Telling The Story
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
The account of the healing of the blind man in our gospel lesson is wonderful. He meets Jesus. His life is changed. His friends see the difference. Finally, he is asked to give a theological perspective to the incredible event, but he refuses. All he finds necessary to say is "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" The story is sufficient.
This is marvelous instruction about evangelism. Tell your own story. Will people be interested? Yes, indeed. As they confront realities like earthquakes and hurricanes, fires and floods, plus the myriad of other personal disasters that occur, they wonder, "Where is God in all this?" As has been said, there are no atheists in foxholes. People are interested in talk about God.
For those worried about doing it correctly, the word is don't! God uses the most imperfect storytellers to get the message across. The Lord works in mysterious (and sometimes mischievous) ways.
The task of evangelism is a daunting one in the mainline church in our day. Despite the fact that Gallup polls consistently show that Americans are exceedingly religious (generally about 95% claiming a belief in God), recent statistics on the number of unchurched people in this nation make America one of the largest mission fields in the world. With Isaiah, we long for the day when everyone will stream to the Lord's house to learn God's ways, to walk in God's path, beating swords in plowshares and spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:2-4). We long for a day when oppression and injustice will be no more. Combine that with the decline in ethical and moral standards among our young and we begin to understand the urgency of the mission.
The enormity of the undertaking might be daunting, but I find help in something I read once from former Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield who reported on a conversation he had with Mother Teresa at her hospital in Calcutta. After having seen the incredible task she faced among those poorest of the poor, he asked how she was able to bear up under the load with so much to be done. She replied, "My Dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am only called to be faithful." It is no different with our challenge to share the gospel.
Perhaps you are familiar with the name Angelo Roncalli. You may know him better by the name he took late in life, Pope John XXIII. It is safe to say that John XXIII made more of an impact on the life of the Christian church than anyone since Martin Luther. It was John XXIII who was responsible for the sweeping changes brought about by Vatican II -- a less legalistic approach to faith, worship in the language of the people, an openness to non-Catholic Christians -- to name just a few. It is said that Pope John's bedtime prayer was routinely the kind of conversation between himself and the Lord that prayer ought to be. As he reflected on the events of the day, the trials and tribulations of leadership, he heard "Who governs the church? You or the Holy Spirit?" Then he would hear, "Very well then. Go to sleep, Angelo. Go to sleep."
This is marvelous instruction about evangelism. Tell your own story. Will people be interested? Yes, indeed. As they confront realities like earthquakes and hurricanes, fires and floods, plus the myriad of other personal disasters that occur, they wonder, "Where is God in all this?" As has been said, there are no atheists in foxholes. People are interested in talk about God.
For those worried about doing it correctly, the word is don't! God uses the most imperfect storytellers to get the message across. The Lord works in mysterious (and sometimes mischievous) ways.
The task of evangelism is a daunting one in the mainline church in our day. Despite the fact that Gallup polls consistently show that Americans are exceedingly religious (generally about 95% claiming a belief in God), recent statistics on the number of unchurched people in this nation make America one of the largest mission fields in the world. With Isaiah, we long for the day when everyone will stream to the Lord's house to learn God's ways, to walk in God's path, beating swords in plowshares and spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:2-4). We long for a day when oppression and injustice will be no more. Combine that with the decline in ethical and moral standards among our young and we begin to understand the urgency of the mission.
The enormity of the undertaking might be daunting, but I find help in something I read once from former Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield who reported on a conversation he had with Mother Teresa at her hospital in Calcutta. After having seen the incredible task she faced among those poorest of the poor, he asked how she was able to bear up under the load with so much to be done. She replied, "My Dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am only called to be faithful." It is no different with our challenge to share the gospel.
Perhaps you are familiar with the name Angelo Roncalli. You may know him better by the name he took late in life, Pope John XXIII. It is safe to say that John XXIII made more of an impact on the life of the Christian church than anyone since Martin Luther. It was John XXIII who was responsible for the sweeping changes brought about by Vatican II -- a less legalistic approach to faith, worship in the language of the people, an openness to non-Catholic Christians -- to name just a few. It is said that Pope John's bedtime prayer was routinely the kind of conversation between himself and the Lord that prayer ought to be. As he reflected on the events of the day, the trials and tribulations of leadership, he heard "Who governs the church? You or the Holy Spirit?" Then he would hear, "Very well then. Go to sleep, Angelo. Go to sleep."
