Who Are You To Judge? #1 Series

This week we begin a summer series entitled, Tell Me A Story. “Tell me a Story” is a simple way to reference Jesus' use of parables to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

Jesus told 36 different short stories in the gospels. Telling stories is one of the most powerful means that leaders have to influence, teach, and inspire.

What makes storytelling so effective for learning? For starters, storytelling forges connections among people, and between people and ideas. Stories convey the culture, history, and values that unite people.

Today’s story comes from Matthew’s gospel in the 13th chapter. On one incredible day Jesus would share seven interrelated parables as well as an eighth unrelated one.

These were not ordinary parables. Jesus would call them the “The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” A mystery is a spiritual truth understood only by divine revelation. It is a sacred secret known only to those on the inside who listen, learn and obey. So let me tell you a story...

<Read or re-tell the scripture in two parts>

24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

A little while later...

36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man[d] is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world,[e] and the harvesters are the angels.

40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Jesus’ parable makes clear that any attempt to root out the weeds will only do more damage to the crop. This has played out far too many times in congregations and denominations, with some determined to root out anyone who does not agree with the “right” interpretation of Scripture, liturgical practice, or stand on a particular issue. There are also those who pronounce judgment on people outside the church — on people of other faiths, for instance — declaring them to be destined for eternal damnation. Whether judgment is focused within the church or outside of it, it does serious damage to the church and its mission.

We often live with the assumption that if we do all the “right” things and be kind to everybody it will all work out. But that's a fairy tale. It's an illusion the slaves in today’s parable live. “Master,” they ask the farmer, “did you not sow good seed in your field?” Of course he did. They know he did. That’s why they are so surprised when they discover the weeds. The weeds have shattered their illusion. This isn’t supposed to happen. “Where, then, did these weeds come from?”

There is an urgency to their question. They want to know what happened and who is responsible. So do we. That’s what we want to know when we discover weeds in our fields. We want an explanation and someone we can blame, hold accountable, and even punish.

Not too long ago, I had a couple show up on a Saturday looking for a church. They said they were fleeing a church they felt was crumbling due to leadership issues including not following the bible. They expressed their frustration in the things done and said. They were hurt and felt battered. They talked of withholding tithes and publically raising questions about leaders and leadership decisions. As they quizzed me on my beliefs, our structure and the vision for the future of The Center, I began to wonder if they were looking for a community of faith to join and heal or if they just needed a place they could to be in control of. And that's a normal reaction when we don't understand and don't trust God. We try to get control. We strive fix, manage and control what God has so obviously overlooked. In so doing, we put ourselves in the lead chair and more disappointment takes place.