April 29, 2018 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

"Are We Divisive Characters for Jesus?"

Audio Clip

A few weeks ago, my youngest daughter and I made our annual pilgrimage to Fenway Park for Opening Day.  While we were there, I was reminded of how sports crazy our region is when I noticed thousands of men, women and children wearing Red Sox jerseys.  When I was thinking about it later that evening in prayer, a question popped into my head --- "As a people, do we love Jesus as much as we love the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Bruins or the Celtics?  The answer that I imagined I might hear from a local sports fan was, "Of course, I love Him much more than I love the Red Sox, the Bruins or the Celtics --- but, not as much as I love the Patriots!"

These PDAs --- public displays of affection --- with our sports heroes are celebrated in cultures throughout the world.  Yet, each day, it appears that public displays of affection for Jesus are often ridiculed and systematically eliminated while secular forms of expression are praised --- even within the world of sports.

In recent years, an NFL player was mocked by many in the media for repeatedly taking a knee to pray after scoring touchdowns, as another NFL player was praised by many in the media for taking a knee in protest during the National Anthem.  Why the difference? A current sportscaster shared, "The reason they can make fun and ridicule (the player) for getting on his knees and thanking the Lord is because he is a Christian. No other religion you can make fun of and ridicule, only Christianity.  If you are Christian, you are open season." 

Why are those that espouse Christian virtues often considered "divisive" characters?  It's a question which probably has as many answers as there are journalists/those making the claim.

This morning, we learned that there was a new disciple in Jerusalem and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Soon to be known as Paul, Saul had recently encountered the risen Jesus and was converted to the faith, and as scripture tells us, was "speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord."  Saul's love for Jesus had become so powerful, that some in that day's sophisticated society felt threatened in their way of life and they tried to kill him. We might say that Saul had become a "divisive" character --- so much so, that for his safety, the other disciples had to ship him out of town to Tarsus, Turkey, over six hundred miles away (on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea).

So, today, as in Biblical times, why do some people consider the display of Christian faith divisive?   To answer that question, let's return to the life of the Christian football player who many of you may have guessed is Tim Tebow. 

Today, when he's not on the field making a comeback as a professional baseball player, Tim spends much of his life volunteering and helping others in their lives.  He raises money for Christian causes, spends his time and money serving orphans and the poor in the Philippines and his foundation supports physical and spiritual healing of children in many countries.  So, why would his witness of charity be troubling? It seems that some people feel resentment toward others who do the good THEY COULD BE DOING, but aren't. So, it's actually those that harbor this resentment for him, who are actually accusing themselves of not doing the right thing --- the true Christian is not "pointing a finger".  Yet, despite the derision and sarcasm, Tim is not backing down --- the bottom line is, he is a target because he is unafraid and proud to live as Jesus asks us to live.

We just heard in scripture, "let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth" and "whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing."  There is no good that we do on our own. Jesus is always inviting us, urging us to cooperate with Him, to say a good word or to do a good deed on someone's behalf. Perhaps, this is what's troubling to some.  Perhaps, those who attack our faith really do understand that we have chosen to love and to follow Jesus and to sacrifice self, rather than follow the secular world and their self-interests. True Christians are looking to give their love away for the welfare of others.  

With the almost countless acts of charity which Tim has shared in his life, his mission can be explained in a single conversation.  He shares, "I am no different than anyone else . . . despite what people may think. Through everything I do . . . and just by living . . . I want people, when they see me, to say, "There's something different about this guy, and that's because he has a relationship with Jesus Christ.  (I want to take the platform that I have . . . and be a role model.) That's the reason I think I've been blessed to have the success that I've had."

Now, none of us here today, to my knowledge, has won a Heismann Trophy, as Tim has.  Yet, with the gifts which we've been given, with the opportunities and relationships we enjoy, are others able to see that there is something different about us?  

Let us remember that above all things, Jesus wants to enjoy a lasting relationship with us --- this is why he laid down His life to save us from our sins.  But, it won't be easy --- Jesus never told His disciples, never told us, that it would be easy. A few days ago, someone very special to me shared a few experiences with this --- 

She wrote, "One example was at a "Friendsgiving" last year . . .  before we all ate dinner I really wanted to say grace to let my friends know how much I love them, how grateful I was that God put them in my life, and how blessed we all are. But, right before I went to open my mouth I got super nervous that I’d be judged and my friends would snicker at me (which they did).  Same with one time before one of our tennis matches . . . all in one week I had lost a friend from high school, and two other girls had lost their grandfather and uncle. I just got everyone together to say a little prayer for strength but a few girls really took issue with it. At first, I was discouraged and embarrassed . . . but I think in both cases the reactions from my friends were the result that deep down, they’re really yearning for a relationship with Jesus, too."

To help us, let us remember Jesus' words in the Beatitudes (Mt 5: 10-12) which ring just as powerfully today as they did two thousand years ago --- "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and utter every kind of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

My friends, let us pray, that Jesus will fill us with His Holy Spirit so that when the opportunity presents itself, we may have the courage to proudly profess our faith in Him and selflessly serve as His modern-day disciples.  And, may our witness help Jesus convert those seeking greater joy and peace to become today's "Saul to Paul" miracles. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.