October 20, 2013
The X Factor
- Jeremiah 31:27-34
- Dr. Teri Thomas
One morning at a missionary church deep in the rain forest of South America, during the Sunday worship service, as the scripture was read, a loud crash interrupted the service as a group of armed guerrillas broke down the side door of the church and, with machine guns in hand, entered the sanctuary. The minister and congregation were horrified and filled with fear. The soldiers dragged the minister outside to be executed. There was a roar of gunfire. The leader of the guerrillas then returned to the church and demanded, "Anyone else who believes in this God stuff come forward!" Everyone was petrified and stood frozen. There was a long silence.
Finally after what seemed several minutes one man came forward, stood before the guerrilla chief, and simply said, "I love Jesus." He was summarily roughed up and taken outside for execution. After this several others came forward and said the same thing. They too were taken outside and the sound of the machine gun was once again heard. When there were no more people left who were willing to identify themselves as Christians, the guerrilla chief returned to the sanctuary and told those remaining, "Get out! You have no right to be here!" And with that he herded them out of the chapel, where they were astonished to see their pastor and the others standing there very much alive.
The minister and those with him were ordered back into the church to continue the service, but the others were angrily warned to stay out. "Until you have the courage to be committed and stand up for your beliefs," said the guerrilla chief, "you have no right to worship." He and his troops then quickly disappeared into the jungle. (CSS Resources)
This apocryphal story presents us with a challenge of immense proportions. Those in the church who came to worship that Sunday morning were, I am sure, sincere in their commitment to the church, their faith, and the worship of God. If this was not the case they would not have been present. But when the guerrilla chief challenged them to move to the next level, to a personal demonstration of their commitment to God, well…
The story provides a good illustration of the challenge God, through the prophet Jeremiah, presented to the Hebrews in Judah at the time of the exile.
In the Book of Genesis we read that God established a covenant- a binding relationship- with Abraham and all of his descendants. The Hebrew people were to be special to God and would be provided all that they needed.
Over the years, the covenant between God and the people was repeatedly tested and broken. The failure of the people to live up to their agreement with Yahweh often placed them in less than desirable circumstances. The judges were sent because the Hebrews often broke the covenant by their transgressions of the law. Later the prophets were sent, one-by-one, to tell the people, especially the religious leaders, that consequences would arise from their disobedience. In today's lesson God, through the voice of the prophet Jeremiah, announces a new covenant to the people.
God has grown weary of people's inability to keep his law. No more will the covenant be written in stone, a covenant which was external and could be broken. Instead, God will write the covenant on his people's heart. In the Hebrew God does not refer to "hearts" but says "I will write it on their heart." The heart of the entire people will bear the covenant.
Not that people were asking for this new covenant. There is no hint of an invitation on the part of the people. This covenant is given by God without reason or explanation. God wants the relationship with the people and resolves to have it. So God declares that he will write himself into the people.
The message in today's reading requires significant reflection for all of us. Too often I suspect, if we are honest with ourselves, we hide behind the fabric of many institutions, whether it be our family, business, or faith community, hoping that the work, perseverance, and faith of others will hold the ship together and we will be able to sail rather smoothly and not have to demonstrate our personal effort, persistence, or commitment. Today we are encouraged to come out of the shadows and move into the light which is the level of personal commitment.
God is asking, even challenging, us to take a more active role and to demonstrate in word and deed our commitments.
Did you read your October News and Views? In my column I explained that as of the first of the year we will owe about $700,000 on the building debt. Since our capital campaign is ending those mortgage payments will become part of our annual operating budget.
Obviously that means we need a significant increase in our income. We have also made serious budget reductions during the capital campaigns and we desperately need to restore programs and mission. The congregation is changing in exciting ways and we need the financial resources to keep that going.
So I went to the Session in August and suggested they each consider increasing their pledge by the amount they have been giving each year to the capital campaigns. I asked them to pledge early so we could share the results with you.
In the newsletter I wrote that the session increased their pledges by X%. The actual number was supposed to be inserted before it went to print. But it wasn’t. So that is the X factor. How committed is the group of 15 elders?
The Session increased their pledges for 2014 by 60%.
The covenant is written on our hearts. It brands us as "God's people." It is an internal identity that will be evidenced by external behavior. We will live God's law not because we are obliged to but because we want to, because our hearts are shaped that way. The capacity to be faithful and obedient will spring from the inside.
Thanks be to God
Amen