[Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon for Proper 18A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: SERMONSHOP SERMONS <sermonshop-sermons.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 3, 2011 8:57 pm
Subject: Sermon for Proper 18A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Criticism” or “Stop Sitting on that
Bee!” or
“Don’t Let Evil Defeat You, but Defeat Evil with Good.” (Romans 12:21)
and deals with the epistle. Here it is:

Next week’s epistle has some wonderful advice about Christian living,
but I’m not preaching on it because we’ll be focusing on 9-11, so I’d
like us to think through some of its ideas today so we don’t miss
them. The lesson I’d like to focus on is Romans 14: 1-12.

Here’s some background.  As you know, Paul is writing to the church in
Rome, and he is aware that they are having problems.  It’s a mixed
church- not by color- nobody much cared about color in that day.  It
was mixed with Jews and Gentiles, and they simply were not getting
along because they were coming from different backgrounds.  The Jews
were coming from an environment in which every little religious law
had to be obeyed.  Even if they no longer believed this, the Law was
in their hearts.  The Gentiles were coming from paganism with its
idols, immoral sexual practices- especially in the pagan temples, and
special days.  Many of the Jews believed it was all right to eat meat
killed as a sacrifice in pagan temples, since they were offered to
nonexistent gods.  Many of the Gentiles thought eating such meat was a
terrible sin.  On top of that, the Jews believed that they were better
than the Gentiles, while the Gentiles often thought they were smarter
and more sophisticated than the Jews.  In a church made up of people
like that, can you imagine the criticism, the hurt feelings, the
gossip? The Romans 14: 1-12 Bible lesson contains Paul’s advice about
how they should interact with each other.  Listen to it: (Romans 14:
1-12: CEV).  It is entitled “Don’t Criticize Others.”  This is what
Paul wrote: 1 “Welcome all the LORD'S followers, even those whose
faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are
different from yours.  2 Some think it is all right to eat anything,
while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables.   3 But you
should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all,
God welcomes everyone.   4 What right do you have to criticize someone
else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right,
and the Lord will make sure that they do right.   5 Some of the LORD'S
followers think one day is more important than another. Others think
all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind.
6 Any followers who count one day more important than another day do
it to honor their Lord. And any followers who eat meat give thanks to
God, just like the ones who don't eat meat.   7 Whether we live or
die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves.   8 Whether we
live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong
to the Lord.  9 This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that
he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living.  10 Why do you
criticize other followers of the Lord? Why do you look down on them?
The day is coming when God will judge all of us.  11 In the Scriptures
God says, ‘I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and
praise my name!’  12 And so, each of us must give an account to God
for what we do.”  Today’s lesson says:
‘Love each other as brothers and sisters, and honor others more than
you do yourself” (Romans 12:10).  “Be friendly with everyone.  Don’t
be proud and think you are smarter than others (Romans 12: 14a, b).

Don’t we criticize!  We look at what someone wears or drives.  We
criticize whom they go with or don’t go with.  We talk about their
children or choices or house- anything.  And don’t we criticize stuff
in church!  We need to listen to Paul (still in Romans 12- verse 4):
“What right do you have to criticize someone else’s servants?  Only
the Lord can decide if they are doing right.......Why do you criticize
other followers of the Lord?  Why do you look down on them?”
Criticism is not holding people accountable.  Criticism is not
teaching, especially the standards of the Gospel, the family, etc.
Criticism is not honest, forthright discussion.  Criticism is
gossiping, putting others down, talking about others rather than to
others.  This teaching may be one of the hardest implications of Jesus
command to love one another as much as he loves us.

Actually, it’s one of the hardest, but it’s not THE hardest.  It’s
hard to stop criticizing others, especially if we are sure we are
right and they are wrong; but it’s harder if WE are the ones being
criticized.  That’s when our emotions can get out of hand and our
desire for revenge can get the best of us.  If nothing else, that’s
when Jesus’ command to forgive is so very difficult. For guidance,
check our Romans 12: 17- 21.   In next week’s gospel, Jesus tells a
story of two servants.  The first had been forgiven of an impossibly
huge amount of money.  Actually, it was more than the tax money
collected from all of King Herod’s territories- in other words- he had
a huge debt- way more that all of us together owe on all of our credit
cards.  The forgiven servant walked right out after being so blessed
with forgiveness for himself and threw his friend in prison for owing
him give-or-take $20.  When the king heard about it, the unforgiving
servant was thrown into prison until he could pay the entire amount.
In other words, if we want to be forgiven, we must forgive.  God has
forgiven us so much, we dare not refuse to forgive the little that we
have to face.  But even this is for our own good.  Did you hear the
story of the hard-headed little boy who was sitting on the park bench
crying.  When his mother asked about his problem, he replied that he
was sitting on a bee.  “Well, for heaven’s sake!” said his mother.
“Why are you sitting there?  Why don’t you just get up?”  “Because,”
said the boy, “I figure that I’m hurting him more than he’s hurting
me!”  Something is wrong here!  Forgive.  How many families have been
torn apart when one person criticized another and then no one would
speak?  How many friendships and marriages have been destroyed by such
behavior?  Jesus’ way is the best way.  Get up off the bee.  Forgive.
If your hand is closed into a fist, how can you receive God’s
blessings of forgiveness (or anything else) for yourself?

One more thought: examine the criticism.  No matter who says it or why
you think they said it, think through the criticism.  Your worst enemy
may have some valuable advice for you that your best friend won’t tell
you.

Finally, the thought for the week probably next week: “Be patient with
the faults of others; they have to be patient with yours” (Our Daily
Bread).  Think about it.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
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