Sunny Side Sermon Ii: Why Aruge About It When The Answer Is Obvious Series

WHY ARGUE ABOUT IT WHEN THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS?

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, my wife and I discovered a place of retreat called the Peaks of Otter. Anytime we needed to “get away from it all” we headed there because it was a short distance from where we lived in the Roanoke Valley.

We enjoyed the experience for as long as we could because we knew that, no matter how tranquil our visit to the mountain top, upon returning to the valley we would once again be inundated by the vicissitudes of life.

There was always so much that people wanted to argue about – politically, socially, economically, but most aggravating were theological disagreements. My question is: Why parse words and split hairs over matters of faith, the answers to which are obvious, IF Jesus is consulted?

We have seen before that even demons possess greater awareness of our Lord’s authority than do some of his disciples . . . Who can forget how “Legion” literally pled with Jesus to send them into the swine rather than cast them into hell fire?

Yet, despite all the arguing we may engage in, “the word is nigh unto you, even in your mouth and heart” IF a Christian will just “heed the truth, in love”!

Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James and John had returned to the valley from the mountain on which Jesus had been transfigured before them. What a spiritual moment they had experienced! “Why not just stay here?” God knows that we need a retreat - a place of refuge, respite, rejuvenation!

However, Jesus knew work still needed to be done. Folks: Think not for one moment that God is through with you! Just when you find time to relax, and are ready to forget about all the stuff going on around you, lo and behold, here comes trouble - usually from a least expected source!

No sooner had the inner circle of Jesus arrived back in the valley of reality did they hear arguing between the other nine disciples and their Lord’s enemies -who stood ready to pounce on any good wrought by Jesus, or even the mention of his name; they sought to belittle him or to besmirch any good done by him. In short, they were out to destroy his reputation and thus to dissuade his followers.

What got Jesus’ attention was not the argument, but a father who brought his demon-possessed son who needed to be healed. Jesus interrupted the arguing to focus on a need to which he was the obvious answer – Mark 9:17-29 . . .

We live in a broken world! That is the message of Mark’s account of what was going on in the valley while those closest to Jesus were on a retreat up in the mountains. All around us, and beyond, there is suffering of a magnitude we never imagined possible until technology brought the stories into our living rooms.

Notice in this story about a demon-possessed adult child that it was not his physical, or mental problem that the father was concerned about; it was his son’s spiritual condition.

Even though we know that “demon-possession” was assigned to all sorts of medical maladies back then, nonetheless such suffering was viewed in the context of Satan’s attempts to attack, disparage, destroy God’s creation.

As innocent as this “child” might have been – and much of the suffering we witness in our world is endured by the innocent – Satan and his cohorts continued to be active - doing evil and destructive work, even in the lives of the innocent . . .

Now hear this: Persons who struggle with hurts often look to Christians for help. Q: How do Christians offer help and encouragement to those who suffer? Do we act in faith and with compassion, as we should?

“If you can do anything, Jesus, have compassion, take pity on us, help us.” “If” Jesus can? Where did the one seeking help get the notion that maybe Jesus could not, would not, help? From his disciples? Do Christians ever “stutter”, “stumble”, or “fumble” around, trying to come up with an answer to a person’s need? Either Christ is sufficient for every need or he is not.

If my testimony is that Jesus has made me whole spiritually and, therefore, I can endure whatever my physical or mental malady might be; then I am ready to offer help - at least a word of encouragement - to whoever looks to me for the answer.

However, notice that Jesus turned the question back to the inquirer.

You see, the question is not, “Can Christ help?” but “Will we believe?” Here again, it’s the spiritual aspect of a situation that must be dealt with. Like someone said, “We need to cultivate a sense of the possible!” Folks: