There’s a video out there on Youtube that Pastor’s really seem to like and I think it is absolutely hilarious. The video is simply titled, Honest Preacher. The pastor comes out to the pulpit and prepares to speak and he just sighs and lays his head down on the pulpit and groans. He comes up and obviously frustrated he excitedly says, “You guys….sometimes you’re bad! Don’t be jerks. You’re supposed to be good! I’m in my office every day and somebody comes in and they’re like, ‘Hey, Whoops’ and I’m like, ‘Don’t’. He then jumps up and down flailing his arms like a cartoon character in absolute frustration then points at a parishioner and says,, (and this is everyone’s church nightmare), “And Dan, what is your deal? And if anybody doesn’t know, Dan is the worst. I took a vow to not say who was the worst, but it’s Dan. You guys are making me look bad in front of God. (Opens Bible) Oh look, what’s that? It’s Jesus and he says, ‘Stop it! He then sighs and says, “The word of the Lord” and sits down. This pastor breaks a lot of norms here, sometimes in a pretty horrific way, which puts us in a tension but we know at the same time that this is a put on, a set up and that no one is really being hurt. So….comedy. At least that’s what the proponents of BVT or Benign Violations Theory tell us. I think it can also be helpfully funny like Jesus’ humorous suggestion that people take the logs out of their own eyes before they try to take the speaks out of other people’s eyes. Actually this Pastor could do with a little closer reading of that Gospel and the Gospels and lessons that we have for this week. I say that because this is the last Sunday in the month of October which makes it the Sunday that we celebrate reformation Sunday. But if we just use the Gospel that is assigned for Reformation Sunday we miss what Jesus, from his own mouth, is the greatest thing we are commanded by God to do. Matthew 22:34-46 tells us that, “When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to hear both of these passages together. There is much to the truth of which Jesus speaks, and the truth is we often invest our energy and lives in the pursuit of our own selfish interests and we become enslaved and blinded to the truth in Jesus Christ that tells us that our lives should be focused on the love of God. He continues by pointing out that the evidence of such love is loving all of those whom God loves as much as you love and care for yourself. As human beings, we have a tendency to do or not do things based on what’s in it for us not to be motivated by the best interests of our neighbor. Luther pointed out the positive investiture in our neighbor’s welfare in his explanation of the ten commandments. It’s not just about not stealing, but quote, “to help our neighbor to improve and protect their goods and means of making a living” And its not just about lying or bearing false witness about your neighbor but quote, “ to excuse them, speak well of them, and put the best construction on everything.” And not about just not coveting but about helping our serving our neighbor and helping them in keeping their possessions. The phrase Incurvatus in se which is Latin for “turned or curved inward on oneself” is a theological phrase describing a life lived “inward” for oneself rather than “outward” for God and others. It was most likely Saint Augustine who first coined the phrase but Martin Luther expounded on it in his Lectures on Romans. He wrote, “Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin, [being] so deeply curved in on itself that it not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself and enjoys them (as is plain in the works-righteous and hypocrites), or rather even uses God himself in order to attain these gifts, but it also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake.” So let’s go back to our preacher in the video and the idea of seeking all things even God for our own sake. You guys! You’re making me look bad in front of God. We see concern not for the welfare of the parishioners but for how the pastor thinks it makes him look, you know, the guy that just broke his vow in front of God and everybody. Now we have to remember that this skit was done for comedy’s sake and there are multiple levels of humor here but it does point to some real life important truths. We like hearing hymns like Just as I Am where we hear of how God loves us just as we are, shortcomings, failings and the whole lot, but then we tend to have a tendency to have difficulty in applying that same grace where others are concerned, especially if they are somehow different from us. We also have problems putting the same scrutiny to ourselves and having the humility to look into the mirror and see where we have all sinned and fallen short. Our pastor parable might just be another clear example of another tendency we have to curve the cosmos back to ourselves. It is, in my opinion, one of the biggest, if not the biggest missteps, mistakes or outright sin that is being made in the name of our faith today. I love you by fixing you….not you you but the you you could be if you were like me, so I really love me and those who are like me. And if I fix you then I will be rewarded, because it’s the people that are like me that are the ones God really loves. We’ve turned Christianity into a competition, actually just like the one where James and John tried to snake the other disciples and let them sit in the place of honor in his kingdom. Here’s the spoiler. Jesus frowned upon it. I learned about competitive Christianity some years ago, and it took some pretty serious research and study to understand and explain it to the youth group that was with me when I heard it. The “it” is the theology or idea of the Five Crowns. Despite Jesus not mentioning it, there is a belief in a secondary reward tier in the kingdom of heaven. There is a belief that there will still be a hierarchy based on how well you scored in your earth life and that there will be prizes. My assistant will now show you what’s behind door number one. What? There’s no budget for an assistant….or a door? Ok, making do then. Proponents of this concept interpret these passages as specifying five separate crowns, these being the Crown of Life “referred to as the martyr’s crown because it is given to those who suffered for their faith, those who died for Christ; the Incorruptible Crown to those individuals who demonstrate self-denial and perseverance; the Crown of Righteousness is for those who love and anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.; the Crown of Glory is granted to Christian clergy; and the Crown of Exultation often refers to this as the soul-winner’s crown, as it is a crown given to those who brought others to Jesus. Now here’s the thing. The anticipation of a crown, a reward, a higher seat, a place at the head table, the establishment of a hierarchy is a big ‘ol curve, boomerang or yo-yo that we throw because we know it’s going to come back to us. If we are seeking to serve another in order to look good in front of God, then we’re doing it for ourselves, not out of the love of our neighbor. We know that Jesus humbled himself, choosing the role of servant, and doing works or deeds in order to get on top is not humble or very servant-like. Our neighbor is not a stepping stone to the next level. Our neighbor is a beloved child of God that deserves our love and respect for that very reason. Love your neighbor as yourself! Who of us likes to be used? How do we feel about being a stepping stone? Stepping stones get left behind in the mud so that the stepper doesn’t get their feet dirty. We must quit stepping on others and get down in the mud of life and walk with others instead of using them. We have to cut the strings on our yo-yos and just be yos and be like boomerangs that won’t come back. (What would you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back? A Stick!) The midst of suffering, need and selflessness, that is where the cross of Christ is and that is what Jesus did. It is not about what returns to us. Jesus is found incessantly caring for and serving the outcasts and those in need because they were beloved children of God, and what did he have to gain? He is Emmanuel, God with us. We are called to take off and cast our crowns before him, without strings, and humble ourselves to a life of the cross, a life of a bunch of sticks and yos fiercely loving and serving others for our neighbor’s sake and that is loving God with all of our heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as yourself. And that is the Truth, and the Truth will make you free, no strings attached!
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