Boast in the cross !
There are not many of us who like people who boast – but whether you are in Church or work or taking part in sport or anything else, you will inevitably find people who do ! One who had a bit of a reputation for this was the boxer Mohammed Ali, and the theologian Ravi Zacharias tells a story about him going on a plane – I know I’ve used the story before, but I like it ! Passengers on the plane were instructed to fasten their seatbelts immediately. Everyone complied but Ali. Noticing this, the flight attendant approached him and requested that he observe the captain’s order, only to hear Ali respond, “Superman doesn’t need no seatbelt.” The flight attendant did not miss a beat and replied, “Superman doesn’t need an aeroplane either.”
The reality is that those who boast very often at some point will meet their match – and probably end up being put down a bit…. Today’s New Testament readings offer us some challenges about boasting – in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (6:7-16) he tells us not to boast in anything except the cross of Jesus, but then in the gospel reading from Luke (10:1-11,16-20), we have the account of Jesus commissioning 70 of his followers to go out and preach for him.
It would be very easy I think for those 70 to have thought that being commissioned by Jesus himself gave them a licence to be a bit boastful – Jesus chose me !!! And when we recognise that in the same way Jesus sent out those 70 he personally chose us to go out and do the same thing, maybe we too, could end up a little too full of pride.
But if we do then we are missing the heart of the gospel, and in fact, even the essential reality of our purpose in life… We live in the world for all kinds of reasons – to share relationships, to make ourselves the best people we can, to enjoy fullness of life, but we live also to worship God and to enjoy fellowship with him – with God our Father…
And it is when we recognise that, that we begin to recognise his influence on us and on everything we do, and it is then that we realise that commissioned to do his work or not – we do it only with his power and his help.
When Paul tells us to boast in nothing except the cross of Jesus, he is asking us to acknowledge that all we have, and all that we are and can be, is down to the sacrifice of Jesus, and his wonderful resurrection… And it is with that knowledge that we are called, commissioned, encouraged to go out and tell others about this power and this love…
There are many people who don’t give Christianity a very good name at the moment – people who seem a bit pushy but whilst there is a need to be careful, we need to be aware that the message we are called to share is an urgent message. The example of the early Church is an example of perseverance but also of urgency – there was a need to share the gospel – to invite others to be part of something special, something wonderful…
And perhaps this call not to boast offers us an encouragement in our discipleship – many of us are afraid to tell friends and family members too much about God and the Church because we’re a little bit afraid that we’re not worthy to do so. Many of us hang back when we should speak up… many of us are a little afraid of looking a bit silly !
But that is where we are reminded that it is not our work to do but God’s work – it is not our words but God’s words… if we don’t boast about our faith then we don’t need to be afraid of anything either… if we surrender to God’s will then we will act as his mouthpiece – and we will allow ourselves to be used for his service – and that is an incredibly powerful witness…
Many times we have thought about the saying, ‘There are 5 gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and ourselves – and most people will never read the first 4’. That is the commission we receive – it may be to work in the ordained ministry, it may be some other ministry in a Church setting, or it may be that we are called to work just where we are, with the people we know and see… the 70 that Jesus sent out were sent to various towns, which was essential as the gospel message spread… but whilst today many will be called to go to other places to work, many will work where they are…
The growth of the Church, and more importantly, the growth of the Christian faith is dependant on us ! And we grow, not by preserving the past but by expanding outward. We grow, not by building fences, but by building bridges. We grow, not by creating museums but by creating new relationships.
One of the saddest parts of the Holy Land is Bethlehem as I have said before – surrounded by a huge concrete wall people live in a prison, and held there many believe they have no hope and no future… The hope is that it will preserve peace for those outside the walls, but the reality is that those who built the wall are slowly killing the life inside….
It is a stark warning for Churches who build walls around them, preserving rather than seeking to grow – walls kill the life inside them, but bridges build relationships and encourage growth and life… When Jesus came to live in our world he knew no walls, he knew no barriers – he built bridges and he stretched out his arms – literally to anyone who would come to him….
We must never boast in ourselves but we can boast in the saving love and power of Jesus – someone once told the story of a little boy who was asked to define Christians. He said : "Christians are mild, weak, quiet, people who never fight or talk back." Then he added, "Daddy is a Christian but Mother isn't."
We must never be mild, weak or quiet as we share the gospel, and we must always fight in our own different and special ways, to ensure that the message of Jesus is heard by all… AMEN
The reality is that those who boast very often at some point will meet their match – and probably end up being put down a bit…. Today’s New Testament readings offer us some challenges about boasting – in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (6:7-16) he tells us not to boast in anything except the cross of Jesus, but then in the gospel reading from Luke (10:1-11,16-20), we have the account of Jesus commissioning 70 of his followers to go out and preach for him.
It would be very easy I think for those 70 to have thought that being commissioned by Jesus himself gave them a licence to be a bit boastful – Jesus chose me !!! And when we recognise that in the same way Jesus sent out those 70 he personally chose us to go out and do the same thing, maybe we too, could end up a little too full of pride.
But if we do then we are missing the heart of the gospel, and in fact, even the essential reality of our purpose in life… We live in the world for all kinds of reasons – to share relationships, to make ourselves the best people we can, to enjoy fullness of life, but we live also to worship God and to enjoy fellowship with him – with God our Father…
And it is when we recognise that, that we begin to recognise his influence on us and on everything we do, and it is then that we realise that commissioned to do his work or not – we do it only with his power and his help.
When Paul tells us to boast in nothing except the cross of Jesus, he is asking us to acknowledge that all we have, and all that we are and can be, is down to the sacrifice of Jesus, and his wonderful resurrection… And it is with that knowledge that we are called, commissioned, encouraged to go out and tell others about this power and this love…
There are many people who don’t give Christianity a very good name at the moment – people who seem a bit pushy but whilst there is a need to be careful, we need to be aware that the message we are called to share is an urgent message. The example of the early Church is an example of perseverance but also of urgency – there was a need to share the gospel – to invite others to be part of something special, something wonderful…
And perhaps this call not to boast offers us an encouragement in our discipleship – many of us are afraid to tell friends and family members too much about God and the Church because we’re a little bit afraid that we’re not worthy to do so. Many of us hang back when we should speak up… many of us are a little afraid of looking a bit silly !
But that is where we are reminded that it is not our work to do but God’s work – it is not our words but God’s words… if we don’t boast about our faith then we don’t need to be afraid of anything either… if we surrender to God’s will then we will act as his mouthpiece – and we will allow ourselves to be used for his service – and that is an incredibly powerful witness…
Many times we have thought about the saying, ‘There are 5 gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and ourselves – and most people will never read the first 4’. That is the commission we receive – it may be to work in the ordained ministry, it may be some other ministry in a Church setting, or it may be that we are called to work just where we are, with the people we know and see… the 70 that Jesus sent out were sent to various towns, which was essential as the gospel message spread… but whilst today many will be called to go to other places to work, many will work where they are…
The growth of the Church, and more importantly, the growth of the Christian faith is dependant on us ! And we grow, not by preserving the past but by expanding outward. We grow, not by building fences, but by building bridges. We grow, not by creating museums but by creating new relationships.
One of the saddest parts of the Holy Land is Bethlehem as I have said before – surrounded by a huge concrete wall people live in a prison, and held there many believe they have no hope and no future… The hope is that it will preserve peace for those outside the walls, but the reality is that those who built the wall are slowly killing the life inside….
It is a stark warning for Churches who build walls around them, preserving rather than seeking to grow – walls kill the life inside them, but bridges build relationships and encourage growth and life… When Jesus came to live in our world he knew no walls, he knew no barriers – he built bridges and he stretched out his arms – literally to anyone who would come to him….
We must never boast in ourselves but we can boast in the saving love and power of Jesus – someone once told the story of a little boy who was asked to define Christians. He said : "Christians are mild, weak, quiet, people who never fight or talk back." Then he added, "Daddy is a Christian but Mother isn't."
We must never be mild, weak or quiet as we share the gospel, and we must always fight in our own different and special ways, to ensure that the message of Jesus is heard by all… AMEN
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