This was yet again one of those sermon experiences where I have too many ideas to sort through before I can delve into one with any great vigor. But at least there si something to talk about from the pulpit.
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"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." -Epictetus
@ 8:00am - Micah has posted his sermon...
In the Kingdom, the rules of scarcity that I studied so carefully during my undergrad training as an economist go right out the window. There is enough healing for the bleeding woman and the little girl. There is enough grace for everyone. There is enough pardon for all my sins, and plenty left over for yours, too. And it only takes faith to start living that way. We need only start operating from an assumption of abundance, not only living in the fear and doubt that scarcity causes.
I. A very brief rehashing of the trouble in Corinth
summary: this congregation is strapped spiritually and emotionally(?)It is revealing itself in terms of economic divisions...and their relationship with Paul. You see, there seems to be a little stress there. Now, the good news is that, according to scholars, Paul writes this letter to praise them after they finally come around to seeing his way. There is some reconciliation between Paul and the church in Corinth. This letter then becomes a lovely ramble of Pauline theology "and then I suggest....and don't you agree that...and then there was this time..." I love a good ramble.
Paul is not as concerned about money in these verses as I am tempted to read. The key to this is in verse 8:9. Jesus was not born wealthy and then gave it all away (Though Jesus suggests this very thing to someone in Matthew's gospel, but that is another sermon.). Paul is not simply speaking of financial bounty. He is speaking of cosmic "rank" (poor word choice) or Christ's place in the created order. From Philippians 2......who, though he [Christ] was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
There is this model for us to follow. This is a tremendous challenge to a culture made up of Stoics. One of the commentaries I read suggested that Corinth was a gentile church in a town where Stoicism was a common philosophical school. This may be part of what Paul is wrangling with as well. There is a redefining of the cosmic order at work here...and how that reordering/defining plays out in the life of this community. The philosophical thrust of Stoicism is similar to Christianity. Perhaps, as some suggest, this is part of the reason there is success at all in Corinth. But Christianity is not the same as Stoicism. Are these subtle differences getting in the way somehow?The short of it is that Paul and the Corinthians are all wrestling with how one's world view is changed...ever so slowly to understand the Kingdom of God. It is a spiritual discipline that manifests itself in our relationships...through reciprosity (this passage), reconciliation (5:18 - All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...), generosity and love (both in this passage).
Generosity is not about what we do with our surplus. It is the assumption of a surplus at all times. There is always enough, according to Paul. "The one who had much did not have too much and the one who had little did not have too little."
By saying this, Paul is not suggesting a communist economic theory. What Paul is suggesting is that the Corinthians, who struggle with issues of wealth and class, need to deepen their understanding of how the cosmic order has shifted...and how they now are called to be with one another. God has graced all of creation with forgiveness and reconciliation. Therefore the posture of the Christian community is to reflect this reality, not the hope of it, nor the working toward it, but the reality of it in our very midst. This simply means that there is enough for all...enough of everything. Thus we share what we have knowing that there is always enough to go around. We share because we have already received.
-In our gospel story we see how this is at work in the ministry of Jesus in terms of the faith of the people who ask for healing and are themselves healed. Jarius is not a full disciple of Christ. Some argue that he was a Pharisee. It matters not. In our story he simply has faith enough in his desperation to ask for help. It is enough...this small seed, as we discussed two weeks ago, is enough to move Christ. It is enough to heal his daughter. And Christ's response is simple...not some grandiose moment. He simply says "Little girl, get up." That's all.
- There is a simplicity to the healing of the hemorrhages as well...she simply reaches out in need. And though we should not think of this healing as magical (mechanistic), we should understand how such grace is inexorable present in the life of faith. She had faith. He faith is what revealed God's grace in such a miraculous way. The woman assumed the presense of God. And, as she discovered, she was right to do so, for that is what God has promised and fulfilled through Christ.
-We have enough.
-We need only witness to the grace that has already been given us.
-To do otherwise may actually lead us in the opposite direction we wish to go.
-Share the gifts we have, as individuals and as a congregation.
-Again, we have enough. We may not actually have to come up with something new in order to begin to grow as a congregation. God has already provided what we need to witness to a redeemed world.
-land of plenty
-gift of independence
- so close, but not quite the same...Do we face some of the same troubles that the Corinthians do? Are there self-evident truths? Yes! But it is not life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...though it is so dern close. It is that we have been redeemed through Christ. Our lives already exist within the context of salvation. This is not mere right, but a state of being. It is reality. This is a nuance, but one worth comprehending.
Maybe I'll switch that last section with the section about the congregation itself. Dunno. I may not use it at all. But there is this giant flag on the church bulletin. I may have no choice.
Anyway, there you go, gang. This is how this stuff rambles through my head. Aren't you glad you know? Now I am going to pull together the communion liturgy and get some grapes for the kids.
Posted by tripp at July 2, 2006 05:42 AM