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In spiritually chewing on these texts this week had me go
back to that old classic film, “A Few Good Men,’ to place ourselves in the role
of Kaffee and God in the role of Colonel Jessup. Unlike the movie being a
dialogue about planning war games and seeking justice, let’s change up some of
the dialogue to imagine what Christ has to say to us about living into a New
language, a New plan, a New law—unconditional love.
God (Jessup):
I'll answer the question. You want answers?
Us (Kaffee): I
think I'm entitled!
God (Jessup):
You want answers?!
Us (Kaffee): I
want the truth!
God (Jessup):
You can't handle the truth! The truth is that you live in a world that has built
towering walls dividing and scattering yourselves not for the better either,
and those walls need to be torn down…Who's gonna do it? You? YES—You! You have
the luxury of not knowing what I know... And my existence… is still incomprehensible
to you, but saves lives! The Truth as I have come to see it, is that you don't really
want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about…you want me on
that wall. You need me on that wall. I use words like "honor",
"code", "loyalty". I use these words as the backbone of a
life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the
time nor the inclination to explain myself to someone who rises and sleeps
under the blanket of the very freedom that I provided, and then questions the
manner in which I have provided it! I would rather you just said "thank
you", and went on your way. If you can’t live beyond yourselves for the
sake of others and allow the advocate to guide you… How can I really help you?
Well how would we answer God here? With what language would our hearts reveal
the truth of where we truly are? I have been asked on some occasions why is the
season of Pentecost so long? It stretches essentially after today from May to
the end of November concluding with our declarative day of celebrating Christ
as King. He indeed is King, creator and ruler by, for and through the law and language
of agape love. The path of the Disciple is shaped by the coming of the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit is an advocate, encourager, live-giving peace and
teacher of all that Christ is to mean for us. The many days are to be the many
lessons God needs us to glean from our discipleship journey in order to truly
grow.
The Truth for us, however, has become both conditional as
well as we’ve been more than successful in building those walls, dividing
ourselves from one another, for another language—the Gospel of the ruler of
this world, the Evil One. Yes the truth is harsh but the Holy Spirit guides our
hearts to reveal the Living Word’s Truth—my task as a shepherd and one of the
many from the great cloud of witnesses, is to speak it. It may not exactly be in your “language” nor
should I assume that I know your spirit’s language—for we all have our own
unique relationships with Christ Jesus as children of Grace and Promise.
The cost of discipleship is in living into the truth of
the language Christ needs us to incorporate as children of Grace that we then,
begin to tear down those divisive walls and live into the Promise of a unifying
goal: the Kingdom of God! The problem is that who we are, or who we have become
and where God needs us to be is often lost in translation, or lost to the
dysfunction of sin that daily challenges and cripples us from facing the Truth
of the Gospel and its mission.
Satan has worked very hard to help us build those
divisive towering walls. Like a
dysfunctional family, we have fallen sway to the “spirits…” but not necessarily
the Voice of the One that is to be central to our very lives: Christ Jesus, the
Lord. In some senses you could say that some of us come from a “Prodigal
family.” A family divided over money,
alcohol, power and away from even harboring a genuine relationship to one
another. The loneliness, bitter
disappointment and sadness build those bricks over time.
The mortar completing that tower is purely created by our
self-concern, politics, indifference and only wanting to go so far… We have
been conditioned and shaped by another gospel and another fire… BUT the Truth can
still set us free from this to tear down those walls and build towards heaven
with a powerful faith that is built upon unconditional love—the promise of the
Gospel, the Kingdom of God!
Taking a bold step forward to illumine the Truth is
embracing the Pentecost Holy Spirit’s challenge to us to tear down what divides
us and unify for a wonderful purpose, the Kingdom of God! The other day there was a wonderful
discussion among some dear friends about the mission of being church… but not
building walls… in fact tearing down walls theologically, doctrinally and most
importantly spiritually, in order that the sovereign Truth of the mission of
the Gospel towers above us but not beyond us!
What should tower above us is our heavenly parent, Savior
and sanctifier’s purpose of loving Him and neighbor… That this be taken
seriously as a lifestyle and goal and most prayerfully genuine as that spiritual
fire in our hearts to TRULY LIVE! Sometime in the near future, I am greatly
looking forward to teaching a few classes for an online Lutheran Bible
Institute that is just developing. I am
looking forward to incorporating what the Holy Spirit has truly taught me to
see. It is something beyond the labels
and theologies… something much more important—the Holy Spirit itself.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Do we really sense an understanding of what it truly is? It’s invisible, abstract, and on some levels something
we really don’t know how or want to deal with. The truth is however, that the
Holy Spirit was sent to guide, transform and guard our lives yet seminaries,
churches, and other places claiming to be in service to Christ Jesus and His
Gospel don’t preach it, teach it or dare to live by its boundaries!
The church as we know it today is basically in hospice
care, on life support thinly bound together by the care from a prayerful few… Who are not afraid to LIVE INTO THE TRUTH. The Truth is that we more than have the
capacity to break free from the bonds of being a dysfunctional family by
embracing everything that is radical about the Living Word. The Beatitudes of Christ are the Gospel’s
goal for us to live towards. The only
way we can is by prayerfully learning that New Nature language of Love that not
only the Beatitudes teach us but the whole of scripture tries to reveal to us
through Christ Jesus, the Lord, Savior and Sovereign to all.
A Living Faith is one built by and through the Holy Spirit
who works in that most important first church, the heart. It is here that the tabernacle of the Holy
Spirit resides in order to enlighten, reveal, encourage and sanctify us as we
transform to God’s unifying goal: the Kingdom of God. It is not a Kingdom unto the self. It is
certainly not a gospel built by and for political agendas and worldly power,
control. The power of the Gospel begins
with the Spirit. We are spiritual beings
who need that fire kindled often by the Living Word and its advocate—the Holy
Spirit, to help us to live the Truth.
Let us Pray,
Gracious Lord Jesus,
It is from Your life, death, resurrection and Promise
That we learn a New Natured language
To tear down those towering worldly walls
Which have divided and more often, conquered our spirits
To stray from Your mission and Towering Truth!
Open our hearts daily to pour Your Holy Spirit over us
May we truly hear, pray, live and Love into Your Gospel
Truth!
Amen
May 15th,
2016; Day of Pentecost; Year C; SOLA Lectionary
Sermon by
Reverend Nicole A.M. Collins, FODM
Psalm 143;
Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21 & John 14:23-31
~
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