In all of our readings today we learn that strengths and weaknesses are intentionally matched
by God, who has linked us together to form the body of Christ, The Church.
For the past several weeks of Kingdomtide Luke has been talking about Jesus growing popularity, and the phrase
"large crowds were following" has been repeated often. We have heard many things about the characteristics
of discipleship. For example:
The disciple of Christ must make a firm and irrevocable decision to be with Jesus. (No one who sets a hand to the
plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.)
The disciple must rely completely on God. (Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals…)
The disciple must practice charity toward his neighbor. (Parable of the Good Samaritan)
The disciple is one who listens attentively to the voice of God. (Mary has chosen the better part…)
The disciple is a person of faithful and persevering prayer. (Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find…)
The list could easily continue, but now we should listen carefully to what the Master has to say in today's Gospel
passage. Luke tells us that Jesus and His disciples have been joined by even greater crowds, and to them Jesus
now reveals the cost of discipleship:
"If anyone comes to me without hating their father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and
even their own life, cannot be my disciple."
"Whoever does not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
"…anyone of you who does not renounce all their possessions cannot be my disciple."
So if we are at all tempted to romanticize the gift of discipleship, these words of the Lord ought to dispel any
such notions. Living the Gospel means total and absolute surrender to God, valuing nothing or no one more than
sharing by grace in the very life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Renouncing everything that would potentially come between an individual and their devotion to God. This does not
mean to no longer be responsible to, or have feelings toward others, but to have our priorities in order. In much
the same way that traditional marriage vows include the words "forsaking all others" to intentionally
show that a clear choice has been made and from this day forward, no other human being will be placed in consideration
before the chosen spouse.
Such decisions require that one count the cost very carefully. Examples of not doing so abound: that basement full
of cobweb covered exercise equipment, that oft regretted affair that cost a perfect marriage, that cute cuddly
child who grew up to be a hormone raging teenager with a will of their own, the fine print that wasn't read, that
one too many purchase on an already over-burdened credit card.
Those who first heard these words knew all about unfinished buildings and not counting costs as well. Herod, the
ruler of Palestine, was dedicated to preserving his memory for the rest of humanity and he was convinced that his
glory was best conveyed by grand palaces and huge buildings. He had torn down existing structures all over Israel,
but he very rarely stuck to a project, and the holy land was soon dotted with the results of his passion for towers
and palaces. Empty and unused buildings, many of them unfinished stood on many sites, testimony to Herod's lack
of funds or loss of interest.
We too are familiar with such buildings. Apartments, factories or office towers, started in the first flush of
excitement and halted when the money ran short. Now they stand, abandoned and empty, half-finished walls gazing
like sightless eyes across the land, a place for children to be warned about and generally dismissed as an eye-sore.
Asbury Park has an ocean lined way filled with them.
Some things in life always seem to go over budget, the best laid plans hit snags and require additional options
previously not considered. But more often than not projects fail because the support we envisioned and counted
on simply isn't there for lack of follow through.
If we hope to revitalize our churches for example, our congregations have to first place the church as a priority
in their lives. There are families in every church who did not show up all summer because summer, for them, was
time for "vacation and renewal."
Among those who do come regularly, we have able, gifted people who refuse to minister or serve because they only
want to attend worship services to relax.
We have children who want to attend Sunday school and youth group but whose parents don't want to struggle with
the additional hardship of creating a need for worship in their lives.
Do I need to mention tithing?
And then comes football season.
For too long we have gotten by just by getting along. We have set our sights too short and have not lived up to
our potential of being disciples.
In the accompanying Hebrew Scripture lesson from Jeremiah there is a strong warning of the disaster that awaits
those who fail to prioritize their responsibilities. It's the kind of scripture that people used to describe as
"hellfire and brimstone."
The clear implication of this sequence however, is that God is not at all anxious to carry out a divine plan of
"evil" against the people. In fact, there is strong indication here that the very purpose of the present
"evil" plan of God is precisely to get the people to 'amend their ways' so that God can change judgment
as they change their actions.
That purpose of God is precisely aimed at getting the people to change, and by so doing is itself intended to be
changed. The larger purpose of God, then, is not the 'plan' itself but anticipated change that the plan would evoke!
This suggests that change is a fundamental ingredient of the relationship between God and Israel. It is not that
Israel had to come to believe fixed and static truths about God, but that Israel had to respond in a dynamic way
to the shaping and molding purposes of God."
Perhaps this is Jesus' intent as well .
Can we even revitalize the church if we place the church as a priority? Surely, as our Lukan reading states, it
must God who has the priority - not our families, not our possessions - not even the church!
More often than not, our church can be in trouble because we worship it rather than God - we give it priority rather
than God.
This matches the Philemon reading---willingness to offer up ALL we have to Jesus--to be His, used for Him and at
His will and word.
Hidden within this book, and our other readings are instructions advocating a love that turns slaves into equals!
These words from the gospel have long been difficult words for believers to hear. It is hard for most people to
imagine Jesus actually saying that unless we "hate father and mother, spouse and children, sisters and brothers,"
we cannot be his disciple, because Jesus' ethic of love makes it unthinkable that Christians should hate anyone,
let alone those closest to them.
We must remember that Jesus is talking to those who are traveling with him. They're just traveling with him...they're
not necessarily FOLLOWING. Now he wants to know who's really ready to stop simply traveling with him and become
a disciple. A traveler can stop traveling anytime he/she gets tired or the way gets too tough, but a disciple is
in it for the long haul.
I think of relationships these days and how so many people are just traveling together until it's not good for
them anymore, and they're not ready to make a commitment to that person.
Then too, sometimes things just go wrong. - sometimes through no fault of our own. Or sometimes it is because of
a conscious choice we have made, or sometimes it is because habits and behavior patterns have overwhelmed us, or
because of values and beliefs we have clung to for years, values and beliefs that deny God - things like the importance
of worldly success.
The good news is that regardless of the reason we have gone astray, God is always there wishing to re-shape and
re-make and re-new us, indeed to reshape and renew the creation itself. In the imagery of Jeremiah, nothing becomes
garbage in the potter's shop. Nothing is wasted!
Notice please that the message is not "you should avoid all risks". There's nothing easier than coming
up with reasons why something anything, will not work. Some people make it their life's occupation to tear down
other people's ideas. That's not Jesus' point. Rather he wants us to look at what we must do and what we want to
do and think carefully about it.
In our life as a church, in our lives as individuals, choices need to be made. Sometimes we duck those choices.
As we begin our life together in a new church year I hope we can be very clear about a couple of things.
If this is to be the church that Christ calls it to be, then it will require the gifts and skills of us all. That's
the only way! So it is perfectly legitimate for the church to make requests of each of us. No one is immune from
being asked to play a part. The church, without apology, must seek to use all of the gifts and talents given by
God to a particular people in a particular place. But - and this is where we start talking about counting the cost
- if it's legitimate for the church to make requests of you, it is just as legitimate, after you have carefully
and prayerfully considered the request to say "no". The two walk hand in hand. It cuts both ways.
The church can ask and you must decide. But in your deciding, if it's to be faithful deciding, a couple of factors
enter in. Mature Christian living involves counting the cost. We have to count the cost to ourselves. I shudder
to think of the number of burned-out Christians there are who have drifted away from every congregation, the number
of tasks which were only partially completed because we didn't know how to say "no" - or listen when
someone else said it. We also need to calculate the cost to others, the failed hopes and the betrayed dreams that
result from failing to count the cost, getting involved and failing to carry through.
So part of counting the cost involves recognizing when we're stretched too thin or too far. When you get to the
point that your spouse and kids are calling your secretary at work to make appointments to see you - you're in
too deep. You may well be neglecting the primary ministry God has given you in your own family.
But the other side of responsibility is our call as Christians to act. Jesus is very clear, "no one can be
mine unless they take up their cross." That sounds pretty radical.
How can we possibly reconcile counting the cost with carrying a cross? The answer seems to lie in deciding which
cross or crosses we will carry and carrying those crosses to the best of our ability. It also involves recognizing
that faithful living involves growing and stretching and that can sometimes be painful.
Fear is a bad reason for refusing a task; inexperience is just as bad; laziness or apathy as reasons are unworthy
of those who call themselves by the name of Christ. You won't find a lot of encouragement in the gospels for Christian
couch potatoes.
So, very quickly, how might we more faithfully count the cost? First, try to recognize the times and places where
God is nudging you to act. What are the things that keep you awake at night or make you say, "someone ought
to do something"? Maybe God is suggesting that that someone is you.
Second, look at yourself, your gifts and limitations and the places where you need to stretch and grow.
Third, remember that one of the joys of the church is that we don't have to do everything by ourselves. Someone
may be thinking about our need for teachers. "But I've never taught before" or "what if they ask
me something I don't know". Or they may think of committee membership or leadership: "I can't do that",
"I don't feel qualified." Well, the simple answer is you don't have to know everything and besides -
we're not going to string you out on a limb without support and training.
If you see a task that needs doing, a social problem needing addressing, whatever it is, maybe we can recruit others
who share the passion. Knowledge and experience are not the main considerations. In our society you can learn,
beg, borrow or buy any expertise you may be lacking.
The main issue is whether or not this is the cross God is inviting you to take up at this time. For in the end,
our faith convinces us that whatever the vehicle for the request, the source of the urging is God. The request
may come from me, or from the nominating committee or someone else.
Part of counting the cost is to assess whether the source is God. If it is truly meant to be yours the invitation
comes from God, who asks us to count the cost and then, having faithfully measured the situation, is faithful and
sure in supporting those who choose to follow Jesus and take up his cross day by day.
So, what cost should you be counting this morning?
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