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When we
think of the concept of righteousness; what seems the most natural for us to
do? I believe we naturally want to or are drawn to revolve around the self and
respond from a self-righteousness that not only can become graceless and
judgmental but be truly ungodly in responding to loving God and neighbor.
When we
think of the seat of the soul, the heart is truly the first “church” that “abstract”
place where God indeed works.
We
don't like abstraction, however... abstraction is something nebulous it is
invisible, it is not of any kind of physical material, or measurable in any
kind of sense of chronological, finite time.
As the saying goes God's time—Kairos Time, it’s dimension and righteousness is
something we struggle with as disciples of Jesus; the priesthood of all
believers. If we can't go there as the church, the physical church yet alone individually
through the spiritual church being truly the first church, the one Jesus talked
about, how can we be good shepherds and leaders of Grace and goodness in this
world but not of it?
Many
years ago when I was in the art world I had and held a closer affinity to
abstraction. I love abstract art; how can you tell however if abstract art is “good
art?” It's how things come together that make an impression of unity in a
particular thought, in a particular emotion that relay the artist’s intention
or overarching purpose. The same can be said in a parabolic way about the
disciples’ journey into taking the reins of leadership in the world out of love
for God and neighbor.
To
build that solid foundation of being a fully accountable disciple of Jesus
fully empowered, fully equipped and encouraged takes an unnatural radical
commitment… It takes integrity, humility, a selflessness that becomes a fount
of blessing to others. “Blessed to be a blessing” is an “attitude of gratitude”—both
of these sayings are a “play” on words, a creation or genesis of thought that
are fruits of Grace—living into the lifestyle of Grace.
Where there is a disconnect, however, is
similar to what happens in viewing and contemplating or considering abstraction
as in my example, abstract art. We choose to couple things with the physical
with something earthly that we think answers the call and solution of who we
are and where we are and what we need to do in the world. This has become what
we know as the quote, (physical) church. Where there is a grave disservice,
though, is in that we focus on the physical more than the spiritual which is
the more important quote “church.” The spiritual church is the one that Jesus
needs us for us to realize throughout our lifetime’s journey as His disciples....
When
you look at the Jeremiah text, it is similar in some senses to what was said in
the Prophet Samuel’s writings. This commonality was that the people were
seeking a fleshy, military, political leader... It is not thinking or looking
at the godly dimensions of leading in the world as “good” shepherding. Today we
have a similar problem in that the many bad shepherds out there have replaced, out
of fear, the spiritual and its focus on inner transformation. The call to
action or response has become more about politics, the world of the self, and “chaplaincy
to the worldly culture!”
In the
field of chaplaincy which is something I am very interested in as well as
pastoring in a church; there is a focus on care, there is a focus on well-being
but it is about healing—it is about empowering the heart (that 1st &
true church). It is definitely not about judgmentalism building a foundation
all about worldly power, self-encouragement and justification! It is
holistically focused on compassionately caring for the spiritual body or soul
of the individual. Which brings me to discuss how we have been bombarded
recently with public figures re-creating themselves not for the sake of others
or in gratitude of what God has given them but purely and solely for the self
alone. The pioneering bravery of these ventures, some may champion as a worldly
right or “existential victory…” The moment, however, we deny and turn away from
the Grace and gifts bestowed by God; we move into a land of empty promises—a graceless
wilderness.
The
graceless wilderness develops from our own self-righteousness not only
trampling over the Will of God and His Divine righteousness; but is the reality
of hell. This is more akin to the Old Nature
which we have come to a point of justifying over and above the New Nature that
was planted, sewn by the Blood and sacrifice of Christ Jesus at the Cross. It
is as if we have glued the petals of a newly blossoming flower shut so that its
fruits lie trapped and imprisoned by the negativity and evil of a burgeoning,
self-justifying godless society.
The
only way we can reap what God has sown is by facing something we fear and that
is that call to leadership of the Gospel of Grace! We can't get by through just
paying it lip service through pious platitudes, an empty analogies... We must embrace the radical, seemingly
illogical commands of the Gospel to build upon that spiritual transformed
structure deep within our hearts—the New Nature. God has given us so much, there are so many
things we cannot fathom yet alone see but to deny them just because they are
abstract, spiritual, metaphysical is to deny the very life given to you! We were not born from nothingness and
certainly were not born into a world that is purely for our consumption… We were created and born by the mystery and
miracle of a God of Grace, Mercy, and Compassion!
Compassion
is a loaded Word, one that we use as a surface aspiration, a Word of devotion
or one that we fight to bring into this world with the blood, sweat and tears
of a cross-carrying discipleship! There is no place for the world of the self
here for that is purely chaplaincy to the worldly culture. What do I mean by the term—“Chaplaincy to culture?” Bad shepherding plain and simple—leading and
empowering people to just see and experience a consumerist version of a god who
merely sows. There is no need to reap
yet alone hold authority in God’s Word anymore for we have intellectually “arrived,”
to recreate and shepherd others with a designer Gospel catering to the unholy
trinity of I, Me, and Mine! Words and ideologies divide and create a worldly
war that leads no one but creates a reality of gracelessness…
Years ago,
I used to enjoy going to various art openings; which truth be told, those who
would come with me were more interested in the free “booze” and food being
offered by the poor, (physically) “starving artist…” There would be genuinely creative people and
their works tucked around the corner or backrooms of many of these galleries
since they DID speak but were purely in abstract terms. The more popular or trendy art of the early ‘90’s
as one friend best penned it as, was just: “Refrigerator art for the savvy
Yuppie.” His cynical words could perhaps
have been an expression of his discouragement in his finding an audience for
his art or maybe truthfully reflecting where we fear to go.
St.
Paul in his discussion to the Ephesians illumines our struggle as disciples of
Jesus: “16-18 Christ brought us together through his death on the cross.
The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came
and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as
equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and
have equal access to the Father. 19-22 That’s
plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of
faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name
Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of
how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for
the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by
stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together.
We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us
built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”
The Message may not be the best translation of God’s Word but it
does indeed prove a point. We are all
individuals, with unique journeys and perspectives about living fully into Grace
as Jesus’ disciples, but we have and need to keep that integrity, humility and
faith. This is dealing with your
spiritual formation—living truthfully into shaping and transforming your heart
for God’s Will and precepts—The Kingdom of God, and its’ Divine Righteousness,
glory and Shalom.
We have to fight those urges to build a foundation and monument to
the world of the self. We need to truly
love neighbor with a compassion that reveals the miracle of God’s work within
your heart. That seed sewn of the New Nature
needs to blossom, blooming to overflowing with a beautiful attitude—graciousness
with all its’ blessedness. This
beautiful attitude will create leaders; one’s led by and for Christ Jesus, the
Great Shepherd.
Amen.
July 19th, 2015; 8th Sunday after
Pentecost; SOLA Lectionary; Proper 11
Psalm 23; Jeremiah 23:1-6;
Ephesians 2:11-22 & Mark 6:30-44
Sermon by Reverend Nicole A.M.
Collins
This digital art piece is my reflection on Jesus as well as Grace active in our lives.
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