Sunday, June 2, 2024
First Congregational Church of Cheshire
© the Rev. Dr. James Campbell
Mark 2:23-3:6
One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
“That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor anything to take hold of, there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.”
“Your wickedness makes you, as it were, heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock.”
Do you need a moment to recover? And do you know whose sermon that is? These are but a few paragraphs of the American literary classic entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” It was composed by the great Congregationalist minister, Jonathan Edwards, who delivered these words first at the church in Northampton, Massachusetts and then again at the church in Enfield, Connecticut. Besides being a cornerstone of American literature, this sermon helped to light a fire called the First Great Awakening – a spiritual revival that swept America.
Mr. Edwards is one of ours. We are the heirs of his legacy. But my, oh my, how his children have changed.
Edwards preached about an angry God, but we rarely think of God as being angry. Edwards spoke of the fires of hell, but we rarely mention that dreadful place. These concepts seem primitive to us, because we Christians see God through the lens of Jesus Christ; and since Jesus, apparently, was always meek and mild, then that must mean that God is meek and mild too – a rather harmless deity; more like a best friend or a co-pilot.
But it is a fallacy to say that the God of the Old Testament is the “God of Wrath” and the God of the New Testament the “God of Mercy.” A close reading of both testaments presents a more nuanced view of God: One who is indeed full of mercy. And One who is at times angry.
So, what is God angry about? Well, it’s not what most people think. God is probably not angry about those things or people that you are. Instead, the uncomfortable truth is that the anger of God is often directed at those who imagine that they are on God’s side, doing God’s work.
One Sabbath day, Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field. And their bellies were rumbling. And so, some of the disciple began to pluck the heads of the grain and munch on them.
Maybe this was upsetting to the landowner. But it was definitely upsetting to the Pharisees - those religious authorities who were charged with helping the people keep the Law of God, and thus assuage God’s anger.
And let’s be clear: there was, indeed, a Sabbath prohibition against doing any kind of work. And to pluck the grain was considered harvesting. So, when it came to the letter of the law; when it came to keeping law and order, the Pharisees were absolutely right.
But Jesus reminded them of the time when King David and his companions were hungry, and they entered the very house of God and ate something called the Bread of the Presence. And this wasn’t just any bread. It was God’s bread. It was made of the finest flour, laid on a table of pure gold, and covered with costly frankincense. They might as well have to come into this room and devoured the communion bread right off this table.
Then Jesus reminded these religious teachers that the Sabbath was made to benefit humans. It was made for our pleasure and rest. Humans were not to be slaves of an idea. And the One who said this called himself “Lord of the Sabbath.”
Then Jesus entered a synagogue, as was his custom. And in that synagogue was a man with a withered hand. And this man’s whole life had been defined by this disability. He couldn’t work. He was likely reduced to begging. And it was commonly believed that physical ailments were a sign that an angry God was punishing you. So, when this man saw Jesus, he saw the opportunity for new life.
But to heal was also considered work. And this was still the Sabbath day, about which the Law of God was clear. You shall not do any work. And so, the Pharisees, knowing that Jesus was a healer, watched to see what he would do.
Jesus called the man forward. And every eye in the room turned to look. And every voice fell silent. And Jesus asked the Pharisees: “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” It was an excellent question, because even the Sabbath laws allowed for deeds of mercy. For example, on the Sabbath you could rescue a farm animal that had gotten into life-threatening danger. So, the question was a good one – perfect for rabbinical debate. But they refused and instead were silent.
And that is when Jesus Christ, meek and mild, the friend of sinners and lover of our souls looked at these silent judges, and anger burned within him. He was grieved at their hardness of heart.
And then he said to the man: “Stretch out your hand.” And when he did, it was restored. But it was far more than his hand that was restored. His life, his livelihood, his family life, his religious life, his hopes, his dreams, his future were all restored. He was saved by the power of Jesus Christ.
But those who were more concerned about the rules, about control, about keeping people in line, had had all that they were going to take from this troublemaker. And it was at this moment that the plot to kill Jesus was laid by those who loved rules more than mercy.
And sometimes, so do we. Sometimes, we love our traditions more than mercy. Sometimes, we love our values more than mercy. We love our opinions more than mercy. We love our politics more than mercy. We love our portfolios more than mercy. So, let’s not be too hard on these people, because sometimes, they are us.
But every day, God gives us the chance to choose again, just like he gave to those Pharisees. And today is one of those days. The town has asked to use our Green to host a Pride Celebration kick off at noon. On the Sabbath. And we have the opportunity to welcome the stranger and extend hospitality and all in a spirit of mercy.
Now, here’s the thing: in a diverse community like ours, for some folks, this will seem too political and something we shouldn’t be part of. For others, you’re still not quite sure about this whole LGBTQ+ thing. But maybe you’re afraid to say that out loud here. For others, you have little patience for those who can’t get on board for this kind of event. - But here’s the other thing. No matter how we understand “the rules,” we don’t need to agree in order to be gracious and hospitable and kind. Today, we can lay aside our points of view and instead practice love and humility and mercy.
And when that day comes when we stand before Almighty God, it is always better to have erred on the side of mercy. Because what you give is what you get.
First Congregational Church of Cheshire
© the Rev. Dr. James Campbell
Mark 2:23-3:6
One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
“That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor anything to take hold of, there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.”
“Your wickedness makes you, as it were, heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock.”
Do you need a moment to recover? And do you know whose sermon that is? These are but a few paragraphs of the American literary classic entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” It was composed by the great Congregationalist minister, Jonathan Edwards, who delivered these words first at the church in Northampton, Massachusetts and then again at the church in Enfield, Connecticut. Besides being a cornerstone of American literature, this sermon helped to light a fire called the First Great Awakening – a spiritual revival that swept America.
Mr. Edwards is one of ours. We are the heirs of his legacy. But my, oh my, how his children have changed.
Edwards preached about an angry God, but we rarely think of God as being angry. Edwards spoke of the fires of hell, but we rarely mention that dreadful place. These concepts seem primitive to us, because we Christians see God through the lens of Jesus Christ; and since Jesus, apparently, was always meek and mild, then that must mean that God is meek and mild too – a rather harmless deity; more like a best friend or a co-pilot.
But it is a fallacy to say that the God of the Old Testament is the “God of Wrath” and the God of the New Testament the “God of Mercy.” A close reading of both testaments presents a more nuanced view of God: One who is indeed full of mercy. And One who is at times angry.
So, what is God angry about? Well, it’s not what most people think. God is probably not angry about those things or people that you are. Instead, the uncomfortable truth is that the anger of God is often directed at those who imagine that they are on God’s side, doing God’s work.
One Sabbath day, Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field. And their bellies were rumbling. And so, some of the disciple began to pluck the heads of the grain and munch on them.
Maybe this was upsetting to the landowner. But it was definitely upsetting to the Pharisees - those religious authorities who were charged with helping the people keep the Law of God, and thus assuage God’s anger.
And let’s be clear: there was, indeed, a Sabbath prohibition against doing any kind of work. And to pluck the grain was considered harvesting. So, when it came to the letter of the law; when it came to keeping law and order, the Pharisees were absolutely right.
But Jesus reminded them of the time when King David and his companions were hungry, and they entered the very house of God and ate something called the Bread of the Presence. And this wasn’t just any bread. It was God’s bread. It was made of the finest flour, laid on a table of pure gold, and covered with costly frankincense. They might as well have to come into this room and devoured the communion bread right off this table.
Then Jesus reminded these religious teachers that the Sabbath was made to benefit humans. It was made for our pleasure and rest. Humans were not to be slaves of an idea. And the One who said this called himself “Lord of the Sabbath.”
Then Jesus entered a synagogue, as was his custom. And in that synagogue was a man with a withered hand. And this man’s whole life had been defined by this disability. He couldn’t work. He was likely reduced to begging. And it was commonly believed that physical ailments were a sign that an angry God was punishing you. So, when this man saw Jesus, he saw the opportunity for new life.
But to heal was also considered work. And this was still the Sabbath day, about which the Law of God was clear. You shall not do any work. And so, the Pharisees, knowing that Jesus was a healer, watched to see what he would do.
Jesus called the man forward. And every eye in the room turned to look. And every voice fell silent. And Jesus asked the Pharisees: “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” It was an excellent question, because even the Sabbath laws allowed for deeds of mercy. For example, on the Sabbath you could rescue a farm animal that had gotten into life-threatening danger. So, the question was a good one – perfect for rabbinical debate. But they refused and instead were silent.
And that is when Jesus Christ, meek and mild, the friend of sinners and lover of our souls looked at these silent judges, and anger burned within him. He was grieved at their hardness of heart.
And then he said to the man: “Stretch out your hand.” And when he did, it was restored. But it was far more than his hand that was restored. His life, his livelihood, his family life, his religious life, his hopes, his dreams, his future were all restored. He was saved by the power of Jesus Christ.
But those who were more concerned about the rules, about control, about keeping people in line, had had all that they were going to take from this troublemaker. And it was at this moment that the plot to kill Jesus was laid by those who loved rules more than mercy.
And sometimes, so do we. Sometimes, we love our traditions more than mercy. Sometimes, we love our values more than mercy. We love our opinions more than mercy. We love our politics more than mercy. We love our portfolios more than mercy. So, let’s not be too hard on these people, because sometimes, they are us.
But every day, God gives us the chance to choose again, just like he gave to those Pharisees. And today is one of those days. The town has asked to use our Green to host a Pride Celebration kick off at noon. On the Sabbath. And we have the opportunity to welcome the stranger and extend hospitality and all in a spirit of mercy.
Now, here’s the thing: in a diverse community like ours, for some folks, this will seem too political and something we shouldn’t be part of. For others, you’re still not quite sure about this whole LGBTQ+ thing. But maybe you’re afraid to say that out loud here. For others, you have little patience for those who can’t get on board for this kind of event. - But here’s the other thing. No matter how we understand “the rules,” we don’t need to agree in order to be gracious and hospitable and kind. Today, we can lay aside our points of view and instead practice love and humility and mercy.
And when that day comes when we stand before Almighty God, it is always better to have erred on the side of mercy. Because what you give is what you get.
RSS Feed