Are you a ‘lite’ Christian or a ‘LIGHT’ Christian? RUMC 5-17-2015

Are you a ‘lite’ Christian or a ‘LIGHT’ Christian?

RUMC

5-17-2015

 "The “LITE” CHURCH: 24% fewer commitments, home of the 7 1/2% tithe, 15 minute sermons, 45 minute services; we have only 8 commandments—your choice Everything you’ve wanted in a church…& less.”

If you walk down the grocery aisle, or watch TV commercials you know that you can get almost anything in a “LITE” version these days. It might have started with Miller “LITE,” but it caught on big time. “More of what you want, less of what you don’t.”

The Food and Drug Administration says that in order to be considered “LITE,” a food has to have 1/3 fewer calories, or half the fat, or half the sodium than a comparable product. In other words, something is left out, and invariably the manufacturers claim that you can’t tell the difference. They claim that the “LITE” version tastes just as good as the original. That leads to the question, “If the “LITE” tastes just as good, and is better for us, why have the original at all?”

One might also ask:

•           Why have the original version of the food when the “LITE” version leaves out ½ the salt and ¾ of the flavor?

•           Why have full service airlines, if there is a “LITE” version where everyone just sits on the floor?

•           Why have full service banks, if there is a “LITE” version down the street that offers more interest at just ½ the security?

•           Why have full service mechanics, when you can get a “LITE” version that offers brand new old parts for 1/3 the price?

NO ONE WOULD DO THAT

So why have full discipleship churches when we can go around the corner to a “LITE” church that promises all the salvation at half the commitment? It caters more to me and less to God.

A Lot of people do, you know!

They call themselves Christian, but they have their own idea of what Christian means with cherry picked commandments, a proof texted Bible, a pew that looks an awful lot like a bass boat, and a tithe that only counts the income they don’t want. They can call themselves whatever they like, but I just don’t think Jesus would say that qualifies as discipleship. At best, it is the “LITE” version of Christianity.

 Jesus has another word for people who claim to be something they are not. And it is not a very nice word… “Hypocrite.” A hypocrite is someone whose actions don’t match his or her words. They might look good from the outside, but there is nothing good on the inside.

The Queen Mary was the largest ship to cross the oceans when it was launched in 1936. Through four decades, and a World War, she served until she was retired, anchored as a floating hotel and museum in Long Beach, California.

During the conversion, her three massive smokestacks were taken off to be scraped down and repainted. But on the dock, they crumbled. Nothing was left of the 3/4 inch steel plate from which the stacks had been formed. All that remained were more than thirty coats of paint that had been applied over the years. It looked good from the outside, but there was nothing good on the inside.

That is hypocrisy is. All paint and polish, none of the commitment or discipleship.

One of Jesus’ most stinging critiques is launched at the hypocrites in Matthew chapter 6.

“Beware of practicing your piety before others  in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,   so that they may be praised by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners,  so that they may be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Notice what Jesus was criticizing…He was not criticizing the practice of faith. He was criticizing those who go through the motions of faith IN ORDER TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS. Jesus is not criticizing “practicing your faith before others.” He is criticizing trying to look good from the outside, when there is really nothing on the inside. He is criticizing anything we do when the motivation is to puff ourselves up before others.

•           Notice he says: “do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others.”

•           Notice again: “they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others.

Doing faith in order to be praised by others is hypocrisy. Religion on the outside and nothing on the inside is one kind of hypocrisy. That is a form of LITE Christianity.

Frankly, this particular form of “LITE” Christianity doesn’t concern me too much in this congregation. I’m not saying that we are immune, we are not, but I think we tend to lean away from that particular “LITE” faith. Toward the other end.

I think we lean that way because somewhere along the line we have had “go into your closet and pray” drilled into us. Perhaps it is the German heritage in this area. I don’t really know.

•           Somewhere you have had that drilled into you to the point that some of your are afraid of doing anything that might appear remotely religious.

•           Others are more than willing to do the right things, but don’t want anyone to know why you do it.

You have, “Jesus said, ‘Go into your closet and pray’ ” down pat. But he wasn’t saying what is what DISCIPLES should do. He was saying that’s what the HYPOCRITES should do.

Did you notice that Jesus was TO the disciples, ABOUT the hypocrites? He was not describing the behavior of a disciple, but warning that those who are empty on the inside would be better off locked away in a dark closet?

This is the counter point in Jesus’ description of kingdom life.

 The Sermon on the Mount starts describing kingdom behavior in chapter 5.

There are the beatitudes, the passage about salt and light that we read today, and Jesus instruction to go beyond what the law requires.

The whole of chapter 5 is Jesus’ description of kingdom life, or discipleship including, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way,   let your light shine before others,   so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Then as chapter 6 opens, Jesus turns to the crowd and says, BUT if you are only doing these things to impress me or anyone else, we are all better off if you just lock yourself in the closet and hide in the dark.

Jesus FIRST choice is for us to let our light shine for him, but he essentially says, “If you can’t shine for me, get out of the way”

 The kingdom life, then, is to shine because of Jesus.

The Disciple’s job then is to shine because of Jesus.

The Christian’s job then is to be a light in this dark world because of Jesus.

One kind of Hypocrite pretends he has it when he doesn’t. But the one who pretends he doesn’t have it when he really does, is just a hypocritical.

•           The Christian who hides the light of Christ under a basket, is no better than the one who stands in the dark closet.

•           The Christian who is afraid to let others know why she acts the way she does, might as well be doing it in a dark closet.

•           The Christian who lives the kingdom life, but is embarrassed for people to know that he did it because of Jesus, may very well be a nice guy, but he brings no more light to the world than the one who sits in the dark by himself.

•           You might be all love, and generosity, and service, and forgiveness, and compassion, but if others don’t “see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” you are missing the boat. Basically, Jesus is saying, the light doesn’t shine for the light’s sake. The Light shines so the world can see God.

I know that rubs against your grain. I know it may take some time for you to get used to letting your light shine for others. But that’s OK. We are on this journey together. That is why we changed the sharing time last week. We need to start thinking, not just in terms of what has God done for me this week, but what I have done because of Jesus. What have we done because of Jesus?

I am not trying to get o you brag. What I am trying to do is to get you to take the basket off your light. The Light of Jesus shines so brightly in you… but so many of you want to keep that a secret. Let’s take the basket off and shout it from the mountaintops. NOT TO BRING ATTENTION TO OURSELVES! BUT TO BRING ATTENTION TO GOD.

 

I’m not saying that we beat people over the head with our bibles. I’m talking about simple things,

•           How about wearing a clearly Christian t-shirt when you serve?

•           How about when they thank you, replying, “Your welcome, we do it because of Jesus.”

•           How about putting the church banner up in front of a project we are doing?

Not very hard, not very risky, certainly not offensive. It’s really pretty easy to let our lights shine for Jesus.

Did you know that color does not really exist? Color is really just a trick of the eye. You see, light is in fact made up of energy in varying wavelengths. That is why we have rainbows. When light hits an object, that light will either be absorbed or reflected.

If, for instance, an object absorbs every wavelength except for blue, and it reflects the blue light, that object will appear to be the color blue.

If it absorbs every wavelength in the light but red, and it reflects the red light, it will appear red, and so one. Get the picture?

If an object absorbs all the light waves, and reflects none, it appears to be black.

That is the person who lives in the light of Christ but never lets it shine so others can see it and glorify God. If you absorb the light of Christ (for yourself) but don’t reflect it back, you might as well be under a big basket or be a dark closet because no one can see Jesus in you.

BUT if the Light of Christ shines on you, and you reflect the light of Christ in what you do… People will see Jesus in everything you do. If people see Jesus in you… if people know that you do what you do BECAUSE OF JESUS. You are a light to the world.

GO- “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Go, have a light faith. Go light our world.

AMEN

(Straight into video)

MY STORY May 10, 2015 RUMC (Followup to THE STORY)

M Y STORY

May 10, 2015

RUMC

           

Let’s Pretend. Let’s pretend that the bishop realizes that the Reinbeck UMC is a great congregation. (It’s true-- whether he notices or not) Realizing that, let’s pretend he has assigned me to go all over the state to start new churches just like this one. I make plans to hit the road for 6-8 months, and I leave you in charge of the church. I tell you that I will write you regularly and give you directions and instructions. And I leave.

Months pass. A steady flow of emails arrives in your inbox. I spell out all my expectations very specifically in each letter.

Finally, I return, and I am stunned. Grass and weeds have grown up high. A few windows along the street are broken. I walk to the office Dian is listening to the radio and surfing the web for cute shoes. I look around and notice the wastebaskets are overflowing. The floor hasn’t been swept for weeks. I walk to the sanctuary and notice that it looks just as I left it, except for the thick layer of dust on the seats. Obviously, no one has been in here for months, and nobody seems concerned. I finally find you off in the family room playing cards with your buddies.

Disturbed, I ask you to step into my office, which has been temporarily turned into a television room for watching afternoon soap operas. "What in the world is going on here?" "What do you mean?” You ask.

"Well, look at this place! Didn’t you get any of my emails?"

"Emails? Oh, yes! Sure! I got every one of them. As a matter of fact, Terry,

•           We have had a study on them every Friday night since you left.

•           We have even divided the congregation into small groups to discuss many of the things you wrote. Some of the things were really interesting.

•           You will be pleased to know that a few of us have actually committed to memory some of your sentences and paragraphs. One or two memorized an entire email or two - Great stuff in those letters."

•           Jim made videos about them and we have watched them over and over.

"OK. You got my emails. You studied them and meditated on them; discussed and even memorized them. But what did you do about them?"

"Do?” you ask, “We didn’t do anything about them."

Let me say, I am under no illusion that I am that important around here, but it makes my point.

•           We do it all the time. We read article after article about cutting down on carbs, or processed sugars, or whatever the evil of the day is… we read the articles then we head off to the freezer and get a bowl of ice cream.

•           We do it all the time. We open the box cut open the plastic bags of nuts and bolts. We pick up the directions that say, “READ THIS FIRST.” We toss those aside and start doing it our own way. 

So, the question of the day is, “what do we do now? What do we do now that the story is over? We listened, we took notes, we watched, we studied, we learned, some might have even memorized, we analyzed, some of us even enjoyed THE STORY … so now what…  we put the book on the shelf to collect dust?

We could do that….

 James says however, “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”

In other words LIVE THE STORY

LIVE THE STORY. Be doers of THE STORY and not only hearers and studiers who deceive themselves

LIVE THE STORY. Be doers of discipleship, not just watchers of worship who deceive themselves.

LIVE THE STORY. Be doers of God’s will, not just a bag of hot air giving lip service to the kingdom of God.

LIVE THE STORY. “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”

The message puts it this way, “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other.” In other words, LIVE THE STORY. 

We are like children learning to read. Reading is a complicated process. There is learning the alphabet and the letter sounds, learning the concept of words and learning sight words, decoding, understanding punctuation and capitalization, and finally comprehension. But some educators, like Jessica Fries-Gaither, at Ohio State University say that comprehension is not enough. We have to teach our children to synthesize their reading. Synthesis goes beyond mere comprehension to “combining ideas and allowing an evolving understanding of text.”  That evolving understanding of synthesizing what we read begins to shape and mould our thinking, beliefs, our view of the world, and our behavior.

In the church, we are in the business of making disciples for Jesus Christ. We are in the business of changing people, how they think, how they act, what they believe, and how they view the world so that they will be more Christ-like. That’s what THE STORY WAS ABOUT. Spending enough time on THE STORY, we gave everyone the opportunity to synthesize THE STORY and grow as disciples. If you went through the motions - without synthesizing –without letting it get inside of who you are,  how you think, how you act, how you believe and how you view the world—you missed the point. Pouring scripture into someone who isn’t synthesizing it and expecting them to grow in discipleship is like (excuse the image-- but it makes the point) it is like eating a can of alphabet soup and expecting War and Peace to come out the other end.

James says don’t just hope for the best-be “DOERS” OF THE WORD and not just hearers. In other words, digest it, process it, synthesize it, and let it make a difference in your life.

We have spent months talking about the upper story and the lower story. And that has been helpful for a lot of us. That is an image that I will probably use for the rest of my preaching career and personal discipleship. But when we synthesize what we have read and done into how we think, how we act, how we believe, and how we view the world. We are transformed from the inside out and  THE STORY becomes MY STORY. THE STORY becomes YOUR STORY.

I know that everyone is in a different place in their walk with Jesus. I know that for some of you it has made a little difference. For others it has made some difference. For others, for those who worked on synthesizing God’s word into their lives I know it has been life changing.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, God’s story is where it all starts. This is the book around which our church and out lives revolve. This is God’s living word intended to shape us as a church and change us as individuals. And we want GOD’S STORY to become MY story and YOUR story.

•           You want to know where we came from read those wonderful words “God created them in his own image.”  Read “I knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know why the church exists read I Corinthians “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know what our job as the church is? “Go make disciples”  Right here! That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know why I keep telling you to grow closer to Jesus? Jesus says “4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know why I keep telling you that you need to read your Bible, study your, Bible, join a Bible study? “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know why I keep on you about praying? I Thessalonians says “Pray without ceasing!”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know why it is important to come to corporate worship? Hebrews 10:25 says, “Do Not neglect to worship together, as is the habit of some” That’s OUR STORY!

•           Do you want to know why I keep harassing you to join Ministry Action Teams? “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ”  No one of us has all the gifts necessary to do the work of the church, but together we have all the gifts we need if we get off the pews and use them. It’s all right here! That’s OUR STORY!

•           Do you want to know why I keep telling you to change the world? “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           You want to know why I keep telling you to love? “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; …. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect (in love), therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  That’s OUR STORY!

•           Do you want to know why I keep harping on inviting others and being hospitable to them? “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”  That’s OUR STORY!

 It’s all here. It’s all right here. But it only becomes our story when we get it from here (Bible) to here (head)… and here (head) to here (heart)… and it is about getting it from here (heart) to here (hands). That’s what Jesus’ mission was about getting the upper story of God’s vision to become not THE STORY… but MY STORY. YOUR STORY. OUR STORY.

 In simple words, discipleship is getting it through our head and heart and hands that it is all because of Jesus. Everything we are, everything we do is because of Jesus. 

Listen again discipleship is getting it through our head and heart and hands that it is all because of Jesus. Everything we are, everything we do is because of Jesus. 

Were you listening?

•           Why do we worship? <<<because of Jesus>>> That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we have LIGHT and teach the children? <<<because of Jesus>>> That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we have Bible studies? <<<because of Jesus>>> That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we give money to Banyam Theological Seminary? <<<because of Jesus>>> That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we give food to the postal carriers to take to the food pantry? <<<because of Jesus>>> That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we have help your neighbor days? <<<because of Jesus>>> (When is the last time you old someone that? -- Oh, you’re welcome, we do it because of Jesus.) That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we organize rides for people to go to chemotherapy or the doctor? <<<because of Jesus>>> (How many of you who have done that told them why we do it?) That’s right. That’s YOUR STORY

•           Why do we take May baskets, and thanksgiving baskets, and plates of valentine cookie walk cookies, to home bound friends” <<<because of Jesus>>> (I almost guarantee every single one of them says thank you… how hard would it be to say , “You’re welcome. We do it because of Jesus.”   

That’s what happens when THE STORY… GOD’S STORY… becomes OUR STORY …MY STORY!

 That’s the connection we need to make from here (Bible), to here (head), to here (heart), to here (hands)!! Is called discipleship and we do it because of Jesus. That is what discipleship is. Taking this story and making it the story of your thinking, taking this story and making it the story of your heart, taking this story and making it the story of your hands, taking the story and making it the story of your discipleship. GOD’S STORY BECOMES THE DISCIPLES’ STORY… GOD’S STORY BECOMES MY STORY.

One more story today…

As (Jesus) was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” (In other words,…I know God’s story inside and out, I go to church on Sunday, and I am a good person)

             Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Jesus told the rich young man to leave the WORLD’S STORY behind and be a disciple… make Jesus HIS STORY. 

            We all know that the Bible says the rich young man went away sad…

            But I want you to write your own ending “You know God’s story inside and out, you go to church on Sunday and your am a good person… so…

             Jesus looks at you with love and says, “You lack one thing come, follow me.” Will you Make GOD’S STORY the STORY OF YOUR LIFE?

What do you say?

Will you make God’s story into MY story?

AMEN

Spoiler Alert RUMC The Story Chapter 31 May 3, 2015

Spoiler Alert

RUMC The Story Chapter 31

May 3, 2015

  The story is told about a time when God the Father, Jesus, and Moses were out playing golf. Moses stepped up to the tee and hit the ball. It went sailing down the fairway and landed in the water hazard. Not a problem for Moses. Moses raised his club, the water parted and Moses chipped the ball onto the green.

Next, Jesus strolled up to the tee and hit a nice long one directly toward the same water hazard. It landed right in the center of the pond on a lily pad. Not a problem for Jesus. Jesus casually walked out on the water and chipped the ball onto the green.

Finally, it was God the Father’s turn. God took a big swing and His ball went sailing down the fairway and headed for the same water hazard. But, just before it fell into the water,

•           a fish jumped up and grabbed the ball in its mouth. As the fish was falling back down into the water,

•           an eagle swooped down and grabbed the fish in its claws. The eagle flew over the green,

•           when a lightning bolt shot from the sky and barely missed it.

•           Startled, the eagle dropped the fish and

•           when the fish hit the ground, the ball popped out of its mouth and rolled into the hole for a hole-in-one. Moses turned to Jesus and said, “I hate playing golf with your Dad!”

SPOILER ALERT HERE… If you don’t want to know how history turns out, or how the Bible ends, you might want to step out for a few minutes… It doesn’t matter if it is a golf game, the Bible, or the consummation of God’s vision for the world, IN THE END GOD ALWAYS WINS.

  The book of revelation is, for many people, a strange and mysterious thing. Let me tell you some preachers and Bible teachers make it even stranger than it really is. Although there is a great deal of interesting detail we could talk about, as we come to the conclusion of 19 months of off and on working our way through THE STORY, my message to you today is pretty simple… IN THE END, GOD WINS.

•           If you believe that, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”  Then you have to believe that IN THE END GOD WINS.

•           If you believe that, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”  You have to believe that IN THE END GOD WINS.

•           If you believe Jesus when he says, “God will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”  Then you have to believe that IN THE END GOD WINS.

•           If you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and he is going to prepare a place for you,”  You have to believe that IN THE END GOD WINS.

•           If you believe Paul when he writes, “In the end every knee shall bow on heaven and on earth and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the father.”  You have to believe that IN THE END GOD WINS.

•           If you believe that, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain”  Then you have to believe that IN THE END GOD WINS.

  I know.

•           I know. In a residential neighborhood in Baghdad, a little girl plays in her front yard. Suddenly a car bomb explodes and a family is shattered.

•           I know, the foundations shook and 6000 people died in Nepal last week (maybe as many as 15,000 by time they are done).

•           I know, there is Isis, and Boca Haran, and evil dictators, and Christians being persecuted around the world.

•           I know, that just a few weeks ago 4 children from one family and one from another were wiped out in the blink of an eye between Urbana and Vinton.

•           I know that we have people who have struggled mightily with Cancer, Diabetes, heart disease, strokes, addictions, brain injuries, schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, anxiety, and 1000 other terrible diseases.

•           I know loved ones die too young, parents do terrible things to their kids, kids are bullied, children break their parents hearts, seniors skimp on food and medicine because they can’t really afford either, marriages blow up, families are divided, jobs are lost, bills are due, cars break down, friends betray us.

•           I know, sometimes life in this world just stinks, and it hurts. Sometimes we just want to curl up and die, at least one has to wonder whether it is worth getting up in the morning.

  But let me tell you something… the same thing has been true ever since Adam and Eve were evicted the Garden of Eden. We’ve read the stories in the Bible… heartbreaking stories of murder, and incest, and wars, and failures, and rejection, and idols, and sin.

  The center part of the book of revelation, chapters 3-19, is the worst. It tells of famines, and wars, and pestilence, and betrayal, and death and suffering, and evil way beyond anything I hope any of us ever experience. The book of revelation is acknowledging that things get really bad in the lower story and God help us, they may even get worse. We live that every day. We don’t have to delve into all the details.

In chapter 19, the story takes a turn- We get a glimpse of the upper story. A great multitude in heaven shouts, “Hallelujah, Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.”

 I have told you before that the upper story crashes into the lower story, for instance in the birth of Jesus. In Chapter 20, the lower story is judged by God’s upper story vision. The whole world of the lower story to is held accountable to the upper story vision.- “ Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also, another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” 

There is judgment. There is the sorting out based on the lives we lived and the relationship we have with Jesus Christ. There is no escaping that. We had better make sure we know very clearly the side with which we align ourselves.

But then… FINALLY… GLORIOUSLY… SPLENDIDLY… MAGNIFICENTLY… WONDERFULLY BEYOND ANYTHING WE CAN IMAGINE OR ANY WORDS CAN DESCRIBE, John starts to describe the new creation in beautiful poetic imagery. The new creation completely transforms the old creation. THE LOWER STORY IS OVER, taken over by GOD'S UPPER STORY. Let me say that again. THE LOWER STORY IS OVER, taken over by GOD'S UPPER STORY. God’s original vision is brought back into focus.

•           Genesis says “in the beginning.” -- Revelation says “I am the beginning and the end” 

•           Genesis says God created the heavens and the earth. --Revelation says there is a new heaven and a new earth.

•           Genesis says let there be light.-- In revelation, God is all the light that is needed.

•           In Genesis God names the darkness “night.”-- In Revelation, there will be no more night.

•           The tree of life from the Garden of Eden is back; “with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

•           Adam and Eve were told don’t eat or you will die. Revelation says there is no more death.

•           In Genesis, God walked with Adam and Eve in the coolness of the garden. In the new creation, “the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;”

The upper story vision that was obscured by sin in Genesis, is rediscovered in glory in the new heaven and the new earth. Do you believe that? I have to or I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning.

  This is why we pray THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. We are praying for the glorious coming of the new creation. We are praying for that time when IN THE END GOD WINS.

Can you imagine how this promise must have encouraged the original readers and listeners in AD 95. They knew firsthand what it was like to be persecuted. They had witnessed crucifixions, beheadings, and saw loved ones put into the ring with wild animals- all because of their faith. They were always under the threat of persecution. John, the writer of this book, had been exiled to the island of Patmos. And it seemed like the devil was winning the war. It seemed like the dragon of Rome was winning, the monster coming out of the abyss was winning. It seemed like they were about to be defeated, but the big message from the book of Revelation is things are not what they seem.  The big news of the Revelation to John is that IN THE END GOD WINS

 It has been a long journey through THE STORY. From those first days off and running through Genesis and Exodus, to the months of stumbling through kings and prophets and wars. Then there was the strange celebration of the nativity when we started back up in September. 2015 will be known as the year with two Easters. One in February for THE STORY and one in April with the rest of the world. Then there was the early church, Paul’s life and now the end.

I hope you have each learned a great deal over these 19 months, but here is the take away.

No matter what…

            No Matter What…

NO MATTER WHAT.

No matter what… God wins.

It’s tough today. It’s hard today. There are challenges today. It’s not fair today. There’s inequity today. There’s hunger today. There’s poverty today. There’s joblessness today. There’s loneliness today. There’s sin today. BUT IN THE END, GOD WINS. That’s the promise of the book of Revelation. That is the promise from God.

Ultimately, all of this “stuff” will pass away and the God who walked with Adam and Eve in the garden will walk among us in the new creation.

Do you all remember the show “Extreme makeover” I don’t even know if it is still on.

At the end, they would park the bus between the family and the new house and they would say… “Bus driver. Move that bus.”

Right now, we stand with a big old ugly bus of a sinful, hurtful, difficult world between us and our new home in the new creation. Someday we are going to pray, “Thy kingdom come they will be done”; and God is going to shout MARANATHA, MOVE THAT BUS!

 And I can’t wait to see the look your face! I can’t wait to see the glory of God reflected in your eyes. I can’t wait to see the no more tears, no more suffering, no more pain, no more…just no more…

I can’t wait to see God’s arms open- not on a cross to die this time… but arms open wide to welcome you and me to be part of his new creation.

THEY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL B E DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

MARANATHA. AMEN

Looking into an ancient mirror. RUMC April 19, 2015 chapter 31

Looking into an ancient mirror.

RUMC April 19, 2015 chapter 31

 When I say, “The Book of Revelation,” this is what most of you see isn’t it? Your eyes glaze over and you feel like you are trying to read ancient Greek. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Let me take a poll.

•           How many of you read the last chapter of THE STORY this week?

•           Aside from THE STORY how many of you have ever read the book of Revelation. Well, that explains it! Most of us don’t understand it, because we don’t often read it.

 First, this morning, I want you to start with a fresh piece of paper.

Forget the idea that the Book of  Revelation has to be hard. It does not have to be a mystery. Much of what you have heard and read about it has been hyped to sell books or movies. The LEFT BEHIND series is a great example of poorly understanding the book of Revelation.

Then forget the scary stuff you have heard and seen. I am not saying that there is nothing scary in the book of Revelation, but most of the scary stuff you have heard was probably from “shock jock” preachers who would rather scare you than teach you. 

Is your slate clean? Is your mind ready for a new idea?

OK--- let’s start here. You all know Dr Seuss. He wrote a story called Yertle the turtle. Perhaps you know it, but I’ll summarize it for you.

•           Yertle sat on a rock and ruled over a pond. “King of all that I can see.”He said.

•           He decided the pond was too small of a kingdom so he stacked up 9 turtles and climbed on top them.

•           Though pleased with that increased view for a while, he soon wanted more.

•           He stacked 200 more turtles and sat on them. He was elated, but not satisfied.

•           Yertle tried one more time to make the stack taller it all fell over.

Dr Seuss tells it better, but what was that story about? Greed? Pride? Ego? The futility of grabbing for more and more? The fact that some people ate never satisfied?

Yes. Of course, we all agree that the story of Yertle the Turtle is about all of those things.

You might be surprised to know that Dr Seuss tells us that it was actually written about Adolph Hitler. OK I can see that. But do you have to know that to get the point?  NO. When I read Yertle the turtle 70 years after Hitler’s death I may not know that it was written about Hitler, but it still has the same message about  greed, pride, ego, futility and never being satisfied. It continues to have an important message even though the historical context has been lost.

•           The book of Revelation was written to Christians about 95 AD who lived under terrible persecution by the roman emperor. As we read it 2000 years later, even if we don’t know all that they suffered,  even if we don’t’ understand  all the details, there are still important messages for us.

Second, going back to the Yertle story would you worry about identifying what each of the turtles, or ponds stood for? This one stand for Poland, this one stands for France? Of course not! That is not at all the author’s intention or concern. We understand that Dr Seuss had a timeless message to convey and we would never pick it apart like that.

•           The book of Revelation was written with a timeless message for Christians in the first century AND the 21st Century. Yet people insist on picking it to pieces. They try to identify each beast with a political figure, each plague with a war, etc… and they completely miss the message of the book.

I am sorry if that is the way you were taught to read Revelation. Some pastors believe that is the correct way. I do not. A bunch of people have made a bunch of money reading it that way.  But most mainline pastors and Biblical scholars would never read it that way, and would never teach you to read it that way. They would teach you to look for the big themes and the timeless messages.

 So let’s take a quick look at the introduction which we read in worship today. The introduction does three things.

1.         It sets the scene by telling us that Jesus came in a vision. The first words are, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place;.”

2.         Second, It identifies the author of the book. It says, “he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,  who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.”

3.         Finally, the introduction tells us that the revelation is to be given to the 7 churches that are in Asia.

If you cut through all the fancy language that is what the first chapter  says Jesus came with a vision for a man named John who wrote it down the 7 churches of Asia.

Let me quickly add, that I don’t recommend skipping the rest of the chapter.  It fleshes out the story with some beautiful images and poetic language.

 The 7 churches of Asia were located in what is modern day Turkey. John had be exiled to an island named Patmos just off the coast. These not special churches. Like every church in the world, they had some things that they did really well. Also like every church in the world, they each had some problems. I think that is why they are named, and described in chapters 2 and 3 of  Revelation.  I think it is to help us to find our place in the book. To realize that the book is for people like us. It is like looking into an ancient mirror. Now, understand, we probably won’t find one of these churches to be exactly like ours, but there are enough different kinds of people here that I’ll bet each and every one of us will feel like we are looking into the mirror at least once this morning.

If you would like to follow along you can find the 7 letters starting on page 245 of your pew bible.

 The First church is Ephesus. They sound like a pretty solid church. They work hard, they are patient, they do not tolerate evil doers, they are discerning, they have even faced persecution. But in the vision Jesus says “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had a first.”

They abandoned the love they had at first.  We all know people who start out on fire, and quickly peter out. One of two things happens, they burn out, or they get bored. That was the problem at Ephesus. They had lost their passion, lost their hope, lost their excitement, lost their joy in serving God. They Got burned out.

There are  Christians who start out with great intentions, but they just work themselves to a frazzle.  They get to where they are over responsible, over worked and overwhelmed. 

Do we know anyone like that?

 The second letter is to the church in Smyrna. Smyrna is a town of 100,000 people about 35 miles from Ephesus. Jesus tells them, “Do not fear.” “Do not be afraid.” In the last days of the 1st Century there was plenty to fear from roman persecution.

What do we have to fear today? (I have to admit this is one where I see myself) We “what if” ourselves to death. What if I can’t pay that bill? What if they don’t like me? What if the car breaks down?  We can drive ourselves nuts.

In the church, it goes more like this… I hear people ask What if we don’t have any kids? What if this big giver moves? What if no one comes? What if we need that mission money ourselves?  What if?  What if? What if?  It is not the real live monsters that scare us, it is the “what ifs.”

Do we know anyone like that?

 The third church is Pergamum. It is only 45 miles from Smyrna. Again, it has good things going for it. It has good worship, they don’t waver even in hard times. Jesus says, however, “my problem with you is that you have some with you who hold to the teachings of Balaam.” For them all of life was a compromise.

Everyone else is eating idol meat; I’ll just eat a little.

Everyone else is going to the pagan temple and having a good time I’ll just go once this week.

I’ll cheat just a little bit.

I’ll just listen to the gossip, I won’t add to it.

I’ll go to church on Sunday, but the rest of the week I’ll do what I want.

Let me tell you, either you live for Jesus or you don’t. There is no middle ground. There is no compromise. But that doesn’t stop people from trying. 

Do we know anyone like that?

 The 4th church is Thy-a-tri-a. This was the birthplace of Lydia the seller of purple. Jesus affirms them for their work, their love, their faith, their service and their endurance. But he calls them out for tolerating a woman named Jezebel who was leading the people into sin.

Jezebel should not to be confused with the Old Testament woman by the same name,. This woman was teaching that anything goes. She went one step future than compromise to say everything is OK, Jesus says he gave her a chance to repent but she refused.  From her perspective she had nothing to repent for.

Let me tell you being a Christian better change your behavior. There are thou shalts, and thou shalt nots. 

Some do not see it that way.  They just don’t see what being a Christian has to do with the way they live.  As long as they believe their behavior is unimportant. Just looking at their lives, their decisions, their habits, you would never know they were Christian.

Do we know anyone like that?

 The 5th church is the church in Sardis which was known for its manufacture of carpet, wool an cloth. Jesus says, “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

These are the people who go through the actions.  They look good on the outside, but on the inside they are empty.  They live like robots doing all the right things, but without any heart.

They go to church, they give, they serve, they help, they talk the right talk; but there is just nothing inside.  Nothing.  They are just empty. Empty like an old tin can.

Do we know anyone like that?

 The 6th church is the church at Philadelphia. Strangely it gets by without any criticism at all.  Jesus says, “ Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” So we’ll move on.

 Finally there is  Laodicea… the one that you read in THE STORY this week. Do you remember what Laodicea’s problem was? . They are accused of being “neither hot nor cold.” These are the apathetic pew warmers.  No matter what you do they sit there like a bump on a log.  No movement, no emotion, no commitment.  They just don’t care.  And Jesus says he wants to vomit them out because they are neither hot nor cold. They are apathetic.

Do we know anyone like that?

 I Now I know I flew through those pretty quickly, but chances are one of them pricked you as it went by. Burned out, Fearful, Compromise, No limits, Empty, Apathetic.  I can look across the congregation not just sitting here but the whole congregation and see people suffering from every one of these. We are really no different than any of those 7 churches of Asia.  So if it were up to us there would be no hope at all.

But I want to tell you today the book of Revelation has an answer to that. 

It says it’s not about you. It is not about me.  It is not about us!

And it is a good thing because As burned out, and fearful, and compromising, and sinful, and empty and apathetic as we are. It is a good thing  the kingdom of God does not depend on us. 

We serve that which is greater. We worship that which is greater.

God is greater than our weakness.

God is greater than our burn out 

God is greater than our fear,

God is greater than our compromising,

God is greater than our sin,

God is greater than our emptiness

 and God is greater than our apathy  And that is exactly What the book of revelation wants us to know. Listen to the passage immediately after the letters to the 7 churches.

 After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here,”  At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald.  Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads.  Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God;  and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal.

Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:  the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.  And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing,

“Holy, holy, holy,

the Lord God the Almighty,

    who was and is and is to come.”

In the end it is not about you and me.  In the end it is not about what we are or what we do. In the end it is not about our brokenness, but about God’s greatness.  It is about spending our lives worshipping God.  It is about giving our lives, in all our brokenness, in all our imperfection in all of our hurts and in all of our failures to God in worship.

It is about standing before the throne and singing to the one who is Holy, Holy Holy the Lord God the Almighty,  who was and is and is to come.”

Let’s sing

HOLY HOLY HOLY