Revd Anie McTighe - Sermom to introduce the 2012 Lent Groups 19 February
Lent is a time of reflection, preparation and hope. Therefore it is such an exciting time for us. A time to take stock, to reflect and to change; change our hearts, our minds and the way we live our lives
This year we have chosen to do the Free to live course written on behalf of the Jubilee Centre. It is an excellent resource to help us consider how we Christians can lead lives that build the kingdom of God.
Now - there is an old saying that only two things in life are predictable: death and taxes. This is because we have no idea what is going to come next in life, what is around the next corner. And it is in these times that our faith really comes in to its own. Because we have a God that is never changing He is solid and reliable. He will not let us down regardless of what is going on around us or how we feel.
The Old Testament is full of advice –it was inspired by God to help his people in times of difficulties It gives a structures for community living, so that whatever happens within the community there are fall back options. It provides options to help a community to survive physically and emotionally And it encourages all believers to know and understand God’s character and the truth of his word, so all can survive spiritually.
Tonight we heard in the OT reading an example of these practical structures. One e.g. is the year of Jubilee.
It occurred every 50 years –a trumpet would sound and everyone would go back and reclaim the land that had belonged to their family. This is land that could have been sold, or taken away to pay for debts. It meant that debt, inequality and poverty were limited. Just by being obedient to God and following this law people were blessed and drew closer to God. It enhanced their respect of their brother. And respecting each other and growing in relationship fulfilled God’s laws and pleased God!
We don’t have this law any more, but there are still many ways we can organize our lives to please God. Because delighting God is not about deeds, money, politics, or even about our ability to do things well. For Christians to please God – it is our heart attitude that he looks at and that he delights in. And this is very often reflected in our relationships that count
- Our relationship with God (father, son and Holy Spirit);
- Our relationships with each other, inside the Christian church.
- Our relationships with those outside the church.
We read in the gospels that Jesus sums up these laws of Moses; the the law of the OT: ‘Love God and Love your neighbour’ This was hard because the Old Testament rules and laws which were set to help them love God and their neighbours often bound them up and tied them in knots. So much so that the rules became more important than the people and God!
However, John 10:10 states that through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection we can live ‘life and life to the full’. We do not need to get caught up in the religion and the laws of the OT instead we can live a life that is free:
Free from
criticism from others and free to be the people that God created us to be: True to our character and gifts
loneliness and suffering: instead we are free to have a new family in fellow believers who are called to truly love and support us.
having to succumb to the pressure to do things that the world does; free to do what Christ wants us to do.
restrictions put on by structured religion Instead Jesus came so we can be free to worship in ways that draw us closer to him and liberates our minds and spirit.
This is what the Lent course – Jubilee Lifestyle is about – about discovering Christ’s way of doing things which are different to the worlds standards and methods of doing things. The aim of the course is to help participants be ‘free to live’ To live a life that reflects God’s way of doing things in both the small and the large decisions of our lives. So that our lives can make a real difference for the Kingdom of God. And we are free to live our day to day lives solely for God instead of for the world. This enables us to use our faith to make a real difference in the world.
So how can our lives make a real difference to the world?
- We need to decide that our lives are special and choose to have the mind set that our lives can make a difference. The Book of Romans says we were chosen to be adopted heirs of the kingdom of God.
- We are to be sons and daughters who live Royal lives
- We are to recognize our specialness; to accept our birthright
- And follow our calling to be children of God.
The Queen is a good example of this: This year we are celebrating her Diamond Jubilee – 60 years of being the Queen. As we know the Princess Elizabeth was visiting Kenya when she heard the news of her father’s death. She boarded the plane at Nairobi a Princess, but she knew she had to disembark in the UK in the role of Queen. She accepted her calling and knew her role was to be sovereign. It was her birthright and she knew how special she was. She was also acutely aware how she lived her life would affect the commonwealth and all its subjects. She could not ignore her responsibility but knew she had to step up to the mark and be ready to live a life that was a role model for others knowing all her decisions needed to be good for society. A society that would see many changes, some she was uncomfortable with and some she would be happy with.
We too need to recognize our birthright: we are royalty – we are members of God’s royal family. And in the same way that the Queen recognizes her calling and her abilities so we must do the same. We have influence and power. We have a calling to make the right decisions – Godly decisions. So that the kingdom of God can grow in our neighborhoods, our country, in our world. However, this comes when we recognize not only our specialness, our calling, our birthright. But also our responsibility. we must make choices that reflects the Kingdom of God and not the world around us. As the queen makes choices to reflect her sovereignty of the UK and not of another country, we are called to be salt and light to others around us- adding flavor to a struggling world Living our lives so that people around us see more than someone who goes to church on a Sunday but seeing someone who has Gods character in the way we live our lives, he decisions we make and the way we treat people.
Recently, a group of Bishops spoke out in the House of Lords about the capping of benefits and whether child benefit should be included in that capping. I do not want to go into the merits of each argument, but I want to commend them – they used their power and authority to speak out for the poor, the vulnerable and the weak. They spoke out and used their Christian heart to affect the law being passed by our government.
This is great but is it because they are bishops? - No
Is it because they are Priests?- because we have more power or authority than the laity? No.
It i because they are Christians; They are joint heirs, as we are, in the kingdom of God. They are God’s children who are acknowledging their birthright and speaking out.
The New Testament reading tonight, from the Letter written by James, Jesus brother. instructs us to not have favourites- because if we have favourites then we treat one person better than other. We are to: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” “and therefor view all people regardless of wealth, colour, gender people group, religion or even churchmanship equally” Because if you don’t then you are sinning! Hard words from James. This is an attitude we need to adopt in our individual lives and our churches.
The Lent course- Jubilee Lifestyle gives us some ideas of how we can look at our lives And how we can view all people equally outside the church. I believe we are called to take the opportunities we are given to affect this world so it gives glory to God in all decisions we make. Examples of these opportunities can be found in several areas: I am going to ask you some rhetorical questions so you can start considering your own circumstances.
Money
- The banks we use and what we do with our savings:
- Do we live within our means? or do we live on our credit cards or in constant debt?
- Do we use our money to build up the kingdom of God?
- Do we use our money to help those who are struggling or on the latest gadget?
- Where do we invest our money? Do you know where your bank invests your money? Some banks use the money in our accounts and savings to invest in weapons, sex trafficking, pornography….. So inadvertently we are also investing the money that God has given us in evil. Fortunately, not all banks are like this, such as the Co-op bank, ethical investments
- Do we invest in big companies where they make profits for themselves. or do we place our investments in microfinance companies, whiich help people, communities and the economy.
Time
- What do you spend your time on? There was a saying that I heard in Kenya and is repeated in the book: Westerners have watches butno time. Africans have time but no watches. We
- work so many hours that we don’t have time to enjoy friends, family or to help and support the church
- And some of us have such a love affair with the PC or the television that they watch over 4 hours a day!
Purchases
- When we purchase goods do we always buy the cheapest or the one with the Brand name?
- Do we ever consider how our purchase may affect others? Have the farmers, manufactures received a fair trade for their goods? Have innocent people been damaged to get the goods to you? A way in which people have addressed this area include: buying ethically sourced produce: tea, coffee. Wine, sugar, fruits, cotton
- There are many products on the market that use the ‘slave trade’ to produce them. Some appear very respectable but behind the scenes are involved in the darker side of life, such as the drug and sex trade.
There is much more to being a Christian, living for Christ, than coming to church on a Sunday and this Lent we have a wonderful opportunity to: consider these areas and review how they affect us personally and other more vulnerable people.
In conclusion:
1. We are chosen to be children of the Kingdom of God
2. In that role we have rights and an exciting way of living, like the Queen. Knowing and accepting our birthright, our calling.
3. But we also have responsibilities to look after those who are more vulnerable than we are. Like the Bishops who spoke out about the benefit capping
4. we have opportunities to use our power and abilities to change the world around us by our actions, way of thinking, choices, relationships, purchases,
I pray that each of this year’s Lent groups have the wisdom to not get bogged down in on one point but to be able to grow in all areas. That we grow and learn together recognizing the power and authority we have and choose to be responsible for our actions and attitudes.