"Opposites"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Opposites"

Why do people go to church?

Christian Smith, Professor and Associate Chair of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Melinda Denton - then a graduate Student in Sociology at UNC,  published a book of research and observations about youth, parents and church. It’s called "Soul Searching." In the book they suggested these reasons for attending church.

• To achieve prosocial outcomes
• To help kids be more healthy, safe and successful in life
• To have God respond to our desires and feelings
• Because of the instrumental good it does for those who are involved.

Church is about helping people to have successful lives.

Arthur Brooks, professor of business and government policy at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, recently said this:

"People who faithfully practice their religion make life easier for the rest of us. Those who attend religious services at least once a week commit fewer crimes, are less likely to divorce, and are more likely to donate to nonreligious causes, Professor Brooks recently wrote Gross National Happiness: Why Happiness Matters for America -- and How We Can Get More of It.

Becoming a successful, law-abiding, generous person. -- That’s not a bad reason to go to church.

But let’s move on.

Recently I had an article published in a magazine from a company called Interlinc. The article’s called "Fix My Kid."

Here are a few tidbits from the article:

• "I don’t understand why my 15 year old keeps yelling at me and acting so bratty all the time. I ask him to be more polite to me and he says that I never listen to him. All I’m asking for is that he stops yelling so much. Do you think you can talk to him and get him to stop?"
• "My daughter said that she doesn’t want to go to college right after high school. She wants to work and earn money this year for a big trip next year. That means that she isn’t planning on going to college for at least two years! Can you set her straight with some pastor talk?"

Situations and requests like these are familiar in ministry. Many parents want their students to be involved with church so that they’ll become well-adjusted, successful adults. They also expect that because they’re part of a church group, students will behave better throughout their high school years.

But that brings up a bigger question about church:

Are we here to make people behave better? Are we here to mold students into successful adults? Are we a character-building honorary society? Or is there something more that we’re called to do as the church?

This week’s Bible reading from Matthew 10:24-39 suggests that the idea that following Jesus makes us into safe, well-adjusted people isn’t entirely accurate.

There’s something we miss when all we look at is the rest, rejuvenation, reconciliation and peace that Jesus gives to those who are harassed and helpless.

It’s the life-changing challenges, the motivation, the drive and the dangerous wonder that following Jesus leads to.

In most (I expect) of our experiences, the challenges and the dangerous wonder don’t lead to physical persecution, imprisonment, violence or death.

Following Jesus isn’t about being comfortable with the way things are. It’s about having a passion to live a life dedicated to justice and peace – no matter how unpopular or how unsettling that is to us and to those around us.

The late Mike Yaconelli used this term "Dangerous Wonder"(also one of his book titles) to describe the marvelous, troubling, fulfilling, confusing, peaceful and dangerous life of following Jesus. He said that his experience following Jesus was much like the experience described in CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where Lucy and Aslan ‘romp’

"It was such a romp as no one had ever had except in Narnia, and whether it was more like playing with a thunderstorm or playing with a kitten Lucy could never make up her mind."

And then there is Mr. Beaver’s reaction to the question as to whether or not the lion Aslan was safe:

"Safe? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe! But he's good, I tell you!"

Today’s reading describes a life following Jesus that is anything but safe. But is it good?

It’s a warning to those first disciples that they needed to unlearn what they thought about the world. He was describing for them a new set of priorities that were in contrast with the way they may have thought things were.

I wonder if at some point as he was interacting with the 12 if he ever said something like this to them:

• Matthew and Simon – You come from opposite sides - one of you has collected taxes and the other has been a rebel against all things government. Lose what you think life is about and let me show you my way.
• Philip – Be careful about what you think you see. Lose what you think life is about and let me show you my way.
• Peter – you would be my protector. Watch what you do! Lose what you think life is about and let me show you my way.
• All of you – do you think following me will make other respect you? Lose what you think life is about and let me show you my way.

What would he say to us today?

You want to follow me so that you can have your best life now? Lose what you think life is about and let me show you my way.

I know that I’m sounding overly harsh. I love following Jesus and I know that Jesus promises rest, rejuvenation, reconciliation and peace to those who are harassed and helpless.

But the adventure of following Jesus is so much more than relief. It is marvelous, troubling, fulfilling, confusing, peaceful and dangerous. It is life and world-changing

It is by no means safe – but it is good!

And when you think about it – looking as best as possible with "Jesus eyes." You see that in following Jesus

• Peaceful and Dangerous
• Unsafe and Good
• Losing and gaining

Aren’t at all opposites.

Close with prayer.

© 2008 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved