Greater Works

First Presbyterian Church turned 175 years old on Tuesday. Congratulations! Now, if you’re hoping for an extra long sermon in celebration of this august occasion, you’re just going to be disappointed. As usual, the sermon this morning is short and simple–a two-point sermon.

On Monday, one of the AA groups that meets here had an anniversary luncheon. And, as they often do, they treated the church staff and me to lunch. I said a blessing. Then we sat down to feast on AA potluck. I was seated next to an attractive 60 or 70 something year-old-woman. We exchanged some chit chat. Then she said, "You’re Presbyterian, right? I’ve got a couple of questions to ask you." She explained that she was a Christian, and she was concerned about the final destination of one of her friends who held another faith. Oh, and she wanted me to talk about Calvin’s theory of double predestination. (I was glad I’d gotten my dessert in advance). So I began to discuss various theories about God’s judgment and grace. I even tried to wade through some of the intricacies of Calvin’s double predestination theory, one of the few things I don’t like about his theology. And, of course, this woman was really struggling with a verse we just read from John’s gospel, John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

What do we do with these words when we know that most of the world is not Christian? Do we have to assume that only Christians are going to heaven and all non-Christians are going to hell? Well, you are free to believe that if you wish. But it does not make sense to me. To me it doesn’t seem consistent with a rational and loving God to damn all non-Christians to eternal suffering in hell. But at the same time, I’m also not prepared to guarantee that all people will go to heaven. That’s God’s decision, not mine, thank God. So what’s the answer?

One scholar says this. "What John intends as particularism, many contemporary Christians wrongly interpret as exclusiveness and superiority. John 14:6 celebrates how Jesus reveals God for those in this particular faith community; it is not a statement about the relative worth of the world’s religions." (Gail R. O’Day and Susan E. Hylen, John in the Westminster Bible Companion Series, 146.) Another scholar says, ". . . Jesus must be proclaimed as the one way to God to whoever is willing to listen, while leaving the faith and the fate of those who have never heard the gospel to a God who is equal to the problem." (Gerald Sloyan, John in the Interpretation Bible Commentary Series, 179.)

So my first point is simply this. As I read the grand sweep of the Bible, the entire Old and New Testaments (not just this one text in isolation) I believe God intends to redeem the entire universe in Jesus Christ. In the mean time, we Christians are to trust in God’s grace. Live in gratitude as instruments of God’s love. With words and deeds tell everybody who’ll listen about God’s love in Christ. And trust God with the world. God’s big enough to handle it. That’s my first point.

And that leads to my second point.

When we read John 14, we heard Jesus trying to reassure his scared disciples. Jesus knew he was going to die and he told them that too. So they got scared about what was going to happen to them. And basically, here’s what Jesus said in response to their fear. He said, "Don’t worry. Trust God. Trust me. There’s plenty of room with God. I’m getting the place ready for you. In fact, I’ll come and get you and take you there myself. You see, I’m access to God. I’m reality. I’m life. You want to know who God is, God’s nature, God’s being? Take a look at me. See how I talk, act, and love. That’s how God is." Wow. For Christians, it doesn’t get much better than this, does it?

But then Jesus made this stunning statement. He said, "If you believe in me you’re going to do the works I do and you’re going to do even greater works because I’m going to God." Imagine somebody else saying that. "Guess what. You’re going to do greater works than Jesus." If anybody except Jesus had said this, it would sound blasphemous. But, it’s true. So here’s my second point. We, believers in Christ, will do the works he does and greater works, because the living Christ empowers us.

And that’s what the church universal has been doing for centuries. Jesus taught thousands. Maybe he cured hundreds; we don’t know the exact numbers. But, through the centuries, Christ’s Church, the Body of Christ on earth, has sent missionaries, teachers, engineers, doctors and established schools, infrastructures, churches, and hospitals worldwide. Millions have been taught, healed, and transformed. Millions have been given food, clean drinking water, safe housing, clothing, education, and Christian faith. Christ’s church has done greater works.

And First Presbyterian Church of Willoughby has also been a part of those greater works. Over the last 175 years, thousands of people have come into this church and prayed, studied, worshiped, taught, given, and served. We’ve challenged and supported each other. We’ve strengthened marriages, families, and relationships. We’ve helped folks overcome depression and addictions. We’ve given thousands upon thousands of dollars away for mission and peacemaking in this community and in the world, as well as the nearby community. We’ve gone on mission trips to serve the poor and to grow as Christians ourselves. We’ve spoken the truth to elected officials. Our leaders have helped start hospitals, retirement communities, AA groups, building programs, inner-city partnerships, and the list goes on. Thank God for these greater works God has done through First Presbyterian Church.

Now, the question is: What will God do through this church in the next 175 years? Nobody can predict that for certain. But let me suggest two possibilities.

If you follow the news, you may have read about or even seen the horrific videotaped beating of a sixteen-year-old girl in Florida. This girl’s "friends" lured her to a home. Then six teenage girls beat her for a half an hour. Two teenaged boys were stationed outside the home as lookouts. During the assault the girl was knocked unconscious, suffered a concussion and damage to her left ear and eye. When her assailants were arrested, they showed no sorrow. One of them asked police, "Does this mean I’m going to miss cheerleading practice tomorrow?"

How in the world did these young people get the idea that this was okay, that this was funny, something to be videotaped to post on the Internet? As we hear about this behavior, as well as incidents like this in our own area, can we hear the voice of God shouting for us to reach out to the children and youth in this church and throughout this area? I believe God is calling us to form children’s groups and youth groups at this church with such quality that our young people are formed in the image of Christ. I believe God is calling us to provide the right professional staffing for those groups, space in the Christian Life Center for those groups, and personal commitment from parents, children, youth, and church to make it happen. What do you think?

And the world itself faces tremendous challenges: global warming, constant wars, decaying urban centers, the loss of civility and meaning in society, the growing inequity between rich and poor. How might God use First Presbyterian to address those challenges? I think God is calling forth Christians who will approach those challenges with intellectual vigor, spiritual maturity, tremendous people and financial resources, and with trust in God’s power to work through us to do greater things. The world has never needed a church like that more than today. And I think that church can be First Presbyterian. What do you think? What kind of personal commitments are you and I willing to make?

"Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these . . ." As it has been in the past, may it also be true for us in the present and future, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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