October 12, 2008 — 9:19 PM
Ch-ch-changes
Texts: Exodus 32:1-14; Philippians 4:1-9
Theme introduction
When I learned that I would be preaching for the first full service in our new space and time, I knew what I would have to preach on - play chorus from Bowie song. So much is different for us as we move into this phase of our life together as Mission Bay Community Church in the Excelsior District. And yet, we are still Mission Bay Community Church. Much around us has changed and much will change in how we go about being God's people called to be God's hands and feet in this area of the City and the world. But, we are still us. We are still God's beloved children called to be in community together and to be in mission together.
This evening we are going to explore two different communities who were experiencing great changes in their own communities and lives. Neither one dealt very well with the changes that came their way. Each gave in to the fear that often accompanies change and lost sight of what God was calling them to do. How can we avoid doing that? How can we keep our focus on God and who God is calling us to be? Those are questions we'll try to answer together.
[read texts for the evening]
Let us pray. Spirit of God, come and move among us we pray. Open our ears to hear your word for us this evening. And open our hearts that we may truly know your will for our lives and our life together as a community. We pray this in the name of your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Change. What does hearing that word do to you? Does it make your shoulders tighten up a bit? Does it make your stomach queasy? Or you forehead crinkle? Or... does it thrill you? Excite you for the possibilities that await? Motivate you to get up and be a part of the action?
I did a quotation search on the word "change" and was inundated with ideas that people have voiced on the subject for thousands of years. Here are just a few:
- Heraclitus, who lived from 540 BCE - 480 BCE, said, "Nothing endures but change."
- Confucius, who lived at the same time, said, "They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom."
- Bringing us closer to our own time, John F. Kennedy was of the opinion that "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
- And, Alvin Toffler said, "Change is the process by which the future invades our lives."
What do you think about change? Is it a good or bad thing for you? Any reactions to these quotations about change? Anyone care to share?
[get reactions from the community]
What often scares people the most about change is the feeling of loss of control that comes with it. The more people can control the process, in some way or another, the more comfortable they will feel with change. And, conversely, the more people feel like they have no say in the matter - that change is being imposed upon them from an outside force - the more fearful and desperate they feel about the situation.
I think the craziness that is going on with our global economic situation is a perfect example of this. It appears that steps taken to "control" the damage of the crisis are not having any positive affects and this is leading people to take drastic measures - like selling off much of their stocks. This may make the people feel better, but it's actually making the situation worse. People are panicking. And panic leads to irrational actions. But many are left feeling like they have no other choice. They feel backed into a corner and they are fighting their way out the only way they know how.
Underlying the fear of change is the much stronger, much more visceral fear of chaos. Often the thinking goes something like this: If we make this one small change, who's to say larger changes won't follow? That small change could lead to a domino effect bringing about a wholesale change in everything. This is the proverbial "slippery slope" argument that often holds us back from making even minor changes.
Chaos! No one wants chaos.
The desire to control chaos is as old as the human story. Our scriptures begin by describing how our God overcame chaos and ordered everything thereby making it possible for creation to exist and thrive. God separated light from darkness, water in the heavens from water below, and finally the water below from dry land. Once all that separating was done - all that ordering of chaos -, then God was able to put things in their place - sun, moon, and stars in the skies, fish in the seas, animals on the lands, and ultimately Adam and Eve to oversee it all.
For the writers of the Hebrew Scriptures, chaos is not merely a state of disorder, rather it is an active force that challenges the rule of God and undermines the possibility for life and well-being. The ultimate proof that God is all-powerful comes in God's ability to bring order to chaos.
For we humans, the balance between control and chaos seems to be very tenuous. Chaos seems to be waiting just at the edge of our reality ready to rush in and engulf all of existence at any moment.
The Hebrew people in our passage from Exodus were feeling like chaos was taking over their lives. They had been uprooted from a known, albeit horrible, existence as slaves in Egypt. They were slow to believe, as Moses told them, that they were God's chosen people and that God wanted them to live freely in their own land. But they followed Moses out of Egypt and were immediately faced by many instances when chaos seemed to be taking over. Instances such as:
- the Egyptian army following them and then seemingly trapping them at the edge of the Reed Sea
- the scarcity of water and food along the journey for this large number of people
- even just the logistics of moving so many people such a long distance.
All of these threats reminded the Hebrew people that their control of the situation they were in was very tenuous. Chaos was most definitely a real possibility.
And now, in our passage for today Moses, the man who had convinced them to take on this whole crazy endeavor, the man who was the physical representation of God's presence with them, had gone away and had not returned for a month and a half! He was the one with the plan. What were the people supposed to do now? They didn't know where they were supposed to be heading. They didn't know what they were supposed to be doing. And the God who had called them "the chosen people" felt conspicuously absent.
The whole situation seemed to be going from bad to worse. Chaos definitely felt like it was creeping in and trying to take over.
So, what do the people do? Instead of remembering how God had come through for them in the other circumstances where chaos seemed to be threatening them, they turned in to themselves and to their own abilities. They so quickly forgot the miraculous ways God had acted on their behalf in the very recent past. They forgot how God had:
- parted the waters of the Reed Sea and made the ground dry so that they could walk through to safety
- made water come from a dry rock so that the people could drink in the desert
- and even provided manna (a bread-like substance) and quail to sustain the people as they made their journey
None of these incredible acts of God's saving grace came to the people's minds when they thought Moses was gone for good. Panic had crept in. They were not thinking rationally. All they could think about was what they needed to do to protect themselves in this dire situation. So they fell back on practices that they had learned from other cultures. Practices that relied on making gods for themselves instead of relying on the God who had made everything.
They pleaded with Aaron to help them and he gave in. He made them a couple of golden calves and led the people in worship before them. This was just the kind of thing God had forbidden the people to do in the covenant that had so recently been worked out between God and the people. The very first commandment (or agreement in this covenant) says, "You shall have no other Gods before me." And the people had agreed.
But here they were. In a desperate situation. Thinking that chaos would overwhelm them if they didn't act quickly. And they forgot all that had happened and all that they had agreed to. And they acted on a bad instinct thinking it was the best way forward.
It's a common human reaction. The Hebrew people don't have a corner on acting that way. Our passage from Philippians for today shows us that the Christians there acted similarly.
We don't know as much about the situation that was occurring in Philippi - the letter to the Philippians is very brief and doesn't go into much detail. But we learn from the passage for today that Paul felt it necessary to write to this community to remind them of God's call to them.
Paul had worked with the people in Philippi to get a Christian community together. Once he felt that local leadership was in place, he moved on to build similar communities in other cities. Eventually his teachings got him in trouble with the authorities in Jerusalem. But since Paul was a Roman citizen he appealed to Rome to arbitrate the case. The letter to the Philippians was written while he was in Rome awaiting his case to be heard.
In between the time Paul left Philippi for other cities and his arrival in Rome to await his trial, the Philippian Christians had turned against each other. Something had happened - a something that is not explained in the letter. Fear had crept in. Instead of pulling together, trusting God, and uniting around God's call to mission, the people divided among themselves and set up camp behind two powerful women leaders in the community.
They let fear rule the day. They acted on human instinct instead of relying on God and they ended up fighting with each other instead of working together to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus to their community.
Unfortunately, it is all too easy for us as humans to get caught up in this kind of thinking. We are so quick to turn to ourselves to get out of sticky situations instead of turning to God and relying on God to help us through tough times.
Have you ever found yourself in a tough situation and had this same dilemma? Was there a time when you were able to stay focused on God and rely on God to help you get through it? How did you remain focused on God? What helped you to not give in to the fear and panic that so easily can overwhelm us? Would anyone care to share?
[get comments from the community]
Paul gave advice to the Philippians about how not to give in to human fears. Listen again to what he says in verses 4 and following:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
That is very straightforward advice for both the Philippians of Paul's day and for us today. Paul says that to stay focused on God and God's will for our lives we need to:
- Pray and pray often. Paul encourages us to bring everything to God so that God can help us through it.
- Meditate or think on virtuous things. It's hard to get mired down in the messiness of human ways when we keep our thoughts elevated.
- Practice what Paul preached. We are to study the Bible and use it to guide our lives. There is no better way to avoid being distracted by the voices of our society than that.
- And above all, Paul advises us to rejoice in the Lord.
Rejoice in the Lord! Because, as the Hebrew people had forgotten in our passage but were reminded of again and again throughout the Scriptures, God is the God of steadfast love and faithfulness.
Rejoice in the Lord! Because, God will be with us no matter what may come as God was so many times for the Hebrew people.
Rejoice in the Lord! Because God conquers chaos and brings peace to those who offer up their petitions to God.
Fear and chaos want to reign in our lives. Fear and chaos are very powerful forces against which our human wills can do little. Trust God to give you strength. Think on things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. And offer your fears and problems up to God seeking God's way in all that you do. And when you do, God will give you a peace that transcends all understanding.
May it be so. Amen.
Let us pray. Creator God, you bring order to chaos and make a way when none seems possible. Help us to remain focused on you. Fill us with your peace. And help us to be agents of your peace in this anxious and fearful world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
