Commitment Is Tough!

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Commitm= ent Is Tough!

Matthew 5:13-20;

1 Corinthians 2:1-12

As wi= nter blows her icy breath across the landscape of Kalamazoo County and beyond, a= nd the “once in a while” sunny day gives its false promises of war= mth to come, I wonder how much weather affects our moods. Does the foreboding c= old, swing spirit and mind to expectations of a dark and disappointing future? D= oes the occasional light of the sun move the soul into a promise of hope?<= /o:p>

We wo= uld like to think we face the unknown before us with spirits formed by knowledge, we= ll researched facts and where logical conclusions abound. Perhaps it is not al= ways so. For example, someone on Wall Street observed recently that the uncertainty and frenzy of the fina= ncial markets on Mondays could well be the result of traders having spent the week ends at home with their families, absorbing all the gloom and doom of the n= ews media, and then approaching the market on Monday believing they must sell, sell, sell.

As I = have lived among diverse congregations in the practice of Interim Ministry, I ha= ve observed that many attitudes toward the future are based on the broken expectations = of the past, rather than on and well researched prayerfully considered approac= hes to the future. Are not congregational leaders called to free themselves from the baggage of the past and commit themselves to a new future that calls ou= t to them; to the larger picture that most people cannot see? Looking at that la= rger picture they are sometimes called to make decisions that are puzzling at be= st, or sometimes leave people angry and feeling alienated, as they chart a cour= se toward the future.

Commi= tment in the Christian community is always tough, especially when it is focused and energetic! For it means we ha= ve to be involved with each other. We are talking about community, after all. It = is not some splendid, soft, individual thing where we can do as we please. We engage with each other, and we are at times cantankerous, unpleasant, dista= nt, stubborn, unforgiving and difficult to live with. But there are those momen= ts of pure grace, when people come together, and the church, rather than being= a problem to be solved (which it seems to be most of the time) becomes a plac= e of energy and new life.

&nb= sp; What makes commitment in the Church of Jesus Christ so tough? Paul in his first = letter to the church in Corinth strongly suggests that it is the bind we are in between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God. It is not that he denies the wisdom, intelligence and insight of human beings. His point is t= hat the redemption of the human community and the transformation of our lives w= ill not come through right thinking or even right acting, but through the wisdo= m of God.

We ma= y not like to hear that, but for Paul, God’s wisdom is an up-side-down-worl= d! God’s wisdom is discovered in how Jesus of Nazareth lived his life and also in how he died. It is expressed in Jesus’ own words, “Those who would find their life will lose it. Those who lose their life for my sa= ke, will find it.” That is such a reversal of the wisdom of this world. It ignores all of our well formulated ideas about status.

Paul&= #8217;s assumption is that we are a people possessed of the Spirit, who binds us together in unity and harmony. And as a result we are committed to the=

wisdo= m of this up-side-down world. The tough challenge of the church is not to be cau= ght by our differences. Committed leaders have the difficult role of keeping the delicate balance between personal and individualized preferences and the ne= eds and support of the community. It is tough navigating between the wisdom of = this world and the wisdom of God.

You i= n this congregation express rather strong personal convictions about the life of t= he church. Leadership is committed to look at the larger picture prayerfully, = and through the tradition and wisdom of God and make decisions for the good of = the whole community of faith.

So fa= r, in my temporary sojourn with you I have not been disappointed in the commitment of leadership in this place. They have taken the high road in dealing with difficult situations. They have taken time to prayerfully consider the decisions they have made. They keep the well-being and ease of entry for a = new pastor in focus. It is tough to do in the face of competing expectations fr= om the world and from within the church. The Board of Deacons is faithful in t= heir ministry of care and compassion. They are faithful even to those who do not receive their ministry with enthusiasm.

And n= ow they offer a ministry of hospitality each Sunday morning in The Gathering Place before and after worship; a place where we may gather, meet new people in o= ur midst and greet old friends. Our people who participate in the Joint Deacon= ate of Kalamazoo give much time and energy helping those agencies in our city t= hat minister to people living in challenging situations.

For m= e, in so many of the churches I have known commitment among the people of God that h= as been powerful and distinctive; a commitment that stands apart from popular culture and politics. I make no apology for standing in the tradition. It is tough to do that over against the self aggrandizement of the world. But I h= ave known it as a commitment that moves people to unusual caring for one anothe= r in the presence of the Spirit. I have known commitment that helps people to be= come friends of God, not just for a while, but for eternity. I have known this commitment for bringing healing into the human community when it is pure, a= nd quite frankly bringing division into the human community when it becomes sectarian and selfish. I have experienced this commitment as a force that c= an move across and tear down barriers between people. And that is commitment t= hat understands the only power that can accomplish these things, the power of Christ crucified and raised again.

So to= you being ordained and installed this day: remember that you are salt and light! Bring a flavorful pres= ence and taste to life in this place, and reflect the light of Christ every place you go. Someone might ask, “What if we fail in our commitment? What if next Sunday no one comes t= o the table? What if we neglect acts of mercy for the least of those in our midst? What if we become weary with the unique ministry God has given to us in this place?” Paul’s an= swer would be: “If we are faithless, God remains faithful.” What a paradox, this commitment business. Do you think it is not a tough and lonely commitment for God? New Testa= ment scholar, J.H.Bernard says: “Our faith in God is not the measure of God’s faithfulness to us.”

So, w= e do not give up this ministry even if others do. We do not discard this ministry wh= en others do not understand the tough decisions leaders make. We can relax in Christ and let the clamor of the world around us let it be what it is. Amen= .