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A WELCOMING CHURCH
(A sermon preached September 24, 2006 at University UMC, East Lansing, by John
Ross Thompson)
Scripture Texts: Mark 9:30-37, Proverbs 31:10-31
Nobody deserves to be nobodied.
In words, no one deserves to be made to feel like a nobody.
A recent book by Robert Fuller, former president of Oberlin College, is All
Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies and the Politics of Dignity
Fuller creates a new “ism” – rankism. In contrast to a hierarchical,
status-driven society, he asks us to notice those places where status or rank is
in our society, and then see it as something that can be challenged, not just
accepted.
Think of a time when you felt humiliated because, perhaps without realizing it,
you stepped out of the “rank” you were supposed to be in. You didn’t realize in
that situation that others felt you didn’t belong with them.
Jessica Stern has written Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants
Kill. After carrying out interviews with 75 terrorists from around the
world, she found the common thread in all of their accounts was a personal
experience of humiliation.
Are we surprised that those who are put down, strike back at others?
“Nobodying” can destroy us, yet we are all likely to do it to others.
In the Mark text about Jesus and his disciples, Jesus is discussing his coming
death, a matter of vital importance to him. His disciples don’t understand. In
fact, instead of listening to his words, they are arguing about which one of
them is the greatest.
Many of us discuss where we rank compared to others. I believe all of us are
interested in the results of such a ranking. I still recall a conversation with
two college classmates in my first or second year of college, asking questions
like:
Who is the best-looking?
Who is the most intelligent?
Who is the most athletic?
Jesus turns the table on the disciples. He says that the last shall be first.
Jesus’ answer to “Who is the greatest?” is “Whoever welcomes one such child in
my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me, but God who sent
me.”
Children – how do we think of them?
Many of us would say that they are open – receptive – creative – trusting –
innocent.
For some people today, children are so important that their whole lives revolve
around
them. In fact, some people think children rule. I know a few children who think
that, too.
(An aside – This week in our staff meeting there was a question about where we
should have our children’s worship during our morning worship service. We now
have 30 to 40 children and not enough room in other places. The Choir Room
directly under our choir loft is the perfect place in size and set-up. But if
children are in that room there might be noise that comes up into the sanctuary.
My response was, “What a perfect day to give it a try. The scripture for today
says, “Whoever welcomes a child welcomes me, and
welcomes God.”)
Jesus was not thinking of the characteristics of a child as we think of them.
He was acknowledging that children were nobodies in that day. They were
considered unimportant until they became adults. The child is the classic image
of the powerless, those without claim and without capacity to reward or repay.
Mary’s Magnificat as she hears that she will give birth to the Messiah proclaims
the theme: “Throw down the mighty from their seat, and uplift the humble and
meek.”
In the Proverbs text for today about the ideal wife, we see another image of a
nobody. Some Bible scholars suggest that this might be a shopping list for a
king’s son to find a wife. The characteristics of this perfect wife point to her
being a servant, serving her husband, not an equal partner. Her worth was not in
who she was, but in what she could do. She was a servant. She was a nobody in
the rank of society, but necessary for the somebodies to be all that they
aspired to be.
A main reason that I continue to be excited about the church is because we have
the potential to be a model for all that the world should be. We as the church
have a clear mandate from Jesus to reach out to the nobodies of our own
communities, and beyond.
There is a big difference between a friendly church and a welcoming church.
In a friendly church (which all churches claim to be), we find our friends
there, and enjoy each other. In a welcoming church, we reach out to those who
are not now included.
We want to do both, and we can, but the emphasis needs to be on the latter,
because friendships can be nurtured anywhere, but welcoming does not continue if
it never starts.
I’ve had lots of experience with “rankism” in the church as well as in the
rest of society. I have a great feeling about UUMC and the Wesley Foundation, as
communities that want to be places of equality and openness to all. I commend
you for all that you now do. I pledge to work with you to make us even more what
we can be.
I know that as we welcome strangers we welcome angels in our midst. According to
Jesus, we welcome Jesus himself. We do it out of gratitude for God accepting us
and making us full members of God’s body, the church.
When we reach out to those who are without rank in our society, we do so knowing
that this is the way God wants us to live. Christ is represented by the most
vulnerable and insignificant people, not by those we have ranked higher than
others.
Is there a way to have a “rank-less” society? Probably not, but we certainly
can do all in our power to have a church where rank is put aside, and all are
welcome at the table and in the fellowship. That in itself will be a powerful
model for the rest of the world.
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