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Fear or Hope In the Storm We all remember that tragic day, 9/11. The destruction was deliberate, and the killings revealed a wider threat we were meant to experience as an American people. We were held in rapt attention for many days and weeks and couldn’t believe what happened to us. Our home had been invaded. Two now famous words of Todd Beamer who spoke from a captured plane are fixed in our memory. His words- “Let’s roll” have become icons of bravery, words of courage. Beamer knew that he could trust and put his life in the hands of his Lord who had already saved him for all eternity, and was now with him (and them) in that fatal moment. The truth of 9/11 is the gospel’s truth for us today. When our lives are at risk, and life is out of our control, fear can take hold of us. But fear can also be the means and motivation for being transformed by Christ and living transformed lives. Notice, in our gospel there was no macho heroism with the disciples, just a cry for help and an accusatory question for Jesus: “Don’t you care if we are going down?” So it is for us! And like those disciples who awakened Jesus, we need to be rescued. But, isn’t the real problem that we need to be awakened to the truth that Jesus isn’t just a teacher and powerful miracle worker. No, he is the powerful creator who can speak to his own creation to be calm, to be still, and they hear and obey. No wonder the disciples felt in awe of him. At that moment they understood that Jesus and God’s power and authority were real. Today, there is a storm surrounding the world wide church. Many feel disheartened. Some are not. Nevertheless, we are spiritually bruised by the waves that have been pounding hard in our church. My question to you, to all of us this morning: Do we believe God’s word is true, that Jesus brought a new kingdom life into reality when he lived, died and rose again from the dead? As a community, do we believe that God has all power to transform and change us and make us a Kingdom people? Living under God’s authority does not come naturally. In fact, it grates against our sensibilities about the way we think many things ought to be. Presently, we in the church are trying to coexist with each other by holding two kingdoms side by side, God’s kingdom and our mindset of the 21st century. However, they cannot be held equal if we are to live under God’s covering. Like the disciples in the boat, we must learn together that God’s kingdom way is above the norms of our time. There is no power in our worldview worthy of our trust. And, there is no compatibility between the will of God and human choice based on our flawed thinking, no matter how great the intellect, and human experience. Kingdom thinking is a far different approach from our democratic structure. We saw evidence of this as our church delegates met last week in Ohio. Critical decisions of election and resolutions were based on what a reasoned, experienced people who live within a political and academic democracy understand must be done to uphold individual rights. But is that the good news Jesus speaks through scripture? Isn’t his message that with Christ a whole different life is possible? God is for our saving health and wholeness- to save every soul, by converting and transforming lives by his love. Will this happen if we do not allow God to do this great thing in his way? Jesus never mentioned the word Justice, as we know it. The bible is not politically correct. PC is our way to interpret how our society should function. No, Jesus goes to the heart of every man and woman, to search out that which needs his compassion and forgiveness, and his touch to bring life into brokenness- to buoy up and sustain the fainthearted, and to redeem what sin has diminished in the body, mind and spirit. A new creature has a new life in Christ. We will not be the same when we come face to face and into the living presence of Christ. That’s why the disciples were in awe. They saw for the first time the true greatness of their master teacher and prophet- who was all powerful to rescue them with a word, and a love that said you are worthy to be saved. God’s authority was Jesus’ authority and he had the power and desire to call the disciples his own- In turn, they would become radically different people- who would offer their own lives for God. They would become kingdom people for him. Why is talk of two kingdoms so important? I believe our national church has succumbed to placing the word of God and God’s authority under pc and our own sense of justice for all. Our church in the U.S. has separated herself when she assumed authority that rightfully belongs to God. The word of God has been revised in our time. Our doctrines of faith are up for considerable change as we speak. We belong to the worldwide Anglican church yet we have ignored the pleas of our brethren throughout the world, and presumed an enlightened truth regarding the way to proceed in many matters of concern. We have ignored the very thing communion should offer by going off on our own and away from the traditional ecumenical church at large. After turning our backs on their consistent pleas to refrain from decisions that are not conducive to the whole communion, we still ask, why can’t we coexist? “Do not be deceived my beloved brethren” James 1:16 tells us. "Do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God,” says Paul. And, so we cry out, “Lord, how will you save us, and your church?” As we sit together in the nave, which is actually shaped like an over turned boat, we question the future of the church, and our place in it. We should be concerned. Even if some do not fear the church is in danger, or that the waters may drown us, we are in the midst of the crisis nevertheless, because our community, our body of faith right here is at risk. How do we respond? Origin, one of our early church fathers said: “though the Lord himself may sleep in holy quiet, he is but watching your patience and endurance, looking forward to the repentance and to the conversion of those who have sinned.” God is waiting for us to pray, to come to him- not in fear of loss of personal comfort in our church, but with a holy fear that desires to reclaim our faith in an all powerful God that is able to steer the ship through troubled water. God wants to be in relationship, desires to forgive and put us on the correct way of living as his church. Today our hope comes out of a fearful unrest. The Lord promises to bear up the faithful. God will strengthen the weak, guide the perplexed, and for those who put themselves under his authority, he comes to us, stays with us, and will not let his church go under. 1 Peter says, “He is able to do exceedingly well that which we can not imagine.” The gospel is not a message of unconditional affirmation for any, but a message of unconditional forgiveness and transformation for all Isn’t God saying to us today- “don’t you know how much I love you, each of you, and my church?” This is a day to remember that Jesus is in the boat with us so that he can show us again what he desires for us, for his church. Our fear of God is our hope. Like the disciples we are in need of being saved: from pride of being right, from reckless and unstable beliefs that lean away from the gospel, from our lack of humility before each other, from taking God’s holiness for granted, from all sin. I believe with my whole heart that the Church is meant to be a place where we can be informed and encountered completely by Christ, and live together in God’s word of love and grace. For better or for worse today, we are a hybrid mix. And, no matter what else you may believe of this sermon, we can agree we are a hybrid mix. We are what we are! God surely knows that! But, will we bow before God’s authority and his powerful word? Can we function together as we seek God’s truth and leading? Will we focus on God as the center of our worship? Only then are we able to cry out “Let’s Roll?” Bring on your kingdom God… in your church… in this place, in us, in me! Amen
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