Sermons for the Month
We Are A More and Less Church
DATE: November 13th, 2005
SERVICE: 26th Sunday After Pentecost
TEXT: Matthew 25:14-30“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
Last week I ended the sermon with this statement, "The question is not, 'Are we the church?', but, 'How are we the church?'" One of you later commented to me that as Christians - as the church in the world - we have a huge responsibility. More is expected of us. I would certainly agree with that, and I would add that less is expected of us too.
To explain what I mean I'm going to quote a theologian who some might describe as being "out there." His name is John Shelby Spong, and although I do not agree with everything he writes, he does have some interesting things to say about what it means to be the church in 2005.
In a recent article he noted that the Greek word we translate as "church" means "to be called out." So, he says, Christians are the ones who are called out of prejudices, called out of brokenness and called out of self-centeredness. We also are those who have been called into life, called into love, called into wholeness and called into God. (1)
That means that in our lives we are to display less of that which is destructive to ourselves and others and more of that which is life-giving. This more, and at the same time less, juggling act requires something of us, and that's the point of today's parable.
There are a number of ways to interpret the parable we read. We often think of the talents that were given by the master to his servants as either money or abilities that are to be used to further the church's mission. But, a few years ago, I read something that caused me to think of the talents as the Gospel message itself.
That interpretation fits because as he tells this story Jesus is preparing to die. He is going away, as is the master in the parable. But, Jesus knows that he will one day return, so he tells this story and several others about being prepared for the master's return and making good use of the time while he's gone. The treasure that Jesus entrusts to his followers upon his departure must be cherished and multiplied, and that treasure is the Gospel message. Those first Christians are being told that they must respond by boldly proclaiming the Gospel, even in the face of danger.
Of course, the parable's message reaches across the years to us and is a reminder that all Christians are given this treasure to manage. We all are expected to do something with it. Just keeping it to ourselves is not an option. And, more is expected of some than others.
My interpretation of the parable is that everyone receives the treasure, the good news of forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and a valuable treasure it is. But, the first person was expected to do five times more with it as the third individuals because that one had more ability and resources with which to work. And, as you may remember me saying when I preached on this text a few years ago, I believe we are the ones from whom more is expected.
In fact, when I gave that sermon in 2002 it was the first time that I introduced two words that have become a theme for us - risk and change. I posed four questions that day. They were about: focusing on encouraging people of all ages to grow in faith and commitment; considering how our worship services are an avenue for spiritual growth and for outreach; evaluating how our facility can serve our ministry and asking how we can be a community that includes rather than excludes. Over and over again I said, "Addressing these questions will require risk and change."
Almost exactly three years later the first two have been addressed, and transition has occurred. The third is in process of being studied and the fourth has been touched on. This congregation has shown itself to be open to taking risks and making changes for the sake of proclaiming the transforming love of Jesus Christ. In that there is reason to celebrate because one of the predictors for whether or not a congregation is healthy, vital and growing is openness to change.
The other predictor - and studies have shown that there really are only two - is whether or not a particular congregation has a clear sense of vision and purpose. It's interesting to note that it's not worship styles or the number of small groups or the prevalence of electronic gadgets that lead to a vital ministry. Those are the by-products of the two real factors, openness to change and having a clear sense of vision.
Here at Faith Lutheran Church we do have a vision statement, and our goal is to measure the decisions we make against it. I'd be thrilled if everyone memorized it; a good way to do that is to begin with the verbs, which are share, transform and go. Our vision is to share the good news of Jesus with everyone; to transform followers into disciples with a faith that works in real life and to go and share Jesus' love in the world.
Some would say that our vision is a bit long, but it's not nearly has complex as one from Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Now this is a mission statement that really asks for more. Let me read a portion of it to you.
"We will be open to all new light, strengthened by God and each other in our faith. We will sustain a critical examination of Scripture, belief and ritual as interpreters of God's active presence in the world. We will accept controversy as a reality of life together and an opportunity for growth toward maturity. We covenant to be a community of God's new creation and affirm that we are open to all and closed to none. We covenant to nurture this church as a community of faith and as an instrument of reconciliation in the world…." (2)
Did you notice how often the word "we" was used? The point is that we, the church of the 21st century - must focus on more and on less. We must show more boldness in announcing the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ and be more concerned about how we treat one another, more willing to ask good questions, more focused on grace, more aware of spiritual gifts and determined to use them, more desirous of justice and peace and more willing to sacrifice for Jesus' sake. That's just the beginning of the list of "mores".
And, at the same time, we must be less inclined to view our faith as a private matter, less ready to condemn, less concerned about absolutes, less desirous of power and prestige and less self-centered. That also is a list that could go on and on.
I like the image that is painted in today's reading from I Thessalonians. We are reminded that we are children of the day, not of the night and darkness. And since that's true, should put on faith, love and hope so that it's "out there" for all to see.
Everything that I've been talking about this morning addresses the question, "How are we the church?" It's by being the ones called out who are both more, and less, for Jesus sake and for sake of the world. (1) "The Emerging Church", August 17, 2005, John Shelby Spong, secure.agoramedia.com/Spong/week153story1.asp
(2) Same as above.
"We will be open to all new light, strengthened by God and each other in our faith. We will sustain a critical examination of Scripture, belief and ritual as interpreters of God's active presence in the world. We will accept controversy as a reality of life together and an opportunity for growth toward maturity. We covenant to be a community of God's new creation and affirm that we are open to all and closed to none. We covenant to nurture this church as a community of faith and as an instrument of reconciliation in the world…." (2) AMEN