| January 19, 2003 | Bruce Miller | |
| Matthew 16:13-19 | What Do You Do In There? |
If you were to walk out of this church today and bumped into a an individual who was standing on the sidewalk looking at the church as well as looking toward you and said, "Tell me," pointing towards you at the church, "what is it that you believe in there?" What would you say? Would you think he is pointing at you and asking you directly or what we all believe in here? So he repeats himself, "tell me, what is it that you believe in there?" What would say? Would you be able to provide an answer? Or would you realize that you did not have an answer, or did not know how to put it into words. And as you stood there trying to compose something, the man said, "Never mind. I'm sorry if I bothered you," and walked away.
Would you be bothered by this event? Well, as he walks away he suddenly turns toward you and ask you: "Well if you do not know or can not tell me what you believe in there, just what is it that you do in there?" How would you answer?
In a way Jesus is that man on the street, asking the question about what it all means; asking the question to you and me. For each one of us today it is "back-to-basics" time, time to get to the heart of what it all means for the disciples and for us.
The book of Matthew reveals that Jesus by this time has become quite a popular and public figure. Feeding a multitude, casting out demons, using the power of language to make people feel closer to God than they have ever felt in their lives, Jesus is doing it all. And now he pauses on his journey and becomes the man on the Street, "Who do people say that the Son of man is?" How would you answer this question? The disciples obviously have been taking notes and so they pull out their little notebooks, flip the cover over and say, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets." Those disciples have done their intellectual homework well and reported what others said they believed. Yes, they have done their intellectual homework.
But Jesus isn't through with them. He asks "But what about you, who do you say I am?" And Simon Peter, always with his hand up practically launches from his seat: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replies, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not `prevail against you." In effect, Jesus goes on to say "Peter, you have a mission. You are going to be the foundation of this movement that I have started. You, Peter, you, the rock. Upon you many rocks will be built, and nothing, not even Hades itself, will prevail against you...."
What does this mean to you today as you sit here in church? That is our legacy. Upon this rock, upon Jesus and his love, this uniquely called community of faith, this church, is built. This church, the Wading River Congregational Church. We did not invent ourselves to serve ourselves. Rather God has called us into being. God has called us into being to be a new kind of community, a different kind of community that has reached out and been a rock of salvation and hope down through the ages. How many of you here this morning have experienced the love and support of others in this church family? In times of birth and life, in times of tragedy and loss, in times of reconciliation and reunion, the church, this church is to be, should be, and if you work at it will be, that rock of stability, hope, faith and love.
Jesus the rock. Peter the rock. You the congregation of this church, the rock. "Upon you, Peter, the rock, I will build my church," Jesus continues. This is the first usage of the word "church" in reference to Christ's Body, and it's his way of saying there is a new movement let loose on this planet. God's reign is here - the Kingdom of God is at hand, Jesus said, right now - and it is present and active through this new community, this new kind of movement that does things differently.
We live in a world that keeps trying the same old paths to alleged happiness and success, (buying of objects, or the saying "the one who has the most toys at the end wins" -- wins what?) How very much we need a movement based upon the Rock of Jesus and his love. How very much the world needs a community that will risk to reach out to the people nobody else wants, those who are scorned, those who are grieving, those who are lost, and we say, "Here is life. Here is a fresh start. Here is a group of people who will love you, no matter what. Here is an opportunity to discover who you are as God's special and beloved child and grow in that relationship." Upon this rock of God and God's love, God is building a new community, a community whose mission is to transform the world.
And the really, really good news is that we can never be defeated. Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of tragedy, sorrow, depression, gates of Hades shall not prevail against you. "The gates of Hades." Have you ever seen gates attacking anything, doors flying at you? Sometimes people in the church use these words as a reason to feel secure, that in our cozy fellowship, we will be safe. Yes, we're protected here from the world and its evil. We're safe here. Hades is not going to get us here. But unless you do believe in flying doors, that's not what these words mean.
Instead, these words tell us what our mission is, as individuals and as a church. We are called to raze the negative that exist in this world that's r-a-z-e. Beat down. Go on the offensive against. God commissions us to go on the offensive against whatever is trying to bring the faith of God down, where ever and in what ever form it may be found; the loneliness, hopelessness, poverty, the addiction and feeling lost; the rat race, death, and paralyzing fear (you name the rest.) We are to go on the offense and support one another against what ever is trying to bring the faith of God down.
How many people are looking for a way out, searching for Good News --- The Good News, in the midst of so much bad news. Where do you go for this good news? You turn to your faith, to God. You come here to your church to recharge your battery, to receive the Hug, that spiritual hug, the hug that assures you that He is with you. You come to your church for that special greeting, a hello, a smile, a handshake, a feeling of support, a special prayer; you are welcomed with acceptance and love. God's will, faith and love are with you.
We meet life's challenges in their entire forms head on, and offer a new way: Life. Why? Because the God we worship has already won the victory. Indeed, we believe in a different way, the way of life. We proclaim life, we call forth life: that is our mission, our reason for being.
You are three weeks into the New Year; many of you made resolutions. Think about what you stated as your resolution? Maybe we need to make commitments to our self and our church. While the commitments, whether financial, spiritual, physical you are making are to build and maintain a house of worship, they are really about much, much more. Your commitment and giving will strengthen us directly and indirectly in going toe to toe against the challenges we all face. And we will win. We will win. That is God's promise, which I believe.
By the way, what was your best Christmas gift? What would you consider an ideal gift to give? To receive? The Red Cross speaks of blood donations being "the gift of life." That is what your participating in and giving to this your church is also. It is the gift of life and hope, peace and forgiveness, healing and community to people who are dying for the lack of these.
So, let us make a statement of faith. When the guy on the street stops and asks you what you do in there, and asks you what you believe, tell him. Tell him, and tell anyone who asks, that in here we give the gift of life, the gift of hope, gift of peace, gift of forgiveness, gift of healing, gift of faith and gift of love to all who enter through these doors.
Amen.