“Like I’m 8 Years Old” (Mark 4:26-34)

With what can we compare the kingdom of God?  How should we describe the kingdom of God?  Have you ever tried to share your understanding of God’s kingdom with another?  How did that work out?

Well, this morning we have Jesus attempting to do just that as he states, “This is what the kingdom of God is like . . . what shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?”  Then he goes about telling his disciples parables . . . parables about what the kingdom of God is like.

 

And, the response of his disciples to this form of teaching was bewilderment, confusion, and frustration because everything Jesus said to them was a clear as mud in their minds.  Basically, this is because the disciples, like most of us, think concretely . . . in black and white.  They want explanations not invitations to exploration.

 

In the movie, Philadelphia, Denzel Washington plays lawyer Joe Miller.  Throughout the movie his character is repeatedly interrupting his clients in mid-sentence with the request that they, “explain it to me like I’m an 8-year-old.”  It does not matter whether it is a traffic accident, taking the finer points of a legal argument, or receiving shopping instructions from his wife, he doesn’t want to hear it unless the speaker can simplify the concept to the level that a second grader can understand.

 

It’s not that the character is stupid, in fact it is quite the opposite.  He knows that to get clarity, you need simplification, and if the speaker can’t boil a thought down to something that a child can grasp, then there’s a good chance that the character, Joe Miller—a lawyer—won’t hear exactly what is being communicated.  He, as a lawyer won’t understand . . . and, neither will a jury or judge.  Thus, he wants it told to him like he was an 8-year-old.

 

The truth of the matter is that we all do.

 

 Jesus does his best to accomplish this.  One would think that the parables that Jesus shares to explain things . . . allegories as examples, that it would be easy to comprehend the message behind the parable.  Or so it would seem.  Yet, parables are not always as black-and-white as they seem . . . not as simple to understand as one would think.

 

Take for example the two parables we heard earlier . . . the parable of the growing seed and the mustard seed.  How would you explain these two parables as they relate to the kingdom of God?  Would we all agree?  Or, maybe, as we hear them, we are wondering what in the world either one has to do with God’s kingdom beyond the fact that Jesus uses them to describe it.  One simple explanation of these two together is that the kingdom of God comes on its own and it comes for us. 

 

Would an 8-year-old get that from these parables?  And, what exactly does that mean anyway . . . the kingdom of God comes on its own and it comes for us?

 

Well, whether we like it or not, Jesus used a lot of parables.  Sometimes they were quite simple to figure out and at other times they were much more difficult.  Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him or his teachings.  Just because Jesus used simple stories—parables—doesn’t mean that the answers were always going to be clear.  Remember we are people of explanation and not exploration.

 

Jesus’ intention with parables was for exploration, not explanation.  A parable is something that is thrown alongside—para meaning alongside, and bole meaning to throw or cast.  There in lies the problem . . . thing of parallel lines.  They shall never meet.  Likewise, the parables and that which they are put alongside of may never meet either, as hard as we might try.  Instead what is created is this constant back and forth between to the two as one is attempting to make sense of it all.  The result is that one ends up seeing the relationship between the two, but not a clear black and white answer.  This means that one sees the kingdom of God differently, while also seeing the parable differently . . . it throws open the possibilities that could be never-ending.

 

I heard long ago while in seminary studying to be a minister that parables and their meanings were like onions . . . layers and layers of meaning.  And, as I like to remind others, that when you peel onions you cry.  So, it is with parables.  That is why the disciples liked it when Jesus gave them the explanation.  That is why we like it when the explanation is provided.  Anything else is unsettling.  That is why Jesus told parables . . . his entry into the world as the kingdom of God was meant to be unsettling.

 

So . . . how do you explain the kingdom of God to another person so that they understand?  How do you explain it so that an 8-year-old understands?

 

Jesus chose parables.  Jesus told parables not for explanation but for exploration.  Not for answers but to engage the imagination.  Not for certainties about faith but for discoveries about how faith works.  Through parables listeners are asked to walk alongside the world’s reality to understand God’s kingdom because God’s presence is in the world and is meant to reveal.  In such revelation glimpses of the kingdom are exposed often upending what we thought was a simple little story.

 

Where does that leave us this morning?

 

Well, if Jesus wanted a specific interpretation to the parables and stories he was telling, he gave it.  But most of the time, he used stories and parables as an invitation for his listener to explore . . . to explore what the story or parable meant to them as individuals, as community, and now as “church”.  It was an invitation to explore one’s relationship with God through Jesus and how that plays out daily.  It was an invitation to see God and God’s kingdom through different lenses.  An invitation to find personal meaning and purpose.  An invitation to explore one’s faith.  In such exploration faith grows.

 

Remember God and God’s kingdom are beyond words that we can use to describe them.  Yet, we try.  We use stories and parables in hope that others will understand . . . and, sometimes it works . . . but at other times it doesn’t and only adds to the confusion and questions.  It is the best we can do.  Jesus invites us to talk in parables.  Jesus invites us to talk in parables because something happens in the telling of parables that cannot occur in just listening to them.

 

How do you speak of God?

 

How do you speak of God’s kingdom?

 

In stories . . . in parables . . . in words that we hope even an 8-year-old will understand.  We do it the only way that we can help ourselves understand.  In the stories and parables we tell we share our experiences of the Holy . . . our experiences of faith . . . our journey with Jesus.  It is the best that we can do when attempting to explain the unexplainable . . . we invite others to explore and discover their own glimpses of the Holy.  Of discovering how a mustard seed reveals God’s kingdom . . . how a faith grows like seed that has been sowed. 

 

Faith is such a mystery to us all as we make the journey.  We do not quite know how it all works . . . like the seed the sower scatters and Jesus tells us, “. . . though he does not know.”   The “good news” is that Jesus invites us to explore . . . to explore the kingdom of God.  Amen.

 

“Always Wanted to be Like You” (I Samuel 8:4-20 & 11:14-15)

 

Part of my childhood was spent living on the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The neighborhood I lived in was close to some woods with a creek and beaver pond where the beavers had built a dam.  There were these two neighbor brothers that I ran around with . . . Mikey and Butchy.  Mikey was my age and Butchy was the older one.  I idolized Butchy . . . he was everything his brother wasn’t.  He was good looking, strong, adventurous, and daring.  Though only two years older than Mikey and me, I worshipped the ground he walked on.  I wanted to be like him.

 

One winter day the three of headed off for an adventure in the snowy woods.  We hiked around in the woods until the afternoon sun started setting over the mountains.  In order to save time and our rear-ends to get home before we were in trouble, Butchy decided that the fastest was back was over the creek at the beaver pond.  Being winter the pond was frozen . . . or at least it looked frozen.  Of course, as a kid the way that you tested the strength of the ice was to throw a rock up into the air and let it land on the ice.  If the ice cracked or broke . . . well, it wasn’t safe to walk on.

 

Butchy threw the rock . . . nothing happened.

 

The bigger and heavier Butchy went across first.  Then Mikey went.  Both safely made it across.  So, with great confidence I stepped onto the ice and began making my way across.  Half-way across there was a loud cracking sound followed by a splashing sound as I fell through the ice.  I was engulfed in cold water and ice up to my chest.  Luckily the pond was not too deep and getting out was quick, but I was soaked and freezing.  The mile back home was one of the coldest I ever did.

 

What did Butchy and his brother do . . . they laughed.  I didn’t think it was so funny.  When I got home and removed my stiff frozen clothes, I was covered with leeches.  But, hey!  I still wanted to be like Butchy.

 

Another time we were kicking a ball around our houses.  To the side of where we were playing were two dogs chained in their yard.  They were barking and growling the whole time we were playing.  Every so often someone would kick the ball into the dogs’ yard . . . growling and snarling . . . challenging anyone to just come and get the ball.

 

Of course, Butchy had no fear.  He just ran up to the ball, grabbed it, and ran back.  The dogs did nothing.  The next time that the ball was kicked up by the dogs, I volunteered to get it.  After all, if my idol could get the ball safely, surely, I could too.  So, I ran up to the ball between the two dogs.  Not even a whimper out of them.  I picked it up . . . turned around . . . and, started walking back to the group.  I hadn’t taken three steps when one of those dog latched onto my calf and bit me hard.  It hurt like . . . well, you know what it hurt like.  But, I still wanted to be like Butchy.

 

How silly of me.  All Butchy ever got me was a lot of pain and trouble.

 

Be careful what you wish for.

 

Our scripture reading comes from the Old Testament book of I Samuel, the prophet.  Samuel plays a key role in the transition of God’s people from a tribal system to a kingdom.  In fact, the story we hear this morning is that conversation between Samuel and the people wanting to be like other people . . . they want a king.  Samuel discusses this with God.  God tells Samuel to let it be . . . give them what they want but warn them.  Warn them about what it could mean if they become like others under the rule of a king.

 

Of course, Samuel is not thrilled with the idea of a king.  Neither is God.  God gets it.  It has been a tough ride for the people and God knows that they are not happy campers.  In their unhappiness they notice that it seems like other people . . . other nations . . . have it a lot easier.  They begin to long for something different, something like everyone else has.  That is their desire and they let Samuel know, who in turn lets God know.  Their complaint is not with Samuel . . . it is with God.

 

Basically, God says, “Okay.  Let them have their king.”  Then God pauses before he tells Samuel to warn them what it means to have a king.  God tells the prophet: “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”  Then God reels off a whole list of things about the autocratic leadership’s expectation as king . . . their sons will be drafted to serve in the king’s military, their daughters will be taken and made to work in the palace as servants, the crops and fields will be taken from them for the kingdom, a tax—a tenth of their crops will be taken from them, and they will become slaves to their king.

 

Samuel did as God told him to do.  The people refused to listen.  They wanted a king just like everyone else.  They declared, “Then we will be like all the other nations . . .”  Next thing you know, the people have their king.  Saul is made the king in the presence of God.  There was a great celebration as the warning from God fades in the noise of celebration.

 

Be careful what you ask for.

 

Here’s the problem . . . none us of were created by God to be like anyone else.  All of us must be who God created us to be.  Yet, we all have longed to be like others at different points throughout our lives.  We’ve wanted to be like others as we perceive them to have better lives and things than we have.  We have all longingly looked over the fence thinking that the grass was greener.  Yet we have been warned . . . as Erma Bombeck used to say, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.”

Forewarned we still push ahead longing to be like someone besides ourselves.

 

It is too bad that we spend so much of our lives longing to be something other than who God created us to be.  We can blame it on the pressure of society . . . a society that is constantly pushing us to be something that we are not.  We could blame it on peer pressure and the need to belong.  We could blame it our own insecurity.  We could blame it on whatever we want to blame it on, but the fact is that we all carry that longing within us to be something else . . . to be like others.

 

Our stubbornness as human beings with free will can get us into a lot of hot water if we are not careful.  Knowing the story of Israel from our Old Testament, we know that being like other people—like other nations—creates lots of havoc and hardship. 

 

And, so it will for us in our life journeys.

 

I eventually got over my infatuation and fascination with Butchy.  I got tired of falling through the ice . . . getting bit by dogs . . . and, basically getting into trouble.  And, you would have thought that I learned my lesson; but there were others I longed to be.  Even now in my ripening age there are moments that I catch myself longing to be like others I see and know.  With perfect 20/20 hindsight I can see that in those moments of my life where I attempted to be someone else . . . well, it didn’t turn out for the best.

 

And, it never will.  It never will because God expect each of us to strive to be the best as who we were created to be.  To be ourselves.  That is what God wants.  God wants us to be ourselves.  And, for most of us we have spent a lifetime trying to be ourselves . . . to be who God creates us to be.  God tries to warn us about this . . . to warn us that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, and if it is, then it is probably over the septic tank.

 

The bottom line is that we cannot be anyone else.  We are who we are as created by God. Israel longed to be like other people—other nations; but in the end this brought to them difficult times and heartache.  We know because we can read about it in the Old Testament.

 

As the children of God, we are created in God’s holy image.  It is God’s desire that we discover fully who we are as a child of God . . . to be who we were created to be.  It is journey of a lifetime that we discover who we are.  That is who God wants to know.  When we long to be like others we deny ourselves the gift and blessing of knowing . . . really knowing who we are as that holy chip off the old block.  That is the person that God wants to relate to . . . to be intimate with.  God wants you and me, not somebody else that we are not.

 

We have been warned about the pitfalls of wanting to be like others.  Let us rejoice in who God created us to be . . . after all we are the children of God.  In us is blessing and grace and love . . . for ourselves, for others, and for God.  What more could any of us desire?  God is good and so are we.  Amen.