Sermons from Park Hill Congregational UCC Denver, Colorado Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 17, 2016 “A Humpty Dumpty Kind of Faith” Acts 9: 36-43 – Common English Bible “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need. 37 About that time, though, she became so ill that she died. After they washed her body, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two people to Peter. They urged, “Please come right away!” 39 Peter went with them. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the upstairs room. All the widows stood beside him, crying as they showed the tunics and other clothing Dorcas made when she was alive. 40 Peter sent everyone out of the room, then knelt and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then he called God’s holy people, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. 42 The news spread throughout Joppa, and many put their faith in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with a certain tanner named Simon. Tabitha is probably is one of those “Do I really have to believe this?” stories. I mean, I love parts of it. It starts great. She is the first woman who was given the same designation as the 12 – she was a disciple. Clear and simple with no asterisk. Not a “woman” disciple. She was a disciple in an otherwise male dominated arena. And it speaks volumes about her importance that Peter would drop everything and rush to her side. She was a well-known disciple because of her good works and charity. Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, tells us about her ministry with widows and orphans and strangers. The very ones now standing around her body grieving. They depended on her. As they cried they held up the clothing that Tabitha had made for them. These were not the professional mourners brought in when someone died – like in the story of Lazarus and others in the Bible. Hiring professional mourners was a common practice in Near Eastern and Mediterranean cultures. It never really made sense to me. Why would you have to hire someone to cry? Although, if you can believe it, you can go to rentamourner.com in England and hire one for only $68 an hour. Why would you do that? To “increase the appearance of one’s popularity.”[1] If you’re concerned with a low turnout, you can also hire professionals to cry in Taiwan and India. You can watch a YouTube video of hired mourners in Kenya creating a spectacle.[2] I did a google search for Denver and found no one offering such services and thought maybe it’s a good business idea for someone. But the point in Tabitha’s case is that these were real people surrounding her dead body. The ones who depended on her. When Peter arrived he asked them all to leave while he stayed with her. With the door closed, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Jesus had done the same thing with the daughter of Jairus, saying, “Daughter, get up.” And they both did. Amazing. Miraculous. But precisely the kind of stories that sometimes make it difficult for Christians in the modern world. “Do I really have to believe this?” But it’s not my place to say this did or didn’t really happen. Or to offer explanations that she probably wasn’t really dead. To speculate that she was simply asleep or maybe she was in a diabetic coma or something “logical” like that. But that’s about as helpful or hurtful as reciting Humpty Dumpty. Do you remember it? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall All the King’s horses and all the King’s men Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again Why do we teach that nursery rhyme to children? What are we trying to tell them? Life’s tough and you better get used to it? Suck it up. What’s the purpose of Humpty Dumpty? The story paints an awfully bleak picture and it leads me to the conclusion that there is no hope. Nothing can put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Or as it was in a version in 1797: “Fourscore men and fourscore more / couldn’t make Humpty Dumpty what he was before.” Hence, get over it. Of course I had to find out what the story actually means. And then I was scolded for thinking it’s a story.[3] At least according to one source, it’s not a story, it’s a riddle. And, yes, of course, that only makes sense. Here I was trying to make a riddle into something literal. So sufficiently chastised, I went back to the story of Tabitha which, of course, was certainly not meant as a riddle. I have no doubt that those present believed it actually happened. But from our place in history, it’s hard not to question whether it’s true. Yet our job is not to ask whether it’s true but how it is true. And therefore what does the raising of Tabitha teach? First, that women were disciples. Maybe also: That life is in God’s hands. We don’t control it. Never lose hope even in the midst of death. That life is a mystery not to be taken for granted. That God will stop at nothing to care for widows and orphans and strangers – in unbelievable ways, to a greater extent than we believe is even possible. Or that the power of Jesus Christ can raise us from the dead too. Is ours a Humpty Dumpty faith or a Tabitha kind of faith? I believe God can put our lives back together again. I believe God can make us again what we once were. So that we too can get back up and minister to the needs of others again. However, perhaps Humpty Dumpty ultimately teaches us that life is fragile, not that life is hopeless. And the point is to be careful, not dejected. Remember the story of Osceola McCarty. Day after day, for most of her 87 years, she took in bundles of dirty clothes and made them clean and neat for parties she never attended, weddings to which she was never invited, graduations she never saw. She quit school in the sixth grade to go to work so she could take care of her sick grandmother. She never married, never had children and never learned to drive because there was never any place in particular she wanted to go. All she ever had was the work, which she saw as a blessing because too many other black people in rural Mississippi did not have even that. She worked and saved and worked and pinched the few pennies she made, never buying a newspaper because it cost too much, content with her old black and white TV with one channel because she never watched it much anyway, living in what most of us would call dire poverty. And when she died, she left $150,000 to a scholarship fund at the University of Mississippi so that other young black men and women could go to college. Impossible.[4] The story of Tabitha reminds me of Mama Carmen. My god-son Caleb went to Guatemala to work with orphans – a topic close to his heart since he is one of 8 adopted children in his family – from China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Youngstown. Somehow in the course of his trip, Caleb was introduced to Mama Carmen. During the early 1990s, when the civil war in Guatemala was coming to an end, soldiers came to Mama Carmen’s house one day and took her son away. They didn't tell her why or where they were taking him. She knew he hadn’t been made a soldier, so she searched every prison in Guatemala. She searched everywhere and vowed to never give up. One day a stranger came to her door and told Carmen she had nowhere to go, asking to stay with her. Carmen had never seen this woman before and wasn’t inclined to just let a stranger in, but she felt sorry for her. A few days later, the woman asked about the pictures of Carmen's son all around the house. Carmen told her the story and the woman said, I think I’ve seen him. Carmen thought she was just messing with her, hoping she could stay longer, but she was so convincing. She said she saw him in a prison in El Salvador. Carmen decided to go and check it out. And sure enough, when she got to the prison, Carmen saw him behind the fences. She was able to get him released and brought him back home, but he was in very poor health. He was, in fact, dying. Carmen told her son about the stranger who had come to their house, and he asked his mother to promise that if anyone ever came to her door again, she would never turn them away. Carmen kept her promise and today she has 95 children living in her home. She receives no government aid because she’s not technically an orphanage. She has only her adult sons to help. Some of the children who find their way to her have been thrown out onto the streets with nowhere to go, some have been brought to her by birthmothers who cannot care for them, some have physical disabilities that their family cannot care for. And some of the children have run away from abuse. She makes sure they’re all fed and clothed and that they go to school if possible. And no one is ever turned away. Osceola’s and Carmen’s was not a literal Humpty Dumpty kind of faith – oh well, you’re broken. Too bad. They lived a Tabitha kind of faith, believing they could be instruments of God’s care for widows and orphans and strangers. And to such an extent that we say – that’s not possible. I can’t believe it. But that’s the kind of faith I want. That’s what I want to believe when I feel broken. When we are grieving, I want us to know that the power of Christ’s love is so strong it can break through barriers as strong as even death. To make us alive again. Yes, we may be fragile, but we are never forever broken. A Tabitha kind of faith – that when we are made whole again, we can get back to serving one another. Forever grateful for the power of Jesus Christ to raise us up from the dead too. [1] www.rentamourner.co.uk [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDqGHiCY_yc&ebc=ANyPxKpVKiUbfku-fHGIjo2GJSkGq1Tp22WlC8ryvpsIbgvfs_pdcpLO2VY4e18TmW26Lq1oLYo2pU4G6ME21dhmFn9A1UvyUQ [3] http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/04/the-origin-of-humpty-dumpty/ [4] http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/13/us/all-she-has-150000-is-going-to-a-university.html
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Park Hill Congregational UCC Denver, Colorado Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 18, 2016 “A Progression on Psalm 23” (A "worksheet" is attached at the bottom to create own your own) King James Version (KJV) – Read together The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. While it has a certain dated feel to it, for me, there’s nothing like an old King James’ “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” That, and “I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” No modern translation can do those lines justice for me. I wonder, do you know the reason we even have a King James Version? The first English version of the New Testament was translated in 1526 by Willian Tyndale, just 85 years before. Why did they need a new one? Funny: The King thought it was a way to get the Puritans to stop agitating against the abuses of the Church of England. As Congregationalists, they were our spiritual ancestors. I’ve often joked that Unitarians and Congregationalists are the direct descendants of the Pilgrims and Puritans and we are both among the most left leaning of religious traditions – despite their strict and harsh reputations Another history tidbit: What was the difference between a Pilgrim and a Puritan? Pilgrims believed separation was necessary - that the church was so hopelessly corrupt that they could only live separately. Reformation was impossible. Puritans, in contrast, believed the Church of England could be reformed. And many gave their lives trying. But, in fact, even in America, many Puritans still considered themselves good Anglicans. But anyway, the King James project was proposed because the King thought, maybe if the bishops and the Puritans cooperated on a project, they would settle down. How can you fight while translating a new version of the Bible? It didn’t work, but we did get a nice translation out of that conflict. And it became the standard of Protestant Christians for 400 years. There were other translations in between, but none so impactful. Then, in the 1940s, came the Revised Standard Version. This became the new Protestant standard – except among the most conservative and fundamentalist Christians even today, some of whom act as though Jesus himself spoke in the King’s English. Many of us probably grew up using the RSV. I even still have my own personal RSV that every third grader received in Sunday School, my name stamped in gold on the front. The RSV worked directly from the King James, before new scholarship had been discovered – such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. There are many of the same familiar phrases, but not all of them. Look at your handout (each of the following scriptures was on a handout). In the RSV: Revised Standard Version (RSV)[1] The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; - the same, but then what changed? 2 he makes (not makest) me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. (Restoreth was always difficult to say) They took out the “yea, though I walk” and changed it to “even though:” 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; But they did retain the “thees” and “thous.” for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. But then back to: 5 Thou preparest a table before me; thou anointest my head with oil… In the 1980s came the New Revised Standard Version with even more changes, based now on more scholarship. The language was made more inclusive for people – no more brothers but instead brothers and sisters. But language for God was not changed to be more inclusive – a big problem for many. All the “Yeas and thous and preparests” were gone. But they also changed the end of Psalm 23. New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)[2] The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (the same in each version) 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley... sorry, but that’s not as poetic. And then the ending. It changed! 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Oh well… Among the faults of the NRSV for many people was its stilted language. It doesn’t flow. The King James was more poetic, but less understandable. This was understandable, but difficult because it wasn’t natural to read. People desired a more reader/speaker friendly version, especially for worship. And so dozens of denominations, including the UCC, came together to start over from the original documents. It was original scholarship, not updates of previous versions. But their task was to also write it in a more conversational manner. The way people talk. The way they accomplished this was that they had dozens of church groups around the country read drafts out loud in small groups. They kept doing it until the Common English Bible was ready to be published. And that is what we have been reading in worship and using in Bible Study since last summer. Common English Bible (CEB)[3] The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. (I miss “I shall not want”) 2 He lets me rest (not makes me) in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; 3 he keeps me alive – eh… He guides me in proper paths – eh… for the sake of his good name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley (again, no shadow of death), I fear no danger (not evil) because you are with me. Your rod and your staff (I wish they had made that more understandable for modern times). But while I will say that they made many dramatic improvements throughout the Bible, mostly good, I still miss my two favorite Psalm 23 phrases. I guess this proves I am really a traditionalist about some things. It ends: 6 Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the Lord’s house as long as I live. Around the same time Eugene Peterson, a brilliant scholar and very perceptive pastor, wrote a dramatic paraphrase called The Message – still faithful to good scholarship, but more concerned with people’s ability to understand and apply their lives. Other paraphrases had been done before – such as the Living Bible one of the most popular in the 1970s. Or The Cotton Patch Bible. But Peterson’s really made the intent of the language so clear: The Message (MSG)[4] 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing (and, notice, instead of saying something about God, he made it a prayer to God – I like that). You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (I like it because I understand it) 4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley (not so much…), I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Yes 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. “I’m back home.” Some great lines and I commend your reading of his whole translation for your own edification. Spiritual writers – such as Nan Merrill – take it to even another level. Instead of evil she speaks of fear. And throughout her Psalms she addresses God as “the Beloved.” All the language is inclusive. I’ve used her psalms for prayer and meditation for many years – and I’ve written some of them to music. I find them incredibly beautiful and expansive and relatable. Nan Merril, Psalms for Praying[5] O my Beloved, you are my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 You bring me to green pastures for rest and lead me beside still waters renewing my spirit, 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow (what a wonderful image) and of death, I am not afraid; for you are with me forever; your rod and your staff (I would have preferred a different image that I understood the meaning of. But this is one of the best lines: 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of all my fears; you bless me with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the heart of the Beloved forever. The reason I prepared this sermon today was the inspiration of Guy Harris’ (whose funeral was the day before) own version. This was found on a piece of blue cardstock in his own hand. He wrote “paraphrased in words relevant to me, and my life today.” I especially like how he started by changing shepherd to “loving protector.” Guy Harris “The Lord is my loving protector; I shall be without unfilled wants and needs. (But hear is what really speaks) 4 Even though I walk through hopelessly black trials and temptations, I fear no evil, for you are near me, Your understanding and your power they sustain me. 5 You shower me with abundance as a display to my oppressors; 6 Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me every day of my life, and I will live in the presence of the Lord my whole life long.” As he said, “paraphrased in words relevant to me, and my life today. Therefore, I thought, with our remaining time, why don’t we consider some words you might use – either starting with the Nan Merrill’s version or Guy’s. But more so, I invited you to take it home to use for your own spiritual exercise. You could even set it aside for a loved one to find so it can be used in your own memorial service one day – hopefully long, long, long from now. "Worksheet" Spiritual Exercise for Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Authorized by King James I of England in 1604, completed in 1611 Revised Standard Version (RSV) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Revised Standard Version (RSV), copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 Common English Bible (CEB) The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. 2 He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; 3 he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff—they protect me. 5 You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! 6 Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the Lord’s house as long as I live. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible The Message (MSG) 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. 4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. 5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993-2002 by Eugene H. Peterson The Amplified Bible (AMP) The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord. Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 Nan Merril, Psalms for Praying O my Beloved, you are my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 You bring me to green pastures for rest and lead me beside still waters renewing my spirit, 3 You restore my soul. You lead me in the path of goodness to follow Love's way. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow and of death, I am not afraid; for you are with me forever; your rod and your staff they guide me, they give me strength and comfort. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of all my fears; you bless me with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the heart of the Beloved forever. Nan Merril, Psalms for Praying, New York: Continuum, 1999 Now write your own based on hers: O my Beloved, you are my _______________, Therefore, I shall not want; You bring me to ______________ for rest and lead me beside/through ______________ in order to renew my spirit, You restore my soul. You lead me in the path of _______________ So that I may follow Love's way. Even though I walk through ________________, I am not afraid; for you are with me forever; Your _________________ guides me, You give me ____________ and _______________. You prepare a _____________ before me in the presence of all my fears; you bless me with _______, so my ___________ overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the heart of the Beloved forever. Guy Harris “The Lord is my loving protector; I shall be without unfilled wants and needs. 2 He makes me rest in plentiful pastures, and leads me beside tranquil waters; 3 He renews my life within me, and for the sake of His glory He guides me in the right path. 4 Even though I walk through hopelessly black trials and temptations, I fear no evil, for you are near me, Your understanding and your power they sustain me. 5 You shower me with abundance as a display to my oppressors; you have magnificently shown your love and concern for me, and my heart is overflowing with your love. 6 Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me every day of my life, and I will live in the presence of the Lord my whole life long.” Now write your own based on his: “____________ is/are my _______________; Therefore I shall not be __________________. You make me rest in ________________, and lead me ___________________; You renew my life within me, and for the sake of Your glory You guide me ________________. Even though I walk through __________________, I fear no ____________, for you are near me, Your ___________ and your ___________ sustain me. You shower me with ______________ as a display to my _________; You have magnificently shown your _____________ and _____________ for me, and my heart is overflowing with your _______________. Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me every day of my life, and I will live in Your presence my whole life long.” [1] 1946 [2] New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 [3] Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible [4] The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993-2002 by Eugene H. Peterson [5] Nan Merril, Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness, New York: Continuum, 1999 Sermons from Park Hill Congregational UCC
Denver, Colorado Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 3, 2016 “The Courage of Doubt and Faith” John 20: 19-31 (Common English Bible) It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” Jesus appears to Thomas and the disciples 24 Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.” 26 After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!” 28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” 30 Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll.31 But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name. Thomas often gets a bad rap. “Unless I can see it for myself, I won’t believe.” It’s likely that we know Thomas more for his doubt than anything else. And, in fact, there’s not a lot more to know. There are only two things said about Thomas in the whole Bible. Other than being included in lists of the original 12 disciples, there is nothing else about him in Matthew. Nothing in Mark. Nothing in Luke. Only in John. Two things. We first hear about him when a messenger came to tell Jesus that his dear friend Lazarus was dead – the brother of Mary and Martha. Upon hearing the news, the disciples all urged Jesus not to go to their house. They were afraid because Jesus was already a marked man by the religious authorities. Maybe this would be a trap and, if so, Jesus would surely be arrested and then the rest of them… well, whatever might happen, it probably wouldn’t be good. But Thomas alone insisted to the disciples that they should go with Jesus, “that we may die with him.” The only other mention is his doubt. “Unless I see it myself, I won’t believe.” And that Jesus didn’t rebuke his doubt. Oh, and that he was a twin – which was actually quite remarkable for the time. With terrible infant mortality rates, the likelihood of both twins surviving was incredibly rare. That Thomas had an actual alive twin was something of a miracle. So, about Thomas the Twin, we know he was one of the original 12. We know he expressed no fear that the disciples should follow Jesus even if it resulted their deaths too. And we know that he wasn’t present when post-resurrection Jesus first appeared. And that he refused to believe them unless he could touch the nail scars in his hands. Hence, “doubting” Thomas. But why not the equally “fearlessly courageous” Thomas – an ancient superhero with a big “T” under his robe. As I thought of his two attributes – doubt and courage – I wondered about the paradox. He didn’t doubt his courage. And he had the courage to express doubt. To name it out loud. It made me wonder how many times we may have been afraid to express our doubts in a room full of true believers. For example, the lone Hillary supporter surrounded by people feeling the Bern. The lone hold-out on a jury. The lone progressive Christian at Easter dinner around a table full of evangelicals. Or the lone Republican in a church full of Democrats. It’s not always easy to speak up. We might be misunderstood. Or judged. But Thomas did it. He named his doubt with courage. Yet, so many Christians seem to think that even asking questions about faith or God is a betrayal of “truth.” But, probably no surprise to most people here, the expression of doubt isn’t the opposite or the enemy of faith. It is part of the process of faith. A welcome part that’s never done. Doubts are a valuable part of faith whether we are 13, 30 or 103. As William Irwin said, “Religious belief without doubt should not be a badge of honor.” He went on to say, “Rather than seeking the security of an answer, perhaps we should celebrate the uncertainty of the question. For God is a question, not an answer.”[1] How does that statement strike you? “God is a question, not an answer.” For some it may ring true. It may even be a relief. And for others, it may be uncomfortable. What do you mean that God isn’t an answer? Of course, it does depend on what the question is. How do you feel about such things as religious doubt? Or how do you feel about such things religious certainty? In a room full of people who may be more comfortable with doubt, how does it feel to have faith? And to express it out loud. Dwight Lee Wolter, a UCC minister on Long Island, said something provocative and critical about progressive Christians, even though he is one. He said, “Many people get stuck placing their faith in doubt.” But when we stay too long, we “may become complacent and comfortable in suspicion,” leading to cynicism, ultimately “being dismissive of people, places, and things that can offer a sense of solace and strength.”[2] His article is entitled “Is it Easier to Believe in Crucifixions?” Do we not trust in the bad more easily than we believe in the good? I take his critique to heart. What is the role of doubt and faith? As progressive Christians, we don’t have to be told to embrace doubt. But do we have the same courage to express faith? At our leadership retreat a few weeks ago and several more times since, people have expressed a desire for more sermons like my annual “Ask a Question” sermon. Can we have more of that? So today we’re going to engage in a little dialogue about the kinds of questions raised by Thomas. Is there anything I said that you would like to talk more about? (We then engaged in a congregational conversation on the topic) [1] New York Times, March 27, 2016 [2] “Is It Easier to Believe in Crucifixions” patheos.com This hike on April 4, 2016 was among the most spectacular I've ever done. Butler Gulch Trail is off of Jones Pass Road next to the Henderson Mine, west of Empire, Colorado.
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March 2024
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