YOU CAN’T BUY YOUR CHURCH on AMAZON
1 KINGS 17: 8-16
MARK 12: 38-44
November 10, 2024
Yesterday, my sister-in-law asked me if my sermon for today was completed. Since I am including her question this morning’s message obviously was still to be moved and nudged by what I believe is God’s Holy Spirit. Circumstances and events can change us, but God is ever present to direct us while loving all of us no matter who we are.
Do you ever consider the Holy Spirit’s nudging in your journeys of life? Do you want God’s Holy Spirit to be directing you, or do you just enjoy diving into the human maelstrom of disaster, division, and disregard of God? Have you held back words or backed off of actions because you knew God didn’t want you saying those things or doing those things?
In today’s world it seems that we have reached a point in history when people casually consider God’s will … actively reject Jesus’ teaching … and claim a faith that they almost think that they … or perhaps some of you even think … that you can buy on AMAZON DOT COM at bargain basement prices that allow you to be in throughly engulfed in the world because you think somewhere somehow a place with a sign declaring a building is a church that you can claim to be part of will always be there … just like thinking that the vanquished shopping malls and Main Streets of America that have dissipated into the mist would always be there when you wanted them … people think that they can still shop around and purchase at almost no cost the title CHRISTIAN when they need it … when they want it … when they choose to shout I am a CHRISTIAN but let me join with the world’s dissonance in at least 166 hours of my week. Not really a follower of Jesus Christ just a person with a religious identity and even that identity is being rejected by more and more people these days because Christian has become associated with things of the world more than reflective of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I am going to let you in on a little secret … promise not to tell anyone. YOU CAN’T BUY YOUR CHURCH ON AMAZON because in order for a church to be a church people have to be and live as the church. People like us and people who look and sound different than us. Together we have to live as the church. LOVE AS THE CHURCH! Actually and truthfully WORSHIP GOD and FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST as the CHURCH!!
The CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST … the CHURCH of the FAITHFUL is not a commodity … IT IS a collective of unique and truly diverse individuals who have chosen to pay attention to God as a priority. Humans who worship with joy and praise. Who pray with energy and then take actions to provide answers to the prayers of the faithful.
The CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST are people who truly LOVE ALL of their neighbors not just those aligned with themselves. To be people like the widow of ZAREPHATH in today’s lesson from First Kings who didn’t think she had enough for herself much less for others but then through faith in God found the resources to feed Elijah. Not only to feed Elijah but to also feed herself and her household for days. The LORD GOD had spoken, and she followed God.
Today, I know I need to talk to you about giving. I need to share the truth that at this church, we are behind in our finances. Frankly, I wanted to ask you today … I wanted to encourage you today as the loving church family of St. Paul’s to consider doing what you can to ensure that we can cover the costs of this church by having you consider going to automatic giving in 2025 so that when you are not here in person you will still be supporting this special church financially knowing that God will bless you and others. We go through the year deep in a financial hole and then almost have to beg for money before December 31st because the faithful have not given regularly throughout the calendar year even though we have bills to pay every week of the year.
I was going to look directly at the camera … ok, so I am looking … and ask those of you who worship with us online who clearly believe in the mission of this church and find God through worship at this church to consider becoming ongoing and regular givers to the ministry of this church. You can give through the website you know.
You see you can’t buy a church on AMAZON DOT COME but a church without finances will die. We can’t care for the hungry … provide for those hurting … heck we can’t keep the lights on unless we receive enough money from the faithful, it is just a hard fact of life.
And, then this morning I heard the news that my grandpuppy Leila had died overnight. My first grandpuppy. Colleen’s special four-legged family member whom she loved so much. I called her LAY_LAY … a Chihuahua … she had lost all of her teeth and was hobbling but still showing total love for Colleen, Ryan and Dax. And, my answer to my sister in law is … no, my sermon was not complete because in this difficult week throughout our amazing nation of democracy we have been hurting and sad and we need a church that you cannot buy on AMAZON DOT COM but we so need a church that truthfully and visually and actively and lovingly reflects Jesus Christ demonstrating to the world that there is something better than the world and it begins with love.
I still remember the day when Colleen reached out to tell me about her new dog. She sent me a photo of Leila and my immediate response was “Why are you sending me a photo of a rat?” You see I have never liked little dogs, and my first reaction was to insult a special new living love in Colleen’s life. Have you ever insulted someone or mocked something or someone another person treasures? How in the world does that showcase your Christianity? How does denigrating someone else for what matters in their lives make you a better person and if you pay attention to Scripture … Old Testament … New Testament … Jesus’ direct quotes … you know … as a church as individuals who are present in these moments because you want to connect with a church that by the way you could never ever purchase on AMAZON DOT COM … then you should know … I should know … that we as people of faith are REQUIRED to … yes God does not suggest we do this … Jesus does not say when you are in the mood do this … we are required IT IS ONE OF THE TWO COMMANDMENTS of GOD that all the other laws and rules fall upon … we are to LOVE ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS as Jesus loved us. So think about it ….
That widow put two copper coins … all she had, as Jesus said came from her hopeless poverty even all that she needed to live on she gave to God … and so, are you choosing to live for God and Christ outside these walls? Are you ready to support this church to ensure that the uniqueness of St. Paul’s where yes, we as the church family of St. Paul’s still without hesitation welcome all. No matter the color of your skin … regardless of your accent or place of origination … WE DON’T CARE if you are straight or gay or Republican or Democrat THIS IS A SPECIAL HOLY GROUND that I can’t explain because it doesn’t happen in other churches, but we need to make sure it continues to last. A church where we and anyone who choose to join us can laugh together, love together, serve together and worship God and Jesus Christ together as humans created in God’s image and we together need to start showcasing to the world that it can be done because it is a truth of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of West Deptford … and you can’t buy it on Amazon!
And Colleen told me immediately after I had called beautiful Leila a “rat dog” that this energetic little loving dog was my new grandpuppy whom Colleen expected me to love and not denigrate ever again due to her appearance and breed.
I never got around to sending an e-blast this week to all of you. I hope you read them when we send them. I hope you share stories of this church with your online family. Simply hitting the SHARE button on our Facebook posts or writing your own story about this amazing church that can’t be bought on Amazon.
I was going to send two photo’s to you … one was of Mr. Lee ringing the bell at Fox Chase Cancer Center this week surrounded by myself, Tim, Michael, and Valerie. Off to the side was the team and others. We were cheering and stomping our feet and celebrating his last day of treatment. Mr. Lee’s son was there. I saw tears of joy in this older man of Asian heritage’s eyes. Down the hall I could hear cheers from others who had never met Mr. Lee. It was a good moment … and on Friday November 8 in the year 2024 not a single one of us knew who any of the other people voted for. We did not know nor care what the other individuals political affiliations were. What mattered … what should matter for all of us was one person’s victory in a battle with cancer!
As Christians … as people who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ … you might have noticed that nowhere in the Bible are American political parties mentioned … God states clearly that all humans were created in God’s Holy image … we are told to love ALL of our neighbors so what about you? Are you so wrapped up in politics and the news that you forget that you are a child of God with obligations to God not to things of this world? Are you thinking you can buy your church on AMAZON DOT COM or perhaps that faith requires you just to say you are a Christian and never to live as one.
The other photo was of Rich. Rich is the father of Rich and they are renovating David Scott Todd’s house across the street from me. Many of you remember David and his cowboy hat … David and his Hooters jacket … David who for so many years was kept prisoner away from the world. David whom this church welcomed with love rather than rejecting David for his perceived deficiencies. I told Rich Megan’s story the other day and Rich said, “I need to give you a Megan Bear Hug.” And, this man who I really don’t know but I have come to like along with his son impressed with their work … hugged me so tightly with love. We both teared up … as we separated but still inches apart on that same Friday that Mr. Lee rang the bell. Rich did not ask if I voted like he did … Rich did not ask me if I was a member of his political party … Rich hugged me like my daughter used to hug me because we are both men created in God’s image so it was worth a hug on Woodland Avenue in West Deptford New Jersey on a sunny November Friday.
And, then I read my friend Sue’s words about the BIG C … words that perhaps some of us need to hear today. I will share the topics and you can go to my FACEBOOK to read the rest but we need to be the church … this church needs your financial support and commitment … we need to be visible and vocal because at St Paul’s we follow Jesus … so remember to include in your life COMPASSION, CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY, CAMARADERIE, CELEBRATION, CONNECTION, CLARITY and finally CHOICE.
Choose to live as a loving Christian … Choose to reject the world … remember those two widows in today’s Scripture lessons and to my sister-in-law …. No, these words were not what I had in mind yesterday before you asked me. And I loved that little dog. AMEN