"A Fire that Refines and Defines"

A sermon preached on The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, August 19, 2007 at Edgemont Chrsitian Church (Disciples of Christ) , by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Luke 12:49-56.

It is hard to believe that summer is just about over and, as always, the indication that summer is coming to an end is the beginning of a new school year. This week many of our children will be starting back to school and college. The first day of school is always one of the most special days. All the students will be there, most of them with newly purchased and untouched books. The teacher’s grade sheet is untainted by actual grades. The students are on time; their all dressed up and ready to make a good first impression and to start the new school year off on the right foot. They may even say; "This year will be different!" But soon, reality sets in. Divisions come, conflicts occur, dedication is questioned, and imperfect grades are the result! You know, the same is true of life, as well as with our Christian lives!
Jesus spends much of the 12th chapter of Luke’s Gospel reassuring and encouraging his disciples. In fact, in verse 4 of the 12th chapter of Luke, Jesus says; "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more," and then in verse 22, Jesus says; "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life," and again in verse 32, Jesus says; "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." But we see that this same chapter ends on a far less positive note. Rather than continue to encourage and reassure his disciples, Jesus says that his ministry will be divisive. After spending 45 verses trying to quiet the anxiety of his followers, Jesus tells them that he came to bring fire to the earth. He insists that he will not bring peace. Instead, his ministry will bring division among families and friends. The ministry of our Lord, we are told here, is to rain fire from heaven! And indeed these are tough words for us to swallow, to deal with!
But, you know, I suspect that Jesus’ first century audience understood this imagery real well, perhaps, more so than we do. You see, we only have a passing acquaintance with the power of fire these days. Sure, we see flames in the fireplace or perhaps at a bon fire. We worry about our children holding candles on Christmas Eve. We read of an occasional forest fire and we hear the siren of a racing fire truck from time to time. But, the ancient people had a more intimate and real knowledge of fire. Their only nighttime illumination came from the flames of oil lamps. The smoke of the cooking fire on the kitchen floor constantly irritated and reddened their eyes. Everyone’s fingers were callused from working household fires. Their arms and hands bore the scars from burns. Early on they learned that food tasted better cooked, that flames tempered metal tools, and that it was fire that hardened pottery. People also knew firsthand the danger of an uncontrolled fire. Homes often burned to the ground by an overturned lamp or a carelessly maintained fire. Well into the 19th century, devastating fires re-shaped communities. And so, for such people the cause and effect of fire was imbedded into their minds and psyches. And so it was, that Jesus uses the image of fire. Here, Jesus’ words recalls an ancient belief that fire is the manifestation of God. In fact, in the Old Testament fire was and is a symbol of God’s presence and even, from time to time, of God’s judgment.
More so than not, fire is viewed as something negative. Maybe that is because we have all seen the effects of an uncontrolled fire. We have seen the devastation and danger, the destruction and even the death that fire can cause. Even biblically we tend to see fire as being a negative thing. For it was God who said "my wrath goes out like fire," and "my anger burns like a fire." But fire can also be seen as a good thing! It was fire that Moses saw in a bush when he encountered the Holy and receive his calling and commission. It was fire that led the people of Israel by night through the wilderness. It was fire that touched the lips of the prophet Isaiah as he was called to proclaim God to Israel. It was fire that fell upon and consumed the altar of Baal when Elijah prayed. It was fire that descended upon the heads of the apostles on the Day of Pentecost and the Church was born.
I heard a story a while back of a little church in a small town that caught fire one night. Up till that night, no one had really noticed the church or even given it much attention. But as the smoke and flames consumed this little church people from all over the town stood in the street and watched the church as it burned. The pastor drove up and noticed several people who hadn’t been to church for quite some time. Walking up to one elderly man he asked "Where have you been, I haven’t seen you at church in quite a while." The man said, sarcastically, "Well, in the 65 years that I’ve been coming to this church I’ve never seen it on fire till tonight!"
One dictionary defines fire in three ways: (1) "the active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion," (2) "a strong feeling and excitement," and (3) "to become excited or aroused." If we would transfer these everyday uses of fire to our spiritual lives, we would discover that the fire of God’s presence does the exact same thing. God sanctifies, satisfies, justifies and purifies the believer.
Fire can mean a lot of things. It can do a lot of things. It can be both good and bad; but, without a doubt, fire cannot be ignored! Jesus’ coming to usher in God’s covenant and kingdom of love and grace and judgment cannot be ignored. And certainly, our Lord’s coming again is not something that can be ignored either.
As devastating as forest fires are, the fact is, without fire trees do not effectively reproduce. Without fire the undergrowth chocks out new seedlings. Without fire the forest is not renewed. Perhaps that is why John the Baptist reminded us that there was one coming - Jesus, who would baptize with fire and water. The fire of God’s Spirit burns all that is impure and unholy from us and it is the living water which washes us clean that we might be refined and defined as the people of God.
Certainly, in understanding Jesus’ words here we must understand both the pros and cons of fire - both the cause and effect of fire. Fire can cook our food or it can burn it beyond recognition; fire can warm us or it can destroy us. Jesus said; "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" You know, this is a wonderful prayer from our Lord, it is not one that should be ignored, because it scares us or because we have trouble understanding it or because we see it as being something negative - something bad. This is not a prayer that is out of character with the loving, gentle, compassionate and gracious Jesus that we have grown to know through the gospels and the church. On the contrary, this is a prayer that is right in line - right in synch with our loving Savior. The fire that Jesus yearns for to be kindled, is not a negative one. In fact, you and I should pray for such a fire to be kindled in our hearts, in our lives, in our church and certainly in our world. A fire to burn off the dross. A fire to bring out the purity of the gold and silver within us - spiritual wealth beyond price. A fire to inflame people to care and to bless one another with all the gifts of faith in the way fire purified the lips of Isaiah, in the way fire consumed the altar of the false gods, in the way fire led the people through the darkness of the wilderness. We need such a fire. And Jesus came to bring it. Fire to inflame our hearts with the love of God and with love for all that God has made. And fire has indeed come. And is coming again. But this coming of fire is not easy, as Jesus reminds us! Fire never is. Fire cannot be ignored. Such a fire brings change to our lives and to our character. Such a fire refines and defines us or it can destroy us, depending on how the fire - how God is received. It brings division among friends and family.
Jesus said; "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" Friends, this fire is not solely about judgement or wrath; rather, it is about mercy. How I long for the full manifestation of the fire of God’s presence to come. When all things will be made new by the fire of God’s loving and perfect judgment.
As Bruce Larson reminds us; "Fire does two things: it destroys the temporary, while it hardens or refines the durable." Just as we are reminded on Ash Wednesday when we receive the ashes on our foreheads, we are just dust and ashes. We are dust and to dust we shall return. But it is the spiritual that is eternal! Oftentimes, our lives are devoted to the temporary, those things which the fire will erase. But God, who is a consuming fire, will make that which is of worth in you and me - our identity, our very spirit endure forever.
This puts Peter’s words right into perspective when he wrote in his second epistle; "the day of the Lord will come as a thief," as we learned last week, "and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will be dissolved with fire... but in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home."
While the first day of school is always a special time for students, there is one other day that is even more special then the first day of class and that is - graduation day! What song would be more fitting than "Pomp and Circumstance"? The football stadium or the coliseum is full; the whole family is there to see the one on whom its hope rests. The divisions of the school year are healed, the pressure of making good grades are no more; the students, dare we say, are grown up. A new day starts. And so it is true of this life! There is a peace promised beyond the challenge of following a Crucified Savior; a united family beyond any division that faith may have caused or bring. There is no conflict, no division in the kingdom of God. That was Jesus’ ultimate prayer! It is our ultimate goal! Therefore, let us work for it by allowing the fire of God’s presence to fill us, to refine us, and to define us, until that day when the full manifestation of God’s presence comes and all things are refined and defined! So, may our prayer be: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

"People Get Ready - Jesus is Coming!"

A sermon preached on The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 12, 2007 at Edgemont Chrsitian Church (Disciples of Christ) , by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Luke 12:32-40.

Some of you may remember Curtis Mayfield who was the lead singer for The Impressions. At the height of the Civil Rights struggle he wrote his most memorable lyrics. Listen to the Chorus:

"People get ready
There's a train, a comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket,
You just thank the Lord."

Such lyrics offered a message of hope in a very difficult time. Through his lyrics, Mayfield was calling people to a higher purpose. The chaos of the 60's had left our nation in much confusion, from the Six-Day War to Vietnam, from the assassination of John F. Kennedy to Martin Luther King, Jr. There were many reasons to be afraid during those ten years. But Mayfield, like many others, understood that something great was on the horizon. He could hear it like the distant hummin’ of a diesel engine. You don't need no baggage; all you need is faith; don't need no ticket; you just get on board. "People get ready there’s a train a commin.’" And, you know, that was the message that Jesus gave to his disciples in our Gospel Lesson this morning. Get ready! Do not be afraid; sell your possessions - you don’t need no baggage, just get on board! You are to be dressed for service and ready to open the door when the master returns.
Can you say that you’re honestly ready! I was visiting with an elderly friend this past week. And as I walked inside her home I got the impression that she was getting ready to go somewhere - that she was waiting for someone to pick her up. She was all dressed up, her purse laying beside the door, and she was sitting by the window. I asked her if she was waiting on someone, to which she replied; "No." I said; "Well, you look like you’re ready to go!" And she said; "I’m always ready, because you never know when someone will stop by."
One of my favorite stories is told of a pastor was out doing some visitations one Saturday and happened to stop by a house of one of his parishioners who was obviously home. But after knocking several times, nobody came to the door. Finally, in disgust, the pastor took out his business card and wrote on the back; "Read Revelation 3:20!!!" and stuck it in the door. Revelation 3:20 reads; "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with me." The next day the card was placed in the collection plate. Below the pastor’s message was the notation: "Read Genesis 3:10." Immediately the pastor headed to his study and open his Bible to Genesis 3:10 and to his surprise read; "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself." Now, if I happen to knock on your door one day and you are naked, please don’t answer the door! I promise, I won’t get mad.
"People get ready there’s a train a cummin’" We don’t have any trouble with that command, because we can always get ready! Sure, some of us get ready faster than others, but we can get ready. But Jesus reminds us in our Gospel Lesson this morning of the importance of being ready! Always ready - always prepared, spiritually!
But we have a little trouble accepting Curtis’ words; "You don’t need no baggage you just get on board" and especially Jesus’ words; "sell your possessions." You know, I couldn’t possibly imagine taking a trip without my baggage! In fact, when I go on a trip I like to pack just about everything imaginable!
It really is amazing how much stuff we acquire over the course of our lives. In fact, comedian George Carlin once wrote:

"All your house is - is a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it, and when you leave your house, you've got to lock it up. You wouldn't want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. That's what your house is - a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. And sometimes you've got to move and get a bigger house. Why? Because you have no more room for your stuff!"

How true that is! Now friends, Jesus is not saying that we shouldn’t have stuff, or that we should sell all of our possessions and live in poverty. No, Jesus was talking about prioritizing our lives. He was talking about putting the kingdom first - "seek ye first the kingdom of God..." Someone once wrote: "To be rich toward self without the greater priority of richness toward God is to truly be poor!"
Jesus reminds us that our real riches are in heaven. A minister once said; "I’ve never seen, in all of my years of officiating a funeral, a u-haul following a hearse to the cemetery."
Jesus oftentimes reminded his disciples of the importance of making careful use of their time and talents, resources and gifts. He reminded them of the importance of being good stewards and certainly that is what Jesus is teaching us here.
I am sure there are some who might have trouble accepting these words from our Lord, especially when they consider that Jesus wore what could be considered in his time a Brookes Brothers suit. Now, while Jesus only had one garment, it was a seamless one at that - the finest and most expensive made then. Also, Jesus didn’t stop Mary or agree with those disciples who were complaining when she poured that costly perfume on his feet - an perfume, we are told was worth three hundred days’ wages for a laborer. You remember Jesus’ words to them; "The poor you will always have with you, but me you do not always have" (Matthew 26:11). You see, as we are reminded throughout the gospels there are times for extravagant gestures, as well as a time for practical considerations. There’s a time to paint the walls, fix the roof, feed the poor; but there’s also a time to celebrate. The message here is to go through life as a steward of all that God chooses to give us.
Henri De Lubac wrote; "Eternal life is not a life solely for the future, but it is life for here and now! By love we start eternity right here and now [and God’s kingdom becomes known, for this is the prelude to that which is to come]." Jesus reminds us that it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. And friends, we have been given the kingdom so that we can share that kingdom with others.
Bruce Larson tells of when he met with a group of men and one commented, "I hope I don’t die suddenly. I want to have some time to get my affairs in order." To which a second man promptly spoke up and said; "Well, why don’t you do it anyway? If it’s worth doing, do it now."
It is in the presence of death that we realize how precious and sacred life is. It is in the presence of death that we realize that life is a gift. Each day is a gift from God and we are to use that gift wisely and effectively. C. William Nichols reminds us that "we are not to neglect to do those things that are right and good for us to do today, for time is speeding by. Is there a grudge that stands between you and a former friend, a wall of unforgiveness that has costs you a once-cherished friendship? Dissolve that grudge in loving forgiveness today. Is there some lonely shut-in, whose days are empty, and who prays that someone will come to visit them? Make that visit today. Is there a debt of gratitude that you cannot pay, but which you have not even clearly acknowledged? Write that letter of gratitude today. Is there someone who is discouraged, who needs a word of encouragement and affirmation? Say that word today. Is there someone you know who is seeking a faith to cling to, but who has not heard the good news of Christ, or seen it in action in someone’s life? Be that channel of communication today." What great advice!
The beloved hymn written by a 20th-century American preacher, Harry Emerson Fosdick offers these words:

"God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power.
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss thy kingdom's goal."

Jesus reminds us that our hearts will be where our treasure is. Those who are greedy and anxious about stuff make the decision to invest their hearts on earth. Those who are free and who rest and trust in God’s abundant provision, invest their hearts in heaven.
George Carlin was right. Perhaps, if we had less stuff, we could spend more of our time just walking around, which is a different way of saying that we would be freer to follow Christ and serve others.

"People get ready
There's a train, a comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket,
You just thank the Lord."

"Agape!"

A sermon preached on The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 5, 2007 at Edgemont Chrsitian Church (Disciples of Christ) , by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Hosea 11:1-11.

Amber’s father likes to tease us by pointing out the fact that there are actually three Greek words found in the Bible for love - two of which are the middle names of Miriam and Eljiah, and he thinks that, that means that Amber and I need to have another child so that we can utilize that third Greek word for love that is found in the Bible. Wishful thinking on his part! Amber and I had long decided that two children is our limit!
But, as I have shared with you before, there are several words in the Greek language to describe the different levels or degrees of love. There is the word phileo, which describes the kind of love that exists between friends - more commonly known as "brotherly love." And then there is the word eros, which describes a romantic or an affectionate love. And finally, there is the godlike love of agape - the highest form or degree of love - a sacrificial love. This love is difficult to fully understand from the human perspective, because it involves sacrifice - it involves work - it is costly! This love is difficult because it demands so much from us - it is a love that gives and gives, but doesn’t always get back. As I said, this love is difficult to possess or imagine from the human standpoint, but it is natural for God. God doesn’t just embody this love - but as the Apostle John reminds us in his first epistle, God is agape - God is love. And we are especially reminded of this in our Scripture Lesson this morning from the book of the prophet Hosea. In fact, we read about this great love of God throughout the Book of Hosea, as the prophet recounts how God like a parent adopted, and nurtured and loved Israel - God’s chosen child.
In fact, I love the beautiful word pictures that the prophet gives us in these verses. Through these verses we can picture in our mind’s eye God being a loving and gentle parent, tenderly caring for his children. Such is the picture Jesus gives us of God in the gospels.
No chapter in all of the Old Testament more graphically depicts God’s love for his people than this one. In fact, one commentator notes the triune character of God’s love that is presented by the prophet Hosea here in these verses. He writes that in verses 3 and 4, God is pictured as a gracious parent who tenderly teaches his little child to walk and is there to pick that child up when he or she falls. In verse 8, God is pictured as a lamenting husband, agonizing over the waywardness of the faithless wife. And then finally, in verses 9 through 11, God is pictured as a loving Savior who does not give up on his children.
Hosea tells us that God went down to Egypt and through Moses adopted and delivered God’s beloved child - Israel from bondage and captivity. God led them into the land of Canaan and made them a great nation. "When Israel was a child, I loved him," God said. "I taught them to walk... I took them up in my arms... I bent down to feed them." Through these words we picture God gathering up his beloved children in his loving arms when they fell and scraped their knees. And yet, we see that the more God worked with Israel and the more God loved them, the more they turned away. They refused to follow the instructions of their parent. They strayed from the Holy One who had loved them. And so do we, time and time again! But listen again to God’s unconditional love for them and for us; "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? …My heart is torn within me; my compassion grows warm and tender." In spite of Israel’s wandering and rebellion, Hosea says, God still loved them as a parent loves his or her child. That, my friends, is a agapé!
The psalmist speaks of this love. He calls it "a steadfast love," which is to say, a constant, dependable, redeeming and delivering love. It is a love that never fails, that is always faithful no matter how unfaithful we are. And certainly we see and experience this through Israel. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful them and loved them unconditionally. Stephen Brown, in his book If God Is in Charge, tells the story of a young couple, who fell in love and got married. Some six years and three children later, the wife decided, she couldn’t stand it longer and walked out the door. The pressure of trying to raise three children and be a faithful and supportive wife was too much. She didn’t want to change another diaper, give another bath, cook another meal or clean the house any longer. After she left home, occasionally, she would call home to check on her children, and when she did, her husband would always tell her how much he loved her and wished she would come home. Each time she refused. During her time away, she never told her husband where she was staying. But after a number of days, the husband hired a private detective to find his wife. The report was that she was living in a second-class hotel in Des Moines, Iowa. The husband packed his bags, placed the children under the care of a neighbor, and took a bus to Des Moines. He found the hotel and made his way to her room. When he knocked on the door, his hands trembled because he didn’t know the kind of reception he would receive. His wife opened the door, stood for a moment looking at him in shocked silence, then fell into his arms. Later at home, when the children were in bed, he asked her: "Why wouldn’t you tell where you were when you called? You knew I loved you. Why didn’t you come home?" She replied, "Before, your love was just words. But now I know how much you love me because you came looking for me." In Christ Jesus we see the degree, and depth and level of God’s love for us. In Christ Jesus, God came looking for us!
In verse 5 the Lord speaks through the prophet and says; "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?" The Hebrew word for "repent" shuwb found here in verse 5 is the same Hebrew word translated "return" that is found earlier in this verse. Israel could not remain stationary – they had to return either to the Lord or to bondage. Israel’s refusal to return to the Lord would result in a return to slavery. And the same is true for us. In Christ we are set free!
And then, in verse 6 the prophet uses the word "devour" kâlâh, which is the same Hebrew word translated "fed" that is found in verse 4. The people of Israel had rejected the gentle God, who fed them and provided for their needs; and as a result, they would be devoured by the swords of the invading Assyrians!
God chose Israel for a specific reason. God wanted to use this nation and the people as a witness – they were to bare witness to God’s love and blessings. They were to usher in the Messiah and the age of grace. But they had rejected God’s love and blessing. They had rejected the Savior and Messiah whom God sent. And so, God found a New Israel - the Church! And, friends, God has chosen us in the same way. We must bare witness to God’s love and blessings and, share with the world the Messiah whose coming has made known a God of love and grace.
In John Redhead’s book, Getting to Know God, he tells the story of a little boy named Bradley who, one morning came downstairs for breakfast and put on his mother’s plate a piece of neatly folded paper. When this mother opened it, this is what she read: "Mother owes Bradley: for running errands, 25 cents; for being good, 10 cents; for taking music lessons, 15 cents; extras, 5 cents; total, 55 cents." When lunchtime rolled around, Bradley’s mother placed an itemized bill at his plate along with the 55 cents. Bradley’s eyes brightened when he saw the money, and he was proud of his business ability. But with the money he found a bill which read: "Bradley owes Mother: for being good, 0; for nursing him through his long illness with scarlet fever, 0; for all his meals, room and board, baths, and toys, 0." Bradley got the message and went and got the 55 cents, put it in his mother’s hand and said; "Take all the money back, Mama, and let me love you for nothing." That’s love – that’s agapé! Do you possess such love?
Agapé love is different from the world’s conception of love. It is a love that is not concerned about costs or sacrifice; rather, it is a love that proves true, even when it is difficult even when it is challenged! A love that is not afraid to give of its time, energy or resources.
Pastor and Teacher, Randy Hammer offers his testimony in his sermon; How Far Does Love Go? He writes; "For years I struggled to earn God’s love, but I could never work hard enough and I could never be at peace. Then when I finally understood the unconditional nature of God’s love it was like a revelation that gave me a new lease on life." Hammer goes on to write; "It was then that I began to fully live!"
I often think, what would our world be like, what would our lives be like, what would our families be like, what would our churches be like if such love existed? Let us pray that such a love may be evident in our lives, in our families and especially in this church!