Pentecost 6: Luke 10:1-11
It has been commented by more than
a few people that now is not an easy time to be the church in Canada. Dwindling
numbers, divisive arguments, the dominance of a secular humanist ethic in
western society have dealt serious
blows to an institution which once stood at the centre of society. Over the
course of the last fifty years, the Christian church has slowly but surely been
pushed to the periphery. For some, the drop in numbers, and the seeming
irrelevance to popular culture is a cause for despair. For some in the mainline
denominations it is an occasion for panic, a call to restructuring, and a desperate search for a new and better
method for drawing people back into the pew, of putting the Christian Church
back at the centre of Canadian society. But I would invite those who are
panicking and desperately searching to reconsider, to view things from a
different perspective—the perspective of God’s mission, the perspective
embodied in today’s gospel lesson. For it is in these words we hear God’s Word
of reassurance. In these words we find direction.
Notice,
first of all, what these words do not say. They do not say anything about
church growth. They say nothing about financial strength or weakness. They say
nothing about how to be relevant to the dominant culture or how to be more popular to draw more
people in. They say nothing about compromising or conceding to the surrounding
society.
Yes
the specific words spoken by Jesus were directed to a specific people in a
specific time and place, but the heart of those words is directed to us. What
these words do give us, what they provide for us is a direction for mission-- Christ’s mission. And Christ’s mission
will be a costly mission, because to follow Christ is to follow the path of
costly discipleship, and a path of costly discipleship will, by its very
definition, neither be easy or popular.
Jesus tells us this plainly. He tells us that the “laborers are few”; he also tells us
that he is sending his disciples as lambs into the midst of wolves”. Jesus
gives his disciples a hard and realistic view of what discipleship entails, and
nowhere in this does he mention entertainment.
Many people
today want that. They want just to
be entertained. So they move from church to church seeking a brand which will
entertain them more. Some
congregations work hard at keeping people entertained because they know that
when the product is no longer entertaining, people might leave—might go
elsewhere. Congregations focus on
what will keep people amused, get and keep people in the building, and hope
that somewhere in the process God’s Word will come across. But sisters and brothers.
this is not the kind of discipleship to which Jesus calls us. Discipleship is about proclaiming the Word of God in
action, not conceding more and more to the “mc-culture” world we find ourselves
in. The Word of God is Jesus Christ. We are called to proclaim
that Word through who we are. We are called to do that in this time and place.
We are called to do that individually and collectively. Whether you realize it
or not, you have been sent. All Christians have been sent, sent to proclaim.
And
as we do that what we say will not be popular. The God we confess, the values
we hold to will be attacked or belittled.
Out of fear of being labeled as a religious fanatic, we will be tempted
to back off, and simply not say anything. Religion, some argue, is strictly a
private matter, and ought not to be spoken about in polite company. So we are
tempted to remain quiet. But silence speaks volumes as quietism prevails. Yes,
how we speak is very important, how we proclaim is essential. Self-righteous arrogance should never
be a part of our witness. A good
piece of advice in this area was spoken by a famous theologian who said: “
Preach the Gospel wherever you go, if necessary use words.” In other words walk
the walk when you talk the talk. But let us always and everywhere be prepared
to confess out Lord.
How sad and
pathetic it is that some Christians can more easily put on a sports Jersey and
proclaim their loyalty to a professional sports team than proclaim Christ. How tragic it is that Christians,
historically have placed national and cultural loyalty above loyalty to
Christ. How truly incomprehensible it is that Christians
have worshipped money. How unbelievable it is that Christians look to secular
teaching and ideologies for moral guidance rather than the plain teaching of
scripture. But Paul tells us today—warns us, as a matter of fact, that God is
not mocked. If we sow to our own flesh we will reap corruption from the flesh.
In other words, if we invest our faith in the worldly—that which fades,
diminishes and dies—it stands to reason that our souls will follow.
Yes,
the church is on the periphery, on the outside of this society—we cannot deny
this anymore. But this is not a bad place. In fact it is a very good place, a
very good place because when the church is relatively unpopular, it doesn’t
have to worry about pleasing people. When the church doesn’t have to worry about people pleasing,
it can focus on God pleasing. When it is focused on God-pleasing it is focused
on Christ’s mission. History proves this. When the church is at the centre.
When the church is accepted by the
vast majority. When the church ceases to offend. When the church concedes and
becomes indistinguishable from the surrounding culture, the church is in
trouble—maybe not financially, maybe not in terms of popularity, but in the
most important way of all---in the eyes of God. Consider the following example, and its one I have referred
to a few times. In Nazi Germany, the vast majority of protestant churchmen
supported Adolf Hitler, either passively or actively. Bishops believed him to
be a great conservative force in German life and society. Some thought
otherwise. The Confessing church refused to go along, and its members suffered.
But as we look back we realize that they were the ones who were standing up for
Christ, and witnessing to the love of God in Word and Deed. But how tempting it
must have been to go along with popular opinion at the time. How tempting it is now—how tempting it
is to water down the confession which has been passed down us from the Aspotles. How tempting it is to raise worldly
goals above Christ’s missional call.
But
mission is not something we do. Mission
is who we are. In this time and in this place we, as a congregation, are
called into mission. So let us never cease in asking this question as a
community and as individuals: What is our mission now? What is God calling us
to in this community and in the world? Jesus tells us that the harvest is
plentiful. The harvest of need in this community is plentiful. It may not seem
that way but it is. We are, as you know, a small congregation, and small
congregations can worry, worry about survival, worry about growth. But there is
no need to worry; for Jesus tells us that our names are written in heaven. So
let us not worry about all of those things the world tells us that we should be
worrying about. Let us instead focus on what Jesus has told us to do. Because,
in the final analysis, there is no choice. This congregation must do as it has
been commanded to do, which is to proclaim the Kingdom of God in Word and deed,
and do sot faithfully. Simply surviving for the sake of survival cannot be an
option. Jesus provides no room for that.
On
Pentecost Sunday, over two thousand years ago, Jesus, the risen and ascended
Lord established his church on earth. To this Church he gave his gifts of Word
and Sacraments, so that sins might be forgiven, eternal life given, so that
lives have been transformed. You, sisters and brothers have been given that
gift by Grace, and it comes to you through faith. Jesus has given you such a precious gift, but it is a gift which
is meant to be shared through bold proclamation. Jesus has sent us out to do
this, so let us do this, trusting in the Lord who has sent us. Now , may the
peace which surpases all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.
