JEREMIAH 20:7-13

PSALM 69:7-10,16-18

ROMANS 5:15b-19

MATTHEW 10:16-33

Sermon - 6/23/02

Jesus did not sugar-coat the challenge facing the apostles.

He was, after all, a man who knew he was standing up for God’s truth and for compassion for all people, and who knew he would be tortured and crucified for his commitment. Jesus knew very well that many people in this world care neither for God, nor truth, nor compassion, nor people and some of them will make life painful for those who do. Some people, indeed, make their own power as their only agenda, and will try to bulldoze any person or any ideas that get in their way.

So Jesus told his apostles – and tells us – to expect opposition. And, hardest of all, not to be surprised if opposition comes from people nearest and dearest to us. And not to be surprised if we find ourselves in peril for doing the right thing.

So Jesus, our “coach”, gave his apostles (and us) some advice and encouragement.

First, he said, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” I understand this to mean, “Be street-smart without becoming cynical.” Christians can and should become “street-smart”, and not be permanently naive, because that dramatically limits our effectiveness. At the same time, we should not succumb to the temptations to give up hope or to stop looking for goodness or to stop praying for miracles, for to do so would tear at the heart of our faith.

Second, while we should expect challenging times, we shouldn’t worry ourselves sick over “What should I say or do if _____ happens”; we can confidently expect and look for God to “coach us” when we need it, if we are serving God.

Third, we should be faithful and have endurance, for faithfulness and endurance and not necessarily “success” is what God asks of us. This is radically different from the expectations of some worldly people who want “success” (meaning more power and/or money) at all costs. If we are faithful to God and to the hope that is in us, even if it looks like the worldly people are “winning”, we can have confidence in being vindicated in the long run.

I have heard that the shortest summary of Christian social ethics is “love people and use things.” That sounds obvious and uncontroversial – unless you’ve ever worked for an employer (as I did years ago) who loved things and used people. When he had finished “using” people, he got rid of them. There are two risks here: one is letting the powerful person’s abuse damage or destroy us, and the other is being “converted” into being like him! It’s hard sometimes – but Christians are called to love people and use things, even (and especially!) if people around us are doing the opposite. Simple acts of decency and compassion can be a light in the darkness and have changed lives.

Another example: If you have a family member or friend who has a problem with alcohol and/or drugs, thinking, “maybe it will go away” is delusional. However, if you express your concern and offer to help the person get help, don’t expect them to acknowledge the problem, thank you and ask you to drive them to the next AA meeting. Would that it were that easy. You may instead be sworn at, lied to and abused. Nevertheless, faithful perseverance – together with your own participation in Alanon or Families Anonymous – may end up helping to save the person’s life.

Another example: if you work for a company which is engaged in “creative accounting”, or which cuts corners in product safety, or has a public relations department far better than its quality control department, you may not get thanked by the CEO for pointing any of these things out! You may, in fact, be fired or persecuted.

Attention to honesty, safety and value sometimes has to be its own reward, at least for a time. But if there were no “whistle blowers” there would be even more “corporate train wrecks” than there are – at considerable cost for people (and not just financially).

Ultimately, we all have to live with ourselves for the rest of our lives. What are the principles which we’re willing to stand for? If we make a stand for truth and justice, we need to know of God’s care standing with us to guide and strengthen us.

So let us take heart. Indeed, as Jesus says, “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.”

Let us behave so that, as much as possible, when all that we (and all others) have done becomes revealed, we may be able to hold our heads up in the knowledge that we used our strength, skill and circumstances to bear witness to God’s truth, God’s justice, and God’s compassion.

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church