Sunday, September 13, 2009, A Sermon by Reverend Lillie Mae Henley
Cultural anthropologists tell us we are living in a postmodern culture. As you know, that means we have moved from a “modern” to a “postmodern” existence. There was a time in the Twentieth Century when a paradigm shift occurred. There was an event or series of events that caused a consequential change in our worldview.
That does not mean that the world is a postmodern world. There are hundreds of countries and millions of people who still live in cultures that are ancient or even medieval. My friend Rev. Rebecca Seines in the Philippines wrote that the people in the villages on her island continue to have a feudal mindset. They are the serfs and the landowners are still the oppressors.
The idea of paradigm shifts from ancient to medieval to modern to postmodern are very much a western-centric way of looking at our culture. Nevertheless, it describes White European progress through the ages which include of course the reformation and the age of enlightenment.
The postmodern culture, does not, so far, have very good press. Many writers believe it is a negative culture which questions everything from philosophical theories to standards of art, architecture, drama, and literature. It is grounded in “critical theory,” which is a syncretic merger of social theory and literary criticism.
Today’s message, however, is about Mark 8:27-37, but I bring the issue of post modernity to our minds because we are, for better or worse, postmodern individuals. No matter our age, we are living in the two or three hundred years which take a culture through a paradigm shift, and because of technology, this one probably will not take that long!
Michael Relland, our intern minister, preached a sermon in which he asked, “Are we ‘post-Christian?’” He asked this in the context of what Christianity represents today in the U.S.
It is as broad as the theologies of many Unitarian Universalist churches. We have talked about how there was in the first century through the fourth century many, many different theologies based on the teachings of the historical Jesus. So while we may, as individuals, consider what “post-Christian” might mean for us, as a church, and a congregation, we are committed to the life and teachings of the historical Jesus.
What I want us to take from this post-modern thought is that when we look at Jesus’ story, we see it for what it is—a two thousand year-old-story that does have a universal and timely meaning for us. The message has what Theodore Parker said was “permanent and transient.” There are the principles in the Bible, inspired by the Eternal that are eternal, and the transient are humankind’s additions and comments that are of their time and place. [A Discourse on the Permanent and Transient in Christianity.]
If we are to create a loving community for worship and service in the spirit of Jesus Christ; if we are to have a beloved community, then we must answer for ourselves, “Who do they say I am?”
Who is the Messiah? A Hebrew belief in one who will be the catalyst for: gathering of the exiles; restoration of the courts of justice; an end of wickedness, sin and heresy; reward to the righteous; rebuilding of Jerusalem; restoration of the line of King David; and restoration of Temple service.
The Messiah, the ancient texts tell us, will bring peace.
Isaiah 11:1-6
The Branch From Jesse
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
…
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling [a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
Jesus was a Jew who stood on his faith and his beliefs that if his people wanted to create this realm of peace, they could. If they wanted to create a beloved community that cared about everyone, not just one’s family and tribe, but also the marginalized, the hungry, the distressed, it was possible.
We all come to church because we have a need to be here. The purpose of any church, any mosque, any synagogue, any temple, is one, to provide a place for individuals to come together in community and two, to provide a place that facilitates those individuals’ abilities to live their beliefs.
UNMC is one, a place for us to gather as a community, a place where we come together for spiritual nourishment, and two, a place that helps us live our beliefs.
Underlying this all, is the realization that what really matters in life is our relationship with the Creator. What did Jesus say in verse 36 and 37? What would you gain if you were to win the whole world but lose yourself in the process? What can you offer in exchange for your soul?
We are simply, souls, living for a time, with an opportunity to create the realm of God here. Most of us need a beloved community to help us, to help us help others, to help us help others in need.
How we do that is up to us. I believe that the only way I can do that is to be part of a beloved community. When I ask myself the question, “Who do they say Jesus is?” I have to answer, “The One who shows me the way.”
Mark 8:27-38 27
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Posted by UNMC Office at September 14, 2009 05:28 PM