The Day Of Pentecost
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle B
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (C)
This well-known passage of EzekielÍs vision tells of hope for the Israelites as they contemplated their seemingly hopeless plight in exile. God can do what no one could otherwise imagine. God can gather together the dead, the dry bones of people long gone, and can breathe new life into them. The word to us is a promise that nothing is ultimately lost in GodÍs hands. ItÍs not certain that Ezekiel envisioned literal individual resurrection here. That would come later, fulfilled in the preaching of Jesus. But Ezekiel did believe that there is hope for the hopeless, energy for the exhausted, light for the lost.
In our congregations there are people who feel very much like those Israelites must have felt. People who have lost what is dear. People whose failures are so complete they see no hope. People who have tried, tried with every ounce of strength to do what they believed was right for them, and it hasnÍt been enough. There are people among us who despair of quitting alcohol or drugs. To all of these, EzekielÍs word is the needed word of hope.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1-21 (C); Acts 2:1-11 (RC, E)
This passage, vitally important to Christian tradition and theology, reports the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered people. They perceived it as tongues of fire, accompanied by ñthe rush of a violent wind,'' and as language of a mysterious sort to them, at once strange, yet strangely intelligible. This report gave rise to the custom among some Christians of ñspeaking in tongues,'' a custom not especially appreciated by Paul, who seems to have accepted the practice, but urged that it not be done when people are present who will not understand. The custom still survives today among some Christian groups, but is rejected by nearly all of mainstream Protestantism and Catholicism.
Following the descent of the Spirit, Peter began to preach, to interpret what has happened. The essence of his preaching is that to become a Christian, one must be baptized, repent, doing so in the name of Jesus Christ. God will then forgive oneÍs sins and grant the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this passage, Peter emphasizes that the promises of God reported by the prophet Joel have been fulfilled that day.
We see a bit of first century humor in PeterÍs response to those who ñsneered and said, ïThey are filled with new wine.Í '' To this, Peter replied, ñThese are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine oÍclock in the morning.'' I have to think Peter was in a good mood at the time, and was jollying the cynics along a bit with a smile.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:22-27 (C)
Powerful words, these. ñThe Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.'' Have you ever been there? Have you ever turned tear-stained eyes to the heavens and tried to find words for anguish too deep to describe? Have you ever lost a loved one suddenly, tragically, and bereft of all hope cried your rage and dumb non-comprehension to the skies? I have. Oh, how I laid hold upon these words, these glorious words, this promise that even though our prayers are often childish and superficial, the Holy Spirit gathers them up and understands, hears the heartÍs cry, knows those deepest hurts, and answers „ not the words „ but the heartÍs cry.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 (RC); 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 (E)
This is the preacherÍs favorite text for preaching about the Church. A number of years ago, a friend of mine visited the well known Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., where he talked with its founder, Gordon Cosby. He asked Cosby, who had won nationwide attention to his innovative ministry, what advice he would give to other clergy about their preaching. He said Cosby replied that he would advise them to preach constantly about the Church.
Here, Paul reminds us that no two of us are alike. What makes the Church strong is its rich variety of personality types and talents. Some are equipped to preach, some to teach, some to manage, some to do the other things which need doing in the church. I donÍt think we quite know what speaking in tongues really was, though there are those who would argue the point. I think we need to respect each other in matters such as that one. God probably is mainly interested that we find worship forms which enable us to involve ourselves in a worshipful relationship with the divine. That sentiment would eventually issue in a rich diversity of denominations and groups. Even within larger denominations are many varieties of worship and management styles. If they serve the glory of God, whoÍs to judge?
All of this diversity of persons and congregational forms is the work of the Holy Spirit. So, weÍre all members of one body, baptized by one Spirit. As such, we are to forget our differences and live together in peace.
Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (C)
Jesus informs his friends that he soon must leave them. Realizing that this grieves them, he assures them that it will be to their advantage, because the consequences of his physical departure will be the arrival of an Advocate or Spirit who will represent them before God. There will be two results of this. First, everyone will discover the nature of sin and of their individual sin. But those who accept the Spirit of Christ „ such acceptance requiring that they recognize and acknowledge their sin „ will find that the second consequence of JesusÍ departure will be that they will be represented before God by a loving, forgiving Spirit. Jesus also promised that the same Spirit will lead them to grow in their understanding of the truth of GodÍs will.
The preacher might well define ñsin.'' In many circles the word is not taken seriously. Mark Twain once observed that ñthe difference between the right word and the almost-right word is like the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.'' ThatÍs about what has happened to the word ñsin'' in America. The word has been pretty much depreciated to refer to little flaws in our personalities and conduct. A movie was popular years ago with the title, Sing, You Sinners, and a perfume hit the market with the name, ñMy Sin.'' We have all seen magazine cartoons depicting some disreputable-looking man carrying a placard telling us to repent of our sins, always with a comic punch line. Even we clergy have contributed with stories like the one about the church with a sign reading: ñTired of sin? Come right in,'' on the front of which some wag had written with lipstick: ñIf not, call 321-6640'' (frankly, IÍve told that one myself). Only when we take the idea (and the reality) of sin seriously can we understand the marvelous gift of GodÍs forgiveness, and what that means for us.
Gospel: John 20:19-23 (RC, E)
Jesus suddenly appears to the disciples who have gathered in secret to avoid the Jews, of whom they were still afraid. Jesus then breathed on them, a symbolic act representing the gift of the Spirit, then sent them forth with the power to declare forgiveness of sins.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñCome Out To New Life''
Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Theme: As literature, the Old Testament is grand and wonderful. Its religion reveals in awesome splendor the power of a just and fair God. But Jesus would add something to this concept: the idea of a personal God, one who is aware of me and my mistakes, but also my trials and needs; a God who cares and wishes to be involved in my personal life. Jesus revealed that the power of God is, at least in part, devoted to the welfare of his children, which you and I are.
1. God knows what you are going through right now. Jesus once said that even a sparrow falling receives GodÍs attention. How much more any of us?
2. God desires to restore each of us to abundant life (JesusÍ word).
3. Personal prayer is the means to enable God to do this.
4. Repentance is the price we pay „ not a price literally, but a necessary condition to GodÍs healing forgiveness.
5. GodÍs Spirit will reveal to us how we are to rediscover abundant life.
Title: ñThe Risk Of Faith''
Text: Acts 2:1-21
Theme: The idea of a Spirit such as Peter describes is a difficult one for most of us today. It certainly requires an act of faith. However, as I sit here pounding away on a word processor, without the slightest idea how it works or what kind of mind people must have to invent things like this, I realize I accept all sorts of things on faith without understanding how theyÍre possible. The same applies to electricity. I think I once heard that even scientists donÍt quite understand electricity, although they obviously know a lot more about it than I do. What I do know is how to flip a light switch. Maybe this is a rather simple-minded analogy, but most of us need simple explanations for things anyway. My point is that we donÍt need to understand how the Spirit can work in our lives. What we need to do is trust that he does and live on that basis. I donÍt even care how electricity works as long as my lights go on. So with faith. If the ñlights go on,'' thatÍs all I need to know. William Temple said it well: ñI donÍt know how prayer works. I only know that when I pray, coincidences begin to happen.''
1. There are certain conditions which enable the power of the Spirit to work in my life. I could use the analogy of electricity: wiring, fuses, and so forth. With faith, it begins with trust. Also, my effort to live by certain standards is important. I donÍt believe God requires me to do everything just right. Even Jesus said no one is perfect. God does, however, ask of me that I make the effort, and that I grow in the process. Peter said we are to repent as a precondition to the Holy SpiritÍs activity in our lives. That means doing my best, however good that may or may not be.
2. I must run risks in life. ThereÍs a remarkable scene in the third Indiana Jones movie. He stands on a tiny platform on the side of a steep cliff, looking across a chasm hundreds of feet deep, toward a cave on the other side. He holds in his hand an ancient document which tells him there is a bridge across the chasm, one which is invisible to the eye due to camouflage which totally deceives the eye. All Jones sees is the yawning chasm before him. The document, years old, assures him if heÍll step into space, heÍll discover the concealed bridge. Also, the antidote to save JonesÍ fatherÍs life is on the other side and he only has minutes left. Muttering, ñThis is certainly a leap of faith,'' Jones steps out into space „ on solid ground.
3. Thus, we are empowered. However, thereÍs only one way to discover for oneself if this is true. A leap of faith. An act of risk. A trust which goes all the way.
Title: ñSin, Forgiveness, And The Love Of God''
Text: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Theme: Think of sin as an internal condition which causes different people to act in differing ways. One man may rob a bank. Another may say something untrue about a competitor. Still another may smugly disparage someone whom he considers socially unacceptable. ItÍs all sin. We might use the analogy of the flu. One person may have a sore throat, another a bad cough, still another an upset stomach. Different symptoms. Same ailment.
It surely isnÍt that when I die I will stand before some white-bearded old gentleman who orders, ñBring me CarverÍs file.'' Rather, I am becoming a certain kind of person. Either I am slowly mastering the way of love, or I am slowly disdaining love in favor of personal gain of one kind or another. When I am finally in the presence of pure love, only if I have learned the way of love will I be happy there.
One author used the analogy of two men going to a concert. One has learned to love great music. He is transfixed by its beauty, time flying by, disappointed when the concert finally ends. The other person doesnÍt understand or like good music. He twists and turns in his seat, looks at his watch a dozen times, wonders if this thing will ever end. The author suggested that if such is the case, how wise to learn something about good music.
1. Sin has worldly consequences. God may not punish at the time, but the world usually does. Recently, a seventy-year-old judge in a nearby community was charged with fraud. Actually, heÍd had a distinguished career. But as retirement was upon him, he did something wrong which netted him a few hundred dollars. He was caught, charged, forced to resign. They didnÍt put him in jail, but he will end his life in disgrace. All for a few dollars. Think how his family must feel. Of course the growing number of sociopaths running the streets of our cities today either end up in prison or are murdered by their competitors.
2. Sin demands an inward price. Unless we are sociopaths, we never really get away with wrongdoing. Our conscience doesnÍt permit that. Epictetus once wrote: ñA bad man is never free.'' Theodore Reich wrote a book with the title The Compulsion To Confess. His thesis was that many criminals are caught because, once they commit their crime, the guilt leads them to subconsciously need to be punished.
3. SinÍs greatest price is the spiritual erosion of our souls. It just doesnÍt work to do what we know is wrong, then try to seek GodÍs approval and assistance. Until we know remorse and a determination to do what is right, we cut ourselves off from God.
4. God will forgive us and heal us of our dark spirits if we do this: genuinely repent for what we have done, make amends as much as we are able, and set ourselves on a new and loving course in life. If we do this, we can start again with God.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Recently, in Indianapolis, a young man delivering pizza was murdered by a teenager high on drugs. The poor man had not resisted. It was out-and-out murder. I think most of us would have been more than sympathetic with the father of the murdered young man if he had been filled with hatred for the killer. A recent newspaper article told how instead, the father made contact with the father of the boy who had killed his son. They became friends. Together, they are now working to bring some kind of healing to the inner-city neighborhood where the crime took place. The father is not filled with hatred. He forgave, and more than that, he is trying to do something to prevent similar crimes. That is what Jesus was calling for. I donÍt know that father, but I have to believe he fought „ and won „ a painful inner battle to end up as he has. ThatÍs the opposite of sin, and itÍs what we Christians are called to try to do.
____________
One seminary professor I knew used the example of a fellow who came home drunk one night. He parked his car in the middle of the street, staggered up to his front porch, swore at his own inability to unlock his door, finally succeeded in that, then fell on his face on his living room floor. Meanwhile, across the street, a neighbor was sitting on his porch watching all of this. He turned to his wife and said, ñThereÍs Sam, drunk again. IÍm glad IÍm not that kind of man, the shameful old goat.''
The professor, anticipating that we students would declare the second neighbor to be the good guy, told us to read Luke 18:10-14. There we read that Jesus told about two men who went into a temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. Tax collecting is an honest vocation these days, but in JesusÍ time, a tax collector was a collaborator with the Roman occupation forces, a social undesirable. The Pharisee, a man who scrupulously obeyed all Jewish laws and tried to live a blameless life, looked at the tax collector out of the corner of his eye and prayed: ñI thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there.''
Meanwhile, the tax collector, head bowed, prayed: ñGod, have pity on me, a sinner.'' Jesus then said, ñThe tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right.'' In other words, one of the worst sins according to Jesus is self-righteousness. Being judgmental of others. All the ethical excellence of that Pharisee did not offset his self-righteousness, whereas the tax collector was honest about himself and sorry for his faults. See the point? Being good is only really good if it doesnÍt lead us to believe ourselves to be better than others, what Mark Twain called being ñgood in the worst sense of the word.'' We may obey every ethical rule we know: kindness, generosity, scrupulous honesty; still, if it leads us therefore to feel that we are superior to others who do not live up to our standards, then we are sinful. There lie the seeds of prejudice. Jesus would have absolutely no sympathy with the idea that one race is better than another, that one ethically acceptable vocation is better than another, that distinctions based on education, or religious choice, or financial status, or physical appearance are in any way justified. Such beliefs, if they lead to a feeling of superiority, no matter how carefully we may conceal them from others, are sinful. Wrongdoing is a sin, but so is self-righteous judgmentalism. That includes preachers who condemn other denominations and religions.
____________
Barbara Mandrell recently told of her return to show business after having endured a terrible trial in her life. It was an extravaganza performance, introduced by Dolly Parton, who volunteered to be with Barbara on this very important occasion. And, as Barbara waited in her dressing room for her entrance, she was overwhelmed with stage fright. It was so bad she became physically ill and seriously considered a last-minute cancellation. She forced herself to step to the edge of stage, just out of sight of her waiting audience. Terrified, she started to pray. She said she told God she knew this fear did not come from him and she asked him to cast it out. Immediately, she said, almost as a tangible feeling of divine closeness, her fear disappeared, completely. In that memorable moment of Holy Spirit presence, she stepped out for a show-stopping performance.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (C); Psalm 104 (RC); Psalm 104:25-37 (E) „ ñWhen you send forth your Spirit ... you renew the face of the earth.''
Prayer Of The Day
Show us what we have done, O God „ the hurts we have inflicted, the unlovely words we have spoken, the rejections given. Open our eyes that we might see ourselves as we have become. Then, O God, give us faith by which to repent and turn from former ways. In ChristÍs holy name we pray. Amen.
Lesson 1: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (C)
This well-known passage of EzekielÍs vision tells of hope for the Israelites as they contemplated their seemingly hopeless plight in exile. God can do what no one could otherwise imagine. God can gather together the dead, the dry bones of people long gone, and can breathe new life into them. The word to us is a promise that nothing is ultimately lost in GodÍs hands. ItÍs not certain that Ezekiel envisioned literal individual resurrection here. That would come later, fulfilled in the preaching of Jesus. But Ezekiel did believe that there is hope for the hopeless, energy for the exhausted, light for the lost.
In our congregations there are people who feel very much like those Israelites must have felt. People who have lost what is dear. People whose failures are so complete they see no hope. People who have tried, tried with every ounce of strength to do what they believed was right for them, and it hasnÍt been enough. There are people among us who despair of quitting alcohol or drugs. To all of these, EzekielÍs word is the needed word of hope.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1-21 (C); Acts 2:1-11 (RC, E)
This passage, vitally important to Christian tradition and theology, reports the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered people. They perceived it as tongues of fire, accompanied by ñthe rush of a violent wind,'' and as language of a mysterious sort to them, at once strange, yet strangely intelligible. This report gave rise to the custom among some Christians of ñspeaking in tongues,'' a custom not especially appreciated by Paul, who seems to have accepted the practice, but urged that it not be done when people are present who will not understand. The custom still survives today among some Christian groups, but is rejected by nearly all of mainstream Protestantism and Catholicism.
Following the descent of the Spirit, Peter began to preach, to interpret what has happened. The essence of his preaching is that to become a Christian, one must be baptized, repent, doing so in the name of Jesus Christ. God will then forgive oneÍs sins and grant the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this passage, Peter emphasizes that the promises of God reported by the prophet Joel have been fulfilled that day.
We see a bit of first century humor in PeterÍs response to those who ñsneered and said, ïThey are filled with new wine.Í '' To this, Peter replied, ñThese are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine oÍclock in the morning.'' I have to think Peter was in a good mood at the time, and was jollying the cynics along a bit with a smile.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:22-27 (C)
Powerful words, these. ñThe Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.'' Have you ever been there? Have you ever turned tear-stained eyes to the heavens and tried to find words for anguish too deep to describe? Have you ever lost a loved one suddenly, tragically, and bereft of all hope cried your rage and dumb non-comprehension to the skies? I have. Oh, how I laid hold upon these words, these glorious words, this promise that even though our prayers are often childish and superficial, the Holy Spirit gathers them up and understands, hears the heartÍs cry, knows those deepest hurts, and answers „ not the words „ but the heartÍs cry.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 (RC); 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 (E)
This is the preacherÍs favorite text for preaching about the Church. A number of years ago, a friend of mine visited the well known Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., where he talked with its founder, Gordon Cosby. He asked Cosby, who had won nationwide attention to his innovative ministry, what advice he would give to other clergy about their preaching. He said Cosby replied that he would advise them to preach constantly about the Church.
Here, Paul reminds us that no two of us are alike. What makes the Church strong is its rich variety of personality types and talents. Some are equipped to preach, some to teach, some to manage, some to do the other things which need doing in the church. I donÍt think we quite know what speaking in tongues really was, though there are those who would argue the point. I think we need to respect each other in matters such as that one. God probably is mainly interested that we find worship forms which enable us to involve ourselves in a worshipful relationship with the divine. That sentiment would eventually issue in a rich diversity of denominations and groups. Even within larger denominations are many varieties of worship and management styles. If they serve the glory of God, whoÍs to judge?
All of this diversity of persons and congregational forms is the work of the Holy Spirit. So, weÍre all members of one body, baptized by one Spirit. As such, we are to forget our differences and live together in peace.
Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (C)
Jesus informs his friends that he soon must leave them. Realizing that this grieves them, he assures them that it will be to their advantage, because the consequences of his physical departure will be the arrival of an Advocate or Spirit who will represent them before God. There will be two results of this. First, everyone will discover the nature of sin and of their individual sin. But those who accept the Spirit of Christ „ such acceptance requiring that they recognize and acknowledge their sin „ will find that the second consequence of JesusÍ departure will be that they will be represented before God by a loving, forgiving Spirit. Jesus also promised that the same Spirit will lead them to grow in their understanding of the truth of GodÍs will.
The preacher might well define ñsin.'' In many circles the word is not taken seriously. Mark Twain once observed that ñthe difference between the right word and the almost-right word is like the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.'' ThatÍs about what has happened to the word ñsin'' in America. The word has been pretty much depreciated to refer to little flaws in our personalities and conduct. A movie was popular years ago with the title, Sing, You Sinners, and a perfume hit the market with the name, ñMy Sin.'' We have all seen magazine cartoons depicting some disreputable-looking man carrying a placard telling us to repent of our sins, always with a comic punch line. Even we clergy have contributed with stories like the one about the church with a sign reading: ñTired of sin? Come right in,'' on the front of which some wag had written with lipstick: ñIf not, call 321-6640'' (frankly, IÍve told that one myself). Only when we take the idea (and the reality) of sin seriously can we understand the marvelous gift of GodÍs forgiveness, and what that means for us.
Gospel: John 20:19-23 (RC, E)
Jesus suddenly appears to the disciples who have gathered in secret to avoid the Jews, of whom they were still afraid. Jesus then breathed on them, a symbolic act representing the gift of the Spirit, then sent them forth with the power to declare forgiveness of sins.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñCome Out To New Life''
Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Theme: As literature, the Old Testament is grand and wonderful. Its religion reveals in awesome splendor the power of a just and fair God. But Jesus would add something to this concept: the idea of a personal God, one who is aware of me and my mistakes, but also my trials and needs; a God who cares and wishes to be involved in my personal life. Jesus revealed that the power of God is, at least in part, devoted to the welfare of his children, which you and I are.
1. God knows what you are going through right now. Jesus once said that even a sparrow falling receives GodÍs attention. How much more any of us?
2. God desires to restore each of us to abundant life (JesusÍ word).
3. Personal prayer is the means to enable God to do this.
4. Repentance is the price we pay „ not a price literally, but a necessary condition to GodÍs healing forgiveness.
5. GodÍs Spirit will reveal to us how we are to rediscover abundant life.
Title: ñThe Risk Of Faith''
Text: Acts 2:1-21
Theme: The idea of a Spirit such as Peter describes is a difficult one for most of us today. It certainly requires an act of faith. However, as I sit here pounding away on a word processor, without the slightest idea how it works or what kind of mind people must have to invent things like this, I realize I accept all sorts of things on faith without understanding how theyÍre possible. The same applies to electricity. I think I once heard that even scientists donÍt quite understand electricity, although they obviously know a lot more about it than I do. What I do know is how to flip a light switch. Maybe this is a rather simple-minded analogy, but most of us need simple explanations for things anyway. My point is that we donÍt need to understand how the Spirit can work in our lives. What we need to do is trust that he does and live on that basis. I donÍt even care how electricity works as long as my lights go on. So with faith. If the ñlights go on,'' thatÍs all I need to know. William Temple said it well: ñI donÍt know how prayer works. I only know that when I pray, coincidences begin to happen.''
1. There are certain conditions which enable the power of the Spirit to work in my life. I could use the analogy of electricity: wiring, fuses, and so forth. With faith, it begins with trust. Also, my effort to live by certain standards is important. I donÍt believe God requires me to do everything just right. Even Jesus said no one is perfect. God does, however, ask of me that I make the effort, and that I grow in the process. Peter said we are to repent as a precondition to the Holy SpiritÍs activity in our lives. That means doing my best, however good that may or may not be.
2. I must run risks in life. ThereÍs a remarkable scene in the third Indiana Jones movie. He stands on a tiny platform on the side of a steep cliff, looking across a chasm hundreds of feet deep, toward a cave on the other side. He holds in his hand an ancient document which tells him there is a bridge across the chasm, one which is invisible to the eye due to camouflage which totally deceives the eye. All Jones sees is the yawning chasm before him. The document, years old, assures him if heÍll step into space, heÍll discover the concealed bridge. Also, the antidote to save JonesÍ fatherÍs life is on the other side and he only has minutes left. Muttering, ñThis is certainly a leap of faith,'' Jones steps out into space „ on solid ground.
3. Thus, we are empowered. However, thereÍs only one way to discover for oneself if this is true. A leap of faith. An act of risk. A trust which goes all the way.
Title: ñSin, Forgiveness, And The Love Of God''
Text: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Theme: Think of sin as an internal condition which causes different people to act in differing ways. One man may rob a bank. Another may say something untrue about a competitor. Still another may smugly disparage someone whom he considers socially unacceptable. ItÍs all sin. We might use the analogy of the flu. One person may have a sore throat, another a bad cough, still another an upset stomach. Different symptoms. Same ailment.
It surely isnÍt that when I die I will stand before some white-bearded old gentleman who orders, ñBring me CarverÍs file.'' Rather, I am becoming a certain kind of person. Either I am slowly mastering the way of love, or I am slowly disdaining love in favor of personal gain of one kind or another. When I am finally in the presence of pure love, only if I have learned the way of love will I be happy there.
One author used the analogy of two men going to a concert. One has learned to love great music. He is transfixed by its beauty, time flying by, disappointed when the concert finally ends. The other person doesnÍt understand or like good music. He twists and turns in his seat, looks at his watch a dozen times, wonders if this thing will ever end. The author suggested that if such is the case, how wise to learn something about good music.
1. Sin has worldly consequences. God may not punish at the time, but the world usually does. Recently, a seventy-year-old judge in a nearby community was charged with fraud. Actually, heÍd had a distinguished career. But as retirement was upon him, he did something wrong which netted him a few hundred dollars. He was caught, charged, forced to resign. They didnÍt put him in jail, but he will end his life in disgrace. All for a few dollars. Think how his family must feel. Of course the growing number of sociopaths running the streets of our cities today either end up in prison or are murdered by their competitors.
2. Sin demands an inward price. Unless we are sociopaths, we never really get away with wrongdoing. Our conscience doesnÍt permit that. Epictetus once wrote: ñA bad man is never free.'' Theodore Reich wrote a book with the title The Compulsion To Confess. His thesis was that many criminals are caught because, once they commit their crime, the guilt leads them to subconsciously need to be punished.
3. SinÍs greatest price is the spiritual erosion of our souls. It just doesnÍt work to do what we know is wrong, then try to seek GodÍs approval and assistance. Until we know remorse and a determination to do what is right, we cut ourselves off from God.
4. God will forgive us and heal us of our dark spirits if we do this: genuinely repent for what we have done, make amends as much as we are able, and set ourselves on a new and loving course in life. If we do this, we can start again with God.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Recently, in Indianapolis, a young man delivering pizza was murdered by a teenager high on drugs. The poor man had not resisted. It was out-and-out murder. I think most of us would have been more than sympathetic with the father of the murdered young man if he had been filled with hatred for the killer. A recent newspaper article told how instead, the father made contact with the father of the boy who had killed his son. They became friends. Together, they are now working to bring some kind of healing to the inner-city neighborhood where the crime took place. The father is not filled with hatred. He forgave, and more than that, he is trying to do something to prevent similar crimes. That is what Jesus was calling for. I donÍt know that father, but I have to believe he fought „ and won „ a painful inner battle to end up as he has. ThatÍs the opposite of sin, and itÍs what we Christians are called to try to do.
____________
One seminary professor I knew used the example of a fellow who came home drunk one night. He parked his car in the middle of the street, staggered up to his front porch, swore at his own inability to unlock his door, finally succeeded in that, then fell on his face on his living room floor. Meanwhile, across the street, a neighbor was sitting on his porch watching all of this. He turned to his wife and said, ñThereÍs Sam, drunk again. IÍm glad IÍm not that kind of man, the shameful old goat.''
The professor, anticipating that we students would declare the second neighbor to be the good guy, told us to read Luke 18:10-14. There we read that Jesus told about two men who went into a temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. Tax collecting is an honest vocation these days, but in JesusÍ time, a tax collector was a collaborator with the Roman occupation forces, a social undesirable. The Pharisee, a man who scrupulously obeyed all Jewish laws and tried to live a blameless life, looked at the tax collector out of the corner of his eye and prayed: ñI thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there.''
Meanwhile, the tax collector, head bowed, prayed: ñGod, have pity on me, a sinner.'' Jesus then said, ñThe tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right.'' In other words, one of the worst sins according to Jesus is self-righteousness. Being judgmental of others. All the ethical excellence of that Pharisee did not offset his self-righteousness, whereas the tax collector was honest about himself and sorry for his faults. See the point? Being good is only really good if it doesnÍt lead us to believe ourselves to be better than others, what Mark Twain called being ñgood in the worst sense of the word.'' We may obey every ethical rule we know: kindness, generosity, scrupulous honesty; still, if it leads us therefore to feel that we are superior to others who do not live up to our standards, then we are sinful. There lie the seeds of prejudice. Jesus would have absolutely no sympathy with the idea that one race is better than another, that one ethically acceptable vocation is better than another, that distinctions based on education, or religious choice, or financial status, or physical appearance are in any way justified. Such beliefs, if they lead to a feeling of superiority, no matter how carefully we may conceal them from others, are sinful. Wrongdoing is a sin, but so is self-righteous judgmentalism. That includes preachers who condemn other denominations and religions.
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Barbara Mandrell recently told of her return to show business after having endured a terrible trial in her life. It was an extravaganza performance, introduced by Dolly Parton, who volunteered to be with Barbara on this very important occasion. And, as Barbara waited in her dressing room for her entrance, she was overwhelmed with stage fright. It was so bad she became physically ill and seriously considered a last-minute cancellation. She forced herself to step to the edge of stage, just out of sight of her waiting audience. Terrified, she started to pray. She said she told God she knew this fear did not come from him and she asked him to cast it out. Immediately, she said, almost as a tangible feeling of divine closeness, her fear disappeared, completely. In that memorable moment of Holy Spirit presence, she stepped out for a show-stopping performance.
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Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (C); Psalm 104 (RC); Psalm 104:25-37 (E) „ ñWhen you send forth your Spirit ... you renew the face of the earth.''
Prayer Of The Day
Show us what we have done, O God „ the hurts we have inflicted, the unlovely words we have spoken, the rejections given. Open our eyes that we might see ourselves as we have become. Then, O God, give us faith by which to repent and turn from former ways. In ChristÍs holy name we pray. Amen.
