Witness: More Than Judgment
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series III, Cycle B
... I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.
-- 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NLT)
I have this hobby; well, it's not really a hobby, it's more like a habit, a bad habit. All right, if the truth be known, it's a confession. It's something that I don't share with many people. When I am alone, watching television, and no one is around, I find myself clicking on those obscure channels that feature those down-home preachers. I'm not talking about the large church, multimedia, world-class communicators. I'm talking about the guy with the black toupee with his wife at his side playing the guitar. Or the sweaty guy, wiping his forehead, rocking back and forth, and getting into this frothy, rhyming mantra. Or the one who is going hoarse, scolding the viewers about the best they could hope for was a front seat in hell. Have you ever seen them?
Here's the confession part. I'm not watching them to steal sermons or to learn about delivery or even for personal edification. I watch with some comic disbelief that they think that their message is so good, so powerful, so life-changing that they ought to be on television.
I hear anger in their voices. I hear hell. What I hear is judgment. And I think, "Does this work? Are there those who really stumble across this channel, receive a tongue lashing, and believe?" There has to be a more effective way in reaching people. Think back. Have you experienced someone with good intention witnessing to you but they just ended up doing more damage than good? If we are going to be people who live out faith passionately how do we witness, how do we share that faith in an effective and edifying way that goes beyond frightening images of hell and eternal judgment?
This is important because sharing our faith is not an option. Over 1,500 times in the Bible, it says, "Go." Go to the lost sheep. Go and tell. In Matthew 28 Jesus says, "Go into all the nations and make disciples." Jesus calls us not only to come to him but also to go for him. If you believe and don't go, you had better have a pretty convincing argument as to why you've decided to disobey a pretty blunt and plain command by Jesus to go and speak the gospel to others.
Paul had this urgency about his work. In our epistle for today, he says,
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.
-- 1 Corinthians 9:16-17
His tactic? It is to be a fellow traveler and pilgrim to walk with people in order to show them the way. He writes,
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
-- 1 Corinthians 8:20-23
How do we share the faith? For some, it is through their actions. Some say that our actions speak louder than words -- and they are right. Your actions will reveal more about your beliefs than your words. Saint Francis of Assisi said to preach the gospel at all times and if need be, use words. In other words, a righteous life will be noticed by others whereas a phony can be spotted a mile away. A godly life is your proclamation and witness. That's true.
But if all I had to depend on was just my good works, I'd be in trouble. If I thought for a minute that just living out my life, cutting my grass, playing with my children, or shopping at the grocery store would be such a beacon of light unto the whole world that they would see me, be overwhelmed by my actions and convert to Christianity, I'd be in trouble. The gospel would be in trouble. I'm not that good. (And guess what? Neither are you.) I'm glad that I have my words to share. I'm glad I can talk about grace, forgiveness, and mercy when my actions betray the sin within. But how? How do I speak? How do we become a Jew to the Jew or weak for the weak so that more can hear and believe? That's where we all need help.
We have a neighbor who moved in sometime early this summer. It was just before we went on vacation and then school started and the fall race began. You understand how that is. He is right next door and I still haven't had a meaningful conversation with him. And I want to, I want to as a neighbor and I want to as a Christian. But now it has been several months. How long are they still new?
In our home, we have divided up the household chores. My job is to walk to the end of the driveway, open up the mailbox, and bring the mail into the house. (Hey, we all do our part!) In my home, if I don't get the mail, I don't see the mail. My family divides it among themselves and scatters it throughout the house, car, bathroom, and garage. It's like a scavenger hunt to find the bills. So I've told the family that the mail is my job.
One day when I was doing my household chores, I saw my neighbor picking up his mail. We waved, called each other by name, but I have yet to take those thirty steps to his mailbox and have a meaningful conversation that goes beyond the weather. Why? You know why. Dinner's ready. I want to see my family. I've got another appointment. And sometimes, quite frankly, I'm not sure what to say or how to say it or how to raise the religion issue. So I drop the junk mail into the garbage, head into the garage, close the door and think, "I should have said something." I doubt that he sees me cutting my grass, taking out the garbage, and trimming the hedge and is coming to faith because of my righteous yard work. No, I should have said something. I should have taken those thirty steps ... but now he is inside with his family, with his dinner, with his life. Now it's too late.
Who has God placed in your heart? Who is God whispering to you, "Go to them. Take those thirty steps. Talk to them." And you haven't, yet? A neighbor who is either new or has gone through an illness, divorce, or death. A coworker who needs a friend. A family member (these are the most difficult) who is searching for answers while you are silent. I think we all have that person in our life. I think we are even convinced that we ought to share our faith to that person. I don't think that's the issue. The issue is how. How do I do that so I don't sound like a cable free-access preacher? How do I do that authentically, naturally, effectively? How do I have that urgency of Paul to enter into their world and share with them the faith that is in me? Let me give you four very practical pointers that have given me the courage to take those thirty steps.
The first pointer is purpose. You've got to be clear in your own heart why you would take those thirty steps. What is the purpose? Some people evangelize like they are pinning scalps to their belt. "I've lead 57 people to the Lord." That's not it. The purpose is that everyone with whom you lock eyes today is someone for whom Jesus died. And if they are worth Jesus dying on the cross, then they are certainly worth walking thirty steps. Let me give you some stats. If our neighborhoods were boiled down to 100 people, 96 would say that they believe in God. That's good. Less than half, 45 people, would have their names on some church or synagogue roster. That's so-so. Of those, 30% would actually go to church. That means of those 100 people, only fifteen would actually be regular worship attenders. Fifteen percent! That's not enough. John wrote his gospel for this reason: "... that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). That's the purpose. Faith in Jesus matters for eternity.
The second pointer is persuasion. People are smart these days. They go into the doctor's office more knowledgeable about a disease than the doctor. People buy a car today knowing how much the dealer paid for it. You don't have to have a seminary degree but you had better have a good understanding of the basic questions that they will ask. "Why do bad things happen to good people? What happens to the person who never has heard the gospel? How can Jesus be the only way? What do Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians believe?" Are you ready? First Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you." Get resources. Go to classes. Be prepared.
The third pointer is personal. Think back to the person who made the biggest spiritual impact on your life. Was it with judgment or with mercy? Finger in your face or arms around your shoulders? Religion or faith? Fear or forgiveness? Hell or heaven? When I think of those people in my life who shaped me most, they were authentic people who didn't have neat, academic answers but struggled with my questions, told me about their doubts, shared with me difficult life lessons learned the hard way and what God taught them about work, family, priorities, failure, death, and guilt. They could identify a turning point in their lives in which their faith was awakened and Jesus became living and real to them. Before you take those thirty steps, you had better know personally the savior about whom you about to speak. It doesn't have to be slick or rehearsed or smooth. It has to come from the heart. Here is where the amateurs always outperform the professional. They will see and believe your heart before they will believe the preacher.
The fourth pointer is pray. You might have someone in mind right now that God is putting on your heart. However, if they are not ready to receive the message, you could be Billy Graham and the seed will not grow. Pray for that opportunity. Pray for that divine appointment. When the rich young ruler came up to speak with Jesus and Jesus said, "Go, sell everything that you have and follow me," the man walked away. And Jesus let him. He let him go. Did Jesus fail? No. The man's heart was not ready to receive the message. So pray. Pray for that divine appointment. Pray for that opening. Pray for the courage to walk thirty steps. Pray for words to speak. And pray for a heart to receive. And don't give up. As a disciple of Jesus, sooner or later, we will all have an opportunity to speak in his name. We are not responsible for what people do with those words. That's the work of the Holy Spirit. But we are responsible for them hearing it.
A staff member of mine, Stephanie, told the story about a neighbor of hers whose young son was killed in a freak boating accident. They had no church. They had no faith. Stephanie wanted to reach out to them but didn't know what to say. Finally, she walked over to their home. It didn't take much. Arms around their shoulders. Tears down everyone cheeks. They were not looking for answers -- though they were filled with questions. They were not looking for Stephanie to calm their fears -- though they were scared. They were not looking for her to take away all doubt -- though they were searching. All they knew was that they were worth taking a walk across the property line. They were worth a knock on the door. They were worth a hug.
After the initial shock, they could hear the gospel for the first time. Do you know how she responded? This neighbor's first response was, "Why haven't I heard this before? Why hasn't anyone told me?" Gulp. Good question. Why not? Telling others about Jesus is the greatest thing you can do for them. It has eternal significance. Your job doesn't. Your schedule doesn't. Your mail doesn't. But Jesus does. Why hadn't she heard it before? Folks, I don't want my neighbor asking God that question -- because I know the answer. They cannot be told unless someone decides that if this person is worth Jesus dying for, he is certainly worth me walking thirty steps for. Amen.
-- 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NLT)
I have this hobby; well, it's not really a hobby, it's more like a habit, a bad habit. All right, if the truth be known, it's a confession. It's something that I don't share with many people. When I am alone, watching television, and no one is around, I find myself clicking on those obscure channels that feature those down-home preachers. I'm not talking about the large church, multimedia, world-class communicators. I'm talking about the guy with the black toupee with his wife at his side playing the guitar. Or the sweaty guy, wiping his forehead, rocking back and forth, and getting into this frothy, rhyming mantra. Or the one who is going hoarse, scolding the viewers about the best they could hope for was a front seat in hell. Have you ever seen them?
Here's the confession part. I'm not watching them to steal sermons or to learn about delivery or even for personal edification. I watch with some comic disbelief that they think that their message is so good, so powerful, so life-changing that they ought to be on television.
I hear anger in their voices. I hear hell. What I hear is judgment. And I think, "Does this work? Are there those who really stumble across this channel, receive a tongue lashing, and believe?" There has to be a more effective way in reaching people. Think back. Have you experienced someone with good intention witnessing to you but they just ended up doing more damage than good? If we are going to be people who live out faith passionately how do we witness, how do we share that faith in an effective and edifying way that goes beyond frightening images of hell and eternal judgment?
This is important because sharing our faith is not an option. Over 1,500 times in the Bible, it says, "Go." Go to the lost sheep. Go and tell. In Matthew 28 Jesus says, "Go into all the nations and make disciples." Jesus calls us not only to come to him but also to go for him. If you believe and don't go, you had better have a pretty convincing argument as to why you've decided to disobey a pretty blunt and plain command by Jesus to go and speak the gospel to others.
Paul had this urgency about his work. In our epistle for today, he says,
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.
-- 1 Corinthians 9:16-17
His tactic? It is to be a fellow traveler and pilgrim to walk with people in order to show them the way. He writes,
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
-- 1 Corinthians 8:20-23
How do we share the faith? For some, it is through their actions. Some say that our actions speak louder than words -- and they are right. Your actions will reveal more about your beliefs than your words. Saint Francis of Assisi said to preach the gospel at all times and if need be, use words. In other words, a righteous life will be noticed by others whereas a phony can be spotted a mile away. A godly life is your proclamation and witness. That's true.
But if all I had to depend on was just my good works, I'd be in trouble. If I thought for a minute that just living out my life, cutting my grass, playing with my children, or shopping at the grocery store would be such a beacon of light unto the whole world that they would see me, be overwhelmed by my actions and convert to Christianity, I'd be in trouble. The gospel would be in trouble. I'm not that good. (And guess what? Neither are you.) I'm glad that I have my words to share. I'm glad I can talk about grace, forgiveness, and mercy when my actions betray the sin within. But how? How do I speak? How do we become a Jew to the Jew or weak for the weak so that more can hear and believe? That's where we all need help.
We have a neighbor who moved in sometime early this summer. It was just before we went on vacation and then school started and the fall race began. You understand how that is. He is right next door and I still haven't had a meaningful conversation with him. And I want to, I want to as a neighbor and I want to as a Christian. But now it has been several months. How long are they still new?
In our home, we have divided up the household chores. My job is to walk to the end of the driveway, open up the mailbox, and bring the mail into the house. (Hey, we all do our part!) In my home, if I don't get the mail, I don't see the mail. My family divides it among themselves and scatters it throughout the house, car, bathroom, and garage. It's like a scavenger hunt to find the bills. So I've told the family that the mail is my job.
One day when I was doing my household chores, I saw my neighbor picking up his mail. We waved, called each other by name, but I have yet to take those thirty steps to his mailbox and have a meaningful conversation that goes beyond the weather. Why? You know why. Dinner's ready. I want to see my family. I've got another appointment. And sometimes, quite frankly, I'm not sure what to say or how to say it or how to raise the religion issue. So I drop the junk mail into the garbage, head into the garage, close the door and think, "I should have said something." I doubt that he sees me cutting my grass, taking out the garbage, and trimming the hedge and is coming to faith because of my righteous yard work. No, I should have said something. I should have taken those thirty steps ... but now he is inside with his family, with his dinner, with his life. Now it's too late.
Who has God placed in your heart? Who is God whispering to you, "Go to them. Take those thirty steps. Talk to them." And you haven't, yet? A neighbor who is either new or has gone through an illness, divorce, or death. A coworker who needs a friend. A family member (these are the most difficult) who is searching for answers while you are silent. I think we all have that person in our life. I think we are even convinced that we ought to share our faith to that person. I don't think that's the issue. The issue is how. How do I do that so I don't sound like a cable free-access preacher? How do I do that authentically, naturally, effectively? How do I have that urgency of Paul to enter into their world and share with them the faith that is in me? Let me give you four very practical pointers that have given me the courage to take those thirty steps.
The first pointer is purpose. You've got to be clear in your own heart why you would take those thirty steps. What is the purpose? Some people evangelize like they are pinning scalps to their belt. "I've lead 57 people to the Lord." That's not it. The purpose is that everyone with whom you lock eyes today is someone for whom Jesus died. And if they are worth Jesus dying on the cross, then they are certainly worth walking thirty steps. Let me give you some stats. If our neighborhoods were boiled down to 100 people, 96 would say that they believe in God. That's good. Less than half, 45 people, would have their names on some church or synagogue roster. That's so-so. Of those, 30% would actually go to church. That means of those 100 people, only fifteen would actually be regular worship attenders. Fifteen percent! That's not enough. John wrote his gospel for this reason: "... that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). That's the purpose. Faith in Jesus matters for eternity.
The second pointer is persuasion. People are smart these days. They go into the doctor's office more knowledgeable about a disease than the doctor. People buy a car today knowing how much the dealer paid for it. You don't have to have a seminary degree but you had better have a good understanding of the basic questions that they will ask. "Why do bad things happen to good people? What happens to the person who never has heard the gospel? How can Jesus be the only way? What do Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians believe?" Are you ready? First Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you." Get resources. Go to classes. Be prepared.
The third pointer is personal. Think back to the person who made the biggest spiritual impact on your life. Was it with judgment or with mercy? Finger in your face or arms around your shoulders? Religion or faith? Fear or forgiveness? Hell or heaven? When I think of those people in my life who shaped me most, they were authentic people who didn't have neat, academic answers but struggled with my questions, told me about their doubts, shared with me difficult life lessons learned the hard way and what God taught them about work, family, priorities, failure, death, and guilt. They could identify a turning point in their lives in which their faith was awakened and Jesus became living and real to them. Before you take those thirty steps, you had better know personally the savior about whom you about to speak. It doesn't have to be slick or rehearsed or smooth. It has to come from the heart. Here is where the amateurs always outperform the professional. They will see and believe your heart before they will believe the preacher.
The fourth pointer is pray. You might have someone in mind right now that God is putting on your heart. However, if they are not ready to receive the message, you could be Billy Graham and the seed will not grow. Pray for that opportunity. Pray for that divine appointment. When the rich young ruler came up to speak with Jesus and Jesus said, "Go, sell everything that you have and follow me," the man walked away. And Jesus let him. He let him go. Did Jesus fail? No. The man's heart was not ready to receive the message. So pray. Pray for that divine appointment. Pray for that opening. Pray for the courage to walk thirty steps. Pray for words to speak. And pray for a heart to receive. And don't give up. As a disciple of Jesus, sooner or later, we will all have an opportunity to speak in his name. We are not responsible for what people do with those words. That's the work of the Holy Spirit. But we are responsible for them hearing it.
A staff member of mine, Stephanie, told the story about a neighbor of hers whose young son was killed in a freak boating accident. They had no church. They had no faith. Stephanie wanted to reach out to them but didn't know what to say. Finally, she walked over to their home. It didn't take much. Arms around their shoulders. Tears down everyone cheeks. They were not looking for answers -- though they were filled with questions. They were not looking for Stephanie to calm their fears -- though they were scared. They were not looking for her to take away all doubt -- though they were searching. All they knew was that they were worth taking a walk across the property line. They were worth a knock on the door. They were worth a hug.
After the initial shock, they could hear the gospel for the first time. Do you know how she responded? This neighbor's first response was, "Why haven't I heard this before? Why hasn't anyone told me?" Gulp. Good question. Why not? Telling others about Jesus is the greatest thing you can do for them. It has eternal significance. Your job doesn't. Your schedule doesn't. Your mail doesn't. But Jesus does. Why hadn't she heard it before? Folks, I don't want my neighbor asking God that question -- because I know the answer. They cannot be told unless someone decides that if this person is worth Jesus dying for, he is certainly worth me walking thirty steps for. Amen.

