Survivor

Survivor
She plots behind your back.
He throws you under the bus.
He tells you what to do.
She denies you at every turn.

Have you experienced this? Is that biblical or modern day? The truth is YES: in the biblical narrative, in the modern day and all around us. As long as there have been God’s people, there have been difficult people. Those with whom we just do not know how to get along with and those who know well how to push our buttons and upset us. This is the second in a series of four sermons from the time of the Judges in the biblical narrative. Looking at their stories, some we know and some we do not, as a way to see how today we might take care of one another. After last week’s look at Ruth, The Amazing Race and walking together in the midst of challenge, we turn to Samson, Survivor, and those difficult people.

Survivor, a reality show that began in the year 2000, pits between 16- 20 contestants against one another in surviving the elements and the closeness of relationship. Tribes of people must survive difficult weather elements, construct shelter, secure food and necessities as well as face off in challenges. At the end of each session, one of the players is voted off the island and ultimately one SURVIVOR remains. The show has gained notoriety for difficult personalities and incredible drama between players. While physical prowess and survival skills are keys to success, others ganging up on them and disliking a particular individual often vote off players. In fact the first winner of Survivor, Richard Hatch became infamous for begin so despised by television viewers, not beloved!

I can imagine Samson in an episode of Survivor. All of stories of Samson and we have four full chapters of them; they all include some exploit of strength or perseverance. Samson is killing a lion or holding back an army. Samson is brandishing the jawbone of ass to kill an army or destroying a temple to other gods. Samson is a strong character complete with distinctive looks – his long hair – a source of his strength- sets him apart from others. This is a strength and a challenge, along with his love of foreign women.

Have you ever heard those retelling of biblical stories by children? They include such things as Noah’s wife as Joan of Ark and Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night. Well, the retelling of Samson is that Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the apostles and he pulled down the pillows of the temple. There are some kernels of biblical narrative there and perhaps, we would be more comfortable with that story.

While we may not all know the stories of Samson, many people have cultural awareness of Samson as strong as well as his dangerous relationship with Delilah. We also know that we are not sure how to categorize him. Is he a hero to be emulated? Or is he a flawed human being to be learned from? The answer is yes! Like the rest of us, his story is full of clever and wise moments rounded out with flawed decisions and consequences. Which of us does not honestly look back on our lives and wonder if we have always dealt with the difficult people in our lives well?

The difficult people in Samson’s story are many. The Philistines, a whole tribe of people, want to see Samson taken down and they work through Delilah to achieve their purposes. Samson tries multiple approaches to dealing well with them, but in the end, he is as much a cautionary tale as an example. Samson attempts to beat them at their own game. When Delilah asks him about his strength and its source, he develops a carefully constructed lie. Repeatedly, he weaves this fantastical stories of his strength related to bowstrings, new ropes, and locks of his own hair weaved in certain ways. His attempts to beat the Philistines at their own games seem cunning and clever, but produce discord between Samson and Delilah. Difficult people tempt us to make bad decisions. Samson’s story is full of them. As we heard, it ends in his death, but also the death of Philistines who afflicted the people of Israel. His story is coarse without clear good guys and bad guys, without clear do this and don’t do this. Perhaps, we will find a clearer path forward in today’s gospel.

From Matthew, we listen to the comparison between two ways of living as God’s people: Those who are living a life of preparation, despite long waiting, and those whose resources and patience are running out with the idea of waiting for “we’re not sure what comes next.” With Advent on the horizon, we could reflect this morning on preparation, but those themes are still waiting in the wings. This morning, I want to look at the interaction between the two groups of people. Both the wise and foolish bridesmaids left the conversation unsatisfied: the foolish were disappointed their wishes that were not granted and the wise disgruntled that they were bothered for their previous resources. The parable does not end with a gracious offering of resources or the Lord’s radical inclusion of even those called foolish. The parable ends with an insistence that you and I remain awake!

But how shall we be awake and what shall be awake to? So, you and I know there are difficult people in our lives. From those to whom we are related to those we work with, those we encounter at the bus stop to dining hall and in the common areas of our lives, we can imagine who makes our days difficult. We know these persons because we could tell story after story of how they unnerve us.
The first thing we must remember is that you and I need not give them any power in or over our lives. The more we retell the stories, the longer we hold onto an incident with a clenched fist, the more power we have given the difficult person in our live. Now, I do not say this lightly. I can remember times in which the difficult person in my life held my employment, my home, or the wellbeing of my family in their hands as we tangled over some terribly important issues.

Charles Stanley, the well-known preacher, tells the story of when he first became the pastor of First Baptist church in Atlanta. There was much opposition to him in that position, in fact, after one of the first services; one man greeted him with an attempted punch in the mouth. Stanley remarked that he responded to such people in three ways: “with number one, silence; number two, love; number three, prayer.1 ” And yes, there are indeed some people you pray for and then, just stay out of their way. In Romans 16:7, Paul says, ‘Now I urge you, brothers and sisters. Note those who because divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them”. I am not suggesting that is always possible or practical, but there are times when after prayer and counsel, this is the wisest of all decisions.

Paul has a lot of say about difficult people. In fact, every one of Paul’s letters includes some instruction about how to interaction with people inside and outside of the church who cause trouble. Here again, from First Thessalonians: “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. ” Doesn’t that resonate? There seemed to be nowhere Paul could go that he did not encounter difficult people. But he urges his congregations to seek the reason behind the difficultness and address idle troublemakers differently than timid and passive, who are different altogether from those who are weak in spirit. We even hear this advice from Jesus to the disciples as they are sent out into the world. “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ” Yet in the midst of practicalities, we are reminded, even today that the ultimate judgment is God’s and God’s judgment and involvement is more lasting than ours.

In the end of Samson’s tale of woe, he turns to God. He prays for strength and a desire to do God’s will. We do not know if the death of many was indeed God’s ultimate desire, I for one, have my doubts. But we do not know that Samson turned back to God. In the midst of our own difficult people, we are called to do the same thing. Ignore those who afflict us, love those who wish us harm, and ultimately, turn back to God in prayer. God’s way has a tendency to work into hearts and guide us towards solutions of peace and justice. Let us hear those words as our guide to the difficult people in our own lives.

This is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.

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