"In the beginning..." In the study of thermodynamics the concept of entropy is used to explain the basic tendencies of matter when heat is introduced into a system. Simply put it says that in trying to stabilize a system tends towards disorder. Or, in a delightful turn of words a scientist name Gibbs called this state, "mixedupness." Taking liberties with the concept, one could go many places with the idea. Think of a clean house-how much longer does it take to clean the house versus how long it takes to get cluttered again. Leading to another delightful word: "scurryfunge," meaning a hasty tidying of the house between the time you see a neighbor and the time she knocks on the door. How much simpler is it to create disorganization than it is to keep organized. You can fill in the blanks with many more examples I'm sure!
"In the beginning…" The story of God working in creation is God's saying no to disorder and chaos. The story tells us that creation is good and orderly in spite of indications to the contrary. Written during the years of Babylonian exile and telling God's tale of the order and goodness inherent in creation, it is the exiles proclamation of hope. They can look back and say it was good once, and say it can be again. In spite of evidence to the contrary the exiles can dream of restoration.
Our gospel lesson for the day also speaks of God's saying no to disorder. In the baptism of Jesus God says: "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." It is a baptism explicitly tied to Christ's crucifixion. Mark joins the two events together by using the same phrase: "the heavens were torn apart."
In telling the story of creation and the story of baptism this morning we are reminded that God stands for us and that God stands with us. We know there is more than enough to despair over. There are more than enough things to stand against. Yet in the two stories we know that God's covenant with us still prevails-that somewhere amidst everything the world throws at us there is something worth saving. We know that in the goodness of God's creation there will always be the promise of restoration; that God will shelter and protect the stuff worth saving.
We gather this morning to remember that. It is a Sunday in the liturgical calendar when we remember the baptism of Jesus and see in that action a remembrance of our own baptisms. In our baptismal vows we recognize both the good and evil in us; and the capacity to act on those. G. K. Chesterton, author and defender of Christianity observed that while there are many doctrines you cannot prove, the idea that people are sinful is the most empirically verifiable of all ideas...in spite of that he went on to say this doctrine is also the most hopeful of ideas. (Dan Clendenin, The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself) Hopeful because it allows us to recognize who we are, and acknowledge our need for the repentance offered in Mark's gospel this morning. We proclaim that as we ask in our baptismal vows: "Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?" The very next question asks us to be those who stand with God…to be visible signs of God's presence in the world. "Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?"
As the New Year begins there is the rush to identify the top stories and most influential people of the past year. Several years back, Martin Marty, chair of religion at the University of Chicago asked a different question in reflecting back on the year. He asked, "Would Jesus know them?" Or, "Would Jesus recognize the church that was founded in his name?" This morning it is a valid question as we remember our baptisms and later renew our membership vows. It is also important as we begin focusing on discipleship during the season of Epiphany. In asking these questions we define what we want to be known for. In remembering that God stands with us, we declare to the world what we stand for.
A few days ago Pat Robertson declared that God had caused Ariel Sharon's stroke due to Sharon's disobedience in dividing the land of Israel. Unfortunately that remark and others like it begins to define what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus-it is what got the press coverage. The church then spends time and energy distancing itself from those remarks. What happens is that we talk about who we are not, rather than who we are and what we stand for.
As the people of God, baptized with Christ our task is to put our faith into practice so that people know who we are. Several years ago long time member of the congregation was dying of cancer. Many in the church gathered at his hospital bed to sing hymns to him, easing his laboring to death. As we sang we realized the noise level in the oncology unit had dropped, and that almost everyone was listening to the hymns. And I heard someone ask in awe: "Who are these people." That is the question we want people to be asking of us: "Who are these people?"
Our practice of faith begins here. We can proclaim our beliefs till we are blue in the face, but without action no one will know God because of us. Again, we will be focusing on discipleship in the coming weeks. We start this morning by recognizing new members, and with them renewing our membership vows. We journey together in this-and so it is important to support each other in our discipleship. To that end we will be challenging each other-asking before we speak to another: "How is what I am about to say going to affect my discipleship and the discipleship of the person I am speaking to?" There should be a bit of a sound delay as we think through those questions!
In the beginning God created….we remember God's goodness and purpose in creation; God's saying no to chaos and despair. "This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased." In remembering the baptism of Jesus we are reminded of our own-our place in God's love. And in our remembering we declare who we are and who's we are. As we strive to discipleship may we find people asking about us: "Who are these people," in the best and most powerful sense.