MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX
A. This Memorial Day will have a special meaning for veterans of WW 2, & indeed for our whole nation. As we all know, 1995 marks the 50th Anniversary of the end of WW 2. The loss of life was enormous, & the brutality of the war crimes uncovered was inhuman.
A heavy price was paid to stop the surge of oppression & tyranny. To all those who helped pay that price, we owe a great debt of gratitude. By many of us your sacrifice has not been forgotten. We remember, & we thank you!
But, can a nation forget its heritage? Can it forget the basic principles on which it was built and the price paid for them? Yes, it can.
ILL. Did you see the headlines in yesterday’s paper concerning the defacing of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen? Col. Tom Hobbs said that he felt "Just empty, because of what the Memorial means to me. `Hurt’ can’t even begin to express it."
Retired Sgt. Major Steigerwald said, "It’s really disappointing... People sacrificed their lives to preserve the freedom we all enjoy." There is something wrong when people deface what represents so much to this country.
Yes, most of us would agree that there is something wrong today in our land. America has a problem, & many are quick to identify what they believe to be the problem & how to solve it. But I think that there are too many who do not recognize the problem for what it is.
The problem with America is not money, or anything money can buy. Though our nation is prosperous & materialistic, money is not the problem.
The problem with America is not education. Educational opportunities are everywhere, & people have more knowledge than they use. This is not to say there are no problems in our educational system, but most problems in our schools & colleges are simply a result of a much bigger problem.
The problem with America is not entertainment. People will always find ways to be entertained. It’s part of our human nature. People enjoy recreation & entertainment & will find a way to engage in it.
The problem with America is not even government. Every society in history has had some kind of government, with one or more people in charge. This is not to say that there is nothing wrong with our system of government, especially with "big government." There is a lot that needs to be changed.
However, America’s problem is rooted in something much more serious than any form of government or problems our current government might have.
You see, the problem is that America is largely a secular society, proclaiming secular values. And as a society, America demonstrates very little of a lifestyle exhibiting moral & spiritual values.
B. Now when we talk about the Christian view of life in contrast to the secular or worldly view, I think we can see it rather clearly in the Beatitudes, found in the 5th chapter of Matthew.
The first Beatitude says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Just turn that around & you’ll recognize the secular view which seems to say, "Blessed are the rich in possessions."
The second one says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." But the world says, "More blessed are those who can laugh their way through life & never have to shed a tear."
And on this Memorial Day weekend it seems appropriate that we pause to consider more carefully this beatitude which talks about mourning.
ILL. Three couples had gone to church one evening, & then decided to go out together to a restaurant to eat. The restaurant was crowded so they were ushered into a noisy room & told to wait there until their table was ready.
Almost immediately a smiling waitress came up saying, "Welcome to `happy hour.’ What would you like to order from the bar?" They replied that they didn’t care for anything from the bar. Then, about 10 minutes later, the waitress came back & delivered a second `happy hour’ speech, & once again they graciously declined to order.
As she left, one of the husbands turned to his wife & said, "Do you suppose they deliberately delay seating customers, hoping we’ll order something from the bar while we’re waiting?" So when the waitress came a third time to deliver her `happy hour’ speech, the wife said to her, "Ma’am, we’re all Christians here & we’re about as happy as we’re going to get. Would you please just take us to our table?"
C. The Christian view & the world’s view of happiness are different, aren’t they? But when Jesus says, "Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted," it almost sounds like a contradiction. Because what Jesus is saying is - "blessed" or "joyful" are the sad. How could that be? How can you be joyful when you’re sad?
PROP. To deal with that question I’m dividing this sermon into 3 parts. First, we’ll talk about laughing, then about mourning, & then about blessing.
I. LAUGHING
A. Laughing? Yes. People are beginning to realize more & more how positive a force laughter can be in our lives. It has been proven that humor not only makes you feel better, but it also speeds up the healing process.
Proverbs says, "A merry heart does good like medicine." It’s like an elixir that brings healing into our life because it eases our tension, lifts our spirits, & melts our hearts.
ILL. This reminds me of a story I read recently about a man at Los Angeles International Airport who was worried about missing his plane. He had no wrist watch & could not locate a clock, so he hurried up to a total stranger & said, "`Scuse me...could you give me the time, please."
The stranger smiled & said, "Sure." He set down the two large suitcases he was carrying & looked at the watch on his wrist. "It is exactly 5:09. The temperature outside is 73 degrees, & it is supposed to rain tonight. In London the sky is clear & the temperature is 38 degrees Celsius. The barometer reading there is 29.14 & falling. And, let’s see, in Singapore the sun is shining brightly. Oh, by the way, the moon should be full tonight here in Los Angeles, and ..."
"Your watch tells you all that?" the man interrupted. "Oh, yes...& much more. You see, I invented this watch, & I can assure you there is no other timepiece like it in the world."
"I want to buy that watch! I’ll pay you $2,000 for it right now." "No, it’s not for sale," said the stranger as he reached down to pick up his suitcases. "Wait! $4,000. I’ll pay you $4,000, cash," offered the man, reaching for his wallet. "No, I can’t sell it. You see, I plan to give it to my son for his 21st birthday. I invented it for him to enjoy."
"Okay, listen...I’ll give you $10,000. I’ve got the money right here." The stranger paused. "$10,000? Well, okay. It’s yours for $10,000 even."
The man was absolutely elated. He paid the stranger, took the watch, snapped it on his wrist with glee, & said, "Thanks" as he turned to leave. "Wait," said the stranger. With a big smile he handed the two heavy suitcases to the man & added, "Don’t forget the batteries."
SUM. You see, it is not always easy to find something to laugh about in this world. But when you do, it can have a positive effect on your life.
II. MOURNING
A. Now how about our mourning? How can Jesus say that we are blessed when we mourn? Can mourning be positive? Or is it always negative?
When Jesus says, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted," the word "mourn" which He used is the strongest word in the Greek language to indicate the deep sadness that is felt when a loved one dies.
B. You see, I think there is possibly a deeper meaning to this Beatitude. I believe He is teaching that we ought to mourn over our sins, & that our mourning comes when we finally recognize how wretched we are because of our sin.
There are 3 words that describe the process that leads to repentance. The first is "regret," where you begin to realize intellectually that what you have done is wrong.
Then secondly, there’s "remorse." When remorse takes place we begin to feel guilty for what we have done. But it’s still not repentance.
The third word is "repentance." In repentance, our will takes hold & we begin to change the direction we’re going & to change who we are. We begin to stop doing those things that are displeasing to God, whatever they might be. That’s when our mourning can truly be called a "blessing."
ILL. The prodigal son went through that same process. He looked at his sin & recognized that what he was doing was wrong. He began to feel guilty, & then said, "I’m going to change what I’m doing & go home. I’m going to go back to my father," & he did it. Now that’s repentance, & it came as a result of mourning.
C. The world may be flippant about sin but when you realize what sin brings into your life it’s hard to make jokes about it any longer.
ILL. Foster Brookes stands before the TV cameras & portrays a lovable lush, & the world laughs at him as he acts like he is drunk. But if alcohol has made its way into your family, & you’ve watched relationships destroyed, & seen the tears & the hurt, you won’t laugh because it is not really funny to you.
ILL. When a drunk walks down the road & staggers as he puts one step in front of another, Jay Hamilton asks, "Is that comedy or is it tragedy?" He goes on, "If it’s my son it’s not funny, it’s tragedy." When we see the consequences of sin it’s no longer funny.
ILL. Jeff Ohm, member of the Houston Oiler’s football team, was driving last year while intoxicated & wrecked his brand new Cadillac, throwing his best friend to his death. He felt so guilty after that accident that he got a gun from the back seat of his car & took his own life. That’s not funny, people.
That shows the consequences of sin. We can make racial slurs. But if you’re the victim of racial bias, it is not funny to you. We can laugh about politicians & athletes who are sexually promiscuous. But I doubt very much that Magic Johnson is laughing at those jokes anymore because he has felt the consequence of his sin.
We can laugh at pornography. But if you’re the victim of incest you won’t feel like laughing. We can laugh at the corruption and greed in our country. But when you watch this great land going down the tubes it’s not funny anymore. It’s just not funny anymore.
ILL. The old preachers used to say, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go & keep you longer than you want to stay. And it is going to cost you more than you want to pay." Those words are still true today.
D. When the Apostle Paul describes the decadence of Rome in Romans 3, he ends that description with these words, "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Now that, people, also describes our country today. We have left God out & because we have left God out, we are now experiencing the consequences. And the eternal consequences will be Hell.
III. BLESSING
A. Finally, let’s consider the blessing. How can Jesus say, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted?" How can He say, "Joyful are those who are sad?"
Here is the reason - because of the assurance of forgiveness. We gather here as the church & we rejoice because Jesus is our Savior & He has forgiven our sins. That’s the reason we can laugh & smile, & enjoy our fellowship together.
ILL. VVCC in Dallas, where Dennis Slaughter ministers, has adopted a sister congregation in the Ukraine, formerly a part of Russia. Recently they had an exchange of some of the leadership of the 2 congregations.
In telling about the visit of the Ukrainians, Dennis said, "They are still wrestling in the Ukraine with whether or not it is all right to laugh in church. Well, they were in our services a few weeks ago when Ron Key & I sang our annual S.S. picnic announcement song. And our rendition of that song has become one of the more hilarious events in the calendar of our church."
Dennis says, "While we were singing I kept watching them out of the corner of my eye, wondering how they were taking it, especially Peter, an old man with bushy white hair & blue eyes who is a stern disciplinarian."
Dennis says, "When we were visiting his church in the Ukraine I saw him stand in the pulpit & point his finger at people who are misbehaving in church & discipline them. You see, there is just no laughter in the Ukrainian church. It’s not considered acceptable behavior. So I wondered about his reaction.
"When they were getting ready to leave Dallas I asked them, `What will you probably remember the most about your trip to the U.S.?’ Old Peter replied that the thing he would remember the most about the U.S. is our laughter. He added, "There are rich people in the Ukraine like you, but they walk around with frowns on their faces. You walk around with smiles on yours."
Dennis says, "It is interesting what Peter will remember the most about his trip. I’m glad he experienced it. I’m glad he saw the smiles on our faces & the joy that is in our hearts."
B. How can we smile? Why do we rejoice? Because our sins are forgiven by Jesus; because we no longer carry that burden; because Jesus Christ took it to the cross & it was nailed there with Him.
ILL. About a year ago I used an illustration that I think fits very well in here. So please permit me to use it again. Richard Hofler, in his book, "Will Daylight Come?" tells of a boy who went to his grandparents’ farm for the summer. Jimmy made himself a slingshot & practiced shooting it, but he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.
One day his grandmother’s pet duck was in the backyard. On a whim, he shot at it with his slingshot, & lo & behold, he hit the duck in the head & killed it. He panicked, dragged the duck behind the barn, & buried it under some straw. Just then his sister Sally came around the barn & said, "I saw what you did with that duck." He begged her not to tell.
That evening, Grandmother asked Sally to do the dishes, but Sally said, "No, I think Jimmy would like to do the dishes tonight, wouldn’t you, Jimmy?" And she whispered to him, "Remember the duck." Jimmy did the dishes.
Later that night, Grandmother asked Sally to carry some clothes upstairs for her. Sally said, "No, I think Jimmy would like to carry the clothes upstairs, wouldn’t you, Jimmy?" Jimmy carried the clothes upstairs.
For a day & a half, Jimmy was Sally’s slave, until finally he could take it no longer. In tears he went to his grandmother. He said, "Grandmother, I’ve got to tell you what I did. I didn’t mean to, but I hit the duck with my slingshot & killed it."
Grandmother said, "Jimmy, I was watching out the kitchen window, & I saw what you did, but I love you & I wanted to hear you say that you were sorry. It’s all right; you’re forgiven." And Jimmy was free.
SUM. Sin makes us slaves to the dictates of this world. It makes our conscience hurt. It limits our effectiveness. But the good news is that Christ came, He saw what we did, & He will forgive us & release us from our sin if we will only come to Him.
Psalms 30:5 says, "Weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Isn’t that a great promise?
Now we weep, but one day we will rejoice for all eternity. Now we weep & grieve over our sins & our world. But one day we will laugh & rejoice in the victory that has been won for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
CONCL. This morning, if you have never known the freedom of having your burden of sin lifted & covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ we give you the opportunity to change that. We offer this time of invitation. We invite you, if you have a public decision to make, to come forward & join us here as we stand & as we sing.
