September 28 2008
Pr. Robert Goldstein
Jesus' Debate

Friday night's debate echoed what happens when Jesus meets the Jerusalem Temple leaders. Just as McCain and Obama sparred verbally with each, so also do the chief priests and Jesus. Just as McCain and Obama represent two political parties representing different visions for America, the chief priests and Jesus represent two visions for Israel. Like McCain and Obama, who represent the clash of power of people and ideas, the chief priests and Jesus are colliding powers.

Jesus has created a movement for change and understandably the establishment sees this as a threat and Jesus as a very dangerous nuisance. Jesus' first act in Jerusalem was to cause chaos in the Temple precincts by throwing the moneychangers out. Then, he heals people in the Temple and children are chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." Now the Temple authorities realize just how dangerous Jesus is. The next morning as Jesus enters the temple the chief priests challenge him in front of all the people. No doubt they think they can make a fool of this underclass upstart, so they, the authorities of the Temple, ask Jesus who authorized his actions. This is how any institution thinks. In front of the crowds their debate begins. Jesus, like a good politician, answers by diverting the question. He counters with a deal, "If you answer my question I will answer yours." No challenge arises to this. So Jesus surprises them with his own debating skills when he asks a question about John the Baptist so that any answer the authorities give would put them in a bad light with the crowds. So they decline to answer and thus are humiliated in front of all the people when Jesus carries out the deal: "so now I don't have to answer your question as to my authority."

Jesus now has the momentum so he tells a parable of a father with two children, one of whom told his father that he would not do what his father charged him to do, but then did it, and a second child who said he would do what the father wants, but then doesn't. Jesus asks the chief priests, "Which of the two did the will of his father?"

The chief priests fall right into the trap when they respond correctly, "The first." -that is, the one who disobeyed first, repented and went and worked as he was asked. Jesus drops the zinger: "Tax collectors and prostitutes, whom you marginalize and despise in the name of God, disobeyed like that first child, but then changed their lives when they heard John the Baptist. You didn't! That's my authority!"

Now where are we going with this? This is not a sermon just on Jesus' gifted debating skills. For Jesus, the parable centers on whoever actually "does" the will of God over against those who merely talk about it. So this brings you and me squarely into the picture. Are our "yes's really yes -do we carry through?

When someone asks us: Where does your authority lie to be a church, to preach the Gospel of Jesus? We should respond: "Tell me how I am doing and that will tell you." If we are visiting the sick, caring for each other, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, helping those who live at life's many edges, helping the poor and humbly confessing our sins, then we will show where our authority comes from. However, if we cannot say much for our actions, then we better convert, change our minds and believe in the Gospel of Jesus. For we have to walk the talk and by doing so we honor the homeless and the prostitutes on our streets. Is that offensive? Hmm…

When you struggle over a challenge confronting you, or struggle to do what you know you should do, you are not alone. Sometimes others can help you. But sometimes we have to do it alone. But, we are not alone, for the Holy Spirit is with us to give us the strength and peace to work what needs to be worked through. Sometimes the Spirit appears among others who come to help you. Sometimes the Spirit appears when you are most alone. But, in Christ, we are not alone.

For 18 years St. Francis has challenged the authorities of our national church. We were forced to break from their authority for a higher authority -because they either demanded celibacy of only LGBT clergy or encouraged seminarians to lie to enter the holy ministry. This last week, the new bishop of the Sierra Pacific synod, who had participated in the Pride Parade, called on his synod to end discrimination of LGBT people and to work for the removal of that discrimination in the national church. Our prayer is that he will not waver in this conviction. But it also suggests that some of the chief priests are showing leadership rather than demanding authority. This coming change also affects the future mission of St. Francis. As long as there is discrimination in church and society whether in America or all over the world we continue to have a role to play in the liberation in Christ.

Right after the bishop spoke I had the opportunity to address all the synod clergy and lay leaders present and I invited them to participate in St. Francis' Dialog Dinners. St. Francis was suddenly and newly perceived as participating in the forces for reconciliation in the synod. You and I have an opportunity for Christ to break down walls through us. Will you be prepared to be such a diner? We will need you as this project takes off. For by breaking bread and telling and listening to each other's stories we build relationships in Christ and come to respect each other.

Again, perhaps some chief priests can change. It is God who has worked this through the Holy Spirit in the Gospel. But we, and many others throughout the church, have not only used many words in articles and arguments, but above all, we have shown our faith in works of love and justice. We have walked the talk. That's the best preaching, the best authority.

The world is changing before us. A revolution in gay rights is taking place around the world. We are part of this revolution and those Dialog Dinners are an outward expression of our love in Christ in furthering this revolution.

Remember, it was Jesus who quoted from Isaiah:

The Spirit of God is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of God's favor.

This speaks to oppressor and oppressed. To let the oppressed go free. Go free…. Amen