WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 9th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“What Stands in Your Way?”
Luke 14:25-33
If we are really honest with one another, occasionally Jesus says something that makes us rather uncomfortable. Today’s passage is just such an occasion. Hate! When I hear Jesus use that word I am left with this question: How is it that Jesus, the love of God incarnate, can use hate as a way to faithfulness? What are we supposed to do with this sort of language? After all, it seems like this passage is ripe for recruiting religious fanatics or for even starting our own cult. So, what are we to do when Jesus speaks of hate?
We must always be careful not to simply explain away the hard sayings of Jesus. They must be examined and understood as bearing truth. However, we must also be careful not to be overly simplistic and take the language of hate a face value. By examining the passage closely the Greek reveals that the term hate here does not indicate emotions. In other words, the harsh words directed toward the crowd, and all of us who hear, are not about how one feels but about how one acts. It is a rhetorical devise meant to shock the growing crowds so that they would really hear the simple truth: To follow Jesus means all other claims upon our life take a back seat.
But, that still doesn’t answer the question of whether or not we are to turn our backs on friends and family in order to follow Jesus? If we look a little closer, we find out that Jesus does not always talk about family in a positive light. Earlier in Luke’s gospel, Jesus’ mother and brothers come for a visit. When told of their arrival he says: My mother and brothers are those who do the will of God. Later, when a man asks Jesus if he can bury his father before following Jesus says: Those who put their hand to the plow and look back are not fit for the kingdom of heaven. These are not the sorts of things which fit well in with traditional family values.
Now do not worry, I am not trying to make Jesus out to be anti-family. In fact, it is my belief that Jesus teaches in such harsh ways to drive the point home that nothing is supposed to stand in the way of faithfulness to God. In each one of these instances, including our passage, Jesus is challenging family ties which have become an excuse or a road block to faith. While, Jesus does not condemn families he clearly challenges the way in which the claims of family have become an idol in society and have taken precedent over all other claims. In fact, Jesus is not tearing down families but inviting people to recognize that they are part of God’s family.
Another clue that Jesus is challenging anything which stands in the way of faithfulness is his final words to the crowd. He says: None of you can become my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions. Again, we encounter jarring words from the one we call savior. I believe these words are particularly jarring in our own culture where, in the lyrics from the Broadway Musical Rent says: “In America, you are what you own.” To give up our possessions, we give up our identity, our security, our very livelihood. It leaves me wondering? Is Jesus sentencing his disciples to certain destruction?
In the early church the disciples had a simple, though not easy, answer. They gave up all their possessions to the community of faith and shared what they had. They understood that no one person could do what Jesus was teaching them. To give up family and to give of possessions without another family or possessions was certain death. As a result, the early church took the teaching serious and created a new family with shared possessions. Everyone had what they needed and people sold what they had so that there was enough for everyone.
In the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, which is believed to be written by the same person, giving up possessions was undeniably a required act for discipleship. In chapter twelve of Luke the rich young man comes to Jesus claiming to have followed all the words of the law. When he asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus says, sell what you have and give it to the poor because where your treasure is, that is where your heart is. In chapter eighteen a different wealthy man hopes to follow Jesus. This time, Jesus tells him to; go and sell what you have and give it to the poor. The rich man rejects Jesus invitation to discipleship because he simply cannot imagine parting with his wealth, not even for Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is clear: Possessions and wealth, while not always, can become the greatest impediment to faithfulness.
In this passage, Jesus takes on the great idols of his day: Family and Wealth. When Jesus calls people to follow, he says we must put aside anything which stands in the way. When Jesus does this he uses words which grab us by the throat. These hard sayings are intended to shake the foundations of our polite sensibilities and remind us that discipleship is all encompassing. However, history has shown us that Christians throughout the ages have hoped to ignore these difficult teachings. Or, when faced with passages like this we say things like; Jesus he is not dealing with the real world. Instead of wrestling with the hard questions and reality of our faith we spend energy and time building institutions or social clubs and then we parade our faith in the socially appropriate ways. This is why Jesus speaks in such direct and striking ways. The life of faith is not easy, but we are not called to do it alone.
As we are confronted with this passage we are still left with the lingering question. What about our families and possessions? I believe that this passage is not simply condemning either. In fact, I think the question could best be asked: What stands in our way and how? What are we clinging to that keeps us from following Jesus more faithfully? In our modern culture it might be family and is very likely that it is our wealth and possessions. But it can be so much more. Jesus’ great concern is with anything that stands in the way of our ability to pick up our cross and follow.
When faced with these words, it is easy to think that it is just too hard. But the good news it that Jesus’ call to pick up the cross is not a call to be perfect. After all, most of us are trapped by so many things, and relationships and commitments that we simply cannot imagine that things could be any different. And the idea that we have one more thing to pick up sounds overwhelming. That is why we must ask what is standing in our way to a deeper life of faith? What is it that we must left go of in order to live more faithfully? Jesus offers a very public invitation in this passage which has very private implications. Jesus’ invitation to follow is one which cannot be ignored or simply explained away. Each one of us is invited, to join together as we seek to be more faithful disciples.
The good news in all of this is that God is still at work in each of us, and in this community of faith. We are being called to give up anything which stands in our way. Maybe it’s our understanding of family or maybe it’s how we view and use our wealth and possessions. Whatever it is not one of us can make those decisions in isolation. We need the support, the encouragement and the accountability of each other. May God’s Spirit continue to work in each one of us and in this community so we will more clearly understand what we are being called to give up in order to say yes to Jesus. Amen? Amen.
September 9th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“What Stands in Your Way?”
Luke 14:25-33
If we are really honest with one another, occasionally Jesus says something that makes us rather uncomfortable. Today’s passage is just such an occasion. Hate! When I hear Jesus use that word I am left with this question: How is it that Jesus, the love of God incarnate, can use hate as a way to faithfulness? What are we supposed to do with this sort of language? After all, it seems like this passage is ripe for recruiting religious fanatics or for even starting our own cult. So, what are we to do when Jesus speaks of hate?
We must always be careful not to simply explain away the hard sayings of Jesus. They must be examined and understood as bearing truth. However, we must also be careful not to be overly simplistic and take the language of hate a face value. By examining the passage closely the Greek reveals that the term hate here does not indicate emotions. In other words, the harsh words directed toward the crowd, and all of us who hear, are not about how one feels but about how one acts. It is a rhetorical devise meant to shock the growing crowds so that they would really hear the simple truth: To follow Jesus means all other claims upon our life take a back seat.
But, that still doesn’t answer the question of whether or not we are to turn our backs on friends and family in order to follow Jesus? If we look a little closer, we find out that Jesus does not always talk about family in a positive light. Earlier in Luke’s gospel, Jesus’ mother and brothers come for a visit. When told of their arrival he says: My mother and brothers are those who do the will of God. Later, when a man asks Jesus if he can bury his father before following Jesus says: Those who put their hand to the plow and look back are not fit for the kingdom of heaven. These are not the sorts of things which fit well in with traditional family values.
Now do not worry, I am not trying to make Jesus out to be anti-family. In fact, it is my belief that Jesus teaches in such harsh ways to drive the point home that nothing is supposed to stand in the way of faithfulness to God. In each one of these instances, including our passage, Jesus is challenging family ties which have become an excuse or a road block to faith. While, Jesus does not condemn families he clearly challenges the way in which the claims of family have become an idol in society and have taken precedent over all other claims. In fact, Jesus is not tearing down families but inviting people to recognize that they are part of God’s family.
Another clue that Jesus is challenging anything which stands in the way of faithfulness is his final words to the crowd. He says: None of you can become my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions. Again, we encounter jarring words from the one we call savior. I believe these words are particularly jarring in our own culture where, in the lyrics from the Broadway Musical Rent says: “In America, you are what you own.” To give up our possessions, we give up our identity, our security, our very livelihood. It leaves me wondering? Is Jesus sentencing his disciples to certain destruction?
In the early church the disciples had a simple, though not easy, answer. They gave up all their possessions to the community of faith and shared what they had. They understood that no one person could do what Jesus was teaching them. To give up family and to give of possessions without another family or possessions was certain death. As a result, the early church took the teaching serious and created a new family with shared possessions. Everyone had what they needed and people sold what they had so that there was enough for everyone.
In the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, which is believed to be written by the same person, giving up possessions was undeniably a required act for discipleship. In chapter twelve of Luke the rich young man comes to Jesus claiming to have followed all the words of the law. When he asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus says, sell what you have and give it to the poor because where your treasure is, that is where your heart is. In chapter eighteen a different wealthy man hopes to follow Jesus. This time, Jesus tells him to; go and sell what you have and give it to the poor. The rich man rejects Jesus invitation to discipleship because he simply cannot imagine parting with his wealth, not even for Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is clear: Possessions and wealth, while not always, can become the greatest impediment to faithfulness.
In this passage, Jesus takes on the great idols of his day: Family and Wealth. When Jesus calls people to follow, he says we must put aside anything which stands in the way. When Jesus does this he uses words which grab us by the throat. These hard sayings are intended to shake the foundations of our polite sensibilities and remind us that discipleship is all encompassing. However, history has shown us that Christians throughout the ages have hoped to ignore these difficult teachings. Or, when faced with passages like this we say things like; Jesus he is not dealing with the real world. Instead of wrestling with the hard questions and reality of our faith we spend energy and time building institutions or social clubs and then we parade our faith in the socially appropriate ways. This is why Jesus speaks in such direct and striking ways. The life of faith is not easy, but we are not called to do it alone.
As we are confronted with this passage we are still left with the lingering question. What about our families and possessions? I believe that this passage is not simply condemning either. In fact, I think the question could best be asked: What stands in our way and how? What are we clinging to that keeps us from following Jesus more faithfully? In our modern culture it might be family and is very likely that it is our wealth and possessions. But it can be so much more. Jesus’ great concern is with anything that stands in the way of our ability to pick up our cross and follow.
When faced with these words, it is easy to think that it is just too hard. But the good news it that Jesus’ call to pick up the cross is not a call to be perfect. After all, most of us are trapped by so many things, and relationships and commitments that we simply cannot imagine that things could be any different. And the idea that we have one more thing to pick up sounds overwhelming. That is why we must ask what is standing in our way to a deeper life of faith? What is it that we must left go of in order to live more faithfully? Jesus offers a very public invitation in this passage which has very private implications. Jesus’ invitation to follow is one which cannot be ignored or simply explained away. Each one of us is invited, to join together as we seek to be more faithful disciples.
The good news in all of this is that God is still at work in each of us, and in this community of faith. We are being called to give up anything which stands in our way. Maybe it’s our understanding of family or maybe it’s how we view and use our wealth and possessions. Whatever it is not one of us can make those decisions in isolation. We need the support, the encouragement and the accountability of each other. May God’s Spirit continue to work in each one of us and in this community so we will more clearly understand what we are being called to give up in order to say yes to Jesus. Amen? Amen.
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