Holistic Confession is True Discipleship

Tommy Thompson

Matthew 16:21-28

Year A, Proper 17

31 August 2014

"Holistic Confession is True Discipleship"

Peter - he shined last week didn’t he!  So many times in the gospels Peter ends up being the example of how not to do this thing called Christian discipleship, but last week, Peter shined!  When Jesus asked the question of all questions — “Who do YOU say that I am?,” Peter’s hand went up like a child who is eager to answer the teacher’s question — “I know I know I know!”  And he did know and he rightly confessed - “You are the Christ - the Son of the Living God.”  

Jesus commended Peter for his correct response. I mean Peter got the keys! He was named as the rock upon which the church will be built. I’d be feeling pretty good…I’m sure Peter had a smile on his face that night.  

Once Peter confessed the identity of Jesus rightly with his lips, a transition occurs in Matthew’s Gospel.  “From that time on,” indicates that a shift is taking place in the plot.  Something has happened that causes Jesus to turn his head toward the final leg of his journey - the journey to Jerusalem where his Messiahship will be revealed and affirmed once and for all.  And this seems to be based upon Peter’s confession.  At least some … or at least one of these followers get it…Jesus is the Messiah we’ve been waiting for - he is the son of the living God.  Now it is time to show the disciples what that means.  

But Peter is shaped by a world marred by sin and death - a world that Jesus has come to turn back right-side up. When 1st century Jews like Peter think of messiahship, they thinks in terms of militaristic victory, overthrowing Rome reminiscent of Judas Macabees who in the second century B.C. carried on his father’s zeal, fought against infidels, reclaimed the holy city for the people of God and rededicated the temple.  Ever since then, the militaristic victories of Judas Macabees had formed the way the people of God understood the long-awaited Messiah. As much as anything, they excepted the Messiah would resemble Judas Macabees and bring ultimate victory to God’s people and that it would happen as result of him being a mighty warrior in battle.  

So when Jesus announces for the first time the way of his victory and messiahship, Peter is jarred by Jesus’ announcement.

“From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Considering the common Jewish expectations concerning messiahship, it’s no wonder Peter is so jolted by these words.  “‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you!’”  

How could it!?  Messiah’s don’t get handed over and crucified - that means you thought you were the Messiah but really, you’re just another would-be messiah!  And the Living God does not die …that’s an impossibility!  This is nuts!  How does the resurrection come about through the Messiah being handed over to death!?  This makes no sense to Peter who had just recently made the right confession about Jesus.   

One important detail that may have not sunk in from last week’s praise of Peter is this “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”  Peter’s true confession of Jesus came not from his own intellectual struggle for such knowledge but from divine revelation.  Peter, being in one of those ‘thin places,’ received the truth about Jesus.  

And this is what is needed - to quieten ourselves…to listen with God’s Spirit and be formed by the same by revelation that is beyond our intellect.  And this is just what Jesus says Peter failed to do when he rebukes Peter saying “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

Peter, who was just named the rock is now called a stumbling block!

Jesus’ announcement about the way of His messiahship is a new way being revealed in the midst of a very old world.  If Peter or any of us are to get it and thus live it, we must take the position of a follower and get behind Jesus where we belong.  Peter’s formation concerning Messiahship and the coming kingdom must be re-formed, and the only way for this formation to happen is for him to cease taking the lead as one who already knows and get behind Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. 

The way Jesus puts it is like this, and this is the very heart of discipleship:

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?”

What Jesus is teaching his audience of Peter and his disciples is that the call to discipleship truly is a matter of confession, but confession is more than lip service. Peter said the right words, but this is not the whole of the kind of confession which is required.  The word used in the New Testament and early church that best represents Jesus’ call to discipleship here is marturion which also means martyrdom but most literally means to give witness or testimony to…The giving of one’s life is presented as an act of testimony to a truth much bigger than oneself.  Its result may be literal martyrdom, as had happened in Matthew’s church and in every generation since, and continues today.  But it may also mean the daily giving of oneself away in commitment to Christ.  Regardless of our situation in life, the call to give one’s life and not simply words as a testimony to the truth of the Gospel is no less real. 

This means that discipleship is costly and risky business.  It is much more than the common “civil religion in Christian clothing” we see in much of the American church today.  This week I read an article on cnn.com by John Blake which was a reflection of recent findings from Kenda Creasy Dean’s, professor of Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, recent discoveries after interviewing more than 3,300 teenagers who call themselves “Christian” between the ages of 13 and 17 across the U.S.  She says this was among the most depressing summer of her life.  Dean says more American teenagers are embracing what she calls "moralistic therapeutic deism." Translation: It's a watered-down faith that portrays God as a "divine therapist" whose chief goal is to boost people's self-esteem.  Basically the God of this popular civil religion in Christian clothing is one who simply wants you to do good and be happy.  And this is just what most teens had to say about their faith.  God wants me to feel good and do good…

Dean says "If teenagers lack an articulate faith, it may be because the faith we show them is too spineless to merit much in the way of conversation…”  

What’s sad is that she also has found that teenagers are actually hungry for depth, want to be passionate about things that matter…want to be connected to something much larger than themselves. She says, ”I see an increase in youth passion to make the world a better place…I see young people reaching out to solve problems. They're not waiting for adults.” 

Yet we continue to teach them “do good, feel good…don’t rock the boat…make a good life for yourself, give to a few charities…all will be well.”  

Kenda was asked, “What can a parent do?”  Here response:  “Get radical!”

The crux of the article and Dean’s findings is this.  Parents and the larger community of faith must live the very particular call to Christian discipleship faithfully knowing that the eyes of our children are watching us.  There is no secret pill…no self-help book or method to counter the shallowness, just faithfulness to the call of Jesus to take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Him for the sake of the alternative Kingdom of God that has come, is coming and will come.   

But for us, it is a call that goes far beyond parents.  It starts there, sure.  But we must remember what we commit to with every child who is baptized in Christian worship.  The celebrant asks all who witness the baptism, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?”  and we respond with a resounding “WE WILL!”  

You see, disciples are not born, they are made, and it truly does take a village to make a disciple of Jesus Christ.  We must constantly ask ourselves, “What am I doing to support these young persons in their life in Christ?”  How am I joining our young on their spiritual journey’s with Christ!?  How am I blazing the trail for them to follow?  How is my life a radical witness to the alternative Kingdom of Christ? These are all questions that we must ask ourselves constantly if we take heed to our responsibility to raise our children and youth up in faith that is Christian and not simply civil religion in Christian clothing!

One way we can recommit our lives to radical discipleship is by heeding Paul’s words to the Roman church which is as good a summary of what it means to take up the cross and follow Jesus as there can be: 

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A life lived in such away is a life that is taking up the cross, denying self, and following after Jesus.  If we commit to such a holistic witness to the coming Kingdom, we’ll not have to worry about the depth of our children’s faith — disciples will be made and God’s kingdom will be revealed in the here-and-now.  Amen. 

Homily for the Memorial of Billy Thompson Jr.

Tommy Thompson

August 9, 2014

Revelation 21:2-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

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First and foremost, I want you to know that it is truly a great honor to stand before you in this time of mourning and grief. The Thompson family has been hit hard with loss in the past five years. To be able to stand with you and share the good news in moments like these is a gift that I do not take for granted. Thank you for allowing me to share in this moment as we remember Billy this afternoon.

I always looked up to the Bill’s of our family. From an early age I was mesmerized by the two of them as they picked guitar and sang together in those famous jam sessions in garages and basements all over the state. In my teenage years, sometimes Billy would come over to papaws house while I was receiving a guitar lesson and Billy would teach me a thing or two. I enjoyed every moment. What a gift. The ease with which Billy made music is simply astonishing. He was and always will be a great country musician, just like his daddy. Between the two of them, we could hear anything from the eras of what I and probably you too, call “REAL COUNTRY!”

Those are my fondest memories of Uncle Billy – picking my jaw back up off the ground as I experienced him play lead guitar Merle Haggard style or sing with a tone that sounded like a mix of Waylan, Merle, and Alan. This past week I listened to his single, “Midnight Train” over and over again and just couldn’t get over that wonderful country tone that really doesn’t exist any longer in country music. Now those are my fondest memories – experiencing Billy make music. Take a moment and consider your fondest memories of Billy. Maybe it’s his sense of humor...his kindness...whatever it is, just hold it in your mind for a moment in the silence and cherish it.

Whatever you are holding in your mind right now about Billy, keep it with you for a while, because God’s word has good news for all of us. In the midst of grief, chaos, confusion, pain, suffering, and yes, even death, newness begins to spring forth into existence. 

That’s what this passage from The Revelation to St. John is all about. God is putting the world to rights ... in his time... and through His wisdom. All that is contrary to what God intended in his creation of this world and all the people in it is being turned back right-side-up. The old is passing away and the new is springing forth into being. This is the vision John received to take back to the churches of his day and this vision has been preserved, nurtured and handed down through the generations so that we too might receive comfort at the good news that this life full of mourning and pain is not our only hope. God is making all things new and that includes each and every one of his precious children, Billy included.

In the midst of pain, suffering and death, John is given a sneak peak into the future world where heaven and earth come together in an act of new creation. This is what John saw:

“I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’”

What good news for God’s people as we continue to struggle on earth. God is making his home among those who need him the most. He will live with us and wipe away ever tear from our eyes. He will be our God and we will be his people.

I love this image of God. It reminds me of the picture of Jesus grieving over Jerusalem in Matthew 23 when Jesus cried, “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

This is God’s desire for all of us: to gather us and care for us like a mother hen cares for her young. You don’t have to be on this property very long before you observe this with sign of God’s love with your own eyes. If you look around, you’ll see a mother hen with all of her young with her at all times and the exemplary care she provides for her young right here on Jerry’s mini – farm. I’ve been in awe of the way the mother cares for her children’s every need this week as I’ve spent time here. But more than anything, I’ve been touched by the trust the young have for their mother. They’ll follow her anywhere, anytime – no questions asked. The chicks trust their mama fully. They feel perfectly safe in her presence. And she’ll do anything she can to keep them that way.

And this is God’s desire for all of us – to follow His Son with such trust, anytime and anywhere, knowing that God has nothing but what’s best for us, his children, in mind. He will do anything – and I mean anything to keep us from danger. This is God’s longing...and this is what John finally sees. He sees God in the center of the new creation that is coming, caring for his children the way a mother hen cares for her young. He wipes away the tears and leads each of us to water of everlasting life.

Whatever memory you are holding of Billy this afternoon, never forget it. Death does not get the last word. God has conquered through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, who became one of us in order to gather us and take us to His Father, who loves with the tender and motherly love.

I understand that Billy wanted us to have a family reunion of sorts, and that is exactly what we are doing today. But I have good news –this will not be the last one. There will be a grand family reunion, which will include the apostles, the saints, and all the people of God – everyone Jesus died and rose for and that includes you and me, Bill Thompson Sr., Danny Thompson, and Billy Thompson, Jr. and all who we love and miss today. I will get to listen to those jam sessions again. You will get to laugh and cut up and have a great time around the fire with Billy...whatever it is your holding in your mind right now – look forward to it again on that great day when Christ is revealed and we are all raised to newness of life to live the reality of the future that St. John has passed on to us through this passage in Revelation.

We will mourn today and in the coming weeks and months, and that is very appropriate. But even as we mourn, let us be mindful that our hope goes far beyond our current experience of the world. God is doing a new thing. Billy is safe in God’s arms, and we will be reunited in the new heavens and new earth to never be separated again. Thanks be to God! Amen.