Welcome to church this week for Food Pantry and Prayze Dogs on Tuesday at 5:30 pm, Bible Study (studying Titus) on Wednesday at 6 pm, Men’s Breakfast on Saturday at 8:00 am, and Sunday with Sunday School, Worship Service and Fellowship time. For all of you joining us remotely, we are thinking of you and praying for you.
Father of all, creator of all that is Holy and good. Lord today we humbly ask your forgiveness for forgetting to thank you for all of the miracle’s that are happening, obscured by the challenges in our lives. Thank you for being faithful to us when we have not been in return. Lord we humbly ask for your strength to be better people in the days ahead. Amen!
Message: When the Solitary, Become a Symphony
So many of us in life attempt to approach almost any conceivable activity, thought or even worship of our Lord as soloists in the walks of life. Believing or at least hoping that by going it alone, they might spare themselves the maltreatment, discomfiture, hypocrisy, mendacity, false-elucidations, and malevolence that exists in the world at large.
Ok, so much for the big words. Now in English. In life we hide from others and keep others at a distance, in order to not be lied to, bullied, embarrassed, or hurt my mean people.
If you want to sound more adult about it, just use the words I used earlier; maltreatment, discomfiture, hypocrisy, mendacity, false-elucidations, and malevolence that exists in the world at large. By the time they figure it out, you are on your next conversation with someone else.
By the way, the misuse of language is yet another way some of use keep the world at a distance. Scholars and Theologians do it when they write books that only others like them can read, politicians do it when they talk, and pastors do it when we want to impress instead of serve the people that they are supposed to care for.
Today I am excited and honored to get to talk with you my family in God about how we often try to live our lives, worship our Lord, and think about eternity as soloists in the world. We do this when we keep others at arm’s distance in life in general. Or when we approach faith as; “ours is the only way”, or; “me and my own are the only ones saved”, and when we look at life as “us and them”.
And it is easy to fall into that pattern of a faithwalk. I am reminded of today’s “Call to Worship” reading from Psalm 1;
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
When we read David and think of people in terms of us and them, it’s easy to lose our way. But then I look at David writing of the tree by the streams of water, and notice that David doesn’t name a specific tree, or just how many streams are feeding that tree. Because we are all different kinds of trees being nourished by a bounty of different streams (the different people God places in our lives to nourish us) that are the living waters of life.
But what is the law of the Lord? It’s just not that hard to know what God wants from us in a general way in life. Once again, we return to the Gospel of Matthew where the Lord quotes the Torah. Reading from Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
When I think on those two attributes that make up the core of our faith, both day and night, I am on my path, and I am looking at bringing others whether mocking, sinning, straying, along with me, by living through example and service for others.
We invite all to join our family of God regardless of who, what, where, and why past sin occurred, because our Lord is more concerned with where we are going (towards Him) and not where we have been or done. As for;
the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
God will handle them in His own way and in His own time, for He is judge. We are tasked with loving even those who are unlovable. Not to be enablers of their sin, but to invite them into God’s family, if they want to live like God’s family. But we must never look at humanity as a us and them, or we begin to become what we most want to and need to change from. Solitary people grasping in the darkness of loneliness, hurt and despair. That’s what leads to real gnashing of teeth. Being without God!
Some of us, the really blessed among us who may have started out as committed soloists, and for some incredible reason, listened to God, and discovered that there really is joy in being with other people, looking for God. Not only so, there is life, growth, discernment, fulfillment, and salvation in other people. Hence today’s message title: When the Solitary, Becomes Symphonic.
Again, to really find:
- Life
- Growth
- Discernment
- Fulfillment
- Salvation
In a new reality, we need each other. Let’s look at these goal lines a little closer;
- Life; So many times, when I was younger and running away from people, I began to believe that because I was surviving on my own, that I was really living. Well, there is existence, and then there is life that is rich, ever changing full of ups and downs with other people to share those time now, and to recall those times through eternity together. A gift the Lord has provided.
- Growth; For learning about growing and then verifying your progress, there is nothing like growing with other people. By the way, I need other people to help me benchmark and understand just what is happening in my life, and then I benefit when I’m there to help others.
- Discernment; is why this Church is such a successful hospital for the sick and sinful. We come here because my ability to discern on my own is limited by my own moods, knowledge, and experience. In the Body of Christ, we learn to discern without slipping into groupthink which is devoid of the Holy Spirit.
- Fulfillment; is in this case equal to completion. Put simply. Both in and outside the Body of Christ, we complete one another. In our family of God, I am more complete as a person due to the above-mentioned reasons why and because my family anchors me, reassures me, challenges me, even gently rebukes me when needed, and then nurtures my very being.
If you are not receiving any of these gifts, perhaps you need to give more. Find someone else receiving less than you and start giving, and before you know it the Lord will begin to fill your cup. That’s how He works!
- Salvation; I believe God intends for us to cross that finish line of Heaven together. Don’t worry, He’ll do the sorting later (We need to do the inviting, helping, and praying for other people in the meantime). Since we are not playing “Whack-am-all” (or shouldn’t be), on our way to Heaven, we are now free to just take people as they are. That’s when single voices become symphonic.
You see, when I look at life through the solo lens of everything being all about me, and my hopes, my dreams, my needs, and wants, and everyone else who doesn’t support my agenda as; being them. Well, that’s when I am indeed a solitary sole bent for the loneliness of the abyss in time. If life is only about “who’s in and who’s out”, and “I’m in charge you aren’t”, or I am the greatest, or even she’s the greatest, we begin to get lost in a shuffle of meaningless competition and angst.
Don’t get me wrong, its good to have role models, and people that you want to be more like. That’s how the Body of Christ becomes even stronger in this existence, but we must never lose sight of God. My true unabashed, perfect example is the Lord. Reminding me once again of the Gospel and Today’s Message Reading from Mark 9:33-41;
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Here are two different lessons and yet the same theme running throughout. They are;
- Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us!
1). Who’s the greatest in Heaven, by teaching the least become the greatest and vice versa;
The idea of arguing about who is going to be greater in heaven sounds down right petty to many of us in this room right now. My thought is, (And by the way just like most things this is my thought. You have the heavy burden of praying, studying, and thinking for yourselves with God, on truth) perhaps scripture is affording the Disciples to think out loud in order to enhance the teachable moment for us in the here and now. The only great is God, who came to serve you and I, by washing feet and cleaning up our muck by forgiving us. Truly making the servant first.
2). Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us!
We get so wrapped up in the Christian community about dogma and propriety that sometimes we cut our noses to spite our faces. Some churches will not work with various other churches to give out, or receive food to give out to the hungry because of doctrine and dogma. We will. Sorry if it is an organization of people of good will who are not sacrificing to idols, I am ready to work with those people. As the Lord just instructed in Mark 9:40-41, so let me repeat again;
40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
The Lord God is being very consistent, as he teaches as much in Matthew 25:37-40;
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
God is very consistent throughout scripture, about what is important to Him, and it aint form and style. Its what’s in your heart. It’s loving, caring, helping, and praying for our fellow human beings. Here’s more from God on the matter. In the Old Testament, God again is instructing the wayward children of Israel what is really important. Reading in Isaiah 1:13-17
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
**Side note: Here is a key part for me;
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow… … … …
When life is like music: I approached life as a soloist, everything revolved around my voice (me), my idea of melody, and the music was bad because I couldn’t sing on tune on my own, and I didn’t have other voices to anchor me. When I learned to sing with others, I learned that the music (life) was bigger than just me.
When we get right down to it, the same goes for a church. We can do a lot of good in this life on this corner of Jefferson and 25th, serving God. But we can’t do it alone without the good will of other churches and agency’s who are willing to help us feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and love the forgotten. That’s when our soloist voice as one church becomes a symphony of the sublime with more Churches and people seeking to serve.
May you find more than just yourself in your search for what is truly important this week. Who knows, perhaps in the process you will discovers relationships that will take you into eternity. Amen!