Bring It Back to Christ; Sermon on 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5

Rev. George Miller
June 7, 2020
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Since 2018, we have followed the Narrative Lectionary, allowing us to experience scripture as holy stories that not only teach us about the faith of God’s people, but their historical setting too.

Many of our readings were deeply theological and seemingly objective.

But today’s reading feels different, because it is different.

Today we have a letter written by Paul that is personal, emotional, and grounded in deep, deep pain.

Paul is writing to the Corinthian church at a time in which the community is in turmoil and being torn apart.

Paul is writing to address very specific events that have transpired.

Paul wants the church to focus on Christ crucified while others are saying “We don’t want to hear about it.”

This segment of the church is upset with Paul. They don’t agree with his teachings. They call him names.

There are strong voices on both sides, passionately disagreeing with one another.

Paul is mindful of this discord; how it’s threatening to crack the church in half.

He writes this letter in hopes that he can glue them back together.

Paul does so by reminding them that no matter what goes on, no matter what anyone says, the grace and mercy of God is surrounding them all.

Basically, this letter is Paul saying-

“I am doing the best I can for the sake of us and for everyone, and God has blessed each of us with gifts.”

…For the past 10 years and 2 months I’ve been blessed to shepherd and serve alongside you.

We’ve experienced a lot.

The BP Oil Spill
Trayvon Martin
Pulse Massacre
Parkland Shooting
Suntrust Murders
COVID-19
and now, George Floyd.

No doubt even though I don’t always preach about it and try to keep the sermons inspiring, ya’ll know how I feel about-

Our President throwing paper towels to the people in Puerto Rico.

Our President calling places in Africa “cesspool” countries.

Our nation acting as if it’s Ok to place the bodies of brown children, babies, and families in cages.

I’ve done my best to be bipartisan.

To be active in the county. To support small businesses.

To cheer on the community.

Even in the midst of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, I have not said much via the pulpit.

But something happened last week that now I, as an ordained pastor, feel I must address.

On Monday, June 1 there were people peacefully protesting outside of the White House.

Without warning, pepper balls and smoke cannisters were deployed to create a path for President Trump to walk across Layfette Square to St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he posed for a photo in front of the church with a Bible in his hand.

At no point was the church leadership aware that President Trump was going to come over to their campus, nor that pepper and smoke would be used upon their ministers, staff, or community.

Friends and family of Emmanuel UCC, we must now reckon with the fact that the President of America used chemical compounds upon people peacefully gathered,

so he could commandeer a religious space to take a photo, using the holy texts of our faith as a prop.

Meanwhile the priests, interns, and people who were there for justice, kindness, and humility,

were forced to deal with painful irritation to their eyes, throat, lungs, and skin.

My people, my people…if only there was a Balm in Gilead…

For months we’ve been waiting for the joyous day in which we can return to worship the Lord, and instead this is what we have to deal with…

The terribly sad thing is that this isn’t the only time a government tried to commandeer a religious space.

If you recall from the Gospel of Mark, we heard about how Rome had taken over the Holy City, how Rome had insinuated itself into the Temple, how Rome even got a cut of the offerings that were given to the Temple.

Rome’s infiltration of the Holy Temple is a huge part of what Jesus spoke out against, and one of the main reasons the Roman government crucified him.

Infiltrating a holy space is exactly what our President did on Monday.

There are no ifs, ands or buts about it.

I try my best to see both sides and hear all the arguments, but this time there is no denying about what happened.

As a pastor I cannot be blind it.

As a church body we can’t justify it.

So, what do we do?

First, we turn to Paul; we look, listen, learn, hear what he’s got to say.

What Paul says in today’s reading is so simple yet so revolutionary-

Bring everything we do back to Christ.

Put Christ first in any equation, any action, any discussion.

Christ crucified; Christ resurrected.

Paul would say “Bring it back to Christ.”

And who is this Christ?

Why, he’s the one who said “Let the little children come to me.”

Christ is the one who called the persecuted blessed.

Christ is the one who healed the widow, freed a man from chains, raised a daughter from the dead.

Paul would say “Bring it back to Christ.”

And who is Christ?

He’s the one who used his hands to reach out to us

in justice, kindness, and peace….

…even when it meant that same hands would be nailed to a cross.

Friends and Family of Emmanuel UCC- God With Us-

It is here that WE proclaim to have passion and compassion-

Where we go from here as a church is up to us.

All of us.

Each and every person here.

The Holy Spirit is moving and acting, but we have to decide what it is we do.

What we do as a church is up to us.

All of us.

Each and every person here.

The Holy Spirit is moving and acting, but we have to decide what it is we do.

How we continue to be church is up to us.

All of us.

Each and every person here.

The Holy Spirit is moving and acting, but we have to decide what it is we do.

Family and Friends-

we have come too far to back down; we have come too far to be complacent.

In the prophetic words of our Mission Theme Song-

“We are Emmanuel
We love, we give, we share
We show God’s Holy Spirit through
The ways we care
Our challenge is at hand
In faith and strength we stand,
So that our witness to God’s light
Will shine across the land.”

Amen and amen.