A vision for Regeneration: Communities
Preached by Rev. Lucy Flatt at St John’s 23/02/2020
Reading: Matthew 5:38-48
This morning we continue in Jesus’ sermon on the mount as we look at the bishop’s vision for our Diocese. Over the past few weeks we have been led through a series on regeneration. Looking at the Good News, looking at making disciples and supporting our families (our Church family) rather than our own.
This morning we pick up in Matthew 5 verse 38 as we begin looking outward toward our community.
When I was a kid – it was the 90’s.
Bright colours were in, pop culture was on trend and everyone was wearing the WWJD bracelets. We were all trying to be hard core for Jesus (or as hard core as a Primary school kid can get!)
Amidst this jovial time came the release of a song called “Jesus Freak”. I remember my sister getting the tape and on occasion letting me listen to it on her Walkman.
The Urban Dictionary defines Jesus freak as a noun meaning “ Someone who displays an unusual or embarrassing amount of enthusiasm for Jesus.”
I would sneak into my sisters room to listen to the song and time and time again I was struck by these lyrics - “what will people say when they hear that I’m a Jesus freak, what will people do when they find out its true?”
Following Jesus sounded hard core – it sounded different, awesome, challenging cool and well a bit odd.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’”
- does that mean we don’t get a full set of teeth if we follow Jesus? What if I really need one?
“39 But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also?” – Does this mean my sister can take my jacket whenever she wants? Or kick me when I’ve crossed the divide in our “shared” bedroom?
This was far too confusing for a zealous child – so what was Jesus on about?
In this first bit - Jesus picks up on the Old Testament law of retaliation.
Tit for Tat. You do this, I do that. You break my arm, I break yours. Wherever possible the injury was to be repaid exactly.
The injured and the injurer then become equalised through the process.
And the process of retaliation stops.
Or at least should stop. Anyone who grew up with siblings can attest to the ongoing cycle of retaliation – and given that society is siblings on a mass scale - it’s no wonder that Jesus suggests another way.
Turn with me to Matthew Chapter 5 verses 39-42.
“But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.”
Through the lens of a kid attempting to embody the WWJD philosophy and stand out from the crowd this sounded like a perfect set of rules to pin up on my wall – and use to keep my siblings in check.
Yet, this teaching cannot be coined as law. For as many of us can attest it does not give us an answer for every situation nor consider such sayings as “I will turn my check, sure - but then I’ll knock your head off.”
Instead let us look to Jesus’ words as apprentices. Being formed into his image and looking for markers of a changed life – for when we embody the Good News we live out of God’s gracious love.
Paul writes of love to the Corinthians. “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13) and so on. Now If I’d pinned that to my wall – I’d have held my siblings to a much higher standard! Yet we would not have been able to meet such a high standard on our own. Jesus’ spirit in us guides us to live differently. To love differently.
This series of sayings then is an illustration of what a changed life looks like, rather than a long “to do” list or something to strive for.
1) “Turn the other” – cheek. This is a person who does not retaliate – but remains vulnerable in the face of persecution.
2) “Give your cloak as well” – This is a person who seeks the welfare of another.
3) “Go also the second mile” – This is a person who takes on the responsibility of another for a season.
4) “Give to everyone who begs from you” – This is a person who is ready to give to the needs of the other. To put the other first.
I am not saying that we should allow others to abuse us, or take everything from us. Rather to give and to be vulnerable in what is appropriate for the circumstances.
For example; If I am on my way to pick up my children from school and day care and I am asked to assist someone to change a car tyre, or to pray, I will do it within the time that I can appropriately give.
In the natural law of life – we give to those we think have a claim on us. Have some right to receive something from us. What Jesus is challenging us to consider this morning is to give to those outside of ourselves – those who have no claim.
To think of others above ourselves.
Consider Matthew 5:43-47.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
We are far more likely to have a list of enemies than one single enemy. I was watching the Lego Batman movie with my kids and Batman really sums the 21st Century attitude to enemies up.
He’s mid fight with the Joker, the classic villain, to save the city. And Joker says “This is your chance Batman – defeat your greatest enemy or save the city?”
“What did you say?”
“Save the city”
“No before that”
“Defeat your greatest enemy”.
“You think your my greatest enemy?”
“Yes, your obsessed with me.”
“I don’t have a greatest enemy…”
“pfffff”
“I would say that I’m fighting a few different guys at the moment, yeah I’d say. You see I like to fight around.”
We like to fight around.
We too have large lists of people or groups of people we dislike.
We’re not committed to any one person being a villain it’s more a series of people, a litany of those who hate us so naturally we hate them.
You know those people who blew our chances at a happy ending, or a great promotion, or the perfect innings, cut us off at the round about, played music until 3am or had rowdy kids when we were napping.
Jesus challenges to us is to love these people.
To not simply wish them well – but to pray for them.
Recently I had the opportunity or misfortune to put this into practice.
Someone who I would consider ‘a bad guy’ – you know one of those guys “I’m fighting around” - got in contact with me and I had to decide how to respond.
Ignore them and move on with my life or, engage through love.
Jesus challenges us that terrorists, Gang members, even murderers love their own.
How are we any different if our love stops with those who have a claim on it?
We are called to be Jesus Freaks.
Called to be different.
To stand out.
Bertrand Russell – an English Philosopher notes “The Christian Principle ‘love your enemies’ is good… there is nothing to be said against it - except that it is too difficult for most of us to practice sincerely.”[1]
And he’s right. No matter how hard I try I am not going to be able to love those who I dislike, who keep me awake, who take my wicket, who annoy me, or who do me wrong - I simply don’t have the resources on my own.
When we live in apprenticeship to Jesus, when his Spirit indwells in us, then his love – loves out of us. Not an action we do but what God’s love does in us.
“This love reaches everyone we deal with.”[2]
Including our enemies.
Including those people we dislike.
Those we would label as “other”, “annoying”, or “wrong”.
“The value of a Church is not in its longevity but in its love.” [3]
We are distinct and different from the world because we are characterised by this love.
How then do we love our community? How can we pray for? Care for and nurture this neighbourhood, this patch, this city?
What are the needs of this place that we can fill?
This afternoon we have a wonderfully practical way to do this.
At 3pm we will be gathering down at West end park and handing out popsicles and prayers.
Prayer is an act of love. It seeks the wellbeing of the other and steps over our traditional boundary markers. When we pray for the wellbeing of others, we seek their welfare. We seek their good – we seek for a pouring out of God’s love in their lives. Prayer is not bound by these walls or those who gather in them.
“The success of the Church is not in its size but in its service to the people and the community.”[4]
Prayer brings transformation and change.
The love and service of God’s people to the world brings transformation and change.
Years ago when my family and I were a part of an inner city Church in Melbourne. There was a ministry called “many rooms” the Church offered practical assistance and prayer to the homeless in the city.
The team built relationship with the homeless.
Provided temporary housing, upskilling opportunities and continued support and referees into employment and rentals.
Alongside this those who were homeless were invited to serve the current homeless in the soup kitchen. To serve and love their fellow brothers and sisters out of the love and service they had received.
Their lives were transformed.
And the city was transformed.
They were changed and in turn the city was changed.
A great final reminder are the words of the prophet Jeremiah “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
So, let us go out today and be people of love. Let us strengthen our community through prayer and popsicles.
See you at 3.
Amen
[1] Willard, Dallas (1998). The Divine Conspiracy. p. 205
[2] ibid
[3] Smith, James Bryan (2010). The Good and Beautiful Community. P. 72-72
[4] Smith, James Bryan (2010). The Good and Beautiful Community. P. 72-72