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September 17, 2006

Mark 8:27-37

"Good Intentions"

This sermon has been percolating around in my head this week after many unrelated events came together and lead me on a journey of bringing God’s word to you today. It all started on Monday morning. Mike and I were reviewing our week and he said, “Now, don’t forget. You are leading the UK Disciples on Campus for me this week right? I told him sure; I didn’t forget all the while, thinking to myself was that was this week? He gave that look and said you forgot. Well, yes. Between getting ready for fall Festival and Regional Assembly, it kinda fell through the cracks.

He filled me in on the details and then said, “Since you have crazy week, make it easy on yourself. Use your scripture that you are preaching on for the bible study part of the DOC group. I tell you I married a brilliant man.
So I looked at the commentaries and what they were saying. This scripture is basically three parts of one story, all leading up to the explanation of how we are suppose to live our lives as disciples.

All the commentators were saying that when Jesus asks his disciples who does society say that he is, he really wasn’t expecting an answer at least in the Gospel of Mark because the disciples has just experienced a portion of the kingdom of God through Jesus. And so when Peter gives his confession, Jesus tells them to keep quiet because Jesus knows that there is more to come. And then Jesus explains what will happen to the Son of Man but Peter puts a stop to that talk right away.

The commentators noted that this conversation of Peter and Jesus becomes a reminder to us all. Peter expects one Messiah. Peter expects the Messiah to act a certain way and here Jesus is saying that it is going to happen completely different that Peter’s expectations. All the commentators were saying that Peter was trying to “control” Jesus, wanted Jesus to stay in Peter’s defined boundaries and to stay there!

And then Jesus changes things again when he rebukes Peter! Although Jesus uses harsh language, he is reminding Peter that He, Jesus is the teacher and Peter has a lot to learn still. The commentators also noted how the language use of Satan reflects back to the temptations. Jesus is given one more temptation to take the easy way. Follow the human expectations of a Messiah, not God’s. Jesus was shown an opportunity to once again not follow the way to the cross but do it his way. By using the strong language, we as readers realize that much more is at stake then a disagreement between Peter and Jesus.

After finishing my exegesis, I thought there are some great conversation starters in this passage. So I arrive at Crestwood, ready for a fascinating discussion with the college students. I started by giving a little background on the passage and begin asking my questions. “Who is Jesus to you?” Nothing. I wait for a few moments and then I hear, “Well, Jesus is someone who is always there for.” So I ask another question, “Who is Christ to you?” Once again, Nothing. I wait for a few moments again and then I hear, “When you add the title Christ to Jesus, he become unrelatable almost untouchable. I like the human side of Jesus much better.” So I ask, “Does it matter or should it matter if we are Christians in the world?” One young man speaks up. “Well, I got away from the church before coming to college. I just didn’t like the people. They were hypocrites. They acted one way in the service and then we left, it was a different story. It was like they couldn’t or didn’t want to acknowledge people’s presence that they considered to be beneath them.” Another young man spoke up. “Of course, it matters. With everything going on in the world today, it matters if you are a Christian.”
A young woman spoke up. “Why? I have always wondered why. There are so many religions and different faiths in the world. What makes being a Christian important?” The conversation continued and each time it slowed I could feel their eyes on me, begging for an answer to these questions. But all I did was ask questions.
These young adults had some brilliant insight about faith and how one lives one’ life but they didn’t get their answer to the question: How does it or should it matter if we are Christians in the world today?”

There were no easy answers to the questions asked that night and unfortunately, I didn’t have time to reflect on these questions because I had to race back Wednesday night to go through our merchandise for the booth for the Fall Festival. Wilda, Matt and I began unpacking baskets, wind chimes, ornaments, and so many things we ran out of room to display so we could oh and ah over it. As I was looking at the crafts, the hard question popped into my mind again. How does it matter or should it matter if we are Christians in the world today? I realized that someone made this basket. This person has a decent living because someone saw an injustice in the world and did something. This basket that came from Kenya or Bangladesh provided the money for food, water or shelter for someone that I will never see. How does it matter or should it matter that we are Christians in the world today?

The next morning, we traveled to Regional Assembly. I was meeting old friends, making new ones and sat down for worship on the first night. I must say that I let my mind wander in worship. I was mesmerized by this mobile that someone had crafted. It was red and had the Regional Assembly logo on it- a dove to represent the Holy Spirit. I watched it spin slowly, displaying the image on the wall, absolutely fascinated. And again the question popped in my mind. How does it matter or should it matter if we are Christians in the world today? The very image of the Church visualized on a wall, a reminder that we have all been given gifts by the Holy Spirit to be used to bring about the Kingdom of God. How does it matter or should it matter if we are Christians in the world today?

On Friday night, a group set up for the Fall Festival and decided to eat dinner together. A hamburger never tasted so good. I was starving! We sat on the wall on Main street and began to share stories. And the question come to me again. How does it or should it matter if we are Christians in the world today?
Eventually the conversation became serious and Phil shared a very powerful story. We had somehow circled around to the topic of race relations and Phil mentioned that he grew up with white only waiting rooms among other things. He continue to say that he never really noticed that something was wrong until an army buddy and him were traveling from California by bus. The bus came to the firs stop and Phil went into the restaurant and waited for his army buddy to come in. But you see, he was not allowed because he was African American. It was at that moment that Phil said he knew that something was wrong. How does it or should it matter if we are Christians in the world today?

I joked with the group at the Fall Festival booth that I didn’t have a sermon ready for Sunday but it seems I was wrong! I realized that as people began to buy the items from Ten Thousand Villages, they were expecting the same sense of wonder and justice that I had felt when I had unpacked the boxes. They wanted to know about the organization. They wanted to make sure that the artisans did get the profit from the sale of their item. I even hear someone say, “We were told to go to the Christian booth because they had items from around the world and they are great items!”

I am not saying that I have all the answers but the question wouldn’t leave me alone this week and I hope that it never leaves me in my comfort zone. But a voice did seem to answer the one question that haunted me all week. Each time the question came to me, it was answered simply Yes it matters!
Each experience that I have shared with you this morning was my experience with the Risen Christ. The Risen Christ who overcame death and brought new life to the world. The Risen Christ who fills our lives with hope. The Risen Christ who gave us the call to be God’s servants in the world and to bring peace and hope to all.

So how does it or should it matter if we are Christians in this world today? I cannot give you the answer. Only you can do that. It is your answer to the question that guides you on your journeys of faith. So my prayer for all of us this morning is to listen to the voice of God, leading us and guiding us as people of faith and to experience the Risen Christ in our lives.
Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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