Day 1624 - Free Advice

A sermon shared at First Presbyterian Church, Spring City, TN, May 21, 2017

Micah 6:1-8  (see also Numbers 22-25, for the inside story)

John 14: 15-21

Has anyone ever offered you a deal that is just too sweet to be true? It goes somewhat like, “This is the best deal you will ever find, let me tell you how to get it?” Or, have you ever tried to do someone a favor, or give them a gift of value, but wanted them to listen to why you do it? Or tried to apologize for some past hard words or misunderstanding and been brushed off?  After a few rejections, you may say, “I’m done with this! Let them stew in their juices.”

God has offered humankind a gift too sweet to be true along some free advice since humanity was created. “I will never give up my lovingkindness for you, my people, but I do expect you to do as I do.” The Lord said, “You shall be holy because I am holy,” and through Moses spoke of the Law to Israel, “If you will only obey the LORD your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth…Surely, this commandment (The Law) that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven,… Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will … get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.” We call that gift the “grace of God.” Regardless of the simplicity of the Law, “You shall be Holy because IAM holy,” Israel and us found it impossible to be holy because of ego, selfishness, jealousy and thirst for power fills our hearts. We reject this gift.

Our inability to accept priceless gifts contingent on free advice became so bad that the Lord simplified the message in Micah, “O people, the Lord is good to you, all you have to do is justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” That gracious covenant remained on the table even in the face of human disobedience because of the loving kindness of the Lord (hesed). Though the Lord loves us in spite of ourselves,” we seldom reciprocate.

Rather than throw humankind in the trash bin and start over, something fully unjustified, God’s hesed came to us in the form of Jesus to right all our wrongs. The message of Jesus in John’s gospel is, “believe in me and you will not perish” but as usual the Lord tosses in a contingency (really an instruction on faith-based action), “If you believe in me, you will love each other as I love you; so that others will believe you (and Me).” Someone’s salvation depends on our loving others. Why is that “free advice” so hard to accept?

The difference in the demand for faith-based action between what the Lord said in the Law and the message of Jesus is very small but significant. (We ought to expect that since Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law.) Jesus says the Law means this, “Just as I love you, love one another.” And, “I will ask the Father (the Lord), and he will give you the Spirit of truth within you to be …forever... I will not leave you orphaned; ...  but … because I live, you also will live. Then you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

Lately I’ve talked about the symbolic language of scripture and multiple meanings of words in scripture. The difference in Law and Gospel lies in a small but significant word. advocate. The actual Greek word is paraclete. It has multiple meanings. Paraclete has a legal meaning as a defender, lawyer, advisor or spokesperson. Jesus is our defender before the judgment of God. It can mean cheerleader, or one who gives comfort or solace in times of trouble.

We have a habit to rely on selective hearing and memory, hearing and thinking what we expect rather than what is actually said.  Without that defender and comforter from Jesus we can worsen a situation of fear, confusion, uncertainty.

When we are faced with difficult moral or ethical problems that need an advisor or confidant. It is seldom the case that we find in the gospels a clear-cut situation in Christ’s time specific to the present circumstance to be able to apply a formulaic recipe developed from a literal reading of scripture. We have a real problem when some scripture condemns a situation but, contradictorily the gospel like this passage in John prescribes love. When the “right” answer is not at all clear, or has negative consequences, we need help.

What do we do when we encounter a circumstance completely outside the world and experience of the days of Jesus. Is it morally wrong to refuse to vaccinate your children against measles, mumps, tetanus and polio because someone told you fraudulently it causes autism? (The person who started this hoax to sell his patent had his medical license revoked and governments spent millions of dollars in subsequent research that refute the claim.) Or, should we force all parents to have children vaccinated because it protects not just your children, but everyone by eliminating the disease? What is it the right thing to do? What if we hear from someone a report about a congregant, member of the session, or the pastor that sounds wrong, or unjust? Should we repeat it to others before confirming that is correct by challenging the person? Even if true, should we repeat it? That is why we need the Holy Spirit.

There are two clear messages in this text. One is about how we treat people who are transgressors, or who do us wrong. We are judges of right and wrong to the extent we can verify that we have no guilt ourselves. (Reread that last sentence.) How many of us fit that requirement?... We are messengers of grace. The primary message of Jesus about transgressors comes from the Law: We are to love as Jesus loved.  That part of the new Law is as difficult for us as the old Law to the Jews which is why Paul says the Law is death.

The second message advises us to use the Holy Spirit to decide what actions are right and wrong.  Paul captured the message in his letter to the Corinthians, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial.”  I will not be dominated by anything.” “Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. Don’t let the effect of your actions be a millstone around your neck.”

This is where the gift of the advocate, or Holy Spirit is needed. The Holy Spirit is our teacher who helps us understand right from wrong. John intends to capture all the subtle differences, lawyer, advisor, comforter, counselor, as he describes a promised Divine Friend who is available always to those who love him and each other.

The advocate is both free advice and half of a gracious gift that frees us the literal body of the Law. The gift is the simple command “Just as I love you, love one another,” and the free advice sent to us, “our Advocate.” The Holy Spirit is in us - the gift of free advice from the Lord to determine how to love each other makes us holy. The Holy Spirit helps us chose actions that show we love each other.

As Protestants, we choose willingly to carry a very heavy personal burden to rely on the Holy Spirit in deciding what actions build up and what action tears down Christian fellowship. We formally reject the authority of any human to dictate to us what is right or wrong. We intentionally embrace the obligation decide for our self - advised not by intuition, or prejudice, but by being informed by scripture and the Holy Spirit that is our advocate. We use a process of prayer, scripture and thought to determine proper behavior to build up and not tear down. It requires grace. Ego always should take second place.

When faced with a question about right and wrong behavior, we should ask, “What does the scripture say? Is there clear guidance for our action? Is my action so guided by an obviously supported reading of scripture that the answer is self-evident?”  Will it lift up, or tear down our fellowship? Most choices that tear down have no grace but lead to anger and harm to Christian fellowship and become a millstone around our neck.

If scripture is silent or ambiguous, then we must go to the next level. Take the vaccine dilemma I mentioned in an earlier post. There were no vaccines in the time of Jesus, folks did not even know what germs and viruses are. We must ask if vaccinations support love between our brothers and sisters, or discord? Is it right to vaccinate because it prevents my child from getting the disease and helps eradicate the disease that may strike other children? Is it right to believe someone who fraudulently says vaccines cause autism and not have my child vaccinated, endangering everyone? Who should we believe? The person who lost his medical license or the scientific evidence that refutes the claim? If you can’t answer those questions with scripture or certainty, find someone who does understand the science or discuss it with knowledgeable friends. Then listen to your advocate, pray that the Holy Spirit helps you to understand whether my ego, lack of knowledge, uncertainty or anger blinds my ears, eyes and mind to the choice of grace.

In the real world we know rumors, gossip, grudges, fraud, ill will and misunderstanding are ever present and threats to congregations. They impede good decisions, but we can never deny these things are present in each of us. Read Paul’s letters if you want examples.

Yet, every member of our congregation is precious and filled fully with the enthusiasm of the Spirit, from A to Z.  We have been called to this journey. We are brothers and sisters in Christ who fought back from the edge of disaster and are walking towards to light and our only weapon is the grace of God. Never let rumor, gossip, grudges, ill will and misunderstanding separate us from mutual love. When you hear wrong, contradictory, or unfair, or inexplicable comments, confront the issue and clarify the situation. Engage a friend for assistance. Don’t assume the worst, assume the best. We are in this struggle together.

Remember two things, (1) Jesus said, “If you believe in me, you will love each other as I love you so others will believe you.” Show grace to the world and each other and put ego in second place. (2) In that same spirit, whenever you hear something that sounds wrong, are tempted to do something that feels wrong, ask and pray about it, remember we all are called by Jesus to build up. Get your concerns addressed. Remember there's only one question worth asking: "In what ways did I love another today?" 

Amen.

Day 1623 – The Door is Open (Many Rooms)

A sermon shared at First Presbyterian Church, May 14, 2017, Spring City, TN

Deut. 1:1,6-33

John 14:1-14

We need to return to the last half of the previous chapter of John to appreciate this text. Jesus has shared his last meal, sent Judas to do his betrayal, fully revealed himself to the disciples as God’s Son, and announced to the disciples that he faces death. In John 13:33-35, he says, “Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. If you have love for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

But on behalf of the disciples Simon Peter asks, “Lord, where are you going?” only to be told you cannot follow me now, only later.” Peter protests, “  “Lord, why not …? I will lay down my life for you.”  

“Peter, will you lay down your life for me? (Do you remember that Jesus asked what greater love is there than to lay down one’s life for the friend?...) “Very truly, I tell you, soon you will deny me three times.”

Now the disciples have followed Jesus for three years. Imagine the surprise and fear that must have struck them to hear, “you cannot come with me now.” Like the Hebrews in the desert, the time for faith has come. Jesus knows their world is about collapse as the Temple leaders drag him to trial and the Romans crucify him. He offers a promise to his loyal first believers: “Don’t be troubled by this insane world. I face the cold reality of my duty to God and you, to die, rise and return to the Father. Now I offer a promise to you if you believe in me.”

 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled when the world strips all hope from you. Remember I said ‘You will follow me later. If you believe in God, if you have faith in me, believe me when I say this.’” Can they keep faith in this ultimate test? 

These powerful words to remind them of God’s unwavering commitment to his promises, his steadfast love for them. He uses powerful words that echo the words of God to the Hebrews in the desert at the foot of Mount Sinai ready to enter the Promised Land.  Deut. 1:30-32, “The Lord your God will fight for you as he did for you in Egypt before your very eyes, and in the wilderness, where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as one carries a child, all the way until you reached this place.”

It is no coincidence Jesus recalls that time in the desert, he is reminding them of God’s promise, “I am going to my father’s house, the final Promised Land, I’m going home where there are many dwelling places, otherwise I would have warned you. You are loved and safe because I am going to prepare a place for you so that wherever I am, you will be there also.  You are loved and safe because I am going to lay down my life for you to prepare a place for you to be near me.”… “You know there is a home.”  Do they understand God is speaking? Thomas says, “We do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Last week I spoke of symbols. One ancient symbol signifying the teaching of Jesus while he was on earth is “The Way”…From the earliest days Christians “The Way” characterized the central command of Jesus. You know this command, I read it just a few minutes ago, “you should love one another just as I have loved you.. If you have love for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

Since poor Thomas still doesn’t get it Jesus offers one of his most well-known sayings, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We cannot avoid this narrow gate, this most powerful demand for faith for those who hear the good news: Believe what you have heard. Jesus said, “⁷If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him because you have seen (my signs) and known me.” (two options)

(These verses are controversial within the Christian community. Is the Way the only path to this house with many rooms for listeners? According to John, “yes.”  But what of those who have never heard? The author of a commentary on John, p179, says, John threw these words of Jesus’ to the community of pagans, Jews, and believers as a challenge that faith based on belief in his word is necessary to find the Way.

Was John thinking of the uninformed people in what is now China and Japan, Africa, Egypt, or across the oceans to the Americas? The commentary author suggests, and I agree, that the only way to the many rooms of God, who is the Father and Son, for those who hear and listen to the gospels is believing the words…but those who have not heard the words are in God and the Holy Spirit’s hands who is equal to solving that problem, not us.)

Early missionaries in Asia and Africa discovered that people were innately primed to believe this liberating Good News upon hearing it. (I’ll add the citation later.) Perhaps everyone who hopes for a future better than the one to which the world gives them has an internal longing for an intangible, untouchable greatness, beyond all that exists, that connects them to the Way... “The Way of Jesus is a universal liberation. Come all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Even ancient Asian philosophy knew that emptiness that Jesus fills. Before 400 BCE, the Chinese teacher Lao-tzu wrote a book called Tao Te Ching. Tao means “The Way,” the essential, unnamable power behind the universe. It’s first words are: “The Way that can be walked by feet is not the enduring and unchanging way. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. Having no name, this power is the Originator of heaven and earth; (if conceived as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.  “Even though we often do not desire to seek it, we always feel its deep mystery; and if desire to seek it is always within us, all that we can see is its outer fringe.” 1,000 years later, John Calvin calls that part of the human essence the Knowledge of God, the first key. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus Christ is the final key.

Jesus assured and demanded faith of his disciples on the basis of “seeing and believing” and hearing, “if you know me, you know the Father, you know and have seen him,”  but poor Philip asks for proof, “Lord, show us and we will be satisfied.”

What is Jesus thinking when Philip asks? Is he angry ready to say, “If I have told you once, I have told you a thousand times…?”  No, Jesus tenderly but directly asks, “Philip, have I been with you all this time, and you still do not know who I am? All this time you have heard me say whoever has seen me has seen the Father and, yet now, you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? It isn’t me who is talking to you; but the Father within me.”

Unlike us who only have his words, the disciples were fortunate to have three choices (v11), “Believe my words that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,” or “If my words are not good enough, believe me because of the works themselves,” otherwise do not believe and remain in the darkness that the world offers you.

Jesus emphasized believing his words not his Signs, because soon the disciples will shoulder the great responsibility for the future when belief comes only by hearing the words and feeling the Holy Spirit. He is preparing his disciples.

The whole passage turns on his example of love. The disciples shall demonstrate his Way by loving each other.  The passage poses a question, “What demonstrates the words of Jesus in the world today, what causes people to believe?”  All we have are his words recorded by the apostles, and the actions of believers. Every Christian walking the Way testifies to the work of Jesus in the world today, communicating the power and message across two thousand years to those who see and hear. WE don’t do it whwen we fight.

Now, you may say, “Henry, that is all idealism. We can’t possibly achieve it.”

 I disagree because every congregation has folks who persist in sharing mutual love between Christians even in the midst of strife. Even in the community of John had cynics and misguided gatekeepers.  Just read the 15 short verses of 3 John. Here are the key verses: v1 To the elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. v3 I was overjoyed when some of the friends visited me and testified to your faithfulness to the truth (way), namely how you walk in the truth. v5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you. v9 I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. v10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church. v11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. v15 Peace to you…Greet the friends there, each by name.” …Do you see, one person can make the difference with a greeting or a snub.

Yes, Jesus makes the reason quite clear why one the two choices is more desirable. “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father to intercede on your behalf. ¹³I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. In 13:17, Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

I do not know about you, but I hope to keep two things before me the rest of my days, first, always to strive to act towards people as “the elder to the beloved Gaius” who testified to his faithfulness to the truth by faithfully loving the friends, even though they are strangers, AND second, to wait for my room key for one of those many rooms in God’s house. 

AMEN.