|
There has been some talk around
the Evangelism Committee recently about what our new signs should look like
and what words or phrases capture the spirit and personality of our
congregation. We like catchphrases and mottos for our institutions and
products. Cities and states are famous for their slogans; they are often
found on license plates.
“You Have a Friend In…Pennsylvania.” “Missouri, the Show-Me State.” In a
recent contest to give New Jersey a motto for our plates, the phrase, “New
Jersey…you gotta problem with that?” was rejected. Similarly, Virginia
decided not to go with “Home of Dead Presidents.”
These things sum up in a few words the mission of a group. They give clarity
and a message.
What do you think the average person in the street, at our jobs, and where we
shop would say if we asked them to sum up in just a few words what the
Christian Church is all about? What would they say?
A religion professor at Oregon State University was lamenting in a recent
column that his students, when asked to write about their impression of
Christianity consistently use five adjectives. Christians are:
Literalistic
Anti-Intellectual
Self-Righteous,
Judgmental, and
Bigoted.
Wow, what would you say?
The ancient book that we call the Holy Bible is actually 66 books written at
different times and for different reasons in different circumstances. Like
all great collections of books, it contains wisdom, history, biography,
poetry, music, and yes, myth; it contains records and hopes, dreams and
interpretations of dreams. It has intrigue and mystery, plot twist, and
irony. It was written in times of peace and prosperity, poverty and war.
It seems a tall order to reduce it down as a catchphrase or a tag-line, but
perhaps the last verse of the Bible, the last page of the last book may come
close to doing just that.
It is found in today’s second lesson. We know that section as the Revelation
of St. John the Seer, or Revelations. The translation we have today uses the
words Saints but many scholars suggest that the word used is all.
It simply says this: “The Grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.” Perhaps
we could reduce that one sentence to one word: GRACE!
The psalm for today (#97) seems to agree; it speaks of all the world, and all
its peoples. That is pretty amazing for an ancient text written for the
villages of Judah.
“God’s lavish favor, without conditions or limits, for all people; that is
our branding.” God’s lavish favor without conditions or limits for all
people; that is our tagline.” (taken from John Ortberg Menlo Park
Presbyterian Church, NJ and Daniel B. Clendenin)
Consider the first lesson today, Acts 16:16-34. Paul and Silas free an
enslaved girl resulting in their own enslavement. They are thrown in jail.
They have come to Macedonia, a risk in itself because it is a Roman colony
and not exactly friendly to Christians. There they meet Lydia and invite her
to be a full member of the Church. They allow themselves to be punished for
giving freedom to a girl and inverting the economy of the day. When an
earthquake offers them freedom, they do not run but instead minister to the
guard. Their actions of praying and singing bring his entire family to be
baptized.
These guys are following the example of Jesus, the Son of God, who suggested
throwing a party for the young son who has run off with his inheritance, eats
with prostitutes and sinners and offers his Kingdom to a condemned thief.
Notice from this lesson how the church grows when Paul and Silas show grace
to the unbelievers, the insignificant, those without a voice, and those in
fear of authority. Entire families are baptized and slaves are set free.
In our Gospel lesson we read from St. John what is known as the High Priestly
prayer---where Jesus intercedes for his followers, that we may all be one.
Not that we all look alike or think alike or worship alike or even agree, but
simply that we proclaim to all, the beautiful words found in Verse 23:
“The world may know that you sent me and have loved them even as you love
me.”
To proclaim this love that we have received in word and deed is our slogan,
our tagline, our mission, and the way of life to which we are called.
And so as Revelations says: “The Spirit and the bride say come.”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty hear, “Come.”
Let everyone who wishes to take to the water as a gift of life…”Surely I am
coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
|
