A Promise as Universal as the Stars

What is Progressive Christianity? A 4-Sermon Series

Sermon 3: Known By Actions, Conversation, and a Sense of Mystery

By Rev. Marcia Sietstra

June 15, 2008 Spirit of Peace UCC

Exod. 19:1-5a; Matt. 10:1-8

Good morning and Happy Father’s Day. I was trying to think of a good introduction for this sermon, and thought maybe my husband Phil could come up with a funny story about parenting that would fit my purpose. So one morning this week, over breakfast I engaged Phil in conversation about my purpose in the sermon, hoping he would have an idea for a good introduction. I said to him over our cholesterol-lowering oatmeal, “For my introduction I need an example of how experience taught you something that you thought you already knew about. Like parenting—you think you know what it will be like, so you decide to have this cute little baby…but then when that kid is a teenager you realize you really had no idea what you were getting into when you decided to have that cute little baby! Can you think of a good story that I can use to illustrate what you learned by experience?

Silence from Phil, who was reading the newspaper. So I tried again, “Phil! Did you think parenting would be so difficult before we had the first baby?” His response: “I never really thought about it at the time.”

I tried again, “Well, what did you think parenting would be like?” He lowered the newspaper, peered at me over his bifocals and answered, “I sure as heck didn’t expect the kids we got!”

Now I’m not sure exactly what he meant by that…but I think it illustrates my point: it is experience that teaches us things we could not have known any other way…have you found this to be true in your life? Experience is a necessary teacher.

That is one of the lessons of our first reading today from Exodus. I want you to notice something…it says that the Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians…now therefore, you shall be…my holy nation.” In other words, Moses perceived that their escape from Egypt was a message from God, as if God had said, “Hey, look what I did: I rescued you all from slavery in Egypt, so pay attention to that experience, because this rescue goes to show that you are my people and I am your God, from here on out.”

I doubt that Moses heard an audible voice; to say he “heard” God is likely a metaphorical way of saying Moses believed this idea was inspired by God. The idea came to him in connection with his experience of feeling tremendously blessed to have escaped from Egypt. Here’s my point: Moses and the people he led had to get to know God by living life. They wrote down what they thought they learned. Eventually, their record became scripture. Their stories and insights took on the status of scripture, because many of their lessons rang true down through the centuries. So the Bible holds the accumulated, distilled wisdom of people who experienced God in life.

But the Biblical record of other people’s experiences of God should never replace our own experience of God. We are talking about Progressive Christianity today. Many progressive Christians make this important distinction: one must be careful not to take what was descriptive and make the mistake of treating it as prescriptive, or setting the limits on what can be known about God. The writings of the Bible describe what the ancient people learned; it does not prescribe or limit what has been learned in the 2000 years since then, or what can be learned in the future. That would be to limit the Holy Spirit who continues to teach humanity. This awareness is just one of the reasons that so many Christians today are less concerned about building a system of “correct beliefs” based on the Bible, than they are about living good lives in relationship with God.

Our second text gives us a glimpse of this emphasis. It is the story of Jesus sending out disciples to preach and heal and minister to the people. In the Luke version of Matthew’s story, it says Jesus sent them out 2 by 2. He told them what to do, but he didn’t give them a written list of doctrines to teach. Jesus gave them concrete actions in which to engage. He said to cast out demons, cure sickness, proclaim the good news, i.e tell people about our God of love who forgives and cares about each one of them. He didn’t say they should tell people about the trinity, or a virgin birth, or homosexuality or abortion. Instead, he told them stories: the story of the Good Samaritan who cared for someone very different from him; the story of a father who forgave his prodigal son, even though he didn’t deserve it. Jesus taught them to go out there and demonstrate the love of God through acts of compassion and mercy.

The disciples, whom he sent out 2 by 2, presumably each had two different life histories, two perspectives, and often two points of view.[i] This can be a metaphor for the witness we make today. People of faith share a variety of interpretations and viewpoints on complex issues in our world. We don’t have to agree on everything to work together in ways that increase compassion, justice and peace in the world.

Progressive Christians often choose to be in communities where there is a lot of opportunity for service. They also tend to delight in conversation where new learning is taking place—places where they can say, “This is what I believe, but I could be wrong. What do you think?” This is a posture of openness to God’s spirit still teaching through human experience and reason. It does not mean one is wishy washy, but rather humble enough to expect to keep learning.

This points to one of the greatest gifts of this movement to Christianity today—the humble admission that there is so much we do not know, and the recognition that God is deeply mysterious. Human beings can never make absolute claims about God. This does not hamper our search for truth; it tempers it with modesty.[ii] It also inspires us to use more symbols and rituals in our worship service, to express what is difficult to put into words. Think of our candlelight Christmas Eve service; the experience is so much richer than words can explain. I think we need more ritual in worship.

Let’s return for a moment to this emphasis on action and service that is characteristic of so many Christians in the 21^st century. My grandma used to say, “The proof is in the pudding.” By that she meant you can judge one’s cooking by the quality of the food they serve. Jesus said something similar: “You will know people by their fruits,” i.e. you will know people of faith by their actions and outcomes. I am reminded of Carl’s favorite verses from Galatians 5: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (vs. 22-23)

Here is how the writer of my daily devotional, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, puts it: Jesus said you will be known by your fruits. The way you live, not the stuff you think—that’s your real religion. It’s attitude, not opinion.

…Your real religion is not doctrine, not orthodoxy or heresy, not substitutionary atonement vs. reincarnation vs. historical Jesus. It is not the Lord’s Prayer vs. yoga vs. praise music vs. chanting vs. prayer wheels… It’s the fruit that all of that produces. How do you live? How are you mindful? Where is your heart? That is your religion.

So when you begin a new day, open yourself to the Spirit of love, joy and peace. Let [the Spirit] dwell in you. Ask for her guidance through the day. Practice letting the Spirit be present in you.

As you go through the day, seek to follow the Spirit of patience, kindness and non-violence. Ask yourself, “What is the generous thing to do? Where does the spirit of self-control lead me?”

At the end of the day, ask yourself, “What, or whom, have I been faithful to or honored? What or whom have I betrayed or abandoned? What kind of spirit has led me today...Am I at peace with my choices?” Where you are happy with your choices, give thanks. Where you want to be faithful to a different spirit than the one that led you, ask the Spirit to help you….Then…you will live the real religion of the Spirit of Christ.[iii]

I heard a pastor say recently that he felt like he was riding a tsunami in the church today. Perhaps some of you feel that way too. It has always been like that during times of great reformation in the church. But we can do nothing less than keep searching for truth, and to live the way we think God would have us live. For many progressive Christians that means valuing behavior more than beliefs, conversation more than absolutes, and it means acknowledging the mysteriousness of God. We are characterized by a willingness to live with questions, and a sense of calling to act out our faith in concrete actions toward others. This church community provides sacred space for all of these things to take place. May we, together, grow in wisdom and grace as we seek God together. Amen.