Connecting with God, Connecting through community October 6, 2019

Connecting with God, Connecting through community

October 6, 2019

First UMC Carroll

(play “Cheers” theme song) For 13 years, when Norm walked through the door everyone at Cheers said what? ________ “NORM!” Even as an extreme introvert, I always kind of wanted a place where everybody knew my name. And they're always glad I came. And they were always saving a seat for me. I’ll bet that is true for many of you.

I’m not convinced that many bars really offer that kind of community. I think this church, however, can be that place for many people. I want this church to be a place where we really connect with each other. That’s what I want this church to be because I think that God’s vision for church... No matter who you are, no matter where you’re from, no matter why you’ve come …this is a place where everyone wants to know your name, they’re always glad you came, and we always have a place for you.

Our mission statement is “Connecting People with God.” When people are connected to God, the church becomes the practice field for connecting with others. On the other hand, if someone comes to us because they have a connection to someone here: a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative. (good for you for inviting them) they come a little “pre-connected,” Then it is our job to nurture more relationships in hopes of someday connecting them to God.

That’s why I try every way I can to connect with you and help you connect with each other: learning names, name tags, visiting folks, coffee in the back, streaming services, small groups. Those are all attempts to connect with you and help you to connect to each other. That’s also why I have racked my brain trying to figure out ways to be more relational with our congregation online. (If you have any ideas, please let me know.)  I want this to be that kind of place whether you come in person or by the miracle of technology, where everyone knows your name, they’re always glad you came, and we always have a place for you.

 This series of sermons called “Connecting the dots” is all about connections. We spent the first two weeks talking about how we connect to God in worship and scripture.

  Today we want to reflect on CONNECTING IN with each other. In other words Christian friendships and Christian community.

Let’s start with the premise that we are, as Barbra Streisand would say, “People who need people.” That is the way we are built. God is a God of relationships and created us to be “people who need people.?

 Imagine if normal relationships are represented by a single cord, what does Ecclesiastes mean when it says, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken?”  It means that there is a whole different level of connection offered when the relationship is based on Christian faith.

The 3 stranded twisted cord is stronger than the sum of the strength of the three cords individually. Let’s imagine that each cord stands for one important characteristic of Christian friendship or Christian community.

 First, Christian friendship or Christian Community offers acceptance.

Paul writes “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle... Don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.”

God is a God of all creation and all the different kinds of people. Every single person is a beloved, precious child of God. None of us is perfect. None of us can meet everyone’s expectations, and often we can’t even meet our own expectations let alone God’s, However, God never treats us as failures or disappointments. The God who created us accepts us and loves us just as we are.

I think we should at least try to treat one another as Jesus would treat us. Remember the woman caught in adultery? … “Where are your accusers? … neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Jesus accepted everyone… I can’t think of anyone who was excluded.

Ray Buckley, one of our speakers this week, tells about asking his father if a person can be Christian and still be racist. I thought to myself… “I’m not so sure.” Ray’s father said something like, “of course, a person can be Christian and still be a racist. What we must remember is that God often asks us to move from where we are in order to be more like Jesus.

I knew a pastor in davenport was asked about whether gambling winnings should be included in a tithe or is it dirty money. He said, “Include it, of course! Give it to us and we’ll clean it up.”

To be honest we all come to God like that. We come as sinners and let God clean us up. That ought to be our attitude about anyone who comes to our door. “Of course, you’re welcome here, and we’ll let God clean you up.” No matter who you are, no matter where you’re from, no matter why you’ve come this is a place of total acceptance. Where everyone will get to know your name, they’re always glad you came, and we always have a place for you. Acceptance.

  The second cord in our three strands is support.

Paul writes: “Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down.”

 Too many relationships today are political or transactional. If a person is useful, they are friends. As soon as the usefulness expires there is no guilt in disposing of them like a Kleenex.

Not here, though. Not in this church. That should never happen in a church. This should be a place of unwavering support. Relationships are not based on usefulness, but on love and grace. When someone is having a hard time, we need to steadfastly support them. There are no catches. No conditions. No expiration dates or limits on Christian friendship or Christian community.  Christian friendship and Christian community might not quite be “till death do us part,” but it is close. Let’s call it a “no matter what” relationship.

Deb Davis gave me permission to testify to you on her behalf about how important this is. She said a person doesn’t realize what it means to have the church gather around them until times get really hard. Then it means the world. Christian friends are in it for the long haul, uphill and down. God never gives up on us, and we should ever give up on each other.

Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play major league baseball. Faced crowds that were just vicious to him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then shortstop "Pee Wee" Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd with him. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

When someone is in trouble, Christian friends should be the very first ones to put our arm around them. By offering unwavering, unlimited, steadfast support, we just may save their life. Or at least get them through a hard time.

That ought to be our attitude to everyone of no matter who you are, let us stand beside you and put our arm around you. No matter where you’re from let us stand beside you and put our arm around you. No matter why you’ve come to this place let us stand beside you and put our arm around you. Let us be the place where everyone will get to know their name, we’re always glad you came, and we always have a place for them. Support.

 The third quality of Christian community or Christian friendship is Accountability.

Paul writes in Romans, “Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”

Easier said than done right? Buying lunch for those who have hurt us. Taking time out of our busy lives to care for anyone in need? There are a lot of things about the Christian life that are hard. And we need help to do them.

I have always said, maybe some people could be Christian outside the church, but not me. I don’t have the discipline. I need you, and we need each other, to encourage us along the way. Accountability might sound a little legalistic, we could call it encouragement, but I really couldn’t find a better word than accountability. What I am really saying is we need to companion one another along the journey, learning from one another and teaching one another, encouraging one another and leaning on one another. Ideally, we would be like the push me, pull me from Dr. Doolittle. You pull me along today and I’ll pull you along another time.

That ought to be our attitude to each other, no matter who you are let’s grow together. No matter where you’re from let’s grow together, no matter why you’ve come to this is a place we will help each other to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. We’re the place where everyone will get to know your name, we’re always glad you came, and we always have a place for you. Accountability.

 Christian friendship and Christian community. We have it… but can we do better? I think so. I think we pretty much have support down pat.  However…

1. In the last year and a half though, I have actually, audibly heard some eye rolls from way up here. That simply has no place in an accepting Christian community. Period. Everyone must be accepted no matter what.

2. I’m also not convinced that there is much accountability going on. Push me pull me work.  You help me be more like Jesus today, and I’ll help you be more like Jesus tomorrow. Think about that and see with whom who you might have that kind of relationship.

 I have a vision… a vision for our church. A middle school class was asked to define friendship. One student said, “A friend is a pair of open arms in a society of armless people.” Isn’t that great? “A friend is a pair of open arms in a society of armless people.”

Where do you fit into that description? Is your attitude like this when you come into the church… that is really kind of an armless posture.

Or do you come through the doors like this? Arms open to accept, hearts open to support, spirits open to journey with each other to be closer to Jesus every day.

Let us all be open arms in a society of armless people.