"Dazed and Confused"

A sermon preached on The Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 29, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on John 10:22-30.

The popular British rock band of the 70's, Led Zeppelin sang a song titled; "Dazed and Confused." In fact, in the lyrics of that song you find these words; "Been dazed and confused for so long it’s not true..." I think we have all been a little dazed and confused from time to time. One of my favorite shows on television is House, which is about a rather arrogant, narcissistic doctor who takes unusual cases – cases that no one else can solve and he and his team work to try to solve the problem. Well, this past week’s case was about a woman who had an infection that had affected her brain to the point that she couldn’t make decisions, from something as simple as; "Do you want a pen or a pencil?" Could you imagine? Not being able to make decisions – choices. Life is full of choices – and certainly, there are many things, which push and pull us in various directions and we’re left dazed and confused or, as the expression goes, "like a chicken with its head cut off."
Even our religious lives have a tendency to become a little dazed and confused. I was searching for the phone number of a church this past week and I opened the phone book to the Yellow Pages and to my amazement under the listing of Churches, there are literally hundreds of churches in the New River Valley - United Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Church, Church of Christ, and various other independent churches. And to make things a bit more confusing each one of these denominations offer a different version of religious belief, a different type of worship, and even a different perspective on theology and doctrine. One church may emphasize tradition, while another may emphasize the Bible, one may emphasize the Holy Spirit experience, while another may stress the use of reasoning when it comes to theology. Thankfully, I was brought up in a church denomination that I fell in love with and meets my spiritual needs. But, there are many who are still "shopping," if you will, for the church that meets there needs.
In our Gospel Lesson this morning, Jesus responds to people who are dazed and confused. In fact, we are told in verse 22 of our Gospel Lesson that it was the "Feast of Dedication," which is better known as Hanukkah. I think it is interesting to note that the Greek name of this feast is enkainia, which literally means "renewal" and this word was used to translate "Hanukkah," which means "dedication." In fact, if one does a word search in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, this word enkainia, along with its related verb was the standard term used on several occasions. It was always used in reference to the consecration of the altar in the tabernacle, and later in Solomon’s temple, and then in the second temple.
The Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah is the feast to celebrate or commemorate when Judas Maccabeus in 165 and 64 B.C., drove out the Seleucids, and rebuilt the altar, and rededicated the temple in Jerusalem. This feast was celebrated on the 25th of Kislev, which on our modern-day calendar would be November or December. So that was the setting.
John tells us that Jesus was in the temple, now keep in mind, it was winter, and he walking in Solomon’s Colonnade, which was a covered walkway formed by rows of columns supporting the roof. It would have been located in the temple complex, with the open side facing toward the temple proper. Immediately, we are told, that the Jews approached Jesus and began questioning him, saying; "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." This word "plainly" here, is the Greek word parresia, which literally means "with boldness." They were saying; "If you are the Christ - if you are the Messiah boldly proclaim it, come out and say it - profess it with boldness." Now friends, there questions were not asked out of sincerity; but rather, so that they might use his testimony against him. They were asking Jesus to make a public declaration if he was the Messiah, so that they might use that declaration against him - on the lines of blasphemy.
But I love how Jesus always stands strong in the face of opposition - he doesn’t fall prey to their traps; rather, he rises above them. Listen again to his response: "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never," the Greek really emphasizes this, "they shall never, ever perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand..."
Now, most Christians would agree with the analogy of Christ being our Shepherd – Christ as our Shepherd is a metaphor of comfort and peace, security and protection. But some have a little difficulty accepting that we are sheep. In fact, I came across a story this past week, which expresses this concern. One Sunday morning, following worship, an elderly man approached the pastor and said, "Pastor, this church has been insulting me for years, and I didn’t know it until this week." The stunned pastor replied, "What are you talking about?" "Well," said the man, "every Sunday morning the Call to Worship in this church ends with the words; ‘We are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.’ And I have heard you say and ministers over the years call the congregation, ‘God’s flock.’ Then this past week I visited the stockyards. There I discovered that sheep are just about the dumbest animals God ever created. In fact, they are so stupid that they even follow one another blindly into the slaughterhouse. Even pigs are smarter than sheep, and I would certainly be angry and insulted if my church called me a pig every Sunday morning. So I’m not at all sure I want to come to church and be called a sheep, even if it means being God’s sheep." You know, the man had a point!
But, that’s what we are - God’s sheep! And certainly, one cannot find a better analogy to use to describe the relationship of Jesus and his followers. You see, one could make the argument that sheep are dumb when they have no follower, no one to lead or guide them, no one to keep them safe or direct their path. Sheep without a Shepherd are "dazed and confused." And people without a Savior are "dazed and confused." We are often lost, as a sheep without a shepherd, amid a world of confusion, but Christ our Good Shepherd, calls each of us by name, and gives us guidance and direction. The one who proclaimed; "I am the way, the truth and the life," is our Shepherd and he shows us the way, reveals to us truth and offers us life.
But as Christ’s sheep we are also reminded of the very real responsibility that we have. You see; while we find nourishment and guidance, direction and protection from our Good Shepherd - Christ, we must in turn feed other sheep, point other sheep to the fold of Christ’s kingdom and the protection and care of his love and grace, mercy and compassion. And, you know, this becomes ever so clear in Jesus’ dialogue with Peter following his resurrection from the Gospel Lectionary Reading from last Sunday. There, Jesus asked Peter, three times; "Do you love me?" And each time Peter responded; "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." The one who had denied his Lord three times, reaffirmed his love three times. But Jesus gives him a challenge following each question; "Feed, my lambs," "tend to my flock," "feed my sheep." And Jesus gives us this same challenge! As we are fed by our Good Shepherd through prayer, Bible study, worship, communion, and fellowship; we must not hoard all of the feed for ourselves; rather, we must go and share that feed with others and bring them into the flock of God’s love and grace, mercy and compassion. Jesus asks; "Edgemont, do you love me? Feed my lambs! Tend to my flock! Feed my sheep." Are we doing that? Are you doing that? That is what Jesus is asking of us!
There is a fitting prayer offered in the Book of Common Prayer, which I want to close with, it reads; "O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead;" that we, who are his sheep, may feed other sheep brining them to the Good Shepherd. Amen." And so, may that prayer be true of our lives; Amen.

"Why Ask Why?"

A sermon preached on The Third Sunday of Easter, April 22, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Luke 13:1-5 and is in response to the V.T. tragedy.

This has been a difficult week for all of us. A week filled with sadness and grief, shock and anger, fear and questions. In some respects we feel helpless and hopeless. Sure, we read about things like this occurring in other places of the world, but we never expect anything like this to happen in our own backyard - thirty-three people dead - thirty-three lives taken within a few short hours, including the gunman. Lives full of possibilities, many of whom were still very young and had the whole world ahead of them. Now, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, friends and colleagues are gone and, as we have seen through countless news coverage, their lives will be gravely missed.
But in the midst of it all, we can’t help but ask "Why?" Why did this happen? Why would God allow something like this to take place? And friends, these are natural questions - questions that have been asked for centuries. In fact, these same questions were asked in our Gospel Lesson this morning.
Some of you may recall that in April of 1990 the Budweiser company introduced a new beer called "Bud Dry." Along with this new beer came the soon to be popular slogan of "Why ask why? Drink Bud Dry." Although, it was initially a popular beer, over time its sales began to decline and soon it no longer received commercial attention. But perhaps the question of "why ask why? still remains popular. This is often the response given to those real tough questions, such as; "If there is a God then why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?" This question has often been called the "Achilles heel" of Christianity. It is that vulnerable point that brings it under scrutiny and criticism.
In R. C. Sproul’s book; Reasons to Believe he quotes John Stuart Mill who said; "If God desires there to be evil in the world, then he is not good. If he does not desire there to be evil, yet evil exists, then he is not omnipotent. Thus, if evil exists God is either not loving or not all-powerful. Evil casts a shadow over God’s love and power."
The theological word to deal with such questions as posed by Mill and others is the word theodicy. Theodicy is the attempt to explain how God can be just and still allow evil and suffering in the world. This word comes form the Greek root words of Theos meaning "God" and dikos meaning "just."
We are told through Scripture that our Loving God has created us and given us freewill, the freedom of choice. And certainly sin comes from that freedom of choice. Albert Einstein described evil in this way; "Darkness is the absence of light. Cold is the absence of heat. Hate is the absence of love. Evil is the absence of good." Or better yet, one could say, that spiritual darkness, cold, hate, evil are all the absence of God!
In our Gospel Lesson this morning we find a group of people coming to Jesus for some answers, they want answers as to why innocent blood was shed. In fact, notice that their questions to Jesus cover everything pertaining to human tragedy: those that are humanly initiated and those caused by nature. But notice also that Jesus gives them a different response then the one they were looking for. R. C. Sproul said; Jesus didn’t say, "I know that the Old Testament says that ‘He who keeps Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers,’ but you guys have got to understand that this is just Hebrew poetry, even God gets tired from time to time. He must have fallen a sleep when this tragedy happened." Nor did Jesus say; "I know that I said that the hairs of your head are numbered and that my Father knows every sparrow that touches the earth. But I was just trying to make a point. Don’t push it too far."
Rather, look at what Jesus said; "I tell you the truth, unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). This has been classified by many theologians as one of those tough sayings of Jesus’.
Notice, first of all, how Jesus, in our Gospel Lesson, lumps violence and suffering together. Whether caused by human or natural fault, it makes not difference to him: evil is evil, hurt is hurt, pain is pain. There is no degree when it comes to experiencing disaster. Suffering is suffering, in spite of its source.
Secondly, Jesus doesn’t answer the questions posed to him. Or at least, he doesn't give the answer we're looking for. Instead, he simply says, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered thus? I tell you, no."
I don’t know why this is, but in most cases, it is our human nature after asking the "Why?" question, to then follow it by the "What did I do to deserve this?" question. You see the people who poised these questions to Jesus grew up with the belief that sin and suffering were connected. In other words, if suffering became your lot then it was because of something bad you did or were doing.
Now I am happy to say that Jesus puts to rest that notion. He doesn’t answer the questions poised to him about the Galileans and those people of Jerusalem, because there isn’t one. When someone like Pilate swings a sword, or points a gun, or gets behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated, the closest person is going to get killed. When the earth heaves and a structure falls, anyone underneath, good or bad, perishes. God doesn’t cause it, nor does he send it because he wants to pick on us. Rather, such things come as a result of living in a broken, sinful and fallen world. Life is simply not fair, and more importantly no one ever said it was going to be.
Harold Kushner, a well-known Jewish rabbi and writer, wrote the book; When Bad Things Happen to Good People, which was a best selling among those wrestling with this whole idea of theodicy - the justice of God. He writes; "Life is a spin on the wheel of luck, good and bad, and neither is dependent upon a person’s own goodness or badness. In this life things change, evil may prosper while good may suffer, but this too will change. That’s just the way life is."
But I want you to notice how Jesus answers these questions. Jesus is presented with two excellent questions about life’s unfairness’. And he responds, "Do you think that they were worse sinners than you? I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Jesus knows how some questions can deter us from dealing with the primary question which is not about why bad things happen to good people, but rather about how we stand before God.
Sadly, many doubt the existence of a loving God when hard times come. In times of difficulty many stop trusting God whose presence makes suffering, confusion, and tragedy bearable. We, like those who asked before us want answers about life’s unfairness’. But Jesus forces us to examine our relationship with God. And that, my friends, is the point, we don’t want God, we want answers. We want a god who can promise a life that is full of happiness and prosperity, a life with no sickness, no pain, no hurt, no financial troubles - only happiness. But that is impossible, life is full of problems and those problems are sometimes going to be our problems; that is why we need God, and more importantly why we need a Savor.

What Jesus is asking each one of us in our Gospel Lesson this morning is, can you trust God, in joy and in pain, to be your God? Can you let go of your demand to have God on your terms? Can you love God without linking that love to the cards life deals you?
Someone once wrote: "God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain; but God did promise strength for each day, comfort for every tear, and light for our way." And so, in times such as these, we must turn to our Loving and Just God and find the comfort and peace that only God can give us. In times, such as these, Jesus reminds us that we need a Savior. Thomas More reminds us; "Earth has no sorrow that [God] cannot heal." And so, let us turn to God - the Great Physician that we might find healing in this time of great pain.