Power Grab
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
Judging by events in Washington, the French proverb seems more true than ever: "The more things change, the more they stay the same." After the debt-ceiling standoff earlier this summer was (temporarily) resolved with the creation of a so-called "supercommittee," it seemed that passions had subsided and there was a new commitment by congressional Republicans and the White House to finding common ground -- symbolized by a letter Speaker John Boehner sent to President Obama asking that the two sides "ease their bickering and look for areas to agree on." But barely a week after that overture, the Washington Post reports that after the supercommittee's first meeting all the good feelings have disappeared and each side has begun to "drift back to its postures of the past eight months, in which compromise was the other guy's job."
There are many reasons for this state of affairs -- not only do the two sides have fundamental policy differences, but each has deep-seated questions about the legitimacy of their opposition, making any sort of compromise viewed by their partisans as giving in to the enemy rather than principled statesmanship. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Mary Austin points out that such an atmosphere of fundamental mistrust, fueled by questions about authority, is exactly the same paradigm we see at work in the lectionary's appointed gospel text from Matthew. The chief priests and elders confront Jesus as he is teaching, questioning him about where he received his authority. Rather than directly answering, Jesus tries to trap them and lay bare their ulterior motives with a question about baptism. The religious officials caucus with one another, and as cagey veterans of political combat, they immediately recognize the potential pitfalls of answering Jesus -- so the situation becomes an unresolved standoff while Jesus tells a parable that openly castigates them. Like politicians, who receive their ultimate authority from the voters and whose behavior is therefore often motivated by how it will be perceived, the chief priests are wary of being exposed in front of their constituency -- as Matthew drily notes, they admit that "we are afraid of the crowd" (Matthew 21:26). Of course, Jesus has no such concerns -- but he wisely avoids an open confrontation and in the absence of a direct answer from the authorities refuses to answer their question himself.
Mary notes that authority is often questioned in our world today, as the influence of many traditional institutions wanes and the authority they once commanded is often questioned. But as Mary reminds us, it is particularly important for pastors to contemplate that we can easily become just like the religious leaders that Jesus confronts. It behooves us to remember from whom Jesus (and every pastor) draws his authority, and to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are using that authority to further God's kingdom -- or if we are merely engaging in the same sort of maneuvering that we find so frustrating in our political leaders.
Team member Ron Love offers some additional thoughts on another trait that is exhibited by our political leaders today and by the religious authorities Jesus tangles with -- craven selfishness. Paul explicitly shines a spotlight on our selfish motives in this week's epistle passage, as he counsels the Philippians to "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit... let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others." While we see all too many examples of human selfishness in the headlines, Ron points out that the destructiveness of selfish attitudes is something we all struggle with... and even see played out in our congregations.
Power Grab
by Mary Austin
Matthew 21:23-32
"Who's got the power?" the old song asks, and we might ask the same as we look both at our world and at Jesus.
The question of authority, or the power of power, is at the heart of the story from Matthew's gospel this week. The religious leaders question the authority of Jesus, paradoxically, even as they fear him. We have a similar combination of respect and distaste for authority in our own world, especially when we see authority misused, underused, or wasted.
THE WORLD
A look at Washington shows both the paradox of endless jockeying for authority and the inability to use it. Each election cycle raises the question of whether Congress or the president has achieved "a mandate" to do something. In the language of politics, this is the question of whether one party or the other can do something without interference from the other. In between elections, actually crafting solutions and passing legislation is increasingly fraught with political standoff.
Recently, Republicans seem more determined to use their authority to stymie the president than to achieve other goals. Unable to agree on either spending cuts or "revenue enhancers" in the recent budget debate, Congress recently yielded its authority over the federal budget to the "Super Committee" charged with finding ways to reduce the deficit. The Committee, officially named the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, has twelve members, equally divided between House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, and the unenviable task of finding $1.5 trillion in savings or added revenue by December. The Committee's website invites your comments, if you have ideas to share.
As lawmakers went home during the summer recess, some members of Congress were greeted by unhappy constituents, angry that Congress isn't using its authority to create jobs, balance the budget, or fix the economy. "Just 12% of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job, matching a low recorded in October 2008 at the height of the economic crisis," the latest New York Times/CBS News poll reports. In politics, the ultimate authority comes from the voters, and the 2012 elections are looming large in everyone's minds.
THE WORD
In contrast, Jesus is claiming authority that the religious leaders don't believe he really has.
We find Jesus here in the last week of his life. He has come into Jerusalem to the approving shouts of the crowd, and (in Matthew's chronology) cleaned out the temple. He returns to the temple the following day, when he has this conversation with the religious officials. Significantly, he's talking to them in the place most familiar and most sacred to them and challenging their authority on their own territory. We can well understand why they're wondering: "By what authority are you doing these things?" By what authority are you disrupting not just our customs but intruding on the very heart of our worship life? As Kathryn D. Blanchard writes, "Their own authority in Israel, after all, had been given to them by God in the time of Moses and passed down for generations; thus, for Jesus to say 'By God's authority,' would be to offer an answer easily refuted on biblical and traditional terms" (Feasting on the Word, Year A, Volume 4, p. 116).
Jesus answers their questions with another question, suggesting that the source of his own authority is the same as John's. The religious leaders are caught between two unpalatable answers to his question, stuck between what they believe and their fear of the crowd watching. Whatever they answer about John, they know, will also apply to Jesus himself. In refusing to answer, the religious authorities are forfeiting their own authority to lead the people. Whether they acknowledge it or not, Jesus already has the authority given to him by God -- and acclaimed by the people.
Continuing on with his parable, Jesus is contrasting the lives of the religious leaders and those on the margins of society. The first group of people say they're following God but aren't. The others don't look like they're anything close to what God would want and yet in their faith and humility have drawn close to the realm of God.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
Authority is given by a higher power, but it has to be accepted to be effective. Congress and the president continue to find themselves in gridlock because neither wants to accept the other as a final authority. Changes in education are emerging as people no longer accept the public school system as the sole authority over children's education. Online education, home schooling, and charter schools are all developing as alternatives. The authority of critics to shape what we read, see at the movie theater, or where we eat has been usurped by the opinions of ordinary people, readily available online. The church is no longer the authority over people's lives and behavior. We who are part of the religious establishment of our time run the risk of being like the chief priests and elders of Jesus' day. If we love our institutions, our buildings, our titles, and our traditions more than we love having the opportunity to help people encounter God, then we have fallen into the same trap Jesus is condemning.
How are we to use the authority we have as people of faith, authority that comes from Jesus and his claim on our lives?
Jesus is clear that the religious leaders have misused their authority, and his indictment of them calls us to examine how we use our authority. As people of faith, we are, in our time, the very same insiders that the religious leaders were in Jesus' time. Does the way we use our authority, in all the places where we have it, stand up to his scrutiny? As people of privilege, as pastors and church workers, parents, employees, neighbors, are we using the power we have in the service of God's grace? As people of faith, do we respond faithfully to the authority of Jesus over our lives, and do we use our own power to serve as we should?
Jesus is speaking to us too and his long-ago words demand a fresh look at his authority and our own.
ANOTHER VIEW
Single-Minded Selfishness
by Ron Love
Philippians 2:1-13
Day after endless day we read and hear about the dire straits of the economy. The redundancy of the story is exhausting; the repetition of the news item dulls us from listening. Yet reiterating the story does not discount that the news is still fresh and new for those who are unemployed, for those who seek but cannot find work, for those who have become underemployed, for those who have lost health benefits, for those who are being foreclosed upon, for those who are unable to secure a mortgage, for those who have witnessed the dwindling of their 401(k)s, for those who are uncertain about making capital improvements in their businesses, or for those business owners who are cautious about hiring new employees. As the country has fallen into the greatest recession since the Great Depression, the daily news is not an academic exercise -- it is the story of millions of suffering individuals and countless businesses that know only red ink.
It seems all of the politicians have a plan but none of them have a solution. The Tea Party has drawn an uncompromising line in the sand that encompasses a radical redistribution of federal spending. No solution there. The Republicans refuse to raise taxes to generate new revenue. No solution there. The Democrats refuse to infringe upon entitlements. No solution there. Instead of being motivated by the best interests of the populace, they selfishly adhere to a single-minded political stance.
The recent political debates among Republican candidates began as a unified attack of the sitting president. However, that quickly gave way to policy and character attacks on fellow opponents running for a seat in the Oval Office. They vow that they are commonly linked to defeat Obama, while hurling insults at one another. They claim to be on the same team, as attack ads flourish. If they were truly working as a team, the debates would be a dialogue. But as the candidates selfishly seek a seat aboard Air Force One, the debates have become verbally abusive.
We desire an end to the war in Iraq. But how can this be accomplished when Iraqi nationalism succumbs to selfish religious infighting among the Sunnis and Shiites? We desire our longest war in Afghanistan to end, but how can this be accomplished when the Karzai administration is selfishly engulfed in graft and corruption? We desire military assistance from Pakistan, but how can this be when the tribal warlords selfishly protect their own turf? We long for human rights in Iran, but how can this be accomplished when Ahmadinejad selfishly exploits everything for international political espionage? We wonder when the North Korean people will be free of tyranny, but how can this be accomplished as long as the selfishness and nepotism of the current dictatorial regime abides? Thousands are starving to death in the Sudan and surrounding regions, but how can this be avoided when paramilitary groups selfishly prevent the distribution of food as a cynical substitute for power?
Selfishness doesn't abide only on stories worthy of television coverage. There is the school member who selfishly runs on a single-item agenda. There is the councilman who selfishly desires to only represent a narrow base of constituents of a similar socioeconomic status. There is the parishioner who selfishly withholds money from the church in anger. There is the mission committee that selfishly programs aid for people "in our own backyard," ignoring those in need across the oceans. There is the parent who selfishly desires to live his life through his son. There is the workaholic spouse who selfishly derives more satisfaction from long hours at the office than from meaningful time at home.
Is this list complete? Sadly, it is only a start.
Paul wrote in Philippians, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" (2:3-5).
Paul realized the human failing of selfishness and the destructiveness of that attitude. He saw it among the Romans. He saw it among the Jews. He saw it among the converted Gentiles. He saw it in the church he so much loved, and he pleaded for it to end. And it would, if we were of the mind of Christ.
There are some individuals whom we have no control over. There are other individuals over whom we do have some influence. And there is one's self -- and you and I can control our attitude. Let us, then, witness against selfishness and abolish that injurious behavior from our own lives.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
I. Discuss selfish behavior and the examples of it we see in the daily news. Discuss how this is detrimental to everyone.
II. Continue the same dialogue on selfishness and apply it locally.
III. Share the teaching of Paul, about how self-centered behavior must be subjugated to having the mind of Christ.
ILLUSTRATIONS
More than we realize, our lives are surrounded by symbols of authority. Officers of the law wear their badges as a sign that the officer has the right to question or even arrest those he catches in some misdemeanor. The young physician or dentist, beginning in practice, proudly displays diplomas from medical school and the certification of one's right to practice granted by the state board. Lawyers, too, display their law school diplomas and their state bar certificates. Even ministers proudly display diplomas from college and seminary and their certificates of ordination. The list is endless, including real estate dealers and auto mechanics who have taken special courses to hone the skills of their trade. After all, people want assurance that those they rely upon for services are both prepared and have the proper authority to fill the position they hold.
So it was natural for some people to question the authority of Jesus, especially those who opposed him. Just what was the authority of this one who claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God? It sprang from numerous factors. He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning his birth and ministry. God's approving voice was heard at his baptism. His transfiguration before witnesses was additional proof of his destiny. His teachings were profound, filled with spiritual and eternal truths. His many miracles were absolutely awe-inspiring, especially when he stilled the tempest and raised people from the dead. His own resurrection from the dead was the climactic proof that when he spoke it was with the authority of Almighty God.
* * *
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. A long wide board that folded down from the wall was commonly used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair, while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man." Today in business we use the expression or title "chairman" or "chairman of the board."
Observing Jesus' teachings and healings, the Jewish authorities asked, if not demanded, to know "By what authority are you doing these things?" In turning the question back on the high priests and then sharing a parable, Jesus clearly established that his authority came from God. Jesus clearly was the "chairman of the board" when it came to interpreting the law and the prophets.
* * *
When Jesus refuses to give the chief priests and scribes a direct answer about his authority, he replies by way of telling a parable -- and it would have been abundantly clear to anyone there who the two children he describes represent.
The first child (the one who says, "No, I won't do it," but then does it anyway) refers to the tax collectors and prostitutes -- i.e., the unruly, unconventional followers of Jesus; people who've led pretty wild lives but who have recently come to God.
The second child (the one who smiles and says, "But of course, Father" but never leaves the couch) is symbolic of the super-religious authorities who spend all their time going to the temple but who never lift a finger to help the poor.
What Jesus is zeroing in on is the distinction between words and deeds. Child number one said the wrong words but did the right deed; child number two said the right words but did no deed at all. Neither one is completely right -- it would have been better to show faithfulness in both word and deed -- but of the two, Jesus clearly prefers the one who did the right thing.
This story provides us with a mirror in which we might glimpse ourselves. We share a lot of words when we gather in church on Sunday -- but what is it we do? What is it about our lives when we leave church that's different than if we had never come at all? What is it that makes us different from our neighbors who are not practicing Christians? If the authorities were to arrest us and charge us with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?
* * *
When students study physics in school, they learn how energy is converted from one form to another. A hydroelectric dam, for example, contains a type of machine called a "turbine" with an inner core that spins round and round in response to the rushing water, converting mechanical energy to electricity.
A Christian worship service is meant to be a sort of turbine. The words, spoken and sung, are meant to be transformed -- by the intervention of the Holy Spirit -- into deeds. Hearers are meant to become doers. The faith affirmed is meant to be lived out in the world.
* * *
Scott Pelley of CBS News recently interviewed Douglas R. Oberhelman, the CEO of Caterpillar, and asked him what's missing from Washington as we look to restore the economy. Oberhelman's first response was one word: "Honesty." He thinks that Congress needs to be honest with the American people about the seriousness of our nation's financial situation.
Honesty requires openness, and openness precludes selfishness. If our nation's politicians are going to be honest with their constituents, then they must surrender their single-minded selfish political positions for a common and inclusive approach.
* * *
Up north in the Great Lakes, large numbers of lake trout once swam in the deep, cold water. When conditions were right, those fishing on the lake could count on reeling in a 15- or 20-lb. beauty. It was not unknown for fishermen to even catch a lake trout weighing as much as 100 lbs.!
But by the late 1950s, the lake trout in the Great Lakes had just about been wiped out. Those 20-lb. beauties were no longer found in the numbers they once had been.
What was killing the lake trout? Pollution was not the main killer. Neither was overfishing. Neither was poaching.
The main culprit was the lamprey -- a long, cigar-shaped, slimy fish that looks like an eel. The lamprey has a mouth like a suction cup with sharp, thorny teeth inside. Like a leech, the lamprey attaches itself to a fish and does not let go. It sucks on the blood of the fish until the fish dies. The lamprey had taken over the Great Lakes and it had almost destroyed the lake trout.
Are you a lamprey? Do you have a selfish attitude? A person with a selfish attitude is like a lamprey. He or she takes but does not give. He or she eats but does not feed others. He or she destroys but does not repair. If you have a selfish attitude, you are as destructive as a lamprey.
Saint Paul writes, "Christ Jesus took the form of a servant" (2:7). He was not a lamprey.
* * *
The entire congregation of the church I attend is reading and studying Bishop Robert Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Living. In the invitational letter sent by the pastor, he noted that "this study gives us a common language about the core practices that can lead us to fruitful living and help us fulfill our church's mission."
In the unity of a single study, the congregation will acquire a "common language" in order to discuss spiritual growth and the mission of the church. This is certainly reflective of the attitude of Paul when he wrote, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus."
* * *
Having been delivered from the oppression of Pharaoh, the Israelites found themselves wandering in the desert. A new oppression had now overtaken them -- one of food and water. We often chastise the Israelites for not continually rejoicing in their freedom from the Egyptians, but if you are cold and hungry and thirsty it is easy to refocus your attention on your present lot in life.
Moses understood this. Though he was discouraged at the bickering and complaining, most of which was directed at him, he never lost sight of the physical needs of his people. Dialoguing with God on behalf of the Israelites, they received quail in the evening and manna in the morning. For water, there was that wonderful tapping of the rock with his staff. Moses both wanted to lead and comfort his people.
This attribute of desiring both to lead and comfort the people of a nation was displayed by President Obama in the speech he offered on September 11th at "A Concert for Hope," held at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The president began his address with a quote from Psalm 30: "The Bible tells us, 'weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' " Obama then went on to say, "Ten years ago, America confronted one of our darkest nights." Having delivered the text of his speech, the president concluded with these words, " 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' With a just God as our guide, let us honor those who have been lost, let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals that define our nation, and let us look to the future with hearts full of hope."
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by Mary Austin
Call to Worship
Leader: Listen, people of God, listen for God in this place.
People: We wait, listening for God.
Leader: Hear, people of God, hear of God's glory and grace.
People: We hear, and remember God's mercy.
Leader: Let the Spirit of Christ be alive in you, let the mind of Christ guide your way.
People: We remember and follow the way of our Lord.
Leader: Let us worship God together.
OR
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 78)
Leader: Hear, O people of God, listen for God speaking.
People: We will tell the stories of faith and remember all we've learned.
Leader: Do not keep God's grace to yourselves or hide the good news from your children.
People: We are God's witnesses, ready to tell of God's power and glory.
Leader: Let us worship God together, now and always.
Prayer of Confession
O God, your gifts surround us.
You bring us to water in the desert,
and to a feast when we're hungry;
you bring peace out of confusion,
and create harmony from discord.
But we doubt your goodness,
always looking for more,
or better,
or newer.
We hear your story,
and forget that it means us too,
and look for something fancier,
or shinier,
or easier.
Forgive us, God,
for our small faith
and great fear.
Forgive us, God,
and teach us again to live with the mind of Christ,
as we pray in his name. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Prayer for the Day
O God, our guide by day and our resting place at night, we come trusting you as the source of all that we need. You watch over us, guarding us from harm, teaching us all that we need, and providing beyond what we deserve. Draw us into your presence again, we pray, that our worship would be filled with praise and our lives filled with reverence. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
O God, source of all wisdom, we thank you for your word come to life in Jesus, and for your word shared aloud with us, and with generations of people of faith. Open our hearts and spirits, our minds and our lives, to your guiding wisdom today and always. Amen.
Hymn Suggestions
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"
"He Leadeth Me"
"If You Will Only Let God Guide You"
"Jesus Shall Reign"
"Lead Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"
"O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Rock of Ages"
"Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"
"Take My Life"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
Suggestions for Starting the Children's Sermon
The Exodus story is about water and the need for water. Start with a bottle of water, and talk about how most of us have clean water at home any time we want it. Some people in the world are in the exact same position as the people of Israel -- they don't have any water nearby. Show pictures of people carrying water. Explain that people have to walk long distances to get water, and that we can help by helping charities that dig wells and bring water to villages, and by not wasting water since it's a precious resource. (Of course, be prepared for the inevitable question of why God doesn't just give them water, like God did for the people of Israel.)
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Authority for Christians
Matthew 21:23-32
Object: a law book (you should be able to obtain one from an attorney or a judge)
Good morning, boys and girls! Today, I brought with me a big book. Does anyone know what is in it? (let the children answer) It is a book of laws. It is the kind of a book that a judge or a lawyer would use. It tells what is right and what is wrong and what could happen to you if you did something wrong. This book is a book of authority.
There are different kinds of authority. At home your parents are the authority. They tell you what is right and what is wrong in your home. However, in school, your principal and your teacher are the authorities -- not your parents, not your doctor, but the principal and the teacher. In our choir, the director is the authority -- not the ushers nor the singers, but the director. And when it comes to the law, this book and the judge are the authorities. They tell us how to run our city, how we can drive automobiles, how loud we can play music on the streets, and what is right and fair when people cannot agree.
People were amazed at the way Jesus taught and the things he said. So the people wanted to know where Jesus got his authority. He told people to love one another, even their enemies. He healed people and did other things that no one else could do. Some important people were afraid that if people believed Jesus, they would not believe the important people anymore. So they asked, "Where do you get your authority?" Did the king give Jesus authority? Did the Emperor Caesar give Jesus authority? The important people wanted to know.
Jesus knew they did not believe him because they wanted to be the authority. So Jesus began to teach them about the power of God and how God sent him into the world to make changes and to teach about faith in God. There was no king or emperor or high priest who gave Jesus authority. Jesus did not get his authority from his parents or his schoolteacher or principal. And it was not a doctor or a judge or a book. Jesus said his authority was from God and only God.
Today, as Christians, we believe Jesus and call him our authority because by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead, he showed he is God's Son.
Before you leave, let me tell you something. Jesus shares his love and his authority with our parents, our schoolteachers, our policemen and judges, and teaches us to respect them when they teach us with love and respect.
Prayer: O God, help us to let the example and teachings of Jesus be the authority of our lives. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, September 25, 2011, issue.
Copyright 2011 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service 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.
There are many reasons for this state of affairs -- not only do the two sides have fundamental policy differences, but each has deep-seated questions about the legitimacy of their opposition, making any sort of compromise viewed by their partisans as giving in to the enemy rather than principled statesmanship. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Mary Austin points out that such an atmosphere of fundamental mistrust, fueled by questions about authority, is exactly the same paradigm we see at work in the lectionary's appointed gospel text from Matthew. The chief priests and elders confront Jesus as he is teaching, questioning him about where he received his authority. Rather than directly answering, Jesus tries to trap them and lay bare their ulterior motives with a question about baptism. The religious officials caucus with one another, and as cagey veterans of political combat, they immediately recognize the potential pitfalls of answering Jesus -- so the situation becomes an unresolved standoff while Jesus tells a parable that openly castigates them. Like politicians, who receive their ultimate authority from the voters and whose behavior is therefore often motivated by how it will be perceived, the chief priests are wary of being exposed in front of their constituency -- as Matthew drily notes, they admit that "we are afraid of the crowd" (Matthew 21:26). Of course, Jesus has no such concerns -- but he wisely avoids an open confrontation and in the absence of a direct answer from the authorities refuses to answer their question himself.
Mary notes that authority is often questioned in our world today, as the influence of many traditional institutions wanes and the authority they once commanded is often questioned. But as Mary reminds us, it is particularly important for pastors to contemplate that we can easily become just like the religious leaders that Jesus confronts. It behooves us to remember from whom Jesus (and every pastor) draws his authority, and to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are using that authority to further God's kingdom -- or if we are merely engaging in the same sort of maneuvering that we find so frustrating in our political leaders.
Team member Ron Love offers some additional thoughts on another trait that is exhibited by our political leaders today and by the religious authorities Jesus tangles with -- craven selfishness. Paul explicitly shines a spotlight on our selfish motives in this week's epistle passage, as he counsels the Philippians to "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit... let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others." While we see all too many examples of human selfishness in the headlines, Ron points out that the destructiveness of selfish attitudes is something we all struggle with... and even see played out in our congregations.
Power Grab
by Mary Austin
Matthew 21:23-32
"Who's got the power?" the old song asks, and we might ask the same as we look both at our world and at Jesus.
The question of authority, or the power of power, is at the heart of the story from Matthew's gospel this week. The religious leaders question the authority of Jesus, paradoxically, even as they fear him. We have a similar combination of respect and distaste for authority in our own world, especially when we see authority misused, underused, or wasted.
THE WORLD
A look at Washington shows both the paradox of endless jockeying for authority and the inability to use it. Each election cycle raises the question of whether Congress or the president has achieved "a mandate" to do something. In the language of politics, this is the question of whether one party or the other can do something without interference from the other. In between elections, actually crafting solutions and passing legislation is increasingly fraught with political standoff.
Recently, Republicans seem more determined to use their authority to stymie the president than to achieve other goals. Unable to agree on either spending cuts or "revenue enhancers" in the recent budget debate, Congress recently yielded its authority over the federal budget to the "Super Committee" charged with finding ways to reduce the deficit. The Committee, officially named the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, has twelve members, equally divided between House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, and the unenviable task of finding $1.5 trillion in savings or added revenue by December. The Committee's website invites your comments, if you have ideas to share.
As lawmakers went home during the summer recess, some members of Congress were greeted by unhappy constituents, angry that Congress isn't using its authority to create jobs, balance the budget, or fix the economy. "Just 12% of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job, matching a low recorded in October 2008 at the height of the economic crisis," the latest New York Times/CBS News poll reports. In politics, the ultimate authority comes from the voters, and the 2012 elections are looming large in everyone's minds.
THE WORD
In contrast, Jesus is claiming authority that the religious leaders don't believe he really has.
We find Jesus here in the last week of his life. He has come into Jerusalem to the approving shouts of the crowd, and (in Matthew's chronology) cleaned out the temple. He returns to the temple the following day, when he has this conversation with the religious officials. Significantly, he's talking to them in the place most familiar and most sacred to them and challenging their authority on their own territory. We can well understand why they're wondering: "By what authority are you doing these things?" By what authority are you disrupting not just our customs but intruding on the very heart of our worship life? As Kathryn D. Blanchard writes, "Their own authority in Israel, after all, had been given to them by God in the time of Moses and passed down for generations; thus, for Jesus to say 'By God's authority,' would be to offer an answer easily refuted on biblical and traditional terms" (Feasting on the Word, Year A, Volume 4, p. 116).
Jesus answers their questions with another question, suggesting that the source of his own authority is the same as John's. The religious leaders are caught between two unpalatable answers to his question, stuck between what they believe and their fear of the crowd watching. Whatever they answer about John, they know, will also apply to Jesus himself. In refusing to answer, the religious authorities are forfeiting their own authority to lead the people. Whether they acknowledge it or not, Jesus already has the authority given to him by God -- and acclaimed by the people.
Continuing on with his parable, Jesus is contrasting the lives of the religious leaders and those on the margins of society. The first group of people say they're following God but aren't. The others don't look like they're anything close to what God would want and yet in their faith and humility have drawn close to the realm of God.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
Authority is given by a higher power, but it has to be accepted to be effective. Congress and the president continue to find themselves in gridlock because neither wants to accept the other as a final authority. Changes in education are emerging as people no longer accept the public school system as the sole authority over children's education. Online education, home schooling, and charter schools are all developing as alternatives. The authority of critics to shape what we read, see at the movie theater, or where we eat has been usurped by the opinions of ordinary people, readily available online. The church is no longer the authority over people's lives and behavior. We who are part of the religious establishment of our time run the risk of being like the chief priests and elders of Jesus' day. If we love our institutions, our buildings, our titles, and our traditions more than we love having the opportunity to help people encounter God, then we have fallen into the same trap Jesus is condemning.
How are we to use the authority we have as people of faith, authority that comes from Jesus and his claim on our lives?
Jesus is clear that the religious leaders have misused their authority, and his indictment of them calls us to examine how we use our authority. As people of faith, we are, in our time, the very same insiders that the religious leaders were in Jesus' time. Does the way we use our authority, in all the places where we have it, stand up to his scrutiny? As people of privilege, as pastors and church workers, parents, employees, neighbors, are we using the power we have in the service of God's grace? As people of faith, do we respond faithfully to the authority of Jesus over our lives, and do we use our own power to serve as we should?
Jesus is speaking to us too and his long-ago words demand a fresh look at his authority and our own.
ANOTHER VIEW
Single-Minded Selfishness
by Ron Love
Philippians 2:1-13
Day after endless day we read and hear about the dire straits of the economy. The redundancy of the story is exhausting; the repetition of the news item dulls us from listening. Yet reiterating the story does not discount that the news is still fresh and new for those who are unemployed, for those who seek but cannot find work, for those who have become underemployed, for those who have lost health benefits, for those who are being foreclosed upon, for those who are unable to secure a mortgage, for those who have witnessed the dwindling of their 401(k)s, for those who are uncertain about making capital improvements in their businesses, or for those business owners who are cautious about hiring new employees. As the country has fallen into the greatest recession since the Great Depression, the daily news is not an academic exercise -- it is the story of millions of suffering individuals and countless businesses that know only red ink.
It seems all of the politicians have a plan but none of them have a solution. The Tea Party has drawn an uncompromising line in the sand that encompasses a radical redistribution of federal spending. No solution there. The Republicans refuse to raise taxes to generate new revenue. No solution there. The Democrats refuse to infringe upon entitlements. No solution there. Instead of being motivated by the best interests of the populace, they selfishly adhere to a single-minded political stance.
The recent political debates among Republican candidates began as a unified attack of the sitting president. However, that quickly gave way to policy and character attacks on fellow opponents running for a seat in the Oval Office. They vow that they are commonly linked to defeat Obama, while hurling insults at one another. They claim to be on the same team, as attack ads flourish. If they were truly working as a team, the debates would be a dialogue. But as the candidates selfishly seek a seat aboard Air Force One, the debates have become verbally abusive.
We desire an end to the war in Iraq. But how can this be accomplished when Iraqi nationalism succumbs to selfish religious infighting among the Sunnis and Shiites? We desire our longest war in Afghanistan to end, but how can this be accomplished when the Karzai administration is selfishly engulfed in graft and corruption? We desire military assistance from Pakistan, but how can this be when the tribal warlords selfishly protect their own turf? We long for human rights in Iran, but how can this be accomplished when Ahmadinejad selfishly exploits everything for international political espionage? We wonder when the North Korean people will be free of tyranny, but how can this be accomplished as long as the selfishness and nepotism of the current dictatorial regime abides? Thousands are starving to death in the Sudan and surrounding regions, but how can this be avoided when paramilitary groups selfishly prevent the distribution of food as a cynical substitute for power?
Selfishness doesn't abide only on stories worthy of television coverage. There is the school member who selfishly runs on a single-item agenda. There is the councilman who selfishly desires to only represent a narrow base of constituents of a similar socioeconomic status. There is the parishioner who selfishly withholds money from the church in anger. There is the mission committee that selfishly programs aid for people "in our own backyard," ignoring those in need across the oceans. There is the parent who selfishly desires to live his life through his son. There is the workaholic spouse who selfishly derives more satisfaction from long hours at the office than from meaningful time at home.
Is this list complete? Sadly, it is only a start.
Paul wrote in Philippians, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" (2:3-5).
Paul realized the human failing of selfishness and the destructiveness of that attitude. He saw it among the Romans. He saw it among the Jews. He saw it among the converted Gentiles. He saw it in the church he so much loved, and he pleaded for it to end. And it would, if we were of the mind of Christ.
There are some individuals whom we have no control over. There are other individuals over whom we do have some influence. And there is one's self -- and you and I can control our attitude. Let us, then, witness against selfishness and abolish that injurious behavior from our own lives.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
I. Discuss selfish behavior and the examples of it we see in the daily news. Discuss how this is detrimental to everyone.
II. Continue the same dialogue on selfishness and apply it locally.
III. Share the teaching of Paul, about how self-centered behavior must be subjugated to having the mind of Christ.
ILLUSTRATIONS
More than we realize, our lives are surrounded by symbols of authority. Officers of the law wear their badges as a sign that the officer has the right to question or even arrest those he catches in some misdemeanor. The young physician or dentist, beginning in practice, proudly displays diplomas from medical school and the certification of one's right to practice granted by the state board. Lawyers, too, display their law school diplomas and their state bar certificates. Even ministers proudly display diplomas from college and seminary and their certificates of ordination. The list is endless, including real estate dealers and auto mechanics who have taken special courses to hone the skills of their trade. After all, people want assurance that those they rely upon for services are both prepared and have the proper authority to fill the position they hold.
So it was natural for some people to question the authority of Jesus, especially those who opposed him. Just what was the authority of this one who claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God? It sprang from numerous factors. He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning his birth and ministry. God's approving voice was heard at his baptism. His transfiguration before witnesses was additional proof of his destiny. His teachings were profound, filled with spiritual and eternal truths. His many miracles were absolutely awe-inspiring, especially when he stilled the tempest and raised people from the dead. His own resurrection from the dead was the climactic proof that when he spoke it was with the authority of Almighty God.
* * *
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. A long wide board that folded down from the wall was commonly used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair, while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man." Today in business we use the expression or title "chairman" or "chairman of the board."
Observing Jesus' teachings and healings, the Jewish authorities asked, if not demanded, to know "By what authority are you doing these things?" In turning the question back on the high priests and then sharing a parable, Jesus clearly established that his authority came from God. Jesus clearly was the "chairman of the board" when it came to interpreting the law and the prophets.
* * *
When Jesus refuses to give the chief priests and scribes a direct answer about his authority, he replies by way of telling a parable -- and it would have been abundantly clear to anyone there who the two children he describes represent.
The first child (the one who says, "No, I won't do it," but then does it anyway) refers to the tax collectors and prostitutes -- i.e., the unruly, unconventional followers of Jesus; people who've led pretty wild lives but who have recently come to God.
The second child (the one who smiles and says, "But of course, Father" but never leaves the couch) is symbolic of the super-religious authorities who spend all their time going to the temple but who never lift a finger to help the poor.
What Jesus is zeroing in on is the distinction between words and deeds. Child number one said the wrong words but did the right deed; child number two said the right words but did no deed at all. Neither one is completely right -- it would have been better to show faithfulness in both word and deed -- but of the two, Jesus clearly prefers the one who did the right thing.
This story provides us with a mirror in which we might glimpse ourselves. We share a lot of words when we gather in church on Sunday -- but what is it we do? What is it about our lives when we leave church that's different than if we had never come at all? What is it that makes us different from our neighbors who are not practicing Christians? If the authorities were to arrest us and charge us with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?
* * *
When students study physics in school, they learn how energy is converted from one form to another. A hydroelectric dam, for example, contains a type of machine called a "turbine" with an inner core that spins round and round in response to the rushing water, converting mechanical energy to electricity.
A Christian worship service is meant to be a sort of turbine. The words, spoken and sung, are meant to be transformed -- by the intervention of the Holy Spirit -- into deeds. Hearers are meant to become doers. The faith affirmed is meant to be lived out in the world.
* * *
Scott Pelley of CBS News recently interviewed Douglas R. Oberhelman, the CEO of Caterpillar, and asked him what's missing from Washington as we look to restore the economy. Oberhelman's first response was one word: "Honesty." He thinks that Congress needs to be honest with the American people about the seriousness of our nation's financial situation.
Honesty requires openness, and openness precludes selfishness. If our nation's politicians are going to be honest with their constituents, then they must surrender their single-minded selfish political positions for a common and inclusive approach.
* * *
Up north in the Great Lakes, large numbers of lake trout once swam in the deep, cold water. When conditions were right, those fishing on the lake could count on reeling in a 15- or 20-lb. beauty. It was not unknown for fishermen to even catch a lake trout weighing as much as 100 lbs.!
But by the late 1950s, the lake trout in the Great Lakes had just about been wiped out. Those 20-lb. beauties were no longer found in the numbers they once had been.
What was killing the lake trout? Pollution was not the main killer. Neither was overfishing. Neither was poaching.
The main culprit was the lamprey -- a long, cigar-shaped, slimy fish that looks like an eel. The lamprey has a mouth like a suction cup with sharp, thorny teeth inside. Like a leech, the lamprey attaches itself to a fish and does not let go. It sucks on the blood of the fish until the fish dies. The lamprey had taken over the Great Lakes and it had almost destroyed the lake trout.
Are you a lamprey? Do you have a selfish attitude? A person with a selfish attitude is like a lamprey. He or she takes but does not give. He or she eats but does not feed others. He or she destroys but does not repair. If you have a selfish attitude, you are as destructive as a lamprey.
Saint Paul writes, "Christ Jesus took the form of a servant" (2:7). He was not a lamprey.
* * *
The entire congregation of the church I attend is reading and studying Bishop Robert Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Living. In the invitational letter sent by the pastor, he noted that "this study gives us a common language about the core practices that can lead us to fruitful living and help us fulfill our church's mission."
In the unity of a single study, the congregation will acquire a "common language" in order to discuss spiritual growth and the mission of the church. This is certainly reflective of the attitude of Paul when he wrote, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus."
* * *
Having been delivered from the oppression of Pharaoh, the Israelites found themselves wandering in the desert. A new oppression had now overtaken them -- one of food and water. We often chastise the Israelites for not continually rejoicing in their freedom from the Egyptians, but if you are cold and hungry and thirsty it is easy to refocus your attention on your present lot in life.
Moses understood this. Though he was discouraged at the bickering and complaining, most of which was directed at him, he never lost sight of the physical needs of his people. Dialoguing with God on behalf of the Israelites, they received quail in the evening and manna in the morning. For water, there was that wonderful tapping of the rock with his staff. Moses both wanted to lead and comfort his people.
This attribute of desiring both to lead and comfort the people of a nation was displayed by President Obama in the speech he offered on September 11th at "A Concert for Hope," held at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The president began his address with a quote from Psalm 30: "The Bible tells us, 'weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' " Obama then went on to say, "Ten years ago, America confronted one of our darkest nights." Having delivered the text of his speech, the president concluded with these words, " 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' With a just God as our guide, let us honor those who have been lost, let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals that define our nation, and let us look to the future with hearts full of hope."
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by Mary Austin
Call to Worship
Leader: Listen, people of God, listen for God in this place.
People: We wait, listening for God.
Leader: Hear, people of God, hear of God's glory and grace.
People: We hear, and remember God's mercy.
Leader: Let the Spirit of Christ be alive in you, let the mind of Christ guide your way.
People: We remember and follow the way of our Lord.
Leader: Let us worship God together.
OR
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 78)
Leader: Hear, O people of God, listen for God speaking.
People: We will tell the stories of faith and remember all we've learned.
Leader: Do not keep God's grace to yourselves or hide the good news from your children.
People: We are God's witnesses, ready to tell of God's power and glory.
Leader: Let us worship God together, now and always.
Prayer of Confession
O God, your gifts surround us.
You bring us to water in the desert,
and to a feast when we're hungry;
you bring peace out of confusion,
and create harmony from discord.
But we doubt your goodness,
always looking for more,
or better,
or newer.
We hear your story,
and forget that it means us too,
and look for something fancier,
or shinier,
or easier.
Forgive us, God,
for our small faith
and great fear.
Forgive us, God,
and teach us again to live with the mind of Christ,
as we pray in his name. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Prayer for the Day
O God, our guide by day and our resting place at night, we come trusting you as the source of all that we need. You watch over us, guarding us from harm, teaching us all that we need, and providing beyond what we deserve. Draw us into your presence again, we pray, that our worship would be filled with praise and our lives filled with reverence. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
O God, source of all wisdom, we thank you for your word come to life in Jesus, and for your word shared aloud with us, and with generations of people of faith. Open our hearts and spirits, our minds and our lives, to your guiding wisdom today and always. Amen.
Hymn Suggestions
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"
"He Leadeth Me"
"If You Will Only Let God Guide You"
"Jesus Shall Reign"
"Lead Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"
"O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Rock of Ages"
"Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"
"Take My Life"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
Suggestions for Starting the Children's Sermon
The Exodus story is about water and the need for water. Start with a bottle of water, and talk about how most of us have clean water at home any time we want it. Some people in the world are in the exact same position as the people of Israel -- they don't have any water nearby. Show pictures of people carrying water. Explain that people have to walk long distances to get water, and that we can help by helping charities that dig wells and bring water to villages, and by not wasting water since it's a precious resource. (Of course, be prepared for the inevitable question of why God doesn't just give them water, like God did for the people of Israel.)
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Authority for Christians
Matthew 21:23-32
Object: a law book (you should be able to obtain one from an attorney or a judge)
Good morning, boys and girls! Today, I brought with me a big book. Does anyone know what is in it? (let the children answer) It is a book of laws. It is the kind of a book that a judge or a lawyer would use. It tells what is right and what is wrong and what could happen to you if you did something wrong. This book is a book of authority.
There are different kinds of authority. At home your parents are the authority. They tell you what is right and what is wrong in your home. However, in school, your principal and your teacher are the authorities -- not your parents, not your doctor, but the principal and the teacher. In our choir, the director is the authority -- not the ushers nor the singers, but the director. And when it comes to the law, this book and the judge are the authorities. They tell us how to run our city, how we can drive automobiles, how loud we can play music on the streets, and what is right and fair when people cannot agree.
People were amazed at the way Jesus taught and the things he said. So the people wanted to know where Jesus got his authority. He told people to love one another, even their enemies. He healed people and did other things that no one else could do. Some important people were afraid that if people believed Jesus, they would not believe the important people anymore. So they asked, "Where do you get your authority?" Did the king give Jesus authority? Did the Emperor Caesar give Jesus authority? The important people wanted to know.
Jesus knew they did not believe him because they wanted to be the authority. So Jesus began to teach them about the power of God and how God sent him into the world to make changes and to teach about faith in God. There was no king or emperor or high priest who gave Jesus authority. Jesus did not get his authority from his parents or his schoolteacher or principal. And it was not a doctor or a judge or a book. Jesus said his authority was from God and only God.
Today, as Christians, we believe Jesus and call him our authority because by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead, he showed he is God's Son.
Before you leave, let me tell you something. Jesus shares his love and his authority with our parents, our schoolteachers, our policemen and judges, and teaches us to respect them when they teach us with love and respect.
Prayer: O God, help us to let the example and teachings of Jesus be the authority of our lives. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, September 25, 2011, issue.
Copyright 2011 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service 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.
