Sermon Cloud

7/29/07

An Epistle to the Reformed Church in Claverack

            I’ve made a few observations in the two years that I’ve been here.  I make these observations in one way being an outsider looking in… having only been here two years, I’m still really the new guy on the block.  But in another way I make these observations as one of you… in a way that a supervisor or an interim minister may not get to know you.  Having said that, I want to make one thing very clear, I do not bring these observations as someone who has everything figured out instructing a bunch of people who have no clue what they’re doing.  I feel this so strongly that I believe it bears repeating.  I DO NOT bring these observations as someone who has everything figured out instructing a bunch of people who have no clue what they’re doing.  Rather, I bring these observations as a brother and co-laborer in Christ.  That’s why I’ve chosen bring these comments seated – with you.  As I bring these observations, I hope that both you and I can learn through them.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because of your faith. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers. For I have longed to share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.[1]

In every way you have been enriched in Christ, in speech and knowledge of every kind—  just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—  so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.^[2]

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.^[3]  Coming to Claverack, I was told that yours was a diverse congregation on many levels, and I have found this to be true, but I want to encourage you as a church to try to find your commonalities and build upon those.  The differences may always be there, but if there’s one thing history proves, it’s that the church is good at dividing.  I want to encourage you to find your commonalities… treasure those… build on those… and use your differences as a strength, and not to look at them as weaknesses.  Each of you brings a different perspective to the table which together makes for the body of Christ.

Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you do; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.  The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned by what they do, because they do not act from faith;  for whatever does not proceed from faith  is sin.[4]  It is my belief that the only way the church – any church – will truly be able to find unity is by putting the wants, needs, and desires of others before their own.

I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.[5]

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.[6]

Welcome those who are weak in faith,  but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.[7] And here I want to expand Paul’s direction to welcome to include being hospitable as well.  We can think that we’re welcoming people by simply having our door open every Sunday, but being hospitable involves another whole level.  Being hospitable means going out of your way to make sure someone else feels at home.  And as Paul says, it means making the other person feel at home, even if you differ in opinions.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. ^[8]  I would encourage you as a church to look at yourselves as the church… the whole church.  Are some people in roles that they have not been gifted for?  Then they ought not be in that role.  But I believe even more so that there are people in the church who have been given gifts who are not currently using those gifts.  All members of the body ought to be encouraged to use their gifts for the sake of the body.  I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.[9]

Let no one despise you because you are old, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.^[10]  I believe that in many ways the RCA as a denomination has given up on the church in the North East.  I fear that many see it as a dinosaur and they’re waiting for it to die, and because of that, they’re not giving the aid that they may be able to give it.  The church in the North East, as I see it, has two options.  They can rightfully complain about the treatment they’re getting from the denomination, or they can prove the denomination wrong.  I would love to see the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack prove the denomination wrong.  I would love to see the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack show the denomination that in a culture which values everything new, a 300 year old church can not only survive, but thrive and minister to its community in ways not seen anywhere else across the country!  The gospel never changes, but the way it is delivered must adapt to the ever changing culture.  The church, I believe, has to decide if it is up to the challenge.

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ^[11]  This, I believe, is where it has to all begin.  The members of the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack have to commit themselves to the ministry of the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack!  When membership in nearly every denomination all across the country is dwindling, the members of the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack have to say we’re a family, and as a family, meeting together takes priority over many other things.  The church must vow to have one another from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, to love and to cherish one another as long as you shall live. You must pledge yourself to this with all your heart.

We want you to know, brothers and sisters,  about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints— and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you —so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

I realize that with my leaving some of you may be tempted to give less to the church with the reasoning that if the church doesn’t have to pay a full time pastor, they shouldn’t need as much money.  This makes economic sense.  Consider your personal budget.  If you had a house keeper, you’d have to set money aside for a house keeper.  But if you didn’t have a house keeper, you could use the money elsewhere.  It makes economic sense, but it doesn’t make spiritual sense.

As you may or may not know, the church is in a pretty difficult place financially right now.  But I believe the financial state of the church at this time is a symptom, not the problem. True, it is possible that the church might have more income with more people, but the problem is not membership.  As a matter of fact, I believe outreach and evangelism should never be discussed in conjunction with finances.  Some of the biggest churches in the country have the biggest financial woes.  With more people there will also be more to spend the money on.  I also don’t believe the way the money is being spent is the problem.  Yes, the church has to be faithful with the resources they have been given, but I believe God will supply the church with anything that God calls the church to do.  From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.^[12]  The finances of the church, I believe, are a symptom of a spiritual problem.  Tithing and giving to the church is not a financial issue so much as it is a spiritual issue.  Even as God provides for the church he will provide for us, and if we believe that, tithing ought to take priority over every other financial responsibility.

I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”^[13]

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.[14]

Finally, beloved,  whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.^[15]

Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom  be the glory forever! In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.^[16]