Sidney UMC - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/28/24 - Sermon - “What Are The Idols In Our Life?”

Sunday 01/28/24 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title: “What Are The Idols In Our Life?”                        

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 111                                       

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:21-28 

         Sometimes in person, on television, on the radio, in magazines, in newspapers, on signs, on billboards, etc., we here about what we need, how we need to change, what is good for us, what is bad for us, etc. I have heard the term in recent years “living your best life”. Has anyone here ever heard the term, “living your best life?” It is basically the idea that you are at maximum potential, and that you are living in the best possible way you can. Or at least that is what it seems to mean, that you are the very best version of yourself.

          If someone is in fact, “living their best life” though, then what does that look like? We could likely assume that this person is free from things that could destroy them, free from things that harm them, and on a track of positive and happy wellbeing. If this is truly what “living our best life” means, then I would think that we would have to be intentional about how we live, the choices we make, and how we pursue “living our best life”.

          I thought that this would be a much better and more understandable way to introduce the topic of idols and idolatry. What is an idol? On the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, I found five definitions of what an idol is. Here they are in order:

1. an object of extreme devotion.

2. a representation or symbol of an object of worship.

3. a likeness of something.

4 a false conception. 

5 a form or appearance visible but without substance (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idol).

          I have heard some sermons on idols or idolatry in my life, where I left the church feeling like I was a terrible and an awful person that was far from God. The reality though, is that we all can grow closer and closer to God. Are any of here us fully made into the image of Christ? Are any of us here fully sinless and perfect all the time? Hopefully more so than we used to be, as we are striving for perfection. In fact, the founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley said “let us go on unto perfection”. Or to say it in a more modern way “live our best and our holiest life”. Yet, if we are truly as Christians trying to be fully made into the image of Jesus Christ, this means we must remove from our lives those things that separate us from Christ.

          I think explaining it this way makes much more sense than just saying we are all awful and need to repent. We all do need to repent and turn to Christ, but we are all in the same boat in this venture. We are called to turn from sin and darkness, and to love like Christ. Many of us have things in our lives that we should change and or remove from our lives. Some Christian traditions have been so strict historically in fact, that just having a picture of Jesus hanging up, or having a cross on the wall, were all seen as idolatry. For what if the picture of Jesus and the cross on the wall becomes the object of our love and our worship?

          We increasingly live in a society and a world that is constantly trying to tell us what we need to happy, to be complete, and to “live our best life”. Some of these things are in commercials or infomercials, and all around we are being sold happiness. This does not mean that every product and service is bad, but does hope, peace, and love come from other places to? Can possessions in and of themselves make us happy? Can money, in and of itself make us happy? What truly makes us happy, and truly allows us to “live our best life”? Well in this culture, the answer to this question depends on who you ask.

          To ask it another way my friends, what or who do we worship? What or who is the strongest focus of our time, our talent, and our resources? We can all answer this question, and we all can probably realize that there might be places in our lives where we need to change some things.

          I remember a story that a good friend of mine told me a few years ago. This friend was a long-time drug addict, was incarcerated for drugs, and even sold drugs. I was curious to learn about his experiences, and he was very open in discussing these experiences. So, I asked this good and trusted friend this question, “What is like to be in deep drug addiction?” Now remember this is what my friend said, and not me. He said, “Pastor Paul do you remember that story in the Bible where Moses comes down from the mountain with the ten-commandments, and some people at the bottom of the mountain are worshiping a golden calf?” I then said to my friend, “Yeah of course I know that story of Moses”. My friend then said, “Well the drug I made, sold, and was addicted to was my god. My drug was the golden calf”. I then said, “Can you explain this a little more?” He said sure, and then he said, “the drug had complete control over my life, over my heart, over my soul, and everything I did centered around that drug. It was the object of my worship and my whole life”.

          When my friend told me this, it really showed me what an idol in our lives can look like. The question that I have for us all and myself to think about this morning then is, “What Are The Idols In Our Life”? What are the things in our life that have our attention, our love, and maybe even be the object of our worship. When we look at our reading from Psalm 111 for this morning, it says in 111:1, once again:

¹ Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation (Psalm 111:1, NRSV).

          What is preventing us from praising the Lord and giving thanks to the Lord with our whole heart here in church this morning, and in general? Now the things that separate of us God are not always idols, but what are the things in our lives that separate us? For some of us it can little things, like we are staying up too late watching television, working, and using the internet. Anyone here ever been guilty of that?

          Maybe some of us over eat or over indulge in sweets sometimes, and worse we know that we should not do so. Maybe we are worried about money, about our family, about the future, etc. These are not uncommon worries, but what if they have become the very object of our worship and praise? For some people they might have a nicotine or tobacco addiction. Some people might have other things in their lives that we know are not good for us. I know that I do, but if the goal of the Christian faith is to become fully made in the image of Jesus Christ, then we need to keep trying to change and remove the things in our lives that separate us from God. We need ask God to help us with this. As I am talking then, think about what is separating us from God? Anyone here struggle with working to much? Anyone here to desirous of certain possessions and or other things?

          I remember when I was little boy getting a new toy for Christmas. For about a week or two sometimes that new toy was almost like an idol. I loved that toy and it seemed like the most important thing in the world to me. Yet within a week or two that toy was in the toy box with all the other toys. What will make us whole? What will make us like Jesus? As Christians how do we “live our best and holiest life?” “What Are The Idols In Our Life”. Further, the change that I am talking about is often hard, and not easy. In fact, after Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40-days and nights, the devil tempted Jesus. The devil wanted to see if he could make Jesus trust in things other than God, namely the devil. The devil asked Jesus to turn stones to bread. The devil offered Jesus the kingdoms, power, and wealth of the world. The devil also tempted Jesus to jump off the great temple in Jerusalem, telling him that angels of Lord would save him.

          I truly think that of all the times in our history as humans, that we are living in one of greatest times of temptation, idolatry, and distraction. I mean we have more than we ever have had before, technology and medical technology is better than it ever has been. Even so, the United States is not ranked the happiest country on earth, instead according an article that I read we are ranked the 15^th happiest country on earth in 2023 (https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/world-happiest-countries-2023-wellness/index.html). There is great emphasis on balance and well-being, but what we worship matters to.
          This leads to our scripture reading for this morning from 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, once again. In this scripture the Apostle Paul, once again, is specifically talking about eating food sacrificed to idols. Some people say a prayer or say grace before eating, and the Apostle Paul is concerned about people who do this to a different God. The Apostle Paul is saying that if we bless and pray over our food to the God of our faith, this is good, but not to do this to other gods. Many gods in the ancient world were carved into stone, made with wood, or precious metals. The allegation from the Apostle Paul then, is people were worship objects, and not the true God. The God of our faith cannot be contained in objects of stone, wood, or metal. Instead, the God of our faith is much bigger than any mere object. God is a spiritual being capable of being all around us, in us, and present where God wants to be present. As a result, we should bless are food and everything to the God of all. The Apostle Paul even says that the food itself won’t bring us closer to God, and to avoid things that cause us to stumble. Stay focused on God, and not idols (1 Cor. 8:1-13, NRSV).

          In looking at our gospel of Mark 1:21-28 reading for this morning, Jesus is astounding people with his teaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. In the same scene there was man possessed by an unclean spirit. Let’s look once again at our reading from Mark 1:21-28, which says starting in Mark 1:21, once again,

²¹ They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mk. 1:21-22, NRSV).

          So, Jesus is teaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath once again, and people are astounded by his teaching and his authority. Right after this, we have man in the synagogue possessed with an unclean spirit who cries out. Picking up starting in Mark 1:23, it says once again:

²³ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴ and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ ²⁸ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee             (Mark 1:23-28, NRSV). 

          When evil is confronted by Christ, it scatters and is afraid. Jesus Christ is the truth, is our Lord, and deserves our worship and our praise. In a culture that is constantly vying for our love, our time, our resources, and everything we have, where does true hope, peace, and love come from? Only through God in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit can we be made more into the image of Christ. The big take away is this, if we wanted to be more perfected in the love of Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ is the best answer to achieve this. Everything else, while not all bad, will not lead us to perfect love and to be perfected in Christ. As my sermon title says then, “What Are The Idols In Our Life?” Come to Christ and live, love, hope, and “live your best and holiest life”. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Third Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/21/24 - Sermon - “Sackcloth and Ashes!”

Sunday 01/21/24 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Sackcloth and Ashes!”                  

Old Testament Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10                                    

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:14-20

         So, I have a question for us all to think about this morning, have you ever done something really not smart or boneheaded? I mean something bad enough that it might have gotten you into big trouble? Maybe you really upset your beloved or maybe you put your foot in your mouth so deep that you could taste your sock! Anyone here ever forget a birthday? Anyone here ever forget an anniversary? Have you ever said something, and right after you said it, you realized that what you just said was not good? What did it feel like in that moment?

          The term I have heard some people say to me is, “Pastor, I’m in the dog house!” This implies that you are in so much trouble that you cannot even stay in or sleep in your house or apartment. Instead, you must sleep in the outdoor dog house, for those that have one of those. So, we might have messed up so bad that we cannot even stay in the house. That’s pretty bad!

          I am sure that we have all messed up. As I am talking then, think about a time or times that you really messed up. What did you do to reconcile that mess up? Did you make a nice dinner? Did you buy flowers? Did you grovel on your knees? Did I tell Melissa, “I think I need a time out to think about what I have done!” How did you reconcile your huge mistake or mess up?

          For some though, because of pride or something else, they might not take ownership of there mess up. Some might blame someone else, or they might even lie about what happened. I think that it is never an enjoyable experience to really mess up, and maybe after the fact, or years later we can laugh about it. In the moment though, such things can be crushing.

          I say all of this, because this morning one of our scripture readings, once again, is from the Book of Jonah. In the Book of Jonah, Jonah is a prophet called by God to warn the city of Nineveh that God might destroy their city. Sounds harsh of course, but if we are not living and loving all people like God, then God is not pleased with this reality. God is not pleased with violence, evil, and cruelty.

In the beginning of the Book of Jonah, Jonah resists God’s call to send him to have the city of Nineveh repent. Jonah instead paid to get on a ship going to Tarshish, but then a great storm came when the ship was sailing there. Jonah gets thrown into the sea, and a large fish, via God, swallows Jonah. Jonah is in the fish for three days, and the fish then spews him out onto dry land. Jonah then follows God’s call on his life to tell the city of Nineveh to repent. In looking at our Book of Jonah reading 3:1-5, 10 for this morning, we read this starting in Jonah 3:1, as it says once again:

3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ² ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ ³ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. ⁴ Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ ⁵ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth (Jonah, 3:1-5, NRSV).

 

          So, the entire city of Nineveh, from king down to the servants, thousands of people, repented. The whole city. Not just some, but everyone. Imagine if all of us, and if the whole world today apologized and reconciled with each other. Imagine if we forgave, if we asked for forgiveness, if we turned to God, and if were reconciled to each other. If we are all made in God’s image, then we are all God’s creation, and we are all worthy of dignity and respect.

Well, as the story goes in the Book of Jonah, once again, not only did the whole city of Nineveh repent, but they got put on sackcloth for clothes, which makes me often think of those large coffee bean sacks. That burlap and brown weaved material. The people get into this as a sign of the humility and their lowliness. In fact, Jonah 3:6, which was not part of our reading for this morning, picks up saying:

⁶ When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ⁷ Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. ⁸ Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. ⁹ Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.’ ¹⁰ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it (Jonah 3:6-10, NRSV).

          The people of Nineveh were turning from God and worshipping idols. God called upon the prophet Jonah to tell them to repent and turn to God. In response, the people of the city of Nineveh repented from there evil and violent ways, and God spared the city of Nineveh. How many of us have things in our lives that we have to repent of or turn away from. How many of us are humble enough to wear sackcloth and ashes? We are completely dependent upon God, and so humble before God, that we will would wear sackcloth and ashes.

          Our season of Lent, the season of preparation for the crucifixion and death of Christ, leading to Christ’s resurrection on Easter, in some Christian traditions starts with Ash Wednesday. Our annual Ash Wednesday service will be on Wednesday February 14^th at 6:00 PM. Yes, this in on Valentine’s Day. No, I will not be putting ash hearts on your foreheads, but crosses. Ash Wednesday marks in many Christian traditions the beginning of the holy season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is not required of us by Holy Scripture, yet wearing ashes is in holy scripture. It is in places like Jonah chapter 3 for this morning. Symbolically then, on Ash Wednesday we wear ashes to show us and the world that we are penitent, seeking to be holy and righteous, seeking to be like Christ, even though we all often fall short. Sackcloth and ashes are signs of repentance, humility, and turning to God. It does not shock me then that over the centuries, ashes became incorporated into the start of the season of Lent, as the people of Nineveh and others wore ashes.

Later in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible in Book of Nahum however, the city of Nineveh reverted back to their old ways, and the city was destroyed by God. They had turned from evil and sin, but then they turned back to evil and sin. We say a prayer of confession every time before we have Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, because we are call continually trying to be more like Jesus Christ. Further, some struggle with God in the Old Testament, as there is often so much violence, killing, and destruction. To say we struggle with entire cities getting destroyed or entire groups of people getting destroyed is something many of us struggle with. The big takeaway is this though, a loving parent expects their children’s love and respect. What happens if we disrespect, hate, or even reject a loving parent. This is the saga the Jewish people all throughout the Old Testament. Turning to and turning from God.

          When some of us misbehaved as kids, I am sure the consequences from our parents were varied, but sometimes they were not good. We also hear in our reading from 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 for this morning, once again that our time on this this earth is not infinite, but finite. In fact, our 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 reading for this morning says, once again:

²⁹ I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, ³⁰ and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, ³¹ and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away                  (1 Cor. 7:29-31, NRSV).

          We all need food, shelter, clothing, but the things of this world are temporary. God wanted the love and the devotion of the people of the city of Nineveh, but they turned to greed, idolatry, and violence, as they were only thinking about today and not eternity. God is eternal and is always there, but unfortunately our earthly family is will not always be here on earth. Neither are we. Everyday let us strive to live holy and righteous lives, that love others the way that Jesus loves us. In my opinion, being like Jesus can’t wait, because if it does, Sidney and the world suffers more. Nineveh remembered this, and then forgot this. Faith in Christ is not only the free give of salvation and eternal life, but it is also a continued pursuit of holy and righteous living and loving.

          This leads me to our gospel of Mark 1:14-20 reading for this morning. Our gospel lesson begins once again with Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist getting arrested for causing such a stir with his call to repentance and baptism. John the Baptist was preparing the way for his cousin, Jesus, the messiah, the savior of the world. Starting in Mark 1:14, the gospel says, once again:

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵ and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news’ (Mk. 1:14-15, NRSV).

          Much like God called the prophet Jonah to tell the people of the city of Nineveh to repent, Jesus tells us to repent, and to believe in the good news of his gospel. Repenting sometimes is seen as this harsh and judgmental thing. I don’t think it is though. Jesus is telling us to turn away from the bad, the hurtful, and the harmful things that we are doing. We are all called to turn away from sin and darkness, to turn away from anger and violence, for Jesus is the light the world. Live like Christ, and lose your bigotries, your greed, and etc.

Some might be offended by Jesus’ call to repent and to follow him, but since so many people repented of there sin and were baptized by John the Baptist, it seems obvious that we all know that we are not completely there yet. Salvation and eternity are free through Christ, but sanctification or being completely made into the image of Christ, for most of us, is something we strive after are whole life long. Shedding things that are not of God, and becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. Whether we have messed up with our beloved, at work, or somewhere else, may we be humble, repentant, and desirous for forgiveness and reconciliation.

          Our gospel of Mark 1:14-20 reading for this morning then ends with 1:16-20, which is Jesus calling his first disciples. Picking back in in 1:16 through 1:20, it says, once again:

¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him (Mk. 1:16-20, NRSV).

          Jesus will go on to call twelve disciples. Jesus will pour into them, train them, and prepare them to call the world to repent to be like him. These disciples, like us will not be perfect, but they will preach, live, and teach about the one who is perfect. Even though the disciples will continue to mess up and make mistakes sometimes, they will call people to holiness, righteousness, and be like Jesus.

          I don’t know about you, but since Jesus gave up everything for us, what would we do for him? What we would do for those we love? Would we be willing to even wear sackcloth and ashes, so that the world would know we seek to be reconciled to each other, to God, and to be more like Jesus Christ? I know I want to be more and more like Jesus. I know that I am not what I was, and hopefully tomorrow I am better than I am today. I know Christ, I am saved by Christ, but I am continuing to become more like Christ. The more I do, the less arrogance I have, the less pride I have, for Jesus has called us all to repent and believe in the Good News. Sometimes this repentance even goes as far as wearing “Sackcloth and Ashes”. Amen. 

Sidney UMC - Second Sunday after the Epiphany/Human Relations Day - 01/14/24 - Sermon - “Can Anything Good Come Out Of Nazareth?”

Sunday 01/14/24 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title: “Can Anything Good Come Out Of Nazareth?”                  

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18                                       

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Gospel Lesson: John 1:43-51 

         So, I remember as far back as thirty-years ago, and beyond seeing commercials for Pace Picante Sauce and Salsa. Pace Picante Sauce and Salsa, according to the commercials, was proudly made in San Antonio, Texas. The people of San Antonio, Texas, apparently know their picante sauce and salsa. According to these commercials though, you know who did not know their picante sauce and salsa? Well of course the people of New York City!

          In the majority of these Pace commercials, someone is eating one of the Pace Picante or salsa products and then they run out. The jar is empty, and they then ask for someone for more. Someone always then offers an off brand of picante sauce or salsa, which of course is inferior to Pace’s products. Further, the off brand of picante sauce or salsa is always also made in New York City. When it is discovered that this off brand is made in New York City, in one or more commercials someone says, “get a rope!” Specifically, to say that the man who offered the off brand of picante sauce or salsa should be hanged for offering these fine Texas cowboys salsa made in New York City.

          Now why did God put this example in my mind as I was preparing to write this sermon? I have no idea, as I have not even thought about one these Pace commercials in many years. Yet, it lends to the idea that some places are better than others. It seems age old that there is often a rivalry sometimes between the city and the country. Afterall, we have entire genre of music called “Country Music”. Why, well those folks from New York City clearly don’t understand what it's like to live in the country. Perhaps some stereo-types of people that live in rural areas are that we are less refined, we are less sophisticated, and we are more primitive. While there have been a lot of stereo-types for years between people that live in urban and rural areas, the Pace commercials definitely did not help these stereo-types!

          So divided at times have some rural folks and some urban folks in New York State been, that there have been pushes at various time to separate New York State from New York City. It is as if we are not all just people, and there is some sort divide between the city and the country. In my own life I have seen the reactions of some people when they ask someone where they are from. In fact, when I would go back to visit my home state of Illinois as a child, when I would tell people that I was from New York, some of them immediately assumed that I was from New York City. It seemed some people that asked me this were under the impression that the entire state of New York was New York City. In some times, and in some places, where you came from really seemed to be a big deal to some.

          I remember hearing stories about people from the north moving to the south years ago, and being called a “Yankee”. Maybe this is still the case for some, as I don’t know. The point of all of this, is it would seem for some people, where you are from is a big deal. Some people that are here this morning were born and raised in Sidney. Some of us were not. Maybe some of you were born in Bainbridge, or Unadilla, or Guilford. I wonder what some folks think of us. If the Pace Picante sauce was made in Sidney, New York in the commercial, would the cowboy say “get a rope!” I wonder if some people think because some of us were born and raised in this area that means something specific about us?

          When Melissa and I moved to Sidney, NY back in June, 2018, half of the people that I knew thought that our bishop at the time had appointment me to a church in Sydney, Australia. As proof, I literally have a framed map of the United States and Australia, which indicates Sidney, NY and Sydney, Australia on each map. I also have the two boomerangs that they gave me, and I seemed to have misplaced the safari hats! For those folks that did know where Sidney, NY was, I would often say its near Oneonta and Norwich. If they still didn’t know, I would say its near Binghamton, NY, and then they would know.

          William Shakespeare famously asked “What’s in a name?” Well, this morning, I want to ask us all to think about this question, “What’s in a place of birth?” Or another question, “What’s in a place you were raised?” I mean if you can get killed in Texas in the Pace commercials for eating salsa made in New York City, well then that seems like a big deal!

          In our gospel of John 1:43-51 reading for this morning, the gospel starts in 1:43, saying once again:

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’                           (Jn. 1:43-46, NRSV).

          Luckily after Nathanael asked Phillip if anything good can come out of Nazareth, and when Philip responded “Come and see,” Nathaniel did not say, “get a rope!” So apparently Jesus wasn’t raised as the term goes, not “in the big city”. Jesus was raised in Nazareth. Nazareth was a village, and maybe some would say a small town. Clearly though, this morning Nathaniel thinks that Jesus could not be the Messiah. I mean after all from little Nazareth. Why not Jerusalem or Rome? The savior of the world, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord was raised in a small village or town. Jesus did not grow on Fifth Avenue, instead he grew up likely with a very basic life.

          What I would have us think about this morning further is this: “Can anything good come out of Sidney, NY?” “Can anything good come out of Bainbridge, NY?” “Can anything good come out of Unadilla, NY?” “Can anything good come out of Guilford, NY?” “Can anything good come out of Oneonta, NY?” Etc. Does your place of birth, and where you were raised determine who you are? I would say that sometimes it is very true that it can have effects, but is your place of birth and or where you raised alone define you? I think that the places some people are raised in have a lot of elements that can really affects us, but does it mean anything about you, or God’s love for you? No.

          I remember about five years ago or so watching a commercial for a dating website called “Farmers Only”. The commercials would generally end with “City folks just don’t get it!” The take away Sidney area folks, don’t marry someone from a city! Kind of crazy in a way, but maybe some people think that if you are in the country, you are different in every way from city folks. After all, “City folks just don’t get it!”

          So how does Nathaniel’s meeting of this “country bumkin” savior named Jesus Christ go? Well let’s look at the rest of the gospel of John reading for this morning. Picking up in John 1:47, it says, once again:

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ ⁴⁸ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ ⁴⁹ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ ⁵⁰ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ ⁵¹ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man’ (Jn. 1:47, 51, NRSV).

          In an instant the village or small town in which Jesus was raised in no longer mattered. Nathaniel believed that he had just met the messiah, the savior of the world. Even though, Jesus was raised in Nazareth, and even though Nathaniel thought nothing good could out of a little village or town like Nazareth, he was wrong!

          I have also wondered if maybe Jesus thought for a minute as Philip and Nathaniel were approaching this morning, asking Nathaniel something like, “So you think I’m country bumkin huh?” You know what’s amazing about Jesus Christ our Lord though? Jesus doesn’t care where we are from, he only cares about where we are going. City, town, village, all worthy to Jesus Christ! Our place of birth, the place we were raised, are not important to Jesus, for he died for us all! How I wish the rest the world could understand this more.

          In our reading for this morning from Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, were hear in Psalm 139:13-14, once again:

¹³ For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well (Ps. 139:13-14, NRSV).

 

          It sounds like we are all valuable to God, and that we all have meaning. Jesus died for us all. He was crucified, yes, in the big city of Jerusalem, but he was raised in the rural country. Jesus did not care about where someone was from, only where they were going. Before Jesus cleansed the leapers for example, he didn’t ask, “those folks aren’t from New York City are they?”

          In our reading for this morning from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, the Apostle Paul tells us with our bodies and our very lives to live for God. Our past is not important to Jesus, only our future with Christ is what matters. It matters not where we came from, but where we are going. Living for Jesus, who died for us all, every person past and present.

Just for fun though, does anyone know what famous people have been born in Sidney, NY? What famous people have been born in Unadilla, NY? What famous people have been born in Bainbridge, NY? What famous people have been born in Guilford, NY? Etc.? Well, I do, and I am going to read them to you right now. The famous people that I found born in Sidney, NY are as follows:

·       Mary Jane Aldrich (1833–1909), temperance reformer and lecturer.

·       Evans Carlson (1896-1947), Marine Corps General, leader of "Carlson's Raiders." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney,_New_York)

The famous people born in Bainbridge, NY are as follows:

·       Jedediah Smith (1799-1831) one of America's more famous mountain men and explorers of the west (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bainbridge,_New_York)

The famous people born in Unadilla, NY are as follows:

·       Spectacular Bid, Milfer Farms, retired champion racehorse in the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame

·       Edward S. Bragg, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin and U.S. diplomat

·       Thomas Carmichael, Wisconsin businessman and legislator

·       Billy Decker, racing driver

·       Edward Howell, former US congressman

·       Sybil Ludington, American Revolutionary War figure

·       Sherman Page, member of Congress and county judge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unadilla,_New_York)

The famous people born in Guilford, NY are as follows:

• Solomon G. Haven, former US congressman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilford,_New_York).

Friends, to Jesus Christ, it doesn’t matter where we were born, where we were raised, or what we have done in the past. All that matters, is where we are going. All people, are welcomed into the arms of Jesus, for he died for us all. Turn to Christ, give him your burdens, give him your past, your future, your worries, your sins, and your doubts, and make him Lord and savior of your life. When you do this, it is not about your place of birth of birth or where you were raised, it is about you being a precious child of the living God!

Contemporary Christian artist, Francesca Battistelli, says this in her song “He Knows My Name”:

“I don't need my name in lights I'm famous in my Father's eyes
Make no mistake He knows my name I'm not living for applause
I'm already so adored It's all His stage He knows my name” (https://genius.com/Francesca-battistelli-he-knows-my-name-lyrics)

          My goal my friends is not end up on a list of famous or notable people, because guess what, I’m famous in my Father’s eyes. My goal instead is to be nameless to history, and faithful for eternity. Friends, it’s not about where we were born or where we were raised, all that matters to Jesus, is where we are going. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Baptism of the Lord Sunday - 01/07/24 - Sermon - “Baptism and the Christian Church!”

                                   Sunday 01/07/24 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Baptism and the Christian Church!”                     

Old Testament Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5                                      

New Testament Scripture: Acts 19:1-7

Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:4-11

         How many of us here have ever went to a business, a store, and or an organization, and while we there we tried seeking out someone who worked or served there? Maybe we were in department store and wanted to ask an employee or a manager a question. Common questions could be, “excuse me, what aisle is the candy in?” “Excuse me, can you tell me where the clothing section is?

          Oddly enough, in various stores I have been in, I have literally had people approach me and ask me these questions. I usually just smile politely and say something like, “I am sorry sir, I don’t work here, but the candy aisle is aisle three”. Maybe I look like a guy that works in a store, because sometimes someone will literally just walk up to me and ask me where the bread aisle is!

          You know how I generally know how someone works at Walmart though? They have on a Walmart shirt and or Walmart nametag. So, to the one guy that thought I was a Walmart manager once, I did not have on a Walmart name tag or a Walmart shirt. This is something we often likely don’t think about, but when we go to many restaurants, businesses, and etc., the employes sometimes have on attire and or nametags that tell us that they are part of the business.

          Beyond just businesses, many organizations have distinguishing clothes, pins, nametags, rings, etc. This is how we know who they work for, and what business they are attached to. At the Sidney Fire Department, where I am the Chaplain, many fire fighters wear Sidney Fire Department jackets, shirts, polos, hats, etc. If you come to a Sidney Fire Department event or meeting, you know pretty quickly who the members are! The real question though, is why do businesses and organizations do this? Are they just walking advertisements? Are the folks that work at a department store that wear official store shirts and nametags indirectly stating that they are better than us? No, of course not. They are letting us know who they are. It is the mark, the designation, or the symbol of who the person is, in the place you are in.

          Why do I as your pastor generally were a shirt and tie or clergy collar shirt on Sunday, with a cross? Not because I need to dress fancy, but I want to show all of you that I take my calling very seriously. I am not trying to impress, but I want to look like I am pastor who took the time to be ready to lead worship. Crosses are symbols, as well. I wouldn’t necessarily call then “nametags” though, as you don’t have to be a Christian to wear a cross. I have met some people that wear a cross necklace or a crucifix that have told me that they weren’t really religious, but that they like to wear the cross or the crucifix.

          What then historically is the mark, the symbol, or the nametag of a Christian? In most Christian churches and denominations, the mark of a Christian, of being part of the church on earth, is baptism. Unfortunately, we don’t where a uniform or a nametag around verifying that were where baptized. Yet in some Christian traditions you might where a special outfit like a white robe to be baptized. After the baptism however, you take off that special outfit.

          If as Christians we are walking through a store, a business, or an organization, people cannot always tell we are Christians. I mean, we generally don’t have a Christian uniform on. I know that the Salvation Army pastors have a uniform, and some Christians might where Christian shirts, necklaces or other things that show their faith. In general, though, the thing that sets Christians apart from Jews and people of other faiths is, is our faith in Christ Jesus, and baptism. Only our faith in Jesus Christ saves us, and only through Christ are we offered salvation, but the vast majority of churches require baptism to be a member of the church.

          We can profess our faith in Jesus Christ, we can wear Christian shirts, cross necklaces, and or crucifixes, but generally in most churches this does not make us a member of the church on earth. The criminal on the cross that accepted Christ at Christ’s crucifixion was saved and given eternal salvation, but he was not part of the church on earth. To be fair, the church on earth did not start until the day of Pentecost, but baptism is the way you become part of the universal church on earth. It is the mark, the symbol, and the way by which Christians are brought into the earthly community of faith. Baptism therefore, matters!

          In some Christian traditions there is no water baptism, but instead there is the teaching of being baptized by the Holy Spirit. In these traditions, the baptism a Christian receives is not water, but the Holy Spirit alone. In fact, in Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist says of Jesus:

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt. 3:11, NRSV).

          Jesus also says in Matthew 28:19-20 however:

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”        (Mt. 28:19-20, NRSV).

          Due to scriptures like Matthew 28:19-20, and reinforced by our gospel of Mark 1:4-11 scripture for this morning, most Christian churches and denominations have some sort of water baptism. Again, baptism is not essential for salvation in Christ, but it is the way by which we become part of the Christian Church, and further receive the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit. Like some other Christian churches and denominations, in the United Methodist Church, we believe that baptism is a sacrament and God’s grace and love is poured out on us through the baptism. God’s grace moves in a special way, and in our tradition, we make a covenant to teach, love, and care for a child until they accept Christ for themselves, or during a believer baptism we covenant to love and care for the person, as well.

          Maybe I am wrong then, but I can’t think of any Christian Church that will let you join outside of water baptism, except churches like the Quakers or Society of Friends, and the Salvation Army. As Jewish baby boys are often circumcised at eight days old as a sign of God’s covenant with Moses, Christians are baptized. Or to put it another way, in the Christian faith, generally speaking, baptism is the new circumcision. It is the mark, the symbol, and way by which we are brought into the church on earth.

          Further, baptism is not just a ritual or a right of passage. It is a deeply spiritual experience. For those who are baptized by immersion, you go into the water with Christ, die to your old self, as Christ died, and you arise from the water as a new creation in Christ. Baptism is an invitation for the movement of the Holy Spirit, God’s grace being bestowed, and someone entering the Christian community on earth.

          I say all of this, on this our Baptism of the Lord Sunday, as this morning Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is baptized by his cousin John the Baptist, in the Jordan River. Why is this significant? It is significant in part, because until Jesus gets baptized, he does not begin his three-year public ministry on earth. Or to put it another way, for the first thirty-years of Jesus’ life he was not publicly spreading his gospel. After getting baptized, depending on the gospel account, Jesus goes right into preaching, healing, loving, forgiving, and calling his disciples, or he first goes through his forty-days of fasting and temptation by the devil in the wilderness. Any way you look at it, the point at which Jesus goes forth publicly as the Messiah is after his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

In our Book of Genesis 1:1-5 reading for this morning, we hear part of the creation story of darkness and light being separated (Gen. 1:1-5, NRSV). In a similar the gospel of John starts by saying in 1:1-5:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it                    (Jn. 1:1-5, NRSV).

In the creation story in Genesis, and in the beginning of the gospel of John, we hear in both about darkness and light. Further, Jesus in the gospel of John chapter 1 is referred to as the “Word”. In the Greek the “Word” is translated as “Logos,” which is the plural of “Logo”. Many business, stores, and institutions have logos. The United Methodist Church’s logo is the cross and flame. Jesus is not the logo of God, but is God, as he is the plural of logo, “Logos.” Jesus isn’t just a representative of God, not just a worker at the store, but Jesus is the fullness of God. As one source I read talking about Jesus being the word of God, or “logos” in the Greek, it says this:

In Christianity, the Logos (Greek: Λόγος, lit. 'word, discourse, or reason') is a name or title of Jesus Christ, seen as the pre-existent second person of the Trinity. In the Douay–Rheims, King James, New International, and other versions of the Bible, the first verse of the Gospel of John reads:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos_(Christianity).

          For all of these reasons, some churches and some Christian denominations celebrate Baptism of the Lord Sunday, which is this morning. For it is about Jesus, and our faith in him. For example, in our reading from Acts 19:1-7 for this morning, once again, the Apostle Paul in the city of Ephesus, with the Ephesians. In this scripture once again, the Apostle Paul finds some of the disciples of Jesus in Ephesus, and he asked them if they received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized with water. They replied that they didn’t even know what the Holy Spirit was. Further, they said that they were baptized in the baptism of John the Baptist. They repented of there sins and were baptized, but the Baptism of John the Baptist was in preparation for baptism through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-4, NRSV).

          Essentially then, what the Apostle Paul realized was that these disciples in Ephesus were not baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a result, they did not receive the full spiritual power and blessing of baptism.  Due to this, the Apostle Paul baptized these disciples in Ephesus in the name of the Lord Jesus. The scripture then says that these disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, and prophesied. There were about twelve people there all together (Acts 19:5-7, NSRV).

          One way to look at the Book of Acts 19:1-7 reading for this morning, is like this church building. We have three floors, and suppose each floor of this church is a person of God. The disciples in our Book of Acts reading for this morning were baptized in the basement of the church, but they never went to or experienced the first or second floors of this church. As a result, the Book of Acts 19:1-7 for this morning is saying that we need a trinitarian baptism of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, so we can receive the fullness of what God has to offer us, not just one level of three levels of a building.

          This then leads us to our gospel of Mark 1:4-11 reading for this morning, where have one of the accounts of John the Baptist baptizing his cousin Jesus. The gospel lesson begins in Mark 1:1 saying, once again:

⁴ so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 1:4-8, NRSV).

          John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus Christ. John the Baptist’s baptism was not a Christian baptism then, but was a baptism to prepare for the baptism Jesus asked us to receive. As it turns out, John the Baptist then baptizes Jesus himself. This is one in whom John the Baptist said he was unworthy to untie the sandals of. So, what happens in our gospel of Mark reading, when John the Baptist baptizes Jesus. It says in Mark 1:9-11 once again this:

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. ¹¹ And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased”    (Mk. 1:9-11, NRSV).

          As Jesus is baptized by John the Baptism, and as he comes up out of the water after being baptized by full immersion, something miraculous happens. The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove, and God speaks down that Jesus is his son, and that in him he is well pleased. In this moment the fullness of God the Father, the creator, Christ our redeemer and savior, and the Holy Spirit is present. All three persons of God, all showing the power and the fullness of God.

          The reason therefore that I baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is because not only did Jesus tell us to do this, but because in doing so, we are called to receive the fullness of God, and we are offered sacramental grace. Instead of just being in the basement of the church, we are invited through baptism, to experience all three levels, or all three persons of God. One in three persons, three persons in one God. To receive the fullness of God, is to be changed by the fullness of God.

          This morning, as Jesus comes out of the waters of baptism the power and the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are on full display, and when we get baptized, we call upon all that God is to fill us and change us. This is why “Baptism and the Christian Church” are interconnected and is important. Amen.