MAKING DISCIPLES IN THE FACE OF FEAR

MAKING DISCIPLES IN THE FACE OF FEAR Matthew 14:22-33 August 10, 2014 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, It is a ghost! And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, Take heart, it is I: Do not be afraid. Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me! Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, You of little faith, why did you doubt? When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God. This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Last week we read the passage immediately preceding this one and we noticed five words that we had never considered. On the surface that passage looked like the familiar story of the feeding of the five thousand. But then we noticed those five words: Now when Jesus heard this. And we asked, heard what? Jesus heard something that caused him to come apart by himself. Then he saw the crowds and realized they had heard the same news. So he was filled with compassion for them, went to them, taught them, and healed the sick among them. Then, late in the day, he took the loaves and fish and fed 5,000 men, besides women and children. We then read the previous verses and there it was: Jesus had heard of the beheading of John the Baptist --- a terrorist action on the part of King Herod. That led Jesus to come apart. And then Jesus responded to that act of terrorism by going to work: teaching, healing, feeding. And he involved the disciples in this. Jesus was making disciples in the face of terrorism. We then noted how closely connected we have become to the reality of terrorism. But then this became the word of God for us as we realized Jesus was calling us to get to work making disciples for the transformation of the world---including the world of terrorism. How contemporary is the word of God. This week: it happened again --- this is the word of God for the people of God. Not terrorism, but this time our attention is directed by this passage to the storms that are part of our lives. In fact, this passage and other like it in the Gospels, led early Christians to adopt the

boat image as a symbol of what it means to be the church. Followers of Jesus are in the boat together and are sometimes called to sail through the storms of life. Even today, we continue to use the boat imagery. One of the stained glass windows in our sanctuary is of a boat. There is a carving of a boat above the choir on the lectern side. The rafters of the sanctuary resemble the hull of a boat. And just below the lectern you can see the bow of a boat protruding from the stone. That image still works for us today. This passage reminds me that my church members do not live in a vacuum --- but in a forcefield. All the storms of life touch your life and mine. Perhaps there is a storm raging in your life right now. Over the years I have learned that most everyone you meet is facing a tough struggle in some area of their life. And then there are storms of life that involve us all; the storms that are part of the society in which we live. The issues that confront us. We do not live in a vacuum --- we live in a force-field of issues that vie for our attention ---- so at times it can seem that the issues are so many that we will be swamped by them. Several years ago we spent six weeks studying some very tough issues. The course was called, Confronting the Controversies. The issues we studied included: Separation of church and state Creation and evolution The death penalty Euthanasia Prayer in public schools Abortion Homosexuality In the 1980 s I was serving Dexter Avenue. A march was to occur on Dexter Avenue around the issue of abortion and there was a fellow who said he could not even be in the room for a discussion. Any one of these issues can generate lots of anxiety in our lives. And they can be so divisive --- among people, families, friends, colleagues, and even within churches. So what holds us together as a church family? When any one of these issues can threaten to tear us apart. Currently the issue of human sexuality is at the forefront of attention all over our country. And because we do not live in a vacuum, Christians and local churches are involved in this issue. It s a complex issue and there are discussions, debates, books, documentaries, arguments, criticisms, and so on --- like all other issues a pastor finds himself or herself paying attention to all sides of the discussion because in most every church you have all of these positions represented.

And these are your church members --- you care about them you pray with them and for them you walk with them as they face their own storms of life. I have relied upon the Wesleyan quadrilateral for help in my own understanding of these controversial issues: scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Scripture --- we read and study bible passages that focus on these issues directly or that provide a biblical framework for our wrestling with them. Tradition - how have faithful Christians in past generations thought about issues related to human sexuality and specifically to the matters related to the current discussion of same-sex relationships? Reason - many people have written articles and books, given lectures, engaged in debates, and held discussion groups. I have tried to pay close attention to each of these sources of insight. Experience ---- talking with persons who have differing opinions about this issue. How important it is to listen to people who bring differing backgrounds and experience to each of these particular issue. I have come to appreciate that part of the book of discipline known as the social principles. I encourage you to study the statements found there for these are solid positions based on the bible, Christian tradition, the use of reason, and the insights of personal experience. You will find an amazing balance in the social principles. I have also learned that there is something good about being 185 years old --- this is not our first rodeo --- we have weathered many storms --- whatever storm of life you ever face, you are in the right boat in this church --- we have faced and survived many storms. Yet even after all this listening and reading and reflecting ----I have always felt that something is missing. Some other piece of the puzzle that has not yet been expressed. And then I found it --- right here in this passage from Matthew 14:22-33. Often referred to as: Peter walking on water --- as if that is the main point of the story --- it is not the main point. While Peter does eventually play a role in the story, notice how the story begins: Jesus sends the disciples away Jesus dismisses the crowd Jesus goes to a mountain to pray Jesus knows about the wind and waves battering the boat Jesus already is walking on the water toward the boat (This is especially important because one of the biblical descriptions of God is that only God walks on water) And what does Jesus meet? Fear. Fear causes the disciples to miss Jesus and think he is a ghost.

Peter gets a little courage and is willing to get out of the boat, but then he takes his focus off Jesus and becomes frightened by the storm ---at that point Peter sinks. Early Christians used this story to remind themselves that fear sinks us. And that we are constantly tempted to let the storm become the story. The truth is: Jesus had already seen them and was already walking on the water toward them. They were in good shape. But fear caused them to let the storm become the story of their lives -- - and it almost sank them. As I studied this passage I realized that the piece that is missing is the fear factor. At least I have never heard anyone address the fact that discussions of homosexuality usually occurs in a context of fear. Fear causes us to miss Jesus walking on the water toward us in the current storm. Fear makes us deaf to the voice that can be heard above the storm: Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid. One of the most frequently repeated phrases in the bible is: do not be afraid. Surely this is because God knows we are easily panicked. When we allow the storm to become the story --- we allow fear to consume us --- and we do not act with faith. Peter does walk on water. But when he saw the wind --- he became frightened and began to sink. But then Peter cries out: Lord, save me. Magnificent prayer. A prayer that we shall each need to pray at various points in our lives: Lord, save me. Jesus reaches out and catches Peter. They get into the boat together and the wind ceases. The storm never was the biggest problem --- it was fear versus faith. Jesus then says to Peter (as he does to us all): O you of little of faith, why did you doubt? Not said in a harsh manner. But in a caring manner. Why do we doubt God s power to bring us through the storm of controversial issues? Why do we engage in fear responses rather than faith responses? Why do we doubt God s power to hold us together in the storms of life? John Wesley did not have that doubt, and in his sermon entitled, A Catholic Spirit, he introduces us to a bible verse that can be God s word for us today when we are embroiled in controversial issues. The passage is 2 Kings 10:15. It is the story of Jehu --- Jehonadab. Jehu has just become King and cannot be certain who is a friend and who is an enemy. Jehonadab is a Rechabite. The Rechabites believed that Israel s best days were when they traveled in the wilderness, lived in tents, and survived on manna. So when Israel entered the Promised Land the Rechabites did not build houses and plant fields. They believed that such practices would lure them away from utter dependence on God. They continued to live a nomadic life. Lawson 8/15/14 9:03 PM Comment [1]:

Jehu and Jehonadab could hardly have been more dissimilar. Yet Jehu said to Jehonadab: if your heart is as my heart give me your hand. John Wesley realized that 2 kings 10:15 shows us a way forward a way to walk on water instead of having fear sink us. A way to stay together in the same boat, living by faith instead of having the storm become the story of our life. Here are some lines from Wesley s sermon: But even though a difference in opinions or modes of worship may prevent an entire external union, yet need it prevent our union in affection? Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without doubt, we may. In this all the children of God may unite, even though they retain these smaller differences. Jehu was a mixed character. Jehonadab was part of a faction that lived a far more strict life than Jehu. Jehonadab had strong convictions --- yet Jehu did not ask about those --- he asked about the heart. Wesley says: I dare not ask any questions of another Christian my only question is this: if your heart is as my heart, give me your hand. This is how we can move forward together. This is how we can let go of our fear and listen to Jesus voice: Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid. Why do we doubt God s power to hold us together and move us forward in the same boat? If your heart is as my heart, give me your hand. Now let me take a moment to clarify a matter that those new to the United Methodist Church need to understand. And it will also be a good review for those who have been Methodists for a long time. No matter what you read or see or hear no one speaks officially for the United Methodist Church except the General Conference --- and that meets only once every four years --- last met in 2012 and next meets in 2016. Next year, as we get closer to 2016, you are likely to hear of various groups who will be proposing legislation to the General Conference. Let me give you an example. You and I-- just two of us-- could meet and decide that since we are left handed, we really need to get rid of right handed people since most problems are caused by righthanders. So we decide we are going to petition General Conference. The headline will say: Methodists to ban right handed people but there were only two of us --- and General Conference hasn t met --- so that cannot possibly be true --- but it will read that way --- so be discerning.

Be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove and do not be afraid. Years ago, when I served as pastor of Dexter Avenue UMC, one of my members told me this interesting story. His name was Bill. He had been a member a long time. But then came the 60 s and the civil rights movement. When Dexter voted to seat all persons who came to worship regardless of their race --- Bill, like many others, became very afraid. In fear, he jumped out of the boat and left the church, but he never was happy in any other boat. Many years later, Bill came back to Dexter. This is how he explained it to me: I walked down the aisle on Sunday. I told the congregation that leaving this church was a bad decision. I was miserable. I then told them that I would like to come back, if they would have me. The church welcomed Bill with open arms. He left in fear. He had allowed the storm to become the story, but he finally cried out with Peter, Lord, save me. And through that church, Jesus reached out and caught him. So I say to you: Do not be afraid. Let us pray: O God, You divided the water of chaos at creation. In Christ You stilled the storms, raised the dead, and vanquished demonic powers. Tame the earthquake, wind, fire, and all the forces that defy control or shock us by their fury. Help us, in good times and in distress, to trust Your mercy and yield to Your power, this day and forever. Through Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.