Quitters
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
In this week's Old Testament readings, the Lord calls a reluctant Jeremiah to the difficult and often unpopular work of being a prophet. Jeremiah's reaction is certainly one many of us can identify with; he is clearly flummoxed when the Lord tells him that "before you were born I consecrated you." Jeremiah clearly wants to do anything else, but the Lord is insistent that there will be no early dramatic exits from Jeremiah's calling. this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Kate Murphy compares the behavior of Jeremiah and Jesus with some of the notorious quitters in the news -- most notably the disgruntled flight attendant who activated his plane's emergency chute on the tarmac and slid away from an uncomfortable situation. The Lord's response to Jeremiah is instructive for us -- despite all of our perceived shortcomings we are in no position to walk away from our calling, because God has "put my words" in our mouths. That means that we may well be put in uncomfortable positions -- but as Kate notes, where the Lord's work is concerned, while failing may be inevitable, quitting is not an option.
Team member George Reed shares some additional thoughts on the gospel text. George points out that while the synagogue leader who berates Jesus for healing on the Sabbath may seem like an easy target, his devotion to rules and principle at the expense of people is a trap we too can easily fall prey to if we become too beholden to what we think is right. George notes that it is only when our principles make us live more like Jesus that they become living principles and not stifling laws that drain the spirit.
Quitters
by Kate Murphy
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Luke 13:10-17
THE WORLD
We've witnessed several dramatic exits lately. One of the most talked-about stories in the news has been the saga of Steven Slater, who is becoming something of a folk hero in some quarters for his over-the-top "take this job and shove it" moment. Slater, a veteran Jet Blue flight attendant, reached his limit at the end of a long flight. Following FAA regulations, Slater repeatedly asked a female passenger -- who had earlier intentionally hit him in the head with her suitcase -- to remain in her seat until the airplane reached the gate. She refused... profanely. So Slater got on the plane's PA system, repeated the woman's profanity, announced "after 28 years in this profession, that's it, I'm out," activated the emergency slide, and grabbed two Blue Moon beers from the concession cart -- then slid out of the plane and his career.
And then there's Anne Rice, best-selling vampire novelist, whose spiritual autobiography Called Out of Darkness describes her exile and return to the Christian faith -- and who has now abruptly exited the faith. She announced her departure on Facebook: "I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of... Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen." In a later post, she said that "it's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group."
Well then.
Both Rice and Slater grew increasingly disillusioned with their fellow travelers as they sought to remain faithful -- Slater to FAA safety regulations, Rice to the core teachings of Jesus. They reached their breaking points and felt they could no longer be expected to put up with the indignities of their respective callings.
From the very beginning, God made it clear to Jeremiah that while his prophetic call would include intense opposition and provocation, it was the life he was created to lead. Regardless of one's superior integrity, dramatic early exits would not be tolerated.
THE WORD
Like all the best prophets, Jeremiah tried to quit before he even began: "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." God doubly rebukes him, informing him that "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you prophet to the nations." (Translation: You were born for this.) God continues, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all whom I send you and you shall speak what I command you." (Translation: Furthermore, it's not about you!)
With his prophetic call, the future prophet receives a dramatic spiritual re-orientation. From this point on, his life will be directed and inspired by God. Whatever Jeremiah may have previously thought, his true life's purpose is now revealed. He was made to be a prophet. And God makes sure he has no illusions about his call: "See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms." Well, that sounds nice -- except that there's more: "to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow." Clearly, Jeremiah's work will not be pleasant. The people will experience the words the Lord gives him as hostile and violent. He will not be popular or beloved. He will be feared and hated. It's true that eventually his prophetic mission will allow him "to build and to plant" -- but first he must follow the divine directive to pluck, pull, destroy, and overthrow.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
This week's lectionary readings make interesting conversation partners with recent newsworthy exits. While Jeremiah is receiving his ominous prophetic calling, Jesus is making powerful enemies in the temple by healing a crippled woman on the sabbath. For both men, being faithful is dangerous and hostile work. Both Jesus and Jeremiah lived in a time when the most powerful religious voices were working against God's interests. Both were imprisoned and tortured… and Jesus was crucified. God trusted both prophets to remain faithful anyway.
Perhaps the preacher could use the sermon to explore the idea of call. What does it mean to be called? Are all believers called to live in a particular way, or is it only those in ordained ministry? If, like Jeremiah, we too have a divinely ordered work and purpose for our lives, do we ever have just cause to wash our hands of it? Steven Slater certainly dedicated his professional life to being a flight attendant. Unlike many of his peers, he didn't change careers every 5 to 7 years. He loved his job. And yet in that moment of rage he abandoned his professional standards of courtesy and endangered the lives of his co-workers on the ground by deploying the emergency slide. In her autobiography, Anne Rice describes her intense conversion to faith in Jesus Christ. What does it mean that she now desecrates the Christian faith in the name of Christ? If we walk away from our divine calling, where does that leave us with God?
Jeremiah and Jesus remained faithful -- perhaps because they had no illusions about the nature of their call. They counted the cost, and chose the life of faith anyway. Perhaps this week would be an opportune time to remind our congregations that, prosperity gospel to the contrary, God never promised us a rose garden. We have been baptized into the body of Christ. The resulting life contains great joy and freedom -- and requires fidelity and sacrifice. Failing may be inevitable, but quitting is not an option.
ANOTHER VIEW
Principles vs. People
by George Reed
Luke 13:10-17
The leader of the synagogue in this week's Gospel reading is such an easy target. It would be almost impossible to not take a few cheap shots at him if it were not for one fact -- his objection to the woman's healing was so understandable. After all, the fellow was just standing up for his principles. He was a good, ethical person, and he was appalled at this itinerant "rabbi" who was ignoring one of the things that he held very dear -- the sacredness of the Sabbath.
In fact, the leader of the synagogue was doing what we have all been taught is the right thing to do -- stand up for our principles and what we know to be right. You can't argue with Sabbath-keeping -- it's in the Bible. It was demanded by the God of creation. The Sabbath had been kept by an untold number of Jews for many, many years. It was one of the really important things that set the Jewish people apart.
Don't we hope that our parishioners, not to mention our children, will live up to the teachings they have received in the church? Don't we teach them, Sunday after Sunday, that there is a way to live which we are called to keep? So how is it that this leader of the synagogue is the subject of such ridicule in this story?
The difference between Jesus and the leader seems to be in Jesus' ability to see through the traditions, laws, and understandings of the people to the heart of God. Whether based on the view that Jesus redoes the Torah with his saying "You have heard it said of old but I say...", the proclamation that Jesus makes that to see him is the see the Father, or the great "I Am" sayings, our understanding of Jesus is that he had a unique ability to know God in an intimate way. Eventually the doctrine of the Trinity developed, in part, to explain this connection. Jesus understood God because he was God.
So how do we address the need to teach our children and parishioners principles to live by and still remain true to Jesus? Is it possible to balance those two together? I think so -- if we just listen carefully to Jesus. If we go back to what we call the Great Commandment -- i.e., to love God completely and actively love others as if their needs were as great as ours -- we have our place to stand. Jesus said that all the Law and the Prophets rested on these two things. They form the basis of all the teachings of faith. The teachings are helpful in pointing us in this direction, but the overarching principles are to "love God and our neighbors."
This story, then, acts as a cautionary piece to help us remember that when we signed on as a follower of Jesus we signed on to take the difficult road which requires us to honor the teachings, but not to worship them. We are called to live by principles, but only by making them living principles that draw us closer to God and to each other. When our rules make us less like God, less likely to serve others, then we are called to go behind them to their root and act out of love of God and love of others.
ILLUSTRATIONS
"The hard walk" -- that is how Rev. Dennis Sparks, executive director of the West Virginia Council of Churches, which represents 3,000 churches of various denominations and 600,000 parishioners (roughly one of every three residents in the state), views his calling. As an advocate for safe mining that is environmentally friendly, he must confront mine owners and operators. As a shepherd he must minister to victims of disasters. He is both loathed and loved. That is why he says, "That's the hard walk we have to take, because it is hard to walk between those" positions. In a state where mining is key to the economy and many jobs depend on a vocation that is inherently dangerous, mining issues are hotly debated and passions can run high. But as a church leader who believes that dialogue and negotiation is the secret to keeping things under control and that such openness can prevent violence, Rev. Sparks has taken on the role of being a mediator between various groups. Exiting from a recent meeting, he sees continued progress and was able to report, "Everyone was talking and listening to each other."
We read in our lectionary passage this week of Jeremiah's call to be a prophet -- but as we read his complete life's story, we also know that in his heart he was the shepherd of his people. As we are prophets for justice and pastors of the flock, we must learn -- like Jeremiah and Rev. Sparks -- to walk "the hard walk."
*****
It has been determined that if there is a biological terrorist attack on the United States and Americans must receive antibodies within hours to prevent death, the most efficient means of distribution are the letter carriers from the Postal Service. Having established routes that encompass almost every home in a community, they would put aside their mail bags, pick up pouches of serum, and begin delivering life to homes almost immediately. Randall Larsen of the WMD Center articulated the importance of their function when he said, "It doesn't make any difference if we make all these new antibodies and vaccines if we don't have any ways to get them to people." Noting the integration of postal employees in the infrastructure of our communities, Chris Witenburg of the National Association of Letter Carriers said that the need to get drugs to people "fast" means that "the Postal Service is really the only organization with the capability to pull it off." This is a life-risking voluntary program on the part of the letter carriers -- and they would even do it on a Sunday.
The Pharisees might not approve of this government-sponsored, tax-funded program. They might even protest that it was God's will for the carriers to wait until the day after the Sabbath. But the carriers, in modeling the life of Jesus, would deliver their life-sustaining vaccine in the spirit of a healing touch… Sabbath not excluded.
*****
The dedicated Jesuit priest Rev. Jack Podsiadlo looked out the fifth-story window of the school building and knew it was time to move on. His school, the Nativity Mission Center located in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, is now surrounded by red-brick tenement houses, boutiques, and nightspots. Gone are the drug dealers and the needles they left on the school's playground. Gone are the prostitutes who solicited visitors to the school. The community, once the home of impoverished Puerto Ricans who settled there in the late 1940s following the Second World War, is now economically viable. The Nativity Mission Center, established to educate poor Latino boys, has completed its mission.
Rev. Podsiadlo said, "We serve the poor. If they are not here, then we'll move to where they are." By 2012 the school will once again be accommodating the educational needs of the poor in either the South Bronx or Brooklyn. Podsiadlo wants to remain faithful to the founders of his order, who for centuries have explored far-off lands to assist the indigent.
In our Gospel reading, after Jesus healed the woman who was ill for 18 years "the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing." And after healing the woman, Jesus knew it was time to move on and help others. One can only marvel at people who follow the example of Jesus, individuals such as Rev. Jack Podsiadlo, who are always moving on to minister to the poor and needy.
*****
William Barclay has observed that the last time we hear of Jesus being in the synagogue is when he was teaching on the sabbath and saw in the crowd a woman who had been bent over for 18 years -- 18 years of misery and pain, and probably derision (the first century could be a cruel time). Jesus reached out in compassion and healed the woman. The president of the synagogue was distressed by Jesus' action. He did not confront Jesus but turned toward the crowd and rebuked Jesus for breaking the sabbath. Jesus had little patience with such a response. There are some religious folk that love the rules more than they love people.
The high-water mark in interpreting the scripture is the spirit of Jesus -- not the letter of the law. The world is filled with people limping through life burdened down with many things. Some have carried weights much too heavy all their lives. Jesus always reached out to those in need.
The church does its best work, not by ignoring the rules and doctrines of the faith, but by remembering that faith should never put burdens on people's backs. Faith should never stand in the way of helping someone in need.
Who are the bent-over today that find life hard and difficult? What does the church do by response or lack of response that bypasses the bent-over and the burdened because of some rule or law? Jesus always put people first. The church that puts people first will never go out of business.
Karl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, once gave a lecture on mental health and took questions at the end of the lecture. "What would you advise a person to do," one woman asked, "if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?"
Everyone there was sure he would say to consult a psychiatrist. To the astonishment of the crowd, Dr. Menninger replied, "Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person."
*****
An Orlando barmaid accepted an invitation to church one Sunday. With anxiety and intimidation she readied herself as best she knew how. To say that she appeared for church looking a tad worldly would be an understatement. But God wrapped his arms around her in that pentecostal hour of power, and she went forward sobbing after worship. As she walked the aisle, some regulars noticed that her attire was less than pious. Numerous distinct undergarment outlines generated growls of disapproval. Rapid-fire whispering reached the ears of a key leader. He became indignant and set his sights on the member who had invited her. The person was identified and sharply rebuked. We disciples make a major blunder when we expect "pagans" to act like saints. Sinful people do sinful things, which means they sometimes dress the part. But salvation and healing is for those who need it, when they need it. Our response to human suffering must transcend proper place, correct time, and culturally suitable dress. Anything less is hypocritical laziness.
*****
Jesus was aware of the hypocrisy of those scolding him for performing healing on the Lord's day. The Jewish teaching and tradition gave permission to lead the animals to water, or to pull an animal out of a pit on the sabbath. Perhaps this teaching of Jesus is one of the "cultured" pearls of great price that is found in the Bible.
Until recent times, the only pearls found were those where an irritant found its way inside an oyster shell. The oyster would coat the irritant with a pearly coating, and if left long enough it might produce a really large pearl. The process of finding the pearls was tedious and difficult. Then someone discovered you could add an irritant by carefully placing it under the shell. The oyster would coat the artificial irritant with the same beautiful pearl material. In fact, that is what Jesus is always doing -- taking the painful and irritating things of life and transforming them into something beautiful and priceless.
*****
There once was a minister who used the story of the bent-over woman as a devotional at a retreat for women who had been victims of sexual abuse. When the reading was ended, as she described it later, there was silence -- utter silence that went on for many minutes. Every woman in that room knew what it meant to be bent over in spirit, and every one there also hoped and prayed that God could call forth the power to make her stand straight and tall once again.
*****
Healing can sometimes be a disturbing thing. In the sixteenth chapter of Acts there's the story of a slave-girl who had what the Bible calls a "spirit of divination." Probably she had some form of mental illness, which her owners used to make a great deal of money. They passed her off as a fortune-teller and charged admission to see her. When Paul and Silas come to Philippi and heal her, the owners actually complain to the authorities and have them thrown in jail! It seems Paul and Silas are infringing on their trade, never mind that their slave-girl, once bent over in spirit, can now stand tall.
That's an example of how comfortable we can get with the status quo, how easily we accept all that is wrong about the world and about our lives. All of us have certain faults and foibles -- even addictions -- that have become so familiar we've almost grown to like them. If God were to reach out to us today and heal us of those things, we might not be so sure we want the healing.
*****
There's an old story about a typical church -- a nice church, a respectable church. One Sunday, the people of that respectable congregation had gathered for worship all decked out in their Sunday-go-to-meeting best when a man walked into the sanctuary who just didn't seem to belong.
Scruffy in appearance and ragged of dress, he smelled of liquor (which, judging from his lurching walk, he was consuming in great quantity). The usher handed the man a bulletin and motioned him toward an out-of-the-way pew. Ignoring his suggestion, the visitor staggered down the center aisle to the front pew and planted himself there.
So far, so good, thought the ushers -- hoping that the man would doze off. Yet once the minister began the sermon, there was no illusion about that.
"Hallelujah!" shouted the newcomer. The minister gave him a stern look and continued on.
Not a moment later, the visitor interrupted again. "Praise the Lord!" he proclaimed.
One of the ushers came over and whispered to him as nicely as he could, "Sir, we don't do that here!"
"But I've got religion!" the man objected.
"Yes, sir," said the usher. "I'm sure you do. But you didn't get it here!"
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Let us take refuge in our God.
People: In God we will never be put to shame.
Leader: Let God be our rock and our refuge.
People: God is our hope, our trust.
Leader: Let us lean upon our God.
People: Our praise is continually of our God.
OR
Leader: Come and serve the One who calls you.
People: We come and offer ourselves to God.
Leader: God calls us to give our all to God's Reign.
People: We are willing to sacrifice all for God.
Leader: Only for the Good News of God are you called.
People: Only for God's Good News do we offer our lives.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"O For a Heart to Praise My God"
found in:
UMH: 417
"I Want a Principle Within"
found in:
UMH: 410
"The Gift of Love"
found in:
UMH: 408
AAHH: 522
CH: 526
Renew: 155
"Jesu, Jesu"
found in:
UMH: 432
H82: 602
PH: 367
NCH: 498
CH: 600
CCB: 66
Renew: 289
"Let There Be Peace on Earth"
found in:
UMH: 431
CH: 677
"All People That on Earth Do Dwell"
found in:
UMH: 75
H82: 377, 379
PH: 220, 221
NNBH: 36
NCH: 7
CH: 18
LBW: 245
"We, Thy People, Praise Thee"
found in:
UMH: 67
"Word of God, Come Down on Earth"
found in:
UMH: 182
"Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus"
found in:
CCB: 55
"Our God Reigns"
found in:
CCB: 33
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 calls us from before our creation: Grant us the wisdom to know the difference between when our calling as your disciples requires sacrifice and when it is only the ego of ourselves or others that demands it; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We have come to worship you, O God, and to receive our marching orders as disciples of Jesus. Help us in the time of worship to discern rightly what it is that you require of us, so that we may be faithful to you and not destroyed by our own misunderstandings. Amen.
OR
O God who calls us to become completely transparent to your presence: Grant us the wisdom and courage to seek that transparency even when it means giving up our understanding of how things are supposed to be; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the ways in which we cling to our principles even when they destroy others.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have taken the words of life you have given us and used them as weapons against our sisters and brothers. We have taken a stance of holiness to block the way of the Holy One. You have called us to become living sacrifices for your Reign, but we often sacrifice ourselves for our own status. Forgive us our self-centered ways and call us once more to be transformed into your image, so that we may wisely use your truths to bring us and the whole world closer to you. Amen.
Leader: God desires the salvation of all creation and welcomes us even when we have been unfaithful. God grants us forgiveness and invites us once more to join in the work of salvation.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and sing your praises, O God, because you are the one who calls us. You call us to serve you and to serve our sisters and brothers.
(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 taken the words of life you have given us and used them as weapons against our sisters and brothers. We have taken a stance of holiness to block the way of the Holy One. You have called us to become living sacrifices for your Reign, but we often sacrifice ourselves for our own status. Forgive us our self-centered ways and call us once more to be transformed into your image, so that we may wisely use your truths to bring us and the whole world closer to you.
We give you thanks for all those who have been true to the task of being transformed into your image. There have been those holy ones in our lives who were willing to risk ridicule and rejection because they loved you more than the signs that point to you. They sacrificed themselves as they became more radiant of your glory. They resisted the siren call to please others.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need. We pray especially for those who find themselves being used up not for your Reign, but for the pleasure of those who demand so much of them. We pray for those who have gotten so entangled in the signs you have sent that they no longer can see you. We pray especially for ourselves, that we may be faithful to you and to those you have given us to serve.
(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
Books of Law, secular and sacred, on one side of the table, with pictures of people in need (hungry, destitute, imprisoned, hungry, etc.) on the other side.
Children's Sermon Starter
Talk to the children about times when one of their parents called them -- to come for dinner, to come in for the evening, or whatever. Then talk about when God calls all of us to share God's love with each other.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Sometimes You Gotta Bend the Rules!
Luke 13:10-17
Object: signs with rules on them -- you can either use some commercially-made signs or draw them yourself
I have some signs with me this morning and I want you to read them and tell me who might put up each sign. (hold up the first sign: No Dogs or Pets Allowed) What does this sign say? (response) Who would put up a sign like this? (response: stores) What does this sign say? (hold up the second sign: STOP) Who puts up this sign? (response: people who make the roads) What does this sign say? (hold up the third sign: No Shirt No Shoes No Service) Who puts up this sign? (response: restaurant) What does this sign say? (hold up the fourth sign: Quiet Please) Who puts up this sign? (response: librarian) What does this sign say? (hold up the fifth sign: Remember Sunday is holy and you should rest [an adaptation of the Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy]) Who puts up this sign? (response: God)
Signs and rules are very important. They help us know what to do, and some of them even help us know how best to live our lives. But sometimes rules can get in the way of doing something good. Who knows what an ambulance is for? (response) And when an ambulance is carrying a sick person to the hospital and they come upon a stop sign (hold up the STOP sign) the ambulance does what? (response) That's right. The ambulance goes right through the stop sign. Why does it run right through the stop sign? (response: they are in a hurry to get to the hospital, someone's sick) The stop sign is very important and helps protect us, but sometimes it gets in the way of helping people.
Prayer: Father, we know that rules are important, but help us to put people first and not the rules. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, August 22, 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.
Team member George Reed shares some additional thoughts on the gospel text. George points out that while the synagogue leader who berates Jesus for healing on the Sabbath may seem like an easy target, his devotion to rules and principle at the expense of people is a trap we too can easily fall prey to if we become too beholden to what we think is right. George notes that it is only when our principles make us live more like Jesus that they become living principles and not stifling laws that drain the spirit.
Quitters
by Kate Murphy
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Luke 13:10-17
THE WORLD
We've witnessed several dramatic exits lately. One of the most talked-about stories in the news has been the saga of Steven Slater, who is becoming something of a folk hero in some quarters for his over-the-top "take this job and shove it" moment. Slater, a veteran Jet Blue flight attendant, reached his limit at the end of a long flight. Following FAA regulations, Slater repeatedly asked a female passenger -- who had earlier intentionally hit him in the head with her suitcase -- to remain in her seat until the airplane reached the gate. She refused... profanely. So Slater got on the plane's PA system, repeated the woman's profanity, announced "after 28 years in this profession, that's it, I'm out," activated the emergency slide, and grabbed two Blue Moon beers from the concession cart -- then slid out of the plane and his career.
And then there's Anne Rice, best-selling vampire novelist, whose spiritual autobiography Called Out of Darkness describes her exile and return to the Christian faith -- and who has now abruptly exited the faith. She announced her departure on Facebook: "I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of... Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen." In a later post, she said that "it's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group."
Well then.
Both Rice and Slater grew increasingly disillusioned with their fellow travelers as they sought to remain faithful -- Slater to FAA safety regulations, Rice to the core teachings of Jesus. They reached their breaking points and felt they could no longer be expected to put up with the indignities of their respective callings.
From the very beginning, God made it clear to Jeremiah that while his prophetic call would include intense opposition and provocation, it was the life he was created to lead. Regardless of one's superior integrity, dramatic early exits would not be tolerated.
THE WORD
Like all the best prophets, Jeremiah tried to quit before he even began: "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." God doubly rebukes him, informing him that "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you prophet to the nations." (Translation: You were born for this.) God continues, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all whom I send you and you shall speak what I command you." (Translation: Furthermore, it's not about you!)
With his prophetic call, the future prophet receives a dramatic spiritual re-orientation. From this point on, his life will be directed and inspired by God. Whatever Jeremiah may have previously thought, his true life's purpose is now revealed. He was made to be a prophet. And God makes sure he has no illusions about his call: "See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms." Well, that sounds nice -- except that there's more: "to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow." Clearly, Jeremiah's work will not be pleasant. The people will experience the words the Lord gives him as hostile and violent. He will not be popular or beloved. He will be feared and hated. It's true that eventually his prophetic mission will allow him "to build and to plant" -- but first he must follow the divine directive to pluck, pull, destroy, and overthrow.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
This week's lectionary readings make interesting conversation partners with recent newsworthy exits. While Jeremiah is receiving his ominous prophetic calling, Jesus is making powerful enemies in the temple by healing a crippled woman on the sabbath. For both men, being faithful is dangerous and hostile work. Both Jesus and Jeremiah lived in a time when the most powerful religious voices were working against God's interests. Both were imprisoned and tortured… and Jesus was crucified. God trusted both prophets to remain faithful anyway.
Perhaps the preacher could use the sermon to explore the idea of call. What does it mean to be called? Are all believers called to live in a particular way, or is it only those in ordained ministry? If, like Jeremiah, we too have a divinely ordered work and purpose for our lives, do we ever have just cause to wash our hands of it? Steven Slater certainly dedicated his professional life to being a flight attendant. Unlike many of his peers, he didn't change careers every 5 to 7 years. He loved his job. And yet in that moment of rage he abandoned his professional standards of courtesy and endangered the lives of his co-workers on the ground by deploying the emergency slide. In her autobiography, Anne Rice describes her intense conversion to faith in Jesus Christ. What does it mean that she now desecrates the Christian faith in the name of Christ? If we walk away from our divine calling, where does that leave us with God?
Jeremiah and Jesus remained faithful -- perhaps because they had no illusions about the nature of their call. They counted the cost, and chose the life of faith anyway. Perhaps this week would be an opportune time to remind our congregations that, prosperity gospel to the contrary, God never promised us a rose garden. We have been baptized into the body of Christ. The resulting life contains great joy and freedom -- and requires fidelity and sacrifice. Failing may be inevitable, but quitting is not an option.
ANOTHER VIEW
Principles vs. People
by George Reed
Luke 13:10-17
The leader of the synagogue in this week's Gospel reading is such an easy target. It would be almost impossible to not take a few cheap shots at him if it were not for one fact -- his objection to the woman's healing was so understandable. After all, the fellow was just standing up for his principles. He was a good, ethical person, and he was appalled at this itinerant "rabbi" who was ignoring one of the things that he held very dear -- the sacredness of the Sabbath.
In fact, the leader of the synagogue was doing what we have all been taught is the right thing to do -- stand up for our principles and what we know to be right. You can't argue with Sabbath-keeping -- it's in the Bible. It was demanded by the God of creation. The Sabbath had been kept by an untold number of Jews for many, many years. It was one of the really important things that set the Jewish people apart.
Don't we hope that our parishioners, not to mention our children, will live up to the teachings they have received in the church? Don't we teach them, Sunday after Sunday, that there is a way to live which we are called to keep? So how is it that this leader of the synagogue is the subject of such ridicule in this story?
The difference between Jesus and the leader seems to be in Jesus' ability to see through the traditions, laws, and understandings of the people to the heart of God. Whether based on the view that Jesus redoes the Torah with his saying "You have heard it said of old but I say...", the proclamation that Jesus makes that to see him is the see the Father, or the great "I Am" sayings, our understanding of Jesus is that he had a unique ability to know God in an intimate way. Eventually the doctrine of the Trinity developed, in part, to explain this connection. Jesus understood God because he was God.
So how do we address the need to teach our children and parishioners principles to live by and still remain true to Jesus? Is it possible to balance those two together? I think so -- if we just listen carefully to Jesus. If we go back to what we call the Great Commandment -- i.e., to love God completely and actively love others as if their needs were as great as ours -- we have our place to stand. Jesus said that all the Law and the Prophets rested on these two things. They form the basis of all the teachings of faith. The teachings are helpful in pointing us in this direction, but the overarching principles are to "love God and our neighbors."
This story, then, acts as a cautionary piece to help us remember that when we signed on as a follower of Jesus we signed on to take the difficult road which requires us to honor the teachings, but not to worship them. We are called to live by principles, but only by making them living principles that draw us closer to God and to each other. When our rules make us less like God, less likely to serve others, then we are called to go behind them to their root and act out of love of God and love of others.
ILLUSTRATIONS
"The hard walk" -- that is how Rev. Dennis Sparks, executive director of the West Virginia Council of Churches, which represents 3,000 churches of various denominations and 600,000 parishioners (roughly one of every three residents in the state), views his calling. As an advocate for safe mining that is environmentally friendly, he must confront mine owners and operators. As a shepherd he must minister to victims of disasters. He is both loathed and loved. That is why he says, "That's the hard walk we have to take, because it is hard to walk between those" positions. In a state where mining is key to the economy and many jobs depend on a vocation that is inherently dangerous, mining issues are hotly debated and passions can run high. But as a church leader who believes that dialogue and negotiation is the secret to keeping things under control and that such openness can prevent violence, Rev. Sparks has taken on the role of being a mediator between various groups. Exiting from a recent meeting, he sees continued progress and was able to report, "Everyone was talking and listening to each other."
We read in our lectionary passage this week of Jeremiah's call to be a prophet -- but as we read his complete life's story, we also know that in his heart he was the shepherd of his people. As we are prophets for justice and pastors of the flock, we must learn -- like Jeremiah and Rev. Sparks -- to walk "the hard walk."
*****
It has been determined that if there is a biological terrorist attack on the United States and Americans must receive antibodies within hours to prevent death, the most efficient means of distribution are the letter carriers from the Postal Service. Having established routes that encompass almost every home in a community, they would put aside their mail bags, pick up pouches of serum, and begin delivering life to homes almost immediately. Randall Larsen of the WMD Center articulated the importance of their function when he said, "It doesn't make any difference if we make all these new antibodies and vaccines if we don't have any ways to get them to people." Noting the integration of postal employees in the infrastructure of our communities, Chris Witenburg of the National Association of Letter Carriers said that the need to get drugs to people "fast" means that "the Postal Service is really the only organization with the capability to pull it off." This is a life-risking voluntary program on the part of the letter carriers -- and they would even do it on a Sunday.
The Pharisees might not approve of this government-sponsored, tax-funded program. They might even protest that it was God's will for the carriers to wait until the day after the Sabbath. But the carriers, in modeling the life of Jesus, would deliver their life-sustaining vaccine in the spirit of a healing touch… Sabbath not excluded.
*****
The dedicated Jesuit priest Rev. Jack Podsiadlo looked out the fifth-story window of the school building and knew it was time to move on. His school, the Nativity Mission Center located in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, is now surrounded by red-brick tenement houses, boutiques, and nightspots. Gone are the drug dealers and the needles they left on the school's playground. Gone are the prostitutes who solicited visitors to the school. The community, once the home of impoverished Puerto Ricans who settled there in the late 1940s following the Second World War, is now economically viable. The Nativity Mission Center, established to educate poor Latino boys, has completed its mission.
Rev. Podsiadlo said, "We serve the poor. If they are not here, then we'll move to where they are." By 2012 the school will once again be accommodating the educational needs of the poor in either the South Bronx or Brooklyn. Podsiadlo wants to remain faithful to the founders of his order, who for centuries have explored far-off lands to assist the indigent.
In our Gospel reading, after Jesus healed the woman who was ill for 18 years "the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing." And after healing the woman, Jesus knew it was time to move on and help others. One can only marvel at people who follow the example of Jesus, individuals such as Rev. Jack Podsiadlo, who are always moving on to minister to the poor and needy.
*****
William Barclay has observed that the last time we hear of Jesus being in the synagogue is when he was teaching on the sabbath and saw in the crowd a woman who had been bent over for 18 years -- 18 years of misery and pain, and probably derision (the first century could be a cruel time). Jesus reached out in compassion and healed the woman. The president of the synagogue was distressed by Jesus' action. He did not confront Jesus but turned toward the crowd and rebuked Jesus for breaking the sabbath. Jesus had little patience with such a response. There are some religious folk that love the rules more than they love people.
The high-water mark in interpreting the scripture is the spirit of Jesus -- not the letter of the law. The world is filled with people limping through life burdened down with many things. Some have carried weights much too heavy all their lives. Jesus always reached out to those in need.
The church does its best work, not by ignoring the rules and doctrines of the faith, but by remembering that faith should never put burdens on people's backs. Faith should never stand in the way of helping someone in need.
Who are the bent-over today that find life hard and difficult? What does the church do by response or lack of response that bypasses the bent-over and the burdened because of some rule or law? Jesus always put people first. The church that puts people first will never go out of business.
Karl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, once gave a lecture on mental health and took questions at the end of the lecture. "What would you advise a person to do," one woman asked, "if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?"
Everyone there was sure he would say to consult a psychiatrist. To the astonishment of the crowd, Dr. Menninger replied, "Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person."
*****
An Orlando barmaid accepted an invitation to church one Sunday. With anxiety and intimidation she readied herself as best she knew how. To say that she appeared for church looking a tad worldly would be an understatement. But God wrapped his arms around her in that pentecostal hour of power, and she went forward sobbing after worship. As she walked the aisle, some regulars noticed that her attire was less than pious. Numerous distinct undergarment outlines generated growls of disapproval. Rapid-fire whispering reached the ears of a key leader. He became indignant and set his sights on the member who had invited her. The person was identified and sharply rebuked. We disciples make a major blunder when we expect "pagans" to act like saints. Sinful people do sinful things, which means they sometimes dress the part. But salvation and healing is for those who need it, when they need it. Our response to human suffering must transcend proper place, correct time, and culturally suitable dress. Anything less is hypocritical laziness.
*****
Jesus was aware of the hypocrisy of those scolding him for performing healing on the Lord's day. The Jewish teaching and tradition gave permission to lead the animals to water, or to pull an animal out of a pit on the sabbath. Perhaps this teaching of Jesus is one of the "cultured" pearls of great price that is found in the Bible.
Until recent times, the only pearls found were those where an irritant found its way inside an oyster shell. The oyster would coat the irritant with a pearly coating, and if left long enough it might produce a really large pearl. The process of finding the pearls was tedious and difficult. Then someone discovered you could add an irritant by carefully placing it under the shell. The oyster would coat the artificial irritant with the same beautiful pearl material. In fact, that is what Jesus is always doing -- taking the painful and irritating things of life and transforming them into something beautiful and priceless.
*****
There once was a minister who used the story of the bent-over woman as a devotional at a retreat for women who had been victims of sexual abuse. When the reading was ended, as she described it later, there was silence -- utter silence that went on for many minutes. Every woman in that room knew what it meant to be bent over in spirit, and every one there also hoped and prayed that God could call forth the power to make her stand straight and tall once again.
*****
Healing can sometimes be a disturbing thing. In the sixteenth chapter of Acts there's the story of a slave-girl who had what the Bible calls a "spirit of divination." Probably she had some form of mental illness, which her owners used to make a great deal of money. They passed her off as a fortune-teller and charged admission to see her. When Paul and Silas come to Philippi and heal her, the owners actually complain to the authorities and have them thrown in jail! It seems Paul and Silas are infringing on their trade, never mind that their slave-girl, once bent over in spirit, can now stand tall.
That's an example of how comfortable we can get with the status quo, how easily we accept all that is wrong about the world and about our lives. All of us have certain faults and foibles -- even addictions -- that have become so familiar we've almost grown to like them. If God were to reach out to us today and heal us of those things, we might not be so sure we want the healing.
*****
There's an old story about a typical church -- a nice church, a respectable church. One Sunday, the people of that respectable congregation had gathered for worship all decked out in their Sunday-go-to-meeting best when a man walked into the sanctuary who just didn't seem to belong.
Scruffy in appearance and ragged of dress, he smelled of liquor (which, judging from his lurching walk, he was consuming in great quantity). The usher handed the man a bulletin and motioned him toward an out-of-the-way pew. Ignoring his suggestion, the visitor staggered down the center aisle to the front pew and planted himself there.
So far, so good, thought the ushers -- hoping that the man would doze off. Yet once the minister began the sermon, there was no illusion about that.
"Hallelujah!" shouted the newcomer. The minister gave him a stern look and continued on.
Not a moment later, the visitor interrupted again. "Praise the Lord!" he proclaimed.
One of the ushers came over and whispered to him as nicely as he could, "Sir, we don't do that here!"
"But I've got religion!" the man objected.
"Yes, sir," said the usher. "I'm sure you do. But you didn't get it here!"
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Let us take refuge in our God.
People: In God we will never be put to shame.
Leader: Let God be our rock and our refuge.
People: God is our hope, our trust.
Leader: Let us lean upon our God.
People: Our praise is continually of our God.
OR
Leader: Come and serve the One who calls you.
People: We come and offer ourselves to God.
Leader: God calls us to give our all to God's Reign.
People: We are willing to sacrifice all for God.
Leader: Only for the Good News of God are you called.
People: Only for God's Good News do we offer our lives.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"O For a Heart to Praise My God"
found in:
UMH: 417
"I Want a Principle Within"
found in:
UMH: 410
"The Gift of Love"
found in:
UMH: 408
AAHH: 522
CH: 526
Renew: 155
"Jesu, Jesu"
found in:
UMH: 432
H82: 602
PH: 367
NCH: 498
CH: 600
CCB: 66
Renew: 289
"Let There Be Peace on Earth"
found in:
UMH: 431
CH: 677
"All People That on Earth Do Dwell"
found in:
UMH: 75
H82: 377, 379
PH: 220, 221
NNBH: 36
NCH: 7
CH: 18
LBW: 245
"We, Thy People, Praise Thee"
found in:
UMH: 67
"Word of God, Come Down on Earth"
found in:
UMH: 182
"Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus"
found in:
CCB: 55
"Our God Reigns"
found in:
CCB: 33
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 calls us from before our creation: Grant us the wisdom to know the difference between when our calling as your disciples requires sacrifice and when it is only the ego of ourselves or others that demands it; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We have come to worship you, O God, and to receive our marching orders as disciples of Jesus. Help us in the time of worship to discern rightly what it is that you require of us, so that we may be faithful to you and not destroyed by our own misunderstandings. Amen.
OR
O God who calls us to become completely transparent to your presence: Grant us the wisdom and courage to seek that transparency even when it means giving up our understanding of how things are supposed to be; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the ways in which we cling to our principles even when they destroy others.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have taken the words of life you have given us and used them as weapons against our sisters and brothers. We have taken a stance of holiness to block the way of the Holy One. You have called us to become living sacrifices for your Reign, but we often sacrifice ourselves for our own status. Forgive us our self-centered ways and call us once more to be transformed into your image, so that we may wisely use your truths to bring us and the whole world closer to you. Amen.
Leader: God desires the salvation of all creation and welcomes us even when we have been unfaithful. God grants us forgiveness and invites us once more to join in the work of salvation.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and sing your praises, O God, because you are the one who calls us. You call us to serve you and to serve our sisters and brothers.
(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 taken the words of life you have given us and used them as weapons against our sisters and brothers. We have taken a stance of holiness to block the way of the Holy One. You have called us to become living sacrifices for your Reign, but we often sacrifice ourselves for our own status. Forgive us our self-centered ways and call us once more to be transformed into your image, so that we may wisely use your truths to bring us and the whole world closer to you.
We give you thanks for all those who have been true to the task of being transformed into your image. There have been those holy ones in our lives who were willing to risk ridicule and rejection because they loved you more than the signs that point to you. They sacrificed themselves as they became more radiant of your glory. They resisted the siren call to please others.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need. We pray especially for those who find themselves being used up not for your Reign, but for the pleasure of those who demand so much of them. We pray for those who have gotten so entangled in the signs you have sent that they no longer can see you. We pray especially for ourselves, that we may be faithful to you and to those you have given us to serve.
(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
Books of Law, secular and sacred, on one side of the table, with pictures of people in need (hungry, destitute, imprisoned, hungry, etc.) on the other side.
Children's Sermon Starter
Talk to the children about times when one of their parents called them -- to come for dinner, to come in for the evening, or whatever. Then talk about when God calls all of us to share God's love with each other.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Sometimes You Gotta Bend the Rules!
Luke 13:10-17
Object: signs with rules on them -- you can either use some commercially-made signs or draw them yourself
I have some signs with me this morning and I want you to read them and tell me who might put up each sign. (hold up the first sign: No Dogs or Pets Allowed) What does this sign say? (response) Who would put up a sign like this? (response: stores) What does this sign say? (hold up the second sign: STOP) Who puts up this sign? (response: people who make the roads) What does this sign say? (hold up the third sign: No Shirt No Shoes No Service) Who puts up this sign? (response: restaurant) What does this sign say? (hold up the fourth sign: Quiet Please) Who puts up this sign? (response: librarian) What does this sign say? (hold up the fifth sign: Remember Sunday is holy and you should rest [an adaptation of the Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy]) Who puts up this sign? (response: God)
Signs and rules are very important. They help us know what to do, and some of them even help us know how best to live our lives. But sometimes rules can get in the way of doing something good. Who knows what an ambulance is for? (response) And when an ambulance is carrying a sick person to the hospital and they come upon a stop sign (hold up the STOP sign) the ambulance does what? (response) That's right. The ambulance goes right through the stop sign. Why does it run right through the stop sign? (response: they are in a hurry to get to the hospital, someone's sick) The stop sign is very important and helps protect us, but sometimes it gets in the way of helping people.
Prayer: Father, we know that rules are important, but help us to put people first and not the rules. Amen.
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The Immediate Word, August 22, 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.
