gifts

from my sermon on 9/27/09 from Mark 10:17-31

Today was supposed to be Consecration Sunday, the day we make our gifts to Christ and to His Church. It is a day that no matter how we dress it up, you know calling the card an estimate of giving card or a commitment card, still feels like I have to fill out a pledge card to support the budget of the church.
Today, and here I am expecting many amens, hallelujahs, much clapping, dancing in the aisles, and so on, there will be no pledge cards!
Why? Let me illustrate...because let us all say together our church's mission statement....oops, we don't know it. When I came for my introductory interview 2 1/2 years ago with the Staff Parish Committee, I asked them if the church had a mission statement. "Oh yes, " was the reply. "What is it?" "Oh, it's there on the front of the bulletin...it's on our newsletter." "OK, but do you know it...does it motivate you?"
Whatever else you may say about Jesus, know this: he was very clear about his mission. In this passage Jesus in on his way to Jerusalem. That's the context for his encounter with the rich man and his imperatives: go, sell, give, come, follow. WE have tried to soften them. There are 3 major ways we have blunted the words:
1. the early Christians expected Jesus to return soon...so yes, give away everything to the poor. But Jesus didn't come back, we take a more reasoned approach, we are in it for the long haul.
2. This was meant for a few spiritual elite...like nuns and monks and ascetics....not for the ordinary masses.
3. Jesus used symbolic language. We are to get rid of anything that would keep us from following him, not just money.
Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. What does that mean? Just after this passage, he says for the 3rd time in Mark's Gospel that when he gets to Jerusalem, he will be reviled, spit upon, and killed. Much to the chagrin of those who preach a prosperity Gospel, all health and wealth, Jesus goes to the cross. Peter and company, say, We've left everything to follow you. And Jesus says that they will be rewarded with land, and houses, and families.....and persecutions. Ouch! We don't like to see that it costs us something to follow Jesus.
Jesus was clear about his mission, and somehow a group of followers was engerized by that vision and was willing to endure the cost.
I have an idea...no money till we get clear on our mission. No pledge till we get clear on our purpose. No talk about budget until we are sure we are following Jesus.
We get to do this, participate in Christ mission for the world. You may remember we are in a sermon series on what UM believe. I am going through our vows; prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. We get to do all of these things.
The rich man missed this. He thought they were "have-to's". His question was, "What do I have to do....and get this next phrase in all of its financial glory...to inherit eternal life?" He had kept all the rules but he missed the relationship. Jesus said: go, sell, give, come, follow. But the man could not. Jesus looked at him with love. The man kept all the laws but he missed the love.
Jesus in teaching the disciple uses reiteration...twice he says it, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. He uses humor and hyperbole. How big is a camel? How small is an eye of a needle? How hard is it for a camel to go through? The disciples say, as we do, "Then who can be saved?" It's impossible for mortals. But all things are possible for God. It is gift. We are saved by what God has done not by what we do.
I need to tell you a story. A pastor friend from the Metroplex area told of a family that visited his worship service. Like I do, Eric would call guests on Sunday afternoon. This particular family of husband, wife and middle school daughter sounded like they needed something. Eric says I usually don't visit in the home until after several times people come to worship, but I asked them if it was alright for me to visit. Yes, they said. Eric when to the nice neighborhood with large houses. He rang the doorbell. The man opened the door, revealing a full size olympic pool inside the house! The man was gracious taking Eric back to a den with coffee service. He got to know the family over several visits. Along the way, the wife called Eric one day, asking him to visit her husband in the hospital. Of course Eric went. As he entered the room, he noticed things from his prior training as a hospital chaplain. There were no flowers, no cards, no other visitors but the wife. Eric returned a couple of days later. Same script. He was bold enough to inquire, "I notice that you have no cards or flowers, and only your wife as a visitor. You do have friends, don't you?" "Besides you, you mean?" Eric said, I am your only friend? The man said, "I got so rich so fast that I couldn't trust anybody." Eric thought to himself, "He has everything....he has nothing that really matters." Eric continued to work with the man and his family. He invited him to the United Methodist Men, you know our cholesterol club. The man could tolerate the older men who still fought the wars on land of old and the wars of today in papers. He cooked for them and washed dishes. He took Disiciple Bible Study and found out that God loved him and had a community for him. He went on medical mission teams. He got involved in meals on wheels. In short, he found his mission. He was saved and turned on to helping others.
Today, you have a gifts sheet. I would love for you to fill this out and put it in the offering plate. What mission or cause or purpose has Christ place on your heart? What grabs you so deeply that you must invest in it? I have prejudiced you with my preaching, talking about us becoming a 50/50 church where we spend 50% on us and 50% on others. I have talked about us unbinding our hearts, about becoming credible witnesses in the world. I know you say that we have to pay the light bills, but can we do that in order to share the light of Christ in the world. I know we have to pay staff, but can we do that so tha t staff can empower others to be in ministry?
I am hoping we can come up with our mission phrase. The United Methodist Church has one: making disciples for the transformation of the world. Our Southwest Texas Conference, these 78 counties and 120,000 Methodists have one: Offering Christ to all. That's what I want something we can remember and get behind.
Yes, we will come up with a budget...but it might not be until January or February. This year we didn't adopt a budget until March and the world didn't stop turning.
Mission comes before money. We represent the One who befriends those who don't know they have a friend. Amen.