Loading...Sermon delivered on July 8, 2018
When my sons were very young the most useful parenting tool I used was a timer. But it only worked once. Aidan and Joseph, only two and a half years apart in age, had identical toys yet would often only want to play with the exact toy the other was holding. The timer could keep the peace between the children by giving each the same amount of time to play with the same toy. Brilliant, right? Once.
When they realized all was fair they completely lost interest in fighting and in the toy. When the next squabble erupted and I pulled out the timer they immediately ceased squabbling and said, “Nevermind. We don’t like the timer method.” They figured me out fast and I resorted back to my old tried and true tools of threats and bribes.
At another time let’s talk about the effectiveness of threats and bribes as parenting tools. And the nature of covetousness. For today I want to talk about fairness: Who wants it? Who wants wants a fair fight?
So far as I can tell fairness is not high on God’s priority list. God wants what God wants and fairness is rarely a criteria for God’s decision making. God is all about God’s hopes and dreams. Let’s take a look at the short passage from Ezekiel where God assigns Ezekiel to a job which cannot be accomplished: To speak the word of the Lord to a people who haven’t been listening yet and frankly, just aren’t that into God. God is not operating under the illusion that Ezekiel’s message will awake or transform anyone. But it is God’s nature and prerogative to confront, regardless of the fact that no one wants to pick up what God is laying down. Not fair.
And let’s take a look at Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Paul is making the best of the thorn in his side. But let’s look at Paul through the eyes of a 21st century entitled white person like me. Is it fair that one of God’s best all time representatives is told, “My grace is sufficient.”? After all the hardships and work Paul has endured on God’s behalf, could he not get some kind of special something? Anything? Nope. Weakness is Paul’s reward because it shows how strong God is. Not fair.
If fairness were important to God the Bible would only be two chapters long. Because it’s already in chapter three where God’s compassion just starts ruining fairness for everyone. In chapter three Adam and Eve test the one limit (there was only one. Just. One.) and they don’t die like God had promised they would. Those of you who have not started reading the Bible in 90 Days but want to now that I went there can still begin Wednesday July 11 at 6:15 in Gleason Hall. Those of you started last week and are finishing up Exodus, ask an Egyptian if they think God is fair.
Next let’s look at the visit Jesus makes to his hometown. Mark tells us how the most powerful man on the planet can’t get anything done but a handful of healings. Not fair. With that Ezekiel-style-failure under his belt, Jesus sends out his disciples two-by-two to wield the same exact power as his in an assignment which includes instructions for when they fail: Shake the dust off your feet.
There are so many tools for success. I often rely on conflict and guilt as guides to decision making. If two strangers walk into this room and start talking about repentance and forgiveness what on earth is that going to do to my tried-and-true tools? That’s the kind of different thinking the twelve disciples are spreading on the mission Jesus sends them. Innocent townspeople like me are relying on tools like conflict and guilt and into town come two men talking about repentance. I mean, how am I supposed to hold a grudge if I know forgiveness is available? How can all my demons survive if there is a power which can drive them away?
The good news the disciples spread proves grace is not a fair fight. And that’s what I’m in this business for. I can’t get out of bed every morning thinking that God is going to fight fair. I need God to be tougher, meaner, and grittier and more gracious than my grudges, my guilt and my demons.
The boundaries we set on ourselves can help create the space where grace grows. Kind of like a wrestling ring, you gotta stay in it to win it. Did you see the report from WLKY on the protests and counter protests held in downtown Louisville yesterday? There is a group who wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They rallied. Then counter protesters decided to come. The police chief reported yesterday:
"We have developed a safety plan that we believe will accommodate a crowd of either size and my goal is to make sure anybody that comes is as safe as we can reasonably make them."
The chief asked those participating in protests to abolish ICE to enter in the area near 7th Street at Broadway.
Three Percenters of Kentucky protesters were asked to enter from 7th Street at Chestnut Street.
I don’t know if grace grew on 7th street but the protest was peaceful.
If you’ve been following the Episcopal News Service about the General Convention in Austin, Texas you know that boundaries are being celebrated as a tool for reconciliation. In response to the #MeToo movement and others a Liturgy of Listening was held there. This ninety minute Eucharist included the testimonies of people who had been hurt by sexual misconduct in the church. It is hard to hear and I found it personally healing.
The cross of Calvary is the ultimate tool of unfairness. On the cross, in Jesus, God becomes equal with us so death had a fighting chance. And when death took that chance God made every human equal to Jesus. That is how we have a fighting chance for new life. Not because we are obedient or worthy or endure hardships or work hard. We have a fighting chance because of the One who fights for us. Not fair.
