Year C Proper 15 15 August 2010
Isaiah 5: 1-7 Psalm 80: 1-2, 8-19 Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2 Luke 12: 49-56
Luke 12:49 "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!”
We have a baptism to undergo: at the present time we are immersed in political promises and propaganda.... and how distressed we are until it is completed.
We live in difficult times. Every era has its problems and blessings. We have the amazing gift of technology, but with it has come rapid change and upheaval in values and beliefs. At this time as we get ready for our election Christians are finding that there is more at stake than our jobs and financial situations, but the very values which this country was built on are in a very fragile position.
Our leaders are working in a global society and our country which has always been quite multicultural, though grounded in Christianity, is now striving to take on the values and beliefs of all, leaving us with a national identity crisis.
Jesus speaks of a baptism that he has to undergo. We know that he was already baptised by John, so what is it that he is speaking about?
In our creed we proclaim that there is one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. If there is one baptism what is it that Jesus is talking about, and what is the one baptism that we profess to believe in.? Ephesians 4:4-6 “4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ever since the time of Christ there has been controversy over baptism. What is it? How should it be done? How many times can we be baptised? Etc... Other references to baptism are made in the Bible, one being Luke 3:16 “16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
In our reading for this week Jesus speaks of the Baptism he is to undergo and it is a baptism of suffering. At another point in the Bible Jesus asks his disciples if they can be baptised with the same baptism as he, implying that there is suffering, and that they too will suffer. At first glance, and maybe and second and third glance, it doesn’t seem like this is great news for those who strive to be Jesus’ disciples. But there is good news and we sense it as we read that Jesus, rather than avoid this baptism is eager for it to be completed.
Jesus suffered for our sake. He was baptised with suffering, but more importantly he became our “scapegoat”. In the Old Testament there was a ritual where the people would lay their hands on a goat. In doing this they were transferring their sins onto the goat. It was a way of repenting and having their sins taken away. Jesus was baptised or immersed into our sin. He had no sin of his own, but became sin – he took on himself the sin of the world. This is the lamb of God – baptised with our sin.
There is one baptism for the forgiveness of sin. While there are many fights over how baptism should be carried out and when, this shows that we have completely missed the point. The one baptism for the forgiveness of sin is not anything that we do. Jesus has done it. He was baptised into sin and then he took the due punishment. Yes we are baptised in water, showing that we are born again, have repented of sin and accepted our new identity – but essentially it is a celebration of, and our personal initiation into, what Jesus has already accomplished.
Like the disciples we are also often immersed in suffering – especially if we are following Jesus. As Jesus says he brings division and not peace. This is another strange statement, as we sing about “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth”. Jesus brought us peace, but it is peace with God, and he achieved it through his baptism into sin.
There is division on earth and there is fire. St. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 “22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Those who don’t have the understanding of the Holy Spirit will find the message of salvation to be not politically correct, to say the least. In our society we do not want to offend anyone, yet the message of the cross offends. It offends Jews because it declares them to have not recognised their long awaited messiah. It offends our intellect, as the resurrection is beyond our comprehension. The message of the cross offends pretty much everyone because it declares that we are all sinners who need forgiveness. It may be offensive but it is the absolute truth. If we can handle the truth and overcome our pride then we have the amazing gift of God’s acceptance and eternal life.
The message of God is ours to proclaim. We will offend. Of course we don’t want to offend anyone and if at all possible we strive not to, but some of the very real dangers in our up-coming election are changes to the law that will see our Christian values annihilated. Will you take that lying down?
Many female labour candidates are members of an organisation, “Emily’s List”*. One of the main agenda’s of this group is to have abortion decriminalised. This group gives funding to help their members promote themselves in their election campaigns. Just today there was an article in the Courier Mail about a lady who is currently being charged with the murder of her new born baby. The lady did not want the baby as she hoped to get into the Olympics for Water Polo. She had already aborted a couple of pregnancies. As far as I can see, she had already murdered children, but the law allowed these. I can’t help but see that the law which condoned her actions and should be held as much accountable as she is now for this murder charge. How can we possibly hold her accountable for murder when we allow murder to happen legally in the form of abortion?
I have said before, I don’t hear the church being vocal about these things. We’ve been so battered over the years that we are too scared or worn out to “stick our necks out” again. It seems that even our leaders are bowing to pressure. We had a Christian Prime Minister who has been “stabbed in the back”, but did he really “do” anything about these national “sins”? Really only God knows how true he has been to the revelations that God has given him. We now have an opposition leader who is known to have conservative views due to his Christian faith. Will he cave under the public pressure? One thing is for certain, to whom much is given, much is expected. When these leaders who claim to be God’s people fail to lead in the light of Christ they will be held accountable. And on that note – SO ARE WE.
Our reading s from Hebrews continues from last week. This week we are reminded of those who walked by faith. Some experienced amazing things when they stepped out in faith, but others were flogged, stoned and sawn in two. We are not likely to be treated so harshly for our faith, and yet I know that the emotional and verbal stones that people can throw can cut deeply and wound almost fatally. We need to pray constantly for our Christian politicians, our Church leaders and Christian family.
Hebrews 12 “1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
For those who’d like to know what parties are supporting what, as far as Christian values, there is a simple chart available from saltshakers.org: http://www.saltshakers.org.au/images/stories/attachments/Christian_Values_Checklist_-_fed_2010_-_highres.pdf
links about Emily’s List: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/decriminalised-abortion-tops-emilys-wish-list/2006/07/09/1152383611863.html
http://www.emilyslist.org.au/
Abortion statistics: http://www.abortionfacts.com/statistics/world_statistics_australia.asp
http://www.nswrtl.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=119
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