LENT 2
February 28, 2010
the Rev. Ken Kroohs
(Genesis 15:1-12 & 17-18; Ps. 27; Philipians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35)
THE SINGLE BIGGEST QUESTION
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN
Today’s Old Testament lessons present us with what may be the single most difficult question in our religious lives.
We begin with considering what is probably the primary theological difference, I think, between the Old and New Testaments. Usually we focus on Jesus as being the primary change ... and He is ... but the question I raise is “What changed in our relationship with God .. the relationship human beings have with God because of Jesus?”
Clearly salvation is part of the answer although I would argue it is only part. I say that because I believe salvation certainly was possible before Jesus. Maybe the process was different – maybe.
Therefore the biggest change I submit is the change from a community focus to an individual focus. A change from a focus on the behavior of the society to a focus on the behavior of the individual.
In the Old Testament most of the focus in on the behavior of the group. Example, in the Sodom and Gomorrah account — even if every single man in Sodom tried to attack God’s angels, the women and children did not. And yet, all the community was punished.
Or that the Exodus took 40 years. Most scholars explain that 40 years was effectively a generation so God waited until all the people who had left Egypt had died and only those who knew they were completely dependent on God could enter the promised land. But – was there not a single person in the entire original Jewish company who was faithful to God? All the community was punished.
And when God returned the Jews from Babylon – however you read that account — isn’t it just about certain that some of the Jews were NOT obedient to God? That some had turned away from God? And yet all the community was rewarded.
But then in the New Testament we hear that God knows every hair on your head and not a single sparrow will fall without God’s knowledge. A focus on the individual. We are imbedded in such a western culture focus on individual. In fact, we use the word “freedom” to mean “individual freedom” whereas in other societies the focus is more on the community.
IMPORTANT — I am not suggesting God is either community oriented or individually oriented. I am suggesting that God’s early relationship with humans was known more for the community than for the individual. I believe God has not changed but our understanding of God has changed.
All very interesting maybe, but what difference does it make? For that we need to add one other painful fact .... Ken Kroohs is not the pinnacle of God’s creation!! I know that is difficult to believe but Ken Kroohs is not the best that will ever happen. And neither are you. And neither is the USA.
In other words God is still working His purpose out. That’s why we need to accept SOME community focus over individual focus. God is working on the growth of the kingdom of God ... the time when wars will cease, everyone will be healthy, no one will starve.
That will occur through the compilation of individual acts, but it requires the community be all together.
Therefore — God needs to keep the entire plan in mind, and not just me. I hate to admit that Ken Kroohs may not be so important in God’s plans that those plans should be changed to make my life easier. But its true.
Furthermore, I believe that the kingdom of God will arrive when everyone CHOOSES to be with God. But for that to be true we must have the option to NOT choose God. We must have the option to choose evil. AND, it someone chooses evil that means evil will happen to other people. If someone chooses to drive drunk, then someone who never choose evil may be hurt.
I hate that conclusion. .... I want God to fix everything and prevent every evil. Of course I don’t want God to control ME that completely — just other people.
I don’t want to be ... or have people I care about to be ... like the soldier who is hurt even though the battle is won. And I don’t understand why God seems to intervene in some cases but not in others. Of course there may be times when God intervenes and we miss it. Germany should have won World War II by 1942 - before we were fully involved – and probably win despite our involvement. Japan should have won the Battle of Midway and forced us to ask for peace.
Neither happened because we got lucky. .... God’s involvement ?? Don’t know but it is intriguing to think about. Is it possible that God keeps the general direction right while allowing individuals to go off track?
That thought process for today grew from Abram’s discussion with God. Consider it from Abram’s perspective. OK, he is told he will have a child ... notice again the emphasis on family and society rather than individual .. but if we read the story more deeply Abram is told he will leave his birth family, wander around a lot, his children will have a difficult time .. but EVENTUALLY ... thousands of years later, everything will be wonderful. God says: “don’t worry so much about yourself, worry about the ultimate goal.”
Which connects us to the second theme for today ... a theme mentioned several times in scripture ... which must be the must idiotic, crazy, inane statement possible! The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? * the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
Whom shall I fear? LOTS OF PEOPLE! In fact, nothing is more likely to get the attention of evil people then to be on God’s side !
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell
Yup – uh hah – THAT HAPPENS A LOT! God just reaches out and trips the mugger, the boss about to fire me, the illness making me sick. Yup.
The Psalms are the exception to the community focus I mentioned earlier. Many of And they do mean what they say. BUT, I believe they also them are individualistically focused. are poetic and should be read as poetry and not as cookbook literal. After all, its is not likely the evildoers were literally going to eat his flesh!
To get the author’s intention read on; One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
Like Abram, the psalmist understands the kingdom of God has not yet arrived which means there is still evil in the world ... evil around us. So he asks to stay in God’s presence. To be comforted by God DESPITE the presence of evil.
And as with most poems. he is building to a conclusion: What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living?
O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the LORD.
His final question is: How much worse it would be if I had not known God is active in this world – Therefore, have patience, know God’s is working His purpose out – even if that still allows evil - pain - suffering. Those WILL end – Maybe not today, but they will end.
MAYBE the ultimate definition of faith is to honestly believe I am not the pinnacle of God’s creative powers. To honestly believe better will happen. AND to honestly believe God knows how to accomplish that better than I do. ... That is faith.
AMEN
We have previous sermons on our website. To read an earlier recent sermon just enter: www.st-christopher.org/sermon.html.
CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)