Psalm 27:1, 4-9 One thing I have asked…to live in the house of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:10-18 …united in the same mind and the same purpose.
Matthew 4:12-23 Follow me and I will make you fish for people.
I.
For years, I have struggled with that strange phrase (Mt 4:19) translated in the modern bibles as I will make you fish for people (New Revised Standard Version). Older translations (RSV, KJV, and even the 1971 rather radical French Catholic effort, The Jerusalem Bible, has Jesus saying similar words, except in language we now frown upon as sexist: Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Either way, fishing for people or fishing for men is strange language to most ears.
But strange or not, these words did not seem to deter the Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John from dropping everything and following Jesus. If we take Matthew seriously, there is an imperative in the language. These young men are so moved by Jesus’ words that they take them as a command to immediately follow, leaving all responsibilities. Even the honored vow to respect their elders is superceded, as James and John leave their father, Zebedee shorthanded to tend the fishing business. Jesus is either some sort of a mesmerizing character or he has such a compelling message that he cannot be denied.
Clearly the church through the ages has argued for the later position. The young rabbi was gathering his disciples to whom he would impart his message of God’s incarnate love for humankind. Jesus would show them by word and example what God can do in and through men and women to bring healing and peace, hope and resurrection to disheartened peasants and prophets and priests alike. There would be a short three years of discipleship education, a time in which the young men would learn how to preach and teach and reach others with this holy Good News; only three years that the group of followers would have to learn and to add to their ranks. And it happened. As people heard and experienced Jesus’ message, they could not help but share it with their families and friends.
First a reform effort within Judaism, the Jesus’ movement burst forth after the Crucifixion and Easter morning on Pentecost when disheartened followers, newly emboldened by the Spirit, became the Church, a separate faith dedicated to sharing the Gospel with all who would listen. Wholly convinced that God was with them, they courageously ignored efforts of synagogue and empire to suppress their ministry. Peter and Paul and others preached and ministered to Jew and Gentile alike, developing inclusive small churches far beyond Israel. The Good News was bursting forth and could not be contained. Even when misappropriated for the political purposes of the Roman Empire, and by countless other evil leaders in other times and places, the Word has survived, offering a message of God’s hope and love even to this day. Indeed, you and I are here because of the efforts of followers who have been moved to follow the strange command to be fishers for people.
II.
Now don’t get nervous. I am not necessarily asking Rock Spring Church to move out to the street corners and hand out religious tracts, though it might be an interesting experience for us to try. But Annual Meeting time is a good moment to consider exactly what it is that we are being asked to do as this particular church in God’s realm.
We take scripture seriously but not always literally. To take scripture seriously is give this morning’s gospel lesson serious attention. How is it that we are to be fishers of people? I would argue that Rock Spring shares the Good News of God’s inclusive love and acceptance of all people regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, physical ability and any other category we might consider. And, in our attitudes and in all of our ministries within the congregation and to the community, society and wider world, we are eager to reach out to all people with this inclusive love of God, as we have experienced it here. This is our kind of evangelism. Living inclusiveness in word and deed, but mostly in deeds of kindness and advocacy.
So we are being fishers of people. Not perfectly. For we are still human. As we move forward from here, a challenge ahead of us is to consider how to be more fully open to effective ministries to and with new neighbors from Central and South America, as well as to more Black and African Americans. It would seem that national politics may be getting ahead of the Church on this one. Occasionally, the Church has to run to keep up with our‘still speaking God.
Jesus urged his disciples never to loose heart. He said one time that he had not come to bring peace but a sword. Occasionally, the Church must be troubled and challenged to keep faithful. It must ask itself hard questions. Some on my mind today for Rock Spring include these…
-It is fine to declare ourselves Just Peace, Open and Affirming, A place of sanctuary for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, interested in Our Whole Lives Sexuality Curriculum for our Children and Eco-Justice friendly. All of these efforts are Gospel-driven and full of opportunities for sharing our faith. But, each takes much work and commitment to bear fruit. Sustained effort over time- measured in years- will be needed to live into these commitments. Are we ready to make that kind of promise?
-Involved in making that promise is stretching to provide the level of professional staff necessary to support the volunteers who are charged with the success of these programs. Having three full time ordained pastors is essential for a church of our size and energy level that desires the breadth and depth of this kind of ministry.
-Rock Spring’s call is a ministry of justice and witness at home and around the world. We live on a shrinking planet with rapidly expanding, ever more urgent challenges to be met. Global warming, poverty reduction and non-violent conflict resolution are three of the most urgent issues to be addressed. Locally hunger, affordable housing and employment are crying for effective new initiatives. We dare not just preach about these issues. Through our Boards of Stewardship and Social Action, and our strong support of our United Church of Christ’s Our Church Wider Mission), we are engaged here and around the globe. In this, we share our call to the fishers of people.
-Our people, new friends and members and long-timers alike, have yearning for progressive education in the faith, comparative religions and theology. What does it mean, for example, to take the Bible seriously, but not literally? What did Jesus really say? What relevance does the Old Testament have for progressive Christians? We cannot know something of the breadth and depth of God in Christ if we do not study toward an adult understanding of these issues. Rock Spring’s growing adult education program is essential to its future.
-At the same time, a progressive congregation needs opportunities for the Spirit within to flourish. Women’s spirituality and support groups are vital and flourishing. All that we now lack are similar experiences for men. My prayer is that in 2008, a new initiative in this area may develop.
-Still another hard question for Rock Spring is how committed we are to maintaining strong support for the outstanding music program for all ages that we saw demonstrated in this service. Choir and instrumental music are ways of educating generations of church children, men and women in the faith, as well as enhancing the spiritual experience of worship. Thanks to outstanding professional leadership, we are doing a wonderful job. But it takes continued support to keep such staff, as well as a fine organ and other supports.
-A church like Rock Spring knows how to do transitions from one long-time senior pastor to another. We have done them before and will do so successfully this time. But the process will be help enormously by the employment of an able interim senior pastor. Today’s annual meeting will hear a report on that search committee’s progress and address the attendant budget issues.
-Finally, a growing, stretching progressive congregation that is seeking to be faithful to Jesus’ message and commandments, according to church consultants, will always be just a bit shy of its financial goals; always short on seating space at its larger Sunday service and always very short on parking! Such issues will trouble leaders and challenge members year after year. Beware of a time when such issues no longer are discussed!
III.
Paul writes to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1) about unity in their bickering congregation. There were many teachers, many loyalties. He was troubled that they would break apart with all the hastles. He wanted them to come together, united in the same mind with the same purpose…
But even Paul would have admitted that he did not mean by unity the squelching honest debate of differences of opinion and approach. The healthy congregation welcomes diverse points of view, respects and considers each as necessary input for the development of strong decision-making. Annual Meetings need each of us. Strong churches see good attendance and honest, loving discussion at such gatherings. I know that will be the case today.
We have important work to do as the Rock Spring family gathers around the family table.
For today, we will do no less that affirm and re-affirm Rock Spring’s call to ministry…
…what we do with Jesus’ command to follow Him…
…to be fishers for people.
Peace and love!
Amen.