Post-COVID Freedom; Galatians 4:1-7

 

Rev. George Miller

May 23, 2021

Galatians 4:1-7

 

Change- That may be the scariest word in the world, or at least in the world of our religion, which is surprising since the Bible is a collection of stories that involve change.

 

Darkness into light.

 

Barren couple into parents.

 

Incarcerated sons into king’s assistants.

 

The Bible is full of change after change.

 

Slaves into free.

 

Water into wine.

 

The Holy Spirit falling upon people so they can communicate in new ways.

 

Yet, as humans, as members of faith, we can be uncomfortable with change. 

 

We like ritual.  We prefer routine.  We feel most comfortable with status quo.

 

Want to ensure people will squirm in their seats during a meeting- suggest a change to worship, a change to furniture, a new way to do something that’s always been done “that way.”

 

This is part of what made COVID so complicated- the changes it created. 

 

COVID created change to how we interact, where we go, how and when we worship, what we wear.

 

But at least we had months of preparation, seeing the Corona come in like a slowly moving storm.

 

We of Highlands County had chance to be in a bubble for a few weeks longer than most of the country.  We had some time to wrap around the idea of masks, no choir, and no coffee hour hugs.

 

But then like “that!” our whole world has changed when the CDC suddenly said “Masks can come off!”

 

But with caveats- only if you are fully vaccinated, as long as you’re not in prison, a subway car.

 

It’s a confusing message that has come all too soon for businesses and churches to fully process and come up with a satisfying plan,

 

It’s also done something else- it has brought rapid change into the church community, causing a mix of feelings.

 

There are those who are like “Great!  I can’t wait to take this thing off!”

 

There are others saying “I’m not sure I feel completely safe being unmasked.”

 

There are many people who can’t wait to go back to potlucks, choir practice, and having numerous events.

 

The there are those, who truthfully, don’t ever want to go back to the ways things were.

 

We have introverts who enjoyed their time alone and away.  People who liked not having to go to gatherings or visit people’s homes or fly crammed in a plane like a sardine.

 

For those who have eased into the simpler, more solitary side of COVID, the idea of hugging, shaking hands with people they don’t know, eating food prepared by someone you don’t know at their home in which you don’t now how many cats, dogs, or cleaning supplies they have?

 

No uh.

 

Change.

 

With the lifting of mask restrictions we have now gone through another change.

 

Here’s something to share- we have all endured a year of trauma.  We have all experienced feelings of grief and sadness about what has been lost.

 

BUT, in order for us to endure the trauma and the grief, our psyches have found a way to numb ourselves to the level of pain and sadness we felt.

 

But now that the appearance of a threat is over, our bodies, minds, spirits are going to experience the trauma, experience the grief, experience the loss, the sadness, in a whole new way.

 

It’s like when a loved one dies and you’re so busy getting everything in order that it’s usually not until after the funeral that we get hit with stealth grief and sorrow.

 

We share this because this is going to happen to folk to some of our folk, even if we ourselves do not believe it.

 

Some may already be experiencing it.

 

It’s impossible for a nation to endure a year of trauma and loss without there being long term after affects that linger, like blue roofs after a hurricane...

 

So today, with this being Pentecost Sunday, we acknowledge that our community has gone through change.

 

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down and freed people to function and communicated in a new way.

 

Now that the CDC has given the go-ahead for vaccinated folk to go mask-free, we have folk who can function and communicate in a new way.

 

How we navigate this as a church is so important.

 

One way we navigate these next few weeks, is to know that we are experienced a major change, and to allow people to adapt as they feel most comfortable.

 

Those are basically the issues Paul dealt with in his letter to the Galatians.

 

Paul wonders- due to the death and resurrection of Christ, how do we adapt, change, and live into this new reality?

 

Furthermore, how do we form and continue our faith when each person is wanting to do things differently?

 

In Paul’s time there were those who wanted everyone to be circumcised, while there were others who said “let them stay a nautral.”

 

In Paul’s time there were those who wanted to eat kosher while there were others jonesing for pork chops from Iowa.

 

In Paul’s time there were those who preferred everyone to keep to the prescribed health codes that was in the Law, while others said “I’m an adult, I’ll decide what I do with my body.”

 

What does Paul do?  He uses his words, he reminds them of their history, he points to what Jesus did on the cross and what God did in the tomb.

 

Paul says “Because of Christ, there is no longer slave or free, male or female.”

 

Today Paul might say “In Christ there is no masked or unmasked.”

 

What Paul does do is this- he says that because of Christ, we have all been included into the family of God and we have all become inheritors of God’s kingdom and glory.

 

In Christ we are all one family; in Christ we all have the same reward.

 

What this boils down to is this- Do you, and let them do them.

 

As long as what is done is just and kind and including God.

 

Sisters and Brothers, what this means, as a church, moving forward is this-

 

We have experienced a major change.

 

If you have been fully vaccinated, feel free to go mask free.

 

If you have not been fully vaccinated, we encourage you, for your safety, to wear a mask while here.

 

If you come to the office and Ruthie asks that you put on a mask, for her sake, please put one on.

 

If someone declines to attend or volunteer at an event because they are not yet ready to resume life-as, allow them that space and that choice.

 

If you know you’re not fully vaccinated, refrain from hugging on, kissing on, holding onto others.

 

Why?  Because we love you and we want to keep you alive.

 

Council is continuing to follow the guidance of the science and the CDC.

 

We will continue to discuss the resuming of fellowship, of outside groups, of activities, of a choir, a bell choir, fundraisers, groups, outreach.

 

But know this-  Whatever we do will look different.

 

Things we do may never be 100% like what they were.  There are faces we may see at worship, but may no longer see at every event, or Fellowship.

 

There are changes that came along due to COVID that we’ll most likely keep. 

 

As a living breathing church, we will continue to evolve, continue to adapt, continue to change.

 

Because that’s what it means to be a child of God, that’s what it means to be part of the Living Body of Christ.

 

Change is what it means to be alive.

 

Change is what it means to be filled with and a witness to the Holy Spirit as it continues to descend upon us.

    Amen and amen.

Haitian Flag Day - Pearls On a Shimmering Island; Galatians 3:2-9, 23-29

 

Rev. George Miller

May 16, 2021

Galatians 3:2-9, 23-29

 

History is a beautiful thing, even though it is often very painful.

 

History is beautiful because it reminds us of who we are, where we came from, the triumphs we’ve experienced, the tragic mistakes we’ve made.

 

History reminds us of when we shined, when we got mired in the mud, how far we’ve come, and how many more mountains there are to climb.

 

History is all around us- Highlands County just celebrated our centennial, Paul and Barnabas emerged from the past to remind us of the Church’s beginning.

 

Today we celebrate Haitian Flag Day. 

 

Not only is Haiti the home of our beloved Carnide, but Haiti’s history is our history too.

 

In 1492, Columbus stepped forth upon a gorgeous island shimmering in the sea which he named Hispaniola. 

 

The French established a prosperous colony on the west side of the island, naming it Saint Domingue.  From there much of the world’s sugar came.

 

A mountainous country with a beautiful coastline, it was known as “the Pearl of the Antilles.”

 

The beauty came at a brutal cost- on that shimmering island in the sea, most of the indigenous people were killed, and millions of African people were brought over, their bodies brutalized, forced to slave in the sun.

 

News of the French Revolution sparked a spirit of freedom in the people.  They began history’s most successful slave uprising.  In 1791 they fought against European troops; 350,000 lives lost.

 

Then, on May 18, 1803, Catherine Flon pieced together a red and blue flag; the people marched with it on what is now Port-a-Prince, seeking justice and liberty.

 

The people claimed the country and gave it back its original native Indian name- Haiti. 

 

The events on May 18, 1803 spilled over onto the American Continent, directly affecting the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of America, adding states like Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota.  Freed people came over, many settling in Louisiana.

 

For the past 218 years those of Haitian descent proudly wear the colors blue and red, embracing the words found on their flag, “In Unity We Find Strength.”

 

In Unity We Find Strength.

 

History is a beautiful thing, even though it is often very painful.

 

History is beautiful because it reminds us of who we are, where we came from, the triumphs we’ve experienced, the tragic mistakes we’ve made.

 

History reminds us of when we shined, when we got mired in the mud, how far we’ve come, and how many more mountains there are to climb.

 

In Unity We Find Strength.

 

Perhaps there is no better way to summarize today’s scripture.

 

Our dear friend Paul is continuing his very emotional letter to the Galatian church, reminding them of their history, who and what they are rooted in- the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

For Paul, the Gospel is meant to make the people shine, shine, shine across the land.  What Jesus did on the cross is the turning point if history.  What God did on Easter Sunday, is the greatest sign of grace and freedom for all humankind.

 

But you wouldn’t know that with what’s happening in Jerusalem.

 

Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, have become hypocrites.

 

Barnabas seems to have amnesia.

 

The religious traditionalists are demanding circumcision.

 

So Paul is struggling. 

 

All he wants is for people to shine and welcome the grace that Jesus Crucified and Christ resurrected has to offer.

 

Freedom; liberty; justice.  Beautiful pearls.

 

But Peter, James, Barnabas, and the traditionalists are chaining people onto the Law, enslaving them.

 

So what does Paul do? 

 

He sticks to what he’s good at- words and his knowledge of history.

 

He asks when they felt the most alive- was it when doing things the way they had always been done, or when they followed the spirit of belief?

 

When did God shine down upon them with miracles?  While acting out of faith or fearfully following procedure?

 

Paul asks them to look upon their own history.  He reminds them of how guarded, trapped and isolated they felt, but now in Christ they are one family, children of God.

 

Then Paul does something revolutionary- to this ragtag group of people who have come from all over, who eat different foods, who practice different rituals, who share different ancestors, he finds a way to unite them.

 

He uses words to draw them in and bring them together.

 

What he basically says is this-

 

“As children who have been lovingly bathed into the family of Christ, you are dressed in clothes of righteousness, all of you glorious pearls.”

 

“In Christ there is no Jew or Gentile, there is no slave or free,

male or female,

there is no old or young, rich or poor,

there is no North or South,

there is no snowbird or year-round.”

 

Paul is not saying that we lose our identity.  What he’s saying is that in Christ our identity should no longer divide and separate us from one another.

 

He says we are united in Christ.

We are descendants of Abraham.

As children of Abraham, and of Sarah, all our histories intersect.

 

Since all our histories intersect, we are all heirs to the promises of God.

 

In other words, what Paul is saying, is that no matter who you are, or where you are from, we are united.

 

What Paul is saying is that thanks to Christ, regardless if you know your history or not, we are united. 

 

And in our unity, we find our strength.

 

Just like the colors blue and red. 

 

Just like the red, white, and blue.

 

We have all been given a spot on this shimmering island called earth; we are all God’s very important pearls.

 

Do we shine when we war against our differences, or do we most shine when we stand united, celebrating liberty and justice, reflections of God’s sweet, sweet love?               Amen and amen.

 

Paul- Shining For the Gospel; Galatians 1:13-24

 

Rev. George Miller

May 9, 2021

Galatians 1:13-24

(Note- like last week, this is a character based sermon; this time presented by "Paul".)

 

Good morning.  I heard ya’ll had a guest speaker last week, Barnabas, my traveling companion.

 

I heard how Barnabas told you all the ways we shined for the Lord and brought people to Jesus Christ.

 

I also heard how Barnabas made a few comments at my expense.

 

First, I heard that hedidn’t just call me “ugly”, but he called me “ooglee.”

 

Well, all I can say is that not all of us can pull of casual Caribbean wear with a straw hat and sandals.  Some of us prefer the more refined look of suits, ties, and polished shoes.

 

2^nd, I heard Barnabas found great delight in telling you how they thought I was Hermes and he was Zeus.

 

What he failed to tell you is that the Greeks think Zeus is a temperamental,  husky old man with a grey beard.

 

Whereas they think Hermes is young, fun and an active  messenger.

 

So, he can call me Hermes if he wants since it is I, not he, who got most of the message out.

 

Now, I’m not here to be petty (although it can be fun at times), I’m here to talk about the controversy taking place in the Jerusalem church.

 

It would appear that Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, have all too quickly forgotten what the Good News of Jesus Christ it about.

 

It seems like they have lost their shine; their faith has become a bit dull and mired in their fear over what people may say.

 

As you may know, I don’t care what people say about me…well, maybe a little…well, maybe a lot, but I try my best to act like I don’t.

 

The issue Peter and James have is this- are people expected to be circumcised and keep kosher if they are coming to us as a non-Jew?

 

Can only those missing a small piece of skin be seen as true followers of Jesus?

 

They say “yes.”  I say “no.”

 

Here’s why- It’s not that I don’t love the Law.  I do.

 

I am proud of my religious heritage, and if you ever have time, I will gladly tell you all the things I’ve done.

 

I love the Law and Commandments because in their purest form they guide us in how to show our love to God, to neighbor and to Creation.

 

The Law is not meant to be a burden, but a joy that we do not because we must, but because we are loved.

 

For example, all you mothers out there-

What would you rather have your children do-

 

Wash their dishes after supper because they are afraid of you or think it will earn your love…or would you like them to wash their dishes, clean up their room, and leave the seat down because it is their way of saying “Hey Mom, I love you, and thank you for loving me.”

 

It's the same thing with the Law.

 

Circumcision doesn’t make God love you; circumcision is one way people can show that they are loved, and belong to the family of God.

 

But there are so many other ways-

Feed the hungry

Contact those who lost a loved one

Dig in the dirt; mow the lawn

Donate peanut butter

Give your spare change to Back Bay

 

But Peter, James and this rally of religious traditionalists are telling the new believers that their faith is invalid until they are circumcised, eat kosher, and follow the Letter of the Law.

 

Peter has become the biggest hypocrite.  In the past he’s had no problem sitting down with folk having a pulled pork, shrimp boil, crab leg buffet.

 

Not once did I ever see Peter turn down a double bacon cheeseburger until now.

 

Now that the religious traditionalists have come into town, Peter acts like his lips have never touched pork and to make it worse, he is publicly shaming all our new members who are dining at Red Lobster and Sonny’s Barbeque.

 

Shaming them, as if he himself did not witness the crucifixion and empty tomb of Jesus Christ.

 

Not only that, but Barnabas…Barnabas has succumb to great fear over what people may think and he too has taken to clinging to the Law as if he was not in Lystra with me eating with hundreds upon hundreds of uncircumcised believers of Jesus Christ.

 

Barnabas has become a “Barna-oh-no-u don’t!”

 

So, let me simply tell you this- The Law is beautiful.  The Law is life giving.  The Law is a way to express our gratitude to God.

 

The Law teaches us to respect, to rest, to reach our very best.

 

For me, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the culmination of everything the Law is meant to be.

 

Jesus was the most faithful Jewish person one could ever meet.  He lived the Law; he embodied the Law. 

 

He used the Law to shine!

 

So, when Jesus willingly went to the cross to die, it was the most pivotal moment in human history.

 

He was willing to follow God even if it meant his own suffering and death, so when God raised Jesus from the grave, when the women saw the empty tomb, it was proof that God had justified Jesus as a righteous and faithful Jew. 

 

For me, the events on the cross, at the tomb, and on the road to Damascus, are proof that we are saved by grace in a way that being a slave to the Law cannot do.

 

An if one wishes to follow the Law as their expression of love and thanks to God, let them.

 

But to force someone to follow the Law, to force someone to give up a bit of skin, that’s the opposite of grace.

 

That’s conditional love.

 

And I don’t know about you, but I believe our God is bigger than any human concept of love, and God is greater than any parliamentary procedure.

 

Some may agree, many may disagree.

 

But ultimately, I believe Jesus died, and Jesus was resurrected, so that we can all shine, shine, shine, shine.

 

Because the more we shine, the more we are all free.

 

Amen and amen.