 | Full Text Sermon | Notes on the Text | Alternate Sermon Ideas | September Series During the month of September, we are looking at the theme: "Dimensions of Discipleship". The gospel texts from Luke, along with reflections from the other lectionary texts will help us to explore the four themes: COMMITMENT, REPENTANCE, VALUES AND ABUNDANCE. Sunday September 6, 1998 ~ Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost ~ Luke 14:25-33 COMMITMENT Focus Text: "Whoever comes to me
and does not hate father and mother, wife and children,
brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot
be my disciple." [14:26] Have you been hit with sticker shock lately? If you have been in the market for a new car or have done some house hunting, chances are good you've been hit with sticker shock. I have to believe real estate people these days attend classes to learn how to say with a straight face, "You can pick up this cute two bedroom bungalow for $189,000.00 dollars." A couple in the Silicon Valley recently retired and sold their very simple late 60's three bedroom ranch for over a quarter million dollars. They paid $21,500.00 for the house. Now they are moving to Sacramento where they bought a very nice "upgrade" home for half the price of their old home. With social security and a pension plan, the couple plans to invest the profit on their old home and use the interest for "spending money." This is good news for a nice couple. It is not good news for a young couple trying to move into the Silicon Valley. How many people here today ever envisioned that a "starter home" would cost just over $100,000.00 in the US? Sticker shock! [ Substitute your favorite personal "Sticker Shock" story here -- or use this if you like] "Everyone here joins the Country Club," the chairman of our Deacons said as though passing along a real gem of a clue to the new kid on the block. "It's a great place to get to know a lot of our members." I had just started my pastoral ministry with this congregation. I knew there were a number of wealthy and prominent people in the church and wanted to get started on the right foot. I called the Country Club the next morning, introduced myself and asked about membership. "Well," the nice woman on the other end of the phone said in a nonchalant manner, "It is $7,500.00 to buy your "share" which gets you into the club. Then there is a minimum charge of $100.00 per month at the dining room and your annual membership is $2,000.00." I tried to match her nonchalance. "I see. Well thank you very much, I will discuss this with my family and get back to you." (Boy -- did we discuss it!) Sticker shock! Our scripture reading for today opens with a kind of sticker shock about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. . Jesus has come to a decisive point in his ministry. His popularity has spread like wildfire among the common people. Many have begun to follow him from place to place. The plot of the religious authorities to eliminate him is fully hatched. He turns one day to the crowds who are following him and spells out what it means to be one of his genuine disciples. This is not a picnic they are on -- the stakes are high. There is more to following Jesus than lunch on a Galilean hillside, or healing for themselves and their loved ones. In so many words, he says, "Those of you who think you want to be my followers need to know what you are getting into!" Hang on to your hat now! Imagine that you are present at one of our church's membership orientation meetings. Someone asks what it means to be a member of the church -- better yet, what it means to be a Christian. The person in charge of the meeting says: "Whoever wants to be a Christian and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even their own life, can not be a genuine Christian!" Sticker Shock! "Hate my mother and father? Isn't this the language of the demented preachers like Jim Jones and David Koresh? Still -- the words are right from the mouth of Jesus. "Hate father and mother -- carry the cross -- give up all your possessions!" There is a dimension to following Christ we need to struggle with -- at least if we are a part of the crowd that genuinely wants to follow him. While many of the words and deeds of Jesus in the New Testament are challenged as to authenticity, these words are not. (Indeed, life might be easier if we could dismiss them.) In order to understand what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus Christ, we need to come to terms with the severity of Jesus' words about "hating mother and father." It will help to know the context of this passage. The gospel lesson from Luke brings us to "crunch time". The chips were down. The time was rapidly approaching when there would be no middle ground. The crowds would be shouting, "Hosanna in the highest!" or "Crucify Him!" Being identified with Jesus would be risky. There are no "degrees of involvement" allowed. It is not, for instance, be like the sponsorship of a hospital fund raising campaign where you can be a little bit involved as a "Supporter" for $25 or quite involved as a "Friend" for $50, or very committed as a "Patron" for $100. Jesus begins to spell it out to the crowds, you are "in" or "out" -- "with me" or "against me." The days of "middle ground" are grinding to a halt. *** The issue of commitment to Christ is a "sticky wicket" in our culture. Doing church is okay. Not mandatory or anything -- but okay. Talk of radical commitment to Christ and his church, however is "strange" to our ears. One way to get a clue into what Jesus wants to press home to us with his strong words is to imagine that a law were passed this next Monday. The law would specify that attending worship services at your local church would be punishable by a minimum of two years in prison and/or a $50,000 dollar fine. What do you suppose attendance at worship in our church would be next Sunday? (And will you indulge me the question -- if I don't ask you to raise your hand -- "Would you be here?") It will help if we work our way through this passage by looking at: (1) What Jesus didn't say, (2) What Jesus did say, and 3) How should you and I should respond to what he said? (1) What Jesus Didn't Say Jesus did not say, "A basic principle of your relationship with God is to hate your mother, father and family." Cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh isolate the words of verse 26 as a "stand alone" principle. Jesus used the term "hate" in a relative rather than an absolute way. Leaving family to become a disciple of Jesus and neglecting social customs pertaining to family loyalties would likely be interpreted as hate. Jesus is not contradicting the commandment to honor mother and father. Jesus did not say we should hate our own life in a self-destructive way. "Proof" of discipleship could never be construed as taking our own life as some people have been told in the cult experience. Indeed, we are told to love ourselves. (Lk.10:27, Mt.22:39, Mk.12:31) Jesus did not say we should denigrate or show lack of respect for others. Indeed, the First letter of John warns in the strongest possible way that lack of love for our brother shows that we do not love God. [I John 4:20: "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen."] (2) What Jesus Did Say What in the world, then, did Jesus say? The whole point of this passage is that Jesus warns that we will come to a decision point at some time or another in our relationship with him. We will have to choose what comes first. When (not if) there is a conflict between our allegiance to Christ and our allegiance to something else, the one who wants to be a follower of Christ will choose Christ over and above something else. Here is what Jesus says in plain English: "When you allegiance to me conflicts with your allegiance to any other person -- mother, father, sister, brother, or any one else -- you must choose me!" "You must be willing to follow me -- even to death -- if that's what it takes!" "When your attachment to possessions is stronger than your attachment to me, you must be willing to give up your possessions!" Put in the simplest terms, to be a Christian means that somewhere, sometime, someplace we come to the decision that Jesus Christ absolutely comes first in my life. No other love can ever be more than "second fiddle". "Your love for me," Jesus would say, "Must dominate your life as my love for you has dominated my life and determined my death!" Secondly Jesus does say, "Be very clear about the price of entering a relationship with me. Can you handle it? I come first. Figure what that is going to mean in your life before you sign on." In other words, Jesus Christ calls us to something that is counter cultural right now -- commitment! 3) How should you and I should respond to what he said? The very first thing this gospel lessons tells us is that every person who claims to be in that broad group who follows Christ will sooner or later have to hear the voice of Christ asking a couple of pertinent questions -- "Have you considered very carefully what it means to be a follower of mine?" "Are you prepared to give your absolute allegiance to me?" All the words about "counting the cost" ahead of time are a caution about answering too quickly. The earliest Christian confession of faith was simply, "Jesus is Lord." Or -- "Jesus is in charge of my life. Whatever that takes, I am ready to pay the price." "But -- are you able..." says Christ. Remember Peter's experience? He was the one who said, "Whatever it takes, I am with you to the end. Even If I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" You recall how that turned out. Think it through. What does it mean to say -- "Christ will have my ultimate allegiance, in my marriage, in my family, in my business, in my entertainment and in every other area of my life?" At the very least, Jesus' words in this passage call us to some thoughtful reflection on our commitment to him. [Apply It] One of the important ways we can respond to the words of Jesus in this passage is to ask how we approach the issue of commitment in our life together as a church. How does the process of becoming / or being a part of this fellowship reflect the words of our gospel reading? As you reflect on your relationship with the Lord what do the words of Jesus in this passage say to you. Let's take a moment of silent prayer and ponder the question, "Is my allegiance to Jesus Christ sitting "dead center" squarely at the heart of my life?" If not, what is? v. 26 [In preparation for this Sunday, I recommend the "oldie, but goodie", "Cost of Discipleship" - Ch.5: "Discipleship and the Individual" - in which he discusses Luke 14:26] The short phrase, "he turned to them and said..." is crucial. This is a decisive turning point in the gospel and in Jesus' ministry. It calls to mind the line in John after Jesus spells out who he is, John 6: 66 "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore." "Hate, mother, father... and even "life itself". The words translated "life itself" are "heautou psuche". "Life itself" is possible, but used in this construction, "even his own life" are more likely as in NIV and NASB. It is not "life itself" the disciple turns away from -- it is the individual life of the one who is choosing to follow Christ that is forsaken. See: John 12:25 (We "hate" our own life -- in order to "gain" life.) v.26 with v.33 Constitute the "Call" to discipleship. The "shock" to our cultural ears of Jesus' "hate mother and father" needs to be examined in light of: Philippians 3:8 and Psalm 73:25. Also Abraham in Gen. 12 and Peter in Mark 10:28 "leave everything" to follow the call of the Lord. v.27 A condemned criminal was forced to carry one bar of his cross to the place of execution. There was no return, or looking back. Following Christ is a "one way" journey. vv.28-32 Discipleship requires forethought and consideration of the personal cost of making Christ the center of one's life. Discipleship is not a "snap job" -- but a lifelong process of learning, following and doing. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." v.33 Does this text require that all disciples do as St. Francis of Assisi and give away all possessions? This is indeed possible, but the word "give up" is "apotassetai" which means to "say goodbye" or "take leave of" when used of persons -- when used of things it is to give up or renounce. The bottom line is that of giving up "ownership" of possessions. The disciple who takes up the cross is surrendering the reigns of his or her life to Christ -- so also the possessions of the disciple are no longer the "sole right" of the disciple, but are in principle the possessions of the Lord -- on loan. Let's Go and Die with Him! ~ Luke 14:25-33 A different approach to the gospel text would be to focus on the issue of surrendering our lives in principle to Christ. In Paul's words, "For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." [Rom.14:8] Thomas gets an F for understanding, but an A for commitment with his suggestion to the other disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." [John 11:16] Use the examples of Peter who won't stop preaching, and Paul who is willing to die -- because Christ owns their lives. It is this commitment and the sense of Paul's words, "Whether we live or die..." that finally destroyed the power death once held over people. Spend some time telling the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a modern example of one who "counted the cost" of following Christ and finally lost his life. Bonhoeffer, son of a well known neurologist, born of a well to do, aristocratic family, was one of the most promising theologians in the world. When the Nazi regime first began to gain power, he recognized immediately that this was a "godless" system. Bonhoeffer turned away from significant offers to teach theology in the States, joined the resistance and went back to his beloved Germany where he was finally executed at Flossenberg just days before it was liberated by the Allies. [If you do not have "Cost of Discipleship" -- you can get the book through our bookstore page] The Slave Who Became a Brother ~ Philemon 1-21 Paul's letter to Philemon can be a wonderful exploration of the sovereignty and providence of God and how he weaves our actions and choices into his purposes. vv.1-9 Paul's lengthy greeting! This is Paul's longest greeting in any of his letters. If this is not the model of praise and affirmation given to elicit a result .. there is none. Paul has learned the old farmer's secret. "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!" There is
good advice in counting Paul's affirmations: Then you have to love verses 8&9! "I could compel your obedience to what I want to ask, but I'd rather appeal to you with love... "me the old man Paul who sits here in a prison cell because of my witness for Jesus!" Who could refuse? vv.10-21 Paul's request Paul asks Philemon to send Onesimus back to him as a worker for the gospel. He will go from being a "slave" (doulos) of Philemon to being a slave (doulos) of Paul and indeed of Christ himself. What a transformation has taken place! The great doctrine of providence comes to play in Paul's saying, "Perhaps this is the reason..." (v.15) The relationship between Paul and Onesimus and Paul and Philemon is illustrative of the relationship between Christ and the redeemed child of God. Christ the mediator asks that anything "owed" be charged to his account and that the runaway child becomes a part of the family -- freely choosing and freely chosen. A Call To Worship (Based on Psalm 1) L: We rejoice
and praise Your holy name today, O Lord, A Prayer of Dedication O God of life and hope and joy, You have blessed us in ways that go way beyond our understanding. Were we to count Your gifts to us, we could number the stars of heaven. Please accept the gifts we bring to you as tokens of our love and seeds of blessing for the those who have yet to discover your love and grace. Amen. A Prayer of Confession O Lord of compassion and mercy, we confess that one of Your greatest gifts to us has so often been the source of our greatest trials. You have given us the gift of choice. We can choose between right and wrong, between love and hate. We can take the high road or the low road. We can reach out in your name or we can retreat in the name of selfishness. O Great God of grace, help us to choose with clarity, compassion and commitment. Cleanse us from every wrong and give us the joy of making choices that bring honor to the name of Christ. Amen. God Gave Us "Choosers" Objects you will need for this are a baggie with some M & M's and another baggie with some flowerets of broccoli. Ask the children, "Do you know what a "chooser" is?" You see, God gave all of us "choosers". You can choose which toy to play with. You can choose to go outside or play inside. There are all kinds of ways you can choose. God gave us "choosers" to do this with. Can you tell me some ways you can choose? Now show them the baggies. Explain how healthy etc. broccoli is and then ask which they would like to choose. (Mighty few of us will be able to talk the children into choosing broccoli over M & M's!) Talk about how hard it is sometimes to choose the right thing. Close with a prayer that God will help all of us to use our "choosers" in a way that will make him happy. [ We are doing a "Hard Copy" series of messages for children called, "The M & M Factor" . Some of those messages can be found on this site. However, if you would like a printed copy, they are available to our subscribers for $4.95 a copy. Email for more information]
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