FIRST READING— Philippians 3: 12-20a
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites. But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven!
SECOND READING—John 15: 9-17
"I've loved you the way my Holy Parent has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.
"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Eternal Parent. “You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask God in relation to me, will be given to you.
"But remember the root command: Love one another.
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Let us pray—God of unchanging love and grace, we thank you for sending so many people into our lives to challenge us and to grow with us. May our thoughts and my words bring you honor and glory. Amen.
Well, folks, it’s been quite a couple of weeks. But, I am oh so glad to be back even if on a limited basis. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the calls, emails, cards, and food that you have sent my way. The pain is still there, but I told God that nothing was going to keep me away from you all for a second week and so, here I am refreshing my heart and soul by being in God’s presence here, in the presence of all my friends. It’s a fine place to be.
Let me remind you of what we are doing for the next few weeks. Many churches utilize teaching on the so-called spiritual gifts and, more than likely, we will too at some point in the future. In our study of diversesynergy, however, I wanted us to take a look at the different ways we ‘do’ faith or our faith ‘styles’, if you will. Now this is an MCC church, so I can assure you that we all have “STYLE”, but we don’t all have the same style; nor do we all ‘act upon’ or ‘act out’ our faith in the same ways. This is where Ronald C. Williams’ work comes in so handy. He describes four ‘faith styles’. Last week, Terri led us through the one that we can identify most easily—the action faith style—just look around, you can point to the ones of us who are the go-getters, the ones always present to lend a hand. And bless you all for it. There are three other faith styles that are similarly important. The ‘purpose’ or ‘goal’ oriented faith style which we will look at today and the growth-oriented and creativity-focused styles which will occupy our study next week. Finally, we will look at how these styles come together in this diversynergistic model and how to determine our personal faith styles . It’s like a pie—with all four quarters you have a whole pie of faith, with anything less than four, your pie has holes in it—no quarter slice is more important that the others—it takes all four.
By understanding in detail, these four styles, we will begin to understand who we are as we bring our gifts in faith to the community that God is building here in these walls and far beyond. Let me be a little clearer, none of us belongs completely in one quarter or another and to be too strict about the descriptions of each quarter negates the value we can learn about the diversynergy that grows among our joint and mutual efforts. So we must first understand the four descriptions, and then understand how our particular combination of faith styles influences our faith work, and, just as importantly, how it impacts our interactions with folks who have similar or distinctly different styles from ours. So on to the purpose oriented style.
It is a perfect Sunday for us to study the purpose or goal oriented style of faith. Rev. Troy Perry began the MCC church 43 years ago this month and this is the Sunday we have chosen to celebrate his gift of MCC to all of us and to the world. Had it not been for Rev. Troy’s unfailing dedication to expanding the teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God’s reign of justice to include all the marginalized peoples in the world, it is unlikely that UFMCC would be the presence that it currently is in the work of God’s kingdom. Rev. Troy, while certainly embodying more than one faith style, falls most clearly into the purpose-oriented style of doing faith work. He was unquestionably committed to creating a church where everyone knew themselves to be children of God. Ken Blanchard, in his book, Lead Like Jesus, says this about Jesus’ ability to keep the purpose of his disciples on track. “Jesus stayed personally focused on what He was sent to accomplish in His season of leadership…Jesus stayed on point. He did not seek to take on other tasks or the agenda others hoped He would fulfill. One of the greatest services a leader can provide to his or her followers is constancy of purpose. When the going gets rough or temptations and distractions come with short-term success or setbacks, people will look to the leaders to see how they will respond. Will they stay on course and remain true to their mission and values, or will they give up and give in to the pressures of the moment? Jesus took accountability for going beyond proclamation in equipping His followers with a full understanding of what they needed to know to carry out their mission.
Jesus says, "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.” This is Jesus’ purpose to bring the love of God to the world. Everything else is part and parcel of that—we have been chosen by Jesus to bear fruit in the world, and to act in the world in a way according to this purpose. Jesus ends our passage with, "But remember the root command: Love one another. “
How many times did it look like Rev. Troy might get de-railed in his purpose for a new kind of church? There was hatred, people were getting hurt, churches burned down; discrimination threatened to tear down the celebration of God’s love for all. Then there was the HIV/AIDS crisis which threatened, in a very real way, to kill the movement. It is evident to this day that MCC lost many leaders and members during that first wave of death and dying. Just as much as real, physical loss was the theological set-back—the questioning and confusion. But Troy Perry was a purpose-driven leader and he never lost sight of this new vision being given to him by the same One—Jesus—who gave the purpose to the newly formed band of disciples. Rev. Troy then focused his energy in bringing the love of God to everyone on marriage equality.
Paul shares his truth on living by purpose. In his own honest way, he tells us: “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.”
People whose faithwork is defined by purpose are known by the ability to transcend the familiar for the sake of fulfilling a higher or divine purpose. While trusting in God, one’s commitment to God makes it possible for the believer to venture far beyond daily, ‘comfortable’ routines to a mature leadership that serves as a catalyst for spiritual expression, learning and depth. And this is all for the following of God’s divine purpose for our lives. Both Jesus and Paul point to that with which we have been entrusted—loving God and loving each other. All other purpose and goals come from this, the supreme goal.
While action, our faithstyle from last week may be the easiest to identify, the purpose-filled faith work may be the easiest to evaluate. Is our purpose consistent with the over-riding purpose—that purpose Jesus and Paul relate to the in-bringing of the royal kingdom complete with love for each other and love for God. Committing to this larger picture, this in-breaking of God’s kingdom into our earthly home allow us, maybe even forces us, to keep our eyes constantly looking beyond the small set-backs, squabbles, illnesses, mis-understandings and confusion. Our purpose-oriented faithwork friends help keep the rest of us focused on the great good and call. Those who bring a purpose-oriented faithwork to practice at Open Circle will encourage the rest of us to constantly ask the question: “Is this plan, program, idea, or change consistent with the overall goal of spreading the love of God?” Just as our action-oriented faith workers or servants ask us: “What are we going go DO about it?”
And so we continue in our journey to the whole pie. Already half full with action and intent, we will soon add the two remaining styles of faithwork—commitment to growth, and creativity. And here we are on Fellowship Sunday where we celebrate the growth and productivity of the founding of an entire denomination. May we take with us today, inspiration and commitment from Rev. Troy Perry and to every person looking today for an MCC community, may we offer hope. Amen and amen.
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