Truth tellers? Just who do we think we are?!

July 8, The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9)

[Anecdote]

It had been raining for days and days, and a terrible flood had come over the land. The waters rose so high that one man was forced to climb onto the roof of his house to avoid the floodwaters, faithfully praying to God to save him.

As the waters rose higher and higher, a man in a rowboat appeared, and told him to get in. “No,” replied the man on the roof. “I have faith in the Lord, the Lord will save me.” So the man in the rowboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters rose higher and higher, and suddenly a speedboat appeared. “Climb in!” shouted a man in the boat. “No,” replied the man on the roof. “I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me.” So the man in the speedboat went away. The man on the roof prayed even harder, knowing that God would save him.

The waters continued to rise. A helicopter appeared and over the loudspeaker, the pilot announced he would lower a rope to the man on the roof. “No,” replied the man on the roof. “I have faith in the Lord, the Lord will save me.” So the helicopter went away. The man on the roof prayed again for God to save him, steadfast in his faith.

The waters rose higher and higher, and eventually they rose so high that the man on the roof was washed away, and alas, the poor man drowned.

Upon arriving in heaven, the man marched straight over to God. “Heavenly Father,” he said, “I had faith in you, I prayed to you to save me, and yet you did nothing. Why?” God gave him a puzzled look, and replied “I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you expect than that?”

We tend to see what we expect to see and hear what we expect to hear.  Pre-conceptions are powerful enough to inhibit our ability to accurately perceive, see, and hear proclamation of truth… particularly when the truth being proclaimed is a threat or challenge to the status quo we’ve become accustomed to (no matter how unhealthy or dysfunctional). 

Such was the case with the man on the roof in the story – so set on his imagination of how things should work that we fails to take advantage of three life-saving offers.  Such is the case often with biblical prophets such as Ezekiel, Jesus, and Paul, who proclaims truth but are not ‘heard’ or heeded by their contemporary listeners who are too wrapped up in their own circumstances, culture, and conventions.  And, such might be case with us – either when we’re attempting to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:14) to our colleagues or when we’re unable to hear what is being proclaimed so clearly right in front of us.

[Personal examples]

“Who does s/he think s/he is?”  “Who do you think you are?”   An old adage says that familiarity breeds contempt; I.e., we don’t often respect someone (or what they say to us) we know well the persons history and faults.  Granted, sometimes this is prudent.  And, sometimes this is a problem – like when we preclude the possibility that something wise and true can come out of the mouth of someone who we otherwise have diminished in our own preconceptions.

Who has had this experience at work, in your family, or right here at St. Paul’s?  You’re trying to make an important point but are dismissed or ignored because of other’s prior relations with you and their pre-judgment that you’re always too (fill in the blank) or prone to (fill in the blank).   Granted, if you have a history of words and actions that are incongruent – that is to say that you often say one thing and do another – it’s understandable that people have come to ignore or dismiss much that comes out of your mouth.

And, how often do any of us do this to others that we believe we already know ‘all too well’ to give them much of our precious time and attention.  We smile and pretend we’re listening, but our inner voice is already dismantling their words, assigning mal-intent to their actions, and otherwise diminishing the person’s standing and stature – all in an instant almost unconsciously.

[link to lessons]

(Ezekiel 2:1-5) Do you imagine that Ezekiel’s prophetic words of judgment and call to repentance was well-received by the rebellious people of Israel in their Babylonian exile?  How do you imagine Ezekiel feels when God commissions him to go preach to the “obstinate and stubborn… whether they hear or refuse to hear”?  Though just a mere human being (ref: frequent references to him being ‘son of man’), Ezekiel is told that the Spirit will be with him and essentially he shouldn’t worry so much about the outcome of his prophetic mission as much as remaining faithful and consistent in his proclamations of truth.

(2 Corinthians 12:2-10)  And what about the apostle Paul? He so often seems to be swimming upstream and speaking about Good News to people reluctant to hear it from him, someone they know used to persecute and support the arrest and murder of Christian believers.  And, it what we heard today, we know that he’s having to defend his credibility before an audience who is more accustomed to heeding the words of more dazzling apostles of greater standing and reputation.  Paul, a proud and smart person, is constantly being challenges to humble himself and surrender conventions of prestige and authority in order to authentically proclaim the truth that he has come to know about the power of God’s love and grace being revealed and perfected through the realities of human weakness and vulnerability.

(Mark 6:1-13)  Then, of course, there’s our vivid Gospel lesson in which that ‘kid from Nazareth… the child of the carpenter and Mary, sibling to those other rural kids we know...’ comes back to his hometown only to discover, to his amazement, that their preoccupation with his humble past was not only causing them to take offence at his presumption to speak truth with such authority but was also inhibiting their faith in miraculous possibilities and hope in a new future.

[risks and opportunities]

We see these prophets for who they were… in retrospect and because of the credibility we’ve vested in these scriptures as authoritative.  But at the time, how hard must it have been both for emerging believers to hear truth being spoken from unlikely sources and to step out of the crowd and walk a different direction based on what they were hearing and seeing.  How much steadfast strength in faith was required of ‘prophets’ large or small who sought to continually speak truth even when it wasn’t expedient, convenient, or safe?

I imagine that the Holy Spirit is calling us to heed the wisdom in these lessons right now in our common life – as citizens of this nation, as members of this communion and denomination, as families, and as a community here gathered in St. Paul’s name for the sake of Christ.

There are risks here that we presume to know the whole truth or to have all the answers – that’s not what God called our prophetic ancestors to, nor is it what is expected of us.  We’re called to share our personal testimony and story with faith and love, trusting the Spirit will fill-in blanks, help with translation of meaning, and shape the outcomes.

There are also risks here that in times of change and transition, nationally and locally, that we prematurely and presumptuously cut off or tune out to the hard truths that are being proclaimed to us because of our previously held biases toward the source of potentially prophetic words or actions.

And, as you should imagine, the opportunities, if we remain open-hearted and open-minded, are vast and beautiful.  The Spirit might be acting and speaking through the words and actions of unlikely people right now, just as it has done in the past.  If we’re open to what is being proclaimed and revealed, perhaps we will choose to heed warnings to change our ways as well as accept challenging invitations to step into new possibilities for life together.

[So, what are we to do?]

We’re being called to approach our work ‘out there’ as well as ‘in here’ in fresh, new ways – with eyes and ears of resurrection possibility.

Let’s work on being more discerning, humble, and faithful in our own proclamations as well as listening for and gleaning from the proclamations and prophetic witness of others.

When imagining the possible futures for our nation, our community, our family, and our church, be clear about and consistent in what we’re proclaiming as good news to others.  Be bold and faithful enough to continue speaking prophetic truth in love, even at risk of embarrassment or rejections? (to family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, strangers)

And, as we venture forward together in the transitions and changes ahead (on so many fronts in our lives) let’s be mindful of preconceptions that prematurely arrest our ability to see and hear anew what might be presented to us in the actions and words of others, particularly from those who we believe we already know ‘all too well.’ 

When we experience others sabotaging someone’s credibility, take a stand and invite us to reconsider the possibility that the Spirit is speaking, even if in challenging ways through unlikely people.  Perhaps even pro-actively create safe space for people to speak what’s really on their hearts and minds with the assurance that every voice and opinion is welcome as we discern together how the Spirit is currently at work in our midst.

Beware of negativism that can kill new life trying to sprout up: E.g., “that’s never worked before…”; “we’re not / you’re not [fill in the blank] enough”; or “I doubt we can….”

We’re being called right now to repent – to turn around – to get new perspective on our situation and circumstances. 

We’re being invited into discernment about possibilities.

God is with us. 

"Thus says the Lord GOD. ‘Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.’” (Ezekiel 2:5)

[the Lord] “said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ …. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:9-10)

Jesus commands us to speak.  Christ compels us to serve.  He has given us authority.

AMEN.