August 24, 2008<\/strong><\/p>\n David Brubacher<\/strong><\/p>\n Text:<\/strong><\/p>\n Exodus 1:8-2:10<\/strong><\/p>\n Romans 12:1-8<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Introduction:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 I have always liked things to work. \u00a0As a young boy I remember struggling with a gate on my grandfather\u2019s farm. \u00a0The gate dragged on the ground because a major support piece was broken. \u00a0Things like that frustrate me.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Talk about frustration!\u00a0 As I was getting ready to work on this sermon, I was having difficulty with our computer. \u00a0That is a real test of my emotional and, dare I say, spiritual endurance. \u00a0So I took a walk out in the garden and picked a few tomatoes. \u00a0I was better after that.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The reality is that I can do something about fixing a gate. \u00a0Computers are another story. One of my fondest memories is working with my grandfather to fix or build new gates on the farm. \u00a0I am sure that is where my love for woodworking began, or at least it was affirmed there. \u00a0I took great delight in the process of fixing and building, but in the end I was also delighted to have a gate that worked. \u00a0In my work as a finish carpenter today, I take pride in hanging a door that swings and latches properly.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This sermon, however, is not about the intersection of my work as a carpenter and my Christian faith. \u00a0That is next Sunday\u2019s sermon. \u00a0As I began pondering the sermon for next Sunday I realized that my journey of coming to faith, at least a faith that I could own, had parallels to my liking things that work. \u00a0In some respect this sermon fits between my earlier sermon Faith Outside the Box<\/em> and the one I will give next Sunday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As I have told bits of my life story, you may recall that I grew up in the Old Order Mennonite context of Waterloo County. \u00a0Until my early teens our family belonged to the group of Mennonites that drives black cars. \u00a0As much as I appreciate many parts of my upbringing, in coming to a faith that I could own, I had some questions, like why did we drive black cars?<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You can image my amazement when the primary scripture text used to answer that question appeared as one of the lectionary readings for today. \u00a0Romans 12:2 states \u201cDo not be conformed to this world\u2026.\u201d. <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0As you heard in the reading, the text it goes on to talk about transformation. \u00a0But I only recall hearing about the \u201cnot conforming\u201d part. \u00a0The answer went something like this, \u201cWe drive black cars to show that we are not like the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After a while the answer did not satisfy me. \u00a0I don\u2019t think my issue was living according to a different value system than the \u201cworld.\u201d \u00a0If I was to state my objection in today\u2019s terms it would be whether we should drive vehicles that burn fossil fuels.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I grew up with a very strong sense that being a Christian means not conforming to the world. \u00a0Yet at the same time there was great social and spiritual pressure to conform to a particular understanding of what it meant to not conform to the world. \u00a0Being different was not good. \u00a0To a degree I still feel that when I am with extended family that remains in this faith tradition.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In case you are wondering, I do accept that tradition as an expression of faith, as long as it is by considered choice. \u00a0The late Rod Sawatsky, former president of Conrad Grebel University College, once said, \u201cChristian faith is always incarnated in culture \u2013 why not the culture of the Old Order Mennonite community?\u201d\u00a0 My being with you today in the role that I am suggests that I eventually came to a faith that works. \u00a0But in the last decade that has become a more live question for me again.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fixing gates or walking with people to discover a relevant faith, are equally satisfying for me. \u00a0If working with my grandfather led me to become a carpenter, then walking with people in discovering a practical faith enabled me to hear a call to congregational ministry. \u00a0I must confess that, initially, the satisfaction came more in giving answers that worked for me. \u00a0In my slow learner fashion I discovered that my answers did not necessarily work for others. \u00a0Today my delight is in the journey: meeting people where they are at and journeying together with God.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Along the way I have come to recognize that my personality tends toward conforming. \u00a0Yet for myself and in walking with others, I have learned that what makes faith work often comes from outside my set of assumptions.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lights went on for me the other Sunday when Al Armstrong gave his presentation on jazz music. \u00a0He talked about jazz being structured on the off-beat. \u00a0The sound and mood that comes on the off-beat is unique and connects with people in unique ways. \u00a0For many people this is music that \u201cworks\u201d and connects their inner being with outer realties in the world. \u00a0I believe a Christian faith that works connects our spiritual being to the realities of the world in which we live. \u00a0I have titled this sermon, Faith on the Off-Beat<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The scripture texts being considered today highlight such a faith. \u00a0At first glance we might wonder what the story of Moses as a baby and Paul\u2019s consideration of conformity and transformation have in common. \u00a0Thematically, they have nothing in common. Yet each in its own way gives voice to the rich and powerful activity of God in human history. \u00a0In Exodus, both the future of Israel and God\u2019s plan for humanity were threatened. \u00a0By God\u2019s grace Moses was spared.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Romans 12, Paul begins to outline an appropriate human response to all that God has done, is doing, and will do for humanity. \u00a0In Paul\u2019s shi \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For me, both texts represent a faith that works. \u00a0A faith that works must not only work for me. \u00a0At the very least it must have the well-being of others at heart as well.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the story of Moses an unlikely cast of characters collaborates to become partners in God\u2019s redemptive activity in the world. \u00a0In the Egyptian context the decree of Pharaoh was the predominant social structure. \u00a0To inhibit the growth of Israel as a people, the Pharaoh first ordered the midwives to kill all the baby boys born to Hebrew women. \u00a0When that order failed Pharaoh issued another decree that all little boys born to the Hebrews be thrown into the river Nile.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pharaoh\u2019s decree may have been the law of the land but it proved powerless over those whose faith was structured on the off-beat. \u00a0The mid-wives and the mother and sister of Moses lived by a faith that was not subservient to the decree of Pharaoh. \u00a0Choosing rather to align their faith with their understanding of God\u2019s action in the world they demonstrated great courage and stood against the injustice of Pharaoh\u2019s rule.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If the midwives and Moses\u2019 family were symbols of courage, then the princess was an agent of God\u2019s grace. \u00a0Even though her father issued the decree that all young Hebrew boys be killed, she knowingly let Moses live. \u00a0The meeting of courage and grace, as it so often does, created an off-beat that powerfully shaped the faith and action of each character in this drama. \u00a0From a Judeo-Christian worldview, it also shaped the history of God\u2019s action in the world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Romans 12 builds on Paul\u2019s understanding of God\u2019s action in human history, culminating in the death and resurrection of Jesus and active presence in the Holy Spirit. \u00a0An appropriate Christian response, Paul offers, is to present one\u2019s body as a \u201cliving sacrifice.\u201d \u00a0Body, in this context, means the whole being. \u00a0To simply offer the physical body in some pattern of dress or other physical signs of devotion is not enough. \u00a0Nor does Paul envision some spiritualized theology held in a corner of one\u2019s mind that has little or any connection with the world in which we live. \u00a0Paul calls for an integrated response of the whole person.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I see in Paul\u2019s offering the structure of a faith that beats on the off-beat of the values of the predominant social structure. \u00a0Set your standards for living not according to the values of the kingdom of Rome or modern Western society for that matter, but according to the Kingdom of God. \u00a0\u201cDo not be conformed to this world,\u201d yes, \u201cbut be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God\u2026.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I see the concern here as twofold: that Christians should be thinking people and that how Christians think matters. \u00a0Paul\u2019s primary concern is the blind following of a set of social values that are inconsistent with the values of God\u2019s Kingdom. \u00a0That happens in overlaying the values of our Western society with a thin veneer of Christian theology and spirituality. \u00a0It also happens when religious groups set their own measures of nonconformity and then expect uncritical conformity.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A personal moment of transformation came when I understood God was active in the entire world, not just my little corner of the world, and that God was calling me to be a part of God\u2019s action in the world. \u00a0Transformation as I both understand it and have experienced it is a dynamic process. \u00a0It unleashes something far greater than the sum of that which comes together. \u00a0Learning that I could think for myself gave me a faith that I could own.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How we think and what we think are equally important. \u00a0The root of Paul\u2019s conviction is that God\u2019s activity as experienced in Jesus and manifested in the Holy Spirit has the power to change lives. \u00a0A step of faith aligning ourselves with what God is doing represents a transformation of how and what we think. \u00a0Paul calls Christians to be people with a world-view that beats on the off-beat of society. \u00a0For me, that is a faith that works.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Where do we see examples of this kind of faith at work today? \u00a0Let me suggest two books. \u00a0The first is CPT\u2019s self-published book 118 Days<\/em>. \u00a0The book tells the story of the 118 days of captivity of the CPT workers in Iraq and the tragic death of Tom Fox. \u00a0I commend the book as a clear and prophetic example of faith on the off-beat.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A second book is Tom Sine\u2019s The New Conspirators<\/em>. \u00a0Sine is a futurist and a prophetic voice from the outside, to the Mennonite Church. \u00a0Thirty years ago, he wrote The Mustard Seed Conspiracy<\/em>, where he sought to unleash fresh imagination for the church in reminding us that that Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds when it is planted that grows to be the largest of all shrubs. \u00a0Sine is consistent in calling people to abandon a Christian faith whose primary value system is based on the societal values of the time.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the new book he gives voice to what he calls a new generation of conspirators who have caught the vision of doing something really small for the Kingdom of God. \u00a0These people are in the church not because of what the church can do for them but for how the church can prepare people to become active in what God is doing in the world.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What is perceived as a faith that works by these folks is not the same. \u00a0Sine identifies four streams. \u00a0An emergent stream<\/em> looks at global reality and Christian faith through fresh eyes. \u00a0They say God did not reveal a systematic theology but a storied narrative that captures the reality of God. \u00a0There is appreciation for the good news of Jesus being filled with mystery and wonder to inspire new ways of being present with God.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A missional stream<\/em> comes from the academy with mature scholars challenging primarily traditional churches to focus more outwardly on mission and to rediscover their calling as \u201cGod\u2019s people sent into mission.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A mosaic stream<\/em> embraces multi-cultural and multiracial embodiments of being church. \u00a0Diversity is seen as essential to being the church. \u00a0It is said, \u201cYou cannot call yourself a church if you are all the same.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Finally, the monastic stream<\/em> consists of people committed to pursuing spiritual practices in the midst a regular middle class life. \u00a0One voice offers, \u201cThe world does not need more words, not even more \u2018right\u2019 words. The world needs more words made flesh. \u00a0The world needs more people to live the good news incarnationally, in a way that can be seen, heard, and handled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Conclusion: <\/strong>\u00a0Each of these streams has in some way inspired me over the last decade. \u00a0You can expect to hear more of this kind of thinking in my sermons in the time that I continue with you. \u00a0Secondly, and I think more significantly, these voices in various ways are also reflected in the hopes and dreams that we have named for TUMC in our visioning exercise. \u00a0May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire us to partner with what God is doing in the part of the world where we live and work. \u00a0AMEN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Faith on the Off-Beat August 24, 2008 David Brubacher Text: Exodus 1:8-2:10 Romans 12:1-8 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Introduction:\u00a0\u00a0 I have always liked things to work. \u00a0As a young boy I remember struggling with a gate on my grandfather\u2019s farm. \u00a0The gate dragged on the ground because a major support piece was broken. \u00a0Things like that frustrate me. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Talk about frustration!\u00a0 As I was getting ready to work on this sermon, I was having difficulty with our computer.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons-a-worship-audio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nft from theology to ethics he suggests how Christians might align their lives with the activity of God in the world.<\/p>\n