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I'm
pleased to be preaching here at Creekside on this occasion for several
reasons: first, I think it's great that Pastor David was able to go
on the New Orleans workcamp to be part of that service effort, and
second, that means that I had several weeks to prepare this sermon,
and that I can preach without us worrying about David's health. A
deeper reason, though, is that this is material I have been engaged
with since I began the process of planning the InFormation series
as part of a January intensive class project. The need for Christian
formation and for spiritual renewal is one that I feel personally,
and something which I feel can benefit our congregation, as well.
I hope you have made time to read and practice the suggested prayer
exercises in the InFormation packet. This Sunday is the beginning
of Week 4, "Faithfulness," on the blue sheet. The Kids InFormation
material is called, "Keeping Promises." Questions to consider
are, "How are we faithful to God?" and "How is God
faithful to us?"
I'd like to
begin by inviting you to some congregational participation. I'm
going to ask you a few questions and invite a show of hands. How
many of you are Christians? Good-thank you. It's important for a
preacher to know who she's preaching to. Next question: How many
of you have an easy life? Raise your hands. Oh. How about the youth?
No? Not even my children? Well. Now that is something, because I
have spent a lot of my time as a parent-and I suspect that others
of you who are parents have too-trying to smooth the way for my
children: trying to provide for them and keep them safe, and generally
trying to help them grow up and make the transition to adulthood
as gracefully as possible. Despite my best efforts, it obviously
isn't easy.
I find it interesting
that so many of you identified yourselves as Christians, yet so
few of you claim to have an easy life. Shouldn't there be more of
correlation there? If we have claimed our identity as children of
God, and recognize that God loves us as mothers and fathers love
their children, doesn't God want to protect us from harm, and help
our lives go smoothly? Has God let us down?
There's a Hebrew
word, hesed, that appears 171 times in the Old Testament
and 120 times in the Psalms alone. In English, hesed is translated
"steadfast love." Steadfast is not a word that gets used
much anymore: steadfast love is love that is merciful, tender, passionate,
long-suffering, and unconditional. When the Bible talks about steadfast
love, it means God's love for God's people. Steadfast love is completely
trustworthy and never dies: it is the gold standard for all relationships.
Look back at the call to worship, which is the text of Psalm 100.
What did we proclaim together? (His steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations) Mary Lou just read from
Psalm 40 , but we could have chosen many, many others that proclaim
God's steadfast love and faithfulness. In Psalm 136-you can turn
to it if you have a Bible with you-each of the 26 verses includes
the refrain: "for his steadfast love endures forever."
These were words which the Hebrew people proclaimed over and over
again in public worship.
It's a good
thing, too, because the Old Testament records how the Hebrew people
tested God's steadfast love on numerous occasions. As soon as they
were brought out of slavery in Egypt and into the wilderness, they
began to complain, and eventually made a golden calf to worship
while Moses was off talking to Yahweh. When they were finally granted
entrance into the promised land, they were kept straying after Canaanite
culture and Canaanite gods. The Hebrew judges and prophets were
constantly calling the people to remember, repent, and return to
God. Faithfulness is a two-way street: God's steadfast love was
there forever for the people, but God expected something from them-their
steadfast love in return.
We should not
be too smug about the shortcomings of the children of Israel, or
assume that they had it easy because of God's steadfast love on
their side. Life has never been an easy proposition-at least not
for most of us--and loving God in the midst of struggle was as difficult
for the children of Israel as it is for us. Paradoxically, it is
in the midst of struggle that we most often experience God's faithfulness,
and it is through our struggles that we learn how to be faithful
to God.
I borrowed these
two pitchers from a potter in Goshen. They are in different stages
of formation. This one was on the worship table last week; it's
at a stage that potters call "greenware," it has been
shaped on the wheel, partially dried, trimmed and left to air dry
the rest of the way. The potter warned me that it is very brittle
and will chip easily. In fact, he said that he wouldn't be surprised
if it didn't make it back to his studio without being damaged; greenware
pieces aren't very strong or durable. This is a similar piece that
is further in formation; it's called bisque ware. It has been shaped,
trimmed, dried and then fired at a low temperature, or bisque firing.
It will need to be glazed and fired again at high temperature before
it's completed, but it's much stronger than the greenware pitcher,
even though they look similar-at least to a non-potter. The artist
knows that formation is a process with many stages, and that the
clay isn't finished until it's been fired-usually more than once.
While there
are many parallels with this process of shaping clay and the process
of Christian formation, let me point out where I think the analogy
breaks down: the artist who made this pitcher puts it into the fire
of the kiln; God is not the one who puts us into the fire. I do
not believe that God is the cause of suffering in our lives. Some
suffering may be because of our circumstances, some may be because
we make choices that are stupid, ill-advised, or just plain wrong,
and sometimes bad things happen for which there is no reason that
we can understand. I also want to say that suffering is not noble,
beautiful, or desirable. It is messy, heartwrenching, and turns
our world upside-down. Nobody in their right mind wants to suffer.
Nobody gets married so they can experience divorce, no healthy person
wants to be sick, and no one starts a new job just so they can get
fired. God's plan is not for us to suffer, any more than I want
my own children to suffer.
I realize that
a theology of suffering is difficult territory, best left to academics
who don't have to interact with people in the real world, or at
very least, to guest preachers from out-of-town who don't have to
shake hands with folks they know when the service is over. But I
think it's impossible to consider God's faithfulness and our faithfulness
without acknowledging our suffering and God's suffering. Your show
earlier indicates that you have found ways to be faithful even when
life is not easy. Like it or not, struggle and suffering are an
undeniable part of life: marriages end in divorce, healthy people
get sick, we lose a job, we're fired. It's worth noting that this
happens to Christians and non-Christians alike: being a Christian
isn't an exemption from suffering, but neither does God single out
people of faith and give them a little extra dose of suffering because
they can "handle it." If we could handle everything that
comes our way on our own, life would be easy.
So what do Christians
have to equip us for suffering, to help us remain faithful? We have
the steadfast love of the God of the Hebrews, but we also have Emmanuel,
God-with-Us, the human embodiment of that steadfast love, Jesus
Christ. We have God who is faithful to us in the midst of suffering,
but also someone who understands and shares our suffering. We have
the example of Jesus who loved his disciples, his friends, and even
his enemies. He did not turn away from those who were sick or outcast
or grieving-he touched them, he ate with them, and he wept with
them. We know that like us, Jesus prayed to avoid trial and suffering,
prayed to God to let that cup pass from him, and had to go through
the fire despite that prayer. And because we know the end of the
story, we know that through Jesus' steadfast love and non-retaliatory
suffering, God accomplished victory over death, and our redemption.
This is how Paul can proclaim in Philippians 3, "I want to
know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of
his sufferings by becoming like him in death, if somehow I may attain
resurrection from the dead." If we are to truly know Christ,
our Christian walk is going to include things which we would avoid,
if we could. Can we question God? Certainly. Be angry at God? Absolutely.
Have more than we can handle on our own? Yes. Because we are not
faithful by relying on our own strength; we are faithful when we
acknowledge that whatever our situation-good or bad--our source
of our strength is God. In Philippians 4 Paul goes on to say,"I
know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.
In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being
well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Whatever
fire we find ourselves in, we are met and upheld there by the steadfast
love of God, who walks with us through suffering into resurrection
and new life.
I'd like to
close by inviting your participation once again. One of the ways
in which the Hebrew people remembered God's faithfulness was to
proclaim it in public worship. I know the biblical canon has been
closed for 1500 hundred years, but I have written a psalm to remind
this congregation of God's faithfulness to us. I will read a line,
and would invite you to respond with: "Your steadfast love
endures forever." I will motion you when it's time to speak.
Following this we'll sing "Great is thy faithfulness,"
so you may want to have that ready. If you please stand as you are
able, and we'll practice once together (with great enthusiasm):
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
Praise God!
Praise God in the Creekside sanctuary! Lord, open our lips, and
our mouths will proclaim your praise.
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
You have gathered us together as your congregation, to be your people
in the world and to witness to your justice and mercy.
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
You have led us to this place, so we might reach out in friendship
and service to this neighborhood and community.
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
You have given us leaders who want to know Christ, and who embody
your faithfulness. You have blessed us with young people who are
learning to walk in your Way.
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
You have not abandoned us when we are sick or in trouble. Your Spirit
is with us to give us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
Praise God! Let all the people praise the Lord.
"Your steadfast love endures forever."
Amen.
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