Read at the beginning of sermon in honor of Remembrance Sunday, Veteran’s Day They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. For the Fallen, Lawrence Binyon 1914
Sermon Audio – “Jesus Movement” – Alan Neale
Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Newport; Sunday November 8 2015, The Rev. Alan Neale, “Jesus Movement“
As the worship proceeded, the minister became increasingly anxious; a visitor was shouting “Hallelujah” without rhyme or reason, planning or expectation. As the sermon got nearer, the minister was so anxious that he asked an usher to deal with the interruptions. The usher approached the guest and politely asked him to be quiet. “But I can’t, I can’t, I’ve got religion”. The usher solemnly responded, “I don’t care what you’ve got, you didn’t get it here… be quiet.”
For some the experience of church is of a lack-luster, spiritless community; a place where spirit is quenched not ignited, a place where worship is stale not contemporary, a place where welcome is perfunctory not heartfelt.
Maybe such faith communities are largely responsible for the results of a survey published this week in England. Quote: “2500 ‘normal’ people and 1500 Christians. Two out of every five non-Christians say evangelism made them glad not to be a Christian (42%).”
Here at home the Pew Foundation reports on the decline of “religiosity”. I find all this neither discouraging, daunting nor depressing; but rather challenging, enlivening and invigorating. Why? Because the same Spirit that quickened, moved Elijah inhabits us today.
In today’s OT Reading (I Kings 17:8-16) note the prophet’s Presence, Respect, Engagement and Transformation.
Presence. Elijah is sent to Zarephath, to honor and bless with his presence a city of Sidon, a Gentile city, and so becomes the first prophet of the Gentiles. (I Kings 17:8,9). Though once roundly, soundly defeated in the 5th century the heresy of Manichaeism returned long ago to infiltrate, permeate, haunt the minds and hearts of Christians. For too long the Christian community has drawn clear lines between the holy and sacred, the divine and the secular; we are seduced to believe the former is our natural habitat, the latter a fiercesome and unwelcome jungle. And yet to Zarephath Elijah is sent, to Galilee (archetypal Galilee) the disciples are sent and Peter is told, “Do not call profane what God has made” (Acts 10:15). Our community, our homes, our schools, our places of work and business… all these God has made, all are holy ground. Elijah’s journey was no UFO visitation but he is called to live there. He is not told to visit with notions of triumphalist grandeur but to venture with vulnerability and articulated needs.
Respect. Respect is demonstrated as we watch carefully, listen acutely to those who stand or sit or work before us. The widow at the busy town gate is overlooked by passers-by; in the context of economic haggling, business transactions and judicial arguments… you are forgiven for not noticing a widow in the socially invisible task of stick-gathering. But not so Elijah. And respectful attention of eye quickly moves to attention of ear as Elijah attends to the widow’s story and her poignant surrender to an early death.
At the risk of sounding old, traditional, staid and passé… we observe in Elijah a courtesy and kindness that gives articulation to respect – generally now that language is as dead as Latin and abstruse as hieroglyphics. The aggressive statement of beliefs and the forceful persuasion of doubts find no place in the pattern of Elijah nor in the life of Jesus. Christians, take note. Human beings, take note.
Engagement. A striking article this week showed the commitment to engagement of a barber, James Williams, attending to a new client, Little Mason – a young autistic boy. The barber’s seat would not work, traditional methods were useless so… as the boy played with toys on the floor, James (the Welsh barber) lay on the floor, played, waited and then cut his hair. This is engagement – the engagement of Elijah showing his own vulnerability to new companions and fellow-travelers; the engagement of Elijah as shares the life (bed and board) of the widow and her son.
I believe that all evangelism, sharing of our news about Jesus, is in the context of relationship; some have a gift to establish that connection quickly and solidly, others know what it is to develop connection over time and in partnership. Both are needed, both are divinely gifted.
Elijah’s presence, respect, engagement and then…
Transformation. The avid angler returned from a fishing expedition; he was asked the inevitable question, he replied honestly, “I didn’t catch any, but I did influence quite a few”. This is not the way when good news of Jesus is shared in the power of the Spirit with presence, respect and transformation. It is not that a few are influenced but that many are transformed. Indeed, many miracles took place in Zarephath, but the greatest of these was the transformation of lives. Lives once lonely, now welcomed to community; lives at the brink of despair, now alert and vital; and lives once thirsty and hungry, now sated and satisfied. The power of God does and will transform lives, believe it.
A week ago I heard two words not always spoken by parish clergy and laity; less often spoken by bishops and so rarely spoken by Presiding Bishops. They were repeated again and again by our new Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry. Two words… JESUS MOVEMENT, consider that… “JESUS” (oh, sounds a little familiar!) and “MOVEMENT” (oh, change!) together. Thank God, alleluia.
Already we observe a trickle-down effect as our own Bishop, yesterday, spoke often of “Jesus Movement.”
Elijah challenges us to re-connect, re-enlist in JESUS MOVEMENT>
“JESUS MOVEMENT” – say it, whisper it, pray it, believe it, enact it.
“JESUS MOVEMENT” – I renew today my commitment to JESUS MOVEMENT, please join me. AMEN