold up the bread)Before I can leave the store with my bread, I have to pay for it, right? I take it to the checkout counter and give the person my money. I get the bread and the store gets the money. That's what you do when you buy something.
Would it be okay just to take it? What if I stuck it in my coat and just walked out with it? That would be wrong. That's stealing, and it's not right. But who cares? What's the big problem with stealing? Why is it important to do the right thing? (get some of their ideas)
Here's one reason: people made that bread. They should be paid for it, because that's how they make their living. Here's another reason. It's against the law to steal. I could get arrested for taking something without paying for it.
Our lesson today is about this very thing. The apostle Paul tells us that he never ate anyone's bread without paying for it. Paul believed that we should live fairly with one another. He didn't want to be a burden by making other people take care of him -- he wanted to do his part to help out. He also wanted to be an example to the people watching him. He taught about God and Jesus. He knew that people would learn the most about God if he lived the way God wanted him to live. What kind of teacher would he be if he did the things that God said were wrong?
It's a wonderful thing to be an example. If you know the right things to do, show people. Don't just say one thing but do another. If you want people to know about God's love, show them. Be an example of the good things God has done. People around us learn more by what we do than by what we say.
Prayer:God, help us be examples to those around us. Let others see in us the life-changing power of your love. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, November 14, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
Intimidation or Imitation
by Ron Love
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
THE WORLD
An issue frequently discussed in the news today is bullying. Most of the stories and commentaries have centered on bullying in school, where 30% of students have experienced this form of abuse. Unlike previous years, bullying now extends beyond the school grounds with "cyber-bullying," which is using Facebook and similar social networking sites to continue the process of degradation. But our focus must move beyond the public schools. Seldom discussed, but of equal trauma, is workplace bullying. It is reported that 16% of workers are bullied by other employees and managers. Other categories that could be reviewed are military bullying, political bullying, and domestic bullying. Bullies most often do achieve their objective of demeaning another individual or getting their own way. This is at the cost of the recipient who suffers from depression, low self-esteem, health problems, and suicidal thoughts. Bullies themselves do not emerge cost-free, as 40% of schoolyard bullies are incarcerated for one crime or another later in life. Bullying is an ineffective and detrimental way of intimidation.
Having emerged from the midterm elections, another form of intimidation has arisen, and that is demonizing our political opponents. Political mudslinging may not be as detrimental as actual bullying, but the intent is often the same. It is to secure one's own way while degrading the ideas and character of an opponent. During the season of campaigning, demonizing a political opponent is more opportunistic than discussing the issues. After the elections, we read of how the victors are going to be engaged in an uncompromising political process of enforcing their agenda. They will do so by disregarding the notion that others have legitimate points of view that must be entertained.
Intimidation is an effective means to the end. Intimidation does assure someone of getting his/her own way. Intimidation does establish supremacy. Though intimidation is effective, does the bully have the respect of the community? The answer, of course, is that they are not respected, but feared.
There is a better way, and it is the Christian way. It is called imitation. Christians seek to persuade individuals because the respect and love displayed towards them creates a desire to follow. It is a conscious process, for it requires the Christian to live the godliest life humanly possible. It is a slower process, for it requires building trust. It is a difficult process, for it requires compromise. It is an open process, for it requires that we must overcome all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Unlike intimidation, the results of imitation are permanent for one has won the hearts and souls of the converts. A convert follows out of devotion, not fear. A convert participates, rather than seeking avenues of escape.
Several decades ago, Relational Evangelism was the centerpiece of the church. The premise was to witness and bring people to Christ by first building a meaningful relationship with them. Once friendship and acceptance have been established, the patron would be receptive to the Christian message that was shared. Relational Evangelism was a counterpoint to the more aggressive forms of evangelism of the day, such as cornering someone with a religious track on the Four Spiritual Laws or The Roman Road. The church was criticized, for many outsiders considered the lapel-grabbing approach of prepared pamphlets as intimidating. The church gained approval when evangelism promoted the building of relationships, which were rested upon the imitation of sincere beliefs and loving behavior.
So the question becomes in our Christian witness: are we going to be intimidators or imitators?
THE WORD
If we study the Bible as a biography of Christians who personally knew Jesus or learned of his ministry within decades of his resurrection, we cannot help but be awe-inspired by their faith and courage. Each individual reported in the gospels and epistles has a unique personality, was placed in a unique situation, and had a unique message to share. Both in word and deed, each stands before us as a testimony to a personal faith in a living God. Dedicated to God, they became a witness and inspiration unto others. As leaders in the church, they became examples for others to follow. This is why the Apostle Paul instructs that we ought to "imitate" their conduct. Paul realized that as a church leader and missionary he was an example to others. This is why he wrote, "For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us." This does mean that we are to lose ourselves in Paul's and the other writer's shadow, but we are to let the light of their Christian living illuminate the way we conduct ourselves as Christians and involve ourselves in the lives of other individuals.
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Dedicated and faithful Christians are not confined between the covers of the Bible; but they are present today sitting beside you in the pew. Thus, we are inspired by both those who have gone onto the Church Triumphant and those who still reside in the Church Militant. This, then, sets the precedent that we are to be examples onto others.
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Dedicated and faithful Christians are not confined between the covers of the Bible; they are also present today sitting beside you in the pew. Thus, we are inspired by both those who have gone onto the Church Triumphant and those who still reside in the Church Militant. We are to imitate the behavior and actions of the good and faithful Christians who surround us on a daily basis. This, then, sets the precedent that we must also be examples to others.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
You may want to follow or adapt the following sermon outline:
I. Discuss the social problems associated with intimidation, often displayed as bullying and uncompromising politics. Dialogue about how we demean and demonize other individuals, either because we do not like them or they hold beliefs contrary to our own. Share the detrimental social ramifications caused by this abusive behavior. Share how we can be a part of this process, often unknowingly.
II. Discuss how intimidation is not the Christian way, but imitation is. Dialogue on how Paul based his ministry on the importance of imitating faithful and authentic Christian living that was displayed by other believers. Support the writings of Paul with other biblical examples.
III. Caution the congregation on how the church can become an intimidating institution if we become too exuberant, uncompromising, or refuse to tolerate opposing points of view. Point out how it is not possible for all Christians to hold the same ethical and moral and political positions. Emphasize that though we may disagree on certain social issues, the foundation of our fellowship is centered on the love we have for Jesus and our desire to serve.
ANOTHER VIEW
by Mary Austin
Isaiah 65:17-25
"I am not a witch." "Man up." "Taliban Dan." Calling the Speaker of the House "Nazi Pelosi" and the candidate for governor in California "a whore."
The language of this recent election season was sharply personal, with candidates attacking one another and defending themselves in language that would get school-age children sent to the principal's office. Candidates took heat for how they looked, for unsubstantiated affiliations, or for long-past activities and statements. The campaign ads of the season reflected the anger that shaped the election itself, spilling over from the issues into harsh personal attacks.
Paid ads on television, radio, and in social media reflected the same level of nastiness. "The 2010 election ads have not been pretty," noted columnist Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto on The Huffington Post, adding that "the prolific use of negative ads is the one thing that both sides of the aisle have been able to agree on this year."
In addition to the personal attacks, voters also heard attacks on the status quo in Washington or in their state, generally minus specifics about how change would be accomplished. Politicians of all parties used negative ads this campaign season, and some commentators believe that the ads were more negative in tone than in previous years. It's hard to tell exactly what the effect was because so many voters just stopped listening altogether in the final weeks of the campaign.
However, as Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto continues: "Negative ads are a constant in politics because they work. Negative ads elicit strong emotional responses of anger, fear, and anxiety."
For all who are weary of this election's attacks, the venom, the disgust and disdain, and the cynical politics behind them, Isaiah offers a counterpoint.
The language of politics may be most effective when it's negative, but the language of faith has its own qualities. In contrast to the negative, apocalyptic language of the election, Isaiah offers the opposite -- a vision of the positive, come fully and abundantly to life. Speaking with holy vision, Isaiah promises "a new heaven and a new earth," so different from the past that the former things won't even be remembered. This new creation is a place of joy, with the fullness of God's shalom for all people. Unlike the world of politics, where politicians are promising the changes they can make, this prophetic word reveals that God is the creator of true change.
This is also revealed to be a world within our world, not just in the life to come. If we are weary of politics, we can join with God in bringing about this whole new creation. As Mary Eleanor Johns notes in Feasting on the Word, out of our relationship with God "we are able to actively engage in God's reordering of creation. We step out with hope in the God who creates, reconciles, and sustains us." As we follow the example of Jesus, she comments, we share with the Creator God in the creation of this new heaven and new earth in our midst.
There is still pain, sorrow, and suffering in the world as we know it, but also the certainty of God's new heaven and new earth breaking in. The fierce lion eats the same straw as the ox in this new world, and the wolf and the lamb eat together -- not each other. For all who are weary, we can look away from the news and toward the living God. Politics may not offer true change, but God does.
ILLUSTRATIONS
There's a clear example of bullying behavior -- and the steep price that is often paid by those whose actions are deemed to "cross the line" -- in the headlines this week. It seems that Andrew Shirvell, who served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, was greatly offended by one Chris Armstrong, an openly gay University of Michigan student who was president of the university's Student Assembly. Shirvell attempted to demonize Armstrong through a pattern of harassment that involved using his blog to call Armstrong ?ga radical homosexual, a Nazi, and Satan's representative on the assembly," trying to pressure Armstrong's employer to fire him, and engaging in "borderline stalking behavior."
Shirvell's boss, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, initially resisted calls to discipline Shirvell, maintaining that Shirvell was merely exercising his First Amendment rights to free speech. But after a further investigation revealed the extreme nature of Shirvell's actions, Cox fired Shirvell for "conduct unbecoming of a state employee." In addition, Shirvell faces the prospect of further disciplinary hearings that could potentially lead to his disbarment. It seems a pretty hefty price to pay -- and one has to ask: Was it really worth it just to intimidate a university student who one saw as a political opponent?
*****
Christmas carols do not fit into the liturgical calendar for this time -- but even if you shy away from signing them "out of season," the lyrics can be useful for this week's topic. "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly," "What Child Is This?" and "Away in a Manger" are thought-provoking possibilities, among others.
*****
Christmas shopping, which most of our people are already doing, can be a call to live out the message of imitation vs. intimidation. Are we going to act like Jesus in the mall, or are we going to attack our shopping like a demon? Will we use self-restraint in our spending so that we can also help the poor, or will we build up debt that will bind us for years to come? Will we push and jostle and curse the clerk who is too slow, or will we be a smiling, kind, and helpful presence?
*****
As we try to live like Jesus and not just claim his Name, it might be helpful to remember the words of Mother Teresa:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
*****
Written by Stephen Foster in 1854, the melancholy tune "Hard Times Come Again No More" was famous in its day and popular on both sides during the Civil War. Some excellent performances of it can be found on YouTube for inclusion in the worship service. The lyrics and tune are both in the public domain, and can be copied from the internet free and without penalty.
Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh, hard times come again no more.
Chorus:
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard times, hard times come again no more.
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh, hard times come again no more.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh, hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh, hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
'Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
'Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore,
'Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave,
Oh, hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
*****
Pfc. Desmond Doss served as a medical corpsman in the Pacific theatre of World War II and was awarded three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, and the Medal of Honor. More amazingly, he never carried a gun or fired a shot -- for Desmond Doss, a Seventh Day Adventist, was a pacifist and a conscientious objector. Unwilling to take a life, he nevertheless was willing to serve as a medic. In the battle of Okinawa he was wounded three times while rescuing and treating other wounded servicemen, putting his own life at risk literally scores of times. Doss objected to violence and war and the horrors they perpetrated on human souls, but rather than flee from those horrors, he embraced them as an opportunity to witness to his faith. A complete description of his heroics can be found on Wikipedia, and they have been depicted in documentary film about his life titled The Conscientious Objector
.
*****
On October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts IV took ten Amish schoolgirls hostage at the West Nickel Mines School, a one-room schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. While police tried to negotiate with Roberts for their release, he shot all ten of the girls, killing five, and finally himself. Roberts left several suicide notes and people who knew him later suggested motives for the killings, but none was ever definitively established.
But what stunned America even more than the senseless and brutal killings was the response of the Amish community. Even as they grieved the deaths of their children, they were speaking words of forgiveness and love for the family of the assailant, reaching out to Roberts' widow and daughters to include them and uphold them through the painful days and weeks after the attack.
The witness of love and forgiveness is never more powerful than when it is expressed by those who have every reason to hate and revile.
Writing in the Washington Post, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, co-authors of the book Amish Grace, said this: "The Amish people didn't go there to express rage or sling blame. They visited the Roberts family because of their compassion for his kin -- victims of the tragedy who were also suffering immense emotional pain. One Amish neighbor consoled Charles Roberts' father with a hand on his shoulder and four simple words: 'We love you, Roberts.' A few days later, at Roberts' burial, parents of some of the Amish girls he had killed showed up and hugged his widow. It was, said one Amish man, 'simply the right thing to do.' "
*****
My Church
(original song lyrics by Dean Feldmeyer)
Well, the service of worship's a train wreck
And the choir, they sing out of key.
And the organ will play if you stay far away
From the chords that require "F" and "G."
And the preacher's so frightfully boring
Our attention will often times roam.
But we love one another like sister and brother
At the church that my family calls home.
Yes, we love one another like sister and brother
At the church that my family calls home.
Oh, the roof leaks whenever it's raining
And the nave's rather drafty and cold.
And the janitor's mean and refuses to clean,
But the poor guy is ninety years old.
We have nary a pew with a cushion
And there's plenty of things that we lack,
But we love one another like sister and brother,
And that's why we keep coming back.
The parking lot's paved with some cinders
And it's all covered over with weeds.
We raised all the money to fix it, but funny
How there's always a family with needs,
Like the guy who's laid off from the factory
And the folks with the autistic son;
When you love one another like sister and brother
There's always more work to be done.
I went to the church house last Sunday
And arrived just a few minutes late.
I made for to move to my favorite pew,
But the usher, he told me to wait.
The chapel was all full of strangers,
There wasn't a place to sit down;
When you love one another like sister and brother
I guess that the word gets around.
*****
It is the heart always that sees before the head can see.
-- Thomas Carlyle
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Surely God is our salvation.
People: We will trust and not be afraid.
Leader: God is our strength and our might.
People: God has become our salvation.
Leader: With joy let us draw water from the wells of salvation.
People: Great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel.
OR
Leader: Come, for Jesus calls us.
People: We come because of Christ's gracious invitation.
Leader: Bring others with you to the fount of living waters.
People: We will bring them by hook or by crook.
Leader: Bring them as Jesus brought you.
People: We will love them into the presence of God.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"Hope of the World"
found in:
UMH: 178
H82: 472
PH: 360
NCH: 46
CH: 538
LBW: 493
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
found in:
UMH: 189
H82: 383, 384
PH: 306
NNBH: 75
NCH: 44
CH: 97
Renew: 166
"There's a Spirit in the Air"
found in:
UMH: 192
PH: 433
NCH: 294
CH: 257
Renew: 282
"I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"
found in:
UMH: 206
H82: 490
Renew: 152
"I Surrender All"
found in:
UMH: 354
AAHH: 396
NNBH: 198
"Pues Si Vivimos" ("When We Are Living")
found in:
UMH: 356
PH: 400
NCH: 499
CH: 536
"Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"
found in:
UMH: 381
H82: 708
PH: 387
AAHH: 424
NNBH: 54
NCH: 252
CH: 558
LBW: 481
"Jesus Calls Us"
found in:
UMH: 398
H82: 549, 550
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171, 172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
"I Will Call Upon the Lord" (this fits very well with the Psalm)
found in:
CCB: 9
Renew: 15
"Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life"
found in:
CCB: 26
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who gave us Jesus as the perfect example: Grant us the grace to trust him enough to imitate his lifestyle of love; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We come to worship you, the God who brings us salvation not by forcing us into submission but by wooing us into a relationship. So fill us with your Spirit this day that we may live out of the abundance of your Spirit as our Savior Jesus has done. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the ways in which we forsake our ideals to convert others to them.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have called ourselves by the Name of the Son of God, but we have acted like the sons and daughters of evil. We have been arrogant and proud, and we have tried to bring others to our side more to confirm that we are right than because we believe the Way of Jesus is right. Where Jesus loved and invited, we have tried to conquer and defeat others. Instead of drawing others to the Christ, we have pushed them away because we do not act like him. Forgive us and empower us with your Spirit to live fully into the likeness of the Christ so that we may bear his Name in truth. Amen.
Leader: God is patient and kind and waits for his children to come home. God welcomes you so that you may welcome others.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and adore you, O God, for you are the Mighty One, and yet you are gracious and loving towards us, full of gentle kindness.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have called ourselves by the Name of the Son of God, but we have acted like the sons and daughters of evil. We have been arrogant and proud, and we have tried to bring others to our side more to confirm that we are right than because we believe the Way of Jesus is right. Where Jesus loved and invited, we have tried to conquer and defeat others. Instead of drawing others to the Christ, we have pushed them away because we do not act like him. Forgive us and empower us with your Spirit to live fully into the likeness of the Christ so that we may bear his Name in truth.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you have tenderly called us to yourself. You have drawn us with bands of love, and you have wooed us to your way of life, eternal and abundant. You have always acted for our good and the good of all your creation.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our needs, and especially for our need to be open to your gentle calling. The forces of evil speak so loudly and powerfully that many are trapped in their lies. We know how persuasive those voices can be at times. As you continue to call your children home, empower us with your loving Spirit, that we may also be part of your call and not part of the shouting of evil.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father . . . Amen.
(or if the Lord's Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Visuals
Random quotes from people who turned out to not mean what they were saying. Quotes from those who were obviously lying is best -- but even ones from those who made a turnaround can be illustrative. A good example is Hitler saying "I just want peace." (As my 7th grade history teacher said, "A piece of Poland, a piece of...") There are so many from modern politicians that they defy listing. Unless everyone in your congregation belongs to the same political party, be careful here. Make the list representative of all sides.
Children's Sermon Starter
Set up an easel with paper on it. Explain to the children that you have discovered the best way to color is with light pressure and gentle strokes. Then attack the paper with a crayon or marker and make big, bold marks. Continue to talk about how important it is to use light pressure. The children may comment to you that you are not being gentle; if not, invite their observation on your technique.
Then put up a new sheet of paper and demonstrate the "proper" technique. Ask them if you were more convincing the first time or the second. Share how it is important that we not just talk about Jesus, but that the way we act and talk should reflect his loving nature.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Be an Example
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Object: a loaf of bread
I am going to the store today. When I go to the store I buy all kinds of things I need for my family. I get milk, cereal, fruit, and bread, like this. (hold up the bread)Before I can leave the store with my bread, I have to pay for it, right? I take it to the checkout counter and give the person my money. I get the bread and the store gets the money. That's what you do when you buy something.
Would it be okay just to take it? What if I stuck it in my coat and just walked out with it? That would be wrong. That's stealing, and it's not right. But who cares? What's the big problem with stealing? Why is it important to do the right thing? (get some of their ideas)
Here's one reason: people made that bread. They should be paid for it, because that's how they make their living. Here's another reason. It's against the law to steal. I could get arrested for taking something without paying for it.
Our lesson today is about this very thing. The apostle Paul tells us that he never ate anyone's bread without paying for it. Paul believed that we should live fairly with one another. He didn't want to be a burden by making other people take care of him -- he wanted to do his part to help out. He also wanted to be an example to the people watching him. He taught about God and Jesus. He knew that people would learn the most about God if he lived the way God wanted him to live. What kind of teacher would he be if he did the things that God said were wrong?
It's a wonderful thing to be an example. If you know the right things to do, show people. Don't just say one thing but do another. If you want people to know about God's love, show them. Be an example of the good things God has done. People around us learn more by what we do than by what we say.
Prayer:God, help us be examples to those around us. Let others see in us the life-changing power of your love. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, November 14, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
