OUT OF THE ASHES-WE BELONG TO GOD

Sermon:  We Belong to God

Presbytery of Lake Huron

March 1, 2011

Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17

2Blow the trumpet in Zion;
   sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
   for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near—
² a day of darkness and gloom,
   a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
   a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
   nor will be again after them
   in ages to come.

¹² Yet even now, says the Lord,
   return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
¹³   rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
   for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
   and relents from punishing.
¹⁴ Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
   and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain-offering and a drink-offering
   for the Lord, your God?

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion;
   sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
¹⁶   gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
   assemble the aged;
gather the children,
   even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
   and the bride her canopy.

¹⁷ Between the vestibule and the altar
   let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them say, ‘Spare your people, O Lord,
   and do not make your heritage a mockery,
   a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
   “Where is their God?” ’

Matthew 6:  1-4  NRVS

CONCERNING ALMSGIVING

Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.         

I.                   INTRODUCTION

The theme I was invited to preach on today, “Out of the Ashes”, led directly to my reflecting on Ash Wednesday texts that I will be using next week.  In preparation for Ash Wednesday and Lent the words of the Heidelberg Catechism and Brief Statement of Faith resonated in my mind:  From the Heidelberg Catechism first question, “I belong—body and soul, in life and in death—not to myself but my faithful savior Jesus Christ”—and the first words in the Brief Statement of Faith:  “We Belong to God.”

Throughout the season of Lent the congregation I serve will be sharing some of their fondest stories of faith.  A dominant theme running through these stories:  We Belong to God.

Trusting through the grace of Jesus Christ that “I belong to God”, I risk sharing some of my personal story and the story of the church I have been called to serve – seeking not the “sound of the trumpet of praise” but rather, “sober testament of God’s involvement in our lives.”  First a glimpse into myh personal story: 

II.  THE PHOENIX

I have been going to the same doctor for over 25 years. Dr. Caroline Scott is an active Episcopalian worshipping in a church just a few blocks from Warren Avenue Presbyterian.  When I go in for an office visit, we always spend some time talking about our common interest in doing Christ’s work in downtown Saginaw.     

I am fortunate to have found a doctor who is as passionate about God’s work in the city as in taking care of her patients.

I mention my doctor because her medical practice is appropriately named PHOENIX FAMILY PHYSICIANS.

You will remember the Phoenix is a majestic mythical bird, a fire spirit that can live for 500 to a 1000 years.  Near the end of life the Phoenix builds a nest of twigs that then ignites;  both nest and bird burn and are reduced to ashes, from which a new young Phoenix emerges, reborn, to live again.

My family and friends and church—including many in this presbytery—have helped me rise like a Phoenix from the flames of a heart attack over 23 years ago.  Take note, my young friends, you can have a heart attack at the age of 35.  At the age of fifty I had double knee replacement with a septic infection that took me more weeks to recover than I can remember.  And now my hips are failing me….

The Phoenix rose again just a few years ago when another infection shut down my kidneys…..I escaped meeting St. Peter one more time!   Louise Brokaw was the one who got me to the Emergency Room – the church and presbytery have always had my back!   

Like the Phoenix, I have been given several opportunities to emerge from the ashes.  I’d like to think some good has come from these experiences.  Perhaps some good I can share with you as we prepare for Lent in reflecting on our own personal stories—and relationship with God.

  

For me, I couldn’t avoid sharing my personal story with the congregation.  New doors in relating with congregants with empathy have been opened.  I am reminded each week as I enter worship with two canes or a walker:  together we enter the flames of illness and mental anguish and spiritual despair…..together we can emerge from the ashes to discover again, as Joel says, that the “Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” 

For you, my presbytery friends, may this season of Lent be a time of personal reflection on what it means rise out of the ashes of whatever you may be going through in your lives—surrounded with God’s “abounding and steadfast love.”    

III.  THE CHURCH STORY

Working hard not to boast, the church I serve has an amazing story that needs to be shared—an amazing story of rising from the ashes of significant challenges that have befallen downtown Saginaw throughout the years.

Quite literally the church burned on January 2, 1898.  Ten months later the church emerged from the ashes rebuilt and rededicated under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Joseph Tewell who died a few years later from a heart-attack at a relatively young.

 

Throughout the years the church has had to adapt and change and re-tool how it does ministry as the community around us has changed – growing to 1400 members, now just over 100 active members.  We have had to re-invent ourselves in how we do things—a spiritual island in a city that has been devastated with crime and blight and poverty—always focused on ways we can share God’s “abounding and steadfast love” with others.  And the church is going to keep on going as long as we have resources to be doing Christ’s work.

     

Some our re-tooling has involved discovering we can’t do ministry as a 100 member church all by ourselves.  In recent years we partnered with the East Side Soup Kitchen that used the church to serve the homeless and hungry poor.  The Soup Kitchen eventually moved into a new building called the Hunger Solution Center….and we still enjoy partnering with them whenever we can. 

After two years of intense planning in partnership with Healthy Community Partners, St. Mary’s Hospital, Neighborhood renewal Services and the First Ward Community Center….the church opened its doors rent free to the Mark Neumeyer Cathdral District Youth Center. The late Mark Neumeyer was the man who called up one day and said:  Let’s talk about ways we can partner together in serving  children in the community.  40-50 children now come to this after-school program every day…..and the church doesn’t run the center, The First Ward Community Center that actually runs the program.

Another partner:  The Presbytery, through the use of peacemaking funds has helped the youth center pay their utility bills….on an emergency basis so the center can remain open….while they/we search for new sources of funding to keep the doors open.

My personal thanks to all of our congregations who contribute to Presbyterian Peacemaking! 

IV.  GROUNDING

 

There is one short sentence in the Book of Order, G.3.0400 has been central in our defining our mission:

“The church is called to undertake this mission even at the risk of losing its life, trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life….”

A similar affirmation is found in the NFOG F-1.0301:

“Christ gives to the Church all the gifts necessary to be his body……..a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life.”

V.  CONCLUSION

When I have been ill, there is no denying my fear in not knowing about the future.  The same is true in the church.  In some contexts we fear what is going to happen to us and our churches….the ways we have always done things. 

Likewise, whatever happens in our respective contexts, personally or as a church, there is knowledge that is always going to be with us.  God has our back. 

Let us again, as we enter into Lent, rise from the ashes of change to experience, again:   WE BELONG TO GOD.

Amen

                                                                  

                                                                         

"Turn the Other Cheek" // Sermon February 20, 2011

“TURN THE OTHER CHEEK!”

  February 20, 2011

©Thomas B. Cundiff

Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18

Ritual and Moral Holiness

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:  Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.

You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.

You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Matthew 5: 38-48

Concerning Retaliation

‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I.                   DUMMIE BOOKS FOR ANYTHING

A self-help book recently caught my attention. 

The Bible for Dummies, by Jeffrey C. Goeghegan and Michael M. Homan

I don’t want to be caught with this type of “Self-Help” resource in my library so I didn’t buy a copy.  Did you know you can also buy CLIFF NOTES for the Bible?

Why would someone go to a book like this?  Because you can get a quick interpretation of a text like the one in today’s scripture….which my friends, is not a good idea.  Scripture like the text today can be so easily miss-interpreted that it can distort the entire meaning of the text—even the whole Bible!  Here is another translation of today’s lesson:

"…. 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it….”

The Cliff Notes would likely say:  Simple!   You have two options when faced with violence.  “Hit back with the same level of violence you received…..if you lose a tooth, hit back so your opponent loses a tooth!”   The second option suggested through a poor interpretation of this scripture:  “Don’t hit back at all.  Stand there and take the beating!”   No wonder people get frustrated reading scripture.  This lesson isn’t logical and doesn’t make any sense!  “Stand there and take the beating?” 

If a bully hits you just stand there and take the beating?

In domestic violence situations, we don’t say “just take what you get!”

Rape victims aren’t told to just “be raped” – my all means, fight back!

It doesn’t make sense.  While we don’t want to face evil with more evil, we also don’t want to teach our children:  “JUST STAND UP AND TAKE THE BEATING”!

Furthermore, though we don’t find a violent Jesus in our reading of scriptures, we also don’t find a PASSIVE Jesus when it comes to facing evil, violence – injustices in the world. Though Jesus took his fair share of beatings that in the end took his life – there was so much MORE behind the words “TURN THE OTHER CHEEK” than we get from any book for DUMMIES.  We are not going to be dummies when it comes to our interpretation of scripture!

There is a third way to interpret today’s scripture that says,”Turn the Other Cheek”!

II.  Walter Wink[1]

In visiting with a friend, a seminary roommate and former professor of urban ministry at McCormick Seminary, we are both preaching on this text and we both went to the scholarly work of Dr. Walter Wink in our sermon preparations.

Walter Wink, professor emeritus at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York has written three books on the uses and abuses of POWER.  A serious topic he addresses through these questions:  How do we manage, as Christians, to live a non-violent life in a world filled with so much violence?

Wink’s earliest book, Naming the Powers, was published in 1984.    His second volume, Unmasking the Powers published in 1989.  His third book in this trilogy is titled, Engaging the Powers  written in1992.   I love his logical approach to addressing these powers that lead to so much violence in our world.

          First, identify and NAME the POWERS that lead to the violence….

Second, UNMASK the POWERS; expose them so they can be addressed

Third, ENGAGE the POWERS – deal with them

Learning how to address the powers – particularly those that do harm – is critical in understanding today’s scripture.  In fact Walter Wink talks extensively about today’s text:  TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. 

As an example, consider the tension that exists between Wall Street and

Main Street

; the wealthy and the poor; institutions verses humanity.  Just look at what is happening in the State of Michigan with proposed budget cuts and the possibility of a tax on pension funds—an issue that will touch most of us if passed.

The goal of making money in the case of Wall Street, or balancing a budget in the State of Michigan becomes so OVERWHELMINGLY POWERFUL that those who are impacted, common folks like you and me, seem to be powerless.  Regardless how you feel about these issues, are we going to just stand and take what the government and financial institutions give us? 

Do we just TURN THE OTHER CHEEK and take these proposals without tweaking them first, to make them as fair as possible for people like you and me?  TURN THE OTHER CHEEK!

In many ways the actions of Wall Street and Government is to intimidate common people with their POWER to do anything they want…..and this is a form of INSTITUTIONAL BULLYING if we don’t think there is anything we can do against these powers.  Look at what’s happening in Wisconsin with all the rallies and significant number of government officials leaving the fight against what they feel are unjust proposals against organized Labor.....  

Now to be perfectly honest:  For me as a pastor I am so far out of my element in talking about politics and the economy.  What I do know, as a pastor, is that I see what the abuse of power does to contribute to poverty, the deprivation of basic human rights, creating an environment where a hard working family cannot get a loan for a car or house or new washing machine.

In the modern world money is like the fist…..and some corporate institutions use this fist – perhaps unintentionally – and in the end hurt others.  Banks are forced to protect themselves to the point they won’t give out risky loans – and who wants to see another market crash!  I can understand why banks need to be cautious!   At the same time millions of bonuses are given out, as announced this past week with GM; already rich executives are getting richer….while the institutions they work for are denying more and more loans foreclosing on more and more homes….and the poor get poorer.

III.  Turning the Other Cheek

Turning to scripture, when power turns to the violence experienced through fights at ball games, bullying in our schools, domestic abuse and child abuse…..abuses in use of economic powers that some use just to get rich….

It just doesn’t make sense:  TURN THE OTHER CHEEK?  It would seem that this philosophy leads only to the entrenchment and strengthening of the powers that can do so much harm.  Turn the other cheek when the bully strikes you?   Just sit back and take it when a bank takes away your house.  This doesn’t make sense.  It would seem that total passivity leads to more bullying….

And what we really need to know:  TURN THE OTHER CHEEK ISN’T REALLY WHAT SCRIPTURE IS SAYING--NOT LITERALLY!  IN FACT THIS MAY BE ONE THE MOST MIS-INTERPRETED TEXTS OF ALL TIME.  TURN THE OTHER CHEEK? 

     

II.  The Third Way

Look at the context of this text that says:  ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ but I say to you, DO NOT RESIST ONE WHO IS  EVIL”…..

This is what scripture says.  DO NOT RESIST.  It’s time for a word-study from the original ancient Greek.  The proper translation of this text leads to a different message, a third way of addressing violence.  A better translation of these words, DO NOT RESIST is “TAKE A STAND”[2]

The word we are dealing with in the Greek is anti-stenai…..anti which means against and stenai which mans to stand…..or to stand against.  This is a far cry from the translation we often hear:  do not resist.

Where our bibles translate this word anti-stenai “Do Not Resist” this more accurate translation, ‘take a stand’ is more  consistent with Jesus’ teachings to say instead:  TAKE A STAND or STAND AGAINST those one who strikes you, the powers that weaken you….TAKE A STAND….when it comes to voicing your opposition to the POWERS that would tax your pension or hike your taxes or take away money from our schools…..if this is what you believe.  TAKE A STAND is not saying HIT BACK! 

The face of powers that tear away at the fabric of human justices….Jesus is saying, and this makes a lot of sense:  Take a stand in addressing evil….just as Jesus took against evil forces (powers) throughout his life….  

To quote Walter Wink who gives a wonderful interpretation of this text: 

“Imagine if I were your assailant and I were to strike a blow with my right fist at your face, which cheek would it land on? It would be the left. It is the wrong cheek in terms of the text we are looking at. Jesus says, ‘If anyone strikes you on the right cheek...’   I could hit you on the right cheek if I used a left hook, but that would be impossible in Semitic society because the left hand was used only for unclean tasks….(like wiping your arse).  You couldn't even gesture with your left hand in public. If I am the assailant the only way I could hit you on the right cheek would be with the back of the hand.

Now the back of the hand is not a blow intended to injure. It is a symbolic blow. It is intended to put you back where you belong. It is always from a position of power or superiority. The back of the hand was given by a master to a slave or by a husband to a wife or by a parent to a child or a Roman to a Jew in that period. What Jesus is saying is in effect – very important:  When someone tries to humiliate you and put you down, back into your social location which is inferior to that person, and turn your other cheek."

Look at the whole of scripture:  Jesus resisted evil with every fiber of His being – non-violently.

This word, anti-stenai is found in other texts:  TAKE A STAND:

Ephesians 6:13 says, "Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand (anti-stenai) on that evil day and having done everything, to stand (stenai) firm."

When Jesus says, "Do not resist one who is evil," there is something stronger than simply resist. It's do not resist violently. Jesus is indicating do not resist evil on its own terms. Don't let your opponent dictate the terms of your opposition.  Do not let your opponent have the power against you.

There is this third way of dealing with violence and powers that create injustices:  “Take a stand!  Hold onto your values.  There are ways to stand against injustices in non-violent ways! 

With all the conflicts taking place in Libya, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran and Yemen….I commend the president (Obama) for saying to all of these nations….stand your ground – non-violently.

IV.

“Turn the other cheek and take a stand.”  Injustices in the world need to be addressed proactively and non-violently.  When power is used as a tool to harm another person, these powers must be unmasked….and engaged non-violently in working for the good of all. 

So much more can be said in applying Jesus’ teachings to conflicts that exist in the world today.  What we have from the gospel is the fact that there have to be non-violent ways to take a stand against aggressors without striking the second blow….without harming the other person…..   TAKE A STAND!

All I can say now in thinking about all of this:  What does it mean to walk in Jesus’ shoes?.  What does it mean to strive to achieve what Jesus achieved as the Son of God?  He stood against injustices.  He didn’t fight back with force.  He didn’t run.  He took a stand for all that was right in the world….for God…..that took him eventually to the CROSS.

If we learn anything from today’s scripture…..after identifying, unmasking, engaging the powers that that bring about suffering and oppression…..take a stand.   Do not resist evil with evil……take a stand for what Jesus stood for….resist evil with LOVE.    

The best and most powerful we have in our arsenal of tools…..LOVE!  May God be with us as we stand up for GOD and GOD’s LOVE in the name of Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

 

[1] Dr. Walter Wink is Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. A former parish minister, Walter has taught at Union Theological Seminary and was a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace. He is a frequent lecturer on peace and justice issues and is the author of many books. He writes frequently for magazines like "Sojourners" and "The Other Side."  He also has a wonderful lecture on today’s text on YOUTUBE.  

And these notes found on TEXT WEEK: 

·               Walter Wink on Jesus

http://www.cres.org/

‎[Dr Walter Wink is Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. Previously, he was a parish minister and taught at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1989-1990 he was a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace. This essay is posted.

[2] The problem begins right there with the word resist. The Greek term is antistenai. Anti is familiar to us in English still, "against," "Anti"-Defamation League. Stenai means to stand. So, "stand against." Resist is not a mistranslation so much as an under translation. What has been overlooked is the degree to which antistenai is used in the Old Testament in the vast majority of cases as a technical term for warfare. To "stand against" refers to the marching of the two armies up against each other until they actually collide with one another and the battle ensues. That is called "taking a stand."

A LIGHT IN THE CITY // Sermon February 6, 2011

“A LIGHT IN THE CITY”

February 6, 2011

©Thomas B. Cundiff

Isaiah 58: 1-9a

False and True Worship

58Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Announce to my people their rebellion,

to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet day after day they seek me

and delight to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness

and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;

they ask of me righteous judgments,

they delight to draw near to God.

3 ‘Why do we fast, but you do not see?

Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?’

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day,

and oppress all your workers.

4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

and to strike with a wicked fist.

Such fasting as you do today

will not make your voice heard on high.

5 Is such the fast that I choose,

a day to humble oneself?

Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,

and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?

Will you call this a fast,

a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of injustice,

to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them,

and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,

the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

Matthew 5: 13-16

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

I.  INTRODUCTION

I was sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room engaged in a casual conversation with a woman that led to my sharing with her that I was pastor of the Warren Avenue Church.  Her eyes lit up as she shared with me:  “Oh, I belong to that church.....I’ve been a Catholic my whole life!”     

This happens quite a bit.  When introduced, people make the connection through some previous experience with our church.  A lot of people know about us because of our summer youth programming.  I’ve had grown adults tell me they were baptized in the church—therefore a member of the church.  This could easily be true since we have done literally hundreds of baptisms of infants and children who never joined or formally became a member of the church.  Of the 70-80 baptisms I have done in this church I am guessing only about 10% have actually become members of the church.  And they are right when they say they belong to the church.  We say clearly that through baptism, you belong to Christ.

The distinction:  Belonging to Christ is not the same as being an active member in Christ’s Church!

There are 2.3 Billion people who call themselves Christian.  I have to wonder how many of these 2.3 Billion are actually active members in a Christian church?   

A few weeks ago I was reading an article by one of my favorite authors, Bishop William Willimon from the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist church and former Deacon of the Chapel at Duke University.[1]  He shared a snort piece titled “Making Membership in the Body of Christ Mean Something”.  The heart of his message is in the distinction between “Belonging to the idea of being Christian”, being baptized into Christ, and making “Active Membership in Christ’s Church mean something.”  

[Willimon says] I explain membership something like this: "Membership is not about belonging. Everyone belongs; everyone is welcome. Membership is not about gaining special privileges...becoming a member does not mean you get something that non-members do not get. Rather, membership is about a commitment that you believe God is calling you to serve him by serving the church."

This is worth exploring.  Outside the context of church: 

II.  BELONGING TO THIS NATION CALLED “AMERICA”

BELONGING to a particular ideology or culture of faith is not unusual.  Most of us are born American.  We belong to this country as citizens.  What we need to understand is there are hundreds of people in nations around the globe just as proud as we are to be born where they were born….with a strong national identity. 

Look what’s has been happening in the Middle East and Egypt this past week…..a deep commitment of Egyptian people to their heritage and way of life with longings similar to what we long for – stability in government and health, a good education and job, a sense of peace and well being.  As we’ve been seeing in the news, proud and committed Egyptians – many who are well educated professional people – willing to march and even give up their lives to realize a dream – for many (not all) this is a dream to be citizens of a free, democratic society. 

Consider what young Americans put on the line every day to protect our freedoms as Americans…..to protect what we may take for granted by nature of our being born American.  For those from other nations who come to America…..as all immigrants did at one point or another, the work it takes to become a committed citizen of the United States of America is quite extensive.

I am not sure, but I don’t think we have any members who personally went through this immigration process….but all of us, if we go back far enough in our genealogies – will discover that we came from someplace else – either slave or free – eventually taking on the identity of being or becoming an American.

There are many requirements to become a naturalized American Citizen including interviews and passing a 100 question test.   From an official government publication:

“An applicant applying for US citizenship must have a general knowledge of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government.

The applicant must be a person of good moral character and willing to abide by the principles of the U.S. Constitution.” 

My addition to this list:  One of the greatest privileges of being American:  PAYING TAXES!  

How long it has been since you’ve studied American History or read through the Constitution.   We pledge allegiance to the flag – yet a recent survey indicated that 75% of fifth graders in this country didn’t know the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?[2]

Bringing this back to thinking about the church, it’s one thing to be born into a Christian household, to be baptized, and to say proudly you are Christian.  It’s quite another thing to establish yourself as an active member of the “Body of Christ” called the church….to know substantially about Jesus and his life and teachings;  to participate substantially in what it means to be one of Jesus’ disciples.  You can be a good/great Christian – but CHURCH is where we learn what it means to truly be the Living body of Christ.”  Worship is where we practice our faith in giving glory to God for God’s gift of Jesus Christ. 

Call me an old-time traditionalist, but I struggle with how a person can be a committed Christian outside the context of active participation in the community of faith – the church…..for in church we worship and study and grow and learn about discipleship!

III.              BELONGING TO CHRIST AND CHRIST’S CHURCH

For those of us here this morning, members and friends of the church, we have made a serious commitment to say:

Jesus is my Lord and my Savior

And we promise to be active in participating in the church as

active members….

For most of us this is deep and serious commitment…..to say we not only belong to Christ through baptism, but we will be active in living our faith. 

With membership in Christ’s church, whether you are a member or friend of the church, there are some (1) privileges and (2) responsibilities to consider….

(1)  Privileges of Membership

Some of the privileges of membership in this church: You get to vote when a pastor is called or representatives are elected to serve as church officers.  Only members can be on the Session or Board of Deacons—defining the direction the church will go in serving Christ.  Membership comes with it the expectation of some active involvement in the “worship and work” of the church.  It is a privilege to return to God from blessings received.

 (2)  Responsibilities of Membership

There are certain responsibilities of membership.  Using traditional church language we are called to “discipleship”.  This means we learn and grow in carrying the gospel of Jesus into the world….living as Jesus lived….and as Jesus would have us live our lives in relationship with others.  We are called to be EDUCATED SERVANTS of CHRIST. This is where our scripture today comes in.  The depth of commitment in professing faith in Jesus Christ manifests itself in what we do with what we learn from scripture.

From Isaiah;

Why do we fast, but you do not see?

….is not this the fast that I choose:

to lose the bonds of injustice,

to share our bread with the hungry,

to bring the homeless poor into our house?

Active membership implies not just watching from a distance what the church can do in responding to the needs of the world.  Membership requires becoming the “Light of Christ that shines in the city” – and well beyond the boundaries of our city.  A light on a hill cannot be hid.  We are called to let the light of Christ shine in and through us – or as Isaiah says, “the light that breaks forth like the dawn.

IV.  SALT and LIGHT

In the context of scripture, we are challenged to understand what it means, as members of the Body of Christ, to be the Salt and Light of Christ in the world.  Scripture really speaks for itself: 

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?”

Eugene H. Peterson says in his translation of this text:

“Let me tell you why you are here?  You’re here to be the salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.”[3]

We are called to work to bring out the best in people, the good in people, the love we know people hold in their hearts.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid”.

Peterson says of this text, we are called to bring out the “God-colors” of the world.  God is not a secret that can be kept.  We are called as disciples not to hide what we know and believe….but to live each and every day so that the light of Christ will shine for others to see and experience…..

Worth repeating:  As members of the church we become members of Christ himself.  We become part of Jesus….his arms and legs and eyes and ears – and voice in the world in which we live.  We believe Jesus continues to live in and through us.  We are his disciples.  The light that shines through us is Christ’s light!

So hold onto this verse.  As members and friends of Christ’s church – believe and live because:

 You are the light of the world.

A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

Oh God,

“May our light shine before others, so that others may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (vs. 16)

AMEN

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[1]  Recent BLOG on church membership and prayer

[2]   Something I jotted down after hearing a news story on television

[3]  The Message, Matthew 5:13, pg. 23