September 16 Sermon:
Listen, God is calling you
Today’s
reading began:
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming
near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and
saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2
Why is a religious teacher, a preacher, hanging out with people who
have never shown any interest in religion - who don’t keep the commandments
- who never go to synagogue, the church?
Jesus’ reply is that they are
like sheep who have been separated from the flock, which is an image for the congregation.
If they are not part of the
flock, the church, then the religious folk have an obligation to go out and bring them
back into the flock.
Which, of
course is exactly what Jesus had been
doing, for the gospel began: “All
the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to LISTEN to Jesus” preach and
teach. He was bringing them
back into the fold, the congregation.
Christ’s choice of words is
important: He said that the shepherd
LOST one of his sheep - NOT that it wandered away on its own, but rather, Jesus said its the
shepherd’s fault that the sheep isn’t there - HE LOST IT.
To make that clear, in the
second parable, Jesus speaks of a woman who lost a valuable coin. Obviously that coin didn’t walk off on its own - and no one stole it, since its still in the
house. She misplaced it, she lost it.
Jesus is saying to the
religious, the Pharisees, the
members of the congregation: You may call them “sinners”, because they
don’t observe the religious rules and are not part of the congregation - BUT
they are YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. If you
think that they are “LOST”, then you
are the ones who lost them.
So it’s your job to bring them back into the fold.
* * *
Assuming this community is
like most others in
About half are not active members of a church and almost never attend
worship.
Does that mean they are unbelievers? No. Surveys
consistently show that a vast majority of those who do not attend church believe in God,
and in Jesus.
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In the parable of the Lost Sheep, one has wandered off, in search of some better pasture. From the shepherd’s point of view it
is lost. But from that sheep’s point of view, it is quite
content - it’s found greener
grass than the other sheep. That
sheep is enjoying itself, for now.
Of course the solitary sheep
is in trouble - vulnerable to attack by wolves - and that it
won’t be able to find it’s way back once it’s done
eating. It’s lost but it doesn’t know it.
Those folks who aren’t in the
habit of going to church don’t think of themselves as lost. They are quite content the way they are. But they are missing something.
*
A Sunday School teacher asked the kids one
day, "If all the bad children were painted red and all the good children
were painted green, which color would you be?"
Think about it. What color would you be? Red or Green?
One very wise child answered: "Striped"
Everyone but Jesus is striped. We are a curious combination of good and
bad - lost and found.
Rarely are we completely lost. And rarely are we completely found.
There is always a part of us that needs to be dragged and cajoled into the
light of Christ, and there is always a part of us that is already there. We are
- in some sense - not completely complete.
And in that sense, we’re like
those who don’t go to church. We don’t
think of ourselves as really being lost - and neither do they. But they are missing something. Their life is not complete. They’re outside
the flock - the fellowship of the followers of Jesus. They’ve lost that connection to Christ that
we share. And Jesus encourages us to
invite them into community - to restore them to the good shepherd’s flock. To
reach out with humility - for we’re really not different from those outside the
church - we all need God’s grace and mercy.
But why don’t they go to church?
Most of them have a reason.
Maybe its just that the church
they knew when they were young was one that emphasized the negatives - the
rules about what you can’t do - no drinking, smoking, dancing - lots of
rules about how to be holier than other folks - and it seemed irrelevant
to them, so as adults that haven’t come back.
Or they were part of a church
in which dissension arose over some issue - and they heard how the
members talked in unloving and
unchristian ways.
But actually, the most
common reason folks give for not going to church - the one thing
more people say than anything else –when asked why they are not NOW a member of
a church IS THAT THEY MOVED. “I was a church member, but I haven’t been to
church since I moved here.”
Many say they would go if
someone invited them. Others, that
they’re looking for a church like the one they used to attend where they
formerly lived - but they are not sure how to find it.
The point is there are people out there who are waiting for an
invitation to visit a church. Maybe someone
is waiting for you to ask them.
* * *
Jesus was speaking to the
Pharisees, not the priests. Generally at worship, the Pharisees were not upfront - they were
sitting out where you are.
The Pharisees were the
members of the congregation who were there
every Sabbath, who offered
their tithes faithfully, who studied the
scriptures in Adult classes, and who practiced their faith on a daily basis. They were the committed members of the congregation, and it was to them Jesus told these
parables, the message of which
is simply: Those people outside the congregation - those
who don’t practice their religion - ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
Maybe they’re outside because you haven’t invited them in
*
During the service, a small child was turning around smiling at
everyone. He wasn't gurgling, spitting, or humming, He was just smiling.
Finally, his mother jerked him about and in a stage whisper said, "Stop
grinning! You're in a church!"
But each of these parables concludes with a celebration - even of rejoicing
in the presence off the angels.
Worship is a time for smiles and joys, for we are celebrating God’s love
and blessings.
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Is Jesus speaking to us today?
I think so.
Why should we invite the members of our community to worship
with us - to be a part of
our fellowship - to return to the
flock of which Jesus is the
good shepherd?
Simply because Jesus says that it’s our
responsibility.
Last week, Jesus made some demands of those who would be his
disciples. The point was to say Jesus
is Lord is make Him number one - and to obey his
word. As we’ll sing, Jesus gave the
mandate: share the good news. The mandate, the command of Christ, to share the message with
others. As a church and as
individuals, Christ
says It’s our
job to invite those outside
our fellowship to come and worship
with us.
Scripture would also remind us
that the church has something to offer those who are outside her
fellowship. That one can not really
experience the full joy of believing unless one is a part of the body of Christ,
the church. For it is through the
church, that a believer is connected to Jesus, the true vine. Here is where we grow in faith - surrounded
by brothers and sisters to support and encourage. And it is within worship that
Christ imparts to us His strength, and His grace, and His power,
as he bestows on us a share of His Spirit.
So we’ll sing, Listen God
is calling - calling you and I - through the
word inviting - asking us to let Him work through our words and
deeds - offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.
What are we inviting others to?
A fellowship where they can be drawn closer to God and
experience comfort and joy - the joy of believing.
So we’ll sing Let none be forgotten - spread the invitation to
friends and neighbors and relatives - to just about anyone you know - for God
would call them all to join in the celebration of the kingdom – and Christ’s promise
is that your efforts will result in rejoicing and celebration, on earth and
in heaven.