The Constant Battle
Romans 7:15-25
Of course, for all of you who were there, you know that our Pride weekend last week when wonderfully well. So many people put in some long days, hard work and extra patience. Thank you for letting our world know that All God’s Children is here and to see the wonderful people and ministries we have to offer. Is anyone here today who decided to come to worship after seeing us in the park last weekend? Of course, we owe a special thank you to a little guy who stole the show during the parade. As a result of this little guy, AGC was the feature photo for the Star Tribune’s coverage. And Rev. Robyn was the feature photo on the Kare11 website coverage.
Today’s scripture is one of the most complex readings from scripture you’ll hear. It is as easy to get lost in all the “dos” as it is in the logic that Paul is trying to explain. In a way, that’s the point. These faith journeys we are all on are often complicated by the messiness of life, the ambiguities of choices and the weighing of conflicting values and purposes. So if you thought you weren’t following everything that was being said in this scripture passage, don’t feel alone. Even theologians come down all over the map about what Paul is talking about here. So let’s see if we can figure out something from this text that speaks to our lives.
Our scripture for today talks about sin. Some have claimed that we don’t talk enough about sin around here. The reality is we talk about it every week. We just name it in all of the myriad manifestations that it shows itself. Plus, many of us have been part of churches where the concept of sin was used so maliciously as a weapon of conformity that I would assert it amounts to spiritual abuse. Some of you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, consider yourself blessed.
Sin is such a value-laden word. It is used to talk about individual mistakes as well as the human condition. It does seem to be an insidious part of human experience. The word used in scripture that we translate as “sin” simply means “brokenness.” That term carries the original understanding of the concept and is understandable to people who don’t speak “churchese.” The reality behind the concept is the same. No matter how much we pray or how many good deeds we do or how much we believe or how often we come to worship or how much we give or don’t give to the work of the church, we find tentacles clutching part of our hearts or our imagination or our will. It always seems to be close, sometimes just outside of conscious awareness. That’s usually when it ends up biting us in the… but I digress.
Have you ever had one of those moments like Paul was describing from his life in our reading? Why did I do that? That wasn’t what I wanted to have happen. How did it get so messed up? I was trying to do something “good” and it became twisted or misunderstood and now the shards of my attempt are glitter around my feet. Or maybe I wasn’t trying to do something “good” so what was it that motivated me down the road of doing something that was so detrimental to my well-being?
Sometimes we act as if God is some divine Santa Claus – handing out presents to all the good boys and girls of the world. The power of this scripture is that it reminds us that it is in our times of profound brokenness that we often experience profound grace. I can tell you from experience that it has been in my most painful times in life that I have discovered the truly amazing grace of God’s presence to heal. Although it doesn’t have to be this way and I don’t believe it is the ultimate will of God for it to have to work this way, still it sometimes takes a jolt to get our attention.
And it came to pass that Pat was not feeling very well and decided to go to a doctor.
While waiting in the reception room, a nun comes out of the doctor’s office. She looks very ashen, drawn and haggard.
Pat is called in next and says to the doctor: “I just saw a nun leaving who looked absolutely terrible. I’ve never seen a woman look worse.” The doctor says: “I just told her that she is pregnant."
Pat exclaims: “Oh my, is she?”
The doctor responds: “No, but it sure cured her hiccups.”
It would be a whole lot healthier spiritually if we could all recognize the ways that we are messing up our lives, missing the point, drowning out the voice of God with distractions, and instead choose the best option from the myriad of choices presented. But when we don’t, sometimes a jolt will get our attention.
The good news is that what we often can’t do for ourselves, the Presence of God does for us. Through the experience of Jesus – the experience of grace – we are given the incentive and the will to not allow those old habits, bad decisions, faulty judgment or grumpy irritability define how we live towards the future.
This is not cheap grace. What we’re talking about here are real challenges in all of our lives. We own that there are things about us that are broken. We tell the truth when confronted with our own failures. Because it is when we recognize the ways we are broken that we are freed to reach out for God’s grace to heal. Grace doesn’t simply rescue us from poor choices but uses the experience to steer us to better choices. Grace is not about giving you a free pass, getting off the hook, dodging the bullet or sticking it to the man. Grace happens when we receive these kinds of experiences into our lives, own them, seek restoration and learn from them because we are able to reach deep into our hearts and discovering gratitude.
Are you getting the enormity of this reality? No matter what bad decision; no matter your poor choices; no matter your impulse reaction; no matter the painful memories that cloud your mind – you are not beyond the reach of grace. Thanks be to God!
The same is true for our world. No matter how economic strategies have devastated less-advanced neighbors; no matter how war is used as the ultimate bully tactic; no matter that poverty and racism and sectarianism are used to hold masses under control – our world is not beyond the reach of grace. Our voices make a difference. Our loving heals the wounds. Our courage inspires others to be brave.
Just as it takes each of us individually owning our brokenness, working for restoration, learning from mistakes and committing to making better choices for the future, so we as a community, a state, a nation and a global community can find the same path to wholeness. There is no person and no entity beyond the reach of grace. Thanks be to God!
Sources:
www.homileticsonline.com Clam Chowder Christians, July 2008.
http://www.beliefnet.com/dailyjoke/DailyJoke.aspx?QID=0