Genesis 1:24-31

“Environmental Wellness” Covenant Living of Florida Chapel
23 July 2023 Genesis 1:24-31 Colossians 1:18-20 Luke 5:15-16

PRAYER

Lord, you have given the Bible to be the revelation of your great love for us, and of your power and will to save us.  Grant that our study of it might not be made in vain by the callousness or carelessness of our hearts, but that we might wisely hear your words, note, learn, and inwardly digest them, so that we might become mature, convinced and convincing followers of Christ Jesus.  Amen.

SERMON

As you've perhaps noticed, the chaplains are doing a series of sermons on the eight dimensions of wellness that constitute LifeConnect in our Covenant Living communities. They are highlighting one of the dimensions each week.

Now, LifeConnect is the structure that defines the lifestyle values that we want to nurture in each of our 18 communities across the country. They were developed by Terri Cunliffe in collaboration with one of our residents and rolled out in the year 2002 — well before she had ascended the corporate ladder and become our much-loved CEO. Indeed, her whole-person wellness model contributed to her rise. 

And now that I'm retired and she is no longer my boss I can safely say without sounding like a kiss-up, that her whole-person approach was truly cutting edge for the industry when she first floated it 20 years ago. Although I'd argue that it wasn't totally original — that the LifeConnect values are simply a solid contemporary expression of the biblical concept of shalom — completeness and peace as God envisions it for everyone. 

The Hebrew word shalom is often translated as "peace" but in many contexts, it might be better rendered as "comprehensive wellness." Shalom means that even in the midst of chaos and pain we can proclaim “It is well with my soul.”

So, the first-week Chaplain Corrie focused on spiritual wellness, and then last week Chaplain Eric talked about physical wellness in his aerobic sermon. (I don't know how long it will be before we tap into him to lead exercise classes!)

Well, for some reason they asked me to talk about environmental wellness. Perhaps it's because I have a lot of plants. Or maybe they asked me because I've been a bit outspoken about creation care over the years. It's one of my passions as a theology teacher and pastor.

So, I'm quite grateful for the opportunity to once again highlight this very biblical idea. Let's talk about environmental wellness and how it relates to our overall wellness! Our shalom.

We start at the beginning. On the sixth day of creation in Genesis 1:24-31, we discover that from the get-go God intended that we the people would partner with him in the management of creation. He put us in a beautiful and fruitful garden with instructions to act as rangers or wardens.

Listen again as I read the account in the Authorized Boydston Paraphrase of Genesis 1:24-31.

Then God said, “Let the earth produce all the diverse kinds of animals: the domesticated critters, the reptiles, and the wildlife.”

And it happened according to his spoken command. 

25 God made all sorts of animals -- wildlife, domesticated, and the creatures that crawl on the ground. God made them all! And God concluded that the animals were good and life-giving.

26 Once again God spoke, “Let’s make humanity -- the people -- in our image. That way they can be like us and thus be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domesticated animals, all the crawling things on earth -- and even the earth itself.”

27 God created humanity in his own image, in the divine image he created them -- both male and female.

28 At his word, God then blessed them with the ability to reproduce and multiply with such virility that they’d master all the earth. He told them to “take charge of the fish, the birds, and all the other animals crawling around on the ground.”

29 Then God blessed them further saying, “I am giving you all the seed-yielding plants and the fruiting trees for food. 30 To all living animals -- the wildlife, the birds, and to critters crawling on the ground -- I am giving all the green leafy plants for food.”

And once again, it happened according to his spoken command.

31 God surveyed the entire creation -- including the people and animals -- and declared that they were extremely good and life-giving.

That is what happened on the sixth day.

So, in the beginning, God created a harmonious environment out of chaos — the first five days. And that harmonious environment is where the biblical story begins — and ends (but I'm getting ahead of myself). 

The creation account in Genesis tells a story of chaos as it was shaped into an orderly and beautiful paradise. In the context of that garden, the man and the woman were collectively "the image of God." 

That is, they were made in God's image to serve together as wardens or forest rangers of the garden. But when Adam and Eve got sucked into believing that they'd be better off living free and autonomous lives — apart from God the creator — everything began to unravel. 

• Gardening became an ordeal and weeds started popping up. 

• Childbirth became a pain. 

• Relating to God was strained. 

• Chaos surfaced again. 

• The creation was so splintered that it needed to be re-established — restored and renewed.

But the good news is that God didn’t give up on us and he is reclaiming his broken creation through Jesus.

Colossians 1:18-20 (MSG)  —

Christ was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so expansive, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

2 Peter 3:13 (CEV) — God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to this!

Then in Revelation 21-22, looking forward, paradise is restored as heaven comes to earth. And the city becomes garden-like. 

For us, this means that God isn’t done with creation and as Christians, we live in anticipation of its complete renewal. Our lives — actions and words — function as witnesses to what God is doing. So it is no surprise that when we form communities shaped by Christian values — we see living in a harmonious environment as a LifeConnect priority.

Here is my key idea this morning: 
From the beginning it's been evident that God designed us to thrive through healthy interaction with the created environment as caregivers and receivers.

That is, when we take responsibility for the environment, the environment becomes a channel of God's renewing grace in our own lives as individuals and collectively as a society. So, with that in mind, I want to share with you my top five environmental suggestions for 2023.

Now, I know that many of you are already leading the way in environmental wellness.

• Over the years you've overcome numerous obstacles to keep our recycling programs going. 

• You've advocated for removing styrofoam from our food service. So now we have the reusable green containers. And most of you have been returning them to food service on a regular basis… right? 

• I am aware of a few of you who regularly collect trash from the ground in the park when you go on your daily walks over there. It does make a difference. You are quiet heroes!

• And some of you have even given up your smog-generating cars altogether. I know… I know… It's complicated. But I'm giving you the eco points anyway.

One of the reasons I wanted to move here after working here was because I saw that you cared about the environment and were doing what you could.
Well, to build on what you're already doing, I want to add five more ideas for living into environmental wellness. These are not words from on high but ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Perhaps even stimulate some debate. Constructive debate and discussion are good. It doesn't even bother me when you're wrong and disagree with me. :-)

So, here are my five environmental suggestions and then as a bonus — ONE ENVIRONMENTAL MANDATE.

SUGGESTION #1 — Take recycling to the next level by buying products made of easily recyclable material. 

Recycling has become the gateway for environmental awareness in our era. It's not the main thing but it does shape our awareness. And we can continue to notch up that awareness by focusing our buying power on easily reusable or recyclable products.

For example, plastic has become a big complex issue in our fragile world. 

• There are about 500 million tons of plastic produced each year. 

• And there are now thousands of different plastic compounds in common use, 

• but only seven of those compounds are easily recyclable. 

Are you seeing the problem?

Production companies will not be motivated to produce recyclable plastic until we insist that anything they produce has to be easily recyclable. 

For what isn't recyclable ends up in landfills, lakes, and the ocean — where it is further altering the environment and not in a healthy way — but in a way that insults the creator and makes life more difficult for people and animals.  

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and… REFUSE. Don't buy what can not be reused or recycled.

SUGGESTION #2 — Make an effort to reduce packaging.

For example, you can use laundry sheets in packets rather than the plastic containers which are a recycling challenge. And the cost is comparable. I'm not advocating a particular brand, but we use these Ecowise sheets that we buy through Amazon. They work as well as liquid or powdered detergents. They are easier to handle than bulky containers. And they require very little storage space — which is a big deal if you happen to live in a Covenant Living of Florida apartment.

What can you do to reduce your negative footprint by reducing packaging?

SUGGESTION #3 — Continue noticing the nature around you.

If we're going to partner with God in the management of his creation we need to have first-hand awareness of what's happening out there. Besides, if God created us for garden life it follows that nature is somehow renewing for human beings.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some academics noticed that many people were asking Google why the birds had suddenly gotten louder. Of course, the birds hadn't gotten any louder but as life slowed down people were starting to notice them more. Tuning into the nature around us was an act of self-preservation and a spot of emotional healthiness surfaced by a health crisis.

 

But we don't need a pandemic to take a daily nature bath, inside or out. 

When it’s too hot outside then visit with a houseplant. Stop and notice. If no one is around, carry on a conversation with that Christmas cactus. And if you're trying to figure out what plants might work in your apartment, talk with me.

Then when you can (and the beautiful weather will return) walk under the trees in the park or one of our great Covenant Living courtyards. Notice the fish and turtles in the ponds and the birds and squirrels and raccoons and lizards — big and small.

Has anyone else noticed that the possum population on campus has been expanding? Possums are the only native marsupials in North America. I've seen them on campus several times in the last few months.

And these are really helpful animals to have around. They keep the bug population in check by eating slugs, snails, and beetles. A single possum can eat 5,000 ticks a year. They also hunt and kill mice, rats, and snakes. And they don't carry rabies. They won't eat fruit off a tree but if the mango has fallen and started to rot they'll clean it up for you.

Get out there and look for the possums wandering around campus — and the blue jays, and the squirrels, and the frogs, and the Florida chicken turtles, and the list is amazingly long — just on campus.

Your walkabouts are acts of environmental wellness in so many ways. One study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research found that spending time in an urban park can have a positive impact on a person’s sense of well-being. In-depth immersion into nature can actually lower blood pressure, heart rates, and levels of harmful stress hormones. 10-15 minutes a day spent in nature has been shown to reduce life-shortening stress.

The point is that when God partnered with us to care for his creation he knew that our interaction with nature would renew us and keep us healthy. So look for ways to take a daily nature bath.

SUGGESTION #4 — Consider reducing the amount of meat you consume. 

Let me summarize the case for this with a paragraph from a 2022 Scientific American article.

Cutting meat consumption is a powerful and personal thing most Americans can do to tackle the climate crisis, and they can do it immediately. About 40 percent of greenhouse gases come from agriculture, deforestation and other land-use changes. Meat—particularly beef—drives climate change in two ways: first, through cows’ emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and second, by destroying forests as they are converted to grazing land... By eating less beef, we can start to decrease that demand.

 

A small painless step toward environmental wellness might then be to adopt a meatless Monday menu for yourself.

Chew on that for a while, perhaps over some grilled tofu smothered in smokey BBQ sauce at dinner in a few minutes. Seriously, it’s on the menu. And now you know what I'm ordering.

SUGGESTION #5 for ways to lean into Environmental Wellness — Work to leave a positive environmental legacy for your great-grandkids.

Our environmental wellness LifeConnect value isn't just for our benefit, but we live in such a way that we can pass environmental wellness on to the coming generations.

Your influence as seniors is still significant. It’s a little bit different but you're not done. And I’d even suggest that our ability to impact the world for future generations is greater now than ever before because we as seniors have grown in wisdom and we're not under the same pressures as younger folks. We can still model the way forward in a very confused world.

As seniors, we can with few words show them what needs to be done. We can actually model a healthy environmental future.

For example, what if we produced all our own power through solar panels from our CLOF roofs? As important as the current project of updating the campus facade is — that is also part of environmental wellness — but taking on the challenges of renewable energy could be life-changing — not just for us but the generations to come.  I'm envisioning where panels could go up on top of buildings 1, 2, 3, Palm Villa, here in the Village Center, and on the parking lot covers. We have a lot of unused real estate up there.

Then if we embrace transportation that uses little or no fossil fuel we can model mobility that has a lower negative impact on the environment.

Have you noticed that many of the public buses going up and down Broward Blvd are now electric? Will the next Covenant Living bus and van be combustion-free, too? Only if we communicate to management that we’re taking LifeConnect seriously and that this is an important aspect of our environmental wellness. 

Yes, sometimes sustainable technology costs a little more — at least until it catches on. But our divine calling isn't to pinch every possible penny but to lead the coming generations into a healthy and peaceful future.

Finally, THE MANDATE. The first five are suggestions to stimulate discussion and then action. But #6 is a mandate — something which I believe God is telling us to do. And that is — Be intentional about using the biblical lens to look at environmental issues.

Many Christians have shied away from thinking about the environment because they've become weary of some of the politics involved. And that is understandable. And no, you are not going to escape the politics — no matter what. But don't allow politics to become the primary lens through which you process these things.

The fact is that from the beginning God has been looking to partner with people for the care of creation. He has entrusted us with his precious handy work. He wired us for that task and we need to be creation caretakers to live into our divine calling.

Of course, we managed to mess things up in so many ways but God is gracious and merciful. He sent his Son Christ Jesus into the world to intervene, breaking the grip of sin on the world, initiating a renewed creation, and thus inviting us anew to partner with him in creation care.

You see, our personal renewal is related to the renewal of all creation. It's all a part of the same sweeping action of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEB) — So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!

And when we take steps toward environmental wellness we are acting as witnesses of our confident hope that God will complete his environmental renewal plan with a new heaven and a new earth, with a fruitful urban garden as described in Revelation 21-22, a wonderful garden that overshadows all that was lost in the fall of the first Eden. 

Revelation 21:5 says— "Through Christ God is making all things new." I'm a literalist with this promise. And when we trust Christ as Lord and Savior we become a part of his new creation even before it is fully established. We're living according to the future. And whether you are young or old that's wellness — because from the beginning it's been evident that God designed us to thrive through healthy interaction with the created environment as caregivers and receivers.

And believe it or not, that is the good news.

Romans 12:9-21

“Love Changes Everything.”

Chapel at Covenant Living of Florida

30 August 2020

I’ve got a video clip I'd like you to see.

Love Changes Everything

That was Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything," which is the first song from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Aspects of Love. I chose it because the title so wonderfully summarizes what the Apostle Paul is saying in Romans 12:9-21.

Romans 12 is the lesser known of the love chapters in the Bible. But it does a great job of spelling out a kind of love that changes everything -- love that moves beyond sentimentalism -- a kind of love that is rooted in our common relationship with Jesus. For this is the kind of love that Jesus lives and that he draws us into as his followers. It’s not our love that changes everything. It is his love living in us that turns the world upside down. 

And this is what it looks like. Here is the Authorized Boydston Paraphrase. And I invite you to follow along on page 3 in the bulletin.

Make sure that the love you show is not in any way fake or hypocritical. Abhor what is evil as you cling to what is good. 10 Practice deep sacrificial love among yourselves -- the genuine kind of love you might expect to see in a healthy family. Instead of competing with one another over who is more important, excel at respecting one another. 

11 And when it comes to serving the Lord don’t throttle your spiritual enthusiasm! Pour yourself into the service of Christ. 12 As you anticipate what he is bringing about, be glad. And when you encounter trouble, hold steady and stay the course. Keep on praying. 13 Give yourself to caring for God’s needy people. Welcome strangers into your home -- and your life. 14 As Jesus said in his famous sermon in Matthew 5, pour blessings on the very people who harass you. You heard right -- instead of bad-mouthing the bad guys, overpower them with words of blessing. 15 Be empathetic --   rejoicing with those who are doing well, and crying with those who are overwhelmed by their circumstances. 16 Treat everyone as an equal. Don’t even harbor secret thoughts of superiority. Instead, freely associate with people who have no status. And don’t over-estimate the value of your understanding -- as though you’re smarter than the rest. 17 Skip pay-back time. Even if people are totally evil don’t respond by giving them a taste of their own medicine. Rather, become the poster children for honor by showing respect even for those who are unworthy of it.

18 If you’ve got peace in you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Again, dear friends, don’t insist on getting even. Let God handle whatever revenge he deems appropriate. As the Lord says in Deuteronomy 32:35, “Revenge is mine and only mine. I’ll give people what they’re due.” 20 Instead of pursuing revenge yourself, do the radical thing outlined in Proverbs 25:21-22, “If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. Your generosity will eventually disturb him so much that he’ll either become a friend, or turn and run as a dog with his tail between his legs.” 21 In other words, don’t allow evil to clobber you but use good to clobber evil.

A lot in here to unpack -- all very radical and all quite contrary to the patterns of the world system mentioned in 12:1-2. This is not your sentimental feel-good approach that is so often confused with love by the rest of the world.

The passage itself is a bit shotgun in style. As Chaplain Corrie mentioned in her sermon last week, the Apostle Paul was dealing with divisions in the church -- divisions which he recognized as evil. 

So here in vss 9-21 Paul is blasting out a shotgun spray of small love pellets which will ultimately take down the evils of division -- racism, prejudice -- that we're tearing apart the church. And that shotgun spray seems pretty wide. But I’ve attempted to summarize it all in this way.

GENUINE CHRIST-ROOTED LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT TREATS PEOPLE WAY BETTER THAN THEY DESERVE. EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT TREATS PEOPLE WAY BETTER THAN THEY DESERVE.

That is, it changes things by lifting people up instead of tearing or dragging them down -- which is what division does.

And basically this involves five actions -- and these are listed on the Sermon Guide:

#1 SERVING CHRIST FULL-THROTTLE

Vs 11 -- And when it comes to serving the Lord don’t throttle your spiritual enthusiasm! Pour yourself into the service of Christ.

And the love we give to others is an expression of whole-hearted service to Christ. Loving God and loving others is totally integrated.  You can’t really do one without the other.

Jesus says in Mark 12:29-31 --

"The most important command is this:

'Listen, people of Israel!

The Lord our God is the only Lord.

Love the Lord your God with

all your heart,

all your soul,

all your mind,

and all your strength.'

The second command is this:

'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'

There are no commands more important than these." ~ Mark 12:29-31 (NCV)

And it really helps if you’re looking at others -- even the most broken others -- and seeing Christ at work there.

He loves the hardest criminal.

He loves the most lost drug addict.

He  loves the most confused neighbor.

He even loves the presidential candidate that you loathe.

His love is cutting away at the spiritual cancer in their lives and our task as followers of Christ is to join him in extending unreserved full-throttle love. 

Colossians 3:17 -- And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (NLT)

And as his representative you have his power -- so don’t hold back. Pour yourself into loving others -- even those you consider least deserving. That’s who we are and what we do -- full-throttle.

#2. The second act of love Paul mentions is STAYING STEADY DURING TROUBLING TIMES  

This may sound unrelated but hear me out. In Eastern thinking there is a concept called karma. Basically it is seen as a law of the universe which says that if you do bad, bad will come back at you -- but if you do good, good will return to you.

However, the world does not always operate according to the rules of karma. There are way too many exceptions. Even when you are doing the right and loving thing you may still have to deal with trouble.

And I’d suggest that perhaps the love of Christ shines the brightest when we’re facing down trouble.

Vs 12 As you anticipate what he is bringing about, be glad. And when you encounter trouble, hold steady and stay the course. Keep on praying. 

Make up your mind even before you encounter trouble that you’re not going to let the problems throw you off -- or turn you into a snarky, nasty, unloving person.

Just keep on talking through it with God. That’s prayer. 

Venting, asking, listening, and relaxing in the awareness that he listens and is at work -- usually in the background outside the line of your sight. So hold steady. Maintain communication.

And really I’m preaching to myself right now. There is so much uncertainty in my life -- in the world right now. I’m constantly in danger of withdrawing into the comfort of my own mind -- and becoming  jaded and calloused toward the outside-- the people around me.

I don’t know, maybe you’re experiencing some of that right now -- and you’re perhaps putting off loving others in the name of Christ until things settle down -- get back to normal. But here is the secret -- Loving others in the name of Christ is the way to settle things down. It’s the way through the dark times. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SHINE!

Don’t let the pandemic issues swallow you. There are people around you who need to experience the steady love of Christ through you. And while circumstances may be less than ideal -- turbulent -- those circumstances are the context into which you’ve been called. Don’t gripe about or fixate on what you can’t do, but look for the simple and loving things you can do -- and fix on them. 

The phone call you make to someone now means a whole lot more than the phone calls you made last year.  The warm greeting to the person in the hallway is received with more joy than ever before -- even though you can’t see it because of those masks we’ve all grown so fond of.

Love changes everything.

You may not have power over the pandemic or the response of others to it but you have the power to rock the world of those near you by staying steady and calmly loving the people within your reach. Love does that. It will get us through dark times. 

So hold steady, keep loving, and keep praying. This is what God is saying to you this morning. 

Then the third action that the apostle Paul lists is:  #3 CARING FOR THE NEEDY

Vs 13 -- Give yourself to caring for God’s needy people. Welcome strangers into your home -- and your life.

Christ-driven love always involves caring for those who are in need. ALWAYS! You see, when you express care to the needy, you have no expectation of return on your investment. The needy are not in a position to pay you back. 

They are in need. And as such they drive home how God deals with us. For we are all needy people who cannot help themselves and cannot pay God back. The gift of salvation is just too great. And we are too broken. So it is all about grace. It’s all about God’s unearned and undeserved generosity.

We continually return to this point in our relationship with God and in how we relate to others.

Before he died, I worked with a homeless guy named Don for several years.  Don had schizophrenia and dementia, too. Over the years because of his mental illnesses he had burned all his bridges.

He was gruff and unresponsive to the gospel on most days. I could see why his family and everyone else had given up on him. But for some still-unknown reason God dropped Don into my lap. Maybe because I don't get too rattled by guys like him. God wired me to be laidback.

Don made life miserable for everyone and there was really no hope of a return of investment with him -- although he did once give me a check for 2 million dollars -- which I still have in a file in my office. Did I mention that Don had delusions of grandeur and believed himself to be a billionaire philanthropist?

Most people were unaware of what I was doing with him. But our church figured it out and some jumped in to help at times. We took him shopping. Intervened with the police -- when they showed up. Sometimes they brought him to our house in the middle of the night. 

It took awhile. But eventually we got him off the street and helped him manage his finances. 

And some people began to get it. Caring for people like Don is an act of Christ-like love -- worship. 

Our small church didn’t have big programs or a big budget. But I'm sure that Jesus considered it to be a very successful church because we cared for the needy -- for people like Don -- and that is Christian love -- part of the definition of Christian success.

The fact is that the need is great. Don’t get swallowed by the magnitude of it all. Again, instead of focusing on what you can’t do, start by doing what you can do. Then see how the Lord provides. 

Dare I mention the Benevolent Care Fund we have here at Covenant Living of Florida? The chapel fund offerings benefit the Benevolent Care Fund and nine other ministries. 

The gala, which we’re doing virtually this year because of the pandemic... By supporting the gala campaign you are providing for people in need -- your neighbors -- through the Benevolent Care Fund. That’s a very practical way to care. 

Yes, caring gets a little crazy at times. But it’s more energizing than any of the flashy and sexy stuff that gets all the attention.

#4 The fourth love action involves EMBRACING A HUMBLE AND REALISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF SELF. 

People who have an inflated self-understanding really don’t get the love thing because they have to make every event or incident about themselves. But Christ Jesus, the most important man to ever live, gave it all up in order to serve the world by sacrificing his life so he could restore order to the creation.

Vs 10 -- Practice deep sacrificial love among yourselves -- the genuine kind of love you might expect to see in a healthy family. Instead of competing with one another over who is more important, excel at respecting one another. 

And vs 16 -- Treat everyone as an equal. Don’t even harbor secret thoughts of superiority. Instead, freely associate with people who have no status. And don’t over-estimate the value of your understanding -- as though you’re smarter than the rest.

I probably don’t need to add anything else on this point -- other than to say that we need to read this over and over again within our current context where systemic and individual acts of racism tend to capture the headlines on more days than not.

The fifth action is COMMITMENT TO ALTERNATIVE PAY-BACK.

Vs 14 -- As Jesus said in his famous sermon in Matthew 5, pour blessings on the very people who harass you. You heard right -- instead of bad-mouthing the bad guys, overpower them with words of blessing.

Vss 17-21 -- Skip pay-back time. Even if people are totally evil don’t respond by giving them a taste of their own medicine. Rather, become the poster children for honor by showing respect even for those who are unworthy of it.

If you’ve got peace in you, live at peace with everyone. Again, dear friends, don’t insist on getting even. Let God handle whatever revenge he deems appropriate. As the Lord says in Deuteronomy 32:35, “Revenge is mine and only mine. I’ll give people what they’re due.”  Instead of pursuing revenge yourself, do the radical thing outlined in Proverbs 25:21-22, “If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. Your generosity will eventually disturb him so much that he’ll either become a friend, or turn and run as a dog with his tail between his legs.” In other words, don’t allow evil to clobber you but use good to clobber evil.

This alternative approach works best if it becomes a pattern rather than a one shot response to a particular evil. In other words, in order to take on the big EVILS we have to train for it through ongoing small daily acts of non-retaliation -- in our words, our driving habits, our approach to shopping. Even eliminating our passive-agressiveness from our lives.

There are actually two parts to this approach --  which Jesus models for us his followers. First of all we refuse to respond to attacks with an attack. That is, we don’t get sucked into retaliation. Then to take it a step further, we actually overwhelm our enemies with kindness. And it’s this kindness that shows that our response is one of strength rather than weakness. 

We lived in Texas for six years so I have some first hand knowledge of Texas politics. Over the years Texas politicians have railed endlessly about their Mexican neighbors to the south. They demonize them and blame them for everything that ever goes wrong in Texas.

On August 25th of 2017 -- three years ago -- Hurricane Harvey hit Houston as a devastating Cat 4 storm. Well, within hours after Houston was clobbered there were grand caravans of relief supplies from Mexico enroute to the flooded areas of Houston. 

And to all those Houstonians the Mexican kindness was a game changer.

Is there someone who has been a burr under your saddle? How might you clobber their evil with good? Maybe through lots of small consistent acts. Think on that one awhile -- but not so long as to let the opportunity slip away.

And keep the key thought alive and running in the background of your life -- GENUINE CHRIST-ROOTED LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT TREATS PEOPLE WAY BETTER THAN THEY DESERVE.

Yes, it’s about grace.

 Dave Ramsey is an international talk show host who specializes in financial planning and helping people get out of debt. He runs Financial Peace University. He’s fun to listen to and I love how Dave responds when people ask him how he is doing. He always says -- “better than I deserve…”

That is sound gospel. God treats us better than we deserve. The reason that we can treat others in this radically loving way is that even though we are undeserving, we have encountered the love of Christ ourselves. 

His love changes everything in us. And his grace is changing us. We can’t muster this kind of stuff on our own. This is all Christ’s doing as he has taken up residency in our midst -- in our lives. We just get to go along for the ride -- or not -- if we fail to embrace him, his way of doing things, and his agenda. 

And as you think about it you realize he has already started doing all of these things. When we trust him we simply join in with what he is doing. He is the one going full-throttle during difficult times. He is the one caring for the needy. He is the one who had an exceptionally realistic view of himself and yet still took the humble approach. He is the one who refuses to pay-back evil with evil.

In the book of Romans Paul is talking about the embedded presence of Christ in our lives -- that which comes about when we trust in him -- what he has done -- what he is doing -- what he is going to do -- his agenda.

The reason that we can treat people way better than they deserve is that Christ is treating us way better than we deserve.

And believe it or not, that is the good news!

Matthew 14:13-21

“Multiplication”

02 August 2020

Chapel at Covenant Living of Florida

We’re looking at Matthew 14:13-21 this morning. The incident here is the only miraculous sign reported in all four of the gospels. In all likelihood it involved over 10,000 people. So it was a major event. In addition it was a formative connect-the-dots incident as Jesus proclaimed the launch of his Kingdom. 

You see, by the time of Jesus there was a popular expectation that the Messiah would provide heavenly bread for the people to eat -- just as God had done with manna during Israel’s wanderings through the wilderness. That is, after they escaped Egyptian slavery and before they crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land God fed the people by night drops of a bread substance called Mana. Israel survived on Mana for 40 years.

In the gospel of John it is reported that following the bread distribution the people are so moved that they're fixin’ to make Jesus their king -- by force. John 6:14-15 -- "When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, 'Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!' When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself."

In other words, this incident was a really big deal in the eyes of the people. It shaped how they perceived Jesus and what he was about. And I’d challenge you to let it shape your own understanding of him and his agenda -- even for today.

Listen again, this time in the Authorized Boydston Paraphrase -- 

As soon as Jesus heard that his cousin and preaching colleague John the Baptist had been murdered by Herod, he took off in a boat toward a remote place in order to have some alone time. But somehow the crowds figured out where he was going and people from many towns hoofed it over to the spot. 14 So, when Jesus arrived he encountered a huge crowd. But instead of annoyance at their invasion of his privacy, as he stepped out of the boat, he felt great compassion for them and healed those who were sick.

15 That evening his apprentices came and said to him, “We’re really out in the sticks and it’s starting to get late. Perhaps you should dismiss the crowd so they have time to get to one of the villages. They need to buy some food to feed themselves before the markets close.”

16 Jesus replied, “That’s not necessary -- YOU feed them.”

17 “But,” they answered, “Master, all we have are five small loaves of bread and two fish! What good is that with such a large crowd?”

18 “Well, bring the food here,” he said. 19 Then Jesus instructed the people to take a seat on the grass. He held up the five loaves and two fish, turned his eyes up toward heaven, and blessed the food. Then, he broke the loaves into pieces, which he gave to the apprentices. They, in turn, distributed the food to the people. 20 Everyone ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the apprentices collected twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 It’s estimated that about 5,000 men had their fill that day. And nobody even tried counting all the women and children who were fed.

Great story -- which I never tire of hearing. Of course, it is merely a summary of what happened. There was a lot said in between the lines we have. And while we can’t be sure what was actually said, I suspect that it sounded something like this.

Master! What do you mean that you want us to feed all these people! If we do that we’ll be setting a bad precedent. The crowds have already gotten big and unruly. And we know that you’re not really a crowd person. But can you imagine what will happen tomorrow once these people all start to show up thinking that we’re going to give away free food everyday.

It will be Moses in the Desert -- all over again.

At that Jesus nodded his head in affirmation, saying, “Well, perhaps that’s what they need.”

Peter, who was speaking for the entire team of disciples interrupted -- as he was prone to do -- said.

“But, Jesus, nothing will get done in all Israel if the food is free. People need to work for what they get OR they won’t appreciate it AND they’ll start to think that God has an unlimited supply that he is eager to share with ordinary undeserving people.”

“Exactly!” exclaimed Jesus. 

“The kingdom of God is about the abundant generosity of my Father.  Why do you think that he can be limited or that he is some kind of a tightwad? 

The reason that you can and should feed all these people is that it would be a great illustration of the grace and abundance that characterizes my kingdom -- whether it is appreciated or not. 

Remember what I told you, ‘Don’t worry about what you’re going to eat… that God will provide. Seek first his kingdom and his ways and everything you need will be provided.” 

“Buttttt…” It was practical Andrew, who usually doesn’t say so much, interrupting this time. “Jesus, all we have are five small loaves and two fish. How do you expect us to feed all these people with such a small amount? There have got to be 5,000 men out there -- to say nothing of their women and children.”

"Jesus refused to get sucked deeper into their anxiety attack. 'Let me help you,' he said as he called for the food. Then Jesus instructed the people to take a seat on the grass. He held up the five loaves and two fish, turned his eyes up toward heaven, and blessed the food. Then, he broke the loaves into pieces, which he gave to the apprentices. They, in turn, distributed the food to the people."

That’s more or less how this thing went down.

And the key idea in this all is -- DON'T STRESS OVER GOD'S "TOO BIG" ASSIGNMENTS FOR THROUGH HIS BLESSING "SMALL" RESOURCES TENDVTO MULTIPLY. 

I’m actually seeing a bit of an overlap between the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32, which we read last Sunday --

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.”

Something really small -- nearly invisible -- grows so large that it has a big impact. THAT’S HOW JESUS’ KINGDOM WORKS! Now we see that a small meal of five buns and two fish ends up feeding a huge crowd through divine multiplication.

Notice that the gospel writers don’t ever try to give us an explanation of how the multiplication took place. Did the loaves replicate? Did others who had food catch on and join in the generosity? Or some of both. We don’t know. That’s not the point. 

In all these stories Jesus wants us to see that he is in the business of taking something small and making it into something big. 

So… and here’s how I see this coming home to us -- three take-aways.

So, first of all DON’T STRESS OUT OVER LIMITED RESOURCES.

If I could say something to every modern Christian and church I’d say -- release the multiplying power that you have in the small things. Start with the five loaves and two fish that you have in hand. Step out in faith and see where things go.

You’ve heard the terms small-scale agriculture or small-scale businesses or small-scale electricity production -- small-scale manufacturing. Small-scale enterprises involve only a few people or things; covering or involving a small area. Well this is small-scale ministry.

I want to write a book on SMALL-SCALE MINISTRY to encourage people with limited resources to start things without a big budget or a big organizational structure.

For several years I ran an English conversation club -- a very small-scale ministry. Through some of my contacts I started gathering a few Chinese immigrants -- restaurant workers and their families and friends -- who wanted to improve their English. We met weekly at McDonald's or Taco Bell to practice reading and speaking -- we often ended up talking about spiritually important matters, too.

Just a handful of people involved -- some weeks only one or two and myself. Very little overhead. No budget whatsoever. You don't even need a sponsoring church or official organization to jump in and start serving a few pieces of fish and bread. It's not about trying to make the biggest splash you can, but meeting big needs -- in small ways -- in the name of Jesus.

The English conversation club never became famous -- never received national recognition. But that’s not why we do these things.

If we can start acting in faith on a small-scale -- planting mustard seeds, those small acts of faith can have an impact greater than their size or the energy they exert. 

Helping out at a local school. Wandering the CLOF halls everyday just so you can share an encouraging word or smile. 

I think frequently of Earle Dale who died about 15 months ago. He spent his last days scooting up and down the halls or sitting on the dog bench. Always had a loving smile and a kind word. That's what this small-scale ministry looks like -- Earle Dale.

Spending a little time each day to intentionally get to know each of your neighbors and to continue to check in with them -- even if you're not an extrovert. Small acts which God will multiply like 5 loaves and 2 fish -- eventually feeding thousands.

Now, of course, we tend to stress out when God calls us to distribute five loaves and two fish amongst thousands of hungry people.

But the stress is unnecessary (and counterproductive) because JESUS IS THE MULTIPLIER. That’s the second take-away. JESUS IS THE MULTIPLIER.

You don’t have to make things happen. You just need to go along for the ride. 

This is where the disciples got confused. When Jesus told them to feed the crowd -- they thought he wanted them to generate all the food. But he was really asking them to merely distribute that which he was blessing.

Vs 19 -- “Then Jesus instructed the people to take a seat on the grass. He held up the five loaves and two fish, turned his eyes up toward heaven, and blessed the food. Then, he broke the loaves into pieces, which he gave to the apprentices. They, in turn, distributed the food to the people.”

So then here is the third take-away -- THERE IS INFINITE ABUNDANCE IN GOD'S KINGDOM, WHICH WE TAP INTO WHEN WE FAITHFULLY FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS.

The disciples -- Jesus’ apprentices -- were reluctant to try and feed the masses because they were responsible people who didn’t want to start something they could obviously not finish. 

And that’s all fine. But when Jesus asked them to feed people -- he was looking at the bigger picture. He could see what they could not -- the abundant resources of the Kingdom of God. That’s why we take our instructions from him. That’s why sometimes the things he tells us to do seem unreasonable but we should do them anyway. And this can be a challenge. 

I have a psychologist friend, a fellow student at Fuller Seminary 38 years ago, who l ran into at a wedding and Paul was asking me about how my ministry was going. 

I'd left my career track in order to teach in Micronesia and then returned to the US to launch a church which centered around the needs of homeless men, immigrants, and at-risk kids. I told him tongue-in-cheek that I didn’t know if "I was reckless and irresponsible or a total genius" -- but that I was totally enjoying myself. 

He smiled with complete understanding.

As we talked I learned that he had given up a totally respectable and conventional counseling practice as a doctor of psychology in order to work on the streets as a probation officer. And God provided for him and his family in his "reckless and irresponsible" approach to caring for vulnerable people. 

And Paul's impact for God’s kingdom was probably greater through his work as a probation officer than it was when he was in a conventional counseling practice -- not that there is anything wrong with having a conventional psychology or counseling practice. He had just been led to serve outside the conventional established pattern.

And often the unconventional things that God calls us to do seem reckless and irresponsible because we don’t have the divine perspective -- a perspective of abundant provision. And there is simply no way to understand how five loaves and two fish can multiply to feed thousands until you start serving them. Sometimes you just have to step into the water to see what is going to happen. 

Is God calling you to feed a crowd? To step out and do something that seems impossible for senior citizens by conventional standards --  something reckless and irresponsible?

Don’t miss the point. The size of the crowd is actually pretty secondary. Sometimes it’s thousands of people. Sometimes it’s hundreds. At other times -- maybe most of the times -- it is but a single challenging person. And you don’t know how the small amount of fish and bread at hand will be enough for the assignment. 

But if you hand Jesus the bread and fish to bless you can expect him to multiply the resources.

During this time of pandemic we're all feeling a bit overwhelmed and the temptation is to circle the wagons and to think about all the things we can't do out there because we have to hunker down. Instead of responding to the situation with creativity and openness to the new things God might be doing, we perpetuate a kind of paralyzing stress.

Well, don’t stress over God’s “too big” assignments, for through his blessing the “small” resources tend to multiply.

And that, believe it or not, is the good news.