As I sat at my computer in my office one morning this week – faced with that dreaded blank screen – I was burdened. What do I preach when so much is swirling around us. The words “War,” “Preemptive Strike,” “Iraq,” “Saddam,” scream inside my head as words that must be uttered in the place of all places, and we must talk about it in this place. “Vision Team,” “Planning Weekend” echo in my thoughts. In this room, in this place we must talk about a vision – where we are going and how we will plan not only this year, but in the years ahead. “Ordination and Installation,” are on my mind. Then, I looked to my right, and there on the wall is a framed picture of the little country church that raised me, surrounded by the beauty of a white blanket of snow. In front of me on a shelf above my computer are 13 Madonnas – peaceful and prayerful faces watching down over my work with peaceful, prayerful faces. On the wall to my left, the framed ordination certificate. (I remember, with a smile, that the church that ordained me had a hard time finding a certificate that was gender neutral – most certificates assumed the masculinity of the recipient. And they had to search high and low for a certificate that didn’t say that “he” had been duly ordained!) That piece of paper reads: “Certificate of Ordination – `And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ’ – This is to certify that after satisfactory examination regarding Christian experience, call to the ministry, personal qualifications, and educational qualifications Amy Jacks Dean was duly ordained to The Christian Ministry by the First Baptist Church of Clemson SC on the 31st day of October, 1993, upon the recommendation of a duly called council of the First Baptist Church.” And it was signed by Mike Massar, Garth Spencer, John and Anita Turlington, Bob and Betty Burks, Liz Smith, Ottie Arrington, Susan Wooten, Darlene Hurley, and Rob Hubbard. All of that surrounds me when I work, and I say with Paul “this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!” (verse 16)
Today, in this sanctuary, three members of this congregation are being ordained and nine members are being installed to fulfill the duty of “Deacon.” They are surrounded by the presence of God and the people of God - to your right, in front of you, on your left, and all behind you – you are surrounded with all the resources and affirmation to fulfill your calling - and that is what will enable you to do the work of God. And this, deacons, will give you no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on you and woe to you if you do not proclaim the gospel!
And so what is the Word for the day for them and for us all? As war and preemptive strike and Iraq and Saddam and Vision Team and planning weekend and ordination and installation swirl around us all – not to mention the words that swirl in your own homes and offices of layoff, economic downturn, grief, hectic schedules, chaos of the kids, care of the parents – we are called in the midst of it all to become all things to all people . . . for the sake of the gospel. (taken from verse 23) It is a discipleship that is dangerous.
In a speech given to the Women’s Ordination Worldwide Conference, Joan Chittister says, “Christian discipleship is a very dangerous thing. It is about living in this world the way that Jesus the Christ lived in his – touching lepers, raising donkeys from ditches on Sabbath days, questioning the unquestionable and – consorting with women! Discipleship implies a commitment to leave nets and homes, positions and securities, lordship and legalities to be now – in our own world – what the Christ was for his. Discipleship is prepared to fly in the face of a world bent only on maintaining its own ends whatever the cost.” (Sojourners, “A Dangerous Discipleship,” Joan D. Chittister, Jan/Feb 2002)
So deacons, this day, I challenge you to lead us to fly in the face of a world bent only on maintaining its own ends whatever the cost. This will mean that you will need to be courageous and bold. You will not walk lock-step with the powers that be, but you will call us to a radical way of living. You will call us to be different. You will be the first to see the “least of these” and you will compel us to make a difference. You will not always be in agreement with one another, but you will hash it out – loving one another all the while – and you will teach us that The Church does indeed have a voice in our world. And that voice is the way of Jesus.
We receive lots of church newsletters. Todd Wilson, who is now the pastor of FBC, Clemson, wrote in his pastor’s column last week, “In dealing with Christ we seek to know where he calls us. We may or may not be able to follow where we believe he leads, but let us, at least, be truthful about what he said and did.”(FBC, Clemson, SC newsletter, January 29, 2003) Deacons, you will at least be honest with us about what the teachings of Jesus are even when you cannot find it in your heart to practice them yourselves, and in so doing, you will challenge yourself to a lifetime of faithful maturity. Discipleship is dangerous because it calls us to grow up.
Discipleship is dangerous for it is a calling to be “all things to all people . . . for the sake of the gospel” (verse 23) Not in some codependent way where we become self-proclaimed martyrs, but in the kind of way that meets people where they are – no questions asked – and accepts them as children of God – all people - everywhere. Paul’s ethic was that “the strong would be willing to bear the burdens of the weak, that those `in the know’ would be more tolerant of those `not in the know,’ and that those more practiced and experienced in religious matters would be more patient with those whose conversion to Christianity is their first real exposure to the regimen and ritual of a religion with high ethical demands.” (Preaching Through the Christian Year, Year B, Carl R. Holladay, page 96). You will need to minister to the families placed in your care. You will need to be all things to all people – comforter, compassionate friend, trusted other. You should be fearful of what you’ve gotten yourself into.
But this is not just a word for deacons – it is a dangerous word for us all. This is a word for anyone who claims to follow Jesus: you should know that discipleship is dangerous and it is costly adventure. Joyce Hollyday tells this story, “Once upon a time, I lived on a farm in the mountains of western North Carolina. I had a garden...of sorts. The tomato vines were attacked by some pest or plague and produced exactly one tomato (which, after calculating the cost of the plants, frames, lime, and fertilizer, was worth about $26). (Sojourners, “Farewell,” Joyce Hollyday, July/Aug 1998) But I say to you that a good home-grown tomato is worth more than that.
So it is with each one of God’s children. For the sake of the Gospel, which is dangerous Good News, we have been called to live dangerously even today.