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My Favorite Story
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15 June 2008 I have been a member of 7 UCC churches in my still young life. Five of those 7 after I thought I was settling down following my career in the US Air Force. And, I think I may have visited 7 X 7 UCC churches at least once. At those 7 churches where I was a member, I have, on several occasions, attended this or that adult Christian education class. It seems to me that at some point during those classes, I, and all the other members of those classes were asked by the class instructor (probably the Pastor of the church) - - what is my favorite Bible story. I recall - now 25 years ago after what was probably the first time I was asked that question - that after a week’s thought about the question, I answered - - at the next class - - with the text I quoted just moments ago. As the result of that first response, the class was then tasked to - - over the next couple of months - - write why that response was their favorite Bible story. I’ve kept that “term paper” (as it turned out to be) and “tinkered” with it about once every five years or so since 1983 - - as I have either turned in or orally presented essentially that same term paper when subsequently asked - - what is my favorite Bible story. I was comfortable with my “favorite” choice back in 1983, and I remain comfortable with it today. I’m NOT here today to convince you that my favorite story is better than your favorite story - - I just thought I’d take a few minutes here this morning and explain why I like this one. s my lovely wife Diane can attest, I’m NOT keen about selecting a “favorite” or “best” for much of anything. I still manage to squirm out of answering Diane’s very predictable questions - - “what part of that movie or book did you like best” and - - “what was your favorite meal” following a weekend jaunt or vacation. Mentioning “favorite” and “best”, look at what the Washington DC Chamber of Commerce has to say about their favorite part of their town. Looking for a winner? Being associated with a winner. Ah, life is great isn’t it? Life, a matter of being a winner. We do think that not only life is a matter of winning; we believe religion is a time of victory. Winning the big game, so to speak; knowing that death does not win. Paul proclaims an essential dimension of Easter, “Oh death, where is thy sting; Oh grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. That’s good theology, but to be very blunt, it has dangerous implications. Because we tend to overdo our concern for victory and begin to think God really is on our side, that’s why our team won – right? God is really on my side. Isn’t that so? Ask Wayne Richards about his Boston Red Sox. Ask Jeff Chamberlain about his New England Patriots. Ask Jim Van Prooyen about his Detroit Red Wings. It would be great if this were a laughing matter, but the issue confronts our every step and breath, “Just what is the place of God in the human journey? Is it to put extra speed or accuracy on that puck, football or soccer ball or baseball; is it to push us into the winner’s circle; is it to keep us ahead? Is God on our side? Certainly the Jews thought so in Paul’s day. Let’s face it: they thought they were better than the Gentiles. They thought they were the gatekeepers to religious truth and that Gentiles were to be disregarded by the Holy One, the God of Israel. It was never “the God of the Gentiles.” Paul said to the Jewish religious community, “You are given a new gift through Jesus Christ, that your relationship with God will continue even through death. It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have sent you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’” The Jewish religious leaders would have none of this. Jahweh, the Holy One, was their God - - not to be shared. They are the Holy People of Israel, not the Gentiles. They are the winners, the ones delivered from Egypt and sustained through the wilderness. They are God’s chosen few. In truth, they are really God’s frozen few, wanting God for themselves, but actually through their narrowness and selfishness, they turned the Creator God into a pygmy. Rather than make God relevant, they made God insignificant. Rather than understand and accept God as One for all, they made God provincial and available to none. “God is for us and not the Gentiles. We’re the winners and they are the outsiders, “ intoned those gathered around Paul. “God is on our side.” Times haven’t really changed, only the cast of characters. The question confronts our steps, and breath: what is the place of God in our human journey? Is it to be the makers of winners? What do you think? My thought is this: if we see life and its essence, if we see relationship with God and its essence, in terms of winning and losing, we miss the primary emphasis of the Gospel. God does not want us to understand and experience life’s value in terms of winning and losing. What Paul was trying to get through to the Jewish people of that day - - what Christ’s whole ministry was devoted to - - was not creating winners and losers. God’s place in life is not to add speed or accuracy to that puck, or football or soccer ball or baseball or win a lottery ticket, or hold a job. That’s not what God does or promises. Ultimately for God, life is not a matter of winning and losing. It is a matter of finding us when we are lost. It is a matter of giving us a sense of belonging. To understand the essence of living, please turn with me to the Scripture lesson. In this lesson, Jesus is talking about salvation - - what it means to have eternal life. Jesus doesn’t talk about the win-loss column; He talks about the lost-and-found department. He understands that life - - the essence of life - - is knowing that we belong. Salvation - - the essence of this Scripture lesson - - gives us a sense of belonging. In Christ’s terms, salvation, being saved, has to do with being found - - when we are lost, when we wander, when we feel that we only live in the loss column. Consider His message. The Jews ask Jesus, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” In other words, “Jesus, what is your agenda? Who are you? Jesus Christ? What are you about? Jesus answers. And friends, I believe this is the answer of answers. It is the essence. He says, you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” Wow. That is powerful!!! Jesus is saying to them and to us: the most important thing you need in your life is to know that you belong, that you and God are one. And that is so, if you will consider yourself as a sheep. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd and will respond to that voice. Others can call, but the sheep pay no heed. The shepherd’s voice is the only voice that matters. We have to think about that. What voice matters in our lives? Is it primarily the voice of God, as we know it in the life and witness of Christ? “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. The shepherd knows the sheep, every single one of them. God knows us, every single one of us. We are not strangers to God, even though at times we may be strange to one another, and strangers even to ourselves. God knows who and where and how we are. “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” How many times - - how many times has Christ said to his disciples - - and to us, “Follow me!” The better way of ordering life is to follow Christ. To walk in the way of the Lord, to be fellow disciples, people of caring, compassion, understanding and healing. And what does God promise: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” There it is. The promise of eternal life. The gift of salvation. The good news that we will always belong to God, that when we are lost, we will be found. We don’t achieve salvation - - we receive it! What is life’s essence? Knowing that we will never be lost - - we will always be found. Have you ever been lost? I’ve been asked that question more than once - - both before and after we bought our new car with a GPS navigation system installed. Amen. |