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The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2006
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The 16th Sunday after Pentecost (B)
[Pr. 20] In the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you. Amen. It seems almost unbelievable, but it actually happened. A Christian denomination’s national convention about ten years ago made the evening news of the major networks – but certainly NOT for a reason it could be proud of. In fact, it was just the opposite! Almost 2000 people had gathered for that national convention where a doctrinal issue had created a whole lot of controversy. The debate at one session turned so heated and so volatile that one man actually punched another! Several moments of “fisticuffs” broke out, and the scene was recorded on videotape for the entire nation to see! The sad fact was that many good things happened at that convention, as they do at almost all church gatherings and assemblies. But can you guess what people remember? The good things were long forgotten, but the image of “Christian” people slugging it out on national television was indelibly stamped upon the minds of countless people. As one man who saw the report remarked: “That’s why I don’t want to have anything to do with the church!” Well, I personally haven’t ever seen people punching each other at church meetings that I have been part of, but there have been moments when the mood has been anything but peaceful and loving. I have been at meetings and assemblies where people have argued and argued and said some very hurtful things. All because they were convinced that they were right and others were wrong! Many Christians – including certainly many of us – may have some strong opinions about what might be right or wrong in a given situation or about a certain issue. But James in today’s second reading suggests that there is a world of difference between being RIGHT and in BEING right. According to James, the most important part of Christian wisdom is not what we know, but rather who we are in our relationships with each other. Listen again to the first part of today’s second reading– this time from The Message translation of the Bible by Eugene Peterson: “Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom – it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” (James 3:13-18) Wow. That’s a pretty powerful passage, isn’t it? And it is one that we so often fall short of living by. Getting along with each other is not always easy, because this requires a willingness for us to not always insist upon our own way. Getting along with each other requires a willingness for each of us to sometimes yield or compromise – no matter how strongly we may think or feel about something. True Christian wisdom calls upon us to do this – not because we think that we are wrong (indeed, we may still firmly believe that we are right!), but because we realize that the strength and health of our community – of our relationships with each other – is much more important than winning and having things our way. Our life together as God’s people is much more important than any differences that we might have. The fact is, fanaticism is one of the devil’s favorite tools. Bit by bit, he will try to convince us that defending and promoting our positions on an issue are more important than having right relationships with each other. Bit by bit, we may become convinced that having our way is more important than loving one another and getting along with each other. We have certainly seen this happen within our own denomination of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America during the past ten years on issues involving Called to Common Mission (defining our ecumenical relationship with The Episcopal Church) and human sexuality. These controversies have led to some interesting and not very fun moments at some Synod Assemblies I have been at – no, I haven’t seen anyone actually punch another person, but I have certainly heard some very harsh and hurtful things said. Because of these controversies, some groups and congregations have even left the ELCA. The same is also sometimes true in congregations. Many, if not most of us have experienced situations and times of conflict in a church – perhaps it has even been in our own congregation at times – which may cause us and others to think; “If that is what church is like, then I don’t want to have anything to do with it!” Yes, individuals or groups sometimes feel so strongly about an issue that they forget that Jesus is calling us to BE Christians who love each other no matter what the issue and to be at peace with each other. May God forgive us. We must take care that our words and actions do not become a source of dissension and disunity within the body of Christ. The point is that although we may sometimes disagree – sometimes even strongly disagree – we are ALWAYS called upon to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called upon to remember that the most important thing is not being RIGHT, but in simply BEING right. BEING right with God – and BEING right with each other. That is the true Christian WISDOM that James writes about in today’s second reading – a wisdom that is peaceful, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy and good fruits. Jesus says in John 13:34-35 – “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, LOVE for each other is the WISDOM that James writes about in today’s second reading. Even when we may have differences and disagreements, may we always, always remember to love one another. Then we shall be truly wise and united together as God’s people. Then we shall be able to show the world that we are truly Christ’s disciples. May this be so among us, now and always, in Jesus’ name. Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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