"Are There Any Perfect Churches?"
A sermon preached on The Third Sunday after The Epiphany, Sunday, January 27, 2008, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on I Corinthians 1:10-18 and Matthew 4:12-23.
I came across a church sign once that read; "Have you ever found a church that doesn’t have any problems? If so, don’t join it - you’ll ruin it!" Now, I don’t know if that was such a good advertisement for that church or any church, for that matter. However, it does bring up a rather interesting point: THERE ARE NO PERFECT CHURCHES!!!
Certainly, we are reminded of this in our Scripture Lesson this morning. The church in Corinth was far from being perfect. The Apostle Paul had received a long list of complaints about this enthusiastic, yet somewhat misguided group of Christians. And so, due to various circumstances, Paul was forced to do a little long-distance pastoring, if you will. But where would he begin? Where would he start? What could he say that help mend this group of Christians? I believe Paul’s focal point here in the first chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians is a great place to start and it is certainly very relevant to the church and to Christians today.
Harold Roberts writes in his sermon "Communion in a Divided World" the experience of Colonel Charles Duke, a member of the Apollo 16 crew who drove the lunar buggy on the moon. Roberts describes Colonel Duke’s feelings as he emerged from the space module and took his first tentative steps through the dust of the lunar surface. Colonel Duke said he looked up and drank in the wonder of his situation as he was flooded by new feelings. In fact, he said; "It was a bit disorienting to look down at the earth." When he lifted his open hand toward the earth, he realized that he could completely block the view, as one would shield their eyes from the sun. Roberts wrote; "It was a powerful experience that altered Colonel Duke’s perception of the world. He could see, for the first time, that all God’s children could live together in community."
We live in a world that is certainly, polarized. We are polarized socially, politically and religiously. It seems that we are good at lifting our hand and blocking out those with whom we disagree with.
I’ll never forget one Peanuts cartoon strip, which has Charlie Brown saying; "I’ve given up on the idea of being a physician and helping others." To which Linus said; "Why? I thought you loved humanity." Charlie Brown replies; "I do love humanity, it’s people that I can’t stand." That reminds me of one of my favorite jingles; "To live above with the saints of God, that will be glory; but to live below with the saints I know, well, that’s another story."
Most of us can understand Charlie Brown’s dilemma. Because most of our problems are caused by people! How many times do you suppose a teacher has said; "I would enjoy teaching if I didn’t have to deal with the students or their parents"? Or a pastor say; "I would really enjoy being a pastor if I just didn’t have to put up with those members who stir up problems and gossip"? Or a person in the retail world say; "I would love my job if I didn’t have to deal with disgruntle customers or my boss"? Certainly, one can almost hear the Apostle Paul say in our First Reading this morning; "You know, that congregation over there in Corinth would really be a great one if it just were not for the members."
Paul had heard disturbing reports of bickering and backstabbing which threatened the stability of the Corinthians community of faith. The congregation was dividing itself along certain lines within the community. Members were putting up their hands and blocking out those with whom they differed. But, what really took the cake, for Paul, was how they were dividing Christ himself.
The Greek word that Paul uses here in his letter to the Corinthians for division is the word schisma, which depicts ripping or tearing a garment in two. And I think this has a powerful message. You may recall that the garment Christ wore was a seamless one, and this is a powerful reminder of the unity we share in Christ. But Paul uses this word schisma to suggest that the Corinthians, of course, many in the church today, are trying to rip or tear or divide that garment – the unity of Christ.
Sadly, we see forms of this schisma – this division today in the Church. We are a divided people and we are part of a global family that is fractured. Even in our own Christian communities we are not always of the same mind and spirit of Christ. We have divided the Christ along the lines of law and grace; along the lines of biblical interpretation and understand; along the lines of exclusion and acceptance.
But what is the solution? Certainly, a starting place would be for the Christian community to realize that we are all one in Christ. One of my favorite scenes in the movie The Apostle is when Robert Duvall, who played a charismatic and fanatical Pentecostal preacher was walking through a town and happened to see a Roman Catholic mass and festival being held outdoors. Robert Duvall watched for a few moments and said to himself; "You have your way and I have my way, but we’re all working for the same cause, serving the same God." And what a powerful reminder that is. We may not look alike nor think alike, but what we share in common is Christ. We are all a part of the family and kingdom of God.
I think it is interesting that in some circles the word "kingdom" has been replaced with "kindom," suggesting that we are all part of the kingdom of God where we are all related or kin to one another. And you know, I like that! In the words of Sister Sledge; "We are family." And yes, as a family there will be disagreements and bickering, but there is the strong glue of love - God’s love which holds us together as one family and we are invited to see not our differences, but our similarities, namely our love for God and Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul, in verse 17, reminds us again of our responsibility. He says; "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." You know, two things jump out at me in this verse. First of all, Paul’s responsibility, as is ours, is to preach the gospel - the gospel of love and grace, forgiveness and justice, inclusion and compassion to a world in need of those gifts. And second, he is to "preach the gospel, not with words..." Now, I know there is more to that sentence, but the best sermons are preached without ever opening our mouths. And I think that has a powerful message to us.
Our unity comes from our love for Christ and our desire to service him and his kingdom. And so, in a sense, verse 17 leads us right into the Lectionary’s Gospel Lesson from Matthew.
Anyone who has taken Marketing knows that one of the fundamental truths of being successful in marketing is location. And certainly, some might argue that for all practical reasons Jesus should have began his ministry in Jerusalem. In that location he could have contacted a great number of people - Jewish people in a short amount of time. But according to the gospel writers Jesus chose not Judean soil but Galilee - Gentile territory. Why? Because the writers understood the gospel message to be a universal message. Clearly, the church today is called to continue this universal mission of bringing the light, and being the light, in the darkness of the world. We are called to "fish for people..."
Are there any perfect churches? Part of me says, NO, there aren’t! But the other part of me says; YES! You see, the church that is centered around Christ, and is focused on evangelizing – fishing for people, is indeed a perfect church. Perfect in the sense of that is what Christ’s is calling to us do and be. Is that true of Edgemont? Can WE say, can YOU say, that you are Christ's centered, focused on evangelizing - fishing for people? I certainly hope we can say it is.
Certainly, we are reminded of this in our Scripture Lesson this morning. The church in Corinth was far from being perfect. The Apostle Paul had received a long list of complaints about this enthusiastic, yet somewhat misguided group of Christians. And so, due to various circumstances, Paul was forced to do a little long-distance pastoring, if you will. But where would he begin? Where would he start? What could he say that help mend this group of Christians? I believe Paul’s focal point here in the first chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians is a great place to start and it is certainly very relevant to the church and to Christians today.
Harold Roberts writes in his sermon "Communion in a Divided World" the experience of Colonel Charles Duke, a member of the Apollo 16 crew who drove the lunar buggy on the moon. Roberts describes Colonel Duke’s feelings as he emerged from the space module and took his first tentative steps through the dust of the lunar surface. Colonel Duke said he looked up and drank in the wonder of his situation as he was flooded by new feelings. In fact, he said; "It was a bit disorienting to look down at the earth." When he lifted his open hand toward the earth, he realized that he could completely block the view, as one would shield their eyes from the sun. Roberts wrote; "It was a powerful experience that altered Colonel Duke’s perception of the world. He could see, for the first time, that all God’s children could live together in community."
We live in a world that is certainly, polarized. We are polarized socially, politically and religiously. It seems that we are good at lifting our hand and blocking out those with whom we disagree with.
I’ll never forget one Peanuts cartoon strip, which has Charlie Brown saying; "I’ve given up on the idea of being a physician and helping others." To which Linus said; "Why? I thought you loved humanity." Charlie Brown replies; "I do love humanity, it’s people that I can’t stand." That reminds me of one of my favorite jingles; "To live above with the saints of God, that will be glory; but to live below with the saints I know, well, that’s another story."
Most of us can understand Charlie Brown’s dilemma. Because most of our problems are caused by people! How many times do you suppose a teacher has said; "I would enjoy teaching if I didn’t have to deal with the students or their parents"? Or a pastor say; "I would really enjoy being a pastor if I just didn’t have to put up with those members who stir up problems and gossip"? Or a person in the retail world say; "I would love my job if I didn’t have to deal with disgruntle customers or my boss"? Certainly, one can almost hear the Apostle Paul say in our First Reading this morning; "You know, that congregation over there in Corinth would really be a great one if it just were not for the members."
Paul had heard disturbing reports of bickering and backstabbing which threatened the stability of the Corinthians community of faith. The congregation was dividing itself along certain lines within the community. Members were putting up their hands and blocking out those with whom they differed. But, what really took the cake, for Paul, was how they were dividing Christ himself.
The Greek word that Paul uses here in his letter to the Corinthians for division is the word schisma, which depicts ripping or tearing a garment in two. And I think this has a powerful message. You may recall that the garment Christ wore was a seamless one, and this is a powerful reminder of the unity we share in Christ. But Paul uses this word schisma to suggest that the Corinthians, of course, many in the church today, are trying to rip or tear or divide that garment – the unity of Christ.
Sadly, we see forms of this schisma – this division today in the Church. We are a divided people and we are part of a global family that is fractured. Even in our own Christian communities we are not always of the same mind and spirit of Christ. We have divided the Christ along the lines of law and grace; along the lines of biblical interpretation and understand; along the lines of exclusion and acceptance.
But what is the solution? Certainly, a starting place would be for the Christian community to realize that we are all one in Christ. One of my favorite scenes in the movie The Apostle is when Robert Duvall, who played a charismatic and fanatical Pentecostal preacher was walking through a town and happened to see a Roman Catholic mass and festival being held outdoors. Robert Duvall watched for a few moments and said to himself; "You have your way and I have my way, but we’re all working for the same cause, serving the same God." And what a powerful reminder that is. We may not look alike nor think alike, but what we share in common is Christ. We are all a part of the family and kingdom of God.
I think it is interesting that in some circles the word "kingdom" has been replaced with "kindom," suggesting that we are all part of the kingdom of God where we are all related or kin to one another. And you know, I like that! In the words of Sister Sledge; "We are family." And yes, as a family there will be disagreements and bickering, but there is the strong glue of love - God’s love which holds us together as one family and we are invited to see not our differences, but our similarities, namely our love for God and Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul, in verse 17, reminds us again of our responsibility. He says; "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." You know, two things jump out at me in this verse. First of all, Paul’s responsibility, as is ours, is to preach the gospel - the gospel of love and grace, forgiveness and justice, inclusion and compassion to a world in need of those gifts. And second, he is to "preach the gospel, not with words..." Now, I know there is more to that sentence, but the best sermons are preached without ever opening our mouths. And I think that has a powerful message to us.
Our unity comes from our love for Christ and our desire to service him and his kingdom. And so, in a sense, verse 17 leads us right into the Lectionary’s Gospel Lesson from Matthew.
Anyone who has taken Marketing knows that one of the fundamental truths of being successful in marketing is location. And certainly, some might argue that for all practical reasons Jesus should have began his ministry in Jerusalem. In that location he could have contacted a great number of people - Jewish people in a short amount of time. But according to the gospel writers Jesus chose not Judean soil but Galilee - Gentile territory. Why? Because the writers understood the gospel message to be a universal message. Clearly, the church today is called to continue this universal mission of bringing the light, and being the light, in the darkness of the world. We are called to "fish for people..."
Are there any perfect churches? Part of me says, NO, there aren’t! But the other part of me says; YES! You see, the church that is centered around Christ, and is focused on evangelizing – fishing for people, is indeed a perfect church. Perfect in the sense of that is what Christ’s is calling to us do and be. Is that true of Edgemont? Can WE say, can YOU say, that you are Christ's centered, focused on evangelizing - fishing for people? I certainly hope we can say it is.
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 11:31 PM
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