“Flag Decals and Plastic Jesus” (I Corinthians 8:1-13)

 

I don’t care if it rains or freezes

As long as I have my plastic Jesus

Riding on the dashboard of my car

Yee Haw!!

 

I hope you took note of that . . . I never said I was a singer . . . but I just could not get away with reciting those lyrics.  Those lyrics were meant to be sung . . . with gusto and out-of-tune!

 

Plastic Jesus was a parody written back in 1962 by two men, Ed Rush and George Cromarty, after they had listened to a Christian radio evangelist hawking every sort of knickknack possible promising special spiritual quality . . .  such as the “plastic Jesus” that is the central theme of the song.  The writers were mocking the idea that any object and putting one’s faith in such things to, for example, keep one safe while driving one’s car.

 

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as the objections to the Viet Nam War were building, singer/song writer John Prine wrote the anti-war song Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven in 1971.  The song is about a guy who discovers a flag decal in the Reader’s Digest he is reading.  He runs out to the car and quickly slaps it onto the windshield of his car to show his patriotism for the war.  Then it seems that everywhere he goes he receives another flag decal . . . which he places on the windshield of his car.  This continues to happen until one day he has so many of those stickers on the windshield that he cannot see where he is going . . . hits a tree and dies.

 

He immediately finds himself in standing at the Pearly Gates of Heaven where the man there tells him:

 

But your flag decal won't get you

Into Heaven anymore.

We're already overcrowded

From your dirty little war.

Now Jesus don't like killin'

No matter what the reasons for,

And your flag decal won't get you

Into Heaven anymore.

 

Like Plastic Jesus this song parodies the idea that an object or thing can be substituted for the “real thing” . . . in this case patriotism.

 

This is one of the issues the Apostle Paul attempted to dispel in the “new church movement” of following Jesus.  He attempted to negate the idea that one’s commitment to faith was based on things like making sacrifices to idols or the type of food one ate.  He stresses to those receiving this letter at the gathering in Corinth that this “does not bring us near God . . .”  In fact, he stresses that it can be a stumbling block for those who believe it and those who are witnessing it.  What demonstrates one’s faith is his or her relationship with God and how it makes that person live life . . . is it a life of loving God and others?

 

As a society we seemed to have stumbled into an age of false idols when it comes to show our allegiance and alliance to people, ideas, and things . . . politics and religion seem to be shouting out for people to “prove” themselves as loyalists.  And, how can this loyalty be shown?  Well, we can put our plastic Jesus on the dashboard of our cars and fly our flag decals on the windshields of our cars . . . then people will know that we are good followers of Jesus and loyal patriots.

 

Unfortunately, this would not make the apostle happy.  In fact, Paul would probably tell us that it would not make God happy.  Faith is not measured by whether we have a plastic Jesus protecting our travels or a flag decal declaring our patriotism.  No, faith is an action that shows a relationship with the Holy . . . with God, and how it guides in relating to others.  It is shown in love.

 

It seems that these “external” displays of faith were creating division within the gathering of the faithful.  Sides were being taken.  Lines were being drawn in the sand.  People were getting testy.  The true picture of “being faithful” was being lost in the conflict.  God and God’s will were getting lost in the fight that was brewing.  The in-fighting was dividing the church and was becoming a determent to those on the outside who were watching.  People who could easily be led to miss the real point of loving God and others for some false trust in rituals or objects to define one’s faith.

 

To all this the apostle declared, “Hogwash!”

 

Using the idea behind John Prine’s song about decals . . . sacrifices weren’t going to get people into heaven.  Food choices weren’t going to get people into heaven.  The only thing that is going to a person into heaven is his or her relationship with God and how he or she treats other.

 

Thus, it is that the Apostle Paul warns the people to be careful.  It is easy to get allured into and distracted by those idols that do not matter.  And, it is true!  It is true that we can easily be led down the wrong path when it comes to what represents our faith.

 

Think about it . . . do you want your patriotism judged by whether you are flying the correct flag in your yard . . . whether you have enough flag decals on your windshield?  Probably not.  Neither would you want your faith measured by whether or not you watch a certain tele-evangelist, carry a certain Bible, wear a great big cross, or have a plastic Jesus sitting on the dashboard of your car.  All of this is distractions . . . distractions that take one away from what really matters—relationships.  Relationship with God . . . relationships with others.  Distractions that keep others from embracing what is important when it comes to faith.  In the end it is not the version of the Bible we read, the number of candles we burn while praying, or whether we drink wine or grape juice in celebrating the Lord’s Supper.  In the end it how we relate to God and one another . . . relationships.

 

Presently we are living in a time in which there seems to be a lot of judging going on about us and others.  Judgement that is not based on what is in the heart, but what is displayed for everyone to see . . . whether we have a plastic Jesus or flag decals for everyone to see.  These are no better than those things that the apostle points out to the Corinthians . . . they ain’t what gets a person into heaven.  We know that it is the grace of God . . . nothing else.  And, because we know it, we work on loving God completely . . . we work on loving others . . . work on doing God’s will and striving to fulfill God’s Kingdom.  That is what Jesus showed us in his words and actions . . . it is all about relationships.

 

That is what matters . . . it is not a plastic Jesus . . . it is not a flag decal.  The Apostle Paul tells us: “. . . whoever loves God is known by God.”  That is what gets us through the day and protects us . . . not a plastic Jesus.  Amen!

“Going Through the Motions” (Jonah 3:1-5, 10)

 Our children have grown up, started their own lives, and even created their own families complete with kids . . . so, it has been a long time since Dana, and I have had to do a whole bunch of parenting.  So long that we forgot all about the stubbornness that children can display.  But we have been reminded—almost daily—the difficulties of dealing with obstinate children thanks to a new puppy we got about six weeks ago.  Birdie has been an eye-opening reminder of how difficult parenting can be especially when you want the children—human or furry—to do something they don’t want to do.  That little three-month old ball of fur has reminded us!

Though she is not human she shows a lot of human characteristics and reactions whenever we want her to do something she rather not do.  We get the infamous “eye roll”.  I never thought I would have a pet that could actually roll his or her eyes, but Birdie gives me that look all the time when I want her to do something.  She whines.  She also runs away . . . especially when I want her to come in the house.  She just takes off in the other direction and then plays this game of “catch me if you can”.  She literally digs in her heels and pulls back.  She half-heartedly goes through the motions of following instructions . . . she drops the stick, takes a step, and then goes back and pick it up heading in the opposite direction.

 

Ah, the joys of parenting whether it is a human or furry child!

 

Kind of sounds like the story we are dealing with this morning . . . the story of Jonah.  Jonah sure did not want to do what God wanted him to do.  God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim that they had forty days to change their ways and repent or else . . . or else they would face the dire consequences.  Jonah wasn’t interested in the task . . . he did not care for the Ninevites as they had long been enemies of his own people.  As far as Jonah was concerned, let God punish them . . . wipe them out as far as he was concerned.  Nor, did he want to take on the task.  It was a lot of work and Jonah wasn’t interested in doing the work.

   

Jonah rolled his eyes.

 

Jonah whined.

 

Jonah said, “No!”

 

Jonah dug in his heels . . . refused to be moved to action.

 

Jonah ran off.  He ran off to what was thought to be the end of the world to escape God’s hen-pecking on taking the mission.  In fact, the end of the world was not far enough to run, so Jonah hopped on a boat to get even farther away.

 

Well, as the story shows, you can run from God, but you can’t hide.  We all know the story . . . Jonah runs . . . there is a big storm that gets Jonah thrown overboard . . . a big sea creature gobbles him up . . . he gets regurgitated onto a shore after reluctantly agreeing to do the job.  At Nineveh he goes half-heartedly into the city to do the job.  He basically goes half-way into the city sharing the message, then turns around and heads out.  As far as Jonah was concerned it was better than nothing . . . he did what he was asked to do even though it wasn’t much of an effort.  He did not really care whether the Ninevites got the point or not, as I said earlier, he’d rather they be wiped out.

 

Imagine his surprise when the people listened.  A fast was proclaimed.  Sackcloth was worn.  Everyone changed their ways.  And the storyteller tells us: “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”  Jonah was floored . . . couldn’t believe the results of his half-hearted actions.

 

Our puppy, Birdie, is a smart dog.  She is learning quick that no matter how much she rolls her eyes, whines, digs in her heals, or tries to run the other way . . . she is still going to end up doing what we want her to do.  She is still going to drop the stick . . . still come into the house.  It is getting easier to get her to do what we ask . . . now, if we could only get her to quit rolling her eyes.

 

Like Jonah we are not always quick to the draw in wanting to do what God wants us to do.  We are not always fast to answer the call of God upon our lives.  We display all the behavior of avoidance we can to keep from doing God’s will.  We have all rolled our eyes at God and God’s demands upon our lives.  We have all whined.  We have dug our heels in . . . even to the point of kicking and screaming . . . to not do what God wants us to do.  We have tried running away, but God always seems to find us.  God is patient and will not be denied . . . ask Jonah.

 

No one appreciates when people only go through the motions to get something done.  No teacher appreciates a student who only goes through the motions to complete the assignment and get the grade.  No coach likes for his or her team to go through the motions while playing the game.  And, no parent wants his or her child to go through the motions while living life.  They all want effort . . . honest, heart-felt effort . . . to get the job done.  Such effort shows a buy-in . . . a commitment . . . a willingness to learn and grow . . . a desire to please.  Going through the motions displays none of that and displays an underlying issue.

 

Sometimes we go through the motions because we really do not want to do what we are being asked . . . it might be too hard, it might seem ridiculous, or we just don’t care.  We go through the motions to get people off our backs and hope that it is good enough for them to leave us alone.  That was Jonah’s hope.

 

Sometimes we go through the motions because we don’t trust . . . we don’t trust the one making the request, we don’t trust the purpose of the request, or we don’t trust ourselves.  Whatever the case, trust can sometimes play a major role in us not wanting to whole-heartedly do something we have been asked to do; thus, we go through the motions.  Again, hope by going through the motions we can get them off our backs and leave us alone.  As they say, something is better than nothing.      

 

And, sometimes we go through the motions because we just don’t respect the source of the request or what the request represents.  It is difficult to do things that we do not believe in . . . difficult when we don’t like the person or people who ask us.  Again, we go through the motions in the hope it is enough for them to leave us alone.

 

Jonah did not want to do what God asked him to do.  How often do we act like Jonah when God comes knocking on our door to ask something of us?  How often do we go through the motions when it comes to our faith?  How often have we just gone through the motions to just get God off our backs?

 

The ironic thing about this story is deciding who the story is about . . . is it about God’s desire to save the people of Nineveh or is it about Jonah and his need to change his attitude?  Though Jonah goes through the motions and there is success, he is angry at the results despite it fulfilling God’s will.  Jonah does not care for God’s will . . . he doesn’t get it.  God is for all people . . . all of God’s children, those in and those out . . . God is for all even one’s enemies.  When God’s will is fulfilled, Jonah is not happy that the people were not wiped out despite his half-effort. 

 

In the end, Jonah still does not get it despite the lessons God teaches him.  We do not know what happened to Jonah other than he did not get God’s will or accept God’s will.  Yet those of us listening to this story should get the point . . . sometimes the task that is being asked of us is not the goal.  Maybe the goal is the attitude in which we execute the goal that is important.  In that case, going through the motions (despite evidence of success) is not good enough.    God does not want us to live our faith going through the motions.  God wants us completely . . . body, mind, and soul.

 

In the end, Jonah shows us that when it comes to faith, we cannot just go thorough the motions . . . attitude counts too.  Attitude guides action.  Imagine what would have been accomplished if Jonah had cared . . . imagine what we could accomplish.  Amen.

“Sleeping in Church” (I Samuel 3:1-10 & 11-20)

It was one of those warm mornings in the sanctuary as we gathered to worship.  As the worship service progressed the temperature in the sanctuary rose from the body heat of the congregation that was gathered.  It was that sort of warmth that lulled people to sleep; yet, most the people were hanging in there despite the temptation.  But I noticed one person who was having a little difficulty . . . the church organist—Betty.

Betty had been the church organist for what seemed like forever.  She was in her 70s and still plugging away at the organ every week come Sunday morning.  Betty liked to sit at the organ through the whole service, which is not really a problem . . . except when the temperature in the room got really warm.  I watched Betty as I began my sermon . . . she seemed alert sitting upright on the bench.  As I progressed, I noticed her kind of swirling a bit and every so often leaning forward and suddenly jerking back . . . waking herself up.  As the sermon went along, so did her motions.

 

About halfway through the sermon there was suddenly an ungodly loud noise issued from the organ . . . Betty had lost the battle with sleep and succumbing to the tiredness she had fallen forward with her head hitting the keyboard creating quite a racket  If anyone else in the church had fallen asleep, they weren’t any more . . . including Betty!  It was a rude awakening for those sleeping, but I had to laugh.  That was about as exciting of a sermon as I had ever preached up to that point . . . it got everyone’s attention.  But, poor Betty, well she wouldn’t play the organ for a couple of months because she was so embarrassed.

 

There are several reasons why I became a minister.  True, there was the call of God on my heart to enter the ministry . . . that’s a given.  Any minister worth his or her calling is going to tell you that.  At the same time, well I had other reasons.  One was that if I was going to have to endure someone preaching at me it might as well be me.  The other was that I tend to fall asleep in group gatherings . . . if I was going to church every Sunday, I figured the only way to make it through the whole service without sleeping was to be the minister.  Besides, if I fall asleep during my own sermon . . . well, it is okay for the congregation too.

 

Though young Samuel does not fall asleep in church he is caught sleeping when it comes to God.  In our reading Samuel is sort of an intern to the old priest Eli.  One night everyone goes to bed.  As Samuel is falling asleep, he hears a voice call out to him.  Quickly he responds, “Here I am.”  Then he gets up, runs to where Eli is sleeping, and asks the old priest what he wants.  Eli has no clue what is going on and tells the boy to go back to bed, he was not calling him.  Then it happens a second time as Samuel is falling asleep . . . and, a second time Eli sends the boy packing to bed.

 

When it happens a third time, Eli realizes that it is God who is trying to talk to Samuel.  He tells Samuel to return to bed, but if he hears a voice to answer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”  Samuel returns to bed and soon enough a voice calls out to him, “Samuel!  Samuel!”

 

One would suspect that if God was going to speak that it would be a theatrical production not someone merely waking another from his or her slumber.  Yet, God speaks to people in many ways.  God is alive and well even though there may be those who do not believe it . . . those who believe that the voice of God has been quiet for way too long.  That is how our reading started out this morning, it had been a long time since the people had heard from God.  But the fact of the matter is, God is constantly speaking to us.  The question is whether we are listening.

 

God speaks to us.  True, some have had the dramatic Moses and the burning bush experience, but for most of us it has been in the more subtle ways . . . in ways that touch our hearts, minds, and body.  It might be in the setting of the sun over the Beartooth Mountains, or in the reassuring hug when we are feeling down.  It might come in that moment when the congregational singing is suddenly harmonic, and a chill runs up the spine.  It might be when we witness a person reach out to someone else in their time of need to help them change their lives for the better.  Or, it might be while we sleep, and God speaks to us through our dreams.  God is speaking, always speaking . . . it is whether we are listening.  Whether we are answering, “Here I am” or “Speak, Lord, I am listening”.

 

Last week I shared a quote from Joel Osteen about God speaking to us.  Osteen said: “We think when God speaks to us, there’s going to be a boom out of heaven or we’re going to get some chill bumps, but I really believe that God is talking to us all the time.  He’s talking to us right in here.  I call it our heart, our conscience, but it is the Holy Spirit talking to us.”

 

As I have said before, I do not always agree with Osteen, but on this he got some things right.  God is always speaking to us though maybe not in grandiose ways, but God is speaking to us.  God speaks to us and if we are listening it touches our hearts, our conscience . . . we feel the Spirit moving.  The goal is to acknowledge the voice of God.

 

Once Samuel understood what was going on . . . he acknowledged God’s presence . . . and, he prepared himself to listen.  Conversations are not just talking, in fact, the bigger part of conversation is listening.  I think the reality is that, like Samuel, we have heard God call out to us, but we have rarely allowed ourselves to listen to what God has to say to us.  Why?  Well, I’m not sure but I suspect it has to do with the fact that often what God asks of us seems difficult.  Think about it.  When Samuel gave God his full attention, he was not ready to hear what God had to say . . . God explained to Samuel that God was about to put the big hurt on Eli and his sons.  This was not something Samuel wanted to share with Eli despite Eli saying he could handle whatever it was.  It was a tough situation for Samuel.  Often, I think we believe that whatever is going to tell us it is going to be difficult for us.

 

And, true, it might be.  Think of the times God spoke to people in the Bible.  To the prophets God asked them to confront the people about their sinfulness.  Think about the Christmas story . . . Mary was asked to have God’s child . . . Joseph was told to go ahead and marry Mary. Saul, who became Paul, was asked to share the “good news” with those he had been persecuting.  Jesus was asked to lay down his life.  God seems to have a way of drawing our attention to that which needs to be confronted and dealt with in our lives and world.  Usually it is not a simple task like taking the garbage out.

 

Though God is speaking to us constantly, too often we are caught sleeping.  Ask yourself the question about where have you heard God speaking to you?  Where has the Spirit moved your heart . . . touched your conscience . . . made you have that “aha” moment when it comes to your life and faith?  Made you want to do something to change the way that things are to fit better with what God desires . . . to bring about the Kingdom of God?

 

God speaks to us and we must listen.  We do not have to be theologians or even rocket scientists to talk to God.  God takes us just as we are and touches our hearts to love . . . love of God, love of others.  We know pain . . . suffering . . . hardship.  We know what poverty looks like, what the many “isms” are, and what injustice is.  We know how it feels to be left out, to be ignored . . . to be forgotten.  We know because we have seen it around us and within us . . . in our homes, communities, states, nation, and world.  God is speaking.

 

In this season of Epiphany, we are called upon to enter conversation with God.  As always, Jesus shows us the way through his life, his relationships with others and God, and through his words.  Remember, Jesus is the way. 

 

If you get caught napping in church or life, remember to say, “Speak, I am listening.”  Those around you will probably think you were praying.  But we are called to listen to the One who loves us, desires us, and seeks our assistance in establishing God’s Kingdom in this time and place.  Amen.