Faith Actually
Romans 12:9-21
Exodus 3:1-15
I am not sure if it is because I am young or a woman or within my first five years of ministry or if there is something about me that makes people feel free and safe and uninhibited, but I frequently find myself in the position of receiving advice. It is not as if I mind, but often I receive advice without prompt or invitation and it tends to come at inopportune times or occasions where conversation is difficult. But nevertheless, advice comes my way. A few months ago, I learned that it was time for me to get some glasses, so I made my way to the nearest optometrist included on my vision plan. As I sat in the chair, slowly the questions came, where do you live, how long have you lived here and what do you do? I am not ashamed of this weird and wonderful profession of pastoral ministry, but I have learned that the moment I say it out loud, “I’m a pastor,” for many, this small little sentence serves as one big bold invitation for advice. The kind gentlemen went on to share with me how active he is in his local synagogue and then it came, blasting forth with the power of a gale force wind- advice. “This is what you need to do…,” he said. He went on to tell me what to do about fundraising, what to do about being involved in the community and what to do about increasing membership. I took it in. After all, I did have one eye covered and was not in a position to say much at all. I didn’t have enough courage or stupidity to argue with the one about to shoot a laser into my pupil, but after a long oration jammed packed with counsel, he said, “Really, your job is about keeping people happy.” I smiled with my right eye covered and managed to get a few words out, “Well, I would have to disagree with you on that…” “Oh”, he said. “Faith is hard …and sometimes we are asked to get uncomfortable to follow God the way God wants us to, which means happiness is not always the end result,” or at least not happiness in the blissfully ignorant and wildly crazy kind of way. For just a moment my optometrist paused, waited and then continued to offer me advice. But I kept thinking of his words. I know he is not alone in his thinking. The happiness parade has marched through nearly every American institution and communities of faith and all things spiritual have oft been touted as the place where happiness can be found. Churches are places with God’s name on them, but places advertised as refuges of bliss in a grumpy world. But when I look at Paul’s words for us today and when I hear again of Moses’ encounter with flames and the fire of God’s voice, I wonder, is our community of faith really about happiness? Is the church really about being and staying happy?
To be sure, we are a happiness culture. Many of us learned from a young age that happiness could be found anywhere and everywhere. Happiness came in the form of a meal from McDonald’s. Happiness arrived under a tree at Christmas. Happiness was something you could buy or drink or eat. Happiness, we were told and sold is what this life is all about. So it isn’t all that surprising that we have gotten confused about our walk with God. So, is our faith really about happiness?
It has always been clear to me that God wants fullness of life for each and every human heart. I believe God wants each and every single one of us to live and love with deep and abiding joy, joy that glows from within. The Good News of Jesus Christ is indeed life and abundant life, but when I survey the calls that God issues to each one who longs to follow Jesus, I am not sure that our faith is about happiness.
Hear Paul’s words again to the community in Rome, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
It is not a list worth of a happy Hallmark card (have you seen those musical ones, imagine if the tunes played out with these words, No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”) And this is not a list that would fill our pews. Be patient in suffering, extend hospitality to strangers, bless those who persecute you, weep with those who weep, do not be haughty, if your enemies are hungry, feed them. But do you notice something about this list Paul has extended to us? There is the presence of an absence, at least from the Western perspective and that is that this list has little to do with individual needs. There is no mention of personal wants or individual desires. There is no mention of doing what makes sense for you. What is so striking on this list is that these words, these calls, these acts of faith are all about someone other than us? Shocking isn’t it? Every single command is a teeming proclamation that the Christian faith is not all about what I want, what I need, what makes me happy. Fullness of life at its core is about what God wants and Paul’s list is a long-winded way of saying to the community in Rome and to each one of us, “You, yep that’s right I am talking to you, listen up, this life, this life you are living, it’s not all about you.” Frankly it is easier to follow God here when we are invited to walk in Jesus’ footsteps in just the ways that make sense for our own personal needs. There is little required in the way of group discernment or prayer about what is best for the gathered community. But this faith, this walk we are on, this journey with God, is not just about me, or you, it’s about us. And I think this is one of the greatest gifts of the Christian Church- that by our commitment to following Jesus here, we will never be fooled into thinking that this world is as small as our own narrow vision. We will never be blinded by our own convictions. We will never get lost in the selfish oblivion that rules the day. One of the greatest gifts of the Christian Church is the constant reminder that this life we are living is not just about you or me, it’s about us. Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “At least one of the purposes of church is to remind us that God has other children, easily as precious as we. Baptism and narcissism cancel each other out.”
I believe that abundant life does not come from the drive to find personal happiness it comes from the heart of God. Abundant life is not an easy life but it is a life filled with a joy that shines beyond any need. Faith actually is a faith that does not guarantee much more than the day in day out steadfast love of God. Faith actually does not promise an easy life but it does grant a rooted life. Faith actually requires more than half-hearted handshakes, but asks commitment to love someone we cannot understand, even an enemy. It requires more than our own need for revenge, but asks instead for us to let go and invite God to soften our hearts. It requires more than what is best for you, or me but it asks what is best for the least of those among us. You see the thing about happiness is that it is fleeting. It can roll in with the morning dew and roll out when a rain comes in. What God offers us is a life that transcends personal happiness. God offers us a life rooted in holy joy. It is life abundant, racked with all the difficulty of living, but a life that cannot be moved or destroyed. It cannot be knocked down with sickness or pain. It cannot be defeated or overcome. Life abundant is life woven together with all the messiness of human community rooted in faith. Happiness comes and goes, but life with God does not. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2006. Pp. 95.