Sermon Sunday, August 31, 2008
“The Content Of Our Character: Living Into The Way Of Christ."

Today’s focus: Acclimated To Ambiguity
Matthew 5:1-12 by Pastor Allen V. Harris

Sermon Series:
Why this series?
- What I won’t do:
> Elementary School “Character Ed.” (for example: Respectful, Trustworthy, A Good Citizen, Caring, etc. You should have learned these long ago!
If missing, go back to “start!”)
> “One Size Fits All” list (Jesus didn’t use lists! When asked the essence of the law, he could have easily used the Ten Commandments, but no! He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and your neighbor as yourself. This is the essence of the law.”)

Began with: Lifelong Learning
(Scavenger Hunt)
Moved to: Value Vulnerability
(Rubbing The Belly Of The Beast)
Then to: Sustainable Stewardship
(A Long Road Trip/Hiking Expedition)
Subsequently: Sacrificial Solidarity
(Neighborhood Diner)
And on August 10: Covenantal Community
(Family Calling Plan)

Today we’ll look at: Acclimated to Ambiguity
First, let’s define our terms:
> Acclimated: get used to, like a fish to water
> Ambiguity: aware of the many options/diversity in life (not the same as relativism!)

Metaphor: A child playing with blocks… but not just any blocks: those plain, natural wood, blocks.
(VS. what “Legos” have become: prepackaged kits to make things exactly as the designers envisioned.)

What we’re up against:
> implication by religious political extremists is that certainty defines faith, rather than exploration, thoughtfulness, contemplation, deep critical thinking, and dialogue and discussion.
> litmus tests based on human definitions and rules, rather than the Holy Spirit working within each individual.

Scripture Matthew 5:1-12
> Monty Python was on to something in “The Life Of Brian” when the listeners on the hillside heard “Blessed Are The Cheesemakers.” The beatitudes were never meant to be rules to check off, but life learnings to become aware of, to live out in real life circumstances.
> Blessed are… the poor in spirit? …the meek? … those who are persecuted? …when you are reviled? OH PLEASE!
> The odd combination of goals and means was intentional… to get us to think about our faith.

Acclimation To Ambiguity Is A Constant theme in Scriptures:
> 2 creation stories (God far off/near at hand)
> History of Israel (federation, judges, kings, prophets…)
> Jesus: “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” and, especially, his use of parables

Good Parents and Teachers Know This Truth
> Rote teaching of principles and rules is very limited in its effectiveness.
> Teaching children the deeper concepts which are able to be adapted and used anywhere, anytime far more helpful.

Being Acclimated To Ambiguity is to live imaginatively and to be creative
> Our mission statement calls us to: “Encourage Creativity!”
> Children Worship & Wonder, our new Christian Education focus, is based entirely on helping our children become acclimated to ambiguity!
- Worship
- Wonder

Imagination, creativity, and exploration are at the heart of human life.
Poet Dana Gioia said, “Adult life begins in a child’s imagination and we’ve relinquished that imagination o the marketplace.” (1)
Warning against confining and defining play, for children and adults, and the long-term crippling effect this has.

Hebrew Scriptures scholar Walter Brueggeman once said, “It is the pastor’s duty to name the ambiguities floating around us in our bodies. When ambiguities are named and made visible the Holy Spirit has room to work!”
and, “The Church should not be a factory for certitude, but a host for ambiguity.”

It won’t be easy!
> vs. the simplistic charge that “situational ethics” is cheap and easy and selfish.
> Thinking about how your faith meets the challenges of each new moment is difficult, time-consuming, and tiring… but it is what faith is all about.
> The more you, personally, wrestle with faith, the more likely it is to become a part of you, and the more likely it is that you will live that faith.

Conclusion: A Faithful Christian becomes Acclimated To Ambiguity.

There, I’ve said it. Amen

(1) Dana Goia, as quoted by Jeannine Ouellette in “The Future Of Creativity,” Utne, July/August 2008, No. 148, p. 37

Rev. Allen V. Harris
Franklin Circle Christian Church
www.FranklinCircleChurch.org


 

Copyright 2008 -- The Rev. Allen V. Harris

Franklin Circle Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1688 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH 44113-3096