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Sermon: The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (C) - 31st January 2010
St Alban's Anglican Church Epping 7, 8 & 10 am
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 133:1-13, Luke 4:21-30
“Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy”. But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”
“And Jesus came and said to (his disciples), ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
It is our calling to as Christians to tell others about our faith. How many of us have been in situations where we have felt like the prophet Jeremiah? I’m not eloquent enough, or a strong enough Christian to evangelise my little corner of the world! Situations in which we feel caught between our inadequacies and the command to spread the Good News.
Jesus in another place said, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, … Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, (when did we do these things?) “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” … the righteous (will go) into eternal life.’
St Francis of Assisi said about preaching the Gospel,“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” And, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
There are appropriate times to use words and there are times when it is appropriate to use actions, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting prisoners. Wisdom is essential to determine what should be done and what should be said. Foolishness can be speaking when action is what is needed.
An example of what I think is an example of foolishness and totally inappropriate preaching the Gospel, is shown by an American Christian organisation who state on its website, 'As the horrific situation in Haiti extends … we want to help calm tensions, fears and raging tempers by allowing the pure Word of God (in audio) to be heard in the midst of the chaos. We want Haitians to know that God has not forgotten them. That He is near to those who mourn. That He wants to show Himself strong on their behalf.
We are already sending 600 … rugged, solar-powered Audio Bible players that do not require any external power source, and would like to send as many as 2,500 more as they are requested. These Audio Bibles will be carried to Haiti by other ministry groups involved in relief work, arriving along with food, water and medical supplies.'
As Stephen Matchett, in the Australian, wrote this week,
“… You can imagine how useful such will be. People without power will use the learning in Leviticus to work out how to rewire the electricity grid. Nurses overwhelmed by victims who need intensive care they cannot provide will look up the section of the Song of Solomon on triaging amputation cases. Survivors struggling to deal with the death of everybody they love will find a reason to live from reading all the, whom begat who, bits in the Old Testament. … You have to wonder whether there is much point in proselytising to people more worried about staying alive for the next 24 hours than the state of their souls.
And as for the idea that Haitians need to know God has not forgotten them, it will take some talking to convince many of them that he hasn't. A lot more talking than you get in an electronic recitation of the Bible. Which many of them already have an idea about, what with Haiti being a very Catholic country, albeit with African animism thrown in.
But maybe that does not count as religion, which is exactly what Haiti really needs just now, an argument over theology.
This is not to say the life of the spirit does not matter, humanity does not live by bread alone. But give the people of Haiti a choice between dinner and an audio text of the Bible and you don't need divine guidance to work out what most will want.”
To a certain degree, the Diocese believes more strongly in preaching the Gospel in words than preaching the Gospel in action. Yes, there is the good work of Anglicare and its activities. I have heard it said that if you convert the heathen by preaching, then everything will in turn would turn out right for them! Moore College prepares graduates to preach the Gospel in words without a great deal of education in pastoral care, implying once a person has believed the Gospel their lives will be turned around.
On the Moore College website, no mention is made by the Archbishop of pastoral care. We read,
“The grand strategy of God is to win people to allegiance to his Son the Lord Jesus through the preaching of his word and the power of his Spirit. Our College is a classic case of the sort of fellowship which the Lord has raised up in order to further this great work. By supporting it you are helping advance the cause of Christ in this world.
At this moment in history we are well poised to spread the knowledge of Christ though the new means of communication which have developed. But even so, the fundamental means (of this happening) remains people who share the news about Jesus with their friends. Attracting and equipping those who are gifted for this task is the job we have set ourselves. We need the help of those who have been trained in the word of God and can address the world in which we live with the gospel.
The graduates of the College have a key role to play amongst the Global South churches as so many turn to Christ and need to be nurtured and built up in the faith. … Naturally I support other Christian causes, but if I (were) forced to choose only one cause to support, it would unhesitatingly be the College because of its alignment to the Lord’s big strategy.
Preparing people for ministry involves fellowship. That is why Moore remains residential and why we try to create the opportunity for community. … Will you join us … continue the great wok the College is doing and make sure that it continues into the next generations?”
The programme outline of the basic undergraduate course at Moore mentions a course called College Ministry Skills Program. There is no mention of the dealing with the disadvantaged or sick. No Good Samaritan work mentioned. It implies that pastoral care is only to do with the saved and is dealt with through preaching.
“The practise of congregational ministry must be shaped by theology and the Bible. It involves living and nurturing the life of faith in the pastor, individuals, groups and congregations. It is achieved by promoting faithfulness in life and doctrine. … (It) is designed to stimulate theological reflection in all areas of practical ministry, and to improve competency in pastoral relationships. … Through the course the ability to preach publicly is developed, competency in personal, small group and congregational relationships sharpened, and growth in personal holiness facilitated. Students are introduced to key concepts in learning, teaching and communication to help them begin to apply these to their ministry practice.”
Teaching the faith is important but it must be held in tension with active good works. As St James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? I f a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.”
As we seek to carry out our mission to make disciples of all nations, let us remember Saint Paul’s words, “Faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” May all our actions spreading the Gospel be guided by love.
https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/save-haitian-lives-then-their-souls/story-e6frg71o-1225823025314
http://undergrad.moore.edu.au/