Today’s sermon emerged from reflection on the Gospel passage, one of the so-called and obviously called “Uncomfortable Words of Jesus” (Luke 12:49-53).
For nearly forty years it has been my intent never to be politically partisan in preaching and yet, as an Anglican, I am enjoined to provide principles/concepts so that those in my pastoral care have some construct in which to reach their decisions.
All agree that our current political scene is unique and unparalleled; so here at least is a call to try to distinguish aggression from assertion; and this applies urgently both in personal as well as professional life.
Below the audio of the sermon (that differed from the second sermon at 10am), is the most recent of the texts (the two are by no means identical). God bless us all indeed.
Sermon Preached at Trinity Church, Newport RI, Sunday August 14th 2016, The Reverend Alan Neale, Aggressive/Assertive?
Today is one of those days when I would love to hear our Rector, Anne Marie, preach the sermon. Why? Well, firstly, I benefit from hearing her preach and, secondly, I wish I did not have to preach on today’s Gospel – Luke 12:49-53. One of the so-called “Uncomfortable Words of Jesus”.
I spent a little time trying to justify preaching the sermon on the theme of the Olympic Games in Rio; well look at the verses from Hebrews 11 “seeing we are surrounded by so many, let us run…”!
But alas (for me and I suppose for you too) not even my self-seeking casuistry could persuade me to resist the allure, the fascination, the magnetism of today’s Gospel.
Remember startling words from the mouth of Jesus about fire and division, not quite the meek and mild Jesus.
With a sloppy, lazy, careless view of Jesus others might persuade themselves to reduce the intensity of this passage; but we will not take that easy path and in so doing we rescue Jesus from a malformed and anemic Christianity.
A good friend of mine from Philadelphia days will preach today “What I love about the angry Jesus” but, overwhelmingly though I value his friendship and respect his preaching, I consider this passage is not about aggressive anger but rather assertive action.
In 1937 George and Ira Gershwin wrote a song for the film “Shall We Dance”, introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in a famous dance duet… on roller skates! The song? “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”. My treasured friend and I differ not only on the pronunciation of tomatoes, potatoes but maybe also on the distinction between assertion and aggression. But this will not end our friendship, the “calling off” will indeed be “called off”.
In relationships familial, ecclesiastical and especially right now political it is always a good time time to recognize aggression as aggression, and assertion for assertion.
But here’s the rub. What is the difference between being assertive and being aggressive? And it’s not as simple as “I am assertive” and “you are aggressive”.
Consider these principles: (CPR as it happens, maybe not accidentally?)
- Consistent Application
- Personal Sacrifice
- Rendering Truth
CONSISTENT APPLICATION – distinguishing aggression from assertion.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ““A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines”. Yes but wise consistency is the application of strong passions equally and indiscriminately. In Luke 12 Jesus speaks of global and local, of familial and political – it is on the earth (vv. 49 and 51), it is at the hearth (vv. 52-53). Aggression is the convenient election of certain targets, whereas assertion struggles to deal impartially. Here the intent is for full not partial disclosure, here the intent is for congruency between macro-plans and micro-practice.
PERSONAL SACRIFICE – distinguishing aggression from assertion.
Jesus’ commitment to dividing truth from error, reality from sham are not mere words; they are enfleshed, incarnate, embodied in a life given to sacrifice and self-denial. Mark 10:45 “I have come not to be served but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many”. This is the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic tradition of the servant leader; this model must shape our thoughts as we look for leaders – in church, in state. Jesus speaks of “his passionate desire to accomplish, fulfil his baptism [his death]” (Luke 12:50); Jesus yearns for the fire of testing and suffering to be kindled (12:49) and Jesus anticipates his own psychic division on the Cross – so thus Jesus sets before you and me the vocation to sacrifice and self-denial. We may/should ask of our potential leaders – where does the rubber of sacrifice touch the road of their personal lives.
The chicken and the pig who loved their master dearly. One evening they talked of preparing for him a sumptuous breakfast. The chicken clucked, “Let’s give him bacon and eggs”. The pig demurred “For you that would be a nice gesture, for me it would be a total commitment”.
We cannot expect from leaders perfection but we may ache and yearn for a profound intention to offer more than… “nice gestures”!
RENDERING TRUTH – distinguishing aggression from assertion.
The context of today’s uncomfortable word from Jesus lips speaks to the urgent need to read the signs, to speak the truth and all this is echoed as Jeremiah condemns the ones who speak lies. That which is aggressive is ultimately, if not immediately, self-seeking and smacks of self-aggrandizement; that which is assertive is passionate for reality, truth-speaking and the benefit of the many, not a rarified percentile.
Aggressive behavior has rightly gained a bad press amongst Christians and others who seek to walk a spiritual life; so much so that a feeble, effete apathy has almost gained a place among the four cardinal virtues. And, regrettably, has sometimes discouraged those abused from being assertive.
In personal, professional, ecclesiastical and political arenas we desperately need denounce aggression and promote assertion and for this we need CPR… consistent application, personal sacrifice and the rendering of truth. For this our Lord Jesus is the model and God’s Spirit is our strength. May God help us all. AMEN