Table Food

Year A
February 13, 2011
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37


Franklin doing to right thing
Benjamin Franklin was a genius, but he refused to become a Christian. Spent time trying to prove to the world that he didn’t need religion. He had the tools to be righteous on his own. He designed a notebook, and a 13 week course to work on the virtues important to life. Conquered them all but one.

We have that same challenge, what tools do I need in order to be a righteous person in the world

A man said his prayers one morning – dear Lord I ask for you blessings – I have not gotten mad at anyone, I have not cheated anyone, I have not stolen, and I love everyone. Once I get out of bed and go into the world – help me to continue to do the right thing.

Being a righteous person in this world is a constant challenge for us all





The challenge in scripture


Both Matthew and Corinthians address that challenge. Said that Franklin was able to find a way to beat all but one of the virtues of a righteous person.

The one he couldn’t conquer was pride. How to not think you are better than other people, just because you did the right thing.

Paul tells us that being a Christian doesn’t protect us from that sin. Easy for us to fall into it.

Paul is addressing that in the Corinthian church. They were a very spiritual church, very determined to live as Christians. Thought that made them different from the rest of the world. They became guilty of spiritual arrogance. Remind them that they were still humans. Still very much a human church. Still guilty of very human emotions.

As long as there were jealousies, and diversions, and anger they were still very much present in the flesh. As long as they needed to put their name on what they did and get credit, they were still human.

All that we do is for God, not for us.

Uses the example of those who say they belong to Paul and Apollos. Have to know that Paul and Appollos were competing evangelist. Did not get along.

Yet for the sake of God, they working together. Working together for God’s plan. God is planting the seeds for the future. We are god’s building – the church belongs to God. Work we are doing belong to God.


Personal experience
Walking along in woodfield mall last week, passed a kiosk selling scented hot packs. Being nice, listened to his spiel – tried to walk away. But he had a very special deal for me, refused and would not give up. Bought what he wanted, gave him credit card, and had another deal. More tried to pay for it, kept coming back to make a deal. Ending up buying twice as much of stuff didn’t need anyway. Realized holding a Nordstrom’s bag, was probably speaking a lot louder then I was.

But in the course of our conversation told him that I was a pastor. Fascinated – because he was a Jew. Worship for him was very boring. Christian worship more uplifting.


What makes Methodist different than all of the rest?
Had a very good understanding of religion, knew the right questions to ask. What denomination are you? So what makes Methodist different from all of the other Christians. Know how to answer that question to a Christian, but what do I say to a jew.

Jesus addresses that same issue in Matthew 5 – what sets you apart from a faithful Jew? Challenged to better than the best. You have heard in scripture – but I say to you….

Wont go into the issues he addresses – all sermons within themselves. Wrong to murder – but wrong to be angry enough not to be in relationship. Wrong to divorce – but wrong to entertain thoughts that lead to disrespecting that relationship, dont make a promise – just live your word.

Being a Christian means that we not only control our actions, but control the feelings that lead us down that path to our actions.


Palestinian Pastor makes a choice to love
Both Jesus and Paul would agree – nothing wrong with anger. Natural human emotion. Anger can destroy the God in us, it can change relationships. Anger and faith can help us to repair relationships and work to redeem not only ourselves, our church, but our world.

The Palestinians and Jews are in a bitter battle today. A Palestinian pastor struggled with his anger at jews and the way they were persecuting his people. He started to pray for God to help him with his anger and resentment. Realized that to love instead of hate was not about his emotions, but about his decisions. Decide to be loving every day. When he would have to go through checkpoints he would hand his id, but would also hand a note which said real love – quote from Isaiah 53. Being that it was a part of the Hebrew bible, the soldiers appreciated the message and would talk to him about it.
The change did not happen all at once, but as time went on, went from hating being stopped, to praying to be stopped to have a chance to share God’s love. Life changed in that decision – old feelings were not there anymore.


Three levels of Methodist grace
What makes Methodist different from others – would say that totally dependent on grace. God’s grace is what makes us what we are – not our spirituality, or righteousness. Too easy for us to get caught up in pride. Nothing that we do, makes a difference, what God does through us. God get all the credit.

According to John Wesley, grace is a process. Three levels of grace. Preveniant grace – say it…
Grace given to all people, whether they come to church or not. Once we are baptized – under justifying grace. Say it… leads us to learn more about what it means to be a Christian, and what the benfits are. Sanctifying grace – grace that allows us to lead a Christian life. To do the right thing, and to show love in difficult situations. What makes us holy.

Paul talks about feeding milk, not solid food. Easy words, make it easy for us to follow and believe. Gets more challenging. Sanctification is table food. That you can do right, and that have special tools to past the test. We can feel love, but we can choose love. Grace means that we can choose in all situations.
Next week, the challenge continues, and the stakes get higher. Are you ready to go further along the path? With God’s grace can do anything. Let us pray…..