Sermons for the Month

The Way of Foolishness
DATE: March 19th, 2006
SERVICE: Third Sunday In Lent
TEXT: I Corinthians 1:18-25

“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 told a story about a church that knows something about losing in order to win. Today I want to begin by telling you about my friend Marianne and her family; they too are acquainted with the way of the cross and with losing in order to win. Or, to use the ideas in today's lesson from I Corinthians, they have adopted the foolishness of God.

I have to begin this story in the beginning. Marianne Vermeer and her family moved to my hometown in Western Nebraska when we were in third grade. They lived about three blocks from my house; I cannot remember exactly how we connected with one another, but I have clear memories of that huge, old stucco home and the warmth I found there. Marianne was the oldest of four, two boys and two girls; although her sister was not born until we were in junior high.

One of my strong memories of the Vermeer household was mealtime. They would gather around a big table, Mr. Vermeer would tease and joke with his wife and the family, but there was a moment when all was quiet and the meal prayer was said. I was accustomed to praying before eating, but it was the kids who prayed at our house and it was done fast, and the same prayer was said every time. At the Vermeer's - at least on weekends - the meal prayer seemed richer, somehow, and here's the part that really got my attention. There was a definite ending to the meal other than, "Thank-you Mom, may I be excused."

A scripture passage was read, and another prayer was said. This happened at supper and at breakfast, and for them it was "normal". For me it was not, and I found the whole ritual to be very calming. I imagine, though, that others might have called it foolish. Why sit there praying when there were places to go and projects to do?

I guess the foolishness rubbed off on Marianne, who turned out to be a brilliant young woman with odd priorities. She spent some time after college not pursuing the lucrative career she could have had, but volunteering with the Presbyterian Church in - you guessed it - Egypt. I imagine there were those who felt it was a foolish use of "prime time".

They probably thought the same thing when she and Robert were married in their 20's. As is true of most people that age their lives were not overflowing with "stuff", and yet when they sent out their wedding invitation they asked that people donate to a specific ministry rather than giving them gifts, because their needs were met. I guess that was a foolish move in many people's eyes.

It will mean something to many of you when I say that Marianne eventually earned an MBA from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania - a prestigious place - and Robert's Master of Divinity came from Princeton and his PhD in History and Theology from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. So, are they now pursuing high-powered positions in the worlds of business and the church so that their children, ages 12 and 7, can live the American dream?

They certainly have the wear-with-all to do that. I do not think that's the case, though, since doing so is not possible in Pakistan. They are using their considerable gifts in the name of Jesus in that setting. Marianne is working in the president's office at Forman Christian College on projects to bring the College back to being a respectable institution after 30 years of government control. The College was returned to the Presbyterian Church USA in 2003 after being nationalized for decades. Robert is teaching at a Seminary and working with the Presbyterian Church. Next year he'll teach in the religion department at the college as well.

Recently I received an e-mail from them that was sent to their mailing list. It was after the bombing near the American Consulate there and the burning of three churches. They wrote about the boys staying home from school and the family "making themselves scarce" during times of unrest. But, they stressed that they are safe and that people are watching out for them, doing all that can be done to keep them out of harms way. They were honest about the pressure they are under and that it preys on their minds somewhat, especially because of the children. They even joked that, having sold their home, someone would have to adopt them if they had to return home. (I offered my garage.)

Given all that, I imagine there are more than a few people who think that what they are doing is downright foolish - perhaps including some of you. But consider this closing paragraph of that e-mail, "We also want you to know that we would not be sticking it out here unless we thought we were actually doing something truly worthwhile, and desperately needed. Our Christian brothers and sisters need us, and we (as we have found) need them. We did not come for a vacation; we came to do a job, one that not many would take on. Leaving before it is done is something we cannot envision doing, unless the circumstances simply will not permit us to remain. It is our commitment to our Lord, our church and our sisters and brothers in Pakistan. We know we can depend on your support."

Such fools for Christ they are. I thought of them when I read today's second lesson which proclaims that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but is the power of God to those who are being saved.

And what exactly is that foolish message, you ask? Well, I've said it before when I preached on this text, quoting Methodist Bishop William Willimon. By the world's standards of what works, who is the greatest and what is practical, the Christian faith is foolish indeed.

The world says that to be great is to stand out, to admired, envied and perhaps even feared. But Jesus says that the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. (Luke 22:26)

Then there is what's practical. By the world's standards it's practical to love your neighbor, your friends and your family, but to hate your enemy. But Jesus says that's too easy, we should love our enemies and pray for them. Taking your school-age children around the world to a hostile place, especially when you own a home and have degrees and skills that could guarantee a comfortable living in the United States is not practical.

Yet, in last week's Gospel lesson Jesus said that to follow him one must deny themselves and take up the cross. For the one who loses their life for Jesus' sake, and the sake of the gospel, will save it. Remember I said sometimes that involves significant sacrifice, but it always involves putting our lives in God's hands, letting go of our agendas and allowing the Holy Spirit to act.

And what about what works? In our world it works to seek security and stability first. But Jesus says to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will fall into place. (Matthew 6:33) It works in our world to value wisdom and knowledge. The problem is, though, that our definition of wisdom does not fit God's definition of wisdom.

In fact, God's wisdom is foolish by human standards. Why? It's because there is nothing reasonable about the cross. No logical explanation can be offered to explain why God would send his son to suffer a punishment which was set aside for criminals. And, the situation becomes even more absurd when we note that we do not influence God's love for us.

We all come to the cross with empty hands. Jesus Christ was crucified, he was raised from the dead and offers forgiveness and eternal life - second chances - NOT because someone can give a logical, reasonable explanation of these events, NOT because someone has gained extensive knowledge, NOT as a reward for doing impressive things. Instead, life goes on and there are new beginnings for us because that's what God chooses to offer.

It's foolishness - foolish love - and those who "get it" act foolishly in response (at least as far as those who do not "get it" are concerned). And in that foolishness, that surrender, there is the power of God that transforms lives.

Robert and Marianne "get it", they are living it, and so their boys Nathan and Peter no doubt are also on their ways to being full-fledged fools. And that, my friends, is what it means to lose in order to win.

AMEN

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