Homecoming

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There are all sorts of things I expected to say at the beginning of this message, but I felt God wanted me to share something a little bit different to start out this morning.
What a past week it has been. I like so many of you was sickened at the video that came to light of the treatment of African American George Loyd pinned by a knee to the neck and his head trapped against the pavement during his arrest and led to his death. I was horrified further by watching Amy Cooper attempt to spin a story of a black man asking her to leash her dog in a place where it was unlawful to have an unleashed dog, telling police, while being recorded, that this african American man was threatening her life. It’s only been a few weeks since it came to light through video recording Ahmaud Arbery being gunned down and killed for apparently “looking suspicious.”
What is more disturbing is the likelihood of, if these events had not been recorded, many would not believe they even took place.
There will be many who try and politicize these events. Some will down play them. Some might even believe its all a hoax. But church family, while many of you may feel no personal connection to these events mentioned, I want you to know some thing. And that is Young people in your life, unbelievers who are in your sphere of influence, people of color, and fellow christians, are watching to see how we respond in moments such as these. Do we illustrate the compassion of Christ as he comforted the hurting? Do we emulate the outrage of Christ when church leaders priorities were greedy, not godly, in the temple no less? Do we keep silent and move on quickly like the media once the next story comes?
Church family I am not asking everyone to make social media post tributes. You can, and they might a make a difference. But do you know what can show others you care? It is to hurt when your brothers and sisters of color hurt and reach out personally and lending yourself to help. It’s making it abundantly to the people in your sphere of influence that you are an imitator of Christ and that you do care and hurt, and mourn and grieve.
This isn’t about condoning looting, or violence in retaliation. It’s responding in love and compassion, while recognizing this world is truly not our home.
To quote Benjamin Watson’s book “Under Our Skin” “the world does not have a skin problem, it has a sin problem.” The root of racism, hatred, and bigotry is SIN. To experience God’s great homecoming in the sky, we must not be rooted in those things mentioned, but we rooted in Christ’s most wonderful gift, His Love.
Today we are witnesses of signs of the times. We were looking for wars and rumors of wars to be fought by soldiers, not with our own neighbors. This morning before we go any further, lets pray together, asking for God’s direction and his Holy Spirit as He leads us back to the point of love. As he leads us Home.
Let’s pray.
I mentioned earlier about how people in our lives are watching how we respond when moments of crisis and tragedy take place. I know some who I won’t name, believe the church, as it currently exists, isn’t acting as the hands and feet of Jesus. Some are embracing their identity as they themselves ARE the church whether they ever sit down in a pew again. They believe they can do more for the kingdom of God outside of the walls rather than being inside. Some believe they can combat racism, poverty, violence, and hunger more effectively away from the church than inside. You may be wrestling with their being right or wrong in their motivation. You may question their wisdom and conclusions. But I would add, does it actually matter if they are right or wrong? Regardless of it all, some how, some way they journeyed to that conclusion. And we members of the church body have contributed to that perception. I realize their is tension in what I am bringing up, so I am going to stick a pin in it for now and come back later.
As youth become young adults who have grown up in a churched culture, eventually they have to make a decision if this life is for them or not. I’ve stated it before and that is younger generations will not accept the rights and wrongs of lifestyle practices by just say so, they want to understand why. Parents can answer children who who challenge their instruction with “because I said so.” But young adults and even teenagers need answers to why questions. It’s not just about life practices, its also belief system and theology. Having questions about these things, does not outright mean a young person has rejected them. They are challenging their raised narrative to have the ability to accept it, or reject it, or hopefully grow from and do better. I would say those who are searching for their churched environment to have the lasting flavor in their mouth to keep them coming for more. Then I think of verse 34 and 35 of Luke 14, which reads:
Luke 14:34–35 ESV
“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
My desire is for young people, and not so young people, the oppressed, and all who have fallen away to be able to Taste and See that the Lord is good, that His church He has established is a made up of a people dedicated to showing the compassion of Christ.
One parable that springs to mind for me, is a somewhat obvious one, yet is still effective. The Prodigal Son parable, told by Jesus, recorded in Luke 15.
This parable like “The Lost Sheep, and Lost Coin” parables was in response to the scribes and pharisees grumbling over Jesus’s association with known sinners, and eating with them.
A purpose for Jesus sharing these parables was to say, these sinners who ate with him were were as valuable to him as it was to eat with anyone else, if not more, for this was his opportunity to reach them. The one sheep, and the one coin, were valuable to the owner because they were theirs. And they rejoice.
Jesus then shares the parable of the Prodigal son.
Luke 15:11–13 ESV
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
I am not a parent yet, but I imagine one of the hardest things to do is letting your child, ready or not, go out and experience life, and make choices that will both positively and negatively impact themselves. Jesus doesn’t mention the father fighting his son to not do this. Did the father want his son to learn some lessons? Maybe not to the degree to which is described. But by my estimation that boy asking for his inheritance early had some life lessons to learn. He needed some humility.
Sometimes we choose to navigate life in certain ways and make poor choices. Why doesn’t God step in and prevent us from wandering off and making decisions we can’t take back.
I had planned to interview a friend of mine in person today to share of some of his experiences, but being that he is a new father and he and his wife were not quite ready to make a trip. I recorded our exchange over zoom. Let’s play that right now.
I know we have some former prodigals in our congregation and I know some who are watching their children live a quote on quote prodigal life. When I say prodigal, I don’t just mean those who would squander their financial inheritance, I am talking about also about God-given potential.
If we continue in the passage, we find the prodigal son coming to terms with the fact that his father’s hired servants eat and sleep better than he. His pride is gone and he returns home with a speech prepared.
Luke 15:20 ESV
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Most of you know the story, the father throws a celebration, exclaiming
Luke 15:24 ESV
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
All celebrated except for the older brother who had worked hard his whole life, and seemingly been faithful to his father and received no party or celebration.
Luke 15:31–32 ESV
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Some of us also look down on prodigals. Maybe we say, “They’ll get whats coming to them one day” rather than actively praying for them.
The truth is we have all been prodigals at one point or another to some degree. Don’t you know in that great homecoming in the sky, Jesus will be be throwing a huge banquet for you and for me despite all grief and pain we have caused him in our sinful living. Will the angels look at us humans saying, “we have served you faithfully, why celebrate the humans?” No the angels will rejoice with Jesus.
Now I want to come back to what I stuck a pin in earlier. How do we respond to those who are leaving?
First off, not all situations are the same. Its definitely a risk when we watch our children or loved ones make decisions for themselves, knowing poor choices are being made. Some lessons though are learned through experience more than warning. It’s interesting when Pastor Brandon and I finished recording we continued to talk about those we know who have chosen the prodigal experience. We both agreed that it is by God’s grace that He never stops pursuing us even when choosing prodigal living. I also know some realize how important the church plays in their life when they don’t have it anymore. I know so many of you have been begging for the re-opening of our local church. While we are confident in the board’s decision to wait a few weeks, we know this desire to re-open soon comes from a place of wanting to worship together as one body under one roof. Some people are even leaving with the attempt to grow their relationship with Jesus. While I pray and believe those who are going down this road will be led by Jesus back into the church, I also pray they will follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit regardless of what we hope for. My experience tells me that young people are watching their church currently and while they may not disagree on doctrine, they are observing action or lack their-of we display when witnessing injustice, racism, and community response. Young people want to know they are a part of a church body that cares and respond, otherwise they may look for that somewhere in the world.
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