Winning the Lottery

Matthew 25:14-30

 

        I have never played the lottery. I have never had the rush that must come from scratching that little card that briefly offers the hope of instant riches. I have never been to Las Vegas. I’ve never experienced the thrill folks must get from Texas Hold’em. I can’t even remember buying a half and half ticket at a high school football game. I wish my reasons for not playing these games of chance were based on some deep moral conviction. But the truth is, I am not a big fan of long shots, particularly when my money on the line. More importantly, I would be a bookie’s delight. Once I lose, be it golf, tennis, or even Go Fish with my grandchildren, I am obsessed with getting even. Las Vegas depends on pigeons like me showing up in droves. In other words, I can relate to the poor guy in this morning’s parable who refused to invest money he was given by his master.

        Let’s review the story. The owner of a huge farm decides to take a year off and do some traveling. He brings in three of his workers and says to them, “Boys, I am going to be gone for a while and want you to take care of things. I am going to entrust part of my fortune to you and I want you to treat it properly.” To the first he gave five talents, the second was given two talents, and the last worker was given one talent. A year later, the owner returned, and the workers reported back to him. The worker with five talents had doubled his investment. Likewise the second worker had turned his two talents into four. The third worker had placed his investment in the ground and returned exactly what he had been given. The owner was furious with him. He called the worker worthless and tossed him off the farm.  

        This seems like a pretty simple parable with a pretty simple meaning. Use the talents God gives you, and God will be pleased. Waste those talents, and you risk discovering God’s wrath. But, I also believe there is more to this parable than meets the eye.

        Let’s begin with the absurdity of the story. The audience is a bunch of farmers and fishermen who have taken a long lunch break from their duties to get a chance to hear this young rabbi who has captured the imagination of the people of Galilee. These are hard working folks who barely make enough each day to feed their families. They understand the role of the workers in the story. What they could not possibly comprehend is the advance each worker was given. 

        A talent was a huge amount of money. Some scholars place the value of a talent at around $1,000 dollars. The footnote in my NRSV identifies a talent as 15 years of wages. Let’s put that into a language we all understand. Let’s say a person makes make $50,000 a year. Multiply that times 15. No need to pull out your calculators. That would be $750,000. But, that was only the amount given the last worker. Worker number two was entrusted with $1.5 million, and the first worker was handed $3,750,000.  Talk about winning the lottery. Only the payout wasn’t over 20 years. The owner handed over the complete sum, trusted them to do the right thing, and off he went on his cruise.

        Can you imagine what the original hearers of this story must have thought? They barely made enough to scrape by. All they knew was farming or fishing. When they heard this story I am sure they punched their neighbor and said, “Give me that kind of money, and I would spend it a thousand ways and take my chances when the owner comes back.” How could these folks be expected to understand such an absurd tale?

Imagine you are the third worker. An advance of fifteen years of labor is suddenly placed in your hands. Would you try Real Estate or stocks and bonds? Would you place the money in some low risk savings account? Would you create a new business? What would you do with this incredible windfall? In today’s crazy economy, the safest approach might be to bury it and come back a year later. That is what I would do. I would play it safe. Nothing ventured, nothing lost. That is too much money to be messing around with. Fortunately, there are other members of my trade who are much more creative than yours truly.

        I read recently about a minister who publicly illustrated the possibilities of this parable. He took $10,000 out of the church’s savings, then after telling this parable, gave $100 to each person in the pews. He told them they had 90 days to invest the money in God’s work. I guess the markets must have been better than they are now, because after 90 days the results were incredible. The initial investment had doubled. In addition, a number of new ministries were created. Their success was so great the church was invited to DateLine to tell its story. Other churches considered doing this same thing as part of their stewardship program. And why not? These folks seemed to completely understand the deep-reaching meaning of this parable. They were given a gift and they multiplied it to God’s glory. It all sounds great, except I have a suspicious mind. The more I thought about this church the more I began to ask myself what had really happened. I know the money was doubled; I realize new ministries were hatched. But where was the risk? Who among us wouldn’t take a chance with “house money”?   

        While I have never been to Las Vegas, I suspect if you are going to get out alive, you need to be playing with someone’s money other than your own. Folks who enjoy gambling tell me the secret is to decide how much you can afford to lose and never exceed that number. They suggest walking into a game with only $100 in your pocket. If you lose it, walk away from the table and count the experience itself as worth 100 bucks. If you are fortunate and actually make a few bucks, you can enjoy the experience longer, because you are playing with the house’s money. The key is to remember your limit and enjoy the ride. 

        The truth behind the parable Jesus told has nothing to do with house money. The first man was given the equivalent of 75 years of wages; the second, 30 years; the third 15 years. Then the owner said, “How will you invest what you have been given?” Think about it…75 years, 30 years, 15 years.

        Some of you are getting close to or have passed your 75^th birthday. What part of your life has not been a gift from God? Some of you can still remember your 30^th birthday. What part of your life has not been a gift from God? What if suddenly we were 15 all over again? I am not sure when I was 15 I had any real concept of who God was or what God expects. My motivation for believing was based more on fear than grace. But I still had some understanding of how blessed I was.   

        This parable is not about playing with “house money”. It is about understanding who we are and whose we are. It is about professing that our life is not only a gift from God, our life is an investment made by God. This parable is asking what sort of risk will we take to see a return in God’s investment.

        I suspect most of us think of ourselves as more sinner than saint. We see ourselves as under qualified or inadequate to do the task God has set before us. I find that kind of amazing. When I look out on this congregation, I can see the gifts God has bestowed upon each of you. God has invested a lot of years in some of us. Now God is waiting for the payout. Each one of us has won the lottery. Each of us has been blessed with a gift, a talent, waiting to be shared. 

        A while back I was talking with Irene, the wonderful woman who is downstairs every Sunday working with our children and grandchildren. Sometimes no one comes but she always sits patiently, just in case a family is late. I asked her how she found the strength to dedicate her life to children who often are noisy, often misbehave, and demand more attention than I might be willing to give. Irene said, “This is what God wants me to do.” 

        Imagine if all of us could be as open to God’s gift as Irene. Three things would happen.

        First, there would be more saints than sinners.

        Second, the army needed to bring about God’s peaceable kingdom would swell with recruits.

        Third, the cemeteries would not be so crowded with unused treasures.

        You are a child of God, gifted with treasures beyond your imagination. God knew what God was doing when God created you. Don’t bury those God given talents behind hollow excuses. Become the treasure God intended you to be.

                                                                                        Amen

Priesthood of All Believers

Matthew23:1-12; Micah 3:5-12

 

Micah, the 8^th century prophet/poet who gave us the inspiring words, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God”, woke up one morning in a less than lyrical mood. In the third chapter of his diminutive book, Micah lashed out at priest, prophets, seers and kings, declaring them all responsible for the coming demise of the nation.

Eight centuries later Jesus must have read Micah 3 for his evening devotion. The next morning, the one who has calmed many a troubled heart, upset every soul within ear shout when he ranted and raved at the scribes and Pharisees, claiming the whole lot was a bunch of hypocrites.

I know a selected few of you get real excited when texts like this appear on our lectionary radar screen. Others wonder how words like these could have possibly slipped past the ancient biblical editors. Sweet Little Jesus Boy could not possibly have suggested members of the political and religious elite were headed to hell in a hand basket. That is not only politically incorrect, it crosses some strict lines concerning what ought to be said from the pulpit.

All I know is when text likes this venture across my desk all kind of conflicting feelings emerge concerning what I should preach on Sunday. Both Jesus and Micah have crossed that dangerous line of mixing religion and politics. Some of you delight with glee when I am tempted to cross that line. Others suggest I tread lightly.  

For example, Tuesday is Election Day. How do these texts impact the decisions we will make in the voting booth? Many of my peers across the nation are using this hour to make sure that their congregations know exactly how they are expected to do once in the voting booth. If I were to preach from the selected texts this morning I might be tempted to paraphrase Jesus and say, “Woe to you Democrats and Republicans, hypocrites that you are.” But I would leave it at that. I will simply encourage you to vote early and vote often.

Another possibility I might consider is to continue our theme of Reformation Sunday. Earlier we sang Luther’s best known anthem and we will conclude our service with a marvelous hymn attributed to Calvin. I am certain all of you who claim Scottish ancestry know that this year celebrates the 500^th birthday of the founder of the Presbyterian Church, John Knox. He was a firebrand if there ever was one and probably cut his baby teeth on the third chapter of Micah. His tirades against Mary Queen of Scots from the pulpit are legendary. While some marveled at his courage others, questioned his Christianity. I quote, “Permeated with the spirit of the Old Testament and the gloomy austerity of the ancient prophets, Knox displayed no recognition of the gentle, mild, and forgiving character of the Christian faith.”    

While you know how much I admire an Old Testament guy, perhaps we should wait until 2017 and celebrate the 500^th anniversary of the 95 Theses being nailed to the Wittenberg Door. Luther is a lot less controversial than Knox. Besides, I know the Stewardship Mission Team was hoping that I would preach a sermon to highlight their Campaign and I actually considered it until I reread the verse where Micah accused “the priest of preaching for money and prophets giving oracles for a price.” Comments like that make me a bit nervous. 

Fortunately one never runs out of options on the first Sunday in November. Yesterday was All Saints Day. Perhaps it would be the most appropriate if we took a moment to remember those whose lives and resurrections we celebrated during the past year.

Please take a moment of silence to remember:

Alice Fortune

John Stone

Margaret Martin

Tom Fletcher

Gerbo Taylor

April Varnadoe Boyett

Don Wheaton

 

In remembering them, we celebrate the priesthood of all believers, a concept which connects to God, connects us to God’s word, connects our past, our present and who we are as members of Rockfish Presbyterian Church. 

From the beginning of time people have been trying to connect to God. In some cultures priest or shamans were appointed to seek divine counsel. But our tradition is different. No one is given the authority to speak for each of us. In the words of Luther, “All Christians are priest, and all priests are Christians.”  Calvin continued this thought by insuring that laity and clergy alike would serve in ordained offices of leadership. It is a gift, a celebrated gift that each of us hears God differently. It is the connection of our voices, our experiences and our faith which work together to allow us to be challenged by the word, inspired by the word and finally celebrate the word. Being a priest gives each of us first class status in the ministry of the church. For some folks this is a bit scary but our Protestant Reformers knew exactly what they were doing. The priesthood of all believers both challenges and liberates us. Yes, we each come to the text and to the mission of the church differently, but we come as equals. We come as people who respect each other and have the courage to express our differences gracefully. We come with a degree of patience and with a sense of history. We come as old timers and newbie’s, each with our own experiences. We come from a multitude of denominations, but primarily we come as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let me give you a few examples. Let’s start with Margaret Martin and Tom Fletcher. What on earth did they have in common? One was a man’s man; the other a Southern woman. One moved here to retire; the other lived here all her life.  One was city and one was country. One could be abrupt, and so could the other in her own gentle way. One represented an invasion of a valley loved, at least in the mind of the other. One represented progress being halted, at least in the mind of the other. Both were faithful members of this church. Where would Rockfish be without the witness of Margaret, Jim, Buddy, and our Rockfish Valley neighbors who have been the priest of this church for over 250 years? And yet, has the migration of the rest of us been all that unhealthy?

Through the last year I spent a lot of time with Alice Fortune, John Stone and Gerbo Taylor. Their circle of friends and influence could not have been more radically different. John was never without an opinion on anything. Alice preferred to talk baseball and tell ancient family stories. Gerbo’s brilliant mind was slowly and tragically deserting him. But each smiled at the mention of their church. 

And then there was April Boyett. Most of us never met her. She lived a difficult life, loving others but never herself. Such is the nature of mental illness. But we knew Nan and Gene. We entered into their struggle with their daughter. We supported them when she died and accepted her as one of us without question. Such is role of a priest.

In our text this morning Jesus said, “The exalted will be humbled and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Sometimes the prophetic side of us needs to be more pastoral. Sometimes the pastoral side of us needs to be more prophetic. Sometimes both side need to listen to a third voice.  Such is the role of the priest.

In other words, sometimes John Knox needs to be leading the battle and sometimes the reformation happens when Luther and friends share a beer together.  

The only thing I have found that is not acceptable is to sit idly by, completely uninvolved in the life of the church. But why would anyone want to do that? You would miss the joy, you would miss the fellowship, you would miss the honest exchange of opinions, and you would even miss the occasional bruise. Most of all you would miss the opportunity witness a church to growing together in faith.

Loud or quiet you are a priest. Hands on or otherwise, you are a priest. Stubborn or reconciler, you are a priest. Nurturing or being nurtured you are a priest, ordained to be a servant of God, predestined to the ministry of God’s church. 

Wow, I guess this was a stewardship sermon after all.

                                                                        Amen.

 

 

Difficult Questions

Matthew 22:34-46; Deut. 30:15-20

 

        I was driving through Amherst County last week and saw a billboard which in huge letters proclaimed, “Choose Life – Deuteronomy 30:19”.  Under the heading was the picture of an unborn fetus. Nothing else needed to be said.

        The billboard reminded me of an incident many years ago. Everyone was home, we had finished dinner and the kids were working on their school assignments. The door bell rang. The late night visitor was a nineteen year old woman who was very active in our church. Jennifer had entered college but never had her heart into it. Now she stood at my door, weeping. Jennifer told me she was pregnant.  Her father wanted to drive her to Midland for an abortion. His intention was to keep everything quiet and not make a scene. The mother was hysterical and had been ranting about how much this would destroy the reputation of the family. Her younger sister was horrified that an abortion was being considered.

        I sat on the couch and witnessed the pain of this young woman as she grappled with a future she never imagined possible. I took her hand said something stupid like “As your minister, how can I help you?”

        Through her tears she blurted out, “I don’t need God. What I really need is a friend.”

        As much as we try to simplify this thing called faith, our broad strokes concerning the will of God often take us further and further away from that which is relevant. Jesus understood the complexities of the human condition. When confronted with questions for which there seemed to be only one right answer, he always engaged his audience in a conversation that pressed beyond the obvious.  In this morning’s scripture the Pharisees asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest. The Pharisees always led with an easy question before following with a second designed to erode the authority of Jesus.

        Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.” Before the Pharisees could respond with a second question Jesus added, “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

        In the gospel of Luke the follow-up question was, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with the story of the Good Samaritan, which turned out to be a lot more information about existing social mores than they cared to hear. In our reading this morning, Jesus took to the offensive by asking his own unanswerable question. It was as if Jesus was saying, “Let’s not engage in Bible drills unless you want to seriously grapple with the complexity of God’s word.”

        Choosing Life is serious business. The concept of Life created and Life sustained is at the very center of our understanding of God. This is closely followed by the maintenance of life, a process not to be attempted in a vacuum. Being a neighbor, or a friend, can hardly be reduced to simplistic or inflammatory statements found on billboards or car bumpers. It is real life stuff, with real life decisions resulting in real life consequences involving more than just our isolated circle of acquaintances.

Serious dialogues must go further than slogans and rhetoric. Biblically speaking, what exactly does  it mean to Choose Life? Two sincere, devout Christians can read the Bible, pray earnestly, yet come to opposite conclusions Some, such as our well meaning friends in Amherst County, would insist this is the answer to anyone who might be considering an abortion. But what would happen if I were to engage with our Amherst friends in other pro-life discussions such as the abolishment of capital punishment, or any discussion concerning death of civilians in war, or euthanasia, or perhaps even the death of our planet due to our thirst for industrialization or our desire to be independent of foreign sources of energy? How open or consistent would any of us be in these discussions? Can we be pro-life on one issue and favor death in another? How are these discussions influenced by our faith? How are we informed by the Biblical text? Might it be safer to keep God out issues which easily turn political? And of course the white elephant in the room is misuse of the Bible in order to support conclusions we have already reached. I suspect we have all been guilty of that.

What did the author of the book of Deuteronomy have in mind when he placed the words “Choose Life” on the lips of Moses? Perhaps the best way to find out is to go back to the text.  Moses was preaching his last sermon. The sermon was being offered to a people who are preparing to reenter the Promised Land. Note I said re-enter. This text was first heard by exiles in Babylon preparing to return to Jerusalem. The question which most concerned the exiles was why Jerusalem was destroyed. Their rabbis accused their ancestors of putting their  self-desires and appetites ahead of what was good for the community. In other words, they forgot the commandments. This amnesia led to the death of a nation.

Critical questions concerning priorities were put to a people preparing to leave Babylon. “Will you choose life or death? Will you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself? Will you give thanks to God in and outside of worship? Will you acknowledge your desire to be self-serving? Will you exhibit justice and fairness toward the weak and the poor? Will you honor your elders? Will you respect your neighbors? Will you lead your people with energy, intelligence, and imagination? Will you help the friendless and those in need? This is God’s way. Will you choose God’s path?”                     (stop)

Each week I go to the Charlottesville Prison and listen to a young man who has blown multiple chances to live a productive life. How do I assess all the complications that led to his bad choices? As a friend, what hope do I offer?

I go to the nursing homes and hospitals and listen to folks in the last days of their lives. Each person and each situation is radically dissimilar. I know each person understands the concept of life differently. How can I begin to know what to say when I conclude our visit with prayer?

Last week I had the chance to sit with a professor of missions who shared his last two years living with Palestinian just outside Jerusalem. He spoke of the daycare attended by his three year old and how she fondly remembers her friends named Mohammed and Joseph. One is Muslim, one is Christian, both are Israeli by law and Palestinian by birth. Neither will grow up with the rights of their Jewish neighbors.  Where is the justice in that?

If I love God with my heart, soul, and mind, who is my neighbor? The simple answers I desire quickly become complicated in the light of Godly expectations. Then, just when I think I have it all figured out, the door bell rings, and once again I find myself sitting on the couch.

Am I responsible for my friend’s choices? Or am I only responsible for my response to her choices?

Sometimes God’s word provides us with a powerful answer to difficult question.

Sometimes God’s spirit provokes us to examine even deeper questions.

Sometimes God’s silence compels us to quietly sit on the couch and listen…….. just like we would with any friend.   

                                                                        Amen. 

Whatever Is

Philippians 4:4-9

 

        A month ago I was asked to make a presentation on The Book of Confessions. I was delighted to help out some of my fellow ministers in their officer training and looked forward to having a meaningful discussion on both the historical setting and theological significance of the eleven statements of faith found in this document. Last week the same person wrote to ask if I would switch topics. Instead of The Book of Confessions, Albert wanted to know if I might cover the essential tenets of the Reform Faith. 

        Anyone who had been elected to the office of elder might remember a series of questions posed to each candidate. The one I find most troubling and the one to which I am to speak about this evening is, “Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expectations of what scripture leads us to believe and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?”

        I would hope before anyone would answer this question they might ask, “What are the essential tenets of the reformed faith?” I suspect if I were having this discussion here, the answer received would be somewhat different than the answer I will receive this evening. This congregation celebrates a variety of religious experiences and doctrines. That has certainly helped us listen to an assortment of truths, some which are spelled with a capital T and others which are no less important but might not be universally held. The creedal statements we find in our Book of Confessions include declarations from six different denominations written over a period of 1700 years. While the Hammurabi Code, The Magna Charta, and the Declaration of Independence each agree on the importance of the human experiment, each differently defines the essential concept of human liberty.       So why should we be surprised that a church 2,000 old might differ on which tenets/critical beliefs should be held as infallible.

        As a Christians we share with all other Christian denominations the mystery of a triune God. Just the mention of the word Trinity creates a discussion over terminology ranging from Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to more modern language such as Creator, Reconciler and Sustainer. However the language used does not lessen our faith in the mysterious ways in which God reveals God’s self.

        Second, as a universal church, we celebrate the incarnation of the eternal word of God in Jesus Christ. We are not alone. God, Emmanuel, is with us.

        But then a divide begins which separates us into different expressions of understanding the actions of this mysterious God we claim.  First, as Protestants we acknowledge we are justified by Grace. We cannot save ourselves but are dependent on God’s love in Jesus Christ to draw us back to God and fulfill God’s command to love God and our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.

        Second, universally Protestant denominations claim the authority of scripture. We see The Bible as the lens through which we know God and discover ourselves. The Bible points us to truth.

        Even as I have tried to carefully craft those words there are folks here who wished I would have made stronger statements concerning God, incarnation, salvation and the Bible. Others might have felt the language chosen was much too definitive and left no room for disagreement or discussion. Such is the nature of the beast when we choose to talk about the essentials of what we believe.

        As you might have guessed, each of the denominations from which we originate has definitive statements which further define the essence of what we believe. Those statements are both significant and debatable.  Hopefully each of us is open to the Holy Spirit in determining what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

        Like our ancestors who came by different boats and trails to claim citizenship within this great nation, we each have traveled distinctive theological road. Some of us crave discussions concerning transubstantiation, the trinity or atonement and the like. But thanks be to God most of you are more interested in how God expects us to live together.   

        In the past few weeks we have been peeping in on the congregation at the church in Philippi. Many of the discussions within that congregation centered on who was God, who was Jesus, how might the Jewish Torah help in their understanding, what can be retain from their existing culture and what has to be given up.  The most difficult question concerned the leadership needed to fill Paul’s void.

        Paul wasn’t coming back. It was going to be up to the members of the church in Philippi to develop their own leadership. More important they would have to establish faith statements which would both drive and inform their discussions. They did not have a copy of The Book of Confessions or The New Testament. Those had yet to be written. All they had was what they had heard from Paul and the early Apostles. 

        When Paul sat down to write, he knew of the tension that was beginning to cause this little congregation to implode. Each discussion evolved into passion, anger and accusations. These were friends being torn apart by multiple   versions of what each considered to be the truth.

        Paul could have ended his letter when some great theological statement telling them to get their house in order. Instead he wrote these words:

        Rejoice in the Lord always. Let your gentleness be known. Turn to God in prayer. God will hear your supplications. Know that the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.

        My friends, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, do these things and the God of peace will be with you. Greet each others as saints in Christ Jesus knowing that the grace of God is with you.

       

        As I said before, tonight I go to Charlottesville to give a talk and answer questions on the Tenets of the Reformed Faith. Only some folks aren’t going to ask me questions. They are going to make declarations concerning the church and accusations concerning the church’s loss of belief. There will be allegations directed at the Presbytery of the James and beyond. Each statement will be spoken sincerely but will be heard by some as sanctimonious. Depending on how tired people are when they arrive will probably determine when I get to leave. But at some point a prayer will be said, the parking lot will empty and I will point my car home. But before I turn on my CD player I will thanks to God for allowing me to serve this church, a diverse and complex people, who love each other, respect each other, listen to each other, and together praises God for bringing us all here.

                                                                                Amen.

Communion Meditation

Philippians 3:4b-14; Exodus 20:1-20

 

        When is the last time you updated your résumé? Those of you who have retired are probably thinking my last update WAS my last update. The Apostle Paul might suggest you not be so hasty.

        Paul sent the Philippi church his faith résumé. On paper it was impeccable. Allow me to share it with you.   Paul was circumcised on the eight day; he was a member of the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrew parents. He was a Pharisee who had proved his zeal by persecuting members of the early church. As for righteousness, according to the law, Paul was blameless.

        What else could Paul say? In terms of his past, he had done everything right. He was intelligent, loyal, diligent, and trustworthy. Yet his résumé was woefully lacking. It said nothing of his future.

        Résumés are often nothing more than a stepping stone to your next job. It lists who you have been, not who you are becoming.   When I was interviewed by your PNC they asked a few questions about what I done in the past but they were more interested in who I might become and who you might become if I was offered the opportunity to serve you. I had the credentials, the track record and a bunch of great references.  But none of these guaranteed I had the energy and drive to take on a new adventure. Résumés don’t include your future, just your past.

        In Philippians 3 Paul took a long hard look at his past and declared, “Whatever gains I had, I now regard as loss.” This personal catharsis might be good for the soul but it would seem to be counterproductive in terms of winning the hearts and minds of the good church members in Philippi. But I think something else was on Paul’s mind.

        The folks in Philippi knew Paul. They knew his history. They were aware he had persecuted Christians but now all was forgiven. Paul had proven himself to be the leader of the Christian community. He was a hero and his story was celebrated. But Paul feared his success was overshadowing his message.

        In an absolutely brilliant move, Paul undermines his own résumé by insisting everything before Christ was based on his total misunderstanding of the purpose of the law.

        The centerpiece of the Hebrew faith is the Torah. The very essence of the Jewish law is comprised in those statements we call the Ten Commandments. As a boy Paul learned that strict obedience of these commandments was the key to living a life that was acceptable to God. What Paul, and I might suggest we have forgotten, is that these principals were never meant to be static and prohibitive. This sacred code was birthed in liberation.

         The people of Israel were led by God out of Egypt, out of slavery, into the desert. In the wilderness they were challenged to examine their souls and create something they had never known; a community based on faith in God and faith in each other. The critical piece of this declaration, this Torah, this law, was, “I am the Lord your God.” But the bridge that held the relationship of God and community together was the commandment, “Remember the Sabbath”.

        For a people enslaved and forced to work seven days a week, the Sabbath was a gift, a liberation from that which enslaves them. But as the Hebrew people moved from the wilderness into their own community, observance of the Sabbath became more restrictive. Rule upon rule was created to enforce every action that was acceptable on the Day of Rest. Once the Sabbath was shackled, the observance of the other laws became prohibitive rather than liberating.  The law became something to be observed rather than celebrated. The law, not God, became the center of this religious institution. Policy replaced faith, observances replaced imagination, and worst of all regulations replaced poetry. To correct this corruption, God reentered the world.

        It is amazing how often Jesus was engaged with the Pharisees over interpretation of the law. In the Book of Matthew they seem to be arguing on every other page.  The teachers of the law wanted to hold Jesus to those strict interpretations that had been “perfected” for centuries. Jesus wants to return to the original text which served to liberate a community from its shackles. The final solution became the death of the liberator. Or so they thought.

        Paul’s résumé was based on a strict observance of this tarnished code.  Paul’s actions, under this corrupted law, mirrored perfection, but they were not Godly.

        Paul needed to be liberated ………… and he was.

        Paul needed to be exonerated ………. and he was.

        Paul needed to forget the past and live in the light of the grace of God …… and he did……………. and so can we.

        One of the radical assertions of the Christian faith is that history is linear not circular. How can that be? Everyone who took Western Civilization 101 will tell you those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. In other words, what goes around comes around.

Let me welcome you to Bible 101. From the beginning our Biblical text affirms that God has always been in the habit of doing a new thing, an astounding thing, a liberating thing. Paul witnessed this liberation in the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul saw this event, this cosmic interruption of history, as something that had never happened before and would never happen again. God became flesh and walked among us once, and for all time.  Paul no longer saw himself legitimized because he kept a stagnant law. Rather he saw himself glorified because he believed in the risen Lord. What Paul had done in the past was trumped by what God was now doing in the future. And Paul wanted to be part of this new adventure. He writes, “Forgetting what lies behind and straining to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of God in Christ Jesus.”

        Do know what the most dangerous words spoken in a church are? I won’t hold you in suspense. It is when someone says, “I’ve fought the good fight.  I’ve done my part. It’s time to let someone else take my place.” 

I have never read any place in the Bible where it says God is finished with us.

        God is always moving forward. God is always in the process of doing something new. That is why the word of God continues to be radically liberating. I know we get tired, I know we get discouraged, I know there are some things we can’t do anymore. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other rivers to swim and other hills to climb.

        God is not interested in what you have done. God is only interested in what you are about to do. God is not interested in where you have been. God is only interested in where you are going. Liberation can never be stagnant. When you live in the light of the resurrection of Christ, each new day is the beginning not the end of your journey. When you dare to approach life with that restored attitude, it changes everything.  If you don’t believe me, just ask Paul.      Amen.