Friday, October 19, 2012

9-30-12 - Be Salty!


9-30-2012
Jerusalem

            38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49“For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

I am an avid fan of cooking shows.  Food network is a constant at the Myers house, especially the competition and restaurant makeover shows, where they show the chefs how to actually cook.  One of the biggest issues that these chefs have is that they will under season the food.  And the main seasoning that they are lacking is normally Salt.  Salt is one of those things that brings out the nature of the food it is put on, it raises it to higher levels.  If it lost that ability, it loses its whole purpose.
            We as Christians are called to be salty as well.  But what does that mean?  Not all of us are capable of making delicious food, nor is that our calling.  Our calling is to be who we are, for if we lose our nature, than we cease to be what we are.  In other words, saying that we are Christians doesn’t make us Christians.  What makes us Christians is how we live out our lives and if we are a blessing to others.  What makes us Christians is living in the light of the Holy Spirit, in allowing that Spirit to work through us in order to bring love and peace and compassion to all people.
            What kinds of things does this mean in our lives?  For one we can look at James.  We are called to pray for one another in any of our woes.  No matter the illness or the harm, whether it be mental, physical, spiritual, or relational, we are called to pray and support one another.  When we pray we intercede for one another, we ask God to look with favor and healing upon his children.  When we pray we act in love and compassion towards our brothers and sisters, whether they are aware of our prayers or not, and when we live lives full of prayer we converse with God and we form a closer relationship with God.  And that relationship comes to define our entire lives, and makes us truly salty.  We have an amazing prayer chain here, and I know that the people who are in it are devoted to the service of this congregation and to all those that we know and love.  And there is absolutely no shame in being on it, on letting your brothers and sisters pray for you and care for you. I’ve been on it, and I am so grateful for their ministry and compassion.
            We are also called to confess to one another, not so that we can then go spread gossip around, but so that we may rebuild relationships and that there may be forgiveness in our community of faith.  And it takes great strength to say you are sorry and that you have sinned against someone else.  It is far easier to keep nursing hurts and to let the relationship die.  But that is not how we are called to live.  Even on the cross, Christ asked for forgiveness for those crucifying him.  How much more should we forgive those who have done so little to us in comparison?  And when we forgive, and when we apologize, relationships can begin to heal, and the love and compassion of God flows through us to one another. 
            We are also called to be helpful to others in faith.  As Christ tells us in Mark, we would be better to throw ourselves into the sea with a millstone around our necks than to be a stumbling block to even the least of people, or at least the least as humanity sees people.  We are called to be examples in the faith, to come and worship together, to share in the life giving sacraments of Baptism and Holy communion, to rejoice with one another, and to model a life that is bound to Christ, where love and compassion reign supreme.  When we gather and hear the Word of God and focus on God’s activity in our lives, when we gather here as the Body of Christ and grow together, and when we gather here and share our lives with one another we help one another to live out their faith and we serve as a community that helps those who have never experienced God in their lives to come to a place and to experience God through each person here.  If we instead choose to live lives that are divisive and that seek control, then we may as well tie that millstone around our necks and cast ourselves into the sea, for then we are showing people that God does not truly reign and change lives, but instead is powerless to human desires and emotions.
            For we are not here for ourselves.  Yes, we do have the opportunity to grow and to recharge here on Sundays, but we are not really here for our selves, for we are called to be the servants of God.  We are called to forever be in service to others, to serve as a light in the darkness, as hope in times of hopelessness, as a power for good instead of evil and love instead of indifference.
            Today we serve as that community.  Today we bless quilts handmade by some truly wonderful women here that will go to those who are cold and in need all over this world.  Today we bless the prayer shawls, made and filled with love by some other fantastic women here, and the shawls will go to those in our lives that are sick and in need and will wrap them in the love and peace of this congregation.  And today we celebrate the first communions of Kip, Kaedan, Collin, Landon, Jack, and Lucas, who will join us for our meal with our Lord Jesus Christ, who always makes room for another person and who fills us with this holy meal and with his own presence in it.            Today our light shines brightly and I pray that it may continue to shine brightly each and every day.
            But the reality is that we live with Sin as well.  None of us is perfect, none of us able to by our own power fight against the power of Sin.  It is often said that the church is a hospital for Sinners, and this is most certainly true.  And each and every one of us here is a sinner, but each of us is also made whole and alive through God.  But we are to ask ourselves a simple, yet hard question to answer.  “What is it in my life that I am doing or not doing that is being a stumbling block to others?  What is it that I am doing that sets up a barrier between others and God?”  Perhaps it is open disdain for other denominations, or it is being too territorial in this congregation, whether about position or the pew you sit in.  Maybe you are like me and a bit passive aggressive, which is not exactly the best way to show God’s love.  Or it could be something completely different.  But ponder this over the next week and think “Why do I cling onto this emotion or this activity?  How can I cut this off, How can I live more fully in God’s love and be a blessing to others?  How can I embrace my saltiness?”
            May we truly be salt, may we enrich the lives of all those around us through the love of God.  May we pray for one another, and care for one another, confess to one another and forgive one another, may we live in our community of faith instead of separating ourselves into little cliques and fiefdoms, and may we always strive to improve and to grow in our relationships with one another and with God.  May God bless each and everyone of us in our journeys or faith as we seek to claim our identity as salt, as the children of God. 

Amen
            

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