SERMON ~ 06/30/2013 ~ Sixth Sunday after Pentecost ~ “The Discipline of Freedom”

06/30/2013 ~ Sixth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Proper 8 ~ Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20; 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62 ~ Annual Organizational Meeting of the United Church of Christ, First Congregational of Norwich, NY ~ 5th Sunday Hymn Sing; A Ceremony Honoring Members in Long Standing.

The Discipline of Freedom [1]

“...you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; but be careful or this freedom will provide an opportunity for self-indulgence.  Rather, serve one another through works of love since the whole law is summed up in a single command: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Galatians 5:13.

In a recent article the well known Pastor and Author Jim Wallis addressed what he calls “the common good.”  He, in fact, wrote a book about it and he originally thought was it going to be somewhat political.  But, he says (quote): “...ultimately, what I discovered in the end is it was more spiritual than political.”

Wallis elaborates: ‘having traveled around the country speaking about the book there is a great hunger on the part of people to pursue the common good.’  On the other hand, he also saw deep cynicism about social change even being possible.

The cynicism about Washington and Wall Street is overwhelming.  Virtually no one trusts the political system or marketplace to be fair, honest, moral or even open to doing the right thing.  Most Americans seem to believe the primary institutions of our public life completely lack integrity.

Sadly, Wallis continues, that cynicism extends to churches and other religious institutions.  Why?  People do not regard religious institutions as playing an independent leadership role for the common good that can hold the other institutions accountable.  In short, when it comes institutions, including churches, there is a lack of trust.

But Wallis does not despair about either the break down of the common good nor the lack of trust when it comes to institutions.  Again, why?  As he toured around the country addressing the common good the comment he heard most from those who came to see him was this (quote): “I felt inspired tonight to commit myself and to take personal action.” [2]  (Slight pause.)

And as Paul tells us: “...the whole law is summed up in a single command: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Slight pause.)

We meet here today to do institutional work.  Whether we like it or not, whether we like institutions or not, no civilization since the dawn of time has functioned without institutions.  And that reality presents us with at least some section of the paradox Paul muses about in this reading.

If we need institutions— and history says we do need institutions— what makes institutions work?  What makes institutions responsive?  (Slight pause.)  We do.  You and I together make institutions work.  We make institutions responsive.

And how is that done?  It’s done through loving our neighbor.  And loving one’s neighbor is not easy; it never has been.  So, as Paul suggests, we need to realize what makes loving one’s neighbor difficult is that love is a discipline.

And herein lies the real paradox: loving one’s neighbor is not just a discipline.  It is an institutional discipline.  You see, as soon as one’s neighbor is involved, as soon as it is not just one person alone doing everything on their own, then, by definition, you have an institution.

What is an institution?  An institution is any assembly, any body of more than one person united.

Now, my suggestion about loving neighbor is this: the church is the only institution on the planet which can serve the common good.  Why?  The church is the only place, the only institution where our common goal, our true goal is the common good— the common good we call ‘loving neighbor.’

And how is that done?  Each individual needs to love one neighbor, then the next neighbor, then the next neighbor, one neighbor at a time.  It is on this simple precept the institution known as church is built.  Amen.

United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, NY
06/30/2013

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Congregational Response and Benediction.  This is an précis of what was said: “Now this is a real question for you to consider.  Life in the church is sometimes compared to the very institutional life called life as a citizen.  So, does our citizenship lie here, in the reality and the joys and the trials of daily life.  Or does our citizenship rest in the reality of the Dominion of God, a place where God loves all people and all people love one another.  It is a question of citizenship.  And I believe God says we are all citizens.”

COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION:
ONE:        Now go!  Go, led by the marvelous light of Christ!  Go, be a blessing!
MANY:    Let us be a blessing!  Let us be a light for the world!  Let us be the Body of Christ!  Amen!  And again— Amen!
ONE:        And may we love God so much, that we love nothing else too much.  May we be so in awe of God, that we are in awe of no one else and nothing else.  Amen.

[1] It should be noted that this sermon is shorter than one offered on a “regular” Sunday.  That is because in the course of this service there are two “special events.”  One portion of the service is devoted to honoring our members in long standing.  Another portion is devoted to our Annual Organizational Meeting.

[2] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-post-cynical-christia_b_3474122.html