“Zombie Christians” 2012

Mark 6:1-6 Revelation 3:15-22

The recorded ministry of Jesus began in the region of Capernaum.

There his wisdom and knowledge of Scripture amazed scholars,

his disciples were shocked that even demons obeyed him,

and he astonished crowds

with the wonder of his miraculous healings.

His fame and reputation were already well established

by the time he returned to his home in Nazareth,

… where they thought they knew everything about him.

vs. 2-3

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 they took offense at him.

Rather than being pleased that Jesus was doing ministry back home

they were upset and offended by his teaching & miracles,

and that he wasn’t behaving the way they expected,

and didn’t match what they assumed about him.

Their resolute certainty and confidence

in their opinions and judgments about him…

… didn’t leave much room for any other possibilities,

that maybe God up to something

unexpectedly wonderful through Jesus Christ…

…for they had already made up their minds.

Sometimes, I can get so captivated by my own ideas and truths

that I believe and assume, that surelyà

God is in full agreement and totally pleased with me---

- but sometimes,

God is doing something truly unexpected, new and different…

which challenges me to ask,

am I actually being open to God’s Spirit and truth,

or am I letting my own good ideas and desires drive my focus and set my agenda?

That can be a very complicated question,

an important question to answer with absolute integrity;

* am I really understanding Scripture and God’s will correctly?

According to the text, they were astonished and amazed,

and though they recognized the unmistakable truth that

something was going on beyond what they could explain …

… yet in their narrow-mindedness and stubborn certainty,

they chose to reject whatever God was doing among them,

-- and even the extraordinary teaching and miracles of Jesus

was not enough convince them, at least to reconsider.

And tragically, somehow, their unbelief and rejection of Jesus

actually limited the good and blessings

that Jesus might have done in their community …

… vs. 5-6

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.

It’s always struck me as terribly unfortunate that day

for the sick, the hurt & wounded, who might have been cured.

Jesus was there to heal, but they would accept no part of it.

The story of these events is retold in 3 of the 4 gospels,

which indicates its importance to the early Christians…

… perhaps because it deals with people who knew about Jesus

yet refused to recognize or accept anything unexpected

despite the evidence of what God accomplished through him,

and how tragic to be so set in their ways that

the gospel truth and God’s grace could not penetrate.

When I taught Bible courses at a community college,

I much preferred

teaching Old Testament rather than New Testament.

Most of the student taking Old Testament

hadn’t read it and had no idea of what it said or meant,

so they would listen, pay attention,

and were quite open and expecting to learn something new.

In contrast, most of the students taking New Testament

did have some religious background and familiarity,

and were often quite certain they already knew

and understood exactly what was written…

… and so it was hard getting them to read the text carefully

and stick with what was actually written in the page; and not plug-in a lot of other stuff that they thought,

or were certain and assumed was written there.

It was a tremendous struggle getting them to think,

to study and consider anything the least bit unfamiliar.

We too can fall into that same trap of certainty and familiarity,

so confident & sure of our facts & religious understandings,

that our faith slips into autopilot or cruise-control…

… so set and predictable, so confident and comfortable,

that our heart becomes impenetrable and un-affect-able…

... a sort of zombie Christianity -- the walking dead --

physically present, but only going through the motions,

without real thought, commitment to active listening.

I am not taking about any compromise with truth or integrity,

or going along with whichever way the wind happens to be blowing;

but it is a call to listen and consider,

other views, possibilities or perspectives without fear.

We can be active church members, respected Christian leaders,

quite knowledgeable about Scripture, doctrine and theology-

--- yet numb and complacent, and far from the deepening love,

of allowing Holy Spirit to work afresh in and through us.

Like the locals of Nazareth, trapped by comfortable familiarity,

by our stubborn refusal & spiritual arrogance we can reject

the healing renewal and blessings Jesus intends for us.

We can limit God’s ongoing work and ministry in our midst,

lose our sense of awe and delight, wonder and mystery;

just like the leaders in Nazareth who rejected Jesus,

and were too stubborn

to allow his blessings to change their lives.

Two people in the same worship service;

and one leaves unmoved, unchanged & un-touched by God’s Spirit…

… yet for someone else,

it’s a life healing & transforming experience of magnificence

that lifts and fills them with the glorious richness

of God’s amazing presence, blessings and grace.

And the difference ----

- an inviting spirit and fervent desire for God’s presence,

in contrast to the other’s crusty refusal to receive…

… which was the issue at the church we read about in Revelation 3.

The church at Laodicea had become lukewarm, tepid and timid.

But Jesus wanted more from them

than the minimalist mediocrity of lifeless zombies.

So the message to the Christians at Laodicea, and possibly to us,

vs. 15-16 “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Their religion is not cold, nor hot-- Jesus says lukewarm spit.

It’s not that they were rejecting the Christian faith,

or doing some great evil or outrageous sin;

just that their faith lacked passion, excellence and life.

They were probably mostly doing the right and expected things,

but was being done without impact or spiritual fervor.

Was their faith was just enough to soothe and relieve their guilt,

but it was not enough to be life changing,

or the burning love of deeper growing relationship…

… or like some of my students,

too sure and certain, too stubborn to go any further.

So where is the grace in this text? vs. 20:

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.

This is the grace or Jesus, that there are other possibilities,

other than the same old thing, a dull and lifeless religion.

In verse 20, Jesus is speaking to the Church,

to those who already believe, and is promising a deeper

and better relationship with those who will allow it…

… vs. 20b

if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.

Our call today, is to consider our life and mission with Jesus,

and what are the barriers to living a more faithful life?

What hinders or detracts from

a deeper and more authentic friendship with God,

and our more joyful participation

in the life and blessings God intends for us?

As we approach the Sacrament of Communion today,

let us shut off our religious auto-pilot,

our zombie-like spiritual cruise control…

… by letting God’s Spirit speak to us anew,

and letting God’s presence permeate and penetrate our crust.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

(Rev. 3:20 KJV)