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Sunday July 4, 1999
~ Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 11:16-19 & 25-30
Zechariah 9:9-12 * Romans
7:15-25 * Psalm 145:8-14
NOTE: J If you are one of those folks who waits until mid or late week to get the next Sunday's material, you will want to check next Sunday early for a couple of objects you will need to make the sermon effective.
There is a standard theme in science fiction / horror movies that, like a good blues progression, comes in a hundred different titles.
You know the one.
It's the story where alien creatures, without the ability to love or experience emotion, begin to take over human lives. Your sister or father or teacher or whoever... suddenly acts a bit strange. They attempt to cover their loveless, emotionless state, but something doesn't ring right with them. Soon the whole town -- indeed the world is threatened.
What a frightening prospect. A world where people don't know love or feelings.
Our scripture readings today reveal another, even more frightening prospect. A world without soul. A world where the spiritual dimension of life is absent. In other words, a world where people don't know God. But wait a minute! If you stand back and look at this world from a distance, like that grade B movie, something doesn't ring right. The planet is populated with beings brilliant enough to split the atom, journey into space and transplant a heart from one human being who has died into another who will live. Yet, for all its wisdom, it does not know God.
Jesus puts it this way, "I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants."
So who knows God? As it turns out, knowing God is not a matter of IQ or intellectual brilliance, but a simple surrender to the care of Christ. As the Psalmist puts it, "The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down."
There is something quite important for us to understand as we celebrate Independence Day.¹ There is a "flip flop" quality to understanding today's scripture. It goes counter to our usual way of thinking. America is the home of Davey Crocket who conquered the "wild frontier" and Wyatt Urp who tamed the "wild west." We honor and value independence, self-sufficiency, strength and the glory of a "self-made" man or woman. Surrender is what we did not do. With brains and brawn we became a super power in the world. "Yankee Ingenuity" is the brilliance that made us great. Resisting the yoke others would put on us is the strength that made us free.
Now Jesus comes along to say that wisdom and intelligence did not cut the mustard when it comes to knowing God. Not only is the yoke not to be resisted, we are to voluntarily take this yoke upon ourselves and surrender to one who is greater than us!
How counter-cultural can you get?
We can not fight, or think or power ourselves into the kingdom of God and the peace of Christ.
Can you remember your mother ever saying to you, "You're too smart for your own good!" Or maybe it was, "Don't get smart with me!" The idea was that you should accept -- or surrender -- to your mother's will. Her direction and not your intellect was going to rule the day. It's like the plaque that used to hang on my mother-in-law's living room wall. "If Mama ain't happy -- ain't nobody happy!"
To put it all in terms of the scripture lessons for today. The idea of authentic spiritual freedom is the exact opposite of what most people think of when they contemplate 4th of July type freedom.
Americans today celebrate the Declaration of Independence.
Knowing God means making a Declaration of Dependence!
Our gospel reading for today leads us through barriers to the peace and joy of knowing God. There is a progression we might call: [1] The Resistance to Knowing God, [2] The Simplicity of Knowing God, and [3] The Dynamic Exchange in Knowing God.
[1] The Resistance to Knowing God
Have you ever known someone who's basic life attitude seems to be, "My mind is made up... don't confuse me with the facts!" (No looking around now people) It's called rigidity. A kind of arteriolosclerosis of the mind and spirit. The mind is truly "set".
Translated to the spiritual realm, this "hardening" of the mind and spirit makes it almost impossible for a person to receive the good news of Christ. To receive the good news, you have to be open to having something revealed to you. In other words, there is something you don't know and God's Spirit will help you to come to know it. It's called "revelation."
But when you mind is "set" or "closed" or "made up," there can not be any revelation. During my days in clinical training, there was a person in our group who had the most difficult time ever admitting that there was something he didn't know. Anytime he was asked a question, he would give some kind of answer -- even making up an answer if he did not have one. He was terrified to admit a lack of knowledge about anything. (I'll bet his psychiatrist had fun digging into the roots of that problem!)
Actually this fellow was a rather pleasant person otherwise. Sadly, however, he was known as a -- "know it all." Here's the scoop on the "know-it-all". It isn't that they know all there is to know -- rather it's more like, "This is ALL I'm going to know!" Then the door is shut.
In our scripture, Jesus is confronting people of his generation whose hearts and minds are closed to the "revealing" God wants to do -- through John the Baptist and Jesus himself. They know all they care to know and are critical of and resistant to any new thoughts.
"John is a crazy person," they complained, "He dresses weird, eats weird and is way too harsh." So perhaps they would prefer Jesus' style -- right? Wrong. With Jesus they complain, "He associates with the wrong kind of people, socializes with social rejects and eats and drinks like a pagan!"
With this observation Jesus points to a major truth -- not only about his immediate generation, but to our own. There is a great resistance to knowing God in the sense of really coming to know God. There are lots of ideas about God and opinions about God, but also lots of resistance to knowing God.
This question this raises for you and me, of course is, "How open am I to God revealing news things to me? Is my mind set? Closed? Resistant?"
[2] The Simplicity of Knowing God
In the second portion of our gospel reading, after spelling out the disastrous consequences of resistance to knowing God, Jesus addresses another major barrier to knowing God. As sophisticated as the expression of it might be, it translates to, "I'm too intelligent to believe in God!"
We've all heard stories about the young man from church who with his family was very involved in the church, Sunday school and youth group. Then he goes off to university and just about midway through his second year (a sophomore) he writes home something like:
"Dear Mom and Dad,
I've been doing a lot of thinking about this and I don't want you to be too
upset, but now that I've studied philosophy and logic and have learned so
much, I no longer believe in God.
I don't mean to put you down for your beliefs and I respect you for them.
Religion is good for those who need it, but I have learned enough to handle
life on my own...
etc. etc. etc.Parents have frequently asked how to handle these letters. The first thing I like to do is give a list of things not to say:
* "You're gonna' burn for this!"
* "You're breaking your grandmother's heart!"
* "There will be no tuition for your junior year!"
* "Your philosophy professor is an instrument of the devil!"
[Whether the professor is or not is beside the point at this time]Here's what I told my children when they were sophomores. (well -- two out of three)
"Dear Son,
I am glad to hear that you are giving some thought to spiritual things and I support you in your spiritual journey.
By the way, we're thinking to trading cars finally -- was it the GTO or the
LS you thought we should look at."
etc. etc. etc.Jesus points out that it is God who does the revealing. We can not. We can not argue, push or manipulate anyone into the kingdom of God. Jesus actually says a prayer of thanksgiving for the way his Father handles barriers to knowing the Lord.
God is revealed to "infants" not the wise or intelligent. Meaning -- if knowing God was based on IQ, only the greatest intellects could know God. If knowing God was based on virtue or talent or any other human quality, only those with the most talent, or greatest virtue could know God.
But God is revealed to "infants" -- that is, those who have no great wisdom, intellect or anything else to offer in return for the gift of coming to know God! Jesus put it this way, "Unless you become as a child, you can not see the kingdom of God."
There is a simplicity in knowing God that has to do with surrender. Dealing with barriers to knowing God begins with asking myself if I am open to the Lord. Then I include something like this in my prayer life. "Lord, I bring nothing that can earn your favor, nor your caring for me. I know nothing of your greatness and goodness unless you first show it to me. Please give me an open spirit to receive what you can give to me this day."
[3] The Dynamic Exchange in Knowing God.
Jesus promises the gift of rest from life's heavy burdens to those who can lay down the barriers to knowing God. There is an exchange that takes place.
We give up our barriers (closed minds, striving spirits and self righteousness) and take on the "yoke" of Christ. That is we "enroll" as students in the Master's school of Living. We give up "My way" for "His way."
The weariness and heavy burdens we are so often "yoked" up with are the result of trying to manage life and all of its complications in our own strength. "Now that I know so much," the sophomore says, "I don't need God." Without intending to offend anyone, I need to say that much of our weariness in living has to do with this "sophomoric" streak many of us carry around from time to time.
The bottom line in knowing God comes down to these three short affirmations:
* My mind and heart are open.
* I come to God empty handed.
* I surrender!My God give to you the wonderful gift of rest for your spirit as you take the yoke of Christ upon you!
Connections in the Texts
All of the lectionary texts for today point to the issue of knowing God -- or revelation. In Matthew, people don't know what they want. Neither John's strictness nor Jesus' availability please the people. They are not open to God in either case. Zechariah talks about the Messiah who comes "humble" and "riding on a donkey" -- not what people expect of their Messiah. Paul's discussion of his struggle with sin seems unrelated -- except that it raises the issue of how even Paul can not come up with a rational explanation for the spiritual struggle between sin and righteousness. The "slave to the law of sin" may speak to the issue of why revelation is so powerfully resisted. The Psalm comes in finally to say that those who do know the Lord will, "speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power."
The rest Jesus promises to those who come to him is paralleled by the Psalmist's, "The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down."
¹ For those of us in the US, our full text sermon will address the issue of Freedom in our texts. There is freedom in laying down our burdens as we come to know the "yoke" of Christ -- freedom from the bondage of sin as we come to know the work of the Spirit within. The hallmark of freedom in the US is democracy. The hallmark of freedom in the spiritual realm is theocracy.
Matthew 11:16-19 & 25-30
This is one of those selections in the lectionary readings that makes me want to say, "What were they thinking." The verses on judgment are an integral part of the whole theme of Knowing God. There are consequences to turning away from the Lord of Life, just as there are benefits when we turn toward God.
There is an especially powerful point to be made in the "judgment" words. They are directed at those who would consider themselves spiritually fit. Yet, they are the ones who resist God. "The pagans," Jesus says, "Would have turned to God long ago if they had the opportunities to know God that you have." Pressing the theme a bit -- Jesus is addressing people who in our generation might be counselors at a Billy Graham Crusade, or in the mainline churches, perhaps teach in confirmation programs or serve as lectors. I am recalling a man who was an active deacon in his church. He spoke frequently about how great his church was and how unspiritual other people were. He decried the "moral collapse" of our time. He was arrested for selling fraudulent investments to elderly people in his church. They lost their money.
Jesus is not necessarily addressing "bad" people -- they simply have developed spiritual calluses that turn into resistance of God's Spirit. They have begun to take for granted their relationship with God and assume they are high on God's list of the "good guys." Jesus' words should call all of us to attention.
God chooses to reveal spiritual truth to "infants". As noted in the sermon above, this points to surrender. An infant can not, in fact, do anything for itself. The infant is dependent on others as the child of God is dependent upon God's gracious care. It is the dependent attitude of the infant that comes willingly to Christ for "rest."
Romans 7:15-25
This is Paul's classic passage on his inner struggle with sin. Our listeners might understand it in terms of their own struggles when they find themselves exclaiming things like, "I don't know why I did that!" "I don't understand myself sometimes!"
One of the clearest analogies is struggle with addiction. "I want to stop... I know it is the right thing to stop... I know what is good and I want to do what is good... something in me compels me to do what is wrong... there is a war inside of me!"
Paul affirms that deep within he really wants to do God's will, but his "flesh" (earthy self) is in bondage to sin. His problem is the human condition -- we are conflicted and the classic struggle between good and evil is not simply an abstract intellectual debate, but an inner, personal struggle.
Paul's recognition of the impossible conflict within leads him to cry out for redemption. Or... is this a rhetorical question in an abstract discussion? Some believe Paul is personalizing a universal principle. Others see here a glimpse into the inner life of the apostle. We hold that this is Paul's personal struggle and that it's place in scripture is secured by the fact that it speaks to all of us. St. Augustine's Confessions and Luther's works point to similar inner struggles. It is finally, Christ who will set him free. It is interesting that Paul asks who will set him free -- not what.
Zechariah 9:9-12
This is the passage we encountered in the Psalm Sunday Gospel. (Mt. 21:1-11) Matthew quoted Zechariah's words as fulfillment of a messianic promise. The reading today, in conjunction with the other lectionary texts, speaks more to the issue of revelation. This is messiah who comes -- "triumphant and victorious" -- but that's not all -- he is also "humble and riding on a donkey..." Everything in the passage with the exception of these words fits with standard messianic expectation. But "humble and riding on a donkey?" -- only the "infant" to whom God is made known could hear such a thing.
In Revelation (19:11) the one who is called "Faithful and True" comes with fire in his eyes, crowns on his head and vanquishes evil. No humble donkey rider there! As well as the contemporary application, there is an eschatological tension in all the readings. Judgment in Matthew, deliverance in Romans and messianic peace in Zechariah.
Psalm 145:8-14
The Psalm is a kind of a benediction on the whole of the readings. "Through it all" the kingdom of the Lord is everlasting and will finally prevail. The people of God will "make known" (be instruments of God's revelation) the "splendor of your kingdom."
A Call To Worship (From
Psalm 145)
Leader: The LORD is gracious and merciful,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love.
Leader: All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
People: And all your people shall bless you.
Leader: We shall tell of your power and the joy of knowing you, O Lord,
People: For you are faithful and compassionate in all that you do!
A Prayer of Dedication
O Lord of everlasting love and glory, we offer these gifts along with
our
lives for the work of your kingdom. Give us courage to share with others,
the joys of knowing and serving you. Amen
A Pastoral Prayer (For
Independence Day)
Lord, you have been more than good to us and we confess that we have
come to take this remarkable truth for granted. We made the choice this
very morning to come and worship you. We rested, arose, ate breakfast,
dressed and drove here to church. We more than likely took the rest, the
food, the clothing and the transportation for granted.
We could have said, "Thank you God! For my bed.
My home. My choice of
things to eat. My car. My freedom!"
Lord God of love and mercy, help us to reflect back just a
few weeks when
hundreds of thousands of men, women and children were forced to leave
their homes, their beds, their food, their transportation, and their families and
fled
for safety. We saw it on the news, we read it in the newspapers. Some of us
shed a tear to see the pain. And we woke up today without the sound of
gunfire
or bombs in our ears and we enjoyed the peace which only freedom grants.
O Lord God, we give you thanks for the land in which we live,
the freedoms
we enjoy and the countless blessing that surround our daily lives. This
freedom
we enjoy has been built on the foundation of sacrifice and commitment. The
faith we come to celebrate is built on the commitment and sacrifice of your
Son Jesus Christ.
O give us joyful and grateful hearts as we worship you today.
And be pleased,
O Lord of all, to give us the courage of commitment to pledge ourselves to the
building of your kingdom of love and grace -- wherever -- and whenever -- we
hear the cries of lives in bondage and see the burdens of weary hearts.
Help us, along with our Lord Jesus, to invite the weary and
burdened to the rest
of your kingdom. Amen.