August 21, 2011

August 21, 2011

Pentecost + 10

Morning Prayers

Loving God, we are grateful for the opportunity to gather here and be together; to share in our love for you and each other, knowing that we belong.

We thank you for the temperate weather we have had of late, but we ask you to remind us of those for whom the heat is not just an annoyance.

We pray for all who serve, and ask you to bring them home safely to their loved ones.

We pray for the people of Syria and Libya, and those wherever violence and oppression reigns.

We are concerned about those who are sick and hurting, both the names we have called out and those whom we call now in silence.

You know our hearts, O God, but we take this silence to pray for ourselves and those things and people close to us.

We pray in Jesus name, and by his grace. Amen.

Matthew 16:

¹³ Now when Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “ Who do people say the Human One is? ”

¹⁴ They replied, “ Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. ”

¹⁵ He said, “ And what about you? Who do you say that I am? ”

¹⁶ Simon Peter said, “ You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. ”

¹⁷ Then Jesus replied, “ Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. ¹⁸ I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it. ¹⁹ I’ll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Anything you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. Anything you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. ” ²⁰ Then he ordered the disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Christ.

+ + +

I read this week about a history professor at Augustana Collge who gives his students this assignment: they are to write a two-page paper on the history of the United States using no references of any kind--just write what they know. The students think he’s trying to determine their knowledge of historical facts, but he’s really looking for an ethos, a philosophy of what America is about in the way that they write about the history.

I was taken with that idea, and wondered if it would translate to the church.

What if I asked you to write a history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)? What idea would guide your writing of that history?

Would it revolve around baptism? Baptism is important to us, and in our history. The story goes that Alexander Campbell--one of denomination’s founders--even baptized himself by immersion when he became convinced that that was the way of the Bible. And Baptism continues to be important to us, and now we welcome for membership all baptized persons--no matter what the method or age when it was performed. You could easily write a history of our denomination (as well as this congregation) based on the study of Baptism.

Might it possibly be based on a study of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, or the Eucharist? It’s is with great pride and joy that I have the privilege of standing behind that table with our Elders and proclaim that this is an open table--free to all as an invitation and gift from Christ.

The same Alexander Campbell was kicked out of his Presbytery for being a “latitudinarian.” He would let anyone come to the table in an age when people were interviewed by their pastors--an if deemed worthy--given a token which would admit them to the service of communion.

Again, Campbell saw this as a gross miscarriage of justice and theology. How could we mortals fence off the communion table of Christ?

Looking at that same issue of communion, Campbell looked at the frequency practiced by many churches. Some churches would have communion only once a month--or even less frequently. Why? Because they had no pastor on a regular basis--the circuit rider was the order of the day.

What Campbell, Barton Stone, and their followers did was to, in the words of one Disciples’ historian, create a revolution in congregational worship. Again, looking to the Bible, they determined that the Elders of a congregation were empowered by God through their office to preside at table, and even preach.

Telling our story from the perspective of the table would be a good way to tell it.

You could tell our story from the standpoint of freedom--how our congregations and Regional Churches and General Church relate to each other by means of covenant and not hierarchy. Disciples congregations have the freedom to do whatever they want--but our covenant with the whole church would guide them in that way.

Another way would be to look at our Disciples of Christ affirmation of faith (p. 355)--an affirmation of who we are (not a creed)--and it hints at all of these themes. Let’s read it together:

As members of the Christian Church,

We confess that Jesus is the Christ,

the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world.

In Christ's name and by his grace

we accept our mission of witness

and service to all people.

We rejoice in God,

maker of heaven and earth,

and in God’s covenant of love

which binds us to God and to one another.

Through baptism into Christ

we enter into newness of life and are made one with the whole people of God.

In the communion of the Holy Spirit

we are joined together in discipleship

and in obedience to Christ.

At the Table of the Lord

we celebrate with thanksgiving

the saving acts and presence of Christ.

Within the universal church

we receive the gift of ministry

and the light of scripture.

In the bonds of Christian faith

we yield ourselves to God

that we may serve the One

whose kingdom has no end.

Blessing, glory, and honor

be to God forever. Amen.

At the heart of this affirmation is the first sentence--we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

And we call that the “Good Confession.” If you’ve ever joined a Christian Church or Church of Christ--this is all we ask. It comes to us as a part of our history--but also from today’s scripture.

In our early history, the historic creeds were used to define membership. Do you believe this creed, or that one? If you don’t sign here stating that you believe this creed, then you can’t belong here.

Disciples have never had anything against the creeds per se--they can make excellent teaching tools. But when you use a document not from the scriptures to keep people out, you misuse the creeds, and also do damage to the body of Christ.

Again, going to the bible. Our forebears found that this simple confession faith by Simon Peter was sufficient then, and for all time.

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

It’s interesting to note where this takes place. Caesarea Phillipi. A very weird place for a Jewish Rabbi to take his disciples. Rick Morley notes that “At one time, the town was called Banias, and Herod Philip changed it’s name to honor the Caesar…and while he was at it, himself too. It was the global cultic center of Pan worship. Remember Pan? The goat god? It was believed that he was born in a nearby, creepy looking cave, called…the Gates of Hell.”

And Pan worshipers used that cave--the Gates of Hell--to sacrifice, you guessed it, goats.

And Jesus says that upon this rock I will build my church and the Gates of Hell will not prevail. That’s a poetic way of saying deathy has no more power over the church.

But, what is the rock? Or whom?

Our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters hold fast to the idea that the rock is Peter, and that the church was built around him and particularly in the city of Rome. That’s where Catholics believe that Peter ruled as Bishop, and that those in his succession have authority over the whole church--as in, the Pope.

Protestants, however, have an entirely different way of looking at this. In a discussion with a Catholic friend some years back, he got upset when I didn’t follow his reasoning about Peter and the Popes

He asked, “Are you saying that I can’t believe that the Pope has all authority in the church?”

I said, “No, but I’m saying that I can’t.

We believe that rock on which the church is built is not a human being, but rather the confession itself. Jesus acknowledges that this confession is itself a gift from God. And is the Solid Rock on which the church is built.

The word Christ means “anointed one.” Given by God for the salvation of the world. And Jesus refers to himself as the Human One, or Son of Man, to confess that he is the Son of the Living God, tells us that he is also divine--man and God at once.

When Peter makes this confession of faith, it is the first time that anyone has acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah--the Christ. It was a signal to the disciplkes and those around Jesus that there could be no turning back. Once you’ve acknowledged that the Messiah is in front of you, how can youturn away.

Alyce Mackenzie writes: “Peter's confession is also ours. And so is his commissioning. We share Peter's identity as flawed disciples who sometimes, in pressure situations, let Jesus down. We share in his identity as disciples forgiven and empowered by Jesus to face whatever trials and sufferings lie on the path ahead.”

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

That’s how you begin to write the history of our church.

What do you think?

Offering Invitation

All of us need "motivation," that which causes us to get up and get moving, to do something. We need a "motive," a reason for acting, or a power that propels us forward. The word, "motive" comes from a old french word we still use in English - "motif." A "motif" is a theme that gets repeated over and over, such that it sinks from the head to the heart.

As you return your offering, ponder what theme is being repeated in your life, what motif is moving not just your head but also your heart, what motivating power is guiding not just your heart but also your hands and feet.

Make your act of giving a personal prayer to the One who is the source of your truest motivation, the power behind what you do that’s right, the real theme that moves your life in Christ.

Offertory Prayer

O God, as people of the Christ, followers of your son Jesus Christ, our savior, we return to you a portion of what you have first given us. Multiply the gift, O Lord. In His name, we pray. Amen.

Benediction

Go with confidence into the days ahead,

trusting in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.

God will not abandon you,

for you are the work of His hands—

His own creation—

and His love endures forever.

So go in joy to love and serve the Lord!