In some Native American cultures there are groups of people known as “contraries”. A “contrary” is a tribal member who adopts behavior that is deliberately the opposite of other tribal members. For example, instead of walking facing forward, these individuals walk backwards. When bathing they make themselves dirty and then to dry off they shower themselves with water. They do everything contrary to what everyone else in the tribe is doing. In Lakota the word to describe these people is “heyoka”, which translates as “clown” or “opposite”.
The dictionary defines “contrary” as “opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.” It can also mean being “perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.”
Based on this information . . . and based on our scripture reading this morning . . . I contend that Jesus was a “contrary”.
Maybe you don’t agree.
Consider what Jesus is saying: Jesus says to love your enemies . . . we are not taught to love our enemies. Jesus says to bless those who curse us . . . it is easier to curse back than to bless them, and if we bless them we are not actually attempting to bring blessing upon them. No, we are hoping to embarrass them for their actions. If someone slaps on the face, Jesus says to turn the other cheek . . . weren’t we all taught to defend ourselves . . . to hit back? If someone takes my property to let them do it . . . yeah, right!
It seems to me that everything Jesus is saying goes against everything we know in our society . . . goes “contrary” to what we know and believe . . . at least in the world we are living in today. If actions speak louder than words, then most of the world lives in opposition to the words we hear Jesus speak this morning. It is hard to deny that we are living in a divisive world. There is a definite “us” and “them” mindset. A definite pecking order. And into this setting Jesus has the audacity to tell us . . . his followers . . . that we are to be “contrary” to the world around us! That we are to do opposite of what the world would do.
]Jesus calls us to be “contraries”. Then to stick a fork in it, Jesus says: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” To treat others as you would want to be treated—the proverbial “Golden Rule”! Who among us does not want that? We all do. All we have to do is to do it.
So why the divisiveness? Why the divisive nature of the world we live in? Why is the world divided up into “us” and “them? Why do we have enemies and those we oppose? Why the distrust? The incivility towards one another? None of it makes sense in the presence of Jesus . . . in his words or his actions. None of it fits his call to show us the way to God’s Kingdom . . . or restoring God’s family. So . . . why?
Well, this would be the point in the sermon where I tell you all the reasons why . . . but I am not. No, I am not because there are as many reasons and opinions as there are people sitting in the pews this morning . . . and then some. Besides I think that would only create more divisiveness. Jesus doesn’t care. What Jesus wants is action. Jesus wants a whole bunch of loving going around . . . a whole bunch of blessing . . . a whole bunch of treating others the way we would want to be treated. Jesus wants kingdom building!
Jesus wants us to be “contrary”.
And . . . you’ve heard me say it before . . . it is easier said than done.
At this point I cannot speak for anyone else but myself. When I consider what it is that Jesus is asking . . . well, I’d rather throw in a bigger contribution in the collection plate and call it even. It is difficult to love those who hate you. I can think of a million other things I rather do than to love my enemies. Shoot! I’d rather kiss my sister than love my enemy! Bless those who curse me . . . ha! Tell that to the person who blows by and cuts me off on the highway? The only blessing I offer is an off-handed gesture signaling them that they are “number one”! Allowing people to take the things I worked hard to have . . . nope. Nope. And nope.
I can’t do it. It is not that I don’t want to do it . . . it’s too ingrained in me to be “contrary” to it. And I have to admit that I don’t want to be treated that way either. It stings when Jesus throws in that little kicker, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
And I get it. Nothing is ever going to change if we don’t change. Divisiveness will never disappear. Unity will never materialize. The Kingdom won’t come. Nothing will change if we don’t start living the words Jesus speaks . . . if we don’t start being “contraries”.
People will say that it can’t be done . . . that Jesus wasn’t only “contrary” but he was also a dreamer. We all know what happens to dreamers . . . they get killed . . . nailed to a cross. But Jesus was willing to go that route if that is what it took to get his point across. If not him . . . then who?
It started with Jesus, but it does not have to end with him. As his followers we are called to pick up the vision . . . called to live the hope . . . called to build the Kingdom. If not us, then who?
And so, we stand in the divisive world in which we live and find ourselves challenged by the words of Jesus we have heard this morning. Overwhelmed at the task before us. To treat others as we would want to be treated. To love as we have been loved. To dream about being one family . . . God’s family. Where do we begin?
Begin where you are. One relationship at a time. Remember every journey begins with a step and we can never get to our destination if we aren’t willing to take the step. Yeah, it might feel funny to go against the stream . . . to be “contrary” to the ways of the world. But remember, God’s ways are not the ways of the world. God’s ways are grounded in love. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6a) Let us follow Jesus . . . let us be “contraries”. Amen.
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