I preached this sermon on New Year’s Eve in 2000. As will be obvious, a very contested presidential
election was just past. We are entering
another election year where I anticipate quite a bit of tension. I hope what I said at that time will be
useful today. I also hope that what I
said will be helpful in dealing with disagreements, wherever you may live.
Matthew 28:20b
Text
Intro: The promise I am about to read is
usually read before sermons on missions.
It’s a shame to leave it there.
************
Some
people tell us that tonight will be the real beginning of the millennium-they
probably right but any celebrations would almost certainly be anticlimactic
compared to last year’s festivities. I
guess if this is the real beginning of the millennium, then this has to be the
real beginning of the 21st century.
The only thing I am sure of is that along about midnight tonight a new
year will begin.
Actually,
I sure of something else as well: The New
Year will bring challenges. Some of
those challenges will be familiar to us.
Some of those challenges will be new to us.
I want
to spend the next few minutes looking at what I believe will be some important
challenges we Christians will face in 2001.
I’m not listing them in any particular order nor do I claim this is an
exhaustive list. I simply want to offer
what I hope are some biblical observations on these special challenges.
1) This year we are going to face
challenges as Christian citizens.
You may
have seen the map of the nation which circulated shortly after the election. It
revealed a badly divided nation. Both
George W. Bush and Al Gore won at least 49% of the votes cast in the
election. For only the fourth time in
our nation’s history the winner of the popular vote lost the presidency because
he did not win the electoral vote.
Because of the unique circumstances surrounding this election there is
probably more tension and apprehension as we anticipate the President’s
inauguration than there has been in years.
Yet the
maps and the demographic studies reveal only part of the story. For almost a quarter century now there has
been a growing tendency to see American politics in terms of good versus
evil. We no longer look at the two
parties as representing two ways of approaching the problems faced by our
nation. Of course, American political
debate has always been marked by rough and tumble struggle, but there was
usually an underlying respect for the loyal opposition.
Although
both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of the name-calling and posturing
which invokes the Name of God in defense of their positions, I have to confess
I believe evangelicals have been more careless in ascribing demonic motives to
those with whom they disagree. I say
“careless,” because evangelicals, at least theoretically, have a more profound
understanding of human depravity than non-evangelicals and, consequently,
should be more sensitive to the fact that they might not know the best way to
deal with a problem or have the clearest insight into another‘s motives.
In any
case, this behavior disturbs me because I consider myself an evangelical and I
share many of the social and political positions dear to the average
evangelical. It disturbs me further when
I realize how easy it is to fall into the trap of carping and criticizing
rather than trying to understand and persuade those with whom I disagree.
Maybe
this is the time to observe that Leno and Letterman can get away with saying
things that a pastor shouldn’t even try to say.
In other words, if I’ve offended you by taking what you consider cheap
shots at your candidate, forgive me. I
intend to try to restrain myself.
So, as I
approach this New Year, I face the challenge to trying to escape the easy way
of name-calling and demonizing those with whom I disagree while embracing
restraint and dialogue. Does this mean I
favor compromise on important issues?
While
some has suggested that compromise is the essence of politics, I don’t think
that can become the watchword of Christians as they make decisions about what
government policies to support. Yet,
there should be areas where we can support compromise just as there are areas
where compromise will be impossible.
For
example, shouldn’t it be possible to find a place of compromise on issues like
gun-control and affirmative action? [Of course, preaching this sermon today, I
would probably mention immigration and national security issues. Remember, this was sermon ushered in
2001. None of us could imagine what was
coming on 9/11 of that year.] At the
same time, I have to ask, how can we compromise on issues like abortion? The stakes are too high. [In the
years since I preached this sermon, some opponents of abortion have taken
positions that are not clearly warranted by the Scripture. For example, while I think the situation is
tragic, I don’t believe we can deny abortion to a woman whose life is at risk
should her pregnancy continue.]
As ordinary citizens, most of us have little
opportunity to do more than vote. The
sad thing is so many of us don’t even take that opportunity.
No where
in the Bible are Christians commanded to vote.
This is easy to understand when we recall that the kind of open
democracy under which we live was unknown in the biblical world. Even the Greek democracies denied the
franchise to many who lived under their rule.
However, in the Bible there are instances in which believers take
advantage of their legal rights, suggesting that it is appropriate for
Christians to make proper use of the rights and privileges which are theirs
under a government. Yet, election after
election the number of eligible voters who actually vote is pitifully
small. The number of Americans who
participate in this “neglection” must include many Christians. Their reasons for not voting are probably
little different from those of non-believers who don’t vote. The prevailing reasons can usually be
categorized under apathy or cynicism.
I think
that’s a shame. We have a privilege
which millions yearn for and we don’t use it.
There won’t be another major election for about two years. I hope you use that time to reevaluate your
position and decide to use your vote to make your voice heard.
But
there’s something more important for us to do.
You see, our first responsibility as Christian citizens begins, not in
the voting booth, but on our knees.
We
Christian citizens can pray for our leaders. In fact, we are commanded to pray for
them. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Paul says,
“I urge,
then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be
made for everyone-- for kings and all
those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and holiness.”
Remember
that Paul was in prison when he wrote those words, imprisoned by the very
authorities he asked Christians to pray for.
In fact, the "king" at this time was the wicked Emperor Nero.
It seems
to me that if Christians at both ends of the political spectrum would resolve
to pray for our new President, very soon some of the animosity felt over
political issues would lessen.
2) This year we are going to face
special challenges as churchmen and churchwomen.
Maybe those
terms, churchmen and churchwomen, seem out of date but I’ve always liked
them. They imply more than mere
membership in a church, they imply a commitment to the church as an institution
and as a force in society.
Some of
the challenges we face are coming because the church has fallen on hard
times. If we read the “right” magazines
we’re told the church no longer has an impact on society, that it is a dinosaur
in the final struggle before extinction.
But, I’ve studied enough history to know that it is always too soon to
publish the church’s obituary.
Consider
what happened just recently. A few
months ago a “topless car wash” opened here in Columbus. The owner of the car wash also owns a meat
packing plant. He regularly donates meat
to a Grove City church so they could contribute it to the poor.
When he
opened the car wash, the pastor realized there was a moral conflict. Respectfully, but clearly, he explained to
the owner that the church could no longer accept the donations of meat. That stance made such an impact on this man
that he just announced his carwash would no longer be topless.
I know
the church takes a lot of public flak whenever it takes a stand on moral
issues, but I suspect--and I may be naive here-- that the church which takes
that stand in a simple, honest, respectful way earns a lot of quiet
respect.
As we
begin the New Year we will face moral challenges. Lots of voices will call us to give up
ethical standards of the Bible. We will
be told that we must be modern, that we must accommodate to the realities of a
new age, that the old standards will doom us.
In the words of the renegade Bishop Spong, the church must change or
die. But, again, it is always too soon
to publish the church’s obituary.
Just
this past year, researchers announced their startling findings that divorce is
bad for children, that children fare better with intact families. Seems like we’ve heard that somewhere before.
As we
enter this New Year, I hope the church is ready to face the challenge of being
the church.
[Here I introduced a length section on
issues facing Southern Baptists. I
thouldh about deleting it before posting this but decided to leave it; I am
leaving it to be historically honest and because some of you reading this may
have similar issues facing your own denominations. In some instances you might be able to insert
the name of your denomination for “Southern Baptist.” Of course, if you’re not interested in these
matters, you can just skip to the next point.]
Then,
this year I think we are going to face certain challenges as Southern
Baptist Christians. Those of you who
are not Southern Baptists will forgive me if I spend a few minutes addressing
this issue because you know how seldom I discuss them at all.
Even
those of you who might not be Southern Baptists know our denomination is
divided. I suppose the news report
earlier this year about former President Jimmy Carter leaving the convention
brought it to the attention of lots of people.
Let me
say at the outset that I don’t like a lot of what our new leaders are
doing. Never mind they may have given Home
Life a classier look, their approach to dealing with what may have been
genuine problems left a wake of division and controversy.
A major
result of this controversy has been the creation of a new denomination--a term
some of its members would avoid but it fits.
It’s a denomination made up of former Southern Baptists who felt
disenfranchised by the new leadership.
Ironically, this new group is so opposed to setting doctrinal and
ethnical standards it has become the denomination their more conservative
brethren warned us about.
During
the past year several prominent Southern Baptist churches left the convention
to become part of this new group.
Where do
I stand on all this? When I lived in
Texas I used to tell people there were three groups in the Southern Baptist
Convention: The Fundamentalists, the
Liberals, and the Disgusted. I’ll let
you guess which group I belong to.
Frankly,
from a biblical viewpoint there is little wrong with the basic tenets of
Fundamentalist theology. Go back in
history and you’ll discover that Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin,
and lots of other Christians embraced the same fundamental elements of
Christian truth. (No, they weren’t
dispensationalists but not even Fundamentalists make that a doctrinal issue.) Even some of its severest critics have
acknowledged that “Fundamentalist” theology has history on its side.
Even
though I don’t consider myself a fundamentalist, I’ve had occasion to study
them in some depth.[1] After years of studying these people, I
believe that a fundamentalist is defined, not by his doctrine, but by his
demeanor. Or, as one writer put it,
being a Fundamentalist is not a matter of theology but of temperament.[2]
What’s
this got to do with the special challenges we face as Southern Baptists? As the media picks up more and more on this
controversy, people are going to ask where we stand. As a Baptist I can’t tell you what to say.
But I
will tell you what I’m going to say. I‘m
going to say:
Ÿ For me
it’s more important to be known as a Christian than to be known as a Baptist. If and when something about being a Baptist
conflicts with the historic Christian faith, I’m going to stand with the
Christian position. [This happens
rarely, by the way.]
Ÿ I
believe it’s possible to remain faithful to the historic faith of Christianity
without adopting an arrogant and divisive manner. I believe this, in part, because so many
Christians have done so in the past.
Ÿ I have a
lot of faith that cooler heads will ultimately prevail in the Southern Baptist
Convention. Our convention has weathered
quite a few storms over its hundred-and-fifty-year history, so I’m not as ready
to give up on it as some are. [I’m not sure I would have included this in
a sermon today; for the past few years I’ve paid very little attention to
“convention politics.” In my last years as a pastor I focused on encouraging
support for missions and left the more pugnacious to deal with other
matters—not the most courageous stance, perhaps, but one I could live with.]
Ÿ With
regard to the new Baptist group, I intend to say that a lot of good men and
women are part of it, but it is always dangerous to be defined by what you
don’t believe rather than by what you do believe. I can’t see myself ever joining with this
group.
Ÿ Finally,
I intend to reaffirm the role of the local church in our lives as
Baptists. The local church is still the
final arbiter of these matters. So far,
no matter what’s been going on at the denominational headquarters, no one has
called me to tell me what I must do and believe or what our church must do and
believe.
Now, before I move on to another challenge,
let me say one more thing. Ultimately,
I’d like it if visitors went away from our church remembering our love for God,
the richness of our fellowship, and the warmth of our welcome rather than our
denominational affiliation.
3) This year we’re going to face
special challenges as witnesses for Christ in the 21st Century.
Peter
reports that well before the end of the first century there were some scoffers
who loved to ask Christians, “Where is the promise of his coming?” Apparently, as persecution grew more intense
some Christians wondered if God had forgotten about them. The Book of Revelation, in part, was written
to say, “No, he hasn’t forgotten.”
At the
end of the first millennium many European Christians fearfully expected the end
of the world to come. It didn’t.
Now, at
the end of the second millennium, many American Christians may well be saying
to themselves, “I sure hope the Second Coming doesn’t happen until they publish
the last installment of the ‘Left Behind’ series.”
If you
had told me a decade ago that a series of books written by a Fundamentalist
evangelist and a former sports writer, books based on
pre-millennial theology, would be on the best seller list as we entered the
21st century, I would have thought you were pulling my leg.
I don’t
intend to review these books for you this morning, but I just want to remind
you that the New Testament could possibly be sub-titled: “Instructions on What to Do Until the Lord
Returns.” I do hope that the popularity
of these books will encourage more people to read the New Testament. You and I shouldn’t need such incentive.
When we
take a look at that the New Testament it will have several things to tell us
about facing the new century:
Ÿ We will
be told to keep our commitment to Christ strong.
Ÿ We will
be told to keep on loving, even if people become more unlovable.
Ÿ We will
be told to keep on encouraging our fellow Christians to be Christlike in a
hostile world. The venue for this
encouragement is the fellowship of the church.
Ÿ We will
be told to take continued comfort in the promise of his coming.
Ÿ We will
be told to use whatever means we can, both new and old, to tell others about
the love of God in Jesus Christ.
The
Bible doesn’t foretell the coming of automobiles, airplanes, computers,
televisions, or any other modern invention.
It does tell us that whatever changes and challenges the calendar
brings, God will be with us.
I
suppose as we begin this new year, this new century, this new millennium,
that’s just about the most important thing I could tell you.
