What Do You Remember?

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 12th 2010
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
2 Timothy 2:8-15
“What Do You Remember?”

What does it mean to remember? Do you remember where you were 9 years ago? When you first saw the buildings and begin to grasp it was for real, what was your first instinct? If you were like most people your instinct was to find those closest to you, your loved ones, and reconnect with them. But it didn’t take long for the event to become a rallying cry for war. Then over the next few years, the answer to every question, every political problem, every social problem, became: 9/11. We quickly learned that the collective called-upon memory has a real power that goes way beyond nostalgia.
This is not a new phenomenon. Every war has a similar rallying cry. Vietnam had the Gulf of Tonkin to a much less successful degree, and WWII had Pearl Harbor. But who now, remembers the Lusitania?” The rallying cry which was used to garner the nations support for entrance into WWI? Or before that, there was, “Remember the Maine?” This was the rallying cry for entrance into the Spanish American War. And, of course, those from Texas are asked to, remember the Alamo, which became the rallying cry for the Mexican American War. The use and occasional abuse of tragic memories have real power. Their use can feel manipulative or they can lead to greater action.
When Paul speaks to Timothy in this letter, he is not working at manipulation but inspiration. Paul is getting to the essence of the gospel – The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the letter are a great number of practical issues which need attention. In this middle of all this teaching Timothy is encouraged to remember the heart of the faith. Out of the tragedy of the crucifixion, God brings healing and justice, not through more death, but through resurrection. Death is no longer the power it once was and we have no need to fear. Paul is calling Timothy to remember what is essential and to remember what is not. When the concerns of our day swirl around us it can be a powerful gift to clarify what is of ultimate importance.
There is a great deal of talk about institutional survival these days. Church seminars and speakers and the next great thing, we are told will solve whatever we worry about. Some make claims that rigid orthodoxy and “getting back to our roots” will take care of everything. If we can create the newest style of worship, or just have the best educational program, everything will be perfect. But I am convinced that not only does magic bullet not exist, but that all of these programs and concerns have a flawed foundation. Can the church, in the form we like best, survive does little to inspire or bring salvation in difficult times.
It is almost cliché now to say one is spiritual but not religious. While it might be a cover for some to say they do not need a faith community, I think it points us in the right direction. In other words, it actually gets at the heart of our faith. If taken seriously it will force us to ask questions about the current arrangements of things. Are we really being nurtured and fed by the things we do or do we hunger for something more? Have you ever stopped and thought if the resurrection is true, are we focused on the most important things? A faith community focused on the essential of the Gospel will ask themselves these questions out of a hunger for something more.
When I speak to friends of my outside of the church, people who do not attend church, the spiritual but not religious, I believe they could find kindred spirits in this church. When we ask ourselves the deeper questions, when we seek deeper truths instead of simply accepting or ignoring what we have learned, then we are on the path to greater faithfulness. The question for us is what do we remember? What was your first memory of the faith? I am sure it has nothing to do with meetings or old grudges or struggles. Whatever it is for you place that at the center of all you do. These are also the same questions which each faith community must ask. What is the essence of our faith? What is the point of being a Christian of being the church? The simple answer is that following Jesus is about being and making disciples.
Nurturing disciples is our essential task. But because there are so many important things with which we spend our energy it is worth our while to name those clearly. The three essential ingredients are education, generosity, and service. If you want to know how to nurture a disciple, it is this way. Throughout this fall we will be talking more about each and over the next three weeks we are going to focus on education, or rather seeking deeper truths.
If you have spent any time at all in this place you know that we do not demand a rigid orthodoxy. The truth is that we demand little at all. But to be more faithful and honest as followers of Jesus we must find a way of worshiping God with our heads. When is the last time you really studied something in the bible or grew in the knowledge of your faith in a group setting? I do hate to tell you that worship, while a setting for growth and understanding, cannot deeper our understanding alone. A challenge being laid before the congregation is to find some place where you will commit to a time of growth and study. If you look around at our offerings and think, nothing really excites me but I would like to, then talk to me. We will find a way for all of us to grow deeper in the faith.
Why is this so important? Well, if we are not seeking deeper truths on our own, we will be at the whim of anyone who might seek to use our memories for all sorts of ends. But if we are seeking deeper truths then our memories will not be up for grabs. Take up the challenge to grow deeper in the faith this fall. Commit to growing deeper in the faith and expand your knowledge and understanding. The essence of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ but it does not end there. Take up the challenge to worship God with your head as well as your heart. Amen? Amen!