“Free from Becoming Stuck”


     Sermon Delivered By Rev. Dick Stetler – July 5, 2020

     Centenary United Methodist Church

    Psalm 34:8-22; Matthew 11:16-19

 

    There could not be a better Scripture than our Gospel lesson this morning to convince us that very little has changed in human nature for thousands of years.  Politicians for centuries have tried to convince their listeners that they will bring people together.  There are many reasons why only a few people in history have been successful in doing so.

    Individuals have their own opinions which they perceive are more accurate than the ideas being proposed by the geniuses who campaigned on what they will do if elected.  The only thing that enables people to unite is by common consent of the public.  This is when everyone chooses to work together for the common good.

    In our lesson, Jesus asked a question that pinpointed why only like-minded people can get along for a while.  He asked, "To what shall I compare the people of today?"  He then proceeded to answer his own question.  He may not have known how applicable his comments were to every generation that has ever lived.

    After giving a number of examples of how people have different tastes and points-of-view, Jesus said:

When John the Baptist came, he fasted and drank no wine.  Everyone said, 'He is crazy.'  When the Son of Man came, he ate and drank wine.  When everyone saw it, they said, 'He is a glutton and a drunk.  He befriends tax collectors and other people who are good-for-nothing.'  (Matthew 11:18f)

    Because of how hyper-sensitive everyone appears to be today, people try to speak so that no one is offended by what we say.  We label this skill as being politically correct.   Such people may be impressive in how they express themselves but who is listening to what they are saying? If they assert themselves too much, they are attacked by their listeners. (Luke 4:28-30) If they are polite, pleasing, and politically correct, they are accused of having no leadership abilities. 

    People with leadership abilities often convinced themselves not to get involved in many discussions where there is a wide range of opinions being shared with angry passions. They would rather watch the circus.

    It may be a miracle that people communicate as well as they do. We have learned to laugh at how ridiculous we must appear.  Political cartoons in the Royal Gazette often capture the humor that can be found in the most passionate exchanges. We love it when someone stands forth and says, "Will you people stop your whining and get over yourselves?"  This is why there was only one Jesus.

    After reading our lesson for this morning, we realize that nothing has changed in human nature.  We are like children in the market place who shout at one another. (Matthew 11:16) Freedom to give voice to our thoughts and feelings can be frowned on by others who cannot move beyond their let me fix it mentality.

    Jesus had an answer that could set people free from ever becoming stuck in the verbal quicksand.  Our lesson today ends with these words, "God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results."  It should not be a surprise to anyone that God's Wisdom was repeatedly defined by Jesus as living by the Golden Rule.

    What do we think about someone who expresses very few opinions about anything?  This is a fascinating question. These people approach everyone they meet with a spirit that exudes kindness, tolerance, patience, and forgiveness.  Who are these people who refuse to express how they feel about the opinions held by others? 

    We know what Jesus taught.  What is intriguing is that for most of his ministry, he never told people what he was thinking or feeling.  He shared the results of living in the realm that produced only loving responses to others in spite of what level of awareness the others were experiencing. 

    Of course, everyone immediately turns to the moments when Jesus did ventilate his frustrations with people. We love to cite the moment when he used a whip and kicked over the tables of the money changers. (John 2:15f) We remember the moment when Jesus scolded his listeners, "How unbelieving and wrong you people are!  How long must I stay here with you?  How long must I put up with you?" (Matthew 17:17)

    What harm is done by listening to how others are expressing who they are?  They are only revealing their level of spiritual maturity.  When we hear the lies that others are spreading as truth and we counter their absurdities with our opinions, we fit right into Jesus' teachings that we are like children shouting at each other.

    Jesus loved people right where he found them. (John 8:11) What enabled him to do that?  What did he have that helped him to remain compassionate toward people who held different points-of-view? He patiently exhibited what he taught, "God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results."

    People who have learned to love in its truest sense are communicating what the Apostle Paul wrote:

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous, conceited, or proud; love is not rude, selfish, or irritable; love does not keep a record of the faults of others, and is never happy with deception but responds very well to what inspires others to take the high road.  Love never gives up because its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Loving energy is eternal. (I Corinthians 13:4-8a)

    Jesus had a unique way of communicating.  Part of his ability was the spirit in which he delivered his words.  That spirit was always focused on guiding others to safe harbors. It was that spirit that brought a consistency that others may never develop. 

    Some people choose to live highly competitive lives.  They are always striving to be winners in everything that they do.  When there are many Alpha humans striving for the gold medals, life can become a contact sport that attracts millions of viewers.

    Jesus was intentional when he spoke to others why the first will be last and the last will be first. (Matthew 20:16) Jesus was also detached from needing a particular outcome from the words that he spoke.  He knew that his listeners had to take total responsibility for their level of spiritual maturity.

    Unfortunately, being a servant to others is not an attractive goal for the majority of people. However, being such a person gives themselves total control over their emotions. Expressing loving-energy is a gift to oneself.  There are no worries, no fears, no insecurities, no anxieties, and no diseases being caused by thoughts and emotions. They have learned how to bypass becoming their own worst enemy. 

    When a person's energy is directed only in the direction of helping others to find greater spiritual freedom, how does one accomplish that with consistency? The answer comes to those who understand that they are angels who are on loan to a world filled with people who are expressing various stages of their evolution. Their mission is simple.  They come to sow seeds of kindness in everything that they do and trust God to make the changes in people.

    One afternoon, I was on my way to visit a patient in our county hospital.  As I was making the turn to get on to another highway, a police car had stopped someone. However, as I got closer, it became apparent that the two policemen where changing the tire on a car that belonged to a very pregnant woman and her little daughter.

    I may have been the only person to see that taking place. That sight made a change in me.  That scene entered my mind this week because of the hysteria in many places in the United States causing leaders to slash the budgets or do away with their police departments.  Again, we can see the wisdom of Jesus when he used the metaphor of children in the market place shouting at each other with their different points-of-view. 

    The characters and scenery are different throughout history but the themes are just the same. What did Jesus teach?  "Bring your loving presence on to the stage where the play is unfolding and God will produce the results."  The world is a wonderful place to practice being a citizen of the Kingdom of God while still being a Bermudian or any other nationality. What matters are the results of our living, not our ethnicity.  We opened our service this morning by singing, To God Be the Glory. That is all that we need to know in order to live as fully mature adults. God will do the rest.

     

    CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

    Loving God, in spite of our stage presence, our desire for peace can easily become sabotaged when we become upset by trivia.  Our desire for confidence is often eroded by our numerous fears.  Our desire to love others is often hindered by our knowledge that we are right and they are mistaken.  O God, our world hungers for guidance and for community. Help us to remain attentive to the knowledge that your will is unfolding just as you planned.  When we trust that understanding, peace is within our grasp.   Amen.

     

    PASTORAL PRAYER

    We thank you, God, for placing within us the desire of wanting freedom.  There is no better teacher for valuing freedom than to have it taken away.  We have experienced such a draught during the last four months. Even though some of us are not wise stewards of our choices, we realize that freedom is the best environment in which to grow and live abundant lives.   

    Today we are grateful for our island and for our government that has done its best to keep us safe from the virus that is sweeping over the world. We are grateful for the rules that were suddenly imposed.  They were designed to give direction and purpose to the freedom we did have.  Even though we share great diversity of opinions, many of our values are commonly shared and cherished.  When we use our choices to be in service to each other, we share an abundance that would not have happened without all of us working together. 

    Each day, we are given the opportunity to redefine who we are.  In spite of our circumstances, we can choose kindness.  We can decide not to hurt others with our words.  We can work on being more forgiving and generous. We can become the presence that stills troubled waters simply by being a part of people's struggles.  As we ask for mercy from you, so may we offer mercy to everyone whether they request it or not.  During these troubling times in the world, we are grateful that we are disciples of your son who taught us to say when we pray . . .