“Consumption” (Galatians 5:1, 13-25)

Years ago, I watched a documentary by Bill Moyers, Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth.  Joseph Campbell was a mythologist—a person who studies myths and how they impact the world in which we live.  In one segment Campbell spoke about how one could tell what was the most important to individuals, communities, and cultures.  He stated that all one must do to determine what was most important was to see what took up the most space and time.

For example, he said to look at the largest buildings in cities.  He pointed to Salt Lake City as a prime example.  When the community first started, churches were the tallest buildings . . . then came the government buildings which were taller . . . and, then, eventually, financial institutions and businesses.  If you have ever been to Salt Lake City, you know what he is talking about.

When living in Nebraska we saw this even in the small rural communities we lived in.  Looking at the size of the buildings in the towns, I could easily see how things stacked up by the tallest structures . . . churches were pretty large, but they were usually dwarfed by the government’s structures, which were then dwarfed by the biggest business in the area.  Know what the biggest structures were in rural Nebraska?  Grain elevators.  It was not difficult to see what drove the community in rural Nebraska.

I was so fascinated that by what Campbell was suggesting that I thought I would translate that into individuals and families.  Whenever visiting folks in their homes, I took note of what was the largest thing in their house.  What do you think I discovered?  Televisions.  I was amazed at the size of televisions in people’s homes.  The bigger the television, odds were the more time spent in front of them.

There is the old saying about where the heart is there lies the treasure.  According to Campbell—flipping the axiom, where the treasure is, there lies the heart.  This is where our time, energy, and resources go.  Where we spend these is where our hearts really lie.  This is what consumes us.

We live in a consumer society.  It does not take much to see this.  If you turn on your television or radio you will be flooded with commercials shouting at you to purchase this or that.  Commercials mesmerize is into consumption . . . buy this, buy that to have the best of life.  It becomes a way of life as we pursue having the “good life”.  It is where we put all our time and energy.  In its seduction, it consumes us.

In our scripture reading this morning, the author is concerned with what it is that consumes the faithful’s lives.  The author wants to know where the people are really putting their time and energy . . . wants to know whether or not it is in following in the footsteps of Jesus.  The author wants them to be consumed with the life and teachings of Jesus.  The author writes: “. . . serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  In the writer’s heart-felt opinion this is what should consume the hearts and lives of those who follow Jesus.

As we listen to the writer of this letter to the Galatians, the question becomes for us the readers . . . what consumes our lives?  Where is it that we are putting our time, energy, and resources?  Where is our consumption?  Is it in following the words and life of Jesus, or is it somewhere else?

Well, I can tell you this . . . I’m not wading into that.  I’ll let you answer that question for yourselves.  I’ll let you answer that question for yourselves because you are the only ones who can answer it.  But, as I allow you the privilege of pondering that question, I will say to you that it will not be that difficult to answer.  It won’t be difficult because, as a follower of Jesus, you have the Spirit to guide you in that discernment.  The Spirit will challenge you . . . the Spirit will show you the way.

The writer tells us that in following Jesus, that “the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”   In what consumes our life we hold up the fruit of the Spirit and determine how we stack up.  And, what do we discover?

We discover that we are constantly being challenged.  Challenged in the way that we live our lives daily to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”  As much as we desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we all know that we fall short of living up to those “fruits of the Spirit” that the author speaks about.

As I have entered the last third of my life, I can honestly state that there have been periods in my life where I have been consumed in things less than the desires of Jesus.  There was the period when I got caught up in the Beanie Baby fad.  It consumed my time, energy, and resources as I sought out strike it rich in the commodity of little stuffed animals.  I even fooled myself in believing it was a worthwhile pursuit because my children were interest in it.  Needless to say, . . . I’ve got boxes of worthless stuffed animals if anyone is interested.  I also got swept up in sports cards . . . got lots of them too.  I can honestly say that neither of them has gotten me any closer to the gates of heaven at this point in my life. 

Basically, they were distractions.

In C.S. Lewis’ book, the Screwtape Letters, he affirms the purpose of such consumption.  If you have never read the book, I recommend that you do.  The book is about a junior devil named Wormwood who is assigned his first individual on earth.  His task is to either convert his individual to the dark side or to at least keep him away from Jesus.  Having an uncle who had previously served up on earth, Wormwood attempts to use his uncle to give him advise and guidance.  His uncle’s name is Screwtape.

The greatest advice that Screwtape can give his nephew is to distract the individual.  Get the individual interested in everything but Jesus and his teachings and life.  He gives him all the usual vices . . . politics, religion, work, the other sex, money, and so on down the line.  If Wormwood can succeed in keeping the individual’s heart and mind off Jesus, then it is a victory whether the person goes to the dark side or not.

A simple definition of sin is that which separates a person from God . . . separates the individual from fully living in that intimate relationship with God.  The author of this letter to the Galatians names the obvious ones, but we can name the others.  The Spirit has a way of piquing our hearts about whether our lives are in step with Jesus and his teachings.  We are not ignorant on the subject . . . we know.

Thus, it is that the author admonishes those who are reading this letter to get in step with the Spirit . . . to have love, be full of joy, to seek peace, to be patient, to be kind and good, to be faithful, to be gentle, and to control themselves. The author wants the only consumption of our lives to be grounded in that one single command . . . that one thing that Jesus lived and taught . . . that we “Love our neighbor as yourself.”  Nothing else matters.

And, the reward for such a lifestyle is freedom.  Freedom to discover who God created you to be . . . freedom to embrace others . . . freedom to live.  Jesus came to set us free.  As the author states: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free . . . the fruit of the Spirit is love . . . and, since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”  In simplest of terms, the writer calls us to be consumed with Jesus.

May we all discover that which guides our hearts . . . and, may it be in the footsteps of Jesus.  Amen.

“The Miseducation of Faith” (Galatians 5:1, 13-25)

I imagine that just about every person here is familiar with The Wizard of Oz . . . we’ve all seen it at least a couple of times in our lifetimes.  The actual title of the book, written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum, was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  In 1902 it was a popular Broadway musical that was later adapted in 1939 to the movie we all know. 

We all know the story about Dorothy and her dog, Toto, who are swept up in a tornado in Kansas and end up in the magical and mystical Land of Oz.  Her mode of transportation is her farmhouse that lands on the wicked witch of the east killing her instantly.  She is given the ruby red shoes of the witch as a gift of gratitude from the people of the Munchkin Country in the Land of Oz.  Confused, all Dorothy wants to do is to get back home . . . to get back to her family in Kansas.  After a big celebration, the Munchkins and the good witch of the north, Glenda, send Dorothy and Toto down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to find the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.

Of course, the death of the wicked witch of the east did not sit well for everyone.  Her sister, the wicked witch of the west, was quite upset about her sister’s death, but even more upset that Dorothy got the ruby red shoes . . . the power source of her sister’s magic.  So she proceeds to make life miserable for Dorothy and the companions she picks up along the way—the tin man, the scarecrow, and the cowardly lion.  It is an adventure filled with peril and scary things.  The ragtag group eventually makes it to the Emerald City and speak to the great and powerful Oz . . . who then sends them on a mission . . . to get the broom of the wicked witch of the west.

Doing as they are told, they set off to get the broom.

Forwarding ahead in the story, Dorothy succeeds in eliminating the wicked witch of the west and getting her broom.  Then she and her friends discover that the great and powerful Wizard of Oz is a mortal man . . . an itinerant magician from Kansas.  This was not a magical and powerful man who could grant Dorothy her wish to go home . . . but, he offers her a ride in his hot air balloon back to Kansas.  Of course, things get messed up and Dorothy misses this opportunity.

Grief-stricken that she is stuck in the Land of Oz, she begins to cry.  Glenda, the good witch of the north, attempts to console Dorothy.  She tells her that she can get home . . . in fact, she says, she has always had the ability to get home.  It was within her.  All she had to do is to close her eyes, click the heels of the ruby red slippers, and say, “There is no place like home, there is no place like.”  Well, we all know that it works . . . Dorothy makes it home.

Throughout the story, whatever Dorothy is told to do in order to get what she wants—which is to go home, Dorothy does.  But, in the end, it is not what Dorothy does that gets her home, it is what is in her heart.  In our reading this morning, the Apostle Paul tells the congregations in Galatia the same thing.

Galatia is a largely Gentile community in which the good news of Jesus spread quickly.  Lots of Gentiles were starting to follow Jesus and his ways.  Yet, despite the evangelistic zeal and success, there arose a conflict between those who considered themselves the original followers—meaning those who were Jews that started to follow Jesus, and those who were jumping on the bandwagon much later.  The original followers declared that these Gentile converts had to follow the ways of the Mosaic Law, after all, Jesus was a Jew.  In particular there were those who demanded that the Gentiles be circumcised.

Of course there were those who did exactly what they were told and got themselves circumcised; and, there were those who balked at the idea.  Circumcision beyond the first few weeks of life is not what any adult male wants to endure.  Yet, here were these original followers telling the new followers to either follow the rules or get out of the game.

The Apostle Paul did not agree with the original followers because it did not fit his understanding of grace and faith.  Grace and faith were a gift freely given to all who wished to receive it . . . nothing had to be done to be among the faithful.  There were no hoops to jump through, no brooms to steal . . . no, the grace of God was freely given.  No one had to do anything except to believe and receive the love of God into their hearts.  No one had to follow a yellow brick road . . . no one had to bow down to anyone else . . . or even take a broom from a wicked witch.  All one had to do is to believe and accept the gift of grace.

This past Friday I attended “boundaries training”.  Boundaries training is the information that clergy within our region must be taught every three years in order to keep their standing as clergy within the denomination and region.  It is basically a workshop on what clergy can and cannot do.  It is learning what lines not to cross.  Our regional minister, the Reverend Dr. Ruth Fletcher, did a good job of sharing that information.  And, the greatest piece of advice and information that she gave to those of us gathered was that we should always be asking the question, “Is this meeting my needs or the needs of the whole—the needs of the community—the needs of the congregation?”  All that we clergy are supposed to do as clergy is to meet the needs of the common good.

The answer to that question comes from within each minister . . . it comes from the heart.  That answer is always “love”.  In our reading this morning the Apostle Paul says it: “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”    In Paul’s argument we love because we are loved . . . we love ourselves, we love God, and we love others.  It is doing what is good for all of God’s family . . . all of God’s creation.  We are to love.

Paul’s argument is that it is not following the rules to the letter that gets a person entrance into the home place.  Anyone can follow the rules whether he or she even believes in the purpose of the rules.  No, it is the intention . . . is life guided by rules or is it guided by intention?  Is it lived in love?  Paul argues that it is love that guides the individual.  Once a person has love in his or her life, then the rules have no power over them because they will do what is expected . . . they will love.

The apostle gives a hefty list of things that those who are not in the state of grace will do.  As you go through that list did you notice that those things are all based on what an individual wants for him or herself.  Consider that original question . . . is this for the good of the individual, or is it for good of all?

That is the “mark” of the faithful . . . a “spirit” that calls us to consider the good for all . . . to do God’s will for the whole family.  The Spirit calls the faithful out to love others . . . to serve others . . . and, to put the self second.  Quoting Jesus, it is simple . . . to love others as you would love yourself.  Instead of looking for what is in it for me, we look for what is in it for everyone.  Does everyone win?

Faith is not about what we are not supposed to do.  Yet, that is what most of us know about faith . . . what we are not supposed to do.  We know the “don’ts”.  Aren’t those the “thou shall nots” that we tell each other?  No, that is not faith.  Faith is about intention and where that intention comes from.  It comes from within us . . . it comes from our hearts.  Hearts that have been touched by the love and grace of God.  Hearts that fill so full of that love that it cannot be contained . . . that it must be shared.  It feels so good that we want others to feel it too.  It comes not from serving our needs, but the needs of others.

Miseducation is the teaching of something incorrectly.  For many of us we have been incorrectly instructed when it comes to matters of faith . . . we have been given the wrong information.  It is not what we do that matters, it is why we do it.  Are we doing it because we want to be saved as individuals, or are we doing it because we want all to be saved?  Love knows no boundaries . . . it reaches across the lines to bring everyone in.

Kris Kristofferson wrote the song, Me and Bobbie McGee, in which he throws out one of the most powerful theological statements every made.  He sings: “Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.”  That is exactly what the Apostle Paul is saying.  Because God loves you, and you love God, you have it all.  Go forth and love deeply, wholly, and radically change the world in which you.  If you do, people will know . . . people will know by the love you give.  Amen.  

“Beyond the Crisis—and Better” (Galatians 5:1, 13-25)

Fall--what a lovely season—do any of you like the color orange as much as I do?

Fall is misleading. Did you know that leaves are not naturally green? Leaves are naturally yellow, and red, and orange. When the leaf system starts producing chlorophyll, the leaves turn green. Green is their false self, we might say. In autumn, the leaves drop their mask and emerge as they really are.

Did you also know that decay is not the only activity going on in autumn? Fall is also the season when seeds are scattered, so that there will be new growth in the spring. A lovely little joy is hidden in plain sight.

In her song “Leaves Don’t Drop, They Just Let Go” singer Carrie Newcomer builds on this little joy hidden in plain sight when she writes:

Leaves don’t drop, they just let go,

And make a place for seeds to grow.

Every season brings a change,

A tree is what a seed contains,

To die and live is life’s refrain.

What Newcomer is singing about is that any event in our life is simply a moment to be received—including the ones we label “crisis” and “difficult” and even “sad.”

What I have observed is than an event gets labeled a crisis when we don’t choose the change that’s being offered; when change is thrust upon us like a divorce or the loss of a job and income. When you and I CHOOSE change we label the event an OPPORTUNITY. Either way change moves us along—hopefully. If we are SPIRITUALLY awake, or alert, we understand that there’s no end or even death, there’s only movement. In every event there is an invitation to let go of something—and take hold of something else---so that we can become GOD’S MORE.

Isn’t this the heart of the story of the resurrection of Jesus? In order to become God’s MORE for US, he had to let go of his life. Isn’t this what he teaches us? Jesus says, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” In order for us to become God’s MORE for the world, we have to first let go of our life on our terms; the “My Way”, the ego, and embrace life on God’s terms—deep listening through prayer and knowledge of the scriptures, and good works; justice for our neighbor. Second we eventually have to let go of our earthly bodies and relationships and move on to the next experience God has planned for us.

An image that might work for us this morning is that of the handle bars, which used to be a common sight on the playground. (photo) In order to play on this toy successfully, a child must create a rhythm whereby he and she releases one handlebar while at the same time reaches for the next, so that they move forward, or flow.

If the child becomes paralyzed by fear or doubt and doesn’t release his and her grip on the current handlebar, the momentum is lost and the handlebars are no longer in reach. The child is at a standstill; frozen. This is not how the game is supposed to be played—and frozen is no way for the human soul to live--even when life presents overwhelming obstacles.

What the Holy Spirit of God desires is a flow, a rhythm, a partnering, and letting go and a reaching for—which often is produced by a crisis. Jesus says in his sermon on the mount, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (NRSV) Read in The Message Version we hear, “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lot what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

There’s a whole new world when we reach for the One most dear to us—a world where we shine from the inside out—as God tends to us—and the world gets improved upon—because we tend to it.

In order to enter this new world we cannot get hung up on the events in our daily life; both opportunity and crisis. We cannot be afraid of change—whether we choose it, or it chooses us.

Leaves don’t drop, they just let go,

And make a place for seeds to grow.

Every season brings a change,

A tree is what a seed contains,

To die and live is life’s refrain.

This coming Tuesday I am getting on an airplane and flying to Lexington, Kentucky, where my sister, Gene Carol, will pick me up and take me to see our mother. Her name is Dana Ruth Williams, and she’ll be 86 years old on Thursday.

My mother is someone I esteem as a “holy resilient.” (A term created by Presbyterian pastor and author Steve Doughty.) A holy resilient is someone who has managed to become God’s MORE in the face of difficult circumstances: MORE loving, generous and kind—anything on that list of spiritual gifts that the Apostle Paul refers to in his letter to the church at Galatia, which are Christ-like.

She has endured the depression, an abusive husband who died at sea, a divorce, single parenting, bankruptcy, poverty, a child with a severe, chronic mental illness, gossip, isolation, depression which required hospitalization, the prolonged decline and death of her second husband, the death of her sister, angioplasty, and her own declining health.

To know her is to know great kindness, encouragement, a strong will to live and a joy for life, patience, and faith. Seems like a contradiction, doesn’t it? Most people would say, “If this is the best God can do—I’m not interested.”

Another “holy resilient” I’ll call Beverly called me one day to talk about her recent trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. “I read a most interesting plaque,” she said to me, “About the percentage of Jews who managed to move beyond their tragic experience in the Nazi prison camps and embrace life, and become radiant persons---and the percentage of those who became the exact opposite—dark, closed, bitter.”

Beverly, who was diagnosed with a crippling chronic illness when her children were very, very young, and which has thrown her family into medical bankruptcy, asked me, “Why do you think that is?”

“Well,” I said to her, “Look at your own life. “Your mother struggled with a chronic mental illness and married many husbands who raped you and your sister repeatedly, and then she abandoned both of you at age 18. Your sister chose to medicated herself with alcohol and prescription drugs until she overdosed and died, and you, well you, you love God more and more each day—and radiate with wisdom, and grace, and generosity. What’s the difference between you and your sister?”

“Three things,” she answered me, “First, as a Christian I expect grace—I expect God to show up and help me. Second, I also participate in God’s healing—I read and know my Bible and reflect on what it has to say; I pray; I take responsibility in the church; I stretch. You know, you have to stand behind the current this and that in your life and ask, ‘What’s going on here? What’s God asking of me? What’s God reaching for in me?’ And third, I don’t expect healing overnight—it’s over YEARS.”

In his letter to the church at Galatia, Paul tells them that they can look forward to great changes in the hands of God—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control. Quite the miracle, isn’t it? When we are aware of them, we are quite humbled, which means we are more apt to listen to God and love what God loves. However, if these gifts of the Spirit are eluding us, we are more apt to be dark, to be led by our egos, to close in on ourselves.

What we’re beginning to understand is that if we want to move through the crisis of our lives and into the grace and growth of God we need to look at 3 things:

*Do we expect grace? What would that look like?

*Do we participate in God’s healing? What would that look like?

*Do we expect healing over NIGHT, or over YEARS? What would expecting healing over YEARS to look like?

Closing Prayer: Help us, gracious God, to let go of the past and move into your future—to flow with life on your terms—to look for signs of you in our common life together—to partner with you in our healing—to have patience with the long haul of transformation. Amen.

(This sermon was preached on Sunday, October 5 at Central Christian Church in Billings, Montana by the Reverend Dana Keener.)