Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are... (1 Corinthians 1)
Over the past couple of weeks we have been thinking about who we are on this journey of faith. Are we willing, able, wanting to be known as his disciples? We took time to assess where we are at, assured that we are loved no matter where we find ourselves. Last week we considered behaviour and belonging, that we belong to Christ first and foremost...and that the first call on our life is to repentance. What message does our behaviour send out? A telling meme that I saw on social media this week was powerful -
‘It’s hard to convince people that a God they can’t see loves them when a church they can see doesn’t seem to like them.’
This week we consider challenge and change...the challenge of faith is real, and it is the challenge of faith that we have lost. Worn down and wearied perhaps by the world of busyness - as the world has got busier we have lost ourselves to the commitments. Surely for the devil the best kind of Christian is the busy one - the one who is involved in everything...even good everything, for they have no time for God. We don’t have time to pray and read scripture, or even gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We don’t prioritise faith or church - we would say no to church before we say no to family or sport or work. Subconsciously we value the world more than God because the culture has wormed its way in. And if we don’t change we won’t be able to rise to the challenge of faith.
Of course we have to live in the world but we are not to conform to it. We cannot live apart from the world but we must focus our eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith. And if we don’t change our perspective, faith will remain a crutch and not something powerful enough to bring life, hope, love, and joy.
Suddenly, we are terrified because who are we to share the power of God with others. Often we barely know it ourselves. And we can’t force it on other people. My family and friends are not that interested, the world around us doesn’t care for it, and sometimes even I’m not sure what I believe. Yup - I totally get that. We live in a multi-cultural society, we preach tolerance, welcome and openness. What right do we have to share our belief systems?
Yet we do it all the time. I couldn’t say what everyone’s political background is but I know in the congregation we have SNP supporters and Labour life time members. I know we have those who wholeheartedly believe in Brexit and those who don’t. I know that there are those who continue to support Hamilton Accies or Ross Country. I know there are those who struggle with anything in worship that could be overtly catholic. I know there are gin experts, those who are tennis lovers, those who could help us understand environmental issues...
What I mean by this is that we are constantly sharing our viewpoints on who we are, what we believe, what we think. Some are more vocal than others, others it is by watching their way of life.
What I love about this passage in 1st Corinthians is that we are not expected to be world class theologians who know their Barth from their Calvin, or gifted speakers or influencers who have millions of followers on social media. We are meant to be our very ordinary selves.
Think about that for a moment. God loves you for who are you, and yes wants to release your potential. But it is the potential you already own. You are unique, gifted, wonderfully and fearfully made. Paul isn’t trying to insult his readers - he wants them to understand that God can and will use you with the capabilities that you currently have. The world constantly pushes us to excel - to look perfect all the time, to dress well, to conform to fashions or trends, to have the right education, to wear the right brands and so on. If that is the world in which we live, then our challenge is to resist that and allow our weakness to undermine the strong.
Think what Psalmist says - (Psalm 15)
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2
The one whose way of life is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbour,
and casts no slur on others;
4
who despises a vile person
but honours those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5
who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
All of these are still so relevant today. How we speak of each other - do we honour each other? Do we keep our word? Do we help those in need without thought of gain? Our very lives are our message to the world around us and we can preach without saying a word...
We can praise God and trust in his faithfulness when life is rubbish. Rather than moan and weep with self-pity, we can still weep but in faith that God weeps with us, knowing that our hope is found in him.
We can share our wealth, even when our wealth is peanuts. And if you want to know what that is truly like, then watch someone with very little share with someone with even less. Or remember those days when your parents went without so you could eat. Nothing challenges those with plenty more than witnessing those with barely anything share even that.
When others step out of a situation, stating that a community or a people or an individual are beyond saving, the Church can step in and share love, hope, mercy, faithfulness. We might not solve the situation but we will be there when all hope is gone. The greatest witness of Christians throughout history has been when they have stayed when everyone else has given up.
But we don’t do this in our own strength. Often our first reaction when help is sought is to bite down the selfish reaction. Yet God’s love and compassion that flows through us gives us the strength to reach out in love, to offer help, to forgive the one who hurt us, to stay the course even in the midst of conflict, difficulty and change. And the blessings that flow are worth it. Often what we give away in love, in sacrifice, in faith, we receive back in bucket loads. Our blessings might come back in a different shape but we are blessed.
However, if we are to truly rise to the challenge of our faith, turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, sharing the Gospel - we can only do that if we allow God to live and work in our lives, changing our fear to courage, our weakness to strength, our busyness to priorities. Many moons ago I told you that if you don’t set your own priorities, others will do it for you. Prioritise this journey of discipleship - meditate on God’s word, take Sabbath rest, pray and ponder, seeking God’s leadership in your life. I promise the challenges will increase but you will be more alive, more connected to creation, to God, to each other and indeed to yourself. The change will be as tangible as weight loss or getting fit.
You will blossom like spring flowers in the sunshine, and even when the storms come and your head is bowed, your heart will sing for you in the presence of the Holy One. The world will see the difference, and they will want what you have...quiet confidence, deep joy, calm and self-assurance. It won’t be an overnight transformation, and there will be bumps along the way. Jesus didn’t promise an easy life - blessed are you that mourn, that are persecuted, that are looked down upon -
I wish, I so wish, we could embrace our faith, capturing the first joy of it again. Then we wouldn’t hide behind our age, experience, busyness or fear. I want to embrace my faith that way, walking in the way of my Lord, braver, stronger, and it has to start with me prioritising my relationship with Him. As I change my priorities from the busyness of ministry, allowing Him to set the pace, the direction, the purpose, I know the challenges will be hard but I am God’s child, loved and blessed. What do you want to do today to help you meet the challenge of faith? What steps can you make to prioritise your relationship with God? For unless we change our perspective to focus on Him, the world will continue to overshadow and distract us from discipleship. Bless those who are praying even now that the church will rise up in power and strength because this is the time, this is the moment when we are so close to being broken in this society, that God will be praised and the day of salvation is here. We no longer rely on status or wealth or influence or pedestals. We are weak, barely with wisdom or influence, and as the Church of Scotland crumbles, we have two choices. We give up and close the door, hang the for sale sign... Or we let God do what God does best...
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
I give the final word to Joshua - the challenge given...
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Amen
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