November 2, 2008 Message

Matthew 5:13; 25:40-4
"Risk-Taking Mission and Service"

One of John Wesley’s most famous sermons is “Almost Christians,” which he gave to the professors at Oxford University. In that sermon he talked about how many wonderful people there are in the world—people (just like us) who are trying to do the right thing but whose lives may not have been fully captured by Jesus Christ. So, what does a church look like that is filled with people who have been fully captured by Jesus Christ? And what kind of things is a church like that involved in that would make a difference?

So often ‘church talk’ is about accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and the promise of eternal life it provides. Then, that’s it. It’s as if we just sit back and wait, either until Jesus comes again or until we die. Now don’t get me wrong, our salvation is important, and eternal life is a good thing, but Jesus calls us to more. He calls us to work to bring about the kingdom of God now. Think about what Jesus said: “The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15). It’s something happening in the present tense – it is near and happening now. Those captured and transformed by Jesus have the responsibility to be involved in bringing about the kingdom of God now, not only for themselves but for others as well. It is up to us to do what God requires of us all: “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8), and to do it now, not later.

Risk-taking mission and service is about meeting people where they are, helping them, and then together discovering what God will do in our lives. It is doing the right thing because God would have us do it. Isn’t that what Scripture tells us? “Just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers.” (Jam. 1:22) “If I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2) As the body of Christ we are called to continue Jesus’ mission to “bring good news to the poor… to proclaim release of the captives… to let the oppressed go free….” (Luke 4: 18-19)

Congregations involved in risk-taking mission and service are different from other congregations. They do not ask how much a program costs; they ask how many people it will reach. They don’t talk about their seating capacity; they talk about their sending capacity. For them, it’s a matter of how many people they can send out to be involved and engaged in changing other peoples’ lives in the name of Jesus Christ. Such congregations are concerned with what is yet to be done WITH the people in need.

Our texts from Matthew are tough ones today. Jesus tells us, his followers, “be salt of the earth.” He says we have a responsibility – God’s work is ours to do. A lot of times we would rather not have that responsibility. We would rather not be salt. Being ‘salt’ that improves or changes people’s lives can be difficult. Being involved in risk-taking mission and service takes us out of our comfort zones. It is easier not to get involved.

Because, as we practice risk-taking mission and service, God’s Spirit changes us, changes others, and changes our churches. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about those over here and those over there – the sheep and the goats; he says to be over here, we are to clothe and feed and give drink and visit and comfort. It almost sounds like what we do gets us over here. And yet we know what Jesus has done is what presents us worthy before God. It is what Jesus has done that makes us so we can be over here.

Think about it, in Jesus’ story the people declared righteous don’t even know that they are righteous? “Lord, when did we care for you?” they ask. Doesn’t that tell us it’s not a matter of having a “to do” list of what must be done to be “good.” Rather, Jesus’ Spirit works to make them “good” so they can help wherever there is a need.

We are told that the righteous will inherit the kingdom of God. Does that mean we don’t earn the kingdom of God? It does! An inheritance is a gift, dependant upon the giver and given because of the recipients relationship to the giver. The kingdom of God is a gift given by God to us, because of a relationship with God. And our reaching out to serve others—of taking risks and being ‘salty,’ so lives can be transformed—has everything to do with our view of that gift and God’s grace.

If we think of God’s grace as something we earn, it is easy for us to be critical of other people and think their circumstance is their own doing. But when we understand God’s grace is a gift to us, given through Jesus Christ—then we realize how fine the line is between those of us who have what we need and those of us who do not. Seeing God’s grace as a gift opens us to reaching out in service and love to everyone in need.

Risk is relative. It is not the same for everyone. For some, it might be going out and buying things to be given to those in need. For others, it might be taking a meal to a shut-in; or going to Cedar Rapids to prepare a meal for relief workers or the homeless; or going out of state or even outside the United States to minister to others. Risk is relative and changes over time.

There are times we are faced with things that seem way too big – that go beyond risk. There doesn’t seem to be anything we can do. Yet, what we do in the name of Jesus Christ matters – doesn’t it? God calls us to do what we can. No matter how large the problem or what part of it we choose to address, what we do matters.

Being afraid of doing the wrong thing can keep us from doing anything. We don’t want to do the wrong thing and make it worse, so we do nothing. Yet when things are done in the name of Jesus Christ and with the inspiration of Jesus Christ, God redeems that work. If you feel a nudge to reach out to others, by all means do it, God will use it.

We have promised to support this church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our witness, and our service. This pledge includes the service we do for the purposes of Christ in the community as representatives of the congregation. As you look around in this community – as part of this church – where is our service needed and what are we being called to do that will not only serve others but will also build up the body of Christ?

Service projects become an entry point into the life of Christ. God uses them as a means to shape faith and to bind people into the body of Christ. Have you been nudged this week? Have you seen something on the TV news that has caused a lump in your throat or read about an injustice in the newspaper that has upset you a little bit? That’s God saying, “Hey, maybe you can help with this. Maybe you need to get involved.”

Someone has said that when Jesus Christ comes into our heart, he brings all of humanity’s needs with him. Is God nudging you? How are you going to join with those who are seeking to make the kingdom of God a reality today – and make it so, in Christ’s name. Amen

Sources:
"Claiming the Yet-To-Be in the Now", by Dan Jackson, New Covenant UMC, The Villages, FL
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase, Abingdon Press, 2007