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THE MARK OF A CHRISTIAN
(A sermon preached September 10, 2006 at University United Methodist Church,
East Lansing by John Ross Thompson)
James 2:1-10, 14-17
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Do you look at the title of a sermon and try to imagine where the preacher is
going with that subject? If you look at today’s title, you might do just that.
How dare I even begin to identify what “The Mark of A Christian” is?
It might be different if I was preaching on “One Mark of a Christian” or “The
Marks of a Christian”.
What do you imagine it might be? If you had to name one distinguishing mark of a
Christian, would it be:
Faith?
Discipleship?
Humility?
Servanthood?
Generosity?
All of them could be correct.
I realized as I studied the scripture texts for today that I consider one
particular
aspect of Christianity vital for me, as I analyze my own faith and think of
others. I’ve discovered that for me it’s a key identifying mark of Christian
faith in myself and others.
The mark is that Christians do not show partiality, just as God does not favor
one person over another. This impartiality is shown clearly by sensitivity and
concern for the poor.
In both the Proverbs and James texts for today, concern for the poor is the
common element. As you read them, you can see that the authors cannot conceive
of a person of faith favoring one group of people over another, or failing to be
generous to the poor.
In the gospel lesson for today from Mark 7, Jesus is approached by a Syro-Phoenician
woman. Jesus said he could not heal her daughter because she was not Jewish, and
his
ministry was to the Jews. She responded, “But don’t even the dogs eat the crumbs
under the master’s table?” Of course, Jesus healed her daughter, modeling for us
acceptance of all.
In the early church, people did not come to worship without caring for the poor.
Worship consisted of Holy Communion, and it was the people who brought to the
church bread, wine, fruit, cheese, oil and olives. The priest would use what was
needed for Holy Communion and the rest was distributed to those in need. Today,
our offering is one way we do the same thing. The money is not just to build up
the church organization, but to reach out to a world in need.
Is poverty an issue today? Unfortunately, it’s a growing issue.
In a world where there is enough food to feed everyone, more people are poor
than were in the past. Just 10 days ago, it was announced that in Michigan,
those at the poverty level have from grown from 10.5 % to 13.2% since 1995. In
our state, poverty is now above the national average for the first time.
There are many of us who would have difficulty if our next paycheck were
delayed, but there are numbers of persons for whom this would not only be
difficult, but would be a major crisis.
Much of our current fear about the world situation comes from our neglect of the
poor over the year. Just five years from tomorrow, September 11 woke us up to
the anger of some in the world toward us. On the fifth anniversary, we again are
in a time of grief and reflection, remembering almost 3,000 who died that day
and many thousands who have died in the years since then by terrorist attacks
and the war on terror.
In one sense, it brought us together. These words were in a recent issue of
The New Yorker:
“AFTER THE CALAMITY THAT GLIDED DOWN UPON US
OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY ON THE MORNING OF TUESDAY,
SEPT. 11, 2001, - FIVE SHORT YEARS AGO- FIVE LONG YEARS
AGO- A SINGLE SOURCE OF SOLACE EMERGED AMID THE
DREAD AND GRIEF: A GREAT UPSWELLING OF SIMPLE
SOLIDARITY. HERE IN NEW YORK, AND IN SIMILARLY
BEREAVED WASHINGTON, THAT SOLIDARITY TOOK HOMELY
FORMS. STRANGERS CONNECTED AS FRIENDS; VOLUNTEERS
APPEARED FROM EVERYWHERE; POLITICAL AND CIVIC
LEADERS OF ALL PARTIES AND PERSUASIONS STOOD
TOGETHER, UNITED IN SORROW AND DEFIANCE.”
Yes, September 11 brought us together but, in another sense, it drove us apart.
The have-nots sooner or later strike back at the haves, or support those who
oppress others.
A mark of people of faith is sensitivity to those who “have-not”.
This is what I believe Proverbs and James are reminding us today.
In Old Testament days, there was, first of all, concern for one’s own people,
the Jews.
However, I was surprised to find that it was the law in Leviticus 19:15 that a
person could not favor one person over another. It says: “You shall not render
an unjust judgment;
you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great; with justice you
shall judge your neighbor.’
Late in the Old Testament, the prophets turned to expressions of concern for the
“widows and orphans”, code words for the forgotten and needy of the day.
New Testament faith is focused even more specifically on the poor and needy, as
the ones whom Christians should serve.
How are we poor? There are many ways.
Poor financially
Poor in spirit
Poor in faith
Poor in hope
How do we relate to those who have needs?
Are we prone to judgment of their situation, or do we seek to walk in their
shoes to understand?
I have discovered that two different experiences made this scriptural focus come
alive for me.
In 1986, there was a flood in North Hills of Pittsburgh where I was pastor of a
church. That evening, I received a call asking if people who were flooded out of
their homes could spend the night in our church building. Suddenly, we were
surrounded with people from our own community who were poor, but whom we did not
know. Within two days, there was a meeting of ecumenical and religious leaders
in that community to see what we could do to help people in need over the long
haul, not just as the moment. Some visitors from South Africa, which then was
still trapped in its apartheid form of government, were surprised to see
representatives of so many churches working together to meet the needs of
others. That meeting resulted in an organization being formed, North Hills
Community Outreach, that still ministers to the needs of many.
I also one day realized that poverty existed in my own family. A beloved aunt
told me that when I sent her a birthday gift of money she would be able to get
her glasses changed or fix her teeth. I had been insensitive to the great
financial need a member of my own family had, but my eyes were opened.
Where in your life do you see those who are overlooked or in great need? What is
your plan to help them?
All of us are among the rich, if we have enough to live with some degree of
comfort. The more we have, the easier it is to become exclusive, untouchable,
judgmental, and combative. That is not the way of Jesus.
We don’t need to be like that.
We can do better, and we will!
I commend you all for what you have done as a church to reach out to others,
both in this area and around the world. However, I hope, as we launch into this
church program year, we will test what we are doing by whether or not it shows
sensitivity and concern for those who have less. When we lead with our hearts,
and share openly with each other, we build a community that models what Christ
taught.
I invite you to look around, seeing what others might not see, and reaching out
in your own way to meet that need. Then I invite you to share with others,
especially through this church, so that we might become even more of a community
of concern, and ministry to the poor.
When others speak of UUMC and the Wesley Foundation, what will they say about
us? Did we not see the need around us, or did we see it and do something about
it?
This church is a feeding station – spiritually and physically.
It is an alternative community, where we choose to be different than the rest of
the world.
It is a place where no one should be favored over another.
It is a leveling place where all of us confront our common humanity and our
sacred identity.
This church goes into the world every time we disperse from worship.
We go to our homes, and work, and school to show Christ’s compassion and
Christ’s acceptance to everyone, without distinction.
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