Living the Vision (Sunday, November 13th, 2016)

Bible Reference(s): Isaiah 65:17-25

Sermon by Rev. Terri Thorn

A couple of months ago, when we decided to have this service in Fellowship Hall, we planned to honor the progress we have made toward our Guiding Vision, which was unveiled at about this same time last year.  Harvest season seemed to be a fitting time to talk about the ministries that have been planted this past year and to inspire generosity for more seed-sowing next year.  Those were the original intentions for today, and we will still get to it in just a bit.

First, however, could we take a minute to be real with each other about the mounting post-election tension in our nation? I understand that many of you come to church to get away from that kind of stuff for an hour or two, so I don't want to dwell on it too long.  Yet, given how this week has unfolded, I feel I would be unfaithful to my pastoral duties if I did not bring it up.  It's one of the weeks where the words of Karl Barth ring so loud in my head...preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. 

I'm sure that most are aware, there are election protests happening in the streets of many cities, including Indianapolis last night.  And, while some of those protests are a peaceful exercise of a constitutional right that our founding fathers held dear, others are engaging in unacceptable criminal activities that need to be stopped, even if law enforcement must use force to do it.  At the same time, we are learning of personalized actions of bigotry and hate, at least 200 or more since Tuesday, being perpetrated against innocent people.  For example, children being openly bullied in schools because they are Latino; LGBTQ folks and their supporters being chased and beaten; people of color who are afraid to drive through certain counties right now.  There is a KKK parade being planned to celebrate the election results and some of my progressive-leaning clergy colleagues have had their jobs threatened and reputations maligned because they have spoken out about the injustices.  Unfortunately, much of this is happening in the name of our new President.

Now before anyone gets upset and leaves, please hear me out…I am not here to blame Donald Trump or question the election results.  We all know that no single elected official on either party has caused all the problems we face, nor will  any one leader be able to heal this nation.  The hatred that has reared its ugly head this week, at its core, is the result of a nation that has turned away from God...and of a Church that has placed its hope and trust in the wrong things...relying on what Washington tells us is right rather than what God has called us to be and do. 

All that said, my reason for bringing this up today isn't to engage in the political debate...or even to rebuke American Christianity.  It is to say that we...Americans yes...but more importantly, we the church...have a huge problem on our hands.  It's not a political problem. It's not a societal problem either.  Some say it's sin problem.  That's part of it. It's also a lack of compassion problem...a void of empathy problem...a denial of our common humanity problem.  Americans seem to be losing our ability to see the presence of God in each other.  As a result we've distanced and separated from one another to the point that we now have these huge chasms of division before us...chasms that seem  to be getting deeper and wider by the day.   We are growing farther apart politically, socio-economically, theologically, racially and linguistically.  Yes, linguistically.  We cannot even agree on the definition of justice or truth. 

We can, however, agree that emotions are running high and rampant in our nation right now.  My concern is that the what's happening out there is also happening in here as well.  I've heard stories of real grief and sadness over the election results, as well as those of relief and vindication that Donald Trump will be President.  There are some folks in the room who believe that things are about to get better for them personally, while others are genuinely concerned for the safety of their friends who are not white or straight. 

The reality of all of these diverse, and sometimes opposite, emotions and reaction is what makes this worship service so significant.  You see, even though it was planned months ago that we would be in this casual setting today, I believe that it is by God's divine providence and grace that we are at tables with each other today.  Thank God we are not in the pews where we could politely avoid eye contact with those we suspect might not share our post-election feelings.   No, it is a true blessing that we are here...in close quarters...at mostly round tables (except for a few at the back)...face-to-face with each other to worship God and break bread together.

It really is an important big deal.  I mean, think about it.  I'm tempted to ask for a show of hands, but I won't.  However, I'm 100% certain that there are people in this room who voted for Donald Trump and there are people who voted for Hillary Clinton.  There may even be some who voted for Gary Johnson, or a write-in, or no one at all.  There are people in this room who are at peace with the results of the election...people who are disturbed by them...and people who were surprised, people who predicted it, and people who really don't care all that much one way or another. 

So, the reality is that the Church in America does mirror our nation with our significant differences. However, unlike the worldly way of creating division over the differences, we are called to the godly way of coming together as one in Christ. We are called to choose the better way.   Now, I'm not talking about a false sense of unity or a denial of individual beliefs, emotions and feelings...but, as the church, we've been taught to respect and love each other despite our differences...to trust that each person has the best and holiest of intentions...even when we disagree. 

As followers of Jesus, we gather and affirm that Christ is present in each of us - and how one votes in an election does not change that.  We affirm that in Christ we are united as one body and one Spirit, called to the one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.  We share the one table...the one bread of life and one cup of salvation. And today, we gather as one faith family to worship God and share in a meal. 

We also gather joyfully around this one vision of God's ultimate desire for his people.  And that is enough.  We don't need the media to tell us what the vision of greatness is or is not...nor do we need the politicians or the rest of the world to define hope for us.  This passage from Isaiah describes God's future peaceable kingdom and Jesus shows us how to live as his subjects here and now!

The passage also reminds us that God, not humankind, is the source and the creator of the vision.  Notice, that according to this description, the new heaven and the new earth are not your typical streets of gold and pearly gates kind of place that we think might be found in the next realm.  Not at all.  Instead he says it is a new place... a very practical kind of new community.  It's grounded in the worldly things  we know -houses, gardens, jobs - yet at the same time, all the negative norms and painful experiences of life in a fallen world are overturned.  Actually, God not only alleviates them...he wipes them out...as if they never existed. 

No more weeping.  No more distress.  No more grief.  No more infants dying too early.  No more elderly whose vitality is cut short.   God's vision is a community of justice...where people will have sufficient housing...no shady landlords, unfair taxation or demeaning labor. There will be labor, but in this vision of accountability, work will be purposeful and rewarding.   And finally, God say says this kind of world is a vision of unity, inclusion and peace.

Is it a literal vision?  I'm not so sure.  What we do know is that it is the vision the returning exiles needed in the midst of their trauma and despair. A vision that inspired them to imagine a new and better day...to hold out hope for a life beyond the real and present destruction that had taken place in their homeland.   A vision that called them to a promise of transformation...even when they didn't feel like it...even when they did not comprehend how it could be.

I should point out another divine thing about this day.  This passage is often used for sermons to offer hope when things look bleak. Given the national news one might think I chose it this week to make a point.  Or that it was selected because we're talking about our Guiding Vision.  Neither is the case.  Believe it or not...this happens to be the lectionary for this Sunday.  Yet again, God's providence knew exactly what we needed to hear today.  So, while it is a redemptive vision for a specific people in a specific place at a specific time...it is also speaks to us when the world is in chaos..when peace and unity seem far beyond reach.  It is a vision of what is possible for the people of God.

Granted, Isaiah's vision has not fully come to fruition as it is written...but it has been fully revealed to the world in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the incarnate Word of God,  the vision is became real and not just some far away future ideal. This lion and lamb vision is the peaceful kingdom that came among us when Jesus was born and is possible by the work of the Holy Spirit here and now.   Like all "visions" Isaiah's description here is not just something we wish would happen, or that are we waiting for it to happen...a vision is meant to be an inspiration for our living as we make it happen.  It is a promise into which we are invited and a reality we seek to bring about. 

Yes...us...the church.  We help bring this vision to fruition.  Remember, Jesus did not look to the Empire to be the change agent for seeking justice, or caring for the poor, freeing the oppressed, or restoring the community to wholeness..so, honestly, neither should we.   Yes, we most assuredly seek to elect righteous, god-fearing, honest, respectful, compassionate leaders at all levels of government...those we believe will best serve God's vision revealed in Christ.   However, in the end, the only power that can bring new life...a new heaven and a new earth...is God's power.  The good news of the gospel is that the same resurrecting power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in and through us, as his people - equipping and empowering us to help achieve his vision in our lives, in our communities, and in the world.

Sadly, life in today's world doesn't look like much like the picture Isaiah painted.  Yet, that doesn't stop God's people from boldly moving toward it.  As the Body of Christ, it is our heart's desire...our common bond...our rallying cry to unity...to live the vision revealed in Jesus Christ.

When we offer the forgiveness and mercy and grace that has been given to us, we live the vision.  When we choose to listen to each other, and see each other, and validate each other, we live the vision.  When we seek to identify our common bonds, heal relationships, and welcome each other into community, we live the vision.  When we stand up to forces of injustice and stand with those on the margin, we live the vision.  When we choose love over hate...when we choose love over fear..we live the vision.

Step by step, choice by choice, each of us...this faith family...when we come together, in all our differences, not in some forced agreement, but in a commitment to be people of grace, hope and love...we live the vision of God's peaceable kingdom...until it is so.

It may seem unnatural by the world's standard...but in God's eyes, it is what it means to be his church.  Praise be to God for entrusting his Vision into our hands.  Amen!