Sunday, December 13, 2009
Luke 3:7-14,18
Senior Pastor
I was talking with Devon earlier this week about a class he is taking that studies the church in affluent societies. I was giving him ideas on different sources of information about that, and it reminded me of some research that George Barna did highlighting the differences between what he labels “born again” Christians and secular people in America. (Growing True Disciples)
The startling conclusion he came to was that those who were self-identified as “born again” Christians did not differ markedly from others. The divorce rate was about the same. Giving to non-profit organizations was about the same. Numbers of folks buying lottery tickets was about the same. You get the idea: their professed faith did not truly impact their behavior. He could find no significant differences in their lifestyles.
Today in our text I think John the Baptist is having the same experience. Those who are professing faith apparently are living no differently from everyone around them. So, being the kind and gentle prophet he was, he addresses them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Don’t think because you were born into the faith that that will help! The ax is coming down. Everything that does not bear good fruit is going to be chopped down and thrown into the fire! (v. 7 – 9 paraphrase)
As you might imagine they were at least startled and perhaps frightened by this holy man spewing out such a message. The crowds ask: What shall we do? Does he say come into the wilderness with me? No. Does he say pray more? No. Does he say study more or go to church more? No and No!
They say: What shall we do?
He says: Give away one of your coats. Give away some of your food.
To those with ill-gotten gain, he says be fair and just.
To those with power he says, be fair and just.
Be fair even if you have the power to be unfair.
Change your selfish, dishonest and God offending ways and give.
Or in his own words:
Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Bear fruit worthy of your repentance. If you are going to say you are repenting and receiving
baptism, then really do so. Repent
means to turn-around. All of the examples
given in this text are related to hoarding.
John’s answer: Repent and
give.
I tell couples when I counsel with them in pre-marital sessions that they should have a budget and included in that budget should be a portion to give away. I tell them that it will change their character. If they decide to be a giving person and to cultivate a giving spirit, it will absolutely change their character. And you know what, it is a lot better deal to live with a giving person than one who is basically a taker. It makes for a better marriage if people cultivate a giving spirit. John is giving some very concrete and practical advice here. Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Give something.
Last year about this time one of you sent me an article about the positive benefits of giving in all kinds of settings. Some of the most striking information came from several studies demonstrating that the condition of those with serious physical illnesses can be dramatically improved when they help others afflicted by the same illness.
For instance, behavioral scientist Carolyn Schwartz recruited patients with multiple sclerosis who were offered either eight weekly meetings in which they were taught coping strategies or monthly phone calls in which someone else, with MS, listened and gave them support.
The unexpected finding in Schwartz's study concerned the "five MS sufferers who were trained to offer compassionate listening and support over the phone. Those five MS sufferers felt a dramatic change in how they viewed themselves and life. Depression, self-confidence, and self-esteem improved markedly among those givers." Schwartz concludes, "These people had undergone a spiritual transformation that gave them a refreshed view of who they were." (Dr. Robert Brooks monthly email article, December 2008)
It parallels John’s advice to those vipers coming out to see him in the wilderness: Repent and give.
The Good News for you and me is that when we give, when we
bear fruit of generosity and justice, it brings us life. Plus it also feeds others literally and
figuratively. But the most important
thing for us to notice today, about the result of bearing the fruit of
repentance, is that it prepares us to receive the coming Christ child.
Renee Hoover works with a number of families through CDSA and is a member here. You may recall that just last month she helped us put together the wonderful Native American Awareness Sunday celebration we enjoyed. Last year she told me a story about a family she was working with one December trying to make sure that they had a good Christmas.
The family was a young mother with an infant daughter and a five-year-old niece she was raising by herself. The mom was working full-time and studying nursing as well. But they needed a little extra help that year. Renee had arranged with another organization to “adopt’ this family for Christmas, and so Renee had the joy of delivering all the gifts.
After everything had been brought in, I realized this little five year old was pulling on my coat and taking my hand trying to get my attention. I knelt down to see what she needed to share and she whispered, “Do you know what I want for Christmas next year?”
I
couldn’t believe it! I thought of all the wonderful gifts that I had just
delivered to their home, how could she be thinking about next year!
Surely, there was something in one of these packages that was exactly what she
wanted.
I
responded, “No, honey, what do you want for Christmas next year?” She
looked at me and said with all the seriousness of a 5-year-old that understands
more than a 5-year-old should, “I
want to be able to give you a present next year.”
At that moment Renee says
she understood what an honor it is to be able to give. To have the
resources yes, but also to have the spirit that wants to give. Repent and give, says John the Baptist.
This kind of repentance puts our minds and hearts, and dare I say even our souls, in a place to see the Christ child when he comes. It puts us in a place to recognize God’s outlandish giving to us: a son. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. That is the prophecy, that is the promise, that is the moment in God’s grand story of extravagant love that we are preparing to celebrate in a couple of weeks. It is a celebration that can change your life forever.
At the beginning of the sermon I told you that George Barna said he had trouble finding the difference in his research. But you know what, he didn’t come by here, did he? Because if he would have come by here, he would have seen this room bursting with color because people gave out of their pockets to honor and remember significant people in our lives. He would have seen a hallway so packed with bikes and toys you have purchased for others that you can hardly get into the sanctuary. He would have seen so many green bags of groceries that you have brought to go to the Horn of Plenty that they are overflowing at the north entrance. I could go on and on about your financial contributions all this year to mission and ministry or your special gifts to the Advent and Christmas offering or all the folks that our Sunday School classes are helping during this holiday season.
I think we have heard the message from old John: Repent and give. Repent and give. It is a great way of living, and it is a great way of getting ready for Christmas.
Amen and let the thanks be to God.
Luke
3:7-14,18
Getting
Ready 12/13/09
…self-identified as “born again” Christians did _____
differ markedly from others.
The crowds ask: What shall we ____?
Or in his own words:
Bear fruit worthy of _______________.
Repent and ______.
…decide to be a giving person and to cultivate a
_________ spirit… absolutely change their character.
“Depression,
self-confidence, and self-esteem improved
markedly
among those _________.” Schwartz
concludes,
“These
people had undergone a spiritual transformation…
…it prepares us to receive the coming _________ child.
…a young mother with an infant daughter and a
five-year-old ________ she was raising by herself.
“I want to be able to ______
you a present next year.”
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is ________.
…he didn’t come by ______ did he?
It is a great way of _________…
Kid’s Question: John’s message was: Repent and ______ .