This is a special musical performance by the Chancel Choir of Thy Will Be Done with soloist Chris Lewis today at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

One of the things I just love about scripture is that the stories we read and hear are our stories.  They are truly about us and tell us so much about our identity as human beings.  And, today’s readings do not disappoint.  Today’s stories are so very enlightening because they again tell us something about who we are as people.

In our first reading from Numbers, we find that Moses is truly overwhelmed and weary as he tries to lead this throng of Israelites through the desert.  And, as he complains to God about his heavy workload, we find that God is sympathetic to Moses.  God graciously responds with a proposal that will take some of the burden off Moses by having others share the load.  Well, this is a great idea but when God takes some of Moses’ spirit and places it on seventy chosen elders, some of that spirit spills over on two other men, Eldad and Medad.  And, when they begin to prophesy – oh my.  Envy, self-ambition and jealousy break out among the seventy because these other two men were not part of that chosen inner circle.  And, what is so fascinating is that, rather than stop them, Moses says with certainty that he wishes all God’s people would be filled with God’s spirit. 

Then, in today’s Gospel reading, we hear a very similar story.  John comes rushing up to Jesus in a panic, all out of breath.  He proclaims, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him – because he’s not one of us.”   Again, oh my!   Eldad, Medad, John and the other disciples are so much like us!  People are in crisis, there is so much to be done and help is needed.  Yet, when help comes, people complain because the help is not “the right help!”  You know – they are not people we know and trust; they are not properly authorized, credentialed people who look and act like us.  You see, the problem is that the Spirit has broken out and now it cannot be controlled!  Those in the “inner circle,” the “club” or the “clique,” are put out because someone outside that circle is also able to use God’s gifts, and that person is using them without the “proper” credentials. 

Well, the writer of Mark’s gospel tells us the disciples are upset because this other guy who isn’t one of the twelve is casting out demons, they can’t control him and he must be stopped. So, Jesus, never one to be impressed with titles or credentials says in effect, “Look, leave him alone, we need all the help we can get.  I don’t care if he is a part of our little group or not. Look at what he is doing, not at the color of his skin, the language he is speaking, his sexual preference or his politics.  Is he doing good?  Is he living a kind, helpful life of love?  That’s all I want.  We need more people like that. Whoever is not against me is for me.”  Jesus then talks about stumbling blocks and, in a manner of speaking, tells the disciples and each one of us to look at the stumbling blocks we place in front of ourselves and others.  He is telling us to look at the perverse pleasure we take in excluding people who live, believe, worship, serve, and practice their faith differently than we do.  Look at how smug and superior we often feel when our brothers and sisters fail.  Look at how insecure and tenuous our own faith must be, if its survival depends on our dismantling someone else’s.

In this present age, Jesus’ response is very helpful because if ever the Church needs more Eldads and Medads and outsiders, it is now!  Quite honestly, those of us clinging to “the way things have always been done” are killing the Church.  And, we have far too often become the stumbling block of which Jesus speaks.  Far too often, we tend to think that whoever is not for us is against us.  It is so much easier that way.  Far too often, we smugly think “I am not like one of them.”  We so readily draw circles around ourselves and others so we can better distinguish ourselves versus all others and thereby justify who we are and who we are not.  You know, I am not one of those Republicans or I am not one of those Democrats.  I am not one of those conservatives or I am not one of those liberals.  I am not one of those Baptists or one of those Episcopalians or one of those fundamentalists.  I am not one of those Catholics and we don’t do things that way.  I am not one of those whom I believe is not saved.  Oh, yes, we do draw our circles.  But, we really should understand that wherever we draw that circle, Jesus is going to be standing outside the circle with a great number of people who we might well think are not for Jesus at all.

          Quite frankly, at the heart of our human struggle, as we live in relationship to others, is our need to define ourselves as who we are not.  And, keeping categories of “them” and “us” means we do not have to leave what is familiar and comfortable, we do not have to go to a place that is scary.  As we think about our life in this present culture, the many problems we face are so complex.  However, the starting point means going beyond our circles, moving beyond the categories of “us” and “them.”   And, these categories are truly stumbling blocks. The starting point is that place where we begin entering into relationship with others.

          So, I ask you this.  What would it be like if the children of God truly helped each other succeed?  Just imagine what it would be like if Pentecostal Christians began removing the stumbling blocks for the liturgical Christians, and Lutherans began removing stumbling blocks for charismatic Christians. Just imagine what it would be like if liberals began clearing paths for the conservatives and conservatives began clearing paths for liberals.  Just imagine what the world would be like if the insiders befriended the outsiders.  Just what would happen if we expanded the circle, lengthened the table, and decided to feast together?  We would be path clearers and stumbling block removers!  We would be healers and exorcists and no little one would ever lose her way again because of us.

          Entering into relationship with all types of people we would consider “other” was a constant starting point for Jesus.  When the disciples came complaining about this “other” person casting out evil spirits in Jesus’ name, Jesus said, “Don’t stop them!  Whoever is not against us is for us.”  You see, for Christians, the starting point is never about who we are not.  It is all about who we are, and who we are is the baptized, broken, but graciously loved body of Christ.  There is no need to justify who we are because we have been named and claimed by a God of love.  We have been given a place, a status, a home within that gracious, unending, all-encompassing love of God.  And, the Jesus we know died not only for us but for the entire world.  We have already been raised to new life that is not simply about us but life for the entire world.  And, in that love there is no distinction, no “us” and no “them.”  So, I say, “Gracious God, bring it on.  Bring into our lives those we consider ‘other.’  Bring others into our lives and take us into the lives of others.  Help us to let go of our fear and move beyond our self-imposed circles and categories.”  This will take us to places where we will feel uncomfortable and unsettled.  And, this will take us to places that will likely make life messier because we will have to give up our need to control.  But, it is truly the deeper place where we will find all are embraced and held in God’s love.         

This is a special musical performance of Servant Song by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan with special flute accompanist Gwynne Kadrofske.

Sermon based on Mark 9:30-37

St. Thomas Aquinas once said, “Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take over within us, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.”  Change, transition, uncertainty, chaos and earth-shattering news all create within us a sense of fear.  So, it is fitting that today’s gospel reading helps us look at this very human emotion. 

In today’s gospel passage, Jesus continues to teach discipleship to the twelve.   He again gives them earth-shattering, mind-blowing information, and they are bewildered and afraid!  Today, we hear Jesus again tell the disciples he is going to be killed.  It is the second time he tells them he will soon be betrayed, murdered, and after three days rise from the dead!  Jesus’ words are so explosive the disciples simply cannot wrap their minds around what he says.  

Throughout the gospel of Mark, the disciples are portrayed as a motley group of knuckleheads who just don’t get it and, in today’s reading, they truly live up to their reputation.  You see, they are still thinking Jesus will be the one who will provide the Jewish people political deliverance from Rome.  The prospect of Jesus being killed simply does not compute.  This Jesus whom they believe is the promised Messiah is telling them that redemption of Israel will take place through suffering!  Who could possibly imagine that?  How could anyone believe that an all-powerful God would conquer enemies and provide deliverance through suffering and death?

The disciples are bewildered and what do they do?  Well, they stay silent and they do not ask Jesus to clarify what he is saying.  They do not ask Jesus to answer the many questions swirling about in their confused minds.  No.  Why do they not ask?  Mark simply says it is because they were afraid.  And, we are left to wonder, why are they afraid?  Do they fear they might appear to be confused?   Do they fear they might appear uninformed, clueless, or stupid, yet again?  Do they fear they might appear unfaithful?  Or, do they fear they might get answers they do not want to hear and are not ready to hear?

The disciples’ failure to understand and ask questions seems rather annoying.  But, how often do we act in precisely the same manner?  How often are we afraid to ask a question because we think we should already know the answer?  How often are we simply afraid to show our ignorance?  In a world where we work so hard, striving to succeed, how can we possibly let ourselves appear so vulnerable?  And, how often are we possibly afraid of the answer we will get?  Are we afraid of being a follower and living the truth of Jesus’ passion?  As a congregation, what are our fears as a community of faith?  Do we fear the decisions we make may cause us to lose members?  Or, do we fail to make decisions because we fear the development of conflict?  As we look at another calendar year, and this week begin our annual stewardship drive, does our anxiety create a fear that we will not make the budget? 

Theologian, David Lose, when exploring this reading, suggests:  

All these fears … strip life of pleasure and joy and make it very difficult to be wise and faithful stewards of the present moment and resources with which God has entrusted us.  Jesus’ response to our fears and anxieties is an invitation not to faith as intellectual assent – as if believing in God somehow prohibits fear – but rather to faith as movement, faith as taking a step forward (even a little step) in spite of doubt and fear, faith as doing even the smallest thing in the hope and trust of God’s promises.

Quite frankly, fear is the opposite of faith.  Fear has the power to paralyze us, to distort our thinking and drive us into despair.  As we think about the disciples’ fear, it is interesting to note their reaction.  Rather than asking questions and facing their fears, they begin to argue.  And, what is more interesting is that they are not even arguing about what Jesus said.  They begin to fight about which one of them is the greatest! 

Again, the disciples are not much different from each one of us.  How often have we seen this happen in the church, within our own communities and even within our own families?  Some incident, event, experience or person upsets the system.  Then, fear raises its ugly head.  People become fearful of possibly losing out in some way and so they strive to get to the top, to attain the best position of power so they are the ones in control.  People fear there is not enough love to go around.  People fear change within the system, and suddenly tempers flare and an argument ensues.   And, just like the disciples in today’s story, the fighting has nothing to do with the real issue but we react by arguing about something else because we cannot face our fear. 

When Jesus asks the disciples what they are arguing about, again, there is silence and it is deafening.  And, I think most of us can relate to such a silence.  Anyway, Jesus knows what they have been fighting about.  So, he again teaches about discipleship saying, “So you want first place?  So, you want to be at the top?  Then, take the last place.  Be servant of all.”  To help them understand, he places a curious, vulnerable child in their midst.  Now, to understand what is really happening here, we must understand that children were thought of very differently in this ancient culture than they are in our culture.  Nadia Boz Weber succinctly articulates the difference between the way children were regarded then as opposed to the manner in which we treat our children today.  She says:

These children didn’t exactly take bubble baths every night before being tucked into their Sesame Street bed sheets and read Goodnight Moon.  There was no sentimentality about childhood because childhood was actually a time of terror.  Children in those days only really had value as replacement adults but until then they were more like mongrel dogs than they were beloved members of a family.  And they weren’t even really housebroken.  They just kind of leaked everywhere and they died like, all the time.  Children were dirty and useless and often unwanted and to teach his disciples about greatness and hospitality, Jesus puts not a chubby-faced angel, but THIS kind of child in the center, folds THIS kind of child into his arms and says when you welcome the likes of THIS child you welcome me.

In a culture where children were of no consequence, given no value and considered socially invisible, Jesus cradles a dirty, smelly, rejected little child in his arms and says, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me – God who sent me.”

Wow!   What a lesson in discipleship!  Not only has Jesus hit the disciples with earth shattering news, he again turns their thinking, and ours, inside out and upside down. 

My friends, fear has the power to blind us to what God is doing here among us as we live together in community.  Fear has the power to blind us to what God is up to in this world.  Fear has the power to blind us from recognizing God’s kingdom at work as it is breaking in upon us.  Fear has the power to blind us from recognizing those we consider “other” as children of God.  Fear prevents us from seeing Jesus in a different way and that is challenging because, if we see Jesus in a different way, we begin to see each other in a different way.  And, you can count on the fact that when Jesus breaks into our lives with overwhelming grace he is always going to challenge us, challenge our assumptions, change our world and change us as we are called to travel and move more deeply into a life of discipleship.

Jesus continues to teach what real discipleship is all about by telling us that greatness in the kingdom of God means becoming a servant.  And, oh my, in doing so he turns our thinking and understanding of success upside down!  Discipleship means taking the last place and not being on top.  It is so hard to do this because we want to be in control and we are so fearful of letting go and letting God take control.  Jesus says that discipleship Jesus’ style means welcoming the child, welcoming those who are socially invisible, welcoming those whom the rest of society excludes, and welcoming those the world does not value, those whom we tend to fear.  Discipleship, Jesus’ style, means welcoming those who do nothing but are simply welcomed and embraced.  In reality, the vulnerable, dirty child who fearlessly comes with questions is where discipleship begins.  The truth of the matter is, discipleship begins as we become the child on Jesus’ lap.

This is a special musical performance by the Faith Bells Handbell Choir of Be Thou My Vision at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical performance of The Cross by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

German Lutheran pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, “When Christ calls (someone) He bids (them) come and die.”  These words cut right down into the nitty gritty of what discipleship, what following Jesus is all about.  You see, the central question, the big defining question of Christianity, is “Who is willing to follow Jesus Christ?”  And, Jesus places that question before us today with a real sense of urgency. 

Today, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  In response, impetuous, impulsive Peter gets all excited and professes that Jesus is indeed the long-promised Messiah.  Jesus then begins to explain things to his disciples saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.”  As soon as Peter hears this, he immediately backs away and rebukes Jesus.  Jesus’ words shatter the glamor of following this long-expected Messiah.  This is certainly not the kind of life Peter wants to undertake.  While Jesus seems to be the Messiah, the Jewish people had never expected a leader who must suffer and die.  That was simply ludicrous and irrational.  Who in their right mind chooses to “proceed to an ordeal of suffering” as Jesus says he is doing?  And, who in their right mind wants to follow a leader who is on his way to die? 

Well, Jesus continues to teach his disciples about what following him is really going to mean.  He says, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.  You’re not in the driver’s seat, I am.  Don’t run from suffering, embrace it.  If any of you want to follow me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. Follow me and I’ll show you how.  Self-help is no help at all.  Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self.  What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?  What could you ever trade your soul for?” 

Well, Jesus’ words did not go over well with Peter and quite honestly, they don’t go over well with us.  Most of us choose religion and come to believe important things deeply because we feel they are good for us.  And, we like a religion that makes us feel good.  We like a faith that fits our comfortable, recreational life styles.  We tend to like a faith in which we can participate when we choose to participate.  We want a faith that does not demand too much from us.  Furthermore, we want to follow a strong God who “heals our illnesses, provides ample prosperity, guarantees security, urges our sports teams onto victory, and generally keeps us happy, healthy and wise.” (David Lose)  So, when we hear what Jesus is saying, we too respond by thinking suffering is not appealing.  If anyone of us are offered a life of suffering versus a life free from suffering, you can be your bottom dollar we are going to go for the one that is pain free!  Yet, this is where we must get very honest about the Christian life.  First of all, nobody’s life is ever going to be pain free or free from suffering.  And, Christianity is not about living an easier life, living a life free from pain, or believing in a God we can turn to as our personal Santa Claus to help solve life’s problems and give us all we want. 

The point at which Jesus shares this teaching with his disciples is a pivot point in Mark’s telling of the Jesus story.  From this point on in Mark’s gospel, Jesus begins to show us how to die.  We have been given life and Jesus now demonstrates how we are to give it up and give it away.  I think for most of us, this is an idea that runs counter to all that we want to believe.  It really does seem irrational.  Yet, Jesus makes it absolutely clear that God does not care about giving us all of the things that make for creature comforts.  What God does care about are matters of the heart.  Jesus makes it clear that if you want to have a deeply meaningful life that truly matters, you are going to have to hand over your petty obsessions and mistaken priorities.  Quite frankly, following Jesus means living a very counter-cultural life and letting go of self, letting go of the intense narcissistic focus on self, a self-interest and focus that runs rampant in our culture.  You are going to have to think more about loving than being loved, more about working to understand than being understood, and more about forgiving than being forgiven.  I love the way Lutheran pastor, Peter Marty, describes our dilemma when asked to follow Jesus.  He writes:

Near as I can tell, we can try to safe-deposit-box our lives all we want and be very, very cautious about whom we even let into our lives.  But this is not commendable living.  In fact, according to Jesus, it’s downright dangerous living.  We’ll lose our soul if we’re not careful.  Living a life that really matters in the name of Jesus will not allow room for clutching or hoarding or playing it safe.  It asks instead for a less possessive way – a way that treats life more like a precious gift to be shared than a commodity to be stored up.

The life that has been packaged and continues to be packaged and sold to us in this culture is not real life and we need to die to those illusions if we want to live into the abundant life God wants for us.  Furthermore, the life of which Jesus speaks is not something we can buy or earn.  Like love and grace, it is all gift and can only be given away.  And, the deep truth Jesus is trying to tell us, a truth Bonhoeffer knew so well, is that only when you give your life away for the sake of others, only through serving, loving and caring for others, do you really discover life, life that truly matters.  When we are able to finally let go of the ego, the cult of self which is really the false self, that part of ourselves which believes we are in charge, or self-sufficient, then we finally begin to live life that truly matters. This dying to self is painful, but it allows us to be open to whole new vistas of abundant life.  When we are finally able to let go of self, to let go of our worry, to let go of our anxiety, to let go of our need to control, to let go of all that holds us captive and then really die to self, we discover that God is already in that place, walking with us and holding us in love.  It is then that we discover what the cross really means.  It is the cross that gives us life, life that truly matters.  And we discover the cross means loving and serving others as we are loved.

 As Jesus begins his relentless march to the cross, he challenges each one of us to follow.  Today, Jesus demands a decision from each one of us as he asks us, “Will you follow me where I am going?”   Will we follow this man to the place where he is going?  What will your decision be?

This is a special musical performance of Sing Out to God by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church of Okemos, Michigan.

As many of you know, I have done considerable work with system thinking, specifically looking at family systems and the way in which they deeply shape our lives.  Each person is born into multiple systems – a family system, a social system, a cultural system, a system of customs, etc. The way we live together in community, our social class, the language we speak, and even our religion are all shaped by these systems.   These multiple systems also shape us as we grow, mature and live our daily lives.  The characteristics of these systems affect how one learns to think and behave at home, school, work, and in various social settings.  The manner in which we have been shaped affects how we interact and communicate and with people at any level.  And, quite honestly, it is hard to break free of the way we react to circumstances and situations, simply because of the way we have been shaped by these systems.  In fact, my coach once explained it to me this way.  She said, “When you are born into a system, it is as though you are born into a fast-moving current and you cannot change or break free from some of the systemic function unless you intentionally work to break away from that current.”  This is part of what it means to grow and change and become mature in life.  This is a very human aspect of living.  So, I find today’s gospel reading fascinating because the gospel writer tells us about a very human Jesus, a Jesus who moves beyond the dictates of custom, a system that had shaped him. 

For most of us, our image of Jesus was shaped by stories we learned in childhood and the pictures we have seen, pictures that were often used in children’s Bibles.  And, quite frankly, most of those pictures depict a calm, happy, inviting, yes even white Jesus – a Jesus who is never reactive and really does not display honest human emotions. However, if we take a realistic look at the gospels, we can begin to see a very different picture of Jesus.  In all four Gospels, we find stories where Jesus displays deeply human, even unlikable, characteristics.  There are times when he really seems annoyed with the stupidity of the disciples, and other times when he seems truly overwhelmed by the burden he is bearing.  There are stories where Jesus is reclusive, grumpy and even sarcastic.  And, today, we get one of those stories as we are given a glimpse of a very human Jesus.

In the chapters preceding today’s story, Jesus has been performing miracles.  He has fed the 5,000 and walked on water.  He has been healing the sick and demon-possessed, and there is no doubt he is seeking some much-needed rest.  So today, as he seeks respite, we find him heading into the region of Tyre and Sidon, land that is Gentile, pagan territory.  While there, he is noticed and approached by a Phoenician woman with connections to Syria.  And, her daughter is possessed by an unclean spirit.  She begs him to cure her daughter.  And, Jesus replies, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

Whoa!!  Jesus rebuffs this woman and dismisses her with a blatant, ethnic slur.  You see, during Biblical times, the word “dog” was commonly used as a derogatory insult.  And, the Gentiles were so despised and considered so unclean, the Jewish people referred to them as “dogs.”   Anyway, Jesus’ response to this foreign woman does not stop there.  He also makes it clear that his own people, the Jews, should be fed first.  He is saying, it isn’t right to take food that is meant for the Jews and give it to dogs, the Gentiles. 

I have to say, this is probably not the image of Jesus we usually conjure up in our minds.  As theologian, David Lose, suggests:

We want to think of Jesus as full-bodied, perfect, and immutable from birth, kind of like Athena springing full-grown from the head of Zeus.  But if we are to take Mark’s narrative seriously, never mind the incarnational and creedal affirmation that Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine, then perhaps we should not be surprised to see a development in Jesus’ own recognition of God’s vision for the world.  After all, the profoundly expansive notion of a kingdom that included everyone – no exceptions! – was completely and totally novel.  And, truthfully, it still is!

  Well, what is so amazing about this story is that this woman does not back down.  She does not become defensive and, instead of being offended or discouraged, she presses on.  She has a sick daughter and she wants healing for her daughter.  So, this culturally unconventional woman who is breaking all kinds of rules by coming to Jesus in the first place, uses Jesus’ own words against him and bests him in this argument saying, “Fine, you can call me a dog, but even dogs get crumbs that fall from the table.”  This Gentile woman is the only person in scripture who wins an argument with Jesus!   I want to say to her “You go girl!” and cheer her on.

The truth of the matter is, this Gentile woman teaches Jesus, a Jewish man who had been totally immersed in and shaped by the systemic dictates of Jewish custom.  Driven by something more powerful than protocol, this courageous, prophetic, Syrophoenician woman confronts Jesus, and he has a “conversion” experience.  This woman of great faith changes Jesus, and he responds by intentionally leaving the strong current of custom dictated by Jewish socialization.  This woman’s action helps to open Jesus up for ministry to the Gentiles.  Impressed by the woman’s courage and faith, Jesus responds saying, “You’re right!  On your way. Your daughter is no longer disturbed.  The demonic affliction is gone.” (The Message)

This Gentile woman’s action does something else which is remarkable.  She crosses the Jewish/Gentile boundary, a barrier established by human beings, a boundary created to separate and discriminate.  The barrier that had been created to divide people into categories of “us” and “them” has been called into question.  This foreign woman draws for Jesus a bigger picture of who God is!   And, the good news that is embodied in Jesus now becomes good news that has the world as its focus.  Jesus actually receives strength from this woman whose faith changes him as he is forced to live into a broader understanding of his mission and ministry. 

The broadening of the heart and mind to include the “others” in life is one of the most difficult psychological maneuvers there is.  I find this to be a challenge we face each and every day.  Far too often, we want to build walls to keep the “others” out.  We work to exclude the “others” in our lives, whether it is within our family structures, our communities, or even within our nation.  And, we tend to project what we don’t like in ourselves on to the “other.”  We tend to see the “other” as less than us, not as fully human, sometimes not even as loved by God.  In today’s reading, it is a woman who is considered and labeled “other” who helps Jesus grasp that in God the barriers are broken down.  In God things are turned inside out and upside down.  In God, no human beings are labeled as “dogs,” only children.  All are considered God’s children.

Scripture really does paint a very different picture of Jesus than the one we so often conjure up in our minds.  Today, we see Jesus in his full humanity, a person who, like us, has been shaped by systems into which even he was born.  But, we also get a glimpse of a Jesus who is vulnerable and open to being changed.  And, it is in his full humanity that we discover what divinity is all about.  It is in Jesus’ full humanity that we discover the God who loves and welcomes all!