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Sermon for Sunday June 1, 2008
“Family Matters –Faith Issues”
Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 1:3-7
Words cannot adequately express our appreciation for our week in Scotland. In the words of the Scottish, it was “lovely.” Actually, it was more than lovely. We saw a part of the world that we never thought we would see and saw history come alive in so many ways. The words ‘thank you’ seems so very trite. Part of the experience also had to do with the people we met. Our group had 38 people on it. All of us were from the United States except for Liz who was from Australia. We were from California to Virginia and in between. We ranged in ages 86 – 22. And we were different.
I was the only minister in the group. We were given a card that listed all the names in the group. Mine was listed as Rev. Robert Thompson. As we began to get to know one another, we would introduce ourselves. “My name is Robert Thompson.” More often than not the response would be, “Oh, you’re the reverend.” Sometimes it was said in an accusatory way, other times with a sense of apology, some looked at us as somewhat ‘odd,’ and still others, “well, now that I know it, what do I do with it?” With very few exceptions, I quickly learned that although there were some people we developed a real affection for, there were still very few who were even familiar with faith; faith in God much less faith in Jesus Christ. They were nice people, good people, for the most part polite people who appeared to be moral people, but not faith people. Eventually the distance lessened with some of these folks and we did not seem to be such an enigma but it took time. Some became interested in what it meant to be a reverend and even began to ask questions at least about church. Some were very clear that they were not believers. One fellow confessed he did not go to church very often; his wife said that it was less than that. We did meet three Presbyterians and four Methodists and one guy whose grandfather was a Baptist minister which was not a source of particular pride for him.
Now, I tell you all of that because it made me wonder all over again about whether or not the generations to follow will have faith. I live in a somewhat “faith” world. I know that even in the “center of the universe” there are plenty of people who have no interest in church or faith, but nevertheless even the issues of faith are somewhat acknowledged. But will our next generation have faith in the Living God?
I do not want nor do I believe faith is to be legislated. Faith is not a government issue; it is an issue that is to be shared and witnessed by those who are believers.
So we look at the Bible and read Proverbs 22:6. This verse is a tough verse for many people because they are followers of Christ and yet they do not find their children having the same faith. The verse does become an admonition that those of faith are to be mentors to those who follow. You and I cannot make the next generation people of faith, but we can model and mentor it. It is our responsibility to mold, shape, lead and guide them. We speak them and there is certainly no substitute for setting a good example. That’s what led the hymn writer to write the words to that simple little hymn…”Let Others See Jesus in You.” “Your life’s a book before their eyes; they’re reading it through and through….”
Dr. Robert Sloan, former president of Baylor University reinforces this in his article,
“If we want our children to embrace a way of life that is consistent with the gospel, then we must connect our inner life with God to the way in which we act. If we pray that our children mature to dream dreams worthy of the Kingdom, then we must allow a Kingdom vision to guide our lives. In other words, we must be examples of faithfulness to our children.”
That is why I love that passage from Timothy. Eunice and Lois were living examples of a “passed on faith” to Timothy. You and I are to be those that “rekindle the gift of God” to those around us and following us. They will not know if we do not live and share.
The gospel story tells us that we are to be lights to the world, a world that is getting consistently consumed by darkness. All you have to do is pick up the newspaper or look at the news at any given hour.
Into this darkness, a light is needed to shine so that society is challenged, changed and redirected. Society needs something that will lift it to new possibilities.
Who should bring this light to the world? Perhaps it needs to be the people who live by a higher standard of behavior than the rest of society; the people who have a different morality; those who have a good Book to guide them and keep them on track. Who should bring this light to the world? Children may know the answer in that little song, “this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” If you let your light shine, you will make a difference, you may also get burned because there will be some who don’t want to be transformed and hear the message of Jesus. It may cost you and me, but it will make a difference. If I did not believe that, I could not stand here.
The moment before he was shot to death in church, Arch bishop Oscar Romero said to his congregation, “We know that every effort to improve society, above all when society is so full of injustice and sin, is an effort that God blesses, wants and demands. We have the security of knowing that what we plant, if nourished with Christian hope, will never fail. This holy Mass, this Eucharist, ‘this supper,’ is clearly an act of faith. This body broken and blood shed for human beings encourages us to give our body and blood up to suffering and pain as Christ did, not for self, but to bring justice and peace to our people. Let us be intimately united in faith and hope at this moment.” At that point, guns rang out in that sanctuary and Oscar Romero died for his faith.
What will you do with the issues of faith that others--- your children, my children, your neighbors, my neighbors, my town, your town, your world and my world may know of the redeeming love of Christ? As we come to the Table this morning, guns won’t ring out, but how I pray that as we eat the bread and drink the cup, it will give to us a hunger and a thirst to be the lights of the world. After all, someone may not know if not for you.
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