Freedom

     The Scripture this week was Luke 17: 7-10. The question was how is this Scripture about freedom?

     This Scripture is about what the Master expects of His servants. Masters don't sit down with their servants when they come in. Masters expect their servants to serve them. They don't thank them either. So Jesus tells His disciples that when they have done everything they have been told to do they should say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty."

Now perhaps we should back up a verse or two.  The parable of Lazarus and the rich man precedes these verses. It is a cautionary tale of serving the poorest of the poor, being present to those around us. Then Jesus warns about the ones through which sin comes to children or those new to the faith. The disciples have asked Jesus to increase their faith. He tells them how little faith it takes to move mountains, faith the size of a mustard seed. Then he tells them about their role as servants and unworthy servants at that and how they should look upon the wonders of what their faith can produce.

What does this have to do with freedom? The congregation had lots of answers from knowing what you are supposed to do and doing it to being aware of our role as a servant. Brian confirmed those to be true, but I have a feeling it is more, much more.

Brian began the sermon asking have we ever wondered why news stories are about Christians who find a lot of money and turning it in is considered news. It should be the Christians who don't turn it in that is news. Then he quoted a chaplain of the Senate who said that Christianity began in Palestine as a fellowship. Then it moved to Greece and became a philosophy. Then it moved to Italy and became an institution. Then to Europe and became a culture. Then Christianity came to the United States and became an enterprise. That is a provocative description of Christianity, especially in the United States, but something about it rings too true.

Someone mentioned that we shouldn't expect a reward for what we do. Brian said we certainly should not expect anything we do to be as worthy of praise as what God has done for us. Would we be Christians if there were no rewards?

So how many of us do what we do for God without thought of anything but a relationship deepening with Him through loving and serving other people? Does that free us from trying to please? Does that free us from thinking we have been anything but unworthy servants? Does that free us to bring about His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven because we recognize our brokenness, our lack of faith, our inability to do anything worthy of the Grace that God has given us, yet we can't help but act as His Body on earth because it is the only way we can be fulfilled? He made us for Him. He is the Hound of Heaven bringing us to Him. We realize that being His Hands and His Feet completes us and allows us to rest in His love.

Engaging

This week at Haywood was full of abundance, abundant flowers, abundant shared blessings, abundant joy at having Shannon back, and abundant gratitude for Brian’s recognition at Emory University. Trader Joe’s, the newest grocery in Asheville, has blessed Haywood Street Congregation for the last two weeks with buckets of fresh flowers. I hope the managers at Trader Joe’s were around to see the excitement of the congregants as they took bouquets of flowers with them to their homes and camps. There is just something about fresh flowers that brings such a boost to spirits. As we head into the cold months, I hope the remembrance of this gift will warm hearts. “Remember the lilies” will be our motto for the winter.

All of us were so glad to have Brian back from Emory after receiving an Alumni Award from the Candler School of Theology. Through him, all of us received note and that is very important for so many reasons.  Also, Shannon Spencer, who has been on maternity leave, was back in the middle of the Holy Chaos at the Welcome Table. Her consistent concern, care, and enthusiasm have been missed and everyone was thrilled to have her back.

Two among us had prayers fulfilled. One of us had a dog that needed a new home due to the owner’s illness. Her dog found that home with one of our Companions. Another Companion shared his happiness at having just signed a contract for a home. He is a success story of persistence in the face of difficulty. Who could help but return his smile?

Now in the midst of all this good stuff there was a note of sadness. Manna, who supplies much of the Welcome Table’s food during the winter months and some of it year round, has been notified that because of the government shutdown it will not be receiving its funding for food. This will affect Haywood Street, but many other agencies and churches who are supported by Manna will be affected. We are especially grateful at Haywood Street for the restaurants that are providing food for meals for the Welcome Table, for Trader Joe’s that is giving us their unsold fresh groceries, and for Dough, a new restaurant on Merrimon Avenue, who gives their unsold bread to Manna. Many churches continue to support Haywood either part of a meal or a whole meal. We thank them also.

That has led me to ask many questions about the place of government and churches in helping people. Jesus was clear throughout the Gospels. The poor, the sick, the hungry, the widows, the orphans, the imprisoned, and children, in general, were deeply and intrinsically connected to Him. When we do for them, we do for Him. I used to think that if there were enough people who were doing well, the “trickle down” theory would work and the less fortunate would be cared for, but that has been proven wrong in such a big way that it is more than obvious. Sinful human nature has won over Grace.

I believe that those of us that want to meet the living Lord do so when we look into the eyes of the suffering and we become God’s arms and legs and bodies to serve them. Now some of my fundamentalist friends would say that we deny the connection between God and His blessings when they come through the government. I have come to believe something very different. In order for me to live my faith with integrity, I have to support caring for the sick, the children, the widows, the poor, and the imprisoned in all ways that I can. Therefore I must support a government that makes healthcare available to all, feeds those who are unable to feed themselves, and educates all children regardless of who they are or where they live. In a democracy it means I vote for people who share my concerns for those people, actually who share my concerns for all people. What I have just written is simplistic, but Jesus doesn’t put any “if they are deserving” on any of his blessings because all are loved in His eyes.

Our Scripture this Wednesday was the parable of Lazarus and the rich man found in Luke 16. Jesus makes clear His point. Brian asked, “Why is the rich man in Hades?”

The rich man is in Hades because he didn’t engage with Lazarus who laid suffering at his gate. He is there because the rich man has made a chasm between himself and Lazarus, a chasm of his own making because he didn’t want to engage with him until the rich man needed something from Lazarus. He first wants Lazarus to drip cool water on his tongue and then he wants him to be his errand boy to tell his brothers about what has happened to him. It is interesting that the rich man did know Lazarus’ name even though he had done nothing for him in his lifetime. If you want to understand more about the chasm, you might enjoy reading C. S. Lewis’s THE GREAT DIVORCE.

Jesus even explains why the rich man will not be helped. He has Abraham remind him of the chasm which no one can breach in either direction, but Abraham tells the rich man that he had a good life while Lazarus suffered so now Lazarus is with Abraham and no longer suffers. Abraham also tells the rich man that even if he sent someone from the dead, the brothers would not believe him. The rich man himself didn’t know he needed forgiveness for his acts of omission.

It is another cautionary tale, but not one about the attributes of heaven and hell. Instead it is a continuation of Jesus’ explanation of the attributes of the values in God’s Kingdom.

What are some of the things we must ask ourselves? Are we engaging with those who need help? Do we not only acknowledge that we need forgiveness, but do we act in such a way as to show that acknowledgement? More importantly, however, are we really neglecting to engage with Jesus when we don’t accept that forgiveness and act in love and with integrity?