Advent 01
December 02, 2007
(Isaiah 2:1-5, Ps. 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44)
The Rev. Ken Kroohs
CERTAINTY FROM SCRIPTURE
St. Christopher’s,
MAY
THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS
ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN
When you get a group of clergy together the
conversation can go in any one of several directions. One common conversation concerns the
differences between churches and the implications of those differences.
Frequently the assumption is stated that many
large, fast growing churches ---- not all, but many ---- fit into a certain
pattern. Many fast growing churches are
the type of place that (1) will tell you what to believe and (2) tell you the
world is about to end.
At many fast growing churches you will be told
what to believe, who to vote for, and even where to shop (or not shop). I have always found being TOLD what to
believe or who to vote for or where to shop is a bit repulsive. You can influence me – but don’t try to order
me around!
So it fascinates me that so many people are
attracted to churches where ... it appears to me ... their freedom is taken
away. I have never seen any scientific,
physiological studies, but I wonder ... is this partially a reflection on the
society we now live in?
Many people have spoken about the rapid
changes in our society. Focusing on
travel and communication as indicators .... up through the end of the 1700's
very little had changed since sails were put on ships! For thousands of years almost nothing had
changed.
In the 1800's we did get steam power which
made travel and communication somewhat more reliable but not a lot faster.
In the 1900's the pace of change began to
accelerate and increased rapidly through the century. In the first 50 years the big thing was
diesel engines for ships while cars made transportation and communication
faster. But after 1950 we began to have
regular airline travel, then jet airlines.
By the 1990's and into this century the
physical travel time has not improved – may be a bit slower in fact – but
communication has changed. Now we can be
in conversation with someone anywhere in the world in seconds. I get videos of my grand daughters moments
after they are taken — anywhere in the world.
Add to travel and communications the other
changes – multiple health care plans, multiple insurance plans, ever changing
phone plans, ever changing employment patterns.
When I arrived in
Now? ... Now many researchers suggest the
average 25 year old will have at least 3 distinct careers during their life
time.
Considering all that has happened is it any
surprise people want security? People
want certainty? That people get upset
when the church — or they think the church changes?
So it is not terribly surprising that some
people want to be told what to believe, who to vote for and where to shop. They are tired of all the changes! They are tired of choosing health care or
phone plans and just want to be TOLD what is best!
The second part is a lot harder to understand
... Why being told that the world will end soon attracts people. I have heard some interesting theories and I
suspect there are multiple reasons which build together. That said, I think the idea that people want
certainty is again a major factor. They
want to know that if they do this and say that they will be going to
heaven. They want to know furthermore,
that all of it matters. Their efforts
matter — for them.
I also agree that another major factor is
fear. They are frightened when told that
if they don’t do this and say that they will be going to hell ---- soon. I suspect that is at least partially a
remnant of the fear, and certainty that a nuclear war would destroy the world.
So ---- how does all this fit into the
scripture? Actually it first pretty
well! That, I submit to you, is the
difficulty. You see being certain about
our beliefs, being unchanging in our core beliefs, knowing what to do and say,
and fearing hell are all GOOD, REASONABLE ATTITUDES!!
I have been reflecting on the idea that the
difficulty for many of us is understanding that those churches have good,
legitimate concerns. And, these churches
are for many people the place they can worship God the best.
Let me try this image. As I was writing this sermon Shirley was
making us sweet potato waffles with walnuts for breakfast. Good things!!
Anyway as I was writing this it struck me she could take the very same
ingredients and make a very different breakfast. Whether it would be good or bad is a
question! But it would be different.
In a similar way churches, and people, can
take the desire for certainty, the desire to stick to core beliefs, the desire
to know what to do and say, and the fear of hell .... take those and create
several distinct religious experiences.
It would take weeks to examine all of
scripture in this manner so hear this as a teaser ... an attempt to describe a
way to view scripture. And we ALL view
scripture through biased eyes. We ALL
read scripture with pre-conceived ideas which affect our understanding. That’s why it is so important to be in
communication with people who have other biases ... they expand our view.
If we look at today’s reading from Isaiah, I — and that word is in bold in my manuscript I find a wonderful description of the end of time ---- which is
VERY different from the Left Behind
novels! In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be
established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the
hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of
the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his
paths." For out of
Notice, I did not say this conflicts
with the Book of Revelation. I believe
if we take this passage, and place it alongside the Book of Revelation we get a
very different picture from the one many churches present.
“All the nations shall stream to it” — ALL, everyone. “Many people shall come and invite us” ...
They shall become peaceful and learn war no more — not a final battle (which is
nowhere in Revelation I might add) ... not a final battle but the end of war.
And then the most fascinating part of it for me ... the call to
action. Come let us walk in the light of the Lord! .... Let’s do it! No need to wait for the end of the world,
let’s do it NOW!
There are a series of commercials being run on TV where there is
some danger and most the people sit around talking about what to do until one
person steps up and does it. (The talkers then take the credit but that’s
another issue.) The point is that we
don’t have to wait to act.
I may disagree with being told what to do or say. I may disagree with what people are told to
do or say. But I am impressed by their
desire to know and willingness to do. I
believe that boycotting stores when the cashier does not say “Merry Christmas”
is counterproductive. BUT, I am
impressed that people are willing to be inconvenienced, even mildly, for their
beliefs.
In fact that leads directly to Paul’s shouting at the Romans: WAKE
UP! (paraphrase:) You fools! Wake up!! All those good things Isaiah spoke about are
now available to you. Wake up and live
into that future. Avoid the darkness and
evil and live in the light.
I am always impressed with Paul’s lists of darkness. We tend to remember the sex, and drugs, and
drunkenness he preaches against but notice that he ends with “avoid quarreling
and jealousy” — learn war – even war between two people – no more. I suspect we
focus on the other issues because those are easy to say we avoid .... we need
to consider Paul’s entire teaching!
So what does Jesus have to say about all this? I think Isaiah, Paul and Jesus provide a
consistent picture, a consistent teaching which is, again, very different from
the “end is coming soon – be very afraid” approach.
First Jesus says ... and I know people disagree with me on this but
as I understand scripture Jesus says: “no one knows when the end will
come. So stop looking in scripture for
the secret message!! It ain’t in there!”
In fact, I believe Jesus goes much further and says: “Not only
don’t you know the exact date and time, IT DOES NOT MATTER!”
Jesus tells us to act as if we knew the end of time was this coming
tomorrow morning at 9 am. But also ....
and here is where lots of people would disagree with me! .... live as if the
end of time is this coming tomorrow at 9 am but THANK GOD it isn’t!
Thank God it isn’t because we are being given the opportunity to
enjoy this life while preparing for the next.
In other places Jesus tells us that living as Christians will not always
be easy ... but it will be rewarding.
That is a big part of our unchanging, core beliefs.
AMEN
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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)