GOSSIP AND CHRISTMAS
Mark 1: 1-8 NRSV

The Christmas and Advent season began when Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353. Who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today. 2 weeks off from school.

When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today? A 2 billion dollar industry.

It is a long time since 1832, longer still from 353 AD, longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and decorations and commercialization which surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate.

Yet some take the Holidays seriously, others just as another opportunity to make themselves more important than the Holiday itself. In our extra-sensitive to “enforced tolerance world” it’s as if the truth of Christmas and its meaning becomes trivialized, sanitized, diluted, and homogenized so that the truth won’t hurt or bother anyone. Can’t offend anyone, right?

We have made Christmas little more than a thing of gossip, with little truth of fact anywhere to be found. That’s how we got here. But we can use the concept that there is good gossip and bad gossip.

But all is not lost if you think about gossip for a minute. If you don't say it, they can't repeat it. If you do it right you want it repeated.

Yiddish folklore offers a telling tale about gossip-makers. One such man had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. "And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends."

The rabbi sighed, "Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back."

The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi's chambers. "I did just what you said, Rabbi!" "Good."

The rabbi smiled. "Now, to realize how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square..." "And?" "And collect all your feathers."

Even good solid Christians tell things about Christmas that amount to gossip because we’re lazy or take the easy path:

A little boy and girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded "Silent Night" with the words, "Sleep in heavenly beans." "No," his sister corrected, "not beans, peas."

To use gossip right we must learn the story, keep it simple, and tell it to others right.

Our scripture passage from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verses 1-8, starts the Christmas story out simply. Listen:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with^* water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

How does such a simple and beautiful story get changed to the point where the reason for the season is no longer apparent or even remotely evident?

The clear answer is that a large majority of people no longer treat Christmas, the baby Jesus, or even God as real, but characters and topics for myths, lies, and gossip told by addled minds.

I sometimes think more people think JFK was killed by the CIA/Mob then think that Jesus is the Son of God. Do more people think that Global Warming is more likely to happen than Jesus’ second coming? I’d hate to see the poll results on that one.

A popular play and movie this time of year, one I always enjoy watching is A Christmas Carol. There is one scene that has always fascinated me. The Ghost of Christmas Past has just paid a very discomforting visit to Ebenezer Scrooge.

Clearly the old miser is shaken by the entire ordeal. But when he awakens from his sleep does he take the message to heart? No, he simply dismisses it by saying:

“Bah, humbug, it wasn't real. A bit of old potato or just a bit of last nights undigested beef," he says to himself, "There is more gravy about you than the grave."

A vision to be taken to heart or simple indigestion. You tell me.

I would rank this experience up there with the person who goes to church and celebrates Christ’s birth and then leaves and acts as if it’s wasn’t real later.

Don’t get me wrong – we can celebrate Santa Claus, Rudolph, and all that if we keep it in the perspective of Jesus’ teachings. Generosity, blessings, and grace are the hallmarks, or should be, the center of the family celebration.

There is a Planetarium that has a special Christmas holiday show enhanced by an added feature. A giant lollipop tree is projected onto the planetarium dome, then surrounded by a horizon filled with brilliantly colored toys which come to life and dance to the tune of "Jingle Bells."

At the climax a huge figure of Santa Claus is faded into a snow storm, and then the star of Bethlehem breaks through into a sky that represents exactly the sky in Israel on the night of the nativity.

The designer of this show dramatically staged the supreme Christmas message our world needs to understand: The recovery of the lost meaning of Christmas. Jesus isn’t the beginning of the story – He is the story anchor.

This is not said in any criticism of Santa Claus; the effect must have delighted the hearts of all the children who saw it, without doing violence to their love of Bethlehem.

We need to see the loss when we substitute "Jingle Bells" for "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and insert a lollipop tree for the manger of Bethlehem.

The instinct is right to fade out these things in the light of the Christmas star. It is about God's incarnation that the angels sing--God with us.

We see it around us this time of year – stores and people try to avoid offending anybody, and our schools avoid religion altogether and start singing about the weather.

At many schools, they now hold a winter program and sing increasingly non-memorable songs such as "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the Snowman" and--this is a real song--"Suzy Snowflake."

A visitor from another planet would assume that the children belonged to the Church of Meteorology. 

But it’s all part of how schizophrenic we’ve become so that no one ever dares to say what Christmas is truly about so as not to offend. Then Christmas truly becomes like gossip – because it can only be whispered about.

Two women having lunch in an elegant hotel were approached by a mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal. One lady replied, "We are celebrating the birth of my baby boy." "But where is he?" inquired the friend. "Oh," said the mother, "you really didn't think I'd bring him, did you?"

Isn’t this a picture of the way the world treats Jesus at Christmas? They think they can celebrate some holiday without the object, the reason, for that holiday.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. God’s story, Jesus’ story, and our story are really quite simple.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;

If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been exercise, God would have sent us a trainer;

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. Amen.

I guess you've noticed the redesign?

Why?

Because I've recently discovered that in these last days God did give us instructions for how to handle the prophetic times we live in. I've since labelled them "The Last Words of God to humanity as His judgments begin."

Listen:
  
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Rev.14:6-7).

In these last days we are to fear and glorify God, worship Him, and pronounce Him as creator of all things.

“GOD IS WATCHING”
MARK 13: 24-37  NRSV

Children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Christian school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. Someone had written a note and placed it next to the apples. It read, "Take only one, God is watching."

Moving through the line, to the other end of the table, was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. One little boy wrote his own note and snuck it next to the cookies, "Take all you want, God is watching the apples."

Have you ever had a job, a task, or a mission to watch something, and then react to it? Or been in a situation where you were being watched?

As a new recruit in Boot Camp I was terrorized by failing to know any of the “general orders” of a sentry as we stood watches. Drill instructors or officers would jump out and ask us: “What is your (number) order of a sentry?”

The Navy version had 11 and here are the first five of them:

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own.
5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

You get the idea. In the military watchers are expected to perform certain functions and do their duty appropriately. It’s a serious business that can literally be life and death.

In our namby-pamby easy world of today we have been spoiled in that our faith and beliefs are rarely challenged, tested, or even matter. People sometimes get mad when asked for an opinion. But those days are over. In today’s world what you believe, and how you live, matters. You (and I) do need to be watchful and careful of, in the words of that Children’s song, what our hands, our feet, and our eyes see.

Listen to MARK 13: 24-37 –  "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory.

Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.

Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Jesus clearly wants us to keep aware of what’s going on around us. We are to keep awake – we must be watchful. In the military it is understood you may be executed if you fall asleep on duty. If you fall asleep as a Christian the danger is that others perish because you didn’t stay awake.

1 Peter 3: 15 commands us as Christians to always be ready to give a defense of our faith to those outside the church, and Jude 3 calls us to defend it within the Church.

I tell you that Jude had to have been aware of Peter’s proclamation because his book seems to be an extension of Peter’s Second Epistle on the false teachers who were beginning to come into the church.

Paul and Jude tell us we are to watch and JUDGE those inside and outside the church by standards set by Jesus. Jesus said: “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged.” (Matthew 7: 2).

If you judge something by the word of God you must be willing to be judged by the same standard. Jesus repeatedly taught men to judge rightly, insisting they “judge with righteous judgment” (John 7: 24) and He praised a man who “rightly judged” (Luke 7: 43).

We are to be watchful of those around us and on guard at all times.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “He who is spiritual judges all things” for “we have the mind of Christ” (1Corinthians 2: 15-16). We are never to judge the eternal destiny of someone, but we are commanded to judge their teachings and examples.

When a teaching or practice does not line up with God’s Word, Titus 1: 9 says we are commanded “by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

We are told to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy. 4:2).

Ephesians 5: 11 also tells us “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (show them for what they really are) them.”

In Isaiah 21:6 it says “Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.”  The watchman was the first line of defense of a fortified city. They stood on the watchtower and were trained to spot the enemies of Israel and would warn of an approaching enemy. Watchman in Hebrew is opeh, meaning “one who looks out, spies, watches.” Today we’d call them those who consume information and read and search to discern society.

Watchmen are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and will become guilty if they do not say something. Just as Ezekiel was the watchman for Israel God has his watchmen for the church.

Today’s watchmen who are warning the church, standing for the truth, having  become the target for all kinds of attacks. Those who exercise discernment make themselves more of a target to be attacked more than any other ministry because they are contending with the truth against the falsehood that is so prevalent today.

Sometimes people don’t know a good thing until they really need it. To be on watch is be viewed as problematic and disruptive. In today’s world to obey the negative biblical commands of Christ are unloving-To carefully test things by the Bible is unloving-To warn of false gospels is unloving-To mark and avoid false teachers is mean-spirited and unloving.

A pastor and the Elders are responsible for teaching the truth in their own church, and they need to know the condition of their flock. Like shepherding a literal sheep flock requires vigilance and a sharp eye for danger (not to mention an occasional correcting guidance for grazing in a bad pasture), some pastors haven’t taken seriously the call to be watchmen.

Why. God’s word doesn’t change but human desires to change it abound.

More watchmen are needed today not less. Why? God’s Word has been given.

Jude says that God’s word has been delivered unto the saints, and that means “once for all,” that it is completed. He is referencing the apostles teaching, that we now all share as believers. This confirms the finality of the revelation of God in Christ.

If we are in the faith we are implored to use it. But this is not to be done in a contentious way. 2 Timothy 2: 23-26 says “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

We are to strive lawfully, so that we do not disqualify ourselves or give the unbeliever or believer something to point to; we are to testify without ruining our testimony. That no one would have anything to say about our character, but only about the truth that we presented about Jesus. We are not to revile nor seek vengeance, but use the judgment from the word of God not judge by our feelings or own opinions.

In the same way, the church has been harmed today and has been taken over by lukewarm faith that allows and tolerates everything. Did you know that the church has never been harmed from the outside.

Persecution caused it to grow by leaps and bounds. Today we are witnessing the destruction of the church from the inside-it's an inside job. It’s always been those from the inside.

Last week the National Cathedral allowed Islamic prayer in its chapel. It was on the 100th anniversary of the Caliphate of the Ottoman Empire.

 

Why would a church body allow that unless they had no real faith in scripture and Jesus Christ? Only one person, one member challenged it – and she was not so gently ushered out the side door – of her own family church of which she has been a member for many years!

Jesus knew the weakness of the Church - Christ was betrayed from the inside, not from the outside. One of His own betrayed Him over to His nation. His nation betrayed Him over to the Romans, and the Romans: brought Him to the cross.

The church is being betrayed today by the ones who, have gotten: in by that same side door faithful Christians are being tossed through.

Today’s ecumenical unity is based on finding and maintaining our lowest common denominator, not interested in pursuit of our highest calling and purpose. When we sacrifice truth for unity no disagreement is found because there is no Biblical standard upheld to agree on.

Grechen Machen stated, “We are told that our theological differences will disappear if we just get down on our knees together in prayer. Well, I can only say about that kind of prayer, which is indifferent to the question whether the gospel is true or false, that it is not Christian prayer; it is bowing down in the house of Mammon. God save us from it!”

Our core beliefs must be upheld. Not all things are considered serious but some are, some battles are worth fighting over. Those who say they don’t believe what their church doctrine and policy say yet remain are just as guilty as they who swear to it.

Some say don’t judge. But that’s the problem - we do not have enough judgment, and this is why the church is in the state it is in. Hebrews 5: 13-14 says: “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ”

We are to maintain a constant watchfulness, as though we are in warfare; because we are in spiritual warfare. Solomon’s guidance: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:27).

Listen carefully: Solomon says to walk away from those who teach error. Paul does, John does and so does Jesus. God’s Word tells us to judge and put away, separate ourselves from false teachers and false teaching when they appear in our midst. It is for our spiritual survival.

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September, 1985 a celebration of a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people gathered, including 100 certified lifeguards.who choose to party and not do their duty and keep watch.

As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.

To me this is the metaphor that describes our mainline churches today. They are celebrating while some are dying. Do not be fooled – God is watching. Amen

Are Sheep Better Than Goats?
Matthew 25: 31-46

A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced toward him out of a cloud of dust.

The driver, a young man in an Italian  suit, Gucci shoes, Ray-Ban sunglasses and Trump tie, leaned out the window and asked the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"

Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, Why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his ATT LG G3 Phablet, and calls up a NASA page on the Internet, where he logs in to a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany.

Within seconds, he receives an email on his I-phone 6s that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his phablet and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer, turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."

"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says Bud.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on with amusement as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car. Then Bud says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're a consultant for the U.S. Congress", says Bud.

"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"

"No guessing required." answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You used millions of dollars’ worth of technology trying to show me how much smarter than me you are, and you don't know a thing about how working people make a living, or about cows for that matter. I am a sheep herder.

Now give me back my dog.

We’re starting to find out, not surprisingly, that Obamacare was created by the same type of person as this person in this joke. However our problems today are not a joke.

Did you hear about the demonstration in a grocery store out in Berkeley, California last week? Some very radical vegetarians held a funeral for a chicken they took out of the frozen food section complete with a eulogy and prayers and a coffin.

They said that all animal life on earth have the same value, and are equal in the eyes of “mother earth.” Now that’s not quite how my Bible reads, but with the wackos and government people running things there are times when it seems as if some animals are worth more than people.

Occasionally, a psychologist or a counselor, in the course of their interaction with a client, may ask them, “If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?”

Obviously, the answer sometimes may give away some elements or aspects of your personality, such as level of aggressive tendencies or what you actually think about others for example, that you may want to stay hidden.

For me, I enjoy using this question to free up creative thinking and to ease a little tension. Think of how wonderful it must be to be an Eagle and soar on wings or to be a dolphin and be carefree.

Jesus tells us that in the coming judgment it will be better to be a sheep then  a goat, as he compares the coming judgment of the nations of the earth. Jesus talks about sheep a lot in His teachings. Let’s hear His description and then discuss which animal we’d like to be. Matthew 25: 31-46:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of His glory. “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "

Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"Then they also will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'

"Then he will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Goats are hardy animals suitable to the rocky hills and mountains of the arid regions in Israel. They are used for their meat, hair, milk, and skins. Goats, to this day, are favored by the Bedouins more than any other group of people.

But goats were falling out of favor by Jesus’ day and were becoming less used by Jewish herders and priests in the temple sacrificial system, which favored either lambs or doves primarily because their bodies had more fat content.

Sheep required much more care and tending than the independent-minded goats. Throughout the New Testament people are frequently compared favorably to sheep and Jesus often pictures Himself as a Shepherd.

Sheep are considered affectionate, meek, docile, submissive, considered helpless if left alone, and have a serious need for guidance.

Human sheep need a shepherd, Jesus, and sheep dogs, pastors/teachers/church leaders, and such. It’s no wonder Jesus compared His disciples to sheep.

The Greek word for sheep is “probaton” and the Greek word for goat is “eriphion.” I remember this word so well because it is almost as if God put us here on probation. The sheep fear God and the goats rip apart.

Goats are independent creatures that are stubborn, destructive, and refuse to be herded, mostly going where their hunger and curiosity takes them.

Jesus tells us the sheep will be on His right hand and the goats on the left: where do you want to be?

The goats in Jesus’ passage are described in Romans 1: 28-32:

 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.

They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

 Being a member of the sheep-fold is where we want to be. That’s where God’s grace will draw us home. And in the sheep-fold we take care of each other. Amen.

“INVESTMENT LIVING”
MATTHEW 25: 14-30 NRSV

I love the story about the Lutheran pastor who always started each service off with the phrase, "The Lord be with you." The people would then respond, "and also with you.”

However, one Sunday the sound system wasn’t working very well. The pastor stepped up to the pulpit and said, "There’s something wrong with this microphone."  The people responded, "AND ALSO WITH YOU!”

Pastors are known for certain styles of preaching and specific themes they preach over and over. I once heard someone say that most preachers really only preach one sermon but say it in different ways.

I can live with people saying that about me as long as the message I give is consistent and Biblical, and is practical to use in your everyday life.

Some pastors preach peace, some preach prayer, some preach unity in believers, others preach love, self-control, and how good deeds show others how good a Christian is. Some preachers even urge their congregations to donate money so that they too will be given more money by God. (That’s the Prosperity Gospel.)

(BTW – those preachers drive Cadillac’s, Humvee’s, and Lincoln Navigators. My little car may look nice – but I assure you it’s at the cheap end of the dealer’s pricelist!)

I think we pastors need to offer practical advice and practical theology in our weekly messages that help people know God, Jesus, and live better lives. I think Jesus would agree.

What is the most practical parable Jesus ever told? What parable applies more to how we live our lives today, and how God acts and reacts to us, and how we act and react to Him? I think it would have to be the parable that we find in Matthew 25:14-30.

"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;  to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 

The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 

In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 

But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 

Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.'  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 

And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 

So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The biggest change in the church over the last 400 years is the answer to a question that has troubled humans since the Garden of Eden: What authority does God have over my life, and do I really owe him for the skills, abilities, and talents he has given me?

The New Testament adds Jesus to the equation: What power does the church have over me?

The quick answer is obvious: If you don’t want God to be the ruler of your life  then you don’t have to bow to Him. But God has prefigured a price into all of our lives as the Creator of the Universe: The cost of rejection is ironically this: you set yourself up to be rejected.

Before someone says that’s not fair let me say this: God will allow you to live the life you choose, on the earth He has created for you, subject to the natural laws and limitations humans have. You can reject or accept His laws and rules or not. But when you pass from the physical world into the spiritual world there will be an accounting.

If you acknowledge Jesus while on earth, then you will be acknowledged in Heaven. If you choose to use your talents, abilities, and skills to attempt (hear that word --- attempt) to help and further His commandments and Kingdom then the attempt will be rewarded in Heaven.

God does not set quotas, shift goals, or pay by the hour or activity. God says it is good when/if you try, and even better when you succeed. But it’s not really necessary to meet the criteria for entrance into Heaven. That’s why it’s called Grace.

For clarity’s sake - You just can’t take all the blessings God has given you and then ignore Him and expect to get the same reward someone who has a relationship with God would receive.

I know it’s hard for us to understand – God’s economy is not our economy; His ways are not our ways. God is perfect, we as imperfect humans, could never do anything that could please Him, except to accept His Son into our lives.

The Bible tells us of the rejoicing that will go on in Heaven when one sinner repents and comes to Christ. Even if we work hard to help that person make a decision it is still the Holy Spirit that does the heavy lifting and the hard work.

Sadly, so many people look at God’s claim on His creation as a myth, a child’s fable, and a lie that creates hatred and fear. They see any act of judgment, not as righteous but as a punishment.

I remember hearing a story about a stolen car. Police were conducting an intense search for the vehicle and the driver, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations to contact the thief.

On the front seat of the stolen car sat a box of crackers that, unknown to the thief, was laced with poison.

The car owner had intended to use the crackers as rat bait.

Now the police and the owner of the car were more interested in apprehending the thief to save his life than to recover the car.

So often when we run from God, we feel it is to escape his punishment. But what we are actually doing is eluding his rescue.

Combine that with how resistant most Christians are to evangelize and it doesn’t bode well for those who are lost.

We worry so much about offending others if we talk about faith that we risk losing them to the world and sin, and the temptations of evil around us.

I think Jesus is reminding us in these verses that we are being given the gift of grace and that out of gratitude it should be natural for us to try and return an investment on that grace. It should become a way of life rather than attempting to do good works because we want God to notice and reward us.

Sadly, it’s almost like what’s happening with patriotism and our American identity. We receive benefits as Americans not because we deserve them but because Americans have always done what was needed to secure freedom.

In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."

Many of us don’t want to make the sacrifices necessary investing ourselves in our faith to make a difference anymore. Jesus calls us to a life of investment in Him. Amen.

DOOMSDAY PREP-PERS!
MATTHEW 25: 1-13 NRSV

A little girl asked her father if he was afraid of the dark. He told her he was not. She asked if he was afraid of snakes. He told her he was not. The little girl then asked him if he was afraid of long slimy worms. Her father again told her he was not afraid, even of long, slimy worms.

The girl thought for a moment and then concluded, “Then the only thing you’re afraid of is mom!” If we look around there are lots of things to be afraid of, aren’t there?

There’s a lot of buzz in the world today about the end of the world, what with the rise of ISIS, Ebola arriving in America, the new “entro-virus” striking children, the increase in racial hatred and violence, the increasing split of partisan politics, and the declining American identity and patriotism.

Some people are very afraid of the lack of privacy we have; that retail businesses snoop on us, media outlets monitor what news we see and hear, the TSA strip or electronically search us before we get on airplanes, and even our government won’t admit to the level of information gathering the various alphabet agencies collect on the average person each day.

A young woman was waiting for a bus in a slum area one evening when a rookie policeman approached her. “Want me to wait with you?” he asked.

She replied, “Thank you, but that’s not necessary. I am not afraid.” “Well, then,” he grinned, “would you mind waiting with me?” All of us need to use the buddy system just to go to the corner market.

If you’ve noticed, I haven’t even began to talk about Biblical prophecy and the signs that the end is near: The threat of ideological and religious warfare; the increasing physical calamities such as earthquakes, floods, storms, famines, large fish and bird deaths, the increasing godlessness, and the almost constant demand of freedom from religion, and the persecution of believers…I could go on for a while.

Jesus knew we would face tough times and would have to wait, even come to long for, the time of His return. The signs of the times, He said, would tell us when the time is near. It would be “as in the days of Noah.”

He also said we were not to worry, but that we were to be prepared for His return:

Lots of money and time are spent each year trying to figure it out. If just half that energy were spent on preparing as much an on when, we’ve be in good shape.

Let’s see what Jesus said in Matthew 25: 1-13: "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'

And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

A Bible study group was discussing the unforeseen possibility of their sudden death. The leader of the discussion said, “We will all die some day, and none of us really know when, but if we did we would all do a better job of preparing ourselves for that inevitable event.” Everybody shook their heads in agreement with this comment.

Then the leader said to the group, “What would you do if you knew you only had 4 weeks of life remaining before your death, and then the Great Judgment Day?”

One man said, ” I would go out into my community and minister the Gospel to those that have not yet accepted the Lord into their lives.” “Very good!” said the group leader, and all the group members agreed, that would be a very good thing to do.

One lady then spoke up and said enthusiastically, “I would dedicate all of my remaining time to serving God, my family, my church, and my fellow man with a greater conviction.” “That’s wonderful!” the group leader commented, and all the group members agreed, that too would be a very good thing to do.

But one man in the back finally spoke up loudly and said, “I would go to my mother-in-laws house for the 4 weeks.” Everyone was puzzled by this answer, and the group leader ask, “Why your mother-in-law’s home?” “Because that will make it the longest 4 weeks of my life!”

So our question comes down to this: Is it better to not worry about when Jesus is coming, or is it better to be ready when He comes?

One argument seems to require the usual “out of touch” scenario of standing on the street corner crying out, “Repent, the end is near!” while the other suggests making do and surviving each day until we hear Jesus yell, “Come up here!”

Farmers Fred and Luke were fishing on the side of the road. They made a sign saying "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!" and waved it at each passing car.

One driver that passed didn't appreciate the sign and shouted, "Leave us alone you religious nuts!" All of a sudden they heard a big splash. Fred grinned at Luke. "Do you think we should just put up a sign that says: 'Bridge Out' instead?"

But what do you think is a better option – going totally doomsday “prepper” and concentrating only on preparing for the coming judgment? Or following Jesus’ advice to be prepared while continuing to work toward showing yourselves as an approved disciple of Christ?

When I worked for the Army in the 1980’s I managed the computer programs that took care of the world wide stock of “War Reserve” materials that were “pre-positioned” in case of a sudden war somewhere. The government was prepared to respond quickly if/when needed. But it took a lot of time and effort to manage effectively.

Veterans of military service will tell you just how much material, manpower, and management is required to keep units supplied at a level that boosts efficiency and maintains morale enough to fight or perform a mission. It is time consuming and expensive.

But consider the alternative? It costs lives when military units are not ready.

Preparing for Jesus’ return and staying ready requires effort as well. Effort that needs to start in the family and become a daily habit of both walking and talking in faith. Knowing everything about Jesus must start early in life, if possible.

Talking about and preparing for Jesus’ return with children will help them learn and overcome the natural fears and questions humans have when facing any kind of life changes.

It’s our natural inclination to avoid discussing such topics, but avoiding it will alsol also cost human souls who aren’t prepared like the bridesmaids in our Gospel.

The cold and flu season had come to a little girl’s school. The first grader had missed a day of school and was asked by the teacher if she was felling better. She responded to the teacher in a proud voice, “Yes, I’m all better now, but Daddy and I had to go to the doctor.”

The sensed there might be more to the story she asked, “And what did you think about visiting the doctor?” The little girl answered with a small, sad voice, “I didn’t like it very much. I had to get a shot, and it hurt.”

Before the teacher could offer any words of comfort the little girl got a big smile on her face and continued, “Yep. I had to get a shot, but my daddy had to get two shots, and that made me feel much better!”

Preparing for Jesus’ return is necessary, and will require inoculation against the trials and tribulations of this world so that its temptations and viral infestations of sin will not catch.

After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother. "Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?" "Yes."  "Today?" "Yes." "In a few minutes?" "Yes, dear." "Mommy, would you comb my hair?" 

2 Timothy 2: 15 (HCSB) reads “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” The Greek word used for approved, “dokimos” means being accepted and pleasing. The text tells us to work at being accepted by, and being pleasing to God.    

I always remember with fondness the age –old adage that mothers would remind their children to wear clean underwear while on a trip just in case you ended up in the hospital. Isn’t it the same when we remind others to be ready when/if Jesus comes? It won’t be just our underwear that has to be clean!

 
As believers in Christ it is our duty to warn and equip others in the saving faith and hope of eternal life in our Lord and Savior. Let us commit ourselves and efforts in being prepared and assisting others in being ready as well. Amen.

“A Spade is Just a Fancy Name for a Shovel”
Matthew 23: 1-12

A religious leader and his associate were rehearsing a service. To make his point more dramatic the minister fell to his knees, beat his breast and said, “I am nothing. I am nothing.” Then his associate fell to his knees, beat upon his breast, and repeated, “I am nothing. I am nothing.”

The janitor witnessed this scene. Moved by what he had seen and had heard, the janitor fell to his knees and cried, “I am nothing. I am nothing.”

When the minister and associate heard the janitor, the minister turned to the associate and said, “So look who has the gall to think he is nothing!”

Humbleness, or humility is greatly prized as a character trait. It suggests that the person has an openness to criticism and advice, and is not conceited or stubborn enough not to learn new lessons in life. We want our heroes, public servants, and medical professionals to be humble.

I’m reminded of a peanuts comic strip I once read. Linus and Charlie Brown are talking about what they want to be when they grow up. Linus says, “When I get big I’m going to be a humble country doctor. I’ll live in the city, see, and every morning I’ll get up, climb into my sports car and zoom into the country! Then I’ll start healing people. I’ll heal everybody for miles around. “

Then Linus concludes his speech by saying, “”I’ll be a world famous humble little country doctor.”

Remember the song that went, “It’s hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way?” I thank God that every time I start getting a handle on thinking I might be doing something right, something will slap me in the face to remind me I’m not even close. It’s kind of like a humility shirt I wear. I know a pastor who talks about the food stains on his shirt as the “family birthmark.”

I know I’m never going to be perfect – but I also know I don’t have to be, and I think that’s a step toward being humble, at least.

A humble country pastor was asked to give the opening and closing prayers at a large church conference where the biggest names in the religious world were speaking. A member of his congregation asked him later how he felt being given such an honor.

The pastor replied in this way, “A farmer once put his mule in a horse race and his friends said to him, ‘Silly, that mule can’t run with those thoroughbreds.’ The farmer said, ‘I know it, but you have no idea how good it makes him feel to be with all those horses.’”

The first step toward humbleness is in plain speaking. Not ducking issues and living in the real world is necessary. But this won’t make you popular. Learning to admit that a “spade,” is just a fancy name for a shovel, is a tough road to walk, and must be taught from an early age. Having respect for ourselves and others helps.

Let’s see what Jesus taught about humbleness - Matthew 23: 1-12:

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.

And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven.

Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

One of the greatest preachers in American History, Jonathan Edwards, said, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.”

William Stekel once said, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

And finally, Arthur Schopenhauer wrote, “We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be liked by other people.” True humbleness means living in the real world of self-awareness, purpose, and the meaning of God’s grace.

To do that we must not only know truth, but live it as well, “warts and all.” How can we get in touch with humbleness? It’s linked to the most important thing a parent can instill in a child, that of respect.

Let’s look at the fifth commandment. This God-given boundary comes with a promise. Here’s what God said: “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”  (Exodus 20: 12, NRSV)

What does it mean to honor your father and mother? In the original language the word “honor” can literally mean “to make heavy.” In other words, we are not to take our parents lightly. God calls us to actively give them respect and reverence.

This 5^th commandment is tough to chew on because we live in an age of disrespect. Youth is glorified and old age is seen as something to avoid at all costs. On TV and in the movies children are most often portrayed as the witty heroes.

Parents tend to be seen as pathetic, overbearing buffoons, especially dads. Think Al Bundy, Homer Simpson, or Archie Bunker? The elderly are most often viewed as senile and to be avoided if you want to have a good time. In this case it seems that the media is reflecting the attitude of the culture, disrespect of parents and grandparents.

Just as with all of God’s commandments, this one has terrible consequences for nations and individuals if it’s not heeded. We live in a nation where people think they know everything. They don’t need to be humble, nor do they need to show respect for others.

It destroys humbleness before your parents, family, and God. Humbleness must start at home. Respect must start at home.

Why should we insist on respect? Obviously it teaches children to honor authority and submit yourself to it. The health of the family reflects the health of the nation. The 5^th Commandment extends to other areas of authority in society as well.

Zacharius Ursinus, who wrote the Heidelburg Catechism, said this:   

“The design or end of this commandment is the preservation of civil order, which God has appointed in the mutual duties between inferiors and their superiors. Superiors are all those whom God has placed over others, for the purpose of governing and defending them.  Inferiors are those whom God has placed under others, that they may be governed and defended by them.”

In other words, children who have learned to honor their parents in turn respect those in authority over them. This enables them to be upright, law-abiding citizens.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, in her book about the 10 commandments writes:

Parents are teachers of faith and morality. What God is to the world, parents are to their children. Unfortunately, some parents become so focused on the element of friendship or their own convenience, comfort, self-fulfillment, happiness, or love life that they forget their job is to help mold moral character so their children will have the strength to do what is right in a world that sometimes encourages them to do otherwise.

The 5^th commandment has a reciprocal effect. The honor you give is the honor you will receive. It is a two-way street requiring you as a parent to respect both your children and your own parents.

Teach your children to respect you. Ephesians 6: 1-4, NRSV):

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"--this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

We teach respect when we love them unconditionally, encourage them by lifting them up, limiting them by providing boundaries and guidance, and leading them in what’s right and what’s not right.

Proverbs 22: 6 tells us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Respect must be taught before it is sought. However, honor must also be caught.

Our children need to see respect in us. Respect for ourselves, respect for them, and respect for others. It is only through self-understanding can we become humble enough to concentrate on the truly important things in life.

Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character. If you always worry about who you are and where you should be then you’ll never become and do what God wants you to do.

Lastly, I think Jesus is telling us in this passage this message: “The person with true humility never has to be shown his place, he is always in it.” Amen.