“Community Based Education”
Leviticus 10: 8-11
Focus: “teach the children of Israel all the statues”
We enter into the third phase of our Back to School Series. In our first sermon we focused upon the primary goal in education is to get wisdom. We suggested that wisdom is intergenerational. In our second message we focused upon the need for healthy children and that ultimate healing comes from a child and families relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
In our text this morning, we are confronted with a different perspective of God than the loving forgiving nature and our desire to lean upon his grace and mercy. We see God in this text without patience on those who disobey his command.
We need to remember that the fear of God or respect is the emphasis found in the Leviticus particularly in Chapter 19. The Leviticus code essentially provides for us rules for communal living and rules for the proper worship of God. Leviticus constantly reminds us that God requires of us Holiness and righteousness. It points us to us that there are serious consequences for our disobedience.
Leviticus makes us uniquely aware that God has little tolerance for disobedience to his commands.
God had given Aaron and his sons the responsibility of being the priests for the people of Israel. A priest goes to God on behalf of the people. That is different than a prophet who speaks for God to the people. While we know that the veil has been broken and we can go to God unmediated. It’s good to know that there is someone who God has anointed and ordained to present the partitions of his people to Him. It’s good to know that there is someone who God has placed the awesome responsibility to live life in such a way that when they come before God. God understands that they request is not for themselves its for someone else.
Sometimes in life, you need an advocate. Sometimes in life you need help getting your prayer through. Sometimes in life you need someone to wipe your brow, sit with you, and affirm in your spirit that everything is going to be alright. Sometimes, you need a priest who God has placed in your life to plead your case.
But that priest, that prayer warrior, that man or woman of God has an awesome responsibility. They must first be obedient to God’s word. They must have their house in order. They must understand first that it me, it me, it me, Oh Lord standing in the need of prayer.
But, the priest should be the first to omit that they are earthen vessels; that they have warts, weaknesses, and waywardness. Every priest, pastor, assistant pastor, deacon, deaconess, trustee, usher, member, saint and sinner comes to God with feet of clay. They come to God with a blood stained robe. They come to God in need of forgiveness.
God can work with you if you possess a repentant spirit. God can work with you if you understand that the very best you do is but filthy rags. God can work with you if you are willing to say, “come into my heart to stay!”
Unfortunately, you find Aaron sons attempting to take a short cut in the sacrifice that is due God. They attempt to not give God their best, they give God their mess.
In Chapter 9 God had instructed Aaron and his sons on the proper sacrifice and worship that was pleasing in his sight. He allowed them to come into the tent of presence where his spirit resided. Everyone in that day was not allowed that privilege.
After received the favor of God, Aarons sons took God’s favor for granted and presented God with a sacrifice that displeased Him.
Some of us, also take God’s favor for granted. He has allowed us to experience untold joy, unspeakable joy, and we take God for granted. God has permitted us to go to places, achieve some measure of success, acquire some symbols of status; and we take God’s favor for granted. Some of us know without a shadow of a doubt, if it had not been for the Lord of on our side where would we be. Some of us know that he picked you up, turned you around, and planted your feet on solid ground. Some of us know that it was God who made a way out of no way. And, still we take his favor for granted.
God did not tolerate this behavior from Aaron’s boys. And when they presented a sacrifice that was not pleasing to God, they where consumed in the process.
Moses steps into the scene and informs Aaron that God wants, “All who serve God must respect His holiness: God will reveal his glory to his people.”
God is always saying to us, not to take his holiness for granted. We live life in such a contradictory way, that we seek to minimize the idea of holiness. Holiness is that which is sacred. Holiness is that which is divine. Holiness is that which is spiritually whole. Holiness is that which is pure. God is always saying to us; do not take my holiness for granted.
Then God says something that needs explaining. He tells Aaron and his remaining sons, not to drink wine before you enter into the Tent of Presence.
Let’s be clear, God did not have a problem with wine. Wine was a part of the daily life of the people; it was safer to drink in most instances than water. Wine was drunk at feast, at weddings, for dinner, and was given as a gift. Wine was traded and used for libations.
God did not have a problem with wine. Some of you may say, I remember the first miracle of Jesus. He turned water into wine at the wedding ceremony. God does not have a problem with wine.
The problem God has is the misuse of wine. Life has many pleasures. But when you place the pleasure ahead of God, God is not pleased. God says it himself He is a jealous God.
God tells the priest. Do not misuse the wine and it drink before you come into my presence. We sing: “bring your best to the master. Give him first place in your heart. Bring your best to the master consecrate every part.” God does not have a problem with wine, just the misuse of wine.
This brings us to our focus on community based education.
God says to the priests, you must distinguish between what belongs to God and what does not. You must distinguish between what is clean and what is unclean. Then God says that you must teach the children of Israel all my statues - all my laws.
1. Community based education is first moral education. It’s about right and wrong. It’s that training that places checks and balances in children’s lives.
I remember our Troop 560. Boys within our church and throughout this neighborhood gathered together every Friday evening for Scout Training. We had a lot of fun. But at the core of the training was moral education. A Scout must be physically fit, mentally awake, and morally straight. We learned that a Scout is
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedience, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Community based education must first be moral education.
2. Community based education must be meaningful education. In other words it should place children in right standing with God. It should be something you can use in life. The church must always be at the forefront of meaningful education. Why because we have gleaned wisdom is life? Why because our longevity has taught us something about good health? We know something. We must share what we know. We know that a pleasing personality, a sweet disposition, respect for your elders will take you along way. We know that you have to save for a rainy day. We know that God answers prayer. We know that you can’t burn the candle at both ends. We know that character is what’s meaningful in life. On of the tragedies of our day is to see young people with talent, gifts, abilities, but no character. I want you to know that talent will take you, but character will keep you.
The story is told of a young man who was being interviewed for a senior executive management position. This position had executive dining privileges. Company credit card, company car, travel allowance, performance bonuses. This position places you in line for the presidency of the company. The young man had a successful interview and they took him to lunch in the company dining room. It was one of the dining rooms where you walk through the line and place on your tray what you want to eat. The man had placed the food on his plate, but when he came to the point of the line where you would place the butter patties on your plate. He slipped a butter patty under his tray to keep from paying for it. The Chairman of the Board saw him. An remarked to the committee that we cannot hire the young man. If he would steal, he would lie, if he would lie, he would cheat. The young man lost the opportunity to be hired for an executive position because he had a flawed character. That why community based education must be meaningful education. We must teach our children the God’s way is the only way.
3. Community based education is mandated education. It is God’s laws. It is God’s word. It is an absolute. It is non-negotiable. Psalm 119 emphasizes the importance of God’s law. David says, “Great peace have they which love thy law.” Jesus after teaching the right attitude – The Beatitudes states clearly, “think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy; but to fulfill.”
Jesus ministry was to let people know that God’s law is the way to eternal life.
Community based education is mandated education.
4. Finally, Community based education must be administered by the people of God.
One of the strengths of Union Baptist Church was that many of the Sunday school teachers where school teachers and administrators. As a result, young people received seamless education. There was no bifurcation of education. Meaning there was no split in what you learn. The lessons of Sunday could be used on Monday. The people of God should never give away of right to teach our children, all the children of Israel, all the children of Upton, all the children of the world. Community based education must be administered by the people of God on behalf of God. Let me close with this story, you know it so well. Jesus was twelve years old and his family took him to church as was the custom. They left and after a while on their journey they realized that Jesus was not with them. They went looking for Jesus and it was three days later that they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. When his parents asked him what was he doing, Jesus responded by saying that I must be about my Father’s business. Point, community based education was moral, it was meaningful, it was mandated and it must be administered by the people of God: Sunday, Monday Tuesday, Wednesday and all the week long because it is God’s business.
Our job is community based education because it is moral, it’s meaningful, it’s mandated, and it must be administered by the people of God.
