LISTEN UP! Mark 12: 28-34;2 Timothy 3:1-6, 10-17 He was angry and was waiting for me as I entered the fellowship hall after the morning service. He was upset about something he had heard me say in the sermon and let me know in no uncertain terms what he thought. When I finally got a chance to respond I told him I had not said what he said I had said. Yes you did, he was quick to reply, I heard you! We were then taping the sermons so I suggested he take a copy home, listen to it, locate and mark what was offensive to him, then I would listen to it and we could discuss it further. He agreed to do this and stormed off with the tape. The following day he came to my study, handed me the tape and sheepishly said You were right. You didn t say what I heard you say. There is little question that we all, to some degree, have what one might call selective hearing. We hear what we like, or that with which we agree, but are quick to tune out, or take offense, at what disturbs us. We like to hear the things that comfort us, make us feel good, but don t like that which disturbs or challenges. The protestant church is fragmented to such an extent that it has lost its influence or effect on our culture, that is, the way we live. Scripture warns us of this. In the Second Letter to the young Timothy as he begins his ministry, he is told:
The time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away into myths. (4:3,4) In the 19 th century the Danish theologian, Soren Kierkegard took on as his mission the task of making Christianity more difficult for Christians. He wrote: the claims of Christianity (have) deteriorated into little more than the rote doctrine that one must memorize to be confirmed. Rather than marveling at the great paradox that God became a human to save us from our sins, Christianity as a cultural institution merely assumed that belief, finding it trivial and easy to believe. In all his writings he sought to show that faith in Jesus demands absolute passion and dedication, not mere assent to a Christian worldview. I recently attended a presentation by Will Willimon in Vancouver. Willimon has been rated one of 4 outstanding preachers in the U.S. A Methodist, he has served as chaplain at Duke University; as a Bishop in Georgia and is now at Duke Divinity School as professor of the practice of ministry. Speaking of the state of the church in this 21 st Century he made some telling observations. He pointed out that God s Word is meant to be a powerful intervention in the way and wisdom of the world. That is, it is counter-cultural. Unfortunately, he said, We have well developed defenses regarding God s Word; we are well insulated from it.
He is merely echoing the advice given to Timothy to avoid those holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. That is, the power to change lives, the power to make a difference in how we live and the kind of people we are called and challenged to be for God s sake. I recently came across a testimony of a young woman, Alyssa, a graduate of Wheaton Theological College and a member of a Spirt filled church in Redding, California committed to reviving the wider church. She explained that her Christian upbringing centered on correct doctrine and upright living, but didn t prepare her to live radically for Jesus. I looked the same as a Christian, she said, but I didn t look any different from the world. She went on to say that sometimes I feel the Lord is shaking me out of things I cannot shake out of myself. How does God do that? How does God get through to us? Throughout the history of the world God has spoken and acted through and by his word. The very act of creation was initiated by God s Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That Word was embodied, it was given form and substance in Creation. And that is the same Word that became flesh and dwelt among us and that Word is Jesus. God was embodied in Jesus; what we call the Incarnation.
Jesus did not come among us, die on the cross to defeat sin and death so that those who claim to be Christians can go to sleep at night with the confidence that should they die before morning they will wake up in heaven. He did not call the church into being so we could enjoy one another s fellowship and eat fine food together. No, Jesus was on a mission and that mission was to call into being a mass movement of men and women who were prepared to lay their lives on the line and follow him to the ends of the earth. You did not choose me but I chose you he said. And in his prayer to the Father he said As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. He was speaking of the church, of you and me and all those who are called by the name Christian. I tell you, he said, The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these And to ensure that this would be so he promised that another Advocate would be sent to be with them forever; he wasn t going to leave them alone, on their own, nor are we left on our own. The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of truth will be and is with us. We will know him Jesus says because he abides with you, and he will be in you. There is no way around it. The very Word of God is to be embodied in the Church. We are called to be the embodiment of Jesus in a hurting world; in a world fraught with darkness we are to shine the light of God s love and
grace, called to move out of our comfort zones and our comfortable pews prepared to get our hands dirty if need be. He has entrusted to his church, the church he has called into being, his hands, his feet, to literally be his presence in the world. How well we do will depend on how well we listen for God s Word to the church. But make no mistake. He does not let us off the hook too easily. He continues to speak to us. He speaks to us through the Scriptures, as much through the words of the Old Testament prophets as through the words of the New Testament. The prophet Isaiah is scathing in his words to the religious people of his day, the chosen people of God: Is this not 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. Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover them, and not hide yourself from your kin? (58:6,7) And the prophet Amos is just as harsh, speaking for the Lord he thunders: I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.i will not accept the offerings you make to me Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the music you make. BUT let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
These words apply as much to the church today, the chosen of God, as they ever did when first spoken to the chosen of God ages ago. God also continues to speak to us through the spoken word in our day: If you come, on a Sunday morning, to hear what the preacher has to say, you will be disappointed. I learned a very long time ago that there is nothing I can say that hasn t been said, probably much better, many times before. There is nothing I can say that you haven t heard before. I have also learned that I never stand in the pulpit alone. As Willimon put it, in reality there is only one Preacher, and that is Christ. He is after all the very Word of God. The preacher of the day is only the intermediary, the one who stands in the middle of the action. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, in Willimon s picturesque language, rips the sermon out of the hand s of the preacher, and lays it on the hearts of those who listen for God to speak to them; with sometimes a comforting word, more often with a challenging word, a Word that causes discomfort and unease. But a Word nevertheless that leads to new beginnings, newness of life, and joy everlasting. God does not just call us once; he continues to call; he continues to hammer at the barriers we put up to insulate ourselves from the reality of his call upon our lives. He is unrelenting in his pursuit of disciples who will rise up and follow him to only God knows where.
Lois Cheney has written a book of poems that, in a somewhat humorous way takes a swipe at the reader s ego and his/her attempt to manipulate God but to no avail because, as she titles her book: God is No Fool Once upon a time There was a God Who so loved the world That he gave his son His only son. And they took that son And they hung him on a cross And that son died And they buried the son Sealed him up tight. But God said, Oh no you don t And he rolled back the rock He unsealed his son And his son came out Came out walking and breathing And he was alive. And he s alive today And he walks around And he stalks around Breathing life and life
Every morning, just before dawn For thousands of years Little grim people Preachers and bankers and Storekeepers and students Sneak up to the grave and Roll back the stone To seal it up tight. And every morning God roars Oh no you don t! And he flings back the stone. And out walks Jesus All over again; Out stalks the Grinning, striding Jesus. Tight lipped Little people Hover all day Around the tomb And cover it with incense And bow before it And walk before it And sigh before it; And pray to it
And sing to it And weep to it And lean on it. And no one Notices Or at least They pretend not to notice, The living Breathing Walking Talking Jesus Out on the Edge, calling Hey!: Hey you! May those who have ears hear his call, for be assured he calls each one by name.