The Rev. Kirk Baker Pub. 03/12/2017 God s Plans and You As Presbyterians, we may know a lot about the Bible. For example, we know what time of day God created Adam it was just a little before Eve. We know Noah was a great financial manager; he floated stock when everyone else was in liquidation. We can point to evidence of the surpassing wisdom of God, Who created man first, then woman because God didn't want someone explaining how it could have been done better! Oh, I'll pay; and I should. We do know more and more about the Bible as time goes on, but there are some things that have been mistaught, over and over, until we actually MISREAD what is right before our eyes. Our opening passage from Genesis is a great example. This brief reading provides the original covenant between God and Abraham, who was originally named Abram. Now you have probably heard of the covenant before, probably understand that a covenant is a formal agreement between two parties where each agrees to do something for the other. The covenant God made with Abraham was a big deal because our Creator lowered Godself to human level, willingly became accountable to mortals, entirely out of a benevolent love for us. No other gods had ever done anything like it. So God made this covenant with Abraham; if Abram would trust God and go live in an unknown land, then what would God do for Abram? Does anyone remember? Not word-for-word, but in general. 17-03-12 1 John 3
This is how most people remember it; God promised Abraham many sons and a mighty nation! We even used to teach this as God's fulfillment of the covenant with the song Father Abraham - who remembers that? [sing a little] Just one little problem... that is NOT the covenant! 17-03-12 2 John 3
The ACTUAL covenant is that God will make Abraham's descendants numerous and mighty, SO THAT they will be a blessing... specifically, so that IN YOU, ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED! The ACTUAL terms of the covenant are that God will make Abraham's descendants prosper, and his descendants must then be a source of blessing for ALL OTHERS. What does that mean? How will they bless others? Enter Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a respected leader who goes to visit Jesus at night. As a ruler in Jerusalem, Nicodemus would have been among the most powerful 3% of the population in all of Israel! But he himself calls Jesus rabbi, or teacher. As many pastors preach, Nicodemus already has a lot of power, but he has heard that Jesus might be the Messiah, and he wants to hedge his bets. He believes the Messiah 17-03-12 3 John 3
will be someone else, someone from a rich, powerful family, but Jesus has done some remarkable things and you can never be too careful. So, just in case, Nicodemus tries to form an allegiance with Jesus; then, if Jesus ever assumes the throne Nicodemus has a friend in high places. But notice, Nicodemus does not completely trust Jesus he visits at night, when nobody would know! Here is the question: is Nicodemus concerned about being God's blessing to others? Remember the covenant with Abraham. The purpose of Israel is NOT to prosper, but to grow and prosper, to exist, as a vehicle for God's blessings! To be so devoted to God, so aligned with God's plans, that all the nations on earth are blessed through Israel! That is a HUGE responsibility. Nicodemus and other leaders of Israel in Jesus' day were very concerned with the blessings God might bestow on them, but completely disregarded their responsibility to God. They never tried to be a blessing to others; so God sent Jesus. That is why the story of Nicodemus is followed by this reminder to all Christians: John 3:16. 17-03-12 4 John 3
Sometimes it seems as if how we, the body of Christ today, read God's covenant influences whether we, too, behave like Nicodemus or fully receive Jesus' teaching about becoming children of God. Because if the only part of the covenant we remember is that God promises to give Father Abraham a lot of sons, then why do we exist as a church? In every church I've served, the biggest question on the table has been: how do we get more members? Yet if our end purpose is increasing in size, don't we sound a lot like those who misremember God's covenant? Don't we sound like Nicodemus, those who want prosperity and might but care nothing about our responsibilities to God? The end purpose of a church is NOT to simply become larger but to grow and strengthen so that we can be a blessing to others! God chose Abraham's family as the 17-03-12 5 John 3
example of selfless love that would cause others to wonder about God, to ask questions and draw closer to the Creator Who never stops caring for us even after we repeatedly choose other idols. That is why Jesus rejected Nicodemus' extended alliance; Nicodemus would never fulfill the covenant, cared only about his own well-being. Sadly, there are many such churches today, faith communities where the only reason for existence is to serve and perpetuate self, but never inform nor equip members to realize the fullness of Discipleship, which comes from meeting the conditions of that covenant laid down long ago. I am overjoyed to observe that this is understood here at Park Church, that blessing others is seen as our end purpose. We remember our process of reflection, prayer, and seeking overwhelmingly expresses the desire to shine Christ's light to others. I see the results being realized as we more confidently step into the role God assigns us as this particular part of Christ's body, the personal warmth shared when we hosted the Martin Luther King Celebration, the overflowing praise from Boy and Girl Scout families you welcomed in February. 17-03-12 6 John 3
I was struck speechless by a post from a lay leader at another church who attended a recent meeting for Family Promise and wrote on our facebook page: The church reaches out to others! God is working here. How often do church leaders publicly praise the faith of other church members? Doesn't it just give you goosebumps? 17-03-12 7 John 3
As long as we faithfully seek this purpose, as long as we embrace the invitation to be children of God, we need not worry about our numbers or our strength. People will see the sincerity of our faith, their hearts will respond, and we will have enough workers for God's Kingdom. For this is the reason God instituted Park Presbyterian Church: so that in you, all peoples might be blessed. Amen. 17-03-12 8 John 3