Lions and Wolves and Lambs, Oh My!

"Lions and Wolves and Lambs, Oh My!"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Lions and Wolves and Lambs, Oh My!"

This Morning's Scripture reading is:
Isaiah 65:17-25

Have you seen the poster downstairs just as you come in the building through the 6 glass doors? It’s part of the United Church of Christ’s "I Love My Church" campaign. The one that’s been up there for a few weeks is this one:

I love my church because it’s sort of like The Wizard of Oz—it’s about having a heart and a brain. And courage!"

That’s a fun reason to love our church. And at the same time it reminds me of something whimsical, silly or even ridiculous. Is there room for something like that in church?

I believe we’re called to have a heart for others. We’re called to use our minds and to do our best in our decisions – even when there seems to be no good ones. And we move forward with courage as followers of Jesus.

But sometimes things don’t work out all that easily. Things don’t make sense. We feel devastated, helpless and hopeless.

It’s the way people feel when they see their cities, neighborhoods, families, friends – everything destroyed. Nothing makes sense. There seems no where to go – no idea of what do to.

This week’s Bible reading from Isaiah 65: 17-25 comes at one of those devastating times – a land destroyed and a people returning to try to start something new.

There’s hope coming from the prophet Isaiah. There’s hope for something new – a new city. New homes, new farms, new peace without destruction. From a hopeless situation there’s hope and encouragement.

Encouraging words of hope for something wonderful on the horizon.

Six years ago, Ken Medema played music and was the keynote speaker at the Fox Valley Association, Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ fall meeting. The theme of the meeting was "Unity in Diversity."

The meeting wasn’t so much about trying to bring about unity in the United Church of Christ, (though it recognized that we needed it then as we need it now,) but rather Ken focused on words to help all to remember that we (everyone!) can come together on issues we agree about.

People should have enough to eat.
People should have places to live.
People should have access to medical care.
All people should be treated with the same decency and respect.

I thought then – and I continue to believe that Ken was right. All can come together on things that we agree about. It’s just that finding those issues are so difficult. And then when we find them it seems like we really can’t agree about how to address the issues – only that we need to do something about them. We can’t get past the things that divide us to do something good together.

But people who have endured devastation need immediate and long-term help.

And I dream about the kind of unity I hear the last line of our "filled with hope" Bible reading this week:

"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent--its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD."

At first glance, I can recognize something silly, whimsical and even ridiculous about that verse. Wolves and lambs don’t feed together – one of them eats the other! But this verse looks toward a time where the ridiculous happens. Look, I am as guilty as anyone with thinking that my agenda in need situations is the right one. I can’t stand it when I encounter ideas that I am sure aren’t only not helpful – but will make things worse. And then I think of those I might imagine to be the wolves, lambs, lions and oxen and I dream and hope that we all can find common ground to serve God together. And then I think about serpents and I hope that instead of looking at anyone as evil, I can look at hate for others as the serpent that will only get to eat dust.

I know that can’t promise a new day and new hope to everyone who is in dire straits – but I do believe that we have something new and exciting dawning here at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonuak.

I can’t promise that hard times in anyone’s lives is over or that nothing devastating will ever happen again, but I do believe that what’s new and exciting dawning here is going to help people to courageously experience with their hearts and minds God’s extraordinary and unconditional love.

But it’s not just about us – is it? This whole "hope thing" is about what God is doing -- And I’ve been thinking about where to go with that idea. God is doing -- how are we responding to what God is doing?

I think that God’s extravagant welcome is ridiculous – it goes against what we would call good judgment, but I am convinced that it is absolutely necessary.
What if we looked at a word like "squander" as a good thing rather than a negative? We could think of it as "squandering" what God has blessed us with to reach out illogically and ridiculously to welcome all.
Or what if we looked at the word "squander" still as a negative thing. Maybe we squander what God has blessed us with when we try to use those gifts to keep people out or to just stay exactly as we are?
Why do we still think of it as US inviting THEM? I think there has to be no US and THEM – but instead an authentic realization that all are God’s children.
What will communicate to all a sense of desperation about the need to go out and invite and to welcome all?

What can we (and by we – there’s no US and THEM – it includes all!) do?

Volunteer with the local homeless shelter
Vote
Give regularly to our church
Teach Sunday School.
Pray, a lot.
Have a Bible study outside on the front lawn in the summer
Invite someone to church we think would never want to come

I know there’s lots more. The things I listed may be easier, but I know that there are other things you’re thinking of that may be difficult or even impossible to do. I also believe that it really is about what God is doing – not us – so when we screw up, God still gets it done – but I also believe God wants us to do.

I believe God wants us to illogically and ridiculously believe that it is possible to participate in a life-changing – world- changing ministry where we have peace and participation from Lions and Wolves and Lambs.

Oh my.

Close with prayer.