Sermon for 02/17/08

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Sermon for 02/17/08
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GRACISM: I Will Consider You... Celebrate With You,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN

Bottom Line: When people deal with color, class, or culture in a negative way, that’s racism. But the answer is not to ignore differences as if they don’t matter. This sermon is the 5^th and last in a series on how to we can focus on diversity in a positive way, showing God’s favor to others! That’s GRACISM! Today we discuss Paul’s 6^th and 7^th Gracist concepts; “EQUAL CONCERN” (I will consider you) and “REJOICES WITH IT” (I will celebrate with you). Gracists hear the Samaritan story and understand, that as the recipients of grace, it would be scandalous not to share that grace with other! We are not to be self-focused, but equally concerned for others! And whereas jealousy and covetousness brew poison that brings dissension to the body of Christ, celebrating each other’s successes and wins is critical to unity. Only with the Holy Spirit’s help can we become Gracists! Let it be so! (Source: “Gracism – The Art of Inclusion” by David A. Anderson) Praise God AMEN

1) GRACISTS! In 1^st Corinthians, the 12^th chapter, Paul has been teaching us to be “Gracists”: people who pour positive favor upon those who are different from them-selves, working hard through speech and action to be all inclusive, so that no one is left out, and all races, cultures, and classes of people are invited to Christ’s banquet! What are the characteristics and sayings of a Gracist? 1) “Special Honor” – that is, Gracists lift up the humble among us. (“I will lift you up”). 2) “Special Modesty” – protecting the most vulnerable among us from embarrassment, or as Paul said “I will cover you”. 3) “No Special Treatment” - our refusing to accept special treatment if it is at the detriment of those who need it. (“I will share with you”). 4) “Greater Honor” – God as a Gracist has given greater honor to the humble, causing us to say “I will honor you” to those who have lacked it. Last week, we saw how important 5) “No Division” was to God. When the majority helps the minority, the stronger helps the weaker – it creates minimum division and maximum unity. A gracist says “I will stand with you”. Today we look at number 6) “Equal Concern” – which is having a heart as big for our neighbor as we have for ourselves. When we practice equal concern, we, as Gracists, are saying “I will consider you!”

2) FEEL? Let me ask you, have you ever had a homeless person limping towards you – intent on seeking a handout? Have you ever had someone hit you up with a sad story about their need for bus fair? How does that make you feel? Are any of us here today honest enough to admit that there are times when we would rather cross the street before these needy folks approached us? I don’t know about you, but it is never easy to watch a poor, downtrodden person struggling to make ends meet. Poverty is a horrible place to be! More over it is tempting to be judgmental about the motives of that homeless person. Do we assume they are going to buy drugs or booze with the money they seek? Do we excuse our inaction with our busy schedule, rushing right by them – having no time to stop, give money, food, or even a look of dignity to those some call “bums”? Be honest, when you see them coming – what are you feeling? What is your heart telling you?

3) EQUAL CONCERN! The Apostle Paul said, (1^st Cor. 12:24-25) “But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have EQUAL CONCERN for each other.” Equal concern was what Jesus was focused on when He told the Good Samaritan story. A man had been beaten, robbed, and left lying beside the road. Not one, but two so-called religious folks (a priest and a Levite) had individually passed by this man who had been mugged, doing nothing to help. But a third man, a Samaritan, (who was looked upon with distain by the Jewish people), actually demonstrated equal concern for the man, the result of doing three things: 1) He “took pity” on the mugged man, meaning he had a merciful heart. Secondly, 2) the Samaritan “took action” by bandaging his wounds and escorting him to a safe place where he could heal. This demonstrates a shepherding heart. And lastly 3) he “invested” in the healing of the victim, by paying the inn-keeper for his care. This Samaritan showed a generous heart, as he gave freely of his finances. And Jesus revealed that the Samaritan had a heart that beat to the rhythm of God’s! He was a Gracist! And treating someone with “equal concern” is a heart thing.

4) OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE! When we encounter struggling people, different from ourselves, what are we to do? Jesus says love them with active compassion. The priest and Levite focused only on their own needs and how to avoid the problem. The Samaritan saw an opportunity to love. Hearts reflecting Christ’s will, always lead to compassionate actions. So, let’s ask, does our heart seek to avoid those in need, or does it see it as an opportunity to love? Think how does God looks at us? Do you think He sees our imperfect and broken lives, and is tempted to walk away from us – to avoid us – to leave us in the ditch? Never! As we discovered last week – Jesus poured Himself out for us, even to death on the cross, never hesitating to do whatever it took to save us! God sees each of us as an opportunity to love! And that love is unconditional! It is never-ending! It is compassionate beyond understanding! And as recipients of that kind of love, how can we refuse to give it to those who differ from ourselves? If we have been touched by God’s compassion and mercy, would it not be scandalous to not be compassionate and merciful to others? Should we not seek every opportunity to love?

5) NEEDY! When I used to take youth groups to Mexico to live and serve among the poorest in the world, parents would sometimes ask “How come you have to take our children all the way across the border – when there are so many needy people right here in our neighborhoods?” What an excellent question! Do you know why I take middle-class kids out of their comfortable, safe, suburban environment and plop them down into startling poverty in a third-world country? To pop their fuses! To rip off the “blinders” that have keep them from recognizing people in need. To help them discover what amazing people live across our border. And just how unfair it is that we undeservingly have so much, and they so little! The trip across the border makes it so the needy cannot be avoided, because almost everyone there is needy. Everywhere is an “opportunity to love!”

6) SAMARITAN HEART! There is a reason most suburban middle-class folks don’t help the needy folks in our own neighborhoods; we don’t see them! We learn to drive through the nicer parts of town, avoiding the reminders that not all people are as blessed as us. It helps avoid an uneasy conscience! Ours is a cul-de-sac, garage door closing, and back deck relaxing kind of lifestyle! We can easily shutout the undesirable people whose pain, (we are convinced), is too much for us to bear. But I’ve discovered that teenagers and adults who have served in Mexico or any country where you cannot avoid suffering people – they come back with a new heart! A Samaritan heart! A heart like Jesus – no longer subconsciously avoiding the needy, but intentionally seeking them out – having equal concern for them! Even in their own backyards, they now begin to see those they avoided before. Samaritan hearts no longer walk to the other side of the road like the priest and Levite, they get down in the ditch with the needy and tend to their wounds!

7) HANG OUT? When Jesus ministered in the later parts of His life, you could usually find Him in three places, 1) somewhere quiet, praying, seeking God’s will, 2) in the synagogues – worshipping and teaching, or most of the time, 3) hanging out with the hurting, downtrodden, outcasts of society! He was often criticized by “religious folks” because he was always mixing it up with sinners, tax-collectors, lepers, the blind, the hungry, and even prostitutes! Why? Because Jesus had a merciful heart, and was equally concerned for all the children of God! Can we say that same? Do we have a merciful heart? And are we equally concerned for all of God’s children? Do we hang out with them?

8) SELF? Paul said that the body of Christ should have “equal concern for each other”. In as much as we may want that, the thing that gets in our way is “Self-pre-occupation”! Self-focus keeps us from experiencing the multicultural, multiracial, and multi-denominational unity that God desires! I wonder what would happen if we stopped reacting negatively to socio-political terminology like “affirmative action”, “special interest”, or “equal opportunity”, and instead used the Apostle Paul’s terminology like “special honor”, “greater honor” or “equal concern”? I suspect it might change our attitudes from a “me verses them” to a “we and ours” mentality! Instead of a self-centered heart, might we cling to a “Samaritan heart?” We must stop resisting the work of the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to develop within us hearts that are not self-focused, but equally concerned for others!

9) I WILL CONSIDER YOU! Therefore, the 6^th saying of a Gracist is “I will consider you!” I will concern myself with your feelings and your dreams whether I am walking down the street like the Samaritan, or in a booth voting for the things that a concern you! I will provide you with the same care and possess the same interest in your life that I have for my loved ones. Equal concern means there is not one group or person that should be ignored, passed over, or left out. Just as no parent wishes for the success of one child while desiring another to fail, so God has equal concern for all His children. Regardless of giftedness, color, gender, age, education, or class category; I, (a developing Gracist), will see and care for you, as Jesus sees and cares for you! We are all one in God’s eyes! We are connected in Christ! We must see one another as Jesus Christ does! We must look at the great diversity of those around us and declare with Spirit-filled hearts; I will consider you! It must become more than a “Gracist saying” - it must become a way of life!

10) EVERY PART SUFFERS! The last characteristic of a Gracist comes from verse 26, where we continue to reflect upon the diverse body of Christ and read “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” For the most part, you are still able to rely on the church to circle around those who suffer. When a child dies, a loved one leaves, or someone undergoes surgery – the church still rallies around the hurting and the those broken by grief or ill health. But most veteran pastors I have talked to tell me they are starting to see a dip in that response, as our culture becomes more and more a “pain-avoidance” culture, and that “suffering-avoidance” trickles into the church. I am encouraged here at All Saints as I see more and more people stepping out of their comfort zone to actually walk into the suffering of others, intentionally praying for, bringing meals to, organizing funeral receptions, and so forth for those in need. We are not just sending money to agencies but actually feeding the homeless, gathering clothes for the poor, building wheelchairs for the needy in third world countries. And while there is always more to do, I am grateful for the merciful, caring, and generous hearts of our people. Because it is true; that when one part of the body of Christ suffers, every parts suffers with it.

11) REJOICE/CELEBRATE? Gracism demands that we sympathize with the pain of brothers and sisters, and stand up for others who are unfairly treated. But it is the 2nd part of Paul’s statement that provides the greatest challenge for the church today: rejoicing with others over their successes! It’s easy to rejoice over what God does in our personal lives, but the heart of a Gracist celebrates with others! That means that when another racial or ethnic group, denomination, or generation succeeds in some area, instead of becoming jealous or resentful, we should celebrate! Especially when the downtrodden are finally elevated! If someone in this church were suffering as the result of job layoffs, and you’d been praying for them and helping them out when necessary, wouldn’t you be elated if they sudden found a great job? Of course you would! Right? Even... if you discovered they got the job you had applied for a month ago? Even if you discovered they had half the education you did, and were now going to be paid 3 times what you are making? Even if they got stock options, annual bonuses, and incentive programs? Hmmm... is it getting a little harder to celebrate with them now? Is being a Gracist that rejoices with others as easy a thing as it first appeared?

12) DIFFERENTLY BLESSED! What is plain, is that the Christian church is filled with many different kinds of people; differently blessed! Some are greatly gifted, while others are not so gifted. Some are white collar and some blue. Some are well educated, and some illiterate. And in America, our definition of success tempts us to constantly compare ourselves to others. Rather than asking “Are our needs being met by God?”, we seek to discover if we are keeping up with the Jones! And if others have more blessings than we do, or succeed at a faster pace than we do – self doubts and feelings of inferiority pop to the surface! Jealousy and bitterness can find their way into our speech and attitudes. Paul’s call to rejoice over the successes of others is not natural for us! Face it; sometimes it’s much harder to rejoice with others than it is to suffer with them! Yes, choosing to feel someone else’s pain while I am not in pain can be a challenge! But sometimes rejoicing with others who are differently blessed than us can be even harder.

13) SOMEONE/YOU! Take these examples for instance and see if they all circumstances in which you are ALWAYS able to rejoice with others, like when:

* someone is having a baby, even though you are barren, * someone gets a new car and you are still walking, * someone gets a new house or job while you are struggling to achieve both, * someone is celebrating their 50^th anniversary while your spouse died 2 years ago, * the new worship service is getting fuller, while the service you prefer declines over time, * the church staff gets a raise though you haven’t had one in 5 years, * someone’s child is accepted into a college yours didn’t get into, * a minorities’ mission church that is renting your building is growing while yours is shrinking.

Celebrating each other’s successes and wins is critical to unity. Jealousy and covetousness brew poison that brings dissension to the body of Christ! But if I encourage your success and acknowledge that you’re doing well, if I call to offer congratulations, or show up to a party in your honor, then my celebrating you is adding to the unity of the church and encouraging others in the body. If someone succeeds, Gracists rejoice! Is that you?

14) HOLY SPIRIT! Because rejoicing with others is not always easy, we need the Holy Spirit’s help! Especially when race is involved. While channel surfing this week, I ran across several shows celebrating black history month; rejoicing over the accomplishments of Afro-American men and women who sacrificed, overcame racial barriers, and opened the doors of opportunity for following generations. I was surprised to find I watched with mix emotions; fascinated by the victories of these leaders while repelled by the prejudice they faced. And I finally decided that some of my “dis-ease” was due to the fact that my racial heritage had been responsible for their previous suffering! And while I have never shared those earlier prejudices, I suspected I must still be dealing with some “racial guilt.” For even my father held some divisive racial viewpoints that offended me as a child. But should I let that get in my way of celebrating with my Afro-American brothers and sisters as they honor scientists, musicians, philosophers, inventors, and politicians who have overcome the barriers of poverty, illiteracy, racism, and numerous other hurdles? Heavens no! So I turned in silent prayer again to the Holy Spirit to help me join fully in the celebration of black history month. I lean on Him, because when I celebrate the achievements belonging to Christ’s rainbow of races, I am countering resentment, jealousy, and covetousness, and adding to the unity of the church. We all need the Holy Spirit to help us rejoice with others!

15) ASLC GRACISTS! Let’s face it; our neighborhood has changed. Over night, we have become a multicultural community. History has recorded countless churches dying off in times of change, because of the inability of the participants to acknowledge and celebrate diversity. The complete history of ASLC has not been written yet, our future lies in our hearts! Either we will offer up our lives to Christ’s multicultural design, and love our neighbors as ourselves, or we will fade away, frozen in fear, paralyzed by inaction. Time marches on. But only those churches, that sacrificially strive to reflect Christ’s heart to this diverse world, will be here in the years to come. God will build His church, with us or without us! I pray it is with us – each one striving to be a Gracist; as Christ is a Gracist!

16) A PART! Through the Apostle Paul’s words, Christ wants you to know (1^st Cor. 12:27) “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it!” We are all a part of God’s kingdom puzzle! And each part is essential! Christ is here to empower you to know His heart; that not one puzzle piece is expendable or dispensable! And to enable you to treat everyone as if they matter; because God declares they do! Every person’s perspectives, gifts, history, and experiences matter to God and should matter to us! You are meant to be a part of God’s kingdom, I am a part, and every person alive was designed to be a part of it!

17) CHRIST! Christ wants you to realize that every human being on this planet has a “dot of distinction” that makes us unique and wonderful! Our diversity is not to be a problem - but something to celebrate! Most differences are not faults, just differences! And once we recognize that diversity is God’s doing – we become open to His Gracist transformation! Christ longs to live within us - empowering us to say to one another “I will lift you up, ...cover you, ...share with you, ...honor you, ...stand with you, ...consider you, ...and celebrate with you!” Christ’s will for us, is oneness! And His Spirit delights in breaking down barriers, joining parts of the body together, enabling us to work together, and expressing our desperate need for one another! It is Christ’s will that you reach over racial, cultural, or class lines to invite someone to your church or home, intentionally relate to people who are different, and join hands with those who are caring for those Jesus called “the least of these”. Let all who yearn to follow in Christ’s inclusive footsteps, let all who seek to reflect His loving heart, let all who desire to be Gracists – say AMEN! repeat if necessary (Which means “Let it be so!) Praise God!

Confessional Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that we tend to be self-focused and do consider others equally. We subconsciously try not look at the poor, the needy, and those different from ourselves. We often talk about them as if they were less important, as if they didn’t matter. But they matter to you, so forgive us! Take our hearts and remold them, and empower us to intentionally reach out to those who differ from ourselves!

Lord, we confess that we have struggled to be happy for all people when they succeed. Often our jealousy caused us to criticize rather than celebrate with them! Too often our covetousness causes us to be bitter when others receive blessings. Forgive us, and help to truly and sincerely rejoice with those whom you have blessed.

And now, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, those other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, and made anew.

(Silence)

Lord, you concerned yourself with those of us who were unworthy, you celebrated in our blessings, you poured yourself out for us even though we did not deserve it. So, help us to be so moved and awed at your gracious gift that we will dedicate ourselves to being Gracists! AMEN

Assurance of Forgiveness:

Friends, listen to the good news: the Lord who is concerned for you and celebrates with you your blessings, …that Lord has heard your confession and lovingly forgives you all your sins. Go, and let His Spirit lead you into the life-giving world of Gracism! AMEN

Opening Prayer:

Dear Lord, we have come here this morning hungering for the life-giving gift of your Grace. Because there is no other source of it, we come to walk in it, swim in it, to saturate our beings with it. Pour it down upon us, that our sins are washed away, and that we can rise again new creatures in Christ! Shower us with Grace, that your Word will guide us, fill us with your wisdom, and motivate us to follow in your footsteps. Flood us with grace that our anxieties, worries and stress are carried away in the strong currents of your love. Let an avalanche of grace bury us in your love, that we may swept towards the valley of unity and oneness with one another according to your will. As we praise your name, and sing of your glory, receive our imperfect love and embrace us! As we lift our burdens and concerns to you, receive them and prepare us to be Gracists – reflecting your love and light to a needy world! Draw us closer to you and to one another, according to your will! In Jesus Name We pray, AMEN

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