"The Church that Counts"
Genesis 15:1-6, John 17:20-26
A sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Beth A. Donaldson
May 20, 2007
Added 07/31/07
Speaking of counting, I have a question to start us off. Ready? How much is half of two, plus two? Well, it’s a little riddle, really, because it has two answers. Depending on where you put the comma, in the spoken sentence, and where you put the parentheses in the math equation, the answer is either 2 (half of 2+2=4), or 3 (half of 2=1) +2=3. Just thought I’d see if our thinking caps are on, and if we can, indeed count, since I titled the sermon, “The Church that Counts”.
Of course, there are a few ways we could approach that definition as well, aren’t there? For instance, a church that counts could mean, as I just illustrated, a church full of people that know how to count… so, this would mean that most of the members would have to be older than 2, and reasonably able minded. (This, I think we have achieved.) But, it could also mean, a church that matters – a church that is enough of a presence in the world that it not only takes up a little space in town, but it also makes some kind of impression in the lives of the people. I’ve been thinking about what this might mean.
So, it could have to do with size. Perhaps a church that matters is a church that has gotten to a certain size. One of the things that always happens when I go to these classes at the Alban Institute, like the one Coqui and I attended a couple of weeks ago, which are attended almost exclusively by clergy, is that one of the first things people talk about as they introduce themselves to each other, is how many members they have in their church. It’s fascinating. Initially, we don’t speak about worship style, or the particulars of what we’re studying and learning together. Nope, INITIALLY – in other words – one of the ways clergy tend to introduce their churches to one another, is by size.
So, perhaps size matters, in the case of churches. Perhaps that’s what it means to be a “church that counts.” The thing is, that’s not very consistent with the things that Jesus talked about. I seem to recall something about, “wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be.” So, let’s see, help me add this up. 2+ more, well, that’s 2, or 3, or anything beyond that. And I seem to recall that Jesus didn’t use images that would indicate that a successful church was a big church – for instance, didn’t Jesus say, “if you have faith as a boulder or behemoth…” no, he said, “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed.” And, “you are the salt of the earth.” Have any of you ever spilled the salt and had too much of it? These are not images of faithfulness that would imply that size is what it means to be a church that counts. These imply something else all together. So, what does it mean to be a church that counts?
Perhaps a church that counts is a church that is descended from important people through familial ties. In some lands, blood-line is the indication of importance and rank. And lest we think this is an absurd suggestion, I can attest to the fact that regularly I hear people say, “My family has been Lutheran for six generations!” or some such thing. I know what people mean by this, but I have to admit, I’ve always been a little amused by it. I know that we are all “acculturated” into certain faith traditions. And I know that it’s a source of pride and joy that we share our faith with our children and with their children after that. But faith is, after all, a matter of mind and heart, and not a matter of blood! There is not, as for as I know, a Presbyterian gene, for instance. Wouldn’t that be amusing? Imagine what the Doctor would say to the lovely, devout young Baptist couple who gives birth to their first born precious child, when the doctor, after counting the fingers and toes, and checking that the lungs are working, would discover that the baby was born, by some fluke of science, with a Methodist gene!
It doesn’t actually work that way. Of course, this is a modern development in faith and religion, because religion used to be the way people organized themselves to live in community. Laws and rules were created in order to support spiritual beliefs. It used to be that the spiritual beliefs held by a tribe or nation were just taken for granted by every member of that group. So the scripture we read from Genesis, of God’s promise to Abram, points back to that era. It was important that Abram have descendents of his own blood. At least that’s how things are set up in that story. We mustn’t forget, however, that later Abraham shows God the extent of his faith by almost ending his own blood line in the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. In that story, just a few chapters away, there is a critical turning point in what it means to be a person of faith – there is a maturing, a growing awareness, a progression. So that, by the time of Christ, in that first generation of Christians, gathered by Peter, and by Paul, people actually come to the faith from very different cultural and religious backgrounds – people actually choose it themselves – offer themselves to it! This is very significant. Today, Jews, Muslims and Christians all trace their religious lineage to Abraham. We are the children whose numbers, like the stars, are too many to count. Yet, our blood lines would be very diverse and dispersed. I think God celebrates this.
So a church that counts is not a church that is of a certain heritage. Therefore, perhaps a church that counts is a church that is extremely organized – that follows all the rules to a tee – whose members are all of one mind, and getting things done is no problem. Well, let’s think about this for a moment. Wasn’t the church of the inquisitions and the crusades extremely organized and of one mind? How about the church of the deep south in slave culture? Organized and of one mind. How about the church of the witch trials in Salem, MA? – organized and of one mind. Or the church that gave birth to the system of apartheid in South Africa – organized and of one mind. Or the church that participates today in the continued oppression of women, and people of different sexual orientations. I’d say it can be pretty organized and of one mind.
Being organized and of one mind is not a bad thing. I want to be clear to say that. It isn’t, however, the thing that makes a church matter! It can, as we have seen, be an organization that leads to oppression and persecution.
So, what does it mean a church that counts?
Jesus, in the prayer that we overheard a part of today from the Gospel of John, talks about his desire for the people God has given him. He talks about desiring that they share in his glory, and that they know the love he has known. Perhaps we can find what it means to be a church that counts in Jesus’ prayer for us. (I’d like to be so bold as to suggest that Jesus was including even us who would, 2000 years later, follow him, as the one’s God has given him.)
Let’s talk about Jesus’ glory for a moment. What was that? American Idol and Dancing with the Stars will come to conclusion this week. One of those lucky contenders in each of those shows will certainly know a kind of glory in winning those competitions. Jesus didn’t have that. King Nebuchadnezzar, of the ancient near east, would have his people prostate themselves without thought, at the sound of a pipe, in order to show his glory. Jesus didn’t ask that. Jesus didn’t climb the highest mountain, solve the greatest scientific conundrum, or wield great physical power. His glory, unlike the glory we might seek, was of a very different nature. His glory was in his humility and powerlessness. His glory was in his commitment to non-violent resistance to oppression and injustice. His glory was in reorienting people to a faith that would truly heal – a faith that was based in the love that he had experienced from his God, and a love that desired to share. His glory, some would say, was even in his death.
So, could a church that counts be a church that shares in Christ’s glory? And, how would it do that? Because if one truly followed Jesus in these ways, it might not mean a lot of people are going to come… it might not mean we would all be related… it might not mean that we would be organized and of one mind… it might not mean that we have a lot of money. A church that counts might not, apparently, be very “successful” in the eyes of the world; it might not be very popular. But, it would count! It would count!
So today, I want to thank the special people that are helping us to remember what it means to count.
I want to thank E. Troxel, who after 24 years, is handing over her duties as financial secretary, for teaching this church through her commitment, what it means to say, “You can COUNT on me!” She, among others who show their commitments not only to the church community, but to individuals in need both among us and beyond these walls, says over and over, in effect, “You can count on me.” A church full of people who are willing to say “You can count on me.” is a church that counts.”
I want to thank the families of those who will be bringing their children forward to be baptized – who by this action will in effect be saying, “Count me in. Add my heart to the loving heart of Christ’s body.” A church full of people who are willing to join in the efforts of love and justice by saying, “count me in” through their baptisms, confirmations, reaffirmations of faith, even through their doubt and questioning, is a church that counts.
I want to thank Erica, who continues from today, further on her journey of learning the many ways that God shows God’s love – who continues to “Count the ways”… for showing us that we must always also remain on that journey, ever learning to count the ways that God shows love to all of us. A church that continues to “count the ways” that God shares God’s love is a church that counts.
I want to thank D. Johnson, our choir director, for teaching the choir how to count! I know it took you all of 19 years, but I think their coming along! I think what all our church musicians do in teaching us to “count it out” is to show us that even if we are organized and able to sing in melody, we need the harmonies, the cacophonies, and the syncopation of life as well to be true to the diversity that God has created. A church that carefully counts it out, listening for God’s variety as well as God’s unity, is a church that counts.
And finally, I want to the thank the Church School teachers, who each Sunday when they spend time with the children, in effect say to each of them, “You count.” You count! This is what Jesus said every time he reached through the crowd to the one needing healing… every time he spoke to a woman… every time he took time to be present to the poor, the sick, the outcast, even the powerful. He said, “You count.” We all count. A church that figures out how to communicate to every individual that they count, is a church that counts.
This week I will be among approximately 1200 preachers in Nashville, TN. No doubt I will meet one or two other ministers while I am there. And I am looking forward to, when the opportunity arises, saying to them – my church is a church that counts! I have no idea how many members we have. I don’t really care. But I love that my church counts – that my church says, “You can count on me… Count me in… Count the ways of God’s love… Count it out carefully… You count!… and then, Counts these among its many blessings.” These I can say with confidence and pride – for these are the Glory of Christ, and the Glory of a church that counts.
Amen.
