Our Journey

I told a friend that sermons feel like the most vulnerable thing to post on the blog.  Too many of my friends are theologically educated, savvy and wonderful preachers themselves.  But here’s what we have for today…

The scripture for this week begins with “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness”.  And again we hear the words from the sermon two weeks ago of valleys filled in, mountains made low, crooked paths made straight and rough ways made smooth.

This is the vision we all long for.  It is a vision that attracts us and gives us hope.  It’s a vision that we can share with our children and tell to our friends.  It’s a vision that gives Christianity a good name.  It looks good on brochures and it’s easy to preach.  We all want to hear this vision.  So that’s where John the Baptizer starts.

Can you imagine the scene?  This wild-eyed, barely dressed, insect eating prophet proclaiming that the salvation of God is near.  He’s quoting the scriptures and describing this beautiful vision.  If you close your eyes, can you imagine this passionate man down by the river, preaching and calling out to the people?  Imagine the poor, the hungry, the lame hearing this vision of a new world where they will eat until they are filled, walk with strength, see their prayers answered.  And the people begin to come.  They gather around, listening, anxious to hear, straining to hear every word John says.

And then… as the crowd reaches its peak, John changes his message.  He turns on the crowd, “You brood of vipers!” He begins to insult the crowd.  Telling them they are not bearing fruit.  Telling them they are lazy, relying on their family history and tradition for their salvation.  It doesn’t seem to make sense.  But…

Haven’t we all heard this type of preaching?   Maybe we’ve even done it ourselves?  Drawing people in with kind words and beautiful stories and then WHAM, let them know what we really think.  People are told of the opportunity for repentance and forgiveness only go come to church and be reminded of their unfaithfulness.  People are told of rest and peace available through Christ only to show up at worship and be told they are not doing enough for the kingdom. Too often we, like John, replace the hopeful vision with judgment and religious measuring sticks.  It’s almost as if John begins to doubt if a positive vision can really convert people.  As the crowd swells, John switches to a method of fear.  And we begin to wonder if God really has the power, if God really is involved in our lives of pain and suffering.  So we become fearful and begin to call names and judge ourselves and one another.

But do you know what is so crazy?  It works!!!  For some reason we respond to fear.  The crowd around John doesn’t get angry with John.  They begin to ask questions, actually the same question… “What then should we do?”  This fear moves them to action.  Fear can be a strong motivator, a persuasive argument.  We tell our children, don’t touch the fire or you’ll burn yourself.  We tell our youth, don’t have unprotected sex or you’ll get AIDS.  Women tell each other, don’t dress like that or you won’t get a husband.  Men tell each other don’t act like that or you won’t be respected.  We tell one another don’t, don’t… or else.  All of our warnings may be true, is Christianity and the life of discipleship based in fear?  We know it works.  From John the Baptist down through generations of pastors and preachers.  Fear will draw a crowd and scare some sinners into heaven.

But… this Advent what can we learn about fear?  Is fear how God calls us?  How God invites us into God’s work?  How we discern God’s will?

Let’s look at the Advent story…

In the opening chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah, priest at the Temple and married to Elizabeth who was barren.  Serving his duties in the sanctuary of the Lord, he is confronted by an angel of the Lord.  When he saw him, Luke tells us Zechariah was terrified.  Now, does the angel take advantage of his fear?  Call him to great sacrifice and deeds while he is blinded and disoriented by his fear?  No, the messenger’s first words are, “Do not be afraid, for your prayer has been answered.”

And within the same chapter, we hear how an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary.  Mary, the scriptures say, was confused.  Does the angel call her names and make demands while she is dazed?  No, again the angel says, “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.”

And the pattern continues.  After Jesus’ birth, an angel of Lord stood before the shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone around them.  The shepherds were terrified.  And again we hear, “Do not be afraid; I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”

Isn’t it interesting?   These divine messengers have people right where they want them.  Scared, confused and dazzled, these angels could ask them to do anything for God.  But instead, they seek first to comfort and to put the children of God at ease.  The angels have come with invitations from the Lord on High and it seems they want people to make decisions about following God out of calm and peace.  Not fear.  Or anxiety.  Or even wonder. They do not even make their requests until Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds have taken a deep breath and been calmed.

But it’s so tempting to make decisions based on fear.  To make life changing commitments in the face of fear or because of our own fears.  As a church leader, like Zechariah, to say “yes” in order find esteem in the eyes of our peers and our congregations.  Or like a husband, to say “yes” to save a marriage.  Too often we make decisions because we fear what others may think or because we don’t see another way, we don’t trust in the possibilities of God.

It’s tempting to make quick decisions when we are gripped by fear because it’s too uncomfortable to live with the anxiety.  Mary could have said “yes” just to get the angel out of her house.  Or worse, she could have said “no” afraid of what Joseph and the community would say about an unwed teenage mother.

It’s also tempting to say “yes” because we’re so overwhelmed by the prestige of the invitation and the honor of being asked.   Who wouldn’t say yes when faced with skies filled with angels singing of the Glory of the Lord?  Fear that we may not be chosen again or fear that we are not truly good enough.  If we say yes out of a fear of our own worthiness, is it truly a “yes”?

In the Advent story, we see Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds each confronted by fear.  Fear for their futures, reputations and worthiness.  But in each case, the word from God was “Do not be afraid.”  Hear what I have to say.  The answer to each invitation is really, an answer to the question, “Do you trust me?”

God does not want us to follow out of fear.  God wants us to rest in the peace that comes through God’s son, Emmanuel, God with Us.  And Advent is the time we remind ourselves.  Yes! God is with us – not to bring fear but to bring peace.

Imagine again, each person – Zechariah in the sanctuary, Mary in her room, the shepherds in the field.  Terrified, confused, dazzled… and then those peaceful words, “do not be afraid.”  A deep breath, a relaxing of the shoulders, a small smile and a pause to bask in the glory of the Lord and this miraculous moment in the presence of God…

And then, then they respond.  Zechariah still doubts.  Mary has questions, but accepts as a servant of the Lord.  And the shepherds went with haste.  Decisions made in peace, not fear.

Can we say that we make our decisions resting in the peace of Christ?  Or do we react in the face of fear and anxiety?  A spouse threatens to leave or to have an affair, so we make decisions based on fear of the unknown, fear of physical harm.  An employer makes unethical demands of us and we meet his demands out of fear of losing pay or losing our job.  God calls us to a new ministry or a new challenge and we ignore, put off or make excuses out of fear of the unknown, fear of what people will say.

Fear is real.  And it has a strange power over many of us.  Like the crowds who gathered around this crazy John the Baptist, insulting them and warning of their impending damnation, we are drawn to fear.  Sometimes it’s exciting.  Sometimes we have lived with fear for so long that it’s more comfortable than the risk it would take to live in peace.  Sometimes fear comes in disguises – acceptance (fear of losing friends), pride (fear that we are not good enough), perfection (fear of showing our weaknesses).

I don’t want to badmouth John the Baptist.  He’s is so much like us.  He is living faithfully.  John the Baptist spread the good news the best way he knew how.  He called upon the scriptures and prophecies of old.  He told worried sinners to share their clothes, to share their food, and told people not to exploit the poor.  He warned of the need for redemption.  The preaching we hear in the first chapter of Luke is prior to his encounter with the Son of God.  Prior to the transformation that happens to all of us when we encounter the peace of Christ for ourselves.  I’m not judging John.  I recognize myself in him.

But as the Advent story unfolds, as the birth of Jesus comes to pass, we see a new way.   We see a world changed, not through fear and intimidation, but through comfort and patience and affirmation.   The angel of the Lord was able to tell each person uniquely why God had sent him – Zechariah’s prayers were answered, Mary had found favor with the Lord, and the Shepherds were chosen to hear news of great joy.

God does not act randomly or arbitrarily.  God comes to each of us in all God’s glory and wonder for specific reasons.  It can be terrifying and confusing and dazzling.  It’s the presence of God after all.  Scriptures tell us that we come before the Lord in fear and trembling.  But the amazing thing about the God we worship is that God does not want us to respond out of that fear.  God does not want a relationship with us based on fear.  God desires that we take a deep breath, hear God’s voice of comfort and blessing, listen carefully to God’s invitations, and then to respond with peace and understanding.

Can we do that this Advent season?  Can we name those places in our lives that are dominated by fear?  Those decisions we need to make that have paralyzed us because we cannot see clearly, because they somehow put us at risk?  What fears live inside you and drive your decisions?

The Old Testamaent reading for today comes from Zephaniah 3: 14 – 16,

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

Shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

The Lord has taken away the

Judgments against you,

he has turned away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

you shall fear disaster no more.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Do not fear, O Zion”

Hear the angel of the Lord this morning speaking to you, “Do not be afraid, your prayers have been answered.”  “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.”  “Do not be afraid, I come to bring you news of great joy.”  Let us move forward this Advent with the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding. Amen.