January 26, 2013 Third Sunday After Epiphany
Readings: Nehemiah 8:1-10; 1st Corinthians 12: 12-31 Luke 4:14-21
Time for Mourning or Joy
Most of you know I am an old-fashioned/conservative type of person; I will admit it. I will also admit to being a tad prejudicial on some things. I was raised that an older person deserves and is entitled to respect because of their age, if for no other reason, you give respect to your elders. Younger people than me, as a rule, but thanks be to God there are exceptions, have not been taught that type of living. I am not as offended any more with the type of dress people wear or their jewelry. Although I do raise my eyebrows at going to the store in PJ’s or I’m sorry, walking around with pants almost to the knees causes me pause. I do not have to listen to rap music if I choose. But the one thing that does get under my skin is the fact that there is a total lap in good manners.
I make it a point to notice the cashiers’ name and call them by their given name when I greet them. It is rude to be on the cell phone while in line while they are trying to do their job waiting on us, so I try to use good manners and stay off it. Have you been in a checkout line waiting your turn and someone is on their Smart-Phone checking their emails, Facebook page looking for their debit card while the cashier has already bagged their purchases, and the line is getting longer. Those waiting are making comments about this individual and you must wonder if they heard what is being said, not! Sometimes multi-tasking is wrong, rude and unsafe. One Friday morning I was on my way to my Cardiologist on the snowy roads and someone was in the left lane of I-465 talking on their cell phone and multi-tasking behind the wheel of their car, slowing down, speeding up and slipping in the snow. All the time there’s a line of cars behind her getting longer. Then there are those who weave in an out of traffic trying to beat everyone.
I have a goal every morning to make someone’s day, each day by helping them to smile. Dad taught us when someone gives you something, even a compliment, you say thank you. There’s a standard response to that thank you of “you’re welcome”. When you have a positive response to someone’s question, you simply say yes, not eh or yep or yeah. Courtesy and manners are so uncommon these days, it takes such little effort yet means so much. As a society we are called to teach our culture to the next generation. But what happens if we fail, forget or just plain neglect to teach the ones that follow us the simple things of our culture. My friends, we have lost respect for the law and those in authority do not get the courtesy they are due. We’ve seen some that are in the authority tend to abuse it. People the Bible passages today have a lot to instruct us on these subjects.
In Nehemiah today, the people of Israel needed to hear and had requested Ezra bring to them the Law of Moses. He then read it to those gathered in the court and temple so all could understand. When he started reading, they became so captivated by his words that they stood for hours, just taking in every word. They were so mesmerized by what he had to say that he had their undivided attention, and they listened. To back him up, Ezra had scholars and priests present to interpret what was said to give the people explanations and verification. For Ezra, who was a scribe, it was imperative that these people understood what they were called to do, then go carry out the required actions.
These people had been in exile for so long, forgotten and quit carrying out their culture in their religion. The words of their ancestors had been long forgotten, neglected and failed to pass on to the following generations. It was time to come and bow before God worshiping Him. When these people gathered, gaining understanding of the Law, what it meant, they realized how far they had drifted from God and began to weep. Their responses were truly emotional, life changing.
Yet Nehemiah and Ezra corrected them with, “this day is holy to the Lord your God. Don’t weep or morn… Go eat rich food and drink something sweet, send portions of this to anyone who has nothing ready. This day is holy to the Lord. Do not be sad because joy from the Lord is your strength”. Ezra did what he was asked and taught them the proper responses. He taught them what was required to do in response to God’s gifts, covenant and love.
In Course of Study, worship and the sacraments classes, I learned how the sacraments evolved over the centuries, what they meant and how they were to be celebrated. The one thing I have found is that we as a church, and I mean the whole church, do not really know what it is and how we should worship. The one scary thing is that some people lack interest in gaining the understanding of true worship. Maybe that alone is the reason why young people do not attend church because we have not been properly instructed. They are now in exile. They are outside the Church absent and without God’s Grace or our love and culture.
Preachers have the challenging position, not only do we get up here in the pulpit and preach but the responsibility to interpret what the Bible means to us today and how God intended the covenants back then for you as a congregation, then teach it. People depend on us, and rightfully so, to give you the truth and a correct interpretation. The one thing I must continually learn is how to keep your attention and in awe for hours on end while I preach. After Lyla and I first saw the Hobbit, we looked at each other and my watch could not believe we had sat through a three-hour movie. If you come to church one Sunday and see boxes of popcorn in the back, get ready. But think for a moment, Ezra was preaching and teaching for hours, the people were so hungry for what knowledge he had they stayed and listened. John Wesley would preach all day long in the streets and on the corners, yet the crowds remained glued to every word.
Nehemiah 8:1 tells us that all the people of Israel truly wanted to hear the word; the Laws of Moses. Ezra and Nehemiah had it easy in one sense that day, the people wanted to hear, and they knew why the people had gathered. Preachers today do not have that type of assurance. We are not sure the people want to hear what it is we have to say. If you notice during prayer time the part of the prayer is that God’s word, come forth, may I preach is what God wants me to say, I also pray that each heart and mind is touched by what is said. I truly mean that; it is not supposed to be me preaching but God using me as the vessel in which His message comes out. I prayed before service for the Holy Spirit to come and touch every pew here in the Sanctuary so that each of you are touched. I’ve done that before here, and at my previous appointment.
So, in comparison, the response in the Old Testament compared to today’s churches, do we really want to hear the word properly? Maybe some church goers should not question the response of the church but instead the preparation of their own hearts. Do most of us come to church wanting to understand God’s word or are we convinced we’ve heard already what God wants us to hear. We forget that the power of the Scriptures can and do change lives. I think we as the church have neglected the word enough, we forget it’s to be written in our hearts and minds. Does the work of sin tell us we have no further need for change in our lives? Do we want to see our lives turned upside down? Have we as individuals and churches for that matter, become so full of pride that we think that we are good enough or better than those down the street, right outside these doors?
If this scene were to happen today in our society, how do you think it would go? How many people would change? I could get up here and preach to you about what I thought was needed to change your lives and how I saw things, but I would just turn most of you off. I know there is still so much I need to change in my life to be an Ezra. That is one thing I can teach, we are in the same boat, we all need to change our lives for the better. We need to gain better understanding. In the Bible Study this week, James is giving the church a warning and shocking them back into a closer relationship with God. Not fighting or judging one another.
The New Testament reminds us that we are all just one part of the Body of Christ. There are many parts of the Body, and every part is needed. Not one of us can say that we are not needed in Hope Methodist Church nor are we more important than any other part of the body. Every one of you have special gifts; gifts that are special to you, given specially to you from God. Any judgment I or anyone else in a congregation would be just that, a human judgment, God’s judgment is the one that counts. All gifts given are good and for the good of the church. Every one of you is important to Hope Methodist and to the growth of others in this church. We are here to make a difference in those lives coming to the church.
This next part is going to be toe stepping. But you need to listen to the WHOLE thing! We cannot be absent from church and make a difference in the church’s life or make a difference in a visitor’s life. If you are not here, you cannot be an influence on someone. In true worship the goal is not for your benefit, it is to first give God the praise for what He has done in our lives and how He has affected us. Then to give the gifts God has given you to someone else you meet. You cannot judge those who are not here, only yourself. Some watching from home help in ways here that those in the sanctuary can’t see.
For those of you who are watching at home. For supporting Hope Methodist church, Thank you. Watching online is not like it was before Covid. You can interact with the congregation you watch. But are you taking worship, your Spiritual Gifts to those you meet away from here. Some of you are watching with the inability to join us physically in The Sanctuary. You must be taking what you hear from God here, to your home church, your neighbors, your community and in some cases your State. Then and only then does worship benefit you but as a byproduct. Next you cannot gain understanding of how God’s word affects you and works for you when you are absent from the worship service. You can still be watching from home, but still absent. The first thing we need to be is present, ready to listen to what God has to say to us, and then it passes is on to the next generation. Are you ready and able to do that? Only you can answer that question, to God not to me. But if you wish, you can confess to me, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. God will forgive your past absences and look forward to your presence today. James reminds us we do not hold tomorrow only today. Tomorrow is not a guarantee. But Eternity is! If you are not present today, how can you be present in eternity?
