Truth In Labeling

This is the message I presented on the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany, 30 January 2000, at Walker Valley UMC. The Scriptures were Deuteronomy 18: 15 – 20, 1 Corinthians 8:1 -13, and Mark 1: 21 – 28

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The Scriptures for this week come at what I think is an interesting time. Last Tuesday, the Iowa caucuses were held and this coming Tuesday the New Hampshire primary will be held; the long-awaited campaign for the President of the United States 2000 will finally have arrived. Though I am not sure that this campaign did not start shortly after the completion of the election in 1996.

Now, for all the complaining about the system and how we choose our leaders, it still comes down to the fact that our system of electing leaders through essentially a popular vote has lasted over 200 years and that countries who have tried similar approaches have failed. And without belaboring the point, let me add that if you have the chance to vote and you do not use that chance, then you really can’t complain about the outcome of the election.

The main point that I saw in the Scriptures for today was about leadership. The one thing that disturbs me about the election process is that leaders today will not take difficult stands. One definition of a professional is one who does things even when they do not feel like them. In other words, a professional is not blown about by the winds of the moment. Professionals stay focused on the successful accomplishment of their mission, and do the difficult things.

Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem. He sensed danger there, and he was right. However, Jesus knew that it was part of the larger plan. So, he “set his eyes towards Jerusalem” (Isaiah 50: 7) knowing what the consequences of his actions would be.

It was that resolve and that focus on the task at hand that the people at the temple in the Gospel reading today saw. As the Gospel reading pointed out, he taught from the Scripture as one having authority, and not as the scribes. It was that same authority that was spoken of in the Old Testament reading for today.

The Old Testament reading for today speaks of the prophets that would follow Moses. As Moses is about to leave, the people of Israel are told that another spokesman will take his place and that one will follow for each generation, with Jesus being the ultimate fulfillment.

But caution is given that the people should listen to what the prophets have to say. For if the prophet presumes to speak of things that God has not commanded them to say, they will be held accountable. In other words, don’t say what the people want to hear, say what it is that God wants you to say.

In the reading from Corinthians, Paul is speaking about the eating of certain foods. The Corinthians had written to Paul concerning what to do about meats that had been cooked on pagan altars. The leftover meat was either sold at the public meat market, or eaten by the priests, or the person who brought the offering and his friends at a feast at the temple. Some Christians felt that if they ate such meat, they participated in pagan worship and thus compromised their testimony to Christ. Other Christians in the Corinthian community did not feel this way. As Paul pointed out, there is only true God and so foods that were sacrificed to a minor god, who is really nothing, could be eaten. But Paul also pointed out that, in exercising their freedom to eat this meat, that the Corinthians not become a stumbling block to those who felt that such an action was sinful. Paul said that he, himself, would not eat meat sacrificed to idols if his actions would cause someone else to sin. I am sure that stand was not well taken by those Corinthians who wanted Paul to take a stronger stand but it was the proper thing to do.

Taking a stand that is different from the desires of the people is often the mark of a true leader. It must have been difficult for Jesus to say no to people. The whole essence of his being seemed to say yes. But there were times when he had to say no. He said no to the young man wanted to follow him but who was also not willing to let go of his earthly riches. He said no to his mother and family when they tried to interrupt his teaching. He said no to Judas about turning to politics. He said no to the temptations in the wilderness. And he said no many times to himself, “No, I will not run from this. I will drink the cup that has been placed before me.”  (John 18: 11)

Leadership has never been something for others to do. We are all leaders in some way or another. Some day we may be faced with a difficult choice and the question will arise as to what we should do. Often times, we make the choice on whether we shall stand alone or follow the crowd. But when we think of the choices that Jesus had to make, that his choices gave us a freedom we would otherwise not have; then our choices become quite evident.

Shall I follow Jesus today? That is the only choice you have to consider.

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