06/23/2024 ~ Proper 7 ~ Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Fifth Sunday after Pentecost; 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49; Psalm 9:9-20 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16; Psalm 133; Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 ~ VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/967859292?share=copy
The Present Tense
“For God says, [and here Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah] / ‘At an acceptable time I heard you, / and on a day of salvation I helped you’ (unquote). / See, now is the acceptable time! See, now is the day of salvation!” — 2 Corinthians 6:2.
Someone recently said they thought I knew a lot about history, especially church history. But I am in no way an expert. On the other hand, I need to admit I am a bit of history geek and probably know more about history, in particular church history, than the average bear. So let me offer some history about the National Council of Churches.
In the first decade of the Twentieth Century many American churches in the Christian tradition realized the irony of proclaiming the gospel of Christ and its message of love in a culture where there was blatant injustice. For instance, churches knew Americans of color lived in hostile environments, were ostracized from employment lines, feared for their lives, and were often forced into segregation and incarceration.
Additionally, many lower-class Caucasian Americans— immigrants and working poor— worked on hardscrabble farms or dangerous factories for inadequate wages. Child labor was common.
Some church leaders had, themselves, been active in the abolishment of slavery and realized the churches would have to work together to address the challenging social conditions in the United States that was happening in 1900. And so the Federal Council of Churches, predecessor of the National Council of Churches, was formed in 1908. Today this organization represents a range of denominations from Greek and Russian Orthodox to Presbyterians to American Baptists to United Methodists to Episcopalians.
At its founding in 1908 the Council adopted a Social Creed. (Note: for those watching the video at this point due to a power outage the lights went out. The Sound system and the video system kept running on battery backup. The video continues but it is a little dark.) Some of this 1908 language will sound archaic but the proclamation did contain these statements.
Churches must stand for equal rights and justice for men in all stations of life; the right of workers to protect against hardships often resulting from swift industrial change.
Churches must stand for the principle of conciliation and arbitration in industry; protection from dangerous machinery, occupational disease or injuries; abolition of child labor; regulation of the conditions of toil for women; gradual, reasonable reduction of the hours of labor to the lowest practical point; a degree of leisure for all, a condition of the highest human life; release from work one day in seven.
Churches must stand for a living wage in every industry and the highest average wage each industry can afford; the most equitable division of the products of industry that can be devised; a suitable provision for the old age of workers and for those incapacitated by injury; an abatement of poverty.
The statement ends this way. To the toilers of America and those who by organized effort seek to lift the crushing burdens of the poor, to reduce the hardships and uphold the dignity of labor, this council sends the greeting of human brotherhood, the pledge of sympathy and of help in a cause which belongs to all who follow Christ.
Again, that was written in 1908, contains some archaic language and yes, some strides forward have been made. But clearly, many of the issues addressed in this 116 year old document still seems relevant to a frighteningly large extent— American Church history— fascinating. [1] (Slight pause.)
This is what we hear in 2 Corinthians: “For God says, [and here Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah] / ‘At an acceptable time I heard you, / and on a day of salvation I helped you’ (unquote). / See, now is the acceptable time! See, now is the day of salvation!”
In this reading Paul says some amazing things. The especially Apostle says God listens and hears. What? God listens… to us? Remarkable.
O.K. Put that aside. What is the time, the situation to which God refers? I need to say two things here. First, Paul quotes Second Isaiah, a passage probably written in the 6th Century Before the Common Era when the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon.
And, of course, the Apostle writes this message in the middle of the First Century of the Common Era, hundreds of years later, during the reign of the Roman Empire. When Isaiah proclaims this message from God to the Israelites it is meant to be an immediate call, a message to the Israelites for their time and in their time.
And despite the centuries which have passed since Isaiah, Paul quotes the Prophet who is addressing the time, the situation in the 6th Century B.C.E. And this Apostle’s message in the First Century of the Common Era is also in the present tense. What does that say to us?
Given both these perspectives, I think we are meant to hear these words written centuries apart and centuries ago in the present tense today. “Now is the acceptable time.”
What are we to make of that? (Slight pause.) My take: I think we are called to and need to participate in the Dominion of God, right here, right now. (Slight pause.)
Why? I think these words say something very basic about us, those here gathered in this place, at this time as the people of God. We need to be aware of where we are now. We need to be aware of where we need to grow as we move forward in our relationship with God in our time.
Given what this passage says, I think the imperative of now is a message we are meant to hear. I suspect that’s the point the Prophet and the Apostle are making, especially in times which might be perceived as difficult. And if I do know something about history I know this: both the Prophet and the Apostle lived in difficult times.
When the Prophet wrote the Israelites were trapped in Babylon, trapped in captivity. The Sixth Century Before the Common Era was era was a difficult time.
The Apostle to the Gentiles writes at the height of the Roman Empire, an era during which nine people out of ten people were trapped in what we today would call slavery. The First Century of the Common era was a difficult time.
And yes, I don’t doubt this for a minute: many think today is also a difficult time. Perhaps that’s part of the point— this time, now, our time which is seen by many as difficult— this time is the acceptable time. Now is the time for us to take a stand for God’s justice, God’s equity, God’s peace, God’s hope, God’s freedom, God’s love.
Now is the acceptable time for us to strive to live by standards beyond reproach. So, I think a basic question which needs to be asked is one of self examination. Where have we been less than ethical by breaking God’s covenant? After all, when we break covenant with anyone— anyone— that fails to be ethical.
I am also convinced knowing the history of these words is helpful. Why? This message, handed down to us from Isaiah and then through the Apostle is clear. And if we know its history, this history of these words, I think it becomes more clear.
Now is the time to be reconciled with God. Now is the acceptable time for us to examine our own standards. That is what Isaiah and Paul said in their time. That is what the Federal Council of Churches said in 1908. That’s just history.
So now is the acceptable time for us to participate in the Dominion of God, the Realm of God. Now is the acceptable time to embrace God’s love in this, our time, our world, which so often feels broken. This is the acceptable time to embrace God’s love for this, our world, this world so in need of God’s love. Amen.
06/23/2024
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “Earlier I mentioned ethics. What most folks don’t realize is what is an ethic is. It’s merely a piece of history frozen in time which changes over time. The ethics of today are of our time. After all, it was once considered ethical to own, to enslave another human. But to recognize that ethics change is also to recognize what does not change is the love of God. What we must strive to do is to match our ethics, the ethics of our time, match them to the place where God and the love God offers feels tangible. I think most of us label that place of love with these words. Love God and love neighbor.”
BENEDICTION: May the peace of God, the presence of God be with us this day and forever more. And may we love God so much, that we love nothing else too much. May we be so in awe of God, that we are in awe of no one else and nothing else. Amen.
[1] The information given here is from the website of the National Council of Churches and has been slightly edited for this sermon.
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