August 13, 2023
Sermon: “Share the Good News”
In the reading from Genesis this morning, Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. Now Joseph was a twit and a tattle-tale at that point in his life, but most of his brothers wanted to kill him. The oldest brother, Reuben, tried to figure out a way to prevent Joseph’s murder but he failed. How helpless Reuben must have felt. We can think of things he should have said, should have done as Joseph was sold to slavers but advice is cheap and hindsight 20-20. In the moment Reuben must felt helpless. How it must have tormented him then and later.
I wonder if their father Jacob picked up on some of desperate conflict within Reuben after Joseph disappeared (the brothers told Jacob Joseph had been killed by a wild animal) and told oldest son about his, Jacob’s experience when he ran away from his murderous brother and the vision he had of angels climbing up and down a ladder to heaven and his realization that, no matter how he had ended up where he was, God was traveling with him. And I wonder if that story helped Reuben in some way.
I want to talk about Christian witness this morning, about testifying to the actions of God in our lives. It is important we share our experiences of God’s saving help, our experiences of grace, because we never know when someone might need to hear them. As Paul reminds us, how are they to know, if they have never heard.
The world surrounding the apostle Paul was divided into two types of people: Jews and Gentiles. In the letter to the Romans he argues there is really no distinction between the two. Both are beloved of God and both are included in God’s covenant promises. Both, therefore, need to hear the Good News. A radical idea to some.
In our world, divisions are different, but the conclusions are the same, all are beloved of God. All deserve to hear, to paraphrase the Rev. Susan Eaves, of the mystery, the majesty of the love of God and its power to raise us from the waters that threaten to overwhelm us, the power to raise us from the dead. As she says, “It is a mystery, but not a secret.” (The Reverend Susan N. Eaves, https://www.stpaulsrva.org/rectors-blog/jottings-from-grace-street-the-powerless-power, POSTED ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2018, accessed Aug. 11, 2023).
It is something we are meant to share.
What do we mean by Christian witness?
If you have been paying attention to the news you know of the devastating fires on Maui. Oh eventually people will rebuild their lives and their communities and this will become a tale of resilience and the power of the human spirit but right now, what we mainly hear are dazed stories of helplessness in the face of devastation.
How many of us can relate to those feelings. In your life maybe the cause was fire, or illness, or a troubled loved one, or war, or a series of mistakes, or … What helped you keep breathing at that time? Perhaps it was an experience you can describe as being like Jesus reaching out his hand and pulling you to safety. Perhaps it was something else. What was that like? How can you describe it? If you can’t come up with anything, that is alright. Keep paying attention and it will happen again. Life is never short of tragedy. In the gospel story Jesus reached down and pulled Peter to safety. Some of the people in Lahaina jumped into the sea only to be overcome by smoke and drown. I truly believe that in times like those Christ reaches out, grabs hold, and keeps hold of us.
What keeps us from sharing what we have seen and heard?
For a few it is because they don’t want to mess up a good thing. They like the people they hang out with in church and they don’t want others getting involved. If they did things would change. That is the ‘everyone who should be Episcopalian already is’ excuse. I don’t think it is actually the good news of Christ they are clinging to so we will put that reason aside.
It is more likely you don’t want to be pushy or you are afraid you might offend someone. And those are real concerns. Christian faith has a long history of being oppressively imposed on the unwilling. We don’t want to add to that history but, you know, using the Spanish Inquisition to justify our silence is a bit excessive, too. Maybe you think witnessing to your faith and experience is about having a cogent argument so you can change someone else’s opinion and since you have some unanswered questions of your own you decide to wait until the eternal mystery becomes clearer in your own mind before sharing your wonderings with someone else. Being nervous about the response of others can be a powerful force but letting nervousness be the reason for keeping your light under a bushel basket also means not fully living the life of faith you have been given. You have to ask yourself is that what you want, really, to live only a partial life?
The question then becomes how, how do we proclaim the word of faith?
Well, you can stand on a street corner and preach to those walking by. There is a place for that. But for most people, that is not a means of proclamation they can hear. So what else?
Give money and/or time to help those who are currently experiencing helplessness, hopelessness, desperation. The town of Lahaina on the island of Maui has been destroyed by fire. People have lost homes, possessions, livelihoods, places of meaning, loved ones. It is a litany that is all too familiar to those of us in Northern California. You can witness to the saving actions of God in your life during your times of hopelessness by donating to the bishop’s fund that will go to the relief of the survivors of the fire in Lahaina. Or to some other cause that speaks to your heart. Giving of money and time are very concrete ways to journey with people as they travel through tragedy, helping them know they are not alone, they have not been abandoned, they are loved and valued.
Write a poem – one of our communion hymns today is ‘It is well with my soul.’ If you are not familiar with the history of that gospel song, the lyrics were written by a man named Horatio Spafford. In 1873 the ship crossing the Atlantic carrying his wife and 4 daughters sank. All 4 girls died. The telegram his wife sent him after she was rescued began “Saved alone…” He wrote the lyrics to the song when he, crossing the Atlantic to join her, was about at the place where his daughters died. (Wikipedia.org). It is a song that has been of great value in many lives including my own. What a witness he has been to so many long past the span of his own life. Written stories, songs, art work, legacy societies, funeral bequests, these sorts of things are ways we can continue to participate in the work of salvation long after we are no longer in the world.
Another – have conversations with people. It is a practice that some think has fallen out fashion, but it can be very powerful. Miriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines a conversation is an oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas. In other words it is 2-way, or 3, or 4 or whatever-way sharing. Which means it involves listening, which means you have to pay attention. Put down the phone or turn off the tv. Actually look at someone and take in what they have to say. It is not waiting patiently (or not) until they are done so you can say what you want to say and then move on to the next person or place on your agenda. You do have something you want or need to say and they may have a gift from the Holy Spirit for you, too. In true conversation we are open to hearing whatever it might be. We never know what the Holy Spirit might do with either of us then.
Another powerful way is witnessing through our lives. 12 step groups adhere to the principle of attraction rather than promotion. Walk the walk and it will be noticed by those who need to. They will say, ‘I don’t know what you are doing but I want what you have, tell me about it.’ This is even more true for living a Christian life defined by mercy, generosity, sacrifice, love, forgiveness, inclusion, and humility – all aspects of Christian witness.
Paul asked us this morning: “How are they to hear without someone to proclaim [Christ] Whatever you do, don’t keep the good news to yourself. Know that whatever you do, however you share the good news, when you do God’s powerful Word is working through you for the life of the world God so loves.
Thanks be to God.
