BELIEVE!

Earlier this week one of our Virginia Conference ministers shared some words of Clarence Jordan, founder of the Koinonia community near Americus, Georgia, regarding the resurrection of Jesus. He writes: “The resurrection is simply God’s way of saying to humanity, ‘you might reject me if you will, but I’m going to have the last word. I’m going to put my son right down there in the midst of you and he’s going to dwell among you from here on out.’

On the morning of the resurrection, God put life in the present tense, not in the future. God gave us not a promise, but a presence. Not a hope for the future, but power for the present. Not so much the assurance that we shall live someday, but that he is risen today. Jesus’ resurrection is not to convince the incredulous nor to reassure the fearful, but to enkindle the believer. The proof that God raised Jesus from the dead is not the empty tomb, but the full hearts of his transformed disciples. The crowning evidence that he lives is not a vacant grave, but a spirit-filled fellowship. Not a rolled-away stone, but a carried away church.” (Clarence Jordan, The Substance of Faith, copyright Koinonia Partners, Inc., and reprinted in Alive Now, March/April 2004)

An example of a “carried-away church” is the community, which Clarence Jordan established in 1942. Some may recall, “Koinonia (the Greek word for fellowship or community) is perhaps one of the most successful utopian experiments of the twentieth century. Under the inspired leadership of Greek scholar and theologian Clarence Jordan, Koinonia began in 1942 with the purchase of several hundred acres of rich farmland in Sumter County, Georgia, and a commitment to the development of a small interracial, self-sustaining community committed to

*Treat all human beings with dignity and justice
*Choose love over violence (i.e., pacifism)
*Share all possessions and live simply
*Be stewards of the land and its natural resources

Koinonia’s early years were troubled by firebombs, bullets, KKK rallies, death threats, property damage, excommunication from churches, and economic boycotts, but in the end their indomitable spirit defeated the forces of injustice. By the early sixties the community had overcome most obstacles but needed new energy and a sharper focus. Enter millionaire business man Millard Fuller and his wife Linda, whose failed marriage drove them to redirect their wealth and commit their lives to a partnership with Clarence Jordan and Koinonia. The most important ‘offspring’ of the new Koinonia Partners was the program of ‘partnership housing’ that sought to build affordable housing for low-income housing. Thus was born Habitat for Humanity.” (Internet)

The absolute conviction that something must be done to create housing for the world’s poor drove the Fullers to redirect their lives and their wealth to fulfill a vision that came about from their exposure to Clarence Jordan and the Koinonia community. On at least two occasions I have heard Millard Fuller tell the story of God’s intervention in his life and the amazing story of Habitat for Humanity. Here is a man who has been on fire for the Lord for many years. God took hold of him at a time when he was outwardly successful, but whose inward life was falling apart, and spiritually transformed his heart. He launched a movement that has caught on all over the world with the result that thousands are now in their own homes, living with dignity and gratitude.

Millard Fuller and his followers allowed themselves to be “carried away” by the Spirit of Christ, the risen Lord. The stone of indifference to the world’s plight was rolled away and evidence now abounds that God is working through this ministry of providing housing to those who otherwise could not afford it. Millard and Linda Fuller were given a vision and the belief that their vision could be fulfilled by God’s empowering love. They redirected their priorities, surrendered their wealth, and God accepted their sacrifice offered in faith.

As I read the biblical accounts of Easter, I see several important things. First is the reality that God turned the tables on evil by raising his Son from the dead. Secondly, when Jesus appeared to his followers he gave them peace. He said, “Peace be with you,” and he showed them his hands and side to convince them that it was he. He then commissioned them saying, “Peace be with you. As the father has sent me, so I send you.” Thus, the commandment to go forth in service was given, but Jesus knew they still were not fully ready for they had not yet been empowered by the Holy Spirit.

It is important for us to realize that the Gospel of John presents the conferral of the Holy Spirit quite differently from Luke’s portrayal, which took place on the day of Pentecost. In John it is a quiet event. Jesus simply breathes on his disciples saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Jesus gives his disciples both power and authority to forgive sins, a power that heretofore belonged only to him. In going forth in his name his followers become apostles entrusted with a sacred commission.

Some writers have suggested that the quiet breathing of the Spirit into the disciples by Jesus on Easter was whipped into a frenzy on Pentecost when thousands experienced the Spirit that came like the sound like a rushing wind and tongues of flame resting on each of them giving the capacity to prophesy about the risen Christ in the many languages represented by the population that had gathered in Jerusalem.

What is for sure is that the disciples were able to exemplify holy boldness in proclaiming Christ’s saving love only by an extraordinary empowerment, which we know as the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whether the Spirit came quietly or noisily, or perhaps in both ways at differing times, the importance is that it came. Only by the Spirit can Jesus’ followers accomplish what he asks. No Spirit, no power.

Most of us have heard about the disciple Thomas having missed Jesus’ appearance on Easter and his reaction to those who said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” He has forever been remembered as “doubting Thomas,” a sad appellation because Thomas did many good things in his ministry. As one of our teachers, Burnette Thomas, said last Sunday, “we tend to remember people by their worst moment rather than by their best.” For many, when they hear the name George Washington, they remember the cherry tree incident, if such ever happened. I saw a cartoon one day showing young George Washington with his little hatchet in hand, surrounded by an entire orchard of chopped down cherry trees with the caption from his father’s lips, “I know you admit it. When are you going to quit it?”

In like manner, some people will remember the late Johnny Cochran as the skillful defense attorney who got O.J. Simpson off with the famous line about some gloves, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” When some people think of Bill Clinton, they think Monica Lowenski, or if they hear the name Richard Nixon they think Watergate. We tend to remember the worst about a person, rather than the best. Thus, we regard the disciple Thomas as a doubter, when in fact he just wanted to be sure. He loved Jesus so much he did not want to be misled in a claim as important as the resurrection. Let us not forget, even though he may have been weak in theology in some ways, he was willing to die for Christ at one point. It was a courageous zeal that Thomas showed just before Jesus raised Lazarus, when he said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” When Jesus told the disciples in the Upper Room that he was going to prepare a place for them and that they knew the way, it was Thomas who said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” His honest inquiry allowed Jesus to speak those immortal words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The tradition of the church “makes much of Thomas’ missionary exploits, assigning him a sphere of service in Parthia (so Eusebius), and in India (according to the Acts of Thomas), where he is revered as church founder and martyr.” (Gentz, The Dictionary of Bible and Religion, p. 1049) Let us not forget that exactly one week after Thomas’ demand for proof that Jesus appeared to Thomas and showed him his wounds. Instantly Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God.” We see no doubt in that statement! However, there is an important point to be made. We have not had a direct encounter with the risen Lord. All we have is the testimony of the church and the evidence of changed lives. And as much as we would love to have the kind of proof Thomas got, we are among those who are blessed by simply believing. Jesus said clearly to Thomas on that day of revelation, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

It is important as a final point to understand that our faith is grounded in the word of God itself. The testimony of the Bible should be enough to convince us without further proof. Listen to what John’s gospel says: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” This book, the Bible, tells the story of the transforming effect of the resurrection on first century lives and the way the living Christ empowered them with his Spirit to proclaim his saving grace. The NT is the story of lives forever changed by these events. The story of living churches is the story of God’s people who have believed and received the power of the Holy Spirit, and in a sense have been “carried-away” in their enthusiastic desire to serve. These are churches that are alive in Christ by living faithfully, reaching people for Christ, ministering to deep human need, redressing injustice, standing with the oppressed, challenging prejudice and bigotry, and always sowing the seeds of love.

What we believe controls just about everything we do. The life that is surrendered to Christ is a life that is open for the Spirit to come. The Spirit becomes our partner, our Paraclete, our Comforter, our wisdom and our strength. The Spirit draws us into oneness with Christ, oneness with other believers, and leads us as a community of faith into spiritual maturity. One of the gifts of the Spirit here at AUMC has been the development and strengthening of teamwork between our clergy, staff, and laity. This church is strong because we know whom the Lord of the church is and we have learned that we serve best when we serve together, each person fulfilling his or her role, according to the gifts and graces God has given. Churches get sick when misguided souls try to control them to their own purpose. Churches get well when we let Christ be our guide. This is a healthy church made up of many believers. We will become even stronger and more effective in our witness as we entrust ourselves and our ministries more completely to the Spirit’s directives, which come through prayer, study of the word, discernment, and teamwork.

Joseph F. Mlaker shares this account of what teamwork can accomplish: “Herman Ostry’s barn floor was under twenty-nine inches of water because of a rising creek. The Bruno, Nebraska, farmer invited a few friends to a barn raising. He needed to move his entire 17,000-pound barn to a new foundation more than 143 feet away. His son Mike devised a lattice work of steel tubing, and nailed, bolted, and welded it on the inside and the outside of the barn. Hundreds of handles were attached. After one practice lift, 344 volunteers slowly walked the barn up a slight incline, each supporting less than fifty pounds. In just three minutes, the barn was on its new foundation.

The Body of Christ can accomplish great things when we (believe and) work together (in the power of the Spirit).” Each of us is to carry part of the load, a part that is a weight that we can manage, and together we can move this church forward to the place God wants it to be. In this time of transition between ministers, let us believe that God is with us and that we have what it takes, by God’s grace, to carry this ministry of love forward today, and tomorrow, and for as long as God gives us breath. And even if it is our last breath, may it be God who is on our lips.

The world this week has been deeply moved by news of the death of Pope John Paul II in Rome. Most would agree that this man served as a great shepherd of a vast church, while promoting peace, speaking against war, uplifting the oppressed, and was instrumental in bringing about the fall of communism, particularly in his homeland, Poland. His latter days were marked by his suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s disease and other related ailments, yet he remained steadfast, a spiritual leader to the end, relating his suffering to Christ’s redemptive suffering, which he saw as a final privilege in his long pontificate. It is said that as he lay dying, just moments before drawing his last breath, he raised his hand in one final blessing for the world. That act exemplifies faith to the end. Our service to God is not to be an occasional thing. It is meant to be a way of life that knows no end. To be found working for the Lord on our dying day would be a glory.

Let me close with a tender incident that occurred during a worship service, which exemplifies Christian devotion, humble and determined, as a manner of life: “While Eric Hulstrand of Binford, North Dakota, was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance.

As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to head out the door, Mary regained consciousness. She motioned for her daughter to come near. Everyone thought she was summoning her strength to convey what could be her final words. The daughter leaned over until her ear was at her mother’s mouth. ‘My offering is in my purse,’ she whispered.” (From Leadership Journal, ed. Edward K. Rowell) Even in crisis, this woman’s mind was on the Lord and she wanted to be sure her worship was made complete by the offering of her gift that day. It was a matter of belief, of doing what she had determined to do for the love of God before being “carried away” for medical treatment.

There are lots of ways of being carried away, but before they literally “carry us away,” let us be sure we have cemented our relationship with Christ. One of the most profound statements in scripture is simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” Truly, it is a matter of belief!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the certainty of your grace through Jesus Christ, that we are saved by faith, and that it is not our own doing; it is your gift – not the result of works, so that none can boast. Give us the gift of faith and deepen it that we can be what you have made us to be, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which you have prepared beforehand to be our way of life, to your honor and glory. Amen.