At one of the first churches I served, a kind parishioner told me if I would only every preach that Jesus loved me and sit down, I would be complete. And I think that they were earnest. The challenge with that proposition is that you and I need for ourselves more application answers to the question, so what? If Jesus loves me, so what? If Jesus loves me, so what does that mean for me? If Jesus loves me, what does that mean for my neighbor? If Jesus loves me, what does that mean for them?
As we near the end of this month, we conclude with social holiness. After exploring the Methodist distinctives of grace, we focus on marriage of belief and action. In so many traditions, we are asked to choose – is what you believe most important or is it your actions? In the Methodist movement, actions grow out of belief. John and Charles Wesley, who were derided for their methodical practice of faith, inspired a lived faith in which both articulated belief and active faith practices integrated.
In his collection of forty-four sermons for local preachers, Wesley included “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, 4” in which he discusses the beatitudes we heard read today. He argues that there is no way of living out our faith, except with others. Our faith is necessarily social, and our journey intrinsically tied up with the lives of others. Both those who agree with us and those who don’t. Wesley takes great pains to describe the value of time for respite and the return to the work of peacemaking. We have come to say, “there is no religion, but social religion and no holiness, but social holiness.” (1)
Since 2014 our district has had a heart for the Mpasa health clinic. We have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and changed lives with the building of a pediatric clinic, the solar panel project, the feeding project, and expansion of staff, and now giving sight to the blind! Together, we can do much as 104 churches together to serve with the churches and community to the Mpasa region of the Democratic Republic of Congo where just one church could not. And the people of Mpasa have taught us much about hospitality and faith abundant in both, they raise question about who is poor in spirit.
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’
Sometimes stories of serving of social holiness are 104 churches and thousands of people all together in mission. Other times, it is one on one. Scripture goes to great lengths to remind us not to forget those who have been widowed or whose beloved have died. Just a week ago I heard that a member in previous church whose wife of 51 years who had died, who I spent time visiting, has found new connection in his church and new ministries. Let’s call him, Ralph, was blessed and is blessing others from the relational social holiness of Jesus Christ.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
So much of social holiness is personal and every day, quotidian work. (2) It is what you and I do when choices are before us. When we can make choices about how to spend our time or our money, how will we pick? Will our thoughts and blessings honor people’s best intentions? Will we speak out for the voiceless?
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Even today, thousands of families are separated. Children were separated from parents. Little ones in detention centers different from their parents, without records of their parents, or even where their parents are. The clock and the connections are running out. Preschoolers whose parents have already been deported, have been left in tender age facilities without any connection to a parent. How does out faith call us to act?
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
At the end of June, we reached the mark in which we shared food resources with more food insecure families in the last 6 months in 2018 than in all of 2017. In 2018, we have shared 230 bags. In 2017, we shared 186 bags. This week alone, we have served 24 bags. Why, you might ask, Pastor? Why do you think that is? Some of you might correctly observe that we are not exactly in a recession. Some of you might correctly observe there is not exactly a lack of available jobs. There is a conversation that plays out over and over again with families. We are an emergency food pantry -helping in between circumstances. We provide food, SO THAT, you can stretch dollars to pay bills, afford rent, cover utilities, take care of medical expenses. It is the underemployed and the working hard, who we often see. As we walked with one family out the door this week, the father leaned in and said, I’m thanking you and the church, but I sometimes find it hard to pray, like I used to. It will come, I said. The Spirit is already moving.
Blessed are merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Living out what we preach or read in the scriptures is just as important, if not more important, as nodding our heads in agreement on a given worshipful moment. Wesley recovered the earliest church understanding from Jesus’ instructions to the disciples that you need not chose between right belief and right action, we are to seek first the kingdom of God.
Blessed are the pure in the heart, for they will see God.
The presence of peace changes a room. When you walk into the midst of conflict, especially conflict that is not your own, you can feel that something is not right! The mood and the demeanor of the room has been swallowed up by the conflict. The discernment for any person of faith is always to pause to discern whether they can assist in being a peacemaker. John Wesley’s Sermon on the Mount IV hits the note that many of us might be tempted to in this situation, paraphrased this way, if you avoid every conflict and engagement, it cannot be called social religion or social holiness. While we need times of respite, we are called to live with others. WOW! Where is God calling you into the work of making peace?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
I started out with the parishioner who advised me kindly to preach, “Jesus loves me” and sit down. As they say, ‘the devil is always in the details.’ In Wesley’s day, the established church, the Church of England, did not take kindly to priests preaching in open fields, coal mines, and pubs. The United Methodist Church is still split on events like Theology on Tap and events that involve “the public” as well as expand further on how we are loving who we are loving. Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to heal, teach, care for, listen, and love the people, and when necessary, shake the dust off their feet.
Blessed are you when you are reviled and persecuted for my righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Social holiness is every time that you and I choose to live out the faith of the beatitudes. Every time we say – hide it under bushel – NO! I’m going to let it shine! Every time we remember that living our faith is not just about what we say, but even more importantly about how we act. Live out loud, the call of the call disciples who modelled a life of faith with social holiness.
This is the gospel, the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.
(1) Wesley, John. Forty-Four Sermons, 1944.
(2) Norris, Kathleen The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy, and “Women’s Work, 1998.
New Testament Lesson: Mark 6:1-13
Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-16
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, July 29 ~ Saturday, August 4
Sunday: “He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’” Mark 6:10-11. Not every prophet shares a message in every town. Maybe you are not the messenger for this place. If you are welcome, hear the words of Jesus.
Monday: “So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” Mark 6:12-13. Pray for those who are sent to cure and care for those in need of care.
Tuesday: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6. Righteousness is not one way of following after God, but a pattern of drawing near to God. Are you find ways of drawing closer to God?
Wednesday: “‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8. Consider those who are seeing God and how you are receiving their revelations.
Thursday: “‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9. Pray today for opportunities to offer peace to others and make peace.
Friday: “‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13. Where is God inviting you to add seasoning and saltiness into life?
Saturday: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. Where are you shining your light?