Fear Is a Liar
Photo Courtesy of Richard L. Bryant
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019 – Haggai 1:15b-2:9; Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38
The second letter to the Thessalonians is different than the first in tone and eschatology. Perhaps it’s explained by one pastoral message responding to an encouraging report and the second to dealing with misunderstanding needing immediate correction.
Why or What Now?
Bad things happen. We cry “why!?” to tragedy, sickness, oppression, violence. Of course we do. We listen. There is no answer. I’ve come to believe there is no answer because that’s not the right question. Seeking answers to the unanswerable why, people come up with all sorts of distractions: there is something wrong with me, I caused this; there is something wrong with them, they caused this; God is punishing; God caused this; It’s the end of all we have known, why bother? (Our current denominational uncertainty comes to mind.) The question that can lead us into faithful living through/after tragedy is not “why?” The question is, “My God, what now?”
The Thessalonians were experiencing oppression to their faith. Fiercely, brutally shaken to the core, rather than asking my God, now what? they come up with answers to why: the end times have arrived! Why bother?
“When you Visualize, you Materialize” – Denis Waitley
Years ago, in a single day, I called on two women. The first was furious at God. Her life-alert button was an unforgivable encumbrance. God let her down. She’s prayed for complete independence and God failed to deliver. Yes, she could still live at home, the grandchildren mowed and shoveled, her daughter was attentive. Today, there was just raw outrage at God and it was blocking her. (It would be another year before she recognized anger as grief and began to honestly process.) Then I called on a young woman whose baby, born prematurely, had died the week before. We shared a cup of tea and she said, “My heart is shattered.” We sat in silence for a while. Then she said, “And Jesus is weeping with me.” I can still vividly recall it. She thoughtfully held my eyes and said, “I feel Jesus crying with me; God mourns too.” Knowing (visualizing) God as good, faithful, loving opens us to the outpouring of grace God has for us in all seasons.
Shedding the Block
Football is everywhere right now and my grandson tells me that shedding the block is vital to his position. He must get around anyone blocking him so he can fulfill his objective for the team. He knows the objective, that’s why he can work effectively toward it. He knows what can block him. That’s how he gets around it. What blocks serving Christ? The Thessalonians thought they were being faithful, wholly focused on the end time. Because they focused on it, they were sure it was found. But chasing such false objectives only causes anxiety and blocks faith-full living. Fear paralyzes; prayer inspires. Fear blocks; God breaks through. Here the preacher could interject a story of a time the grace of God broke a block and God’s light shone through.
I think if I were preaching this text I would pick up 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. It points the original reader and us to two vital things: the means to keep faith on track, and the objective of Christian living.
2 Thessalonians 1:11: “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” Constancy in prayer is a means of grace that keeps us open to God’s power, guidance, inspiration and correction as we go.
2 Thessalonians 1:12: “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be gloried in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Or as Matthew 5:16 puts it, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.” The objective of faith is to break free of fear, open ourselves to God’s direction, and serve God boldly. Thus, grounded in prayer, motivated by faith, lifting others up, meeting their basic and spiritual needs – others will see us and know that God is in the house.
The Rev. Judy Wadding is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. MEMO for Those Who Preach is produced weekly by the Rev. Bill Cotton and his clergy colleagues.