29 Why NOT Me?!

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"Why NOT Me?!"

When bad things happen to us, we say, "Why Me" When we
suffer, we should ask "Why NOT Me?"
Today's Scripture is like a phone call from the Apostle Paul to his
protege, Timothy, inviting him to suffer. To suffer what? To suffer the
high cost of discipleship. Paul knew what it was to suffer - to pay the high
cost of discipleship. He worked harder than anyone. He was put in jail
more often, whipped more times. He faced death again and again. Five
different times he was given thirtynine lashes with whips. Three times he
was beaten with rods. Once, they stoned him. Three times he was
shipwrecked. Once he spent the whole night and day adrift at sea. He
traveled countless miles, facing danger from flooded rivers and eager
robbers. He faced danger from his own Jewish people and from the
Gentiles. He faced danger from those who were Christians and those
who were not! He often went hungry and thirsty, was left shivering with
cold, with not enough clothing to keep warm.
Now if I tell our prospective members today that that is what they
are going to endure, I don't think we will have any show up for Membership
Sunday next week!
Paul suffered for God because he was prophetic. He had vision.
He, more than anyone else was responsible for the growth of the followers
of Christ who were called The People of the Way (i.e. the way of Jesus.)
After trying to stop the movement by persecuting the people involved in it,
he became its chief advocate - after the Resurrected Jesus stopped him in
his tracks on the Damascus Road - and he became the chief advocate for
Jesus both to his fellow Jews - who had loved him for persecuting the
Christ followers, , and now hated him for being one of them. And the
Christians themselves, as they were later to be called - they were for the
most part Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah and hated him for
allowing non Jews to become part of the movement. He was so prophetic
and ahead of his time that everyone hated him. Were he living in this time,
he would undoubtedly be a member of our denomination, The United
Church of Christ which is a church of firsts - right from the first.
Our forbearers were the Pilgrims who left Eurupe with their Pastor,
John Robinson, urging them: "God has more light and truth to break
forth out of his holy Word." They wanted no church hierarchy telling
them what to do. Each congregation they formed was self-governing,
calling their own ministers, - hoping to be a model for a just society lived
in the presence of God. Their leader, John Winthrop prays that "we
shall be as a city upon a hill...the eyes of all people upon us."
The Congregationalists (we're from the Congregational side
of the UCC merger) were among the first Americans to take a stand
against slavery. They rebelled against unfair tea taxes - you've
heard of the event - the "Boston Tea Party." (That was SOME
party!).
They ordained the first African American Pastor, the first woman
pastor, the first gay pastor, and the first to pass a resolution supporting
same-gender marriage equality. When people take prophetic stances
they suffer. In the 1960's, for example, a businessman in a small Southern
town spoke up for racial justice. He made the effort to hire African
Americans in his business. Why? "Because I am a Christian. I am a
Baptist, and we try to do what the Scripture tells us to do." he said.
People in the town did not say, "It is wonderful to see someone
doing what Jesus would do." No, they said, "He is a fanatic! Joe
has lost touch with reality." And Joe's once thriving business began
to decline as people no longer patronized him because of his stand. In
four years, he was out of business.
In our denomination, with every one of these decisions that made
us "first" we lost congregants, chuches and even associations. La Iglesia
Unida Conference in Puerto Rico recently withdrew from the UCC.
But as some leave, others arrive - particularly those who previously
have not felt welcome - to whom no pastor has ever said, "No matter
who you are or where you are in your life's journey, you are welcome
here."
Years ago, The Rev. Harold Wilke who headed up our UCC
disabilities ministry got after us to make our church accessible. He was
truly amazing and inspiring. Born without arms, he did everything you and
I do - only differently. He could reach in his pocket with his foot, take out
a quarter, put it in a payphone and make a call. He ate with one of his
feet. When he visited we knew we were going to be very uncomfortable.
Not at all. He did it so naturally. He wrote with his right foot and when
President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act,
newspapers worldwide carried a photo of the President handing Harold
Wilke one of his pens, which the Rev. took with his left foot.
Somehow, we have been able to get our mind around how those
who are excluded by their difference feel inside, and we have managed to
manifest the Christ spirit, to set those exclusions aside. As a church we
went on record as being open and affirming of all - why? Because we
believe that God Is Still Speaking - that the Holy Spirit that Christ promised
us to guide us has led us into new truth. And that truth that has freed
others has often been very costly to those who fought for it.
Your job, as a modern follower of Christ, is to keep you mind
open to new truth while being willing to fight for old truth that should not
be set aside - and may God help you to decide which is which. Billy
Graham whose Christian faith is so respected by so many around the
world, has always had more of an open mind and a more accepting spirit
than some of his colleagues cared for. He has never taken his fame all
that personally, nor did his wife Ruth it seems, but it was true that while he
was out getting famous, Ruth was home with the kids! Roving Guideposts
Editor, Elizabeth Sherrill, whose mother was a member of our church tells
of her son's being rescued by Billy Graham. The boy climbed a cliff and
suddenly was in danger of falling. They saw Billy running with a ladder -
and yes, he rescued the boy - carrying him down the ladder at which point
his wife Ruth said, "Now I've actually seen someone who was 'saved'
by Billy Graham." May we all take God more seriously than ourselves.
We can do that.
Fortunately our God is a living God who is active in our lives.
Note that the Apostle Paul says, "Join me in suffering for the
Gospel...relying upon the power of God who has saved us and called
us with a holy calling, not according to our work, but according to
his own purpose and grace."
We're not called by God to be small and little and mean, but to be
large in spirit, forgiving and accepting. Sometimes in churches, we members
get the facts wrong - without meaning too we think we're grand and God
is small. Pastor and writer, Rick Warren cautions us: "I've always said
the shoes must never tell the foot how big to be."
One of the great privileges of Communion is to get close to Jesus
and let HIS LARGE GENEROUS SPIRIT wash over our own so that
we can reflect His Spirit in the world, while enjoying Its Presence Within
us.
Ask that Spirit to teach you what it is that God wants you to do
for His sake - regardless of the cost. Find out the gift that God has given
you and use it to God's Glory. "Now I want you to use that gift and
let it grow more and more like a small flame grows into a fire."
Come to this sacred table, not because you must, but because
you may. (Communion Liturgy continues)

Communion Meditation Notes(Not edited nor proofed)The Rev. Dr. Garth R. Thompson Pastor, M.B. Community ChurchA sermon (or meditation) is a simple truth told by someone whobelieves it to people he knows and loves (Phillips Brooks)October 7, 2007 10:30 a.m.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our heartsbe acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.