Oak Chapel United Methodist Church

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Micah 6:8
Matthew 19:21
Romans 13

Last week we were introduced to John the Baptist through reference to Isaiah -- the voice in the wilderness calling the people to prepare the way of the Lord. This week we hear more of what John was saying. The message is not sweetness and roses. Quite the opposite; it is a message of conviction and judgment mixed with the message of hope for those who respond. It is a message that has an in-your-face quality to it, but it is a message to people who sought out John. Last week we heard that John preached a baptism of repentance. The people who came to John knew they needed to repent. They already accepted the fact that there was something wrong that needed to change. They came out to be baptized by John, a symbol of cleansing from their evil ways and a fresh, new start.

Driving the Snakes Out of their Hiding Places

John the Baptist would have been familiar with what would happen if there were a fire in the desert -- the snakes would be driven out from their hiding places to escape the flames that would consume them. In our Methodist heritage, John Wesley picked up some of John's language in his understanding of the need for repentance. He used the phrase to escape the wrath to come. The image of God's wrath in judgment is not necessarily something we are comfortable hearing, particularly when we concentrate only on the little baby Jesus. Without Easter, Christmas loses it meaning.

Owning the Seriousness of our Own Transgressions

Although John's language may seem strong to us, we come from a society where individual rights are valued and the pluralism of society is used as an excuse to avoid responsibility for our actions. We Christians sometimes look down at the Jews and their system of laws that were meant to govern behavior within their society and establish bounds for their relationship with God. On the other hand we have a legal system that dwarfs the Jewish laws; we no longer expect justice; and we certainly don't want to be judged. We tend to minimize our transgressions and to take comfort that others are as bad as we are.  We forget that Jesus Christ was human and experienced all the temptations and injustice that we might experience in life. The One who comes to judge can judge because he has lived as a human. The One who judges overcame the forces of sin and evil.

True Repentence Through Changed Behavior

John's message does not end with judgment. It starts there but it proceeds to a question we also hear when Jesus confronts those who are searching, who know something is wrong, "What then should we do?" The response from John is very similar to Jesus' response to those who asked him:

share what you have, do not collect more than prescribed, do not extort, and do not abuse your power.

The response matches the need of the ones who ask. The message John gives the people is not pabulum. He confronts the people with their wrong-doing, he tells them what they need to do, and he lays out the consequences - the wheat will be gathered in, but the chaff will be burned; the trees that do not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. John really answers the question of "what shall we do?" before it is asked - "Bear fruits worthy of repentance." Be Fruitful

John is clear that just being a Jew is not sufficient. The command of God in the creation story was "be fruitful." God's covenant with Abraham was a covenant that promised God's presence and that promised that Abraham's descendants would be a blessing to all nations. Even a cursory reading of the Old Testament reveals a God who was faithful to the covenant but a people who continually broke the covenant to be God's people. What John tells the people is that the same God who overcame the barrenness of Sarah, even though she was beyond child-bearing years, could raise children from stones. The point is not really different for us today: is it enough to call ourselves Christians, is it enough to go to church, is it enough to go to seminary? What is the fruit we are bearing?

Turning from Self to God and Others

Whether we look at John's directions to the people he addressed or look at Jesus' directions to others, we see examples of turning from self to God and others. In this passage we are told to turn from self-interest to generosity, from greed to honesty and fairness, and from abuse of power to commitment and duty. As we turn from these things, we turn towards God and social justice. I am reminded of the passage in Micah 6:8, "And what does the Lord require of you but to do what is right, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" The following verse begins, "The voice of the Lord cries to the city..." Micah was addressing Jerusalem in its wickedness. It does not take much looking to find wickedness around us, but God has already answered our question of what shall we do.

In the Invitation of the traditional service of communion, we hear the words, "Ye who do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commands of God, and walking henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to almighty God."

Be God's Servant Right Now

When John spoke, the people were looking for the coming of the Messiah. John told the people to look for someone more powerful than himself. John recognized his unworthiness even to untie the Messiah's sandals, a job reserved for servants. The Messiah who came performed the job of a servant when he washed the feet of his disciples. Our tendency is to puff ourselves up and try to gain the favor of others. Through his sacrifice, we are made worthy to receive God's blessing. We have a choice, we can accept God's grace and turn from the ways of the world, or we can ignore God's voice in whatever form it takes and continue down our path towards the coming judgment. In sin we turn away from God; in repentance we turn back towards God. When we turn from our old ways, we cannot continue on the same path. If we are still on the same path, we have not turned, we have not repented and our words become hollow. We continue in the bondage to whatever keeps us rather than restoring a right relationship to God. The good news that John preached is the hope of redemption. The good news that Jesus preached and revealed through his resurrection is that redemption is always available.  It is "in hand."

In Saint Augustine's Confessions we find the story of a man who had grown up as self-centered and self-indulgent. This is not necessarily the type of description we expect for someone labeled "saint" or for someone who is conceded to be one of the great Christian theologians. Augustine could have been one of those John the Baptist would have called, "Viper!", if they had lived in the same time and place. His was a sinner who searched for truth and who turned from his old ways to embrace a life in Jesus Christ. His journey was a struggle and his conversion was profound.

At one point Augustine had prayed, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet." When he finally reached the point of resolution he prayed, "Let it be now, let it be now." But he did not succeed because he was held back by his old attachments. Finally at the point of desperation and alone in a garden, he prayed asking, "God how long and why not now?"  Then he heard the voice of a child repeating "Take it and read, take it and read." He remembered the story of someone else who had happened into a church and heard the reading of Christ's instruction to the young man [Matthew 19:21] to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and follow Christ. Augustine opened to Romans 13 and read, "Not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in quarrels and rivalries. Rather arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ; spend no more thought on nature or nature's appetites." As Augustine described his state, "It was as though the light of confidence flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled." [quotes from Saint Augustine, Confessions, translated with an Introduction by R. S. Pine-Coffin (New York, Penguin Books, 1961) 169-179]

Say, "Yes", Without Qualification, When Jesus Calls

The people of Israel heard the voice of John the Baptist warning them, calling them to social justice, and confessing the coming Messiah. Augustine heard the voice of a child that prompted him to read the Word of God contained in Paul's Letter to the Romans. In this season of Advent, we prepare to celebrate the birth of another child, the Son of God who came to us in human form. As we prepare for Christmas, are we prepared to hear the message that Jesus Christ offers to us? We sing the hymn and we ask the question, "What Child Is This," but we already know the answer. We call him Christ the King. When we hear the voice of God in whatever form it may take, are we prepared to respond immediately, to turn from our current path, and to follow Jesus; or will we respond by saying yes, but not yet?

Prayer: Getting Excited About What We Can Give

Lord, speak to us through your living Word. In your bountiful grace and love we are assured of your mercy and forgiveness. Prompt us by your Spirit to turn from those things that hold us back. Guide us in your way that we may become a reflection of your love, that we will be open to your will for our lives, and that we will bear the fruit of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Let our excitement in the coming days not be about what we will get, but what we can give to bring the fullness of life to the world.

In our times of trial, let us remember that the One whose name we take has suffered and overcome the forces of darkness to become a beacon of light to the world. In this season, let us resolve to carry that light into the world for your glory. Help us empty ourselves of hate, anger, and fear. Fill us with your love that we may truly share your love and be in a right relationship with you and each other. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ

Amen