"Brought Together by Grace"   2010

Isaiah 25:6-8        Ephesians 2:12-22

 

Isaiah 25:6-8

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. 8Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

 

Ephesians 2:12-22

Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

 

During my stay in Jerusalem, I woke up early each morning,

            and something drew me to go and pray at the Western wall;

                                    the only part of the original Temple

                                                that still stands from the time of Jesus.

 

To be there when the sun came up was a very special experience;

            but it was also disturbing to me, that women and children

                        were separated and kept in a section behind a barrier.

 

For though all are beloved and precious to God,

            yet some were kept behind a man-made wall,  with the message

                        that some were more worthy and welcome than others.

 

That dividing wall was a stark reminder that we humans, too often,

            and in too many ways,  allow our differences to matter more

                        than the fact that our One God created and loves us all …

                                … and that none   are more loved or worthy than any other.

 

More than just our individual salvation,

          God's gracious love brings us into God's family,

                   into a relationship of grace, peace, joy, promise and hope.

 

Several year ago when I attended the General Assembly,

            there were some very controversial issues dividing the church,

                        with some very determined advocates arguing each side.

 

I prepared by reading through all the huge stacks of materials,

            which I carefully evaluated and formed my opinions

                        based upon my reading and interpretation of Scripture à

 

            so that when I went, I felt confident that I had it right,

                   and I didn't see how any faithful and biblical Christian

                             could possibly see it any other way.

 

But at the GA, as I listened through long discussions and meetings,

            and engaged in earnest conversations over meals shared

                        with those who did not agree with my viewpoint & opinions;

 

            I confess that I was surprised and even shocked,

                        that they really were trying to follow Jesus Christ,

                                    and really had prayed and studied the Scriptures …

            … even though their opinions and views were at odds with my own.

 

We had read and studied from the same Bible,

            and yet we had came to different and even opposite conclusions…

   … though different, both of our perspectives were biblically based.

 

Listening and trying to understand their explanations,     

            pushed me to think more deeply and carefully about my own ideas,

                        sharpened my own reasoning and logic for thinking as I do.

 

In the end, I didn't change where I came down on those issues,

            but in listening to them,

                        and in trying to understand their reasoning,

                                    I do recognize that they were faithful Christians

                                                who were trying to discern God's truth and will …

                                                     … even though we reached different conclusions.

 

I believe it is God's intention that by discussing our differences,

            and by still choosing to remain in Christian fellowship,

                God uses that diversity to strengthen the faith of each of us.

 

   Disagreements in opinion and understanding are not easy,

            and the church has always struggled hard over our differences …

                        … as we read in Ephesians, about considerable tension

                                    between Jewish and Gentile Christians.  vs. 12~14,21~22

            Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens … and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God … But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace; … he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. … In him … you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

 

The author's point is that the grace of God through Jesus Christ

            is the decisive element of salvation --- and who we are;

                        for both Jew and Gentile required that same grace,

 

                             which is far more significant than anything we might do

                                      or any opinion or viewpoint that we might hold…

 

… as is written earlier in Ephesians 2:8-9

            For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

* Even if our every opinion and understanding of the Bible

            is entirely correct and in perfect agreement with God's truth,

                        we are still saved only,   by God's grace alone.

 

* And even if we have it all completely wrong and our

            understanding of Scripture is totally flawed and erroneous,

                        we are still saved only,   by God's grace alone.

 

Recognizing that truth,

          that God's grace calls us to Christian unity based upon grace,

                    it is God's will and purpose

                             is that we learn to live together with our differences,

                                      love and respect even those with whom we disagree.

 

Indeed it is through our unity despite diversity and differences,

            that the Kingdom of God is most boldly and vividly revealed,

                        where all are considered worthy, welcome and invited,

                                    because God's love governs our lives, not anger…

            … for to walk away

                        from a sister or brother in faith, because we disagree,

                                    is to place the disagreement above the grace of God

                                                that calls us to a Christian unity and harmony.

 

Separation rejects the prayer of Jesus on the night of his arrest,

            John 17:1, 11, 23

                        Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; … and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, protect them … so that they may be one, as we are one. … that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 

 

Ever wonder how it is that our choir manages to sound so great,

            and produces such a full and inspiring rich sound?

 

I don’t think it's

            because individually they are extraordinarily talented ---

                        though they are all wonderfully gifted musicians;

                                    but not necessarily more so  than all other choirs.

 

I don’t think it's

            because David has some mystical, masterful, secret technique --

                        though of course he is an incredible music director;

                                    but there are other choirs also with good directors…

            …and  it's not even their commitment, dedication and hard work.

 

It's something else -- something beyond any of these factors;

            it's more than talent, technique, dedication or hard work.

 

There is something I learned from the 1992's movie, “Sister Act”

            that explains why our choir sounds so terrific each Sunday.

 

In the movie, Whoopi Goldberg plays a Los Vegas nightclub singer,

            who the police hide from the mob, disguised as a nun in a convent.

Having trouble fitting in, the head nun assigns her to the choir.

            At one point she directs the choir to sing a single note…

                        … and it's just awful and shriek-y

                                    worse than I'd imagine the sound

                                        of somebody yanking the hair off an angry alley cat.

 

Finally she stops them and tells them,     

                        “You’ve got to listen to one another”, and sure enough,

                                    by the end of movie, they sound wonderful together.

 

A choir isn’t outstanding,   because of the efforts of a few members,

          but its  all  of the choir   contributing and blending together.

 

A good choir brings together a rich variety of sounds

            as their different voices mingle one to one another,

                        as by listening to one another

                                    they produce a harmonized blending of melodious sound…

          …just as we need variety and diversity to truly be the church.

 

Like a good choir,  all inclusive variety and diversity,

            I believe is the will, intention and purpose of God…

                                    … as Isaiah describes it in a prophetic vision:

                        of a mountaintop gathering of all God's people

                                    for a grand feast of joy, peace and fulfillment,

                                                as by grace God fulfills every human longing

                                                            and wipes away forever,

                                                                        all sadness and tears of all humankind.

Isaiah 25:6,-8

            On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, … Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 

 

            Isaiah's vision of God's kingdom is  a banquet table feast,

                        in which all are invited by grace - welcome to partake.

 

God's invitation, God's love is broad and expansive,

            meaning there will be more at the Lord's Table than just us,

                        perhaps some that we might not consider worthy to attend.

 

Today is World Communion Sunday,

            when we celebrate communion with Christians around the world;

                        as we are reminded that we are but one small piece

                                    of the whole Church of Jesus Christ- all believers.

This day we celebrate    all those many Christians  in all their many churches.

 

None of us come to God's table because we are worthy or deserve it.

            And because through God's grace we are all loved and invited…

                        there at the Lord's Table   I will meet other sinners

                                    who are also loved, much cherished and invited by God.

 

The vision and the promise is that à

            all are equally loved and  made worthy by our Savior's sacrifice;

                        all are welcome, invited and brought here by grace ---

                                                … which is the whole point of World Communion.

 

It’s a reminder that though we are different and diverse in many ways

            yet our shared faith in Jesus Christ and God's gracious love,

                        inseparably binds us together as one… in harmony,

                            … which calls us to live less driven lives  – more gently…

… for we each one   come invited to celebrate

            that God's grace that makes us all one… of the one body of Christ.

 

As we are instructed in   Colossians 3:15

            And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful.