September 5, 2010, "Becoming You"

Luke 14:25-33

Jesus said to the disciples:

Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Well, that’s right to the point, isn’t it?

What did Jesus mean?

Doesn’t the Bible tell us to honor our father and our mother?

Indeed, it does!

So what is Jesus getting at?

Jesus is preparing his disciples for the work of the kingdom.

Jesus knew that the times were perilous.

Rome was in charge, and the religious leaders of Jerusalem had god all figured out.

It was a dangerous time.

And Jesus well knew that in such times, hard decisions were required.

Like an expedition leader crossing over a high and dangerous mountain pass to bring relief supplies to a remote village.

The leader says to everyone helping, “If you want to go any further, you’ll have to leave your packs behind. From here on out, the path is steep and dangerous, and it’s too hard to carry all your stuff, so just leave it here, beside the trail. And we’re not likely to pass this way again, so you may not ever see it again. And if you have any postcards to send home, do it now at the next village, because some of us may not make it back home” [from Tom Wright’s commentary on Luke].

Let me offer a few ideas on this passage from Karl Barth, but, first, let me tell you a little bit about Barth himself.

Born in 1886 in a Swiss parsonage, Barth grew up to become one of the greatest theologians of the 20^th Century.

Barth was teaching theology in Bonn, Germany, 1932, when Hitler and his Brown Shirts marched into power.

Barth was an early critic of German nationalism sweeping across the nation … the juggernaut of propaganda weaving together god and country, religion an race … Germany first, Germany best of all, Germany uber alles … and God is on our side.

Millions of Christians signed on with Hitler.

They thought that Hitler’s morality was just the ticket to restore a failing nation.

Hitler opposed abortion.

Hitler opposed pornography.

Hitler despised gays.

And he didn’t like aliens.

A message that appealed to millions of Germans.

But it was a confused message.

God and country and faith and flag and morality, all wrapped up into a package that led Germany nation down a darkening way …

All that glitters isn’t gold.

Behind this strange message of god and country, a deeper, darker message of world-conquest and the systematic seizure of Jewish assets and the eventual elimination of the Jewish race.

Hitler’s “morality” was a screen for a darker purpose.

And it worked.

Barth called it for what it all was – false gods, holding a cup of wrath in their hands … a cup filled with hatred … hatred for gypsies, Jews, homosexuals, communists and all non-Aryans … a cup poured out upon Germany and the entire world.

Barth saw it coming!

And made his decision.

All university professors were ordered to begin their lectures with Heil Hitler … Barth refused.

All university professors were required to sign a loyalty oath of absolute allegiance to the Fuhrer … Barth refused.

As a result, Barth was removed from his teaching position and ordered to have no further public appearances.

Thankfully, Barth was able to return home to Switzerland and in Basle, resume teaching and writing.

Others had no such recourse.

Some of Barth’s friends paid with their lives for their allegiance to Jesus Christ … 

When Barth speaks about decision-making, we can pay attention.

Barth says of this passage:

The biblical word for hate is not “emotional aversion.”

It’s not hostility, contempt or repugnance.

It does not apply personally to a mother or a father, but to the ties they embody and represent.

The disciple must be free of all such ties … because the way ahead may be very difficult.

And profound decisions may be necessary.

Not that a disciple would ever neglect the biological or social obligations of family … not at all, but a readiness to set the heart upon God [Church Dogmatics, 3.4.262].

Barth says this decision might even be reached agreeably by the whole family …

I can only think of Barth and his family - the heart-wrenching discussions they had in threatening times of Nazi Germany … and many families like them, in desperate times, as they thought about Christ, and what it means to follow him.

Jesus tells us the truth about discipleship.

We wouldn’t want it any other way, would we?

And we shouldn’t tone it down.

Nor sugarcoat it.

Jesus wants us to be clear.

He’s not recruiting us for a committee …

We’ve all been asked to serve on a committee a time or two.

We know the drill.

We ask about the responsibilities, and we’re told: “Oh, it won’t be much at all … a monthly meeting … maybe some paperwork now and then … but don’t worry about it.”

So we sign on.

And then, “Surprise!”

The monthly meeting turns into three or four.

The paperwork turns into a mountain of correspondence.

When it comes to Jesus,

We’re not buying a pig in a poke.

Jesus is upfront and honest.

There may be times when push comes to shove …

When the chips are down …

No more wiggle room …

You have to decide …

You have to choose …

Jesus tells us the truth:

It may be a costly business, following me.

Sacrifice may be required.

So pay attention.

Think about it.

Don’t start out on this course until you’re ready to go the distance.

Count the cost of the tower you want to build before you lay the first stone.

The price of the fight you want to fight.

As Barth wrote about this passage, I can only imagine him thinking back to the fateful days of the Thirties … the decisions he made … the decisions others made, too … 

Decisions that separated loved ones and families.

Decisions of faith that ended in death for many.

Few of us will ever have to make such momentous decisions.

A friend of mine, an sporting-goods executive, was ordered by his boss to fire 300 employees of a company recently taken over. My friend refused … and resigned his job because of it. He talked with me about it – he was married, but no children. But a home, a career …

Sometimes the road with Christ gets difficult.

Most of our decisions for Christ are on a smaller scale.

But even small-scale decisions are difficult sometimes.

I think small decisions for Christ can be difficult, as well.

We’ve all made decisions for Christ.

And sometimes they’ve been costly!

What e’er the cost we might pay.

It is far less than the price Jesus paid.

However heavy our cross may be,

It is far lighter than the burdens Jesus carried.

To redeem our souls and set us free.

To become who we are best of all: daughters and sons of God.

For that is who we are, and that is who we are becoming!

Amen and Amen.

Identity - July 20, 2008

Romans 8:12-25

Remarkable time this past week … Week Two of interim training … incredible setting: the Presbyterian Conference Center at Lake Tahoe.

My first week – 4 years ago – Pittsburgh Theo. Seminary … great faculty then, and a great faculty this last week … including Charles Svendsen, interim at Brentwood - 70 of us, but only 16 in Week Two training.

We divided into small groups of five or six – our group jelled quickly, and we grew rather close to one another … four Presbyterians and a Lutheran … two pastors from northern California, one from Phoenix, one from Corpus Christi, Texas … and then me from LA.

Part of our prep time: prepare and give a message to the group – nothing more challenging than preaching to preachers – as the expression goes: a preacher will go a thousands mile to preach, but not walk across the street to hear another preacher.
And prepare and present an ILE – Integrated Learning Experience – a verbatim, a snapshot, of some portion of our ministry.
To share with the group a chunk of our life:
Here’s who I am.
Here’s I operate.
Here’s what I value.

Which is exactly what Interim Pastors seek to do with their congregations … this remarkable interim time … an in between time … valuable and vital … a time to put our life up for review:
Who are we?
How do we operate?
What do we value?

Several pastors suggested, rightly I believe, that all pastors are interims … no matter how long a pastor stays, it’s always between times … something came before; something comes afterward … I guess that’s true for life, isn’t it? – we’re all interims; we’re only here for the time being … between what was, and what shall be.

We can all stand to do interim work:
Who are we?
How do we operate?
What do we value?

Lily Tomlin said: “I've always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific” (Jane Wagner, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe).

Not a bad idea for each of us … to be specific:
Who are we?
How do we operate?
What do we value?

Christians ponder these questions with a special tool.
Investors use the Wall Street Journal.
Sports fans read Sports Illustrated.
News buffs read the New York Times.
Christians use the Bible.
To get a handle on things … to get specific:
Who are we?
How do we operate?
What do we value?

Take a look at our Bible Text for the day – Romans 8:12-25 … Paul’s letter to the Roman church … and not a church as we might think … likely 30 or 40 house churches scattered throughout the city of Rome …

[read text]

The church in the city of Rome – a cosmopolitan church in the middle of a vast city.
Every nationality, tongue and creed – every religious expression imaginable - from the sublime to the hideous … rich and poor, slave and free – the powerful and the oppressed … all roads lead to Rome.
As Rome determined, so went the Mediterranean world … and the church in the midst of this mixing bowl …

Not a whole lot different than our time and place.

Think of it … Los Angeles … a world-class city … a trend-setter … our movies touch the world … every imaginable religious expression – from the sublime to the hideous … super-rich and profoundly poor … a destination city … a dreamland for millions of people around the world … Hollywood … Universal City … the Academy Awards and the Beach Boys … I wish they all could be California girls.

So here we are …

In this mixing bowl … Covenant Presbyterian Church – Covenant on the Corner.

Who are we?
How do we operate?
What do we value?

The first point Paul makes: we’re God’s people.
That’s the universal piece of the puzzle – the biggest picture … we’re God’s people … we share a common identity with 25 folks singing hymns beneath a palm frond roof in Haiti … or 10,000 souls gathered at a Chicago Megachurch using the latest technology … and everything in between … we’re all God’s people, and Jesus is our LORD.

Here’s where Paul introduces a fascinating idea … we’re adopted …

We were once a child of the streets … lost and frightened … and Abba God, our Father in Heaven, creates a family … Jesus is the first born of the clan …
Brothers and sisters added every day.
For reasons known but to God, we’re the ones, here and now, to worship the LORD, to engage in prayer – to be servants of the Most High God.

It’s a slow process … one-by-one … a little here, and a little there …

Like cooking chili … low heat, stir it now and then … give it a taste … a little more chili powder; a couple more hours … now add the beans

It’s a slow process … starting with Abraham and Sarah … right down to this very moment.
God adopts us …

Once I was not, now I am.
Once I was blind, but now I see.
Once I was lost, but now I’m found.

One of the great anchor passages of the Bible – from 1 Peter 2 … Morrey’s favorite …

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, _ in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.

Now we cry Abba, Father.
Abba … not just a music group.

It has the feel of “Dad” to it …
My children call me Dad.
I love them … they love me.
We’re close … we enjoy being together.
We’re a family.

When we come into the family of God … something good happens; we get an elder brother who fights for us … who stands up for us … who carries a cross for us.
And we get a Father.
We get a Dad … Abba … our Father who art in heaven … hallowed be your name.
And our Mother – the Holy Spirit and the Church.
And sisters and brothers across the world.

Suddenly, we have a family …
A story …
An identity …

And a future!

Heirs of the family fortune, says Paul.
Joint heirs with Christ.

What belongs to Jesus belongs to us, too.
What God gives to the Son, God gives to the family.

When we stand by a beloved’s grave, when we weep bitterly in the valley of the shadow of death, the Spirit of God speaks tenderly to us … your beloved is with Christ and all is well … what God gives to the Son, God gives to the family.

But with the glory goes the grunt work …
Take up your cross and follow me, says Jesus.
Carry the burden of justice.
Hold high the flame of faith, hope and love.
Engage the powers.
Battle the giants.
Just like Jesus.

And just like Jesus, the giants are tough and dangerous.
Countless times, Jesus warns the disciples:
They will seek to extinguish the light … they will intimidate you and try to buy you off … they will threaten and try to seduce … they want your silence; they want your blessing, but they don’t want the word of God.

I think of Billy Graham … a giant of man … a man of Christ; a servant of God.
In his later-years of reflection, Dr. Graham acknowledges that he got too cozy with the powers that be – powers that wanted to use him for their own special interests, gain and greed.
Partisan politics and narrow religion.
Now I believe that religion and politics belong together, but only at a distance … too close, and the picture grows fuzzy … and dangerous.
Billy Graham enjoyed the privilege and prestige that comes with power … but it’s pleasure lasted but for a time … it wasn’t long before Billy Graham found himself embroiled and embattled, saying things he didn’t mean.
Only the grace of God enabled Mr. Graham to extricate himself from the tentacles pulling him under the waves … the grace of God enabled him to reclaim his identity … a preacher of the gospel … a friend to all, a pawn of no earthly power … just a servant of Jesus Christ.

When we sign on with Jesus, we sign on with His program, and it isn’t always easy:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Paul speaks of suffering.
If we were Christians in Latin America or parts of Asia or Africa, we’d know the suffering of an underground church … a church persecuted … the threat of death and imprisonment for the name of Jesus.

But even here, from sea to shining sea, we have our own kind of suffering:

We stand with the poor and defend their cause.
We uphold the rights of the excluded and the forgotten.
We welcome everyone who wants to know God.
We care about the environment.
We pray for peace.
We seek justice.
We walk a picket line with LAX hotel workers.
We read the newspaper with the eyes of Jesus.
We hear the cry of a single mom trying to raise three children on a minimum-wage salary.
We weep with the family who’s just lost a daughter in Iraq, or a son in Afghanistan.

The world doesn’t come after us with guns or machetes.

The world comes after us with doodads and gimmicks.
Promises it can never deliver.
Frightening us endlessly until we’re dizzy from all of it.
The world:
Works us to the bone.
Entertains us when we’re bored.
Leave us too weary to worship … too lethargic to love … too frightened to be faithful …

That’s the world for ya’ … it’s always been the same … for Paul in the first century, or you and me today … it’s always a challenge to take up the cross and follow Jesus … but oh the glory, the goodness, the joy and the peace …. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I know that you wouldn’t either … following Jesus is the best thing we’ve got!

I like how Paul ends the passage … we’re folks who wait with patience … we know how it’s going to end, and we work toward that day one deed at a time … every prayer, every kindly thought … every time we catch ourselves and choose the high road … every good intention … every time we worship and gather together for Bible study, or plan a mission trip, eat together; enjoy one another’s company … we make this a better world.
We wait … with patience.

When it will work out?
When will peace come?
When will we cease killing one another?
When will hatred pass away?
When will God’s kingdom come?
And God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

It’s not easy following Jesus.
But then it’s a whole easier than being lost.

It’s not easy following Jesus.
But it’s a whole lot easier than being homeless in the universe.

It’s not easy following Jesus.
But it’s a whole lot easier than being all alone.

So we labor on.
We pray.
We love.

We rejoice in our LORD and Savior.
We give thanks for grace and mercy.
We forgive and are forgiven.

We are the people of God, here and now – in this amazing city called Los Angeles.
We’re Covenant on the Corner.
We follow Jesus.
And we know how it’s going to end, and it’s going to end well.

That’s who we are.
That’s how we live.
That’s what we value … Jesus my LORD. Amen!