I have thought long and hard about today’s sermon. This particular topic has been mulling around in my mind for several months. In light of certain incidents over the past few weeks, that “still small voice” down inside told me that now is the right time. Several phrases in today’s gospel reading kept nudging me into finally putting my thoughts on paper and sharing them with you. As is usually the case, a sermon of this type may offend some people. If it does, I now apologize for the offense, however, that being said, we must remember that God’s Word is not always sweet and sugar-coated.
At times God becomes angry with His creation and feels the need to chastise us. God has gone so far as to completely annihilate the whole earth, or, has destroyed complete cities for their wickedness. Because of our self-preserving desire not to be punished, we are easily offended when God’s Word reprimands us. But, why should we take offense at a God that loves us as much as our God does, even to the point that His only Son was crucified for our sake. Does God not have the right to be offensive if He so desires? Should we not be ready to accept these offenses as disciplinary measures from a loving Father?
“He called the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.” As I read and reread this particular verse, I was led to pray extensively over how it applies to me and also to each of you as members of Christ’s Holy Church. What kept coming back to me were these two phrases, “deny themselves” and “take up their cross.” I asked myself:
Am I willing to deny myself for the work of Jesus? What may I be called to do that will require me to deny myself? Just what does “denying myself” mean?
Let us begin by first trying to decide the meaning of “denying myself”. I believe Jesus is telling us that we must be willing to do things that will remove us far from our comfort zones in order to fulfill His wishes. Each of us has an area around us in which we feel comfortable. We are, all too aware of some of the things that are occurring around us but do not directly affect us, so we purposely ignore them. Instead of standing up and doing something, we will put our blinders on and pretend it is not there. That is the exact purpose of blinders.
In the days of horse-drawn wagons, occasionally one would get a horse or mule that was easily frightened, especially by sudden movement in its peripheral vision. To keep the animal from bolting at the slightest provocation, the owner would put blinders around the eyes, in effect giving the animal tunnel vision so it could not see to the sides. The blinders did not stop movement from occurring, it only fooled the horse or mule into thinking everything was all right.
The Church today, and especially our beloved United Methodist Church, is increasingly wearing blinders, to the point that all we are capable of seeing is that which we wish to see and nothing else. If there is a problem involving a stingingly controversial issue, then the blinders come out, and the problem is hidden. This is far from what Jesus had in mind when He said, “let them deny themselves.” Dare I presume to speak what was on Jesus’ mind? If we become familiar with the whole of scripture, and study the life and ministry of Jesus, I firmly believe that we are able, in some circumstances, to understand exactly what Jesus was thinking about a certain subject. This is one of those times. I believe that Jesus expects us to give up whatever may be necessary, no matter the cost to us financially, emotionally, or even spiritually, in order to follow His lead and achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. We have to be ready to step into an arena that is far away from where we feel comfortable and boldly proclaim the truth of God’s Word to any that will listen. We have to be ready to be ridiculed, called vindictive names, cursed, and maybe even physically assaulted, all for our beliefs in the truth of God’s Word. This is when most of our discomfort comes about. It is only when we are capable of assuming this strength to allow ourselves to be persecuted will we then be “denying ourselves” for the love of Jesus. This is my grasp of the meaning of “denying myself.” Whether it is right or wrong I do not know, that will be for God to decide when I stand before Him.
Let us turn our attention to another phrase that is just as scathing – “take up their cross.” In Rome a prisoner carried his own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome’s power. Jesus uses this imagery of carrying our cross to illustrate the ultimate submission required for us to follow Him. Jesus is not against us enjoying our lives, nor is He saying that we have to suffer pain to follow Him. All He is asking for is total submission to His will in our lives.
Now, the questions must be: What is our cross to bear? Are we adequately prepared to carry this burden? Where will we lay down this cross? And finally, when will the journey end? Each of us may have a different cross to bear; however, we will also share some of the same burdens. Yet, no matter the type of burden, eventually each one will bring us to the feet of Jesus. At this point, Jesus will pick up the load and help us carry it because, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Our journey will end when Jesus tells us it is time for it to end. I do not expect many of these journeys to end during our lifetime here on earth.
Humankind is very wicked; if by chance one particular form of sin were eradicated then our perverse thinking would devise another even more absurd and horrible one. One factor that makes these journeys so long and tiring is the complacency of the Church. Over the past couple of centuries the Church as a whole has moved slowly and methodically to the point where it no longer serves the God of Heaven, but instead now serves as the god of the people. The Church is afraid to stand up, be counted, and allow its voice be heard to contradict the evil that is so incessantly permeating throughout our culture. Jesus tells us, “Those who are ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Regrettably, there will be a boatload of good, upstanding, church-going Christians that will be turned away from the gates of heaven, simply because they are ashamed to let it be known that they are Christians. My friends, I can not stand here today and say if you are going to heaven, I do not even know if I will be allowed to enter. That is a decision that belongs to God alone. All I can do is prepare myself to meet Him by living a lifestyle that corresponds to how I believe Jesus lived His; that is one of faith and seeking God’s will with every breath I take.
Late last month I heard on the news that an ordained elder in a United Methodist Church somewhere in Washington State went to her bishop and told him that she was living in a “partnered, covenanted, homosexual relationship” with another woman and their son.
The bishop questioned her further and determined that she was in violation of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church; which forbids an avowed homosexual to be ordained or appointed to a church as minister. The minister was placed on administrative leave while her case was appealed to the Council of Bishops. Their determination was that this minister was not in violation of the Discipline and she has been reinstated. She is now seeking an appointment within the United Methodist Church
somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
Earlier this week another news story concerned a Presbyterian Church, USA ordained minister that has also admitted that he is a practicing homosexual. Again the Presiding Elder followed the established procedure of the PCUSA and brought charges against this minister. The Supreme Court of the PCUSA determined that, “even though the minister admitted to living with and sharing his bed with another man, there is insufficient evidence that his lifestyle is either immoral or potentially damaging to the good will of the church.” (paraphrased)
On that same news program, one of the major organizations in Judaism is now discussing the merits of the relevancy of Old Testament scripture as it pertains to sexual orientation.
Some of these rabbis believe that portions of the scripture should be removed or revised.
I realize that being Jewish, they place little stock in the words of Jesus, but I do, and Jesus said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”
These are only three examples of recent events within major denominations that not only violate their own laws, but also the laws of the very God that we profess to be serving.
The cross that I have picked up this morning is that of disclaiming the idea that the homosexual lifestyle is nothing more than an alternative lifestyle. An alternative lifestyle is living in an apartment rather than a house, of drinking bottled water over tap water, or riding a bus rather than driving. There is nothing alternative about two men or two women being together as God tells us only a man and a woman should be with each other.
By saying this, I am sure that I will be labeled a “homophobe”, or something just as derogatory. And I must ask why it is, that when I voice my opinion based upon my Christian beliefs I am labeled with derisive names, whereas, when someone else decry’s my Christian belief, they are only voicing their freedom of speech? I devoted more than twenty years of my life protecting people’s rights to free speech, and now I claim - that street runs in both directions.
We are being told that we must be tolerant toward other sexual orientations. Was God tolerant when He destroyed Sodom? Is God tolerant when He says that homosexuality is an abomination and a sin? Why do we sit back and let society teach our children that homosexuality is normal and acceptable? We must take up our Cross and stand for the truth of the Gospel. One of my favorite Bible verses is this, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Does this sound like tolerance to you?
We must protect our children at all cost and not allow anyone to cause them to sin. What cross are you willing to bear today? Christ said of Himself, “the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes...”
Are we ready to deny ourselves and live that lifestyle of Jesus? He is more than willing to help us carry our cross.
Thank You LORD Jesus.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AMEN
