Scripture Text (NRSV)
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
12:13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews
or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one
Spirit.
12:14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.
12:15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong
to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
12:16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not
belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the
body.
12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If
the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of
them, as he chose.
12:19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
12:20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body.
12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor
again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
12:22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker
are indispensable,
12:23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we
clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are
treated with greater respect;
12:24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God
has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior
member,
12:25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members
may have the same care for one another.
12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one
member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing,
forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.
12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all
work miracles?
12:30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all
interpret?
12:31 But strive for the greater gifts.
Comments:
Explain something to me. How can you strive for gifts? Aren't they
just given? LF
Dear LF - I thing that 'Hope' or 'desire' are probably better
translations of the word that you have as 'strive'. Maybe? -
LakeO'Pilgrim
LF: in 12:31, it was the leading sentence into chapter 13, the love
chapter. (The passage displayed here cut-off in mid-sentence, the
whole thing is "But strive for the greater gifts and now I will show
you a still more excellent way.")
I also found it helpful to study chapters 12, 13 and 14 together since
it offers one single thought development from Paul. Basically, the
Corinthians were filled with spiritual gifts, but Paul went on to show
the main thing they need was love!
"On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are
indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less
honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable
members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable
members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the
greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension
within the body, but the members may have the same care for one
another."
This is hard to swallow. In our effort to grow a healthy church, how
could "the weaker are indispensable"? The "less honorable are clothed
with honor"? And the "less respectable members are treated with
greater respect"? The only way this would make sense to me is that
Paul was speaking in term of social status (the same way he described
the Lord's Super in the preceding chapter).
But what about the SPIRITUAL weakling, less honorable, and less
respectable in the body?
Ah, Paul didn't use those term for the spiritual aspect of the body.
If he did, he would have described them as SICK members of the body
(as in preceding 11:30).
Another point to ponder is the plurality richness of the gifts and
ministries. How can we provide the variety of ministries in our church
so that people will have the place to employ their gifts to serve, yet
the minister will not be spreaded-out-too-thin and burned-out?
Without the minister's involvement, things get messy! Last Friday,
some young people in our youth group threw a farewell party to one of
their guys heading back to seminary after the Christmas break. They
ended at 9pm or so, went on to the pier for street evangelism, then
around midnight they went clubing until 3am. Are these members sick,
or are they weak/less honorable?
Coho, Midway City
I really like the last verse, "But strive for the greater gifts." The
greater gifts are faith, hope and love, the greatest of which is
love." Yes, I believe the gifts are given, but we can strive for
loving our neighbor. PH in OH
I don't think the church has to supply ministries for people to plug
into with the minister running the show. The people can do ministry
themselves, sometimes better without the help of clergy. The Holy
Spirit empowers. The pastor can be a cheer leader. PH in OH
OK - based on the contents of the anonymous letter I received last
week (I'm still working on handling the anonymity of it), saying that
the reason there isn't more energy in worship is because the Spirit
doesn't move the congregation to be more demonstrative, and their
misunderstanding that I expect my 75-yrs and up congregation to start
dancing in the aisles and behaving like football fans at a game (a
total mis-hearing of what I said), this might be a good,
serendipitous, and above all PASTORAL way to preach on the value of
all gifts.
I just can't get past what I feel to be the "deadness" and what I
perceive to be a disinterest and, to be frank, self-centeredness in
our worship service.
Evidently, however, my response to try to keep encouraging vitality
crossed a line. While i don't want to eat crow, I also want to remedy
the situation.
Sally in gA
LF - have you ever read "Ramona the Pest?" by Beverly Cleary?
On Ramona's first day of kindergarten, her teacher tells her, "Sit
here for the present." She sits there and sits there, not moving a
muscle, not going out for recess because her teacher told her to sit
there for - the PRESENT (gift).
Sally
Sally, oh Sally I am praying for you. I think I responded once before
to some of your concerns because I so-o-o, hear your pain. What
purpose could God have for sending a younger vibrant pastor to a group
of older members? Is there something you are to learn from being in a
place where your identified gifts apparently to you aren't useful?
There are so many questions that come to me. But I realize it is your
call, and I (as usually) want to fix it for you. That is wrong on my
part, for I sincerely believe you were sent there for a reason, but
that it hasn't been revealed to you yet. I will continue to add you to
my prayers.
I do have to say, that being as the part of integrity vs despair age,
to be reminded that I can't work and do like I use to do, would only
lead me to despair. What is the contribution of the church in the
past? What can you celebrate with them? what has God sent you there to
learn from them? (there I said it!)
I don't think Paul meant to say that a group "legs" We can't be forced
to be young if we are not.
Anne Streaty Wimberly has produced a book called "Honoring African
American Elders." The premise of the book is that congregations can
grow just by honoring the older members of the congregation.
These words are sent in love and care, NOT, as critique, and I hope
you hear them in that same way.
Shalom, bammamma, (who is retired and proud of her gray hair)
Paul writes to the divided congregation in Corinth to tell them what
it means for the church to be the one body of Christ.
Paul reminds this very diverse church of their need for one another.
They are formed into God's people just as the human body is formed,
with all its separate parts cooperating together in common function
and purpose. Paul emphasizes the unity we have in Christ and the
oneness we share in God's community.
Bammamma - thank you for your concern and prayers.
I agree with everything you said. Up to a point, that is...
I simply cannot go along with the values of the Old South that prevail
- inspiring people to make racist comments in earshot of the younger
African Americans who come to worship. I can love them anyway - and
do. It is also under my calling to hold accountable where accountable.
Regardless of whether they're in the Eriksonian stage of Integrity vs.
Despair.
I hope the gray hairs that are coming in fast and furious on me never
put me in the frame of mind that I now know everything and desire to
learn nothing more.
Do the folks need to be nurtured? Heck, yeah! But not if it means
allowing racism to prevail in order to nurture them.
And we won't even go into the triangulation caused by our 'VIP's'
whose primary assessment of a pastor's effectiveness is the number of
souls received into the churhc on profession of faith.
So, tell me, Bammamma - how would I honor you without abdicating my
role as pastor and leader - and becoming instead your employee? To be
reprimanded about mistakes in the bulletin, or because I forgot to
lock a door once, or because the recycling bin was too full, or
because the light was left on? How can I honor you without agreeing to
go with the flow on attitudes that I would find abhorrent? How can I
honor you and grow the church when you're continually chastising and
reprimanding my daughter for lighting the wrong candle first as
acolyte?
How, Bammmammma, do I honor you?
sally
Dear Sally I would respond to you further, but I recognize that you
and I are not to use this forum for dialogue. I reflected on your
response, and need you to know it did not have the response from me
that you might expect, especially on M.L.King's birthday. If you want
to respond further, please write me at spleas@ameritech.net With
caring respct.
Shalom
bammamma
I will be back in the pulpit this Sunday, the first time since my dad
died a week ago today. I was off last Sunday, accompanying our youth
to Resurreciton, a United Methodist Youth gathering in Gatlinburg, TN.
Our church is surrounded by nine United Methodist Churches alone
within a five-mile radius. The church split before I got there and we
are now rediscovering God's mission for us. I believe it is to build a
culture of servanthood, not a consumer-oriented program church. As I
ponder this Scripture, a fairly new song by a Christian group named
Casting Crowns comes to mind. It is called "If We Are The Body." The
lyrics are printed below:
It's crowded in worship today As she slips in trying to fade into the
faces The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
CHORUS But if we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't
His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the
body Why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there
is a way? There is a way
A traveler is far away from home He sheds his coat and quietly sinks
into the back row The weight of their judgmental glances Tells him
that his chances are better out on the road
CHORUS Jesus paid much too high a price For us to pick and choose who
should come And we are the body of Christ
CHORUS Jesus is the way
PastorBuzz in TN
Dear DPS friends... Regarding the diversity of gifts in Corinthians
12:1-12....I think they are God-given. It's more than...I can cook so
I have the gift of cooking, or I am good at math so I have the gift
need to be the treasurer.. These gifts are needed in the Church.
However the Bible says..{..."he gives them to each one, just as he
determines."} Isn't it Wonderful that we weren't given the gift to do
EVERYTHING in the Church? There is a need for each person's God-given
gift, no matter how small or large. Signed..Circuit Rider in Ks.
Sally, I have never contributed here before, but have been reading
with much interest. I feel in many ways that I've come to know you a
bit (and like you!) and I can truly empathize with you in your
situation. I, too, feel the deadness and disinterest and have tried
desperately to enliven my people. They're not all even old! I can hear
your frustration and believe we are in similar situations. I hang on
to the belief that God has sent me here to do his work which will
probably include closing this very small church. You're in my prayers.
rdofnd
"The Tailbone Is Connected to the Hipbone" I am trying to take a slant
on the old Spiritual to glean a point from Paul's writing that some of
you have already begun to address. I sometimes get impatient upon
those who represent the unseemly part of the body because the
tailbones of the church seem to be the part of the body that slows
down the movement of the church. Their tails are always dragging
slowing everyone else down. However, there are times for the church to
sit and ponder and meditate upon the word of God before acting upon
it. It would be hard to sit without a tailbone. I get anger and want
to call them the horse's ass when maybe I would do well to honor them
for the stablility they give to the body. Is there a spiritual gift
that equips a person to be a really good tailbone. TN Mack
I'm going to use this lesson for my children's message, so I can focus
on the other 2 for my "adult" sermon. Don't want to leave *this*
wonderful text out! Here's my idea:
Children’s Message on I Cor. 12; use Mr. Potato Head or Take-Apart
Dolls to show how 3 hands or a nose instead of an ear, etc., would not
make a functioning person! We need ALL our differences!
Heidi in MN
Long Black Train---By Josh Turner
There's a long black train coming down the line Feeding on the souls
that are lost are crying Tails of sin only evil remains Watch out
brother for that Long Black Train
Look to the Heavens you can look to the sky You can find your
salvation staring back into your eyes. There's protection and and
there is peace the same burn in your ticket for that Long Black Train
Cause there's Victory in the Lord , I say, Victory in the Lord! Cling
to the Father and His Holy Name, And Don't go a riding on that long
black train.
There's a engine there on the long black train making you wonder if
your ride is worth the pain he's just a waitin' on your heart to say
let me ride on that long black train.
Well, I hear the whistle froma mile away it sounds so good, but I must
stay away that train is a beauty making everyone stare but its onyl
destination is the middle of nowhere.
But, there's Victory in the Lord I say! Victory in the Lord! Cling to
the Father and His Holy Name, and don't go a riding on that long black
train.
I said, cling to the Father and His Holy Name. Yes, watch out brother
for that long black train.
The Devil's a ridin' that long black train...
I thought you all might like this song. Clerically Blonde
Friends; I am doing a 5 week series from I Cor. but using select
passages from the letter rather than the ones the lectionary suggests.
My series is entitled, "The way of Love." If you are interested in my
opening sermon for this series, please email me at revjeff@empacc.net.
I think the letter is one mainly of correction to the church, and i am
using it in the positive to encourage the church today to relate to
God and one another in a healthy manner. Perhaps if you put the
reading youa re using on the gifts into this context, it will help you
too. Blessings to you all, Jeff In NY
A thought...
Who's the big toes in your congregation, the ones who are kinda
funny-looking and always the ones getting stubbed when the body rushes
around from place to place but that are absolutely essential for
balance?
Ideas for other body parts, anyone?
Heather in Sharon
I must confess that when I think of this text, I think: "In every
body, there's always one a**&%$#." (Hope that gets a laugh of
recognition from you, Sally.) More seriously, and more politely, there
is always at least one "body part" in the church who makes you wonder
why God saw fit to place him/her within the body. Indeed, why did God
design the body with indignities and limitations? But just as it is
with the body, so it is with the church. I mention this not only in
support of Sally, and anyone else dealing with antagonists in the
church, but also because I think it's the kind of earthy observation
to which Paul is alluding. I hope I have not offended the
sensibilities of my sisters and brothers with this posting, but having
dealt with a hard-core antagonist and a wrenching church conflict have
led me to observe and accept that in every body, there's always one...
Also, in some congregations, different people take on that "part", and
in humility I must ask myself when it has been me! LF
This is my first shot at this discussion, writing from Hobart, NY. My
question regarding the 1st Corinthians passage for this week is this:
The iamge of the body is a great one for a congregation - but it seems
to me when a member wants to use another gift/ try another avenue for
service that is when the rest of the members rail because of the
"change" that it can precipitate - Do any of you have any ideas about
whether Paul advocating a single role/single gift?
Dear friend in Hobart, You raise an important point. I do not believe
that God expects us to take a particular gift or be a particular part
of the body and become stationary. A lot of people in the pews believe
in the Holy Spirit as a stationary doctrine that balances the trinity.
I believe in a Holy Spirit of power and movement that moves us from
one gift to another from one position in the body to the next. TN Mack
It occurs to me that when Paul wrote these words he would never have
envisioned a time or place when people would be able to remove and/or
implant the parts of their bodies that they don't like. Yet we live in
a world which seems to glorify such things -think the TV show "Extreme
Makeover" for example.
Sometimes I feel like my church needs an Extreme Makeover - I'd like
to take some parts of the congregation (and often the wider church
too)out and replace them with better parts. But what Paul shows us in
this passage, and points us toward with 1 Corinthians 13 and his
emphasis on love, is that God makes all of us - each and every one of
us. So we need to learn to love one another - warts and all.
That's a great challenge and there are lots of days when I really
don't feel like doing it, yet I think God calls me to this over and
over and over again.
Just some thoughts on where I'm headed this week.
Music Mama in SK
All parts of the Body are needed! BIg Toes...LOL whose your nose of
the church, or that little divit on your upperlip, why do we even need
those two little lines,don't do anything. Or do they? Yep,
Anus/Rectum....that's funny...but the body has to have one, OW!
Explode if you didn't.
Reminds me of a story, share it with your congregation at your OWN
RISK!
The body was talking amongst the parts, who was just more important,
who should be the head of the body? The brain said ME! I do all the
thinking! The heart said ME! I keep it alive. The Legs said ME! I get
it going from here to there... Finally, the ANus speaks, I will be the
boss! WELL, the other parts LOL and said NO WAY! So, th anus just
closed himself up and refused to do his work! Man, it was rough, pain
in the Tummy and organs, Heart funny beat, Brain couldn't think clear
and legs wouldnt work because of this just after a couple of days....
So, the parts voted and let the Anus be the leader/boss!
Moral to story, that explains alot,why most bosses are anuses!
I am sure there's a sermon for you there!
related to Churches....Churches leaders...pastors leader of the
church....does that mean we are anuses!?!?! Some People may think
so...but you gotta have at least one! ROTFLMBO!!! CB in West OHio
I think Paul is talking a lot about accountability in this passage.
There has to be some "care-full" confrontation and truth-telling
within the body for it to be healthy. And while Paul is talking to the
Corinthians, a particular and localized community, I'm wondering if it
is appropriate to talk about accountability in the larger body of
Christ. The Body has put on a few pounds since Paul's time, has some
stretch marks, needs to take into account the larger environment in
order for each member's gifts to be a true reflection of God in our
lives and in our world. What do you think?
Angelic Residue-OR
Sally, While I can't fully speak to your situation and Southern
culture (being a Northwesterner), I have experienced a similar bind.
It can be difficult to be pastor and prophet. My prayers are with you.
It takes courage to hold people accountable and to be held accountable
for actions. I think many church families (heck the body of Christ),
have great difficulty holding each other accountable, as a whole we
don't like to be uncomfortable or corrected. It is ironic to me that
in my experience, my little Methodist church struggles with
accountability, considering so much of the early Wesleyan movement
focused on holding each other accountable for actions. So important!!!
God be with you. My prayers are with you in a intense challenge. You
speak wisdom often, walk with the confidence of a child of God.
Angelic Residue-OR
Sally, While I can't fully speak to your situation and Southern
culture (being a Northwesterner), I have experienced a similar bind.
It can be difficult to be pastor and prophet. My prayers are with you.
It takes courage to hold people accountable and to be held accountable
for actions. I think many church families (heck the body of Christ),
have great difficulty holding each other accountable, as a whole we
don't like to be uncomfortable or corrected. It is ironic to me that
in my experience, my little Methodist church struggles with
accountability, considering so much of the early Wesleyan movement
focused on holding each other accountable for actions. So important!!!
God be with you. My prayers are with you in a intense challenge. You
speak wisdom often, walk with the confidence of a child of God.
Angelic Residue-OR
Heather - sometimes I feel about as useful as a belly button. Once had
a purpose but now is just a scar.
Sally
I just have to respond more personally ... your outpouring of support
for me while I'm going through this current "fire," is overwhelming.
Since the sting has worn off some, I decided to do something that (for
me, at least) is pretty risky. Especially since many of the points of
accountability (since that's a strain of thought going on here) are
valid. I put it on my door with a note that says, "If you wrote this,
please see me; I'd love to talk to you. But I don't do secrets." So,
there - airing my dirty laundry for everyone to see. My main objective
was to de-triangle. And now I'll be more cautious about wearing my
heart on my sleeve (one of the valid points was that my frustration
showed).
Buzz - my heart is out to you and my prayers are with you.
I think now that I've decided to air my dirty laundry and make the
letter public (I won't mention it from the pulpit - which i've heard
of others doing) I can address this pericope and the Nehemiah
honestly, and from my heart.
While wearing your heart on the sleeve can be like asking someone to
hold your used Kleenex, my transparency is how God made my personality
- and even that has its merits. Even old people still trying to
wrestle through the issues of race and a generation gap have value.
I don't know what I'd do without y'all - again, thank you.
Sally in gA
Sally Thanks for everything, especially for my opportunity to grow.
Isn't God good!
with caring love!
Shalom
Bammamma
Sally,
You said tht you felt "about as useful as a belly button. Once had a
purpose but now is just a scar." Not just a scar but a reminder of how
once when we were unable (make that incapable) of caring for
ourselves, someone cared for us. When we were helpless, someone whose
strength was greater than our own saw us as something more than just
an inconvenience and had mercy on us. A reminder of how somone we once
could not see face to face surrounded us with caring until that time
when we were ready to come face to face with them. From that point of
view, aren't we called to be the "belly-buttons" for God on our
congregations? Granted, sometimes we get irritated if not cared for
properly and may seem to be more trouble than we are worth at times
but hopefully the bodies we serve can usually remember how much they
need us versus the meaning of a lack of one. After all, there hasn't
been a person born since Adam and Eve who has not had a belly button.
Mike in Soddy Daisy, TN
Sally, I love what you've done with the letter! It shows confidence in
your calling and desire for truth. As for your heart on your sleeve -
please don't take it off and stuff it back where people can't find it.
Like you said, that is how God made you and wants you to wear it where
it can be seen. I think people who criticize it only wish they had the
guts to do the same. That letter might mean you're doing something
right - that you're trying to turn your congregation closer to God.
Not everyone in your congregation is all for that. I believe there are
very strong forces that do try to stop that from happening. This past
week I made a recommittment to God, to my work, to my faith, to
walking more closely with Jesus. And literally all hell broke lose! My
(already unstable) sister took off and left my elderly parents
devestated, looking all over the country for her; my dog had to be put
down; a friend passed away; my husband and daughter suddenly decided
to start exerting more demands on my time and attention (this is a
really strange one...) My prayers are with you. From reading your
posts you sound like someone truly striving to do the will of God for
you people - and some are really uncomfortable with it. It may be just
what they need. Blessings, rdofnd
Mike in Soddy Daisy - a belly button as a symbol of prevenient
grace!~!! I love it!!! LOL
Sally
Hello all again. Thanks for the wonderful posts. I am looking at the
"revival" theme in our passages for today...Nehemiah was about a
"revived" interest and turning to God....Psalm 19 speaks of "reviving
the soul"....even the Luke passage speaks of a new or "revived"
understanding of the Isaiah passage that Jesus reads in the synogogue.
So this passage, makes me think of how the Spirit "revives" the church
when we exercize our unique and diversified gifts for the good of the
whole, recognizing that we all have equal value regardless of our type
of gifting, and that we are as connected to one another in Christ, as
the parts of a body are connected to one another. REVIVAL!
Anyone have some good illustrations or stories that might fit with
this theme?
Jude in Wash
Dear Sally (and all of us who find ourselves in similar situations)
First of all, I applaud your courage, not only in your congregation,
but also here, sharing your experience. I serve a small cogregation
here in Texarkana which refuses to change. I tried to introduce a new
hymn during Christmas (In Bethlehem a Babe was Born) and I did it
right. I asked our organist to play it through twice, and I had the
choir sing the first verse, and then the congregation joined in. We do
five hymns every service, so the other four were well-known carols.
But i received criticism for trying to get the congregation to learn a
new hymn because "there are jillions of good old hymns." And they
wonder why the young people keep leaving this church!
I understand your frustration with racial attitudes. My Dad never let
us use the N-word, and taught us to respect all people (which was
really quite an accomplishment for someone in Texas during the 60's).
And here I am in East Texas, at a church with a mostly rural
background- our organist once told me that if a black person came into
our service, she would have to leave (I told her that we'd miss her)
But when my wife went through major depression (including
hospialization) and I needed to spend as much time as I could with
her, these people told me to take care of my wife. Beth called me one
time during a Session meeting (for all you Methodists, that's the
Administrative Board and the Council on Ministries combined-except
that the pastor is the moderator)and when I got back to the meeting,
they all said "Go home. That's where you need to be" So there is more
to these people than many would suspect.
I do have to admit that I am frustrated here. This is the first church
I have served that has not grown under my leadership. I have offered
courses, and no one has shown up. Sometimes it seems the only thing we
talk about is money-even though we have money almost equal to our
annual budget in the bank, and we have not taken any money out of the
bank CD's for the past five years, I still hear that we'd do more if
we had the money. And though I have preached on it any number of
times, the racial attitudes remain unchanged- and the worst one is
someone my age. (I'm 50)
So if I try to give you some hopefully helpful advice, please remember
that I am also talking to my self and my soul.
1. Outside nourishment- I hope that you have a group of pastors that
you meet with on a regular basis.
2. Stay the course
3. The world is a better place because of those who are transparent,
who wear their hearts on their sleeve. Remember that. I seem to
remember a carpenter from Nazareth who did just that and changed the
world forever.
4. Philippians 4:8 This is the hardest advice for me to take, There
are so many things I want to change here. But I have to ask
myself-"are there things I would not change about this church?" The
answer is yes and to the question "Is there any excellence, anything
worthy of praise" I also have to answer yes.
5. Maybe , just maybe, God is preparing you for something.
6. From what I see here, you have a heart for both God and people.
Whatever gifts you have (and they are strong) God will find a way to
use them
7. There is an AA group that meets at our church and I attend the
meeting. One of the things that I have learned from them is to not
harbor resentments(O.k.. I'm still working on that one) and the number
one thing they say to do is to pray for those that you feel resentment
towards. I often choke on those prayers, but I'm trying.
Hold on to your faith, your friends, your sense of call.
I didn't mean to go on and on (and as my wife would often add "and on
and on and on). But take what you can use and remember you ain't alone
grace and Peace
revgilmer in Texarkana
P.S. Sally! Just look at the reception Jesus got when he attempted to
get the folks in "church" to look at the Isaiah passage a new
way!!!!.....(You are lucky you haven't yet been run out of town on a
rail! Hang in there....you are in good company!)
Jude in Wash
For what it's worth, when people come to me to complain about "new"
hymns, I suggest this I'll bet there once was a church in which the
minister introduced a new hymn. After the service people were all over
him about the hymn. Why would we want to sing that! We don't need new
hymns, we've got good old ones. The new hymn they sang was "Jesus
Loves Me." Nothing gets to be old and familiar until it's been new and
fresh for a time. Blessings kn in on
A similar body/part metaphor would be a football team. I have rarely
seen a sport where particular players need to have particular sizes
and abilities. The quarterback can do stuff the linemen can not do.
The linemen can do stuff the receivers can not do. The receivers can
do stuff the punters can not do. The punter usually has the smallest
upper body but has a great leg and foot to football control. But if
they were on the line, call the ambulance now. Where would a football
team be if every player was a quarterback, a linesman, a receiver or a
punter? (God, the football coach).
I really like the Enneagram, which says that all people fall into nine
different personality types. Rarely do two people with the same
personalities marry. Never do you get a community of people with the
same personalities. But it is hard for people to accept the
gifts/liabilities of other people's personalities. We judge others as
being wrong or deficient when they don't have our gifts and our way of
seeing life. But if everyone was, say, a perfectionist, what a
stressed community it would be. That is true with all the other
personality types. Paul is just trying to help people not judge, but
appreciate other people's differences and gifts - an ageless (and
always worthwhile) enterprize.
Brent in Pincher (A recovering perfectionist).
Still thinking... a high school where everyone is a math teacher!
A hardware store where all they sell is hammers.
A medical clinic where every doctor is a gynecologist.
Brent in Pincher
Brent ... you just gave me a great introduction to my sermon. Now, can
you give me a title?!!! :o)
In doing some work for a workshop I'll be leading in a couple weeks, I
came across some old ideas that apply to where I'm going with this
sermon. Funny how that happens, ain't it?
Two books come immediately to mind: "Get Better or Get Beaten" is a
book about GE prez Jack Welch. Now, lay aside all your reaction to the
title (believe me, I had it, too) and hear what has "worked" for his
business! He not only encourages but expects resourcefulness and
creativity and innovation from the top CEO's to the lowest-paid
trash-can-emptiers and has been known to implement a program or policy
based on the "working stiffs'" recommendations. Employees are rewarded
less for "success" in the traditional sense than for effort and
ingenuity. In short, he values all employees' gifts.
Next is Leonard Sweet's FaithQuakes. In it, he has a good collection
of applicable quotes and quips by various famous people. One such
quote is by Willa Carter - "The world is not especially rare in good
ideas and good emotions. It is rare in good expressions." Further (and
this is where my Nehemiah combo comes into play), he paraphrases
Pierre Babin to say, "The door by which we enter is not reason but
longing, not strictness, but the 'look.'"
Sweet also quotes an African proverb (I don't know which country) "One
is only human because of others, with others, for others."
and Whitehead ... "Religion is lost with the represion of the high
hope of adventure ..."
and, finally (for me, at least) Antonio Porchia - "If you do not raise
your eyes, you will think that you are the highest point."
I've got two strains going here - In Nehemiah, they were raising their
eyes (metaphorically, of course) by listening to God's word. In I Cor
12 they'd begun to think they were the highest point. I'm not saying
anything that hasn't already been posted this week, but it gives me a
new way to say an old truth:
Therefore, preaching is not to inform but to transform because we come
to faith not by reason but by longing. The reason transformation was
present in one group and not in another (they were trying to get
people to transform to them) was pretty simple: when we begin to value
ourselves and our own gifts we forget that Welch's working stiff has
considerable wisdom, too.
All I can say now is "mea culpa."
And give an illustration (sorry this is getting to be so long - I have
no lectionary group any more; most of 'em moved in June). Three
members (all in late 60's to early 80's) and I go and read to the
pre-K classes at the local elementary school once a month. The sign-in
process has been computerized. I decided that it would be best to
teach them how to do it in case I'm not there to do it for them some
time. The first woman (79 yrs) tried and I told her, "Click on 'vollunteer.'"
Not only was it a foreign language; it was a foreign concept. She
didn't even know that she used the mouse to move a cursor to the link
or how to 'click' the mouse!!! I ended up putting her hand on the
mouse and putting my hand over hers and guiding it for her. I hadn't
even considered how foreign the concept was until she tried the
computer.
The reaction of the three women? "What was wrong with signing in on
the piece of paper?" I confess that I had no argument there! It's
because it's easier for the school staff to keep up with volunteer
hours.
There - done!
Sally in GA
Reason informs. Longing transforms.
Sally
Is it possible that whole cultural and/or racial groups could have
gifts? This in light of some of our reflecting of pastoral situations.
Could then then the group feeling "invaded" would rightly feel their
gift would be lost, and the "invading" group would feel their gift not
appreciated. Could this also refer to different age groups and
genders. Each have their gift, but it is the "Holy Spirit" that brings
the commonality.
When I think of personality types such as the Enneagram and others, I
have to be careful that I don't stereotype; especially myself, missing
the other aspects of myself. I read Paul's caution in the Corinthian
letter as being careful not to praise one gift over another. In
myself, I often see aspects that I have named my "bad" sinful/hanning
aspect. I find the God creator/Redeemer/Sustainer cautioning me not to
block all of me. I could have used this during my active ministry.
Forgive me God for my blocking!
Shalom, bammamma
