"Living Our Questions Into Answers!"

1 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

The message this morning, is Jesus’ request that his disciples, to do some of the ministry they had been learning from him.  The message they were to bring was: The Kingdom of God is near you!  The Kingdom God is presence in your midst!  

That is the same message we are requested to live out, in our  lives everyday ordinary selves.  

That message is more urgent today then in was when Jesus taught his first twelve disciples.  

The instructions are: Take nothing but the clothes on you back.  Nothing else!  No wallet or purse!  No extra coat!  Just the love of Jesus!  Just the peace and grace of God.   That is, “The good news” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

The glitch is that we will be at the mercy of those we meet for their hospitality.  It is totally a mission of peace and poverty.  That means being needy ourselves!  Spreading the word of God as provided by Jesus.

It is to be simple, non-intrusive, non-confrontational! Nor demanding!  All we have to do is just go!  Go with nothing but the Gospel!  Unprepared for everything, and anything, that comes at us.  Like lambs amidst the wolves. 

If people accept you fine!

If they don’t, simply walk away!

Go on to the next encounter, with the next stranger or friend, waiting for a listening ear.  One that will welcome God’s word.

That is it!  Just bring the peace filled, loving presence of God where ever you go.

End of instructions!

How would that work in todays fear infested culture?  Where strangers are to be handled with caution and even suspicion.  Instead of a possible angel — messenger of God?  In a society where doors are locked even to neighbors.  And dinner tables are shared only with family and close friends. In a culture where the Gospel is very seldom heard aloud, except on the Television or radio. Or, inside the walls of a church building, where there are more and more empty pews rather than full ones.  

In today’s world the image of the “Institutional  Church's” reputation has a tarnish, to say the very least.  Its image has been throughly soiled by all too many abuses.  And I am not just talking about sexual misuse and abuse.

So, how is the precious message of God’s peace, love and generous grace — the Gospel of Jesus Christ — to be spread in our tightly woven circles of exclusion, doubt, mistrust and skepticism?

Now, let me be very clear!  I am in no way standing in judgment!  I am quiet aware of the cultural conditioning that has been done to this Gospel of peace and love.  As a matter of fact, I am an empathizer to the skepticism and questions and struggles of those who doubt and wonder.

In all truth!  I am in total agreement with them, in most cases. Because the Institutional Church is guilty of creating a huge disfavor, a huge question mark, in the past, to those who have come into the doors to find God’s truth. God’s love!  They have found, instead, quite the opposite of God's peace and love, that people of faith, claim to believe in.   

What these visitors observe, and listen to, has created the many questions; and yes  some doubt between what they hear and what they observe.  

The facts, about the damage the institutional church that  through the years created, are not a secret.  It is well documented in both world and national statical studies and polls. I will not even attempt to do justice to these studies in a blog.

However, I bring this issue up because it is a conversation that, all believer in the love and grace of Jesus,  would be wise to enter into.  I encourage such conversation!

Because!  It is our problem to grapple with.

Because! This extremely sad situation faces us all.  

And I am not just talking about “we the clergy!”

It is about all believers as we attempt, in our own shy and ordinary way, to offer the presence of the kingdom of God.  That is to offer any and all people the love, grace, forgiveness and peace of God!  In the environment we live in today. 

And yet, Jesus sends us out to live and speak and act his gentle way!  Everyday!

The big question is, how do we share Jesus’ love and peace with those who now doubt our integrity?

Because!  The truth is, the people who question our faith, and our belief systems, have NOT stopped searching for meaning in God’s promises.  

They have NOT stopped believing in God!

They have NOT stopped wondering about “what it says in the Bible.”

Their curiosity has not died!  Nor is it dormant!  

All you have to do is go to google, on your computer, and google God.  Then just count the number of “hits” God gets each day.  

You would be amazed!

Don’t you think that it would be an extremely more affective way, if they could find the information, they search for, in you and I! 

Can't you imagine how impressive it would be for them to see, in us, the gracious presence of God’s peace and love, in us!  Living, in us, God’s nearness right here!  Right now!  

Being for them a place that offers hope!

Being a place that offers a space of grace.  A space of grace where they are welcome — indeed encouraged —  to voice their questions, doubts and wonders.

Encouraged, by you and me, to open up the discussion with civil conversation.  Willing to join them by admitting:  “I don’t really know either!”  “Let’s find out together!”

When we are willing to do that!  Offer an open space of grace where faith can grow into just tiny-bits-of-understanding.  Understanding that sparks the fire of faith. 

With the truth that faith is just that!  Not really knowing for sure!  

The willingness to walk, with them, without all the facts!  And still know, deep inside of themselves, that God is! That God is Good! That God is understanding of our inability to grasp the whole truth!  That God accepts us where we are!

That would be the best gift we could ever give them!

I will leave you this morning with Henri Nouwen’s thoughts, about questioning, and wondering about faith: 

“Just be willing to live the question into answers.”

That is the very least we could do!  The very least!

1 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5 Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." 6 They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. 7 Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. 9 Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he tried to see him. 10 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. (Luke 9)