[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 18A: “Criticism” or “Stop Sitting on that Bee!” or “Don’t Let Evil Defeat You, but Defeat Evil with Good.” (Romans 12: 9-21)

[Joe Parrish]

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From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 9, 2017 6:51 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 18A: “Criticism” or “Stop Sitting on that Bee!” or “Don’t Let Evil Defeat You, but Defeat Evil with Good.” (Romans 12: 9-21)



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Criticism” or “StopSitting on that Bee!” or “Don’t Let Evil Defeat You, but Defeat Evil withGood.” (Romans 12: 9-21) and deals with the Old Testament lesson (Exodus 15).  Here it is: 
 Next week’s epistle has some wonderful advice about Christian living,but I’m not preaching on it because we’ll probably be focusing on 9-11, so I’dlike us to think through some of its ideas today so we don’t miss them. Thelesson I’d like to focus on is Romans 14: 1-12.
Here’s some background.  As youknow, Paul is writing to the church in Rome, and he is aware that they arehaving 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 theysimply were not getting along because they were coming from differentbackgrounds.  The Jews were coming froman environment in which every little religious law had to be obeyed.  Even if they no longer believed this, the Lawwas in their hearts.  The Gentiles werecoming from paganism with its idols, immoral sexual practices- especially inthe pagan temples, and special days.  Manyof the Jews believed it was all right to eat meat killed as a sacrifice inpagan temples, since they were offered to nonexistent gods.  Many of the Gentiles thought eating such meatwas a terrible sin.  On top of that, theJews believed that they were better than the Gentiles, while the Gentiles oftenthought they were smarter and more sophisticated than the Jews.  In a church made up of people like that, canyou imagine the criticism, the hurt feelings, the gossip? The Romans 14: 1-12 Biblelesson contains Paul’s advice about how they should interact with eachother.  Listen to it: (Romans 14: 1-12:CEV).  It is entitled “Don’t CriticizeOthers.”  This is what Paul wrote: 1“Welcome all the LORD'S followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don'tcriticize 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 foreating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone.   4 What right do you have to criticizesomeone 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 dayis more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each ofyou should make up your own mind.  6 Anyfollowers who count one day more important than another day do it to honortheir Lord. And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like theones who don't eat meat.   7 Whether welive or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves.   8 Whether we live or die, it must be for theLord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord.  9 This is because Christ died and rose tolife, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living.  10 Why do you criticize other followers ofthe Lord? Why do you look down on them? The day is coming when God will judgeall of us.  11 In the Scriptures Godsays, ‘I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise myname!’  12 And so, each of us must givean account to God for what we do.” Today’s lesson says: ‘Love each other as brothers and sisters, and honorothers more than you do yourself” (Romans 12:10).  “Be friendly with everyone.  Don’t be proud and think you are smarter thanothers (Romans 12: 14a, b). 

Don’t we criticize!  We look atwhat someone wears or drives.  Wecriticize 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 tocriticize someone else’s servants?  Onlythe Lord can decide if they are doing right.......Why do you criticize otherfollowers of the Lord?  Why do you lookdown on them?”  Criticism is not holdingpeople accountable.  Criticism is notteaching, especially the standards of the Gospel, the family, etc.  Criticism is not honest, forthrightdiscussion.  Criticism is gossiping,putting others down, talking about others rather than to others.  This teaching may be one of the hardestimplications 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 ifWE are the ones being criticized.  That’swhen our emotions can get out of hand and our desire for revenge can get thebest of us.  If nothing else, that’s whenJesus’ command to forgive is so very difficult. For guidance, check our Romans12: 17- 21.   In next week’s gospel, Jesus tells a story of twoservants.  The first had been forgiven ofan impossibly huge amount of money. Actually, it was more than the tax money collected from all of KingHerod’s territories- in other words- he had a huge debt- way more that all ofus together owe on all of our credit cards. The forgiven servant walked right out after being so blessed withforgiveness for himself and threw his friend in prison for owing himgive-or-take $20.  When the king heardabout it, the unforgiving servant was thrown into prison until he could pay theentire amount.  In other words, if wewant to be forgiven, we must forgive. God has forgiven us so much, we dare not refuse to forgive the littlethat we have to face.  But even this isfor our own good.  Did you hear the storyof the hard-headed little boy who was sitting on the park bench crying.  When his mother asked about his problem, hereplied 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’mhurting him more than he’s hurting me!”  Somethingis wrong here!  Forgive.  How many families have been torn apart whenone person criticized another and then no one would speak?  How many friendships and marriages have been destroyedby such behavior?  Jesus’ way is the bestway.  Get up off the bee.  Forgive. If your hand is closed into a fist, how can you receive God’s blessingsof forgiveness (or anything else) for yourself?
 One more thought: examine the criticism.  No matter who says it or why you think theysaid it, think through the criticism. Your worst enemy may have some valuable advice for you that your bestfriend won’t tell you.
Finally, the thought for the week probably next week: “Be patient withthe faults of others; they have to be patient with yours” (Our DailyBread).  Think about it.

 
For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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