Donna and I used to take dancing lessons.
Arthur Murray dancing lessons.
“One of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”
We’d go for an hour of instruction, learn a new step, give it a try, enjoy it.
Then, the drive home.
15 minutes.
Into the house, we’d go.
Turn on the lights.
Doff our coats (we wear coats in Michigan).
And fly into one another’s arms.
To practice what we’d just learned.
And then, something didn’t feel right.
“Donna, you’re supposed to move the right foot over there.”
“No, Tom, it’ the other way around.
“Sweetie Pie, I’m tellin’ ya, this is how we do it.”
“Okay, lover boy, but you’re wrong!”
In that 15-minute ride home, we’d forgotten something.
And no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t get it together.
We’d improvise, and that didn’t work either.
We’d get mad at each other, and they didn’t work either.
We’d take a break, try to remember, give it another try, and that didn’t work either.
Finally, we’d just give up.
We’ll have to wait until the next lesson.
So, we’d go back a few days later.
We’d go over the new step with the instructor.
And lights would come on.
“Ah, that’s it.”
“That one little step … this way, not that way …” and we had it … and with a little luck, we’d remember it when we got home … and usually we did.
We learned an important lesson, and it’s not just dancing.
A life lesson.
When it’s done right, it always feels right, and you don’t have to try that hard.
Christianity is like dancing.
There are steps to be followed.
We have an instructor.
“Put your feet here,” says Jesus – “Come, and follow me!”
We follow in the footsteps of the Master.
And we’re dancing with a lot of good folk.
Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Paul and James and Lydia and Mary Magdalene and Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
And the whole church of Jesus Christ: Augustine and Aquinas, Luther and Calvin, William Sloan Coffin and Bishop Tutu, St. Teresa and Mother Teresa.
A cloud of witness.
Throughout the ages.
“You can do it!”
“You can dance well.”
“If you misstep, start all over again.”
“If you’ve forgotten something, go back for more lessons.”
“Follow the Master.”
When it’s done right, it feels right.
And when it feels right, we don’t have to try that hard.
Because dancing is natural.
The step fits the body, and the body fits the step.
Faith in Christ is natural.
Faith fits the soul, and the soul fits Christ
Christ pushes us, of course, like a good dance instructor.
Christ demands our lives.
All that we are, and all that we hope to be.
But Christ always feel right.
Christ always makes sense.
Christ is trustworthy.
In our passage this morning, however, Jesus also mentions “thieves and hired hands.”
All is not right in the sheep business.
Unscrupulous shepherds and careless hired hands.
Just because it calls itself “Christian” doesn’t make it so!
It may have a slick package.
It might have an auditorium that can seat 5000.
The preacher totes a big Bible … waves the flag … mixes in a cup of Jesus and adds a pinch of Thomas Jefferson … and, of course, a half-cup of Judgment Day on May 21 …
People are vulnerable to this kind of stuff.
People are tempted by the Wall-Mart mentality – if it’s big, it has to be right … thousands of people in big-box churches, singing and swaying … Jesus this and Jesus that … whoop-de-do and doodly-do.
The bowl is beautiful, but the soup is thin!
I have a concern:
Too many churches led by too many poorly trained pastors.
Jesus trained his disciples rigorously for three years … and even then, it wasn’t enough; there is so much to learn.
And that’s one reason why I back our seminaries.
Our missionaries.
Our teachers.
We don’t get always get it right.
But we believe in sound training.
We believe in good seminaries and a thorough education.
The pastors I know work hard to be faithful and good and trustworthy.
I’m truly glad to be a mainline Protestant.
To be a Presbyterian … a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
Our education and training is a safeguard against thieves and hired hands.
A rock-hound knows the difference between gold and Fool’s Gold.
We can know the difference between thieves and hired hands and the Good Shepherd.
But it’s not always so easy.
Have you ever been in a restaurant when the waitperson brings out the dessert tray – blueberry pie with one of those buttery crumbly tops, cheesecake with fresh strawberries, a dish of bread pudding drizzled with yummy rum sauce … and you say, “I’ll take that one right there,” only to have the waitperson say, “These are just plastic reproductions. They real stuff is back in the kitchen.”
Jesus said,
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.[1]
We shouldn’t be surprised!
Israel created idols all the time, but they always called them God … they didn’t come up with new names for their idols, but idols they were!
The Christian Church does the same thing.
Christian history is full of “Christian” idols – bad ideas and bad practices.
They’re always called them Jesus.
But idols they are.
Jesus they are not!
Paul writes to the Galatians:
I am astonished that you are … turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.[2]
Paul warns the Corinthians about those who come and proclaim another Jesus.[3]
Did you hear that?
Another Jesus!
False apostles, says Paul, who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.[4]
The Book of Revelation puts it this way, There is a beast, with authority and power to perform signs and wonders, and it looks like a lamb, but it isn’t the Lamb. It’s a dragon, a dragon intent on devouring God’s people.[5]
John writes in his First Letter: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.[6]
Jesus says:
Beware that no one leads you astray.[7]
Dear Christians, we need to be smart … savvy … sharp and discerning.
Not all that glitters is gold.
The glittery stuff may be nothing more than Fool’s Gold.
Jesus reminds us that we have to be sharp.
There are thieves out there, and they look good.
There are hired hands out there, and sound so right.
There are dragons out there, and they look like a lamb.
Satan is out there, disguised like an angel of light.
Our best move is always a deep, deep, anchoring in God’s Word.
Hear the word of the LORD:
God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?[8]
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care of orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.[9]
Abraham and Sarah teach us to see the big picture.
Moses teaches us to take big chances.
The Prophets teach us to be just and courageous.
James reminds us that an uncontrolled tongue is a terrible thing.
Paul reminds us that even if we speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels … but have not love, we’re only a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.[10]
Jesus gets to the heart of it: Love one another as I have loved you.[11]
Give your lives for one another.
Wash each other’s feet.
Feed my lambs … tend my sheep … feed my sheep.[12]
The Master wants to teach us how to dance, and dance well.
“Put your feet here!”
Come and follow me!
When it’s done right, it feels right, and we’re glad for it.
When it’s done right, it looks good, and the world pays attention.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.[13]
Dear Christians, dance beautifully - to the glory of God.
Amen and Amen!
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