I come from a church tradition where women have not been allowed to participate in corporate worship. The basis is a couple of scriptures about women keeping silent and women waiting until they get home to ask their husbands about the matters that confuse them. I appreciate the heartfelt desire of those people who have faithfully tried to live out the scriptures, and who sincerely believed this was the proper interpretation of those words. I am also grateful to those who delve deeper in an effort to understand what those words meant to the first century recipients and how we are to use them now. I am no scholar, so I read my Bible and count on my "common sense," which I consider my divine spark, or the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, to gain understanding.
As I grew, I began to wonder why women could teach the children and not the adults. Well, I say adults, but I mean anyone over the magic "Age of Accountability," generally believed to be age 12. The "Age of Accountability" is the time at which one's behavior places one in jeopardy of the eternal fires of hell. Heaven knows, we would not want women teaching people past that age. Their gifts of teaching must only be shared with the younger children. I wonder; who has more impact, the women who are teaching impressionable children or the men in the pulpit speaking to a room full of adults, a lot of whom have already formed their opinions, and who are highly unlikely to change them? It is very interesting to me.
I don't usually name names in my blogs. I am not sure why, exactly, but today I name names. I do not really think very much of that which is truly important is taught with words. I would like to share some of the most vaulable sermons I have "heard."
Josh Graves is the young preacher at our church. He is the age of my son, so I have to think of him as young or I would have to think of myself as old. He is well-educated. He is articulate and eloquent. He is funny. He delivers passionate, well-spoken sermons each week. He never uses notes. But, those are not the real sermons of his life. His best sermons are the sweet and thoughtful way he treats his wife, and the kind and gentle way he loves his sons. His best sermon is the way he loves our church family, his genuine grief over those who are hurting, his sincere joy for those who rejoice. Josh is mature in ways that very few 33 year olds are. One of his best sermons was when he attended a performance of VeggieTales while Kansas was playing in the Final Four. His best sermons are his love and his giving up of self. He lives his sermon.
There is a woman I know and love. Her name is Sandra Collins. She is well-educated. She is well-spoken. She is not allowed, yet, to deliver a sermon in corporate worship (the day may come in her lifetime at Otter Creek) because she is a woman. But, she does not need to. Her life is her sermon. She does not need to tell anyone anything about how to be a servant leader. She exudes that lesson at every turn. Her face radiates joy when she is helping someone. She can be found tutoring inner city children, rocking inner city babies at their daycare, gathering clothing or household goods or cars, or whatever for those in need. She might try to sell you hand-crocheted tablecloths to benefit women in India. She spends her money to support children in our city and state and world. When a call is made for the needy, Sandy answers. That is her sermon.
There is another young man at church named Lee Camp. He is brilliant. He is a wonderful speaker and teacher. He is beautifully educated. I do not overstate my feelings when I say that Lee is a modern day prophet. He bangs the drum of New Heaven and New Earth, and our privilege and responsibility to be agents in bringing that about. His wife says he is the bravest person she knows, and I would not disagree. He has the courage of his convictions, and he stands for them no matter the barrage of insults he might receive, and he receives them. It is said that a prophet is without honor in his own land. The way Lee deals with that is his sermon. Lee's desire to understand before being understood is his sermon. I have learned so much from Lee. His life's sermon is about grace and love and personal responsibility. No words are needed. His life is his sermon.
There are so many more whose sermons inspire me every day. My friend, Carol Barnes, tending to the needs of a friend who is going through chemotherapy. She is living with Carol and her dear husband, Dennis. This generous giving of self is Carol and Dennis's sermon. No words needed. Pat Ward, quietly and generously tending to the needs of all those around her. Her ever smiling face and gentle spirit are her sermon. No words needed. Mr. Lincoln preaches sermons every day, loving our children, our grandchild and the one on the way, emptying the dishwasher, listening to other's problems, agonizing over the hurts of his "flock." His life is his sermon. No words needed. What can one say about the energizer bunny, Doug Sanders, who spends his life seeking out those in need and meeting those needs. He is comfortable in the company of kings and paupers. Doug makes no distinction. His life is his sermon. No words needed.
All those dads who change diapers, coach ball teams, respond patiently to their child's foolishness, work at whatever they can to provide for their families, eat the chicken wings so the rest of the family can have the good pieces, go without so their children do not have to, listen to and respect and love their wives...this is their sermon. No words needed. All those moms who are up at night tending to crying babies, who work to provide for their families, who wear a dress from five years ago so their children can have what they need, who cook meals and wash clothes and clean house, only to do it all over again tomorrow, who treat their husbands with respect, who make their homes a haven where all feel safe...this is their sermon. No words needed.
I often wonder just what my sermon says. I want it to be a sermon of understanding, sacrifice, love, compassion, and grace. I want no words to be needed. I will keep working at it.
For today, I wish you sermons of greatness in your own life and in the lives of those around you, and I wish you
blessings
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