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"Kindness Requires No Theology" Sermon Delivered By Reverend Richard E. Stetler – September 30, 2012 Centenary United Psalm 131; Mark
9:33-41 Our lesson this
morning from Mark is filled with themes that we know apply to us.
We find a number of them challenging to practice on a daily
basis. We also know that
Christianity is filled with theology that claims to guide us toward our
personal salvation from all the temptations that we encounter from the
material world. Kindness, however,
appears to be a universal language set apart from religious beliefs that
can be recognized by most people all over the world.
In Mark’s Gospel, there is a text that can easily be overlooked
by readers. Jesus said, “I
assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong
to me will certainly receive a reward.”
(Mark 9:41) Jesus knows of what
he speaks. Often the reward
is immediate. When we are
kind, most of us have our biological systems flushed with endorphins
that make us feel good after our deed.
A person does not have to
be one of Jesus’ followers, have a theological belief system or hold any
unique religious orientation toward life in order to express kindness.
When we experience kindness it is a wonderful moment for both the giver
and the receiver. For a number of
years, another pastor in our Conference and I used to take a week and go
fishing in several of the large lakes in the State of The setting was one
of which dreams are made. One day we put our boat into one of those
lakes where no houses could be seen around the shoreline.
We were surrounded by majestic mountains and occasionally we
would see a moose and her off-spring drinking at the edge of the lake.
Bill’s electronic fish-finder always found large schools of white
perch swimming under our boat. Catching fish was guaranteed and
sometimes we caught two at a time. After we had spent
the day on the lake, our routine was to clean the fish and put them in
the freezer to bring back to Dick was a most
engaging man that carried himself with a gregarious spirit that had no
boundaries. He was the kind
of man you thought you had known your entire life.
After a wonderful evening, Dick
left us around 8:30 p.m. claiming that he was an early riser.
His parting words were, “I know the fish get hungry early in the
morning. I’m on the lake about the time the fish are getting out of
bed.” The entire evening was remarkable.
When Dick left, Bill
and I commented about his unique ability to fit right in with two
strangers. The next day we
asked some of the others at the lodge about Dick and they said, “None of
us have ever met anyone like him.
A number of years ago, Dick’s wife divorced him and left him with
six children to rear. Not
only did he raise them alone but he successfully managed to see each of
them graduate from college.
All of them went into different fields and are doing very well.”
The manager of the
lodge went on to say, “What sets Dick apart from most people we know is
his attitude and his outlook on life.
He has been a wonderful neighbor to all of us in this community.
He has patched our roofs, repaired our decks, rebuilt two of our
piers, fixed our porches and never thought a thing about it.
If we bought the materials, he would fix everything and never
take a penny. Most of us
believe that Dick has never had a bad day in his life.” Regardless of what
our faith and our theology teach us, think of how much better the world
would be if everyone displayed the attitudes that Dick had cultivated.
He did not have to witness or give a testimony about his
religious beliefs for us to understand what he had going on inside of
him. He
appeared to have no regrets because life is what it is regardless of
what anyone thinks about it. If
he personalized anything about someone else that had the potential to be
upsetting, he used it as an opportunity to step up and be of service. This is why Jesus
was teaching his disciples how useless it was to argue over which one of
them was greater than all the rest. (Mark 9:33f)
The person who was helpful and kind to everyone had the spirit
that was most helpful in every circumstance.
One disciple said,
“But Master, we found a person who was driving out demons in your name
but he was not one of us. We
stopped him.” Jesus quickly
responded, “Never stop anyone who is healing others.
This work requires everyone to remain in community even if they
are not part of our group.” (Mark 9:38f) There was a
beautiful example of kindness that was told by a missionary in Later in the
afternoon, she was sitting on the verandah of her home watching a
company of laborers enter the village square.
They were carrying heavy packs.
Tired and thirsty the group sat down.
Had they asked anyone in the village for water, they would have
been told to find their own water.
There was no love shared between people of different tribes.
Suddenly, her eyes saw movement coming from her mission school
house. A line of little
girls emerged carrying water jugs on their heads.
Shyly and fearfully
they approached the group of weary men.
They knelt before them and offered the men their water.
The men were greatly surprised, accepted their kindness and, gave
the empty jugs back to the girls.
The innocent girls knew nothing of the specific boundaries
between tribal people. They
quickly turned and ran back to the missionary’s home where they proudly
announced, “We have just given some men a drink of water in the name of
Jesus.” We can only imagine
what the world would be like if people were kind to each other everyday.
We clearly know how to extend our kindness and generosity to
acquaintances and friends.
Jesus, however, taught a more encompassing lesson, “What good is it,” he
said, “if you love those who love you.
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good things only to those who do good things to
you, why should you receive a reward?
Even sinners do the same.” (Luke 6:32f) There is a tendency
among some Christians to link kindness and courtesy to our entrance into
heaven. To think of getting a reward from God for being kind is to miss the
mark. Reward comes
automatically when we are kind, when we forgive and let go or when we
give to people without counting the cost to us.
Being in heaven now is open to
everyone. The man who
brought us the fish chowder had spent most of his life in heaven.
Remember the time
when Jesus’ disciples asked him when the It is best to be
kind simply because that is the way we choose to be every day, no matter
what is happening or where it might lead.
Kind people are never disappointed because they are not looking
for anything to come back.
In today’s climate, kind people are surprised even by hearing the words,
“Thank you!” When some
external reward does come, they are surprised. For example, a young
man was beginning his life’s work as the night manager of a small hotel
in The manager
explained that his hotel was filled as well.
As the three looked at each other, the young man said, “I cannot
send you two away on such a stormy night.
It’s one o’clock in the morning!
Let me see what I can do.”
The manager returned
in 20 minutes and invited them to follow him.
When they arrived at a room, the older man said, “Son, this is
your room, isn’t it?” He
said, “No, not any longer. I
really want you to have it.
I’ll make do.” The man said,
“We can’t impose on you like that.”
He said, “I insist. Please take the room. You have a fresh set of
towels and linens on the bed.
You are all set.” The
couple thanked him for his kindness. When the gentleman
was paying the bill the next morning he said, “Son, you have made a
lasting impression on me.
You are the kind of man who should be managing one of the best hotels in
our country. Perhaps some
day I will build one for you to manage.”
The manager broke into laughter at the compliment being paid and
bid the couple farewell on their journey. Two years passed.
One day the manager of that small hotel received a round-trip
ticket and a note asking him to come to The young man did
not know what to say. He
blurted out, “You are joking?”
“No indeed,” he said.
“When I stayed at your hotel several years ago, I signed my name W. W.
Astor. My full name is
William Waldorf Astor and I plan to call this new hotel,
The Waldorf Astoria.
With eyes as large as saucers, George C. Boldt took the job
and managed the hotel for years.
One day he purchased that Hotel.
Expressing kindness
need not lead anywhere.
However, when kindness is the signature of our personality, doors open
everywhere, including the one that allows us to know eternity is ours –
not as a reward, but as a reality
that what is true for us here will continue to be true when we leave
this world. The more we
shine the brighter we become.
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