August 10, 2008

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Are you in good hands with Allstate? Maybe Nationwide is on your side. Do you find it comforting that even a Caveman can do it, and what of the cavewoman? Does Afflac have your back?

What do insurance companies do? They cover you from acts of God. This month marks three years since Hurricane Katrina ignored the 35MPH signs posted in the beach towns that hg the Gulf Coast from Mobile to New Orleans. This devastating storm has been called the most expensive and devastating Act of God in our nation’s history.

Of course God did not build a city in a flood plain, set up an economic strategy that allowed the rich to live on the high land and the communities built by the children of slaves and Jim Crow to live below sea level. And I don’t think God refused to appropriate funds for the levees. It doesn’t seem a lot like God to make the richest country in the world waste days in responding, mock the victims and refuse to develop a long-term strategy for recovery.

What conclusion can we draw from these things? Well, we sure don’t think much of God’s Acts. Acts of God are about the worst thing that can happen to you.

We speak of God’s judgment as a terrible swift day. We picture roaring seas and crashing waves when we speak of God. No matter the tragedy in life, we always say it was God’s will, or God knows best.

No wonder Elijah, much like Moses on the same mount, expected God to be in the wind, in the tempest, in the fire and in the earthquake, only to find God in the quieting and the hush. How quite unlike God! Yet it was there from this cave hidden on the mount of Moses that God speaks to Elijah in the peace and in the quiet.

In today’s gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) a severe storm is raging at sea. No one would be surprised to hear the news of a boat capsizing killing all hands, an act of God. The disciples are aware of this ever present danger as they sat in the boat. The fear is not to be underestimated. They believe in God but they believed in the God that held the sea at bay, and could release the chaotic forces of the deep. This was the God who in Genesis set a dome between the chaotic waters and the sky. Here they were at the border of this boundary, a scary place to be. Here, this same God that sent a whale, a Leviathan to swallow Jonah and called forth the waters of the flood.

Who knows what else was below? We remember that when Jesus cast out some demons that filled the bodies of pigs and rushed into the sea as their dwelling place. It is believed that fear of the sea was so great that many, including fishermen learned to swim. Who could swim against an Act of God anyway?

God was no friend on the water. God was known on the sea by the tempest, the great tumult, and yes, torture. The original Greek says that the boat was being tortured by the storm.

This passage is well-known. Many sermons have been given, more than one stained-glass window bears the image of Jesus walking across the waves. Jokes are even frequent. We refer to someone with a big persona as thinking they can walk on water. Along with the familiarity also come some misconceptions or at least two ways that the text is often interpreted.

There is #1: “Peter needs more faith.” That would be fine and dandy except for one thing: When Jesus reaches out His hand to save a sinking Peter with the words “Why did you fear, oh Ye of little faith?” We have already learned from Jesus that a little faith is really all you need.

Consider the recent parable about the tiny mustard seed. Interestingly enough, the one who has just healed the sick, fed the multitudes and is now walking on water does not fix Peter’s faith. Surely the one who can multiply fish and loaves can multiply faith. He does not rebuke or condemn Peter for his lack of faith nor does he remedy the problem. Instead, Jesus pulls him out. Peter’s faith is not so little that Jesus cannot be there for him. So this story is not about the amount of faith one may or may not have. It is not about portions at all. It is about an Act of God. God saves us when we have only a little faith to save us.

There is #2: “Get out of the boat and do something.” Again the problem here is that it is Peter’s idea to get out of the boat, not Jesus’. Peter says “if it is you Lord, then beckon me to walk on the water to you.” Jesus then says “Come.” It is Peter that is putting God to the test, not Jesus testing Peter. It is Peter tempting God, demanding a sign, trying to manipulate the situation even in his fear. It is Peter that wants assurance. How many times have we said “If you love me, you will do this or that.” Bad theology! Bad Lutherans! You would think it enough that Jesus was coming to be with them. But no. Peter has to have more, and be in control. Despite his arrogance and his wanting to be in control, Jesus pulls him out anyway. So it is not about the amount of faith or about the moral turpitude to get out of the boat and do something. What does this story tell us?

It tells us about God. And the Acts of God.

Remember what we were saying about the popular notion of “Act of God.” Moses and Elijah looked for them in the dramatic and even violent. How the people of Jesus’ day saw God among the terrible and judgmental. Jesus could have let the small amount of faith serve as the reason for judging him and let Peter drown? Remember how afraid these disciples were of the specter of Jesus appearing to them. Not as a friend but as some type of ghost wishing them death? No. These assumptions about God are wrong.

Perhaps for many people the thing they fear is God. Once and for all, there is no war with God. As the Prophet Isaiah said and we sing and read at every Advent, “Comfort Ye, my people. Tell them that their war is over. God shall reign forever more.

Perhaps we fear in life because we fear God will not be there for us, or God will let us down, or God will not still the waves and silence the ocean. Perhaps like the disciples we fear because no matter how many good and gracious and graceful acts God has accomplished in our lives, we still fear that the Acts of God are not the acts of good.

The storms of life come up quickly. The Sea of Galilee is perfectly situated where strong warm winds from the desert or channeled through the narrow valley that forms the sea. The warm waters of the sea quickly generate severe storms that appear out of nowhere. Rapid, violent storms with little or no warning, just like the storms of life. They are personal and they are corporate. What do I mean by that?

They are afraid of their safety but there is also the boat. The place where we worship is called the nave. It is shaped like an upside-down boat. The word “Nave” is also from which we get the words navy, naval, etc. It is to remind us about our faith and our safety in God, as we ride in life’s troubled waters. God will be with us through the storms and tempests of life. He will lift us up just as he lifted Peter, a man with just a little bit of faith.

It helps us to remember the truth about Acts of God.

Amen.




		Sunday, August 10, 2008 Are you in good hands with Allstate? Maybe Nationwide is on your side. Do you find it comforting that even a Caveman can do it, and what of the cavewoman? Does Afflac have your back? What do insurance companies do? They cover you from acts of God. This month marks three years since Hurricane Katrina ignored the 35MPH signs posted in the beach towns that hg the Gulf Coast from Mobile to New Orleans. This devastating storm has been called the most expensive and devastating Act of God in our nation’s history. Of course God did not build a city in a flood plain, set up an economic strategy that allowed the rich to live on the high land and the communities built by the children of slaves and Jim Crow to live below sea level. And I don’t think God refused to appropriate funds for the levees. It doesn’t seem a lot like God to make the richest country in the world waste days in responding, mock the victims and refuse to develop a long-term strategy for recovery. What conclusion can we draw from these things? Well, we sure don’t think much of God’s Acts. Acts of God are about the worst thing that can happen to you. We speak of God’s judgment as a terrible swift day. We picture roaring seas and crashing waves when we speak of God. No matter the tragedy in life, we always say it was God’s will, or God knows best. No wonder Elijah, much like Moses on the same mount, expected God to be in the wind, in the tempest, in the fire and in the earthquake, only to find God in the quieting and the hush. How quite unlike God! Yet it was there from this cave hidden on the mount of Moses that God speaks to Elijah in the peace and in the quiet. In today’s gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) a severe storm is raging at sea. No one would be surprised to hear the news of a boat capsizing killing all hands, an act of God. The disciples are aware of this ever present danger as they sat in the boat. The fear is not to be underestimated. They believe in God but they believed in the God that held the sea at bay, and could release the chaotic forces of the deep. This was the God who in Genesis set a dome between the chaotic waters and the sky. Here they were at the border of this boundary, a scary place to be. Here, this same God that sent a whale, a Leviathan to swallow Jonah and called forth the waters of the flood. Who knows what else was below? We remember that when Jesus cast out some demons that filled the bodies of pigs and rushed into the sea as their dwelling place. It is believed that fear of the sea was so great that many, including fishermen learned to swim. Who could swim against an Act of God anyway? God was no friend on the water. God was known on the sea by the tempest, the great tumult, and yes, torture. The original Greek says that the boat was being tortured by the storm. This passage is well-known. Many sermons have been given, more than one stained-glass window bears the image of Jesus walking across the waves. Jokes are even frequent. We refer to someone with a big persona as thinking they can walk on water. Along with the familiarity also come some misconceptions or at least two ways that the text is often interpreted. There is #1: “Peter needs more faith.” That would be fine and dandy except for one thing: When Jesus reaches out His hand to save a sinking Peter with the words “Why did you fear, oh Ye of little faith?” We have already learned from Jesus that a little faith is really all you need. Consider the recent parable about the tiny mustard seed. Interestingly enough, the one who has just healed the sick, fed the multitudes and is now walking on water does not fix Peter’s faith. Surely the one who can multiply fish and loaves can multiply faith. He does not rebuke or condemn Peter for his lack of faith nor does he remedy the problem. Instead, Jesus pulls him out. Peter’s faith is not so little that Jesus cannot be there for him. So this story is not about the amount of faith one may or may not have. It is not about portions at all. It is about an Act of God. God saves us when we have only a little faith to save us. There is #2: “Get out of the boat and do something.” Again the problem here is that it is Peter’s idea to get out of the boat, not Jesus’. Peter says “if it is you Lord, then beckon me to walk on the water to you.” Jesus then says “Come.” It is Peter that is putting God to the test, not Jesus testing Peter. It is Peter tempting God, demanding a sign, trying to manipulate the situation even in his fear. It is Peter that wants assurance. How many times have we said “If you love me, you will do this or that.” Bad theology! Bad Lutherans! You would think it enough that Jesus was coming to be with them. But no. Peter has to have more, and be in control. Despite his arrogance and his wanting to be in control, Jesus pulls him out anyway. So it is not about the amount of faith or about the moral turpitude to get out of the boat and do something. What does this story tell us? It tells us about God. And the Acts of God. Remember what we were saying about the popular notion of “Act of God.” Moses and Elijah looked for them in the dramatic and even violent. How the people of Jesus’ day saw God among the terrible and judgmental. Jesus could have let the small amount of faith serve as the reason for judging him and let Peter drown? Remember how afraid these disciples were of the specter of Jesus appearing to them. Not as a friend but as some type of ghost wishing them death? No. These assumptions about God are wrong. Perhaps for many people the thing they fear is God. Once and for all, there is no war with God. As the Prophet Isaiah said and we sing and read at every Advent, “Comfort Ye, my people. Tell them that their war is over. God shall reign forever more. Perhaps we fear in life because we fear God will not be there for us, or God will let us down, or God will not still the waves and silence the ocean. Perhaps like the disciples we fear because no matter how many good and gracious and graceful acts God has accomplished in our lives, we still fear that the Acts of God are not the acts of good. The storms of life come up quickly. The Sea of Galilee is perfectly situated where strong warm winds from the desert or channeled through the narrow valley that forms the sea. The warm waters of the sea quickly generate severe storms that appear out of nowhere. Rapid, violent storms with little or no warning, just like the storms of life. They are personal and they are corporate. What do I mean by that? They are afraid of their safety but there is also the boat. The place where we worship is called the nave. It is shaped like an upside-down boat. The word “Nave” is also from which we get the words navy, naval, etc. It is to remind us about our faith and our safety in God, as we ride in life’s troubled waters. God will be with us through the storms and tempests of life. He will lift us up just as he lifted Peter, a man with just a little bit of faith. It helps us to remember the truth about Acts of God. Amen.