"Bad Manners?"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Bad Manners?"

I’d like to welcome a guest to the pulpit this morning. Just about every Sunday, everyone here gets to see the children’s sermon – featuring one of our puppets teaching the children a short lesson introducing what they’ll be learning in Sunday school. But up until today, the puppets haven’t made their way to the "grown-up" sermon. Let’s welcome our resident etiquette expert, Mrs. Von Quack.

(Mrs. Von Quack comes out and "teaches" the congregation all about "bad manners.")

It’s bad manners to:

• Eat "non finger foods" with your fingers.
• Talk behind people’s backs.
• Invite someone out on a date, and then sit in your car and honk the horn when you pick them up.
• Talk with your mouth full.
• Cut in line.
• Grumble.
• Brag about yourself.
• Invite yourself over to someone else’s house.

(Mrs. Von Quack also invites responses from the congregation – responding with excitement and appreciation for all responses. Then Mrs. Von Quack bids everyone good-bye.)

Thank you – Mrs. Von Quack.

Bad manners.

In Bible times, it was also bad manners:

• For religious people to spend social time with "sinners."
• For "sinners" to invite religious people to their houses.
• To neglect to show hospitality to strangers.

In this week’s Bible reading I see a lot of bad manners.

Many or maybe even all here have heard the story of Zacchaeus countless times. For most of my life I’ve remembered the "climbing up a tree" part and also the "I’m going to your house today!" part. I also remember that song – but if I sing it it will be going over and over in my head all day long – so I’m not going to. From Zacchaeus, I’ve learned that Jesus notices the ones who seek him and "comes over" to spend time with them. I’ve also learned that Jesus loves people of all sizes and from all walks of life.

And I love that I’ve learned those things.

And this week, at the risk of taking what I’ve experienced as a simple story and making it much more heady, I want to wrestle a little with verb tense.

(pause for the inevitable groans)

Grumbling? Isn’t that bad manners?

When Jesus was at Zacchaeus’ house and Zacchaeus said, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much," Jesus responded with "Today salvation has come to this house." (I’m purposely staying away from the "son of Abraham" part right now – since it brings up a different question and I don’t want my mind to wander off just yet. Wait. Where was I?)

Bible-smarty pants people have suggested that Zacchaeus could also have said ""Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I pay back four times as much."

In the first case it sounds like Zacchaeus has had a life-changing experience with Jesus and he decides to change his dishonest ways and make things right. And Jesus responds with joy and celebration.

In the second case, it sounds like Zacchaeus is telling Jesus (not so unlike the way the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 – last week’s reading did) exactly what he does do. And Jesus responds with joy and celebration.

So I’m just wondering.

If Zacchaeus is talking about his future, and he’s showing faith in Jesus, and because of that faith Jesus calls him a "son of Abraham," does it mean that this is a radical conversion story about someone who once was lost but now is found?

Or

If Zacchaeus is talking about his present, and he’s been showing faith in Jesus, and because of that faith Jesus calls him a "son of Abraham," does it mean that this is an extraordinary journey story about someone who is on the journey from lost to found?

And

Did Zacchaeus say those things with his mouth full?

Well – I don’t think we can be sure about the whole verb tense situation in Zacchaeus’ story, but I do think that in either case Jesus was delighted that Zacchaeus "got it" when it came to being someone who showed love for God and others.

Now – while those thoughts are simmering, I also wonder about something else:

Zacchaeus was a tax collector – one who was despised by most everyone. Why would he have chosen that field? Was it for the money? Didn’t he know that even if he was honest that others would look at him and only see the negative image they had in their minds? Zacchaeus was despised – wasn’t it his own fault that others despised him?

And then I wonder – who are the ones in our world who are despised by most everyone? And of those, which ones are despised for something that is "their fault?"

And then the UCC’s statement, No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey – you’re welcome here," really gets put to the test.

What about convicted sex offenders? What about spousal abusers? What about murderers? What about others in similar categories? These groups of people are despised – pretty much universally. Many would argue, "It’s their fault." and "I don’t want any people like that living in my backyard!"

How do we express God’s extravagant welcome for these despised – and balance it with things like community safety?

I think the people who grumbled (bad manners!) when Jesus invited himself (bad manners?) over to Zacchaeus’ house had thoughts that were similar. Jesus was socializing with, teaching and showing love for this man who most thought was a danger to their livelihood and their family’s safety.

And when I look at things that way I can see why they might grumble. Yet I can also see that Jesus’ unconditional love is just that – unconditional love. No one is outcast, despised or marginalized.

Can we show God’s unconditional love for the most despised in our society – and still pay attention to issues of community safety?

I think this morning we’re going to close with discomfort – and a question.

How – as we face difficult and seemingly impossible scenarios, do we let showing Jesus’ unconditional love be the only unbreakable rule? How do we avoid our own kind of bad manners?

Close with prayer.

© 2007 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved