Silliman University Church Reflections

I received a text message not too long ago saying, “L8s m8 2nyt 7 BO Elders opus Ccil dccion.” You can imagine my alarm. This looks like a coded war message. It turned out, someone had given my cellphone number to someone from another church, and wrong sent the message to me. So I txtd back, hus dis pls? In these times of instant communication, we often receive text messages and phone calls from complete strangers. It is now possible for anyone to call or txt another person, anytime, anywhere, if one knows the other’s phone number. And how easy it is now for phone numbers to be circulated through business card. Messages are transmitted so quickly now we have to be sure, who is calling please? Hus dis pls?

The problem is easy, a matter of putting on the right channel, or texting bk, or asking who is calling please? Technology solves this problem quickly. But to know when God is calling, is a different problem altogether. For many people young and not so young, God is just not on the screen. Not on the same wave length. Not on the same channel. God is far out. So to sense that God is calling, you have to be tuned in. You should have some background, sensitivity, skill, to hear God. Be somewhat weird.

The boy Samuel had no background. It was weird 3 times being called “Samuel, Samuel”. 3 times he goes to Eli thinking he is calling him. 3 times he is told, I did not cally you. Go back to sleep. Philip knew Jesus before he was called. But Nathanael did not, and so he doubted at first can anything good come from Nazareth?

How do we discover we are being called? How long does it take for us to decide to accept or reject the call? What actions do we take to respond to the call?

Step One. Discovery

Samuel heard someone calling him 3 times. 3 times he went to Eli. 3 x Eli said I wasn’t calling. Samuel wondered: Who’s calling please? Finally Eli realized God was calling Samuel. So he gave him instructions on how to discover the purpose of God’s call. Philip was discovered by Jesus and called him follow me. And then Philip found Nathanael and told him about Jesus, and called him come and see. And before Nathanael could do anything, Jesus called to him with information about him, where he was, what kind of person he was.

Notice, it is God who calls first. God discovers us as we are, where we are and calls us to serve him. God acts first, then we respond. The first step is to discover God in your life. And for most of us that begins at baptism. It is at Baptism where God first encounters you. The process begins there.

And that beginning is important. The first step is an important step. Having a relationship with God is a very important step. It is God who begins this process, God comes to you, God discovers you as a baby, when you know nothing about God yet. God calls first.

Step two, the Decision.

Most of us have been called into a relationship with God through Baptism and then the next step is what are you going to do with that baptism? What happens next in that relationship? You have to make a decision.

Philip made a decision to follow Jesus’s call. When God called Samuel the 4th time Samuel knew it was God. He decided to answer, he said, “Speak, for thy servant hears.” And Samuel began to be a great prophet.

And what of us? God has discovered us at our Baptism, he has called us to be his, what is our decision? What do we do with that call?

Some have called those who sit on decisions, as tire-kickers. People who go shopping for a new car, they discover the cars, go from one car to another. They kick a lot of tires, but they never buy. There are many tire-kickers, who visit churches. They see and hear, and even once in a while are moved by the words and experience, but they never intend to buy, never intend to grow in their relationship with God. Discovery is meant to lead to decision. Our discovery of God’s action, leads us to decisions that make us grow in faith.
 
And as we move from beginning to the next decisions, we realize how firmer we believe.

Let me illustrate this through a story. An Olympic diver was driving his car over a bridge when he saw a young woman jump into the dark river. Nobody recognized the Olympian. He could have just pretended to be blind. But he stopped his car, looked over the edge at the dark water below, saw the girl, said a prayer, and dove into the water. That is the feeling when we let go of ourselves, to become more than tire kickers, but buyers, to make a decision to let go of my life and allow God to have full control? It is faith, faith in God’s promise that allows us to develop a fuller and richer life with God.

You have seen this in people who give more of themselves to others. Husbands loving wives more. Parents loving children more. Students become more responsible. Teachers becoming more diligent. Patriots loving country more.

Step 3, the action.

Samuel and Philip put their decision of faith into action. Samuel said to the Lord here I am send me, and Philip asked Nathanael to come and see the Messiah. And Nathanael made a declaration of faith, saying: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Acting on faith is exhilarating. Once we learn to dive, we become more confident and sure. When God’s grace is shared, God is pleased and the spirit fills us to do more.

Being attuned to God will allow us to live our lives differently, our actions will be less selfish, we desire to love more, we desire that people know more that God is in their midst. And changes begin to happen. People become less skeptical. They learn to be more faithful. No, we can’t always be a loving person. But the more we try the more we become. Sometimes we will fail, sometimes we will turn people off, sometimes we will misunderstand the message, we only need to ask, who is calling please?

There are times when the word of God, becomes a thorn in people’s side. Maybe God intends it so. We need to keep challenging ourselves, to continue to grow and mature in faith. God is always calling. Maybe its time to ask, who is calling please? Maybe you need to decide what to do with your baptism? Maybe you need to keep trying to be brave.

(Sermon delivered Silliman Church Sunday Jan. 18, 2009)

The Radical John Baptist

Mark 1:4-11

The Gospel writer Mark, begins his story with John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Mark does not have a birth story of Jesus. The other Gospels begin with Advent and Christmas. Mark begins with Epiphany when Jesus is manifested as God. That’s when a voice from heaven said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” And the heavens open and the Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove. …

Imagine John the Baptist being a bishop today and visiting Silliman. What would he say to us?

He wouldn’t be wearing the bishops purple shirt and white clerical collar for sure. You would see a rugged man with a dishevelled look and matted hair. And to be honest, he’d probably look more like a Japanese straggler than a nicely dressed professor.

And if you asked him if he had any dietary preference, he would tell you he’s vegetarian. He will say “Well actually I only eat locusts and honey.” And the Cafeteria will be at a loss. Where can they get locusts in Dumaguete?

He wouldn’t be comfortable in Silliman Alumni Hall either. He sleeps in caves or under the skies. I wonder what his topic of conversation would be with you over the dinner table.

John the Baptist had few social graces. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came, did he welcome them as honorable persons of the religious establishment?

Did he smile and exchange pleasantries over breakfast? Did he try to engage them in conversation about their work and their own perspective on religious matters? Did he meet with them at the Bethel Guest House to further ecumenical unity.

No! But he did call them a bunch of poisonous snakes that were soon to be consumed by the flames of hell?

Not the way to make friends was it?

And his sermon in Silliman church, would he have told us simply to go on “loving one another?”

Or would he have preached a message of repentance - with fire and enthusiasm.

He wasn’t a conformist. John the Baptist was not a conformer. The world, in which we live - demands conformity. It demands that we think and act just like everybody else. Those who have the courage to resist may face great opposition and ostracism in their life.

Henry David Thoreau the great American writer once said: “If a man does not keep pace with his peers, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.”

Do you hear a different drummer? Are we listening to the voice of God inside of us. We are called, as Paul says, not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may discern what is the will of God.

John the Baptist called a spade a spade. And when he talked to King Herod, he told him bluntly, Herod you are committing adultery, you should stop.

And that eventually cost him his head. But he didn’t care to please the King. He cared only for God.

He came “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk 1:4)

He washed them as if they were dirty. But wasn’t that the message? In God’s sight they were dirty – because God has absolute standards.

Remember what Jesus said: If you look at a woman lustfully – you have committed adultery with her in your heart. (Mt 5:28) God has high Standards. Even your thoughts count.

There are three R’s associated with repentance.

1. The first is Recognizing our sinfulness

God has high standards and we need to recognize that we fall short of them. That’s recognizing our sin. V5“The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him, confessing their sins and were baptized in the Jordan River”

We too have confessed our sins in our Prayer of Confession. “ O God our Redeemer, save us from all the sins into which we so easily and so continually fall

2. The second R is Receiving God’s forgiveness. God Almighty forgives me despite all my imperfections. Because of Christ, my sins are gone. God holds no grudges, He keeps no record of wrongs. He forgives me completely.

The people that came out to John received God’s forgiveness. Today, this same forgiveness is available to you and me.
That’s what the Assurance is all about: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine…Know you are forgiven and restored…

3. The final “R” of repentance is a Reformed life.

 “In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are and direct what we shall be”

I don’t see how kissing the foot of the Black Nazarene can change anything. Do you? Reformation can.

Conclusion: If John’s challenge is going to mean anything today, I need to recognize my own sin…To receive God’s forgiveness and to reform my life…

The question I need to ask myself – and perhaps you might like to ask yourself is:  “Where have I fallen short of God’s standards in my life? “

Have I loved God, with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and with all my strength?

Perhaps we can look back just this week on our actions, on the way we have dealt with people around us.  Am I challenged to renew my relationship with God. To think about the time – or lack of time, I devote to Him?

Do I only spend time with God because I have to? Or do I really love him enough to listen to his word, to find out his will for me in my life. To spend time with my heavenly Father, each day?

John the Baptist’s message is radical. It is revolutionary because it is meant to bring change. But we need to recognize our sins…Receive God’s forgiveness and to reform our lives. Happy New Life!

(Sermon delivered Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, 8 am Udarbe Memory Chapel)