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Jason McGee
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1 Certification to Serve Rev. J. Lynn James, LMHC The chief priests and elders ask Jesus, By what authority are you doing these things? That is actually a very good question. Credentials are important. I paid off my student loans just in time for my stepson to start college I was 38 years old. I paid a lot of money to get my credentials to do what I do; however, I have encountered people who never even completed high school who humbled me by their wisdom. Their credentials come from a deeper place and I remain in awe of their lives and their gifts. When I go to the doctor, I do prefer to see some diplomas on the wall. I visited a relative in the hospital at IUPUI which is a teaching hospital, and whenever his doctor came into the room, she would be accompanied by a group of residents, finished with medical school, but not finished with medical education. I, for one, am glad that someone made a rule that you have to spend a couple of years actually doing clinical work under the supervision of other doctors before you qualify for a medical license. I also have been touched by the healing presence of those who have never had medical training but learned from generations before them remedies that science continues to discover are actually effective. We hire a licensed Maine guide to lead us through the Allagash wilderness waterway in canoes each summer. In order to achieve this license these men and women must be able to: Identify the animals, plants, fish Know the laws governing all the natural things in the state Have excellent map and compass reading skills Be trained in emergency medical response

2 And know how to survive in harsh conditions, including how to locate drinkable water. Especially when Kali and Aaron were young, I felt much better knowing that we were in the hands of an experienced and licensed guide. We hire him year after year though, because he tells good stories about the woods and the water, he is kind to our children, and he taught me that leeches are not as terrifying as I had thought. The first time I was in a court room, was for the adoption of my sister Beth; I was 5 years old and she was 5 weeks old. I didn t really understand what was going on, so when the judge, in a loud voice and wearing a big black robe told us to come forward to answer some questions, I began to cry. I did not understand the ceremonial aspect of the situation; I did not need a judge to determine by what authority Beth belonged to us. I already loved her; before the legal papers were signed, she was already my sister. Before the legal system made it official, love s authority had made us family. The second time I was in a court room, I was testifying on behalf of a child I had been counseling through the domestic violence center where I worked. This was early in my career. I had my degree but was still working toward my license. I was in the first 6 months of my first full time counseling job. My degree was from a seminary instead of a regular graduate program. Our attorney had already warned me to prepare myself because their attorney was going to have fun questioning the validity of my education and credentials. Sitting there in the court room I was beside myself with fear. By what authority was I there? Who was I to be representing this child? Earlier in the week I had seriously thought about buying a Ph.D through the mail! They called my name and I felt like a plastic shrinky dink in the oven melting to a fraction of my true size. I prayed as I walked toward the judge, God,

3 work through me, I turn this over to you, your authority and your power. I took the stand and suddenly I felt calm. I simply began to tell them what I knew. I had found the basis of my authority: the child told me and I listened. When the attorney asked about the status of my license I somehow was able to answer without defensiveness where I was at in the process-every counselor works for 3 years after graduation to build 3000 clinical hours before they can take the licensing exam. He became sarcastic and asked me how many abused children I had worked with and I told him this was my first job. I was not there as an expert witness, but as simply a caring witness to her story. I knew I had enough training to know how to listen. I knew my authority did not come just from my diploma or even my clinical experience; it came from the trust of a child. Part of authority is not just achieving a set of requirements, but of being authentic, real, being honest about who we are and what we don t know as well as what we do know. This means not getting baited into power-struggling or being defensive or even worse, lying or exaggerating our credentials because we are threatened by those who challenge us. In the Exodus and the Matthew texts this morning, Jesus and Moses both are being baited, challenged about their authority to lead. Now, before we get into that traditional dichotomy that pits Jesus against the Jews, let us remind ourselves that Jesus is a Jew, a faithful Jew who quotes the Torah, the Jewish holy book, and who very much sees himself as a defender of Judaism not an attacker of Judaism, an extender of Judaism even to those who were not Jews, not a over-rider of Judaism by offering some new and improved religion named after himself. Jesus is taking on some of the religious leaders of his time, not all of them, but the ones who have forgotten that the basis of the law is

4 mercy and that the law is a gift from God to enhance and strengthen human lives and relationships, not to burden or condemn them. Jesus is also naming his academic credentials by naming his controversial teacher, John the Baptist. John was edgy, confrontational, and angry about how closely the church and the government had become. John thought his religion was selling out for political power, economic privileges and were neglecting the common people who were poor and exploited. John had the audacity to call the religious leader to repentance and Jesus picked up where he left off. I wonder if that could happen today? If there are any religious leaders who have elevated creeds over compassion, rules over relationships, and confusing governmental power with God s power. As members of the United Church of Christ denomination, this is why local churches have more power than denominational leaders; the UCC believes that the power must remain with the people. The UCC believes that everyone is called by God to ministry, not just those who go to seminary and get ordained. Every single person is a religious leader; every one of you is called by God to lead in your own unique way. This is why instead of creeds we have covenants, promises to work together in ministry instead of arguing over whose theology has God s official stamp of approval. Some of us just specialized in it and do it for a living, that s all. The UCC also has been one of the first churches to officially insist that science and religion are not at odds. God is still speaking, and sometimes it is through scientific researchers who tell us things that the biblical writers could not have known. Jesus reference to John the Baptist would also be like announcing to a gathering of southern white pastors back in the 50 s that you and your church march with Dr. MLK Jr., or confronting a group like the American Baptist Evangelicals whose main issue it to make sure

5 that gays are never ordained or married, telling them that your daughter s favorite family to babysit for is parented by 2 moms, one of whom is going to seminary and is an awesome Sunday school teacher and the other is a brilliant and dedicated leader in the community. Who is the group in Elletsville that runs that Halloween hell house exhibit, scaring people into salvation. As I was driving down 46 this morning, I saw their signs. I am sure they are well-intentioned and good people who are dedicated to some of the same values that I am; however, I have to say that their version of Christianity and Jesus message in absolute opposition to mine. They are threatening people I love, people whose stories have moved me, and people who do not deserve the horrific messages being promoted there. I stand against the message they are preaching; I find it offensive and spiritually abusive. It is ironic that both of us name the bible and Jesus authoritative for our beliefs. Just because someone tells me that they are a Christian, does not mean we are going to share common beliefs about God, Jesus, or social issues. Because I follow Jesus, I hope I can look beyond those things to find common ground; however in defense of the people they are condemning to hell because they are gay or have had an abortion or aren t Christian, I must take a stand against their message of hatred and intolerance and judgmental lack of compassion. The fact that there are children going to this hell house exhibit turns my stomach. When Jesus said to Let the children come to me he did not follow that up by terrifying them! What kind of God are they being taught to believe in, One Who Loves or one who hates? What does it take to trust a spiritual leader? The scripture readings this morning are about authority, credentials, qualifications: Can Moses really be trusted to guide the Israelites through the desert wilderness and just who licensed Jesus to be a rabbi, and a non-traditional one

6 at that! The underlying question in both passages is an irritated: Just who does he think he is? That Moses leading us out into the unknown, that Jesus who tells the people they don t have to follow our religious instructions. Have you ever travelled with a group? There are always those who just cannot follow, who have to be in control. These are the ones who always know a quicker route, who argue about when to stop, and where to eat or spend the night. Whatever choices the trip planners made, they would have made better ones. Remember, a couple of verses earlier, everyone was hungry; manna appeared from the heavens and they were miraculously fed. Wouldn t you think that experience would boost their confidence in Moses leadership? It doesn t seem like it, because now they are thirsty and worried about where to find water. Can we really blame them though? I think it is human nature to worry about whether or not our needs are going to be adequately met and it takes trust to believe that if we don t take charge, we will still be taken care of adequately. It sounds like a family car trip to me. Are we there yet? I m hungry; I m thirsty; are you sure we re going the right way? I have to confess, in our family, those questions would be coming from me, not the kids. They love car trips; I can barely tolerate them. My husband and kids enjoy looking out the windows; they are content to listen to the radio, read a book, stop at a fast food place and eat in the car. I, on the other hand, am biting my tongue to keep from grumbling, Let me out of this car and don t make me walk into one more place with a name that includes Colonel, King, Bell, or Mc-anything! So, when I think about the Israelites traveling through the desert as nomads without mile markers announcing exactly how much farther there is to go, I feel great sympathy for their insecurities and complaints.

7 I have a lot in common with the grumbling Israelites, how about you? We are all on a journey, unsure of exactly what the future holds for us, how much longer it will be until we get there, and how long our journeys will last. Some, like Moses people, are literally escaping out of an oppressive past, still afraid that leaving is more dangerous than staying would have been. I think we all find ourselves wondering if we will find that promised land of our dreams and hopes, successful and secure in our marriages, our families, our work, our finances Let me ask you this: do you believe that there is enough promised land to go around? Or do we believe that the realization of one person s dream has to cost the dreams of someone else? In order for my children to have enough, do other children have to go without? I think we have been conditioned to believe that not everyone can have their needs met because there just isn t enough to go around, that essential resources are scarce, and therefore, to be safe and secure, we must be in control of it all. We have been taught to believe that there isn t enough oil, enough food, enough land, enough housing, enough water, enough money, so in order to make sure WE have enough, we must have more, and more, and more until we are fighting one another out of fear, of resistance to having to share what we have, frantic to make sure we are the ones who control who gets what and how much. Both science and faith tell us otherwise; there is enough. God seems to have provided for us all that we need on this planet. There are medicines, cures, in the rainforests, but because the people who live there are living in extreme poverty, desperate to survive they are destroying their environment. There are other sources of energy all around us: wind, sun, and water, but because powerful and wealthy people benefit from our dependence on the oil that lines their pockets, we have been slow to develop these other options.

8 We seem to have a choice then about whether we will ultimately allow fear and greed to lead us, or whether we will trust that justice, equitable distribution of the earth s resources, sharing instead of hoarding, helping ensure that everyone has access to necessities instead of ensuring that few have access to luxuries, then the kingdom of God will emerge and we will no longer have to ask how much longer, O Lord, how much longer until the hungry are fed, the thirsty drink, the suffering find relief, the earth regains balance and its people everywhere live in peace, how much longer O Lord, until the we get to the promised land! So, what were Moses qualifications? God called him, he consented and then he acted in faith and courage on behalf of those who were being oppressed. With God beside him, he spoke up against the powerful and dangerous on behalf of the powerless and endangered. A willingness to stand against what is popular, alongside the poor and the marginalized in society, is a pretty significant credential in my book. And credentials are important-what are ours? Perhaps our most important credential is that we are followers, servants of God. Amen. (copyright 2008, Lynn James, all rights reserved)

If You Can t Walk On It, Then Wade In the Water. I did not grow up around water; I grew up around soybean and corn fields. My

Sermon: 8.10.08 If You Can t Walk On It, Then Wade In the Water Rev. J. Lynn James Matthew 14:22-33 I did not grow up around water; I grew up around soybean and corn fields. My first experience with water