Go-Go Boots or Not, We Keep Going; Sermon on Acts 14:8-20

Rev. George Miller
May 12, 2019
Acts 14:8-20

Once upon a time, in a land called Lystra, there was a community of folk who were known for their generous hospitality.

They were not Jewish. There was not a synagogue in sight. Most likely they had never heard the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Moses or Miriam, much less any stories about Jesus.

But there was a story the parents told their children, and the children told their children’s children.

It’s a story that shaped who they were as a people.

It was said that one day the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes came to Lystra dressed as peasants. They went from home to home asking for a place to sleep, but they were rejected by all.

Finally, they came to the home of a poor peasant couple in a simple, rustic cottage. Though they were poor, the couple’s generosity was great, exceeding that of their rich neighbors who had bolted their doors and spoke not a kind word.

The impoverished couple welcomed the strangers in and served them food and wine. The wife noticed that although she had refilled her guest’s cups many times, the wine pitcher stayed full.

Realizing their guests were gods, they shared their praises and offered to kill their prized goose to make a meal.

In appreciation for their kindness and generosity, Zeus turned their meager home into an ornate temple; the couple was made guardians of the shrine.

This story shaped the people of Lystra, playing a role in their understanding of hospitality and welcoming the stranger.

The surrounding areas thought the people of Lystra were simple. Country. Uncivilized.

Because the people of Lystra were so willing to welcome others, they were considered gullible. But it did not stop them from welcoming the stranger.

Meanwhile, about 780 miles south-east in Jerusalem, the early Christian church was continuing to grow.

The 7 selected leaders are continuing to stock and run the food pantry. Folk like Peter are enjoying bbq ribs and shrimp po’ boys while bringing gentiles into church membership.

And extraordinarily, one of the biggest critics of the church, Paul, has joined the ministry team.

This is amazing, because at one point Paul hated the church so much that he was going into people’s homes, dragging men and women into prison, making death threats against disciples, and literally putting people into chains.

But Paul has an encounter with the Resurrected Christ, which open his eyes, changes his ways and makes him go from persecuting Christians to proclaiming Christ as King.

Filled with zest for the Lord, Paul takes off like a 17- year old boy who just got his driver’s license and thinks he knows it all.

Paul teaches. He ruffles feathers. He goes down to the seaport of Caesarea. He’s sent to Tarsus.

The Holy Spirit asks Paul to be set apart. He’s commissioned. He sails to Cypress. He has a run in with a false magician.

He heads for the mainland. Preaches such an awesome sermon that he’s invited back the next Sabbath.

But in the next town his charisma is seen as so threatening that everyone wants to kill him, so Paul and his buddy Barnabas escape.

And where do they end up?

In back water, country Lystra, where nary a synagogue, a Target, a Whole Foods or a Dali museum exist.

Just a bunch of folk who love their one traffic light, their casseroles, and seeing the latest “Avengers” movie is their cultural highpoint of the year.

Immediately Saul and Barnabas have a chance to do some good ministry. They offer healing to a man who has been struggling for years. They get him back on his feet and walking with his head held high.

The people of Lystra are so ecstatic that they think Paul and Barnabas are the Greek Gods coming back to reward them for all their years of kindness and generosity.

They bring them oxen and flower necklaces and offer to make sacrifices unto them.

But Paul says “No” and tries to set the crowds straight, but they refuse to listen.

Into this chaotic mix come leaders of neighboring Jewish communities who attack and nearly kill Paul, who is rescued by the disciples…

Now, there is this unspoken humorous portion of today’s reading- the people thought Paul was Hermes.

Hermes- the Greek god of messages who was often pictured in white-winged boots, a wide-brimmed hat, and associated with rabbits.

How did Paul go from being one of the most feared men in the land, who could have anyone put in chains and sent to jail, into being viewed as a go-go booted god who liked to wear big hats and hang out with Bugs Bunny?

In many accounts Paul’s trip to simple, country, back water Lystra has been an utter failure. A flop.

No one was brought to Christ. His work did not increase church membership by one iota.

In fact, if anything, Paul increased the popularity points for Zeus and Hermes.

Plus, Paul nearly died, and he had to be rescued by the same people he once tried to have killed.

It’s like he went from being John Wayne to Nancy Sinatra, and his winged go-go boots are made for walking.

Today’s story shows that Paul’s trip to Lystra was not a success…if you measure success only by numbers, or membership, or leaving with you dignity unscathed.

But what if we looked at success another way?

What if success simply meant that just one person was able to walk into their future, healed from their crippling past?

What is success meant that when one is beat down by life’s circumstances, they find a way to get back up and to go on?

What if success meant not giving up, even if your intentions are misunderstood and you have to be rescued by others?

What if success is measured by one’s ability to just keep going regardless of who they are and where they are on life’s journey?

That’s the thing about the Jewish and the Christian story- that we just keep going.

Even when we look foolish. Even when we are attacked. Even when others don’t understand our message or no one turns up in droves.

We keep going.

Even when we fail, we keep on keeping on.

People don’t often realize it, but the Bible is full of epic failures featuring epic individuals.

Moses never did get to enter into the Promised Land.

David never did get to build the beloved Temple.

Jesus was betrayed, deserted, and nailed to the cross like a criminal.

Each and every one of the disciples was persecuted, and Paul was pictured in winged boots, dragged out of town, and left for dead.

But none of this stopped the Message from spreading. None of this stopped the Good News from being known.

None of this stopped God from acting, the Holy Spirit from moving, or from Christ’s message being shared

Today’s scripture is a reminder that our God is bigger than any obstacle we may face.

God is bigger than what any mass crowd of people may say.

God is bigger than any failure we may think we experienced.

God is bigger than one flop, one fluke, one epic fail.

Knowing this, we get to realize that as children of God, we are more than our mistakes.

We are given more than just a single chance.

As children of God, we may fall down, but we get back up.

As children of God, we may be misunderstood by the masses, but we are not forgotten by the Master.

As children of God, we may need to rescued by others, but it is in Christ we are saved.

As children of God, we may fail by human standards, but by heaven’s standards we always succeed by the gifts of grace.

For that we can say Amen.