Friday I enjoyed one of my favorite opportunities, actually several of my favorite opportunities put together.The last event of the night was a Continental Airlines flight back from New York City.Flying is one of my all time favorite things to do.Earlier in the day it was my privilege to see something I’d never seen before, another favorite thing to do.This favorite was a historical site, yet a third favorite thing to do, and a Methodist historical site at that.I was in the area because of Global Ministries meeting in Uptown Manhattan.We ended a little early and so I had some time to poke around town prior to the time of my departure.
Where I went was to John St. United Methodist Church in New York’s Financial District.The church is the longest continuous worshiping congregation in American Methodism.In the year 1766, two hundred and forty one years ago, Philip Embry an immigrant from the British Isles and a follower of John Wesley gathered a small group of friends in his New York home.The birth of WesleyMethodistChurch followed.By 1768 the congregation built their own structure which they located just a few blocks from the original meeting location.Since that time there has been a MethodistChurch at 44 John St.Today the congregation is not only still active but is steadily growing.The community enjoys the “new” church facility which dates from 1840.This sanctuary is on the same site as the one constructed in 1768.The current “new” building contains stained glass from the original structure.One of these is a great piece honoring Francis Asbury, the first American Methodist Bishop.Along the walls are marble memorial plates recognizing the church’s pioneers and leaders.A few of these date back to the eighteenth century.
I was particularly interested in one of these.The plaque told the story of an itinerant or traveling, preacher who came through John St. Church
Church in the earlier years of the nineteenth century.What drew my attention specifically were the pastor’s years of life.He was born in 1790 and died in 1823.This means that he was only 32 or 33 years of age at the time of his passing.
Many pastors of his generation were zealous for the faith.Hundreds of young men and even a very few women took on the challenge of carrying the Gospel, the Good News, to those who were rapidly inhabiting the new nation and the territory to the west.The conditions of the lives of these faithful messengers were challenging at best.They were always on the move, always at home, but seldom in a home, preaching wherever and whenever to whomever they were able.They found meals and refuge when possible.The biggest challenges came from facing the elements.For this reason many died of various ailments at fairly young ages.
I recall the obituary of one of these in an 1816 Methodist Magazine in my possession.The article shared the young mans good work.The closing comments went something like this; “Brother John gave his heart and his life for Jesus Christ and the Kingdom.”The reason for the young man’s untimely death was stated, he simply “wore out.”There was probably a bit of exposure there as well which caused his health to fail.
Needless to say the commitment of the young man mentioned in the magazine and the one whose name was memorialized at John St. Church are two to whom we own a great debt of gratitude.Without these, and many like them, we might not be here today.The people to whom they ministered gave life to the new MethodistChurch in American and inspired those of generations past who made us what we are today.Folks from New York were instrumental even in sending missionaries to the “west,” even way out west in Texas.
We certainly can be thankful for those who have gone before.We are what we are because of the John St. Church and so many other such communities which took the first steps to bring our beloved Wesleyan Methodist to a continent in need of salvation.Practices through the years have changed.Structurally the church isn’t as it was.Some say we are better off today.Others think we were better of then.One positive can be said, when thinking of then and now; it is good to be blessed by those who took the steps to make us what we are.It is good to take their gifts and to add our own experience, faith and inspiration into the mix.
The basic passing of time developed us.Those who went before left their inspiration and practices.Much has changed since 1766.I’m sure some folks back then prayed for the continuance of faith into future generations.I pray about how life here will look in 241 years.It will be interesting to see.I know one thing for sure the approach to God will not change.The way to God’s eternity and to God’s salvation will continue to be through faith in God’s son.Perhaps there may be some other revelations to come, that will be God’s choice, however I can never comprehend a way easier or more definitive than coming to salvation through the door which Jesus opens.
Think about the times the world was in when Jesus first came along.There were those whom God dealt in specific ways.One of God’s challenges in earlier times was sort of a series of first steps.When God first spoke to people who had a limited idea of how to approach God, God said “sacrifice,” offer gifts that cost.As though God was saying show your faith by obediently following what I say.For example, eat certain things, and don’t eat other things.Maintain a personal discipline that helps you remember me and shows me your commitment.God sent commandments, things to do and not to do in order for life to be right with God.Obeying these commandments and laws proved faith.
The part of the Hebrews 13 passage we did not read today, verses 9 to 14, are worth your personal reading time.These in a few simple words, reminded the hearer and reader of the sacrifices from before, of those commitments made by humanity over and over again in order to do what the older generations thought to be appeasing God.The author of Hebrews spoke of older times, of the small steps which developed into the practice of seeking and following God’s word.Then Hebrews presents a pivotal point.The days of sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice were over when the days of Christ began.Sacrifice ended because Jesus chose to be the sacrifice of all sacrifices, the once and for all display of God’s love at its deepest.We don’t give to God the things of life, we give our faith to God through the Lord of life.This act of faith our commitment in faith frees us from compliance and judgment and fears and opens us all up to loving response, to God’s forgiveness and life free from fear.
The end of our passage today is where I began.The sacrifice made to God is not one of things such as the best eats money can buy, nor is it a sacrifice of resources out of obligation. No, the sacrifice we offer to God according to Hebrews is a sacrifice of faith and praise as well as faith which accepts God’s love as Christ’s gift.
Then comes the challenge to mission.We are called to do good, to be generous, to be charitable, to be caring, to give what God has so graciously given to us not because we have to but, because of our love of God, we need to.In our society in particular we show our thanks and respect by offering good gifts, but offering a response to God’s word and love from the heart.
The end of next month on Consecration Sunday, October 28th we’ll share about our financial response, one which is an important option.We’ll recall that giving is done because it is our need to give.Yes, in order to do mission, even where we are, money is a good sacrificial gift to choose to offer because such gifts, as all gifts, can do wonders for the Kingdom of God.
I recall the story of one of our early Methodist benefactors.He made a large amount of money prior to 1929.In the early 1920’s it was his choice to donate to an overseas mission hospital.During 1929 he lost all of his financial strength.He rebuilt his life but not his wealth.He retired finally and resided in a modest home in the Midwest.He and his wife lived comfortably but not extravagantly.
The years passed.In that time he just about forgot the hospital to which he had donated some decades before.So it came as a total surprise, even a shock, when he received an invitation to go overseas and be honored for his kindness on the occasion of the hospital’s fiftieth anniversary.It took a little pushing by his wife, but finally he agreed to go.He found that his donation of some years before had given structure to a vision.He was the largest single gift, and one of the earliest.
On the day of the celebration he and about a dozen others were honored.For the first time he actually took a look at the institution, he glanced through scrapbooks from years past, and heard the testimony of many who had found health through the hospital’s ministry.He admitted afterward that it was a privilege to be remembered and he was thankful for the little that God gave him the chance to do so long ago.His final comment was telling; he said that it was amazing how after all these years “the greatest thing and the most lasting thing in my life didn’t come from what I kept but from what I gave away.God blessed me by giving me the opportunity to be charitable.”
This is sacrificial living that is good to offer to God and to God’s people.It comes in words of praise as well as in acts of praise.It comes through small gifts of various sorts as well as through gifts that are large enough of a financial nature to start a significant ministry.According to the first part of the passage we have for today there are other areas of sacrifice as well.Each of these points Hebrews sets forth as good examples of the sacrifice and commitment that are good in God’s sight.
I suppose we might even say that when God looks at us and looks at the labors we are able to share, God is most pleased when we do what we are able to share the goodness of life.God is more pleased with a gift that comes from the heart than with any other.The labor God seeks is a labor of love and heart felt commitment.Hebrews lays out five things as examples, five attainable goals that the author of Hebrews had seen in operation, ones that made a testimony.
What are these five?Well let’s list them.
There is first what Hebrews calls brotherly or mutual love.This means literally treating each other with the same respect with which we would choose to be greeted.It is being able to care for people who are suffering, as many in the early church suffered because of their faith.It is being attentive to those who may not be so friendly, those who may be even hostile, even praying for ones enemies, as Jesus prayed for his.It is wishing no one any harm, and seeking in one’s life to do no harm at all.
Then there is hospitality.This one is a little more difficult to comprehend in our times.Back in the days of Jesus and prior there were few places where a traveler could stay safely for a night.Inns were places with terrible reputations.Chances are good if one entered such a place possessions would disappear, even life.At the least they were unhealthy.The law of hospitality back then was a mandate to people of faith.One who is traveling and has no where to go could depend on a person of faith for a place of safety and warmth in which to stay for the night.One who found such a place would find a meal and words of comfort.Hospitality was not an attitude but was an action.It can be defined as welcoming those who came, even those not known before, with the same welcome that would be given to God himself.
There is sympathy.Specifically here, but not limited to visiting and caring for those who are in prison.Those in prison today are faced with challenges and issues, and so where those in Jesus time.Basically sympathy means not forgetting anyone.Offering welcome, and love, and caring to all, even as Jesus would offer the same.
Then there is purity.Stated here in Hebrews it is faithfulness.Being attentive to promises made and to vows which are to be kept.How can one be trusted with anything if the basics of home are neglected?It is also a matter of priority.The same philosophy to honoring father and mother, a basic commandment.An example;I remember someone I once knew who verbally prided himself on how he treated strangers.But my opinion of how he operated and how far he could be trusted in relationships broke down when I heard him speaking harshly to his mother on the telephone.
Finally, Hebrews states plainly about not allowing love of money or anything that can be so controlled or controlling to be the point of love in life.I remember the old cliché about how some love money and things and use people, where the one who is striving to make life its best is one who loves people and uses money and things to meet the good ends of life. This challenge is to remind us to be content with what we have and to use what gifts God has given as labors of love.
What God requires is that our labors be worthy offerings and that our work be for the mutual good.
Today is communion Sunday.On this particularly Sunday we are doing something which can be done anytime during the year, even though it is generally a practice of the Season of Lent.I chose this day for this specific offering because today marks the first communion Sunday following the second anniversary of the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.The offering we are taking during communion today is called “One Great Hour of Sharing.”It is a call to the church to support ministry throughout the world which deals with helping people through natural disasters, such as the storms of 2005, and most recently such things as earthquakes in South America and Asia.Our United Methodist Discipline explains that the proceeds of this offering will “share the goodness of life with those who are hurting.”Our own United Methodist Committee on Relief will distribute our offerings at points of need throughout the world.
This is just one example of the labor which God seeks.Thank you for your response to Christ through the commitment you offer and through the variety of good gifts you share as a response to God’s love and in Jesus’ name.Remember to care for each other and to share your love for God as you share your love, in many ways, with God’s people.
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