"A Doubt and a Promise"
Sermon Presented May 18, 2008
Matthew 28:16-20
Friday I attended a retreat at Cedar Valley titled: "Conscious Aging and Fierce Grace: Embracing Spiritual Wisdom and Optimal Health in the Last Half of Life" led by Holly and John Whitcomb. Holly is a United Church of Christ minister, retreat leader, spiritual director, and author; and her husband John is Medical Director of Sinai's Wellness Center and a national lecturer and consultant.
Before I left the meeting, I was convinced that I need to make a health change immediately! I also left with the desire to share this information with everyone I know - especially friends and family, and I count you in both categories! John shared many studies - without giving handouts, so I can't speak as convincingly as he did, but I can give you some brief information and let you decide what you want to do with it. (You can check it further on the Internet.)
John began the afternoon session by saying that vitamin D comes primarily from the sun and because we live in Wisconsin, we only have sunshine that produces vitamin D five months of the year, and for those five months of optimal sunshine, we can only absorb it for a brief window of time - not early morning or late afternoon when we usually get outside. He then stated that vitamin D is a significant ingredient for optimal health. (He talked about proper nutrition in the morning and was equally convincing on that topic.) John claims that vitamin D helps a person live longer by helping to prevent or improve heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, M.S., depression, many kinds of cancer, colds, flu, and fibromyalgia - as well as the possibility of halting the recurrence of cancer after surgery. He also said that vitamin D is a hormone and not a vitamin.
John believes people need to begin by taking 10,000 units of vitamin D daily for a month to get the body's supply replenished, and then drop the amount to 2000 units a day. (I checked my Calcium and multivitamin pills and I only get 325 units of D a day, so I have a long way to go.) John claims Vitamin D causes cells to do what they were intended to do and there is no toxicity from taking large quantities.
I am usually skeptical of what I call "fads" whether it is a diet or an increase in vitamins. However, John convinced me to run to the pharmacy and pick up a huge supply of vitamin D, so I can have optimal good health for the rest of my life. I now want to share this information with others. I moved from ignorance, to doubt to advocacy in a brief period of time.
In our text this morning, Jesus is preparing to leave his disciples following his resurrection. He wants them to share the good news with people of all nations, baptize, and teach what discipleship is all about. He gives these doubting disciples the boost they need to be vigilant in sharing the good news. However, along with Jesus' instructions, he assures them of his love and constant presence. Hear these familiar words from the conclusion of Matthew's Gospel - chapter 28, verses 16-20.
When my children were young, I always gave them final instructions before we left on a trip - and I was most compelling in my presentation! Obey Grandma and Granddad! Help Grandma; be good; no arguing; I love you and will see you soon. If you are good, I will bring you a surprise when we return. I first told them to obey; then I affirmed my love; and finally I reminded them that we would soon return.
Matthew tells us that at this final meeting Jesus had with his followers, the disciples worship him, but some doubt. Jesus responds to them on both levels. He gives them a mission and then points them toward the future, assuring them that they won't be alone. This is one of the mysteries of the faith: Jesus is physically absent, but spiritually present.
Jesus tells the disciples to make disciples from among all nations. (This is a more accurate translation.) Previously, they had only shared with their own people - the Jews; now their mission is expanded to include Gentiles as Jesus widens the field for the mission.
As you may have noticed, Jesus doesn't give them permission to sit back and enjoy retirement - or to return to their previous occupations. He gives them a job to do. That job is to continue his work. That's what discipleship is all about!
Jesus calls them to expand the size of the community - not for bragging rights about the number of followers they can amass, but because Jesus knows that his way is the way to abundant life. The reason for sharing our faith is so others can also live abundantly in communion with God. The reason John shares the value of Vitamin D is because he wants others to have optimal health.
If you are like me, you sometimes feel inadequate to do what you believe God wants you to do. It's easy to become discouraged and question our ability to fulfill God's mission for us. Some feel inadequate because we harbor an unhealthy image of God, and some - because we harbor an inadequate vision of who we are in Christ.
During this last meeting with Jesus, the doubts of the disciples are dispelled; just as my doubts abut the value of vitamin D were dispelled on Friday. We come to many of life's challenges with doubts because that is what we are conditioned to do. We value our minds and our God-given ability to think and reason, as well we should! We chastise the vulnerable who believe anything someone they admire tells them is true. And yet we believe and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even though we sometimes have doubts. And when we doubt - as all honest people will admit, we are restored to faith by the presence of Christ that Jesus promised to the eleven and to us - as his followers.
Sometimes we doubt because our image of God shifts. Just think about how differently people depict God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in art, music, literature and theology. Paintings, stained glass, drawings, sculpture, classical and pop music, poetry and prose all depict the image the artist sees. Our culture and our faith affect our imaginations. Our image of God begins with our background, often in childhood - because of our teaching (or lack thereof) and our position in life. Just think about how your parents and early church depicted God. Think about how people you know have dealt with grief. Think about how a person in stricken areas of Myanmar and China must imagine God today.
Those who are raised in a harsh, judgmental family or church, see a different image of God than those who are taught that God is loving and merciful. Those who believe God watches to see who's naughty or nice so that punishment or rewards can be meted out will see a different God than those who worship a God who offers grace and forgiveness. For most of us, our image of God has matured as we mature, but that doesn't always happen. Those who sit under a legalist teacher tend to become more rigid because they see God as rigid and unbending.
I believe that until we come to a healthy relationship with God and can see God as loving and forgiving, we can't help others become true disciples of Jesus because we don't understand what Jesus is really like. We understand the way of discipleship as we follow Jesus, learn and disciple others. Jesus calls his followers to make disciples - not converts! Matthew says Jesus calls us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then teach them the ways of God.
How do we help others find God? How do we "make" disciples? First, we must be disciples ourselves. We must follow Jesus and help build the Kingdom of God where we are - here in Milwaukee, or we will become negative influences for God. Most of us will remain in this vicinity, but our children, neighbors, associates, and others whose lives we touch, may seek us out when they are weak and need to tap into another's faith. Be open to share your faith and your experiences as God leads. We best share our faith when our relationship with God is healthy and growing.
We can also share our faith through our financial support of local, national and international missions. Today, I believe God wants me to share with those in Myanmar and China through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.
Jesus didn't leave us with instructions and no way to follow them. He promised to be with his followers forever. He promised to give strength, wisdom, and the power to carry out the mandate. When God calls us to a mission, our weaknesses can become strengths, because we must depend on God and not ourselves.
There are some things I will never understand. I will always have doubts of some kind, and I accept that there are mysteries of the faith that are incomprehensible to me. Because I accept this, I allow for mystery. I understand that God is bigger than my picture of God or your picture of God.
The promise Jesus gave of his presence is that we aren't expected to "go-it-alone"! We are not without a leader! When we allow Jesus to be our leader individually and as a church, we will discover that there is room for the doubting Thomas, Andrew, John and Jo Ellen. Not only that, we will see that we have a job to do and a promise to go along with it. Woody Allen said that "90% of life is just showing up!" I invite you to show up with a willingness to follow the direction God has for you.
